Since the General Election and the coming to power of two Westminster cartel parties in a coalition, the neo-liberal policies have continued along their reactionary lines and under the austerity banner. The Government has come to the aid of the capitalist class and the financial oligarchy in their crisis. In so doing it has meant an offensive on the workers through their jobs, their savings and unemployed benefits, their wages, working hours and conditions at work. The workers will inevitably be driven to the unions and shop steward organisations to defend their interests. It is necessary for the workers, therefore, to re-organise and re-shape their organisation. Workers must press forward to improve their standards of living and working conditions. It is in this light that a new minority movement needs to unfold. It is a new echelon of fighting elements that will have to organise to position itself as the spearhead of the entire workers’ movement.
The present context of crisis and repression is one that compels every active Trades Unionist carefully to consider what the next steps are to be taken if the working class is not to be defeated in the coming capitalist offensives. The conservatives are attempting to consolidate all of the reactionary forces behind their banner. The global capitalist system, the offices of the IMF and the European Union of the monopolies are major parts of the global strategy intended to save the day for capitalism. In the forefront are states like the US, Germany, Britain and France and they come together under the banner of stability and have so far attempted to save the big currencies, such as the Euro, and hence the biggest economies. Stabilisation means rendering Greece and Spain and smaller economies, such as Ireland, totally subordinate to the US and EU domination and hence the monopolies. It means job loss, wage cutting, pension robbery and diminished health and welfare for the majority. Many standards that have been won by years of working people’s struggles and now are in jeopardy.
Today it is liberalism that has affected the fighting spirit inside of political parties and the Trade Unions. Workers representation inside the parliament has been almost disintegrated and hampers the desire for the alternative. Inside the European Union a social partnership has been created over a number of years that was built on the backs of participating with big business to ensure profitable growth by compromising struggle. The workers’ demands have been diluted and even dismissed so that the movement itself has suffered blocks against its progress. Now many are saying “enough is enough” and are returning to the traditional sense of struggle.
The capitalists in manufacturing are churning out the jargon that workers are a cost to production. What absurdity to label those workers who are the source of value as a cost. What insolence to demand workers accept concessions to reduce their legitimate claims on the value they produce merely to transfer it to the international financial oligarchy to fatten their already bulging coffers. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer with the gap between the privileged few and the majority widening enormously. Are the monopolists themselves and their existence ever put into question? Is the better scientific organisation of production and distribution ever raised? Neither, it is always the workers who have to pay, the ones that produce the wealth in society. In order to make them pay the capitalists always take steps to disrupt the unity of the workers and their organisation, repress the fighting elements and attack shop stewards and militant workers.
Food prices are rising, unemployment is increasing and the dangers of new wars are ever imminent. The countries of the Middle East in particular and the world in general are under attack. Their sovereignty and independence is constantly under threat and the main tactic in recent times has been through war and invasion. They have invaded Iraq and Afghanistan and attacked deep into Pakistan. They applied regime change in Libya and now want it in Syria and are preparing to attack Iran. In Egypt, Tunisia Bahrain and Yemen as well as other countries of the Middle East the Western Powers have interfered in their uprisings and attempted to bring the “Arab Spring” under their control. Latin America is where the countries that have emerged from dictatorship have been attempting to create an independent path of their own with countries like Cuba and Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua in central America and Bolivia are amongst several countries who have tried to progress without the controlling arm of the United States. Because of this they have been threatened and blocked by the US. In Asia, countries like the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have been attacked because of their militant independent policy and the US is even trying to encircle China. Many of these countries have been pursuing policies and systems of their own choice that outside the neo-liberal global capitalistic influence.
In view of this situation it is imperative that the workers inside the Trade Unions re-double their efforts to build international solidarity.
The workers must build their unity on the basis of Unity is Strength and An Injury to One is an Injury to All.
Are the workers ready and prepared? No they are not. The workers since the early 20th century built factory committees in many established firms. These works committees became important fighting organisations during the General Strike in 1926 and beyond. The mistakes of the 1970’s were that these organisations should become participation Committees and assist managements to produce for the capitalists. This why the European Social Chapter was adopted by the capitalists to entice the workers away from their traditional fighting role by organising shop stewards, senior shop stewards and conveners and into partnership Works Councils to support class collaborationist policies. Works Councils should council the workers and not the management. It is now essential to reverse this trend and re-establish the works committees and shop stewards organisations on a proper working class basis. The militant minority must transform the Trade Unions into real organs of class struggle.
