THE LOOT Vs the BOOT • a Sack of Cash For
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Muhammad Ali: ‘The greatest of ScotRail ballot: all time’ and champion of the RMT guards vote civil rights movement is dead for strike action • see pages 6&7 • see page 4 £1 • issue 479 • 10th – 30th June 2016 scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com T LOO BOOT THE THE THE LOOT vs THE BOOT • a sack of cash for Sir Philip Green • the sack and no cash for BHS employees PROSECUTE THE PScoRttishSocOialistVoFice.woIrdpTress.coEm E/ScoRttishSoScialistVo! ice @ssv_voice YOUR VOICE It’s your Voice... use it THIS YEAR marks the Scottish Socialist Voice ’s 20th anniversary. The Voice is integral to both the socialist movement and the independence movement here in Scotland. We need you to get involved with the Voice in any way you can – whether it’s writing news stories, articles on demos or campaigns, reviewing films or exhibitions, or taking photos of events, we need you to use your Voice to voice your opinion. As ever, we need more women writers to step forward and make their voices heard – and that doesn’t just mean women covering women’s issues. To get involved, please contact editor Ken Ferguson on: [email protected] Independence, Socialism and the SSP The brand new pamphlet by Bill Bonnar is available now Order your copy at scottishsocialistparty.tictail.com Or send £4 (includes p&p) to: Scottish Socialist Party Suite 370, 4th Floor BAlsRo EavAailKab leT: HE CHAINS Central Chambers Richie Venton’s 93 Hope Street book ‘BREAK Glasgow G2 6LD THE CHAINS Please make cheques of poverty pay, payable to casual labour ‘Scottish Socialist Party’ and exploitation’ subscriptions Fill in this formJ and osend iit tno: Sc ottishh Sociealist P aSrty, SuSite 37P 0, To subscribe, see scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com or fill in this form and send it to: SSV, Suite 370, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow 4th Floor, Central Chambers, 93 Hope St, Glasgow G2 6LD. Or phone: G2 6LD. Phone: 07810205747. Cheques payable to ‘Scottish Socialist Voice’ 07810205747. Or join the SSP online: scottishsocialistparty.org/join-us g I would like to join the Scottish Socialist Party Name........................................................................................... g I would like more info on the Scottish Socialist Party Address....................................................................................... Name........................................................................................ .................................................................................................... Address....................................................................................... Phone......................................................................................... .................................................................................................... Email........................................................................................... Phone......................................................................................... g £5 for 2 issues g £10 for 4 issues g £20 for 8 issues Email........................................................................................... 2 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • issue 479 EDITORIAL by Ken Ferguson IT IS pretty rare for the Voice to find itself in agreement with a leading Tory but it is hard to disagree with former Prime Minis - ter John Major when he describes the in - creasingly shrill, right wing dominated Brexit campaign as “squalid”. As we go to press, they reached a new low point—so far—with the foul Farage’s claim that voting to remain in the EU would increase the likelihood that women would be raped by immigrants due to “cul - tural differences”. Beyond squalid—just openly racist. Yet as leading Tories ran for cover to TAKE ACTION: distance themselves from Farage’s racist all gains are won by ravings, the truth is that his claims are a workers in struggle, logical outcome of a rabid right wing cam - not gifted by paign which becomes more xenophobic concerned bosses and governments with each passing day. Fearful of revealing their real plan for a deregulated free market economy, trash - ing social protection and workers’ rights Squalid system is the outside the EU, they have turned to the old reliable tactic of blaming the foreigners heart of the problem alongside painting a rosy pictures of rising prosperity if only we could keep them out made in a capitalist-dominated society with mutinous Blairite MPs blaming him of England’s green and pleasant land. such as ours—from trade union rights to for Brexit. In Scotland, the idea that it Of course its a lie, and just a glance at the NHS, through to regulations on health could be the trigger for a second inde - those painting this picture—such as Boris and safety and working time—are won by pendence referendum would be exposed Johnston and Michael Gove who have workers in struggle, not gifted by con - as the hollow claims they are, as West - backed anti-union laws, attacks on the cerned bosses and governments. minster refused to