The Dundee Timex strike - 20 years on: Sam Lee: singer mostly female workforce’s heroic fight challenges folk electrified workers across the globe preconceptions • see pages 6&7 • see page 8 £1 • issue 410 • 25th January - 7th February 2013 www.scottishsocialistvoice.net

IAN DAVIDSON JOHANN LAMONT ANAS SARWAR A PARCEL

by Alan Bissett Scotland what Shakespeare Scots Labour politicians brand is to England and Dylan is to Holyrood ‘undemocratic’, oppose IF there is a single figure America: a bard whose who could symbolise complexity, linguistic genius Bannockburn commemoration, Scotland it is Robert Burns. and poetic sensitivity can but support Tories’ cuts and £50m Regarded around the world articulate the soul of an entire O’ ROGas one of the gUreatest poets Enation. S marking of WW1 slaughter... who ever lived, he is to • Continued on page 9 facebook.com/ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice INDEPENDENCE Challenges facing SSP P H O

T Many in this movement be -

by O : and Yes camp in 2C liev0e it is on1ly by 3 persuading our r a i THE 600 people who crammed g fellow Scots of the material ad -

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into the Yes Glasgow launch a vantages they can expect from c l e

meeting last week took the final a independence that we can win tally attending these inaugural n the vote in 2014. events to around 4000 - that’s Not everyone in favour of in - 4000 activists eager to play their dependence is a socialist of part in maximising the Yes vote course. But it is also true there in their area in the 2014 Inde - are hundreds of pro-indepen - pendence Referendum. dence activists out there who And whilst everyone will ac - are prepared to embrace our so - knowledge the many important cialist ideas and we should seek challenges that lie ahead in tak - them out and work closely with ing the case into every town and them everywhere we can. village in the country, it can fairly How does the SSP get is be said that this is a genuinely message across to independ - inclusive mass movement with a ence supporters effectively? By place for everyone interested in being part of the movement, seeing the people of Scotland working side by side with others determine our own future. YES TODAY, KNOW TOMORROW: for a fairer Scotland and by demonstrating our com - It goes without saying that it mitment and dedication. would be silly to pursue the inde - ness and the anarchy of their movement than to explain ‘What At the same time we will pendence case outside Yes ‘free market’. independence is for?’ maintain our dialogue with Scotland rather than seek to in - But it is true Yes Scotland For the SSP, the answer is full those who have yet to make up fluence it from within. needs to spell out what inde - employment in the face of under their mind about independence. I have likened the burgeoning pendence means for the people and unemployment, eradicating Our series of public meetings independence coalition to the of Scotland much more in the fuel poverty as one third of on the theme ‘Why you will be anti-Poll Tax campaign I played year ahead. Such detail is ur - households struggle to keep better off with Independence’ a part in leading during the late gently required if we are to shift warm and improving the living have been very successful. 1980s - a movement whose no - public opinion in our direction. standards of the many amid the We have taken our case table victory brought down the It was in recognition of this worst recession in 80 years. around the country and broken hated Thatcher government. point, I believe, that SNP First In other words, independence new ground. On our platform in Like the anti-Poll Tax cam - Minister Alex Salmond, raised has to focus on the issues that Edinburgh this week for exam - paign, the independence the prospect of a written Consti - are important to working class ple, we welcomed Adil Bhatti (of movement today has a strong tution for an Independent Scot - people in Scotland today. That Asians for Independence) and sense of injustice running land which would include way our case takes on a rele - John Finnie MSP, two prominent through it and an iron determi - guaranteed rights on housing vance working class Scots can former SNP members, who left nation to succeed. It is another and education. identify with and one they can the nationalists after their confer - genuine and progressive mass The polls have stubbornly see their stake in. ence overturned its principled movement. suggested we are in the minority And for the SSP itself, the chal - opposition to NATO. Our key ob - Our shared case is not just and, whilst this gives us all an in - lenge is to raise our clear socialist jective remains then to build the that Scots deserve the right to centive to work harder, we also ideas inside this huge independ - SSP and to advance the inde - make our own decisions and de - need a qualitative change in this ence movement with tact and pendent socialist cause during termine our future but increas - debate. The polls reflect public skill. Discussing with other ac - this exciting political period. ingly that, given the chance, we opinion, they do not shape it. tivists and highlighting our record want to build a country that is That is our job. And to my mind in promoting an independent so - • Colin Fox represents the fairer, more socially progressive there is no more important ques - cialist Scotland over many years SSP on the Yes Scotland and less indentured to big busi - tion facing the Yes Scotland will reap important rewards. Advisory Board

