19.10.1995

Knives are out for the public sector

After the unions’ disgraceful climbdown in the healthworkers’ pay dispute, at last an event which the leaders can support with unbridled enthusiasm.

THIS WEEKEND Unison, the main public sector union, is presenting a free “family festival” in London “in support of the public services”. An array of rock and pop musicians have been lined up, along with children’s entertainment, in an attempt to attract a half-respectable turnout to its march from central London which ends at the festival.

The Saturday jamboree is the leadership’s response to the left’s call for a one-day national strike and demonstration in support of a massive campaign to mobilise public sector workers themselves against cuts, closures and attacks on pay and jobs.

But just the thought of organising its 1.5 million members to actually fight has Unison’s leadership recoiling in horror. Apart from anything else, a national strike would be illegal, say the bureaucrats.

Instead, yet another nice, safe public relations exercise. But there is already massive support for the kind of health, education and other services we need. There was massive support for the healthworkers in the pay dispute, but that did not stop the union agreeing a pay-cutting deal which it could have signed way back in February.

This Saturday should be evidence enough that we cannot rely on union leaders to actually lead an effective fight. Without exception they have all shown themselves committed to supporting Blair’s Labour, which promises to carry through the cuts just as viciously as the Tories.

We will have to organise ourselves to take the necessary action, not only for the services the working class needs, but in defence of our own jobs, conditions and pay. This will require not only rank and file union organisation, but political organisation to challenge Labour’s right to be elected on an anti-working class ticket.