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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 Ocer 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 comment 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
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