Supporters and readers of Marxist World in High Wycombe have launched the new local group Class Solidarity. The aim of Class Solidarity, as the name suggests, is to help organise working class people around common issues that we face and build confidence in the idea that we can take action and collectively change things.
Historically the Left has organised around the workplace and trade unions as the prime method of building class solidarity and class consciousness. This still has its place and we do not reject this. However, as work has become increasingly precarious over the years and decades, the bonds that attached workers to their place of work are, broadly speaking, weaker. It is therefore more important than ever that socialists build roots in their local communities in order to build the confidence and solidarity of workers as a class. We believe this is a prerequisite for building strong foundations for political organisation down the line. Unfortunately, most of the organised Left only pay lip service to this concept. They either opportunistically engage in local campaigns to garner votes and members in the short-term, or simply end up tailgating local initiatives without attempting to politically educate those involved. This has left the field open to the likes of UKIP and the far right to pose as the champions of the working class.
One of the main issues that can unite the working class in the local area is housing. House prices have risen well above anything that anyone on the average wage can afford to buy, and rents are reflecting this. Landlords have a monopoly position that they can, and often do, abuse, chucking tenants out for the most trivial things. A lack of genuinely affordable social housing along with the recent housing benefit cap means that the threat of eviction and losing their home is a reality for many workers.
We have organised a public meeting on the housing crisis with guest speaker Bryony Albery, an eviction orevention worker. Over the coming 6 weeks we will be leafleting around High Wycombe to build support for the meeting. If you are interested in getting involved in the campaign, please email [email protected].
The Housing Crisis: Public Meeting with guest speaker Bryony Albery, Eviction Prevention worker
Date: 7.30PM, Tuesday 7th March
Venue: The Arts4every1 Centre, Desborough Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2PU
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