RMT affiliation to the Labour Party: Branch and Regional Council Consultation

PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS CONSULTATION BY 18th MAY 2018

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD NO LATER THAN 1st JUNE 2018

To: All Branches, Regional Councils and Regional Organisers

22st March 2018
P7
Circular No. NP060/1

Dear Colleague

RMT affiliation to the Labour Party: Branch and Regional Council Consultation

As you will be aware from previous correspondence the 2017 RMT General Meeting noted that:

“Jeremy Corbyn has now twice been overwhelmingly elected leader of the Labour Party and the General Election saw the popular embrace of a left programme which is now officially Labour Party policy. Not only is the socialist leadership of the Labour Party now in a very strong position the left in the Labour Party in general is in its strongest position for over a generation.  Just as it was in the interests of our members to support Jeremy Corbyn being leader of the Labour Party and to support Labour at the election, it now in the interests of our members for the union to do all it can to support, defend, and develop the socialist advances that have been made both within the Labour Party and the country as a whole.  

How we do this however is a matter debate, with a number of strongly held and honourable views. It is also important that we seek the maximum possible involvement of Branches and Regional Councils. Therefore we recommend that there is a consultation with Branches and Regional Councils on whether the significant socialist advances within the Labour Party described above should be defended and advanced by the union affiliating to Labour, or not, with a report back to a Special General Meeting”

Following union discussions with the Labour Party last year and the NECs subsequent decision to raise a series of issues with the Labour Party as requested by 2017 AGM a further meeting with the Labour Party took place earlier this month. Following those discussions we received a letter from the Labour Party dated 13th March 2018 inviting the union to affiliate to the Labour Party which is supported by the Labour leadership.  The union also received from the Labour Party a response to the issues we have raised and these are contained in the attached “RMT Labour Party affiliation discussion paper.”

To meet the requirements of the 2017 AGM that this consultation is properly informed Branches and Regional Councils are asked to use the  “RMT Labour Party affiliation discussion paper” document and the NEC have emphasised that this document is for members only.

The NEC are urging Branches and Regional Councils to respond to the consultation and hold special meetings as necessary and  encourage the widest possible involvement of our members. Branches and Regions may use the attached response form if that assists.

The NEC has asked that Branches and Regional Councils respond by no later than Friday 18th May 2018 to enable a report back to the Special General Meeting which will take place no later than 1st June 2018.

I will keep members advised of developments.

Yours sincerely 
 

Mick Cash                                                      
General Secretary