On Saturday 23rd October 2010 a number of trade unions have called for a march in London to lobby the TUC to fight the cuts. This is the same day as the annual London Anarchist Bookfair and a day when a large number of anarchists are in the city. We are calling on all anarchists and militant workers to join us in forming a 'Radical Worker's Bloc' on the demonstration, not to beg the trade union bureaucrats to take action, but to argue that we fight the cuts based on the principles of solidarity, direct action, and control of our own struggles.
As the anti-war movement has shown, protest alone won't change anything. The government have already said that they will not be swayed by protests. Instead, we need a widespread fightback based in the workplace as well as the streets that acts in solidarity with fellow workers fighting these austerity measures all over the world.
We also intend to be a visible anti-capitalist presence on the demonstration pointing out that it is capitalism that has caused the crisis that has led to these cuts and that in response to their class war we need to reciprocate: meeting cuts with direct action - strikes, occupations and civil disobedience - whilst fighting for a different world which puts human needs first.
Bring red and black flags, banners and propaganda. The workers movement needs anarchist ideas and methods more than ever if we're to beat the cuts.
Meet at 11am outside RMT head office, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD.
Called by South London Solidarity Federation,
to becoming a supporting organisation or for more information contact South London Solidarity Federation at:
southlondonsf (at) solfed.org.uk
Can comment on articles and discussions
Instead of the utter pointless black block and 'Radical Workers Bloc' tactic why don't people get organised and produce a single leaflet that argues for the building of a movement to oppose and stop the cuts similar to the anti poll tax movement. Use the march to talk with and engage fellow workers as opposed to splitting ourselves off into a small meaningless group.
The left will lead people down the streets of London and straight into the cul-de-sac of begging the union bureaucrats to lead the fight back.
A few hundred militant workers on that march could leaflet the entire march and talk to loads of fellow workers about the need to take ownership of the fight back and push for real action that will have success. As we march along don't form one mass of radical workers, continually move through out the march with our flags and banners. Make ourselves visible and talk to everyone we can.
Don't fall into the typical trap of marching in boring and meaningless formation with each left sect behind their own particular banners.
This may not seems as much fun as running round in a big black block and thinking you look oh so cool. However if we are serious about building genuine resistance that can succeed then it has to be done.
Running around London smashing shit up (as many of the riot fetish black blockers would no doubt love to) and acting the hard men/women will have no impact other than to reinforce the idea that we are mindless hooligans with little political direction.
We need to come together to argue for occupations of government offices, flying pickets to support workers in fights against cuts and community/workplace support for those fighting the cuts. We must use the opportunity to put forward the idea that we can build a movement that will be not one of protest but one of active and effective resistance.
Marches and protests will not stop the cuts. The only thing that will is resistance similar to that which stopped the poll tax. It was done before it can be done again.
FROM PROTEST TO RESISTANCE.