We need a strategy to bring about change

The Coalition of Resistance (CoR) has been at the heart of the fightback against the government's cuts. Its banners were highly visible at the TUC's October 20 march and it helped organise the November 14 rallies in solidarity with those fighting austerity across Europe.

But being seen at protests isn't enough. If the anti-cuts campaign is to grow into a mass movement with a chance of toppling the government and able to push the Labour Party away from neoliberalism then it needs a strategy.

Thrashing out such a strategy is the task of delegates attending the CoR AGM and conference this Sunday.

Trade union resistance will need to be at its core - but for that trade unions will need to raise their understanding of the class war being waged against and around them.

Unions which want to protect their members' interests cannot afford to sit and wait for a Labour government that might be elected in two-and-a-half years' time - especially as if Labour isn't pushed in the right direction it will carry on with much the same policies as the Con-Dems.

All union members as well as their families, friends and communities suffer from the cuts, beyond the basics of attacks on pay and working conditions that unions are used to fighting. Cuts and privatisation affect education, health, housing, social services, transport, benefits and much more. Issues that the 1 per cent don't need to worry about but everyone else does.

We need a popular struggle against the cuts for this reason - but trade unions must take the lead as the organisations most able to. They have the resources and the professionalism to give the fightback bite. Other progressive forces will follow their lead.

This weekend's conference delegates won't need the issues spelt out. We know about unregulated private landlords filling their coffers while cuts in benefit "cleanse" cities of thousands of families.

We know the super-rich are getting tax-cuts while the number of homeless grows daily and soup kitchens multiply.

We've seen the arrogance of a government that labels its own police protection officers plebs while its rich supporters blacklist workers for drawing attention to health and safety risks or employ growing numbers of unpaid workers through internships or workfare.

And we're seeing the big shots of the energy companies pocketing 25 per cent pay increases while raising the cost of domestic fuel.

The reaction to all the above has been slowly growing. With 80 per cent of cuts still to come an explosion of anger can be expected.

The Coalition of Resistance needs to be in a place to harness that anger and direct it towards real change.

That means spelling out the alternative. The message that cuts are not necessary needs to be spread. And we need to highlight how Britain could be run differently to raise people's consciousness and to drive the Labour Party away from neoliberalism.

Full mobilisation of trades councils will be needed and the People's Charter is the ideal vehicle for presenting specific local and national alternatives.

That's why the CoR conference is so important. We need to ensure the anti-cuts movement is unified and coherent.

Come along and have your say. Many affiliates have already registered but you're welcome to join on the day and attend.

• The CoR AGM and conference will take place on Sunday December 2 at 10.30am at the Unite offices on Theobald's Road, Holborn, London WC1.