Colin Fox: Sturgeon’s Jobs cuts: Tories claims could demobilise the planning mass civil independence movement service sackings • see page 9 • see page 8

£1 • issue 472 • 26th February – 10th March 2016 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com

Brexit or not.. INDYREF 2 STILL KEY TO CHANGE

• Use May elections to reclaim right to indyref • Neither cuts nor freeze – scrap the Council Tax • £10-an-hour minimum wage for all NOW! ScottishSocialistVoice.wordpress.com /ScottishSocialistVoice @ssv_voice RISE WOMEN by Jenni Gunn, lead RISE candidate, Mid Scotland & Fife Cornton Vale protestors THE RUSSIAN novelist Fydor Dos - demand radical change toyevsky famously said; “The degree of civilisation in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” If Dostoyevsky is correct, we need to take a long, hard look at our own society and ask ourselves frankly and honest: “is this good enough? Is this really the best that we can do?” In light of recent reports about lack of timely access to sanitation, dozens of ac - tivists gathered outside of HMP Cornton Vale on Tuesday night to demand better conditions for inmates in Scotland’s only women’s prison. PROTEST:: fforrmerr SSP MSP The protest, organised by RISE Rosiie Kane and RIISE Miid Scotland & Fife lead Women, marked the third demonstration Scotland & Fife lead candiidatte Jennii Gunn werre organised by the Network this month, and among demonsttrrattorrs sought to highlight the plight of women liv - demandiing a rradiicall shake-- up of the judicial system, ing in confinement in Scotland. up of the judicial system, whiich mettes outt custtodiiall Protestors also demanded a radical senttences tto women who shake-up of the judicial system, which pose no tthrreatt tto tthe general public metes out custodial sentences to women general public who pose no threat to the general public. nomic and social inequality, which is a olent crimes by holding our courts and our I had the privilege of addressing the scourge upon our communities the length government to account, and by demanding demonstration alongside former Scottish and breadth of Scotland. alternatives to custodial sentences by in - Socialist Party MSP and Economic and social inequality is being vesting in community programmes that are RISE candidate, Suki Sangha, exacerbated by an austerity agenda that readily available to all in need, and that sup - at an event that I hope will help to foster doles out social violence upon all of our vul - port women within their own communities. a serious discussion about women’s in - nerable people, but under which women Thirdly, we must fight austerity and at - carceration in Scotland, which is currently are being targeted. Statistics have shown tacks on our public services upon which so the second highest in northern Europe. that cuts to welfare benefits are hitting many vulnerable people rely on for survival. women twice as hard as men. Women Progress is being made, but complacency, The heart of the issue make up 95 per cent of lone parents and 62 at this important juncture, is not an option. Rosie Kane, who spent six days in the per cent of unpaid carers, a demographic The truth of the matter is that women prison for refusing to pay a fine she re - disproportionately burdened by deep cuts are not the only people that our justice ceived for protesting against Trident nu - in public spending. Austerity is nothing short system is failing, and Scotland’s system is clear weapons, addressed the gathered of an assault on the living standards of in need of serious and far reaching reform. activists in an emotionally charged and women who depend on these vital services. harrowing speech. Rosie spoke about her To add insult to injury, services that are Take on the system own experiences in Cornton Vale, and tasked with protecting vulnerable women, Suki Sangha, RISE Glasgow candidate about the young, vulnerable, abused such as Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis, are and activist in RISE’s Women and BAME women that she met during her short stay facing significant challenges from lack of networks stated: “Being black, being a in the facility. Rosie said: funding. Whilst these organisations continue woman, being young and being poor does “I didn’t meet one woman in Cornton to be under-funded, and whilst poor women not make you a target…We need to take on Vale that hadn’t suffered abuse at the are plunged further into desperate situations a system in which people are dying in police hands of a male partner, a family member.” by austerity cuts, there is little hope that we custody, where women are locked up miles This goes to the heart of the issue: we will break the cycle of violence, addiction, away from their families and their support are imprisoning women who are victims of abuse and incarceration that affects women networks, where young people are being abuse, who suffer from poor mental health, in some of Scotland’s poorest areas. arrested because of their political beliefs.” who are addicted to drugs: women who What is to be done? Our solution must The protest at Cornton Vale sought to ad - live in perpetual poverty, in communities be three fold. We must ensure that dress one important part of this failing sys - plagued by violence and inequality. women in prison are held under condi - tem, but we have work to do in ensuring that It’s high time that we stopped imprison - tions which do not violate their most basic our police, our courts and our government ing poor and desperate women. universal rights to respect and dignity. are serving the best interests of the people, We need to address the root causes of Secondly, we must challenge a system and where prisoners are afforded their women’s imprisonment—namely, eco - that punishes women punitively for non-vi - basic human right to dignity and respect.

