Help Required - Advice on how to provide useful solidarity

Is it a series of one-day strikes then?

Are they T&G?

collecting money, handing out leaflets, etc is always a good thing. However action of that kind -- even direct action stunts and solidarity action -- can still just remain on the outside of the strike; if none of your friends/companeros are actually involved in the strike I suppose the thing to do would be to try to make friends with some of the strikers....fuck knows how you do that without stalking them...

Here's something that was posted on IWW open discussion list, yesterday, the first bits not so relevant.

"1. How to display solidarity and support workers in other unions who

are doing industrial actions? Like I've nev er done that before so I

ahve no idea what it actually entails."

From a local perspective, we've had prior contact with workers taking industrial action. Knowing members, from the RMT, GMB (general municipal boiler makers union), has helped us when supporting picket lines, (having dual carders). Keep your ear to the ground, the pub, local activist groups, social centres, unemployed groups... i think the list is endless.

Going along to their meetings an seeing what they've got to say, offering to cover things, maybe even photocopying (is a start), but never offer if you can't come up with the goods, getting your name down on a phone tree, for a picket or action, or helping with a strike/action fund, benefits gigs an the like, getting your name an face known. You know what kind of support you can offer, take it to a gmb (general membership branch) meeting an see how others feel, before you start chucking the gmb's name about. We're (b'ton gmb) currently offering a phone line to a group of organising workers, an have said we can be bodies on a picket.

Hmmm I suppose there's a real limit to what you can do when it comes to one day things, cos you can't really go collecting money... I suppose even small things like getting your union branch (if you have one) to send messages of support can be worth it.

The best way to make contact is to catch the pickets when they're out. That means knowing what day the action is scheduled for, which could be tricky. If they're handing out a leaflet that's your in, take one and start asking questions. If no leaflet just walk up and ask what the beef is. They're dying to tell somebody, that's one reason they're there, to let the public know. If you're in a position to do so, offer 'em publicity, i.e., if you've got a newssheet or a website. If not, ask 'em if labourstart knows about the dispute. That sort of thing. If it sounds like they'll accept outside help, sound 'em out for what they want and offer what you can. If they're suspicious of your motives let it go. You've tried.