‘We are on your side’

Yesterday (July 11) Unite policy conference made it clear that defending and securing the jobs of tens of thousands of defence workers involved in the successor submarine programme was its priority.

But Unite also castigated successive governments for their failure to develop a robust defence diversification strategy that would safeguard defence jobs.

Ahead of next week’s vote in parliament on the renewal of the Trident weapons system, delegates at the union’s policy conference in Brighton overwhelmingly backed an executive council statement.

The carried statement said that while opposed in principle to the possession of nuclear weapons, the union could not accept the obliteration of thousands of its members’ jobs: “Unite does not and never will advocate or support any course of public policy which will put at risk jobs or communities.

“Defence diversification is not going to be taken seriously by this government and we cannot ask our members in the affected industries to buy a pig in the poke. The possibility of new jobs of similar quality tomorrow will not support workers and their families and communities today.”

The statement went on to say: “Until there is a government in office ready, willing and able to give cast-iron guarantees on the security of the skilled work and all employment involved, our priority must be to defend and secure our members’ employment.

“Unite commits to campaigning to secure a serious government approach to defence diversification, enabling Britain to play its part in nuclear disarmament and urges the Labour Party to give the highest priority to this aspect in it considerations.”

Strong support

Moving the executive statement general secretary Len McCluskey said, “We can and do, in this statement, reassert our broad principles regarding opposition to nuclear weapons and our strong support for defence diversification.

“But we know that we do not have a government in place that has any interest in giving effect to either of those principles. Here in 2016, a vote against building those submarines would have only one immediate effect. The destruction of jobs, workplaces and communities of thousands of skilled Unite members, represented in this room today.

“The statement also underlines our Defend our Spend campaign, to ensure that the UK’s defence budget is spent on procurement here in Britain and Ireland, sustaining the jobs of our members, rather than exporting them to the USA or elsewhere.”

In a full and comprehensive debate the EC statement and six motions for and against were discussed and considered.

Kingsley Abrams from London and Eastern said Trident was a, “Mega-expensive weapon. It doesn’t defend Britain and doesn’t defend jobs. It’s bad value for money.” But it was important to, “Protect defence workers’ jobs; campaign for high wage high skill alternatives; planning and investment in resources to train for future. We will not abandon our members.”

Brett Davis from the West Midlands said Trident did not have a deterrent effect or make the world a safer place. Diversification for defence workers was key.

“They are skilled workers with the ability to produce socially useful products. We will always fight to defend and protect workers but it would be better achieved through a bold manufacturing strategy.  We must not look backwards to the problems of the past but to the solutions of the future.”

Submarine renewal

Ian Beswick an aerospace worker from the North West said the debate was actually not about Trident.

“It’s actually about the renewal of submarines [Successor programme] and not about re-newing Trident which isn’t due for 20 or 30 years. The EC statement is a strong signal that this union takes our defence jobs seriously.

“The defence industry touches on many sectors. The supply chain is long. Cash spent in communities goes into local economy. Our wages, tax and national insurance all helps public services. Everywhere you look our jobs are linked to your jobs.

“When we work together we achieve more. I look to my union to defend my job and community. This country has never needed a strong union defending jobs more than it does now.

Charlotte Upton from British Steel, Scunthorpe, supported the EC statement. She said,

“British Steel is a key part of the supply chain and our fortunes are linked to the defence, aerospace and shipbuilding. When we needed our union’s support they stood by us. It is perfectly possible to defend jobs while also opposing nuclear proliferation.”

Steve Sergeant from the South East opposing urged delegates, “not to fall into the trap that this is about peace versus jobs. We will not accept a single job loss to achieve peace. We demand an end to nuclear equipment but we also demand jobs.

On diversification Derek Torrie from Scotland believed there was currently a “lack of government commitment and finance, a lack of interest from companies. A blind leap of faith would be act of folly. We must insist on the creation and delivery of comparable jobs before any cuts.” He urged conference to support the EC statement.

Young member Vanessa O Sullivan from Ireland, spoke against. She said, “We must stick to our principles. We are against war and yet we are sending huge sums of money to profiteers of war. Of course we want to support all our brothers and sisters. It’s not sustainable to produce weapons and it gives right wing parties a free pass.”

Darren Reynolds, Wales said, “The EC statement has made it clear the union exists to defend jobs. We need to know our union puts jobs above political ideals. It’s a basic principle of trade unions – we work together.”

Len McCluskey in his reply said the “comradely manner in which the debate was conducted showed Unite at its best,” and he thanked the delegates.

He said it was, “It’s important to remember we are an industrial organisation and therefore we need to behave in that manner. “Don’t abandon our brothers and sisters, don’t abandon their communities,” he said.

“Too many have seen their communities have been destroyed by naked flame of capitalism. Send a message to our defence members that we are on your side.”

The executive statement was carried overwhelmingly.