2 • • issue 410 INDEPENDENCE Trade Unionists for Independence by , TUFI sands of workers are either un - Steering Group sure or against independence. They will not be convinced by A POTENTIALLY very im - merely repeating the mantra portant arm of the campaign for ‘vote Yes’. Scottish independence is under The concrete aims of TUFI are construction and growing: Trade powerful weapons to persuade, Unionists for Independence for instance, low paid workers of (TUFI). the opportunity to win a decent Initiated by a small group of living wage through independ - trade unionists in Edinburgh a ence; public sector workers on few months ago, TUFI has re - reversal of privatisation and cuts; cently held two large, vibrant active union members on a vast West of Scotland meetings, with enhancement of trade union and further plans for meetings in workplace rights (an issue hardly Dundee and Aberdeen. even mentioned in the referen - The West of Scotland meetings dum debate so far). attracted union reps, conveners, As the TUFI Statement of national committee members, CLEAR PURPOSE: the trade union movement needs to shape the Aims rightly concludes: full-time officials and other ac - agenda here and now on the type of Scotland we want after 2014 “TUFI appeals to workers and tive members from a wide range trade unions to join us in cam - of unions, including EIS, UNI - and communities after winning different sections of workers paigning for a Yes vote in order SON, PCS, UNITE, FBU, NUJ, a vote for independence. that an independent Scotland to build a socially and economi - USDAW, CWU and the STUC The aims agreed mean we could be the first step on the cally just Scotland, where the in - Youth Committee. can campaign inside each trade road to sweeping changes to terests of the working class It debated and adopted a union, STUC conference and at their material well-being. millions displace the greed of the Statement of Aims [see extracts workplace level to convince Right now hundreds of thou - multinationals and millionaires.” in box] which gives a clear pur - pose and perspective to the campaign, promoting pro-trade TUFI Statement of Aims (extracts) union arguments for a Yes vote, TUFI is open to progressive government with the powers • Jobs for all - investment in linking immediate issues that trade unionists from all and political will to transform clean, green energy, housing, workers are concerned about to political parties and those their lives, through immediate integrated public transport. the opportunity to transform affiliated to none, with the measures such as: • Democratic public ownership their lives by offloading the bur - purpose of not just • Abolition of all anti-union laws, of energy, construction and den of undemocratic Westmin - exchanging one set of flags and their replacement with a banking in order to eradicate ster rule and ruin. and emblems for another, but charter of workers’ rights that fuel poverty, pollution, of winning Scottish sets the very highest standards substandard housing and Convincing workers independence as a means of in the whole of Europe. unemployment. Unlike the ‘business wing’ of achieving a fundamental and • A decent level of national • Removal of all nuclear the pro-independence move - irreversible redistribution of minimum living wage for all weapons, with guaranteed jobs ment, which is minuscule in any power and wealth in favour of workers, trainees and and protection of conditions for case, TUFI unashamedly seeks working people, their families apprentices from 16 onwards, all defence industry workers to stand up for the working- and communities. with equal pay for women and through diversification into class majority, with aims rooted TUFI is an integral part of abolition of age discrimination. peaceful, socially useful in numerous trade union confer - the broader Yes campaign, • Reversal of the assault on employment. ence policies. but with its own distinctive benefits and the demonisation TUFI recognises the powers And it is based on the central purpose, based on the best of the sick, disabled and that go with independence can notion that the trade union principles of trade unionism, unemployed, with a living create the opportunity for movement needs to shape the including social justice, income guaranteed to all those radical and permanent change agenda here and now on the equality, wealth redistribution unable to work. in the interests of working type of Scotland we want after and internationalism. • Reversal of all privatisation, people, but also the need for 2014, both in order to win work - TUFI is fighting for a Yes vote public sector cuts and attacks trade unionists to set the ers to a Yes vote and to win rad - so the Scottish working-class on pensions, with a living agenda now for the type of ical and permanent change in majority population then has income state pension and Scotland we aim to achieve favour of workers, their families the opportunity to elect a voluntary retirement for all at 60. after a Yes vote in 2014.

