Britain: 130,000 protest austerity – rank and file calls for general strike!

On Saturday, October 20^th, the streets of London were once again filled with red flags and colourful trade union banners as 130,000 workers from all over the country marched against the austerity policies of the LibDem-Tory coalition government.

The demonstration, which had been called by the TUC, marked a new stage in the struggle of British labour against the increasingly vicious attacks on living standards. There were big contingents from the main unions: UNITE, UNISON, PCS, RMT, NUT and GMB. There was also a large number of young people: students and working class youth.

From early in the morning protesters started arriving on coaches and trains from all parts of England and Wales. Separate demonstrations were held in Glasgow and Belfast where thousands participated.

Many people carried placards attacking the Tories and LibDems, frequently making humorous references to the comments of the former Tory Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell, who was recently forced to resign after an altercation with a police man who he allegedly called a pleb and a moron. Quite a few placards carried slogans like “I would rather be a pleb than a toff” and “proud to be a pleb”.

More seriously, there were many placards calling for a general strike. This demand expressed the real mood of anger that is building up in the rank-and-file, not just against the government but against trade union leaders who are widely perceived to be dragging their feet and not mobilising the full strength of the labour movement to defeat the government.

To tell the truth, the demonstration, although one of the biggest in recent times, was not as big as the demonstration a year and a half ago. This fact undoubtedly reflects a certain mood of frustration and discontent among rank-and-file trade unionists at the inactivity of their leaders. In particular, the calling off of the national action by the PCS in the spring poured cold water over the spirits of the activists who were expecting the union to take a lead.

The working class is not a water tap that can be turned on and off at the will of the leadership. What is required is a sustained and consistent campaign of action aimed to overthrow the reactionary and anti-working class government. Nothing less can serve to halt the vicious attacks against living standards which are dictated by the crisis of capitalism.

Marches and demonstrations are useful as a means of mobilising the class and allowing the workers to feel their collective strength. However, they are of limited use in forcing a government to change course and moreover can lose effect through constant repetition. That is why the idea of a general strike is gathering strength at rank-and-file level. All the attempts of union leaders to persuade the government to modify its stand by so called moderation are doomed to fail. Every step backwards will only embolden the Tories and their LibDem cronies to make further attacks.

The general council of the TUC has supported a motion calling for an investigation into the possibilities of holding a general strike, something that was echoed by speakers at the rally that followed the demonstration. This shows that pressure is building up at rank-and-file level. The pressure must be kept up. We say to the TUC: deeds not words! What is necessary is not an investigation into the possibility of a general strike but to name a date and prepare a mass campaign of agitation for a one day general strike.

The only way to defend jobs and living standards is to the kick out the Tories and LibDems. We stand for the election of a Labour government pledged to reversing all Tory cuts and to introduce policies in the interests of the working class. What is not acceptable is the pro-business policies of the present Labour Party leadership, which were yet again repeated in the sorry performance by Ed Miliband in Hyde Park last Saturday. He was soundly booed for his pains, and in our opinion he got what he deserved.

It is high time that the rank-and-file took control of the labour movement into its own hands. If trade union leaders are not prepared to fight seriously for the interests of the working class, they should be removed and replaced by people who are. Likewise, the Labour Party, which was set up by the trade unions, must clearly defend the interests of the people who vote for it. Len McCluskey has called on workers to take back the Labour Party. This call needs to be translated into action. It is time to take a big broom and sweep out the careerists and right-wingers who infest the Labour Party and ensure that it fights for the working class and socialism.

Last Saturday also saw the most successful intervention ever by supporters of the British Marxists paper Socialist Appeal. Over 50 comrades were selling the paper and there were a total of 9 stalls selling our books and pamphlets.