Gloria Hanson from Greater London opened a motion on Nicaragua by reminding delegates that, “compared to some, we still have it easy”.
During the revolution in the 1980s, massive gains were made for ordinary Nicaraguans, from literacy to health care.
But subsequent right-wing governments, backed by the US, have turned back the tide.
Yet despite anti-trade union practices – including for example one-day contracts – Ms Hanson said that membership is rising, particularly among young workers.
Delegates voted to:
- ask their branches to affiliate to the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group;
- encourage regions to adopt twinning arrangements with Nicaraguan sister union UNE regions.
On a busy morning of international debates, conference also passed a motion calling for the decolonisation of LGBT equality.
Katrina Gilman for the national LGBT committee explained that linking aid to such things as LGBT equality can cause resentment, and feed a view of homosexuality as a ‘western perversion’ that is being foisted on non-western nations.
The very people that such conditionality might seek to help can be further harmed by this approach to aid.
And NEC speaker Isobel McVicar described aid conditionality as “informal colonialism”. Conference agreed to raise the issue with the government and with the Labour Party.
Delegates also backed an emergency motion on the Bangladeshi garment workers, after the collapse of the Dhaka factory in April, with a death toll of 1,127.
However, some of the companies who had clothes made there are refusing any independent regulation of health and safety, explained John McLaughlin of Tower Hamlets. These include Wal-Mart.
“The wealth generated by this sector has made little improvement to the lives of these garment workers,” said a speaker for the NEC.