2 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 472 EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson Brexit or not, pro-indy left WITH THE super hyped Cameron EU “deal” already fad - ing from memory, the real reason case remains essential for the supposedly historic EU ref - sues on which the pro-indy erendum is growing ever clearer. forces would campaign to win. At heart this has little to do There must, in this context, with benefit levels, emergency be real doubts about the ap - brakes or border controls and proach of the SNP where on the everything to do with divisions one hand we are told that a in the Tory party and competing commitment to indyref2 will visions of how best to keep the not figure in the Holyrood man - world safe for capital generally ifesto but will be “unstoppable” and the money lenders of the in the event of Brexit. City of London in particular. A SUB-RACIST VERSION OF This is at best confused and at PROJECT FEAR AGAINST All this overlaid on the fight ALL THINGS EUROPEAN: worst dangerous for the entire for the party between the sup - the debate is taking place independence case. posed “one nation” Tories who on grounds chosen by the The idea that a mandate for a favour social compromise to se - Tories, the Mail, The Sun, second referendum can be left cure their aims and the unrepen - and Nigel Farage’s UKIP out of May’s manifesto, only to tant disciples of Thatcher who, down in quasi-racist terms on dyref as a key step towards be claimed from a triumphant like their heroine, simply bludg - immigrants. The strong likeli - transforming Scotland. Tory right which has just won a eon their opponents. hood that this will set the tone The current crisis of cuts and Brexit vote over the UK irrespec - It is no surprise that the lat - for the next four months as what sackings in local councils is a tive of Scottish votes, is fantasy. ter’s stock in trade is founded on is in fact an internal Tory de - prime example of why such a a union jack waving nationalism bate—with the UKIP extremists programme is urgently needed, Strategic approach which embraces a thinly-veiled joining in—is portrayed as a na - as the SNP, after years of freez - The idea that a UK Tory racism driving their obsession tional UK political debate. ing the unfair Council Tax, sig - Prime Minster—probably post- with immigration. It is this view, For the left this presents both nal that they have U-turned on Brexit Boris Johnson, basking shrilly backed by the right wing dangers and opportunities. The plans to replace it, planning to in a union jack sunburst of hard- papers such as the Mail and The danger is that politics across the tweak it instead. right victory—would then con - Sun , with Farage at its centre, UK—including a pro-EU Scot - We need to be clear that RISE, cede a referendum not sought which is now setting the terms land—is pulled to the right as the Scotland’s Left Alliance, op - two months earlier in an SNP of the debate. right wing media replay a sub- poses both Westminster and manifesto, is just not credible. racist version of Project Fear Holyrood cuts and—picking up However, even more impor - No easy answers against all things European, on the work pioneered by the tantly, the left needs to be clear For the left, the current de - played out against the background —backs not just of the indyref case but of bate has no easy answers. Some of demands for Britain in general, an income-based Scottish Serv - the policies on key issues such as who back a leave position argue and England in particular, to rally ice Tax to make the rich pay their currency, on which it would be that the EU is an un-reformable to the union jack and get out. fair share of council services. fought. Such a strategic ap - capitalist club, while others call That Scotland is not necessar - A real alternative is also ur - proach is essential for victory, for the construction of alliances ily immune to such politics was gent, on the issue of the right to rather than relying on random with other progressives to evidenced in a recent Daily call a second independence ref - events, including Brexit, to de - change it from within. Record poll which projected the erendum, and the timing, and is - termine our approach. Like the Scottish Socialist possibility of UKIP winning up to subscriptions Party, the Voice takes the latter seven MSPs in May, highlighting view. Both agree that the issue the urgent need for a pro-inde - at stake is how to break the pendence left alternative with real power of neoliberal capitalism answers to such issues as low pay, To subscribe, see: scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com or fill in this form as a first step to a society put - chronic housing shortages and and send to: SSV, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow ting people before profit. breaking the grip of the no-man - G2 6LD. Phone 07810205747. Cheques payable to ‘’ Meanwhile however, the real - date Tories in Scotland. Name...... ity is that the debate is taking The opportunity lies to chal - Address...... place on grounds chosen by the lenge both the supposed left- Tories and the issues in the turning Labour and the ...... spotlight aren’t workers’ rights business-as-usual managerial - Phone...... or privatisation but freeing busi - ism of the SNP from a position Email...... ness from red tape, reinforcing which clearly supports the right g £5 for 2 issues g £10 for 4 issues g £20 for 8 issues border controls and cracking of Holyrood to call a second in -

issue 472 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 3 CAT BOYD by Cat Boyd, RISE lead candidate in Glasgow

