FIGHTING FOR DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2020 :: RMTnews 26 Glasgow in 1915, at the height of World War One, saw much of the city’s working age men fighting on the Western Front. Back home, women were working in the munitions factories to ensure the machines of war were being pumped out. At this time, Glasgow was the second city of the Empire which spanned huge parts of the globe while it had some of the worst levels of poverty seen in the industrial world. 1915 also saw the introduction of the “Munitions Act", the draconian measure which looked to curb workers power by stopping trade union activity which effect this had on working class folk and massive discontent grew. At the same time, private landlords were hiking up rents for all, particularly the families of those who had men fighting in the war. These rent increases were unaffordable and made many homeless. To combat this, Mary Barbour and her Women’s Army began a Rent Strike that would help spark into life the Red Clydeside era and shake the foundations of the British State. Fast forward 100 years and we see work and housing are still at the forefront of most workers struggles. Left to the free market, housing has become a commodity to be bought and sold for profit rather than the human right it should be. Zero hour contracts and precarious work becomes all the more regular, while Trade Unions are stifled to ensure we do not put a spanner in the cog of free market capitalism. FIGHTING FOR DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING RMT young members conference delegate Conor Cheyne gave a tour of Glasgow telling the story of the struggle for fair rents and the lessons for today