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Home | The Socialist 17 - 23 Nov 2005 | Join the Socialist Party Socialism 2005: "Inspiring...motivating...""Looking forward to changing the world"
“We’re angry” said Hannah Sell, national organiser of Socialism 2005. “Angry that 20,000 people die from poverty every day; angry at Bush and his murderous war in Iraq; angry that a collection of individuals own more wealth than three billion people on the planet.” Big business thought they had seen the end of socialism with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s but as more and more workers enter struggle to defend their wages and conditions, then socialist ideas are arising again. Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, national co-ordinator of International Socialist Resistance (ISR) described her experiences at the World Social Forum in Brazil and how ISR had tried to bring the culture and vivacity of Brazilian socialists to Britain. The red contingent of ISR and Socialist Students, the flags, the music, the chants mark them out on every demo, particularly the massive Make Poverty History demo in Edinburgh.
The young people who marched behind our Make Capitalism History banner in Edinburgh know that every aspect of their lives is under attack. A 16 year old on the minimum wage of £3 an hour would take 200,000 years to earn the same as Top Shop boss Philip Green! Climate change threatens our future while Exxon/Mobil make $110 million profit every day. Nathan Aldridge, a member of Military Families Speak Out and Socialist Alternative (sister party of the Socialist Party in the US) explained how the anti-war movement is growing. With two brothers, one just back from Iraq and one in Afghanistan, he knows the brutal realities for US soldiers. Up to 100,000 protesters participated in vigils over the summer to support Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, as she held her own vigil outside George Bush’s ranch, to ask him why her son had to die. Students have walked out of school to protest against the war and occupation (see page 5 reports). The hall then rose to salute the family of Jean Charles de Menezes who was shot by police following the bomb attacks on 7/7. They spoke movingly about their determination to fight for the truth about his death and for justice. They thanked the Socialist Party for our support and Jean’s cousin added:
“Workers must stand and fight together. If we can’t fight against capitalism then we can’t stand up. Fight together and bring socialism back.” This was the call from Harbinder Singh, one of the Gate Gourmet workers who are still fighting for their jobs and justice.
Trade union officials who don’t want to fight should get out and we have to ensure that the tide sweeps out these corrupt politicians who look after big business and stab workers in the back.
No one could help but be inspired as the rally was shown film footage of Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD (MP) in Ireland taking on the establishment in the Dail (Irish parliament) over the scandal of Turkish migrant workers employed by multinational company Gama (see page 9 for more details). Speaking at the rally in person, Joe described the huge vacuum that exists on the left. The situation internationally is crying out for a socialist lead. Hurricane Katrina ripped away the cloak and exposed capitalism. The most powerful country there has ever been, able to send 700,000 soldiers halfway around the world to Iraq, was unable to rescue its own people in New Orleans. Joe emphasised the need for socialist ideas to be taken out to all those who want to change the world and become a mighty force – preventing environmental catastrophe, abolishing poverty and war. Sascha Stanicic general secretary of SAV (the Socialist Party’s sister party in Germany), echoed the need to build an international socialist workers’ organisation. He reported on the massive attacks that had been launched against the German workers, the formation of a new Left party, and the role of SAV in initiating a demo of 100,000 workers and you and winning councillors.
He explained how Blair’s legacy would be a weakening and worsening of the conditions of the working class, the destruction of Fallujah, the shooting of Jean Charles, and 90 day detention without trial. In the past Britain had been a haven for revolutionaries. Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky had all lived in exile here; now it is a haven for gangsters and privateers, like Russian billionaire Abramovich. The rich flaunt their wealth in the face of the working class because of the capitulation of the Labour and trade union leaders. Victory could have been guaranteed at Gate Gourmet. Solidarity action, spread across Heathrow, would have smashed the opposition of the employers. We have to build an alternative. Inequality is woven into the very fabric of capitalism – there is enough food for everyone but 800 million go to bed hungry every day. This is a system that doesn’t deserve to survive.
