ScottishLeft Review Issue 102 November/December 2017 - £2.00

'best re(a)d' ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND (which used to be the SNP’s position – before they became the government!)

Mick Whelan Tosh McDonald Kevin Lindsay General Secretary President Scottish O cer ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk

 Trade Union Recognition agreements on all construction sites

 Adherence to collective agreements

 Direct employment

 No blacklisting

 No public contracts for blacklisters

 No Bogus self employment or umbrella schemes

 Protect skills

 Proper apprenticeships The Rank & File was born out of an attack on the skills of electricians in 2011 by eight of the major mechanical and electrical construction companies in the UK. We have also been in the  Health & Safety forefront in the fight against blacklisting with our partners, the Blacklist Support Group. We seek

the adherence of collective agreements on all construction sites and recognition of all elected shop stewards and safety reps. The Rank & File, who is made up mostly of Unite members but Contact: also count members of GMB and Ucatt among our ranks, are determined to change the face of construction for the benefit of working people by transforming the attitudes of companies in the Email: [email protected] industry to realise the benefits of having an organised workforce. To do this we need the assistance of clients such as the Scottish government, local authorities, NHS and Scotland’s Universities and Colleges through their procurement processes, in line with the Scottish Unite Scottish Rank and File government’s Fair Work Framework. Together we can make a difference. @ScotRankFile

2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 feedback

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Beginnings of a new dawn? n the last editorial, we called for a to make it to do more than spout well- constitutional changes may be needed credible left candidate to emerge to intentioned words and make it begin to to bring about a federal or confederal Icontest the leadership of Scottish make good on these by delivering on a future. Recent polling evidence suggests Labour. As we now know, Richard substantial range of socially progressive that support for independence has not Leonard has stepped forward and we policies. Conversely, if Anas Sarwar was reviewsdied a death because of the Corbyn hope that he will be successful. This to win, the SNP would not face such effect. Even if Leonard as a supporter of should be an uncontroversial statement a challenge. He simply does not have Corbynism wins, it is highly unlikely the - for the whole of the left in Scotland radical politics like Leonard despite levels of support for independence will will benefit if he does win because his some recent opportunistic acts on his dramatically change. Hence, the need victory will shift the centre of gravity part on tax. And that’s not to mention to address the constitutional question of politics in Scotland further to the the impact of his personal choices in in a productive manner, and to recall left – on issues of class, the purpose life over the schooling for his children, that much support for independence and beneficiaries of the economy, the shareholding in his father’s company is based upon seeking to break out distribution of wealth and power and etc etc upon his political credibility. By of the stranglehold of austerity and so on and so forth. Thus, while it may contrast, Richard comes out from the neo-liberalism (and not ‘Tartan and cause significant challenges to the SNP, union movement (STUC, GMB), worked shortbread’ nationalism). Last year’s Greens and any independent left (like for leftwing MEP, Alex Falconer, and Scottish Labour annual conference the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP)) in a has been active in the Scottish Labour agreed to set up a working party on party political sense, the confirmation History Society and Keir Hardie Society. constitutional matters. It is important it and extension of Corbynism in Scotland He also has an intellectual sharpness does its work as soon as possible. will be assured with Leonard’s victory. and depth as a writer and thinker which The politics of ‘for the many, not the few politicians do. This general benefit for the left of few’ will come into play in a forceful a Leonard victory is also despite his This general benefit for the left here way. politics being social democratic – albeit is despite of the particular position radical social democrat ones - like For the SNP-cum-Scottish Government, Leonard takes on the issue of those of Corbyn and not socialist per Leonard’s victory would, we hope, start independence and his silence on what se. This is not to split hairs but merely to remember that, one hundred years ScottishLeftReview on from the October revolution, there Issue 102 November/December 2017 are, in fact, two strands of socialism. Contents This was why the Russian Social Editorial comment: beginnings of a new dawn?...... 3 Democratic Labour Party split into Chris Bartter obituary...... 5 two factions in 1903 at its conference Pay, people and power Mark Serwotka ...... 6 held in London – one was called the Public sector pay rise is good for all: demand side is the problem Mike Danson and Geoff Bolsheviks (led by Lenin) and one was Whittam ...... 7 Providing a decent future for care workers Stephen Smellie ...... 9 called the Mensheviks (led by Martov). Taking on the Tories’ Trade Union Act Gregor Gall ...... 10 So there is the parliamentary road which Of saints and sinners: social democracy and socialism Craig Lundie ...... 11 is about reforming capitalism rather SNP - insurgents or same old, same old? Raymond Mennie ...... 13 than abolishing it. For this very reason, SNP leadership: no friends of Palestine Mark Brown...... 15 it is called ‘socialism from above’ but Clarity needed to reverse indy retreat Hugh Cullen ...... 16 What’s a republic for? Bill Bonnar ...... 17 is actually social democracy where Barbour’s legacy and rediscovering Glasgow’s radical housing tradition Michael O’Brien ....18 the modification of the market (its Millennials: be seen and be heard Rebekah McVey ...... 19 processes and outcomes) is significant Delivering union rights in Amazon Nigel Flanagan ...... 20 and achieved through state ownership. The Colombian peace process – one year on Cherilyn Elston ...... 21 Scottish gypsy travellers – an oppressed and neglected minority Colin Turbett...... 22 In Britain, the high point of social Reversing globalisation will reduce need for immigration controls Peter Lomas ...... 23 democracy was the 1945-1951 Labour Book and film reviews - Sean Sheehan, Jackie Bergson, Richard Whyte, governments led by Clement Atlee. Andrew Sanders, Colin Fox, Robin Jones and Donald McCormick ...... 24 Under Atlee, the NHS was established Kick up the tabloids - Vladimir McTavish...... 30 and widespread nationalization (steel,

3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 coal, rail etc) took place (while the in on the rising tide of radical social of society. The sense in which we should nuclear bomb was developed and democracy? It may seem that they are – see Labour as a political party is all the colonies not given independence). And, but times change and a Labour general more emphasised by the review of party though significant reforms are not to be election victory is far from assured if the democracy that is being led by former scoffed at in this age of neo-liberalism research by Compass on the idea of ‘just MP, Katy Clark. To be a worthwhile and austerity, socialism – ‘socialism from one last heave’ is to be believed. And, review, annual conference must become below’ – is the form of revolutionary once in office, would Labour also be in a policy making conference again and be socialism which does abolish capitalism power? That alone might highlight that the sovereign body of the party, putting and sets humanity upon a completely there is a need for political parties to the the National Executive Committee, new course. Socialism is either of the left of Labour because what happens National Policy Forums and the like in reformist or revolutionary sort and not a outside Parliament can have a big their place. ‘third way’ variant in between. bearing on what happens inside it. And After the removal of any prospect of this leads on to another big issue. Can an imminent second referendum, the The issue of what counts as socialist Labour under Corbyn and McDonnell SNP has returned to the ‘day job’ of or social democratic is far from become a mass movement as some like unimportant in our current times. In Corbyn and McDonnell hope? The first government. It has to be welcomed echoes of the radical October 1974 thing to say is that a mass movement that it relaunched itself with a raft of Labour manifesto, Corbyn, on the eve and a mass (political) party are not policy pledges in early September. It of the recent Labour Party conference the same things. Labour membership promises to investigate the introduction promised in the Observer (24 has grown enormously since Corbyn of a citizen’s wage, examine the case for September), that ‘… our mission must became leader and is now heading increasing taxes for the rich, confirmed be to work with the people of Britain to towards 600,000. Even if membership plans to lift the 1% public sector pay transfer wealth, power and opportunity was to reach one million, it would not gap, pledged there would be a public to the many from the few. For the first become a mass movement because sector bid for the ScotRail franchise. time in a long time, we can provide a movements require ‘membership’ in the The significance of promises to look at politics of hope and a politics for the millions – such as the union movement this and promises to look at that was people’. Those with longer memories or anti-war movement. But, secondly, picked up upon by Iain Macwhirter will recall that this October 1974 mass movements are not based upon writing in the Herald (10 September). He manifesto was not implemented and membership per se and much more commented: ‘Mind you, the small print did not make for a radical government. upon active participation and political of the Scottish Government’s document, Indeed, the first cuts in NHS spending affiliation. And, thirdly, political parties A Nation With Ambition, shows that the were made and Labour imposed caps have an explicit mission – namely, to win legislative programme is not quite as on pay rises. In this context, it is worth office in a parliamentary system – which radical as it first appeared’. This showed highlighting that Corbyn at the same mass movements do not. We must Macwhirter was more on the ball than conference talked of the supposed also remember that Labour has been the Scotsman’s Tom Peterkins who ‘national interest’ where the interests historically tied to a mass movement wrote ‘By signalling tax rises the First of workers and bosses, the poor and that it came out of - the union Minister has shown her true colours the rich, can go hand in hand. The day movement – so there is no need on this as a politician of the left … Sturgeon before the Labour conference started, account to duplicate. has finally lived up to her reputation the Morning Star (23 September) as a left-winger’ (7 September). reported Corbyn declared Labour to be The differences between a movement Developments since the relaunch show ‘the natural party of business’ because and a party are further amplified by the further limits to SNP radicalism. it will work with British businesses to the continuing poor health of unions. First, the announcement on fracking create ‘the kind of economy we want’ Membership keeps falling and some is good but it has to be balanced by and that many businesses have ‘Labour have asked quite rightly why Labour the acknowledgement that it resulted values at their core’. Such a perspective can increase its membership will from mass public campaigning and that is dangerous to say the least, because unions cannot. They ask ‘where is the there should be a legal ban not just a as John McDonnell revealed, if a Labour Corbyn bounce for them?’ Corbyn has continued moratorium. Second, the government was to be elected, the encouraged workers to join unions and support union rights – which are very announcement of a publicly owned capitalists are more than certain to try welcome – but it is clear that the mass energy company is good but it will only to make life difficult for it. They could joining to Labour is divorced from a cover retail and not power generation organize a flight of capital abroad or grassroots sense of struggle. Joining and distribution so that it could be held an investment strike. One could see Labour and supporting Corbyn is easy. hostage to the big players so its prices how giving into the capitalists in such Joining a union and starting to engage in are not much lower. Third, there is more a situation would be justified for the struggle in your workplace is not. Why help for landlords than renters through supposed ‘national interest’. the difference? Essentially, most support the Rental Income Guarantee Scheme. All that said, the rise of Corbynism Corbyn because of what he and Labour Fourth, the creation of a Scottish National does still raise the issue of what is the promise to do for their supporters while Investment Bank but it will be led by the practical point of the non-Labour left unions promise that they can only do former chief executive of Tesco Bank. at the moment when there seems to things for their members if members Fifth, care providers have been told be only ‘one show in town’. So, are the are the union. On top of this, Corbyn to pay the (independent) Living Wage likes of the Communist Party and SSP supporters see change in society coming but this has not been fully funded and just wasting their time by not being from the top of society, not the bottom the compulsion is not great. Lastly, the 4 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Scottish Government only agreed to compromise on its schools shake up after Chris Bartter stout resistance from local authorities. With the SNP led Scottish Government there is always then a sense of one step forward, two steps back. This is where a victory for Leonard could come into play. With the next Scottish Parliament elections not due until 2021, Scottish Labour led by Leonard could effectively if not explicitly work with the SNP Scottish Government to make it deliver on a number of promises and push it to do more leftwards lest it wishes entertain an election defeat in 2021. This is particularly so on the issue of tax (24 April 1953-28 October 2017) changes. Scottish Left Review was shocked to receive news of Chris’ untimely death. • The left in a Britain/Spain and To his last day, he was active in promoting Richard Leonard’s campaign for Scotland/Catalonia finds itself in a bit of a common conundrum. All leader of Scottish Labour, and the Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s can rightly condemn the violent festival of Cuban films. His last blog encouraged support for the latter, response of the Spanish government together with the ‘Representing Revolution’ film festival taking place in to the holding of the referendum on Dumfries that weekend. 2 October – as well as attempts to stop it and the imposition of direct Following graduation, Chris worked at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library and rule. But stepping back from that, became active in NALGO and its successor union, UNISON. There, too, he the political fault lines and political met Doreen, his life partner of forty years. His talents shone particularly in divisions are surprisingly similar. the field of communications, and UNISON in due course wisely followed Support for Catalonian independence its frequent practice of promoting an outstanding lay official to employed is a cross class matter - as it was and professional status as its Communications Officer for Scotland. In this remains in Scotland. Capitalists in role, he enhanced the union’s profile and that of the wider movement Catalonia support independence but not all on the political right do. The with trenchant interventions in industrial, political, civic and cultural life. political left is similarly split. Some His ability and sincerity in operating in such combustible arenas won in Catalonia want to keep its wealth Chris respect and admiration from friends and foes alike. in Catalonia, favouring a split in the In the words of his friend, the composer William Sweeney, Chris was same way that Czech wanted to rid themselves of the ‘poor’ Slovaks. ‘a great brilliant bear of a man’: at six feet five, built to match and Others want to see Catalonia become full-bearded. ‘The Captain’, as he became known, was immediately a progressive beacon against Spanish identifiable in any company or crowd. Taking early retirement in 2010, austerity and elitism. Others still Chris’s activity and influence seemed, if anything, to widen. He was a key emphasis the case of Catalonian figure in Fair Pley, the Glasgow-based arts company: a regular reviewer difference in terms of culture and and correspondent for the Morning Star; a contributor to Scottish Left language. Within Spain as now in Review; and, as Chair of Glasgow Friends of May Day, the driving force in Britain, there is a resurgent form of credible social democracy. Podemos the maintenance of an all-year round programme of events in support of came earlier and suffered a setback the traditional workers’ festival. recently but it comes out of a popular As a leading light in the Campaign for Freedom of Information in revulsion against neo-liberalism Scotland, Chris used his political and media skills to promote and extend and austerity as has Corbynism. So matters of whether there is a Spanish access to information rights across Scotland which included demanding, or Catalonian road to socialism are repeatedly, at events and in publications that housing associations should equally complicated as whether be covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. there is a British or Scottish road to It was on behalf of Glasgow Friends of May Day that Chris joined with socialism. Ebbs and flows take place in both. the Scottish Labour History Society to organise an annual programme of labour heritage walks during ‘Glasgow Doors Open Week’. In this, its • As readers will see, we have the fourth year, Chris led the concluding event on Saturday 16 September. beginnings of what we hope will be a fruitful debate in future editions Our deepest condolences go to Doreen on the passing of a good man, a on the nature of the SNP. Further great socialist and internationalist and a dear friend gone too soon. contributions are welcomed on this Stewart Maclennan, chair, Scottish Labour History Society and any other responses to editorials.

5 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Pay, people and power Mark Serwotka gave the fifth Jimmy Reid annual lecture on 5 October 2017 in Glasgow. It was entitled ‘Pay, people and power: the progressive case for public services’. Here, we print part of the lecture on the fight for decent public sector pay.

