socialist voice april 2014

8/12/2019 Socialist Voice April 2014

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Socialist VoiceJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST LEAGUE, BRITISH SECTION OF THE INT ERNATIONAL WORKERS LEAGUE FOURTH INTERNATIONALNo 15 April/May2014 1

IWL XI CONGRESS

[page 2]

UKRAINE

[page 8]

THE STRUGGLE OF YOUTH IN

SPAIN AND TURKEY

[page 10]

ISL AND REGROUPMENT

[page 6]

(continues on page 3)

VOTE FORCLASS

STRUGGLECANDIDATES

22 MAY

Unions and communitiesBuild the rank and file

Osborne declares a recovery. Butas the recent budget shows it is arecovery for the rich, and an evendeeper crisis for the working class.

This government is driving towardsending welfare support to unemployedpeople, disabled people, young people,the low paid, the ill and the elderly,This has led to the impoverishment anddemonisation of people on benets.

At the same time councils and thepublic sector are slashing services andjobs and creating huge workloads forthose still in work.

The benet safety net is rapidlydisappearing extremely-high levels offood and fuel poverty are growing, andover 600,000 people are already beingpauperised into using food-banks(since April 2013).

Our communities are graduallydisintegrating and Cameron justies hisso called austerity policies of attackingthe working class under the pretext that

Britain was almost bankrupt.What is clear is that there will be

money to be made from services beingstripped bare and removed from publicownership, but the money to be madewill be diverted into the hands of big

business and private proteers.That is nothing new, many will say,

as this is a Tory government who willalways look after the rich and look downon the poor.

Labour and union leaderships betrayMillions are suffering, especially themost vulnerable working class familiesin way that has not been seen since the1930s.Since the beginning of the massivecuts programme in 2011 anger in theworking class has grown. However, anational movement of opposition hasnot even begun to be built by any of theexisting Labour, trade union or politicalorganisations.

The trade union leaderships are failingto lead a real ght back.

Labour has already declared theirhand and promised that austerity anddraconian welfare regimes will continueunder their watch.

Workers cannot wait to ght the cuts,and neither can they hope for anythingfrom a Labour government.

Unison, with 1.4 million public sectorworkers, a majority of whom are


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2 Socialist VoiceLife of the LIT

EDITORSMargaret McAdamand Martin Ralph

LAYOUTJoao SimoesMartin Ralph

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The XI World Congress of theWorkers International League-FourthInternational (IWL-FI) will takeplace in early April, 32 years after itwas founded. IWL sections from 25countries will attend.

Just over ive years ago the capitalistcrisis exploded worldwide. Workersand popular sectors iercely resistedthe brutal attacks on their livingconditions perpetrated by capitalistgovernments. It opened a period ofgreat political instability.

Reality has shown the lack of analternative revolutionary leadershipwith powerful mass in luence thatcould show the path to a working andpopular solution of the crisis, whichcould lead the workers and the peopleto the seizure of power in any countryin the world.

Despite our weaknesses, the IWLhas grown since the last congress.From Turkey to the Spanish State, inEurope, in the revolutions in NorthAfrica and the Middle East, and thenew processes in Latin American, theIWL sections ight battle after battle

to give a revolutionary answer to thisnew reality. This is also expressed

through the growth of its parties, bothquantity and quality, and through thepolitical in luence in its interventions.

Our European sections, particularlyin Italy, Spain or Portugal, theplaces demonstrating the greatestinterventions, are in the vanguard ofclashes against imperialist plansThe emphasis on building in Europemotion, passed at the previous WorldCongress, was achieved and in thiscongress it is expected it will beconsolidated, to go forward with theconstruction of a political program forthe entire European continent.

For the irst time in its history, the IWLis taking its irst steps in North Africaand the Middle East. The revolutionsin Tunisia just over three years agochanged the whole political map.

What has been occurring in Egypt andin the Syrian revolution where IWLhas been progressing its construction are central issues for this Congress.

It is also important to highlight that

the IWL managed to start in theAfrica, after the Popular SenegaleseLeague (LPS) joined as a sympathisingsection. Their participation in thenext Congress will be a milestone inthe history of our International.

We also have a challenge inunderstanding fully the changes to thepolitical situation in Latin America,where the IWL has a greater traditionand more forces. We are witnessingthe beginning of a regional uprising,marked by the beginning of thebreak of mass sectors from popularfront governments. This process hasencouraged a political and trade unionreorganisation, causing disruptionson the Left, as with the emergenceof IPT in Bolivia, the historic vote forthe Left and Workers Front (FIT) inArgentina and the growth of the PSTUand CSP-Conlutas in Brazil.

A core discussion for the this Congress

will be to deepen further out analysisand programme for Brazil. Unlike theprevious period, the Latin Americangiant awakened in June 2013 withmass mobilisations, and nothing willever be as before.

There is the real potential todevelop an alternative revolutionaryleadership with in luence amongstthe working class, and to ight forthe seizure of power during this newstage.

These are the challenges the workingclass movement and revolutionariesface. We invite you to join us on thisjourney. So that this time the crisiswill be paid for by those who causedit, and not the workers and people ofour countries.

World map of the IWL


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NUMBER 14 > APRIL/MAY- 2014 3Fight the sell outs(continued from front page)

women, have not built any real defencefor workers, they meekly call for a fairdistribution of council cuts.

Councils have recently announced afourth year of massive cuts which willworsen in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

With the betrayals of union leadershipslike the Communication Workers Union(CWU), Unite and University and CollegeUnion (UCU) workers are learning thatthey will only try to suppress any realght back.

Most union leaderships do everythingthey can to stop the ght againstausterity.

They allow demonstrations under theircontrol while selling out one struggleafter another as they wait for a Labourgovernment.

Support class strugglecandidates in the elections

2014 - Welcome to the year of the horse

Workers want to fight, but most union leaders dontwant to The council union leaderships in Liverpool, Unison and GMB, have made a dealwith the council not to ght. It means hundreds of their members will losetheir jobs. On 5 March when Liverpool TUC and Liverpool Against The Cuts

organised a protest outside the councils budget meeting, no speakers representingUnison, GMB or Unite spoke on behalf of council union members. But rank and lemembers were on the well attended lobby of 200.

On 15 March Unison and Unite organised an anti-cuts demonstration and rally.The GMB union did not bother to attend. Not one speaker called for strike action!The bureaucracy also refused community groups permission to display their bannerson the platform during the rally and no service user was asked to speak from thecommunities.

The Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, keeps saying that things must be donedifferently, But what does he mean? In reality he means privatise and use unpaidlabour. He also says that Liverpool City Council must prioritise its priorities. Thosepriorities should be our communities, our vulnerable, our young people, our jobs,and our services.

However, when a businessman like Mark Fletcher-Brown (who was paid 650 aday nearly 50,000 in total in 2013) hired by Mayor Anderson argues for Cameronspolicy of shrinking the state, it means that this Labour council has nothing otherthan a pro-business and pro-privatisation agenda.

Never in recent times have attempts to build something new have been so wide.Those who want to defend services and jobs will have to build from below in the

unions and in the communities. This is the only road in which to construct a defenceand a ght back.We support all class struggle community organisations that have emerged

in many areas over recent years such as the anti-cuts groups, those ghting fordisabled peoples rights, against the bedroom tax and benet cuts, and anti-frackingcampaigns.

MARTIN RALPH INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST LEAGUE

Unions andcommunities Build

the rank and file

But workers cannot wait and neithershould they hope for anything fromLabour, they do nothing but condemnthose who dare to stand up for theircommunities.

Now in the fourth year of cuts, Labourcouncils refuse to oppose the cuts orbuild a ght back against the cuts.

Yet at the same time they are expectingthe working class to re-elect those samesupine councillors, who will continueto support the cuts, and like the unionleaders, tell the working class to wait forthe election of a Labour government.

The exploitation of the working classis intensing and the suffering of themost vulnerable is deepening in orderto maximise private prots, but the rich

increase their wealth.According to Oxfam the top ve familiesin Britain now own more wealth than thepoorest 20 per cent of the population.


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4 Socialist VoiceLocal elections

Locally OSAC has built a reputationof being a consistent and ghtingorganisation. 1000s of leaets are

regularly distributed in the area withinformation about the cuts, peoplesrights, and the ght back. The onlyopposition has come from people like thelocal Labour councillor Peter Brenner,who aggressively argued against the anti-cuts campaign. He has been adamantthat the local library will stay open,even though there are already massivecuts to the opening hours. Despite manyrequests Mr Brenner has failed to put

in writing any reassurance that whatremains of the library service will stay.

OSAC stands for public services andaccountability, and opposes all formsof oppression against women, disabledpeople, Black and Ethnic minorities, andyoung people.

Many of us have woken up to the factwe have a supine media who push thegovernments agenda by disgracefullyscape-goating benet claimants andimmigrants to cover a crisis that has

been created by the greed and corruptionof those at the top. Disabled people, theunemployed, immigrants, the youth andlow paid workers are not responsible forthis crisis.

