Re: AUT: Mersey Docks Dispute - An Afterword

[billbartlett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (Bill Bartlett)]

At 1:21 PM 21/8/99, Dave Graham wrote:

[...]

>I said I was not going to write a review of the dockersí film. But in
>writing this I have realised that it is much more profound piece of work
>than I had first realised. Although I wanted to dispel what I believe is a
>mythology that is being constructed around the dockerís struggle, all I
>wanted to write is already contained in the film. It just needs people to
>see it and use some critical sense.

Yes, very profound actually. You've helped me better understand something
about the wharfies dispute here that I was just grappling with. The
somewhat similar issue of why the wharfies achieved such a disappointing
result despite what should have been a major victory. In particular, you've
helped me to understand why it is that so much of the left can't see the
problem - because so much of the left *is* the problem of course.

And of course lack of solidarity isn't the only problem, there was plenty
of solidarity for the wharfies, the problem was that the workers didn't
comprehend the fact that their leadership were emphasising a different set
of objectives. Clearly this failing is utterly inherent in *trade*
unionism, because any union which accepts the continued legitimacy of
capitalism is doomed to defeat. If you accept capitalism, you accept by
implication that the needs of the capitalist must prevail over the needs of
the workers.

In the end, workers are defeated before they start so long as they accept
"responsible" unionism. That is, as long as workers believe that the
working class and the employing class have interests in common.

I'll post what I've been writing if I ever finish it. But If you've got any
more to say, please do. I'm always in need of inspiration.

Bill Bartlett
Bracknell Tas




     --- from list aut-op-sy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---