[Mark began by paying tribute to Jimmy My starting point is to reject the view November 2011 pension strike came Reid as ‘a giant of the movement’ that workers in Scotland have been about. People said there were too and for his role in the UCS work- protected from austerity more than many different schemes with so many in in ‘shaping Scottish industrial workers in England or Wales. … And, we different rates of accrual. But it was the consciousness for trade unionists and need to recall there is £123bn of a ‘tax action of the four unions – PCS, UCU, socialists in the many years since’. He gap’ through avoidance and evasion. ATL, and NUT – that acted as a catalyst said he was ‘incredibly proud to be That is evidence of a redistribution of by taking action in June 2011 that giving the lecture’.] wealth from the poor to the rich. persuaded the other unions that it could be done. onight, I am going to try to follow So when it comes to reversing cuts in in the footsteps of Jimmy Reid by public spending, wealth redistribution The divisions in the working class drawing upon the lessons of his from the rich to the poor or bullying movement that we have seen after T bosses in the either the public or the two referenda can be healed not just life in order to ask how we unite the working class movement to challenge private sector, we have to ask ourselves by a united fight on pay but also by the austerity, fight for decent wages and why have we not already successfully articulating a positive vision of a just and fight for a better society. If we follow stood up to these challenges and we fairer society. are we going to do differently this time the lessons of his words in being Mark Serwotka is the general secretary around? principled but not dogmatic, we need of the Public and Commercial Services to understand why we need to unite We have to move beyond just passing (PCS) union. Born in 1963 in Cardiff, he in this struggle and what the pitfalls in resolutions and understand that if we started work at 16 in the Department of doing so are. We need to remember can beat the Tories on pay, the future of Health and Social Security as a clerical Jimmy’s words - there is more unites this weak government is also then called officer. He was elected general secretary us than divides us in the working class into question. in 2000 and then again in 2005, 2009 and 2014. Mark re-joined Labour in 2015 movement. Well we can unite around three central and is a strong supporter of Corbyn, demands. The first is to end the pay There is a lot of misunderstanding having campaigned for him for Labour cap for all public sector workers. The about what public sector workers do leader in 2015 and 2016. In 2016, he second is that the funding for pay rise day-in and day-out for the people of this had a successful heart transplant at this must be new money so that no pay country. … They’re under-valued; they’re Papworth Hospital. underpaid; they’ve had their pensions rises are paid for with the pilfered; their pay downgraded; and loss of jobs or services or their redundancy schemes dropped. conditions. And, the third is Scottish Left Review Now is the time for us to unite and that we are not interested The Scottish Left Review is a non-profit making publication. Please subscribe or make a donation by going to www. challenge these injustices. … Tonight, I in anything less than the scottishleftreview.org where you can pay by credit card want to talk about what we need to do rate of inflation as that would be just another pay or by filling in your details in the form below and returning industrially and what this means for us to Scottish Left Review, 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, politically. cut. … PCS, along with a number of public sector Glasgow G41 4PL We welcome the fact that both the unions, is demanding a rise Scottish and British governments have of 5% or £1200, whichever Name started to make some concessions on is the greater, for all. public sector pay. But it comes with a Address These demands can unite poisoned chalice because there will us all even though there be an attempt to say that there are are many, many different deserving and undeserving public sector sets of pay negotiations workers – where those in uniforms are throughout the public Tel: more deserving that those that are not sector. … We cannot let in uniforms. All public sector workers the Scottish Government E-mail: play their part and all are deserving of a or Labour councils off the pay rise. hook when they say ‘we are Subscription/Donation We need industrial unity to fight for with you but we cannot to better pay and we need to overcome anything when Theresa May Date: 202 our political differences to fight neo- holds the purse strings’. Subscriptions: £18 (waged), £14 (unwaged), £24 (local liberalism and austerity. We can have There are things that can be organisations), £30 (national organisations). the serious political debate over, for done now … Donations will be gratefully recieved. Cheques should be example, the Scottish national question For those who say this crossed and made payable to: Left Review Scotland Ltd. and Brexit, without it dividing us is piece in the sky, let’s You can also subscribe/donate online at www.scottishleftreview.org industrially. remember how the mass 6 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Public sector pay rise is good for all: demand side is the problem Mike Danson and Geoff Whittam say there is public good in pay rises for public sector workers ompared with the commentary criticised outside Britain. the private sector have remained about from business leaders, right 10% higher than in the public sector, Total employment in Scotland has wing politicians and neo-liberal a trend that has continued since the C increased by almost 20% since 1999, followers, the statistics on Scotland’s economic downturn in 2009. with the private sector growing by economy do not suggest there are major more than a quarter (26%) while the These data only refer to employees and supply constraints on economic growth public sector has fallen by about 1%. so exclude those on zero hour contracts and development. Their demands are In 1999, there were 456,000 full-time and the self-employed. There has been for Scotland’s budget to be focused on equivalent (FTE) jobs in the public sector much discussion on these growing investment in roads, skills, and cutting in Scotland; after some fluctuations elements of the precarious economy, red tape and taxes. But the real needs over the last 18 years, the total in including our own article in Scottish Left of the economy are somewhat different. 2017 is almost the same at 465,300. Review In Scottish Left Review (issue 99), we (issue 93) on the high levels of Within these totals, FTE employment argued the performance of the Scottish poverty amongst the self-employed, in reserved sectors (civil service, economy - in terms of employment, who account for almost 1 in 5 of the public bodies, armed forces, public GDP per capita, attraction of inward workforce. Including these vulnerable corporations, public sector financial investment – was leading Britain members of the labour force in the institutions) has declined from 71,300 to outwith the London city-region and the statistics would highlight how mal- 53,600, with most reduction in full-time supply sides of the labour and capital distributed workers’ incomes are overall. posts. By contrast, the devolved sectors markets were reasonably effective and (civil service, other public bodies, The overall gender pay gap for employed efficient. The factors that are holding nhs, further education colleges, local workers has declined from 16.7% to back productivity improvements, government and public corporations) 6.2% since the millennium. Considering enhanced competitiveness and greater has risen from 384,700 to 411,700. figures for Britain, Scotland has fairly levels of innovation are to be found Since 2011, proportionately in local similar results. Weekly earnings for men within companies and organisations and government males have seen a bigger and women and for all sectors have on the demand side of the economy. fall with 13% fewer FTE jobs compared increased almost at the same rates However, as we argue below, with a with a 6% fall for women. across the economy, apart from finance recovery in pay levels within the private and business services which have sector and a pay cap within the public Over this same 18 years, median accelerated away. sector there are imbalances occurring (average) gross weekly earnings for within the economy that are creating full-time employees in the public sector As we all are aware, price and cost labour shortages in some occupations have risen by about 67% and by 56% rises have eroded wage and salary within the public sector, hence, the title in the private sector. In the late 1990s, increases for working Scots since the of this article. full-time public sector workers earned turn of the century. Indeed, working 17% more than their private sector class wage incomes are barely 1% With about the most unequal equivalents, this had increased to 21% above what they were in 2005. With distribution of income and wealth in by last year. However, the last 2-3 years devaluation of Sterling since the Brexit the developed world, Britain has been have seen a large rise in private sector vote, a worsening trading and economic pursuing a strategy of cutting the living earnings (increasing by £17, 3.4%) in position, and real cuts in the value of standards of the many and promoting 2015-16 alone compared with public welfare benefits, there is every reason the interests of the rich few. Austerity sector earnings (increasing by £4, 0.7%). to forecast further falls in incomes for all measures of real term cuts in social This has resulted in median private groups across the country. This will fuel security payments and a sanction- sector earnings rising to 87% of public a further recessionary spiral downwards. enforced welfare regime, an increasingly comparators, showing that earnings flexible labour market with poverty Together these statistics reveal a between the sectors have been closing wages and insecurity, rising levels of pressing need – with or without Brexit, since 2015. self-employment with few rights and a hard, soft or transition-softened low incomes have all taken money Most of the relative private sector leaving from the EU – for an alternative and so demand out of the economy. improvement has been at the bottom economic strategy that ensures that Exacerbating these drivers towards end of the distribution, likely due decline is reversed and all can look a stagnating economy, the massive to the introduction of the National to an improvement in standards of redistribution of power, wealth and Living Wage, with a larger proportion living. Using a different but as rigorous resources to the ultra-rich means further of private sector workers in the approach shows workers in Britain deterioration in tax revenues, economic occupations affected. Contracting out of have suffered the biggest fall in real activity and continuing public and low paid, disproportionately, women’s wages among leading OECD countries: private deficits so that debts continue jobs has depressed their incomes as between 2007 and 2015, real wages to rise. This strategy is counter to most they are no longer covered by collective fell by 10.4% – a drop equalled only by of our competitors and has been widely bargaining. At the top decile, earnings in Greece.

7 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Continuation of current strategies, has been stagnating since 2008 due Games contracting strategies – means that have seen stagnation for over a not to excessive rates of pay but the more income and jobs locally, again decade in the economy, cannot deliver opposite: we are in a deleterious cycle generating increased tax revenues than a turnaround at the very time when of encouraging low pay-low profits-low where a laissez faire approach is taken. investment in hope and confidence investment enterprises coupled with An inclusive and sustainable economic are critical. Economic theory supports increasing imported inflation following growth strategy is possible, but must such a move away from the neo-liberal the Brexit-inspired devaluation of have a restoration of just rewards in the austerity strategy of this ‘lost decade’. Sterling. The economy has major and public sector, and can raise the Scottish long-established structural problems There is a left neo-Keynesian case growth rate above Britain’s – necessary that are pushing it down the rankings of for intervening in the labour market to increase revenues under the recent competitiveness, resilience and wealth to ameliorate at least some of the devolution of more tax powers, creating production. As in the Nordic countries, problems which have evolved over virtuous fiscal and economic cycles. Germany and the Netherlands, reversing recent times through austerity and the this requires significant adjustment Mike Danson is Professor of Enterprise public sector wage cap. Experience that the market cannot deliver. Policy at Heriot-Watt University confirms that workers with transferable Following their paths of fundamental and Geoff Whittam is a Reader in skills will leave or not apply to work restructuring will require national tri- Entrepreneurship at Glasgow Caledonian in the public sector if the wage freeze partite conversations and negotiations University continues to offer better prospects around pay, investment, the social wage for some elsewhere in this or other and social contract, and that means a economies. This will create problems strong workers’ voice. A first step will for the delivery of public services at a be a return to meaningful collective time when skilled European staff are bargaining rather than an imposed leaving because of Brexit. It is important pay cap which excludes such critical Cover: to maintain balance within teaching, discourse. Nadia Lucchesi social work, planning, housing, and ([email protected]) many other public sector services in Complementing a relaxing of the pay terms of experience and new recruits cap, therefore, there needs to be: Proofing services: so that a prolonged period of artificially attention to greater in-work training Bob Thomson and John Daly constraining pay in one part of the and development; encouragement of Communications and innovation in the workplace led by the labour market cannot be allowed organisational development: to create long term deterioration in workforce; contracting back in many Carole Ewart another sector like education, caring, of the services and jobs put out to self- etc. For the effective and efficient employment, private providers and Editor Email: delivery of high quality services there is Arms’ Length External Organisations [email protected] a need to scrap the 1% public sector pay (ALEOs); and, especially, renewed focus Web: www.scottishleftreview.org cap. on the lessons of what a better public procurement strategy could be – again Tel: 0141 424 0042 HR specialists and most employers much discussed in previous editions of traditionally would also have recognised Address: Scottish Left Review. The affordability that workers are more productive when of higher public sector pay is central Scottish Left Review, they are appreciated – an argument to this path of generating progressive 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, neo-liberals seem to apply only in the change throughout the economy as case of executives and industry leaders Glasgow G41 4PL pre-distribution is key to the sustainable – so that motivation and change in success of the Nordic economic models. Printed by challenging times is facilitated when Hampden Advertising Ltd, rewards can be justifiably offered rather Any extra income that a low-paid worker than being constrained by government gains is typically spent on increased 403 Hillington Road, G52 4BL, policy. consumption of goods and services, Tel: 0141 429 1010 what Keynes called the marginal For those on low pay there are strong propensity to consume, because low arguments for higher increases to EDITORIAL COMMITTEE paid workers have unmet needs. This ensure pay justice. These are not the additional spending creates a multiplier Bill Bonnar Bill Ramsay causes of the financial and economic effect creating extra demand within the crises, who are to be found amongst Cat Boyd Lilian Macer economy leading to more production the top decile of private sector finance Sarah Collins Gordon Morgan and employment. These have high and business service workers – the Moira Craig Tommy Sheppard multiplier effects locally and nationally very groups who have seen real income particularly when compared with the Carole Ewart Dave Sherry increases throughout the last twenty consumption habits of the rich. More Gregor Gall Stephen Smellie years. employed on reasonable wages means, Editor Bob Thomson Most importantly are the automatically, that tax revenues are Tommy Kane Convener macroeconomic and fiscal arguments higher; more proactively supported Pat Kelly for higher pay in the Scottish public orders for local companies – as Vice Convener. sector. Productivity across the UK demonstrated by the Commonwealth 8 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Providing a decent future for care workers Stephen Smellie calls for government intervention to remedy an injustice roviding care is an essential Unions were able to ensure that level possible. There are examples of service, whether for older the Scottish Living Wage (SLW) was organisations carrying out reviews of Ppeople or children. But it is also established as the absolute minimum staffing that removed slightly higher an industry where making a profit is in councils and the NHS some years ago paid staff replacing them with care the priority, where demands on the but the private sector held solidly to assistants paid at the SLW. Therefore, public purse are as much to provide the National Minimum Wage (NMW). the predominately female workforce sustainable business models to Indeed, many employers undercut continues to be exploited and drags generate a return or finance highly even the NMW by refusing to pay an down the public sector, always paid chief executives dependent on appropriate amount for sleepover undercutting the public services. working. public sector contracts as they are The simple answer is to recruit and to provide quality care. Industry Seeking to address the issue of low organise to make the employers representatives such as Scottish pay, UNISON promoted its Ethical Care increase wages and conditions, Care, who represent the private care Charter asking councils to sign up to campaign for services to be properly homes, and Community Care Providers ensure that their staff and the staff of funded and for them to be taken ‘in- Scotland (CCPS) who represent the the private contractors were paid the house.’ Yet, similar to other industries, not-for-profits, continually lobby SLW. So far seven councils in Scotland there is a need for proper sectoral the Scottish Government and local have signed up. However, recognising bargaining where all employers, public, authorities over funding. They also sit union weakness, UNISON lobbied for private and independent, are part of a on various partnerships, representing the Scottish Government to legislate single process that negotiates wages, their interests, alongside staff unions, for wages in care services to be set at a terms and conditions (and funding) service user and carer groups, councils, minimum of the SLW. Whilst not getting with unions in the sector. Scottish and health boards. This includes being the legislation, we did get agreement Care each year negotiates with CoSLA funded by the public purse to sit on that the rules for procurement would on the level of funding for residential commissioning committees in the allow the enforcing of the SLW for care beds. However, the workforce is local Joint Integration Boards. As one care services. Scottish Care and CCPS not represented in these negotiations senior council officer observed: ‘We supported the demands for the SLW. and simply pick up the SLW crumbs don’t invite Amey or Balfour Beattie They recognised that their business from the agreements which are about to sit on the committees that draw up models were not sustainable whilst sustaining a level of profit for these the contracts for roads construction they paid at the NMW and demanded providers. but these people get to sit on the the funding to raise pay to the SLW. The Institute for Employment Rights committees responsible for planning UNISON supported full funding for recently published 8 Good Reasons and commissioning care services’. services to include the cost of paying Why Adult Social Care Needs Sectoral Their business models are primarily staff decent wages. However, questions Collective Bargaining. It demonstrated based on low wages, low levels of remain as to the accountability of poor-quality employment results training, and an exploited, mainly public funds generating profits in a in poor, and sometimes, dangerous female, workforce, including in some sector delivering care to vulnerable levels of care, it argued such collective parts a high number of immigrant people. bargaining on wages and conditions is labour. UNISON and other unions From October 2016, publicly funded essential to ensure the viability of the also have some access to the various care services are required to pay industry. Good employers would not be fora where plans are laid. Beyond the the Living Wage. The enormity of undercut by bad employers, workers public sector, which provides only a this achievement should not be would have a consistent and decently third of care at home services and less underestimated. The scale of the pay rewarded career. Such an arrangement than 10% of residential services, the rise that was achieved for care workers would give unions and their members’ workforce is not represented at all. was unprecedented with the SLW genuine influence consistent with The vast majority of the private and applying to young workers who were the Scottish government’s Fair Work independent sector employers are, previously paid at the lower levels of principles. And, people receiving at best, not keen on union organising the NMW. UNISON will continue to the services would have the security within their workforces or often adopt this approach to seek similar of knowing that the staff caring for extremely hostile. arrangements in the early years’ sector them were not being exploited, had decent conditions to work under and There is a significant gap between so that the women looking after our children are paid at least the SLW. could focus on providing the best care the wages paid in local authority possible in a more stable working care homes and nurseries and But the SLW is still significantly lower environment. their equivalents in the private than that paid in the public sector and and independent sectors. Union so the private and independent sector Stephen Smellie is Depute Convenor membership and organisation equals continue to employ business models UNISON Scotland better wages and better conditions. that utilise staff paid at the lowest

