ENGAGE - ARCHIVE

Here’s a thing that has cropped up in a number of LAs. Lots of new faces have turned up at meetings in the last few days and supported resolutions against the boycott. But these people are not, generally, AUT activists, and they haven’t involved themselves in the grind of casework, negotiation and representation. Those that have, perhaps, support the boycott more than the new faces.

So here is a fundamental principle: all members of the AUT count as one, and no-one counts for more than one. Eminent professors count for one. Library staff count for one. Junior lecturers count for one. Course managers and administrators count for one. Inactive members count for one. Activists count for one. There is no space for an activist test in a democratic union. I’ve been a pretty inactive member of the AUT for the last thirteen years. Steven Rose has recently rejoined. Sue Blackwell has done important work in Birmingham AUT. But none of this matters: we are all members of the same union with rights to democratic representation. We all count as one.

There have been overwhelming votes, and one or two close votes. But the vast majority of LA votes have been decisively against the boycott

Some good trade unionists will think – why don’t these people get more involved? But we are involved: we care about the terrible mistakes our union has made - in our name. We respect the work that has been done by members of local executives. But we also insist on being heard, and being properly represented at the Special Council.

There is a genuine members’ revolt against the decisions made at Eastbourne. And it will just increase the damage to the AUT if the voices of the membership are misrepresented on the 26th.

To Representative Members of Council (and that’s what you are)

Represent your members’ views

That’s democracy.

Jon Pike
Open University