Steel jobs crisis: Workers’ action and nationalisation needed
Matt Dobson, Socialist Party Scotland
Socialist Party Scotland’s campaign for nationalisation of the steel industry, in the wake of the threatened closure of steelworks in Motherwell (Dalzell) and Cambuslang (Clydebridge), has received a massive response from the affected working class communities.
Our stalls in Motherwell, Glasgow and Paisley have been regularly mobbed, with hundreds signing our petition demanding that the Scottish National Party (SNP) government save jobs by nationalising the plants. Hundreds have bought copies of the Socialist, and thousands of leaflets have been distributed.
We have also leafleted shifts at both plants. There exists a mood for a fightback in the communities, if only a lead was given by the trade unions. Frustratingly, this has yet to take place.
Nobody expects anything from the Tory Westminster government, but the SNP – which has not yet ruled out nationalisation but has stated its preference for finding a private buyer – is becoming a target of anger and frustration.
One steelworker’s partner told SPS activists leafleting the Motherwell plant: “I joined the SNP after the [independence] referendum. Me and all my pals voted for them in May when Labour got a kicking. We thought the SNP stood up to big companies in the referendum for the working class, but what are they doing about this? This has been going around for months about Tata pulling out. Nicola [Sturgeon – SNP First Minister] needs to act now, if they can’t nationalise these plants how can they convince anyone of independence?”
The statements of the leaders of the trade unions, Community and Unite, have rightly called for the Westminster and Scottish governments to intervene but this has not been a clear call for nationalisation.
A mass fightback called by the trade unions could link up the fight of the steelworkers and against austerity locally.
The Labour council in North Lanarkshire should set a ‘no cuts’ budget and refuse to implement austerity, mobilising a mass campaign in support. Such a stance should demand support from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, elected on an anti-austerity ticket,