issue 410 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 3 NEWS Union Jack Labour MPs trash Holyrood as ‘undemocratic’ by Ken Ferguson This will include acting as a Government waiting time policies who lost power to the SNP in host for Brittania’s weapons of as “in crisis”. Holyrood, are increasingly in IN what is undoubtedly a taster nuclear terrorism on the Clyde. As always, it is useful to take a trouble in local councils and face of the rabid ravings we can ex - Expect little mention of the fact look behind such campaigns, a major SNP challenge in the lat - pect from the anti-independence that the casualty rates for World and in the health case it seems est polling for Westminster. camp, MPs have War 1 starkly highlight the fact likely that its aim is to undermine These concerns have been labelled the Scottish Parliament that the Scottish regiments were former health minister Nicola sharpened by the emergence of undemocratic and claimed that and still are regarded as shock an increasingly vocal Labour for celebrations of the 1314 Ban - troops by the British military. Independence group, with the nockburn battle aim to glorify the During the 1914-18 bloodbath, same Anwar Sarwar trying to rub - “murder” of English soldiers. 557,000 Scots enlisted in the bish them. Alongside this, the for - The Bannockburn attack was services - 150,000 died, which is mation of another pro-Yes group, launched by the deeply sectarian 26.4 per cent as against an over - Trade Unionists for Independ - Glasgow Labour MP Ian David - all UK rate of 11,8 per cent with ence, will further dismay Labour’s son while his colleague Anas 22 of the British Army’s 157 bat - under-pressure Scottish chiefs. Sarwar branded Holyrood “not a talion raised in Scotland. The truth is that as Labour con - democratic place” and the Scot - The devastation of loss was tinues to support most of the tish government “a dictatorship of powerfully portrayed in Lewis ConDem cuts and its councillors one man”. Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song implement them, and Scottish It is deeply ironic that Sarwar and on countless war memorials Labour leader Johann Lamont was speaking in the chamber of in rural and urban Scotland. steps up her war on benefits, the the so called “mother of parlia - However, the military glory case for voting either No or ments”, the democratically dubi - card is just one more of the pack IAN DAVIDSON: attack Labour is eroding fast. ous House of Commons. played by Better Together’s fear That is why the task of the pro- mongers. Sturgeon who is now responsible independence left is to drive Slaughter 2012 closed amidst an entirely for the Scottish Government’s home the message that a Yes As far as Davidson’s Bannock - synthetic “row” about whether or Yes work, which is certainly the vote is essential to open the way burn jibe is concerned, he makes not Scotland would be allowed in current drive of Scottish Labour. for a set of policies aimed at de - no mention that the UK govern - the EU after a Yes vote, doctored The truth is that behind their livering economic and social jus - ment - no doubt ably assisted by reports ignoring senior Royal smug smiles, the No camp face tice, breaking with Britain’s wars the “loyal” opposition Labour Navy evidence to the contrary months of bad news from benefit to a Scotland putting people be - Party - is about to spend £50mil - that independence would close cuts, sackings and growing eco - fore profit. lion to mark the 100th anniver - the Clyde shipyards and an in - nomic hardship. It can be won, and only action sary of the industrial slaughter of creasingly bizarre attempt - led Particularly worried are the and hard campaigning can World War One. by the BBC - to portray Scottish stunned Czars of New Labour achieve it. Indeed, we can surely expect an all-out drive to harness the To subscribe, fill in this form and send it to: Scottish Socialist Voice, 1914 anniversary - suitably Suite 370, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. whitewashed - to the noble cause Or telephone: 0781 126 5388 of keeping the Union Jack flying Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Voice’ high over the No camp and the Visit our website: www.scottishsocialistvoice.net Scots firmly under Westminster rule, supposedly ‘better together’. Name...... We can expect much of the Address...... valour of the Scots in service of ...... the greater (British) good to be milked mercilessly by the sup - Phone...... porters of the union and show - Email...... cased as another reason for I enclose: g £5 for 5 issues g £10 for 10 issues g £20 for 20 issues sticking with the bloodstained Solidarity rate: g £6 for 5 issues g £12 for 10 issues g £24 for 20 issues British state.

4 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 410 MARTIN FAR FROM GAME OVER FOR 2014 by Campbell Martin

THOSE of us who support an independent Scotland should admit defeat and slink off into the political undergrowth to lick our wounds. That was the underlying message of stories in pro- British Union newspapers, carrying screaming headlines of a poll lead for the ‘No to Independence’ campaign. We were told this represented a disaster for the independence movement, which would, the Unionists argued, struggle to recover. This was nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of the British political parties and their friends in the loyal Unionist media. Far from being a hammer- blow to the pro-independence camp, news of a poll lead for the No campaign is simply POSITIVE MESSAGE: a No vote would be a vote of no confidence in ourselves notification that it’s time to redouble our efforts in getting need to deliver for Scotland been shown in the way Commons in London. But the across the positive message the status of a normal nation. Labour, Tory and Lib Dem British Unionist campaign is of how an independent The Yes campaign is politicians have united in reliant on disparaging Scotland can deliver a better creating branches in towns attempting to brand as a liar anything Scottish to create a life for all our citizens. across Scotland. Scotland’s First Minister Alex feeling of uncertainty and Activists are talking to Salmond. foster doubt in the minds of Devastating cuts family members, friends, In addition, the deputy Scots. Again, the Unionists Without the powers that only work colleagues, people in leader of the so-called only succeed if they can come with independence, the the pub. The message is ‘Scottish’ Labour Party undermine the confidence of future for Scotland is ‘more of getting across. recently claimed Scotland’s Scots. the same’ - more devastating All the strands of the parliament was “an In the Independence cuts to jobs, services and campaign - street stalls, undemocratic place”. For Referendum, if we vote No, if benefits delivered by multi- public meetings, press British Unionists to succeed, we reject the opportunity to millionaire, posh-boy Tories activity, personal contact - they must undermine the run our own independent that Scots have already are building support and, confidence of Scots. country, we would actually be rejected at the ballot box. crucially, converting people to passing a motion of no There is over a year until the cause who previously Fostering doubt confidence in ourselves. we vote in the Independence had believed the Unionist Salmond didn’t lie - the Meanwhile, regarding that Referendum, yet the British mantra that Scotland is too charge was levelled in current poll lead for the No Unionists are so arrogant wee to be a real country, and relation to legal advice campaign: have a look at the they think they have victory in Scots too stupid and too poor regarding membership of the SNP’s poll ratings a year out the bag. to govern ourselves. European Union, for which from their landslide election Let them think it, while we in The No campaign is built the First Minister has since victory of 2011, or check 1977 the pro-independence on negativity, on attacking the been cleared - and the predictions of how well the movement go about the confidence and abilities of Scottish Parliament is a much Scotland football team were business of building support ordinary Scots. In politics, more democratic place than going to do in the following and securing the majority we this relentless negativity has the corrupt House of year’s World Cup finals.

