The Socialist 15 October 2014

829

Fight for mass action to end cuts and low pay

A socialist world is possible

Mark Serwotka: Building a strong, fighting union

Workers need a new party

How a mass campaign stopped the cuts

Challenging the austerity parties

Barking and Dagenham council at a crossroads

Tories and Labour in crisis after Ukip win

Them & Us

Ireland: Stunning byelection victory for Socialist Party

Obama's strategy to beat IS lies in tatters

First NHS pay strike for 30 years

Local government pay: reject offer, reinstate action!

Care UK workers mark 81st strike day

600 St Mungo's housing workers to strike for a week

Recycling workers strike over pay and conditions

Severfields engineers strike against bonus cut

Young workers say: decent jobs now

The myth of 'self-employment'

'Political awakening' continues in Scotland

On the road to higher wages

Coventry fans stung by Wasps

Johnson's housing crime scene

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Kshama Sawant will be speaking at the Socialism 2014 rally (Click to enlarge)

Socialism 2014

A weekend of discussion & debate on ideas to change the world

8 & 9 November, Central London

Rally

6.30pm Saturday 8 November 2014

Camden Centre, Judd St, London WC1H 9JE.

Bakers' union president Ian Hodson
Recently elected Irish TD (MP) Ruth Coppinger
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka
Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe

... and after her historic victory, don't miss Seattle's socialist councillor

Kshama Sawant

Socialist victory in Ireland

Workers need a new party

Paula Mitchell

Hundreds of thousands are striking and marching for better pay. The thorny question of a political voice for this struggle is also on thousands of minds.

The victory of ex-Tory Douglas Carswell for Ukip in Clacton, and the narrow shave for Labour in Heywood, have set many workers' thoughts racing.

But a brilliant byelection result in Ireland has shown the potential for political earthquakes when a bold anti-austerity programme is put.

Victories

Socialist Party member Paul Murphy has been elected to the Irish parliament for the Anti-Austerity Alliance. This 'shock' result, a rejection of all the main parties, makes Paul the third Socialist Party TD (Irish MP)!

This follows victory for Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger, and the stunning election of Socialist Alternative member Kshama Sawant to Seattle city council in the United States. These victories were the political expression of mass battles: against water charges in Ireland, and for a $15 an hour minimum wage in Seattle.

In Britain, who can strikers and marchers vote for to champion their fight against low pay? Who will break the pay freeze? Who will fight for a £10 an hour minimum wage, as demanded by the TUC?

Tories

We all hate the Tories, the millionaire representatives of the super-rich and big corporations. With austerity ruining masses of lives, and the Tories so damaged after the Scottish referendum, any opposition worth its salt ought to romp home next May. But instead the election hangs in the balance. Why?

Labour has promised to continue austerity if victorious. Instead of standing up to the Tories, Labour councils have gleefully slashed pay and sacked workers. And nationally, Labour promises there will be no more money.

We understand many trade unionists will grit their teeth and vote Labour through sheer desperation to get rid of the government. But, utterly disillusioned, many working class people won't vote at all. And the risk is that many will vote Ukip in protest.

The media's ceaseless promotion of Ukip has gone into overdrive, with the incredible decision to give Farage a platform in leaders' debates. Not other small parties with longer standing MPs - or the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), which will be fielding a record number of candidates on a unique anti-austerity programme.

Alternative

The Socialist Party argues that a new, mass workers' party is desperately needed. We say union leaders need to bite the bullet. Instead of pouring millions of members' hard earned pounds into Labour coffers, for them to use only to attack us, they should fund the launch of a new party.

TUSC, co-founded by Bob Crow, is appealing for people to come forward and join a real people's army: a thousand council candidates and a hundred MP candidates for 2015. This could be a precursor to the new party we need.

Do you want to stop Ukip in its tracks? Then join the campaign for a new, democratic, anti-austerity political organisation - based on the organisations of the working class.