9 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Taking on the Tories’ Trade Union Act Gregor Gall looks at the experience of how to beat the new thresholds n early October 2017, the CWU service obligation. This ‘Four Pillars’ government’s public sector pay cap communications’ union set the bar campaign aims to stop the now of 1%. for all other major unions by easily I privatised company driving down Indeed, PCS seems to be taking surpassing the new legal requirement members’ terms and conditions of the same course as the CWU in its for gaining a nationwide mandate in employment in order to help it retain slow, patient pre-ballot national an industrial action ballot. Needing market share and boost profitability. mobilisation of members over this to achieve at least a 50% turnout for Lesson one is pick an issue – or set summer on pay. The union took the a lawful mandate for action, it gained of issues - that really matters to decision to hold this consultative an 89% vote for strike action on a members. Asking members to strike ballot in late July and has since 74% turnout (and, in the process, for just a 1% higher pay rise might organised an escalating body of would have also surpassed the other not provide much motivation when pay protests, starting with the new threshold of this also equating the cost of striking could wipe any HMRC (31 July), then across the to 40% of all those entitled to vote higher pay rise and where the real Ministry of Justice, Home Office in vital public services like schools, value of pay has fallen by over 10% and HMRC (31 August) and then hospitals, airlines and railways). since 2010. Being able to decide what across the civil service including Since the Tory Trade Union Act 2016 is the right issue to run with can only the DWP (29 September) and again imposed these new thresholds be gained by doing the necessary on 31 October. Reps have been from 1 March 2017 onwards, a ground work of talking extensively to encouraged to organise payday number of unions have been fearful members to judge their mood. demos, talk face-to-face to members, of staging industrial action ballots arrange members’ meetings, collect amongst large groups of workers Lesson two is about gradually upping members’ contact information and spread throughout the country. the ante amongst members. So in recruit new members to the union. One of these has been the new the case of the CWU’s postal union The ballot which ran from 9 October National Education Union, formed members, first, there was a petition to 6 November was followed by a from the ATL and NUT. It has said amongst members and union reps facebook live meeting. PCS used the that its industrial action in future meetings, then there were the consultative ballot to map out strong is more likely to be on a school-by- countless bulletins and umpteen and weak areas in its membership school basis. This is because whilst video messages or podcasts. All these so that come the statutory industrial unions are confident of achieving were supplemented by campaign action ballot it can focus upon the a ‘yes’ vote amongst those voting, material in various formats. And, weaker areas with extra resources to they are not confident of securing a all this was before the ballot was make sure not just of a ‘yes’ vote but, 50% plus turnout (or the additional even launched. The ballot was critically, a 50%+1 turnout. then followed by the largest online 40% threshold in important public But, of course, for the CWU and union meeting in recent times services like schools). Their fears other unions, the stage after winning and hundreds of workplace gate were underpinned by the loss of the ballot is equally important. meetings. Although the members some big and important ballots early Winning the ballot is necessary but of the CWU postal union deliver on – amongst London Underground not sufficient. The question then is: ‘snail mail’, they have not shirked workers, North Sea offshore workers can unions mount effective strike from extensively using social media and local government workers in action to gain their bargaining like twitter and facebook to further Scotland. But the successful CWU objectives when the Trade Union Act reinforce the campaigning message. ballot of over 110,000 postal workers also increases the period of notice So this has been the strategy of a in thousands of separate workplaces they must give employers of the shows that unions need not fear if ‘slow burn’ rather than a ‘quick flash action and reduces the length of the they approach the ballot in the right in the pan’ campaign. It was patient, lawful mandate for action? The first way. methodical and well-planned out. change means that any action could Other unions cannot expect to pass The CWU began the mobilisation be less effective than before while the new thresholds unless they do so to gain a strike mandate well over the second means that the dispute similarly. six months ago with the creation must be won more quickly than of its ‘Four Pillars’ campaign over The lessons to be learnt from the before if the union is to avoid having i) decent pensions; ii) a shorter CWU by other unions are vital to reballot again. working week; iii) extension of the following this year’s TUC congress Gregor Gall is professor of industrial 2013 legally binding agreement with where a number of unions including relations at the University of Bradford Royal Mail prior to privatisation; and PCS have signalled they want to iv) the maintenance of the universal take joint national strike to beat the 10 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Of saints and sinners: social democracy and socialism Craig Lundie responds to the arguments of the last editorial on the SNP and social democracy s a socialist in the SNP, it’s you progress to class awareness powers is an exercise that has limited difficult to know what message becoming a ‘proper’ socialist (with utility; likewise to compare action with I am supposed to take from the some versions adding a further stage rhetoric doesn’t get us very far. A Scottish Left Review editorial in the last as a fully-fledged communist). This So, no matter how progressive Jeremy (issue 101). The first few paragraphs individual development of an activist Corbyn and John McDonnell’s rhetoric appear to have been written exclusively has its corollary in the collective is, to make a claim like, ‘Corbyn and for the Labour left and it remains development of a state from liberal to McDonnell have shown the SNP what partisan throughout, further on reading social democracy, through socialism into bona fide radicalism looks like (in words, like a rallying cry to the Scottish left in communism. if not yet deeds)’ really does look like general to form behind Labour (where It worries me when political terms are the editor is clutching at straws. I don’t the ‘momentum’ is) in order to take on used without any reference to reality. think it’s helpful to reduce the pursuit of those pesky nationalists in the SNP. As In particular, there has been a lot of proletarian emancipation to such a rigid the Scottish Left Review is a periodical reference to social democracy of late. (ab-)use of these terms. So much energy that claims to cater for the Scottish left But in what context? There is no social is wasted arguing over the point that it in general, this is odd to say the least. I democratic movement to speak of at just becomes a plughole down which don’t have enough space to critique the the moment. Or, at least, none that any more interesting or nuanced debate editorial as a whole, so, I’ll just mention is self-consciously social democratic. can spiral. two of the more contentious supporting There are a number of progressive and claims which appear central to the My own conception of social democracy anti-austerity groups to the extent that argument. comprises the amelioration or perhaps we could describe the whole as replacement of liberal democracy and The first is that ‘Labour is by far the a progressive movement. Nonetheless, the legal and economic institutions it most politically progressive of all it is worth just saying that we are not embodies with modified or alternative the major political parties – and that part of a social democratic movement at arrangements which protect the includes the SNP’. This seems rather the moment. interests of working-class people rather a nostalgic claim - not to mention Progressive politics tend to cover a than the owners of land and capital. This selective (I wonder what our comrades rather larger area than social democracy, is a class-based perspective based on in the Green and various socialist parties incorporating liberal attitudes to society historical materialism and the on-going might have to say about it, for instance). held within rather more conservative critique of political economy found in The second claim is that, ‘...the fortunes ambitions. But socialists measure socialist activists and writers throughout of the SNP, not a social democratic party progress on the basis of class advance, the last two and a half centuries or so. I as it claims, has been further dented so our own idea of progress more or don’t think I’m out on a limb here. as it becomes more evident that it has less amounts to social democracy in all A political party’s commitment to started running out of steam (sic)’. This but name. The problem remains that social democracy, therefore, has a lot statement bears very little scrutiny, without a movement, the terms lack to do with what they actually achieve either in regard to social democracy or substance. in government. This is where that the on- going vigour of the SNP. commitment is tested and our position Historically, Labour has certainly My reading of the editorial suggests it in relation to their actions must be to delivered more (progress) in accepts an oft-repeated axiom of left support working-class gains and to resist Westminster government in the politics. Socialists should support and working-class losses whilst debating the interests of working-class people than elect socialist parties where possible and broader questions of strategy and tactics any other party. This is incontrovertible. where none exist (or appear electable) as we go, promoting our own solutions However, we are now over forty years support and elect social democratic to these questions. The finer details of into the neo-liberal age and throughout parties instead. This is based on a fairly social democracy, therefore, are defined this period the party’s achievements common understanding of socialism and and redefined in their historical effect have been decidedly more modest (how social democracy within the working- rather than their rhetorical intent. much of an understatement this is, I class movement to describe our nature, leave to your own judgement). The social democratic question may our forms and our historical task. be simplified to this, I suggest; how do The editorial seems to suggest that we Of course, Labour has always aspired to socialists utilise and transform liberal should now choose a party which the be the ruling party of the British state democratic institutions for proletarian author considers to be at least social and on the occasions it has achieved this ends? From our perspective, the democratic (even perhaps, aspiring to be goal, it has wielded levers of political parliamentary institutions we have socialist) and that is Labour. The claim and economic power that the SNP never access to are Westminster, Holyrood that the SNP are not a social democratic could. The powers vested in Holyrood and local government. Our task in the party, in the terms of this rendering, can not only cover a smaller geography proletarian movement then, is to arm be further unpacked to say that they are but are severely restricted, particularly our elected representatives with the not even a social democratic party (let in terms of macro-economic control. tools to affect our ends, confronted alone a socialist party, so the argument Power devolved is power retained as they are by a given set of liberal continues). and our discussion cannot ignore this institutions, including existing policies Thus: you might begin your persistent fact. Therefore, we have to be and laws. enlightenment by accepting the careful that we compare like with like. claims of social democracy, then To compare state powers with devolved I accept that these matters are up for

11 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 argument but I think that we have to already being given by the hundreds of represented by the Tory party. have this discussion rather than going thousands of activists who joined first We face a huge task and one that we on pretending that we agree on what the SNP, then Labour (albeit the latter would do well to unite around, so I say we mean in a movement that is not self- largely outside Scotland and certainly this to those of you who do not vote consciously social democratic. in response to our democratic micro- SNP already. If you really want to know revolution). By these measures, Labour which is how the SNP would fare in governing described in the editorial has not yet The lesson for socialists is the same as a nation state without actually getting been tested in government. Although, it always was. Organise. Organise for behind Scottish independence, it’s easy the party in a previous incarnation had a democratic, educated working-class enough. Simply accept our offer of a an extended run of power into and movement. Organise a genuine social progressive alliance in Westminster. through the first decade of this century, democracy in our workplaces, in our that was not a government that we communities and in our institutions, Agree in your manifesto for the next could comfortably describe as social including our own parties. Get in about general election, that if the Scottish democratic. Before Jeremy Corbyn was those parties and prepare them to electorate again returns a majority of elected leader, in fact, there was an deliver in our interests. Don’t blame SNP members of parliament, you will extended period where the majority the politicians (Labour or SNP) for not commit to having a coalition and SNP of the party appeared to be willing to effecting change when we haven’t members of cabinet, including a Scottish try almost anything other than a social been successful in clarifying the change Secretary of State who represents the democratic approach to policy. we want and; don’t ask working-class votes of the majority of the Scottish electorate. In fact, for those Labour It’s true that SNP politicians have not people to trust politicians to do it for us. found themselves able to implement supporters who have already conceded Finally, and in response to the partisan the logic of federalism, it is hard to see policy with which the students of social element of the editorial: Labour has democracy amongst us might fully how you could deny this arrangement let us down for forty years and good whilst continuing to act in good faith agree. But that is not entirely their intentions are not going to convince all fault in the absence of a consistent with your own position. Of course, you Scottish working-class people to trust could just resort to splitting the class movement to guide them and we can’t the party or to give up on independence say that they haven’t consulted or been along tribal lines. After all, they are not as an alternative route to social all middle-class voters. responsive to civil society. democracy. That doesn’t mean we The question remains - how do we can’t work together across all parties Craig Lundie is a civil servant and a lay rehabilitate social democracy such to meet many of the social democratic rep in PCS Revenue & Customs East that it once again becomes a genuine aspirations that our electorate regularly Kilbride branch. He is secretary of SNP movementLRD TUC Sept15_Layout that keeps the 1 10/07/2015politicians 14:09 Pagevote for1 or to resist and ultimately Trade Union Group and a founding on track? I think that answers are defeat the cynical neo-liberal chaos member of the Black Triangle Campaign. FIGHT ANTI-UNION LAWS

