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UPDATES
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Challenging New Labour Going to Acas will delay, but cannot postpone for long, the moment when the FBU and other trade unionists have to face up to the following:
Trade union leaders, the TUC and 'left' MPs fool nobody but themselves when they insist that New Labour is some mistake, or that a "few elements" are leading Labour astray. Their calls for workers to "recapture" Labour and return it to some mythical golden age is a dangerous delusion about the true, capitalist nature of this government. By contrast, more and more rank-and-file members recognise the need to create alternative political representation to advance their hopes for the future. Firefighters want their contribution to society recognised with a living wage and to ensure that changes to working practices are not at the expense of either their jobs or the communities they serve. None of this is on offer in Britain Plc, a country driven by commercial considerations and profit margins. This should stimulate the debate on the building of a political voice beyond New Labour and what kind of society we want to live in. The TUC is desperate for Acas to show that it is somehow possible to do business with New Labour and avoid confrontation. But Acas cannot deliver a fair deal for the firefighters and the FBU is therefore posed with resuming the struggle. The FBU cannot defeat New Labour on its own. It should call on other union leaders to turn their fine words into supportive strike action. The challenge is one for the whole trade union movement. Movement
for a Socialist Future
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