Report from David Niven
An enthusiastic Cumbrian rally on the cost of living crisis, which took place in Carlisle last Saturday, was attended by around 50 people, most of whom were local trade union activists.
The rally was jointly organised by the Northern Region of the TUC and Carlisle Trades Union Council.
There were three speakers from the platform: John Metcalf, ASLEF NEC member, Niamh Sweeney, Deputy General Secretary of the NEU and Kevin Rowan, the TUC Head of Organising. However, just as importantly, the organisers of the event ensured that there were also a number of speakers from the floor representing local branches of those unions which are already taking industrial action or which are currently balloting for action. As a result, there were also local speakers from the CWU, RMT, Unite, UCU, NEU, GMB and PCS.
A number of key points were made during the meeting including, the need for mass coordinated industrial action at national level, to turn the screw on this divided and discredited Tory Government. This becomes crucial as more unions obtain strike mandates from ballots of their members.
Speakers also emphasised the importance of the local branches of different unions continuing to provide each other with solidarity at that level, by visiting each other’s picket lines, arranging joint meetings and working together through local trades union councils
Some speakers emphasised the need for the Labour Party (the party created by the trade unions) to provide a clear alternative to the Tories policies of uber-austerity. Labour should argue for policies based on wealth re-distribution and public ownership of key industries such as energy, rail and mail.
Calls were made for an immediate general election on the grounds that the Tory government has no mandate for its policies, particularly in relation to the cost of living crisis, and their failure to deal with the profiteering of the energy companies.
Keir Starmer and the Labour leadership also came in for particular criticism for their failure to provide clear support for workers who are taking action to defend their living standards as well as for abandoning Labour Party conference policies relating to public ownership and wealth redistribution from the 1% to the rest of us. The Labour leadership were accused of cynically sitting on the side lines and effectively relying on the unpopularity of the Tories to propel them into government
All those involved in organising the event agreed that it was a success which needs to be followed up by further public events and joint union activity in the Carlisle area, as the strike wave increases over the next few months.
