PAPtER OF THhE SOCIALIST PAReTY s o c ISSUE i136 a l isJANUARY / Ft EBRUARY 2021 When Governments prioritise business interests: Covid Cases soar

JOIN THE SOCIALIST PARTY! www.socialistparty.ie / www.socialistpartyni.org 2 EDUCATION THE SOCIALIST Cancel the Leaving Cert 2021 North: Abolish academic By Leah Whelan selection! N 2020, governments in Ireland and globally were put under extreme pres- sureI by students, parents and teachers to cancel end-of-year exams for final year students. Students in the South last year united around the #Cancel- LeavingCert2020 campaign. The campaign succeeded: se- curing in the options of a pred- icative grading system, or the sitting of exams at a later date. However, less than a year later, the current batch of sixth year stu- dents face the same problems as be- fore, only worse now. This year’s Leaving Cert (LC) students are the first group of students in the history Thousands of students hav engaged with the #CancelTheLeavingCert2021 campaign - putting pressure on the Government Peter Weir and the DUP bear a particular responsibility for this chaos of the state to have major disrup- proach, has led to a growing distrust criticisms of the lines of argument classmates. By Ciara Rainey tions to both their fifth- and sixth- in it and especially in Minister of Ed- used by Minster Foley. There have A Universitas 21 reported showed year senior cycle. As a result, sixth ucation Norma Foley. also been reports of mass medication that Ireland is one of the lowest ON THE 13th January, exam body years have again begun to organise The government has failed to ac- of LC students due to stress and un- countries for government invest- AQE announced it was cancelling together – calling for the cancella- knowledge the serious mental health certainties regarding their education. ment into third level - less than 0.6% its attempt to hold the transfer tion of the LC, with the same options concerns. In the past two weeks of GDP. Students should use this test in February. This comes after as last year. thousands of students have been en- Expand third level for all! campaign to highlight the longstand- the Stormont Executive was gaging with #CancelTheLeav-For students, the leaving cert has ing problems with the LC and to ex- Mental health of students forced into closing schools in Jan- ingCert2021 campaign meetings been built up to be the most impor- pose the commodification of third uary because of soaring infection The government’s failure to supress organised by Solidarity TD and So- tant exam of their lives – this puts level education. We must demand rates and threats from staff that Covid-19 and their plans to ploughs cialist Party member, Mick Barry. increased pressure on them, as well massive funding and expansion of they would not work in unsafe on with their “LC at all costs” ap- Many have raised their concerns and as stressful competition between third level. conditions. This decision spares children and parents having to navigate the archaic testing sys- Education workers resist School meals debacle sums tem with the added obstacles of Covid-era education. rushed re-opening up Tories’ callous approach It’s difficult to award much praise as it came about a month before By Seán Burns the test was due to take place and workers that they were prepared to after weeks of assuring people it organise and take the Tories on. As would go ahead as normal. Peter EACHERS ORGANISING a result of the stand taken by the Weir and the DUP bear a particular through the National Edu- union, it has recruited 16,000 new responsibility. They claimed the Tcation Union (NEU) success- members since the start of the year. issue was out of their hands as the fully fought back the Tories’ The action of education workers transfer test bodies are private ex- disastrous plan to reopen in Britain has been a source of in- amining boards. The truth is that schools in the context of a spiration to workers across Ireland. they have an ideological commit- huge spike in Covid-19 cases. The ASTI teaching union in the ment to academic selection and This U-turn was not achieved South directed its members not to were reluctant to suspend testing. by appealing to the kindness comply with attempts to reopen in The transfer test being sus- of the Tories’ hearts, rather it unsafe conditions. Similar to the pended this year is great in the was won by the bold and mili- NEU, a mass meeting of education short term, but it highlights the fun- tant action by education work- workers was organised, which at- damental problems with our two- ers. tracted more than 16,000 partici- tier education system. Grammar An unprecedented 400,000 peo- pants, clearly demonstrating the schools plan to use “alternative cri- ple attended, watched and engaged level of fear and anxiety among teria” to pick pupils this year, which with an online meeting organised school staff, as well as the poten- - like the transfer test itself - will by the NEU. The union advised its tial backlash against any govern- tend to discriminate against chil- members to issue Section 44 no- ment plans to reopen schools dren from working-class back- tices to schools. Section 44 is a prematurely. The Southern gov- grounds. piece of legislation that allows ernment has also backed down as When we are “back to normal”, workers to refuse to attend work if a result. Similarly, the University the test will be back too. This test they have a reasonable belief that & College Union in the UK has also takes 10 and 11-year-olds, and their health is at risk. It is estimated stated it is prepared to ballot its There was mass anger against the callous approach of the Tories towards free school meals places them into groups which can that this action forced the closure of members for industrial action if By Krystian Baldys decide their access to opportunities thousands of schools in Britain at tions to the party, who are only inter- workers are forced into “unsafe” for the rest of their lives. The segre- the start of January. This was a ested in profit, and have botched ev- in-person teaching this academic gated nature of our education sys- clear show of strength by education year. NY REASONABLE per- erything from track-and-trace to son would agree that no PPE provision. They are determined tem also strengthens the divide child deserves to go hun- to ensure the bosses profit from this between Catholic and Protestant gry. However, we've all seen the crisis, whatever the cost to public young people. A Access to resources favours images of what children enti- health, even the welfare of children. tled to free school meals in We've seen no real opposition young people from wealthier back- Britain were given by private from the Labour Party under ‘Sir’ grounds. They are more likely to get contractors hired by the Tories. Keir Starmer. Boris Johnson was the tutors, extra practice, or de- It's supposed to be £30 worth right when he said the main person voted time necessary to pass the of food, yet any working person holding the government accountable test. The removal of a pandemic knows that £30 can provide was the footballer Marcus Rashford. doesn’t improve these circum- much more than these scraps. The working class needs a party that stances. The Socialist Party is in This money should have gone represents our interests and not the favor of the abolition of this archaic straight to the parents. interests of big business. We've seen testing model and the two-tier ed- This is symptomatic of the Tories this incompetence, disregard and ucation system, and stands for ur- entire approach to handling the pan- greed time and time again. It's time gent action to provide high-quality, demic - relying on private companies comprehensive, free and integrated Education workers forced Johnson’s u-turn on reopening education to realise that we deserve more than with no expertise, often with connec- the scraps they give us. education for all. CCORONAVIRUSORONARONAVIRUSVIRUS 3 THE SOCIALIST Governments pass the buck forforor Covvid-19id-19 surge

By Michaelichael Marron Workrkersers must lead fight forfor neceessarssary HE BEGINNING of 2021 measures has seen a significant inin- Capitalist governments cannot be crease in the number of trusted to oversee the handling of this Covid-19T cases across Ireland, pandemic. Instead, workers have to North and South. Both states take matters into their own hands. have infection rates among the We have seen important examples of worst in the world, as the StorStor- how this can happen. The Tories and mont Executive and Irish govgov- Stormont were intent on reopening ernment continue to fail education and were reluctant to introintro- working people with their mismis- duce the necessary measures to concon- handling of the pandemic. tain the virus. What forced them back In the South, government minisminis- was the anger from working-class ters are attempting to avoid responsiresponsi- people and, in particular, the action of bility for this new spike. Instead, teachers refusing to work in unsafe Taoiseach Michael Martin blamed the workplaces. new UK Covid variant for the surge, Both states have failed to put in while the World Health OrganisaOrganisa- place a proper test and tracing syssys- tion’s Dr. Mike Ryan has stated “new tem, and implement a widespread variant strains have not been the vaccination programme that complies driver of new transmissions”. LikeLike- with scientific advice. Yet the wealth wise the Stormont Executive have atat- and resources exist in our society to tempted to pass the buck on Covid, fund the measures necessary to tackle consistently placing the blame on the this pandemic, while maintaining the shoulders of young people in particuparticu- jobs and incomes of workers during a lar. Yet there is no mention of emem- Both the Stoormontrmont & the Dublin Government have failed to tackle Covid-19. At every step they have prioritised the needs of profit over health. shutdown. The problem is that this ployers who have been allowed to due to lack of resources. pandemic. The source of their mishanmishan- ministrations rush to re-open sectors wealth is in the hands of a small, continue to operate without adequate In reality, both Stormont and the dling is their outlook that the needs of of the economy at various points withwith- super-rich business elite, to which health and safety measures, or inadinad- Dublin government have utterly failed profit come before the health and well out the necessary safeguards, inin- capitalist politicians - North, South, equate social distancing in schools to control and manage the Covid-19 being of people. This has seen both adad- evitably leading to spikes in infection. and internationally - bend the knee.

