Socialism

111. PCS elections – the struggle for fighting trade unionism

How can the trade unions, as the main mass organisation of the working class, be organised to fulfil their full potential in the fight against Tory covid austerity?

In this episode we speak to Marion Lloyd, the socialist candidate for president of the PCS union which organises civil service and national government workers on privatised contracts. Marion is standing on the Broad Left Network list, See details here: https://pcsbln.wordpress.com/

Why do socialists fight for broad lefts in the unions?

Why was it so important to fight the idea of ‘national unity’ put out by the Tories at the start of the pandemic?

Why do trade unions also need political demands and a political arm to their workplace struggle?

This episode of Socialism looks at the major issues confronting the working class – from the fight against Tory covid austerity, to defending the right to protest, to the fight against the oppression, injustice and inequality revealed even more ruthlessly by the pandemic – and the role of the trade unions. We look at the fight within the unions for the leadership required in order for the trade unions to play their potential role in these struggles.

Further reading

Article: Lessons of the 2011 pensions strike: when workers showed their power https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32247/24-03-2021/lessons-of-the-2011-pensions-strike-when-workers-showed-their-power

Article: Preparing for the revolts to come https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32281/31-03-2021/preparing-for-the-revolts-to-come

Article: The struggle needs an electoral arm http://socialismtoday.org/the-struggle-needs-an-electoral-arm

Article: the future of the PCS debate http://socialismtoday.org/the-future-of-the-pcs-debate

Article: The left unions and the Labour affiliation debate http://socialismtoday.org/the-left-unions-and-labour-affiliation-debate

Article: Rebuilding fighting trade unionism http://socialismtoday.org/rebuilding-fighting-trade-unionism

The Paris Commune 1871 is rich in lessons for the struggles today. Listen to Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party political secretary, discussing the rich lessons for today.

The Committee for a Workers’ International, the world socialist organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated, will host an online rally to celebrate the Paris Commune anniversary at 3pm on 28 March 2021. See: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/03/26/28-march-cwi-rally-broadcast-150th-anniversary-of-the-paris-commune/

The Paris Commune has been described as the working class storming heaven.

Why did Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels have such an interest in the events of 1871?

What was the relevance of the Commune to the leaders of the Russian Revolution almost fifty years later in a different part of the world?

And, what insight can the Commune of 1871 offer those battling the conditions of capitalism in crisis today?

This episode of Socialism looks at the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune, rich in lessons for revolutionaries

Further reading

New article: When the working class 'stormed heaven' https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32236/24-03-2021/150th-anniversary-of-the-paris-commune

Historical article: Lessons of the Commune by V.I. Lenin https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/03/27/lessons-of-the-commune-by-v-i-lenin/

Article from our sister party in France: The first proletarian revolution – 150 years of the Paris Commune https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/03/26/the-first-proletarian-revolution-150-years-of-the-paris-commune/

Book: The Masses Arise: The Great French Revolution 1789-1815 http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=2017204

What is the socialist approach to ending both violence against women and defending the right to protest?

This bonus episode is a recording of the introduction to a national meeting hosted by the Socialist Party on Friday 19 March, attended by around 150 people.

What are the factors that made the murder of Sarah Everard the trigger for the protests?

Why are the police incapable of delivering justice and safety for women?

How can we defend the right to protest?

How can the sexist ideas in society be challenged?

This bonus episode of Socialism looks at the questions thrown up by the protests following Sarah Everard’s murder and the mass defiance of the ban on vigils – how can we end violence against women and defend the right to protest?

Further reading and listening

Article: Stop police brutality. Justice for victims of gender violence https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32176/16-03-2021/justice-for-victims-of-gender-violence

Article: Defend the right to protest https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32172/13-03-2021/oppose-bans-on-vigils-defend-the-right-to-protest

Article: Spying on socialism http://socialismtoday.org/spying-on-socialism

Article: In defence of socialist feminism http://socialismtoday.org/archive/224/feminism.html

Article: Women: justice denied http://socialismtoday.org/women-justice-denied

Pamphlet: A fighting programme for women's rights and socialism

https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32122/03-03-2021/a-fighting-programme-for-womens-rights-and-socialism

Report: Unite the Union opposes all cuts to domestic violence services https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30613/14-04-2020/unite-opposes-all-cuts-to-domestic-violence-services

What does this mean for the independence movement in Scotland?

How can workers and young people, who overwhelmingly back independence, take their struggle forward?

The Socialist Party Scotland is the sister party of the Socialist Party in England and Wales.

