Migrant workers face sackings and threats of deportation, just for trying to establish secure work contracts, safe working conditions and a living wage. Alberto Durango, a Colombian worker sacked from his job at the Union Bank of Switzerland office in London, is at the centre of a campaign to organise cleaners.
"If
ever evidence was needed of Labour's capitulation to Thatcherism look no further
than their disgraceful complicity with Royal Mail management in their provocative
attempts to break this week's national postal strike."
Latest
Flood disaster in Pakistan
You can make donations to the Labour Relief Campaign here...
Lothians SSP selects candidates for 2011 Scottish Parliament elections
The SSP list for the Lothians in 2011 will be; Colin Fox, Catriona Grant, Laura Bennison, Raphie de Santos, Andrew McPake and Barbara Scott.
Read Colin Fox on his blog here...
Former Lothians MSP Colin Fox said;
"Most people accept that the Scottish Parliament has been a poorer place without the SSP these past three years.
"And that’s because there has been no one in there standing up for the most vulnerable in society as we did. There has been no one explaining the worst economic crisis in 80 years was caused by the greed and recklessness of finance capital. Neither has there been anyone speaking out against Britain’s senseless occupation of Afghanistan and in favour of bringing home our troops."
Colin Fox contests Edinburgh council by-election for the SSP
SSP co-spokesperson Colin Fox will contest the Liberton / Gilmerton ward of the City of Edinburgh council in a by-election to be held on Thursday 9th September.
Colin said; "Voters in Liberton/Gilmerton can send yet another ‘pro cuts’ Labour, SNP or Liberal Councillor to the City Chambers on September 9th or they can elect a representative who will stand up for what South Edinburgh needs most - better schools, more Council houses, improved services, scrapping the Council tax and putting the interests of ordinary people ahead of the corporate elite and the banks".
Show your support for Colin Fox in the Liberton / Gilmerton by-election on Facebook here...
More photos from the Basque solidarity meeting by John Lanigan are here...
Workers victory in Pakistan
Faisalabad power loom workers have won a total victory, winning a 17% increase in wages. Attempts to intimidate workers including the murder of trade union leader Mustansar Randhawa backfired dramatically and reinforced the determination of the workers. Read Farooq Tariq here...
- .SSP letter to Pakistan consulate protesting against the repression of striking workers...
- Labour Party Pakistan General Secretary visits Scotland, 2010...
SSY protest against prohibition
Scottish Socialist Youth organised another highly successful Legalise Cannabis demo in Glasgow.
What’s crippling Greece is the IMF, not the General Strikes...
Resist public spending cuts
Cuts: no divisions, no delay in action
"Trade unions need to name the days for united mass protests and give people confidence that there is a resistance movement that can defeat the attempts to prop up the bankers and billionaires at terrible cost to working class people. " Read more...
- SSP jobs cull prediction confirmed...
- SSP national workplace organiser Richie Venton on trade union opposition to spending cuts...
- Photos by John Lanigan of Glasgow anti cuts protest...
- SSP Red Shirts protest against Tory Butchery and LibDem Treachery...
- SSP signs international statement on European crisis by left organisations
Fighting cuts ? Join the SSP today...
SSP Alternative Budget
A People not Profit budget, June 2010
"The SSP's alternative budget is based on equality, democracy and sustainability, to deliver a better economic future based on people, not profit."
- Read the SSP's Alternative Budget summary....
- Download the full SSP Alternative Budget (PDF)...
- Read Raphie De Santos on alternatives to public spending cuts to reduce public deficit...
- Read Raphie De Santos UK Budget analysis here...
- Campbell Martin writes on the Butcher's Budget...
Economic Crisis
Rich List shows rich get richer
Despite the recession the rich continue to get richer acorrding to the latest Sunday Times Rich List figures. The combined wealth of Britain's 1,000 richest people rose by more than £77bn to £333.5bn, with the number of billionaires up from 43 to 53. Raphie De Santos looks at the data here...
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Read in depth economic analysis on the LeftBanker website...
- Budget cuts will push UK into recession...
- There is an updated version of Raphie's 'The state of the UK economy' Download a PDF file here...
Afghanistan
Time For Peace
Each week the toll mounts and another family watches the coffins unloaded to promenade through Wooton Basset while grubby politicians mouth platitudes and squabble as to who can best run the war.
But there is another story.
Across Scotland, from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, the SSP has been campaigning against the war and finding the growing mood of opposition to it and support for a withdrawal.
Read Ken Ferguson, 'Time For Peace' here...
Grandmother of Dundee soldier killed in Afghanistan joins SSP
"I
am delighted to welcome Joan into the party and can promise her we will redouble
our efforts to end UK involvement in this senseless occupation and in favour
of creating jobs at home and securing a sustainable future for everyone." Colin
Fox
'Socialist and Afghan leaders join forces for anti-war talks' Edinburgh Evening News story...
