Callum Williamson looks forward to the biggest demonstration of working class power for decades

There are obvious reasons why students should support striking workers (many of whom work in education) this Wednesday. On the specific issue of pensions, it is clearly not in the interests of the working class majority – of which most students are a part – for the age of retirement to rise, with greater contributions demanded from workers and less paid out in the end. This attack must be opposed by private sector workers as well as those in the public services. However, those walking out of work on Wednesday will be perfectly aware that this strike is not merely about pensions.

It is often repeated that one of the central goals of this government is to eliminate the welfare state as we know it, and this is certainly the case. As part of this, education is set to transform to an even greater extent than it has since the introduction of tuition fees. Fees themselves are soaring, state funding is being slashed and business is being handed a greater and greater role in the provision of education. Communists are clear on these issues: the commodification of education reflects the current dominance of the capitalist class in wider society. If we are to combat it, then we students must do our utmost to rebuild and strengthen our side: the strength, organisation and political confidence of the working class as a whole.

One step towards this is the November 30^th strike. The more strikes, walkouts, demonstrations and occupations the better. We want to see, and should be part of, the biggest possible showing of working class solidarity and unity. This Wednesday many people will be engaging in strike action for the first time in their lives, gaining insight into the potential power of a united, organised class movement. Of course, such action does not immediately result in ‘socialist’ consciousness. But it does bring with it serious responsibilities for the left of the student movement to put forward the only viable alternative to capitalist crisis: Marxism.

The occupy protests have served to re-open the debate as to whether an alternative to capitalism is desirable or possible, and a wide section of society seem receptive. But the limits of this movement have quickly presented themselves: its vulnerability to police harassment and attack, its lack of programme and serious strategy, and its dependence on the capitalist media among others. Now the organised working class is making its biggest action in decades, and Wednesday’s strike has got the coalition government on the backfoot, desperate as they are to avoid the spreading of resistance. But the ruling classes of Europe will not give up on austerity easily. The withdrawal of labour is a powerful weapon, but the working class must also develop its own politics and begin to constitute itself as an alternative ruling class. This would actually threaten the continued existence of the system, and make European governments think twice about austerity.

Depending on the unfolding of events in the coming months, the time may come to form assemblies of students and workers to co-ordinate actions and create a space where ‘the alternative’ can be discussed in a democratic and meaningful way. A party that can unite revolutionaries and provide a radical pole in our movement is still a glaring necessity. Whatever happens, communist students should look to create links with the workers movement as well as the anti-cuts movement through meetings and solidarity actions. We must use these forums to raise some of the ideas which can unite the working classes of Europe in an effective battle against austerity: internationalism, radical democracy against the bureaucratic state, and the political independence of the working class.

Unity on the basis of such ideas can only make us stronger in the face of the onslaught taking place. The ruling class are attempting to make the majority pay the price for capitalism’s crisis, and use the opportunity to increase their share of the wealth created by society. Our response should be an outright rejection of the current state of things; we can run society without them and we will.