Old Swan, like many working classareas in the country suffers from cutbacks: there is now a part-time library,we have a youth club that struggles tostay open because its council fundingwas completely cut and there are evenpeople who are forced to beg at foodbanks.

In 2014 and beyond we are going tosee Liverpool City Council implementingmore cuts to statutory and non-statutoryservices. Which means things will onlyget worse.

Old Swan Against the Cuts is part ofa growing national opposition to theseplans. We work with Liverpool Againstthe Cuts and Liverpool TUC and we arecalling on unions and communities toght the devastation that is happening toour communities.

In order to participate in the local elections it was necessary that Old Swan Againstthe Cuts (OSAC) needed to become a political party. It was unanimously agreedtherefore in one of the regular meetings (held two-weekly) to form a legal partyin order to stand in the upcoming local elections on 22 May. It was understood theelection campaign would be a continuation of OSAC work over the last year ghtingall cuts, discrimination and attacks on class rights. Martin Ralph was unanimouslyagreed as the candidate.

An election is a very important opportunity to explain to workers and people what

type of struggle and leadership is necessary to ght capitalism and help build theclass struggle during the campaign.The International Socialist League, whose members helped develop OSAC, have

stood under the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition umbrella, with reservations, inthe past. The majority of the OSAC group however did not know of TUSC and hadno desire to join it.

So a legal political party was created in order to stand under the name of OSAC.There are 23 members, which is growing a little each week, with 50 supporters.OSACs work has won respect and support from union branches and LiverpoolAgainst the Cuts. The valuable support received from all these organisations and itsmembers means that OSAC now has sufcient resources to participate in the localelection.

TUSC is controlled by a national committee of the Rail Maritime and Transportunion, Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party and Independent Socialist Network and they have the right to veto other organisations that want to join the committee.The ISL does not think this a good method for building a workers, democratic andsocialist alternative to the Labour party.

In this election TUSC are hoping to stand 625 candidates in order to contest 15 percent of the total seats, which would entitle their main candidates to a TV electionbroadcast . This means that paper candidates are being stood, that is candidates whohave no history of class struggle work and are not known in the area. This has beencommon practice of TUSC which the ISL opposes.

Support Old Swan Against theCuts in the elections

Build OSAC andgrass roots

struggleMARGARET MCADAM INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST LEAGUE

Protest against cuts. but no councilunion leaders spoke


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NUMBER 14 > APRIL/MAY- 2014 5Education cuts

Ihave had both paid and voluntarywork supporting children with specialeducational needs in a number ofways including transporting them to andfrom school for over 10 years and I haveseen the impact cuts have had in thattime.

The majority of these children have arange of disabilities and impairmentswith varying degrees of severity

although some have problems thatarise from neglect and/or abuse. Eachchild is different and all have individualpersonalities and needs.

Children used to be transported in taxisfrom their home to school and back,which meant three or four children werepicked up by a taxi and there was oneadult passenger assistant. That was aratio of four to one. But cuts were madeto the service which meant the use oftaxis were stopped and all school runs

were allocated mini-buses.After that cut between eight to twelvechildren were picked up, but still onlywith one passenger assistant. Thismeans that the workload was increasedby a factor of three.

SV: In practice what does that mean?The following is an example of a schoolrun with nine children:Start District1st Walton2nd /3rd Fazakerly4th/5th/6th Croxteth Park7th West Derby8th PrincessDrive (Huyton)9th Mather AveArrival at school Woolton

In practical day to day terms that meansthe rst child is picked up at 8am andhence are on the bus for a longer periodof time. There can be MANY behaviouralproblems that arise as children get readyfor school. That can happen to anyone

at anytime. An increase in the numberof children and therefore journey timeincreases the likelihood of problemssuch as delays due to their families over-sleeping or issues arising when they areon the mini-bus.

Education cuts hits special needs childrenSocialist Voice interviewed Karen Price, who is an an -cuts and bedroom tax ac vist, on the e ect of council cutsin the community, cuts are something Labour councils do, but they dont care about the e ect.

SV: You have seen council cuts overyears, can you say something aboutwhat services you are involved in andthe effect of cuts?

From the 1st pick-up to arriving atschool we pass through many districtsof the city and the longer the journeythe greater the possibility of delayssuch as road works, diversions or trafcaccidents, which at peak time occurregularly, all such unforeseen problemsmeans late arrival at the school.

