What does it mean to work collectively against workplace harassment? How can direct action be used to tackle it?

If you’re a working woman, odds are you’ve been sexually harassed at some point. Sleazy comments, unwelcome touches, gross behaviour – it happens all the time. Some men think that they can treat you not as a co-worker, but as the objectified woman they think they can sexually benefit from. They use the hierarchy of the workplace and male privilege to do so, because they can get away with it.

We don’t have to put up with it! We should be in control of our own bodies, desires and places of work. We want to provide a safe space for women to come together to discuss their experiences and share practical knowledge. We also need to think about acting in solidarity with people we know who get harassed – how can we better support our friends and co-workers?

This initiative comes out of discussions around a new Solidarity Federation leaflet, Stuff Your Sexist Boss, which aims to inform women of their rights as well as provide ideas and encouragement for how to tackle crappy behaviour at work. Whilst there’s information and online resources relating to street harassment, the workplace seems to be neglected. We hope that the discussions in this workshop will help contribute to the leaflet. The workshop however will not be restricted to feeding ideas for a leaflet and is not intended to be a writing session.

The session’s main aim is about empowering ourselves. If you worry about sharing your experiences, you can always talk without giving names or specific work places. We come together because we have all suffered the same kind of experiences and sharing them will make us stronger.

This is a meeting that is for all who self-identify as women, and is open to trans people as well.

Solidarity Federation is an anarcho-syndicalist revolutionary union initiative. We organise around workplace grievances and in our communities in the understanding that we need to take collective direct action to overthrow all structures of power, whether capitalism, the state, patriarchy or racism. We aim towards a world where values such as solidarity and mutual aid run our lives and our economic, political and social structures are based on need and equality.

Crèche available. Please contact lsfgender@aktivix.orgif you need it, so we know how many hands we need

http://www.solfed.org.uk/

Come along to this month’s Red and Black, enjoy sweet tunes and great company at London’s only fun Anarchist social.

Money raised from this social will be paying for the upkeep of LARC and supporting the brilliant work of the Black Rose Martial Arts Cooperative to pay for new equipment, t-shirts and a very special talk and training session.

The Red and Black Club “a traditional east end knees up for all anarchists, libertarians, radicals and free thinkers.”

 Open meeting 4pm – 6pm

AN APPEAL TO ALL RADICALS AND ANTI-AUTHORITARIANS
Why we should all help form radical local community-based groups

Our goal should be the creation of a society free from the exploitation of capitalism and the oppression of the state – a society which is non-hierarchical and in which everyone is free, yet works together collectively. This will be achieved when the mass of the working class share these goals; in other words, we need to help build mass grassroots movements in which radical and anarchist ideas and ways of doing things can flourish in our communities.

Radicals are involved in a wide range of activities. The media tend to stress the more visible and physical roles such as the direct action at demos, arrests etc. But to overcome isolation and not just be a mere pinprick in the side of capitalism and the state, we must also reach out to the mass of the working class.

So what can we do?
The groups that are linked into the Radical London network believe that setting up local radical/anarchist/solidarity groups and networks, with the aim of engaging in local community actions as well as supporting local workplace struggles, is a key way of spreading ideas, solidarity and resistance amongst the wider working class. In addition, we are strengthened by our connection to others and we are in a better situation to actually participate in and win struggles.

For example…

• Campaigns against cuts, to save a local market or a green space, or challenging the impact of the Olympics;
• Supporting community groups and activities such as tenants and residents associations;
• Local industrial disputes and supporting local workers involved in national strikes;
• Practical solidarity work with claimants, people fighting eviction etc;
• Fighting oppression, working with others to challenge racism and other forms of oppression;
• Putting on activities such as film-shows, public meetings or radical history walks;
• Producing leaflets and news-sheets with alternative ways of thinking about current issues & organising.

The groups in Radical London (and around the UK) are doing all of these things. If there were groups throughout London and the UK doing similar things and sharing our experiences and learning from each other, it would be a crucial step in making anarchist & radical ideas influential in a range of grass roots struggles – and a serious alternative to the current establishment / status quo.

www.radicallondon.net

We are a group of people living in London with relationships and links to communities, groups and individuals working for social and environmental justice in Mexico. The London Mexico Solidarity Group believes we have a lot to learn from, and share with our brothers and sisters in Mexico and anywhere this message reaches.

www.londonmexicosolidarity.org

London Rising Tide (LRT) takes creative action on the root causes of climate chaos, and promotes socially just, ecological alternatives to the fossil fuel madness that we’re living through. It’s part of the wider Rising Tide UK and international networks, and seeks to be part of a growing European and worldwide movement of groups working to dismantle the oil industry and live the future we want to see right now.
www.londonrisingtide.org.uk

LARC Cleaning Day to have the building looking it’s best after a very busy year. Come prepared with plenty of elbow grease!

The Red and Black Club “a traditional east end knees up for all anarchists, libertarians, radicals and free thinkers” returns on the evening of the 7th January following on from the:

ALARM Conference. Saturday 7th January 2012 10am-5pm at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL.

You are cordially invited to a one day London anarchist conference hosted by Alarm at Conway Hall on Saturday 7th January 10am-5pm. The past twelve months have seen the political situation of the UK and London develop rapidly. This is only the beginning of a turbulent economic and social situation. We hope that this conference can give us a space as anarchists to reflect back on as well as look forward to fighting the class war that is currently being waged. We are hosting this conference in a comradely and constructive fashion and invite all those from the many headed hydra of anarchism and libertarianism to come together under the banners of mutual aid and solidarity.

The Format:
The conference will be made up of three main meetings.
Each meeting will be introduced by two key speakers for 20 minutes (10 mins each).
The topic will then be opened up for discussion and chaired by a facilitator.
The aim of  these constructive discussions is to highlight clear strategies and goals.

Running Order:
10am Meet & Greet / Tea’s & Coffee
Opening Speech 10:45am

(1) Community and Workplace Organising 11:00am
Discussing strengthening the two key fundamental bases of organising.
How can we build community groups in every borough?
How can we support militant work place struggles?

(2) The Riots and New Movements 01:00pm
Reflecting on key developments in 2011.
Why did the UK explode into four days of unprecedented rioting?
How has the emergence of new movements changed the political terrain?

(3) Total Policing and the Future 03:00pm
Looking forward to the future we aim to discuss clear strategies to pursue over 2012.
What is the state’s strategy in attempting to silence dissent?
What are to be the tactics for a future street based movement?

Closing Speech 04:45pm

Evening Entertainment:
Red & Black Club @ 8pm Larc (London Action Resource Centre) 62 Fieldgate Street Whitechapel E1 1ES

We look forward to seeing you on the 7th!

ALARM
All London Anarchist Revolutionary Movement
www.soundthealarm.org.uk
Facebook.com/Alarmists