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SA AGM December 2nd, 3pm, Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Rd (near Kings Cross). There is one resolution:

RESOLUTION TO THE 2012 SA AGM FROM PETE McLAREN

At last year’s AGM, the Socialist Alliance re-iterated is commitments to left unity and the formation of a new Left Party based solidly within the working class. In doing so, it agreed a number of specific points, all subsequently being implemented to varying degrees:

  • We found out rather too easily that left organisations no longer supported the LULC, and appeared not to give the concept of left unity any priority. There was not even any support for our idea of creating a Left Notice Board
  • At our instigation, the CNWP agreed to “put itself on ice” whilst TUSC developed
  • We continued to work to build TUSC, and encouraged local TUSC branches to be set up, preferably with structure and membership
  • We campaigned within TUSC to ensure the principles agreed at the July 2011 TUSC Conference were put into practice, and our secretary stood as a TUSC anti cuts candidate
  • Individual SA members worked within TUSC to implement the agreed policy of it broadening out its structure at national level to welcome representation from local TUSC branches as well as trade union branches, political organisations and independents supportive of TUSC, with varying degrees of success
  • SA members have worked hard within the ISN to develop it as a campaigning organization within TUSC
  • We have not (yet) worked for the SA to become a faction within TUSC, and we have remained as the SA with our members heavily immersed within the ISN and/or TUSC

In the next period, the SA agrees, in its limited way given its declining membership, to continue campaigning for left unity and for a new Left Party based solidly within the working class.

Specifically, the SA will:

  • Continue working to build the ISN as a campaigning organization offering a warm welcome to independent socialists
  • Work within TUSC to help move it forwards in as democratic a way as possible, and, in particular, to:
    • Ensure that it develops a structure which is inclusive of representatives of TUSC branches, supportive left organizations and supportive trade union branches, alongside independent socialists, at all levels
    • Help devise a method of defining how that representation would accurately reflect the numbers of TUSC supporters in each organization
    • Initiate discussions as to how leading left trade unionists from TUs not ready to commit to TUSC can continue to play a significant role in its development
    • Consider how trade unions and political organizations could be encouraged to formally affiliate to TUSC
    • Suggest TUSC adopts an individual membership structure which, alongside any affiliations, and inclusions of supporting left organizations, trade unions and individual trade unionists, enshrines the principle of One Person One Vote with sufficient checks to prevent any one group or block dominating the whole, and acknowledges the need to reflect the numbers of TUSC supporters within organizations/unions

In addition, and quite separately, the SA will amend its constitution to state that, although the NEC will continue to meet at least three times a year, two of those meetings could be on line through email discussion. The AGM and at least one NEC meeting per year will continue to be face to face as usual

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT from Pete McLaren

Change Clause C5 to replace ‘The National Executive will meet at least three times a year’ with

“The NEC will continue to meet at least three times a year, two of those meetings could be on line through email discussion. The AGM and at least one NEC meeting per year will continue to be face to face as usual”