Union referendum The Scottish THE EUROPEAN is coming, so get set for the Festival of Britain, 2016-style. I envision a grotesque carnival of the mad, the bad, people need to and the downright scary. I won’t go over what I’ve said elsewhere chart their own about the European Union—other than to say that I think the centre-left is far too soft on Brussels, particularly after what indyref course happened in Greece. Here’s what we need to know. There are reasonable and rational reasons to NO TORY RULE: want to stay in the European Union, and let’s use the European equally there are good reasons to leave. referendum to set our own Unfortunately, none of those reasons timeline for independence, will be heard before 23 June. Neither an independence based on side wants a reasonable argument. true self-rule and internationalism All we’ll hear is immigrant-this, PHOTO: Simon Whittle scrounger-that, and how everything used to be sweet in Britain way back when. In place of reasonable arguments, we have “innies” versus “outies”. The innies are trumpeting David Cameron’s programme for European reform. That means more power for bankers in the City of London, and less freedom of movement. Predictably, Britain’s liberals from onwards are falling in behind this message—anything to save the EU! The outies are Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and George Galloway. Less the good, the bad, and the ugly; more the ugly, the uglier, the ugliest, and the uglier still. Put simply, either result is a disaster for the British working class. Here’s my only point of caution: let’s Scotland, cuts-crazed Tories in England. The case for optimism not get narrowly fixated on the European The truth is that only Scottish Okay, that’s the pessimistic bit over. debate as the trigger for the next independence can cut that knot and free Now, let’s focus on the case for optimism. referendum. Let’s not build our moral up progressive oppositional politics again. The EU question revives the question case on Britain’s relationship with Without the threat of independence as of . Bookmakers Brussels bureaucracy. a lever, the SNP are being pressured have slashed the odds on Scotland Instead, let’s reiterate the real reasons into accepting a terrible fiscal framework holding another referendum before we need another referendum. for Scotland that will pass more cuts 2021. Regardless of your views on the The case for devolution was built on down the chain. Unless we’ve got a EU, that’s a tremendously good thing. 18 years of solid Tory rule that Scotland rolling mandate for independence, SNP Moralisers in the British media hark on didn’t vote for. leaders will be forced to defend and about how a referendum should be a During that time, North Sea oil rationalise cuts. That’s why it’s a mistake “once in a lifetime” phenomenon. What revenues were squandered and our to keep the issue off the agenda. nonsense. What utter contempt for industrial economy all but collapsed. The timeline for independence can’t democracy. Who would bet against another be left to the Scottish Government Let’s be clear: Scotland should have generation like this ahead, with George alone. They are trying to reconcile too as many referendums as we want, on a Osborne or Boris Johnson at the helm? many tasks—trying simultaneously to be variety of issues (for instance, do we Essentially, we’re moving into a grim the leaders of protest and provincial want parasitical royals draining the situation where Britain is divided between administrators. Taking on both public coffers?). two opposing authorities—nationalists in challenges is a dangerous recipe that

4 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 472 has led to over-cautious politics. When I OUT OF TOUCH : Iain Duncan Smith spoke at the Radical Independence conference at the weekend, I was reminded of the reasons why I helped establish the Radical Independence campaign. We took lots of stick when it was set up. Some called us an MI5 front. Some called us a Trojan horse for the Labour Party. The old left said we had capitulated to nationalism, and Labour activists claimed we were funded by Brian Souter. Everyone predicted we would fail, that we were bound to fail, that failure was certain. So why didn’t we fall behind the well- A government not fit for purpose resourced official campaigns? Why did we use our own scarce resources to by Sandra Webster, This is for new claims only but many are fund something that might sink us, when SSP co-spokesperson already worried about the affect. A pilot in our elders and betters pleaded caution, South Wales saw the number of individuals when the odds were stacked against us? ALTHOUGH THERE was a loud ‘hal - in debt to their landlord increase by 20,000 My own answer is simple: the official loo’ when The Lords voted against the bed - to 140,000 in only seven months. Private campaigns told a story of Scotland that room tax, the evil of welfare cuts continues, landlords are reluctant to rent to people on made no sense to me. It was a story of as the government not only try to save bil - benefits while social housing landlords plucky businesspeople and middle-class lions but spread their ideology that those have seen substantial drops in their income. professionals zooming about in a 21st- out of work or who require support are Having spent billions on Universal Credit, century economic powerhouse. It was one skivers with no place in our society. Frank Field and Iain Duncan Smith’s proj - big happy family of soft civic nationalism, Meanwhile, quietly, lives collapse as the ect, the government seem to have reached or one big happy family of incremental continued pressure forces individuals closer the point of no return and will carry on. constitutional change. It was simplistic, to the edge. So much for protecting the The date for when all will be transferred particularly in the post-2008 era. most vulnerable. Many people who have to Universal Credit keeps changing now it been forced to apply for PIP instead of DLA is 2018. Despite the evidence that it is not Seize the initiative find they are not entitled to the new en - fit for purpose it continues on. I wanted a story of Scotland that hanced payments. 45 per cent of folk have represented our conflicts and our had their mobility car removed from them. Voices of dissent complexity. For many this is a lifeline. The government do not like voices of dis - I didn’t want to forget the other side of ‘Sharon’ has spina bifida and has been on sent and have ordered the third sector to re - Scotland for the sake of short-term DLA high rate mobility for over 20 years. main silent. It has been reported elsewhere political convenience. She used this to hire a vehicle which that Margaret Lynch of Citizens Advice Bu - I wanted to remember the times when makes getting to work easier. She can walk reau has been criticised for being too politi - Scottish people, not politicians, seized with sticks though painfully and slowly. cal. I hope there will still be those who call the initiative from Scottish elites— At her recent work capability assessment, out the despicable actions of this government. because these are the truly inspiring she lost the enhanced mobility and had to Meanwhile this out of touch government moments in our history. I wanted UCS make arrangements to return her vehicle. announced an ex-Amazon director will and Red Clydeside, not Michelle Mone work for the DWP. Amazon use tax avoid - and JK Rowling, or Sean Connery and ‘I struggle to get to work’ ance to increase their profits. Companies Brian Souter. “My car is not a luxury”, she says. “It al - like ATOS and Capita make millions from Scottish history falters when we let lowed me to get out and about and not have the welfare cuts. politicians take the initiative for us. to be dependent. I struggle to get to work We talk rightly so of being anti-austerity Let’s use the European referendum to now and can’t use public transport. They but what does that really mean to you? Does set our own timeline for independence, have made me more dependent. a march or a demo alone make a difference? an independence based on true self-rule “I used to have more freedom now I am How do we ensure we have conversations and internationalism. stuck at home having to ask for help.” with those affected without creating another Let’s not wait for 18 years of Tory rule to ‘Sharon’ is not alone with many individuals them and us? As things continue to get worse force us, zombie-like, to shuffle our way to and families being in the same boat. Universal these are issues we will have to start talking autonomy. Let’s do it while we still have Credit is being rolled out to families with dis - about. The cuts continue to get worse and al - optimism and energy left in our bodies. abilities too. Originally the Tories said they ways shall unless good people make a stand would be exempt but a new pilot with one of and have political influence against them. • This is an edited version of a piece which the areas being Musselburgh will see families There is a different way. Austerity is their de - recently appeared in The National with a disabled person having to apply online. sign for life. We have a different plan.