Covvid-19id-19 vaccine: who gets it Covid and capitalism bring healthhealth serviceses to breaking first? point By Ann Orr

AT THE time of writing, the thir d Covidvid surge is threatening to over - whelmwhelm hospitals, North and South. Therhere are significant differences betwbetween the health systems, and they are not alone globally as oth - ersers have faltered. Under capitalism, healthhealth is a commodity. Worrldwideldwide, we see public health care systems sufferingering from lack of funding and Queues increasingeasing marketisation, with of Ambulances outside of A&Es deadlydeadly consequences for working- classclass people. only botching the response to , Soo- farfar,, we have seen queues of am but are also causing significant harm to health workers. The scarcity of vacccineine itself is manufactured by international patent laws that restrict production bulancbulances at A&E departments. In the

By Keishia TTaaylor South, vaccinations fforor health work - head, Professor Michael O’Connell. tries, but only 25 individuals have rere- ersers are being impacted by Pfizer’s Prepare for a fightback All the while, some hospitals not yet ceived the vaccination in one low-inlow-in- temporaremporary capacity reduction. IT sys - The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organi-gani S THE HSE in the South received any vaccine, healthcare come country, Guinea. The WHO temsems to track vaccinations in care sation is absolutely correct in its call warns the “hospital system workers around the country are crycry- warns of “catastrophic moral failure” homeshomes were not ready on time. In the to nationalise private hospitals in the hasA never been so stretched”, ing out for protection as they concon- if richer countries continue to hoard NorNortth,h, hospital staff have warned South. The NHS model of free health vaccines are finally being adad- tinue face danger of infection every vaccines, but this a normal feature of aaboutbout oxygen shortages and ambu - and social care at the point of use - ministered to residents and day. ruthless, profit-hungry, capitalist lanceess are relying on drivers from under threat fforor a long time in the staff in nursing homes and As well as issues of nepotism and competition, which the WHO upup- ootherther services. North - is one to fight fforor and defdefendendend. frontline healthcare workers. favouritism, the Government was holds. Even the Covax programme, Thherere has been a criminal lack of Thatat means opposing privatisation by At the time of writing, 94,000 willing to urgently vaccinate 60,000 designed to assist neo-colonial councoun- pplanninglanning and preparation. For the last stealth, which is continuing in the people, or 1.9% of the popula-popula school students ahead of just to force tries, cannot overcome the chaos and 1010 months, we have k nown that North during the pandemic. tion, have received its first them to sit the Leaving Cert. The competition of the market. virusesviruses mutate; that winter means ad - Tradeade unions in health should start dose, with GPs and pharmapharma- wealthy and powerful who have been The scarcity of vaccine itself is ditionalditional pressures; that relaxing re - organising now fforor action, including cists due to administer the able to access the best possible manufactured by international strictions risks significant infinfecection strike action if necessaryy,, to make Covid-19 vaccine in the commucommu- healthcare throughout the pandemic patent laws that restrict production sspikes;pikes; that vaccination programmes such demands a reality. They should nity in the next phases.phases. are now in control of the vaccination while geopolitical rivalries limit reequirquire planning and sufficient staff; also plan fforor socially-distanced rallies But implementing vaccinations efef-- programme and able to bend the global cooperation. It is clear that andand that years of underfunding and ffoor investment in health serviceses once ficiently requires a huge amount of rules to benefit themselves, while vaccinating the world’s population in mismanagementmismanagement have r educed ca - the current surge has subsided. Such detailed planning to ensure doses are workers, the young, old and sick are a just and timely way cannot be dede- pacitpacity. protests should demand fully-funded not wasted before they expire. The left powerless and waiting. livered by the vastly unequal capitalcapital- StaffStaff are being pushed to the brink. public healthcare - run by workersrkers’ mishandling of “surplus” doses has ist system, but only by the collective and patients’ representatives in the Competitionompetition and rivalry UnsurprisinglyUnsurprisingly,, a recent survey ffoundound resulted in widespread outrage, as 16 ownership of the economy and thorthor- two thirds of NHS workers are consid - interest of public health, not profit - doses were given to family members This applies on a global level as well. oughly democratic leadership of the eeringring quitting. Governments are not as well as decent pay forfor all workersrkers, of staff at the Coombe Hospital, inin- Millions of doses have been delivdeliv- working class to determine our own including support staff.staff. cluding the children of the hospital ered in 49 mostly high-income councoun- futures. 4 ANALYSIS SOUTH THE SOCIALIST Mother & Baby Homes report a whitewash But Church & State are guilty!

By Ruth Coppinger Churches. However, it must be ac - knowledged that the institutions or years , survivors and under investigation provided a adoptees of so-called refuge — a harsh refuge in some F‘mother and baby homes’ cases — when the families provided have sought justice. Govern - no refuge at all.” ments promised they’d get it. Of course it’s the case that families sadly, all they’ve received from bundled daughters and sisters into official Ireland this week is yet these homes, many who’d been another slap in the face. raped and had no idea whatsoever The church, the government and about sex. But it was the Catholic the long-awaited Commission Re - Church in the main that cultivated port into the homes have jointly tried the shame and ignorance that to spread the blame for and min - moulded those attitudes. It did it imise the horrific suffering of women through the pulpit; through control - and children sent to these homes, ling education; and through its mas - and the legacy left behind for their sive influence over governments. children and families. The newly-independent state from They’ve attempted to turn reality 1921 leaned on the church for au - on its head with a narrative that it thority, and willingly outsourced to was society that was to blame for the it everything to do with women, chil - misogyny and cruelty, with the state dren, the poor and sick. and church only reflecting back, not The Report is an exercise in deflec - being the source of it. tion of the severity of the crimes that took place in the homes. It gaslights The Commission Report has sparked outrage among survivors and the wider public A whitewash women, survivors and adoptees and In the media prior to release of the often negates their testimonies. above the stables” (Castlepollard whitewash can’t be allowed to be the We’ve seen in recent years that Report, church leaders made out 1941); one toilet for 44 women in one official state verdict on the subject. it’s movements such as those for they were fulfilling a need arising Harrowing testimonies Sacred Heart home; women being Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are marriage equality and repeal of the from an intolerant society that However, the Report is damning assaulted, raped and impregnated steeped in the abuse of the mother 8th that have made the biggest shunned and shamed pregnant un - about infant mortality and some of (in county homes that had a mix of and baby homes and bending the dents in the power of the church in married women. The Report oblig - the horrendous conditions in the ‘inmates’ including men). knee to the church. They have no de - Ireland. Establishment parties were ingly continues this theme. Priests homes. 9,000 children died in the While the outside world rarely sire to lift the lid on church abuse. forced to go further than they’d ever and nuns “did not invent” shame, 14 homes in its remit, an average questioned the working of the Minister for children, Roderic O’ - intended in relation to abortion but were “reinforcing wider social 15% of all children born in them and homes, those that did were swiftly Gorman, and the Greens have been rights by a persistent and popular concerns”. twice the national average for the cut across by the church hierarchy. utterly ineffectual. campaign. We will need to maintain Early in the executive summary it time. Deaths were worse in some Just look at its failure to make The overwhelming majority of the pressure to force the changes says: “Responsibility for that harsh than others. records available from many homes people don’t buy the line of the needed. treatment rests mainly with the fa - There are pages and pages of ter - to this day. church or government on this issue. thers of their children and their own rible conditions: inedible food; There’s more of a will than ever to This is an abridged version of a immediate families. It was supported women eating meals “squatting on Separate church and state separate church and state com - longer article that can be found on by, contributed to, and condoned by, the floor” (Cork County Home 1921); The state apology and Dáil debate pletely, but little political will or abil - www.socialistparty.ie the institutions of the State and the women sleeping in “unheated lofts was hollow. It’s clear that this ity to do so. Still no country for single mothers