This episode of Socialism looks at the feud within the SNP and what it means for the independence movement in Scotland.

Further reading and listening

Recent article: SNP’s indyref2 ‘roadmap’ no substitute for a mass movement and socialist policies: https://socialistpartyscotland.org.uk/2021/01/25/snps-indyref2-roadmap-no-substitute-for-a-mass-movement-and-socialist-policies/

Recent article: Salmond/Sturgeon warfare exposes rottenness of nationalist leadership: https://socialistpartyscotland.org.uk/2021/03/04/salmond-sturgeon-warfare-exposes-rotten-underbelly-of-nationalist-leadership/

New book: Scotland and the National Question – A Marxist Approach: https://socialistpartyscotland.org.uk/2020/12/03/new-book-available-now-scotland-and-the-national-question-a-marxist-approach/

Podcast: Socialism 49. Scotland and the election: independence and socialism: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/49-scotland-and-the-election-independence-and-socialism

Podcast: Socialism 80. Trotsky and the ‘national question’: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/80-trotsky-and-the-national-question

What can we learn from the defeat of the Industrial Relations Act 1971?

Capitalist commentators often refer to the 1970s as a kind of dark age, and accuse socialists of wanting to return to it. What they’re frightened of is the huge power of a working class that fought and often won during that decade.

One major victory was the defeat of the Tories’ 1971 Industrial Relations Act, an attempt to smash the power of shopfloor union reps. Unofficial strikes and mass resistance made the act unenforceable.

Why did workers have such power in the 1970s? Can that be replicated? What was behind the bosses’ attacks on their wages and conditions? And can the anti-union laws that shackle workers today be overcome?

This episode of Socialism looks at the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Industrial Relations Act: how workers beat anti-union laws.

Further reading

How militant trade unionism defeated the 1971 Industrial Relations Act: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32086/24-02-2021/how-militant-trade-unionism-defeated-the-1971-industrial-relations-act

On The Track: an account of trade union struggles at British Leyland: http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=31445290

Workers' Control & Workers' Management: http://leftbooks.co.uk/epages/950002679.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=42068461

How to fight the anti-union laws (2015): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/20994/01-07-2015/how-to-fight-the-anti-union-laws

How can we fight racism and capitalism today?

Black and Asian people have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, they are disproportionately affected by austerity, and by all the inequalities and attacks that face the working class.

Meanwhile, working-class youth showed their willingness to fight racism and class inequality in the magnificent Black Lives Matter protests last summer. So what are the next steps for the movement against racism?

The Socialist Party has produced a new charter proposing some key demands in this fight.

This episode of Socialism looks at the struggle against racism: a black workers’ charter.

Further reading and listening

Socialism 72. You can't have capitalism without racism: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/72-you-cant-have-capitalism-without-racism

Black Workers' Charter: A programme to fight racism: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/32013/10-02-2021/black-workers-charter-a-programme-to-fight-racism

Black and Asian Covid-19 deaths: an indictment of capitalist inequality: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30804/22-05-2020/black-and-asian-covid-19-deaths-an-indictment-of-capitalist-inequality

What next for the mass protests in Russia?

Facing down brutal police repression, tens of thousands seized the streets in Russia to oppose the arrest of opposition leader Alexi Navalny. Vladimir Putin's dictatorial regime was shaken.

While working-class Russians suffer ever more misery, Putin has built himself an opulent private palace. The anger against him is enormous. But although Navalny has exposed the kleptocracy's massive corruption, his vision is limited to a more democratic capitalism.

Workers should have greater democratic rights. But would this alone solve their problems? Is it even achievable with capitalism in crisis? And what sort of programme and organisation does Russia's working class need to end both dictatorship and poverty?

This episode of Socialism, taken from a broadcast by the Committee for a Workers' International on 11 February 2021, looks at the Russia protests: what future for Putin's regime?

Further reading

Heavy state repression fails to stop second wave of protests in Russia: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/02/01/heavy-state-repression-fails-to-stop-second-wave-of-protests-in-russia/

Mass anti-Putin protests sweep across cities and towns: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/01/25/russia-mass-anti-putin-protests-sweep-across-cities-and-towns/

Russia: Week-long vote, full of falsification: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/07/13/russia-week-long-vote-full-of-falsification/

How can the National Education Union win for school workers?

During the pandemic, educators and support staff have been on the front line of the Tories’ war for private wealth over public health. Schools became key breeding grounds for Covid-19.