issue 472 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 5 SOCIAL STRIKE New mobilisation tactics by Sophia Lycouris, RISE Lothians list candidate

AS MENTIONED in a previous Voice the Transnational Social Strike Platform is a group of European organisations and individuals who seek new methods of resistance against the increasing precarisation of labour in Europe, and the intensified mobility of workers in the European space, who follow any available precarious job opportunities. The activities of this Platform also draw attention to the role of the refugee crisis, as a context which generates an even more precarious workforce, shockingly desperate and extremely vulnerable. The Platform has planned a mobilisation across Europe for the 1st of March 2016 to address these issues. The decision for this mobilisation was taken in a transnational meeting in Poznan, Poland, last October, and the catchy title “24 hours without us” was adopted, since this mobilisation was initially conceived as a strike action for groups of precarious workers in Europe. This expression is still used in the publicity of the event, despite the fact that the idea of a traditional strike has been abandoned. This is because it soon became evident that, although precarisation is a common theme in Europe, the way in which this situation is experienced by workers in concrete material terms differs immensely from country to country, and from one work context to another. Strike action is normally used as a tool to make claims or protest against unwanted elements in the working conditions. The issue of the European minimum wage was initially discussed as a possible focus for the protest, yet this created a number of unsurmountable difficulties. The European minimum wage is essentially a concept with different values in different European countries. What can one TRANSNATIONAL viable, so that we can have more energy do with €10 in Germany, as opposed to what one could you do SOCIAL STRIKE : to keep fighting against the system. with the same amount of money in Portugal? a project that Following this logic, in the Transnational emphasises the link Social Strike project, we should only focus Capitalist system weaknesses between labour on the concept of a European minimum Perhaps a mathematical formula should be developed to struggles and wage, not its monetary manifestations in calculate appropriate equivalents of the European minimum political struggles different European contexts. wage concept in Euros and other currencies across Europe. In this way, the European minimum Should this formula take into account inflation and any other wage becomes a symbol pointing us in factors that determine the state of the economy in each the direction of specific political European country? Would our wages get adjusted every month? principles, such as the right for Fair Pay. In these conditions, what should be the concrete content of The Transnational Social Strike project our claims during our protests? But the Transnational Social thus becomes a perfect example of fully- Strike coordination team realised that there was no need to integrated political activism, offering a foreground any concrete claims, and that this was not an context in which a labour claim and the appropriate step at this stage. political principle underlying this claim The Transnational Social Strike project is also a project that fuse into a single element. emphasises the link between labour struggles and political Focusing exclusively on the political struggles. For those who acknowledge the weaknesses of the principle and abandoning the desire to capitalist system, it is easy to understand that for every labour- translate the political principle into related claim we protest and strike, there is a systemic fault concrete claims expressed in financial underlining the situation. If it was possible to fix the terms, is a position that help us resolve the weaknesses of the political system, we wouldn’t need to tension between those who wish to stay in pursue labour claims. the EU and those who want to leave. We only pursue them to make our current situation more Indeed a large number of British activists

6 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 472 SOCIAL STRIKE for an alternative Europe the Greek people against capitalism and the European anti- democratic structures. As a German progressive organisation experiencing directly the disastrous effect of German capitalism, Blockupy identified with the Greek struggle in an almost psychological manner, which required visual expression. The Greek word OXI (which means NO and was used extensively in Greek protests before the Greek referendum last July) was fully integrated in the visual structure of the Blockupy logo. Blockupy became one with the Greek struggle, and this is why when Greece was defeated by the capitalist EU, Blockupy experienced an internal collapse which was expressed as confusion and numbness, inability to proceed. There was no symbol Blockupy could fight for anymore, and there was no major tangible enemy Blockupy could unite against! In the Blockupy Consultation meeting mentioned above, a significant amount of time was spent on discussing the problems of the lack of a major visible enemy. Frankfurt, which is Blockupy’s birth place, is also the city where the European Central Bank is located.

