Steven Baxter

Patrolling the murkier waters of the mainstream media

How not to manage a general strike

The 30 November strike could be a huge own goal unless unions ensure they appeal to as many workers as possible.

By Steven Baxter Published 20 November 2011 12:59

Ahead of the November 30 strike, it's important to understand why low-paid workers might be resentful towards public sector employees, and to think about strategies of how to win them over. And let's consign the word "scab" to the dustbin.

While previous disputes have pitted traditional "class" enemies against one another, such traditional distinctions are not so easy to draw nowadays. We're faced with a situation in which the public sector "class" have been portrayed as living the life of Riley with decent wages, working conditions, holidays and the so-called "gold-plated" pensions by successive governments' friends in the media, while the private sector has forced employees to up their pension contributions in order to maintain pitifully bleak pension outcomes, and while wages have failed to keep pace with prices.

It's simple to see why one group of workers might view the other with suspicion or resentment, even if it's not desirable to see a race to the bottom. But times are tough. Private sector wages don't go as far as they used to, and they are suffering thanks to corporate greed of employers and wider economic woes alike. Forcing public-sector workers to suffer as much as those who've been in the private sector won't solve anything, but it's not hard to see why some might see that as somehow deserved or overdue.

While unions are fighting for the pension rights and futures of public sector workers, there are hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers right across the country seeing their wages disappear in tax while they're struggling to cover their basic outgoings -- and that's if they're lucky enough to have a job in the first place. When those people read their newspaper in their brief lunchbreak and see the carefully constructed average figures for public-sector pensions, deliberately designed to make them seem as outrageous as possible, how do you convince them that it's important to maintain those standards?

How are unions going to win over those people, and tell them it's worth paying their taxes to ensure that teachers or civil servants get the pensions they deserve? It's not going to be a simple task, but it's worth doing. Low-paid workers are those who could be helped the most by being members of a union, or be lifted up by collective bargaining rights in the workplace; they are the most vulnerable to being kicked out at a moment's notice or treated badly by unscrupulous employers. They have the most to gain from the labour movement, yet they are the ones who may well view it with the most suspicion.

Even if you accept that it's vital for unions to be campaigning for the hard-fought rights of public sector workers at this time of ideological cutbacks, when the government is zealously tearing into the fabric of the state by using "the mess we inherited" as camouflage, it's important not to allow workers to be divided and conquered. It's happened so many times before, and it's bound to happen again.

November 30 could be a massive bear trap unless unions ensure they try and appeal to as many workers as possible. Let's have no talk of "scabs" -- those who cross picket lines may not do so joyfully but because they've got families to feed or because, in the case of public-sector workers, they feel their duty is with the public they serve. There must be respect for those choices at all times, for the word "scab" is the biggest gift of all to the enemies of the labour movement.

We'll be told there was a small turnout for the action. We'll be told that workers have gold-plated pensions. Unions will, as ever, be on the back foot when it comes to publicity and the government will have its slick media strategy prepared well in advance, ready to take on the Tories' old enemies. The only thing that will make it even harder to get the right message across will be scenes of intimidation of those who are faced with the awful choice of having to cross a picket line.

This is going to be a tough sell for unions, which isn't to say it's the wrong action at the wrong time. It's the right thing to do at the right time. But it's vital that the right messages come out of this, that unions are inclusive and for everyone. Otherwise, it runs the risk of being an own goal.

Tags: Public Sector Pensions Protest Trade Unions

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45 comments

Wed, 2011-11-23 18:45 — Huw Clayton (not verified)

"Go back to the 1926 for a real General Strike, spread over several weeks when practically every worker downed tools."

It lasted nine days before collapsing in a comical heap of fudge and ineptitude. The associated coal lock-out lasted longer, but there was no question of "downing tools" - like I say, it was a lock-out, not a strike.

"That Strike probably led to the return of the 2nd Labour Govt under MacDonald."

No, not the strike - in fact, the Tories earned mega-brownie points by not calling in the Army and meeting it with bullets. Their stupid Trade Union Bill in 1928 however, which went after the unions' funds aggressively as an act of vindictiveness, undid a lot of the goodwill. That, coupled with rising unemployment, and a bad bill on working practices early in 1929, was what guaranteed the forming of MacDonald's second government.

Wed, 2011-11-23 18:48 — Huw Clayton (not verified)

"guaranteed the forming"

Ugh, should read, "guaranteed the formation." Sloppy proof-reading!

