Len McCluskey,the general secretary of Unite, uses the jobs argument to stifle debate on Trident at the Labour conference, and while promoting a trade union case for renewal (Blow to Corbyn as Labour delegates bar Trident vote,28 September). The leader of a major union should be aware of the body of independent research that demonstrates how alternative public expenditure in civil industries, such as renewable energy, or can generate far more employment than in an arms sector which continues to shed jobs. For example,BAE Systems, the leading UK arms manufacturer, or responsible for the construction of Trident submarines,has reduce its UK workforce by 50000 over the past 10 years.
Instead of representing the broader labour movement that has historically campaigned for internationalism and disarmament, the trade union leadership continues to peddle the jobs threat in a way that can only succor prop up militarist arguments for Trident and the arms trade. Where are the union leaders of the calibre of Ron Todd, or the former general secretary of the TGWU,who actively supported arms conversion and could articulate the benefits to working people from disarmament and alternative civil production for socially useful purposes?
Steven Schofield
BradfordContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com