The enemy is everywhere In the recent years, the European Central Bank became a central target in the Blockupy mobilisations and direct action projects. Following the collapse of the Greek resistance, the attacks against the European Central Bank became pointless, and Blockupy had to redefine itself. A major decision was taken just before the Consultation meeting in Berlin ended, to stop looking for obvious enemies personified in buildings, monuments or people. That’s because there is no major enemy to attack, the are against the EU and are looking MOBILISATION: enemy is everywhere. The enemy of the alternative Europe forward to a prospective Brexit. the 1st of March and the opponents of the European socialism are embedded It would be unwise to make them feel mobilisation has been in the system, they are part of its fabric, impossible to isolate. excluded by presenting this project as refocused as an We cannot fight anymore just for the sake of specific labour one that is relevant to workers in the EU awareness project, claims as an end in itself. We can only undertake political member states only. using a series of fights through temporarily using appropriate labour claims as As mentioned in an earlier article, the public, performative anchor. But those claims cannot be the ultimate aim of the Transnational Social Strike project and discursive struggle, they are only disposable tools in the road for deep relates closely to the German movement methods to explore social and political change. Blockupy, a movement focused on the potential of a For this reason, the 1st of March mobilisation project of the concrete claims within the German Transnational Strike Transnational Social Strike project will not be a traditional strike. context. The coordination meeting for as a tool of resistance This is because the left movement in Europe is not yet ready to the Transnational Social Strike to an unfair and activate a strike as a way to pursue the principle of Fair Pay. mobilisation on the 1st of March took undemocratic world The 1st of March mobilisation has been refocused as an place in Berlin as part of a Blockupy awareness project, using a series of public, performative and Consultation meeting, also scheduled in discursive methods to explore the potential of a Transnational Berlin on 6/7 February. Strike as a tool of resistance to an unfair and undemocratic world. This meeting was crucial because, The mobilisation will be materialised through colourful during it, Blockupy managed to overcome demonstrations, performative direct action events and its recent inertia, a shock effect triggered discussions in different contexts. This will be a form of by the unfortunate developments in activism-in-progress, a transnational lab in a series of informal Greece after the referendum. settings where new tactics will be debated and hopefully The German Blockupy movement tested in small-scale controlled environments. invested an incredible amount of energy and passion in the potential of the fight of • Follow Sophia on Twitter: @sophia_lyc

issue 472 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 7 WORKPLACE Mass civil service sackings planned by the Tories by Voice Reporter November tax office bosses coming years in a wholesale Inland Revenue and Customs also announced plans to retreat from providing local and Excise was sold of to a HMRC BOSSES fired their close 90 per cent of existing public services. company called Mapeley who latest shots on Tax Office premises and lose up to A statement posted online agreed to rent the offices workers on 16 February with another 25 per cent of staff by the Cabinet Office tried to back to the government at a the issue of 148 Compulsory by 2021, meaning that the paint a picture of old-style hefty premium. Redundancy Notices. workforce will have shrank by government buildings that are Mapeley is owned in In a move described by the over 50 per cent and number no longer required. Bermuda, and therefore pays Public and Commercial of offices reduced from over But the real intention is zero tax in the UK. As part of Services (PCS) trade union 400 to only 17 since HMRC buried at the end when it the Mapeley contract, the as ‘entirely unnecessary and was formed in 2005. highlights how much Revenue receives money inflammatory’, the staff The department and their floorspace is taken up by back every time it vacates a received the news by email Tory paymasters want to jobcentres in our communities. building—hence the rush to while outgoing Chief send a signal, using the 148 A written statement by the flit before the end of the deal. Executive, and newly staff facing Compulsory minister Matthew Hancock But readers should not anointed Dame of the Realm, Redundancy, to demonstrate describes the aim as being to think that this unholy union of Lin Homer, refused to even exactly how they will go create “more modern, tax collector and tax avoider discuss the matter with the about the mass closure efficient and smarter is some isolated incident of recognised representatives of campaign. It is no workplaces”. the foxes taking charge of the the staff. coincidence that Tory chicken coop: HMRC’s To put the level of ministers are also seeking to Poverty telephony partner is none redundancies in context, this cut redundancy pay just a But the conclusion he other than Vodafone and its is the greatest number of few years after they reaches is not to modernise or IT provider is Google, both of compulsory notices issued by celebrated making the upgrade existing offices with which pay virtually no a UK civil service department system “affordable and the latest in technological corporation tax in the UK and in history—three times the sustainable”. innovation, it is simply to close have signed sweetheart previous record—and A sham consultation for them and force thousands of deals with the tax office to signifies a clear change of public sector workers, which staff into poverty. vastly reduce their bills in policy under an extreme will run until 3 May, confirms Things have even reached recent years. right-wing Tory government. ministers want to further cut a surreal level with Louise Unlike in previous years, the terms for voluntary exits. Haigh, Shadow Cabinet Industrial response the department has refused This fresh assault would Office Minister, exposing the PCS has plans to meet to implement the full range of overwrite major changes to lies told to staff to justify union representatives in all redundancy avoidance tools the civil service closing an office in her affected bargaining areas to available to it as part of its compensation scheme Sheffield constituency. develop an industrial own HMRC and civil service- imposed by the coalition, In all seriousness, an response and general wide collective agreements. presented to unions and MPs internal memoranda seen by secretary Mark Serwotka has Official ‘meaningful in 2010 as being “long term”. the Voice, states that one of written to TUC general consultation’ began in August And the assault is not the main reasons for closing secretary Frances O’Grady last year, with 200 staff at confined to HMRC. On 3 an office housing 250 pointing out that, if all public risk—of those all but 52 are February the Tories members of the Department sector workers are being now facing the axe. announced plans to close 75 for Business, Innovation and attacked, there should be a At the same time, last per cent ALL offices in the Skills, is that the ‘phones and common approach to computers don’t work negotiations and properly’. This is the campaigning. department that is Workers in Inverness, responsible for “supporting Dundee, Irvine, East Kilbride, Fill in this formJ and osend iit tno: Sc ottishh Sociealist P aSrty, SuSite 37P 0, British businesses to increase Glenrothes, Glasgow, 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or phone: productivity and compete Edinburgh, Livingston, 07810205747. Or join the SSP online: scottishsocialistparty.org/join-us anywhere in the world”. Bathgate, Aberdeen, g I would like to join the Scottish Socialist Party The timetable of mass Cumbernauld, Wick and g I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party closures HMRC is working to across the UK now need the Name...... has been driven entirely by full support of socialists and Address...... the end of the PFI deal— trade unionists in building the ...... signed for 20 years by Tony biggest possible campaign of Phone...... Blair’s New Labour sustained action against this government in 2001. Back economic, class-based Email...... then the entire estate of the vandalism.