Any change in routine is a major

upheaval for children who have a widespectrum of special needs with differentlevels of severity and consequentlydifferent stress and anxiety levels. Thechildrens increased stress levels andcoping mechanisms all differ but includerocking on the spot with hand, armgestures and screaming. Some childrenbecome very upset by the noises andgestures used by others. Consequentlythe majority of the children become

disturbed.Furthermore this impacts on the work

of the teaching staff and classes whohave to cope with children who aredisturbed, confused and anxious. Andall has a detrimental impact on theireducation.

SV: Whats your opinion of the cutsAll the cuts have been carried out withoutany thought, care or consideration tothe welfare or needs of these children.The deciding factor has primarily beento save money! There is much more to

say but this is a basic account that showsin simple terms the impact of cuts onthe special educational needs of thesechildren.

I have one daughter who is aged 23who has worked as a care worker withadults for over three years and she hasseen how the cuts have impacted oncare provision. Many services are eitherno longer provided or have been cutdramatically.

As we all know the most vulnerable

and needy are already suffering as adirect result of the Governments attackon benets. And the burden of these cutshits women who are twice as likely tobe affected than a man. I am a mum,my daughter will become a mum andI will be a nanna in early September.Children are our future. WE all haveto accept the responsibility to ght forOUR childrens future.....Because ourACTIONS will determine what happens!

International Socialist League

Join us in the ght back: [email protected] or www.facebook.com/islinfo

Britain, one of the most advanced countries of the world, is ready forsocialism. But the working class faces great barriers, the Labour Party,the trade union bureaucracy and the illusions sections of the workingclass have in the Labour party.The so-called British revolutionary parties failed, one after the other, inthe task of leading the working class to defeat the bourgeoisie and itsacolytes, the Labour party and the Trade Unions bureaucracy.

The building of the ISL is of utmost importance to surpass the crisisfacing the working class. Our programme is based in the necessity forthe working class to become the leadership of the struggles and to unifyall the oppressed against the government and capitalism.

Karen speaking against council cuts


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6 Socialist VoiceRegroupment

P art of the turmoil in therevolutionary left has led to theInternational Socialist Networkbecoming involved in a regroupmentprocess. The ISN was formed bycomrades who had left the SocialistWorkers Party last year because of theSWPs refusal to properly investigatean allegation of rape against one oftheir leading members by a young SWPcomrade, (http://goo.gl/vOayU5).

The regroupment process involves threeother groups at the moment SocialistResistance, Anti-Capitalist Initiative andWorkers Power. Each group has a right ofveto over whether or not to include othergroups in the process. While the ISN is

interested in widening out to involveother groups, Socialist Resistance is not.

The International Socialist Leagueapproached the ISN about participatingin this process and at the ISN nationalmeeting in March they voted by 24 toaccept the ISL into the project with justone abstention.

The manner of discussion with the ISNis open, honest and serious. This doesnot mean that we are in agreement witheverything with the ISN but we believe

they are genuinely seeking a classstruggle alternative.It is essential that all the parties

participating place the programmaticdiscussion at the centre. This discussion,however, should not be threatened bya veto from any of the group of fourwhich began the merging process.

We think there is a basis on whichwe should join the group of four,since there is a genuine will to builda new organisation in which we coulddiscuss and approve, in the near future,a revolutionary programme. Such aprogamme would need to discuss thecentral problems facing the workingclass, how the masses can be united foraction against austerity, and how thiscan be the basis for uniting the massesin a revolutionary struggle for socialism,in which the working class would haveto take power in connection with aninternational revolutionary developmentof the class struggle.

Tim Nelson, ISN, in a meeting with

representatives from the other groupson 18 January said, The ISN shouldseek to build joint forums, meetings andaction with others on the revolutionaryleft to build an organic foundationfor revolutionary unity. http://

internationalsocialistnetwork.org/Many have tried since the early

1990s but have failed to construct analternative to Labour or a revolutionaryalternative, as there has often been moreattention paid to structures than theclass struggle and programme. The ISLshares important perspectives with theISN, such as in rank and le struggle inthe unions and communities; womensoppression and the need to combat malechauvinism in the revolutionary leftand in the trade unions; standing classstruggle candidates against Labour; andwith Syria and Ukraine.

The ISL is interested in being partof the re-groupment process thatcurrently brings together fourgroups, recognising this as part of aworld-wide process, where a number ofrevolutionary parties have not faced thereal tasks of the working class in their

country and internationally.Interest in the regroupment projectcame from ISL experience in workingwith members of the ISN in Liverpool oncommon issues: the student movement,Higher Education strikes, the Syrianrevolution, the importance of rank andle struggle against bureaucracy, and theimportance of the womens struggle. Wealso appreciate the discussion held withISN members at recent meetings.