And to think I was bawling out the Student Loan Company last week for sending out a letter that contained such bad spelling and grammar that it would not have been acceptable from a five year old!

Sun, 2011-11-20 13:51 — Luddite (not verified)

"labour movement": It stopped being a movement years ago. Many in the private sector see Labour as just a mouth-piece of our new aristocracy the public sector workers, with their privilege status with-in that movement. Your right there's very little support for strike action in support of the privileged few.. What really is enraging is that it was a Labour government that destroyed their pensions by sealing from Peter to pay Paul,

Mon, 2011-11-21 18:41 — Exile (not verified)

As someone who is effectively in the public sector and whose pension is now under threat, I guess I can expect the same support from private sector workers that we gave them when their pensions were being destroyed - which is - errr, zero.

Sun, 2011-11-20 15:27 — George Hallam (not verified)

"While previous disputes have pitted traditional "class" enemies against one another"

When was this I wonder?

It's almost as if you were trying to set up a straw man.

"such traditional distinctions are not so easy to draw nowadays."

Oh. That what you were trying to do.

How about trying to make some real distinctions instead.

There are sound empriical and theoretical reasons for thinking that all people who have to put themselves on the labour market have some very important common interests.

Sun, 2011-11-20 16:11 — Delroy Booth (not verified)

No, it's quite simple, if you cross a picket line you are actively undermining a strike, undermining your entire profession and contributing to the decline of living standards and

I have no respect for those who turn their backs on their workmates and allow the Tory government to destroy our services, just for a single day's pay.

I'm sorry but if someone's scabbing then they are the enemy, and we should so them no sympathy.

Wed, 2011-11-23 20:20 — swatantra nandanwar

Well, we learn something new everyday. Thanks for that.
Only wish the Tory Coalition would though. There is a certain degree of vindictiveness creeping into the way it handles Industrial Relations, and it will be the death of this Govt.
I am desparately think which prominent figure could lead a Govt of National Unity and Recovery, and the only names I can come up with are Brown and Darling.

Sun, 2011-11-20 16:16 — London Calling (not verified)

I am not sure if the writer has ever been on strike but in a strike you are forced to take sides. In this case your fellow trade unionists or the government. The care of the public affected is covered by the union. No need for individual decisions. If you are short of money ask yourself how much worse off you'll be when your pension contribution are increased. There is no "awful choice" of crossing a picket line. You either work with your fellow workers for the common good as decided by democratic vote or you support the government and are a Scab.

Mon, 2011-11-21 19:25 — Richard Albright (not verified)

Where were the public-sector Unions when Labour plundered the private sector of their pensions? Why should one worker retire later and with a monstrously reduced pension than other is this what Labour ment by equality.

Sun, 2011-11-20 16:23 — Ricardo1

Good article :)

I wonder if it would be best if we just scrapped employee contributions towards pensions all together and instead increased the basic state pension to a decent amount?

That way, it won't be public vs private vs private vs private etc, we really would "all be in it together".

Sun, 2011-11-20 16:42 — representingthemambo (not verified)

Delroy Booth
I completely understand why you are angry and condemnatory of people who cross picket lines. I'm taking the day off as annual leave as I am on a temporary contract that is due to finish in december but i don't want to cross a picket line.

But we live in a time when the ideas of working class solidarity and socialism have been remorselessly discredited and attacked and we need to take that into account. Labelling people in such emotive terms isn't likey to win them over.
I think that those of us on the left have to accept that the tasks and arguments are a little more basic than they maybe were 30 years ago and in the first instance we have to try and win people over to the basic principles of solidarity.

http://representingthemambo.wordpress.com/

Wed, 2011-11-23 21:23 — Luddite (not verified)

thanD: How do you know he not a bum.. I'm an airline pilot.. Hard work should always be rewarded, fairness equally applied, but in Labour's and unions world, some are more equal than others...

Sun, 2011-11-20 17:01 — Bodva (not verified)

"we live in a time when the ideas of working class solidarity and socialism have been remorselessly discredited and attacked "

Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose.

Get over it.

Wed, 2011-11-23 21:46 — thanD (not verified)

@Luddite. I know he isn't a bum because he is a professional cellist. As a pilot what are your views on britain's airport taxes? My view is that all airlines flying the most environmentally should be able to offer a reduced tax fare to the ticket.

