There have been some lively debates currently raging around the cuts. Debate is a very useful tool in forming strategies. But after reading Sunny contribution in today’s Guardian kinda astounded me especially this bit
Some of the more firebrand trade unions want immediate widespread strikes – but this would be counterproductive. If the usual suspects turn out to protest and demonstrate, the government will be able to breathe easy. The challenge for us will be to mobilise and tap into the anger of the middle classes. But that will take time because we have to make the arguments, show them the evidence and wait for the cuts to affect them personally.
But we do need to start building for industrial action now. Any “usual suspect” with experience of actual struggle against the Tories or NL will be able to tell you that gathering the strength for strike action takes months of work, patient organising work. It means recruiting union members in the workplace. Holding shop meetings so that the rank and file are readied for what lies ahead. It means trade unions building links with local communities to outflank divide and rule tactics and to provide a backbone of local and national financial support to make sure that as many strikes as possible are successful. It is also necessary to organise to politically defeat the ConDems. That means starting now and it means involving a good number of “usual suspects” along with any (very welcome) new faces. And this issue of the middle class…. it is about building as much unity in the working class…
If you want to read a cogent article which is bang on the money then read Kevin’s here….
That means starting now and it means involving a good number of “usual suspects” along with any (very welcome) new faces. And this issue of the middle class…. it is about building as much unity in the working class…
Not sure what you mean by the end bit.
but anyway – my point isn’t that building industrial action doesn’t take time. My point is that if that action only reaches out to the usual suspects then it won’t change anything. It will make people feel like they’re doing something, but it won’t put the coalition on the back foot.
They are going after people on welfare first by blurring the definition of “fraud”:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7935823/Bounty-hunters-to-cut-benefit-fraud-by-1bn.html
It’s frightening.
Indeed Tim, Cameron stigmatises and vilifies by spotlighting claimants yet nothing not a word about the billions lost in tax avoidance and evasion. Nothing, nothing whatsoever …..