The following statement was written by a member of the TEFL Workers’ Union steering committee. It broadly expresses the sentiments of the wider union’s activist base: an uncompromising commitment to working class solidarity, comradely criticism of the wider labour movement, and an unflinching opposition to all social structures of hierarchy, domination, and exploitation.
The TEFL Workers’ Union stands 100% with the RMT, ASLEF and all rail workers in their strike action against the bosses. We welcome the RMT announcement that industrial action will take place on October 1st-5th and strongly approve of any disruption to the Tory Party conference in Birmingham that this will cause. We urge our members to show solidarity by attending picket lines wherever possible.
Our support is unconditional but not uncritical. When it comes to the official Trade Union leadership, we have always reserved the right to criticize or oppose if necessary. Our position is that we stand fully with trade unions when, in our view, they are acting in the interests of the working class. We can not take this view in relation to the suspension of the strikes on the 15th and 17th September on the grounds that the ‘RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth.’
It is ironic that by timing the next strike action to coincide with the Tory Party conference the RMT displays a combative attitude towards the organisations of the ruling class. Why is it so myopic when it comes to the royal family?
Some will claim the move was tactical given the popularity of the royal family. The ruling class can always generate unpopularity towards workers daring to fight back. If this is our starting point we may as well not fight back at all. Soon we’ll have the investiture of the new prince of Wales followed by the coronation of king Charles III. The false idea of ‘national unity’ will no doubt be weaponised again. We are constantly told to be deferential. For example, by paying respect to the queen or refraining from fighting back against cop attacks on picket lines. The ideological and physical battles are intertwined. Strikes assert working class power-that is why they are useful-it has nothing to do with popularity or otherwise. Yes, some might scab on the grounds of loyalty to the state and its Head-that is precisely why arguments about the nature of the state and its ideology can not be ducked.
Those of us in the TEFL Workers’ Union have these connections spelt out to us very clearly. Spelt out by being forced to undergo Prevent training. Spelt out by the compulsory display of insultingly vacuous proclamations of ‘British values’ in every classroom. The cops’ use of the new Policing Bill to suppress republican dissent illustrates perfectly the urgency of taking on the system on both the political and industrial terrains. This system needs decapitating. Enjoy the bank holiday.