Left-talking Alan Fisher, leader of the National Union of Public Employees, says do anything you like except national strike action. But his membership's response to his regional days of action show an impatience with this delaying tactic. That's why the call for national strike action on 11 May, following the lead of London NUPE members, is important.
The call will be taken up at the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions conference against the cuts on 26 February, and by lobbyists of the 22 March public service unions conference.
The naming of 11 May as a day of national strike action against the cuts should be linked with concrete demands on how to reverse the cuts - the immediate adoption of a programme of public works to employ the jobless and meet the need for health, education and housing. HOSH The fight against the policies of the Social Contract is now being waged with more determination than ever. But no trust can be placed in the leadership of the trade unions — whether right or left to bring that Social Contract to its deservedly ignominious end. What can be effective is the unity of all those on the left who are organising action against Labour's right wing policies.
Not the unity of the trade union leadership and the Labour Government, but the unity of those in struggle. The duty of militants everywhere, regardless of what unions they are in, regardless of political Hemel Hempstead workers give a hot reception to Minister of Ill-Health differences, is to build that class struggle left wing. Roland Moyle. Story page 3.