By Emma Quinn mountable barrier to reporting any system that operates as if women incidents. and children are an extension of, or hIle the government Last year, a HSE-commissioned re - the property of men. The fact that Wscrambles to blame ordi - port into a spike in suicides in West women are forced to seek child nary people for the Mother and Dublin of women in their 20s and 30s maintenance from abusive or even Baby homes, the Irish state – many of whom were single mothers dangerous ex partners, or that ben - continues to persecute and – found that the housing crisis and efits are threatened or stopped when punish single mothers. intimate partner violence were con - women enter new relationships re - In the last year, reports of welfare tributing factors. It found that young inforces financial dependence on inspectors, landlords and judges sex - mothers experiencing abusive rela - men, a dated, dangerous concept. ually harassing or threatening single tionships, poverty and mental health mothers are a reminder of the issues are “perceived as unlikely to Shamelessly scapegoated misogynistic power imbalance engage with programmes because It is no accident that working class stitched into the system. they fear that social services will “in - single mothers are continuously tervene” and that they could lose cus - scapegoated by the political estab - Disgusting harassment tody of their children. lishment or that they are portrayed A recent investigation by the Irish as reckless, lazy, welfare cheats, Examiner found that many women Inequalities laid bare by pandemic often sexualised and shamed in the who receive One Parent Family Pay - Family life has become increasingly media. The system relies on the exis - ment report being "harassed", stressful for all working families dur - tence of sexist attitudes in order to "stalked" and "bullied" by social ing the pandemic, but the anxiety get away with exploitation and in - welfare inspectors who routinely and isolation is ten fold when you are equality. turn up unannounced to their single handedly responsible for the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green homes, search through underwear mental/physical health, education, Party and the Labour Party are not drawers and ask intimate personal managing and financing a family in only culpable in the tragedy of questions. The reality that one par - a crisis. the Mother and Baby Homes - they ent families experience the highest The rate of “in-work poverty” is the slashing of One Parent Family One in every four families with are directly responsible for the deprivation rate in the country five times higher for lone parents Payment and other benefits over the children in Ireland are headed by a ongoing and systematic mistreat - means that the fear of essential pay - than other households. Lack of af - last years trap single parents in inse - lone parent. Yet the Irish state still ment of single mothers and their ments being stopped is an insur - fordable childcare and housing, and cure, low paid or no work. presides over a welfare and court children. ANALYSIS NORTH 5 THE SOCIALIST Queen’s students and workers organise against exploitation End the marketisation of education!

Manchester students - with escalating actions of protests, strikes and occu- pations - should be used as a model for such a campaign. Workers who have and are fighting against both the government and university manage- ment on the issues of workload, casu- alisation and continued marketisation of education are natu- ral allies of students beginning to struggle on similar issues. This campaign must make more than gestures of solidarity towards workers - such as lecturers in the UCU union who are already balloting for further strike action, and non-aca- demic staff such as those in Unite - but instead coordinate our struggles, strengthening them in the process. To win on these demands will re- quire more than petitions and letter writing campaigns. The pandemic has made it increasingly clear to students Queen’s Students’ Union workers won a victory against QUB for reinstatement to the Job Retention Scheme and 100% furlough payments. and workers alike that nothing will be freely granted by belligerent manage- VER 1,800 students at initiative across the UK. with living grants. duction, as well as the recent victory ment or a government in crisis. A co- Queen’s University have The campaign takes up issues of This initiative is a significant step of QUBSU workers for reinstatement ordinated and democratic campaign signed an open letter housing, mental health, teaching forward. Hundreds of students have to the Job Retention Scheme and led by students, workers and their Ocalling for a Student Safety Net quality and, most significantly, tu- now signed up to attend campaign 100% furlough payments. unions - linking these forces together in the midst of the Covid crisis. ition fees. It calls on the government planning meetings and get involved. - will be a powerful weapon in the This follows the launching of a to refund the fees of all current stu- This comes off the back of a wave of Build united struggles of students and staff fight against the exploitation of stu- “Students Deserve Better” cam- dents as a step towards waiving all occupations of student accommoda- dents and can deal a decisive blow to paign by the Students’ Union student loan debt and abolishing fees tion in Britain, with students in Struggles such as those of Unite trade the interests of profit which have un- (QUBSU) as part of a broader in favour of fully-funded education Manchester winning a 30% rent re- union members in QUBSU and dermined education for years.

Abortion access still denied by Stormont Justice4Noah

Noah’s family and the wider community deserve answers about how he died By Paddy Meehan may have been the victim of a sectar- ian attack, and that loyalist paramili- A FULL inquest into the tragic taries may have been involved, death of Noah Donohoe is sched- leading to heightened tensions along uled for January 2022. The 14-year- interfaces in north Belfast. As yet, no old went missing near Belfast city firm evidence has emerged to sug- The fight for abortion provision in Northern Ireland is not over. centre on 21st June 2020 on his gest that this was the case. However, By Cerys Falvey way to meet friends in the north of the rumours reflect a reality that the after it was legalised. people with no option other than the city, prompting a massive threat of sectarian violence remains a Medics involved in the ad hoc travelling or ordering abortion pills search operation. Six days later, his daily reality for both Protestant and OMEN AND pregnant abortion sevices set up at the begin- online. body was found in a storm drain. Catholic people living in divided Wpeople in Northern Ire- ning of the pandemic have warned Clearly, the fight for abortion pro- Noah’s death was met with gen- working-class areas. Unionist and na- land are again being forced to that things could get worse in 2021, vision in Northern Ireland is not uine outpourings of grief from tionalist politicians whip up tensions travel in order to access early as the service is so underfunded and over. In the context of Covid, it’s across the community. when it suits their ends, but also work medical abortion services. As of understaffed that it’s on the brink of clear that we need to expand remote Noah’s mother has been at the together to implement austerity poli- 5th January, the South Eastern collapse. In the case of the South acces to abortion, allowing pregnant forefront of a significant campaign, cies which fan poverty and alien- Health and Social Care Trust Eastern Trust, they had just one doc- people to take the pills at home Noah’s Army, to get answers as to ation. cancelled their services. Trusts tor and one nurse running their should they wish to. The pills are 10 how her son died. The circumstances Noah’s family and the wider com- have received no additional abortion services. When the doctor times safer than Viagra, which you of Noah’s disappearance and the PSNI munity deserve answers about how funding for abortion provision left on maternity leave, she was never can buy over the counter. This would response raise a number of important he died, and also about the police since the new legislation came replaced. In another Trust, there is also assist people in abusive relation- questions. Initially, police indicated handling of the investigation. How- into force, leaving them to fund one medic providing the service. ships. they felt Noah had been a victim of ever, based on experience, we have the services on already slashed The South Eastern Trust is not Fundamentally, however, we need an assault and that a head trauma no faith that the PSNI will subject budgets in the middle of a pan- alone in cancelling their abortion to fight to turn the recent legal may have led him to enter the drain. their approach to a rigorous and full demic. The Northern Ireland serivces, as the Northern Trust did changes into a reality, with full and The coroner’s initial verdict, however, assessment. We need genuine com- Human Rights Commission has the same in October. During its clo- guaranteed provision of abortion ser- concluded there was no evidence of munity policing, under democratic launched a court case against sure, other Trusts were forced to stop vices through the NHS, something assault and suggested death by control, with full and transparent the UK government for failing accepting referrals as they simply which the conservative Stormont drowning. oversight and direct accountability to to fund abortion provision in didn’t have the capacity to treat politicians seem determined to Rumours quickly spread that Noah local people. Northern Ireland, over a year them. This left women and pregnant avoid. 6 SPECIAL FEATURE THE SOCIALIST

