TUSC meeting discusses a socialist challenge at next general election

Mick Griffiths speaks at Wakefield TUSC public meeting – photo Dave Byrom

Wakefield Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) held a successful public meeting on Thursday 13th October

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party secretary

Trevor Howard, a lay tutor for transport union RMT, said the Conservative government had been trying to block rail companies coming to a deal to resolve the strike. Trevor said the phenomenal sums of money currently being taken out of the rail network by private operators makes the case for public ownership.

Yasar Ahmed, a leader of the Wakefield Drivers Association, that has organised protests over the council’s controversial and draconian ‘Suitability and Convictions Policy’. Yasar explained how taxi drivers across West Yorkshire feel let down by by Labour councils – many say they can’t vote Labour.

But Yasar explained that the Conservatives are no option either. That is why he welcomed TUSC standing candidates in the local elections to give drivers and other workers a real choice.

The Socialist Party was represented by two speakers – Mick Griffiths and myself. We pointed to Labour’s retreat from policies that could make a real difference to the lives of working-class people under Kier Starmer.

It’s clear a political voice for these struggles by workers is necessary. We called on the trade union leaders – and MPs blocked from standing for Labour, such as Jeremy Corbyn and Sam Tarry – to take the initiative to launch a working-class election challenge.

In the absence of such a development, TUSC is encouraging workers and trade unionists to stand on a no-cuts basis in the council elections, and TUSC is seeking to prepare a coalition of the willing to stand the 100 general election candidates needed to secure a television broadcast.

Solidarity shown at Regional TUC rally at Wakefield Kirkgate rail depot

Backing the RMT strike at Wakefield Kirkgate Network Rail depot – photo Yorkshire & Humber TUC

On Saturday 25th June, with less than 24 hours’ notice, many trade unionists, and even some Labour Party members of the local council, joined a Regional TUC event of solidarity with striking RMT workers.  Arriving at the rally outside Kirkgate Rail Station and rail depot in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, they swelled the RMT picket into a crowd of about 50.

John Vasey, Wakefield & District Socialist Party

From the ranks a few speakers got up to express backing to not only the RMT strikers but also the Arriva bus drivers and staff’s picket (on indefinite strike) – sited only half-a-mile away from them.

Socialist Party member, Iain Dalton, spoke as a member of the retail and distribution union Usdaw. He pointed out that workers like rail workers, bus drivers, retail workers, teachers had wired through the pandemic and been praised as heroes but most would be getting pay offers way before inflation unless strike action forced employers to offer more.

Whilst Labour’s newly elected MP wasn’t present, some councillors did attend including those excluded from the by-election selection. One if those, Jack Hemingway spoke, who said no one from Labour should be afraid of visiting the picket lines and even thought Keir Starmer would do so.  Others, from Labour, disbelieved the Blairite leader would ever give support to the strike, but gave theirs, nevertheless.  A deeper understanding is obviously developing, that we are at a point where you must stand up and be counted.