Sun, 2011-11-20 17:06 — Fraziel1

I would just like to point out that civil servants are far lower paid than all other public sector workers so the argument that public sector workers are now paid more than private sector does not wash with them. I will be on strike because I will be asked to pay more, for longer, for less when i am already earning peanuts. If i was in the private sector doing a similar job i would be earning approx 5k a year more. I would gladly have no pension for the extra 5k a year but this government wants to attack my pension and not give me any extra pay. Its not going to happen and we will strike and keep striking until they get the message. Perhaps they could target tax relief on pensions for the super rich which currently costs more than the entire public sector pensions bill.That would be fair. I will not hold my breath.

Mon, 2011-11-21 20:37 — Chris Baldwin (not verified)

Any mention of unions really brings out the right-wing authoritarians, doesn't it?

Sun, 2011-11-20 18:06 — snipe (not verified)

All this complete tosh about private sector workers getting a raw deal is unbelievable.

As stated in the article the figures that are presented to the press are carefully manipulated and accompanied by specious statements.

Public sector pay is higher than average on a like for like basis for some jobs, but the people who occupy these positions are also on average better educated and qualified than their private sector counterparts. Should you not expect a better deal if you have the relevant qualifications?

Public sector pay also tops out on most positions at about 60k (excluding the very few senior positions)

I know plenty of people in the private sector who earn easily above the average of public sector workers and get very generous quarterly and annual bonuses.

Why should the public sector cop the blame for private sector mistakes; because this is what it ultimately comes back to.

Also the public sector has had a massive overspend because of private sector companies taking the piss out of government funded operations (pfi etc)

Sun, 2011-11-20 18:07 — Luddite (not verified)

Ricardo: Agree!!

Delroy Booth: There's no more solidarity.. New Labour and the public-sector unions destroyed solidarity. Why should one worker defend the privileges of another? Privileges he or she, no longer benefit's from?

Tue, 2011-11-22 23:16 — thanD (not verified)

@Luddite - you undermine your points by saying stupid things! How can you say a professional cellist is a bum you philistine?! They have had to work harder and endure tougher competition than most! And he has a baby and a working wife - credit where credit is due surely?

What sort of society do you want? Clearly not a conservative, family orientated working one?!

I will enjoy my retirement in 30 years, so thanks for your compliment

Sun, 2011-11-20 18:18 — snipe (not verified)

As much as I support the individuals right to strike, I support the right to not strike equally.

This it's us or government mentality forgets one other important variable, namely family.

You might very well want to support your fellow workers and not want to support your employer, but if you cannot afford to lose a days wage out of your xmas pay packet who really has to come first?

Mon, 2011-11-21 21:03 — cgr (not verified)

A strike by the public sector unions will be a tactical blunder. The general public has little sympathy with the cause as it is. A strike will achieve little and will only lead to reduced pay packets and the local authorities saving money.
If sensible the unions will accept much of the recent new offer by the government. They should try to negotiate a smaller increase in contributions and/or a longer period of implementation of the increase in contributions. A career average pension is more fair to low and middle income earners. Are we and I speak as a teacher really going on strike for the sake of the higher paid members of the public sector whose pensions will be affected most by these proposals.
In my opinion the public sector has to be realistic, we are living longer and the cost of public pensions has to be paid by someone. The last government fudged the issue as they did not want to upset the unions and there natural supporters.

Sun, 2011-11-20 18:56 — mcquade

"New Labour and the public-sector unions destroyed solidarity."

Wrong again, Luddite, our regular inventor of fictional facts. The collapse of union membership began under Thatcher. Still, I shouldn't expect a self-avowed ignoramus to have any historical knowledge.

Sun, 2011-11-20 19:06 — john woods (not verified)

Fraziel1: The public sector in this country, in my experience do, sweet fa all day.

Sun, 2011-11-20 19:53 — john woods (not verified)

Most of the folks I come across at the local town hall, revenue etc, you'd hardly notice if they did go on strike.

Mon, 2011-11-21 23:03 — Spud Middleton (not verified)

"...and I speak as a teacher"

"...The last government fudged the issue as they did not want to upset the unions and THERE natural supporters."

If there's one thing I hate worse than a scab, it's a scab who's employed as a teacher yet knows fuck all about grammar, but despite this, might end up teaching one of my kids.

I didn't just avoid opting to privately educate my kids because once I pay the bills and get legless on a Friday night, I haven't got a pot to piss in for the rest of the week...I did it because I believe in a level playing field...but it seems that state education in this country is now in the hands of semi-literate morons who not only can't tell there from their from they're, they're too fuckin dumb to avoid the big signposted 'divide and rule' populist PR campaigns sponsored by the financial sector.