www.rmt.org.uk

General Secretary: Mick Cash President President: PSeaneter P iHoylenkney

12 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 SNP - insurgents or same old, same old? Raymond Mennie argues the SNP is not all it’s cracked up to be here have been momentous success, winning 56 seats out of 59. Council budgets by 4.6%. political events taking place At the 2017 general election they The ‘Scottish Futures Trust,’ the SNP in Europe in recent years T lost substantial swathes of support, flagship instrument for investing which have challenged the ruling mainly to the Tories but also to in Scotland’s infrastructure, was capitalist hegemony and shaken Labour, finishing with 35 seats. initially ruled illegal by the EU the system to its roots. Syriza in The political reality at Holyrood, Commission because it did not Greece, Podemos in Spain, the SNP where the SNP has been in power include enough private capital and in Scotland and Corbyn’s Labour in since 2007, has been marked by a separate £10bn investment deal Britain are the most important and posturing and sleight of hand being with Chinese companies was still- interesting. All of these movements the order of the day. In that time, born when one signatory withdrew represent a mass rejection of neo- the nationalist administrations amidst a public outcry. liberal economics and its associated inequality, austerity, job losses, which, initially were ‘noted’ for A manifest opportunity to return unemployment, service cuts, managerial efficiency are now rail services to public ownership increased taxes, low wages and ‘noted’ for damage limitation was spurned by the SNP when they unremitting poverty while the rich exercises. awarded the ScotRail franchise grow richer. The advances made by They have been the most to Abellio, which is owned by the these movements were all at the centralising governments since Dutch government! They also used expense of the traditional right-wing the Thatcher governments. Police EU law to allow privateers to bid for social democratic formations in services and Fire and Rescue services the island ferry services, with Serco each of their countries but, with the have been removed from local winning the northern routes. exception of Corbyn’s Labour, they government oversight and control In the decade of SNP government, have all failed to maintain forward and threats are being made to coral three Education secretaries have momentum in recent electoral education services into 8 regional come and gone with Russell, Hyslop campaigns having disappointed their authorities, with no role whatsoever and Constance widely regarded as support over the intervening period. for the 32 local councils. total failures and the incumbent Since Corbyn’s election as Labour National ‘hubcos’, on which Swinney is desperately trying to leader, the left has grown both in contractors are represented, pick up the pieces. Health secretary stature and in strength, so much so are used to award most public Robinson is failing to reach her that the Party now boasts the largest contracts. Quangos are the own targets, Rural Affairs secretary membership of any European Party, favourite management tool for Ewing is desperate to conceal his totalling some 650,000 members. the nationalists, with promises rabid support for fracking, Transport Despite the manoeuvres of the on anti-blacklisting and local job secretary Yousaf is the target of irate right-wing Parliamentary Party and opportunities in the procurement of rail users, Police and Fire secretary the Party’s right-wing apparatchiks, public contracts cynically broken. Matheson oversees the complete massive gains were recorded in shambles that is Police Scotland and the 2017 general election fought When the Peoples’ Assembly the Housing minister hardly has a on an unapologetic, anti-austerity, Scotland met with Scottish Ministers council house to his name. left-wing manifesto to such an to discuss the Peoples Manifesto, The First Minister, Sturgeon has extent that Corbyn’s party is now a the delegation were informed obsessed so much about a second government in waiting. The gains that the Scottish Government ‘independence’ referendum that her in Scotland were more modest and was already implementing the government has not introduced a support more muted. Assembly’s proposals!! This seems to be the stock-in-trade response from single piece of notable legislation for In the 2014 independence the nationalists at both local and more than a year. referendum, many anti-austerity national level - ‘we are already doing The SNP Holyrood roll call of failure individuals and organisations that.’ over the past 10 years has now campaigned and voted for entered folklore, with excuse after ‘independence’ and although In reality, what they are doing excuse failing to ameliorate the they lost the vote the SNP gained is passing on Tory cuts to Local dismay and growing anger of the a membership of 120,000 and Authorities. Between 2013 and Scottish people. the momentum generated by the 2017, the Scottish government campaign carried the SNP to a budget was cut by 1.5% but the An independent Scotland would spectacular 2015 general election nationalists insisted on slashing find itself with a budget deficit 13 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 of more than £13.5 billion which ‘independence’ line. By the time puffed-up, but empty vision of represents 8.3% of its GDP and falls of the formation of the Scottish a country tied to the neo-liberal foul of the EU fiscal compact which Parliament in 1999, the SNP was all European Union. He and his party dictates a deficit of less than 0.5%. for devolution, recognising it as a are neo-liberal advocates of low The difference would have to be vehicle to deliver ‘independence’. levels of corporation tax and have made up by increasing taxes, or This exploitation of the parliament failed to deliver on their promise to cutting services even further. Leaving together with anti-Tory rhetoric abolish the council tax and replace it the EU would provide greater and a superficial social democratic with a more egalitarian local income room for manoeuvre, but the SNP, veneer delivered spectacularly for tax or land value tax. unfortunately for it, is sadly one of the SNP up to, during and after the There is a nasty anti-English streak the most Europhile organisations in ‘independence’ referendum. running through the SNP and its Europe. Following his failure to win the support base, which would rather Having helped the Tories bring referendum, Salmond resigned and operate jointly with employers in down the Labour government in the leadership passed to Sturgeon. other nations than with English 1979, they lost 9 seats, hanging on The SNP at base is a petit bourgeois workers, despite England being in Dundee East and the Western nationalist organisation with no real Scotland’s biggest trading partner. Isles. The leader, Gordon Wilson MP substance, which aims to represent The SNP cohort in the Westminster (Dundee East) became the target of all Scots, including large employers, Parliament act and talk left but a leadership challenge from the ‘79 medium to small employers, the their counter-parts in the Holyrood Group’, led by Alex Salmond. The middle strata and employees. It Parliament act and talk right. No-one party then decided to stand in local attempts to be all things to all men/ can be all things to all men/women, elections and won the Hilltown ward women and talks about Scotland a choice has to be made as to which in Dundee. without defining which Scotland opposing social and economic forces it means. SNP campaigners are During the Thatcher years angry should be supported and policies renowned for changing their Tory voters deserted their political developed which meet the needs message and policy depending on home and turned, in numbers to of those forces. The SNP’s glaring whom they are speaking to. Their the SNP. This was the period when weakness is its lack of any tangible, social democratic posture further the SNP began to win control organic link with the organised confuses some working people but of local authorities, beginning working class. the majority among the Scottish with Angus Council. Salmond For too long the SNP has mined the proletariat continue to support the became party leader and he and vein of grievance in Scotland with Labour Party, even more so since his supporters styled themselves no material benefit for working Corbyn became its leader. as social democrats. The party people. Its focus is on identity, developed slowly up to the 1997 Salmond is recognised as a which can be extremely divisive, election which resulted in victory competent bourgeois politician rather than on the more positive for the Blair Labour Party but in who, as the Chinese say, talks and unifying concept of class and subsequent elections, spurred on out of both sides of his mouth that is why it can never be a social by disillusionment with Labour, the and his opportunism, suspect democratic organisation, why it will SNP developed rapidly at both local manoeuvring in smooching the never truly represent the interests and national level. They purported likes of Trump, Murdoch and Soutar of the Scottish working class and to be an anti-Tory organisation and his oleaginous, easy style hides why its star is now on the wane. but the Salmond leadership was a basically capitalist, pro-boss To all intents and purposes the beginning to target Labour. Some politician who ruthlessly pursues ‘independence’ train has hit the of their activists made no secret of their interests. Salmond and his buffers and run out of fuel and the fact that they wished to destroy party pay lip-service to the working over time the Scottish people will and replace the Labour Party as class movement and its interests, desert the SNP, which having failed the majority party in Scotland and with the occasional nod in its to deliver for them, will increasingly angry Labour voters moved to the direction. become irrelevant along with so- nationalists in even greater numbers. called ‘independence’. He has spent at least 38 years The campaign for a devolved spinning the people of Scotland Raymond Mennie is secretary of assembly/parliament in Scotland a tale about a nirvana in an Dundee Branch of the Communist took root and grew in opposition to ‘independent’ Scotland. His much Party of Britain, chair of the Dundee the Tory governments. This mainly vaunted ‘Scotland’s Future’ which Peoples’ Assembly and a member of trade union and labour movement was delivered to every house during United Left Scotland within Unite. initiative was boycotted by the the ‘independence’ referendum nationalists who pursued the purist campaign was revealed to be a 14 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 SNP leadership: no friends of Palestine Mark Brown says the SNP has let down its supporters by effectively supporting apartheid in Israel he Scottish National Party the official dance company of the of lives in Ukraine.’ Ben-Gurion University of the Negev). shook off the accusation that Even if the SNP leadership had The City Tthey were ‘Tartan Tories’ long One of those shows, by not contradicted its own position ago. Indeed, their dominance of Incubator, was programmed as part regarding ‘freedom of expression’, Scottish politics over the last decade of the 2017 ‘Shalom Festival’. its seemingly libertarian stance has, to a considerable degree, Due both to its presentation of against BDS fails to take into account been founded on the idea that work funded by the Israeli state the way in which Israel attempts they are politically progressive in and its obvious (albeit denied) role to use state funding of the arts both domestic and foreign policy. in Israel’s efforts to counter BDS, as a propaganda tool. A standard However, on the major international the festival faced calls for a boycott Israeli Foreign Ministry contract issue of the Boycott, Divestment from BDS activists. Sturgeon’s for artists it funds to travel abroad and Sanctions (BDS) movement endorsement of the ‘Shalom’ states: ‘The service provider [i.e. against the state of Israel, the SNP programme put her at odds with the the artist] is aware that the purpose leadership stands accused of turning signatories to an open letter to the of ordering services from him is to its back on the Palestinian people Sunday Herald newspaper, including promote the policy interests of the and, in effect, siding with Israel. filmmaker Ken Loach, which called State of Israel via culture and art, In August 2017, during the for a boycott of the event. including contributing to creating Edinburgh Festival Fringe, supporters a positive image for Israel ... The The First Minister’s position was of Israel hosted what they called the service provider will not present also, no doubt, a disappointment ‘International Shalom Festival’. First himself as an agent, emissary and/or to supporters of SNP Friends of Minister Nicola Sturgeon offered representative of the Ministry’. Palestine, including Sandra White fulsome support to the event, as did MSP and Tommy Sheppard MP. Inspired by the international boycott then Scottish Labour leader, Kezia However, it was not the first time of apartheid South Africa, BDS Dugdale, and Scottish Conservative the SNP leadership had put itself at has built an impressive coalition leader, Ruth Davidson. odds with the Palestine solidarity of Palestinian and international Sturgeon appeared to accept movement. forces which consider Israel to be an at face value the claims by the apartheid state. Significantly, Bishop Back in 2014, during the high festival’s organisers to be staging an Desmond Tutu is a supporter of BDS. profile boycott campaign on the ‘apolitical’ event aimed merely at He says: ‘I know firsthand that Israel Edinburgh Fringe, culture minister, ‘promoting coexistence’ between has created an apartheid reality Fiona Hyslop, spoke against the Israelis and Palestinians. This was within its borders and through its boycott, on the grounds, she said, despite the overwhelming evidence occupation. The parallels to my own of ‘freedom of expression’. She that the ‘Shalom Festival’ was the beloved South Africa are painfully failed to explain whether she had work of long-established advocates stark indeed’. taken the same position in relation for Israel and part of the Israeli to the international boycott of the For many, if not most, people on the Government’s attempt to undermine apartheid state in South Africa. left in Scotland, support for BDS is the increasingly successful an essential element in any politics international BDS movement. The SNP leadership made a mockery that claims to be progressive. Yet, of Hyslop’s position a little over a The founder and CEO of the so- however strong BDS advocacy is week later when it announced that called ‘Shalom’ programme is Nigel among the SNP rank-and-file and Scottish Government ministers, most Goodrich, better known as the sections of the parliamentary groups prominently Hyslop herself, were founder of the Confederation of at Holyrood and Westminster, the boycotting productions in the UK- Friends of Israel Scotland. Another party leadership has adopted and Russia Year of Culture in protest at key organiser is Sammy Stein, maintained a position that draws the Putin administration’s policy in chairperson of Glasgow Friends of them much closer to the Israeli eastern Ukraine. As Wael Shawish, Israel. state than to the struggle of the vice-chair of the Association of the Palestinian people. The event was initiated in 2016, Palestinian Community, Scotland, two years after a successful boycott wrote in a letter to the Sunday Mark Brown is a theatre critic, and protest campaign during the Herald in August 2017: ‘It is a sad journalist, teacher and longstanding Edinburgh Fringe closed down state of affairs when the Scottish Palestinian rights activist two Israeli state-funded shows (by Government seems to set the value Incubator Theatre and Pola Dance, of Palestinian lives lower than those

15 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Clarity needed to reverse indy retreat Hugh Cullen says the independence movement needs independence from the SNP im Sillars’ recent attack on the working people’s lives better. That’s idea the EU is some progressive SNP leadership is another stark a natural attraction to people on organisation to be supported at Jsign of a movement in trouble. poverty wages, waiting for a house all costs. We know what the EU is Opinion polls taken since the 2014 or living at the sharp end of austerity. because we live in it already! It’s an referendum paint a picture of His honesty and integrity has cut anti-democratic bosses club that support slowly trickling away from through the spin of modern politics works to preserve the dominance of independence. Polls don’t tell the and inspired many to imagine an western corporations. This prevents whole story but they correlate with alternative to neo-liberalism. us from making independence about what we are seeing on the ground; transformative change - a necessary formerly active and vibrant ‘Yes’ step to build a majority. groups have either folded, become By seeking clarity on key social social gatherings or are dominated and economic issues and by by nationalism detached from reality. being ambitious, we can align Comparing the SNP of 2014/15, independence with the everyday buoyed by 100,000 new members struggles of working people. There and electoral domination, to are hundreds of thousands of today seems like day-and-night. workers in Scotland - in hospitality, The nationalists have paid a huge retail and the public sector to name price for not making the case for but a few - who currently only dream independence at any election since of a £10 per hour Living Wage and the referendum - and allowing secure employment through a themselves to be chased away from guaranteed hours contract. The same the issue by the unionists. people who pay rip off transport fares and energy bills and would The ‘Yes’ campaign we got behind in support these industries being taken 2014 found strength in its diversity. A into public ownership. And for the majority of ‘Yes’ supporters were not people who are getting mugged off tribally SNP and the ‘Yes’ coalition by a landlord’s rip off rents while they helped reach a diverse audience. But he can’t achieve much within wait for council houses to be built. Today, the movement is too closely a party wedded to the British These people, in our communities, tied to the SNP. Its electoral failures establishment. This is still the same can be persuaded that the only way are seen to represent a setback for Labour party of privatization and the to achieve these demands is through independence. In reality, there are Iraq War. Corbyn struggles to put independence. But we have to agree many independence supporters together a shadow cabinet because that’s what independence is for. who find it difficult to vote for the the majority of MPs fundamentally We can thank Corbyn for popularising SNP when they duck the issue and disagree with his politics and a ideas that we agree on then disagree there are more left-wing manifestos significant number are organizing on his vision of a British route to on offer. It took the 2017 general to remove him. The Parliamentary socialism and his misplaced faith in election, where the SNP held on to Labour Party is a revolving door to the Labour Party. But to succeed we a majority in Scotland by the skin of the lobby of big business. Nevermind must above all make a coherent and their teeth, to sound alarm bells. I Scotland, the only country where persuasive case. We must answer was an independence activist before Corbyn lost to Owen Smith. The the questions: ‘What do we want I joined the SSP and I’m infuriated to Scotland where Labour built six independence for?’ and ‘What has see the movement that we built from council houses in eight years of gone wrong since 2014?’. Only then 2012 so dominated by a single party. government and privatized the can we work out how we are going to It makes us weaker. hospitals and schools in my city get there. through PFI. This party is an obstacle, Nicola Sturgeon’s popularity has been Hugh Cullen is a full-time student not a vehicle, for the socialist change usurped by Jeremy Corbyn. He’s in lecturer in further education. He’s the that Corbyn and the SSP want. all the ‘selfies’ now. He appears to SSP Lothians’ branch secretary, SSP many to offer a different route to Corbyn outmanoeuvred a fiscally Executive Committee member, and the same social democratic goals conservative SNP who, acting as the EIS member. independence offered. His popularity independence flag-bearers, have in some quarters is based on backing defended the status quo. And none Keynesian policies that may make more so than by latching onto the 16 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 What’s a republic for? Bill Bonnar says a republic must be just the tip of the iceberg of more profound societal changes t is one of the basic tenets of political reform means profound We would all become citizens of the left that we want to see the changes to this post-feudal system Scotland rather than subjects of the Iestablishment of republic whether cutting at the heart of wealth and crown. This opens up a discussion it be a British or Scottish level. Yet privilege and the structures and on citizenship in an independent what do we mean by a republic? Is it culture which underpin it. The Scotland. Who would qualify for simply the absence of monarchy or removal of the monarchy, welcome in citizenship? Citizenship is essentially the vision of a more radical society? itself, is only part of this process. an address so if someone is living in In this sense, the argument has Scotland on a permanent or semi- In Scotland, the argument for a never been simply about abolition. permanent basis they should be In the British context, it has been republic is completely entwined automatically granted citizenship. with the case for independence. tied to a package of reforms The idea of a republic is as much including the scrapping of the Lords, The official SNP position is that an independent Scotland would philosophical as political; involving electoral reform and reform of a broad range of progressive ideas. the role of Prime Minister. In fact, retain the Queen as head of state just like other members of the Equality, freedom, democracy, civil constitutionally, the Prime Minister rights, secularism and the rule of acts as a kind of elected dictator Commonwealth. One suspects it’s a position not supported by law have all been associated with with similar powers once held by the republican ideal. The idea the majority of SNP members and monarchs. The British political system that a modern, democratic and supporters who see it as a tactical grew out of an older aristocratic independent Scotland should not be stance to be sorted out after order and retains many of the a republic is plainly ridiculous. So, independence. In England, it is features of that order - not just the how to proceed? stomach churning ceremony but the clear that a solid majority support defence of wealth and privilege. the monarchy. In part this is due to In the last referendum in 2014, the carefully crafted affection towards issue of the monarchy was taken out The first priority of our political the current queen who embraces a of the equation on largely tactical system is to defend the status quo ‘cult of the personality’. In Scotland, grounds. It is likely to be so again in and the interests of Britain’s ruling things are very different. Support the next referendum. However, if class. It is the reason Britain’s ruling for the monarchy has increasingly there is a ‘yes’ vote next time and establishment has fought against become a minority pursuit with most Scotland becomes an independent every meaningful democratic people either actively opposed or country, the issue cannot be dodged. reform. From the extension of the completely indifferent. Evidence of A decision will have to be taken. This franchise to working class men then this can be seen in the level of public can either be through a simple vote women and the establishment of of parliament or another referendum. basic civil rights, these have been support for occasions such as royal won through struggle in the face of weddings. There are advantages and disadvantages with both. If the vociferous opposition. Concessions The discussion around retaining the proposal is to abolish the monarchy have only been made when deemed monarchy in Scotland is actually as part of wider proposals to reform inevitable and with the fear that a wider discussion about the the political system then this should further resistance would lead to even nature of the political system post- be through a vote in parliament. more radical demands. Part of the independence. In some ways, this is Some will argue that it needs the mythology of our political system a clearer discussion than for Britain popular mandate that a referendum was that the road to democracy as the basis for the new political would bring although at no time in began with William and Mary and the system is already in place in the our history were the Scottish people Glorious Revolution of 1688. form of existing Scottish Parliament. ever given a vote on whether they Nothing could be further from the Scotland does not have an unelected wanted a monarchy. It was simply truth. As the late Marxist historian, second chamber and already has a imposed. However, the advantage A.L Morton in his History of the form of proportional representation. with a referendum is that it would English Working Class; noted: ‘the Apart from the oath to the queen open up a wide ranging public debate Glorious Revolution actually brought taken by MSPs, it does not have the about Scotland’s future political in a Whig dictatorship that tyrannised aristocratic baggage of Westminster. system. the British people for the next 150 In an independent Scottish republic Bill Bonnar is a member of the years’. It was only through mass with an elected head of state, the editorial committee of the Scottish struggle in the nineteenth and early issue will be whether the post is Left Review twentieth century that brought about largely ceremonial or carries major meaningful change. Today, radical executive powers.

