'Another World is Possible: How the Liverpool Dockers Launched a Global Movement'
People might have seen this already:
http://www.radicalanthropologygroup.org/pub_another_world.pdf
I found it really inspiring - a great example of solidarity between the traditionally organised working class, and the more diffuse anarchist movement which has cropped up within the last 15 years or so. In an increasingly informal economy, we're going to have to work out how to extend this type of solidarity and supportive action more consistently.
It's also a good counter to those who find it so easy to talk about RTS etc. as lifestylists, and assume that people who dress a bit hippy or live in a squat are incable of understanding and acting upon class politics - the openness of the dockers to RTS puts some people on this board to shame. The working class, in whatever sense you use the term, don't need anyone to fetishise their culture, or even their means of struggle: they need our respect and solidarity.
Compare the story told in the pamphlet with the anarchist mobilisation around the GG workers. Where has the supportive direct action been, what have people from the anarchist class struggle organisations been doing - apart from a few pickets, admittedly? (Genuine question, hope that doesn't sound rude.)
Have any anarcho-types been going to the Support Group meetings for the GG workers? How do we think the response from the anarchist communist community should be different the next time an important industrial dispute comes round? (That last one is mostly a rhetorical question - I think that detailed plans should probably stay private).
I know that I've found it really hard to engage with the dispute. Part of this is not being in London (or anywhere permanent) very much, but also the information about what's going on and what it means for the workers has been appalling. The T&GWU website is dire in this respect... k, rant over.
About the pamphlet and the more general issue - of how the portion of the anarchist movement who aren't in workplaces of hundreds of workers (i.e. most of us) react to industrial disputes - what do you think?
Can comment on articles and discussions
We (me,jack an ed) went to a trot filled GG meeting last week, with a gg worker there as spokesman. Nothing practical from the trots, surprise surprise, all they really wanted was to get the T&GWU (type in whichever tuc union ya want) to be more accountable in such situations, in fact to tell you the truth they seemed to be more interested in there own version of allegedly attacking capital. Which fucking pissed me off, oh right yeh we can link you in to our struggle, to make us sound like we give a shit, but realitywise zilchoe, the guy from gg seemed to be knackered not surprisingly after doing a speaking tour. I was in a way embarrased, wanting to scream the left is dead, now fuck off. An lets get down to some concrete support for these workers.
Anyroad we didn't get much outa the gg kiddie, apart from to continue supporting them, he knew nothing more about the ba workers who came out in solidarity with them. Anybody?
Hey you could always picket your local blue arrow temp agency who're providing the scab labour to replace the gg workers, its about all that's going on down here at the moment (myself not included).