Democratic Prospects is a rank-and-file network of Prospect members, which organises independently to transform Prospect into a democratic, fighting union that stands in solidarity with all workers and oppressed groups around the world. We stand for…
A union run by members! We aim to give the membership democratic control over the union:
National Conferences and National Executive Committee elections should be held annually, to give members more opportunities to directly shape the union’s policies and hold its leadership to account.
Branches should directly control their funding and affiliations. Branches need resources to run effective campaigns shaped by members who are rooted in the industry and workplace. Their elected representatives should hold the pursestrings, not unelected union staff. Branches have a right to discuss politics and to have their own political voice independent of the national leadership.
Power to elected lay-reps and rank-and-file members! In our workplaces, elected lay-reps should represent members in front of the bosses. Unelected Prospect officials do not have a democratic mandate, and they should not have control over the union’s relationship with management. Every Prospect official who has influence over political and industrial decisions should be elected by members. They should take instruction from members. Members should have the power to recall and replace these officials if they wish.
All Prospect staff on a wage no higher than that of a skilled worker, to ensure that everyone working for the union, from full-time officers to the General Secretary, are fully incentivised to improve worker pay and conditions.
Full transparency, ensuring all decisions are minuted and published to members in a timely manner, including the recorded votes of NEC and SEC members. Members cannot exercise democratic control unless they are given information.
Prospect must fight proactively for its members interests, and must stop selling members short by making concessions to bosses or government that worsen conditions for members. It should recognise the opposing interests of worker and boss.
We must build a union with actual industrial power. That means:
Build density by actively campaigning on workplace and industrial issues.
Establishing a strike fund to make striking possible and so that our members can negotiate from a position of strength.
Solidarity is the cornerstone of the trade union movement! We aim to ensure that Prospect stands with all workers across industries and nations. We fight the systems of oppression that pit workers against one another, and stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people, women, migrants and people of colour. That means:
Countering the rise of the far-right and growing attacks on our marginalised members, and showing our unwavering support for our migrant and trans members in particular.
International solidarity, supporting workers in every country, as well as democratic struggles for self-determination and equality.
Cross-union solidarity, to strengthen our industrial power in workplaces and industries represented by multiple unions.
Disability rights, supporting disabled Prospect members, disabled workers, disabled people and carers more generally, against continued government attacks on their conditions.