Now -read the book!

Here is a link to my memoirs which, if you are a glutton for punishment, you can purchase online at https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/an-obscure-footnote-in-trade-union-history.
Men fight and lose the battle, and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat, and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men have to fight for what they meant under another name. (William Morris - A Dream of John Ball)

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

International Solidarity at the TUC


After putting up with Tony Blair wasting an hour or more of our time yesterday, this morning the TUC is listening to an interesting speaker with something worthwhile to say to us – Thabitha Khumalo of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

Trade unions in Zimbabwe are operating under extremely difficult conditions as they continue to face repression and intimidation. It was the trade union movement that led the call for democratic change in Zimbabwe in the face of the deepening political and economic crisis. As a result there has been a consistent intimidation campaign by the government against trade unionists and workers. Despite this, the unions often remain in the forefront of opposition to Mugabe's policies. There is more information on UNISON’s international site and from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

Our international guest is giving us far more useful information than Blair did – she also got Congress singing and earned a standing ovation!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jon,

I hope you will be demanding the right for Cuban workers to organise their own unions and go on strike against a repulsive dictatorship too.

Anonymous said...

I agree with cassillis.

Perhaps Jon will be happy in his fantasy world when he is manning the barricades and shouting into the wind under a Cameron government.

Repulsive and insulting is how I view your rude and spiteful attack on the PM.

A soft socialist said...

I take it you didn't walk out during Blair's speech?!