We must build our party, open our doors but for every ten who would join us there are many more who would be ready to join a mass party. The Socialist Party are launching a campaign for a new workers’ party. We applaud and support Bob Crowe’s initiative for a conference towards building a mass alternative to New Labour. The best layer of a generation are coming to join the struggle for socialism. We have held the line and now we can go forward and take on the greatest task in history, the liberation of humankind. Socialist filmsFILM FOOTAGE at the rally showed members of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI), the socialist international to which the Socialist Party is affiliated, at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Brazil. Another film showed the devastation wrought by the earthquake in Bagh in Kashmir and how the Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan, supported by the CWI, has delivered food and aid to the stricken area. A brief history of the Socialist Party and its predecessor, Militant depicted the tremendous struggle of Liverpool city council against Thatcher’s Tory government, the 1984-85 miners strike and the million-strong Poll Tax non-payment campaign. Youth RallyFight for your future“Britain has produced a generation of angry youth, it’s vital that we show them that there is something worth fighting for.” Frankie Langeland, ISR organiser in the Eastern region emphasise how young people may start discussing with us because they are against the war but then they find they agree with our ideas.
It shows that we’re not just a discussion group, that we fight on day to day issues and seek to link up with workers and trade unions wherever possible. Socialist Students have organised solidarity visits to PCS picket lines and lecturers strikes. Mark Treude, SAV councillor in Aachen in Germany brought solidarity greetings and explained that he was the only councillor who had spoken out against privatisation and cuts at council meetings. After one meeting, workers had stayed behind to applaud him and he had persuaded one of them to begin to build opposition to the cuts in their trade union. Nathan Aldridge from the US described the mass walkouts led by Youth against War and Racism in several cities. Bush and Blair thought the invasion of Iraq would be easy but it is our analysis that has been proved correct, said Colin Wray. We have to continue to campaign for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and support the right to resist the occupation while opposing indiscriminate terrorism. James Kerr stressed the importance of discussing socialist ideas. Many young people who first joined us because they were against the war and wanted to organise themselves and discuss politics. Many have now moved into the workplace, joining trade unions and fighting cuts, privatisation and attacks on pensions. The inspiring G8 protests showed the power and anger of young people. Young members now have to take on the responsibility of leading, organising and building ISR. Youth are the future of society but they have to fight for that future, a socialist future.
Finance appeal raises £27,614The Fighting Fund appeal at the rally raised a magnificent £27,614 – quadrupling the amount raised at Socialism 2004. Jane James described the collection as a chance for some audience participation and the response was incredible. The collection began with a tremendous donation of £8,000 from Steve Glennon in Stevenage who had inherited some money. A young student from Leicester gave £1,000 inherited from his nan “who was a proud socialist.” Porters from Whipps Cross hospital in Walthamstow, London had clubbed together to donate £50. Danni, who is unwaged gave £5. Some branches and regions had collected money from members and supporters to make group donations. Hackney branch donated £1,125, Lambeth £768.50, Tower Hamlets £725, Wales £2,695 and £700 from Mansfield and North Derbyshire. Thanks also to Paula and Chris (who work for the London Party) who donated £250, Daunett Kelly £1,000 and Oliver Campbell £5. We are just sorry that we can only mention some of the donations because every one is immensely appreciated. Thanks to all our members and supporters who contributed to the appeal. The tremendous result reflects the confidence and determination to struggle for socialism. 10% of the collection will be sent to the Trade Union Rights Campaign Pakistan to help trade unionists there to assist the earthquake survivors. What you thought
FranceGeneral strike neededYANN VENIER from Gauche Revolutionnaire, the Socialist Party’s counterpart in France, spoke about the strike movement sweeping France and the recent riots in many cities. He explained how young people have every reason to be angry, even if they have chosen the wrong target to protest against. They are facing unemployment and a government intent on cutting most of the social gains won by the working class. The measures are like those pursued by Thatcher in Britain - privatisation, cuts in social security and pensions, attacks on working conditions and wages, redundancies and the introduction of authoritarian laws. The trade union leaders are trying to negotiate with the government but the government are not interested. A general strike is needed but the union leaders are actively blocking any attempts to build the struggle. When the sailors from nationalised ferry companies were struggling against privatisation, their leaders accepted partial privatisation. The CGT leaders were still trying to negotiate whilst the sailors were being attacked by the paramilitary state forces. The political organisations of the left and the far left are no better. All they are doing is looking forward to the presidential elections in 2007. The Gauche Revolutionnaire (GR) has a strong position in Rouen and when riots broke out there, GR were alone in arguing against the repressive measures and coming out in support of young people. “We see the need for a combative programme against the government’s cuts - which links to the need for socialist change, ” Yann concluded. Trade Union RallyCampaign for a new workers' partyLINDA TAAFFE, a member of the national executive committee of the National Union of Teachers opened the packed final rally on the campaign for a new workers’ party. She introduced Janice Godrich, civil service union PCS president. Janice explained that she was supporting the declaration because the PCS is in the front line of the battle against the government’s attack on the public sector. She called for all young people to join a union and build a united struggle against the attacks on working class people. Roger Bannister, a member of UNISON’s national executive, related how he had recently been asked by UNISON head office why his branch, Knowsley, had significantly increased its membership several times over the last few years.
