Contents
What is Liverpool Solidarity Federation
International Workers Association
Principles of Our Industrial Strategy
Principles of Our Community Strategy
What is Liverpool Solidarity Federation?
The Solidarity Federation is an anarcho-syndicalist union formed in March 1994. The current Solidarity Federation local in Liverpool was established in 2016, However, there have been Locals on and off in Liverpool since the 1980’s. We are a federation of groups across the United Kingdom promoting direct action and solidarity among the working class. Everyone involved is helping to build a non-hierarchical, anti-authoritarian solidarity movement.
Anarcho-syndicalism is anarchism applied to the workers’ movement. Anarchism is a political idea that advocates self- governed societies based on non-hierarchical free associations. Syndicalism is the workers’ movement. Deriving from the French word for trade unionism (syndicalisme), it seeks to unite workers on an economic basis to fight for our interests.
We consider ourselves a revolutionary anarcho-syndicalist union as we are workers collaborating with each other trying to improve our working conditions. We are not, and right now don’t want to be, an official recognised union. Having a union that is recognised is a very long and bureaucratic process with very few pros. For us, the important thing is not whether we are a recognised union or not, but how decisions are made to promote equal relationships between workers and develop practices that empower people.
Direct action is the tool we use in all of our work. We do not make appeals to political or economic representatives to act on our behalf, but organise to fight our own fights. Fundamental to direct action is the fact that we can only rely on collective action to achieve our goals. The Solidarity Federation will accept neither leadership, charity, nor guidance from government or business; instead, we couple our principle of solidarity with the practice of self-reliance.
As individuals we are relatively powerless in the face of bosses, bureaucrats and the state, but when we act collectively the tables are turned. Our aim is to promote solidarity in our workplaces and outside of them, encourage workers to organise independently of government, bosses and bureaucrats, and to fight for our own interests, collectively, as a class.
By organising this way, we learn to act without being led by union officials or political vanguards, calling into question the way society is organised and prefiguring the world we want to create: a world without bosses or rulers. This is libertarian communism.
Members and Supporters
Anyone who agrees with our Aims and Principles can join the Solidarity Federation, but also any student, retired person, claimant, migrant, refugee or any person who supports social revolution and revolutionary unions. However, certain workers have roles and interests that are incompatible with the aims and principles of anarcho-syndicalism and are barred from membership. These include strike-breakers (‘scabs’), police and prison officers, bailiffs, full-time trade union officials, members of the armed forces, landlords, officers or holders of executive positions in political parties, and those who have ultimate power to hire and fire, or to remove a person’s means of financial support (such as certain DWP staff), or those who have the power to remove a person from the country (such as border guards).
All members have the right to free expression of their ideas; have their physical and moral integrity respected; attend all events organised by the Solidarity Federation; have full access to information about all Solidarity Federation decisions and activities; and remain in disagreement with decisions and activities of the Solidarity Federation, so long as they abide by the Aims, Principles and Constitution. All debate within the SolFed should be comradely, in all arenas, and members have the right to have their views respected, even if they are in disagreement with the decisions of the SolFed. Obviously, there are limits to this disagreement. Members can argue for our Aims, Principles and Constitution to be changed, but must abide by them until they are changed. As debate should always be comradely, so too should behaviour. Verbal and physical abuse and threats of violence are completely unacceptable.
All members have the duty to participate in, defend and support the Solidarity Federation, the International Workers’ Association, their Aims, Principles, Statutes and affiliates to the fullest extent of their ability; follow and discuss fully issues facing the Solidarity Federation and the IWA.
The Solidarity Federation is interested in active members. However, some members have very real problems in their lives which stop them getting or staying involved. We understand that a member’s commitment can rise and fall depending on their circumstances. In the tradition of the revolutionary workers movement, we see participation on the basis of “from each according to their abilities”. Where this is the case, it is the responsibility of the Local, and the wider organisation, to give that individual their full support. Sometimes this can be something as simple as keeping them supplied with minutes and Internal Bulletins and having a regular chat about what’s been happening.
It is crucial to the organisation that members keep themselves informed of internal debates and participate in them. Internal debate is part of our self-education and we should expect both to learn and pass on knowledge in that process. To this end, members should try to attend their Local’s meetings as frequently as possible. The Local will, where possible, vary its meeting time to accommodate members who find certain times difficult, for instance because of shift patterns or family commitments.