Capitalist crisis and programmeThe world economic crisis continues todeepen as does the response to it, notonly in the Middle East and Europe butalso in Turkey, Brazil and other countries.

In Europe the euro-zone economycontracted around 1.2% in 2012, andthe growing public debt is the pretextused to attack over 50 years of workersachievements. Austerity in Britain placesthe greatest burden on the workingclass, especially the most vulnerable andminorities.

We are for a revolutionary party thatis based in the struggles of the workingclass and in the struggle for the FourthInternational, which is aim of theInternational Workers League-FourthInternational ( do not proclaim to be the

Fourth International). The IWL seeks tobuild in the struggle whether in Brazil,Syria, the USA or Britain without self-proclamation and based on a programmethat is developed out of the experiencesof the working class and our groups.

The ISL perspective for Britain prioritiesthe discussion on programme, whichincludes, Rank and le organisationshave to ght to control the unions bymeans of mass meetings and workersdemocracy and it has to build on the richhistory of rank and le movements in thepost-war period.

At the same time, we recognize theright of the workers to build new rankand le organisations to replace the

degenerated and corrupted traditionalunions, when its the will of the rankand le to do so and is at the service ofthe struggles ISL conference documentOctober 2013.

Only the working class can nd a wayout of the present situation, in alliancewith students etc.

A programme has to expressperspectives for supporting and linkingwith the class struggle in relation toEurope and internationally such as in

Syria.We think we need to discuss whatour programmatic agreements are, outof which can come a new programmeand new experiences to test out ouragreements in the class struggle.

Progressive splitThe ISL thinks the split from the SWP asprogressive and the question of ghtingwomens and all oppressions is a centralpoint for Marxists. We recognise thatall working class organisations face thisbourgeois pressure. The IWL and allits sections while oriented in this ghtagainst this pressure recognises that it isnot easy and so puts this ght centrallyin the programme for revolution.

The ISL has a wide number of contactsin the unions and communities. We havejust completed the process of legallyregistering Old Swan Against the Cuts(OSAC) as a political party to stand inthe Liverpool local elections in May.OSAC unanimously rejected standing as

TUSC.OSAC are campaigning against councilcuts and closures such as the libraries,for disabled peoples rights and is partof Liverpool Against the Cuts. Two ISLmembers are part of this group and one

Struggle for a revolutionary programme and party

ISL letter to the ISN24 February 2014


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NUMBER 14 > APRIL/MAY- 2014 7ISN

was unanimously elected represent thegroup in the elections. OSAC is 100 percent working class and the group and thecommittee is 50 per cent women. Mostare taking their rst political steps butit is possible that if Left Unity developsmore towards the working class they canbe part of that.

We agree with the ISN on the questionof a multi-tendency revolutionary group.

Some regroupment experiencesThe regroupment process is an importantpart of the IWL tradition and practice.Not all regroupments end successfullybut each experience can be rewardingto help develop towards a revolutionaryparty. In June 1992 comrades in the CS(our current in Lulas PT) in Brazil wereexpelled from the PT. In response the CS

formed the Revolutionary Front whichat a Congress in April 1993 became thePSTU with the fusion of CS into the newparty alongside a number of smallergroups. Not all remained. It took anotheryear to discuss which International tojoin. In that case the choice was the IWLor the CWI.

In Argentina in May 2011 after elevenmonths of debates, discussions, commonactivities and mutual agreements themerger took place between the FOS

(Socialist Workers Front) and the COI(Internationalist Workers Trend). Thisparty was formed amidst the Arabrevolution where the youth and theworkers played a key role, amidstthe workers strikes against socialadjustments in Europe, the mobilizationsin Bolivia - against the populistgovernments policies - and Hondurasand the riots in the United States againstanti-immigrant laws.

In the rst week of January 2007,the foundational Congress of Partitodi Alternativa Comunista (PdAC)of Italy was held as a new stage ofthe organisation PC-ROL (ProgrettoComunista - Rifondarel Opposizione delLavoratori). This party had had importantexperiences inside RifondazioneComunista. Soon after it joined the IWL.There are also long experiences in Spainand Portugal.

Advances but of course also mistakesare part of our international experience,only those who dont ght never make

mistakes, the point of course is to learnfrom them.The PSTU in Brazil is large and

has strength in the working class, sothey can attain important leadershippositions. The special conditions in

Brazil, the dictatorship, the lack of asocial democratic party, the betrayals ofthe communist party meant the workingclass had to build a new party after1979 and that was the Workers Party,which our comrades helped build. Theyalso had an input into the foundingprogramme, which included the positionwhat is won is won on the streets andclass ghts, parliament can be used butnot to replace the class struggle.

