The Socialist 8 January 2020

Climate change. Poverty. War. Capitalism must go - fight for socialism

Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil

Trump attacks Iran - London protest: We need workers' action against war and austerity

Build union resistance to Tory attacks

Defend the right to strike

Defend the right to strike! - RMT and NSSN lobby parliament

2020: Class struggles and capitalist instability will intensify

Labour leadership election

Capitalism must go - fight for socialism

Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'

Tory minimum wage hike not enough

Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!

Children need intensive care? We don't care!

Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output

Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist

International wave of revolt continues

What next after the general election, for PCS and the left

Council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands

West Midlands RMT guards jobs saved

All we want for Christmas is a no-strings pay rise

Anti-academy strike action in Newham

Socialist Party members out on the streets

£50,240 - a new fighting fund record

Avenue of trees saved!

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For the right to strike! RMT & NSSN lobby parliament. 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

Defend the right to strike!

RMT and NSSN lobby parliament

Socialist Party reporters

The Queen's Speech in parliament on Thursday 19 December included an outrageous attack by Boris Johnson's new government on the right to strike.

Johnson intends to introduce minimum service levels for the running of transport during industrial action - an attempt to stop transport workers from having the right to withdraw their labour.

Trade union members from the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers' union (RMT) demonstrated outside parliament in central London as part of this start of a fightback against this attack, alongside the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), Socialist Party members and others.

The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) had moved its planned 1pm demonstration to instead start at 12.30pm, to coincide with the one called by the RMT, in order to have maximum unity and turnout.

John McDonnell addressing the lobby, 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

The protest was joined by John McDonnell and others in the Labour parliamentary campaign group of left MPs, a number of whom addressed the protest, including John McDonnell, Ian Mearns, Diane Abbott and Richard Burgon. Their message was the need to rapidly move on from the general election result, to turn to resisting the attacks of Johnson's Tory government.

photo JB (Click to enlarge)

RMT speakers included general secretary Mick Cash and assistant general secretary Steve Hedley. Mick Cash made it clear that the protest was just the beginning of the fight.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon speaking, 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

Speaking for the NSSN were its chair Rob Williams (who chaired the protest rally) and secretary Linda Taaffe.

Rob Williams stressed that no union should be left isolated and that joint action by the trade unions is needed, including a Saturday demonstration in London next year which should be called by the TUC.

Linda echoed this and pointed to the incredible mass NHS strike that took place in Northern Ireland the day before, as proof of the willingness of workers to take action if they are given a lead. Johnson's plan is "a strike-breakers' charter" and must be defeated, she said.

For the right to strike! RMT & NSSN lobby parliament. 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

RMT banner. 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

RMT & NSSN lobby parliament. 19.12.19, photo JB (Click to enlarge)

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 19 December 2019 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

In this issue

Iran

Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil