It was billed as a "March and Rally for the Alternative: Jobs,
Growth and Justice". On Sunday, September 18th, over two thousand trade unionists and political activists descended on Birmingham
to march and rally with the aim of trying to bring pressure on the Lib
Dems at their conference in the city to break with the Tory policies of
the Condem government.
It was billed as a "March and Rally for the Alternative: Jobs,
Growth and Justice". On Sunday, September 18th, over two thousand trade unionists and political activists descended on Birmingham
to march and rally with the aim of trying to bring pressure on the Lib
Dems at their conference in the city to break with the Tory policies of
the Condem government.
There was no shortage of passion nor of commitment. Trade union
banners from the Midlands and other parts were much in evidence – PCS,
UCU, UCATT, UNITE, UNISON, NUT, NASUWT, CWU, GMB and local Trade Union
Councils. Working class people had given up their Sunday to make their
voice heard.
banners from the Midlands and other parts were much in evidence – PCS,
UCU, UCATT, UNITE, UNISON, NUT, NASUWT, CWU, GMB and local Trade Union
Councils. Working class people had given up their Sunday to make their
voice heard.
But the voice could have been louder. There were thousands of
police on duty as they had been told to expect some twenty to thirty
thousand protesters. In the event about one tenth of that came. Despite
the relatively low numbers however the march and subsequent rally were
enthusiastic and lively.
police on duty as they had been told to expect some twenty to thirty
thousand protesters. In the event about one tenth of that came. Despite
the relatively low numbers however the march and subsequent rally were
enthusiastic and lively.
Speakers came from national trade unions – among them MarkSerwotka (PCS), Christine Blower (NUT) and Billy Hayes (CWU). The
message from all was the same delivered with varying degrees of passion –
we as working class people are all in this together, we must stand
united and fight, we did not cause this crisis so we should not pay for
it and we need a new policy to create jobs, to defend services, to make
the rich pay through higher taxation and for a Robin Hood tax on the
banks.
The sentiments we all agree with but there was not even the
slightest hint of how this wish list is to be achieved – except through
more marches and demonstrations, The next one is a nationally-organised
one by the TUC in Manchester on Sunday, October 2nd. The Tories will be
in conference there. And no doubt the ring of steel that surrounded the
Lib Dem conference in Birmingham will be even greater at the Tory Party
conference.
slightest hint of how this wish list is to be achieved – except through
more marches and demonstrations, The next one is a nationally-organised
one by the TUC in Manchester on Sunday, October 2nd. The Tories will be
in conference there. And no doubt the ring of steel that surrounded the
Lib Dem conference in Birmingham will be even greater at the Tory Party
conference.
This march yesterday was important. It gave us in the movement a
chance to see our strength, to judge our numbers as we go forward to
mass battles and days of action in the autumn. And the Right to Work
campaign has to be congratulated for providing the initial impetus to
the event, an event that was later sponsored by the Midlands TUC.
chance to see our strength, to judge our numbers as we go forward to
mass battles and days of action in the autumn. And the Right to Work
campaign has to be congratulated for providing the initial impetus to
the event, an event that was later sponsored by the Midlands TUC.
However, some serious questions need to be asked. We can have
all the marches and demonstrations that we want but they alone will not
budge this government from its programme. If nine general strikes in
Greece and countless more in other countries have not managed to change
the austerity policies of national governments, how can marching through
the streets of large cities achieve that aim? The only result of the
Duke of York syndrome – march them up to the top of the hill and march
them down again – is to invite demoralisation as the results do not
match the energy expended.
all the marches and demonstrations that we want but they alone will not
budge this government from its programme. If nine general strikes in
Greece and countless more in other countries have not managed to change
the austerity policies of national governments, how can marching through
the streets of large cities achieve that aim? The only result of the
Duke of York syndrome – march them up to the top of the hill and march
them down again – is to invite demoralisation as the results do not
match the energy expended.
And it is this political answer that was missing. How can wecreate jobs under capitalism when public services are being cut and tens
of thousands of public sector workers are being thrown on the scrap
heap to satisfy the bond holders in the money markets? Why should
capitalists invest to modernise productive technique when what is being
produced now cannot be sold due to the near collapse of consumer
spending?
