The Socialist 8 October 2014

Striking to end low pay

We need ideas to change the world

NHS - The black hole

UK - A tax haven for the super-rich

Them & Us

South Africa: "A workers' party must emerge"

Middle East: Repel IS and Western imperialism

Coordinated attacks on Hong Kong movement

Ebola crisis: Consequence of profit before health

Stop corporate plunder of Bangladesh energy

We can beat the pay freeze!

Public sector: why we have to strike

RMT tube workers join October action

Teachers: Pay rise? What pay rise?

Support Care UK day of action

Sheffield: Green workers red with anger

M25 maintenance workers protest

Training tomorrow's trade union militants

Finance to fight for the future

School students organise disabled rights meeting

Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for £10 now!

Exhaustion from buzzer to buzzer

Bedroom Tax: Still making tenants' lives hell

Scotland: Workers need a new mass party

Correction: Labour's private health links are worse!

Thatcher's enemies within

Andrew Price: Fighter, teacher, party campaigner

PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT

020 8988 8777

[email protected]

Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/828/19467

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Finance to fight for the future

Heather Rawling, Leicester Socialist Party

A central theme of the East Midlands finance school, held on 5 October, was the need to prepare for the future.

The US, Scotland and elsewhere have shown that big upheavals will develop - before or after the next election. We need to be on a sound financial footing to be ready for these struggles.

Naomi Byron, from the Socialist Party's finance department, spoke about Socialist Alternative, our co-thinkers in the United States. In particular how they have organized to respond to a radicalization of American workers, along with the successes and problems this has thrown up.

Socialist Alternative raised $160,000 (around £100,000) for Kshama Sawant's election campaign. This came mainly from a large number of small donations. Activists asked for raised specific amounts for specific things, eg $10 for a yard sign.

They emphasised that the campaign got no money from the corporations, and contrasted Kshama's record with that of the Democrats. Money used was for raising the profile of the campaign, which in turn helped raise more money.The discussion on these lessons was inspirational and set the tone for the rest of the school.

The task begins with developing organisers who can develop other organisers. Understanding the need to raise finance for the party stems from understanding our theory, perspectives, programme and tactics.

We discussed recruitment and how to discuss subs (membership dues) with new members, to lay the basis for the possibility of them raising their subs in the future.

Every active member should have a discussion about paper selling, fighting fund raising and increasing subs where possible. Everyone should be asked what they can do to help build and finance the party.

After a report back from the meeting at the Leicester branch committee, several members have pledged to increase their subs by £164 per month between them. All branch committee members took responsibility for discussing with others in the branch about whether they can raise their subs.

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We need ideas to change the world