Powerless? Frustrated? Angry? An outline of our ideas about organisation

POWERLESS? FRUSTRATED? ANGRY?

In this society we are ripped off at work, have little control over much of our lives, and we are expected to quietly accept this. we reject this set up as one run solely in the interests of the bosses. Political parties offer us no alternative. We can't change this on our own, we have to organise together.

Economics -money, if you like -underpins all forms of oppression in this society. Changing society's economic heart is essential, and is also the most pressing fight for working class people.

We can only make a successful social revolution through a struggle which not only overcomes the existing power structure, but also lays - in working class culture and in fact - the foundations of a free society. To do this we have to organise the right way to get the right result. Revolutionary consciousness has to flow from the structures and methods we use. To present a set of limited demands achievable within existing society (see next page) may seem to be contradictory, but to set impossible demands is to fail.

Revolutionary Unionism - the alternative, run by workers for workers

A social revolution can only be made by the working class as a whole, and a real revolutionary organisation must be able to in­clude all class-conscious workers. We are heartily sick of the "revolu­tionary left" and their games. We despise their perpetual courtship of defeat and the relish with which they greet a sell-out. It is only by winning, and by organising effec­tive action around immediate is­sues to force concessions from the bosses and the state through our own efforts that we will redis­cover our power, and use it to change society for good.

A different kind of union:

- Direct Action (that is stopping the bosses' and the state's at­tacks, or taking what we want, ourselves; not "campaigning" for it, protesting about it, or having union officials or politicians plead on our behalf); and Direct De­mocracy - decision-making and control of all actions, negotiations and policy-making by the rank and file.

- We refuse to limit our agenda to simple "bread-and-butter" issues like pay and working conditions (although these are crucial, and any union must deliver on these, or become irrelevant).

This means fighting against the bosses' attacks, and also for Work­ers' Selfmanagement of produc­tion and the end of the Wages System and bosses. (Self-man­agement means that workers own and manage the enterprise they work in collectively. Only the work­ers who do a job know best how to do it efficiently, safely and well. We are opposed to the Wages System because it is the means by which we are paid less than the value of our work, with bosses, shareholders, etc. living off the difference. Instead of this exploi­tation, we want to create a society based on the principles called Lib­ertarian Communism - from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.)

We reject the trades union/politi­cal party division embraced by both the official Labour Movement and the "revolutionary left". A workers' organisation must both fight back and work to change society, and its organisational principles must avoid creating "leaders" and "fol­lowers".

This is how revolutionary unionism works:

- All decisions affecting workplace issues are made by Workers' As­semblies - regular mass meet­ings for all workers-with the power to make binding decisions and with control over all committees and delegates elected by them.

- Everyone who accepts the bind­ing nature of decisions, and takes part in any action, has the right to participate in Workers' Assem­blies. The right to have a say in decisions can not be bought by payment of union dues (nor de­nied to those who don't pay dues, but who meet the above condi­tions). Class solidarity demands that scabs and management are kept out.

- Anything won by workers is the result of effective action and solid organisation, or of the credible threat of the former, not of good will on the part of management. At present, any attempt to take effec­tive action runs into a minefield of anti-union laws and victimisation. Sometimes it also has to face hos­tility from the existing unions. The best defence against legal action is to win any dispute as quickly as possible. This can demonstrate that the anti-union laws are use­less in the face of well-organised defiance. It will also show that workers can retaliate against pu­nitive measures, and defend vic­timised activists.

- The anti-union laws aim to isolate workers and to force us to fight alone, and we need to attack them by giving and demanding solidar­ity between workers, by picketing and by boycotting. The best form of action to take must be decided by the workers ourselves, based on our knowledge of what will be most effective. As a general rule the action which causes maximum financial loss in a short period is the best. There is no point taking ineffective action as a gesture. It is important that any campaign of action has maximum involvement from workers affected. It must not divide, demobilise or demoralise people.

- The election of a workplace con­venor, Safety Representatives, and any negotiators, dispute com­mittees or shop stewards is by the Workers' Assembly. It must be held at least annually, prefer­ably on an ad hoc basis wherever practical. All officials must be un­paid, and must get enough facility time from the management. They are accountable to and recallable by an Assembly convened as swiftly as adequate notice can be given. Shop stewards or other delegates don't have the power to negotiate without a mandate. They must get one before negotiating, and get the result approved by the Workers' Assembly.

