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TUC PROMISES MASS
ACTION AGAINST TORIES
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General 100914
T
he tuc coNgreSS thIS Week
refected widespread anger at the
tories assault on working class
people, frustration at Labours failure to
offer a real alternative, and a thirst for
mass action now to take on the attacks.
Given the relentless onslaught on our jobs,
pay and conditions and the welfare state, its
no surprise that speeches at the conference
mentioning industrial action where met with
huge applause.
The news that MPs will be giving
themselves a 10 percent pay rise, while public
sector workers are given a measly 1 percent
or less, only acted to fan the fames of rage for
many workers this week.
The conference passed a motion that
included supporting coordinated industrial
action as part of the pay campaign.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis told
delegates to loud applause, If we dont reach
a deal, we will continue action throughout
winter and into spring.
We are now looking at an autumn of mass
action against the Tories over pay. On 14
October, up to half a million local government
workers in Unison are set to strike. There is
talk of PCS joining that action too.
On 13 October, NHS workers who are
currently balloting to join the pay revolt, plan a
four hour strike.
And that week is topped off with two
national demonstrations called by the TUC and
the Scottish TUC in London and Glasgow on
18 October. They are called under the banner
Britain Needs a Pay Rise.
Scotland
Union leaders pushing for action are now
absolutely right to do so. The strike of 1.4
million on 10 July this year, and of course the
monster strike of 2.6 million workers over
pensions in November 2011, showed the
power our unions have to take on the Tories.
This is an increasingly weak government.
The momentum is now frmly on the side of
those fghting for a rejection of Tory austerity
and the possibility of a better society with a
YES vote in Scotland. Whatever happens in
the next week, the referendum has created a
severe crisis for Cameron.
Mass, coordinated strikes and huge
demonstrations over pay can compound that
crisis and hit back at a nasty, but divided
government.
Thats why it is so crucial that frstly, every
trade unionist goes all out to help win YES
votes for strikes in the ballots taking place and
help build the strikes as a success.
We have to get organised in every
workplace and union branch now to make sure
our union leaders stick to their promises of
striking until we win.
We cannot allow a repeat of what happened
in 2011 when union leaders accepted a deal
that sold members far short on pensions.
We have the strength to win more, but we
know we are facing a government determined
to decimate the welfare state, pay and
conditions and undermine our unions.
That means our unions have to be equally
determined and have a strategy to win.
One strike day can give us all a boost and
remind us that the trade union movement is
a force to be reckoned with when it fghts
together.
october
One day here and there is not going to force
the Tories to give in. We have to show them
were serious, and quickly follow up action.
It is a mistake that the leadership of the
NUT teachers union has announced that it will
not call out teachers to join the October strike.
Many teachers will be furious, having
mobilised fantastic turn outs on every strike so
far in the dispute showing the willingness to
fghtback.
In the FBU discussions are now taking place
and FBU could join action on 10 July.
The pressure of the continuing Tory assault
and frustration with delays in national action
has seen a rise in localised disputes.
Some of these have seen important victories.
The Hovis factory strike in Wigan defeated
zero hours contracts.
Strikes by cleaners in two disputes in
London won serious concessions.
At Edinburgh College, lecturers warded off
a sweeping attack on conditions.
In some ongoing disputes, we have seen
serious and inspiring determination to keep
fghting in the face of bosses digging their
heels in.
Care UK workers in Doncaster have struck
for 70 days, battling for the future of the
NHS and a living wage. They have travelled
the country to discuss their battle and won
incredible solidarity. They are fghting to win.
At Lambeth College, workers started an
indefnite strike before the summer and are still
in dispute now, fghting to defend education
and their contracts. Ritzy cinema workers are
continuing their battle for a living wage.
Beacon
It is vital that pressure is put on union leaders
to do everything possible to ensure the success
of every localised strike where workers fnd
themselves leading the way for the entire
movement.
These disputes are a beacon for us all and
can be won, no matter how nasty the bosses,
with concrete, national support from the union.
And every victory won in a local dispute is
a boost for workers everywhere, showing we
can fght and win.
The Tories are attacking us all at once
while the rich get richer. The re-emergence of
national coordinated strikes this autumn is a
big opportunity we all have to get behind.
But we need to make sure the action
continues after the October strikes. If we do,
this is a fght we can win.
Organise now: we need escalating strikes till we win...
two groups of striking care workers from Doncaster
and Barnet join forces fghting for pay and the service