ASLEF train drivers have voted to stage a series of one-day strikes in their battle for a pay increase to match the soaring cost of living, beginning this week.
With most RMT members in the former British Rail having voted against strike action, it is left to the drivers to defend the strength of trade unionism as management prepare the rail network for privatisation.
The strikes against BR could coincide with action on the London Underground, where a majority of RMT members have voted for action in support of their 6 percent pay claim.
But with union leaders in both RMT and ASLEF retreating from the original pay demands, and hinting that any offer above 3 percent would be referred back to the members, it is clear that the strike vote represents a wish to fight on more than just the wages issue.
This is likely to be the last chance for rail workers to stage coordinated nationwide action: there is obviously a feeling among ASLEF members that effective strikes could yet put a spoke in the wheel of the Tories' unpopular privatisation plans, and create a more favourable balance of forces in struggles to come with the franchise bosses.
The rail workers have already seen BR bosses pocket huge pay increases for their 'success' in screwing greater productivity out of staff, while they have been offered a miserable hand out below the rate of inflation.
Their action is an important challenge to the growing scandal surrounding privatised utilities.
The full weight of media hostility will be aimed against them; they will be attacked by right wing union leaders who have done nothing to fight the Tory offensive, and by Tony Blair's Labour leadership-still smarting over the rail unions' Clause Four defiance - who would be quite happy to see the Tories take them down a peg.
But the fight can, like last summer's signal workers' dispute, serve as a rallying point for working class opposition to the hated Major Solidarity with the rail strikers! Derail the Tory sell-off! H HEALTH CUTS!
NO HEALTH CUTS!
Londons Health in OUR Hands U C CALL SAVE A victory on NHS pay would strengthen the fight against hospital cuts and closures
TUDEN
NURSES HREE YEARS "RAININ FOR THE DOLE