the Socialist Issue No 54 - Feb/March 2020

Formerly www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk price: £1 solidarity price: £2

AFTER THE ELECTION: A MASS WORKING FRANCE ERUPTS IN BUILD A NEW SCOTTISH CLASS MOVEMENT PENSION REVOLT WORKERS’ PARTY FOR INDYREF2 Page 14 Pages 2-5 Page 8/9 NO, BORIS! AUSTERITY IS NOT OVER BUILD THE FIGHTBACK

Jim McFarlane workers are under threat. cuts as well as well as attacks are crying out gle in Glasgow, With the SNP passing on on terms and conditions. for investment the wider working Dundee City Unison secretary Tory cuts, Scottish Govern - Blaming the Tories at West - in jobs and class will fight to and Unison NEC member ment funding for local coun - minster is easy to do but is a local services. win investment in A(personal capacGity) Acils has falleIn by 7.6N% in real copS out. CouncillTors of every TChere have UTjobS s and services. terms since 2014. political persuasion have been local The demand This has resulted in tens of meekly voted for cuts budgets strikes and for the return of Boris Johnson and his bil - thousands of job losses, ser - in every council chamber in struggles the millions of lionaires’ government claim vices being slashed and local the country. against cuts, pounds stolen austerity is over. But the facts communities losing much Not one has had the convic - workloads and from council prove he is a liar. A new wave needed facilities and services. tion to say enough is enough, attacks on budgets will gain of austerity will wash over Perpetual austerity, puts at stand with the workforce and terms and increasing sup - Scotland’s councils as they set risk the long term financial use their powers to set no cuts conditions in a port. their budgets in the coming sustainability of councils. budgets. We have had the number of Legal no cuts weeks. Cuts to staffing levels place same tired excuses that they councils. The budgets must be The financial position is a huge strain on the remaining have no choice. task for the set by councils as bleak. Every council in the workforce. Cuts in funding Genuine socialist council - major trade part of that wider country is drawing up plans to have been made worse in lors would link up with the unions is to campaign - along make ever more cuts. Vital ser - areas with increased demand trade unions in building resis - build for co- Photo Paul Mattsson with industrial vices that many in real need such as social care and chil - tance and defiance to the Tory ordinated and sustained ac - action - to defeat the agents of face closure. Long held terms dren’s services. Council work - government. Working-class tion. As was seen in the austerity at Westminster, Holy - and conditions of council ers have faced real term pay communities across Scotland magnificent Equal Pay strug - rood and councils. 2 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 3 editorial editorial

The trade unions, the socialist left – inside and outside of “Scottis”h Labour – environmental campaigners, pro-indepen - After Labour’s general election defeat dence and anti-austerity fighters should discuss convening a conference to debate out the necessary steps towards the founding of a new Scottish workers’ party. With the Scottish parliament elections due to take place in less than 18 months’ time, the need for a socialist challenge to the SNP and the par- BUILD A NEW SCOTTISH WORKERS’ PARTY ties of capitalism is urgent.

Nevertheless, they were timid trade unions to force a general in terms of their commitments election during the Brexit cri - on public ownership, com - sis, as we advocated. This is an pared even to the programme international failing of some of of the Labour left that Corbyn the newer left formations, in - was part of in the 1970s and cluding Podemos in Spain, 1980s, which pledged to na - Syriza in Greece, and the Left tionalise the top 25 monopo - Bloc in Portugal. What we think lies. While supporting all of Cor - December 2019 saw Scot - byn’s progressive pledges, we Rebuilding working tish Labour suffer the worst warned that a left Labour gov - class political general election result in its ernment would face the wrath 119-year history. Once again and hostility of big business representation the party has been reduced to which would do everything a solitary Westminster MP. possible to prevent encroach - A new mass party, which the What makes the outcome ments upon its power and Socialist Party has been advo - more catastrophic for Labour wealth. “That is why a crucial cating for since the 1990s, than even four years ago was step towards solving the eco - would, in contrast, be a gen - the loss of a further 196,000 nomic crisis would be to take uine workers’ party rooted in votes even compared to the into democratic public owner - the trade unions. Not neces - near wipe-out of 2015 – an ship the 125 or so big corpora - sarily from its inception hav - election which was widely tions that control around 80% ing a Marxist programme, but thought to be the very worst it of the economy across certainly a class-struggle could possibly get. Scottish Britain”, we wrote in the So - based party with a broad so - Labour’s vote fell to 511,838 cialist Party Scotland 2019 cialist outlook within which (18.6%) in December from general election manifesto. the forces of the Socialist Party 707,147 (24.3%) in 2015. “This would provide the possi - would seek to be a powerful bility of developing a demo - Marxist influence. 80,000 marched for Scottish independence in January Following in the wake of the 2020, following the Tory election win previous year’s independence cratic, socialist plan of However, the battle for the referendum, the collapse of production that could very future the Labour Party at a Labour support in working quickly transform the lives of UK level is not fully exhausted was the only country in the UK endum backed by the Scottish class areas in 2015 was dra - millions”. – in reality it has been a one- where Owen Smith defeated parliament”. Baillie, on behalf matically illustrated by the The limited reformist nature sided civil war conducted by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership inspired hundreds of thousands to join the Labour Party in the UK but the pro-capitalist right wing were allowed to remain Photo Paul Mattsson Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 of a majority of the Scottish loss of 40 of their 41 MPs of Corbyn’s manifesto was it - the right against the left. The leadership contest. Even then, Labour MSPs, responded: “We elected in 2010. self a reflection of the charac - Socialist Party in England and only 13,000 Scottish Labour deplore any attempts to un - Open collaboration with the the programme needed on the Blairites in 2016 and the Corbyn. He should support They implicitly rejected taking ter of the movement around Wales is rightly calling for the members voted, 2.5% of the dermine the official policy po - Tories and the capitalist estab - how to fight destructive, aus - unending attacks he has faced the opening up of the Labour the ‘Liverpool road’, forged by him and its ideology. Emerg - refounding of the party based UK total, compared to just sition of the Scottish Labour lishment in the anti-indepen - terity-laden capitalism. And, from the out-and-out capital - Party for affiliation and mem - the heroic socialist council of ing as it did following three on trade unionists, young peo - under 500,000 in England and Party and we express serious dence ‘Better Together’ December 2019 saw Scot - crucially, the need for a social - ist wing of the Labour Party bership rights for all left, so - that city and led by Militant decades of neoliberalism and ple inspired by Corbyn and so - Wales. concerns about an apparent campaign had sealed the fate ist and class approach towards that dominates the Parliamen - cialist and anti-austerity supporters in the 1980s, who the throwing back of socialist cialists, on a clear left and tish Labour suffer the worst Even at the height of Cor - change in Labour’s position on of the Blairite-dominated “” Scottish independence and tary Labour Party. We also forces, including those previ - refused to make cuts and built consciousness following the anti-austerity basis. Neverthe - byn’s electoral appeal in the a matter of vital importance to Scottish Labour Party. Its then general election result in its the right to self-determina - campaigned for a Corbyn vic - ously expelled like Socialist a mass movement that de - collapse of Stalinism, it did not less, it is now overwhelmingly 2017 general election, with the future of Scotland and of leader Jim Murphy boldly de - tion. tory on socialist policies in Party Scotland, formerly Mili - feated Thatcher and secured see itself as representing the likely that in Scotland building 119-year history. Once again Labour winning an extra 3.5 the Scottish Labour Party it - clared in the wake of the evis - both the 2017 and 2019 gen - tant, for their socialist poli - resources for houses, sports independent interests of the a new party of the working million votes in England and self. Scottish party policy is ceration that saw the SNP the party has been reduced to eral elections. cies”. centres, nurseries and a job working class in the struggle class will become a necessary Wales, Scottish Labour put on very clear – that is opposition secure 56 of the 59 available Corbynism’s After Richard Leonard’s None of this was done. The creation programme. against capitalism. But rather and urgent task facing the a solitary Westminster MP. a mere 10,000 votes compared to a second independence ref - MPs: “The Scottish Labour election as Scottish Labour Blairites in Scotland and the While it was not their inten - it limited itself to achieving a trade union movement, so - potential to the 2015 post-indyref anni - erendum”. Party has been around for leader in 2017, Socialist Party rest of the UK Labour Party re - tion to do so, Corbyn and Mc - fairer economic system still cialists and anti-austerity based on, in the main, private fighters. hilation. more than a century. A hun - Socialist Party Scotland and Scotland commented: main in-situ. The Corbyn-sup - Donnell gave a green light to Has the potential to turn ownership of the economy. There are two main reasons The right wing dominates dred years from tonight we our sister party in England and “Leonard needs to put forward porting left have, mistakenly, right-wing Labour councils Scottish Labour in Scotland into a gen - The class character of Cor - for drawing this conclusion, what is left of the Labour will still be around”. Murphy Wales welcomed Jeremy Cor - a clear and unambiguous case continued to try to secure a across Britain to continue to uine workers’ party been bynism, Momentum et al – aside from the missed oppor - group in the Scottish parlia - independence hastily resigned after a short- byn’s leadership victory in for the transformation of Scot - mythical, peaceful co-exis - inflict Tory austerity on work - squandered? And if so, why largely made up of a radi - tunities by the Corbyn-left to ment, as they do in the Scot - lived six months as Scottish 2015. However, as the editorial tish Labour into a democratic tence with the right wing and ing-class communities. This did it fail? What are the tasks calised middle class layer – create such a party. Firstly, the tish councils Labour still The second key factor in leader and is now a well-paid in the Socialist (England and and socialist party. its pro-capitalist policies. was an important factor that facing trade unionists and so - added further to this tendency extremely limited surge into influence. Arch-Blairite Jackie Labour’s demise in Scotland, advisor to the Tony Blair