The PSTU are able to be an importantpart of the leadership in CSP-Conlutasfederation. CSP-Conlutas includes 100sof trade unions, trade union tendencies,social movements (homeless, landlessetc) Race and Class (some comrades metTamiris last September from QuilomboRace and Class) and ANEL, (nationalstudent union, not the PT one!)

We can give further information moreabout all these experiences.

Second part of StopViolence Against

Women: History ofInternational

Womens Dayhttp://internationalsocialistnetwork.org/ (due to reasons of space this articlehas been shortened for SV)

SARA MAYO, ISN

International Womens Day this yearclosely coincided with the 30thanniversary of the start of the greatMiners Strike of 1984-85 in the UK. Thiswas the greatest battle of the workingclass in this country in living memory...The devastating consequences of theminers ultimate defeat at the cowardlyhands of the then Labour Party leaderKinnock and the TUC leaders whorefused to call out the whole class indefence of the strike meant that our classhere suffered an almighty setback...

Furthermore, a key lesson for us todayis the amazing role of women in thisstrike, women who showed just what

they were capable of as they foughtalongside their brothers, helping to putwomens rights back on the agendatoo. During the strike the vital lesson ofworking class solidarity and collectiveaction also helped to directly challenge

sexism, racism and homophobia in thecommunities, raising consciousness andchanging attitudes...

Meanwhile, Thatcher may have beenthe rst female prime minister in UKhistory, but she was no feminist icon andwas instead a ruthless class enemy...

Even worse, New Labour directlycontinued with her governmentspolicies and embraced capitalismwholeheartedly... For instance, one ofthe rst acts of Blairs government,following the Labour landslide of1997, was to destroy free education atuniversity by introducing tuition fees andreplacing grants with loans... One of thehorrifying consequences of both tuitionfees (continued and increased underthe Con-Dems) and the scrapping of theEducation Maintenance Allowance in

England and cuts in Wales has been thehuge increase in the number of femalestudents turning to the sex trade to helppay for their education, as research bythe NUS has shown for example.

Today of course we face the brutalausterity of the Con-Dem government,whose spending cuts for the workingclass are also implemented by bothLabour and Plaid Cymru in Wales... letInternational Womens Day be a call towomen everywhere to once again move

into the streets, into the unions and intosocialist, anti-racist and feminist struggleto get rid of this government...

However, I also need to issue a warningto socialists, anarchists and the labourmovement as a whole: while it is rightthat we concentrate the blame on thesystem itself that doesnt lesson ourown responsibilities to challenge sexismand abuse of women on our side... Weneed action now...We cannot have atokenistic attitude towards womensrights. Nor can the labour movementlook the other way and pretend it didnthappen when perpetrators are exposedby survivor activists in the movement...Furthermore, of course we dont thinkall men are capable of abuse but we doneed our comrades to take a principledstand against gender-based violence andsexism, wherever it rears its destructiveand divisive head.

...Sisters and brothers! International

Womens Day 2014 is an opportunity to

take our message of solidarity, struggleand resistance to the movement andthe world as a whole. Now is the timeto ght back, build a mass movementwith women at the heart of it and makehistory again.


8/12

8 Socialist VoiceUkraine

On Yanukovychs fall in Ukraine

Yanukovych is overthrown by apeoples mobilisation!

No trust in Timoshenko, Klitschkoor the new interim government ofTurchinov!

Ukraine will only be independentunder a workers government!

The revolutionary mobilisation ofthe Ukrainian people overthrew thegenocidal, oligarchic and servilegovernment of Victor Yanukovych.

A democratic victory was achievedshowing the way for people across theworld, creating fear amongst the rulingclasses in the Ukraine, Russia, imperialistEurope and the entire world.

Tens of thousands organised themselvesand seized the symbolic Maidan Square(Independence Square) where theyfought the brutal repression which wasordered by Yanukovych. The sinisterBerkut (elite police troops) tried severaltimes to drown Maidans brave defenders

in blood.The police siege and dozens of sniperskilled over one hundred people andinjured over one thousand. But the self-defence militias at Maidan, using sticks,stones, Molotov cocktails and guns takenfrom police stations, resisted and openedup a crisis of power in the country.

The erce resistance nally broke thearmed forces chain of command, andsplit them on whether or not to crush thedemonstrators.

