tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601510630767929201.post7989531024503075161..comments2024-01-11T14:49:22.005+00:00Comments on Martin Powell-Davies - teacher, trade unionist and socialist: ACTION IN JANUARY? – A DANGEROUS DELAYMartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00561427714319716345noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5601510630767929201.post-17431841192660154722007-07-11T21:20:00.000+01:002007-07-11T21:20:00.000+01:00MartinI agree with everything Martin says. As a de...Martin<BR/>I agree with everything Martin says. As a delegate at the last conference I remember the feeling of excitement and solidarity that was generated by the UNANIMOUS yes vote in the pay campaign debate. There is a real danger of that momentum being completely lost, (it's already been badly damaged by the executive's dithering - yes, Steve Sinnott I think you ARE dithering!) and the membership being disenchanted by the lack of adherence to mandated policy. <BR/> <BR/>It seems we have an executive that are happy to associate themselves with charismatic leaders from other unions when it suits their purposes for posturing at conference, but will not take the tough decisions that might interfere with their manoeuvring to be in our new PM's pocket.<BR/><BR/>Gordon Brown must be laughing all the way to the Cabinet Office at the fact that one more potential fly in his political ointment has had its wings clipped. It's a damned shame that the wings have been clipped by our own executive! Maybe they have an 'Icarus' complex - they're too frightened that they'll fly into the sun if they allow any kind of take-off!<BR/> <BR/>It's more than time that this union had the leadership its membership wants and deserves - one that remembers that DEMOCRATIC means that you do what the majority (in this case an overwhelming majority) of the electorate directs.<BR/> <BR/>If Martin's entry into the vice-presidential election fray has the effect of re-focussing the executive to this end, then it's a hugely successful campaign. I suspect it won't, unfortunately, in which case I hope the membership (and Left alliances) get behind him and elect a vice-president that is committed to carrying out MEMBERS' policy rather than their own, self-serving, watered down compromises. <BR/> <BR/>On the subject of 'compromise' - I can almost hear Steve Sinnott protesting that - as leader of a major National Union, he has to be prepared to make statesmanlike compromises to further the cause of his members. Yes, Steve - bit there's a huge difference between statesmanlike compromise and timid compliance - and I think you've crossed the line!<BR/> <BR/>David Plews, NUT rep, Deptford Park Primary School, Lewisham, LondonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com