Insti - Wales) pointed out in October Central to this is that full Corbyn and John McDon - allowed Boris Johnson and the cialists in the battle to secure to adapt to ‘official opinion’. the Labour Party in Scotland Baillie the current frontrunner apart from decades of right- tute. 2015: “The Corbyn surge is a rights must be given to party nell gave one of the first con - Tories to win ex-Labour seats genuine political representa - Nor did it base itself on the po - has meant that the social basis for the vacant deputy leader’s wing control and their imple - Today, in the aftermath of potential new mass party in members and the trade cessions to capitalist interests in parts of England and Wales tion for the working class? tential power of the workers’ for transforming Labour to the position. mentation of austerity, has the most recent election deba - formation. It is not at all guar - unions to be able to deselect in the Labour Party as far back in December 2019. Drawing out the lessons of movement. At no time, for ex - left is not sufficient. Labour’s Baillie led the charge against precisely been the record on cle and with the national anteed it will succeed if the re - MPs, Members of the Scottish as December 2015, when they As we have pointed out con - the failures, thus far, to trans - ample, did Corbyn or that membership in Scotland is John McDonnell and Jeremy the national question and self- question set to explode again sistance from the right is not Parliament (MSPs) and coun - wrote to Labour councillors sistently, Corbyn’s manifestoes form Labour into a genuine wing of the party advocate the currently around 20,000 and Corbyn last summer when determination. Even under following Johnson’s victory, is fought and defeated”. cillors who fail to fight cuts calling on them not to set no in 2017, and then in 2019, were workers’ party are an essential independent mobilisation of mostly inactive. Reflecting the they declared that a Labour Corbyn and Leonard the posi - the building of new Scottish We stood with Corbyn and refuse to defend left poli - cuts budgets which they in - a step forward in contrast to element of the discussion on a the working class and the political and social character government “would not block tion remained unchanged. workers’ party now essential? against the attempted coup by cies and seek to undermine correctly described as “illegal”. years of Blairite neoliberalism. way forward. As is outlining of the membership, Scotland a future independence refer - ...continued on page 4 4 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 5 editorial news

the UK Labour Party, for taking decisions to support a new workers’ party or Scottish in - We have entered a volatile and explosive situation globally dependence. Under the explo - Trade union action but also in Scotland and Britain. A Catalonia-style confrontation sive conditions that exist this “” could accelerate moves to a could now develop over Scottish independence, as the Johnson split away by affiliated unions government refuses demands from the Scottish government for and others to support a new Scottish workers’ party. can defeat the cuts the power to hold indyerf2. Under these conditions, Socialist However, there must also be Party Scotland will advocate the building of a mass campaign total opposition to any at - of defiance, general strike action, mass protests and occupa - tempts to split the trade unions on national lines. As tions to demand the right to choose, including demanding that the current CWU dispute with the Scottish government organise the referendum in defiance Royal Mail has underlined, united struggle across the na - of Johnson and the Tories. tions of the UK is a vital and essential weapon for the bat - tles that will emerge against ...continued from page 3 a second referendum as a this new Tory government. “democratic right”, although A new workers’ party in As we pointed out in 2017: they will still campaign for a Scotland should seek, from “A major obstacle to Labour’s No vote in any future indyref2. day one, to build links with so - recovery in Scotland is still cialists and trade unionists in their outright blanket opposi - England, Wales and Ireland SNP shift who are seeking to build inde - tion to independence. Contin - important first steps towards uing to oppose independence rightwards pendent working class and so - Lynda McEwan cialist representation. balloting for strike action. and a second referendum is a West Dunbartonshire Workers need to be prepared huge barrier to winning over The conditions for the volatile period for industrial action which the many anti-austerity work - building of a principled work - The SNP-led West Dunbar - could force the council and ers and young people who are ing class left opposition to the tonshire council have spent £6 We have entered a volatile the Scottish government into a attracted to Corbyn’s left poli - SNP are growing, despite the million from their reserves, and explosive situation glob - position of retreat. cies”. electoral gains made by the which are now nearly de - ally but also in Scotland and With the council reported to The eruption of class anger nationalists recently. With the pleted, whilst still implement - Britain. A Catalonia-style con - be meeting this month to dis - around independence in 2014 SNP in control of the Scottish ing brutal austerity in the area. frontation could now develop cuss this years spending plans, was just that: a working class government and in ruling ad - With the possibility of fund - over Scottish independence, there has to be a renewed ef - revolt against the establish - ministrations in many local ing from the Scottish Govern - as the Johnson government re - fort from the Joint Trade ment and austerity through councils, they have become ment for all councils about to fuses demands from the Scot - Unions (JTU) to build a mass the prism of the national ques - the main conveyer belt for the decrease significantly and tish government for the power campaign to fight this contin - tion. implementation of austerity in considerable council tax rises to hold indyerf2. uing, relentless austerity. It is incumbent on the left to Scotland. this is extremely worrying for We fight for an independent Two years ago, West Dun - understand this and to defend From the national teachers’ an area which is still struggling socialist Scotland as the only bartonshire JTU won a victory the right to a second referen - pay dispute in 2018, to the The RMT transport union has been at the forefront in seeking to build socialist, working class political representation while organising militant strike action to defend its members with increasing levels of way out of the crisis facing the against cuts to trade union dum and independence while equal pay strikers in Glasgow poverty. convenor facility time and at the same time linking it to working class on jobs, pay, in 2017, to the growing mood could there be any possibility trade unions and the working local council elections. As a In some cases this will re - in Scotland as the pressure to Emergency food parcel re - launched a fight back against the struggle for socialism. public services and poverty. of anger among NHS workers, of a reversal in the decade of class. minimum a coalition of a sim - quire rule changes to allow for create a new political vehicle quests rose by a massive 40% budget cuts to vital services in Following the sweeping Central to this is the burning SNP politicians are increas - austerity already suffered by ilar type is needed as a step to autonomy for Scottish areas of for the working class grows. in the period between the area, including to social gains made by the SNP in De - need to build a new, mass ingly clashing with the work - working class and middle class The way forward a new party, if not the reactiva - UK unions to take decisions There can also be clashes September 2018 and Septem - services and at the Vale of cember, sections of the Labour working-class party that ers’ movement in Scotland. communities in Scotland”. tion of TUSC itself. on issues like indyref2 while inside the trade unions over ber 2019 and over Christmas Leven hospital. (see picture) left have called for a review of would fight for the powers of Nicola Sturgeon and the Robin McAlpine, the direc - The trade unions, the social - A debate is now going to being allowed to debate the the right of Scottish members local foodbanks handed out They should demand that Scottish Labour’s opposition independence to be used in SNP’s evolution to the right tor of the pro-independence ist left – inside and outside of open up in the trade unions in issue of political affiliation and to take decisions on indepen - toys to 1,000 children in West SNP councillors use their re - to a second independence ref - the interests of the majority. and in a pro-big business di - Common Weal project, rightly Scottish Labour – environ - Scotland on whether to back a the building of a new workers’ dence. In 2014, some Labour- Dunbartonshire. serves and financial borrow - erendum. An independent socialist rection has continued condemned the Commission mental campaigners, pro-in - second referendum and inde - party. It may also bring Scot - affiliated unions refused to Tellingly a school uniform ing powers to refuse to MSPs Neil Findlay and Scotland would need to seek throughout the Brexit crisis. report as “the narrative world dependence and pendence. Graeme Smith, the tish trade unions who are organise a democratic debate bank, a fuel poverty project implement more cuts, linking Monica Lennon broke the to build a united movement The 2018 SNP’s ‘Sustainable of Gordon Brown, Tony Blair anti-austerity fighters should Scottish TUC general secre - looking to support indepen - among branches and mem - and a baby bank have all been this to a wider campaign to Labour whip in December by with the working class in the Growth Commission’ report and George Osborne. This is discuss convening a confer - tary, commented in January dence and who want to debate bers on what position to adopt recent additions set up to help win back the millions stolen refusing to vote against the other nations – England, Wales marked a passionate embrace sheer McMacron – and if ence to debate out the neces - 2020: “The democratic wishes the building of a new workers’ on the referendum. In the case alleviate the effects of both through austerity by Holyrood SNP motion calling for the and Ireland, across Europe of cuts in an independent you’re going to go around sary steps towards the of the people of Scotland need party into collision with the of the CWU, the shop workers’ universal credit and in-work and Westminster. right to hold indyref2. and internationally. It would Scotland. As we commented at proposing the French presi - founding of a new Scottish to be acknowledged. The Scot - union bureaucracy and the union USDAW and the GMB, poverty with more families The recent successful cam - Findlay commented that he lay the basis for a genuinely the time: “The SNP’s dent’s approach, you kind of workers’ party. With the Scot - tish labour movement should Labour leadership. there was real anger among unable to make their wages paign against private devel - could no longer oppose a sec - free and voluntary socialist ‘blueprint’ for an independent need to look at his appallingly tish parliament elections due support IndyRef2”. Writing in In 2015, the Fire Brigades their respective union mem - last to the end of each month. oper Flamingland building on ond referendum and that con - confederation of states and an Scotland, out today, is titled ‘A low approval ratings”. to take place in less than 18 the Morning Star newspaper Union