Plenaries and workshops
Speakers include: John Monks, general secretary TUC; Diane Abbott MP;
Joan Lestor MP; Piara Khabra MP; Joan Ruddock MP; Jim Murphy, president NUS; Leela Ramdeen, Cardinal Hume's Committee for the Caribbean; Harry Cohen MP; Kashmir Singh, Society of Black Lawyers; National Black Caucus; Indian Workers' Association (GB); Ken Livingstone MP; 17 Kumar Murshid, Tower Hamlets Anti-Racist Committee And these are not the forgotten millions the Tories are trying to marginalise. This is probably why the government has not used the Criminal Justice Act against them, even as the demonstrations bankrupt Sussex police.
The core of these protests is made up of people with well paid jobs, often liberal professionals, people who own houses and have a regular income - just the layer that Tory England relies upon to administer the day to day running of society.
When this layer considers itself outside society then the ruling classes really do have a problem on their hands. British Sikh Federation; TORY promises to protect the railways have been constantly shown to be hollow. Labour guarantees have been less than cast iron.
The RMT is relying on legal action to halt privatisation instead of depending on the industrial strength of the workforce.
To get the Railways Act through Parliament the Tories promised their backbenchers that services would be protected. But the Rail regulator has announced that franchises will be allowed to restrict the sale of tickets to a small number of "core" stations.
Transport Minister Brian Mawhinney at first tried to deny this - and instructed the Regulator not to make the proposal. But the Regulator, having independent powers, merely issued the proposal in the form of consultation.
The Tories have constantly been let off the hook by Blair's prevarication over renationalisation. Last years Labour Party conference unanimously passed a resolution calling for the renationalisation of all sections of the railways.
Indeed Prescott has been using the issue to show how public ownership is still part of labour's programme whatever happens to Clause Four When pressed on the Blair has refused to give any spending. commitment in advance of an election. Despite some much publicised comments he has still given no firm commitment.
Rather he is seeking to give an impression of a commitment in the run up to the Clause Four special conference. But public ownership is a slippery concept when it's spoken of by a Labour Party leader. For Tony Blair it may mean no more than taking back only one or two of the 100 different companies that make up British Rail.
Railworkers must insist on renationalisation of all sections of the railways. Plans are now being drawn up to lobby Labour's NEC over the issue.
The RMT legalistic tactics may result in a decision in their favour but this is no long term solution - the government will just change the law as it suits them.
The signal workers strike last year did more to halt privatisation than any legal campaign. Now the RMT must be prepared to commit itself to further action to stop privatisation.
SALES IN CHILDRENS SWEET SHOPS SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No.76. 21 January 1995, Page 5