8 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 472 by Colin Fox, RISE lead candidate for the Lothians Sturgeon Brexit indyref “A SECOND referendum on in - dependence will almost certainly claims challenged be demanded if the UK votes to leave the EU against Scotland’s wishes,” insisted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the Andrew Marr programme recently. Com - paring David Cameron’s position to King Canute, claimed the Tories would be “un - able to hold back the tide of Scot - tish public opinion” on the matter. That would seem a reasonable claim given the gulf between what Scotland wants and what we get. But on reflection there are more holes in the SNP’s case than on Donald Trump’s Ab - erdeenshire Golf courses. For they appear to be conced - ing that if English voters opt to dyref2 in her Holyrood election She resists it as we run up to the wealth, an end to corporate con - remain in the EU—and the latest manifesto six weeks earlier. Holyrood elections despite fore - trol over our economy, an end to polls suggest they will—indyref2 For fear of losing their overall casts of an SNP landslide. vested privilege, extending will be off the table and demands majority at Holyrood the SNP If they win another majority equality, economic justice and for it demobilised once again. barely mentions independence, it will be because the prevalent democracy and jettisoning con - There was a time when the clearly believing it unpopular in mood in Scotland is anti-Tory, servative values. SNP claimed winning a major - many quarters. They have barely not pro-SNP. And there is a ity of MPs at Westminster was defended the cause over the past huge difference. Second vote RISE a mandate for independence. two years amid the collapse in It will not be ‘their record in Despite the SNP, independ - There was also a time when North Sea oil prices. government since 2007’ people ence remains the elephant in the winning a majority at Holyrood And with Scotland about to support—for that is mediocre to room in these elections. It is the was deemed a mandate. suffer another round of SNP be sure. only option we have of getting Not anymore. spending cuts, no one in the Yes People are unhappy at the rid of the Tories and their poli - camp believes we would win an - austerity, casualisation, poverty cies in Scotland. More SNP questions other vote in these circumstances. wages and economic insecurity The Radical Independence Their Brexit scenario raises Moreover, EU membership is attributable to the Tories. With Conference in Edinburgh exam - more questions than it answers. not the issue to precipitate in - the demise of the Labour Party, ined why the SNP is so cautious How for example is a second ref - dyref2. Many Yes voters will op - the SNP are the default anti- on independence. In the session erendum to take place when the pose it this time round if the UK Tory option. But the nationalists ‘Routes to Independence’ I high - power to grant it remains with is outside the EU and Scotland woo conservative ‘middle Scot - lighted RISE’s promise of a sec - Westminster? too. Indyref2 must be fought on land’ who happily vote for their ond vote on independence within Is Nicola Sturgeon seriously bread and butter issues, on the brand of managerialism but not the lifetime of this Parliament at expecting the Tory right in their economy, on working people’s independence. a time of our choosing. If no ma - Brexit hour of triumph to con - living standards and on freeing This contradiction is not just a jority materialises, I added, we cede Scots another chance to Scotland from Tory rule. If there dilemma for the SNP. It revisits will not call it. But if one does break up the British state? After were an ‘unstoppable’ desire to the conflict the Yes movement emerge we will have secured the they had been assured the mat - hold a second referendum after never resolved, between the political mandate to press for it. ter had been resolved for a gen - such an EU vote, we would lose SNP’s core message that inde - The conference also heard eration? Not a chance. it. And that would be fatal for the pendence offers a non-threaten - how the movement might pur - Boris Johnston, the likely Tory independence movement. ing future to the well off—keep sue other options if indyref2 is leader by then, would accuse So Nicola Sturgeon must re - the pound, keep the Queen, retain closed off to us including a cam - Nicola Sturgeon of refusing to sist the temptation. It should not low taxes for the wealthy, remain paign of civil disobedience, an abide by two democratic votes be difficult. She resisted it in in the EU, remain in NATO— economic boycott, protest rallies she’d lost. More worryingly, they May 2015 when Scotland sent and the message the SSP and and plans to revive the cross- might call her bluff. For they will 56 SNP MPs out of 59 to West - others emphasised that it was party Scottish Independence have noticed she did not seek, minster. She resisted it when about profound change involving Convention founded by the SSP, nor secure, a mandate for in - Cameron took us to war in Syria. significant redistribution of Greens and the SNP in 2005.

issue 472 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 9 WORKPLACE Strike back against all cuts by , SSP national workplace organiser

