Solidarity Federation
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Solidarity Federation - commonly known as SolFed - was formed in March 1994 and is, as the name suggests, a federation of groups and individuals across England, Scotland & Wales who are involved in helping to build a non-hierarchical, anti-authoritarian solidarity movement. The basic foundation used for doing this is the Local group, using tactics such as Direct Action, protesting and strike action.
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[edit] About SolFed
Solidarity Federation is the British section of the anarcho-syndicalist International Workers Association (IWA). This gives it essential international solidarity and experience from much larger sections, such as the CNT (Spain) and USI (Italy).
[edit] Down the Local
Locals are SolFed groups which put solidarity into practice. The Locals are a way of organising or getting involved in local campaigns across a wide range of issues – both in the community and in workplaces. Issues are wide-ranging: defending the natural and local environment and health; opposing racism, sexism and homophobia; in fact, anything which defends or contributes to our mutual quality of life. It is all part and parcel of building a solidarity movement.
[edit] Direct Action
As well as being the name of the SolFed Quarterly magazine, Direct Action is the tool which Locals use in all their work. At a basic level, this can be simply the spreading of information through leaflets, local bulletins and public meetings to raise awareness and involvement locally. However, Direct Action is not limited to spreading information: it means a physical presence in defending and promoting a better quality of life, such as counter-protesting Fascist groups like the BNP.
[edit] Networking
Solidarity Federation members who work in the same work sector have formed Networks. Their purpose is to promote solidarity amongst workers. Networks also use Direct Action to fight for better pay and conditions, forming a basis for a completely new labour movement, nothing like the Trade Unions, which are weakened by having to abide by hierarchical power structures and self-interested paid officials. The fundamentally different nature of Networks fits their fundamentally different aim.
[edit] Where Next?
As Locals and Networks grow, they practise community and workers’ self-management. In the syndicalist vein, it is seen by SolFed that eventually industries will be run by producers and consumers. In other words, by workers (in Networks) and people in the wider community (Locals), who want the goods and services they provide.
And this is no flight of fancy or text-book dream. As the solidarity movement grows in members and influence, so does the scope for action. Both the Locals and Networks have already established a reputation and are showing real results in membership and effectiveness.
[edit] Global Solidarity
Nationalism and patriotism lead to pointless and false divisions, used as tools to fuel economic and bloody wars. Solidarity Federation opposes these in favour of a movement built on global solidarity.
[edit] See Also
- International Workers Association
- Syndicalism
- Direct Action
- Direct Action - SolFed's Quarterly Magazine
[edit] External Links
- http://www.solfed.org.uk/ - SolFed Homepage
- http://www.direct-action.org.uk/ - Direct Action Magazine Homepage
- http://www.iwa-ait.org/ - Homepage of the AIT/IWA, the Revolutionary Syndicalist international.
