THE North West regional conference of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has made re-electing Kevin Bennett to Warrington Borough Council its “priority task” for the coming year.
TUSC will organise regular regional mobilisations to help its Warrington branch, the conference agreed.
About 50 activists from across the region attended the event to assess the post-election situation and make plans to build TUSC going forward.
The conference also received a message of solidarity from the Scottish TUSC.
Cllr Bennett – who joined TUSC after quitting Labour following a series of disputes with the controlling Labour Group at Warrington – told the conference the post-election situation was “like the Tories decided to usurp the tale of Robin Hood, except this time the Sheriff of Nottingham is the hero! And it seems Andy Burnham agrees!”
Cllr Bennett said the main theme to emerge from the discussion was that TUSC has achieved significant momentum from its landmark election challenge this year.
It was important to keep this up, against a backdrop of international crisis, developments in Greece, and the Tories’ “war on the poor and organised workers” while Labour remained in turmoil.
Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) regional organiser Daren Ireland outlined the essential organisational steps to take and said with only 10 months until next year’s local elections and just over 50 months to the 2020 general election, it was important to be pushing TUSC in the trade union movement and winning the unions to a position of support for a new mass working-class party, building and strengthening local groups operating on an open and federal basis, welcoming all individuals and groups, and putting forward at least 500 candidates in May 2016 when 2000 councillors face election.
A number of workshops were held on local groups and building in the unions, as well as discussion on ideas for local merchandise, training election agents, benefit gigs, interest in the TUSC councillors’ forum, and a regional website.
Conference organiser Hugh Caffrey said: “Re-electing Kevin Bennett next year will be the priority task for TUSC in the North West.”
All TUSC supporters in the region were urged to support the movement in Warrington.
The final word went to Noreen Bailey, Salford and Eccles TUSC candidate and local anti-cuts campaigner, who said: “TUSC members gave me a sense of worth and a glimpse of a better future. That is what we are about”.
TUSC to target Warrington in the coming year
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