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LAST MONTH we described how some members and supporters had been discussing how Solidarity Trade Union could move up a gear - especially in respect of our policy of workers building their own “political and economic counter-power."
We reported that two comrades had come up with specific ideas relating to building the “infrastructure of a mass media of news and entertainment.”
A Scottish comrade suggested a new national leaflet, You and the Bankers’ Swindle. This hard-hitting leaflet would “list the devastating consequences of the financial meltdown for people's livelihoods”.
Another comrade - from Ulster - suggested producing Solidarity, an agitprop-style ‘street’ publication.
Issue 1 of Solidarity is just a couple of weeks away from production. Therefore, we spoke to our comrade to find out more about it. He explained the need for such a publication:
“I’m neither a red nor a reactionary. I’m as opposed to capitalism as I am to communism. I read as many papers – from differing political perspectives – as possible. However, there’s not a trade union or workers’ paper out there that really interests me.
The mainstream media is just as bad. The papers are either union-bashers or support the establishment unions. Therefore, there’s a real need for a street publication that supports the interests of ordinary British workers.”
He said that Solidarity should just be a very simple publication – black and white double-sided A4. To compete with other more colourful publications, it would rely on eye-catching headlines combined with striking artwork or pictures.
The first few issues of Solidarity would be produced on an ad hoc basis. They would be largely ‘experimental’. And they would be solely web-based and viraled out.
The initial production schedule would be very modest – probably quarterly or bi-monthly. However, our Ulster comrade was adamant that Solidarity should eventually become a daily paper. “This will take a lots and lots of work, but I’m convinced that it’ll be worthwhile”.
Our comrade noted that because Solidarity would be a very simple publication, it would be very cheap to produce. It could handed out on the streets and leafleted with. It can also be distributed at the work place and so on.
“It will always be posted up on the union web-site first.
However, it has actually been designed so that members and supporters can get it printed up locally. One person could, say, get 50 photocopies made up. Others could club together and get a few thousand printed up.
Thus the key to the production and distribution of Solidarity lies in the support and initiative of union members and supporters.
The beauty of this is that it won’t eat into central union funds at all. There may be the odd occasion where the union’s National Executive decides to print Solidarity centrally – maybe to launch a national campaign – but on the whole, membership fees will be used solely to fight for the rights of union members.”
It’s anticipated that this method of producing Solidarity could act as a template for various national, regional and trade-based agitprop publications. For instance, the first issue of Ulster Worker has already been mooted. Other comrades are also interested in producing an Essex Worker.
As we noted earlier, the first issue of Solidarity will be out within a couple of weeks. All patriotic trade unionists should get ready to viral it out via various web-sites, blogs, forums, discussion groups twitter, Facebook and so on.
Help us to build a real alternative to the leftist and capitalist mass media!
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Comments
The article (above) states that "the first few issues of Solidarity would be produced on an ad hoc basis. They would be largely ‘experimental’. And they would be solely web-based and viraled out."
If I'm reading the rune stones correctly, those who are producing 'Solidarity' want to satisfy themselves with the writing, design and schedule of these 'experimental' web-based issues. Once that's done the hard copy issues will follow.
I for one can't wait until 'Solidarity' becomes a daily street publication (both hard copy and web-based). A free daily publication (even if it's only A4 in size) will give the union a really powerful voice.
Capitalists and communists - the enemies of the ordinary British worker - are organised on a daily basis. A daily workers' paper means that we can begin to fight them back on a level playing field.
I’ve a few points to make here as well:
Even though the first few issues are going to be ‘experimental’ the main thing here is the serious intention to produce a nationalist workers paper. As far as I know, the only other serious attempt to do this was made by the National Party in the 70s. They produced the ‘British Worker’ but I think only a couple of issues came out. That’s why I’m looking forward to having a look at this issue 1 of ‘Solidarity’.
I think a simple (black and white double-sided A4) but regular publication like this would have great potential. How much would it cost for individual members/supporters to get, say, ten photocopies made up? Distribution would also be very easy – just leave them around at work, leaflet a few flats on your estate or leave them on the bus or tube. Organised groups of nationalists can take this a stage further. They can club together and get hundreds or thousands printed up and distributed.
The beauty of Solidarity Trade Union is that it’s a free and autonomous nationalist trade union. And, as we all know, the nationalist movement is a ‘broad church’. Thus a consequence of producing ‘Solidarity’ is that it can only help promote co-operation between the various nationalist groups.
For instance, say British National Party members get copies printed up. They can distribute it (along with their own leaflets) during their regular leafleting sessions. They can also give it away on paper sales. The same goes for the National Front, National Liberal Party and the various Autonomous Nationalist groups.
I notice that Solidarity is also talking about national and regional publications as well. Maybe there’s patriotic individuals/groups in the likes of Cornwall, and Wales who’d distribute it? The same goes for the various regionalist groups in England (Mercia, Wessex and so on).
I mentioned that nationalism is a ‘broad church’. The same goes for the left and the anarchists. Some of these groups are non-dogmatic and free-thinking. Check out the National Left, National Bolsheviks, National Communists and National Anarchists. (Also check out the New Right groups). As I’ve mentioned before, I feel that they all have some interesting ideas and would be worth talking to. Maybe they would distribute ‘Solidarity’ as well?