What should the militant movement do?
It is important first and foremost to appreciate the nature of the movement. It is a movement of active workers in the working class movement upholding the interests of the working class alone.
The most active workers need to raise their collective social and class consciousness. The most actively organised and informed, as well as being steeped in working class culture and historical continuity, provides the best opportunity to develop the organisational and empowerment skills. The ability to discuss and provide the necessary theoretical and practical programmes to advance the workers’ cause is the best way to achieve and provide success and leadership to the working class movement.
The purpose of the militant movement should be to gather all active workers together, organise them, so that they can formulate their own programmes and policies without the interference of anyone else. They should then pursue these policies in their own respective organisations. They should operate and work in all kinds of working class organisation trade union and political.
The militant minority in the trade unions.
The militant minority should operate in the Trade Unions to build them up and strengthen them. The working class needs strong and powerful Trade Unions. They should induce Trade Union organisations, branches and regional committees and national to seriously fight for the interests of workers and develop the class struggle.
The militant minority are not separate from the general workers’ movement. They do not aim to bring into being rival organisation to those already existing. They are part and parcel of the same thing. On the contrary they are actively opposed to any attempts to split the trade unions on the basis of some rank and file notion or idea of a competing new union. The chief object of the militant minority is to build up, strengthen and bring together and unify the existing organisations and in particular the shop stewards.
How can this movement be formed?
It can come about as it is already, where networks of shop stewards, social forums and other meetings have been working to develop it. Active workers come together without regard to political beliefs or affiliations, being wholly concerned with the problems of strengthening their trade union organisations and making them pursue an active class policy for the improvement of workers’ conditions.
Organisation of the militant movement.
The movement depends upon the initiative of individuals and groups. Local Committees form, and contacts establish, and they do this also in other cities and towns and regions of the country. There must be representatives of trade union branches and lodges, shop stewards and line representatives. Eventually regional and national committees will have to form. Most importantly industries and factories and local workplaces should be represented.
Organisation at the place of work
The core of militant organising has to be at the place of work. Organising at the point of production or office is the key to industrial organising. Every factory, mine, office, workshop should be organised with line reps. or shop stewards. Each location should delegate to a larger committee on each site and combine. Each area should delegate to a district organisation.
Shop Stewards
Shop stewards and line reps are the backbone of the workers organisation. Being directly elected by the workers it ensures the workers interest and crystallises their aspirations and demands both politically, economically and socially. Shop stewards provide the most direct communication with the working class at the very point of production. It is essential therefore those workers who become agitated over issues and demands and seek atonement should join a union and elect a shop steward if they do not exist. If they do then it is essential that workers elect the most eloquent and educated of their number with the courage of the workers convictions. They should be consistent and durable in the face of management pressure and be prepared to learn all of the techniques of class struggle and negotiation. They should be militant and trustworthy with the office they hold. They should hold regular meetings and discuss the issues openly and above board with all workers. They should hold regular votes for office and strikes and other actions such as overtime bans and working to rule. They should be aware of union rules and factory procedures and agreements. They should be skilled in advising the workers in advancing and retreating in struggle and pursuing proper strategies and tactics. The most important involvement of workers in action is the mass meeting and show of hands which are both democratic and unifying. In larger establishments senior shop stewards are elected and also shop stewards should be willing to attend their union branches, district committees, Trades Councils and most importantly external shop stewards organisation that links up with other workers’ establishments (and should be set up if they do not exist).
Trades Councils.