issue 410 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 5 WORKPLACE by Richie Venton, SSP national workplace organiser

TWENTY years ago, on 29 Janu - ary 1993, workers in the multina - tional Timex Dundee factory launched a seven-month battle that electrified workers across the UK and far beyond. A mostly female workforce of 343, they fought with heroic courage to stop the decimation of jobs, wages, holidays, pension rights and other conditions, but were confronted by mass police intimida - tion and press smears. At a localised level, this titanic bat - tle between workers and a ruthless capitalist employer, backed to the hilt by a press lie-machine and a virtual police occupation of parts of their own city, had many of the hallmarks of the great miners’ strike of 1984-5. This showdown occurred under a TIMEX Tory Westminster government that actions with the Timex workers, with unskilled, untrained, underpaid held her for 27 hours before release had constructed a mountain of anti- they could have won a clear, history- scab labour and closed down its - without charge! Despite the peace - union laws to block workers’ resist - changing victory. Dundee plant on 29 August 1993. ful nature of the pickets themselves, ance to being exploited. But the Timex brought in a ruthless Sus - One of the key means of building Tory Prime Minister John Major workers and their shop stewards sex spiv, Peter Hall, as £100,000-a- wider support1 for the l9ocked-out de9nounced “picke3t line violence”. drove a coach and horses through the year director of operations in Britain. workers was mass pickets. On some The media played along with head - Tory laws designed to help multina - He started to strip Dundee of jobs and occasions 1,000 thronged outside the lines like “mob fury”. tionals and millionaires profit from working conditions. On 5 January the main gates. Police chiefs and editors collabo - generations of workers and then toss workers each got a letter, a third of Two schools of thought competed. rated with Timex bosses to demonise them aside like squeezed lemons. them ‘thick’, meaning they were Some top union officials, who had the pickets and their supporters, in a They ignored the limit of six to a sacked, two thirds ‘thin’, not laid off. done nothing to call or build these ex - vain attempt to isolate them from the picket day and daily. They fought on The workers responded to this vi - pressions of workers’ solidarity, mass of workers. despite elected shop stewards being cious attempt to divide and conquer wanted just a passive gathering. But the most scandalous aspect of banned from the picket line, with by occupying the canteen. The slip - this was the way right-wing AEEU court interdicts and threats of being pery Hall promised negotiations with Scabs and STUC officials and Labour jailed. They confronted a diluted ver - their union, the AEEU. Others, including the Strike Com - politicians aped the Tory talk of sion of apartheid South Africa’s pass Meantime they voted by 92 per mittee and pickets themselves, ‘picket line violence’. laws, which banned pickets from cent to strike, which they did on 29 agreed with those of us who advo - Needless to say most of them had areas of their native city - which were January when it was plain the prom - cated mass human walls of solidar - never attended a picket. But when the saturated by police. ised talks and attempts to bring in ity outside the factory entrance to Timex workers’ resilience and mass ACAS weren’t going to happen. block buses ferrying in scabs, halt - pressure from below by active trade Solidarity Round-the-clock pickets were ing production, even if only for a unionists obliged the STUC’s general Eight years after the defeat of the mounted, rotas arranged, food and few hours or a day. And on some oc - secretary Campbell Christie to lead a miners, the defiant stance of Timex shelter organised on the Harrison casions, Hall gave the scabs a day special STUC General Council trip workers was an inspiration to hun - Road gates. Mass meetings agreed off when a mass picket had been an - to the picket on 19 May, he rightly dreds of thousands of workers across to march back to work on 17 Febru - nounced - a tremendous boost to stated: “There will be no peace and the UK, who for years had faced ary, united, demanding reinstatement morale at the time. tranquility at the Timex factory until managerial dictatorship. They held of all. The Timex bosses locked Mass police operations were all sacked workers are reinstated.” workplace collections and travelled them out, demanding lay-offs, a 10 mounted to block effective picket - But he went on to tell TV cameras: hundreds of miles to join them on the per cent pay cut, loss of holidays, in - ing, with police violence, under - “We will be asking people to come mass pickets and demos. creased hours, cuts to pension rights cover cops and snatch squads. to Dundee...but we don’t want any - If the national union leaderships and other humiliations as the price Some of their actions were beyond one to come to break the law or cre - and STUC had shown half the de - for opening the gates. workers’ belief, a harsh eye-opener ate violence.” I wrote at the time: termination and courage of those The workers refused to be cowed, to the role of the state. They crushed “Who did Campbell have in who mounted daily 24-hour pickets and were locked out for the next six pickets up against fences whilst mind? Was it over 500 ‘outsiders’, in all weather; regular mass pickets; months, until Timex eventually gave they escorted scabs into work. They bussed into Dundee at public ex - protest demos and solidarity strike up their attempt to run the factory broke a woman’s arm during arrest, pense, fed and paid overtime from