voted to re-affiliate to bers in Scotland as a No posi - A recent freedom of infor - the shores of Loch Lomond tinued “hard, oppositionalist international plan of produc - new case for optimism’. In We can add to this the re - months’ time, the need for a on January 7, Steven Smellie, Labour following Jeremy Cor - tion was effectively imposed mation request revealed fami - drew widespread support with Unionism is the road to obliv - tion. truth, it’s nothing more than a cently unleashed mass move - socialist challenge to the SNP Unison Scotland’s deputy con - byn’s election as leader. At the without genuine consultation. lies in the area owe £14,500 in a campaign that made local ion”. Above all, the potential ‘tired old case for capitalism’, ment in opposition to and the parties of capitalism is vener, said: “It is now time for same time the resolution Most unions, including the unpaid school meals debt and news headlines. It clearly Lennon has now proposed power of the working class which also marks a shift right - Macron’s attacks on the pen - urgent. the trade union movement to passed by the FBU special STUC, Unison, Unite, the PCS figures released at the end of showed the strength of work - that Scottish Labour be re- must now be marshalled in wards compared even to the sions and rights of French Socialist Party Scotland has develop a discussion and seek conference also agreed that civil servants union and others 2019 showed a massive 25% ing-class peoples' power to founded as a separate political Scotland and across the UK to 2014 independence workers. a long record of working on a to influence the independence the union had to take into “ac - adopted a neutral stance. The increase in drug deaths in re - win against attacks from capi - party from UK Labour. fight this reactionary Tory gov - blueprint”. A significant space has united front basis to secure all movement in a search for an count of differences in the po - RMT backed a Yes vote after a cent years. talist vultures. These moves among sec - ernment and the wave of at - “An independent Scotland therefore opened up to the left genuine steps towards build - alternative to austerity, litical situation across the UK ballot of its Scottish member - For most of the winter the Socialist Party Scotland say tions of the Labour left in Scot - tacks they will try to would seek to slash the budget of the SNP in Scotland. The ing a fighting socialist elec - whether that is a union jack or and will not use political fund ship. This time around there services at the Vale of Leven the JTU should discuss with land reflect a dawning reality implement. deficit by holding down public Scottish Labour leadership toral alternative. From 2010 saltire austerity”. money from Scotland or will be growing demands for hospital have been under in - stewards and reps, hold mass that the mood in favour of Mighty class battles will spending below the rate of have proven to be unable to until 2018 we were active par - Socialist Party Scotland will Northern Ireland to support genuine democratic discus - creasing strain with the GP out workplace meetings and build Scottish independence is open up, including over Scot - economic growth for up to ten respond, implicated in auster - ticipants in the Scottish Trade be outlining the case for the affiliation”. Such a position, sion over a campaign for in - of hours services closed. a coordinated strike ballot to likely to grow significantly in tish independence. Socialist years, according to the report. ity policies and seen as a Unionist and Socialist Coali - trade union movement to not but developed to enable dyref2 and independence. All of this means social work defend terms and conditions the next period. Party Scotland will be at the Specifically, seeking to drive major obstacle to the right of tion (TUSC) alongside the just stand clearly in defence of unions in Scotland to posi - It is not at all ruled out that, services are at breaking point. for workers and against all Even the tone-deaf Com - forefront of these struggles, down the deficit from the cur - self-determination. RMT transport union and self-determination, but to put tively support a party and can - given the largely unchanged Increased work loads and un - cuts. munist Party of Britain and the advocating a socialist pro - rent 8.3% of GDP to 3%. A new, Scottish workers’ other socialists and trade itself at the head of a mass didates standing Labour rulebook, unions derstaffing have put huge The local government Morning Star newspaper, gramme and the building of a The outcome would be sav - party offering a fighting social - unionists. Scottish TUSC struggle for indyref2 and for independently of the Scottish could face the threat of expul - amounts of pressure on an al - unions and the STUC should which opposed independence mass workers’ party to end age cuts to public spending for ist opposition is essential. One stood candidates at Westmin - an independent socialist Scot - Labour Party, can also develop sion, even if an open Blairite ready demoralised workforce follow suit and organise na - in the 2014 referendum, have capitalism and the rule of the years after independence. Nor that has to be based on the ster, Scottish parliament and land. quite rapidly in other unions does not win the leadership of however Unison have taken tionally co-ordinated action. declared they are in favour of billionaires. 6 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Sept/Oct 2019 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 7 trade union news news

around the company. But this comes on the back of a lucra - tive general election for Royal Belfast Hovis Mail, and a busy Christmas. Labour leadership contests: Left candidates Members should insist on The CWU's postal executive discussion, call special meet - committee met on 14 January workers’ begin “” and confirmed that it would ings, put questions and de - ballot our members if Royal mands on the candidates, and Mail didn't pull back from all out strike must oppose all cuts and stand for socialism their plans. debate the way forward to It is crystal clear that Royal build a mass working-class- Mail management are out to destroy the power of the CWU based party and must feel strengthened by the election of the Tory gov - ernment. And we are clearly in mood of the most combative for the fight of our lives but and radical sections of work - our members are determined Hovis workers in the ers and youth in Scotland. This to win this battle. Bakers and Unite trade means, despite their condem - unions have voted for an nation of the 2014 Better To - massive yes vote all-out strike in Belfast, gether campaign and Northern Ireland for better promising that they would needed pay. “not block” indyref2, they are Picket lines will started unlikely to regain lost support. We must now get another at one minute past mid - Both Richard Leonard and massive Yes vote and get our night on 24 January after Matt Kerr also do not seem to members up for the battle an 88% majority voted for be willing to stand up to the ahead. Members should take strike action to win their right wing of Scottish Labour confidence from local man - 5.1% pay claim. over the right of members to agement in Bootle being Unite says that after de - even discuss the question of forced back from disciplining ducting shift premiums, independence in a democratic a local rep by the threat of ac - overtime and bonuses, conference. tion. CWU: Royal Mail workers to Hovis workers receive a The limited base of Cor - We also should be calling for basic wage 90p below the bynism in Scotland means the the company's books to be national minimum wage question of political represen - opened up to the workers and threshold. tation of tens of thousands of for Royal Mail to be nation - Unite officer Sean McK - workers and youth who sup - alised. reballot after High Court ruling eever says: "Unfortunately port socialist ideas and inde - It’s time to replace the capi - management has com - pendence must be discussed talist spivs by the workers to Trade unionists and young people need a mass left and anti-austerity socialist party Above right: Rebecca Long-Bailey and Matt Kerr pletely failed to address le - urgently. A conference of trade properly and democratically anti-union laws in their na - reballot the membership, to gitimate pay expectations unionists, socialists, the Gary Clark run this great public service. Matt Dobson plained that unless the pro- Long-Bailey has rightly said and Lisa Nandy are trying to tional strike ballot last October allow a basis for real negotia - in recent pay talks. “Bosses Labour left, anti cuts and envi - This is a battle for the whole capitalist right wing of the she would defend “a socialist tack left saying they will de - Branch secretary, - a 97% vote for action on a tions. refused to meet the pay Socialist Party Scotland ronmental campaigners labour and trade union move - party was defeated, the poten - programme and take on the fend Corbyn’s anti-austerity Scotland No. 2 branch CWU 76% turnout. CWU deputy general secre - claim and instead offered a executive committee should be called to discuss ment to engage in, especially tial to build a mass anti-aus - establishment”. However it is policies to gain support from Scandalously, however, one tary Terry Pullinger met with meagre 23p an hour uplift how to build a new mass party as Boris Johnson looks to roll terity, workers party with a not enough to just defend Cor - Labour members. unelected High Court judge Royal Mail's senior manage - (3.2%). In effect, bosses are of the working class in Scot - The Communication Work - out more anti-union laws, tar - Leadership contests are tak - socialist programme would bynism but to learn the The issue of deeds not just dismissed the ballot and the ment to agree the process for forcing workers to the gate land. ers' Union (CWU) has an - geting the rail and transport ing place for the UK Labour not be realised. lessons from its mistakes. words also applies to the left action planned for during the negotiations to resolve the dis - for less than 14p an hour in nounced that talks with Royal unions. leadership and deputy leader - We also called for a socialist, Long-Bailey has not been as candidate for deputy leader in general election and Christ - pute. terms of a differential. This Mail management have bro - The CWU needs to particu - ship in Scotland, with the re - class-based approach to Scot - forthright as Corbyn in pro - Scotland, Glasgow councillor mas - the busiest time of the At this meeting, Royal Mail is both scandalous and an make demands ken down and the union will larly join with the RMT and sults known by April 4th. tish independence and self- moting nationalisation. She Matt Kerr. Kerr, in contrast to year for the company. stressed that the financial po - insult to the workforce. be reballoting our member - the other transport unions in From the outset in 2015, determination. Unfortunately, has also retreated in the face of other Scottish Labour candi - Just prior to Christmas, sition was poorer than ex - "Workers are deter - Before making a recom - ship for industrial action. the firing line, demanding ac - after Corbyn’s unexpected the Labour left have failed re - the witch hunt from the right dates, stood on the principle Royal Mail requested a period pected and they were under mined to secure them - mendation on who to vote for, The union overwhelmingly tion from the Trade Union leadership victory, and after peatedly to take this approach. wing Board of Jewish deputies. that an MP should take a of calm for negotiations dur - pressure to make changes selves fair pay." the Labour-affiliated trade smashed the undemocratic