Strike on 30th November!

The forthcoming public sector pension strikes on 30th November look set to be the most widespread strike action for many a year.  In fact, it is very welcome to see a string of public sector unions taking concerted action in this way.  Anarchist Federation members who work in the public sector will certainly be out, and those not working in the public sector will still be supporting their fellow workers one way or another.

However, it's worth remembering that it will need more than one day strikes to be sure of a real victory and any action on the 30th will need to be built on.  It's also worth noting that union bureaucrats like UNISON's Dave Prentis for example, despite the tough talk, will more than likely be looking for an excuse to bottle it at the last minute.  Sadly, UNISON has form for this kind of behaviour.  With this in mind, we all need to not only be on the lookout for any backsliding leaders but, more importantly, we should be building our own networks from below, both within, across and even outside the different unions, structures operating outside the control of bureaucrats and linking up with other struggles outside of the public sector.  But such organisation will need tireless agitation and the development of the will to fight within our class.

But we've a bit of a way to go until we have an effective militant and autonomous workers' movement.  Until then, we fight as and when we can.  And the best way to guarantee any degree of success over pensions is to make this strike as strong and effective as we can.

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The following text has been stolen from our mates at LIBCOM

Who's out on November 30th?

A quick guide to union ballots for strike action on November 30th so far...

Around 3 million workers are estimated to be on strike on 30th November, with more ballot results being announced this week. A quick list so far, updated from info gathered by the Society of Radiographers...

• National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO): 83% in favour of strike on 45% turnout
• Unison: 78% voted for strikes on a 29% turnout
• Unite: 75% in favour of strike action on a 31% turnout
• GMB: 80% in favour of a strike, on a 33% turnout
• UCATT Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians: 83% majority in favour of strike action on a 27% turnout
• EIS Scottish teachers’ union: voted by 82.2% for action with a turnout of 54.2%
• Nipsa (Northern Ireland): balloted for strikes over pensions, pay and jobs and voted by 67% for strikes on a 43% turnout
• The Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS): voted by just under 60% for strikes on a 38% turnout
• NAHT headteachers’ union: 75.8% voted for strikes on a 53.6% turnout
• Society of Radiographers: 81.2% voted for strikes on a 58.2% turnout
• Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP): 64% voted for strikes on an unknown turnout
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP): England and Wales, 86% voted for strikes and Scotland, 89.1% voted for strikes on a combined turnout of 66%
• Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP): voted by 85% for strikes on a 52% turnout
• FDA: backed strikes by 81% on a 54% turnout
• Prospect: 75% voted for strikes on a 52% turnout
• Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) in Northern Ireland : 77% vote for strikes
• NASUWT: 82% in favour of strike action; 91% in favour of action short of a strike.

Ballot results due:

• POA: balloting some members in health, ballot ends on Monday 21 November

Unions which previously balloted their members and will be participating in action on 30 November are:

• PCS: live ballot over pensions, pay and cuts. Committed to November strike
• UCU: members in Teachers’ Pension Scheme will strike again in autumn. Also won ballot last week for lecturers in older universities in USS pension scheme
• NUT: committed to further coordinated strikes to defend pensions
• ATL: committed to further coordinated strikes to defend pensions
• UCAC Welsh teachers’ union: struck on 5 October and will also join 30 November
• Unison Northern Ireland: struck on 5 October and will also join 30 November

Scab unions who vow never to go on strike, but whose class-traitor members will enjoy any gains won by those going on strike, standing in the cold on picket lines, losing their pay, campaigning tirelessly to ensure Nov 30th is a success:

• Voice

Scab union who didn't trust their members enough to ballot them for N30, whose members are leaving in droves, and those who stay will enjoy any gains won by those going on strike, standing in the cold on picket lines, losing their pay, campaigning tirelessly to ensure Nov 30th is a success:

• RCN