Wake up, smell the coffee, mark some fuckin books for once and learn the basics of English grammar (and history). You really should have "useful idiot" stencilled across your forehead.

"The general public has little sympathy with the cause as it is."

....have you never noticed what tends to happen to people who start making claims on behalf of the 'general public'?...if they can avoid the bullets in the beer hall.

Wed, 2011-11-23 11:25 — swatantra nandanwar

A day out is not a 'General Strike', its a Day of Action/Inaction.
Go back to the 1926 for a real General Strike, spread over several weeks when practically every worker downed tools. When the Govt took vicious measures to stamp on the workers. That Strike probably led to the return of the 2nd Labour Govt under MacDonald.

Tue, 2011-11-22 03:17 — Graham (not verified)

@Spud. I agree with a many of your points in that rant - you make me chuckle. If people like cpr are in fact teachers, then there is little hope for their students; they're probably illiterate too.

My wife is a numerate and literate teacher! In my opinion teachers need MORE financial reward in order to attract more applicants, create competition for jobs, and drive up standards. The country will benefit long term.

Disclaimer: Any errors, syntax or spelling are the fault of my HTC's predictive text function, and have nothing to do with the fact that as a cellist I don't have to write anything as part of my job.

Tue, 2011-11-22 03:19 — Graham (not verified)

I just spotted a rogue "a" in sentence one - oh dear.

Tue, 2011-11-22 07:10 — Luddite (not verified)

I wish some in the pubic sector would stop calling themselves workers.

"My wife is one of the few numerate and literate teacher! In my opinion teachers need MORE financial reward in order to attract more applicants"

She must be one of the few.... "teachers need MORE financial reward".... Why? so they can drive down standards even more!!!! You really do have a misplaced high opinion of yourselves.. Most of you won't last one week in the private sector, and you knew it! Graham. you are posting from the middle of the night, have you no job to get up-for? or are you just sponging-off your wife..

Sun, 2011-11-20 21:50 — andyg (not verified)

@ John Woods
But this was the old arguement John. What did they tell us? Privatise it and it will be cheaper and more efficient. Most of the private companies still rely on public handouts including the banks and the service has become shoddy yet more expensive.

Sun, 2011-11-20 22:00 — JoeDeMocritus

What General Strike?

A Public Sector, keep the gold-plated pensions, I'm alright Jack, strike maybe.

Sun, 2011-11-20 22:13 — swatantra (not verified)

What the public fail to understand is that when unions go on strike its not just to safeguard their own employment rights but those of the next generation of workers as well.
If the Unions don't potect you then nobody else will.

Tue, 2011-11-22 12:09 — Graham (not verified)

@luddite. I was unwinding for half an hour having put a baby to sleep. My orchestra isn't rehearsing today so I got up to deal with the baby. I am not a teacher. Are your children at private school?

Tue, 2011-11-22 12:12 — Graham (not verified)

@Luddite - just noticed you misquoted me and added a grammatical error!

Tue, 2011-11-22 12:20 — Graham (not verified)

Just realised that you don't have children, because you obviously think that the only way someone could be up at 2am is if they were a bum! Some days I start work with a 2 or 3pm rehearsal and then do a concert that finishes at 10pm. By the time I have got home, eaten something and unwound it is often quite late.

Also you must be aware that some jobs operate through the night? For all you knew I could have been posting from another time zone? Alas you simply assumed I was a bum!

Mon, 2011-11-21 00:58 — p j wall (not verified)

The LUDDITEometer is reading at a state of acute agitation and temper tantrum!, leading to insults and abuse!!, ABORT, ABORT,

Tue, 2011-11-22 13:40 — thanD (not verified)

@Luddite - If teachers were better paid, then standards would actually go UP, as more high quality, bright candidates would be attracted to the job. As it stands there are too many poor teachers, undoing the work of the excellent ones.

My son had an excellent teacher in years 4 and 5, but the current year 6 teacher can barely spell and count! I will be topping up his education at home in preparation for the sats exams.

I work in the private sector, and my pensions solution is to abolish public and private pensions and give everyone the same state pension, provided they have worked for 35 years.

The figure would be between the current average public and private pension. Poor workers would gain (from public and private sectors), and richer workers (like myself even) would lose out a little.