Congress to stand up to the left candidate Richard The indications are that none Long-Bailey calls for the worker's wage in the general ing which the CWU would not much more quickly to turn unions should question candi - voting thresholds in the Tory Tories. Leonard won the Scottish of the leadership candidates democratisation of the party election and promoted Cor - Labour leadership in 2017, So - are about to change course. through open selection but byn’s policies. However, in ac - dates on crucial issues and cialist Party Scotland ex - Momentum backed Rebecca then has been at pains to reas - tion as a councillor he has members should be con - sure the Blairites that she will voted consistently for cuts sulted. The right-wing leader - tolerate their sabotage of the budgets and anti-worker at - ship of Unison has SNP's broken promise leaves students drowning in debt Have you got some news for us? left and wants a broad coali - tacks as a leading member of undemocratically imposed tion. If Long-Bailey cannot the previous Labour-led Glas - support for Starmer. Members should insist on The paper of Socialist Party Scotland stand up to these pressures gow City council. Lucas Smith Grant mired in debt. Scotland’s Audi - This places the burden on how can she stand up to the discussion, call special meet - Aberdeen Socialist Students tor General has revealed that a the students who can deal E-mail: [email protected] bosses and fight for workers? ings, put questions and de - 185% increase in student loans with debt the very least. Nor did Long-Bailey use the mands on the candidates, and have been authorised in the Scottish Labour has rightly Website: www.socialistpartyscot - Self-determination The 2007 manifesto pledge first leadership hustings in debate the way forward to period of 2018/19 as com - came out in criticism of this made by the SNP to scrap stu - land.org.uk Liverpool to point to Labour’s build a mass working-class- pared to 2008/09, an increase unfulfilled promise, but nei - In Scotland, Labour’s incor - dent loan debt, a pledge they Editor: Philip Stott fighting history in the city. For based party. A party that, as a of £346m of debt yearly. ther do they go far enough. So, rect position on the right to won the Scottish parliament example highlighting as a minimum, opposes all cuts, Around 500,000 students re - what do we say? self-determination was the elections on, has never been model for today the 1980s so - supports workers in struggle, main in debt to the Student Socialist Party Scotland major factor in their worst fulfilled. Even after 13 years in cialist council who refused to removes the pro-capitalist Awards Agency Scotland, the maintains that the immediate Join Socialist Party Scotland election result in their his - power. implement Thatcher's cuts. As Blairites and any councillor, devolved Scottish organisa - scrapping of student debt be tory. All the leadership candi - New official figures have re - well as Brexit, many working MP or MSP that votes for aus - tion in charge of paying stu - essential to building a fair, so - dates, bar Long-Bailey and vealed in a damning light that VISIT www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk click on class areas did not trust terity, backs democratic public dents fees and providing them cialist society where education Kerr, are currently opposed to student debt has in fact tripled Labour because of their record ownership, defends indyref2 with bursaries. is genuinely free. JOIN or MORE INFO the democratic right to a sec - since 2007, as opposed to in implementing council cuts and fights for an independent A crucial factor when we Another essential step must EMAIL [email protected] ond independence referen - being wiped out entirely and tax rises. That can only be socialist Scotland. consider this issue is that be providing fair living grants dum. But even the left under the SNP’s watch. TEXT your name and postcode 07761 818 206 undone by fighting the Tories Trade union members and poorer students borrow more for all, an essential part of giv - candidates are pledging to op - In the past nine years Scot - in deeds not just words. Corbyn supporters should not on average than wealthier stu - ing students the means to live FACEBOOK Socialist Party Scotland pose independence in a future land’s students have collec - This is critical as the right be passive observers in this dents, as can be expected to while in further and higher ed - TWITTER @cwiscot referendum and to “defend the tively become £3 billion more wing candidates Keir Starmer process but should fight create the tune of £1000 more. ucation. union”. They do not grasp the such a party. 8 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 9 feature feature

a mass working-class move - Philip Stott ment for indyref2?”. Workers Editor, the Socialist and young people came to hear more about Socialist Party Scot - It’s inevitable that, given the land. Tories victory, support for inde - A MASS WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT CAN Glasgow Unison branch sec - pendence will grow significantly retary and Socialist Party Scot - in the coming weeks and land member Brian Smith months. With a Tory govern - spoke, addressing the powerful ment at Westminster and with role the organised working class the pro-capitalist SNP winning and the trade union movement 48 of the 59 available seats on a can play in fighting for demo - commitment of demanding an cratic rights and to change soci - indyref2, the scene is set for a DEFEAT THE TORIES AND WIN INDYREF2 ety. major explosion in the national Brian made clear that workers question. and trade unions are in conflict But there is not the same en - world. It also unleashed an ex - not just with the Tories but also thusiasm towards the SNP by plosion of class struggle, includ - the SNP and Labour over cuts, workers and young people as ing general strike action by 80,000 march to demand indyref2 low pay, attacks on the trade there was after the 2014 referen - workers and young people. The unions and privatisation. dum. Years of SNP politicians declaration of independence at An independent, working- carrying out cuts at Holyrood the end of October 2017 was class and trade union campaign and in local councils has under - short-lived and the scandalous will need to built to fight for so - mined their base. arrest and imprisonment of cialist independence. Brian also There is therefore an urgent politicians and leaders of the highlighted that workers in need for the trade unions, so - movement followed. Scotland need real socialist po - cialists and the workers’ move - However, the nationalist lead - litical representation. ment in Scotland to build a new ership of the pro-capitalist Pde - Socialist Party Scotland mem - mass mass campaign for the CAT party were incapable of bers will be fighting in the trade right to self-determination. carrying through the struggle to unions for full democratic dis - its conclusion. In other words, cussion and debate over the for revolutionary struggle issue of independence. And for Mass struggle against the reactionary capital - the trade unions to lead a mass ist Spanish state and for an in - movement for indyref2. needed dependent socialist Catalonia Philip Stott, Socialist Party that united the working class, Scotland National Secretary, A Catalonia-style confronta - both Catalan and Spanish, as pointed to the international cri - tion could now develop, as well as other national minori - sis of capitalism and the mass Johnson has refused to allow a ties, to forge a socialist confed - movements taking place of second ‘legal’ referendum. In eration of the region. workers and youth in Chile and his letter to Nicola Sturgeon re - By unleashing the power of France. jecting her call for the powers to the working class it would be Philip explained how Socialist hold indyref2, Johnson insisted: more than possible to defeat the Party Scotland supported Cor - "You and your predecessor Tories – not just over their re - Some of the Socialist Party Scotland members on the January 11 demonstration byn’s radical left policies but had made a personal promise that fusal to allow indyref2 but over also demanded a change in the 2014 Independence Refer - cuts, austerity and anti-trade Matt Dobson Rather than being despon - movement for for democratic Labour’s anti-self-determina - endum was a "once in a gener - union laws as well. dent after the election, the rights is unfolding in Scotland. tion position in Scotland and ation" vote. The people of The SNP leadership, because mood on the demo indicated Despite the biblical weather, the failure to articulate a social - At least 80,000 marchers Scotland voted decisively on they defend capitalism, are or - that there is a growing mood to Socialist Party Scotland stalls ist exit from the EU. packed the rain-soaked streets that promise to keep our United ganically opposed to mobilising fight. were busy with a great response Both these issues proved to be of Glasgow in a mass Scottish Kingdom together..... The UK Part of the 80,000-strong demo on Saturday 11 January. The scale of the march shows the potential to build a mass movement the working class in direct con - Homemade banners were to our slogans. We heard many fatal for Labour in the general independence demo on Satur - Government will continue to frontation with the Tory govern - displayed with the slogan “Our times “An independent Socialist election. Even now, after the day January 11th. The date for uphold the democratic decision ment. Right To Decide”. Confronting Scotland? I agree with that, give catastrophic result, the left in border poll and counter-de - Scottish independence. Mass working class that is indepen - the mobilisation was set hours of the Scottish people and the Socialist Party Scotland, as we the arrogance of Tories like us one” as we gave out thou - Labour do not seem to be will - mands by unionists to oppose working-class struggle and a dent of the pro-capitalist SNP after Boris Johnson’s general promise that you made to them. did in the 2014 referendum, will Johnson and Gove but also sands of leaflets. ing to confront the Blairites and it, would be hugely destabilis - revolutionary threat to to the leadership. Socialist Party Scot - election victory in December. For that reason, I cannot agree call for a specific trade union, Blairites like Jess Philips, who The argument from national - change course. ing. Scottish independence billionaire class can force con - Boris Johnson's position land advocates the building of a This was not just a repeat of to any request for a transfer of socialist, anti-cuts and pro- deny the right to a second inde - ists that we should not raise so - And that fighting for socialist would also inflame the national cessions. Appeals by the SNP to mass campaign of defiance, the sizeable All Under One Ban - power that would lead to further reflects the overall inter - working class campaign for an pendence referendum. cialism at this stage but only policies will be crucial to win - question in Wales. Another fac - the Tories to listen to reason will “” general strike action, mass ner marches off the last couple independence referendums.” independent socialist Scotland. This was a march that showed focus on independence was a ning a majority for indepen - tor could be a rise in English na - fail. ests of British capitalism protests and occupations to de - of years. The protest reflected Boris Johnson's position re - One that while supporting a the growing space to the left of weaker one this time. dence as the SNP tack further in tionalism and increased This is not 2014. Then, David mand the right to choose. In - mounting anger at the