Funeral March For The East London Line

Posted in Tubeworker's blog on ,

RMT's protest against East London line privatisation last week turned out to be something of a wake. The turnout wasn't great, possibly because many workers - perhaps especially those who work on the line - felt that it was too little too late. And possibly because everyone knows that demonstrations only work if they go alongside an effective industrial strategy.

The bare fact is that the line will close next week without the unions having fired a metaphorical shot in anger. There should have been strike action, but there has not been. There should have been resistance to the process of transferring staff off the line, but instead, the unions co-operated with it. At all levels, full-time union officials failed to devise and carry out a fighting strategy.

It is not too late to rescue the situation. The line is not due to reopen in private hands for another couple of years. In that time, the unions can undo the damage of their failures so far - but only if rank-and-file members force them to, and only by thinking strategically rather than holding occasional protest gestures. Most of all, the unions need to bite the bullet and accept that we will only win with strike action against the privatisation itself. And if that puts us up against the anti-union laws, then so be it.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.