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Solidarity Federation

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Solidarity Federation
Solidarity Federation
AbbreviationSF or SolFed
Founded1950
Location
AffiliationsInternational Workers' Association
Websitewww.solfed.org.uk
Formerly called
Direct Action Movement
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The Solidarity Federation, also known by the abbreviation SolFed, is a federation of class struggle anarchists active in Britain. The organisation advocates a strategy of anarcho-syndicalism as a method of abolishing capitalism and the state, and describes itself as a "revolutionary union".[1] In 1994 it adopted its current name, having previously been the Direct Action Movement since 1979, and before that the Syndicalist Workers' Federation since 1950.

Along with the Anarchist Federation it is one of the two anarchist federations active in the UK.

History[edit]

The Syndicalist Workers' Federation was a syndicalist group in active in post-war Britain.[2]

Direct Action Movement[edit]

The Direct Action Movement was formed in 1979, when the one remaining SWF branch, along with other smaller anarchist groups, decided to form a new organisation of anarcho-syndicalists in Britain.[3] The DAM was highly involved in the Miners' Strike as well as a series of industrial disputes later in the 1980s, including the Ardbride dispute in Ardrossan, Scotland, involving a supplier to Laura Ashley, for which the DAM received international support. From 1988 in Scotland, then England and Wales, the DAM was active in opposing the Poll Tax.[4]

In the early 1990s, DAM members set up the Despatch Industry Workers Union, which successfully organised workers for a number of inner-city courier firms.[5] In March 1994, DAM changed its name to the Solidarity Federation.[6]

Activities[edit]

SolFed End Unpaid Work 2012 campaign logo

Solidarity Federation's 2012 national campaign against workfare initially focused specifically on Holland and Barrett, a health supplement corporation making use of placements staffed by unpaid benefits claimants. On 5 July 2012, after a sustained series of pickets at Holland and Barrett stores across the UK, the company announced via social media and its website that it was pulling out of the workfare scheme, citing negative publicity.[7][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ National Conference (April 2012). "SolFed Industrial Strategy". Solidarity Federation. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ^ Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations'. United Kingdom: Pinter Publishers. 2000. ISBN 978-1855672642.
  3. ^ M.H. (1993). "The Direct Action Movement". KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library (4). Kate Sharpley Library. ISSN 1475-0309. OCLC 499869298. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  4. ^ Meltzer, Albert (2001). I Couldn't Paint Golden Angels. United Kingdom: AK Press. ISBN 978-1873176931.
  5. ^ Patchrider, Des (2000). The Couriers are Revolting: The Despatch Industry Workers Union 1989-92. London: Kate Sharpley Library. ISBN 1873605676. OCLC 44617997 – via Libcom.org.
  6. ^ "Solidarity Federation". edinburghanarchists.noflag.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Workfare goes underground as Holland and Barrett pull out". 7 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Holland & Barrett pulls out of jobseekers' scheme". TheGuardian.com. 6 July 2012.

Further reading[edit]

  • Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike (2000). "Solidarity Federation". Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century. A&C Black. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-8264-5814-8.

External links[edit]

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