This week the second strike on London's Underground took place, called by the RMT union. It was able to close at least a third to a half of stations and stop normal services operating on many lines for 48 hours and more.

Which is a pretty good result for the strikers, considering that they constitute only a part of the Underground workforce. The train drivers' union ASLEF and TSSA, the other union on the Underground, which represents white collar and supervision, did not strike, and instructed members to work normally. Of course, these members could decide individually that they would not cross picket lines and it is likely that some did not.

As to the action being taken, it is of course, over the decision by Transport for London (TfL) to close all ticket offices and thereby cut at least 960 jobs. The aim of tube bosses is to save money, pure and simple. TfL claims that it "needs" to save £4.2bn by 2020 - £50m a year - by making these cuts...

But this hardly a "need". It is a cynical choice! And it is especially cynical to cut almost 1,000 jobs when almost one in 10 adults in London is jobless - and 1 in 5 youth! Let alone the fact that the dire overcrowding and nature of the Underground in itself should require many more staff on duty at all times, not fewer, whether on platforms or inside ticket offices, where they can (safely) provide information and clear up problems with fares!

So yes, the RMT union is right to call this strike and right to stand up against these cuts. This is in all of our interests - the public in general and the working class in particular.

The blight of sectionalism

So why, one might ask, has the RMT had to take this action on its own? It is almost too obvious to mention: any strike would be more effective if all the workers in every section of the workforce, took action together - let alone all workers everywhere! Not only would it mean a stronger strike, but it would mean that the bosses would have to back down much more quickly. Better all round.

So what is the problem? Is it the "union laws"? Well no. In fact TSSA is already in dispute with TfL and even has a strike vote it could use to take action. This is not over the job cuts, even though its members' jobs are in the firing line. No, it has just balloted over pay and had an overwhelming "yes" vote for strike! So it could have made sure its members were able to strike at the same time as RMT members.

As for ASLEF, the drivers' union, well, the same applies. It could have found an issue - in order to comply with the law, if that was indeed its problem (driverless trains are looming), so as to take action alongside RMT workmates.

So if it is not the "law" which prevented united action from taking place, what was it? Could it be that the leaderships of the unions have no desire to lead successful fights? That is certainly how it appears. And if they do not want to confront the bosses with the full strength of the workforce on strike, then there can only be one reason for it. That they are afraid of losing their good relationship - not with the members they represent, but with the bosses they are meant to negotiate with. To that extent they are no longer on the side of the working class. Perhaps it is time to face this fact.

Celebrating May Day

Yes, on the occasion of International Workers' Day, the 1st May, it is as good a time as any, to reflect on the need for a solid and united fightback of all workers together, on the ground, and despite the union leaderships' surrender.

Today's workforce is more fragmented and divided than ever, thanks to outsourcing and subcontracting. While bringing in worse wages and conditions, yet more sectional boundaries have been placed between workers, in the hope that these will prevent collective struggle against the bosses' tactics.

What would it take to break down these barriers? Just the will to do it - and the ability to co-ordinate action! After all, wasn't this the way the unions were first built, back in the 19th century? This even led to the first cross-border, international workers' organisation and to the first May Day demonstrations - celebrating the common interests of all workers, across boundaries - and across borders. As Marx said at the time - the worker has "no country", since the capitalist class owns everything of worth, and decides where all the lines are drawn in society, whether inside or outside workplaces or around "nations". The potential strength of the working class is that it can destroy those lines and rebuild a society in the interests of everyone.

But today, the first step in that direction would be to unite our ranks on the ground, regardless of the constraints placed on us by the narrow-minded, self-interested, sectionalism of the trade union leaders. United, we will stand - and win.