Then, in January, the NEU forced a humiliating government U-turn on school reopening. What are the lessons from that victory, and what are the next steps to achieve safety?

How can teachers reduce their staggering workload? Is there an alternative to Britain’s ‘exam factory’ education system? What is the way to reverse devastating cuts and privatisation?

Socialist Party member Martin Powell-Davies is standing for deputy general secretary of the NEU. Socialist Party members and other fighters are standing for the union’s ruling national executive committee too.

How can school workers achieve a genuinely democratic union, where they are listened to, not talked at? And who stands for the serious strategy of industrial action necessary to change good union policies into real wins for members?

This episode of Socialism looks at the National Education Union elections: school workers need a fighting union.

Further reading

Martin Powell-Davies for NEU deputy general secretary: https://martin4dgs.co.uk/

Socialist Party in Education: https://spined.co.uk/

Martin Powell-Davies for NEU DGS: "We need to use our collective strength": https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31920/27-01-2021/martin-powell-davies-for-neu-dgs-we-need-to-use-our-collective-strength

The NEU's 'big announcement' - lessons need to be learned: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31977/03-02-2021/the-neus-big-announcement-lessons-need-to-be-learned

Schools: 'We have to fight for everything': https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31921/27-01-2021/schools-we-have-to-fight-for-everything

Workers' action wins Tory U-turn on school safety: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31788/06-01-2021/workers-action-wins-tory-u-turn-on-school-safety

What are the 2011 Arab Spring’s lessons for now?

Ten years ago, revolutions erupted in Egypt and Tunisia, and rapidly spread in the Middle East and North Africa. Workers and poor people enraged by their living conditions toppled dictators.

World capitalist governments were taken by surprise. Why did Marxists in the Committee for a Workers’ International foresee that uprisings were coming?

What was the outcome of the Arab Spring movements? Why did some go further than others, and why have none achieved the full aims of protesters?

What is the significance of revolutions in the region since? And what is needed for the further upheavals which are already brewing to finish the job?

This episode of Socialism looks at the tenth anniversary of the Arab Spring: lessons for today.

Further reading

Ten years since the 'Arab Spring': https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31923/27-01-2021/ten-years-since-the-arab-spring

Egypt: The road to the 2011 revolution: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/01/25/egypt-the-road-to-the-2011-revolution/

Tunisia: explosion of protests against government austerity (2018): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/26747/17-01-2018/tunisia-explosion-of-protests-against-government-austerity

Iran: strike wave marks new stage in revival of workers' movement (2020): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31329/09-09-2020/strike-wave-marks-new-stage-in-revival-of-iranian-workers-movement

Lebanon: mass protests cut across sectarian division (2020): https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30278/12-02-2020/lebanon-mass-protests-cut-across-sectarian-division

How should socialists respond to the dramatic crisis in the US?

On Wednesday 6 January 2021, Trump supporters - some armed - invaded Congress. It was the culmination of the loose-cannon president’s desperate attempts to overturn the election result. But the US capitalist class is used to inflicting humiliations like this on the rest of the world – not losing control at home.

Was this action just a protest-turned-riot, or did it represent some kind of attempted coup? Are Trump and his movement ‘fascists’, or is the real picture more varied and chaotic?

The opposite attitudes of Capitol Hill police officers and US military chiefs show the splits in the US state machine. The big divide between Trump’s supporters and other Republicans shows splits are developing there too.

So can incoming Democrat Joe Biden fundamentally change the fortunes of US capitalism, or the conditions of the mass of the population? Is it right to support social media bans, new anti-terror laws, and the Democratic Party? Or could that actually help Trump and hinder working-class struggles?

Clearly the events of 6 January were a watershed. What do workers and young people in the US need in order to put their own stamp on events?

This episode of Socialism looks at the United States in crisis: the storming of the capital.

Further reading and listening

CWI analysis of the US post-election crisis: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31867/20-01-2021/usa-in-crisis-the-need-for-a-socialist-alternative

US socialists respond to 6 January attacks: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31834/13-01-2021/how-should-socialists-respond-to-the-6-january-attacks-on-capitol-hill

CWI statement immediately following 6 January events: https://www.socialistworld.net/2021/01/07/us-in-crisis-need-for-a-mass-workers-party-and-socialist-programme/

Trump Twitter ban: only independent workers' voice can defeat right: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31884/20-01-2021/trump-twitter-ban-only-independent-workers-voice-can-defeat-right

US imperialism in decline: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/99-2020-highlights-us-imperialism-in-decline