The Real Unite

It’s do or die time for the UK steel industry. Trump’s tariffs, Chinese owner Jingye threatening closure of Scunthorpe, which finally helped push the government to step in at British Steel. Where that leads, what we can win in terms of long-term public ownership and saving virgin steel production, is all to fight for.

So it does make sense, you’d agree, to forge (Ed: pardon the pun) international solidarity links with steelworkers in other countries. Tata and Jingye are global giants whose game is playing off governments against each other for hand-outs. Steel workers need to get together not compete for their crumbs. And, with the tariff threat, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to put heads together with our US and Canadian counterparts in the United Steel Workers (USW).

So it’s great to know our Union’s International Department is on top of things, sending a top notch delegation to the USW Convention last month in Las Vegas. Led by jolly-organiser-in-chief and “Unite Alliance” micro-faction-leader (Ed: sorry, International Director) Simon Dubbins, with EC members including Tommy Murphy (UL foghorn) and Cliff Bowen (One time Beckett foghorn). Also attending was national officer Louisa Bull (former UL campaign manager). We’re sure they were wrapped in urgent discussions on tariff policy, with barely a moment’s pause to hit the slots.

Hold on though, just one thing …

There wasn’t a single steel worker on this trip.

And not even any of the officers involved in steel negotiations.

Just a few self-selected mates from the “United Left supporters group” on the EC.

A group of mates who happen to go on quite a few of these international trips. Generally to hot countries with nice big hotels all expenses paid … Vegas, Havana Cuba, South Africa …

Or maybe Marrakech, where UL EC Vice-Chair Michelle Smith happened to be on other crucial union business last month. This particular trip took place at the same time as she was pushing the mad legal challenge against the Chair…you know, the one that cost our members hundreds of thousands of pounds.

So next time you read an angry UL diatribe attacking our general secretary for investigating corruption allegations, or the words of a “Senior Unite Source” attacking striking Birmingham bin workers in The Sun, perhaps have some more sympathy. No, it’s not easy tapping that screen from the hotel pool with a mojito in one hand and a bottle of sun tan oil in the other.

Or maybe we could look at it another way. The latest issue making UL soapboxers even redder in the face is a “despicable” branch motion to the forthcoming Policy Conference. Titled “International Solidarity and Collective Bargaining”, this “shameful”, nay “slippery”, proposal dares suggest that the union have a review of our international affiliation fees and travel expenditure.

Here’s the question. Are “solidarity delegations” really delivering for workers? Meaning both our members in the UK, and the workers overseas we urgently need to unite and act in solidarity with?

Or, heaven forbid, have they sometimes become an excuse for jollies for the chosen few? (Ed: Up the oppressed hot-country workers … and mine’s a pinacolada!)

Who’s so scared of looking at the receipts?