Arguing the case for a 24-hour general strike

The Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) passed a motion at its committee urging the TUC to set the date for a one-day general strike in line with the POA motion carried at Congress.

I didn't feel too optimistic about getting it passed when members asked questions about the legality of it.

I explained that so many unions have ongoing disputes that it would be possible to have a legal partial general strike.

Also that it is unlikely that the law could be used if all unions took action anyway. And if there wasn't a large number of workers demanding a general strike the motion wouldn't have been passed.

The motion was passed unanimously and everyone present signed the NSSN petition asking the TUC to name the day.

Clive Walder , Birmingham, Black Country and Worcester branch CWU, personal capacity

NUT executive seeks to build coordinated action

At the last meeting of the NUT national executive, a motion was unanimously agreed that started to build on the motions passed at TUC Congress supporting coordinated national strike action.

The NUT agreed to write to other TUC affiliates to explore the practicalities of building joint action on pay, pensions and jobs.

The motion also called on NUT negotiators to firm up and clarify with the other main school teachers' union NASUWT how to build from the action short of strike action that both the NUT and NASUWT are engaged in at present.

The resolution calls for dates to be set for a programme of national strike action.

This will be vital given the serious further attacks that could soon be coming - on top of the attacks already faced - from the Public Service Pensions Bill and from the attacks on pay likely to be included in the report to soon be issued by the School Teachers' Review Body.

No specific proposed dates for action were agreed, but progress on these discussions will be reported to the next executive meeting in early November.

From the blog of Martin Powell-Davies: electmartin1.blogspot.co.uk/

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We now see it as vital that we reflect the mood that exists for the TUC to act urgently on the general strike motion.

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The model motion, letter and petition from the National Shop Stewards Network can be used to build this campaign.

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Model resolution for a 24-hour general strike

For trade union and anti-cuts organisations. When this is passed, please tell the Socialist: editors@socialistparty.org.uk

This [body] welcomes the overwhelming vote at this year's TUC Congress in support of the POA motion. It called for the unions to take "coordinated action where possible with far-reaching campaigns including the consideration and practicalities of a general strike."

We are alarmed that a relentless barrage of even more austerity cuts is coming down the line, and will continue into the foreseeable future.

Millions of workers, young people, the sick and disabled people face a lifetime of severe hardship through cuts to pay, conditions, benefits and services - the horrendous situation facing people in Greece could be our future if we don't stop the Con-Dem attacks.

We believe austerity cuts must be stopped, and that the labour movement has the potential to force a massive U-turn from this Coalition government of the rich, if our trade unions were to organise action decisively together.

We urge all members, friends and families to come to the TUC demo on 20 October. Let's campaign so this day is seen as the beginning of a new stage of action.

We urge all unions participating in the demo to follow up with a further coordinated 24-hour national strike of both public and private sector workers, making direct calls to youth and students, the unemployed, and community campaigns to join in.

We, therefore, agree that this branch will organise a local/regional meeting to discuss how to progress these ideas put forward by the PCS and POA at the TUC.

We also call on the national executive of our union to call on the TUC general council to urgently meet to name the date for the biggest possible coordinated strike.