There is enormous anger against Labour austerity and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Trade union leaders are beginning to respond to pressure from members for national strike action. So far, there have been flurries of local action, including recently across West Yorkshire.
Building rank-and-file solidarity across the trade union movement is a vital part in maintaining momentum as struggle ebbs and flows, cohering working-class anger. The NSSN conference provides a forum for trade unionists to share experiences of workplace organising and discuss how best to build the fightback, including among new layers who will be drawn into the workers’ movement and develop as activists.
There are burning questions for the workers’ movement to discuss: how can austerity be defeated? How best to oppose war and fight against racism? What is needed to develop an independent political voice for the working class? The NSSN conference will be an opportunity to discuss both how we can build the fight in each of our unions, and how we can campaign for coordination to take the fight to the bosses and their system of austerity, war and division.
Ali Mansfield