Capitol police was that the protestors have never seriously addressed and On 6 January thousands of Trump supporters and the forces standing in their way have in fact, exacerbated. Obama breached the police barriers at the Capitol were in many cases on the same side. bailed out the banks while millions In addition to policing, a conserva - suffered homelessness as a direct re - with little effort, forcing a postponement of tive Supreme Court, with three justices sult of the predatory policies the big appointed by Donald Trump ruled this banks upheld. Clinton’s ‘welfare re - the joint session of Congress that was to week to limit the ability of pregnant form’ worsened childhood hunger. officially confirm Joe Biden’s presidency. The people to access safe abortion pills by Biden’s refusal to provide Medicare mail, even as heavy narcotics are still for Allin the middle of a pandemic, image of people wearing MAGA hats and allowed to be prescribed via video doc - when millions have lost their jobs and tor appointments. This decision was health insurance, leaves working class holding ‘blue lives matter’ flags climbing not rooted in maintaining health and people vulnerable. Both parties' ap - walls, sitting at the desk of the Vice President, safety during a deadly pandemic, but proaches to immigration and policing rather in curtailing bodily autonomy have effectively scapegoated people of and wandering the columned halls of the and further cementing the oppression trumpism colour for decades as being the reason of women and lgbt+ people in society. for poverty, job loss, housing insecu - nation’s highest legislative bodies recalled the The nature of police, and the legacy of rity, and crime. So while it is true to Latin American coups financed in these same the Supreme Court point to the ways say that Trump had whipped up right in which Trumpism lives on, not only wing sentiments, the basis for the halls, writes Harper Cleves. through mob rule, but through the alienation and misinformation that very structures that claim to protect were the seeds of Trumpism have us. been long stoked by both corporate he GloBal coverage of the of heavily armed US National Guard establishment parties, and have not tsiege of the Capitol put the members standing up against un - Response from the Democrats gone away. polarization of american society armed, peaceful, multiracial Black The response from the mainstream on full display, revealing its Lives Matter protestors covered our establishment leaders, and even fig - A working-class movement weak underbelly and as such screens. ures on the left of the Democratic As socialists we vehemently oppose represented a major blow to the There was footage in Minneapolis Party, has not been sufficient to truly Trumpism. But we also know that we reputation of Us Democracy and of people sitting on their porches, overcome the deep polarisation grow - will not truly challenge far right sen - the strength of Us capitalism. merely watching the protests, being ing in American society. Impeach - timent by merely finger wagging from In early November millions of shot with rubber bullets by the Na - ment as well as the banning of Trump a place of power. We know that only a Americans mailed in ballots and tional Guard. In Portland in July, Fed - from platforms like twitter and face - multi-racial, multi-gendered working waited at polling stations in the mid - eral agents in unmarked vans began book, were met with support from class movement, like the one we saw dle of a deadly pandemic to vote to pick up protesters throughout the many American people. over the summer with Black Lives Trump out in the 2020 election, dis - city. When this is compared to the And yet, what do such acts accom - Matter, can challenge the growing di - gusted by his bigotry, his handling of images of Trump protestors walking plish in reality, other than a symbolic vision in the US. A movement that the pandemic, and his anti-democra - away with podiums, rummaging rebuke? Trump, when the impeach - challenges all forms of oppression and tic methods. For these reasons many through drawers, and relaxing with ment documents were being drafted, exploitation must point the finger at Americans and people across the their feet on Nancy Pelosi’s desk, it be - had less than two weeks left in office. the establishment, and have clear de - globe likely sighed a breath of relief as comes impossible to ignore the differ - Furthermore, this impeachment, as mands that will address the material they watched Joe Biden get sworn ence in response. well as his removal from social media, needs of all working people. into office, and it will be tempting to was for many Trump supporters a This kind of movement could not think that the events at the Capitol are Systemic Trumpism confirmation of their anti-establish - only overpower the vestiges of a moment permanently consigned to The primary reason for the very soft ment ideas. Trumpism, but it could win over those history. And yet, the pro-Trump mo - response to the right wing forces was The roots of Trumpism, and of po - of his supporters whose ideas are not bilisations, as well as the 74 million ideological. In the days and weeks larisation in society in general, lie in strongly held, but are expressions of votes he received in the election, illu - since the original attempted coup, we alienation, disenfranchisement, and confusion in a system that intention - minate that a mere changing of the began to hear that police officers all material want - ills in society that the ally misdirects the blame onto ordi - guard will not be enough to overcome over the country, from major cities Democrats and Republicans alike nary people. the deeply rooted polarisation in like Seattle and Houston, were pres - after trump American society. ent at the storming of the Capitol. We saw pro-Trump protestors waving A stark contrast Blue Lives Matter banners, and as re - Many observers who were watching cently as this summer, research was the siege of the Capitol in real time unveiled that white supremacists and correctly made the comparison to the militias have infiltrated police forces treatment of the Black Lives Matter across the country. So we must ven - What will President Biden do? protests that happened over the sum - ture that at least part of the reason mer. Around the world, stark images for the inadequate response from the By Ty Nolan amongst the American public, even ing on more debt rather than taxing the amongst Republican voters. Even super-rich, and ultimately working class ON WEDNESDAY 20 January, Joe though in reality Sanders’ proposed re - people will have to pay for this in aus - Biden was sworn in as the 46th Pres - forms did not go nearly far enough, the terity programmes in the future. ident of the United States. Many Democratic leadership sabotaged his Despite the immense popularity of Americans are undoubtedly relieved campaign even at the expense of hand - Medicare For All, Democrats have to see Trump leave office. However, icapping their 2016 and 2020 presiden - launched baseless attacks on the policy how much change can we really ex - tial bids. This shows the true nature of claiming it’s why they lost some seats in pect under a Biden presidency? the Democrats. Their party relies on do - the last election. They would rather pro - For years, the Democrats have at - nations from the same billionaires and tect the interests of private health insur - tempted to brand themselves as the major corporations that fund Republi - ance providers than implement a policy party for progressive America. Com - can campaigns because the ruling class that would provide relief for the over 15 pared to the Republicans, the Democ - knows that neither party will ever be - million Americans who lost their health rats can seem like the sensible option tray their interests. insurance during the pandemic. for Americans who want to see While defeating Trump is seen by Biden has consistently proven to be progress on issues like climate change, many working class Americans as a at odds with the demands of protestors stagnating wages, and racist institu - major victory, we should have no illu - who marched in the Black Lives Matter tions like the police. Although if you sions in what a Biden presidency will demonstrations over the summer. look closer, it becomes evident that the bring. He has already indicated to his Biden’s dreadful history on civil rights two parties are just two sides of the major donors during a private event dates back to the 1990’s when he im - same coin. that nothing will fundamentally plemented the racist Crime Bill that ex - change under his administration. acerbated the mass incarceration of Democrats are not left African-Americans. Today, he has advo - The true nature of the Democratic Party A time of crisis cated for police to shoot people in the can be seen in their treatment of their In the midst of the pandemic and on - leg instead of vital areas and has resis - social movements. The left-wing of the the two corporate parties will grow to lay the groundwork for a new party left-wing. The emergence of Bernie going economic crisis, Biden and the ted demands to defund the police. Democrats such as Sanders and AOC stronger. Interest in socialist ideas has of working people. This party must be Sanders in 2016 as a legitimate Demo - Democrats won’t fight for the needs of have so far adopted a strategy of trying grown exponentially in the past few independent of corporate funding and cratic nominee for president was a working-class people. Under pressure Urgent need for a new left party to push the party to the left from years, as shown by many opinion polls. unabashedly advocate for Medicare For lightning rod for those disillusioned from below and given the scale of the The Democratic Party has never shown within. This strategy has failed the left It’s also seen in the growth of the Dem - All, a Green New Deal, and to take large with business as usual. His key policies crisis of US capitalism Biden will be an interest in working in the best inter - many times before. ocratic Socialists of America which now corporations into democratic public such as Medicare For All and a Green forced to implement stimulus meas - ests of working-class people. It has con - As the crisis of capitalism deepens, boasts 85,000 members. Moving for - ownership to serve the interest of New Deal are immensely popular ures. However, this will be done by tak - sistently acted as a graveyard for all the desire for a political alternative to ward, the left must begin taking steps working-class people. Over 70 million people voted for Trump and many see the new administration as illegitimate SPECIAL FEATURE 7 THE SOCIALIST