Growth can only come about if people have money in their pockets
and are able and willing to spend it to buy goods and services. Wage
freezes, job losses and rising inflation cut demand as do cutbacks in
public spending nationally and locally. To put more money in the pockets
of consumers to stimulate demand would mean higher wages or lower
taxes. The former leads to lower profits which the capitalists will not
accept and the latter leads to lower revenues for the state, thus
creating an even bigger state deficit. The bond holders will not accept
this as there could be the risk of sovereign debt where money loaned to
the government may not be repaid.
and are able and willing to spend it to buy goods and services. Wage
freezes, job losses and rising inflation cut demand as do cutbacks in
public spending nationally and locally. To put more money in the pockets
of consumers to stimulate demand would mean higher wages or lower
taxes. The former leads to lower profits which the capitalists will not
accept and the latter leads to lower revenues for the state, thus
creating an even bigger state deficit. The bond holders will not accept
this as there could be the risk of sovereign debt where money loaned to
the government may not be repaid.
We are all in favour of taxing the rich even more. Even some of
the richest people in the world have stated that they would like to pay
more tax, to make their contribution to overcoming this crisis. For
them, however, they want to give a little now to avoid losing the lot as
they can see that wave upon wave of social and political unrest is on
the horizon.
the richest people in the world have stated that they would like to pay
more tax, to make their contribution to overcoming this crisis. For
them, however, they want to give a little now to avoid losing the lot as
they can see that wave upon wave of social and political unrest is on
the horizon.
We who work and pay our taxes under PAYE have money taken of us
BEFORE we see our pay. The rich employ armies of tax experts and
accountants to work out how much they should pay AFTER they have had
their pay and profits. So how do we get out hands on their wealth to
ensure that they pay their way?
BEFORE we see our pay. The rich employ armies of tax experts and
accountants to work out how much they should pay AFTER they have had
their pay and profits. So how do we get out hands on their wealth to
ensure that they pay their way?
Whichever way we look under capitalism, those who own and
control the system have ensured over decades and centuries that they
have fail safe methods in hand to protect their wealth and privileges.
That is why a political solution to the problems we face is absolutely
necessary and that political solution must break with capitalism.
control the system have ensured over decades and centuries that they
have fail safe methods in hand to protect their wealth and privileges.
That is why a political solution to the problems we face is absolutely
necessary and that political solution must break with capitalism.
That is what was missing from the speakers. It is as if despite
all the commitments they have to improving the lives of their members
and of working class people in general, they do not see the possibility
of changing the system and therefore seek solutions within the confines
of capitalism.
all the commitments they have to improving the lives of their members
and of working class people in general, they do not see the possibility
of changing the system and therefore seek solutions within the confines
of capitalism.
With this scenario, workers will continue to pay the price forthe failings of capitalism until the labour and trade union movement
returns to its roots and fights for an end to capitalism and the
beginnings of a new socialist society. That fight begins with the taking
into public ownership under democratic control of the banking and
finance sector as well as the large monopolies that dominate the
economy. This is the political solution that we must fight for at all
levels of the movement.
What has been the effect of the march and rally on the Lib
Dems hiding behind ten foot tall steel barriers? Not much! We have had a
bit of Tory bashing by delegates and MPs just to prove how robust Nick
Clegg is. However, the conference still endorses the Health bill and
Vince Cable is still selling the Tory refrain that ‘Cuts Are
Necessary’. Liberals are just like the bullied schoolboy who in the
summer holidays tells his mates how he is going to stand up to the
bully, but on the first day of the new term it will be, ‘Yes David , No
David. Whatever you say David’
Dems hiding behind ten foot tall steel barriers? Not much! We have had a
bit of Tory bashing by delegates and MPs just to prove how robust Nick
Clegg is. However, the conference still endorses the Health bill and
Vince Cable is still selling the Tory refrain that ‘Cuts Are
Necessary’. Liberals are just like the bullied schoolboy who in the
summer holidays tells his mates how he is going to stand up to the
bully, but on the first day of the new term it will be, ‘Yes David , No
David. Whatever you say David’
Andall of this ties in with the main, and in my opinion misguided, slogan
shouted on the march by many students. "Nick Clegg, shame on you, shame
on you for turning blue." The Lib Dems may posture as being "radical"
and "progressive" which is easy to be when the economy is growing and
there is some fat to be distributed to those lower down the rewards
chain. But when capitalism is in trouble, it is all hands to the pump to
save the system from itself. In other words the Lib Dems were born out
of the original defenders of capitalism and have always been blue with a
faint yellow coat.
Darrall Cozens,
UCU, Coventry TUC and Coventry NW Labour Party.
Andy Fenwick
Unite Worcester TUC and Worcester Labour Party
