Revolutionary Socialism in the 21st Century
 
Revolutionary
Socialism in the
21st Century
Photo: Clara Saraiva

Photo: Clara Saraiva

An alternative to austerity is growing in Merseyside

Clara Saraiva

Clara Saraiva shares the experiences of an anti-austerity conference bringing together grassroots activists across Merseyside.

100 people took part in the “No Austerity Conference” February 14 in Liverpool, with participation from representatives from trade unions, community organisations, leftist parties. The conference was conceived in November 2014, following the victory against the attempt at closure of 11 libraries by the local Labour Council.

The victory came out of a broad campaign that collected over 20,000 signatures, organised two demonstrations and was growing week by week. The activists gathered massive community support. So the next logical step to fight the deepening austerity attack was to bring together community activists and rank and file trade unionists in a conference organised by Liverpool Against The Cuts.

The conference opened with Juliet Edgar and Martin Ralph representing respectively the community organisations “Reclaim” and “Old Swan Against The Cuts”. Filmmaker Ken Loach, of Left Unity, sent a message of solidarity saying “This conference, and campaigns like it, are absolutely vital.” International greetings were recived from Belgium Rail Workers, Solidaires from France, No Austerity from Italy and CSP Conlutas from Brazil.

In opening the conference, Martin Ralph (OSAC) made it clear on what it was about:

We have had enough of speeches for holidays and fine days. We want some action. We have had enough of the talk of general strike, when the top leaders know they will do everything to stop a general strike. But bureaucracies try to keep us apart, many are actively trying to stop the strikes and struggle, and we say: let them begin! Raise your voices, build the struggle, fight government and council austerity policies. Local disputes win because they took to the streets, they win because the rank and file controlled with the local leadership. Conferences like this can and must help build from these successes. The working class put Syriza into power by organising several general strikes in Greece, and those workers now will carry the fight forward with European solidarity.

The Conference was an example of how we can unite the struggles against austerity with the community and the working class. As well as community organisations local trade union branches from Unite, UCU and FBU supported the conference and even helped financially.

Photo: @noausterityliv

Photo: @noausterityliv

The organizing committee had three main aims, on which the conference was built:

 

 

 

 

After the Conference, it was clear that in Merseyside an alternative is growing for the independent working class and community struggles, and even to contest the elections against austerity. There is an alternative to unify all who want to build a democratic movement, based in the rank and file, which will defend our rights to the end.

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