17 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Barbour’s legacy and rediscovering Glasgow’s radical housing tradition Michael O’Brien tells of how the fight for rent controls continue one hundred years on n Glasgow, statues adorn the city’s perhaps more importantly, Barbour’s One tactic in particular has caused parks and squares from Alexandra struggle is one that so many can relate quite a stir on social media. Living IParade in the east, to Dumbarton to today. Rent regularly posts images of its Road in the west. Although erected members’ accommodation to highlight In the post Grenfell Tower era, as the permanent guardians of the shameful living standards and housing issues have returned to the virtue, passersby can be forgiven to expose malpractice in the sector. public consciousness and to the heart for feeling a sense of disconnect to Images of mushrooms sprouting from of political debate. It is becoming these figures that loom large above damp cupboards, or walls rotting increasingly difficult to argue that them. The Duke of Wellington was with mould, are a graphic way of we are not living in the midst of a victorious at Waterloo, but how does raising awareness of the problem, and housing crisis. Property remains an all the average Glaswegian relate to this reaching out to people living in similar too easy means of accruing wealth, achievement? Sir Robert Peel repealed circumstances. the Corn Laws, but why are no women with inadequate restrictions, and a In September 2017, the campaign immortalised for their political dire lack of social housing alternatives achievements in the city’s grandest leaving many tenants in precarious work of Living Rent and other civic square? circumstances. In Glasgow, a worker movements succeeded in breaking earning minimum wage can now the political deadlock around housing Thankfully, the statue of Mary Barbour expect to part with up to 80% of their policy in Glasgow. A motion by the which will soon be unveiled in Govan monthly income on accommodation council agreed to launch a study into will be a welcome exception to this alone. This trend will only get worse the feasibility of Rent Pressure Zones rule. Despite being a leading figure so long as the cost of rent outstrips in the city. This was passed following in the rent strikes of 1915, which the rate of pay, and with over 340,000 cross-party support from SNP, Labour resulted in rent restrictions being people privately renting in the city, the and Green councillors, which is a imposed in Glasgow for the duration implications of this are bleak. promising sign that progressive parties of the Great War, Barbour is largely are willing to work together on such a an unsung hero of the city’s radical The street names of Glasgow are a key issue. tradition. The statue in her honour, homage to the wealth of merchants which will stand in the ward she and tobacco barons of yesteryear. It If implemented, rents would be represented as one of the city’s first is a cruel irony, therefore, that these capped for a period of five years, female councillors, is a culmination same streets are now the resting place but perhaps more significantly, this of public support and the fundraising each night to a homeless population is considered the first step towards efforts of the Remember Mary which is growing at an exponential introducing Rent Controls in the city. Barbour Association. rate. Although homelessness has a With rents having increased by an multitude of causes, it would be naive average of 34% in the preceding five Barbour’s statue will be unveiled years, it is evident that such legislation on 17 November, exactly 102 years to say that this is not linked to a crisis in housing, at least in part. With such is essential to introduce fairness into to the day that she marched on the private rented sector. Glasgow Sheriff Court with her army gross inequality in plain sight, there of followers. It has been said that the is a growing sense that Glasgow must A statue of a radical Glasgow woman rent strikes of 1915 were a response rediscover its radical tradition, if an is long overdue. Its humble home to the cynical opportunism on the part effective resistance is to be built. outside the underground station in of the city’s private landlords. With A recent example of this is the Living Govan is a far cry from George Square, fathers, husbands and sons enlisted Rent tenants’ union which launched but it could not be more fitting. abroad, and house-building at an in July of this year. After operating Although over a century has passed, historic low, rents were increased and as a campaign group for several the parallels to modern Glasgow tenants who were unable to pay were years, and running branches in other are clear and but there is a sense routinely evicted. As Maggie Craig, Scottish regions, tenants in Glasgow of optimism in the air and evidence author of When the Clyde Ran Red, can now access representation and that communities can bring about said: ‘What the landlords had not peer support for a small monthly real change. So let’s celebrate Mary reckoned with was the fighting spirit fee. In its short existence, Living Barbour, and may her statue stand of Glasgow’s housewives’. Rent has launched a drop-in centre, proud, as a monument to an on-going struggle. We can learn a lot form the unyielding protested against ‘extortionate rents’ socialist principles of the rent strikes, at a housing association and joined Michael O’Brien lives in Glasgow and as well as the power of community in solidarity with groups demanding works in the third sector. He is an as a form of social resistance. But justice for Grenfell Tower victims. activist with Unite the union. 18 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Millennials: be seen and be heard Rebekah McVey makes a rallying call for young people to increase their political participation illennials have a reputation the result they want. Some might say but that’s a debate for another time. of spitting the dummy out politics is like swings and roundabouts Granted there’s a lot we still don’t of the pram when we don’t M and our time will come when we get know about this matter because of get what we want. We’re apparently the government or result we want. agreements that currently haven’t self-expecting and don’t appreciate That might well be something to look been established yet. However, it what our parents do for us. When forward to, but that doesn’t ease our seems likely that visas and permits something doesn’t go our way, we’re concerns about what will happen in will be required. Brexit was criticised told we can’t get everything we want. the next five years. How long will it by some as being an old persons’ Most young people didn’t reject an be before we can be satisfied with vote. Though everyone who can vote independent Scotland but when we who’s in charge? If our worst fears should, it’s easy for young people to stayed part of the UK, we were told about our futures come true, will lose hope and think their future will the world would keep spinning. Then governments in years to come be able always be in someone else’s hands. came Brexit, which we didn’t vote for to rectify the damage caused? Simply showing up at a polling station isn’t the only way make a change, either. It’s what the majority wanted If you search ‘Brexit and millennials’ so we accepted that too. There so sometimes we need to be more on twitter you’ll have no problem creative than that. was a snap general election and we finding criticisms about why we’re didn’t want another Conservative delusional for voting remain. We If you feel your voice doesn’t matter, government, but look who’s in charge never thought of the EU as a magical, don’t sit and hope one day you’ll yet again! fairy tale kingdom that our parents get the government you want just because your elderly relatives say With politics, it’s not a case of and grandparents dragged us out of. that’s what’s going to happen. Hoping wanting a Barbie and getting a Polly We were perfectly aware of its flaws, for the best achieves nothing. No Pocket. These dolls do the same job, but we did think we could change major change in history was ever a we accepted that as children. One that. We know that liking something result of people accepting the status politician won’t do the same job as doesn’t make it exempt from scrutiny. quo. If your Gran’s friends roll their another. This is something we need Pointing out the obvious, those who eyes or have a snarky remark to make to speak up about. We’re adults who voted remain had their reasons for about you ‘piping up about politics can make decisions for ourselves now. it. Employment opportunities were, again’ then you’re doing something Being critical and voicing our opinions of course, a big concern particularly right. Long gone are the days when about the government doesn’t make amongst young people. The freedom we were told that we should be seen us brats. It makes us worried about of movement in the EU provides and not heard. We should make sure our future. plenty of opportunities to find work we’re seen, and we have absolutely Following the snap general election, in other countries regardless of every reason to be heard. potential language barriers. YouGov reported 72% of those aged Rebekah McVey is a fourth-year 18-24 casted their vote. Considering Though Brexit won’t make it journalism student at the University voter apathy more commonly impossible to find work in countries of Stirling. She has previously written seems to be a problem in younger like Spain or France, it certainly makes for the Kilmarnock Standard and Brig generations, it’s clear considerable it a lot harder than it was in the first Newspaper. She was a member of the progress has been made. However, place. This isn’t because we’re lazy Scottish Socialist Party. the majority of those born in the late and expect jobs to be handed to us. 1990s have yet to experience what Seeking employment without even it feels like to cast their vote and get thinking about Brexit is hard enough,

Update from the Foundation he programme of work for the next year for the Foundation was decided at its October project board meeting. This includes papers on sport in society, education, energy, the FairWork Framework and public sector reform. All these will be published in due course on our website T(http://reidfoundation.org/). The Foundation is also undertaking some research work for a number of unions in Scotland. And, at the annual lecture, around 150 attendees heard Mark Serwotka deliver his address (see p6 of this edition of Scottish Left Review).

