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'We need to rebuild our industrial strength'
Marcus Barnett speaks to the CWU's DAVE WARD, one of Britain’s most thoughtful and outspoken union leaders, about Brexit betrayal and beating the Blairites

“My trade unionism has always come from my workplace experiences and a sense of never being in awe of people,” Dave Ward tells me.

After having fronted the Communication Workers Union (CWU) for four years now, it is clear that there are not many who Ward would bow to. After having been brought up at a very young age to “see when something’s wrong,” the fanatical Chelsea supporter and lifelong socialist has fought his way through London’s postal depots to emerge as one of Britain’s most thoughtful – and outspoken – union figures.

Following the union’s recent conference in Bournemouth, Ward’s recent concerns have been focused on meaningfully fighting the challenges the labour movement faces. After winning his position in 2015, he has overseen an overhaul in the union’s structures, and has seen it grow in stature and political weight into being a union with a serious ability to make progressive interventions in the labour movement.

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