6 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 410 WORKPLACE The time had arrived for a new tactic to stop asset stripping of ma - chinery and to force reinstatement, either by bludgeoning Timex bosses into submission, or a Tory govern - ment alarmed at rising turmoil into intervening: a factory occupation. This was discussed that with the Strike Committee, who were open to the idea, but all the obstacles thrown up by mass policing and the cow - ardly role of national union leaders meant it didn’t happen. Nevertheless, the plan Timex SHOWDOWN: bosses had of bringing back some of Timex workers fought to the skilled workers to bolster produc - stop the decimation of tion, with predictions of at least jobs, wages, holidays, £25million sales in the remainder of pension rights and other 1993, or to sell it off for a good price conditions, but were - collapsed in the face of incredible confronted by mass tenacity by the workers. police intimidation and They were forced to pull out of press smears Dundee in late August. That was a the public purse, who fought desper - posties taking unofficial strike action spired such vast working class soli - tragically sad day for a city whose ately to clear the road for Peter Hall’s - and winning! darity that the bosses dare not use workers had piled up Timex profits hired scabs...and who dress in dis - In mid-April, the STUC called a Tory laws to remove all bar six pick - for generations, with whole families tinctive blue uniforms?” demo. Big contingents of Dundee ets, for instance. working there. AEEU leaders Gavin Laird and workplaces walked out to join the After the 90 day sacking notices Jimmy Airlie went far further in their 6,000-strong march, in the likes of expired on 17 May, Timex bosses Heroic fighters treacherous treatment of 343 mem - NCR, Valentine’s, Bulkbag, hoped to pick and choose who to re - But for most of the heroic fighters bers who had inspired workers across Holochrome, Ninewells hospital instate. But the workers made it plain who had inspired a generation, it was the land. They wrote to Timex work - laundry and Dundee district council. it was ‘one back, all back’, demand - the lesser of two evils; a better out - ers threatening them with expulsion In some firms, management gave ing removal of the scabs and rein - come than to let a ruthless multina - from the union. They threatened to time off work as they faced a 2 or 3- statement of all 343 under their old tional cast aside its skilled, organised withdraw the modest £30 a week hour strike anyway. contracts with continuity of service. workforce for a slave camp geared to strike pay. They tried to ban a promi - If union national leaders had built The Strike Committee called more churning out profit on the backs of nent strike leader from speaking on on this, solidarity strike action even mass pickets and a rally, appealing to super-exploited workers. socialist public platforms. in Dundee itself would have divided workers across Scotland, who re - This chapter in Scottish workers’ Instead of undermining the fight, employers, as they lost production sponded in their thousands. Instead history is rich in lessons - too numer - they should have thrown the weight due to the stubborn refusal of Timex of escalating the action, the AEEU ous to cover in one article. of the union behind the boycott of to reinstate their workers. Workers leadership of Laird and Airlie had se - But above all, it proved the will - Timex products that had been gather - united in action could have divided cret phone calls to Timex, who came ingness of working people - working ing pace across the UK, by organising and defeated the employers. up with a new “offer”. This was, as women in particular - to stand up and workplace meetings at firms that sup - one woman picket described it, “dia - fight for their rights if they are given plied them parts or were their chief Strike calls bolical crap”! even half a lead. And the need to con - customers, such as Creda, IBM and Instead, Campbell Christie de - They offered a 27 per cent pay cut, struct a fighting leadership in their Electrolux. Alongside mass pickets to clared, “There will be no secondary loss of shift premiums and Xmas unions, in contrast to those over-paid blockade production at the scab fac - action and we will not be calling for bonus, and skill tests for workers’ union officials who quake in their tory, and union-organised boycotts of secondary action”, with the BBC re - own jobs so as to weed out those they well-heeled boots at the thought of Timex supplies and products, the porting, “He rejected the call for a 24 wanted rid of. Despite Airlie recom - defying vicious anti-union laws de - other chief strand of struggle required hour general strike despite repeated mending this, a mass meeting threw signed to enslave workers for profit. was unified solidarity strike action. calls for it”. Christie explained: it out by 341-to-2, and women liter - We should never forget the The call for a 24 hour general “Tory anti-union laws are unfair ally chased him down the street to the women and men of Timex who strike, initially in Dundee, later Scot - and the STUC want them changed, train station in fury! showed such courage, tenacity and land-wide, was repeatedly discussed but the Timex campaign has to oper - Timex next tried to cow the work - ingenuity - in a titanic battle that on the picket lines and Strike Com - ate within the legal constraints intro - ers and clear the gates of pickets with could have been won with a different mittee. Those of us advocating this duced by the government.” a threat of closure by Xmas, with type of leadership at the head of the did so in the context of mounting op - The real fact of life was that Timex vague talk of enhanced redundancy unions. A new young generation of position to the Tories from numerous workers had defied these vicious payments and taking back 100-150 workers should be inspired to follow sections of public sector workers, and laws for the previous 90 days, and in - workers on reduced wages. their example - and learn from it.

issue 410 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 7 CULTURE SAM LEE CAN HOLD HIS OWN GROUND Sam Lee and Friends performed as part of Celtic Connections at St Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow, on January 18 by

ON a cold wintry night, where much of the south east of England had come to a halt, Sam Lee and his band were one of the first artists to perform at Celtic Connections in Glasgow. Lee performs songs from Romany and traveller communities from all over Scotland but admitted he had a special place in his heart for those who had taught him ballads from Aberdeenshire, Blairgowrie and Perthshire. Rather than learn songs from the archives, he goes straight to the people who sing the songs and learns from them.

