MOSCOW "Why do socialists single out industrial workers as the most decisive sector of the working class?", writes P. Whitlock more important than wnite cola. unionists who have been much more active in the fight-back against the Tory cuts?".
The answer to Cde Whitlock's question is simple. In the political struggle against capitalism, certain sectors or une workmg class nave la more power than others. Steelworkers, tor examole nave lar more leverage than teachers - a point that has been evident during the recent steel strike taken acuon against tne tor! culs teachers civil servants erc -which. has had the bigges: impact and brough. une govemment up short.
ECONOMIC Tom : "ures economie coin: of view there are two aspects to this greater power. The tirst is simply that. withoul the operation of basic industries, the economy of any modern country wil rapidly grind to a halt.
back to the 1974 national coal strike - which brought down the Heath government -Within weeks of the strike being declared, power stations, steel plants and factories - all dependent on coa. of N. London. "Why are they considered transported.
PROFIT Although millions of workers have it has been industria workers.
POWER You have only to cast vour mind to see the truth of this.
or coke - were threatened with closure.
Without the production or coal - or steel, machine tools etc - everytning comes to a stop. If coal is not dug, power stations close down. li steel is not produced, car factories lie idle. If the trains do not run, goods cannot be Moreover, these basic industries also represent the biggest single source of profits for the British ruling class. 1 ney are the main source or au nose revenues that are used to keep the government, service and 'professional' sectors of the economy going.
Because of this, as the ruling class seeks to increase its profits and to improre its competitive position on the world market by driving down wages. ine brunt or ls attack mus increasingly be directed against the The attack by Thatcher on the wages & iobs ot workers in the service sector - which we are witnessing at present - represents only the preliminary skirmishes in the class battle that is shaping up But, just as the industrial workers represent the main target of the ruling class. ther are also in the best positior to resist. This is true not only because of their economic weight but also because of political considerations.
Workers in basic industry, for example, tend to be concentrated in huge factories to a far greater extent than workers in other sectors of the economy. When 20,000 steelworkers are brought together in a plant, it magnifies their social weight and make: it easier for them to organise collectively.
I his aspect of the power of the industrial working class has been furthered by the historical fact that basic industry tends to be more heavily unionised than other sectors oi thi economy and has a much stronger mutant traaldon REGIONS Anotner point is that industral unions such as the AUEW or the NUM wield aecisive power not oniy in specue industries but also within whole regions ol ine country During the steelworkers' strike recently, for example, all of South Wales was directly involved in one way or another. There was hardly any persor who didn't have a direct personal stake in the outcome of the strike (in terms of their job prospects).
That's why, of course, the South Wales TUC was able to call a mass strike in support of the steelworkers on January 28th which brought out over 250,000 workers. Other solidarity actions took place in other parts of the country by workers in sympathy wit! the steel strikers.
DEFENCE Of course, there is nothing new about the strategic weight of the industrial working class, as Marx and Engels pointed out over a century ago. This weight will become increasingly important, however, in the period ahead in cetenaing une monts ano avine standard of all workers against attacks from the Thatcher government Capitalism is no longer offering increased prosperity. Instead. we are told that growing unemployment, cutbacks in social services, lower wages and worse working conditions are necessary if British industry is to compete successibu maasloreren competitors.
This line is being pushed by governments throughout the capitalist woria, Ana lust as une crisis forces ut employers to turn on workers to bail them out. so the world working class is being forced to defend itself. Key among the working class will be the power and strength of the industrial workers.