Modernisation (meaning sackings) and reform of labour practices (meaning
sackings) have left the workers of the rail and transport industry nowhere elseto go than lose pay and withdraw their labour. The sacrifice is theirs. ---- Alist of what ballots await; are taking place; being considered, wildcat actions -without formal TUC recognition, would just be a list that changes day by day.Suffice to say the it already includes such sizeable and significant sectors ashealth, education, legal and civil services as well as postal and delivery.Potentially a greater strike wave than the late 1970's to early 80's. This is nota summer of discontent, but the culmination of a generation of discontent. Thisdespite all the legislation setting targets and conditions aimed a making strikeaction illegal. A class is awakening!For revolutionists this has been long expected. For capital too! This is why thegovernment has been so determined to provoke the rail strike and defeat it at allcosts. Smashing the last remaining organised stronghold of industrial laboursince the defeat of the miners in ‘84/85. This is intended to shatter the sharpwedge of resistance and stop those that may chose to follow.Parallels with the great miners strike are inevitably being drawn, though thedifferences are as deeply significant as any similarity - the latter largelylimited to government intent.In 1984 the Tories took on the NUM after 5 years of active preparation , such asstockpiling coal and negotiated agreed closures with the NUM under the Plan ForCoal. Through this latter facade they had spun Scargill who kept the minersquiet, whilst taking on and defeating other significant sections of the workingclass, from steel to shipbuilding, nurses to the railways (in 1982 shipsreturning from the Falklands War, having secured Thatcher's second election, hungbanners saying "call off the rail strike or will call an airstrike").The miners arrived late to the slaughter, driven by need and an avenging passionto redress those defeats and stop Thatcherism in its tracks. But the organisedworking class they needed solidarity from had already suffered bloody defeats.The TUC, guarding what little corporate presence it retained resolutely resistedthe left's simpering cries of "TUC, get off your knees, call a General Strike!".The TUC didn't, defeating capitalism was never their job, and the rest ishistory. It was the last kick of the last major cross sectional strike wave.The difference now is that this is not at the edge of what collapsed, but at thecentre of what is rising. The icecap on the concept of class struggle is meltingand those facing the challenge, whilst not from the generation accustomed tovictory, are neither accustomed to defeat.The formidable class weapon of transport is in this case leading the fight andthose choosing to follow are motivated by their own need and resolution. Ageneralisation of strike action without the stultifying patronage of the TUCseems probable in spite of them, raising possibilities of solidarity andunification of demands not experienced previously in the lifetime of most ofthose in work.Supporting the linking and unification of class struggle is a central task of allanarchist communists, the more formidable when blocking the saboteur role ofcapitalist and Labour Party endorsed trade unionism. For this we unapologeticallyadvocate autonomy, combativity, solidarity and the collective escalation ofdemands as confidence and coordination grow.TUC, stay on your knees where you belong! For the self organised generalisationof strike action everywhere!https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2022/06/21/why-a-general-strike-is-better-than-a-general-strike/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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