Apprentice He describes himself as the apprentice of Stanley Lee, a traveller from Aberdeenshire WHAT THE FOLK? Sam Lee challenges preconceptions of what ‘traditional folk’ should sound like who died in 2009. Stanley passed on to him a set which included many the songs were taught to Lee and I do not doubt he will be back ring, an ingot and a pebble, traditional songs such as Black it is his job not only to preserve with more amazing songs that which Sam keeps with him, and Dog which Lee learned from them but give them new he’s learned, not in an archive, in a ceremony made him the Freda Black. The set included of meaning to a new audience. but in the home of the singers keeper of songs. Like many course many of Stan Lee’s songs Although a curator of songs, who hand them on to him to other folk singers following on from the North East of Scotland he never appeared to be giving a keep them alive for us. from the likes of Martin Carthy, and included Over Yonder Hill lesson as he shared the stories he passes on songs - some of and the hauntingly beautiful behind the songs and glimpses • See: samleesong.co.uk which have been sung for close Moorclough Maggie . of the people and their lives who to a millennium - to the next He finished with two songs trusted Lee with their musical The Wee Red generation. from his Mercury nominated CD treasure. Bookshop Lee was accompanied by a Ground Of It’s Own , the bawdy His voice is beautiful and it band where, along with more Ballad of George Collins and the carried well in the acoustics of St BBooookkss,, TT--sshhiirrttss,, iiddeeaass traditional instruments such as sweet Goodbye My Darling . Andrew’s in the Square. ttoo cchhaannggee tthhee wwoorrlldd!! the fiddle, a Japanese koto and Although his songs are now A crowd of old and not so AAllll aatt vveerryy rreeaassoonnaabbllee Romany drone instruments were performed to young audiences, old folkies enjoyed a fantastic pprriicceess.. 113377 LLoonnddoonn used. They are just back from a his voice seems to float across musical evening where the RRooaadd,, GGllaassggooww.. festival in Bangladesh where, the centuries, sharing songs that songs were just as part of the PPhhoonnee ffoorr ooppeenniinngg they explained, traditional should be remembered as part of performance as the singer of iinnffoo,, oorr iiff yyoouu ccaann instruments were used to a rich heritage. them. Lee said he has been to ddoonnaattee bbooookkss,, wwee perform songs which seem to His rhythm is that of the Celtic Connections as fan for ccaann aarrrraannggee ffoorr tthheemm flow easily into other cultures ballad singer performing his the last seven years and only ttoo bbee ppiicckkeedd uupp.. traditions. songs across the camp-fire. You performed there last and this The audience were treated to a get the impression this is how year.

8 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 410 BISSETT

by Alan Bissett and the working man, those The socialist Buwho dinre on ‘nhamely fas re’. The IF there is a single figure who poem could even stand as an could symbolise Scotland it is anthem for international Robert Burns. Regarded socialism, laughing at the around the world as one of the pretensions and arrogance of greatest poets who ever lived, the lords ‘wha strut and stare, he is to Scotland what and a’ that’ and ending: Shakespeare is to England For a’ that, and a’that, and Dylan is to America: a bard It’s coming yet for a’ that, whose complexity, linguistic That man to man, genius and poetic sensitivity the world o’er can articulate the soul of an Shall brothers be for a’ that! entire nation. Of course, we still live in The annual Burns times of poverty. The modern- celebrations in January are a day Scotland has many mixed blessing. It is right that problems left to solve, and we we commemorate our most socialists - along with Greens important literary figure. Burns and nationalists - are presently Night is usually where engaging in a historic, schoolchildren will initially democratic revolution of which encounter their own language, Burns would no doubt approve. Scots, written down (albeit in an archaic form). Scathing words This is often the first step It is not difficult to imagine towards a discovery of their Burns, were he alive today, cultural heritage. The lending his poetry, his pageantry of Burns Night, celebrity and his voice to the however - the Address to the movement for Scottish Haggis, the Immortal Memory, SUPPERMAN: the radical Robert Burns empathised with the poor independence. Some of his the Toast to the Lassies, the most scathing words were Reply - while often enormous the reality of hard labour, Amid this mighty fuss just let reserved for the Act of Union fun, have served somewhat to Burns displayed an me mention, in 1707, which Burns turn Burns into the kitsch, extraordinary political insight, The Rights of Woman merit recognised - like the Scots of couthy, tartan-clad ‘Rabbie’. far ahead of his time. some attention. the day who rioted in protest - For example, as we in So while it’s true he was as a simple extension of Romantic myths present-day Scotland debate something of a ladies’ man, English imperialism. Ask people what springs to constitutional matters, as we Burns was also a proto- Aghast that a nation which mind when they think of Robert attempt to dismantle an feminist! He was a democrat, had, for centuries, staunchly Burns and they’ll mention his imperialist legacy, and watch a supporter of the French defended her sovereignty drinking, his womanising, the Europe collapse under the Revolution and a believer in against England’s might and misty-eyed Auld Lang Syne groaning weight of a failed the sovereign rights of all ambition could suddenly and the rip-roaring Tam O’ capitalism, we should bear in people. capitulate, and angry at Scots Shanter . A romantic mythology mind Burns’ still-relevant words One of his most famous nobles protecting their own has grown up around Burns from 1792: works, A Man’s A Man For A’ interests, Burns wrote: which keeps him safe enough While Europe’s eye is fix’d on That , sung by Sheena We’re bought and sold for to sell to the tourists and be mighty things, Wellington at the opening of English gold, celebrated even by Tories. The fate of Empires and the the Scottish Parliament in Such a parcel o’ rogues in a There is, though, a side to fall of Kings; 1999, excoriates a society that nation’. him which has been kept While quacks of State must ‘“gies fools their silks, and This Burns Night, the likes of quieter: that of Burns the each produce his plan, knaves their wine” while Alasdair Darling, Willie Rennie radical. The self-taught son of And even children lisp the ignoring poverty. Burns, as and Johann Lamont might do a ploughman, in touch with Rights of Man; ever, empathises with the poor well to remember these lines.

