En Passant

To stop the planned plant closures and defend jobs, to start the journey to a better world, reclaiming the spirit of 1973 at Broadmeadows and translating that into occupying the Ford car plants today offers not only a way forward but the only way forward.

We have occupied the Agora area as a symbolic place for assembly, as it represents not only the heart of the university (which these cuts threaten to rip out) but also a public space for the discussion of ideas and debate which we value so highly.

Students voted to occupy the campus with a number of students volunteering to stay overnight and indefinitely until Open Day. The collective also demanded the rejection of the proposed cuts, for the university to enter into negotiations with the NTEU in good faith, a shift in focus on saving money to saving jobs and for a redistribution of executive pay to save other jobs at the university.

Having socialists involved in the struggles of the day, socialists with an understanding of the tasks necessary to win a better world here and now and into the future and coalescing around common ideas about socialism and democracy is an important part of the ultimate success of the liberationist project.

Whatever happens from this point, Occupy has already changed the reference points of U.S. politics. No longer can the hateful, corporate-funded Tea Party claim to speak for the disgruntled majority. Working people are finding their own political voice–and they’ll no longer keep silent.

That’s why it’s so important that everyone who supports the Occupy movement get actively involved–and build the fightback.

If there is one message coming out of the Occupy movements around the globe it is this – we are many, they are few. Their power is built on our labour. Without our work they are nothing. That points to a way forward. If we withdraw our labour the ruling class will often be forced to give us concessions. Of course the act of striking opens up a possibility of a new world – one of democracy in which production is organised to satisfy human need. A world without the one percent. That is worth occupying for.

Our demands are simple. You, the rich, the one percent, you should pay for the crises you create. Not us. You. Enough is enough. Freedom and food, justice and jobs – these are the words the one percent fear. They cannot give us what we want. That will become clear as our movement grows and our demands become a liberty chorus ringing in the ears of the tone deaf elite.

It is vital for the long term viability and success of the occupations to have the working class as working class involved and at its centre. Bring the workplace to the occupations; bring the occupations to the workplace.

Nationalise QANTAS, BlueScope and OneSteel under workers’ control.

Fight the job losses. Strike and occupy the workplaces. Organise production to satisfy human need.

It is not enough to kidnap the boss. French workers need to go further and cut off the head of the bourgeoisie as a class.