AWL internal documents

For all the contributions, click here .

By Martin Thomas This is a reply to comments on the Labour Party question by Chris Ford and Tom Rigby posted on the awl-chat list in January. I've reproduced Chris's and Tom's comments below for easy reference. For previous rounds in this debate, click here and here . First, Chris says he is "having difficulty thinking of anyone else" (other than Tom, I suppose) who holds that nothing has changed in the Labour Party. No, says Chris, the question is whether the process of change has "reached such a stage" as completely to rule out Marxist intervention in the Labour Party. But that isn't the...

On the TGWU-Amicus merger, by Tom Rigby Critical comments, by Martin Thomas On the TGWU-Amicus merger , by Tom Rigby A year ago we produced this draft of an article/statement of position on the issue of the then TGWU/GMB/AMICUS merger. In drawing up this document I consulted widely including with Jim D and especially with Tom C. The text represented our agreed position. Here are a few points from the statement of position followed by an assessment of where we now stand on the issues. The assessment is in bold. The assessment is agreed by myself and Jim. 1) This first extract deals with the...

Discussion document adopted at the AWL National Committee 2 December 2006. A large part of our whole effort is about organising ourselves to be at the right place at the right time - at the right meetings and demonstrations, in the right places for public agitation and paper sales, on the right doorsteps to talk with contacts. To operate well, we need a number of activists who give their full time to political activity, or who take part-time jobs so that they can give most of their time to political activity. Most of our activists have to work for an ordinary wage. But the time they spend...

By Stan Crooke At the Amicus-TGWU-GMB caucus at the recent AWL trade union school I was asked to write something re. why we should oppose the possible/likely merger of these three unions. INTRODUCTION: The approach of the AWL, and its predecessors, to union mergers has not always been one of support. There have been instances when we have opposed mergers on the grounds that it would represent a step backwards for the members of the unions concerned (e.g. the adoption of a more right-wing rule book than that which existed previously in one or more of the unions taking part in the merger)...

Draft motion on abortion rights from AWL EC 30/09/05; counter-motion from Kate A; discussion contribution from Cathy N; response from Kate A.; response from Cathy N. The AWL National Committee will have a discussion on abortion rights at its meeting on 05/11/05. AWL and its forerunners have published many articles on abortion rights, and participated strongly in many big campaigns on the issue. We've never had a formal policy motion before. There was a small debate in our predecessor organisation Workers' Fight in late 1973 - triggered by a few comrades who were doubtful about abortion rights...