If you want to join the Liverpool Local, you will have to contact the Local Treasurer and the Local Communication Delegate. The Local Treasurer will inform you about the subscription fees and you will have the option to pay according to your possibilities. The Communication Delegate will inform you about the different internal communication channels of the Local (email list and Telegram group) and will take your details so you can be part of them.
We are a membership organisation and we encourage everyone to join our Local. However, we want to make our Local as accessible as possible and we invite non-members who are interested in our Local to attend our events and meetings and participate in the life of our Local, as supporters. Supporters do not pay subscriptions but in some cases can participate in the internal communication channels. Nonetheless, non-members cannot participate in the decision making process for Federal Conference mandates.
Subscriptions are the main income of our Local and we encourage supporters to become members so we can have a regular income to cover all our expenses (venues, publicity, journeys…). Subscriptions are paid monthly to the Treasurer and there are three different rates according to your personal situation:
£10 full-time workers
£5 low-paid workers, part-time workers, students, unemployed and pensioners
Free in case of extreme circumstances
You can switch from one to another at any time and you do not have to explain anything nor provide any evidence of your personal income. The Treasurer will pay £3 to the Federal Treasurer for each paying member; from this figure the Federal Treasurer will pay an amount to the IWA Treasurer according to the current agreement.
Internal Organisation
Strategy & Evaluation Meetings
We make our decisions at a special meeting called the Strategy and Evaluation meeting. All our strategy, campaigns and calendar for the upcoming quarter are decided in these meetings. This is also the place to discuss any changes in our internal organisation and any medium or long term decisions, and to evaluate the activity of the previous quarter. The specific date and time of the Strategy and Evaluation meeting will be decided at a local meeting before the event. The day and time of the meeting will have been decided based on the current members’ availability but are open to change, depending on new members’ and supporters’ availability.
Anyone can propose motions to the Strategy and Evaluation meeting. However, these proposals must be circulated in advance so everyone has the chance to read them. Proposals must be explained and should include specific information about potential costs and support needed.
The Local Secretary will include all the proposals in a document and circulate them in conjunction with the Agenda for the Strategy and Evaluation meeting one week in advance.
Working Groups
When needed, the Strategy and Evaluation meeting can name working groups for different topics, for example a campaign, an event or any specific task. Anyone can be part of the working group. Working groups have to follow the mandate and instructions given by the Strategy and Evaluation meeting, but can make decisions regarding technical issues, for example the design of the publicity, the amount of leaflets to print, the venue in which a specific event will take place.
It is recommended that working groups report regularly to the rest of the Local through the email list, although these reports should be circulated only when relevant updates and significant information are included.
Some of the working groups in the past include Basic Rights at Work, Women and Unionism, Universal Credit, Internal Education and the Care Workers Network, and there are also specific working groups for specific campaigns and cases. Check with any member for more information or if you want to get involved.
Events and Get-Togethers
We try to hold regular events and meetings in between our decision making meetings. The specific calendar of events for every quarter should be agreed in the Strategy and Evaluation meeting. Some of the events and meetings that can be held are:
Coordination Get-togethers
On various occasions all the working groups have a coordinating meeting. For example, if a large order for publicity is going to be made, or if a specific timetable of events needs to be discussed involving different working groups. A get-together can also take place when a working group considers that the rest of the local should be involved in a technical decision. Any working group can call for a Coordination Get-together. Coordination get-togethers cannot modify decisions made in a Strategy and Evaluation meeting and can only decide on technical issues.
Drop-in Sessions
A drop-in session is a public event for a specific campaign in which people are invited to come along for advice or to discuss any issues around the campaign. For example, the Basic Rights at Work campaign can organise a drop-in session in which workers can pop in for advice about any issue at work, such as holiday pay, SSP, working hours, etc.
Cultural/Training/Education events
Cultural events are public events on any specific topic such as talks, film screenings, discussions… As they are public events the venue and date should be confirmed and advertised in advance. The specific cultural events for each quarter are decided in the Strategy and Evaluation meeting.
Coordinators
In order to fulfil the regular daily needs of our Local, different members hold administrative and coordinating roles. Normally, any change in any role will be decided in a Strategy and Evaluation Meeting. Currently the Coordinator roles are as follows:
Local Secretary
Deals with any formal communication with the Solidarity Federation and makes sure that the Internal Bulletin is circulated to all members of the Local. They also deal with any external communication, for example when someone contacts us through email. In some cases, working groups can communicate with other Locals or deal with members of the public if the topic is directly related to them. The local secretary also acts as communications officer, and circulates agendas, includes new members in email lists and Telegram groups.
