Spaces for working-class politics

Submitted by Matthew on 4 June, 2013 - 9:35

Val Graham, a trade union and Labour activist in Chesterfield, spoke to Solidarity about the “alternatives to austerity” discussions she has been organising in the town.


The first few meetings had about 30 people at them. Reflecting a general issue on the left, most of the people attending are older. There have been some young people, but not as many as I would wish.
Most of those who come are active trade unionists and involved in other campaigns.
The first meeting we had was on welfare — including what kind of welfare system we wanted.
The second meeting discussed the issue of councillors opposing cuts. I invited Graham Skinner, who was one of the Clay Cross rent rebels [when the Labour council in Clay Cross in Derbyshire defied the Tory government and refused to raise council rates in the 1970s] to discuss his experiences.
We also had a meeting on the Bedroom Tax. The most recent meeting was on the Fire Brigades Union’s pamphlet It’s Time To Take Over The Banks.
The next one is a showing of The Spirit of ‘45, and the one after that will most likely be on feminism.
Part of the point of the meetings is to encourage people to think beyond the defensive campaigns they're involved in. We need to work out what we’re for, not just what we’re against.
We need our own alternative policies, and a fight for them inside the Labour Party. I hope there’ll be a Labour government after 2015, but without a strong voice to fight for anti-austerity policies we can’t expect them to do anything except carry on much like the Tories.
The forums have had the effect of making councillors think seriously about adopting a “no cuts” position and discuss it in the Labour group.
There’s also been activity around the Bedroom Tax. Involving the FBU encouraged them to work more closely with the wider labour movement in Chesterfield and affiliate to Chesterfield TUC.
Nothing like these meetings has happened in Chesterfield in a long time. One of my aims has been to be open, to welcome anyone who wanted to come.
I’ve got speakers who are clearly socialist but from a range of backgrounds and organisations.

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