THE ONLY strikes the Tory press approves of are strikes that fail. The Tories are exactly the same. Whenever a strike becomes effective they denounce the tactics which could lead to its success.
All this makes their talk of democracy increasingly hollow. One of the democratic rights won by the trade unions was the right to strike. It was only achieved after decades of struggle. The right of workers to withdraw their labour is an elementary political and human right.
In reality the Tories don't like strikes. Full stop. Heath tried to outlaw unofficial strikes — and failed. Margaret Thatcher is now talking about legislation to ban strikes which threaten essential services.
On a smaller scale, the hysteria whipped up by the Tories and Labour Cabinet ministers against the lorry drivers amounts to the same. Merlyn Rees has asked the Attorney General to determine whether 'secondary picketing' is illegal. The idea is to differentiate the Labour government from the Tories, who tend to oppose all effective pickets.
Labour is different. They oppose 'secondary picketing' but are presumably in favour of primary, legal pickets. And who decides what is primary and legal or secondary and illegal? Why, the law, of course!
The use of flying pickets by the lorry drivers has proved to be an excellent tactic. It breaks the isolation of the drivers. It enables them to determine what is primary or secondary and to decide what goods are essential, such as supplies for hospitals. It forces other workers to confront the real issues posed by the strike. The solidarity of the dockers has been exemplary and should ensure the future support of lorry drivers in any struggle waged by dockers. Furthermore, the use of flying pickets develops an inter-union solidarity which does not rely on union officials to establish contact with each other.
Shirley Williams, a member of the Labour Cabinet, was recently bemoaning the fact that in modern societies it is possible for small groups of workers to paralyse the entire economy. This is absolutely true. What it reveals is the growing contradiction between the technological developments which have taken place and the way in which society is still organised — with the increasing intervention of the state to shore up the capitalist ownership of the means of production.
In these circumstances workers must use all the resources at their disposal to maintain their living standards and their democratic rights. The flying picket is one such tactic. In months to come there will no doubt be numerous others.