Scary times in Shropshire

From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-14028188

Shropshire Council to dismiss all staff in pay cutDismissal letters have been sent to all of Shropshire Council's 6,500 employees.

Bristol Socialist Party meeting - Syria and the Crisis in the Middle East

Bristol Socialist Party Meeting - Syria and the Crisis in the Middle East

Tuesday 5th July 

7.30pm 

Cheltenham Road Library, Bristol, BS6 5QX

The discussion at this joint meeting of the three Bristol Branches will introduced by Joe Fathallah from the Socialist Party Wales. The insurrection which has swept the Arab World has now ignited Syria. Three months of brutal repression by the Baath regime has failed to quell the revolt. The attempts to break down the border with Israel, and embarrassment caused to the capitalist regime in Turkey by the influx of show the of the Socialist Party’s demand for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East. But how can workers and the other oppressed people in the Arab states, Turkey, Iran and Kurdistan ensure that victory is theirs? What is the role of Israeli workers? And what attitude to should Socialists have to intervention by capitalist powers?


Below are links to documents and articles that are relevant for this discussion.


Reports and Analysis from the Socialist Party and our sister parties in the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI)


• CWI website recent Articles on Syria: http://www.socialistworld.net/view/158


• And more widely on the Middle East: http://www.socialistworld.net/?m=15&sk=100


• Socialism Today has had a number of important articles on the Middle East since the beginning of the year: http://www.socialismtoday.org/back.html


Reports and Analysis from the mainstream press and other Sources


• Al Jazeera Interview with Robert Fisk of the Independent on youtube (22nd April): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSpeHVFPd8g


• Report by Fisk from Independent (29th April): http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-out-of-syrias-darkness-come-tales-of-terror-2276392.html


• And from Belfast Telegraph (8th June): http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/robert-fisk/syria-in-turmoil-as-resistance-turns-to-insurrection-16009281.html


• This portal, maintained by University of Colorado, leads you to a variety Government resources from Syria and reports from state and non-governmental bodies internationally: http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/syria.htm


• Particularly useful is the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/801669.stm


• Human Rights Watch Report on protests and repression in Daraa: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/06/01/we-ve-never-seen-such-horror-0

BADACA Open Meeting: Stop the Privatisation of Social Care & NHS!

Circulated by BADACA:

Our July open meeting will be focussing on the issue of privatisation of social care & the NHS. Monday 4th July @ Friends Meeting House. More details here…

http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/2011/06/28/badaca-open-meeting-stop-the-privatisation-of-social-care-and-the-nhs/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154737477933075

No to Pensions Cuts - Excellent video of Bristol Demo

http://www.youtube.com/user/SocialistPartySW

Marx on the International

From Karl Marx - General Rules of The International Workingmen's Association, 1864
"Considering that the emancipation of the working classes must be conquered by the working classes themselves, that the struggle for the emancipation of the working classes means not a struggle for class privileges and monopolies, but for equal rights and duties, and the abolition of all class rule;
That the economical subjection of the man of labor to the monopolizer of the means of labor — that is, the source of life — lies at the bottom of servitude in all its forms, of all social misery, mental degradation, and political dependence;
That the economical emancipation of the working classes is therefore the great end to which every political movement ought to be subordinate as a means;
That all efforts aiming at the great end hitherto failed from the want of solidarity between the manifold divisions of labor in each country, and from the absence of a fraternal bond of union between the working classes of different countries;
That the emancipation of labor is neither a local nor a national, but a social problem, embracing all countries in which modern society exists, and depending for its solution on the concurrence, practical and theoretical, of the most advanced countries;
That the present revival of the working classes in the most industrious countries of Europe, while it raises a new hope, gives solemn warning against a relapse into the old errors, and calls for the immediate combination of the still disconnected movements;
For these reasons —

The International Working Men's Association has been founded."
http://www.marxists.org/history/international/iwma/documents/1864/rules.htm

Next step: one-day public sector strike

Rob Williams, National Chair, National Shop Stewards Network

On Tuesday 28 June, two days before 750,000 public sector workers walked out against vicious pension cuts, Tory prime minister David Cameron said: "At a time when discussions are ongoing, I would say to you: these strikes are wrong".
He then went on to insist that the government would not change its course on the attacks - what kind of 'discussion' is that? In reality the government is determined to slash hardwon pension rights.
But the 30 June strikes, involving the PCS civil servants' union and teachers and lecturers in NUT, UCU and ATL showed the willingness to fight the Con-Dem government's attacks.
Now, around the country people are asking "what next to stop the millionaire axe-wielders?" As with the magnificent TUC demonstration on 26 March, the coalition has been shaken by the first coordinated strikes since it came to power.
They have responded with threats of yet more anti-union laws - already the most undemocratic in Western Europe - and Tory education secretary Michael Gove's pathetic attempts to set up a scab army of parents to foil striking teachers.
But we're still facing £81 billion cuts to our jobs, services and pensions. Socialist Party members and the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) gave out thousands of leaflets on 30 June calling for a 24-hour public sector general strike to escalate the action to defeat the government.
We agree with the words of PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, who said: "We have to turn 750,000 out on 30 June into four million in the autumn". This means bringing on board the other public sectorunions, in particular the 'Big 3' - Unison, Unite and GMB.
On 11 September, the NSSN will be lobbying the TUC to call for this coordinated action. The solidarity rallies on 30 June showed that strikes against this government's cuts agenda are overwhelmingly popular.
The victims, many of them isolated, suffering from the attacks on social services, children's services, housing benefit, etc can see that at least someone is fighting these cuts.
But Labour leader Ed Miliband has criticised the strikes. He has also pulled out of the Durham Miners' Gala because he doesn't want to stand alongside Bob Crow of the RMT transport union.
Yet again this shows the absolute necessity of the unions creating a new mass workers' party to give a political voice to our class. Socialists are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bob, the RMT and all workers, young people and campaigners against this government.
The RMT's recent victory on the London Underground showed the whole union movement that victories are possible with a determined leadership and if we are prepared to strike together.

Photos of 5,000 strong Bristol Pensions Demo

As you will see from these photos, June 30th was not only a historic day for the labour & trade union movement in Bristol, not only a significant battle in the anti-cuts campaign so far, but also a great day that was well worth joining in, Bristol Socialist Party is proud to have played it's part. The next step is a 24-hour general strike bringing in the big three unions - Unite, Unison and GMB - and uniting public and private sector workers. Fair pensions for all! No to all cuts! For more photos visit here.