Capitol police was that the protestors have never seriously addressed and and the forces standing in their way have in fact, exacerbated. Obama were in many cases on the same side. bailed out the banks while millions In addition to policing, a conserva - suffered homelessness as a direct re - tive Supreme Court, with three justices sult of the predatory policies the big appointed by Donald Trump ruled this banks upheld. Clinton’s ‘welfare re - week to limit the ability of pregnant form’ worsened childhood hunger. people to access safe abortion pills by Biden’s refusal to provide Medicare mail, even as heavy narcotics are still for Allin the middle of a pandemic, allowed to be prescribed via video doc - when millions have lost their jobs and tor appointments. This decision was health insurance, leaves working class not rooted in maintaining health and people vulnerable. Both parties' ap - safety during a deadly pandemic, but proaches to immigration and policing rather in curtailing bodily autonomy have effectively scapegoated people of and further cementing the oppression trumpism colour for decades as being the reason of women and lgbt+ people in society. for poverty, job loss, housing insecu - The nature of police, and the legacy of rity, and crime. So while it is true to the Supreme Court point to the ways say that Trump had whipped up right in which Trumpism lives on, not only wing sentiments, the basis for the through mob rule, but through the alienation and misinformation that very structures that claim to protect were the seeds of Trumpism have us. been long stoked by both corporate he GloBal coverage of the of heavily armed US National Guard establishment parties, and have not Defend Kshama Sawant! tsiege of the Capitol put the members standing up against un - Response from the Democrats gone away. polarization of american society armed, peaceful, multiracial Black The response from the mainstream Seattle socialist councillor faces on full display, revealing its Lives Matter protestors covered our establishment leaders, and even fig - A working-class movement weak underbelly and as such screens. ures on the left of the Democratic As socialists we vehemently oppose right-wing recall campaign represented a major blow to the There was footage in Minneapolis Party, has not been sufficient to truly Trumpism. But we also know that we reputation of Us Democracy and of people sitting on their porches, overcome the deep polarisation grow - will not truly challenge far right sen - the strength of Us capitalism. merely watching the protests, being ing in American society. Impeach - timent by merely finger wagging from By Lucy Marron she is accused of delegating the au - In early November millions of shot with rubber bullets by the Na - ment as well as the banning of Trump a place of power. We know that only a thority of her office to an “outside or - Americans mailed in ballots and tional Guard. In Portland in July, Fed - from platforms like twitter and face - multi-racial, multi-gendered working Seattle city councilmember Kshama ganisation”, namely Socialist waited at polling stations in the mid - eral agents in unmarked vans began book, were met with support from class movement, like the one we saw Sawant is again under attack as big Alternative, the Socialist Party’s US sis - dle of a deadly pandemic to vote to pick up protesters throughout the many American people. over the summer with Black Lives business and the right-wing are at - ter organisation. Not only has this ac - Trump out in the 2020 election, dis - city. When this is compared to the And yet, what do such acts accom - Matter, can challenge the growing di - tempting to overturn her 2019 re- cusation already been dismissed by the gusted by his bigotry, his handling of images of Trump protestors walking plish in reality, other than a symbolic vision in the US. A movement that election with a recall campaign Seattle Ethics and Elections commis - the pandemic, and his anti-democra - away with podiums, rummaging rebuke? Trump, when the impeach - challenges all forms of oppression and aimed at driving socialist politics out sion, it reflects an attack on a socialist tic methods. For these reasons many through drawers, and relaxing with ment documents were being drafted, exploitation must point the finger at of City Hall. Kshama was first elected who is democratically accountable to a Americans and people across the their feet on Nancy Pelosi’s desk, it be - had less than two weeks left in office. the establishment, and have clear de - in 2013 and since then has consis - grassroots organisation and its work - globe likely sighed a breath of relief as comes impossible to ignore the differ - Furthermore, this impeachment, as mands that will address the material tently championed the rights of ing-class base. they watched Joe Biden get sworn ence in response. well as his removal from social media, needs of all working people. working-class people. into office, and it will be tempting to was for many Trump supporters a This kind of movement could not Her office has played an important Super-rich funding the recall think that the events at the Capitol are Systemic Trumpism confirmation of their anti-establish - only overpower the vestiges of role in movements that have won The recall campaign is backed and a moment permanently consigned to The primary reason for the very soft ment ideas. Trumpism, but it could win over those groundbreaking victories against the funded by the state’s wealthiest con - history. And yet, the pro-Trump mo - response to the right wing forces was The roots of Trumpism, and of po - of his supporters whose ideas are not city’s corporate elite - notably, the servatives: Trump-donor and billionaire bilisations, as well as the 74 million ideological. In the days and weeks larisation in society in general, lie in strongly held, but are expressions of ‘15NOW’ movement which made Seat - ICE landlord Martin Selig has backed votes he received in the election, illu - since the original attempted coup, we alienation, disenfranchisement, and confusion in a system that intention - tle the first major US city to adopt a $15 the campaign and has reportedly of - minate that a mere changing of the began to hear that police officers all material want - ills in society that the ally misdirects the blame onto ordi - minimum wage, as well as the recent fered unlimited funding to support the guard will not be enough to overcome over the country, from major cities Democrats and Republicans alike nary people. ‘Tax Amazon’ movement which en - recall effort; Egan Orion, Amazon’s can - the deeply rooted polarisation in like Seattle and Houston, were pres - after trump sured a $2 billion transfer of wealth didate who ran unsuccessfully against American society. ent at the storming of the Capitol. We from big business to Seattle’s working- Kshama in 2019; and also corporate ex - saw pro-Trump protestors waving class over the next decade. This will be ecutives like AirBnB CFO David A stark contrast Blue Lives Matter banners, and as re - used to create thousands of green Stephenson and Merrill Lynch Senior Many observers who were watching cently as this summer, research was union jobs, build social housing and VP Matt Westphal. Of the donations to the siege of the Capitol in real time unveiled that white supremacists and fund public services. the recall campaign that are on public correctly made the comparison to the militias have infiltrated police forces record, the donor’s occupations in - treatment of the Black Lives Matter across the country. So we must ven - What will President Biden do? Attacked for standing with BLM clude ‘investor’, ‘CEO’, ‘venture capitalist’, protests that happened over the sum - ture that at least part of the reason Kshama’s office has fought tirelessly and ‘investment banker’. It is clear that mer. Around the world, stark images for the inadequate response from the alongside the city’s BLM activists, both the ultra-rich are attempting to steal By Ty Nolan amongst the American public, even ing on more debt rather than taxing the on the streets and on the council. She the seat of a principled socialist who amongst Republican voters. Even super-rich, and ultimately working class introduced a first-in-the-nation ban on bases herself upon the collective ON WEDNESDAY 20 January, Joe though in reality Sanders’ proposed re - people will have to pay for this in aus - crowd control weapons being used power of the working-class. Biden was sworn in as the 46th Pres - forms did not go nearly far enough, the terity programmes in the future. against protestors during the Justice ident of the United States. Many Democratic leadership sabotaged his Despite the immense popularity of for George Floyd demonstrations. Solidarity campaign fighting back Americans are undoubtedly relieved campaign even at the expense of hand - Medicare For All, Democrats have Castill Hightower - an activist against The right-wing will not stop at Kshama to see Trump leave office. However, icapping their 2016 and 2020 presiden - launched baseless attacks on the policy police brutality - spoke powerfully at a and, if the recall campaign succeeds, it how much change can we really ex - tial bids. This shows the true nature of claiming it’s why they lost some seats in January rally, saying, “Kshama was the will embolden them to go after other pect under a Biden presidency? the Democrats. Their party relies on do - the last election. They would rather pro - only one who didn’t break her prom - left representatives across the US. Cru - For years, the Democrats have at - nations from the same billionaires and tect the interests of private health insur - ises to the Black Lives Matter move - cially, the power of Kshama’s council of - tempted to brand themselves as the major corporations that fund Republi - ance providers than implement a policy ment. Yet, Kshama has been singled fice comes from the fact that she party for progressive America. Com - can campaigns because the ruling class that would provide relief for the over 15 out for punishment by the political es - doesn’t rely on back-door compro - pared to the Republicans, the Democ - knows that neither party will ever be - million Americans who lost their health tablishment. Not Breonna Taylor’s mises with other councillors and big rats can seem like the sensible option tray their interests. insurance during the pandemic. killers, not Jacob Blake’s killers, and not business interests, but bases herself for Americans who want to see While defeating Trump is seen by Biden has consistently proven to be my brother’s killer.” upon working-class and young people, progress on issues like climate change, many working class Americans as a at odds with the demands of protestors It is Kshama’s involvement in these organising in communities to collec - stagnating wages, and racist institu - major victory, we should have no illu - who marched in the Black Lives Matter protests that has prompted the right- tively fight for change. tions like the police. Although if you sions in what a Biden presidency will demonstrations over the summer. wing recall campaign. Two of the Socialist Alternative has launched look closer, it becomes evident that the bring. He has already indicated to his Biden’s dreadful history on civil rights charges attempt to criminalise the Kshama Solidarity Campaign which two parties are just two sides of the major donors during a private event dates back to the 1990’s when he im - Kshama’s involvement in the BLM already has over 200 volunteers and re - same coin. that nothing will fundamentally plemented the racist Crime Bill that ex - movement: one charge for her partici - ceived donations from over 2,200 peo - change under his administration. acerbated the mass incarceration of pation in a march led by the families of ple, raising $27,000 at an online rally on Democrats are not left African-Americans. Today, he has advo - Joe Biden at his inauguration as the 46th president of the USA victims of police brutality that took 9th January. Socialist Alternative are The true nature of the Democratic Party A time of crisis cated for police to shoot people in the place in the Seattle mayor’s neighbour - linking the fight against the recall to a can be seen in their treatment of their In the midst of the pandemic and on - leg instead of vital areas and has resis - social movements. The left-wing of the the two corporate parties will grow to lay the groundwork for a new party hood, and a second charge for allowing fight for progressive demands; for left-wing. The emergence of Bernie going economic crisis, Biden and the ted demands to defund the police. Democrats such as Sanders and AOC stronger. Interest in socialist ideas has of working people. This party must be BLM protestors to enter City Hall for a Covid relief, a guaranteed jobs pro - Sanders in 2016 as a legitimate Demo - Democrats won’t fight for the needs of have so far adopted a strategy of trying grown exponentially in the past few independent of corporate funding and mask-on rally. Recall campaigners have gramme, an elected community over - cratic nominee for president was a working-class people. Under pressure Urgent need for a new left party to push the party to the left from years, as shown by many opinion polls. unabashedly advocate for Medicare For used racist rhetoric in characterising sight board with powers over the lightning rod for those disillusioned from below and given the scale of the The Democratic Party has never shown within. This strategy has failed the left It’s also seen in the growth of the Dem - All, a Green New Deal, and to take large the BLM protests as ‘violent’, accusing police, and a Green New Deal. with business as usual. His key policies crisis of US capitalism Biden will be an interest in working in the best inter - many times before. ocratic Socialists of America which now corporations into democratic public Kshama of encouraging ‘lawlessness’. such as Medicare For All and a Green forced to implement stimulus meas - ests of working-class people. It has con - As the crisis of capitalism deepens, boasts 85,000 members. Moving for - ownership to serve the interest of Another of the charges takes issue For more information visit: New Deal are immensely popular ures. However, this will be done by tak - sistently acted as a graveyard for all the desire for a political alternative to ward, the left must begin taking steps working-class people. with the fact that Kshama is a socialist; kshamasolidarity.org 8 INTERNATIONAL THE SOCIALIST Chinese regime’s crackdowns reflect weakness, not strength

