libraries - but only 'pressure'. That is which could have turned it into a real of - fight locally if Government's policies on your own, isolated.
And they offer an alliance between the public sector unions. But not an alliance to fight the cuts, rather an alliance to put pressure on the Government whilst maintaining the Social Contract. It is an alliance where national strike action will be avoided under the guise of "maintaining unity' - as when the CPSA called off strike action for 17 November on the grounds that no other unions would be striking.
A different type of public sector alliance is needed an alliance for mass action which can draw from the rest of the working class; an alliance which is prepared to see the fight against the cuts through to the end and break with the Social Contract.
The road after 17 November is clear:
* Socialists in the public sector unions must campaign for a day of national strike action against the cuts, with the aim of drawing other workers behind that action.
* A public sector alliance must be built against the cuts which breaks with the Social Contract -unity for action, with democratically elected inter-union committees in the localities. Already joint stewards committees exist in hospitals and student/staff committees in colleges — these should be built on and extended.
* Solidarity action with all local struggles against the cuts, so that local struggles, like that of the direct works NUPE members in Canterbury, are not left isolated and unsupported.
* Organise in your unions to build an opposition which can make the union leaders fight or be removed, and fight for a break with the Social Contract.