Chelmsford TUC

Delegates to Chelmsford TUC had a very hard working business meeting and concluded the evening by marking Fairtrade Fortnight with a tasting of Fairtrade products donated by The Co-operative. After receiving reports dealing with several workplace issues, including those from the fire service, National Express and Essex County Council, a full discussion took place about the financial problems facing the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust. It was also noted, with disappointment, that domestic violence courses within the Trust have been discontinued.

Delegates gave their backing to the Public & Commercial Services Union’s rwo-day strike and agreed to encourage delegates to join picket lines in support of their colleagues.

Arrangements were finalised for the Trades Council’s exhibition to mark International Women’s Day, the Workers’ Memorial Day event which will take place in Central Park at 1pm on 28 April, and the rally at Friends Meeting House on 1 May.

The evening’s guest speaker was Alun Morinan from Campaign against the Arms Trade, who gave a very interesting talk on its work and the arms industry. Alun said that CAAT was set up in 1974 and it works for the reduction and ultimate abolition of the international arms trade, together with progressive demilitarisation within arms-producing countries.

Its priorities are to end all our government’s financial support for arms exports; to end exports to oppressive regimes and those countries involved in armed conflict where social welfare is threatened by military spending, and to promote policies to orientate the UK economy towards civil production.

Alun said that CAAT has a network of local groups that play a vital role in communicating its message and strengthening its campaigns. There are also two special interest networks – the Christian Network and the Universities Network. He then outlined statistics relating to the top five international arms companies, the recipients of major conventional weapons and the suppliers of these weapons.

It was noted that the UK was always amongst the top five of the exporting nations. Delegates were told that only 55,000 arms export jobs are in the UK and that many of these are in the south-east, an area of traditionally high employment. Approximately 50% of BAE Systems staff are employed overseas.

About a third of all export credits, a form of insurance provided by the Government, is in excess of half a billion pounds every year. Alun suggested that this subsidy could be more effectively used by investing in other industries to create new highly skilled jobs and to ensure that public funds are used productively.

It was noted that Essex County Counci’s pension fund has a significant investment in the arms industry. In the wide-ranging discussion the long standing case against BAE Systems and corrupt practices was raised. The speaker answered a number of questions after which he was thanked for a very interesting talk.