By Amy Ferguson movement later became about dem - ocratic rights more generally. n 6 January, 53 opposition The CCP has also engaged in a se - oactivists and politicians ries of crackdowns against ‘corrupt’ were arrested in hong Kong officials, bankers and businessmen under the national security in China - including Jack Ma, co- law enacted by the Chinese founder of Alibaba and the Ant ‘Communist’ party (CCp) Group, who has a reputation for pub - regime. they could face life im - licly criticising the CCP. However, prisonment. this comes after this posturing to the left is superfi - the postponement of the 2020 cial. The CCP has overseen the election to the legislative Coun - restoration of capitalism in China cil for a year, allegedly because and has an almost symbiotic rela - of the pandemic. In reality, the tionship with the billionaire class. regime merely needed a pretext to put off the elections, and it is Stoking revolt possible they will be delayed These moves may seem like a show of again until the CCp is sure they strength on the part of Chinese Pres - can be reorganised without any ident Xi Jinping. In reality, they re - ‘troublesome’ oppositionists. flect desperation and a sense of insecurity. There is growing frustra - Posturing left tion in China, especially among the While the world’s eyes were on the events in the US, the Chinese regime launched a wave of repression This is the regime’s response to the youth, at chaotic government policies, 2019 mass protests in Hong Kong, declining living standards and rising in Hong Kong and the CCP itself. sons of the last years of struggle. no concern about such issues. These which spanned months, and in - inequality. As a result, splits are open - These policies are stoking a future so - Western capitalist governments will rights will only be won through mass volved approximately one million ing up in the regime and Xi’s power cial and political explosion in Hong not assist the fight for democratic struggle and, much more quickly and people at their peak. Sparked by a could again face challenges. In the Kong and in mainland China. and workers’ rights in Hong Kong surely, if the struggle unites workers threat to allow extradition of political long run, Xi’s ultra-repressive control Workers and youth in Hong Kong and China - their actions in their na - in Hong Kong, mainland China and opponents to mainland China, the measures will only weaken capitalism will need to reflect on the tough les - tive countries prove that they have throughout the region.

India: Farmers revolt against Modi’s Argentina: Green Tide wins pro-corporate “reforms” abortion rights

By Peter McGregor

n septeMBer 2020, India’s Ireactionary, right wing BJp government introduced three laws which supposedly “liber - alised” the farming market. these laws meant that it would now be possible to operate out - side of the government con - trolled system which has set minimum prices. the passing of these laws paves the way for big companies to set prices on the market, pushing out local farmers and threatening their income. In response to these laws, farmers ON 30 December, the Argentinean Senate approved the Voluntary Inter - began to protest and have continued ruption of Pregnancy Act (IVE) by 38 votes against 29. When the result of for three months. The protests have the vote was announced, thousands of ‘Green Tide’ activists — the mass included occupations which blocked feminist movement which has fought for abortion rights for years — at - roads into Delhi, and paved the way tended a vigil outside the Congress that joyously celebrated this victory. for the huge momentum around the The movement will continue because there remains the struggle for real 26 November general strike in which abortion access against the limitations that the legal text contains, and against 250 million people took part. the obstacles that the right-wing establishment, who are opposed to repro - Million of farmers are in revolt against the Modi government in India ductive rights, will attempt to put in place. Alliance with workers The protests have now won some progress for the majority of the na - unions back them up with action. If Mass struggle gets results concessions, the latest being the sus - tion with the rhetoric of Hindu na - fresh calls for a strike wave are made Once the bill was presented, more negative modifications were made to it, in - pension of the laws by India’s tionalism, but instead they the pressure on the BJP would be cluding provision for “conscientious objection”. While individual medical pro - supreme court. This suspension is continued on with neo-liberal poli - enormous. Joint committees of farm - fessionals should not be coerced into direct involvement in abortion provision, only a temporary solution as it is cies, with these laws being a prime ers and workers should be set up that this measure also allows conservative managements to unilaterally refuse to only in place until a group of experts example of that. are committed to fighting not only provide the services. Anti-choice groups will attempt to exert pressure on find a so-called “solution” to the sit - A day of action is planned for the these laws, but also the capitalist sys - health providers and it can be a particular problem in rural areas. uation. The Supreme Court’s deci - 26 January, this has the potential to tem which in 2020 in India allowed The movement is aware that this victory is not a gift from the government, sion does however show that the put even more pressure on the BJP to 80 more people to become billion - but a result of the consistent mass mobilisations, and that the fight for the power of protest can win real gains roll back on these laws. Farmers have aires, whilst there is the Covid crisis, effective implementation of the right to legal, safe and free abortion must and puts huge pressure on Modi’s the biggest chance of winning their a struggling Indian economy and di - continue. BJP. They promised economic battle, especially if workers and trade vision along national lines. WORKPLACE 9 THE SOCIALIST South: Public Service Pay Deal – a government exercise in containment that should be rejected

By Michael O’Brien The other provisions promise ment does not have the confidence of processes that cover issues arising its predecessor a decade ago during UIlDInG MoMentUM” from the succession of cuts and im - the financial crisis to impose a fresh “Bis a follow up to the pub - positions inflicted on public servants round of cuts on public servants as lic service stability agreement during the austerity years which re - they would like to do in light of the which expired last year and is main unreversed. growing deficit arising from Covid. being voted upon by public But neither at the same time do we service workers. Insidious attack have a union leadership that is capa - The headline provision is two 1% / The most insidious feature of this ble or willing to lead a fight for real €500 (whichever is larger) annual deal is the dispute resolution mech - cost of living pay increases. There - rises on 1 October this year next year. anisms which are consciously de - fore it is most likely that the deal will Official projections for inflation over signed to disempower workers and pass but without enthusiasm among the same two-year period is 2.5%, dissipate anger in the face of assaults public service workers. This does not though this projection excludes ris - on working. It makes it virtually im - spell two years of industrial peace as ing house prices and does not give possible to engage in industrial ac - has previously been shown. The big - due weight to major expenditures for tion, the threat of which for example ger lesson that remains is for work - many households, such as childcare. by the ASTI recently forced the gov - ers here is the need to transform the These rises are tied into agreeing ernment to back down on forcing a unions into fighting workers’ organ - workplace changes, but these return to school for staff and Leaving isations. changes are not going to be negoti - Cert students. This is an abridged version of a ated until after the ballot and con - This deal is fundamentally an ex - longer article that can be found on cluded by the end of March! ercise in containment. The Govern - www.socialistparty.ie

