The Socialist 5 October 2011

Fight for jobs!

As BAE threatens cuts... Fight for Jobs!

Miliband's fruitless dreams of a 'better capitalism'

Labour Party conference - No way forward given by 'reclaim Labour' speakers

Tory conference farce - Carry on cutting!

Fast news

Manchester: Thousands say no to cuts

Glasgow: Prepare for 30 November strike

London union leaders call for electoral challenge

Poplar and Liverpool: 'If you fight, you can win'

Right to protest under attack

North-west construction electricians meet

Construction electricians invade Kings Cross station

Fighting library closures

Extract from Jarrow Marchers Blog: Day 1 & 2

Danger: young people's futures at risk

Campaigners learn the ropes

Students join the socialists as fury grows over cuts and fees

'Chav hate is class hate'

USA: Occupy Wall Street struggle spreads

Irish trade unionists meet to launch Activists Network

Chilean students in fifth month of protests

Join the fightback: come to Socialism 2011!

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Irish trade unionists meet to launch Activists Network

Seventy Irish trade unionists launched the Trade Union Activists Network in Dublin on 1 October. Formed to counter decades of 'social partnership' in Ireland, which held down wages in order to boost the bosses' profits, the idea of a Network gained further credence when the right-wing trade union leaders signed the 'Croke Park agreement' in February. This allowed the bosses and the government in Ireland to try and buy social peace, following the anger and protests around the banking and property collapse and deep recession in Ireland of recent years.

The conference heard speakers from a number of unions, with plenty of discussion from the floor, on the best way forward to build an opposition in the Irish trade unions.

With a tough budget likely in December and attacks on pensions which one teachers' union has called 'larcenous', it is possible that 2012 will be a year in which large sections of workers will have no choice but to fight back, with or without their leaders.

The conference was also addressed by a speaker from the National Shop Stewards Network in Britain who explained how that organisation has built and suggested ideas for strengthening a fightback in Ireland.

Interested trade unionists in Ireland can contact Terry Kelleher on (00353) 872 857665 for further information about the Network.