Statement by STUC General Secretary
Grahame Smith to STUC Congress
Given what has happened over the past
week it is understandable that people
want to look back - particularly those
who suffered at the hands of the Conservative
Government's of '80s and '90s:
- the workers who lost their jobs;
- the communities devastated;
- those like us in the trade union movement
who had our values of unity, solidarity
and community denigrated and dismissed
by those without compassion, who value
greed and self, who promote division
and discord, who hold the poor in contempt
and worship the free market.
Apparently - 'There is no such thing
as society!'
Reflection on the past is no bad thing
if it helps determine how past mistakes
can be avoided and progress can be made.
The demise of one right-wing ideologue,
however iconic, is of less importance
to us than confronting and overcoming
the policies of the current breed and
debunking the myth that weak unions,
minimal employment right, privatisation
and deregulation are the prerequisites
of economic success.
The real legacy of the 80's and 90's
is the UK Government of today.
Our task is to look forward, to move
forward.
Despite all their efforts to destroy
us, to marginalise us, to cast us as
irrelevant, we are still here and we
are still fighting and we will prevail.
It is said that history, is written
or rewritten by those with the power
to do so.
No one writes our history or determines
our future but us!
It is important to study history but
it is more important to make it!
Congress, of course we must focus on
the future - but lest WE forget!
STUC video to follow
See also http://unisonactive.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/lest-we-forget.html
17 April 2013