issue 410 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 9 CUTS COUNCILLOR JIM BOLLAN ASKS ... There’s only one Scottish Tory MP - why is Scotland facing massive Tory cuts? AS we all look for - while another food bank is being low state benefits or low wages. drive millions more into poverty ward to 2013 there set up in Homelessness will increase as we learn that child poverty has is no doubt the to feed the families who are dis - as these draconian cuts force risen again to obscene levels. Tory Government are raising enfranchised, excluded and live the poor into rent arrears and Looking ahead a year, but in the stakes in the class war with in poverty as a direct result of with an uncaring Labour Coun - the same vein, 2014 could give the introduction of the bedroom the unfair distribution of wealth cil, I fear the worst for many fam - us a chance to begin to chal - tax, the universal credit, cuts to and power which capitalism cre - ilies already living in poverty. lenge and break up the British public funding, attacks on the ates. Food banks in Scotland These attacks by the ruling capitalist establishment that con - benefits of the sick, the poor, have doubled in number in the class are not accidental - they trols all aspects of our lives with and the low paid. last six months. are planned and required to en - the opportunity to vote Yes in the Contrast these attacks on the The hated Tory bedroom tax sure the capitalist system contin - Independence Referendum. working class with how the ruling will come into force in April with - ues to flourish to serve the rich As a socialist, I just don’t just class have been treated. The out any opposition from the and powerful at the expense of want to swap flags after inde - rich and powerful continue to Labour Council in West Dunbar - the working class. pendence and have some sort avoid paying their taxes. Their tonshire. Three thousand ten - Inequality, division and of Scottish/tartan capitalism. bloated private incomes con - ants will have their housing poverty could be tackled under a I genuinely believe a Yes vote tinue to grow both here and in benefit cut by between 14 and socialist system, which would would give the Scottish people the tax havens they hoard their 25 per cent which is a savage at - mean the demise of the current the best opportunity, certainly in money in abroad. tack on people already living on corrupt privileged system that my lifetime, to deal a major blow Big business continues to the breadline whether they be on we live under. to the British capitalist establish - make massive profits while The introduction of the Univer - ment. This is a real once in a life - avoiding corporation and income sal Credit (UC) is a further direct time opportunity to make a real tax payments. Fuel poverty con - attack on the most vulnerable in difference to how and who we tinues to rise while the big six en - our community, with the Labour are governed by, and where ergy companies continue to Council in West Dunbartonshire Scots can take control and make massive profits. actively assisting the Tories by power over all their affairs. The banks remain free to do taking part in a pilot scheme to There is one Tory MP in Scot - as they want with little or no new make sure the UC “runs land yet we have a Tory govern - regulations in place after the part smoothly” when introduced. ment who are viciously attacking they played in the latest crisis in This is a shocking betrayal by the working class in Scotland. capitalism in 2008. Labour and clearly exposes their The current system is corrupt and The class division in our class credentials by assisting the unsustainable and needs to be country is palpable with billion - Tories in this manner. The UC will challenged and changed. If you aires a plenty who have power cut the benefits of the poor, dis - want rid of the Tories for good, and influence over Government, JIM BOLLAN abled and the young and will then build for a Yes vote in 2014.

FJill ino thisi fonrm a ndt sehnd ite to: S coSttishS SociaPlist P arhty, Seuite 3r70e, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or telephone: 0781 126 5388 Or see our website: www.scottishsocialistparty.org g I would like to join the Scottish Socialist Party g I would also like to join Scottish Socialist Youth g I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party Name...... Address...... Phone...... Email......