Debenhams workers reject derisory “Training Fund” proposal North: Communication By Councillor Kieran Mahon cised their democratic right to reject workers give the offer should not be tolerated by o sUGGest after 30 the trade union leadership. resounding ‘YES’ to “t years of working that I The fact is that through active need to upskill is an insult, I am struggle Debenhams workers have industrial action fighting for workers’ rights so done more to forward demands for what happened to us won’t hap - legislative change, focused on the In a consultative ballot, CWU mem - pen again. the law needs to Duffy Cahill Recommendations than bers in the BT Group across the UK change, and the government any back room lobbying by the offi - delivered a colossal 98% vote in needs to step up. they have ig - cial trade union movement. favour of industrial action to op - nored what happened to Clery’s Workers have communicated that pose compulsory redundancies. workers. the 91% rejection of as a bottom-line the €3 million These key workers have kept soci - the labour Court proposals is a “Training Fund” should be translated ety functioning throughout the stark indication of the feeling into cash if as part of a resolution. pandemic and are determined to amongst workers" – Carol unresolved. This derisory offer arose back onto picket lines. The injunc - Political pressure from workers be treated with respect. If manage - Quinn, Debenhams tallaght from the process overseen by Kevin tions obtained by KPMG in the High and in the Dáil is set to continue but ment refuse to back down, the shop steward. Foley who was appointed by the Courts last year could come into play Mandate or ICTU need to step up in union leadership must move rap - At the beginning of January, Taoiseach, and as we go to print their at some point putting contempt mobilising the collective power of the idly to launch an official ballot and Debenhams workers overwhelmingly nine month long struggle continues. charges and jailings of workings and workers movement. As Arcadia, prepare for a determined campaign rejected a proposed €3 million train - Currently there are no assurances activists back on the agenda. where thousands more jobs are on of industrial action, including ing fund that meant that their de - against stock removal by the liquida - Any scenario where the power of the chopping block, shows this battle strikes. mands for recognition of agreed tor KPMG, despite Level 5 restric - the courts or further injunctions are has significance beyond Debenhams. This should be linked to a politi - enhanced redundancy would remain tions, workers are now being forced used against workers who have exer - cal campaign which fights for BT to be brought back into public ownership under democratic workers’ control. If linked with the demand for provision of free, high- Pay the student nurses & midwives! speed broadband for all, this would get huge support from the public, particularly with millions By Heather O’Callaghan Pay insult working and learning from home. In early December, Socialist Party he IssUe of student nurses member and Solidarity TD Mick tand midwives pay goes is Barry put forward a private mem - North: Council strike one of the legacy’s of Ireland’s ber’s motion that the Dáil acknowl - austerity regime, and the con - edge the work done by the student forces management tempt shown by successive gov - nurses and midwives and that they ernments to this section of the be properly paid so that they can live back to the table workforce. students working and meet the cost of their travel and long shifts in the hospital accommodation. On top of this it put Despite the complications of the wards, often at the same capac - forward the need to establish an ap - pandemic, staff at Newry, Mourne ity as qualified nurses and mid - prenticeship programme for fourth & Down council took strike action wives, while not being paid, year students. in December against management have sparked several demon - Instead the government produced proposals which could have seen strations and campaigns over a token report in early January rec - year students for two weeks in a bid workers should lay the basis for a re - some staff lose up to £2,500 per the last few years. ommending the student nurses and to free up experienced and qualified sumption of placements. year. This is a council dominated Since the start of the pandemic, the midwives be paid €100 a week after healthcare workers who teach those The focus of nurses is understand - by Sinn Féin and the SDLP, who valuable labour and extra staffing tax and a special grant be given back - students to return to front-line du - ably to get through the pandemic but like to pose as anti-austerity. The levels that the students provide to the dated to September. ties, as almost 6,400 healthcare there is a reckoning due with the gov - strike has brought management hospitals has been crucial to the fight workers are now out of work due to ernment on nurses’ and midwives’ back to the negotiating table. against Covid-19. Shamefully, this A crucial issue Covid-19. This suspension should pay and working conditions in gen - Council staff should draw confi - has not been recognised over the past Subsequently a last minute decision have no bearing on the money due to eral, and a proper pay regime for stu - dence from this and be prepared year by the Fine Gael minority gov - was made to suspend placements for the students. The rapid rolling out of dents should be foremost on the to fight to win living wages for all. ernment nor the present one. over 2,000 first, second and third the vaccine to frontline healthcare agenda. 10 RACISM THE SOCIALIST A tragic injustice Uncovering the truth about George Nkencho’s killing

By Eddie McCabe Apart from any other problems with this line, of which there are he tUMUltUoUs year many, it betrays a profound misun - that was 2020 ended with derstanding and underestimation of tthe tragic shooting in racism in society and how it mani - Dublin 15 of George nkencho — fests itself. Any outright denial of the a 27 year-old Black man — by possibility of racist prejudices being the Garda armed support Unit. a factor in George’s death fails to News of the shooting and the take into account the depth of daily events surrounding it sparked con - racism experienced by Black people siderable discussion in the local in Ireland — for example, an internal community, and nationally on social Garda survey revealed that 30% of media — where unfortunately debate frontline Gardaí interviewed admit - tended to be heated and charac - ted to having negative views of black terised by misinformation (deliber - Africans. ately spread by far-right elements) The power of the slogan “Black and all-too-often by racist Lives Matter”, which has gone global prejuduces. in recent years, is that it lays bare the As the weeks have passed, more reality that Black lives are valued facts have come to light.. Three less. This is evidenced most graphi - things are becoming clear: the Gar - cally by the violent treatment of daí have serious questions to answer; Black people at the hands of the po - George Nkencho was a victim of an lice in the US, but also in Ireland by unjust system in a myriad of ways; continuance of the inhumane Direct and efforts to bring about solidarity Provision system for example. Fun - and unity of the working-class com - damentally, it’s a product of a capi - munities in Dublin 15 are needed. talist system that needs racist Following the killing of George Nkencho two week’s of protest were held outside the Garda station in Blanchardstown division to maintain the inequality Tragic event inherent to it. Within the local community of Hart - midst of a mental health breakdown, cious mental healthcare and lack of As a young Black man, George stown itself much of the initial focus surrounded by 15 Gardaí outside his services in this country? The answer Nkencho experienced racism daily. What now? was understandably on the alterca - home, was shot six times and died. is the successive right-wing govern - As a teenager, he experienced the For members of the African commu - tion that happened between George ments that have underfunded, mis - loss of his friend Toyosi Shittabey, nities in Ireland, almost as concern - Nkencho and the staff at the local Who killed George Nkencho? managed and privatised our health who was murdered in a racist attack ing as shooting itself was the degree Eurospar just prior to the shooting, George Nkencho should be alive systems for decades. In that sense, in Tyrrelstown in 2010, not far from to which far-right racist agitators in which one member of staff was in - today. The situation should have FF, FG, Labour and the Greens also where George lived. These experi - were able to intervene with insidious jured and others left shocked and been deescalated without resorting have questions to answer in relation ences deeply affected George, and lies online, spreading fear and outra - frightened. This was compounded to lethal force. The Gardaí involved to George’s death. are crucial to any understanding of geous mistruths very widely. It re - the following day when a sponta - must be investigated, as part of a his breakdown. vealed an ignorance about racism in neous protest by young people — dis - public inquiry with community and A brutal system Irish society that must be chal - traught by the killing of George — family participation. For socialists, the problem of mental The reality of racism lenged. This will in part be the aim of misdirected their anger at the staff in The Gardaí are responsible for well-being is not an individual prob - The issue of racism specifically has the ‘justice for George Nkencho cam - the Eurospar. This multi-racial George’s death but that’s not the end lem, it is a social problem. The epi - been a point of much debate in the paign’, as it fights for the truth to be workforce were innocent victims too, of the matter. George was experienc - demic of mental illness is a product aftermath of George’s death. Many known. and not responsible for the violent ing a major mental health episode. If of a capitalist society that alienates who argue that the Gardaí have no The Socialist Party in Dublin 15 conduct of the Gardaí. the support and treatment for people and isolates people, and fails to pro - questions to answer, make the point will be fully assisting that campaign, However, notwithstanding the se - suffering as George was were avail - vide basic needs (decent housing, that race had nothing to do with it — as well continuing our efforts to riousness of the incident at the Eu - able to him, it’s unlikely his break - jobs etc.) and rights (equality, free - George had a kitchen knife, and the bring working-class communities to - rospar, 30 December 2020 will be down would have occurred, or at dom etc.). All working-class people Gardaí apparently acted in self de - gether to fight for our health, rights remembered in years to come for one least not in the way that it did. are affected by these things, but fence. Others, they argue, are mak - and livelihoods in the context of this reason: a young Black man in the Who’s responsible for the atro - some more than others. ing this an issue about race. developing capitalist crisis.