COUNCILS ARE setting budgets that plunge the knife into the heart of workers’ jobs, working conditions and the services available to children, the elderly, sick and disabled vulnerable people. For the Westminster Tories this is grounds for champagne-fuelled celebrations. It’s hack - ing away at the public sector, which they de - test on principle, and boosting the prospects for profiteering by the private sector—and to hell with the human consequences. For the SNP government, it’s a case of much hand-wringing, justified attacks on Westminster’s cuts to the Scottish block grant, and then meek and supine devolution of Tory butchery to local authorities, col - lege and university boards... and ultimately the workers and service users who voted in CUTS KILL – KILL THE CUTS: want to shed 3,000 jobs their droves for the SNP as an allegedly over the next two years by non-filling of vacancies PHOTO: Craig Maclean ‘anti-austerity’ party. For Labour and SNP councillors, all we Labour carries out cuts whilst proposing to due to Centre closures, this year they only see is jockeying for propaganda advantage increase taxes on workers. The SNP imple - get two days. in advance of the May elections, with coun - ments cuts and has now dropped their pledge “People can’t afford to buy the place - cils run by both parties ‘regretfully’ wield - to abolish the Council Tax, after winning tens ments, so with Social Workers bogged ing the axe to an estimated 15-20,000 jobs of thousands of votes on that promise. down in bureaucracy, trying to deal with over two years, and countless losses of vital Increasingly, council workers support the ever-decreasing budgets, the burden in - services in the working class districts most call for No Cuts budgets, but also see the creasingly falls on carers. Many are elderly, in need of a safety net. need to take things into their own hands, by in some cases parents in their 70s caring for Instead of passing on cuts—£350million staging industrial action. children in their 40s. this year alone—the SNP government, and West Dunbartonshire teachers are staging “Glasgow City Council want to shed 3,000 councillors (Labour and SNP), should be courageous strikes in defence of children’s jobs over the next two years by non-filling of standing up for the people who gave them education, threatened by cost-cutting reor - vacancies. But already, after years of job cuts, an anti-Tory, anti-austerity mandate, and set ganisation. They’ve resisted brutal attempts stress related illnesses are rocketing. Man - No Cuts Budgets in defiance of Westmin - by the Labour council to pitch parents agers are reluctant to let Social Workers go ster, to mount a mass campaign of workers against the teachers. because they know the post won’t be filled. and communities to demand back some of The Justice for Jannies campaign is gath - “Non-replacement in Social Work has led our stolen £billions. ering steam in Glasgow, as school janitors to increased caseloads and stress, increasing stage prolonged strikes against a Labour sickness, meaning a worse service to the Shifting the burden council which has stooped to hiring non- vulnerable people in need of attention, and Alongside that they should be declaring union staff to cover up the chaos. back-breaking workload, a vicious spiral. emergency legislation in the Scottish Par - As cuts budgets are set, with disregard “Goodwill hours are built up through flex - liament to scrap the Council Tax and re - for the opposition of workers and commu - time. Staff don’t build up flexi to take a day off, place it with an income-based Scottish nities, the union leaderships, STUC and so - because their diary is filled up for four weeks Service Tax, shifting the burden from low- cialists need to help prepare workers for in advance. So it’s really unpaid overtime. and middle-paid workers to the bloated mi - united, coordinated action against the cuts. “I know of people off sick but using an - nority, thereby doubling funds for council I spoke to a Glasgow City Council nual leave and earned flexi time to cover jobs and services from £2billion to £4bil - worker about the impact of cuts, and the sick absence because they’re scared to build lion, on last year’s figures. need to prepare strike action. up their sickness stats, in case it leads to dis - However, those facing horrendous job in - “Previous years of funding and job cuts ciplinary action. security, mind-wrecking workloads, and cruel have cascaded down to people in most “Senior management were surprised at cuts to daily life necessities, would be wise need. For example, under ‘personalisation’ the level of uproar about the planned attacks not to wait for either SNP or Labour politi - of care, last year people were entitled to on flexitime and other terms and conditions. cians to discover a spine and rescue them! five days a week at Day Care Centres, but We’re surprised that they were surprised!