-The revolutionary union wants all workers to join, but rejects the passive, "check-off" membership of the existing unions. Revolution­ary union members must pay sub­scriptions, and do organisational work. They must also sell the revo­lutionary union and its principles and methods to non-members. A revolutionary union also aims to form a workplace branch as an active organisation in oppo° ";ion to passive, consultative bodies like Works Councils. (These are com­mon on the continent and pro­moted by the Maastricht Treaty's Social Chapter- unions run slates of candidates like in a parliamen­tary election, and they represent you just like your MP does - ie not at all.) Permanent, bureaucratic negotiating bodies aren't much better. Ideally all workers should join the workplace branch so that it becomes the Workers' Assem­bly.

- Solidarity between workers in the same industry is encouraged on local, regional, national and inter­national levels. This is based on direct links between workplace organisations, and on forming in­dustrial networks at each level. Organisation beyond each workplace doesn't mean giving up control to a "higher level", either to officials or to lay committees. Revolutionary unionism organises on the basis of Federalism, where all co-ordinating bodies are directly elected, and composed of del­egates who have a specific man­date from their constituency. Ini­tiative and decision-making power remain with the Workers'Assem­bly or workplace branch, which has the ultimate right to withdraw from any body which tries to im­pose decisions on it. (No-one should hold office on more than one level, eg a workplace con­venor should not also be a del­egate to a local industrial commit­tee, etc.) The Solidarity Federa­tion is already networking on an industrial basis, and aims to form workplace branches in order to turn loose industrial networks into federalist industrial unions.

- A revolutionary union does not simply have an industrial struc­ture, but as it aims to organise the working class as a whole, it also has local and regional structures. All members are part of a Local, which exists to provide solidarity, support and resources to workers in its area. This serves to provide help and back-up where there are few or no members in a workplace. It works to recruit workers to the revolutionary union, and to defend them in the face of management attacks. It provides experience, support and resources to help with organisation and recruitment. It demands solidarity from other workers in the area in the case of disputes. Locals provide meeting space, information on workplace law, health and safety, company profits, etc.; and to make political literature and educational re­sources available to workers.

- A Local is also a base for action on a wider social agenda, not sim­ply for supporting workplace ac­tivity. This means the revolution­ary union can address all working class issues, wherever and when­ever they come up.

We want real social change

Today our lives are defined by work, or by our exclusion from it. Life is split into "work" and "lei­sure". Cash is what controls us, far more than the threat or use of violence. Our labour is sold cheaply to the boss who owns what we produce through the Wages Sys­tem. Leisure is supposed to be freedom, but is really what the bosses get us to pay for to relieve the boredom. A revolutionary un­ion must end this division, and fight against it in existing society. This means demanding work which is useful, interesting and fulfilling, not organised by parasites fortheir own advantage. We'll only get this by workers' control leading to Self-­management.

"A decent society means reducing the amount of boring and degrading work"

Similarly, we've had enough of the passive consumption for profit which passes for relaxation and recreation. Everyone must have the opportunity to contribute to society if they wish to benefit from it, and get to use their full range of abilities both for the common good and for fun. A decent society means reducing the amount of boring and degrading workthrough technology and responsible be­haviour.

A useful contribution to society is not just going to work for the bosses' profits. It is also house work and care work which are not part of the cash economy, but which capitalism relies on -usually through the unpaid and unsung work of women - in order to repro­duce its workforce andd maintain social stability. Without this work society would collapse, but the bosses won't admit this and pay for it because it would cost them too much. We must make them, but not with Wages - we want an end to exploitation, not its expan­sion.

We also need to organise life to support this work, not to make individuals slaves to it, but to take away the burden and make it a choice. Equally, those who choose to do it must be valued, not taken for granted. Carers must control their own lives, not have them dictated by "society".

Cultural exclusion, discrimination, harassment and violence on the grounds of gender, race, national­ity, sexuality, age or "disability" permeate all aspects of society, and won't be stopped by slogans and simple demands. These are oppressive in their own right, not just tools of the bosses which some people think will disappear if differ­ent people get power. They aren't just bad because they "divide the working class", either.