North: Police and politicians’ hypocrisy on racism

By Mike McCourt scribed the conduct of the PSNI at the has been on the “receiving end of a lot BLM protests as “proportionate”. Un - of hostility and Islamophobia for IN LATE December, a report by the surprisingly, some DUP representa - years”, including staff members’ cars Police Ombudsman concluded that tives went even further, attacking the being set on fire. the PSNI’s actions at last summer’s BLM movement itself as “wicked”, “anti- Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in family” and “farcical”, suggesting it Tackle the roots of oppression Belfast and Derry were unfair, dis - wasn’t relevant to Northern Ireland. Whilst DUP and Sinn Féin leaders Ar - criminatory “entirely disproportion - lene Foster and Michelle O’Neill may ate”. This includes the £60 fines Racist violence on the rise pay lip service to the plight of minority issued to 70 people, as well the bla - The fact is that racist discrimination, communities, there has been little tant intimidation of protestors. harassment and intimidation are part meaningful action by Stormont to While apologising for the PSNI’s be - of everyday life for for many people tackle the threat of racism in our soci - haviour, the report attempts to portray from ethnic minorities in Northern Ire - ety. Austerity and neoliberal policies their actions as “not intentional and land. Racially motivated hate incidents create the poverty and hopelessness not based on race or ethnicity". This is have been increasing since records in which racism can breed. Bigoted hard to believe, particularly given the began in 2004/05, and in 2016/17 they statements from politicians serve to PSNI’s minimal intervention into the overtook sectarianism as being the embolden racist thugs. Meanwhile, the far-right Protect Our Monuments rally number one motivation for hate crime police are used to silence anti-racist ac - which took place just a week after the in Northern Ireland. tivists, but stand aside for the far right. BLM protests. One of the most recent and striking The significant turnout at the BLM Having rushed in special police incidents of this nature is the arson at - protests last summer - despite the racism and other forms of bigotry are gle against racism and oppression powers ahead of the protests, both tack on the Belfast Multicultural Re - threats and intimidation - reflects the embedded in the sick system of capi - must be linked to the struggle for a so - Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin and source Association on 15th January. sentiment of the majority in society, talism, which sews and benefits from cialist future where everyone can be Naomi Long of the Alliance Party de - The association said that the centre particularly young people. However, division in the working class. The strug - guaranteed a decent and dignified life. BREXIT & REVIEW 11 THE SOCIALIST A tragic injustice Uncovering the truth about George Nkencho’s killing Brexit: A deal without winners our and a half years after checks being introduced and restric - the UK’s vote to leave the tions on some food products in par - FeU, a trade deal was fi - ticular, and with these come extra nally agreed at the eleventh costs. Any attempt to pass these hour before the deadline of costs on to workers through price 31st December. any view that rises, job cuts, or pay cuts must be Brexit is done and dusted, how - resisted. ever, is counteracted by the in - creasing problems with goods Northern Ireland protocol and food making it to northern One of the most significant changes Ireland, something which is the implementation of the North - could continue or get worse ern Ireland Protocol. Northern Ire - over the next year. the deal is land will remain in the EU single lacking detail on a whole num - market for goods, and there is now a ber of issues on which negotia - regulatory border down the Irish tions are likely to continue for Sea. There will be checks on some years. goods moving between Britain and Leaving some aspects open has al - the North, and some smaller compa - lowed the deal to be done, and nies have already stopped supplying means it is sufficiently vague for Northern Ireland because of the in - both sides to attempt to claim vic - creased costs involved. While some tory. The reality is the opposite – industries in the North may benefit neither side is the victor here. The from having access to both markets, UK government has secured the in others there remains an increased right to diverge from EU regulations risk of job cuts and closures which on labour laws, state aid and so on - must be resisted. but could face having hefty tariffs For many Protestant workers in imposed on exports if these are the North, the new arrangement deemed to undermine the EU’s sin - feels like a move in the direction of gle market. The EU is satisfied that an ‘economic united Ireland’, and a the result hasn’t made exit an attrac - further step towards pushing them tive prospect for other member into a united Ireland in which they states, but is certainly weakened by could be a marginalised minority. losing one of its largest economies, While those around Arlene Foster No Brexit deal agreed by the Tories and the Eu could be in the interests of working-class people and about a quarter of EU defence have sought to downplay the signif - spending. icance of this, another section of the on working-class solidarity and was ever going to satisfy the needs change. On the basis of democratic From the point of view of British DUP have sought to use the disrup - unity across sectarian divides, is and desires of working-class people. public ownership of the economy capitalism, while the catastrophe of tion of food supplies as a means to essential. For that, we can only rely on the po - and planning to meet need, we can a no-deal situation was avoided, it is posture on the threat to the integrity tential strength of the organised build a better future in which the not the case that there will be no of the Union, probably in anticipa - For a socialist Europe working class and mass movements peoples of Europe and the world can new barriers to trade, as Boris John - tion of a future leadership chal - No deal drawn up by the Tories and in Britain, Ireland and internation - be united on a free, voluntary and son claimed. There are new customs lenge. A socialist approach, based other European capitalist politicians ally to bring about real, socialist equal basis.

Film review: Rocks directed by Sarah Gavron

By Shane Finnan don. No reference was made to the other friends come from back - fire, but precarious existence in a grounds as diverse as Roma to white arah Gavron's Rocks is multi-ethnic, working-class high- English. In one scene, the girl from sa modern coming-of-age rise stirred memories of the disaster a Roma background mentions how film, focused on the life and with the reviewer. her great-grandparent perished in struggles of the main charac - One of the main themes of the Auschwitz, which sees the girls de - ter, olushola "rocks" omo - film is resilience. Rocks' uses her riding Hitler, with London slang and toso. the film is set in street-smarts and forward-thinking way of speaking that's completely pre-Covid london, and follows to survive. She is now the sole carer authentic. The portrayal of the char - rocks' and her group of for Emmanuel, her younger brother. acters is sincere and believable. teenage girl schoolmates in Rocks is no more than 14 or 15, and Rocks isn't just a story about the their day-to-day life in multi - has to figure out on a daily-basis trials and tribulations of the main cultural, working-class lon - how to look out for her younger character. It is much more than that. don. the main plot line brother and how to evade social Between scenes, moments of hard - revolves around rocks re - services. Rocks is cognisant about ship and the hard realities of every - sponding to and coping with a the nature of social services in Tory day life in multi-racial, family crisis. Britain, and she is determined not to working-class London are captured. Early in the film, Rocks' mother be taken into care - hopeful that her Be it groups of young men standing abandons both Rocks and her Mother will reappear after a period on corners with nowhere to go, or younger brother. This isn't the first of convalescence. wreathes laid out at the entrance of time that Rock's mother has taken- Rocks is first or second-genera - high-rise gates, the viewer gets a real off. She has a history of mental ill - tion Nigerian-English. She has no sense of life and struggle. Beyond ness. In an explanatory letter left to family in Britain. After her mother, the hardship, it is a film about soli - Rocks, her Mother explains that she her next-of-kin is her grandmother darity and bonds of togetherness needs to "clear my head" and "I who lives in Lagos. Rocks' school is with a group of teenage girls. It will should really be better for you". De - representative of multi-ethnic and have the viewer tearful at moments, tails of the crisis affecting Rocks' multi-racial London. In school, she but inspired by the heartfelt depic - mother are filtered to the audience praisal of mental illness under capi - home is a flat half-way up a high- experiences no racism from her tion of working-class teenage girls throughout the course of the film. talism and what it means to be living rise. Rocks was filmed in the years classmates. Her best friend is from a from various backgrounds taking The film is both a realistic ap - below the poverty line. Rocks' family following the Grenfell fire in Lon - North African background, and care of each other. PAPtER OF THhE SOCIALIST PAReTY s o c ISSUE i136 a l isJANUARY / Ft EBRUARY 2021 end the CanCel anxiety leavinG & stress Cert 2021!

JOIN THE SOCIALIST PARTY! Text ‘ JOIN ’ to 0873141986 / 07709276057