Strikes

[Pogue]

What would you do, as a socialist, if there was a strike called at your workplace, but it was for reactionary reasons? For example, the strikes against Chavez's reforms in Venezuela or the strikes that some London dockers took following Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech. They had a strike and prtoest march in support of his racism.

Would you have any qualms with crossing the picket line at all? Would you go to work as normal? Would you spend the day trying to convince the strikers that their anger is misdirected, etc etc.

[Killfacer]

I would participate in the strike but just stay at home and watch day time TV. I would like to pretend i would do something constructive, but honestly that is probably what i would do.

[Pogue]

I mean specifically how wold you react to it being reactionary.

Would joining the strike for your own reasons be supportive of reactionary ideas, and would going to work count a scabbing?

[Killfacer]

I would never cross a picket line. So even if i had no reason to strike, i would strike. I guess it could be taken as supporting reactionary ideas but there is not a lot else you can do. And yes, going to work would count as scabbing.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I think it would be our job as communists not to tell striking workers to once again kneel down infront of their employers and open wide but instead to hijack the strike to try and make it as little about immigrants as we can but as much about fighting the oppression of a bunch of posh twats.


In a nutshell: We hijack it.

[nuisance]

Why show solidarity with something you oppose, is the real question.

[Q]

I'd go into discussions with workers, trying to convince them of reforming the goal of the strike directed against the bosses and their tactics of divide and rule.

[redSHARP]

what about if the strike or action by the workers was racists or fascist in orientation?

[Q]

what about if the strike or action by the workers was racists or fascist in orientation?

Then I'd still try to convince them to unite and fight along class lines.

[Pogue]

Then I'd still try to convince them to unite and fight along class lines.

Would you not fear that you not going into work would seem like supporting the reactionary strike and so would seem like supporting reactionary/racist ideals? E.g. if you had have gone to work when the fascist dockers had a strike for Scumnoch Powell.

[alhop10]

I guess there is a danger that you could be materially supporting a cause that you do not ideologically by joining a strike that is called for a reactionary reason but I don't think there is ever any circumstance under which you should cross a picket line. You should go out with your fellow workers because you belong with them. It is then your job to argue with them and convince them of the real reasons why they should be uniting against their oppressors.