Paula Mitchell, Socialist Party executive committee
Well over one and a half million workers are currently engaged in strike action or are balloting; a movement is building that could drive the crisis-ridden Tories out and fight to end the cost-of-living crisis.
In the midst of this strike wave, on 2 November, the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the leading body of all the trade unions, organised a lobby of parliament and a rally, under the banner “General Election Now”.
The Socialist Party, along with the National Shop Stewards Network, had campaigned for this to be a mass midweek ‘Tories Out’ demonstration.
The trade unions have gained enormous authority, as an organised expression of anger at the government and the heavy price it is inflicting on working-class and middle-class people, and with the potential power to change the situation. 2 November could have been an important step in building that fight.
Unfortunately, this opportunity was missed, with low-key lobbying of MPs by groups of trade unionists and an evening rally. To its credit, the rail union RMT additionally organised a lunchtime protest against the threat of new anti-trade union laws.
In the rally, trade union leaders laid out the appalling situation facing working-class people. They pledged a fight, but unfortunately mostly only in general terms. Paul Nowak, incoming TUC general secretary, for example, rightly said we should “not just demand better, but fight for better”. Outgoing general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We will fight for our class”. But they made no clear intention to coordinate strike action to win “better”.
While Mark Serwotka, of civil service union PCS, said that they would talk to other unions to coordinate strike dates, none of the leaders concretely responded to the call from a teacher who said: “People want a general strike!”
Calls were made for a general election and for a government that will invest in public services, build homes for all, bring in a £15-an-hour minimum wage and tax the rich. Speaking on behalf of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab called for the democratic nationalisation of public services, with no compensation to the wealthy shareholders.
Only a handful of the speakers even hinted that Sir Keir Starmer’s New Labour party doesn’t agree with that programme. Jo Grady of the University and College Union warned Labour against “tough decisions”. Mick Lynch of the RMT and Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigades Union both demanded of Labour politicians that they stand with workers, responding to the sacking of shadow minister Sam Tarry after he did precisely that.
Onay Kasab spelt out the role of the Labour council in Coventry against its own bin workers, spending £4 million of council tax-payers’ money on a strike-breaking operation, and victimising union rep Pete Randle. He said the politicians have been asked which side are you on and the answer has come back: It’s not ours. “Our fight is in our hands”.
Mick Lynch went on to say: “There are no neutrals in these struggles. Every politician that we put in there as the organised working class has got to identify with the needs of the working people… So we can have a general election, but when we get a party that is supposed to represent the organised working class and the poor people of this country… they’ve got to commit to a programme in favour of working people, without any reservations whatsoever.”
The Socialist Party argues that one of the best ways to apply that pressure is for trade unionists and socialists to stand as candidates, so that a Starmer government is forced to ‘look over its left shoulder’. Trade union leaders like Mick who draw these conclusions about Starmer’s Labour should take the necessary steps to form a new party that does precisely commit to a programme in favour of working people.
Taking up Frances O’Grady’s response to anti-trade union laws – “see you in court” – Onay Kasab declared: “Never mind see you in court – see you on the picket line!” Mick Lynch similarly took up that point, saying that we cannot rely on the ruling class to do us a favour. “Our emancipation is in our hands… Every worker out, everyone in solidarity, and let’s change this society for the better.” Unfortunately, the mild lobby of parliament did not match up to the fight that is necessary.
Throughout the day, Socialist Party members discussed with workers attending and gave out leaflets that put a clear way forward: Tories out; coordinate strike action; for a new workers’ party.
Socialist Students members also gathered, to support and link up with trade unionists.
RMT members spoke to the Socialist
‘A proper strike, every union the same day’
“This protest is against the anti-trade union laws. The Tories want to introduce minimum service levels. It should be the minimum right of an individual to withdraw your labour. It’s a last resort, but if we’re not allowed to use our industrial strength, where does that leave us.
“I don’t want to lose a day’s wage – I want an effective strike that means we get around the table. Minimum service levels would make it longer. It would give the bosses the strength to try to impose things on us, and would just lengthen a strike.
“Some of the MPs need to look at themselves. What minimum service do they give us? Matt Hancock is off to the jungle, but will vote that we can’t go on strike!
“All unions should wake up and realise we have to stand together and fight – we’ll be stronger and we’ll achieve more. I don’t care if you call it a ‘national’ strike or ‘coordinated’. Let’s have a proper strike, every union the same day.”
Bill Kimm, Merseyside, RMT branch secretary
‘Candidates against those who are against us’
“We’re always making the call for a general strike, and that’s what’s needed. Various laws are in place to make that difficult, but if there are disputes it needs to be spread. We need common ground. For example, for us (in London Underground) they want to put our pension into the local government fund. We should be lining up with people in it and others being forced into it, to all fight together for better. If our current pension scheme is the best, we need to get other workers into it. Find common ground. And till then, coordinate. Get as many of the current disputes as possible to strike on the same day.
“In Keir Starmer we have a knight of the realm at the head of the Labour Party. We have a party, which is likely to be the next government, which is the status quo. Tory with a red rosette.
“We need to lay it out. What are our demands of Labour? What are his policies, how do they fit with our aspirations? What are his real intentions regarding the anti-trade union laws? So the call for a general election needs to be considered carefully. There should be candidates against those who work against the interests of trade unionists and working people. People like Sam Tarry and Jeremy Corbyn should stand.”
Glenroy Watson, Finsbury Park RMT branch; chair 2023 RMT national black and ethnic minority conference