Do you support the SSP's call for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan ?
Photos from Edinburgh demo for end to occupation of Afghanistan
Afghan war grinds towards defeat
Afghanistan - how many more will die ?
Shameless politicians declare Afghan victory
Afghanistan for the Afghans
Campaigning material, PDF files
Victory in East Dunbartonshire
Victory for schools campaigners in East Dunbartonshire. Read more here...
Scotland marches for International Workers Day, May 2010
SSP banners on the Cut Trident Not Jobs demo, Edinburgh. More photos by John Lanigan here...
Hundreds march for asylum rights, Scottish Socialist Youth report from Glasgow demo here...
Leaflet from Red Road flats demo (PDF file)...
Opposing racism and fascism
Saturday 20th February 2010, Edinburgh
A fantastic turnout of grass roots militant anti-fascists prevented the SDL from marching.
There are photos by John Lanigan here...
Read SSY report on events here...
Fascist 'Scottish Defence League' routed in Glasgow, Read Andy Bowden on the SSY blog
Pictures by John Lanigan here...
'Let's all stop the fascists'' by Liam Turbett
Read the SSP's leaflet for the event here (PDF file)
Colin Fox: BBC puts fascists on prime time tv...
Join the SSP in the fight against racism and fascism today !
Pictures from Nae tae G20 in St Andrews !
Read Raphie De Santos
on the G20 here...
Independence & republicanism
Tam Dean Burn with Colin Fox and Rosie Kane at the SSP's Calton Hill republican event 2004
Bloody Sunday: a day's work for the British Army...
Union Jack Gordon bows the knee to House of Windsor...
Thatcher's legacy kept alive by Brown
"At the heart of the New Labour project lies its complete rejection of any Socialist politics and endorsement of the Thatcherite view worshiping the free market and the rich." Read Ken Ferguson...
Lordy, Lordy, Lordy
Labour’s government of the unelected
"The Labour Government is a caricature of a Britain long gone, a vivid
testament to how Labour has abandoned its founders.
"The first vote passed at the first Labour conference in 1900 was to abolish the House of Lords.
"In 2009 Labour depends on it to rule the people."
Colin Fox on the need for a modern, democratic, republic here...
Voting reform: Brown's timid window dressing
Andrew Weir looks at the different possible voting systems in the wake of the Westminster constitutional crisis. Read more here...
Greedy MPs expose Westminster
"The ongoing crisis over MP’s expenses has unexpectedly holed the British ship of state below the water line. Suddenly, the Mother of all Parliaments faces a collapse of political authority without parallel in its modern history. The first Speaker forced to resign in disgrace in 300 years has quickly been followed by the first Lords to be suspended for corruption in 300 years." Read John McAllion here...
Viva La Repblica ! Read Allan Armstrong on socialism and republicanism here...
Allan Armstrong on the Republican Socialist Convention...
"The class struggle in Scotland has always been both nationalist
and socialist.
The 1787 massacre of striking Calton weavers by British soldiers is generally
recognised as marking the beginning of an organised, effective Scottish labour
movement.
The weavers’ banner on that day showed Scotland’s national hero William
Wallace striking down the beast of tyranny."John
McAllion on socialism & independence ...
Scotland's Hidden History
Read Eddie Truman on Scotland's hidden history here...
International
The world protests at Israeli massacre
Photos from Edinburgh demo, 5th June...
Pictures of Edinburgh protest, 31st May...
Pictures of Glasgow protest by John Lanigan..
SSP statement on the massacre...
Scottish Socialist Youth: IDF, murderous pirates...
Justice for Palestine
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign win victory over trumped up charges
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign 5 on trial for protest
Allan Armstrong on the 5 campaigners facing charges of ‘racially aggravated breach of the peace’.
Read about trade union solidarity with Palestine...
Pictures of 10,000 march in Edinburgh here...
For latest info on protests and meetings;
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Uprising in Iran...
Honduras
In July 2009 a military coup overthrew President Manuel Zelaya. Reports on the coup from Sam Gordon.
- The Old Guard in Honduras
- Zelaya Back in Honduras
SSP Cuba delegation success
On the 1st of February 2009, 9 members of the Scottish Socialist Party travelled
to Havana to take part in a 15 day programme of meetings, visits and cultural
events organised by the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party. The
Delegation consisted of 3 members of the Executive Committee, two of which
were also on the international committee. Members were from branches in Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Rutherglen and Fife.
Culture
Malcolm McLaren: Death of a cultural revolutionary
Simon Whittle on the life of Malcom McLaren, cultural revolutionary and music pioneer, manager of the Sex Pistols, hated and persecuted by the establishment, who died on April the 8th 2010, leaving behind a legacy that changed popular music forever.