Putting forward the working-class independence case

A potentially very important arm of the campaign for Scottish independence is under construction and growing - Trade Unionists for Independence (TUFI).

Initiated by a group of Edinburgh trade unionists, TUFI recently held three large, vibrant West of Scotland meetings, with plans for more in Dundee and Aberdeen.

The meetings have attracted union reps, conveners, national committee members, full-time officials and other active members from a wide range of unions, including EIS, Unison, PCS, Unite, FBU, NUJ, Usdaw, CWU and the STUC youth committee.

TUFI is open to progressive trade unionists from all political parties and none, with the purpose of not just exchanging one set of flags and emblems for another but of winning Scottish independence as a means of achieving a fundamental and irreversible redistribution of power and wealth in favour of working people, their families and communities.

Unlike the "business wing" of the pro-independence movement, which is minuscule anyway, TUFI unashamedly stands up for the working-class majority, with aims rooted in numerous trade union conference policies.

TUFI is an integral part of the broader Yes campaign, but with its own distinctive purpose, based on the best principles of trade unionism - social justice, equality, wealth redistribution and internationalism.

With stomach-churning hypocrisy, the Tory/Lib Dem/Labour coalition - "Better Together" - propagates the lie that independence would split the working class. Since when did any of these three parties champion workers' rights or trade union unity?

TUFI's statement of aims makes plain that in fighting for democratic self-government, we stand for working-class unity, supporting those fighting austerity, whether in Scotland, England, Ireland or Wales.

TUFI promotes pro-trade union arguments for a Yes vote, linking immediate issues that workers are concerned about to the opportunity to transform their lives by offloading the burden of dictatorial Westminster rule - a permanent end to rule by Tory governments that the Scottish people never elected.

TUFI is based on the central notion that the trade union movement needs to shape the agenda here and now on the type of Scotland we want after 2014.

But nothing short of independence would provide the powers to carry through a radical and permanent transformation in working-class people's lives.

Continued Westminster rule can mean nothing other than the horrific certainties of cuts, privatisation, growing poverty and inequality, job losses and ruthless attacks on workers' rights.

A No vote would embolden Westminster in not just sustaining, but escalating, their attacks.

The current coalition has absolutely no mandate to rule and ruin Scotland.

The feeble Labour "opposition" make it brutally clear they will be "ruthless" - their word - in continuing cuts to public-sector jobs, services and pay.

Labour has an appalling track record of demonising those on benefits, has kept Thatcher's vicious anti-union laws and has leading figures like Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Alan Johnson denouncing workers forced to go on strike, branding trade unions "irrelevant."

Labour's 13 years in government is sufficient proof that regardless of which party enters Downing Street in 2015, we will face "more of the same," offloading the capitalist crisis on the heads of working-class people, as profits continue to boom as the largest share of GDP in 50 years.

TUFI is fighting for a Yes vote so the Scottish working-class majority population then has the opportunity to elect a government with the powers and political will to transform their lives, through immediate measures such as:

• Abolition of all anti-union laws, with a charter of workers' rights that sets the very highest standards in Europe
• A decent national minimum living wage for all workers, trainees and apprentices from 16 onwards, with equal pay for women and young people
• Reversal of the assault on benefits and demonisation of the sick, disabled and unemployed, with a living income guaranteed to all those unable to work
• Reversal of all privatisation, public-sector cuts and attacks on pensions, with a living income state pension and voluntary retirement for all at 60
• Jobs for all, investment in clean, green energy, housing and integrated public transport
• Democratic public ownership of energy, construction and banking in order to eradicate fuel poverty, pollution, substandard housing and unemployment
• Removal of all nuclear weapons - with guaranteed jobs and protection of conditions for all defence industry workers through diversification into peaceful, socially useful employment.

TUFI raises issues hardly even mentioned in the referendum debate so far. For instance, the opportunity for low-paid workers to win a decent living wage through independence, public-sector workers to gain reversal of privatisation and cuts and union members to achieve a vast enhancement of trade union and workplace rights.

TUFI appeals to workers and trade unions to join us in campaigning for a Yes vote in order to build a socially and economically just Scotland, where the interests of the working-class millions displace the greed of the multinationals and millionaires.

• Richie Venton is a member of the TUFI steering group.