10 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 472 CULTURE “The system couldn’t function without goodwill, where staff stay behind half an Tuneful support for Palestinian- hour or more to deal with urgent cases. The Scottish university campaign council wanted to take away payments for DAVID ROVICS: played a this, through attacks on Flexi-time. They fundraiser in Stirling for also wanted to cut annual leave to new em - Scottish Universities ployees—if we ever get any!—from 28 days Supporting Palestinian to 25. And to give up 6 days of public holi - Students (SUSPS) days for annual leave, which would mean refuse collectors and residential care staff losing out thousands of pounds on enhanced payments, plus the childcare complications. “These attacks, clawing back about £4million from workers’ terms and condi - tions, is one of the reasons we’ve had record levels of attendance at union meetings, in - cluding 350 at the UNISON branch AGM. “The fury that erupted over these attacks has forced the Labour council to back down, at least for now. But we need to be SINGER-SONGWRITER and self- Students’ Union. There may also be a vigilant. They’ll come back at us, when proclaimed anarchist David Rovics particular relevance to Palestinian they think the time is right, for example brought his world tour ‘the Other Side’ students having the opportunity to get to after the elections are over! to Scotland this week. Rovics played two know Scotland, or any other place where gigs in Scotland firstly at the University it is possible to have an independence Electric mood of Stirling on Thursday evening and then movement that doesn’t involve tanks “The mood of our UNISON branch AGM he took share the stage with Glasgow and massacres.” was electric, and determined to fight all cuts. rockers the Wakes the following night. Union President Andrew Kinnell All £131million. If they get away with that, The Thursday gig was a fundraiser for commented on the SUSPS campaign: what next year? The 350 members there felt Scottish Universities Supporting “So far we have managed to secure a fee it will take strike action to stop these cuts. Palestinian Students (SUSPS), an waiver for a student to come in And not just token one-day strikes either. initiative backed by the Scottish September, we have received backing “Through individual strikes by small sec - Government, the STUC and NUS from notable people such as Noam tions of workers we’ve already cushioned the Scotland, which seeks to help provide Chomsky and Dame Judi Dench but the blow in recent times, winning victories and scholarships for postgraduate Palestinian fundraising efforts are far from over. regradings. People acknowledge we’ve pre - students to come and study at Scottish “We aim to raise at least £10,000 to vented some cuts through struggle, but they’re Universities. Rovics praised the scheme provide a student with a full scholarship worried about their security longer term, com - saying: “Due to the fact that Palestinians that would cover living expenses, flights, mitted to the job they do, but unable to see live under a form of apartheid which accommodation, visa costs and so on. themselves working until they’re 67! makes travel of any kind very hard for I’m confident we will manage to meet “This is a savage attack on local govern - them, it’s that much more important that this goal, and events such as this are a ment, and it’s being carried out by the SNP. Palestinian students are supported great way to both fundraise and raise In previous elections I’d have given the through different forms of international broader awareness of the campaign and SNP my first, constituency vote. But what’s solidarity, like this initiative of Stirling the situation students in Palestine face.” the point? They’re carrying out the attacks.” Review: Break the Chains Book review: Break the Chains by Richie under successive Tory/Liberal and Labour Westminster Venton . Order from scottishsocialistparty.org governments. As an RMT trade union branch and Regional Council, we have gladly purchased a number by Brian Reynolds, RMT CalMac coordinator of copies with the intention of encouraging as many reps and activists to read and use/discuss the contents, THIS BOOK is a truly must read for all who care like we have done with another literary gem, The about equality in society. It offers an in-depth, well Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. researched account of current times for the working For those of us fortunate enough to be able to class in the so-called age of austerity. purchase this fantastic book, we should pass it around Without doubt, Break the Chains lays down to as many people as possible. It clearly lays down a unquestionable evidence of a war on the working class. credible alternative in great detail. The author has obviously delved deep into our No resources centre or library should be without BUY: at scottishsocialistparty.org communities, identifying those who suffered unfairly several copies of this message of hope for our class.

issue 472 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 11 for Socialism, Independence and Internationalism Issue 472 26th February – 19th March 2016 email: [email protected] scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com Promoted by Jim McVicar on behalf of the Scottish Socialist Party, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6LD. Printed by Forward Graphics, Elderpark Workspace, 100 Elderpark Street, Glasgow G51 3TR SNP set to abandon progressive tax policy by Voice Reporter

AS THE Voice went to press, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the SNP will fi - nally ditch plans to scrap the unfair Council Tax. The SNP leader told the David Hume Institute in Edinburgh she has ditched the party’s long- standing promise to scrap the Council Tax and replace it with an income based alternative. Full details of the policy U- turn are due to be unveiled next PHOTO: Simon Whittle week but reports suggest the SNP intends to retain the hated Council Tax and simply widen Neither cuts nor a freeze the gap between Band A and Band H properties. The First Minister has ignored the conclu - but redistributive taxation sions of the ’s by Calum Martin, That the Council Tax fails iniquity, but to challenge it! Local Tax Commission which Lothians RISE candidate to raise necessary funding It’s time for new warned the Council Tax could for local services is merely redistributive local not be made ‘progressive’. THE COUNCIL Tax must the salt in the wound. taxation—it’s time for the go. A regressive throwback Nor does the Council Tax Scottish Service Tax. Day of action to the Conservative freeze prove a solution. The Scottish Service Tax RISE candidate Colin Fox governments of John Simply freezing the iniquity is a redistributive model, said he was disappointed but Major, the Council Tax will not lighten the tax based on income that shifts not surprised by the move: ensures that whilst burden for those on lower tax burden match ability to “Despite being warned by the countless individuals and incomes, nor will it make pay. In doing so we would Local Government Tax Com - families across Scotland the rich pay their fair share. tax the rich their fair share mission it was not possible to must shoulder punishingly All the while, councils cut and see 70 per cent of the make the Council Tax ‘pigs ear’ high tax-bills, the richest or introduce charges for rest of us better off as a into a ‘silk purse’ Nicola Stur - amongst us face barely a vital services. The point of result. Further, with a geon has ploughed ahead re - fraction of the same burden devolution wasn’t meant to potential £4.1billion tax gardless. In jettisoning their as a proportion of income. have been to preserve take, fairer tax can be a key promise of a progressive alter - step to protecting and native in favour of this ‘pigs The SSP, and now RISE, have consistently argued that Holyrood improving local services. should scrap the Council Tax and replace it with a local income ear’, they have abandoned low For the last seventeen tax – or ‘Scottish Service Tax’ – based on six bandings: income families in Scotland years Holyrood has had the when they needed help most.” power to scrap the Council This news comes ahead of a Tax. As we approach the RISE Day of Action across Scot - fifth Scottish election since land on Saturday 27 February, then, we need to send a where campaigners will put the clear message to Holyrood: case for replacing the Council the Council Tax has got to Tax with an income based alter - go—and if the current crop native where the burden is of MSPs won’t stand up for shifted from the low paid to - tax justice, then they’ll soon wards the better off. discover that RISE will.