& Workers' Liberty
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
So& Wloirkdersa’ Lirbeirtty y No 260 10 October 2012 30p/80p www.workersliberty.org For a workers’ government Iran: sanctions Lessons from Eric bite Chicago and QCH Hobsbawm page 3 pages 6-7 page 9 George Osborne says we can’ t balance the budget on the wallets of the rich. see page YES, WE CAN! 5 2 NEWS What is the Alliance for Make Labour act on its NHS policy! Workers’ Liberty? Pat Smith, the Hull North “Winning Labour” (organ - when I denounced PFI. Today one class, the working class, lives by selling its labour power to Constituency Labour Party ised by the GMB). Even in that bureaucratised another, the capitalist class, which owns the means of delegate who moved the I heard the Vice President environment people are production. Society is shaped by the capitalists’ NHS motion at Labour relentless drive to increase their wealth. Capitalism of ASLEF, Tosh McDonald, looking for a lead. It’s not causes poverty, unemployment, the blighting of lives Party conference, spoke to say something like “Why, just about radical policies, by overwork, imperialism, the destruction of the Solidarity . when young people speak but about cutting through environment and much else. What’s your assessment at Labour Party conference, the bullshit of the policy Against the accumulated wealth and power of the of the debate on the are they always wearing a wonks to put forward so - capitalists, the working class has one weapon: solidarity. NHS? suit? Why are they always cialist ideas in clear, acces - The Alliance for Workers’ Liberty aims to build solidarity through standing as an MP some - sible language. But there’s struggle so that the working class can overthrow capitalism. We want The presence of protest - said that the next election where? Where are the relatively little of that from socialist revolution: collective ownership of industry and services, ers on the NHS Liaison would be “fought on the rebels: the kids from estates either the unions or the or - workers’ control and a democracy much fuller than the present system, Committee lobby was very economy, not the NHS”, with piercings, tattoos, and ganised left. with elected representatives recallable at any time and an end to effective, and must have and that “PFI is good be - coloured hair?” I think the lobby was a bureaucrats’ and managers’ privileges. been a factor in a majority cause it builds hospitals”. That sums it up for me. good example of what the We fight for the labour movement to break with “social partnership” of delegates prioritising the Three days later Burnham In general the left isn’t left should do a lot more of. and assert working-class interests militantly against the bosses. NHS for discussion. It also Our priority is to work in the workplaces and trade unions, said in a speech, that PFI is very effective in Labour What can we do to fight put pressure on the party “wrong” and that the next Party structures. Why? for the NHS motion, and supporting workers’ struggles, producing workplace bulletins, helping officials and right-wingers organise rank-and-file groups. election will be a referen - other left-wing policy, to who tried to water down dum on the NHS! The left is timid when it be implemented? We are also active among students and in many campaigns and the motion in compositing. comes to fighting the centre alliances. I think they didn’t want a We got everything we fight which would draw and right of the party. But a According to Labour We stand for: wanted apart from text more attention to the issue. fight is what people re - rules, the NHS policy against the internal market. spond to. When I was ag - should be in the next mani - G Independent working-class representation in politics. What was your general G A workers’ government, based on and accountable to the labour I think the leadership re - gressive in the composite, I festo [since it was passed alised they couldn’t bully assessment of confer - was afraid it would alien - by more than two thirds], movement. ence? G A workers’ charter of trade union rights — to organise, to strike, to or stonewall us completely, ate people. In fact, the other but we know it won’t be picket effectively, and to take solidarity action. given the balance of forces Much of the conference delegates unanimously unless we build pressure G Taxation of the rich to fund decent public services, homes, education and also what a sensitive was neither here nor there. suggested me to propose using every channel we can and jobs for all. issue the NHS is. Some of the fringe meet - the motion, so I think it in our unions, CLPs and G A workers’ movement that fights all forms of oppression. Full equality During the composite, ings were useful, particu - paid off. the broader labour move - for women and social provision to free women from the burden of party official Jamie Reed larly, the CLPD, LRC, and Conference erupted ment. housework. Free abortion on request. Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Black and white workers’ unity against racism. G Open borders. Tories’ new anti-choice offensive Unions’ anti- G Global solidarity against global capital — workers everywhere have more in common with each other than with their capitalist or Stalinist By Rosalind Robson organised religious bigots cuts stand rulers. and other anti-abortionists. By Padraig O’Brien G Democracy at every level of society, from the smallest workplace or The new Health Secretary Anti-abortion alliances community to global social organisation. Jeremy Hunt thinks the like 40 Days for Life are The three trade unions G Working-class solidarity in international politics: equal rights for all legal time limit on abor - now stepping up their so- nations, against imperialists and predators big and small. at Glasgow City Council tion should be halved to called vigils outside abor - have written to council - G Maximum left unity in action, and openness in debate. 12 weeks. tion clinics where they If you agree with us, please take some copies of Solidarity to sell — lors demanding that G intimidate women seeking and join us! Maria Miller, the so- they refuse to make any counselling and treatment. called Women’s Minister, further cuts and set a We cannot let them get thinks it should be 20 plans to change the law on “needs budget”. away with it. Contact us: weeks. Any more for any - abortion. Probably he does Defend a woman’s right not want to fight another to choose! Unions are also de - G 020 7394 8923 G [email protected] more? manding the council re - For Tory politicians to battle with the Lib-Dems, The editor (Cathy Nugent), 20e Tower Workshops, Riley or the medical establish - claim money cut from Road, London, SE1 3DG. pitch their own personal Protest against “40 Days previous budget settle - preferences for time limits ment, or even people in his for Life” G Printed by Trinity Mirror own party who favour the ments. like this is vile. They do it Unison branch secre - without reference to scien - status quo. But that is no Monday 15 October, 7pm, reason for complacency. tary Brian Smith said: tific or political argument, St James’s Church, 22 “Over 2,500 jobs have al - and without any under - The effect of Tory musing George Street, London, on abortion time limits may ready been cut since Get Solidarity every week! standing about what it is W1U 3QY 2010 ... more than 10% of like to face an unwanted be to soften up public opin - G Trial sub, 6 issues £5 ion. It may also help justify the workforce. pregnancy. Organised by Bloomsbury “Elected members have G 22 issues (six months). £18 waged Cameron was quick to cuts in abortion services. Pro-Choice Alliance And it gives succour to the a choice — make the cuts £9 unwaged say the government had no or demand an end to the G 44 issues (year). £35 waged slash and burn austerity £17 unwaged policies of the ConDems Niche or abcess? and fight for a return of G European rate: 28 euros (22 issues) the tens of millions stolen or 50 euros (44 issues) By Gerry Bates to redundancy pay, your CBI, said: “this is a niche from Glasgow in the last Tick as appropriate above and send your money to: right to ask for flexible idea”. Lawyer Anthony fewUnyieoanrs.”around the Throwing a sop to the hours or time off for train - Sakrouge pointed out: country should follow 20e Tower Workshops, Riley Road, London, SE1 3DG Tory right, chancellor ing, and some of your ma - “Giving up the right not to the Glasgow unions’ George Osborne has Cheques (£) to “AWL”. ternity-leave rights. be unfairly dismissed for lead and demand that said (8 October) that he Or make £ and euro payments at workersliberty.org/sub. Paul Kenny, GMB gen - £2,000 worth of shares will councillors — espe - will legislate to let eral secretary, said: “Slash - not be a very attractive cially Labour council - bosses "buy out" work - Name . ing people’s employment prTophoesliatiboonu...r” movement lors supported and ers' rights. rights under the guise of must make sure that a funded by unions — act ownership schemes won’t Address . By giving you £2000 in “niche” does not become in the interests of local create jobs and it won’t shares in the company, an abcess, poisoning workers and communi - create growth”. your boss will be able to workers’ rights through - ties, not in the interests Even bosses were scepti - cancel your right to sue for out industry.