Treasurer
This is the person in charge of collecting subs and managing all the accounts of the Local. Any member or working group who needs Local funds to cover expenses should contact the Treasurer and provide an invoice when possible. As we are a small group with little funds, it is the responsibility of all members and working group to try to reduce expenses when possible.
Publicity
Checks the stock of publicity regularly and makes sure that there is enough publicity to cover the immediate needs of the Local, especially material for the SolFed stall in town. Any order to the Publicity Commission or any other significant order should be known in advance by all members, so everyone has the chance to make amendments.
Online communication
Even though we encourage members to participate in the Strategy and Evaluation Meetings, in the working groups and in the coordination get-togethers, there are some cases in which online communication is needed. Each working group will decide how its members are going to communicate.
Currently, the Local has two ways to communicate online: the internal email list and a Telegram group chat. It is every member’s responsibility to send only relevant information and use these in a balanced and appropriate manner. If you want to address a particular member or working group, please do not use these general communication channels and contact them privately when possible.
Internal email list
The internal email list is a discussion list and all members have access to it. If, as a new member, you encounter any problems with accessing the list, please contact the Communication Delegate. You will need an email address to be included on the internal email list.
Whenever you want to send an email to the rest of the members, and once you have been included on the mail list, you will have to send an email to liverpoolsf@googlegroups.com. All the members will receive an email in their email account. We use the email to make proposals to be discussed at the Strategy and Evaluation meetings and circulate them to the rest of the Local, to send reports of ongoing campaigns and finally to hold discussions about any hot or urgent topic.
Advice on using the email list: Make sure that your proposal is clear and explain why you are making it. Try to develop your idea using the 6w system: what, why, when, were, who and how.
Telegram group
Telegram is an instant messaging service used to coordinate actions. All members have access to it. If you don’t have access, please contact the Communication Delegate. You will need a phone number to be included on the Telegram group. Ideally, you can use Telegram on your Smart Phone, but you can also use it on any computer.
Whenever you want to text the rest of the members, you can send a message to the Telegram group, and all the members will immediately receive a text on their devices. We use Telegram to coordinate actions and briefly inform each other about any immediate event or activity. Due to the nature of the software we encourage people to avoid holding discussions on Telegram.
Advice on using Telegram: Make sure that the text is relevant to everyone. Telegrams were traditionally charged by the word and that is the idea of the service, so if you are asking anything make sure that the question can be answered by saying yes/no or choosing one out of two/three options. Abuse of the Telegram will result in muting for a period of time, or in extreme cases, removal from the Telegram group.
Website
Our current website is https://liverpoolsf.noblogs.org.
Social Media
Social media, such as X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook is handled by our social media working group.
Federal Organisation
Federal Conference
Federal decisions are made twice per year at the Federal Conference. The function of the Conference is to facilitate the work of the Federation, and to share ideas and tactics, not to impose policies on Networks and Locals, which are autonomous, although they must abide by the Conference decisions. Conference decides mandates for those commissioned by the Solidarity Federation to carry out duties on its behalf between Conferences, and elects Locals to carry them out. It also decides matters of principle and of a constitutional nature, including issues of affiliation, such as new Locals or Networks, and affiliated groups in arrears with their subs.
Federal Conference decisions can only be changed by another Federal Conference. All proposals for Federal Conference must be sent to the Internal Bulletin in advance. It is the responsibility of Locals to fully discuss the issues and to properly mandate their delegates. Conference should elect a chair and minute taker. The chair’s role is to keep the debate going and to stick to the agenda. The minute taker’s role is to record the debates and decisions made. Decisions should be made by seeking consensus in the first instance. However, where a vote needs to be taken a 2/3 majority is required for a motion to be carried. Abstentions are not counted. Voting is on the basis of one Local, one vote, but only Locals present at Conference can vote. The conference is hosted by a Local which is normally mandated at the previous Federal Conference. The Local taking it on should have the resources to put the conference on, in terms of finding a venue and organising accommodation. It is customary for some sort of social event to be organised for delegates at the same time.
Federal Officers
Federal Conference will give mandates to Locals to carry out the administration of the Solidarity Federation, and to handle its external relations. The Local will name an individual who will be responsible for ensuring the tasks mandated are carried out. The Local will then support this individual, and name another if they should be unable to continue between Conferences. Mandates are given for a two-year period, and will be reviewed fully at Conference. Failure to carry out, or breaches of, a mandate will lead to recall of the mandate by Federal Conference.
