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Title: The Direct Action Movement Author: Mike Hargis Date: 1993 Language: en Topics: direct action, Britain, anarcho-syndicalism, Libertarian Labor Review Source: Retrieved on 27th January 2021 from https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/x69qfd Notes: From Libertarian Labor Review #15, Summer 1993
The DAM (British section of the International Workers Association) was
founded in 1979. The founders of the DAM, which including the Manchester
Syndicalist Workersâ Federation, rump of what had been since the 40s a
national organisation, recognised the need for better organisation and
for Anarchists to address working class issues in a more coherent way
than the existing Anarchist Federation (last of many such attempts)
which was grounded in disorganisation and with too many interested only
in pacifism and the punk scene. In a way, the DAM could be said to have
fulfilled part of its original aims. The DAMâs early years were spent in
finding its feet and consolidating the organisation as well as
intervening in industrial disputes wherever possible.
The big break for the DAM came with the minersâ strike. This had a
twofold effect. Firstly it shook a lot of the anarchist movement out of
its life-stylist torpor and into activity. More importantly for the DAM
it showed the relevance of syndicalist ideas for the British working
class. The sterling work done by DAM members and other anarchists won
them the respect of many of the most militant miners.
The middle to late fifties saw a number of other disputes which the DAM
supported, including the Kent Messenger, Silent Night, Traders,
Meathouse and the printersâ dispute at Wapping, Particular mention must
be made of the Ardbride workers. DAM members mounted a consumer boycott
of Laura Ashley, Ardbrideâs chief customer, which was later mounted
internationally through the IWA, This forced Laura Ashley to threaten
Ardbride and force them into making concessions. Unfortunately, the
union (for recognition of which the workers had been fighting) called
off the strike at a critical moment and the strikers failed to get their
jobs back.
Experience of these disputes led the DAM to develop a new industrial
strategy. This broke decisively with the previous syndicalist tactic of
working within the unions. The unions were seen by the DAM as beyond
reform and to have failed the working class. New strategies are needed,
based on direct action, workplace assemblies, and strike committees. The
first step is to form âindustrial networksâ of militants in the service
industry whose long-term aim is to form an anarcho-syndicalist union.
(The change of direction was not unanimous and a number of people left
the DAM, some of whom went on to set up the short-lived Anarchist
Workersâ Group).
The DAM tried to implement this strategy over the last few years, with
mixed success. Workplace groups, which would be the basic building block
of any union, have yet to be established. Nor is the DAM able to develop
the ideas much further than at present. This is in part due to the
nature of the DAM â a political group with its own share of dogmatism.
But it is also because any further development must come from the
practice of workers organising rather than the theory of those who
arenât.
This lack of progression on the industrial front is linked to the DAMâs
high turnover of members, and stagnation over the last few years.
However, the DAM was never going to be perfect and itâs easy to
criticise such things as the poor internal education, but it doesnât
look so bad compared to other anarchist groups.
The DAM has been involved in a number of campaigns where it had a
disproportionate influence to its numbers. In the anti-Poll Tax movement
the only organised challenge to the dead hand of Militant came from the
DAM. Needless to say, others who hadnât even heard of the Poll Tax
before Trafalgar Square were quick to claim responsibility. Nor will it
surprise us when the historians say these organised it!
DAM played a capital role in the re-launching of Anti-Fascist Action,
the organisation which actually fights fascists rather than just talking
about fascism (or shouting at fascists, like the SWP-organised Anti-Nazi
League).
Whatever the future of the DAM, it has certainly made a great impression
on the anarchist movement in Britain. Anarchists are now for better
organised than they were in 1979. The task now is not to organise the
anarchists, but for the workers to organise.