prospect flects the overall interests of who will do all they can to Yes vote in an indyref2, would the official leadership of the in - Marchers crowded our stalls a pro-business direction, nar - national tensions generally. Cameron and Tories were confi - cluding demanding that the of another Tory government and British capitalism who will do all also fight for the powers of inde - dependence movement, the to sign petitions calling for a rowing the appeal of indepen - This nightmare scenario for dent they would comfortably block any possibility of the Scottish government organise a growing willingness to strug - they can to block any possibility pendence to be used to end and SNP. The SNP naively believe mass working class campaign to dence. the capitalist class must be win a the referendum and in the break-up of the UK. Scot - the referendum in defiance of gle for independence to change of the break-up of the UK. Scot - reverse the cuts and for socialist that Johnson will cave into ac - demand IndyRef2. That the Tricia, an NHS worker who avoided at all costs. Sturgeon process end for decades de - Johnson and the Tories. society and end austerity. tish independence would be a tish independence would policies. Central to this is the cepting the mandate of the SNP, Scottish government defy Boris came to the meeting and who and the SNP leadership have in - mands for separation. They The marchers were, more catastrophe for capitalist inter - burning need to build a new who won 80% of Scottish MPs and the Tories and organise a has voted for the SNP, expressed sisted that only a legal referen - were rocked by an insurgent be a catastrophe for capi - Catalonia than previously, drawn from ests – even more profound than mass working-class party that on a pledge of delivering in - referendum. real anger at the cuts to the NHS dum based on the “gold mood among the working class working-class communities Brexit. talist interests – even would fight for the powers of in - dyref2, and will agree to negoti - We linked these demands for and the role of the Scottish gov - standard” of 2014 would be in favour of independence. Not In Catalonia in 2017, the across Scotland, and particu - While Scotland makes up dependence to be used in the ate a second referendum. democratic rights explicitly with ernment in implementing aus - credible. Specifically ruling out, for nothing did one commenta - more profound than Brexit. right-wing Catalan nationalist larly Glasgow and the West of around a tenth or so of the over - interests of the working class. But the ruling class in Britain the need to fight all cuts and terity. for example, the Scottish Gov - tor, Gideon Rachman, writing in government, driven by a mass Scotland. all UK economy, the blow to the An independent socialist will do all they can to oppose a austerity, for public ownership The SNP have been increas - ernment holding an advisory the FT the day after the indyref movement from below, sanc - Many had also travelled in the prestige of British capitalism was commonplace. The only Scotland would also seek to second referendum, fearing the of the economy and socialist ingly exposed since 2014 over referendum as a way forward. describe it as a “near-death ex - tioned an “illegal” referendum early morning from Scotland’s would be immense. In addition way to win democratic rights build a united movement with result will mean the break up of change. austerity and Saturday’s mobili - Both Sturgeon and Mike Russell perience” for the UK. which they had no real inten - other towns and cities. The it would lead to a major weak - and self-determination is to the working class in the other the UK. sation for independence reflects have bullishly claimed that There is no chance of British tion of going through with. But young were the last to appear, ening in its international stand - build a campaign, rooted in the nations; England, Wales and Ire - Under those conditions, a the political vacuum to the left. Johnson's position “will not capitalism revisiting that strat - the mass movement from below but came in their thousands ing and have profound working class and the trade land, across Europe and inter - Catalonia-type confrontation is What is needed is a new mass stand” and the “democratic will” egy. Not with opinion polls indi - meant that it went ahead. The and with militancy They public meeting consequences for the whole of unions, with socialist and anti- nationally. It would also lay the developing that will see mass workers’ party in Scotland, of the people of Scotland will be cating support for brutal repression of the Spanish chanted “Tories, Tories, Tories the UK. Not least in Northern austerity policies at its core. basis for a genuine free and vol - pressure on the SNP to defy the fighting for socialist policies to heard. But they are massively independence at at least 45%. At state against people queuing to Out,Out,Out”, “Boris Johnson’s After the march, Socialist Ireland where an increase in For that reason a mass cam - untary socialist confederation Tories refusal to concede the lead the struggle against cuts underestimating the determina - the beginning of the 2014 cam - vote on October 1st 2017 was Got To Go”, “when Tories Say Party Scotland held a public sectarian conflict, demands by paign for indyref2 must be built of states and an international right to self-determination. and capitalism and for an inde - tion of the ruling class to block paign, polling at 30% and below seen by millions across the Cut Back – We Say Fight Back”. meeting on “How can we build nationalists for an “Irish Unity” by the trade unions and the plan of production. What is clear is that a mass pendent socialist Scotland. 10 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 11 women analysis HEADING FOR A NEW ECONOMIC CRISIS?

Chile 2019: Protesting Pinera

tablished. Inspired by the gar - unionists from Unite, NIPSA ment workers, women took to and Unison. Bezos' billions reach space the streets of New York on In the last few months we’ve The Earth's 2,153 billion - March 8th 1908, demanding witnessed the uprising of the aires had fortunes exceeding better pay, shorter hours and Chilean youth and working Women workers played a huge role in the 2011 UK public sector pensions strike the wealth of the 4.6 billion the right to vote. class against the oppressive poorest in 2019, says Oxfam. It was in 1910 at an interna - regime of Sebastián Piñera Super-exploitative Amazon tional socialist conference in fighting against the increased boss Jeff Bezos remains at the International Women’s Day 2020: Copenhagen attended by over cost of living, privatisation and head, with $116 billion to his 100 women from 17 countries inequality. Women, young name. Bill Gates and Warren that unanimously passed a and old, have been to the fore - Buffett aren't far behind. motion that established Inter - front of these struggles. As a 60 If Bezos and Gates built a national Women’s Day. In - year old Chilean woman re - Left: The US and China’s trade wars are impacting world growth. Right: Angela Merkel is presiding over stagnation in Germany tower of all their filthy lucre - deed, the mighty Russian ported: “We are here because in $100 bills - it would pene - CAPITALISM IS OPPRESSION Revolution in February 1917 we support the movement. As trate outer space. whilst experiencing a 25% in - factor is the inability of the downturn could be sparked off was ignited by a strike and women, we support the fight Wayne Scott crease in productivity, largely capitalists currently to find by economic developments demonstrations of tens of and what Chileans are calling Dundee March 8th marks the globally celebrated International Women’s on the basis of automation. sufficient markets for their there. And in Britain.... thousands of women textile for – for better pensions, the Audi, Mercedes and others commodities sold on the con - This would be aggravated by The six richest billionaires Day. In recent years however, much like the Pride marches for workers in Petrograd celebrat - minimum wage. We feel that In November 2019, it was re - have recently announced sumer markets, exacerbated the massive levels of debt in in the UK are worth as much ing International Women’s Day every day the Chilean people ported that the German econ - LGBTQ+ rights, it’s history of being rooted in struggle has been massive job losses as the capi - by the impact of austerity, in - the US totalling $22 trillion, as the poorest 13.2 million demanding ‘Bread and Peace’ are going out on the streets omy - the so called industrial talists class desperately try to debtedness and the holding not to mention the ongoing workers here. Just four families diminished. Big business increasingly uses it as a cynical and ‘Down with the Tsar’. and we have a government powerhouse of Europe - nar - compete for profits, by down of the incomes of the trade war with China. are swimming in wealth to - opportunity to give the illusion of being progressive and inclusive. It was struggles of working- that isn’t listening,” rowly avoided entering a tech - squeezing more out of less working class and even big What will be the political talling £39.4 billion, says the class women that have won us Already in the first two nical recession. This is defined Sinead Daly looks at the real history of International Working workers sections of the middle class. ramifications of such a down - Equality Trust. the rights we know today, the weeks of 2020, mass protests as two successive quarters of turn in the world economy? Women’s Day and the socialist ideas it inspires today. welfare state, shorter working have returned to Chile, negative growth. From the mass movements in Stolen Greggs’ bonuses week and the legal right to Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Hong The announcement that re - Marx A downturn in Chile, Hong Kong, the Middle Greggs announced a £300 equal pay. Though we know Kong, France, India and more. cession had been avoided will 2020? East and elsewhere, the work - profits bonus for 25,000 staff through bitter experience that Global unrest is likely to come as little comfort to the Karl Marx showed that cap - ing class and young people are this month. But low-paid bak - these rights are limited and continue because this system German capitalist class. The italists are primarily con - Many are asking if we will stepping into battle. ery workers might only get to temporary on the basis of cap - is incapable of delivering economy grew by a meagre cerned with the amount of slide into new global recession A renewed crises would keep £75 of it as the state will italism. equality and a decent life to 0.1% in the final quarter of profit that can be made out of in 2020. Marxists do not put likely see an escalation of deduct the rest from their Uni - the majority of people, most 2019, and was mainly reflected the working class. Profits can rigid time frames onto real de - these movements, as well as versal Credit! particularly women. in the service sector, with fur - be increased both through in - hit hardest velopments in the world econ - them assuming a sharper in - Universal Credit must be Ending austerity, inequality, ther slow growth forecast in creasing length the working omy. dustrial character with the tra - scrapped in favour of real liv - discrimination and the op - 2020. This scenario of low day, as well reducing the The last ten years since the Despite avoiding a technical ditional methods of general ing benefits. But why does pression of women means get - growth is played out across the amount of time required for global crisis of capitalism and recession, Angela Merkel is strike action being utilised in a 'generous' Greggs get away