All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Peoples Assembly
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: War - Peoples Assembly - Union - CWU - Anti-war - Socialist Party - Stop the War Coalition
Mass Action needed to stop War
THE HUGE parliamentary revolt last week against Blair's war plans was all the more remarkable given that the Tory party officially lined up behind Blair and the payroll vote of Labour ministers and parliamentary secretaries - Blair's Human Shield - were obliged to vote for the government's motion.
While there has been a lot of media hot air about the re-establishment of Parliament's true 'democratic' role after the revolt, the reason the political earth moved last week was because the people in their millions had moved in the weeks and months preceding this parliamentary showpiece.
Given the previous timid nature of the majority of Labour's backbench MPs, the revolt was a huge earthquake on the political Richter scale, which has left Blair seriously wounded.
But Blair has said he will carry on towards war as a matter of 'conscience', ignoring the millions marching and hundreds of MPs rebelling. Blair's current course now represents a high-risk strategy for the government. Even if he and his supporters were to win another parliamentary vote, especially if it is without a second UN resolution, then the revolt could again be as high or higher than last week's vote.
If Blair clearly does not command support of his MPs and significant sections of Parliament upon starting a war, then his current wounds could become fatally gangrenous.
There is an urgent need to intensify the pressure through the anti-war and union movement. In particular, the call for effective industrial action, as part of a campaign of mass civil disobedience, can further escalate the crisis engulfing New Labour.
People's Assembly
IN THE face of Blair's arrogance and blatant disregard of the anti-war views of the majority of people in this country, the Stop the War Coalition is organising a People's Assembly against war, which will convene on 12 March.
The aim is for the Assembly to be a proper People's Parliament, with delegates drawn from the vast anti-war majority the length and breadth of Britain. All initiatives to pull together the million-plus who marched should be built for - especially the proposal to use the Assembly to call for mass action to stop the war, including industrial action.
This call would not cut across but would strengthen the moves that are needed inside the trade unions and workplaces to organise for industrial action - as is being done in the CWU. (See below)
The London RMT is sending 40 delegates to the assembly. Union leader Bob Crow is urging others to follow the RMT lead: "If the government won't stop this war, the people will have to work out how we can stop this war ourselves".
'Stop work to stop the war' is now a crucial slogan for taking the anti-war movement forward. Workers should be preparing now, from below in the workplaces for action on Day X - the day that war is declared.
New Workers' Party
The idea of a People's Assembly as "an alternative democratic institution to the government" should not be used to evade the central need to build a permanent political alternative to New Labour - a new workers' party.
The People's Assemblies and other forums should be used to discuss what steps are needed to build a new political alternative.
If just 10% of the million plus who marched on 15 February supported the establishment of a new party, this would give the new organisation 100,000 or so members and the potential to have a major impact on the situation unfolding in Britain.
The Assembly needs to call for decisive action now, including the widest possible mass civil disobedience, especially workplace action.
The call for a European-wide 24-hour general strike on 21 March, proposed by several European trade unions, must also be taken up.
Socialist Party member wins CWU Vote for Action
"The CWU reconfirms its total opposition to the impending war on Iraq and will campaign for all members to take protest action on the day that war is officially declared".
THE FIRST national union has come out in favour of action on Day X - the day that war is declared. On 27 February, Socialist Party member Bernard Roome successfully moved the above resolution at the national executive committee of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
CWU members around the country should act on this important resolution now to organise for action for Day X. This initiative should be repeated in other unions and the momentum built for strike action against the war.
People's Assembly
THE STOP the War Coalition (STWC) is suggesting that open anti-war meetings are held in every possible community from 24 February - 10 March to elect delegates to the People's Assembly.
Rough guide to numbers: five representatives if a community has a population of under 100,000, ten if up to 500,000, up to 15 for big cities. Local union branches, mosques, other groups could elect two reps each. National organisations should elect reps along the same lines as above.
- Fee of £10 per representative. Even if all reps cannot make 12 March, this should not necessarily be a barrier to election. The Assembly may continue/reconvene at a further date.
- Organisations are asked to phone or e-mail delegates through to the STWC office. E-mail [email protected] or phone 020 7053 2153/4/5/6 or 07951 235 915.
- Please also notify Ken Smith (Socialist Party representative on the STWC steering committee) or phone for further information. Tel: 020 8988 8778 e-mail:[email protected]
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999