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In the past, Morning Star and before them Daily Worker conferences have provided a broad forum for trade unionists, socialists and peace activists to exchange ideas and debate the key campaigning priorities of the hour. They’ve also been a great chance for the readers of this reader-owned paper to come together to discuss how we can better promote, build and improve it.
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PROGRESSIVES from across Wales’s political parties met at the weekend to discuss how to advance policies to help the working class and promote peace.
The Cymru Wales Morning Star Readers and Supporters’ Conference was held in Cardiff, sponsored by Unison Cymru and Unite Wales.
Star editor Ben Chacko said the left and labour movement faced a new political landscape in Wales following the Senedd elections in May.
Helping Plaid develop progressive policies could turn Wales into a flagship to be used by a militant trade union movement across Britain, he argued.
Unison Cymru’s Jess Turner said that, during the Senedd election, the union had engaged its members on core issues for school support staff and members working in the care sector.
She said: “Our campaign had three aims: reduce Reform’s gains in the Senedd, get public service workers to turn out and try to push Unison’s policies.”
Ms Turner said this was an approach she would raise on TUC Cymru’s general council for next year’s council elections, as all unions doing this would make a difference.
University and College Union Cymru’s Gareth Lloyd said it was crucial to take the hate out of campaigning. He also emphasised that Plaid had to keep its promise to meet the unions.
Plaid Cymru Senedd member Kiera Marshall warned that Reform now has 34 Senedd seats and has been recruiting staff as well, which will help them in next year’s council elections.
She said: “It’s crucial that we work together to improve the lives of people across Wales, and I want unions to come to us with ideas and push the government further.”
Peace was discussed and the conference heard from community campaigner Mary Winter, PSC Cymru’s Bethan Sayed, CND Cymru’s Jill Evans and Welsh Green Party leader and Senedd member Anthony Slaughter.
Ms Evans said CND Cymru was asking not whether Wales could afford to diversify away from militarism, but whether Wales could afford not to.
Ms Sayed explained that PSC Cymru had persuaded many Senedd members to sign a pledge for Palestine, adding: “We now want them to stand up for the issues that are within their control — boycott, divestment and flying the Palestinian flag above our Senedd.”
Mr Slaughter said he was keen to work with progressives to ensure the Senedd delivered change for the better.