So now’s the time to pick up the banner of socialism again and build a new workers’ party.” Sultans of blingTony Mulhearn, one of the 47 heroic Liverpool councillors who stood up to a vicious Tory government, introduced his speech underlining the degeneration of New Labour into neo-liberalism. This degeneration is summed up by David Blunkett’s demise - a man “who thinks it’s his good looks and charisma which makes him attractive to bourgeois women”.
He ended by explaining how in the 1980s, when supporters of the Militant had a huge influence in the city, the Liverpool District Labour Party (DLP) had policies about jobs, homes and services. But it also had a policy for the nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy. Then would have been a good time to launch a new workers’ party which could have kept the traditions of socialism and struggle alive through the subsequent years when New Labour was on the ascendant.
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Australia protestsOVER HALF a million Australian workers marched on 15 November, protesting against the anti-union industrial relations laws of the right-wing Liberal government. Around 250,000 workers marched in Melbourne, during the country's biggest ever national stoppage. Hundreds of people attended a meeting in Melbourne to discuss political representation for working people. Speakers included leaders of the electricians', postal workers', plumbers and fire fighters' unions, and Steve Jolly, Socialist Party (CWI) councillor. Some union speakers said workers have no choice but to "reform" the Australian Labor Party (ALP). Steve argued the ALP is no longer a vehicle for workers' struggles and carries out pro-market policies when in power. Steve got a very good response to his call for a new mass, workers' party, with socialist policies. For more details/photos visit: www.socialistworld.net
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A
BUZZ filled the main hall at the Friends Meeting House as we began to
pack in for the main Socialism 2005 rally – older members who had been
part of the mass struggles of the 1970s and 80s and, in their hundreds,
school students, college and university students, young workers. A new
generation of fighters who want to change the world, who are looking for
socialist ideas.
But
young people aren’t joining us just because we’re the brightest and
liveliest but because of our socialist ideas.
Mark
Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS civil servants union declared
that he was proud that his union had led the fight back against Blair
and Brown’s attacks on the public sector, where 104,000 workers were
sacked on TV. PCS is one of the fastest-growing unions in Britain
because it is prepared to stand up and fight for its members. The union
was responsible for 48% of strikes in the last year - think what
millions more workers could do to fight privatisation and war.
Matt
Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, which disaffiliated from the
Labour Party in 2004, echoed the importance of socialist ideas - having
the chance at a meeting like this to look up from the detail of union
negotiations to the wider perspective of struggling for a socialist
society.
Peter
Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, said how inspiring
the rally had been, how every contribution had informed and showed a way
forward.
We
have a program, a policy, an idea. Karl Marx said: “Once an idea
captures the imagination of the working class it becomes a material
force”.
Jim
Thompson, Socialist Students organiser in Exeter mentioned just some of
the campaigns we have organised. There was the campaign against ‘Miss
DMU’ at DeMontfort university and unionising student workers, cuts in
lecturers at Brunel, bus fares and library prices at Swansea university
and against the devastation of Fallujah at Sussex university.