SIPTU And FÓRSA: Don’t Underestimate Anger Of Rank And File Workers

The public sector worker votes for action have been amazing. This shows the huge anger and frustration we all feel.

Militant blockades by fuel protesters won concessions from the government but when essential workers ask for decent pay the government claims there’s no money.

While grassroots members of the unions want to fight, our leaders have a history of compromise. The problem is that promising a fight and then doing a deal damages the union movement and weakens the working class.

It’s not clever or tactical. That’s why someone like Jack Chambers feels he can play hard ball. He’s no Maggie Thatcher and shouldn’t be able to posture like that.

Comments from workers on the Fórsa socials show member’s hopes, frustrations and fears.

School secretaries and caretakers commented reminding other workers that one year on they are still waiting because they pulled pickets to go into talks.

One public sector worker wrote: “We have backed you Fórsa now don’t let us down!” A woman worker wrote: “Fórsa yes I hope ye push as ye can or else a lot of my colleagues will be pulling out of Fórsa.”

Let’s be clear our union leaders are facing an arrogant government, furious members and the aftermath of the fuel protests. Their instinct is always to compromise. Their instinct is always to scupper strikes, break momentum and do a dodgy deal.

How do they get away with it? The bureaucracy holds the mechanism of the union in their hands. Grassroots anger alone cannot change that without organisation.

We need to push any strike that’s called as far as it will go, be aware that the union leaders will want to compromise. Be ready to build grassroots networks in each union that can act as a counter to the union leaders when we need to.

This is a warning to the union leaders. Fail to lead the fight and workers will have to step up and undertake the slow hard work of getting the mechanisms of our unions into our own hands.

That’s what the Red Network wants. If you are a worker and you agree then you should join us.