It is probable that one of the reasons the LCDTU has awoken from its slumbers is ine acuviles of ine nanonal kignt to Work Campaign. This campaign has managed to attract both publicity and sapport as one of the few initiatives through which militants could direct their The Right to Work Campaign has itself called a delegate conference for 6 November on the cuts and unemployment. When the conference was first announced, Red Weekly criticised it because: * Delegating bodies were not permitted TO suDmiEreso ulOns * Attendance was too strictly limited -for instance, Constituency Labour Parties were not allowed to send delegates. * ine Campaign nao no orientation to other organisations or campaigns such as the LCDTU or the National Coordinating Committee Against the Cuts in the NHS.
Some of these criticisms can now be withdrawn. It is good to report that the draft declaration proposed by the conference organisers includes the statement:
his conterence cans on the organisers of the Assembly [on unemployment] and the LCDTU to unite with the RTWC in these efforts and agree to a joint meeting.' While it is a bit off-putting to simply demand inat the Leoro and te Assembly back the efforts of the RTWC, this proposed declaration does represent a serious attempt to seek unity with others wno do not give tun packing to all aspects of the RTWC, and is to be applauded as such.
Another step forward is that the organsers or me conterence are SHOWIng delegating bodies to submit amendments to its resolution. While this is still not as good as allowing alternative resolutions to be submitted, and while the invitation to make amendments comes so late that many union branches will not have the opportunity to submit them in time, at least some genuine discussion should be able to take place.
That discussion itself should centre on what follows the conference and what policies should emerge from it. The KEVC secretary, Jonn Deason, has dec lared that he wants to bring together everyone who wants to fight'. If these especially as student teachers have been to the fore in fighting concretely against the cuts, and unemployment. And the high vote recorded at the Labour Party Conference against the cuts shows that it is a serious error to militants in the CLPs.
But despite these limitations, the 6 November conference is a date wnich militants in the labour movement should remember - and circle in red!
nout continue to disregard