ScottishLeft Review Issue 93 June 2016 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' 'best 1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 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 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 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 feedback comment - All change and all stay the same he tectonic plates of Scottish and Sturgeon. The Westminster - to have triumphed because of their politics have moved again. But election last year was a highpoint stance on not taxing the rich, their Tthe third part of the tartan and Salmond’s landslide of 2011 stauncher defence of the Union and trilogy did not end as was expected. was not replicated. The Holyrood Ruth Davidson being a more able After the referendum in 2014 came election was a boring campaign by leader than Kezia Dugdale. If this is the SNP landslide in the Westminster and large, with not the same sense the case, the other side of the coin general election. This trend was then of the Westminster bogeyman to set reviewsconcerns Labour itself. The continued expected to deliver a majority SNP the heather alight. Turnout was down decline of Scottish Labour started with government at Holyrood, giving Nicola compared to the referendum (85%) its domination by ‘new’ Labourism Sturgeon her own personal mandate. and last year’s Westminster election and working with the Tories in Better It was not so much that the polls (71%) at 56%. So much for the new Together. But it has continued with a were wrong as in 2015 (with regard to 16-17 year old voters and ‘generation leader that voters don’t trust despite Labour) but that the little cognisance independence’ of engaged voters moving to the left on policy issues. was taken off the late polls suggesting making a big, positive difference. The fact that Dugdale was allied to the SNP lead was slipping. The beneficiary of the SNP stumbling Jim Murphy and opposed to Corbyn Either the tactics of #bothvotessnp was not the left but the Tories. Now before he was elected Labour leader did not do the trick (given 5% clearly ahead of Labour as the second has been part of this. Indeed, one less voted for it on the list) and/ largest party (in seats and votes), the unnamed Labour activist quoted in or the gloss is coming off the SNP Tories appear – compared to Labour the Sunday Herald (8 May 2016) said: ScottishLeftReview Cover and illustrations: Nadia Lucchesi Issue 93 June 2016 Contents ([email protected]) Proofing services: Comment – All change and all stay the same ...................................................................3 Bob Thomson and John Daly Feedback ..........................................................................................................................4 A predictable surprise? Malcolm Harvey .........................................................................5 Communications and School report - progress is possible. Larry Flanagan ........................................................7 organisational development: The last fantasy election? Jim Cuthbert ...........................................................................8 Carole Ewart Patient at continuing risk. Lilian Macer ............................................................................9 Trade union development officer: Neither Holyrood nor Westminster. Gordon Munro ..................................................... 10 David Brockett Back to banning the bomb. Veronika Tudhope ............................................................. 11 Editor Email: EU: better out than in. Ian Davidson ............................................................................. 13 [email protected] ‘Fixit’: the lesser of two evils. Colin Fox ........................................................................ 14 Big Brother in Scotland. Tommy Kane ........................................................................... 15 Web: www.scottishleftreview.org It’s trade but not as we know it. Liz Murray .................................................................. 17 Tel: 0141 424 0042 Trade Union Bill is now law. Carolyn Jones ................................................................... 18 Address: The unending imperialist war. Andrew Murray ............................................................ 19 Remembering the blood of Spain. Mike Arnott ............................................................ 20 Scottish Left Review, Imperialism abroad – racism at home. Jock Morris ...................................................... 21 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields, No liberation from technology. Allan Grogan ............................................................... 22 Glasgow G41 4PL Self-employment and in-work poverty. Mike Danson & Laura Galloway .................... 23 Recalling a great Scottish socialist novelist. Dave Sherry ............................................. 24 Printed by Agony of chronic pain. Dorothy-Grace Elder ................................................................ 25 Hampden Advertising Ltd, Failing at the first hurdle. Gregor Gall ........................................................................... 26 70 Stanley Street, Book reviews ................................................................................................................. 28 Glasgow G41 1JB, Vladimir McTavish’s Kick up the tabloids ....................................................................... 30 Tel: 0141 429 1010 3 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 93 June 2016 ‘She is a New Labour politician who over a host of issues like tax. For the liberalism. Whether a re-invigorated backed an Old Labour agenda’. Greens, progress on tax, fracking and federalism or confederalism can alter land reform will be paramount. But the contours here remains to be seen. The Greens did not do as well as Labour must go further and provide expected (at least one list seat in • Scottish Left Review would like the resolve to organise resistance each region) and did not surpass pay its respects to Ken Cameron their highpoint of 2003. But with to austerity (which will now come (1942-2016). Ken was the FBU six MSPs rather than two, they in a different form given the fiscal general secretary from 1980 to may wield greater influence with settlement). In other words, it must 2000 and helped Jimmy Reid and a minority SNP government than become Corbynised. Only by doing Bob Thomson in gaining the support before. For RISE and Solidarity, the so can Labour shed its skin of ‘new’ of the FBU for the magazine when election was yet another disaster. Labourism, a variant of neo-liberalism it was launched in 2000. Bob While Solidarity outpolled RISE, their called social liberalism. Its dismissal of Thomson commented: ‘He was combined Scotland-wide vote was further movement on the constitution a good trade union negotiator, a miserable and puny 25,000 (with was a big mistake taking into account always seeing the bigger picture as the Trade Unionist and Socialist that the figures show that a majority well as maintaining himself as an Coalition gaining 3,500 votes from six of traditional Labour supporters voted international socialist’. constituency seats), being well behind ‘yes’ in the referendum. UKIP in meltdown’s 46,000. Neither The issue of unspoken issue of social Tommy Sheridan nor Cat Boyd, the liberalism will remain central. The candidates with the so-called ‘best worldview of the SNP is that the Feedback chance’, came anywhere close to economy in Scotland needs to be It was with some sadness and being elected on the Glasgow list. more efficient and productive in increasing anger that I read Derek For those that aspire to something order to generate more employment, Torrie's contribution in the last more radical than the mainstream private wealth, and the public issu. His was a ‘defence’, if I may can offer, it shows not just that a tax revenues to pay for its social grace it with such a description, disunited left is not credible but programme. In other words, the which has been offered by the