Name the date for a national demo against Labour austerity

Paula Mitchell, Socialist Party Executive Committee

In September, the TUC (Trades Union Congress) voted to call a national weekend demonstration against Labour austerity. Now we must fight to make that a reality.

The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) has called a lobby of the TUC General Council to demand it names the date – ideally Saturday 22 November, just before the Autumn Budget.

Since its inception, initiated by Bob Crow and the transport union RMT in 2006, the NSSN has not only supported workers in struggle, but has also brought reps and activists across different unions and sectors together to discuss the way forward. At its conferences and rallies, it brings together leaders and members in a dialogue, enabling members to put demands on their leaders; and arms trade unionists with the next steps to take back and discuss in their workplaces and union branches. It acts to mobilise the collective pressure of the members on the leadership of the trade union movement.

Strike waves

The NSSN has played a significant role many times – including during the 2022-23 strike wave, campaigning for the coordination that was needed, and against draconian Tory anti-union legislation.

Perhaps most significantly for today, the NSSN, campaigning alongside activists in unions such as the PCS civil service union, played a big role in mobilising and giving confidence to thousands of trade unionists to fight Tory austerity when it was introduced by the ‘ConDem’ (Tory-LibDem) coalition that took power in 2010.

The NSSN lobbied the TUC for a national demonstration against austerity,  spearheading regional demos in the autumn of 2010. That national demonstration took place in March 2011 – 750,000 strong. On that demo, the NSSN, with its leaflets, placards and stage, called for the next step: a 24-hour public sector general strike.

The NSSN collaborated with fighters in the membership and leadership of public sector unions. A strike of four unions took place in June. 700 trade unionists marched with the NSSN to demand the TUC name the date for joint industrial action. On 30 November 2011 that took place – two million workers took part in effectively a public sector general strike.

There, the NSSN argued for the next step: a 24-hour general strike bringing public and private sectors together. When the right-wing leaders of unions such as Unison pulled the plug on further action, the NSSN campaigned with the left in the PCS and others for a ‘coalition of the willing’ to fight on. Over a thousand trade unionists lobbied the TUC for a 24-hour general strike in September 2012 and the TUC voted to ‘consider’ it.

There is the potential for such a fight to develop again. The workers who took part in the strike wave celebrated the end of the Tory government and many may have had some hopes in Starmer’s government. But no wonder Starmer’s Labour is plummeting in the polls, when the government is continuing and intensifying Tory austerity. A bold lead from the top of the trade union movement could transform things. Although the trade union leaders have so far attempted to hold back struggle and cover for Starmer, that can change under the pressure of their members.

Starmer in power

After the election of Starmer in 2024, the NSSN warned that increased austerity was coming and that the workers’ movement would need to get ready to fight. The motions that went to TUC for a national demo against Labour austerity, from the TUC Disabled Workers and Trades Council conferences, originated from activists including Socialist Party members and NSSN supporters.

The NSSN lobbied the TUC on 7 September in support of that call. Socialist Party members and NSSN supporters have been moving ‘name the date’ resolutions and raising the issue where possible at union national executive meetings.

Lobbying the General Council to put that decision into practice is another important step in mobilising the pressure of members on their leaders to build the industrial and political fight necessary to defend workers from Labour’s attacks.

• Lobby the TUC General Council – 9am Wednesday 22 October at TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS