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How should the strike proceed ?

=Rev. O'Lushen | 08.02.2001 15:56

The tube strike has been an initial success, certainly. But the danger is that the unions will merely become Livingstone's foot-soldiers. The best guarantee is for as many of the true radical anti-Livingstonians (inc IMC readers &c) to support the strikers.

Of some concern is the figure of Bob Kiley, of whom a myth is already developing; can the workers gain anything from this "Subway Czar" ? Livingstone has proved himself to be a consummate politico as ever by building a power base not only outside the Labour party, but outside the country, unfortunately associating with some extremely dodgy characters like Rudy Guliani. Already Ken's breached a pledge to be on the strke picket-line (he claims to have booked a week end break in advance) and he seems to be wasting more time bothering pigeons than fighting for socialism. Nor should we forgive his opportunist support for Nato in 1999. By that act, he allowed a whole section of metropolitan leftists to go 'gung-ho' and sleep at night.

=Rev. O'Lushen

Comments

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Why do they stop

09.02.2001 11:08

Given The success of the first strike, the momentum should be continued. Why is it the unions back down when the government is on the run? I suspect it's because the union leaders have one eye on a sir in front of their name. It makes no sense to me that they should stop now.

Not neccesary

Why do they stop

09.02.2001 11:08

Given The success of the first strike, the momentum should be continued. Why is it the unions back down when the government is on the run? I suspect it's because the union leaders have one eye on a sir in front of their name. It makes no sense to me that they should stop now.

Not neccesary

Why do they stop

09.02.2001 11:08

Given The success of the first strike, the momentum should be continued. Why is it the unions back down when the government is on the run? I suspect it's because the union leaders have one eye on a sir in front of their name. It makes no sense to me that they should stop now.

Not neccesary

The Rev replies

10.02.2001 14:40

Yes indeedy. I wrote that just hours before the news that the strike was off, so i spent the rest of the evening kicking my bad timing.
i dont think we should cast too much doubt on the unions just yet- after all, the RMT has taken a considerable risk already, and i think it does, actually, tie in with what i said about being Livingstone's "foot-soldiers", which i dont mean to be disparaging, but so much of the labour left has placed so much hope in this vermin, this political pigeon, who pecks at the tasty morsels on offer and flies off to build a nest in New York. the LSA has already blundered by backing him, and it's not surprising that the unions are putting faith in him too.
We'll have to wait and see for a few days.

=Rev O'Lushen