Tea Break: next issue discussion

If there are teachers' strikes upcoming we should have something on the importance of industrial solidarity: against the culture of NUT and NASUWT members crossing each others picket lines; the seperation between workers in standard state schools and academies (effectively enforced at present by the unions); and the need for teachers, classroom assistants, and other staff (canteen/cleaning/admin etc.) not to cross each others' picket lines.

I know there's a second day of london bus drivers' strike action scheduled for Wednesday. Are there any after that? Perhaps we could review how these two days have gone, and look at lessons for next time

There were a few people at the discussion who work in local government. Because I guess these people will be giving it out, maybe something on local government?

Whilst i am all for industrial solidarity and the need to raise it as an issue, i think that just simply making a call for solidarity isn't enough. Not only do you need an analysis of why the unions operate against this, but also an historical (recent) understanding of workers previous experience. Esp of what they precieve to be other workers disregard of their issues. Also the workplace cultures that foster this separation particularly between 'manual' and 'educational' workers.

At my school the TAs often give their first names to students who are often allowed to use them, but teachers in my department refer to each other as Ms and Sir all the time. TAs use first names because their work is often improved by making a distinction between them and the teachers. I'm not saying there aren't problems but it does depend a lot on the schools.

Ed makes his kids call him "Sir"...

No, they have to call me sir.

There definitely is a hierarchy between TAs and teachers though..

Was thinking it might be an idea about knocking some bits together for a possible next issue. I know Joseph K was keen on writing something about the financial crisis and how it will affect workers. Would also be good to have a run down of how the unions have fucked the pay dispute so far. Steven., do you think you'd be up for writing something on that?

Also, I was wondering what people felt the feasibility of a next issue of Tea Break would be like.. with Unison, NUT and PCS disputes collapsing (London buses too?) it leaves us with Unite NHS workers. Would we still be able to circulate something like this widely?

Distroing this kind of stuff is easy. You could distro a thousand copies in an hour or two outside a train station - this is what the AF in Manchester does all the time. If this is a general issue about economic crisis and the affects on working class living standards then it would be much easier to distro than dispute specific stuff at pickets and strike rallies.

Suggestions look good.

What picket lines though if it isnt a strike oriented bulletin?

Yeah, because all those commuters going to work are atomised individuals, whilst when at there workplace they are workers. The real advantage of targetting workplaces is that folks are more likely to discuss it others if they see each other reading it, or you appear mental enough when handing it out that this provokes tea time chatter.

If there was a Thousand strong picket line, I think that we would be producing for that situation. But even then there is value in addressing other workers not directly involved, don't you think? And was responding to this

I am not sure how targetting workplaces is more focussed unless what you are producing is directly aim at this industry (i.e. Building Worker') which would not be the case with an issue of Tea Break on the current crisis, now would it?

Targetting train stations is a bit too random though. In the absence of large picket line perhaps picking areas you live in and distributing them door to door might be a better option.