TUC sits on People's March
Socialist Press1981 1981-06-11Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 11 →
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The Peoples March attracted the support of literally hundreds of thousands of workers who saw it as a lead in the fight against unemployment.
But it has failed to shift the mood of lethargy and indifference to unemployment which has prevailed in the TUC as the jobless total has climbed over the 2½ milion mark.
Last week TUC leaders decided that they would not formally wind up the campaign launched by the march.
But they intend to place themselves firmly in the driving seat of future activities in order to keep out socialists who might seek to introduce calls for genuine action.
The only concrete proposal to emerge from a top-level discussion last week on the next steps was the call for a lobby of parliament by young unemployed and school leavers in the autumn.
Official TUC protest is therefore remaining stubbornly in the well-worn rut of six-monthly protests to let off steam, interspersed with systematic betrayals of day-to-day struggles against closures, cuts or redundancies.
Meanwhile the Tories look on almost open amusement and delight as the frustration of workers and youth is channelled into the most futile succession of lobbies, petitions and marches.
The fight against unemployment must be pursued on two fronts.
On the one hand, the unemployed must be organised in unions-the forthcoming conference in Leicester (June 27-see page 5) is an important contribution to this fight.
On the other hand, the fight needs to be pressed home for occupations and supporting strike and blacking action to defend all jobs and prevent plant and public sector closures.
In neither fight will a lead be given from the TUC: a new leadership must be built within the labour movement to press home the struggle for jobs.