2000s
Reduction of fire hazard: in the event of firefighter strike or war against Iraq - No War But The Class War
A public-service announcement from Her Majesty's No War But The Class War Office on how to respond to a strike of firefighters or the outbreak of war against Iraq.
A guide for employees, passengers and residents
Her Majesty’s No War But The Class War Office
NWBTCW/FP/7/A
The Fire-fighters - No War But The Class War
No War But The Class War leaflet produced at the beginning of the 2002-2003 firefighter's strike.
The fire-fighters are fighting for a 40% pay increase, from £21,00 to £30,000 per year. The ballot was 9 to 1 in favour of strike action, with an 84 % turnout. The Northern Ireland ballot was 97 % in favour of strike action. "This is the biggest national vote, in any union, for strike action since the trade union balloting laws were put in place" [FBU].
Kamikaze Kapitalism - BM Combustion
BM Combustion explores the Gulf War, September 11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan, and their relation to daily life.
Horror Yesterday, Horror Today, Horror Tomorrow
Another day, another war looming, another anti-war leaflet.
Against war and capitalism - No War But The Class War
Leaflet from November 2001 analysing the movement against the war in Afghanistan.
The civilian death toll mounts in Afghanistan, to be added to the thousands who died in New York. The refugee crisis grows daily, with millions more facing starvation. Ground troops are sent in and we are warned to expect a long drawn out bloody conflict. War certainly lays bare the horrors of capitalism.
Anti-War Demonstrations
Against capitalist war, against capitalist 'peace' - No War But The Class War
Leaflet produced following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan
War
As the bombs fall on Afghanistan, we are told there are only two sides: the side of Western civilisation vs. terrorism, or the side of faith vs. infidels. But we refuse to take sides with those who pose such false oppositions. Our perspective is proletarian; the only side we take is that of the working class and the dispossessed of the world.
Preliminary notes on the situation in Palestine and further abroad - No War But The Class War
Leaflet from 2002, looking at the Palestinian and Afghan conflicts through the lens of the changing development of capitalism in those regions.
In a region marked by intermittent war, sporadic terrorism and permanent repression, one of the most significant features of the situation in Palestine and the surrounding territories has been the series of events that have resulted in the neutralising of the Palestinian proletariat. The major milestones in this process are as follows.
Churchill, the Cenotaph and May Day 2000 - Practical History
This response to the graffitiing of official monuments in London on May Day 2000 looks at the origins of war memorials in the social conflicts at the end of World War One and at the myth of the Second World War as an anti-fascist crusade. See also A good day out in London? for further reflections on May Day 2000.
"The destruction of representational images is the destruction of a hierarchy that is no longer recognised... The solidity of the images was the expression of their permanence. They seem to have existed for ever, upright and immovable; never before had it been possible to approach them with hostile intent.
A good day out in London? Some reflections on May Day 2000 - Practical History
Reflections on the May Day 2000 actions in London and the development of the anti-capitalist movement.
This was written as a contribution to a collection of articles called 'Reflections on May Day'. Unfortunately it didn't make it into the magazine as I missed the publication deadline. This was not just due to me slacking - I was hesitant about the content because the conclusion of 'well it wasn't so bad' didn't seem to be saying very much.
Brighton anti-war protests, 2002-3
Images from the anti-war protests in Brighton leading up to and following the outbreak of the Iraq war. Many of these events are recollected and analysed here.
Precarious and pissed off: Lessons from the Montpelier Downtown Workers' Union, 2003-2005
An account and analysis of the Vermont Workers' Center's innovative but ultimately failed attempt to set up a geographically-based union in the state's capital.
By Sean West
Beginnings and Endings
