Make-ready, show up.

Leo Plumb - 2nd September 2022

Following a repeating theme over the last few weeks, sentiments of anger, humour and optimism seem to be swinging on a 3-way hinge this week. To experience and express these polar feelings, there is no more urgent time or better place, than on picket lines in your local areas. 

Cleansing and refuse collection workers spoke to local residents in Glasgow this week saying:

“The big bosses think we are stupid and we can’t put two and two together” they echoed the message of their Union; the GMB ‘they’ve put us from the front-line to the breadline and we’re not having any more of it’

A few minutes later I heard chants blast out to the adjusted lyrics of Eminem’s ‘Without me’ cracking up the local residents :

“This looks like a job for me 

so everybody just follow me

Aye we need a bit of controversy

Cos’ your bins won’t empty without me!”

Industrial action in the form of strikes is rolling through Scotland. Much of this resistance has come from the workers we all relied on so heavily during the pandemic. The cleansing workers certainly lifted the bins on my street. Did the posties chap your letterbox? Did the nursery staff welcome your grandkids through the door? The effort exerted at times of great risk, doesn’t put us in a different situation to these workers. What is motivating them to strike is what should drive us as well. We all deserve better conditions, stability and a proper wage. To be able to say I am proud in my work, (which I am) but that it doesn’t dominate and use me up each week.

The dynamic this summer is that Trade unions are becoming one of the strongest voices in political education in every corner of the UK. And it's because they aren’t just showing compassion with words but they’re proving it as well. They aren't just singling out the bosses for their greed, but they’re peeling away politicians to defy the party whip as well. Therefore if you are a person who likes to continually learn, and you’re driven by a sense of solidarity -whatever that might mean to you- you should attend a picket, go to several if you can. 

So what should you expect when turning up to a picket in 2022? I know that the majority of reading this will have been on strike before. I’d like to avoid being patronising. In many cases it is the conversations I have with Common Weal supporters that keeps me informed about what the world looks like. That said, your memories of being on a picket might be positive or scant depending on the events that followed. Either way turning up to a picket this year is what is making the strikes stronger in every sector. every service you, your kids and your neighbours rely on. I get it though, not joining alongside your own colleagues might be daunting. With so many industrial disputes going on at the same time, it’s also hard not to feel out of the loop. I have some suggestions I’d like to share with you for dispelling these concerns.  

Firstly, In the context of trade Unions picketing is a form of protest where workers are stationed together outside a place of work, often with flags or placards and flyers for the public. A picket is a threshold area legally set out during strike action, strikers will peacefully persuade colleagues there to abstain from working.

It sounds obvious but, actually standing somewhere public and communicating with each other about a particular set of grievances is incredibly important. Common causes and connections link up, stories emerge. There is little visible hierarchy on a strike day. You can expect to see workers in uniform or not, their families, union reps, union officials, speakers, community groups, non-trade union organising groups. You can turn up on your bike, you can turn up with your kids or dog. They are safe and not unpredictable.

Public awareness of strikes over the last two years has sometimes felt two dimensional, the ballot processes (where workers voting to strike) remain fairly traditional. The result is usually picked up in newspaper headlines. However the more recent use of digital communication is giving unions an advantage. Picket locations can be broadcast from union leaders over social media. And those same posts online, then appeal to local people to turn up. This is done by articulating the impact that will result from more support on the day. A useful resource to check first for strike times and locations is: Strikemap.

But as a warning this won’t show them all. It's a good idea to check individual union webpages, blogs or social media. With the sheer number of workplaces shutting during key weeks some locations are being chosen as focal points for branches to merge together.

Clear social media messages can also neutralise the threats and intimidation facing workers. When a legal ballot takes place all employees have the right to strike without fear of consequence.  But there are widespread reports of CEO’s passing on instructions to managers, who in turn are groomed to bully and lie to staff about repercussions. Making this type of activity public on Facebook for example, builds collective confidence. Showing up from out-with the workforce only strengthens the feeling that worker collective action is right for society. 

The workforces and locations where pickets take place varies greatly. See my links above for help locating what’s going on. I don’t know about in your area, but many people from Royal Mail sorting offices, cleansing, refuse or park maintenance teams here in Glasgow have been assembling on roadside verges. In keeping with these types of employment, locals showing up have had to set fairly early morning alarms! As such arranging to attend with pals or community groups can work best if you choose a neutral nearby location for people to meet and walk together. Or alternatively arrange lifts in cars.

