general strike

Seen this on Facebook. Obviously hope it happens, very doubtful though.
Real shame it says Tory Regime. The usual myopic Tory bashing directing people's eyes away from the real problem. I'm so sick of that shit.

this is not going to happen, you cant just announce workers self organisation into existence

Whirlwind.
A lot of people have made callouts like this in the past, they never lead to anything.
A general strike comes as a result of working class consciousness and militancy as well as confidence.
An anonymous calout like this doesn't make any of these things real. It'd be nice if this could spark off a general strike etc, but it simply wont.

the calls for general strikes by the KPD in the years before 1933 weren't generally even followed by its own members

whirlwind

All I can say is that I have heard this call and I will heed it – I have nothing to lose.

The thing is though, you do. One, you miss an opportunity to actually engage your workmates/fellow students and tenants/claimants in the sort of real activity that could eventually lead a general strike. Two, it makes ideas like a general strike seem like infantile, pie-in-the-sky nonsense. As a result, people are less likely to listen when a legitimate general strike call out occurs - or, for that matter, when you post a legitimate callout of any type on your Facebook page.

I recall a thread a while back from a poster (I think they were Australian) who was convinced some Facebook callout for a general strike meant something. Whirlwind, I fear you're going to face the same disappointment they did.

On a personal level, are you planning on not going to work on this date? Assuming the strike doesn't happen, what's your gameplan if the boss comes after you for a no-call, no-show? Because if you can't answer that question, you really need to re-think the value of callouts like this.

I'm no prophet and I have no way to gauge working class consciousness

Not to labor the point, but an anonymous general strike callout circulating on social media requesting individual participation is actually a great indicator of the level of class consciousness in society.

When general strike callouts start coming from mass organisations with the on-the-ground density and power to actually enforce a general strike that'll be an indicator, too.

Noah Fence

Seen this on Facebook. Obviously hope it happens, very doubtful though.
Real shame it says Tory Regime.

Also, fucking "rise up". Not to mention, ALL CAPS!!!!!

This reminds me very much of this, which was a pretty amazing discussion:
https://libcom.org/forums/libcommunity/revolution-starts-06022010-09012010

We don't actually need a general strike anyway. Every radical worth their salt knows the revolution started the day Jeremy Corbyn became Labour Leader. Only one revolutionary action is now required of us - a Labour vote in the next general election.
Let's do this comrades! We are so close.

whirlwind

So on a straw poll, the best turnout the strike call can expect is 1in 6 and that is hopeful as most readers that read the declaration yesterday on 'social media' will have forgotten it today.

Straw poll of whom? If it's your workplace then that's not bad (assuming it's not just six people).
If it's country-wide then I'm sorry but it's simply not true, that would be the biggest strike in many years and that doesn't come from someone making a post online.
It's good that you feel strongly enough that you're willing to strike based on this, but the strike is a tactic, not an end in itself. And again, there has to actually be a strike which there wont be.

Who put out this call?

whirlwind

I agree that a general strike is a tactic not an end in itself (assuming the strike comes to an end). Your second remark assumes that no one heeds this call.

I assume few people will, because I've seen a lot of calls like this and they rarely lead to anything and they never lead to what they are calling for.
I'd like to hope that word could spread and suddenly the whole class would rise up and shake off this system, but I simply don't believe it is possible to do something just by calling on people to do it without any context or build-up.

Straw poll of this thread means actual participation is likely to be a minute fraction of that.

Steven.

This reminds me very much of this, which was a pretty amazing discussion:
https://libcom.org/forums/libcommunity/revolution-starts-06022010-09012010

Thank you for that, I have never before seen such treasure. Layer upon layer of precious jewels.

I was really surprised when I saw myself show up in it at post #368, I mean Surrey can go do one.

And I demand Boris be commissioned to continue his series on Revolutionary letters!
This the real peoples art.

Dear Che,

As you might have suspected there is a full revolution going on. Do you have your beard ready? I hope so, it's going to be muy excellente, homes. Everyone's showing up, the ska's, the punxxx, the antifas, everyone. Well except the proletariat and the peasantry, but fuck those haters. They're just afraid of real change.

Yours,

Fidel

Dear John Ball

How goeth it myne frend? Wee art about to maketh the revolution on ye 6th of February. Would be nice if thou wouldst join us for a day of RAISING HELL and merrymaking.
Godspeed.

(T)Wat Tyler lolle

revolutionary change or just a downturn in class struggle

Those are two interesting options.

Right Gents.

Lets get down to brass tacks here. Here's how I see it.

A General Strike, as in 1926, cannot happen. Ever. Period.

Not least because the labour market is so much more fractured today and private employment of various forms dominate parts of the market.

The use of the terminology here is to invoke a spirit of mass uprising, of seeking to reassert the unassailable power of the people to manipulate the economy to their will and not the will of the ruling elite.

That doesn't happen by everyone having a jolly down the park for one day. That happens by everyone stepping off the hamster wheel for a day, sitting down and discussing what they want our society to be, how we want to move forward and then doing so...with or without the blessing of our 'masters'.

For me, and I speak personally here, THAT is what this is about. General Strike against the government yes, but not as our employer, as our servant, as they should be.

