REPORT: The 1984 Federation of Labour Conference

Abstract

Federation of Labour Conferences are often reactive and negative forums - reactive to industrial events of the day and negative about, in particular, Government policies. Three years ago, for example, the Conference developed an anti the Muldoon Government theme yet did not take the next step, and actively support wholeheartedly the election of an alternative Government - presumably a Labour Government. (Harbridge, 1981 p.92). The 1984 Conference represented a significant change in approach. In the 3 major policy areas Conference not just came out with policies that were "things against" but also promoted in their place policies that were "things for". The first of these policy decisions was to campaign for a return to bargaining and for an end to the wage freeze. The second was to campaign for the election of a Labour Government at the next election and the end of the National Government. The third was for the development of new economic directives for the country -based on the principle of putting the interests of people ahead of the interests of the owners of property and capital. This last decision signified a realisation that, on its own, the election of a Labour Government would be no panacea for the problems faced by working people.