ting rid of this rotten, parasitic major capitalist countries. workers to produce the value the implementation of auster - coming under increasing pres - mass way. The general strikes with paying so little that work - system of capitalism. It means What lies behind this slow - of their wages. ity has hit women hardest. Our sure from the IMF and others in India and France give a ers have to claim in the first replacing it with a genuinely down in growth in Europe’s Automation, zero hour con - public services have been dec - to implement a stimulus pack - glimpse of what is to come. place? equal society – socialism - that strongest economy? One fac - tracts, wage cuts are all part of imated. age to reinvigorate German in - Certainly another conse - uses the massive wealth, re - tor has been the ongoing trade the same logic - maximisation Women make up the major - dustry, particularly in green quence of a new downturn Minimum wage scandal ity of public sector workers sources and talents for the wars, which has had a big im - of profits at the expense of the industries. would be an enormous The minimum wage is to and we rely more heavily on benefit of the majority, not for pact on German exports. Al - working class. It is possible then for Ger - strengthening of anti-capital - rise by 51p an hour from April. these essential services be - the profits of the 1%. though this is not the entire Marx also demonstrated man capitalism to continue to ist moods among millions of That takes it to a mighty £8.72. cause it’s us who fill the gaps, On March 8 2020, rather picture. that this intense competition kick the can down the road for workers and young people. Those 24 and under have to for example, in the provision than look to Amazon or any The capitalist class in the between capitalists in order to a period. This would have a And the emergence of a pow - survive on £8.20 and for the of care, when these services other of the billionaire-owned UK and other major maximise profits through new similar effect to Japan where erful socialist consciousness. 18-20 year-olds it’s a shocking are withdrawn. multinationals as a allies in economies have held back in - machinery, in the longer term, the stimulus programmes of Socialist Party Scotland are £6.45 an hour. But for the However, we have seen the struggle to free women vestment in robotics and other undermines the profitability Prime Minister Abe led at best affiliated to the Committee for under-18s, a paltry £4.55 is Young women marching in France against Macron in January 2020 - Pic Gauche Révolutionnaire some significant and impor - from oppression, we are far new technology, instead rely - of the system as a whole. to a period of low growth, with a Workers’ International, the enough - according to the gov - tant struggles of women. Over better drawing inspiration ing on sweating workers more A lower rate of profitability no real recovery. worldwide Marxist and Trot - ernment. Meanwhile, the top This year’s main sponsor of ing with sexual harassment at women garment workers from two million workers took from the historic struggles of in the course of production in turn leads to a slowdown in What is certain, however, is skyist organisation. 100 UK bosses survive on an International Women’s Day is work and sacks employees New York city, who on March strike action over pensions in the New York garment work - and the widespread use of ca - investment, employment, that this cannot continue in - Through our work in the average hourly rate of £901.30 the notorious tax-dodging, who raise concerns about 8th 1857, went on strike de - 2011 in a massive public sec - ers, the Russian textile workers sualised, low paid labour in wage growth and demand. definitely, and would only trade unions the CWI have an hour. union-busting, billion-dollar Amazon's failure to take ap - manding an end to the horrific tor strike. In Scotland, the his - and today's French pension order to maximise profits. This falling rate of profit may delay a deeper crisis at a later been well positioned to inter - We call for an immediate in - company, Amazon, who’s CEO propriate action to tackle the working conditions, poverty toric equal pay strike in uprising. In Germany robotics has be part of the scenario that is stage, possibly acting as the vene into all of these move - crease in the minimum wage has a personal wealth of $110 climate emergency. pay and child labour. They October 2018. Working women, as has been taken up in a much more now being played out in Ger - trigger for a new global down - ments, raising the need for the to £12 an hour, and no exemp - billion! What a mockery to the were attacked by the police, In Northern Ireland, nurses, been the case in the past and serious way. However this has many. turn. socialist transformation of so - tions for young workers.We This is a company memory of the giants of his - but continued with their members of the RCN union, today, can and will forge work - not been done for the benefit In terms of Germany, de - It is perhaps a stronger pos - ciety through the nationalisa - support taxing the rich but, renowned for its appalling tory, upon which the true struggles. It was from their took industrial for the first ing-class unity with male of the working class. mand for industrial goods sibility, considering the strate - tion the the major companies above all, taking into public working conditions, has a legacy of International Work - movement that the first time in their history to defend workers and all the oppressed Since 2016, Volkswagen (machines, components etc) gic importance of US and multinationals that dom - ownership the major corpora - shocking track record on deal - ing Women’s Day rests. The women’s trade unions were es - the NHS, alongside trade to create a socialist world. have axed up to 30,000 jobs, have been hit hard. Another capitalism, that a global inate the globe. tions they own and control. 12 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 13 trade union news news Climate crisis: Australia’s ruling class Scottish teachers anger Renewing the left in the PCS exposed by bushfire catastrophe over workload scandal Dave Semple Left Unity, has proven utterly reps of the union to the un - incapable of leading a national elected full-time officers. PCS national executive dispute with the government. committee member Two national ballots have Key decisions (personal capacity) failed to reach the 50% partic - ipation threshold imposed by Broad Left Network sup - porters meeting in Manch - On 18 January, reps from the 2016 anti-union laws. ester recounted examples of across many different sections Socialist Party members obstruction on regional and of the Public and Commercial across all of the unions have devolved-nation committees, Services (PCS) union met in fought to organise a united arbitrary decisions taken to re - Manchester. We formalised trade union campaign to op - duce support to smaller the existence of a loose al - pose the undemocratic Tory groups, and a lack of lay-rep liance of socialist PCS reps anti-union laws. involvement in key decisions into the Broad Left Network. The ultimate blame for PCS' about where to deploy the Reps at the meeting agreed failure to be able to take strike union's resources or oversight an outline programme and action lies with the govern - of how effective they are. candidates for the upcoming ment, and its use of the pow - Full time officer-led organ - PCS national elections. This ers of the state to restrict ising is increasingly discred - includes agreeing to support workers' rights while giving ited. existing national executive employers ever more rights. Union democracy, pay, pen - Support Needs, added respon - committee and Socialist Party Left Unity deserves plenty of By Jim Halfpenny sions, office closures, attacks sibilities on literacy and nu - member Marion Lloyd for PCS blame as well. They insisted on facility time, defeating re - West Dunbartonshire EIS joint meracy – all have combined to national president. that ballots for industrial ac - dundancies, work in the pri - Marion Lloyd (right) candidate for PCS national president secretary (personal capacity) heap additional pressures on PCS members, made up of tion only involve pay and de - vate sector, social security, Pic Paul Mattsson Scotland’s teachers. civil servants and private sec - nounced anyone who mental health at work, trans - The Scottish Government tor workers on government disagreed as a saboteur intent New international figures gender rights, women's repre - guidance on workload reduc - contracts, have borne a huge upon wrecking the union's na - published by the OECD have sentation and many other Dennis, who was an inaugural Marion Lloyd, Broad Left tion has not worked and has cost due to Tory austerity. Pay tional campaign. confirmed that Scotland’s issues were highlighted by secretary of PCS Left Unity, de - Network candidate for Na - often been largely ignored. has been held back by up to Yet they have now ditched teachers work some of the reps as ways in which the ex - cried "the narrow and control - tional President of PCS, wel - We demand that the Scot - 20% since 2010. More than a their previous views and have longest hours in the world. isting leadership is failing. ling nature of discussions in comed the meeting in tish Government legislate on hundred thousand jobs have agreed to include pensions The annual report ‘Educa - The leadership of the union Left Unity", where dissent is Manchester, which she class size and class contact re - been lost. and compensation scheme in tion at a Glance’ confirms that in particular stands con - dealt with by "bullying or chaired: "PCS Broad Left Net - ductions to tackle workload Boris Johnson's re-elected the campaign. The Australian government have been widely condemned for their handling of the bushfire crisis Scotland’s teachers spent the demned for its failure to build ridicule". work is not just an electoral or - and address attainment gap. Tory government, despite its All of this has been accom - highest percentage of their panied by an increasing cen - the campaign of industrial ac - He welcomed the move to ganisation, formed for the working day, 63%, in front of a The Scottish Qualification pledges to end austerity, has Included in the political es - mass working-class party - tralisation of power within the tion that emerged in Walsall, formalise the Broad Left Net - national elections; its goal will Oisin Duncan class. A recent survey, carried Agency have little concern for continued efforts to under - tablishment’s capitulation to proposing public ownership union, led by general secretary Wolverhampton and Stock - work as a chance to rebuild an be to raise the confidence and Glasgow Socialist Students out by the EIS, found that: teachers workload having mine the civil service compen - capitalism’s ecological disaster and democratic workers' con - Mark Serwotka and unchal - port Universal Credit, allowing open, democratic, socialist or - consciousness of our union's 81% of teachers worked be - stumbled their way through sation scheme, which governs are the Liberal and Labor par - trol of the economy. Massive p lenged by national president, members to remain isolated. ganisation inside PCS. Alan reps, and to make the idea of a The catastrophic bushfires tween five to eight extra un - the introduction of Curricu - the redundancy rights of civil ties in Australia. Julia Gillard of investment in publicly owned Fran Heathcote of Left Unity. Moving the draft pro - was elected inaugural national 'member-led union' more in Australia have now paid hours each week. lum for Excellence and a fal - servants. the LP has previously passed a renewable energy alternatives There has been a shift in gramme, PCS national execu - secretary of Broad Left Net - than a tired phrase of the cur - caused at the time of writ - tering exam system which Our existing union leader - carbon tax as PM in 2011, fa - to fossil fuels would create p 98% of teachers felt that power from the elected lay tive committee member Alan work. rent leadership." ing 33 deaths, 25 in New South continues to increase that ship, largely drawn from PCS mous in France for unleashing tens of thousands of jobs. they did not have sufficient Wales including 3 American workload and the inevitable the Gilets Jaunes movement Only this solution can guar - time to complete assessment firefighters. The fires have stress which forces teachers to against Macron’s unfair at - antee a transition for those related workload. caused other extreme weather work extra hours unpaid. tempt to saddle the working workers in the mining indus - p 66% of our EIS members in events such as ash rain and In particular, the significant class with the bill for the emis - try, or any other high-pollu - the survey said that they were flash flooding, and the animal increase in pupils with Addi - sions of private companies. tion sector, with guaranteed unhappy at work because of death toll is estimated at over tional Support Needs clearly Low pay, long hours - organise the fightback now! Former Liberal leader and alternative employment and workload. 