sanction such a vote. poor and favour privatising everything in What is in contention in the EU vote is Meanwhile, away from the name calling sight—reveals the truth behind the “work - which of the options on offer creates the of the tiny elite fronting the EU “debate,” the ers’ friend” fairytales. best terrain on which to wage the contin - fact of UK austerity and vast chasms be - uing struggle to defend and advance the tween the rich and the rest remains a daily Fog of right wing claims interests of the majority over the profiteer - reality, as we report elsewhere in this Voice . Meanwhile, the voices of the minority on ing majority. the left who favour leaving the EU are lost The vast majority of socialist and trade Thrown on the dole in the swirling fog of right wing dominated union opinion backs the remain case but So in the latest example of fat cat Britain, claims and sensationalism peddled by the that does not mean endorsing the EU’s the former BHS boss Sir Philip Green takes Mail , Sun , Telegraph —entirely as predicted pro-business stance. delivery of his latest £100million yacht (he by their labour movement opponents. Rather it entails viewing the current collects them) as 11,000 BHS workers are Indeed, the blind faith of the Lexit camp modest workers gains from the EU on thrown on the dole as stores close. that leaving the EU will usher in a new era workplace rights as a floor to build on Green, who with his associates in his of working class power is in many ways a through action and struggle. Arcadia group took £580million out of mirror image reversed of the tale told by Certainly, as the Tory dominated Leave BHS then sold it for a £1, is reported as Boris, Gove and their free market chums. side move rightwards, the omens for pro - likely to make a further £35million from its Both can’t be right about it. gressive politics with a Brexit vote looks dismemberment. For workers in Scotland, the UK and increasingly ominous. Only independent struggle—both in - elsewhere, the truth is that, as the SSP Cameron, who conceded the referen - dustrial and political—by the majority, and others have argued, the choice on 23 dum largely as a tool of party manage - suckered by the rich, can change this, June is not one of high principle but rather ment, is now staring into the political and the example of the militant action by of tactics. abyss, seriously weakened. French workers in defence of their rights Just as the idea that shaking off EU It is entirely possible that post-23 June gives the lie to claims that EU member - membership sets a course for the social - he will face a revolt, sparking a snap gen - ship prevents trade union action. ist future is fanciful, the picture of the EU eral election, with the prospect of face off While anti-union laws and EU regulations as the benevolent guardian of workers between an emboldened right wing Tory are a barrier to action, it is a barrier which rights is hollow. The truth is that all gains party and a Corbyn-led Labour stuffed determined action can bulldoze aside. issue 479 • scottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com • 3 SANDRA WEBSTER ‘Yes’ vote Another Scotland is necessary by Sandra Webster increase this to £75 in line with JobSeekers Al - in RMT lowance. Many carers have challenged Anas Sar - TIME TRAVEL back to the Smith Commission. war for what we see as a patronising video ScotRail After the campaign for independence, Scotland offering discounts to carers for haircuts and mas - ballot was promised more devolved powers. When sages this week—the yearly pat on the back. Maggie Chapman talked about “collaborating,” So the Scottish Government will have to ad - by Voice Reporter we should have realised that very little had minister these benefits and systems. Never mind changed and that the new powers offered would benefit sanctions and universal credit, which they RAIL UNION the RMT con - cause great difficulty for any Scottish Govern - can claim is a Westminster matter. firmed on 7 June that members ment to administer. Perhaps the most difficult is They need to be challenged to create a fairer sys - voted overwhelmingly for both the responsibility for disability benefits. tem. It is in their power to do this regarding dis - strike action and industrial ac - As Ken Loach said recently, it seems the ben - ability benefits. As socialists, it is our role to hold tion short of a strike over the ex - efit system is becoming a means to punish those them to account and also challenge the existing tension of Driver Only Operation who find themselves in Tory Britain. This is no system. It is time for action and to support those (DOO) and Driver Controlled more evident than for those who are sick or dis - who need us. This will mean being seen in com - operation (DCO) on ScotRail. abled and those who care for them. munities, getting back to the grass roots work of The vote was over 75 per cent Despite Cameron’s helping people challenge for strike action with an even big - promise to protect the FEAR AND LOATHING: the system. We need to ger majority for action short of a most vulnerable, it is us private firms such as educate ourselves what ATOS and Capita have strike.