On Wednesday, November 14th, a number of Socialist Appeal supporters in Unite went along to give support to a picket at the
Oxford Circus CrossRail site, organised by the sparks’ rank and file committee.
On Wednesday, November 14th,a number of Socialist Appeal supporters in Unite went along to give support to a picket at the
Oxford Circus CrossRail site, organised by the sparks’ rank and file committee.
Early in the morning around 100-150 people gathered to protest the sacking of health
and safety rep Frank, dismissed (along with 27 other sparks working for the
same subcontractor) for highlighting unsafe practices on site. (https://communist.red/sacked-for-joining-a-union.htm )
Due to the inability of the TUC to organise for this European Day of Action,
the rank-and-file protest was in effect the British leg of the struggle.
As well as CrossRail, the rank-and-file expressed their
concerns about trade union Unite’s inactivity. Many protesters came from
outside London to support the action and show their solidarity. Unemployed and
recently sacked workers addressed the crowd, speaking of their disgust about
blacklisting and violation of union rights. The deputy general secretary of the
RMT also spoke, calling for workers across Europe to unite against austerity.
This particular picket was inspired and might be regarded as the continuation
of the recent sparks’ dispute, a magnificent example of successful rank-and-file
action. (https://communist.red/an-amazing-couple-of-days.htm)
“The victory in the recent seven month long Construction
dispute over the Joint Industry Board agreement represents the most significant
turnaround in the building industry for 40 years. The construction companies,
led by Balfour Beatty, wanted to rip up present terms and conditions and impose
a new Building Engineering National Services Agreement (BESNA), involving wage
cuts of 35%. This was however beaten back by the rank and files.” (Electricians
Strike Back pamphlet )
During the picket workers decided to block Oxford
Street. Police immediately and violently reacted, grabbing people by their
clothes and blatantly dragging them back on the pavement. Officers took away a
big banner ‘Blacklisting ruins lives’. As if this were not enough, one of the
policemen deliberately tried to tear it in front of the protesters, but he was
quickly stopped by activists and even his colleagues. Workers managed to occupy
the street for about 20 minutes being kettled frequently – bus drivers welcomed
the crowd by honking. Police applied force towards men and women equally.
The picket was joint by builders from the local sites and it
was decided to block the entrance to the CrossRail’s offices. One of the
officers took the microphone and read the law under which he was going to order
to arrest protesters if they didn’t vacate the entrance. While other policemen
prepared the kettling which could lead to the very serious confrontations in
the narrow pathway. Crowd returned to the oxford street. After a 3 hours
demonstration started to slow down, but a section of the demo decided to march
on Unite’s offices and demand they support their victimised members.
Under the growing capitalist attack the working class very
quickly understands that mass pressure from the trade unions can have only
temporary success. Nevertheless, Trotskyism and the history of class struggle
teach us that we should participate in the mass organisations rather than act
individually avoiding them. Trade unions were built in the struggle and they
are created by workers and for workers.
The point is to win the leadership of the unions rather than
expect careerist bureaucrats to act, otherwise demands would be left without
attention or simple ignored. In order for the rank and file struggle to win
future battles, it must broaden itself out. So far, it has succeeded by
side-stepping the Union bureaucracy. The next step must be to replace those officials
who hold back workers organisations and benefit from making then impotent to
back rank and file members. Careerists must be replaced with the most advanced
and active workers via democratic elections. The wage of union full-timers
should not exceed the average wage of skilled worker in particular industry,
while being entirely dependant on it. The activity and direction of union work
must be kept under the democratic control of its members.
By calling this protest on the European Day of Action, the
rank-and-file workers have shown their internationalist instincts. Now the
labour movement across Europe must unite in a common struggle against cuts and austerity,
which can only succeed by bringing down this rotten capitalist system, and
replacing it with socialist planned economy under the democratic control of the
workers.
·
End the blacklist! Reinstate all 28 sacked sparks!
·
Build a fighting broad left in Unite! For elected
officials on workers’ wages!
·
For the nationalisation of the construction industry
under democratic workers control! Jobs and safety before profit!
Unite the workers across Europe! For a common
struggle against cuts and austerity, and the rotten system they sustain!
