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Title: 1996 — Year of struggle? Author: Anarchist Communist Federation Date: 1996 Language: en Topics: 1990s, United Kingdom, the Labour Party, Organise! Source: Retrieved on May 13, 2013 from https://web.archive.org/web/20130513032643/http://www.afed.org.uk/org/issue41/editorial_struggle_1996.html Notes: Published in Organise! Issue 41 — Winter 1995/1996.
As we enter 1996, some signs are pointing to a change in the tempo of
struggle. Could the wildcat strikes that have happened, and are
happening , in particular in the Post and the car industry, be signs
that workplace militancy is once again on the increase? And this despite
the ‘wisdom’ pushed by the media, the Conservatives and New Labour that
strikes are a thing of the past. Certainly the number of wildcat strikes
outside the control of the unions backs up our asssertions and analysis
that workplace struggles must break with the unions. Similarly, social
discontent is shown through riots that broke out in 1995 in Leeds, Luton
and Brixton.
The promising signs in Britain are outshone by the scale of social
unrest in France and Belgium. Far from being the ‘end of history’ and
the end of class struggle, the events on the Continent prove that
revolutionary change is still very much not a thing of the past.
As Labour drops any pretence at ‘socialism’ and comes out of the closet
as a champion of capitalist management, various efforts are being made
to recreate Old Labour with moves by Scargill, Militant Labour and other
remains of social democracy, Stalinism and Trotskyism. In other words,
they will try to develop structures that keep alive any illusions in
electoralism and reformism, and that attempt to coopt any socially
combative movements, to sidetrack social discontent. Revolutionaries
must respond with vigour to these moves. Both New Labour and any
variants of Old Labour have to be challenged.
As we head for a possible General election this Autumn, the chances that
Labour will take over the reins of Government seem likely. This Labour
administration will carry on with the restructuring of capitalism that
will involve further attacks on jobs, services and conditions, as well
as an emphasis on Law and Order. The Blair administration will be a
staunch supporter of the strong State, as the social discontent that is
simmering begins to boil over.
New opportunities have opened up for Anarchist and libertarian
revolutionaries. Not since the late 60s have the conditions looked so
good for the growth of our movement. Yet it remains pitifully small. We
must open up new forums for debate within the movement on how we can
take effective and united action, and on how we can make our propaganda
and our activities as widespread and as coordinated as possible. Whilst
recognising our differences, we must now look for ways that we can reach
unity in action. To remain within our own little groups and to refuse to
engage in dialogue would be throw away the new opportunities that are
now presenting themselves.