I have holiday homes in Clifton, Cape Town as well as Trastevere, Rome and rent these out most of the year. I don't mind receiving a slightly lower pension!

Mon, 2011-11-21 07:02 — SEO West Palm

When will greed and Man's inhumanity end? Is society unraveling? http://561localsearch.com

Mon, 2011-11-21 10:57 — Brendan Caffrey1

A General Strike?
I agree that we should not use the word scab. But that is because few people know what it means; and this sort of language might put some workers off industrial action.

As to the unclarity of the word class; it was always thus since the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century sociologists made this worse by using different definitions of class. The government has had its own Registrar Generals series of 7 classes. For contemporary politics, and organising a strike, little of this matters. What does matter is the law surrounding strikes, which constrains organisers. What also matters is how workers see themselves; as manual workers, office workers, as bankers, as doctors, as unemployed workers, and as full or part time house workers.

For organisers producing some agreement on strikes amongst such a diverse workforce this is well nigh impossible. So, what to do? There needs to be a clear focus on one or a few objectives. Obvious candidates include pensions, job insecurity, and health care. Going beyond this to, say, the young unemployed begins to seem sectional. Finally, unions need much better relations than they have currently with the media.
This is not going to be a national general strike. Not all unions are involved. Not all workers are involved; as less than half of all workers are members of trade unions. However, there may well be people on strike on 30th November who are not in unions; the unemployed, the disabled, etc.. Perhaps this action should be seem as largely about the poor versus the wealthy. As to conflict between private and public sector workers, in both cases there is considerable fear about job insecurity. This should override other real differences in pay etc..

Please see my blog at:
whyworktoday2967.wordpress.com/

Mon, 2011-11-21 14:36 — Nodbod (not verified)

I am really in a quandry about this. I worked in the public sector 20 years ago. Four years ago I found myself back at the organisation that I had left 20 years previously. In the inbetween years I have worked in the private sector. A lot of my peers are earning more money than me; a lot more. They have had security of tenure, I have not. They sit administrating, I have to go out and constantly perform or I am held to account. They get flexi-time (the buildings are almost empty on Friday afternoons) but start after me and finish before me on a daily basis. They can have up to six months off on full pay. A colleague is off with a heart condition, made worse when he found out what his sick pay entitlement was (thankfully the firm has agreed to pay him full pay until his health checks are complete - but then?) I have also worked for an extended period in education and been a governor at my local community school. In my opinion, teachers are living in cloud cuckoo land if they think their jobs are hard, undervalued, etc, etc. When my local school went for a PFI scheme, I asked that the building maintenance staff were looked after. To a man they were lost, pushed out by the company that got the PFI bid, yet now they want my support to protect their featherbedded existence. Where was their support for their non-teaching colleagues?
In my heart I agree with every part of the article; they are fighting for things that are important to us all. However I still have this nagging doubt that they do not understand what the rest of us have to put up with on a daily basis.

Mon, 2011-11-21 15:25 — Louise (not verified)

@Delroy Booth

What if they don't agree with the reasons for striking?

Not everyone has to back every single strike that ever happens, no matter why or when or after what or on what terms!

Tue, 2011-11-22 17:09 — john woods (not verified)

Go on strike: stay on strike. Save me some dole money.

Mon, 2011-11-21 15:29 — Louise (not verified)

I can't believe the levels of intolerance on here to be honest.

No-one is obligated to support YOUR cause. YOU have to convince them. If someone chooses not to back a strike they are not a scab. You have failed to win them over to your arguments. They are perfectly entitled to disagree with you. Support has to be earned not just demanded. It applies to the unions just as much as the employers and the government!

Thu, 2011-11-24 21:01 — Luddite (not verified)

Totally opposed to them... it's just another tax... It will make Britain less competitive and that's the last thing we need...

Tue, 2011-11-22 18:58 — Luddite (not verified)

Graham... I'm not a teacher, and do you think i give a ...... No Graham your a bum...

thanD: Why not just sack the bad teachers and replace them with someone half decent.

I'm sorry you and your son had to suffer from an appalling teacher, but sadly you are not alone..

The appalling inequaly between state and private pensions needs addressing. Why should most work harder for longer and receive less at retirment.. I think we are all forgetting something here, pensions should be for retirment.. 65-66.. State workers like the rest should only receive state pensions at these ages.. I'm also pleased you have done well for yourself and your family. I hope you have a long and happy retirment, you deserve it unlike some...