1 billion! shows the requirement for PM Malcom Turnbull’s Na - no loss of pay. p Over 70% would not recom - These apocalyptic events more resources and time for tional Energy Guarantee was Such a party could incorpo - mend teaching as a profes - signal what scientists say will teachers to have a positive im - Ryan Aldred ularly in zero-hour workplaces ment tax incentives, then keep not accepted by his own party rate an environmentally- sion. be the norm in a world heated pact on the lives of children. - into working unpaid over - those workers in poverty with in the past, and his conces - friendly public housing p 79% felt that support for Usdaw secretary, Plymouth to over 3˚C above pre-indus - It is essential that the suc - time, as bosses squeeze every zero and low-hour contracts. sions to the right wing of his campaign to provide for Aus - children with Additional Sup - (personal capacity) trial temperature. cess of the recent pay cam - last ounce of profit out of us. However, it doesn't have to party (which Morrison himself tralia’s 105,000 homeless peo - port Needs is inadequate. The inadequate response of paign is built upon to secure a Working through breaks, be this way! By joining a union represents) on a subsequent ple, not to mention both This extremely high class PM Scott Morrison to the crisis reduction in class size maxima Boris Johnson has an - starting work early to 'get and getting organised in the emissions control scheme internal and external climate commitment squeezes the (including his family holiday to 20 pupils in all mainstream nounced the minimum wage ahead', or staying behind to workplace we can force the demonstrates the long-seated refugees. Only this solution time available for professional to Hawaii) has come in for ex - classes. This must be matched is going up. It's not by nearly 'finish up' - all while being off bosses back. climate denial present in the can ensure emissions dialogue and preparation that tensive criticism and rightly with a reduction of maximum enough. And at the same time, the clock - are illegal. Yet The TUC could take a lead Australian political class. targets are achieved. makes a difference in terms of so; his scramble to extend the class contact time for teachers the Tories let bosses get away they're commonplace in many from French workers, and This denial is now opening What these catastrophic raising attainment, particu - federal government’s powers is to 20 hours per week which with paying hundreds of thou - industries. boost workers' confidence up a political chasm between events show us is that the old larly for pupils disadvantaged just as ineffectual as the envi - would increase preparation sands of workers below the Moreover, in a bid to cut with a call to action on low pay them and the actual victims of maxim of ‘socialism or bar - by poverty. A reduction in the ronmental policy espoused in and correction time to 10 legal minimum! costs, many employers are lay - and a national demonstration. this tragedy, the poor and barism’ is becoming more apt class-contact commitment for ing off (or not replacing) staff - Underpaying workers is the last election. hours per week. Scandalously, nearly one in Tesco Dagenham distribution centre; One-day Usdaw strike over working people of Australia. by the day. all teachers is a vital demand Standing against energy While the recent salary cam - four workers on the misnamed while expecting the remaining nothing short of theft. By get - pay. Photo Richard Groves in reducing workload to a The way forward is becom - Australia’s bushfire crisis paign (see picture above) National 'Living Wage' is un - workforce to pick up the slack ting organised in the work - price increases and job cuts more manageable level. ing increasingly clear, with the also shows the need to build showed the power and deter - derpaid, according to a report by working harder! place we can collectively for miners, Morrison’s govern - Workload has always been tions, we can make it clear to p Full-time hours for all who structures of capitalism prov - for protests at the COP26 cli - mination of teachers in Scot - by the state's Low Pay Com - It is clear that this govern - enforce our rights and show ment is blatantly sitting on its an issue of concern for the the bosses that it's only decent want them, with flexibility on ing to be inherently linked and mate summit in Glasgow in land, the backbone to their mission. Retail, hospitality, ment of big business, intent the bosses we will not tolerate hands while the environmen - teaching profession. Budget wages, not poverty pay, that workers' terms, not the invested in the continued de - November where capitalist anger and disenchantment cleaning, maintenance and on scrapping workers' rights, this injustice. tal costs of the ruling class’ and staffing cuts, increases in will do! Socialist Party Scot - bosses' struction of the Earth. governments will be meeting. has always been excessive childcare are the worst cul - cannot be relied upon even to By having the confidence to pollution are becoming too pupil numbers, rising class land fights for: p Trade union action to de - To prevent climate disaster, Socialist Party Scotland will be workload. prits. uphold its own laws on these make demands, backed by great for even a developed sizes, curricular and qualifica - p £12-an-hour minimum fend, extend and enforce we must build a radical social - mobilising in schools and col - The ground has been laid Workers are pressured - and matters. Some employers even preparedness to demonstrate capitalist economy to deal tions change, the rising num - wage now, without exemp - workers' rights ist political alternative – leges to help build for a mass for another decisive cam - often outright bullied, partic - create jobs to gain govern - and strike for better condi - with. ber of pupils with Additional tions. through the building of a new, mobilisation. paign. 14 the socialist www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk - Feb/March 2020 the socialist 15 international news international news FRANCE: Workers revolt over pensions INDIA: Huge general strike

Jagadish Chandra New Socialist Alternative (CWI in India) what we This year's planned general strike on 8 January was massive. It broke all previous records in the numbers involved in united class stand for action in India. The main demand was the "re - Socialist Party Scotland fights for a socialist soci - versal of the anti-worker, anti-peo - ety, democratically run for the needs of all and ple, anti-national policies of the New pamphlet available now government," including the drop - not for the profits of the few. We oppose every cut ping of any decisions for the pri - and austerity measure by fighting in the trade vatisation of the state-owned unions, communities, colleges and schools for companies Air India and Bharat every possible improvement in the lives of work - Petroleum. ing class people. Organised, we, the working class No to the return of tuition fees in Undoubtedly, the general strike Scotland. Cancel the student debt and end was a huge success numerically. and the 99%, have the potential to change soci - the cuts in education funding. The overall participation in the ety. Socialist Party Scotland is part of the Com - G A socialist NHS to provide for everyone’s strike of 250 million was an in - mittee for a Workers’ International (CWI), a health - free at the point of use and crease of 30 million from the 220 million of 2019. socialist organisation that organises in over 40 under democratic control. Kick out the While industrial workers of countries. private contractors from all parts of the many different sectors all over the www.socialistworld.net NHS. country went on strike, the peas - G Keep council housing public. For a ants and agricultural workers mas - massive programme of publicly owned work and income sively responded to the call of a housing to provide good quality homes at 'rural bandh' and organised road G For trade union action for an immediate low rents. G and rail blockades (see socialist - £12 an hour minimum wage. No age Fully fund all services and run them world.net for a comprehensive list exemptions. For an annual increase in the under accountable, democratic committees of sectors and states affected). minimum wage, linked to average that include representatives of workers The trade unions put forward a earnings. and service users. 12-point programme of demands Anti-CAA protester, India, photo by DiplomatTesterMan/CC G Reject Workfare; for the right to decent on basic economic and work-re - rights benefits, training or a job without French workers striking over pensions in Paris in January 2020 lated issues. G compulsion. Oppose discrimination on the grounds of In the midst of the mass protests tions of the rank and file, did they G A maximum 35-hour week without loss of race , sex, disability, sexuality, age and all sweeping the country against the Anger erupts include at the last minute a de - Long strikes have also devel - restricted their demands to clude the abolition of all re - pay. other forms of prejudice . By James Ivens government's attacks on demo - mand against the CAA - added as oped in schools and some preventing the pension 're - gressive taxes, such as VAT. Then Modi's sinister move to G G Repeal laws that trample of civil liberties. cratic rights, the unions also the 13th demand and extending All workers, including part-timers, temps, Eyewitness report from France other workplaces. And hun - form'. Their 'Act LXII' marched surreptitiously bring in the Citi - For the right to protest. End police protested against the outrageous the customary solidarity in order casual and migrant workers to have trade dreds of thousands more have The 200 or so marchers on through Paris on 18 January. zenship Amendment Bill, and then harassment. onslaught by Modi's BJP govern - to save face. union rates of pay, employment After more than 45 days of walked out on several national this local demo were appalled We joined around 15,000 bulldoze it through parliament G Defend abortion rights. For a women’s ment on the basic tenets of the It was criminal not to campaign protection, sickness and holiday rights strikes and 62 weeks of 'gilets days of action. But the strike