19 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Delivering union rights in Amazon Nigel Flanagan reports on how the tide may be turning against anti-union Amazon e are all Amazon nowadays. We have cardboard packages Wthat come through the letter box, the deliveries you can track on line and we trawl through the catalogue style website. For some workers, ‘being Amazon’ means something else. The Amazon employment model is brutal. Zero hours of course, long shifts, low pay, a neglect of workers’ health and safety that is truly exceptional and the deployment of robots that continues to outpace the work of the humans. It is also extremely and actively anti- union – its HR personnel are hired only with a proven record of union busting activities. In Scotland, Amazon reached a new low. Workers discovered living in tents in December 2016, by the M90 near centres or just some of them. Work recognition agreement with Amazon Dunfermline, in freezing temperatures was shifted by Amazon to Polish sites and have just submitted a 30% pay rise, because they could not afford to travel near the border, so the workers started but there is still a long way to go to get to work. But with no union to take up calling strikes on Polish holidays. Union a majority of the 10,000 Polish workers the issue, the workers remain desperate. membership is 4,000 out of a company unionized. Yet Amazon is now fighting Walmart, of 10,000 jobs. Turnover in the jobs Union activity is up in all the European the world`s third biggest employer. is about 30%, so on a strike day the countries, with demands being tabled It’s a huge corporate battle, and the company can be missing 70% of its and workers being organized. In France, Financial Times has predicted a ‘financial workforce. bloodbath’. Italy and Spain unions are hard at work Although Amazon awards wage rises inside Amazon. ‘It`s a 10-year plan’, one By buying the giant US ‘Whole Foods’ and improvements directly to the organiser told me, ‘but we can win’. company for $13.7bn and immediately German workforce, it’s a tactic to try Things may seem bleaker in the US slashing its prices Amazon is aiming to reduce support for the strikes. But it where the bulk of Amazon business is. to destroy Walmart’s US business of seems nobody is fooled. Conditions are But the US unions are fully committed stores and shops, to replace it with an improving- but the workers want proper and are they can only benefit from on-line service and a new store called negotiations and bargaining, not bribes union success against Amazon around ‘Go Amazon’ - where a smart phone app and gifts. The strikers, one man and the world. automatically charges you for everything two women, all with no previous union Amazon is now starting operations in you leave the store with. No check experience, were eager to explain their India, South Korea, Mexico and Australia outs, no queues, no workers. Walmart tactics and strategy. have reacted by linking up with Google and unions are reporting that Amazon Express and Uber to fight on line fire ‘Everything happens with our say and may be reaching its high tide of using after our discussion’, they told me. with on line fire. But for every little non-union labour. To expand, it is Each of the nine sites has a ‘Regional benefit to a customer, there is a huge going to have to look at some already Secretary’ and a committee of unionised companies along supply loss to workers. workers to decide the tactics and the chains or in new business areas. We So, is Amazon all powerful? Not organization. They said that this was an can still all be Amazon. But we want according to some unions organising important part of the strikes success. it to be a union organized Amazon, inside Amazon. It was refreshing to ‘We were the ones who decided to better for the workers and better for the meet members of the German union strike on Polish holidays’, they explained customers - and then maybe the tents Ver.di who have been taking selective with clear pride. can come down in Dunfermline. strike action against Amazon. We were They may not be alone for long. In Nigel Flanagan was formerly a UNISON attending an alliance meeting of unions Britain, the GMB has started a new activist based in Liverpool. He now from Europe and the US who are trying organising campaign. They have also works for the global union UNI, based in to work out a common plan to organize managed to get Amazon workers Switzerland but working all around the unions inside the company. allowed parliamentary privilege to give world. He is also a Director of the Jack The strikers have already taken 40 days evidence about the working conditions. Jones Trust, formed to commemorate of action this year. The action varies. In Poland, Solidarnosc is organising the life of the former TGWU General It sometimes involves all nine Amazon Amazon workers. They have won a Secretary. 20 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 The Colombian peace process – 1 year on Cherilyn Elston assesses the prospects for the Colombian state to enforce the peace deal n November 2016, the Colombian the 2003-2007 demobilisation of right- that are essential for the country to government and the FARC, the wing paramilitary groups when just reconcile its traumatic past. With the Icountry’s largest guerrilla group, over 18,000 arms were handed over 2018 elections fast approaching and signed a final peace deal. After for more than 31,000 fighters. uncertainty the presidency will be won more than half a century of conflict, by a pro-peace candidate, it is crucial Whilst such developments the agreement was celebrated that Congress pass the necessary demonstrate the strong commitment internationally as the end of the legislation to fulfil what was agreed in of the FARC to peace, since the Western hemisphere’s longest war. the Havana negotiations. beginning of the implementation Despite the momentous achievement process there have been concerns Thanks to the peace process, Colombia of reaching a deal, any simplistic about the Colombian state’s ability and has registered its lowest levels of celebration of the ‘end’ of the willingness to fulfil their obligations violence in forty years. Yet targeted Colombian conflict belies the fact under the peace agreement. In spring assassinations of political activists and that the signing of the agreement 2017, the head of the UN mission human rights defenders have increased was only the start of a long process in Colombia, Jean Arnault, criticised since the signing of the peace deal. of implementation, reconstruction the ‘slow pace’ of the Colombian Human rights groups report that and reconciliation. One year on authorities, in particular their failure at least 100 activists have been from the signing, how has the peace to finish the special zones in time assassinated this year, the majority process fared in its first year of for the arrival of FARC troops and in rural areas vacated by the FARC implementation? the inadequate provision of food – where there is a political vacuum At the end of August 2017, the FARC supplies and medical services. Post- that state forces have not filled – and – who took up arms against the demobilisation the zones were paramilitary groups continue to be Colombian state in 1964 – officially intended to become spaces for the active in the country. On 5 October, the announced their conversion into a reintegration of former combatants repressive face of the Colombian state political party. This transformative into civilian life. However, ex- was shown when security forces killed moment in the country’s history was combatants in the zones are currently nine peasant farmers in Tumaco, who marked by a concert, attended by in limbo, as the government has failed were protesting against forced cocoa thousands, in the country’s political to implement the reintegration plan. eradication in the area, which violates heart, Bogotá’s Bolivar Square. The National Ombudsman, on a recent the crop substitution programmes The new party has now registered humanitarian visit to the 26 zones, outlined in the peace agreement. to participate in the upcoming reported terrible living conditions and Despite these attacks, activists and 2018 elections and according to security fears, which has led to some social movements continue to mobilise the terms of the peace agreement FARC members leaving the zones. in support of peace and for the will be guaranteed ten seats in the Likewise, the implementation of the implementation of the FARC peace Colombian Congress from 2018 to ambitious peace agreement, which not deal, which for many represents the 2026. Significantly, the new party’s only sets out a road map to end the best chance to build peace with social name maintains the Spanish acronym conflict but covers crucial areas such justice in the country. In September, of the insurgent group – transforming as rural reform, political participation, the announcement of a formal the Revolutionary Armed Forces of drugs and victims’ rights, has suffered ceasefire between the government Colombia into the Common Alternative serious setbacks in the Colombian and a second guerrilla group, the ELN, Revolutionary Force – demonstrating Congress. Implementation requires symbolised another step towards an ongoing commitment to their a number of important legislative securing the end of Colombia’s revolutionary past and principles of reforms and only about 20% of complex and multi-faceted conflict. social justice. these normative changes have been However, unless the Colombian state The creation of the new party came passed in a Congress that includes a can fulfil the promises made in the after a months-long process in which powerful group opposed to the peace Havana agreements, there is concern the FARC moved their more than agreement and where President about the long-term implementation 7,000 troops into special zones for Santos, whose term comes to an of peace in the country. the laying down of arms. This phase end in 2018, is struggling to mobilise Cherilyn Elston is a lecturer in Latin of the implementation was finalised support. Two essential laws that need American Studies at the University in August when the UN, which was to be passed include the political of Reading. She was formerly the overseeing the demobilisation process, reform bill and the statutory law for Programme Assistant for Justice for announced they had received more the special justice system that will Colombia. than 8,000 arms from the FARC. prosecute crimes committed by both Crucially, more arms were handed FARC and Colombian security forces over than registered guerrilla fighters, during the conflict as well as create providing a marked comparison with other transitional justice mechanisms 21 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Scottish gypsy travellers – an oppressed and neglected minority Colin Turbett makes the case for taking discrimination against Gypsy travellers seriously f asked in an interview for an online they inter-married, forming the ethnic the hardening attitudes of councils political magazine what you would group we now call Scottish Gypsy and landowners have reduced the Ido if you were Prime Minister for a Travellers. Other distinct UK Traveller availability of stopping places forcing day, most of us would choose ending nomadic groups also share ethnic Gypsy Travellers into permanent world poverty or climate change or origin with the numerous Roma accommodation. The obligation on anything that might demonstrate groups who inhabit every European local authorities to provide sites our likeable idealism! Not so Douglas country and who are now to be found for Gypsy Travellers was dropped Ross, elected in July as Tory MP for in areas like Govanhill in Glasgow. a long time ago under allegedly Moray, who declared in a Core Politics progressive housing legislation, with Why is all this important? Basically online interview on 23 August, that a consequent reduction in such because the distinct Gypsy Traveller he’d ‘like to see tougher enforcement provision. lifestyle and culture has been against Gypsy Travellers’. threatened with total destruction due Douglas Ross complained of The following day, reacting to adverse to deliberate social policy over the stopovers in his area, forgetting comment, he amplified this in the centuries and up until modern times. that Moray Council (on which he guise of an apology on BBC Scotland The Nazi attempt to eradicate them served) is amongst those who News, drawing further condemnation in Europe by whole scale murder provide no site for Travellers. His from a broad spectrum of (not reflected this. Alongside official complaint that ethnic minority Tory) politicians and human rights policies are the pejorative social status somehow confers immunity groups for a position demonstrating attitudes we associate with other from the law was a non-sense and a narrow racism of the worst kind. victims of racism: marginalisation, showed no understanding of human Ross however, was playing to the fear, and the attribution of criminal rights legislation in general or this gallery in a Trump-like display of and anti-social attitudes. community in particular. ignorant populism. Such views have Unsurprisingly many Gypsy Travellers Whilst the lack of power and been expressed regularly in the past, have given up this unequal battle for influence enjoyed by Scottish and not just by Tories: one of the survival and have become assimilated Gypsy Travellers is reflected in a worst offenders in Westminster was into the mainstream community general disinterest in their situation, the former Labour MP for Central – accounting for the dwindling there are signs of hope. In 2012 Ayrshire, Brian Donohoe, who never official numbers of Scottish Gypsy UNISON Scotland published a missed an opportunity to express his Travellers. Ethnic minority status in guide for members who deal with dislike of Gypsy Travellers, once using Scotland was won as recently as 2008 Gypsy Travellers, which sought to parliamentary privilege to describe through a ruling at an Employment challenge myths and provide factual them as ‘a threat to the community’ Appeal Tribunal (MacLennan v information. This was largely written and ‘complete anarchists’. GTEIP) – perhaps tenuous but at least by Gypsy Travellers. The SSP has Such inflammatory comments, recognised since by both Scottish and regularly featured news stories whether from politicians or the British governments. from the community in the Scottish tabloid press, are inevitably followed Socialist Voice. A number of activists The Scottish Parliament has paid by physical racist attacks and I have such as brother and sister, Roseanna some attention to the plight of been advised by community members and Shamus McPhee from Perthshire, Scottish Gypsy Travellers: in 2001 the that this is indeed what happened are demanding improved services Equal Opportunities Committee heard post-Ross. This makes it an issue for within which they have a voice. evidence and after deliberation made the left which has tended in the past The absence, however, of a single 37 recommendations concerning the to pay this forgotten minority only coherent body that represents the very poor treatment they received token attention. Scottish Gypsy Traveller community, from public bodies, from birth to whilst a reflection of their oppression, So who are Scotland’s Gypsy (premature) death. When this was alienation and marginalisation, is Travellers, and what is their position reviewed at the same committee profound. in society today? Recent research has in 2013, it was found that not a identified that their ancestors had single recommendation had been Colin Turbett is a UNISON activist and arrived in Scotland at least by the fully implemented and that in some Scottish Socialist Party member sixteenth century, their origins being respects the Scottish Gypsy Traveller in North West India. They often took community was worse off. The steady on the names of those indigenous implementation of legislation like fellow-nomadic people with whom the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and 22 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Reversing globalisation will reduce need for immigration controls Peter Lomas argues that although the issue of migration is contradictory it can be managed cademic studies show a limit. I am not suggesting that sub- formulate a policy (for example) to significant increase in South- Saharan Africa will eventually empty recruit foreign doctors to staff the Ato-North global migration itself into Europe, but European NHS, in direct competition with its since the Cold War. The Brexit result democracies are clearly under strain Swedish/Dutch/German counterparts was partly driven by unease over from immigration in confusing and in the same buyers’ market. Still less immigration. And, indeed, irregular contradictory ways. does this answer the longer-term migration across the Mediterranean For example, our public services need for experienced doctors in the and southern US border has are said to be under financial Southern societies which first paid for overwhelmed physical state pressure from the influx of migrants controls in recent years, due to war, their education. As for remittances, – putatively, from relatively-poor impoverishment and climate-change. these largely escape international and large families (whether here or The distinction between refugee and legal controls, and are lubricated by ‘over there’) - while the staffing of economic opportunist has become widespread bribery and corruption the public services itself is dependent ever more blurred. in Southern countries, where they on foreign labour; or that owing to tend to exacerbate social inequality. The SNP government, in the our ageing demographics, young The world of mass migration has developing Brexit debate, has foreigners are needed to keep the laid a claim to Scottish powers of economy afloat, and validate those absolutely nothing to do with the immigration control: partly because under-demand public services, or our liberation of the post-colonial South. the Scottish vote went against the tax systems, or both; or that owing As a former migrant myself, but one Brexit norm; partly to manage an to the demands of technological from the North who saw something independent Scottish economy. (Not, progress, we need foreigners of high of the South, I recognise the value as it happens, to discourage migrants skill-levels anyway, all the time. of matching urgent demands from below our Southern border in Yet in what sense are these to economic needs through the search of better welfare climes.) But statements true or statistically- in my view the entire issue has been reorganisation of work. But in a meaningful, all at once, as a picture inadequately and even misleadingly situation where all the causes of mass of a single society? And are not presented. migration fuse into one, the proper immigration controls not only lawful response is to reverse the migratory First, migration, in the era of universal governmental restrictions, but also tide altogether. Most importantly, human rights, is not considered one ambiguous political instruments? Are to help reconstruct the poorest of them. The Universal Declaration they manipulative instruments, to of post-colonial countries – those of 1948, and the succeeding formal satisfy the demands of employers for conventions, stress the right of the lowest possible wages, the easiest ruined societies – beginning with sub- individuals to citizenship and free access to labour, and the weakest Saharan Africa. Through increased movement within their own, native employee-solidarity on working foreign aid, we should be returning country; to leave and re-enter it, conditions? Mass migration has made those necessary skills and money – and seek refuge under extreme for a permanent buyers’ market sending our citizens, at our expense, circumstances elsewhere; but there in Northern society, whether the to dismantle North-South inequalities is no recognised universal right to buyers are in government or private through the rough democracy of migrate (defined by the UN as living business – or for that matter, legal the workplace - their workplace, abroad for more than a year). Rather, or illegal. This is a moral breakdown, where it is really needed, not ours. in the post-colonial era the rights whatever the proposals to manage it. It is time for us all as Europeans, and of all entail a legal expectation that An institutionalised market for human not simply as Scots, to pioneer this each state government will provide beings equates to a return of slavery. imaginative solution to the problem a practical sufficiency of life for its Some academic analysts have of mass migration – and not seek to citizens. By the same token, no-one sought to condone or even welcome profit from it, or exploit it through else is obliged to do so. this conjuncture - evoking copious populist rhetoric. Academic studies also find that even North-to-South remittances, or the today, with the massive refugee advantages of skills-acquisition by Dr Peter Lomas is author of crises facing developed societies, only Southern migrants. But these are ‘Unnatural States: The International about 3% of the world’s population short-sighted arguments. The Scottish System and the Power to Change’ is migrant. Equally, South-North Government was not elected, and (Piscataway, NJ: Transaction migration has no logical natural surely lacks the broad capacity, to Publishers, 2014). 23 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 feedback

