Guest Speaker Jane Loftus, President, CWU

Jane said that she knows this is her home -- the real Respect. The postal dispute highlighted problems with New Labour and old Labour. £23 billion has been given to Northern Rock but we are told there is no money for public services. Brown is continuing the policies as Blair. Brown will attack workers. New and old layers are active, trades councils are being re-launched, the OFFU meetings across the country are a great success. The CWU is punching its weight in the political arena. The settlement is out to ballot. The attacks will continue on the proposed changes and pensions but postal workers will fight back. Respect is on the picket lines, postal workers are looking for who will represent them. Democracy is important. The debate about where we go at this conference is the only way to go. Great councillors and trade union leaders have to be accountable.

Jane said that it had been agreed to postpone the OFFU day school planned for 24th November so that trade unionists and socialists could support the Karen Reissmann demonstration in Manchester. The will be an OFFU day school in London on 2nd February. There will be workshops on a wide range of topics: organising in unions; recruitment; international work; wages don't cause inflation; agency and casual workers.