A REVIVAL IN SYNDICALISM?

Some people have argued that there will be revival in syndicalism. This is where people try and achieve political changes through strikes and direct action. However I will argue in this blog that we are not facing a return to out and out syndicalism. But that the situation is more complex than modern day supporters of syndicalism suggest.

In the UK in the last year there has been a very much to be welcomed quite large increase in strike action. This is mainly due to return of high inflation of about 10%. So workers are going on strike to obtain wage increases in line with the rate of inflation.

Besides the increased strike action there is the growing movement of people not to pay their fuel bills. This is largely due to the huge increases in gas bills. There is talk of gas bills rising to three thousand pounds per year. So quite simply the majority of people will not be able to afford to pay these bills.

So due to the big increase in strikes and the movement of people not to pay their fuel bills there is talk of a return to syndicalism in the UK.

Syndicalism started in the late 19th century and largely died out after the end of the first world war. It was quite strong in Latin America,Spain,Italy and France. It had a limited influence in Britain. But nowhere near as much as in the other countries just mentioned. Syndicalists tended to feel excluded from the political process. So they believed in achieving change through strikes and direct action.

The main reason for the decline in syndicalism was the introduction of universal suffrage in most countries. So in theory working class people could influence political events by voting in elections. Also after the Bolshevik revolution in Russia many syndicalists joined the newly created Communist party,s in their own countries.

However, regarding the situation in the UK in our present times. Although there is a widespread distrust of the political elite and growing opposition to globalism I do not at present feel that we are seeing a return to widespread syndicalism. The strike wave in the UK while it is very much welcome is still limited to a small section of the population at present

To be blunt I fell we are now entering very dystopian uncertain times planned I expect by the WEF Davos globalist elite. Alas as the recent lockdowns have shown there is still a herd attitude amongst the majority of the population. So how thing will turn out in the next few years cannot be certain.

Those of us who are awake and aware must try and build the resistance to the corporate globalist elite. We cannot be certain of victory but we must try and fight for peace justice and equality.

Best wishes to all for the future.

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