Now. You can sit here in your ivory tower or you can hop onboard and see what comes of this.

Who's game?

Good luck, but the numbers will most likely be pathetic. These calls come out all the time. The only one that seemed to work recently was Occupy.

Khawaga

Good luck, but the numbers will most likely be pathetic. These calls come out all the time. The only one that seemed to work recently was Occupy.

Come now...that attitude is why they come and go...chance your arm...

Nope, I've been to p!entry of these. I know they don't work because the folks who are behind these call out subscribe to a field of dreams type mobilizing. Call it and they will come. Doesn't work that way; a lot of time has to be put into talking to people, one on one, or to groups at workplaces, class rooms and so on. It has to be relevant to them: general strike means nothing to most ppl, and neither do the laundry list of "issues" attached to it.

Couldn't agree more. That's why all that time is being spent.

I hope I prove you wrong but also appreciate your input.

With your comments in mind and as I am sure we probably seek similar outcomes in the longer term I'd appreciate any contacts you feel may be useful going forward.

I don't live in the UK.

Khawaga

I don't live in the UK.

Thanks for your input

FWIW, it's not that people on this site don't support the spirit of callouts like this. It's just that most of us have some organizing experience under our belt and know how hard it is to get people to strike about real, concrete issues in their own workplace.

The idea that - given the incredibly low point of class struggle in Europe and North America - people will respond to an abstract, anonymous callout for a political general strike is, at best, putting the cart miles and miles and miles before the horse.

Give this a shot:

https://libcom.org/library/%E2%80%9Cif-you-want-general-strike-organize-your-co-workers%E2%80%9D-interview-joe-burns

If what I'm told is true there's a fair bit of momentum building behind this in Brighton. I'm still very sceptical though.

Chilli Sauce

FWIW, it's not that people on this site don't support the spirit of callouts like this. It's just that most of us have some organizing experience under our belt and know how hard it is to get people to strike about real, concrete issues in their own workplace.

There's an assumption that there isn't experience behind this, and contacts, which there are.

I am Brighton based and there is real pace behind this. 20k positive in 5 days is good on any scale I've seen from previous experience.

whirlwind

I personally have problems with the wording of the declaration but no problem with the concept.

Couldn't agree more.

Bairdian

Chilli Sauce

FWIW, it's not that people on this site don't support the spirit of callouts like this. It's just that most of us have some organizing experience under our belt and know how hard it is to get people to strike about real, concrete issues in their own workplace.

There's an assumption that there isn't experience behind this, and contacts, which there are.

I am Brighton based and there is real pace behind this. 20k positive in 5 days is good on any scale I've seen from previous experience.

You know what, fair enough then. If it's actually got people talking to their co-workers about striking collectively (and not just liking something on Facebook), I'd love to be proven wrong. That said, I've seen callouts for demos that get tens of thousands of likes only to result in a minimal turnout. And it takes a lot less organisation and confidence to come to a demo than it does to go on strike.

I still hold my contention that if there was experience behind this, it wouldn't be an anonymous callout requesting individual participation that appears to have started on social media; it'd be a clear callout signed by a coalition of groups that encourages collective action. Also, given that you seem to have some behind-the-scenes knowledge, can you tell us who or what group is behind the callout?

Chilli Sauce

I still hold my contention that if there was experience behind this, it wouldn't be an anonymous callout requesting individual participation that appears to have started on social media; it'd be a clear callout signed by a coalition of groups that encourages collective action. Also, given that you seem to have some behind-the-scenes knowledge, can you tell us who or what group is behind the callout?

I refer you to my original post (#23 I think).

At this stage it isn't a callout as such. We are in discussion with Unions to join the action but that is still in discussion so in that sense you are right.

Due to the nature of the scene in the UK it is difficult for the Unions to make that call off the bat. The intention here, naive as it may be, is to create sufficient noise to push the Unions to take action. We're not there yet but based on the discussions I see happening already I truly believe it is plausible.

So, this is an effort to push the unions to call a general strike? Why doesn't it say that in the callout that's apparently not a callout? Also, what unions and who's the "we" who are "in discussion" with them?

Also, what about post 23 answered my questions about who's behind this?

Post 23 was more to outline the nature of the movement rather than who is behind it.

What is quoted at the start of this conversation is not the full story. The pages and change.org TUC petition outline exactly where this is stemming from and it's aims.

Behind it are a number of individuals and groups. We're trying hard for it not to be tied to any specific source at this stage. The idea is for it to be a combined action.

Currently talking with:
BMA
TUC
Labour Party
People's Assembly
NUS
GMB
NUT

Small acorns at this stage I know but if we can get half of the list above we can legitimately claim General Strike in my eye.

Great that you're talking to these organizations, but are you talking to rank and file folks or just to reps? Usually, the leadership of such orgs are barely more effective in mobilizing than Facebook.

I suggest you look up how the Quebec student strike was organized and how they mobilized. After starting to do what they did, the stuff I've been involved in was much more effective.

Thanks for the advice. It's really very much appreciated.

As we are assigning hosts to local actions one of their duties is to engage local rank and file in their area while we concentrate efforts to the top.

I have been involved in the UK student rally movement in the past but finding it hard to get contact with the new class...fast moving membership...

Who is we?!?