Federal Secretary
The Federal Secretary is responsible for organising the Federal Conference and any extraordinary federal events. Responsibility for organising the Federal Conference may be delegated to a named Local, but overall responsibility for making sure it happens remains with the Federal Secretary. The Federal Secretary is also responsible for compiling and circulating the Internal Bulletin on the first day of each month, but may commission a named individual to carry it out.
Communications Delegate
The Communications Delegate is responsible for dealing with membership enquiries and external contacts, as well as communicating with relevant and sympathetic organisations in the geographical area which the Solidarity Federation covers when necessary.
Federal Treasurer
The Federal Treasurer is responsible for collecting and accounting for all subscriptions, donations, credit notes and pledges. This includes opening and administering a bank account, and circulating payment details to all members. The Federal Treasurer will produce a financial report each quarter, including a breakdown of subscriptions paid, and arrears.
Federal Training Co-ordinator
The Federal Training Co-ordinator’s role is to co-ordinate and develop a national syllabus of training on different topics useful to anarcho-syndicalist militants. The workshops are available to all members via the request of their Local or Network.
International Secretariat
The International Secretariat is responsible for all international relations. Federal Conference will mandate a Local to carry out these duties for two years, to be reviewed at Federal Conference and Plenaries. The International Secretary will be a named individual, as will any other officers the mandated Local determines should take on specified tasks under the mandate.
The Women’s Officer
The role of the Women’s Officer is to act as a point of contact for women within SolFed. This will include to act as a point of contact should a woman feel the culture of her Local is disadvantaging her because of her gender. In these cases the Federal Women’s Officer will then arrange support from women in another Local and take further action if needed.
The LGBT+ Officer
The role of the LGBT+ Officer is to work within the Equalities Secretariat to develop oppression-related roles within the Solidarity Federation; to actively support comrades who plan to transition gender in their transition within the Federation, e.g. providing advocacy, putting together a plan, coming along to their Local to support them, notifying other officer roles; to be the person to whom homophobic and transphobic behaviour can be reported to, and to support locals in dealing with these incidents. The LGBT+ Officer will help ensure a buddy system is available, pairing LGBT+ people from across the Federation together for mutual support, will liaise with other LGBT+ or Queer groups where appropriate, and will support locals in LGBT+ awareness.
Federal Publications
Internal Bulletin (IB)
The Federal Secretary is responsible for compiling and circulating the Internal Bulletin each month. All discussion and debate contributions to the Internal Bulletin must be passed on by their Local or Network. Opinions of individuals, Networks or Locals may be expressed, but if the opinion is not that of the Local or Network this must be specified. All individual opinions passed on by a Local or Network will be included in the Internal Bulletin.
In order to facilitate reading, pages must be numbered, and contents listed at the beginning. All contributions must list the contributor, date, which Local it has been sent in by, and all those to whom it has been sent at the top.
Website – http://solfed.org.uk
Federal Conference will mandate and elect a Local to be responsible for maintaining and publishing the Solidarity Federation web pages, including internal pages. The mandated Local will elect named individuals to carry out this mandate, and will be accountable for the publication and contents of these publications, to Federal Conference. The mandated Local has the ability to co-opt members of other Locals to assist in this work. The mandated Local will present a report to Federal Conference.
International Workers Association
SolFed is part of the International Workers Association (IWA), which is an international federation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions and initiatives. Based on the principles of revolutionary unionism, the international aims to create unions capable of fighting for the economic and political interests of the working class and eventually, to directly abolish capitalism and the state through the establishment of economic communities and administrative organs run by the workers.
Currently, the following are Sections or Friends of the IWA:
- Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation (ASF) – Australia
- Wiener ArbeiterInnen Syndikat (WAS) – Austria
- Bangladesh Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation (BASF) – Bangladesh
- Confederação Operária Brasileira (COB) – Brazil
- Solidaridad Obrera (SO) – Chile
- Unión Libertaria Estudiantil y del Trabajo (ULET) – Colombia
- Confédération nationale du travail (CNTF-AIT) – France
- Muktivadi Ekta Morcha (MEM) – India
- Norsk Syndikalistisk Forbund (NSF) – Norway
- Workers Solidarity Initiative (WSI) – Pakistan
- Mapagpalayang Kapatiran (MK) – Philippines
- Związek Syndykalistów Polski and Workers’ Initiative (ZSP and IP) – Poland
- Confederation of Revolutionary Anarcho-Syndicalists (KRAS-MAT) – Russia
- Anarho-Sindikalistička Inicijativa (ASI-MUR) – Serbia
- Priama Akcia (PA-MAP) – Slovakia
- Confederación Nacional del Trabajo — Asociación Internacional de los Trabajadores (CNT-AIT) – Spain
- Örestad Lokala Samorganisation (OLS) – Sweden
- Solidarity Federation – (SolFed) – United Kingdom
- Workers’ Solidarity Alliance (WSA) – United States.