The revolutionary union is not just about the workplace, but all hu­man life. We need to link workers' organisation in public services with organisations of local people who can work out what services are needed and how they need to work. Then we can challenge their con­trol by government and councils, so they belong to working people.

"The revolutionary union is not just about the workplace but all human life"

"We need to build a basis for more permanent organisation...."

The fight against the Poll Tax proved that it is possible to organ­ise outside the workplace, and that we have strength if united in a common aim. Anti-Poll Tax groups disappeared with its defeat, how­ever, and we need to build a basis for more permanent organisation. Where we can start is by organis­ing street or estate meetings to discuss issues which affect the areas we live in and what we can do about them. For issues which have a wider impact, local action committees can be organised on a Federalist basis. It is only through organising and resisting in this way that we stand a chance of gaining something in common on which to build community
Our housing, transport, healthcare, education and childcare are con­trolled by those concerned with profit and political advantage. Our environment, food and water are polluted because profits mean more than our lives. Power and control - not seizing powerthrough control of the state, but taking it into our own hands through our own organisations - are the key to solving most of the problems we suffer.

We need genuine revolutionary organisation where we work and where we live to do it. The Soli­darityFederation is building such organisation, and working to es­tablish Direct Democracy. Join us in this.

THE AIMS OF THE SOLIDARITY FEDERATION

The Solidarity Federation is an organisation of workers which seeks to destroy capitalism and the state. Capitalism because it exploits, oppresses and kills working people and wrecks the environment for profit worldwide. The state because it can only maintain hierarchy and privilege for the classes who control it and their servants; it cannot be used to fight the oppression and exploitation that are the consequences of hierarchy and the source of privilege. In their place we want a society based on workers 'self-management, solidarity, mutual aid and libertar­ian communism.

That society can only be achieved by working class organisation based on the same principles - revolutionary unions. These are not Trades Unions only concerned with "bread and butter" issues like pay and conditions. Revolutionary unions are means for working people to organise and fight all the issues - both in the workplace and outside - which arise from our oppression. We recognise that not all oppression is economic, but can be based on gender, race, sexuality, or anything our rulers find useful. Unless we organise in this way, politicians - some claiming to be revolutionary - will be able to exploit us for their own ends.

The Solidarity Federation consists of Industrial Networks and Locals which are the nuclei of future revolutionary unions and centres for working class struggle on a local level. Our activities are based on Direct Action- action by workers ourselves, not through intermediaries like politicians and union officials; our decisions are made through participation of the membership. We welcome all working people who agree with our aims and principles, and who will spread propaganda for social revolution and revolutionary unions. We recognise that the class struggle is worldwide, and are affiliated to the International Workers' Association, whose Principles of Revolutionary Unionism we share.

Today we are fighting for:

• A maximum 35 hour working week, with an end to overtime. and full compensation for anti-social hours, without loss of earnings.
• Full employment rights for part-time and temporary workers, with immediate effect from starting a job.
• An end to bogus "self-employment" and individual contracts, free collective bargaining direct with the real boss.
• An end to wage differentials. equal pay_ for work of equal value, consolidation of bonuses. overtime. etc. for all.
• The right to retire at 55 for men and women on full pension:
• The right to a minimum of six weeks' holiday a year with full pay. sick pay at full rates, one year's maternity/paternity leave, flexible hours and easy access to full childcare facilities, and a minimum of two weeks' dependency leave:
• The right to hold Workers' Assemblies in working hours without loss of ay, and to adequate facility time to carry out union duties:
• The right to strike or take other forms of industrial action without fear of dismissal, including solidarity action. picketing and boycotts:
• A healthy and safe working environment. full access to all relevant information. and the right to stop work without loss of earnings or threats of victimisation until any defects are corrected:.
• Freedom of association, expression and speech which does not directly or indirectly discriminate on grounds of gender, race, nationality. sexuality. age. disability or health:
• Recognition of care work (including bringing up children) and domestic labour as being both socially useful and worthy of full remuneration and
  of flexible domestic, partnerships

• Decent, affordable and accessible housing and transport
• Free, accessible and quality healthcare
• Free, accessible and quality education
• And end to the treatment of healthy and uncontaminated food, air and water as luxuries not meant for working class people, and the replacement of agricultural production and, transport methods which damage our environment by sustainable alternatives.

Tomorrow: control of our lives