Building a network of trade union activists across the country

Support for the network from trade union bodies; click here

Feedback invited - constructive and critical

The Network held its third Annual Conference in London on Saturday 27 June (see above). Did you attend? What did you think of our efforts? The new Steering Committee and Officers will be meeting in the next couple of months, and all suggestions for improving the NSSN will be considered. Email us on info@shopstewards.net

For justice in the workplace, workers' rights, solidarity and equality - trade union freedom

Disputes and Campaigns

Click here for day-to-day news of pickets, marches, etc. and and here for news about disputes and campaigns

Events

Shropshire and Telford Trades Union Council

Rally: Justice for the Shrewsbury 24

4 July 2009

Assemble from 10.30am onwards for march at 11am Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate car park SY2 6AE. Rally next to the monument outside Shrewsbury Council offices at noon. Drinks, entertainment and live music in the Unison Club from 1.30pm onwards.

Guest speakers: Ricky Tomlinson, Rob Williams (Linamar Factory Convenor), PCS Union, Shrewsbury Justice Campaign

Look on http://www.pcsshropshire.selfip.org/newspage/?p=973 for more information

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Are you a supporter of the NSSN? Do you want to build a conference or other event in your region/sector/union?

Then get in touch with us! NSSN has a substantial contact list and e-list of all those who have shown interest since our founding conference in July 2007. We can 'slice and splice' the list along the lines above. Our officers can also get in touch with contacts in case you prefer not to approach them directly. Email us on info@shopstewards.net

"If we are to roll back the tide of privatisation and war, rebuilding the grass roots of our movement is essential"

Bob Crow - General Secretary RMT

Trade union reps from across Britain gathered in London last year to discuss founding a grass roots network capable of mobilising trade unionists to fight for workers' rights. Called by the RMT transport workers' union the meeting was supported by the TGWU, CWU, PCS, NUJ, NUM, CYWU, FBU, POa and BFAWU.

On 7 July, a Founding Conference brought together hundreds of shop stewards and other trade union activists. Successful workshop discussions enabled delegates to examine the range of problems facing trade unionists today - and plan for the future. As well as building solidarity with current disputes - with postal workers, civil servants, on pay and pensions, defending public services, the conference set itself the task of organising a range of regional meetings to extend grass roots organisation.

Network Documents	Reports from the Second Annual Conference, London, 28 June 2008 Building the shop stewards movement - A discussion document Conference statement (2007) Fighting Privatisation - workshop introduction (2007) Statement on the Lindsey Oil Refinery dispute (April 2009)
Network Bulletins	The Network Steering Group has set up an information list to circulate details of our conference and solidarity activity. To subscribe to the list send an email to shopstewardsnet-subscribe@lists.riseup.net Bulletin No.1 - Invitation to send delegates April 2008 Newsletter
	Report from East Anglia organising meering, click here.
Contact us	For further information get in touch at info@shopstewards.net

Restore Trade Union Rights! Click here for RMT statement on European Court of Justice rulings

Publications

What's Happening? The Truth About Work ... & The Myth of Work - Life Balance Click here for information and order form

Flying Pickets: The 1972 Builders' Strike and the Shrewsbury Trials Click here for information

An Account of the Labour and Socialist Movement in Bristol, by Samson Bryher (1929). Republished 2008. Click here for information and ordering.

Trade union history

Democracy and central control in union mergers: Ernie Bevin and the creation of the T&GWU. Record of a workshop held at the South West TUC Regional Conference, Croyde Bay, Devon, 26 April 2008. For the report, click here.

News from the US

Report of a conference organised by Labor Notes (US). Click here for the text.

Download and print the leaflet about the network (includes affiliation form)

Sponsor our work - suggested minimum £50
(Cheques made payable to "National Shop Stewards Network")
Send money and details to -
NSSN, PO Box 58262, London N1P 1ET

National Shop Stewards Network – Founding Basis

A National Shop Stewards Network should be set up on the following basis:

1. Participation and support is a matter for individual TUC affiliated trade unions.

2. The National Shop Stewards Network will be made up of bona fide rank and file TUC affiliated trade union workplace representatives. The participation of full time trade union officials would be as observers with speaking rights.

3. It would not encroach on the established organisation and recruitment activity or interfere in the internal affairs and elections of TUC affiliated trade unions or the functions of the TUC.

4. The aim of the Network would be

• To offer support to TUC affiliated trade unions in their campaigns and industrial disputes;

• To offer support to existing workplace committees and trades councils.

We support the establishment of a steering group of ten trade unionists from this conference. The role of this steering group would be to organise a formal delegate conference in the spring of 2007, open to all TUC affiliated trade union shop stewards, to establish a National Shop Stewards Network as outlined on the basis of points 1-4 above.