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Joss Sheldon Money supportive community. Belonging: The Truth Power Love: a novel, Miraculously, our three ‘heroes’ behind the Headlines, CreateSpace Independent Publishing encounter one another in their early directed by Morag Livingstone, Platform, 2017, 1976365112 teens and they continue to meet Livingstone Media, http://www. regularly in a spirit of comradeship. belonging4us.com/ Reviewed by Sean Sheehan Although unaware of it, there is [Featuring: Tony Tinley, Ian Bestwick, he three protagonists of this a deeper reason for the intuitive Frances O’Grady, Joe Rollin, Matt independently published novel sense of kinship that cements their Smith, David Condliffe, Stephen are born at almost the same friendship for one another despite T diverse upbringings. Goodison, Mick Gardner, Paulette time in three adjoining terraced North, Dick North, Brett Sparkes, Terry houses and when a fire engulfs The words of the book’s title are Smith, Henrietta Hill QC, Paul Malyan, key markers for the very dissimilar Dave Scarrett, Paul Dawson, Barry core values that differentiate the Heath, Pat Rafferty, Stephen Deans, three friends and which characterize Ailis Deans] the conflicting paths they follow in adulthood. Mayer becomes rich after Reviewed by Jackie Bergson realising the simple logic that allows simple synopsis of the in-depth banks to flourish and his success is focus of Morag Livingstone’s part of the theme of economic history film, in which she investigates, that the author weaves into the book. A reports upon and further reveals Hugo marries for love and is blissfully events involved around three happy until his philanthropy leads industrial disputes over a three- him to question an economic system decade-long timeline, would in fact that makes charities necessary and be complex. On a cerebral level, limited in their ability to effect real the documentary examines the change. Archibald pursues power specific motives of political figures, as a substitute for love or money, police and particular media heads, illustrating one of the quotations that through scrutinising and showcasing begin each chapter: ‘Everything in the details about such as the meetings world is about sex except sex. Sex is they held and then the actions they about power’ (dubiously attributed took during said three decades Money Power their homes all three are orphaned. to Oscar Wilde). and three industrial disputes. This Love The tales of their lives unfold in , then, deals with matters of vertiginous height of scrutiny is consequence but the book’s simplistic picaresque fashion but this is not juxtaposed alongside insightful human way of writing – a form of tabloid-style a version of The Three Musketeers perspectives which sit firmly within fiction – may well disappoint many although adventures come thick and the film’s heart. readers. It possesses no literary value fast. Hugo is sent to a workhouse The Anglo-Irish statesman, Edmund but complexity is not necessarily a but finds himself living on the streets Burke (1729-1797), said: ‘The greater virtue and if the book’s characters are before being apprenticed to a barber the power, the more dangerous the read as merely ciphers for concepts with a side line in surgery. Mayer is abuse … The only thing necessary for then there is a message worth adopted by a well-to-do couple and the triumph of evil is for good men dwelling on. apprenticed to a baker who distrusts to do nothing’. Morag’s voicing of coins and notes, preferring to keep Sean Sheehan is author of ‘Žiżek: A this quote takes us on an especially accounts with tally sticks. The final Guide for the Perplexed’ (Continuum, open journey along a particular road member of the trio, Archibald, is 2012) and a forthcoming guide to in history. Along this road, the film raised by a loving uncle and aunt in a Herodotus’ Histories. signposts towards and informs about 24 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 and heartening light. Jackie Bergson has worked in the voluntary sector and commercial business development in technology and creative sectors. Educated in and living in Glasgow, her political and social views chime left-of-centre. Gregor Gall Bob Crow: Socialist, Leader, Fighter means by which certain workers the oil industry, and in turn his and - a political biography, were singled out for vilification and his work colleagues’ livelihoods – it Manchester University Press, 2017, certain corporations were glorified as didn’t make sense. When I looked at £20, 9781526100290 saviours. the media coverage I could see that no one was really asking questions Reviewed by Richard Whyte One such worker who was singled out of the company, or the government is Stevie Deans, whose personal story here is a bit of clichéd for that matter. For me things didn’t and journey is documented alongside description when folk describe add up – if Stevie Deans (the ‘rogue the wider picture involving union someone as ‘larger than life ‘ but trade unionist’) was such a bad man, T relations across time and place. Stevie sometimes, just sometimes, the cliché why were 800-plus people willing is featured for a clear and heartfelt works in such a way that a wry smile to risk their livelihoods for him? The reason. In 2013, the Conservative and shake of the head accompany company [Ineos] had threatened to government, in the form of David it’s fitting application. Bob Crow was shut Grangemouth down, and yet the Cameron, publicly branded Stevie, larger than life. His physical presence trade union was being blamed’. a key Grangemouth Unite union lay and personality accompanied by a official as a ‘… rogue trade unionist at Within a context of formally obtained reputation based on sticking up for Grangemouth who nearly brought the FOI evidence, Morag’s film shows and delivering for his members, his Scottish petrochemical industry to its how and why conspiratorial plans to East London wit, his rock solid class knees’. Within her documentary’s epic demonise union activism was hatched politics all combined to make that story, Morag Livingstone places live between powers in government, label fit. footage of David Cameron stating this police and media at the highest levels. I first met Bob in 1995 at the London in the House of Commons in October Connections are drawn between the meeting that led to the launch of 2013, juxtaposing it amongst footage 1984-1985 miners’ strike, sacking of the ill-fated Socialist Labour Party of other union officials speaking of printing staff at Rupert Murdoch’s by Arthur Scargill. Bob and I shared their own involvements and views newspaper group in 1986 and the something else beyond a class politics surrounding parallel disputes. more recent 2007 postal workers’ that detested ‘new’ Labour - we were strike. In a post-screening interview with both supporters of Millwall FC. As the David Archibald, a lecturer in film Livingstone Media has created a saying goes about the club: ‘No one and TV at The University of Glasgow, film with humanitarian force, which likes us but we don’t care’. Morag answered his question informs its audience by throwing light It was a complete shock when Bob’s about when and why she decided on the truth about working people to start making this documentary and communities harmed or destroyed by explaining that in 2013, in by the fallout created through seismic consideration of accusations against change within corporations. Parallel Stevie Deans which placed him as revelations about pro-corporate, the power in force behind sackings conspiratorial meetings and related, and disputes at the plant, she was consequent failures in controlling compelled to investigate. Morag forms of brutality against legal, union- openly spoke of the fact that having backed protests made by both Scottish worked at Grangemouth refinery in and English workers are writ large the past she was moved to discover here. the reasons why one man was being In avoiding a purely academic singled out by the Conservatives. proposition or such as a contextually Likewise, in an interview with historical, educational account of the newsocialist.org.uk in August 2017, oil and gas industry’s evolution and Morag’s reasons for making this film development since the 1900s, this were made clear: ‘… the PM had just film’s focus upon human stories and accused a guy who’d worked at the its drive for truth afford the film its same place for 25 years of damaging thoughtful, thoroughly informative