If I have anything meaningful to say in my article today it is this: On arrival, any person or group attending a picket should move around and get conversations going with workers. If you are a shy person, I understand the anxiety. However, just look at the scope of what we are facing. We are not going to win fair wages, terms and conditions for all, unless we can get dialogue going from day one. You will be welcomed there. 

In city centres, call centre workers picket amongst the busy commercial or office lined streets. Being publicly visible is incredibly important, because much of the time low waged employment has been driven out of local communities. Also it is hardly surprising but workers in nearby businesses don’t necessarily know what strikes are going on, around them. All the more reason why networks like ours can help spread this information by word of mouth, who knows in several weeks this dynamic might be reversed. 

if you plan to join a strike consider bringing food or a flask of tea/coffee and camping mugs. It is well encouraged. If a strike has been ongoing several days, then try and gather some savoury food, not just more cakes and sweets (everything in moderation!).

Take the time to hand out food yourself. I've noticed this goes down well, it gives everyone a chance to start a conversation and move around rather than be static. It also reduces the need for people to feel exposed getting a bite from a display of food donations. BT call centre workers had food banks arranged in offices, a fairly despicable move by managers, signalling that employers know damn well the workforce they train and employ aren’t being paid enough to eat. The CEO now gaining nickname 'Foodbank' Phil Jansen.

https://twitter.com/CWUnews/status/1539959450534043649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1539959450534043649%7Ctwgr%5Efe025ea8a692d947088e70d99772516e83336a80%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FCWUnews2Fstatus2F1539959450534043649widget%3DTweet

Why a picket exists will become clear when you are on one: 

Attend any pickets. They are all of importance. Being there even just 30 mins to one hour is good. After all you can leave whenever you want. 

Being the extra person that turns up as a fifth pillar outside a local nursery is just as important as being the 300th pillar outside a hospital. If not more so.

Speak to the workers, Ask questions, get the latest news on negotiations, and socialise about normal stuff too.

Take photos or videos as soon as you arrive, share them in Signal, on Twitter or WhatsApp groups. Tell people to come down.

Bring along a message from people who couldn’t be there. You may not have a booming enough voice or confidence to gather people and read it out loud, but the union reps on hand might well do it for you, or they will send it round at the end of the day. 

Take your conversations out to speak to other people later that day. You will be so surprised how many friends at the pub will promise to join you the next morning, when you tell them you visited the strikes.

Keep the conversations going, many people have the potential to become politicised through learning about labour organising or could be leaders in their community to bring groups out in support of a wage rise. 

Go in expecting a warm welcome, but you aren’t going to feel part of it without introducing yourself. And don’t think of this as an exercise to promote your own organisation, sell newspapers, give out invites unless you have sussed this out with the workers before the strike begins. If your organisation can support financially then donate to local strike funds. Let's not forget people are losing pay whilst on strike. 

The next wave of strikes 6th-9th September and beyond will feature many more workplaces including schools and nurseries, hospitals and national rail networks. This gives a really important chance to engage people from all walks of life in discussion. 

There is organising going on in many local areas, it is becoming more sophisticated and coordinated: Look out for WhatsApp groups, placard making sessions, public meetings about why the strikes are happening. Help write funny slogans and chants, take part in video interviews with as a community member.  

If intervention doesn’t come soon from the governments, energy companies or employers who decide on wages. Then Local community places where people will gather to stay warm, get advice and food will be essential. Robins article last week makes the best case for this. If you know of such venues consider asking them how they can help now. 

This is about learning and acting, showing your compassion and proving it by remaining in touch There is a reason we are a think and do tank. Common Weal supports not just the cause but the process of learning and acting itself. Get more involved by sharing information on what’s going on near you on our Strike Solidarity page via camapign centre: Alternatively if you're not with a trade union, Community Union or Tenant's Union -Join one.

Image: Striking Royal Mail employees on Victoria Road depot in Glasgow, are joined by Living Rent, Scotlands tenants Union as well as local community members and passers-by. Wednesday 31st August.