These should be strengthened or established to develop the economic and political organisation. The basic economic principle for the locality is More should be put into the local economy than is taken out. Workers can ideologise and work out programmes of action and policy at Trades Councils. In the short term the Trades Councils should be able to double their number of delegates. Trades Councils should be able to secure union branch affiliations and shop stewards organisations as well as militant individuals. All bona fide working class organisations that are industrial and political as well as community should be able to become members. Factory and workshop committees and other organised places of work should be able to affiliate and the Trades Councils should be active in forming workers’ organisation everywhere. The Trades Councils should provide worker politicians and candidates for council and national elections. The Trades Councils should be providers of alternative policy to the capitalist parties and also should seek the empowerment of workers. The Trades Councils develop their policy around actions to secure social programmes such as health and education. Trades Councils uphold the rights of workers at the place of work and uphold their interests against capitalist exploitation and working conditions. Wage increases, pensions and shorter hours are all issues the workers constantly face. Intensification of labour through speedups and time and motion are factors the capitalists use to increase their profits. Unstable shift patterns and overtime is used to extenuate exploitation of labour. Trades Councils continue to campaign on these issues as well as upholding the rights of the unemployed for a livelihood and benefits. Trades Councils work to establish unemployed organisations. Trades Councils work for decent and affordable housing for all. Trades Councils uphold the rights of the disabled and senior citizens. Proper state pensions related to earnings and care are important with reasonable pensions and lowering of age entitlement are imperatives. Trades Councils are interested in lowering monopoly and bankers’ rights and furthering workers’ rights.
Activities of the Militant workers’ movement.
1. Strengthening unity and building strong and powerful traditional workers’ Trade Union organisations.
2. Supporting the holding of workers’ meetings and conferences.
3. Addressing shop meetings, union branch meetings, attending district meetings where possible, including union rallies, trades councils, trade union conferences and congresses.
4. Organising to become shop stewards.
5. Building the shop stewards movement inside and outside of establishments.
6. Re-organising and building independent works committees and councils.
7. Preparation of agitational programmes of action for wage increases, the shortening of working hours, working days and weeks. For longer and more frequent holidays.
8. Agitation for better working conditions and health and safety.
9. Contesting for trade union office elections.
10. Supporting the strike movement in the interests of the workers.
11. Forging solidarity with workers in struggle.
12. Supporting and developing the politics of the alternative.
13. Building workers political organisation.
14. Supporting worker politicians to become representatives of the working class inside and outside of parliament.
Immediate demands
Wages: An increase of 25% per annum across the board plus RPI. A minimum wage of £10 per hour. Closure of the pay gap by cutting elitist salaries and eliminating bankers and monopolies bonus schemes. And ending share options.
Hours: A 30 hour working week. Working towards a 6 hour day and a three day weekend. I month annual summer shutdown.
Pensions: A decent state pension for all. Pensions linked to earnings. A substantial increase in state pensions of 50% to bring them up to a reasonable level compared to average earnings. A decent standard for all in old age. State pensions and occupational pensions payable at 60. Affordable and decent care homes in old age and for the disabled.
Nationalisation and Public ownership: End privatisation of Health and education and free at the point of delivery. Nationalise the railway system. One publicly owned bank. Nationalise North Sea Oil. Keep the Post Office Public. End the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
Housing: Affordable government funded housing.
Unemployment: Investment in social programmes to create jobs, investment in infrastructure, reduction of the working week and reduction in overtime working. Investment into manufacturing, mines and steel and social production. Fight for a decent livelihood and benefit system.
Aims and objectives
1. To fight to establish a Socialist System and abolish capitalism.
2. Building the Workers Opposition to Capitalism.
3. To fight for a genuine alternative to neo liberalism
4. To oppose fascism and war
5. Fight racism
6. Support the rights of women
7. Support the rights of youth, Education is a Right!!!
8. Support the rights of senior citizens for Health, care in old age and decent pensions.
9. Safeguard the future of the NHS.
10. Support Democratic Renewal of the British political system.
11. Fight to stop paying the rich and support investment in social programmes
12. To oppose privatisation
13. To develop the strategy and tactics of the class struggle through to the end.
14. To support working class Internationalism.
15. To end the system of Imperialism.
(a) Withdrawal from the European Union
(b) Restrict monopoly right
(c) Oppose export of Capital
(d) Oppose militarisation of the economy
(e) Nationalise the banks and finance institutions
1. To develop the strategy and tactics of the class struggle through to the end.
2. To support working class Internationalism.
3. To end the system of Imperialism.
(a) Withdrawal from the European Union
(b) Restrict monopoly right
(c) Oppose export of Capital
(d) Oppose militarisation of the economy
(e) Nationalise the banks and finance institutions