10 • Scottish Socialist Voice • issue 410 INTERNATIONAL SYRIA: NO MILITARY SOLUTION by

WE are now witnessing the endgame in Syria and the start of a new dangerous period. The Assad regime is finished and has, in effect, been defeated. That might not be what it appears as the regimes forces carry out all out attacks on its opponents but appearances are deceptive. The fact that the regime has been battling its opponent for more than 18 months without managing to defeat them, despite overwhelmingly superior military resources, is evidence enough. That the various opposition forces have turned what originally were sporadic protests into an all out civil war signals the end and that end will come soon. Either the regime will com - pletely collapse under the pres - sure or will desperately try to do a deal with the rebels in an at - tempt to end the conflict. The pre-condition of this latter option would be the removal of Assad and those around him. VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: there can be no military solution which would benefit the Syrian people

Collapse In fact, there is a danger that next Iraq. Russia also wants a ne - distinctly possible, enough gov - A negotiated settlement pro - what started as a general revolt gotiated settlement which derives ernment forces came over to the moted by countries like Russia against the regime could turn from long term support for Syria side of the rebels and defeat the and representing the best option into a fragmented war being dating back to Soviet times and regime; what next? for the Syrian people now looks fought on a broad range of fears western control of a weak The civil war would simply very unlikely and the collapse of fronts around an equally broad and dependant post Assad Syria. move onto another phase as the Syria as a functioning state is range of interests. various ethnic, religious and re - now a real possibility. The conflict in Syria cannot be Interests gional interests take centre stage. In part, this is because the rul - separated from wider conflicts in What is clear is that the col - It would also leave the country ing Baathist Party appears to be the region and it is interesting to lapse of the Syrian state will be wide open to foreign intervention both paralysed and disintegrating note the various positions and increasingly is a disaster for as neighbouring states look to and therefore incapable of the adopted by foreign governments. the people of Syria. It will not protect their interests. kind of initiative that could lead The United States and Israel lead to greater democracy or Even at this late hour their can to some kind of settlement. are solidly behind the uprising peace and is a recipe for further only be one solution which is in Likewise, the opposition is and there is evidence of growing conflict almost without end. the interests of the Syrian State fragmented and lacks any kind of logistical support for the rebels. It would also objectively work and people. The removal, by common purpose other than to Both have calculated that their in - in the interests of those countries whatever means of President fight on until the end. terests would best be served by a which have long been the enemy Assad and a negotiated settle - It is essentially now a broad crippled Syria. of Syria and the Syrian people, ment between what remains of alliance of regional, religious Iran wants to see a negotiated in particular, the United States the Baathist regime and at least and tribal groups, Islamic funda - settlement that protects the in - and Israel. some of the opposition forces. mentalist organisations and dis - tegrity of the Syrian state and There can be no military solu - Although this scenario looks affected elements of the regime shares a common aim that nei - tion which would benefit the Syr - increasingly unlikely, the alterna - which have switched sides. ther country should become the ian people. Even, as is now tive is disastrous.

issue 410 • Scottish Socialist Voice • 11 for Socialism, Independence and Internationalism Issue 410 25th January - 7th February 2013 [email protected] www.scottishsocialistvoice.net by Sandra Webster

WITH the rise of social media such as Twitter and Facebook it is all too easy for stories to take legs and become more accessible. With the smart phone revolution, we can have images of war zones zapped JUST ANOTHER immediately into our reality. I can remember how the news was handled at the time of the Falklands conflict. It took over a week for very carefully chosen images to be fed to us ILLUMINATED the watchers, all designed to stir us up into a fervour for our soldiers far away, fighting against the Argentinians. Now of the crowd with torches in we can have raw unedited the Frankenstein movies. footage, along with the SIDESHOWAltho? ugh outraged and traditional media streams. offended by her behaviour, and People can share videos at the person who stood by and online that and can become recorded the video, I ‘viral’, where it is shared and recognised that she was viewed by thousands or even someone’s child. What had millions of people. happened to cause her to behave in such a way? Bullying The latest YouTube clip I saw Being different was of a young Scottish girl The reasons for anti-social physically bullying a teenage behaviour are not the blame boy who turned his back on her of poor parenting, as the and said “he didn’t hit girls”. ConDems especially like to The video falls into a focus on, but the fault of a category that some seem to deeper malaise where being find amusing, young people different is a reason to be a colloquially called ‘Neds’ target. drinking, fighting, engaging in Tensions between different dodgy behaviour. Some people groups are always different in actually collect it and share it. times of economic crisis. Sometimes such videos only So before we feel hatred receive a few viewers but they towards this young girl, let’s also can capture the BULLYING THE BULLY? online comments were baying for blood remember she is all our imagination and the people problem. Let’s look beyond the involved in them become a quickly the story grew a bullying which my sons have 2D video and remember two news item. This is what Facebook page was set up been victims of. If someone hurt wrongs don’t make a right. happened in this incident. calling the young girl a phrase my sons or someone I know I I am confident that Voice I was first aware of it when I too colourful for the Voice . I’m a can’t guarantee to have non- readers are critical and look clicked on for my Facebook fix carer and many of my friends violent thoughts about them. further into a story. After her last week and saw that several are, and I saw friends of friends But surprisingly I felt some week in the media gaze, the people had posted how were commenting on this girl sympathy for the girl involved, offending video has been shocking this video was and the and the incident calling for the especially when The Sun - removed from YouTube and the behaviour of the girl involved. return of capital punishment. such a friend of the pack have moved on to other It later transpired that the boy Don’t get me wrong. I oppressed - put a link to the victims. I wonder how quickly all had a learning disability and completely condemn bullying in video with comments baying the people involved in this story had been bullied before. Very any form especially disability for her blood. It reminded me and their families will be able to.