Yanukovych and his entourage were castadrift and at the last moment desperatelytried to implement an agreement to savehis government from total collapse.

This agreement, signed from the topby Yanukovych and the parliamentaryopposition (The Motherland, UDAR andSwoboda), and backed by representativesfrom Europe, US imperialism, andalso Russia, was strongly rejected bythe Maidan occupiers. The promise offuture elections in December and anew government of national unity in

ten days, was rejected, the reply wasrm, Yanukovych out now!The government collapsed on Saturday

morning, 22 February, and the tyranted Kiev.

When the city awoke it was in the

STATEMENT OF IWL(FI) 3 MARCH

hands of demonstrators, whose self-defence organisations had occupied themain strategic centres of power: thepresidential palace, the central bank and

main ministries.Images of thousands invading

Yanukovychs luxury mansion were seenacross the world including an interviewwith a member of the militias sitting inthe presidential chair. It was testimonyto a dual power situation.

Dramatic lack of a revolutionary leadershipFollowing Yanukovychs departure,while the self-defence militias occupiedthe main public buildings, the pro-

EU opposition and the far-right forcestried to ll the power vacuum takingadvantage of the lack of a revolutionaryleadership.The Ukrainian Communist Party hasalways supported Yanukovych, approvedhis repressive laws and is now preachingthat the oligarchic satrap was a legitimatepresident who has been overthrown bya fascist coup. Stalinism, as in MiddleEast, stands once again with tyrantsagainst the revolutionary masses.

In this context, the oppositionsoligarchic sector used the Supreme Rada(parliament), which was not occupiedby the demonstrators, to close the crisisof power vacuum.

The Rada deposed Yanukovych(which had already happened) andnamed Alexandr Turchinov as theinterim President for both legislativeand executive powers, and called forelections on 25 May.

They are trying to divert and stop theresistance and stabilise their control but

it is not easy because the mass movementfeels victorious and does not trust thesenew representatives in power so theycontinue to mobilise.

Moreover, the economic situation whichis on the verge of collapse prevents these

representatives from taking measuresto effectively overcome the misery andunemployment of the Ukrainian workingclass.

Our position1- Yanukovychs fall represents a hugevictory for the revolutionary mobilisationof the Ukrainian people who defeated therepression, divided the repressive forces,and but did not fall for the deceptivepact between Yanukovych and theparliamentary opposition supportedby European imperialism and Putin. In

addition their actions caused the collapseof the main institutions of political powerthrough the self-defence militias.2- There is dual power in the Ukraine.On the one hand, the self-nominatednew government, based in the far-right and pro-imperialist opposition and,on the other, the latent power of Maidan.Although far-right sectors participatein the self-defence militias and asectionhave been co-opted as agents ofthe new power.

3- There was a revolutionary crisis, apower vacuum on 22 February, whenprotesters and self-defence militias tookcontrol of the main state buildings andYanukovych ed.This happened regardless of whetherthe mass movement were aware, anddue to a lack of a political revolutionaryleadership, the crisis of power has notbeen resolved in their favour.4- It is therefore essential thatrevolutionaries stand for a policy inresponse to this specic situation:The transfer of power to Timoshenko,Turchinov, Yatseniuk, Dobkin (governorof Kharkov) or any other leader or partyof the pro-Western opposition mustnot be unaccepted.They are part of the same oligarchy thatled Ukraine into deep chaos, and thatexploit the people, curtail democraticfreedoms, and delivers the countryswealth to both the EU and Putin!No trust in the usurpers of the revolution.For the struggle of the Ukrainian people!

5- This is critical, because what iscurrently posed in Ukraine, beyondthe appointment of a weak interimgovernment, is the question of politicalpower. Our position is that power shouldpass into the hands of the democratic

Maidan


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NUMBER 14 > APRIL/MAY- 2014 9Brazil

organisations of the working class.It is now more than ever, essential topromote the independent organisationand mobilisation of the working classand the youth. As a matter of urgencya national conference or meeting shouldbe convened to discuss a program thatwill serve the social interests of theexploited classes, andcentral body of theworking class takes power to carry it out.6- It is the exploited people who oustedYanukovych who must take charge oftheir own destiny and democraticallydecide the political and economicdirection. Only by concentrating powerin the hands of the working class andthe exploited people of Ukraine, cana coherent anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist program socialist program be