IWA Congress
The International Congresses of the IWA are held every third year. The Secretariat shall sufficiently in advance of the Congress ask the Sections for issues or suggestions to be dealt with by the Congress. The Secretariat shall then draw up the Agenda, which together with the motions that have been presented, shall be sent to the affiliated organisations at least six months before the Congress starts.
The SolFed Federal Conference mandates and elects up to six delegates to the IWA Congress. One of these delegates should have attended the previous IWA Congress, and one should have attended the previous IWA Plenary, where possible.
Principles of our Industrial Strategy
Solidarity Federation’s ultimate aim is a collectively-run, stateless society based on the principle ‘from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs’. It is a society where we are no longer just used as a means to an end by bosses wanting to make money from our labour. As a revolutionary union initiative, the Solidarity Federation seeks to develop into an anarcho-syndicalist union. We see this as an essential forerunner to such a society. To this end, SF seeks to create a culture of militant opposition to the bosses and the state, controlled by the workers involved.
Rank and file control
Decisions are made collectively. This means they are made by collective meetings and workers, not by officials in union offices. These meetings should ideally include all those in the workplace, regardless of union membership. It will not, however, include ‘scabs’ or management. Mass meetings of workers must be able to recall all delegates.
Direct action
Direct action at work means tactics such as strikes, go-slows, working-to-rule, occupations and boycotts. We are opposed to the alternative which is ‘partnership’ with bosses and sham ‘consultations’.
Solidarity
Solidarity with other workers is the key to victory – workers should support each others’ disputes regardless of any anti-strike laws. We seek to rebuild a culture where all workers know a picket line is not to be crossed.
Control of funds
Strike funds need to be controlled by the strikers themselves. Trade union officials will refuse to fund unlawful solidarity action and use access to resources to keep control of the struggle from the workers involved. Union bureaucrats are able to use the promise of official backing and strike pay to turn action on and off like a tap.
Social change
The interests of the working class lie in the abolition of capitalist society. The whole of the wealth of society is produced by the workers. However, a surplus is extracted from our labour which funds the ruling class of shareholders and business people and their state. When workers make wage demands, they are simply trying to win a bigger share of what is rightfully their own: everything. This struggle requires much more than economic wage demands.
Principles of our Community Strategy
Direct action
Direct action in the community can take diverse forms, from pickets, road blockages, and occupations of property to rent strikes, anti-bailiff mobilisations and mass non-payment of taxes. The hallmark of direct action is that it is action taken by the affected people themselves to directly achieve a goal without intermediaries.
Direct Democracy & Community Control
Direct democracy is an essential feature of how we organise. Mass meetings should be organised as needed to involve as many people as possible and ensure community control of the struggle. Instead of electing a central/steering committee to make decisions for us, we should make the decisions ourselves through a delegate council composed of mandated, recallable delegates from each campaign or organisation involved.
Racism and Anti-Fascism
Many towns and cities are afflicted by racial divisions which only benefit the ruling class and must be fought against. We therefore fight against racism, sectarianism and all reactionary attitudes by appealing to people on the basis of class unity. We also reject the state collaborationist strategy of groups such as Unite Against Fascism in favour of a class struggle approach to fighting the scourge of street-based racism and/or neo-fascism.
Sexism, Homophobia and Transphobia
SolFed acknowledges and actively supports everyone’s right to express and embody their sexuality and gender. We also acknowledge that we still live in a patriarchal society whose oppressive mechanisms are deeply rooted in the way we think and live. We thus remain alert to our own behaviours and aim at regularly reflecting on whether our internal way of operation stands in line with our values.
Landlords and Employment Agencies
Deposit and wage theft are common problems, but agencies are vulnerable to direct action tactics such as pickets and occupations. SolFed Locals should take on this kind of dispute in line with the general principles set out here: not seeking to act as a service, but including the wronged individuals as active participants in direct action and seeking to build a wider culture of resistance.
Gentrification
Gentrification is a complex process, which often involves pitting existing small businesses against incoming big ones. Whilst we do not wish to end up fighting for one set of capitalists over another, struggles over local developments are often flashpoints which bring people together. Gentrification is also harmful as it can often break up established working class communities.