ANARCHIS TRADE UNION NETWORK Newsletter: October 1999 issue 4

The title of this issue is taken from a slogan used by women market workers who were on strike at the turn of the century.

The eighteenth annual Anarchist Bookfair is being held on Saturday 16 October. With meetings ranging from 'Anarchism and Religion' to 'Reclaim the Streets: J18' and 'The Liberation of Learmng', the Bookfair promises to be bigger and better than ever as Freedom says "expect a capacity crowd and human traffic jams' The Anarchist Trade Union Network will be there. We will be sharing a stand with our sister organisation (the Anarchist Information Network) and will be holding a meeting for subscribers interested in discussing ways to develop and expand the network. Unfortunately we booked the meeting too late to get on the programme but it will be happening between 11 and 12. Come to the AIN stall for full details. At the TUC Congress Blair said "business and emp1oyees .are not two nations divided. That's o/d style thinking. That's the thinking of the past ' -lets prove him wrong!

The European Parliament of the Unemployed are planning an European day of action against unemployment, job insecurity, poverty and racism on Friday December 10 to coincide with the European Summit in Helsinki. The action is calling for an end to 'workfare measures and a guaranteed income for everyone. We've not heard whether any unions (or others) are planning actions in Britain but the proposal was only launched at the end of September. Details from: e-mail:

[email protected]. org or fax: +33144626345

· At the TUC Congress in Brighton in September Sir Ken Jackson General Secretary of the AEEU told the TUC it should abandon its annual conference and, in the spirit of partnership so beloved of Blair called instead for a joint gathering with the bosses union - the CBI! Luckily Sir Ken, who claims that "workers want to work not strike", was given a clear alternative message by his members. The very next day AEEU members at Fords held a 24 hour strike, while a week later engineers working on the Dome, Royal Opera House and London Underground's Jubilee extension struck for a 50% increase in wages over two years. Sir Ken described the strikers as "bloody stupid" Seems like it's about time Sir Ken took his place in the House of Lords and the AEEU (now in merger talks) got a General Secretary- who actually listened to his or her members!

· With all the this talk of partnership in the air. something by the way that was tried in the late sixties and failed because unions found that partnerships with bosses weren't particularly equal, a new magazine called Solidarity has been launched. According to the authors "we believe in a trade unionism which as well as fighting for the immediate interests of members, considers it has a responsibility to fight for the interests of the working class as a whole - those in and out of work" Not sure whether anarchists would support all the aims of Solidarity (like increased state ownership) but this is certainly a very welcome initiative. Get your copy (�1.40) from: 333 Welcombe Avenue, Park North, Swindon, SA'3 2PF

· The Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws are doing just that! The Campaign is non-sectarian and aims to scrap all existing laws and replace them with new laws which give workers the right to take industrial action (including solidarity- action) and to draw up their own constitution free of state and employer interference. Contact: P0 Box J 7556; London, EC2Y SPA.

Anarchists have joined forces with local socialist and Labour Party activists to open up an unemployed centre. The local council is refusing to contribute the �10,000 a year needed to ruin the centre. It seems that the council doesn't want to support a centre run by the unemployed for the unemployed.

According to The Financial Times young business leaders "lack confidence and rely on the old school tie to get ahead[' They also work less hard than older workers. While Blair calls for a Britain based on merit and claims that the class war is over (who won?) the FT notes "the age of die old school tie is far ,from over". No suprises there rhen.

Don't forget SkyChef workers still need support: T&G, W'oodberry, 218 Green Lane, London, N4 211B

@TU: Box EMAB (ATU), 88 Abbey Street, Derby, DE22 3SQ