is to hear of the extended pen - protesters. with just a mere seven hours de - right to choose when and whether to constitution through the Citizen - against the CAA with all their class from the first day of employment. End jaunes' protests, French work - not generalised yet. sion age in Britain. They also The march endured serious bate, triggered the anger of the ship Amendment Act (CAA), the might. It shows how out-of-touch zero-hour contracts. have children. ers' appetite for struggle en - The movement's rhythm is applauded the idea of a similar police provocation. Armoured masses. G national register of citizens (NRC) are these so-called 'communist G Scrap the anti-union laws. Build fighting For the right of asylum. No to racist dures. becoming intermittent as strike in Britain to resist John - 'CRS' riot cops encircled it, in - It started in the state of Assam, and the national population regis - parties' are with the situation on trade unions, democratically controlled by immigration laws. The unions counted 250,000 strikers regroup. But local ac - son's new anti-union bill and timidating the gilets jaunes which had already seen the disas - ter (NPR). the ground. their members. Full-time officials should on the national day of action in tions and some small, unre - continued austerity. and imposing a painfully slow trous exercise of a National Regis - A mass working class party The CAA allows citizenship to They are fetters on the working be regularly elected and receive no more Paris on 16 January. The lated strikes still erupt daily, as In one sense, Macron has al - pace. ter of Citizens. people who have fled to India from class and the oppressed, prevent - G For a mass workers’ party that draws demonstration was angry and yet without coordination, like ready lost. His party, La In the end, frustrated, the Across the country angry youth than a worker’s wage. persecution in Pakistan, ing them from finding the road to G together workers, young people and very determined, but also with bubbles in boiling broth. République en Marche, is fac - march broke away from the spontaneously poured on to the An immediate 50% increase in the state Bangladesh and Afghanistan be - a revolutionary change in society. activists to build a political alternative to something of a festival atmo - With no recent feeling of a ing a drubbing in the March police, and the hated CRS at - streets with a clear battle cry of retirement pension, as a step towards a fore December 2014. However, this New Socialist Alternative's (CWI the big business parties. sphere. Workers marched - decisive defeat or betrayal in a local elections. tacked with tear gas and ar - "enough is enough!" living pension . Reinstate the link with does not apply to Muslims, render - India) leaflet, demanding the G Trade unions should play a central role often in uniform - behind strike movement, morale re - So much so that he has rests. Police repression is once It's no exaggeration to say that if average earnings now. ing them stateless. scrapping of the CAA, explained in helping to build a new workers’ party. union vans decked out with mains high. And some are changed the rules on how elec - again becoming a burning the left and the trade unions had The state apparatus was ex - that the ongoing country-wide environment banners, flags, loudspeakers starting to question how to tion results are announced to issue in France, and not just given a lead, taking with them the socialism and internationalism tremely worried about the social protest against the Modi regime is and mannequins. draw more workers into the mask it. And the lead 'En for the gilets jaunes. anti-CAA protesters on the basis of G Major research and investment into and political fall-out if the forces of full of radical potential. G Strikers compare Emmanuel struggle. Marche' candidate in the The presidential election is a clear programme for the scrap - replacing fossil fuels with renewable Tax the rich. For a socialist government the general strike and those of the The urgent task for the Marxist Macron's confrontation over Gauche Révolutionnaire, the Noisy-le-Grand Paris suburb, still two years away. The strik - ping of the CAA, it would have had that takes the major companies in sporadic and spontaneous move - fighters around New Socialist Al - energy. End the problems of early pensions to Maggie Thatcher's Socialist Party's sister party in for example, is running with - ers are catching their breath, an electrifying effect among both Scotland into public ownership Run them ment against the CAA had joined ternative is laid out very clearly. We obsolescence and unrecycled waste. assault on Britain's miners. France, sold dozens of its out his party's name! but the reform is not law yet, the organised working class and G under democratic working class control together. must reach those combative youth Public ownership of the energy industry. They see it as an attempt to newspaper l'Égalité and dis - However, there is a vacuum and they have zero intention of the non-organised mass of people, and management. Compensation should The twin fiascos of 2016 - de - and convince them of the need for No to nuclear power. No to Trident break the unions and clear the cussed with many strikers. on the left. Workers pour onto stopping. "On ne lâche pas," who have formed the bulk of the be paid only on the basis of proven need. monetisation* and the Goods and the struggle to scrap the G A democratically planned, low fare, way for unfettered capitalist There is widespread openness strike demonstrations or gilets they chant: "we're not letting anti-CAA protests. G For an independent socialist Scotland. A Services Tax - that brought enor - CAA/NRC/NPR to be fought on publicly owned transport system, to thievery. to strategies for building a gen - jaunes marches. But there is go!" The 250 million figure for the mous misery to the middle class class lines, with clear demands. protect the environment. free and voluntary socialist federation of There is majority public numbers participating in the gen - eral strike to oust President not yet a political coordinating A conclusive blow does not and the poor across the country, Scotland with England Wales and Ireland. support for the strike. It's fight - Macron, and the need for a body, a workers' party, to unite seem possible for either side eral strike would then have easily public services G went almost unchallenged. * The withdrawal and replace - A democratic socialist, environmentally ing a generalised attack on all mass workers' party. the movements and challenge for some time yet. But the ad - been double that number. What could have been a real op - ment of higher currency notes - G Fight all cuts. No to privatisation. secure plan of production based on the workers' pensions: slog longer, Indeed, strikers cheered Macron himself. vantage is with the workers. A Instead, the left parties, and thus portunity for the left to mount a which was meant to expose unac - Renationalise all privatised utilities and interests of the overwhelming majority. get less. But the transport when we proposed these ideas Those movements include democratic, fighting union the trade union leaders, were too challenge against the Modi regime counted wealth - failed. Instead, it G No to the bosses European Union. For a workers have carried the bur - at the closing rally of a subur - the famous gilets jaunes. Hav - strategy and steps towards a reluctant to mount an all-out chal - services. was instead frittered away, without cost the economy over 1% in total G socialist Europe and a socialist world free den of continuous stoppage ban Paris march on 17 January. ing defeated Macron's petrol mass workers' party are the lenge against the Modi regime. Free, high quality education for all from any serious attempt to build a output and led to 1.5 million job from poverty. almost alone. However, union leaders have tax, their demands now in - key. Only after being forced by sec - nursery to university; with a living grant. struggle. losses. price: £1 solidarity price: £2 the Issue No 54 Socialist Feb/March 2020

The Paper of Socialist Party Scotland - Committee for a Workers’ International www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk STOP THE

Health workers in Northern Ireland have been taking successful strike action over NHS under-funding and pay. NHS Trade unions name the day for a national demo to defend the NHS

By a Scottish health worker the 8th of January. Only one of queue, but still patients faced challenge of funding the NHS and social care. An end to the four out of hours units an interminable wait on as - in Scotland, which will need a Scottish politicians passing on could reopen on the 9th be - sessment of their condition let budget of £20.6bn to meet ex - Tory cuts. The horrifying report from cause of the same issue. This alone diagnosis and care. pected costs and demands by We demand the renational - the auditor general last CUisn’t Tnew. It is ofteSn the case Of course that is public 2023/4. isation of all PFI/PPP projects November showed that Scot - that there is only one GP on money being spent on a pri - In this scenario, the cost that are bleeding cash from land’s NHS is seriously strug - shift for home visits in Glas - vate service, which should not savings Alex Neil expects to the NHS to the profit of private gling to become financially gow. be needed if NHS Tayside was make will be minuscule in re - business. The nationalisation sustainable. Meanwhile in Tayside, the adequately funded in the first lation to the funding crisis it - of the pharmaceutical compa - It highlighted a service extended waits of approxi - place. self. It highlights the poverty of nies would release huge mired in debt, with huge sys - mately 16 weeks for routine Former Scottish health sec - ideas from senior SNP politi - amounts to invest in health. temic problems in the recruit - appointments with an oncolo - retary Alex Neil's recent com - cians facing the biggest crisis Above all, the trade unions ment and retention of staff gist, when the Scottish treat - ments have sought to blame any public service has faced must build a mass campaign needed to meet current de - ment time guarantee is six, has the complex nature of NHS since devolution. to demand a fully-funded NHS mand, a backlog on essential led the health board to employ management for the crisis. We have said on countless and an end to cuts. NHS work - maintenance and enduring an outside contractor to help In effect he is calling for the times that the policies of the ers in Northern Ireland have cuts in funding. the beleaguered cancer care abolition of the 22 health market, which the SNP gov - shown an outstanding exam - The report is a massive in - service catch up on a backlog boards, with the potential of a ernment accepts in the NHS, ple with their strikes recently dictment of how the SNP gov - of overdue appointments centralised management are incapable of solving the over pay and under-funding. ernment runs Scotland’s going back to September last structure of one single board, perennial crises in Scotland’s In Scotland, let's start by health service, and more con - year. like Police Service Scotland, health service. naming the day for a national cern is now being raised over The external provider has taking their place. However, We need massive invest - demonstration of workers and GP shortages in Glasgow, been organising clinics since any reform of management ment into the NHS to cover all service users to launch the which in effect closed out of October to reduce the current structures will not meet the needs, including GP services fight back to save our NHS. hours care across the city on