SSP Trade Unionists
"WHOSE
SIDE are you on? That’s the point blank question posed to all political
parties every time workers are forced to strike, picket or demonstrate in defence
of their pay, jobs, pensions and workplace rights.
Whilst others squirm in opportunist twists and turns, the Scottish Socialist
Party is unreservedly on the side of working people against exploitation by
their employers.
For the SSP, solidarity is not reserved for eloquent speeches on May Day.We
have a track record of physical, financial, moral and political solidarity
- on the picket lines, in our workplaces, on the streets, in the media, in
the parliament."
SSP trade union organiser Richie Venton
Shelter strike
Read Andy Locke on the start of the strike>>
Read Shelter Workers Voice 5th March 2008 (PDF file)>>
Read Andy Locke on the resumption of the industrial action>>
Read Shelter Workers Voice 24th April 2008 (PDF file)>>
Labour's war on public sector workers
New Labour Ministers have declared war on the wages of 5.5 million public sector workers, invoking the spectre of the 1978-9 Winter of Discontent, when millions went on strike against crucifying wage cuts from the Labour government of Jim Callaghan.
Read Richie Venton on opposition to 3 year pay deals>>
Grangemouth dispute
Richie Venton on the Grangemouth dispute>>
Ken Ferguson: Grangemouth workers blow away myth of powerless trade unions>>
Build a united, democratic shop stewards network
The Scottish Socialist Party welcomes the formation of the
National Shop Stewards Network, an initiative from the RMT at UK level in 2006,
which could make a very positive contribution to workers' struggles.
As the one party which since our formation in 1998 has consistently taken the
side of the working class and their unions against the employers and their
savage attacks, the SSP is committed to uniting with fellow-trade unionists
in the battles for workplace rights, decent jobs, wages and conditions, and
the broader struggle against cuts, privatisation and capitalist exploitation.
Unions such as PCS and RMT, led by fighting socialists, have
grown in membership through determined struggle, producing as a result many
new stewards/reps, who in turn are being trained by the union.
The simple lesson of these experiences – and others such as the many
localised council workers’ strikes - is that militant action in defence
of workers' conditions boosts morale and confidence, whereas the 'service union'
model of selling cheaper insurance schemes, holidays, credit cards, etc is
a recipe for the demobilisation of members, the loss of collective consciousness,
and the decline of union strength in the face of belligerent employers and
the antiunion New Labour government.
Read the SSP leaflet distributed at the NSSN meeting in Glasgow (PDF file)>>
Read Jimmy Scott on the second NSSN meeting in Glasgow>>
Civil Service Workers
PCS Voice 24th April 2008 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 13th March 2008 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 28th February 2008 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 27th January 2008 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 7th January 2008 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 5th December 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 26th October 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 1st May 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 13th April 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 3oth March 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 31st January 2007 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 21st November 2006 (PDF file)>>
PCS Voice 16th October 2006 (PDF file)>>
Glasgow Day Service Workers Strike
The Scottish Socialist Party applauds the magnificent unity in action of 260 Day Service strikers, plus the many carers, parents and service users who demonstrated their solidarity on the picket lines, at meetings, on the streets.
Read our full report on the Day Care workers settlement>>
Throughout the strike the SSP published Council Workers Voice
Council Workers Voice 15th November 2007 (PDF file)>>
Council Workers Voice 8th November 2007 (PDF file)>>
Council Workers Voice 31st October 2007 (PDF file)>>
Council Workers Voice 26th October 2007 (PDF file)>>
Council Workers Voice 20th October 2007 (PDF file)>>
Council Workers Voice 16th October 2007 (PDF file)>>
Royal Mail vote for settlement
Royal Mail workers have voted to accept the deal negotiated by their national
leadership.
In a turnout of 64 per cent, a majority of 64 per cent voted to accept. But this
is no ringing endorsement of the settlement reached, which falls miles short
of the demands of the 130,000 strikers who braved management intimidation and
carried out eight powerful days of strike action over the past six months.
SSP workplace organiser Richie Venton on the Postal Workers settlement>>
Leaflet for campaigning work in support of the posties (PDF file)>>
Postal Workers Voice 30th October 2007 (PDF file)>>
Postal Workers Voice June 2007 (PDF file)>>
Postal Workers Voice 12th July 2007 (PDF file)>>
Postal Workers Voice 27th July 2007 (PDF file)>>
Glasgow Care Workers Victory
"On Friday 10 August, Glasgow City Council caved in and acceded to the demands of Glasgow’s Social Care Workers, following three weeks of solid and determined strike action."
Read John Lawson on a famous victory>>
Council Workers Voice 27th July 2007>>
Council Workers Voice 10th July 2007>>