21.12.1995

The London unemployed

From 'The Communist', paper of the Communist Party of Great Britain, December 23 1920

THE LOCAL unemployed committees in London are now linked up into a central organisation.

Individual communists are everywhere active in the work of the organisation, but the unemployed movement as a whole is not connected with any party whatsoever ...       

The taking over of public baths, libraries and town halls has now become pretty general, and these extra-legal and rebellious acts have been winked at by the authorities, possibly as the result of a judicious tip from the government.

But already there are signs that ‘law and order’ is recovering its nerve. At Acton, for instance, the unemployed have been ejected from their quarters and have tamely submitted ...

Russia plays a great part in the agitation. The men feel instinctively that no amelioration of their lot is possible until negotiations are opened and the blockade removed. The National Council of Action is receiving today (Tuesday) a deputation from the London Council of Unemployed Organisations. The desire of the District Council is to secure the immediate opening up of trade with Russia. To this end it wants a conference of the local councils of action called for the purpose of fixing a date when direct action shall be taken to achieve this object.

For our part we urge the unemployed to demand without equivocation the right to full maintenance at trade union rates of wages. Let the responsibility of organising the labour of the unemployed be thrown upon the government. But let the duty of finding the means of existence for the unemployed be the government’s also …

No alms; no charity; but the equal right of all men to live and work for their existence.