Sinnott's speech - text book trade unionism?
Sinnott's speech - text book trade unionism?

Steve Sinnott's speech at the end of the NUT conference was almost a text-book case of the limitations of trade unionism.

It was paced and populist. McAvoy is best remembered for a peevish rant at the end of conference
in Blackpool in which is denounced the delegates as an unrepresentative clique, saying "real
teachers were preparing and marking not coming to conference"
By contrast Sinnott was inclusive and flattering, even including Martin in his warm embrace of
his "former rivals and present colleagues". He also made use of his reputation for radicalism
overseas. In the past left reformists were always more radical the further they were from the UK
and he is no exception.
He was full for praise for the response of members to the pension campaign and emphasised that he
backed action to the hilt (lol) and then there was a shift in emphasis as he went on to
say the purpose of the action would be to get into a dialogue (he avoided the words social
partnership) with the government of mutual benefit to New Labour and the NUT.
Having got the audience on his side with the appeal to unity he knew he was not going to be
contradicted despite the fact this was flat contrary to the mood of much of the conference.
Trade unionism without a political perspective can only seek negotiation and compromise and it
does not recognise fundamental differences of interest.
Sinnott was soft on New Labour, soft on the causes of New Labour.
The vote to establish a political fund came dangerously close for New Labour loyalists like Steve
Sinnott. The next conference, after another year of New Labour, could easily see that vote
reversed.
(note Social Partnership - I was trying to remember where I had heard the phrase social partnership and eventually remembered J Ramsay Macdonald who said on the day he formed the National Government "tomorrow every duchess in London will want to kiss me." Nice for him, not so nice for the duchesses and disastrous to the unemployed who had their dole cut as the first act of "social partnership.")
http://www.socialistteachers.org.uk

Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey is a remarkable piece of architecture. I am not a Catholic, more of a born-again atheist, but Worth Abbey represents the realisation of an architectural idea which anybody can understand.
The brickwork, the windows, the sense of space even the colour of the carpet all conspire to give the impression that you are out of doors (I was there for a concert). And of course in the UK an outdoor concert would be fraught with problems with the weather, so Worth Abbey is a good venue. The acoustics are also first class.
And of course the subtext - the church has a hell of a lot of money!
The concert itself was very good, involving the country string and wind orchestras and the boys and girls choirs.
The program was very good but had the unfortunate centerpiece of a work by Nigel Hess. My immediate response to which was that I would cheerfully dig him up and throw stones at him. However I discovered that he is also the man who wrote the Maigret theme and numerous other TV program themes, so this piece of egregeous patronising tosh was an aberration

Very interesting research
I received this email today:

From: Alastair Weakley
Subject: [Air-l] Form an impression! (and help with my research....)

Hi

I am looking for academics with an interest in technology to take part
in an online survey about impression formation (my research is into the
sharing of implicit and tacit knowledge with people over the Internet).
I would be very grateful if you would consider sparing a few minutes of
your time to take part in the survey which is available here:
http://www.weakley.org.uk/experiment1/index.php

Many thanks for your help.

Alastair Weakley

Posted by derekmcmillan at 9:11 PM GMT

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