I WAS rather worried by your report (SA 15 April) that the Horwich Workers Bulletin argues that the closure of British rail workshops can be halted by 'new imaginative tactics' which involve pulling out key workers.
There is nothing new or imaginative about this. It is one of the oldest ploys in the book.
Unfortunately it rarely leads to success. There are tremendous pitfalls — particularly in fighting redundancy. The bosses can simply escalate by sacking those involved (see your POEU report, same issue).
Those striking can become isolated and demoralised and you may not get a momentum developing among the rest who are working normally.
With a group like those at Horwich suffering from the general impact of the downturn, the recent defeats on the railways and a limited tradition of industrial action it is tempting for the leadership to look for painless, cut-price ways out. Just now you get the results you pay for.
The Horwich Action Committee have done an excellent propaganda job. The only way that they can crystallise their efforts is to take their members forward and provide a chance of halting the closures by movement towards an all-out stoppage.
Guerilla action, selective sit-downs or even a one day strike may be useful if they are tactics integrated into a strategy of all-out strike action and are clearly perceived and fought for as part of preparing the membership for this eventuality.
To rely on these methods as able to do the job themselves would be to fatally transform tactics into strategy. Remember the NHS or even more clearly the Civil Service strikes.
The Horwich trade unionists should work towards an all-out strike by campaigning for an all-out strike of all the workshops to commence with a one day strike of all rail workers.
Arguments and links with other workers are vital. But the biggest contribution they could make towards this would be by stopping Horwich now.
MARK STARR, Oldham.