Shop stewards network splits over anti-cuts tactics

The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) voted by a big majority at Satutrday's conference in London to set up its own national anti-cuts campaign.

The vote was 325 to 89 - with those in the majority organised around the Socialist Party. Those in favour argued that other organisations were not committed to fighting all cuts.

Supporters of the Coalition of Resistance and the Right to Work group insisted they were opposed to all cuts and that no further campaigns were needed.

An 11 person committee was elected to run the new anti-cuts campaign - including Alex Gordon, president of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT).

The conference was held at a school in Camden, London.

Afterwards many of the delegates who voted against the new anti-cuts campaign met in a nearby pub. Members of the NSSN steering committee who were present agreed to stand down. There was a proposal to start another network of activists based around a website