25 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 death was announced on 11 March discusses the political initiatives and held in 2006. The first development 2014 at the age of 52. It was way strategy of Crow and the RMT and from this was the National Shop too young and too soon. It was with shows how in this more generalised Stewards’ Network (NSSN) in 2007 a bit of trepidation that I picked up arena the particular situation of with the objective of reversing union Gregor Gall’s book, mainly because the RMT could not necessarily be decline and being a pre-requisite for Gregor had written the book without translated into a more general political establishing a new workers’ party. official RMT or family involvement. I development across the organised The NSSN set out to support and needn’t have worried. The book is a working class. organise workers in a common fight against employers without necessarily fitting record of Bob’s life which draws So under Bob’s leadership the RMT interfering in individual unions internal out lessons and inspirations for us took key decisions on the RMT affairs. as a movement and as a class going political affiliations. Although the forward. RMT AGM voted narrowly against It was also by Crow explicitly linked The book’s 239 pages with nine disaffiliation from the Labour Party to the need to build a new political distinct themed chapters and an as early as 1998 it began to reduce organisation beyond a Labour Party introduction cover his formative years, funding to Labour, then in 2001 its wherein his view was the hope of three terms as RMT General Secretary, AGM voted to withdraw funding the party working for workers was an insight into Bob as a person and from any sponsored MP who did finished. In the 2009 European then drawing from his activities three not support rail renationalisation. elections, the RMT and a number key chapters, namely, politics and However, this policy was only enacted of left socialist organisations (the practice, perception and practice, and when Crow was elected General Communist Party, Socialist Party, legacy and legend. Secretary. At the 2002 AGM, Crow Solidarity) launched NO2EU as argued against disaffiliation but also an electoral alliance with Crow as Gall seeks to analyse and understand that sponsored MPs had to roll up Convener. The European Union’s role the reasons for the RMT under Crow’s their sleeves, fight for RMT members in advancing a neo-liberal agenda leadership being able to achieve and support rail renationalisation. of privatisation of public services, success after success in terms of That year the RMT affiliation to Labour the impacts on transport and the outcomes for its members. Through fell from £112,000 to £20,000. The prospects for renationalisation or even negotiation, ballots, disputes as well following year the RMT AGM made a stronger regulation of rail spurred as strikes. For example, there was the decision that branches could affiliate the RMT forward with this political growth in membership of the RMT to other political parties of the left. initiative. In the 2010 general election, from 63,000 in 2002 (when he became In Scotland, seven branches and the the Trade Unionist and Socialist general secretary) to 82,000 in 2014 Scottish Regional council affiliated to Coalition (TUSC) was launched as a when he died. Gall is clear on the the Scottish Socialist Party. vehicle for British elections for the specificity of the situation of the RMT NO2EU alliance partners with the Bob Crow was unequivocal in his with regards to its industrial context exception of the Communist Party. and the ability to use its strength analysis of ‘new’ Labour describing within this largely unique industrial ‘the hijacking of the party by a small None of the three initiatives were able context. group of people bent on destroying to gain sufficient support or influence its working class roots and pursuing to make the hoped for impact, change This is important as there are many policies opposed by the majority of the trajectory of class politics nor vanguardist views which criticise our members’ (quoted p74). The address the crisis in working class the failures of union leadership and practice of plurality in party affiliations representation. What the RMT under believe that their replacement with led to the RMT’s exclusion from Crow’s leadership could achieve within the correct leadership would solve Labour. However, the union was its own industrial parameters, with its the problems of the trade unions and a founding affiliate of the Labour own organisation, resources, strategy working class. It is startling to me Representation Committee set up in and tactics could not be generalised that these views continue despite 2004 by John McDonnell MP. Pursuing across into other industrial arenas nor the election of a series of left general value for money and only those who to the broader world of working class secretaries, dubbed ‘the awkward supporting rail renationalisation led politics. squad’, and their best efforts as well to the end of long established links Gall describes Bob’s dedication, as a degree of progress in individual with former seafarers’ union activist, hardworking ethos, his competence unions, or parts of unions in specific John Prescott MP, and former RMT as a negotiator ready to do deals industrial sectors, for still the overall official, Keith Hill MP. It led to new to settle matters but always where position of the unions and working sponsorship relationships with 18 left possible from a position of strength. class remains weak, defensive and Labour MPs. He had a unique role representing a under attack. During his second term as General membership that had in large part Gall dissects the specific strengths Secretary the RMT political a unique role, and one that was not that fell to Crow and the RMT and initiatives developed from a series easily replaceable. The consequences the approach that allowed them to of conferences held to discuss ‘The of action by signal workers, London buck that trend industrially. He also Crisis of Working Class Representation’ Underground, Southern, Scotrail, or 26 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 North Sea Divers were unavoidable. early age I was made familiar with its No employer could dodge, substitute history and contents, mainly because or circumvent such groups of workers I was brought up in Townhead, only taking industrial action. a few hundred yards from George Square, the setting for one of the Furthermore Bob Crow never shied book’s chapters - ‘The Battle of away from selecting the most George Square’, an event often spoken opportune time to maximise impact about by my father, a postman, and disruption such as holiday peaks, active in the postal union (the UPW the New Year, or the London Olympics. as it then was) and like Gallagher, a For this, of course, he drew the fire communist. It was not until the fourth of the media. However, Bob never edition was published in 1978 that dodged away from defending in I read Gallagher’s own account for plain terms and with his own style of myself and the full breadth of his life humour, the actions of his members and achievements became clear. and the failures of the employers. He was a man of action for action. He states at the outset: ‘I do not intend to go into intimate details The personal effort and support Bob about my family and childhood’ but gave to RMT members and activists he gives us enough to appreciate the was never forgotten. The RMT website struggles of working class families of tribute/condolence pages set up on the age. Born in Paisley on Christmas his sad death show the depth and Day 1881, one of seven children, life breadth of the regard in which he was made even harder by the death was held. Two Scottish examples of his father when Willie was only thanking him for his personal support does not, as the previous edition did, seven years old, leaving his mother and commitment to the branches include Gallagher’s maiden speech to bring up the family. His father, who at Fort William and Dingwall speak delivered in the House of Commons in was Irish, had an alcohol problem volumes to me. Too often the Scottish December 1935. which probably explains Willie’s early Highlands have suffered from neglect connection with the temperance The account of his struggles should and worse in the past, so for a General movement. A more startling fact alert us to the fact that progress is Secretary from East London to make is that his father was one of the the personal effort to travel and not always made in a neat upward last soldiers to be branded on his maintain contact in the way that he projection. Early in his account, he back with a ‘D’ since he had been a did speaks volumes about the man tells us of being part of a May Day deserter (with good cause), but when and his commitment. march which numbered 100,000 while he was quizzed by others as to what only four or five years later barely 100 I recommend reading Gregor Gall’s the ‘D’ stood for he would reply, in his could be mustered. Mick McGahey book and reflecting on our own Irish accent, ‘It’s for dacency’. It is a once told of a conversation he had in experiences in trying to address the detail like this which makes this book which Willie told him that ‘In socialism challenges of revitalising the trade both human and historic. you’ve backed the right horse, we just union movement and working class Gallagher covers a range of events don’t know how lang the race is’. My politics. Industrially there is much to few of us could ever experience: a last memory of seeing Willie Gallagher be done, and politically the situation is more favourable than when Bob shipwreck, a massive rent strike, is of him in his 80s, head bent forward, grappled with the crisis of working the ‘Great’ War, imprisonment, making his way across George Square, class representation. Don’t Mourn! blacklisting and meetings with, among where more than 40 years earlier he Organise! others, John McLean, Lloyd George had been batoned by the police, to and Ramsay MacDonald. But it was join his comrades for a May Day march Richard Whyte is an official of the perhaps his meeting with Lenin - he to Queen’s Park. He never gave up, Unite union travelled to Moscow in July, 1920 as nor should we in our attempt to build William Gallagher, a stowaway and without a passport a better society. It is to be hoped that - which had the greatest impact on this fine new edition which has been Revolt on the Clyde, his political thinking. As he himself enhanced by archive photographs and states, ‘… it completely altered my Lawrence & Wishart, 2017, a scholarly introduction, will assist this view on revolutionary politics’. It was £9781912064694, £13 cause. following this meeting that he began Reviewed by Andrew Sanders to contest parliamentary elections, Andrew Sanders a retired teacher and he first edition of Willie eventually winning in the mining a lifelong socialist. Gallagher’s classic autobiography constituency of West Fife. In this Twas published in 1936, two years connection, I would make one small before my own birth. However, at an criticism of this latest edition, in that it 27 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Helena Sheehan, The minimum wage and essential public be offered essential credit lines. In this services to previous levels, root out they were probably right. Syriza Wave - Surging state corruption and compel rich Their fight against the Troika was and Crashing with the oligarchs to pay taxes and end their however what boxing aficionados evasion. SYRIZA carried the hopes of Monthly Review might call ‘a mismatch’. The power Greek Left, a nation and beyond. Their victory Press, £16.99, 1583676260 imbalance was plainly insurmountable. represented an exceptional success for And, there was a certain inevitability Reviewed by Colin Fox socialists worldwide. about Tsipras throwing in the towel! In the decade since the banking crisis, And yet, as Helena Sheehan explains, Sheehan accuses SYRIZA of having tens of millions of people in Greece, all those hopes were dashed within developed no Plan B i.e. leaving the Ireland, Spain, Italy, Portugal and weeks. SYRIZA failed as spectacularly Euro and its debts. In truth, they beyond have suffered inestimable as it had risen. She recalls Alexis had no Plan A! What they did was hardship having been reduced by Tsipras’s boast in Dublin in 2014 that implement cuts and privatisation austerity and deepening indebtedness. ‘We are not Ireland. We will resist.’ programmes worse than PASOK or This book by the Irish communist He didn’t. Events were to show New Democracy ever did. academic and activist, Helena he grievously underestimated his The referendum of September 2015 Sheehan, examines the meteoric rise enemies. Political expectations were was the final straw. That lunatic and catastrophic collapse of the one high in January 2015 even though adventure killed off any remnants radical left party that had a chance to Greece’s economy was in ruins. The of credibility SYRIZA may have change all that. country was bankrupt and threatened retained. Defaulting on a $1.8bn I was in Athens on Burns Night to bring down the entire Eurozone. It loan repayment to creditors, Tsipras 2015, at the invitation of SYRIZA had the second biggest per capita debt called a snap referendum over the [The Coalition of the Radical Left], in the world. Incapable of paying it terms of the Memoranda and won to witness their astonishing General back, successive Greek Governments a resounding NO [‘OXI’] vote. But by Election victory first hand. Standing had taken out further loans [on ever now at a political dead end, he turned alongside thousands of other more punitive terms] simply to pay around and agreed terms inferior to supporters I cheered the election of back the interest on earlier ones. those offered to him just two days Europe’s most left wing Government Youth unemployment stood at 70%. earlier! Such was the ridicule that since the 1930s. On that joyous late Evictions and homelessness put greeted his decision the Harvard Law January evening, I remember seeing beggars onto the streets alongside School awarded him their 2015 prize veteran Greek militants, who had rioters and looters. Ten per cent of the for the worst negotiating performance struggled against the Nazi occupation population emigrated. Suicide rates of the year. One disgusted SYRIZA MP in WW2 and against the military junta soared. And the sense of a society went further telling Parliament: ‘We of the 1960s, weep openly as the unravelling engulfed the nation. are now engaged in a brutal class war - with our own leaders’. Thousands realisation of their dreams dawned Into this maelstrom stepped SYRIZA of SYRIZA members, who had been on them. They had finally prevailed, whose rise was as much to do with euphoric in January, followed his lead and on a profoundly anti-capitalist the collapse of the traditional left and resigned from the party in anger manifesto that promised to confront party, PASOK, as Tsipras’s ability to and disgust. those responsible for plunging Greece build a coalition of leftists or present into economic and social collapse. It a programme capable of capturing Recording this modern Greek tragedy was heady stuff. the imagination of desperate people. in all its glory Helena Sheehan In Glasgow, a month earlier, I had Their politics were high on populist unhappily concedes: ‘SYRIZA is no met Stelios Papas a veteran Greek rhetoric, as Helena Sheehan’s book longer a laboratory for hope for communist [and father of Syriza amply records, but utterly inadequate the left but a cause for despair’. Government Minister Nico Papas]. in combating the plans of the ‘Troika’ Few would disagree. Today SYRIZA Stelios spent half the year with (ECB/ IMF/EU). If principled socialists is a byword for shame on the Left. his Scottish family and the other in government live by George No one mentions them with pride. half heading SYRIZA’s International Lansbury’s famous maxim, ‘Better to Nevertheless, this episode is rich in Department in Athens. SYRIZA, he break the law than break the poor’. lessons about where power lies today told me, was a fusion of the old left SYRIZA didn’t! It dutifully swallowed in the world and what is involved in and the new. Here was a united left all the ‘medicine’ the Troika prescribed confronting it. Every socialist should party with a proud socialist hinterland for them and then forced it into the study them carefully. elected to challenge 21st century mouths of the Greek people. Urged by Colin Fox is national spokesman of the capitalism. Their programme, or the party’s Left Platform to leave the Scottish Socialist Party ‘Thessaloniki Declaration’, set out to Euro and introduce its own currency revoke the punishing terms of the SYRIZA’s leaders argued that a country ‘Memoranda’ agreed by previous which imported 80% of its foodstuffs Greek Governments. They would and raw materials could not use a restore jobs, pensions, the national currency no one wanted or expect to 28 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 negotiations are not progressing – particularly our economic interest – Returning to the past: well. Theresa May is struggling to required joining the EEC on the best control divisions, and messages from Thatcher, Brexit and available terms.’ She continued to hold the cabinet regarding the possibility this view throughout those early years Statecraft of a ‘no deal’ are contradictory. If in office and, when Britain eventually this is a negotiating tactic, perhaps Robin Jones looks back at Margaret joined the European Economic Thatcher would have approved: ‘it Thatcher’s ‘Statecraft: Strategies for a Community in January 1973, she, as should be made clear right at the Changing World’ (Harper Collins, 2002, Education Secretary, considered the £25) to see what lessons it holds for start that in order to secure our decision ‘necessary and right.’ The understanding the Tories today objectives we would be prepared, if wider benefits of EEC membership, it became necessary, unilaterally to ‘For my part,’ wrote Margaret Thatcher argues, outweighed the withdraw from EU membership.’ After Thatcher, ‘I favour an approach to drawbacks. all, she argued, any negotiation with statecraft that embraces principles, This opinion was not to last, however. the EU requires ‘credible threats of as long as it is not stifled by them; Her shift, according to Statecraft, disruption’ such as those she made and I prefer such principles to be owed itself to the following: ‘any during her British rebate negotiations accompanied by steel along with good concessions which Britain makes, or in 1984. There is little sign yet that intentions.’ Principle, steel and good initiatives she promotes, in Europe are Theresa May’s supporters – what few intentions. Whether she held to this always eventually turned against her of them remain – will be claiming approach is debateable, though her and against the original intention.’ In the Brexit negotiations as her supporters consider that she did. On this regard, entry into the Common Fontainebleau any time soon. the issue of Europe, they may even Market was not, ultimately, a At the time of writing there are also be persuasive, not least if they offer matter of economics but rather an reports that the EU, while hoping for as evidence the 1984 Fontainebleau ‘unacceptable loss of sovereignty.’ This agreement, is bracing for a ‘no deal’ European Council and Thatcher’s opinion was one many in her party scenario. These are dark clouds. Trade refusal to sanction a rise in the EEC’s shared and share still. Indeed, it was deals are seldom best negotiated VAT levy rate until the UK rebate had this persistent seam of resentment been agreed. on the hoof – even when espousing that led David Cameron to include departure Thatcher acknowledged On the 23 December of this year, 18 the referendum pledge in his 2015 that in the event of a threatened months will have passed since the manifesto. unilateral withdrawal new trade Brexit referendum. Many Conservative The referendum was, in its conception, agreements should ‘ideally… take ‘leavers’ have tried to ventriloquise ill-thought-out and reckless, though place before Britain formally withdrew Thatcher’s support on the issue, even the execution was worse still. Here as a full member of the EU: no claiming it as a posthumous victory. was a referendum offered to the one wants more disruption than is Perhaps, the referendum result country by a PM not because he necessary’. would have pleased the former Prime believed in it, but because it had been Minister – it is quite possible. It is also Thatcher’s analysis was correct politically expedient for him to do so. possible, however, that the current when, referring to the period before The result was Cameron campaigning negotiations would have pleased her Britain joined the EEC, she stated to maintain the status quo while far less. that ‘[e]xclusion from the European others in his cabinet campaigned customs union represented a Thatcher’s movement from qualified for change. Inexplicably, and significant obstacle to British trade.’ support for membership of the unforgivably, he gave no instructions That same analysis holds true Common Market to qualified support for contingency plans to be made today. Unfortunately, her lingering for leaving the European Union is for what would happen in the event influence on the Conservative Party is crisply charted in ‘Britain and Europe – of a ‘leave’ vote (a decision which guaranteeing precisely that exclusion, Time to Renegotiate’, a chapter in her the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and precisely the unnecessary final book, Statecraft. Her professional described as ‘gross negligence’ disruption she sought to avoid. Her interest with Europe began with De that ‘exacerbated post-referendum legacy on Europe, as with her legacy Gaulle’s 1963 veto of Britain’s entry uncertainty both within the UK and on so many issues, is a troubling one. into the Common Market which came amongst key international partners, The damage continues. four years after Thatcher was first and made the task now facing the elected to Parliament as Member new Government substantially more Robin Jones lives in Paris where he for Finchley. The result of the veto, difficult.’) Finally, when his gamble works as an English teacher. His Thatcher states, was obstinacy and didn’t pay off and Britain voted to fiction, articles and reviews have ‘a renewed vigour among the British leave, Cameron quit, reportedly asking appeared in the Edinburgh Review, political class’ to join the Common his aides: ‘Why should I do all the Gutter, Jacobin, the Dark Mountain Market. hard shit?’ Principle, steel and good Project and Huffington Post. intentions. ‘During the whole of this period,’ she writes, ‘I fully shared the prevailing If reports are to be believed, view that Britain’s national interest the present government’s Brexit 29 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 Hassan and Barrow have in the articles they have donated and categorised no less than this reviewer can just about keep forty five articles into a up with the chapters on economic number of useful headings matters to get the gist that there is ranging from ‘The Political little to celebrate but the analysis of and Economic Landscape’ the evolving civil service’s relationship through, among others, such with the Scottish Government is interesting themes such as beyond my grasp. The point being ‘We are the People’, ‘Publics, that there is something for everybody Democracy and Citizenship’ in this book. In my case, education to ‘The Wider World and is of particular interest and I found Context’. Not a book to be the contributions on the various read cover to cover but a elements of the education system useful series of analyses to be excellent. James McEnamey’s and viewpoints which serve assessment of the introduction of to inform and give a sound ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ (CfE) basis with which to either into secondary education is spot on. agree or challenge. Most CfE is a case of the SNP government contributors provide a shooting itself in the foot by taking conclusion with a measured on hook-line-and-sinker an unwieldy suggestion for future educational reform commissioned by policies and actions. It is the Labour administration in Holyrood, not in the nature of such designed by the filing clerk tendency works to be cheer leaders in Scottish education, even when for their subject and A there were no shortage of warnings Nation Changed? does not about the dire outcome, not least diverge from this tendency: from Lindsay Patterson, Professor of Gerry Hassan and Simon not much ‘Haven’t we done well’ to be Education at Edinburgh University. found within its covers. As the saying goes, when a child is Barrow (eds.) A Nation hungry you feed it, not weigh it. The Changed? The SNP and One reason to make use of the incoming government should have assessments of the SNP in government dropped CfE and is now having to Scotland Ten Years On, this last decade is given by John live with the consequences. Suzanne Luath, £16.99, 9781912147168 Curtice, the twenty first century’s Zeedyk’s article on ‘The Early Years ‘Oracle of Delphi’ and ‘The Almanac Herald journalist, Iain MacWhirter, Agenda’ ought to be required reading de Gotha’ rolled into one. The SNP says of A Nation Changed?, a for everyone involved in Scottish has consistently won the support of compendium of assessments on the education, no matter at what level. half the population, no mean feat in competence or otherwise of a decade If the SNP government really wants a pluralistic political system. Curtice of nationalist government, that: ‘At to consider some innovative out-of- provides a detailed description of last. A comprehensive account of the the-box policy initiatives, Zeedyk’s SNP electoral performance and the piece is a god send. The article on SNP years. Essential reading’. And so issue of the constitutional question higher education concentrates mainly it is if we want to make a measured concluding that ‘… the party’s (SNP) on the economic aspect of it but judgement, rather than giving blind grip on power now looks far more possibly there should be greater public support or engaging in kneejerk secure than it did when it first grabbed debate on the questionable policy sniping, of the performance of a the reins of power at Holyrood in of encouraging even more people to political party which twenty years 2007.’ Furthermore, ‘So long as the study for a degree which appears to ago very few would have put money political representation of unionism qualify many of them only for a zero on to be the dominant political force remains fragmented between three hours contract in our retail outlets and in Scotland in the early years of the different parties as at present, that call centres. If all the contributions to twentieth century. All political parties would leave the SNP in a seemingly A Nation Changed? are of the quality have their core adherents giving near invincible position, irrespective as the ones on education then this unstinting support - ‘My party right of its performance in office.’ According book really is essential reading. or never wrong’ – and the SNP has no to Curtice, whose electoral predictions shortage of those. However, I never Donald McCormick is a retired history have been uncannily accurate, the SNP cease to be amazed at the venom teacher, anti-ideologue and a grumpy will play a part in the government of some of its opponents expend on optimist Scotland for some time to come. the SNP Government and the refusal to recognise that ten years in power The contributors to A Nation have achieved anything remotely Changed? are obviously expert in their creditable. fields and necessarily quite technical 30 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 VLADIMIR McTAVISH’S Kick up the Tabloids

ust when you thought interchangeable, it is difficult Who are the most vocal groups the leader of the Scottish to know who is presenting that of people judging the success or JConservative Party could not hideous game show The Boss on failure of Scotland manager? His stoop any lower to get her face afternoon BBC1, or which of the fellow professionals in the game? on the telly, we hear that Ruth two has been appearing earlier in People who have a track-record of Davidson is to appear in Celebrity the day on BBC2 in First Minister’s success at the highest level of the Great British Bake-Off. I find this Questions. game and have been there, seen disturbing for a couple of reasons. it, done it and know what they’re However, despite the fact that Firstly, we have the excruciating talking about? No, of course not! neither of them is ever off the small spectacle of a politician trying ‘not That would make far too much screen, I have never seen them to take themselves seriously’ which sense. Instead, the Scotland boss both on the same programme. This invariably has the same must-see is judged by fans on social media, has prompted much speculation appeal as your dad (or me, for that tabloid journalists and the buffoons that they are the same person. I matter) dancing at a wedding. in blazers who run the SFA. In other find this theory a bit far-fetched, words, people who not only know Secondly, in a country where but I think it is distinctly possible fuck-all about top-level football obesity and type-2 diabetes that they are a real-life set of management, but also know fuck-all are reaching near-epidemic Russian dolls where one fits inside about fuck-all. Rather than being numbers, is it really responsible for the other. judged by a jury of his peers, the politicians to be seen on national Scotland manager is invariably TV encouraging us to eat cake? I Meanwhile, it now appears that judged by a jury of utter morons. suppose we should only be grateful the Conservatives will be the only Best of luck to the next man in it’s not Theresa May who has party at Holyrood voting against the the job. Or perhaps it could be a agreed to do Celebrity Great British smacking ban. In which case, it will woman. Don’t bet against Ruth Bake-Off, as the sight of her sinking pass into law, opening up a business Davidson appearing on the next her fangs into a Victoria sponge opportunity for some enterprising edition of Football Focus talking up would put me off my food for a young Tory to start selling coach her chances of getting the job. week. trips to England where they will smack your kids for you, doubtless The upshot of not getting to World It is somewhat ironic that Davidson stopping off to load up with shale Cup I Russia in 2018 is, as I have should agree to do a baking show, oil on the way home. Expect Ruth long predicted, that we will finally as she has always had the look of Davidson to appear sometime soon qualify for Qatar in 2022. It seems someone who could be the face in The Great British Celebrity Smack inevitable that we will get to on the poster of a health campaign Off. that tournament, given its desert warning the public not to eat too location, fifty degree temperatures, Sadly, as 2017 draws to a close, many cakes. scarce availability of alcohol etc. we have little to look forward to in The really annoying thing, however, However, in the light of the guy 2018. Here in Scotland, we aren’t is that it is almost impossible to banged up in jail in Dubai for trying even looking forward to the World turn on your television without to not spill his pint, don’t bet on all Cup, having once more failed to seeing Ruth Davidson. She seems the fans making it home before the qualify for the final stages of the to be everywhere. Have I Got team’s inevitable early exit. News For You?, the Tory party tournament in Russia next year. conference, not to mention Strictly Vladimir McTavish will be Personally, I feel very sorry for performing at The Stand Comedy Come Dancing. Or was that Susan Gordon Strachan who has lost his Calman? Or was Susan Calman on Club, Edinburgh on Thursday 23 job as a result. It appears to me that to Saturday 25 November, and Celebrity Great British Bake Off? I manager of the Scotland football for one am finding it increasingly from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 team is the only jobbed where your December. difficult to tell the difference. success or failure is judged by total The pair are so ubiquitous and idiots. 31 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017 New publication from the PROGRESSIVE Red Paper Collective, FEDERALISM available free on line at

A RADICAL SOLUTION http://redpaper.net

Contributors include Neil Findlay MSP, Jon Trickett MP, John Foster, Emeritus Professor, Vince Mills, Richard Leonard MSP, Dr Ewan Gibbs, Dr Lesley Brennan,

www.redpaper.net Dave Watson, UNISON Scotland

and Pauline Bryan.

32 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 102 November/December 2017