THE Unite trade union leadership specialises in doubletalk.
One example is the way that it is verbally 100% opposed to the anti-trade union legislation that is being brought in, at the same time as it is limiting the opposition to it by forming a bloc with LibDem and Tory peers and MPs that are opposed to a few of its clauses.
In other words, Unite and the TUC would accept a modified anti-trade union bill and law. Now they are up to the same type of manoeuvre over the referendum on the EU!
In last Monday’s parliamentary debate, Labour leader Corbyn, known to be sceptical about the EU, was pressed by Labour’s right wing, including the trade union leaders, to support the Cameron referendum, saying that, ‘The Labour Party and the trade union movement are overwhelmingly for staying in …’
He also said: ‘Labour stands for a different approach. That is why our Members of the European Parliament are opposing the dangerous elements of the very secretive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which threatened to undermine national sovereignty, push the privatisation of public services, and drive down standards for workers, consumers, the environment and public health. Human rights ought to be part of that treaty. Indeed, I believe they should be a feature of all trade treaties.’
Cameron responded: ‘Where I disagree profoundly with the right hon. Gentleman is that I think these trade deals are good for Britain and that the sooner we do the deal with America the better.’
The deal is due to be signed and sealed shortly, ‘the sooner the better’ as far as Cameron is concerned.
The day after the debate, Unite said: ‘Unite, Britain’s biggest union, is sending all UK politicians new and explosive legal advice setting out the “real and serious risk” that the EU trade deal TTIP poses to the future of the NHS … The union is presenting the advice to the government at a meeting with the department for Business, Innovation and Skills today (Tuesday 23 February).’ This is a day after Cameron said the sooner that it is signed the better!
Unite’s Gail Cartmail said: ‘For too long politicians have done too little to protect the NHS from the threat of irreversible privatisation. Now there is no excuse. The legal advice is clear, TTIP is a real and serious risk to the NHS. Unless the UK gets robust protection, the US private health industry can override the will of Parliament on matters relating to our health.
‘David Cameron has the powers to prevent EU bureaucrats from handing rights over our NHS to America. The European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström has even offered to change the wording of the TTIP agreement as far back as February last year. If David Cameron does not use the power to exempt the NHS, they will not be able to plead ignorance when TTIP is used to attack the NHS.’
In fact, Cameron is desperate to sign up for irreversible NHS privatisation! Only trade union bureaucrats could imagine Cameron defending the NHS!!!!! This is the same bankrupt policy as looking to Tories to amend the anti-union laws!
Cartmail continued: ‘The deal, known as TTIP, is being negotiated behind the closed doors of the European Commission, between EU bureaucrats and delegates from the United States. It is the largest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated and threatens to make privatisation of the NHS irreversible by giving the profits of corporations precedence over national lawmakers. Secret courts could grant American multinationals, or any firm with American investors, new powers to sue the government if it ever attempted to take privatised health services back into public ownership.’
Unite insisted that Corbyn support Cameron’s referendum despite the fact that the first victim of it will be the NHS and the working class. Such conduct is usually called treachery! Unite’s members in the NHS and throughout industry must tell their leaders to change course at once, to vote against the EU and TTIP and defeat Cameron and his referendum.
In fact, the over six million trade union members must all act to defeat Cameron and his referendum in defence of the NHS. The trade unions must line up alongside the junior doctors and take strike action alongside them to bring down the Cameron government to go forward to a workers government and socialism throughout Europe.
