Solidarity – The Union for British Workers

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Solidarity – The Union for British Workers is a United Kingdom trade union formed in late 2005 that is closely associated with the British National Party and Third Way. It is named after the Polish trade union Solidarnosc.

Solidarity recruitment advertisement

1 Stated aims of Solidarity
- 1.1 "One big union"
2 Connections to BNP
3 External links

[edit] Stated aims of Solidarity

According to documents lodged with the Certification Office, which regulates matters concerning trade unions, Solidarity aims to "improve the relations between employers and employees throughout all industries served by the union"; "to protect, assist and promote the working and living conditions of the citizens of the British Isles"; '"resist and oppose all forms of institutional union corruption"; "promote freedom within and without the Trades Union movement, protecting and promoting freedom of belief, thought and speech, irrespective of political and religious affiliation or creed".

The documents make no mention of race[1], but Solidarity's president has stated that membership is open to people of all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds.[2] A Statement on the Solidarity Website backs this view: "Our aim in Solidarity is to unite all workers, from all racial, religious and political backgrounds".[3]

According to a member of its management team, the union is likely to contribute funds to the BNP via political levy (see "Envisioned fundraising role" below) but this seems to have been vetoed by other political elements involved.

[edit] "One big union"

Solidarity anti-globalisation recruitment advert

Solidarity recruits from all industrial sectors and professions. Solidarity has already stated that it has no plans to apply for affiliation to the TUC and will not be bound, therefore, by agreements not to poach members from other unions.

The Solidarity Website states: "Solidarity recruits from all industrial sectors and professions. We have members in the health service, education, railways, construction to give just a few examples. We believe in ‘One Big Union’."

"The idea is not new. In 1834 Robert Owen formed the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union in an attempt to unite all the workers into one Union. Initiatives for One Big Union have occurred across the world. Most notable was the attempt of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) to organise One Big Union in the United States, Canada, and Australia and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) in Spain. We have no particular ideological affinity with either group, nor are we affiliated, but like them we see the sense of organising across trades and professions." [4]

[edit] Connections to BNP

[edit] Management team connections to BNP

Patrick Harrington, who replaced Clive Potter as chairman of Solidarity, is a member of the political party Third Way (UK), and not a member of the BNP. He is, however, a veteran of far-right politics in the UK, who formerly served on the leadership of the National Front; and maintains some contact with his former NF colleague and current BNP chairman Nick Griffin (see entry on Harrington for more details).

According to the BNP news release, the other members of Solidarity's management team are:

"John Walker expelled from the T&G, Clive Potter expelled from Unison, Jay Lee expelled from ASLEF but who received a five figure compensation settlement and Lee Barnes a former shop steward in the T&G"

All of these men are members of the BNP's Advisory Council or have stood for the party in general elections:

John Walker is National Treasurer of the BNP.[5]

Clive Potter, Solidarity's original chairman, stood as a candidate for the BNP in Leicestershire North West in the 2005 General Election.[6]

Jay Lee stood as a candidate for the BNP in Bexleyheath & Crayford in the 2005 General Election.[7]

Lee Barnes is the BNP's Head of Legal Affairs, who writes a column for the party's website.[8]

[edit] Envisioned fundraising role

In a report in the newspaper Wales on Sunday, John Walker, who is a member of Soldarity's management team and National Treasurer for the BNP, said that the union is likely to contribute funds to the party.

"There probably will be a political levy at some stage to the BNP just as other unions raise money for Labour. It is quite possible and feasible that when Solidarity becomes fully functional some element of funds raised will be donated to the BNP, but that will have to be decided through consultation with the membership." [9]

Solidarity's president, Patrick Harrington, responded in a letter to the newspaper that this was Walker's "personal opinion", that the recipients of union grants would be decided directly by members, and that members could opt out of the political fund. [10]

[edit] Allegations of front status

Allegations that Solidarity is a BNP front were first made by Searchlight magazine on the Stop the BNP website on 24 January 2006 [11] and repeated in "Alleged front group for BNP wins union status" by Barrie Clement, The Independent, February 1 2006.

The BNP deny that Solidarity is a 'front'. Instead they argue that Solidarity enjoys BNP support because it does not politically vet members and opposes globalisation. They have publicised the organisation on their website.

Solidarity's chairman, Patrick Harrington, has also denied that Solidarity is a BNP front in a statement on the website of his party, Third Way (UK), adding that "Anyone who supports workers rights is welcome and that includes both members of the BNP and Communists." [12] This latter claim seems to contrast with the BNP's statement that Solidarity is "a group of ... victims of Marxist persecution in the workplace" and that "[t]he Marxists in charge of the unions have only themselves to blame for the creation of this new union."[13] Harrington argues that the BNP position represents their interpretation and that "The Solidarity Union does not bar members on account of race, religion, sexuality or political opinion."[14] The Harrington viewpoint appears to be the official line as the first bulletin of Solidarity stated: "the established Union or Unions will seek to present us as a ‘BNP front’. This is as a result of our principled stand against political vetting or discrimination. We believe the function of a Union is to represent the interests of workers. The easiest way to disprove this allegation, however, is to recruit from as diverse a base as possible. Our Union is open to all. We already have a diverse membership." [15]