applied, to ensure the full independenceof the country (both from the EU andthe Russia), nationalisation of its naturalresources, with full democratic freedoms,respect for minority rights, confrontingboth neo-Nazi provocation and anyseparatist attempts. Only a workersand popular government can developthe agrarian revolution and realise fullemployment for improvement in theliving conditions of the people.7- For this reason it is critical to defend

the expropriation of all oligarchs(from Yanukovych to Tymoshenko),imperialism, and the Russian oligarchy,and put the entire economy at theservice of the country. The struggle mustcontinue until the people are the ownersof all of countrys wealth, not just ahandful of millionaires who sold-out tothe EU or Russia!8- Therefore, we support the continuationof Maidan Squares mobilisation. Itshould take place in all Ukrainian citiesand the people should not give up theirweapons. The task of revolutionaries isto continue developing the struggle fora socialist program and for centralisedbodies of popular power, always ghtingagainst the inuence of neo-Nazi andultranationalist sectors.9- The situation of the Ukrainianrevolutionary process and dual powerdramatically reinforces the need for arevolutionary working class, socialistparty that is part of a democraticallycentralised International. The

construction of the revolutionaryleadership, as in all countries, should bethe number one priority of Marxists, theworking class and social movements.

On 22 February a peaceful protestin Sao Paulos city centre wasbrutally attacked by the statesmilitary police and 262 people werearrested, at a time when huge amountsof public funds are being used to buildWorld Cup stadiums. The rally wasorganised to demand funding for publichealth and education.

Staging a show of power 2,300 policeofcers ooded Republica Square (oneof the main squares in Sao Paulo)where the march convened. The ofcersoutnumbered the demonstrators three toone and also used low-ying helicoptersto follow the protesters.

Tactics of intimidation and repressionwere clearly being used from start ofthe demonstration. Activists arrivingat the meeting point were searched andlegal advisors had their identicationdocuments conscated by the police.

Despite police intimidation, thedemonstration remained peaceful. Theorganisers stressed the importance of notreacting to police provocation. Despitethis an hour after the beginning of themarch the police brutally attacked the

demonstrators. They used the narrowstreets to cut the demonstration in halfusing a police cordon. The police thensurrounded around 200 demonstrators,many of them under 18. They werebeaten with batons and many werepulled across the street by their shirtsand handcuffed.

The press were impeded from reportingthe repression. Five reporters weredetained and beaten and their equipmentwas damaged. Lawyers were threatenedand prevented from assisting people. Therepression spread quickly through thecity, with gas bombs and rubber bulletsbeing used indiscriminately, some hittingbystanders. Hundreds of protesterswere detained, and were charged withvandalism and disrespect for policeauthority but they were released a fewhours later.

The method used by the police forceis widely known as the HamburgerKessel, originally tested in 1986 inHamburg, Germany, in an attempt to

break down an anti-nuclear protest. Itwas universally condemned, and byGerman courts determined it to be anillegal violation of human rights andthe right to protest. [SV editor: calledkettling in Britain rst used in 1995.]

War zone in Sao Paulo as demoagainst World Cup is repressed

The following day the police commandadmitted in a press interview thatthere was no vandalism or provocationfrom demonstrators prior to the policerepression. Justifying their actions, policestated their undercover agents believedwas a possibility of a disruption byactivists and therefore opted to usepreventive repression.

CriminalisationThe brutal repression of the protests inSao Paulo was not an isolated incident.There is a widespread campaignto criminalise protests and socialmovements. President Dilma Rousseffsfederal government have just presenteda bill to congress which will prohibitactivists from wearing masks anddemands that the military police areinformed about any plans for public

action. Additionally, the government hasmoved an urgent motion for an anti-terrorbill. This aims to classify demonstratorsas potential terrorists who will be subjectto sentences of 15 to 30 years, and thebill is planned to be passed before theFIFA World Cup.

Brazilian and state governments,including those supported by the right-wing opposition as in the state of SaoPaulo, have increased the repressionand criminalisation of protests withthe intention of ensuring the smoothfunctioning of the World Cup in June.The World Cup is widely questioned bythe population due to large amounts ofpublic funds being used to the detrimentof investments in schools and hospitals.A recent poll has indicated that over 51per cent of the population wished thatBrazil had not been chosen to host theevent.

But the government and the policeforces have demonstrated that theyare willing to do everything in their

power to guarantee the event that willgenerate enormous nancial rewardsfor big multinational companies andinternational investors, even if thismeans applying dictatorial measuresthroughout the country.

BY PSTU, BRAZIL SECTION OF THE IWL


10/12

10 Socialist VoiceTurkey

Berkin Elvan was 14 years old whenhe became one of the victims ofthe police attacks on the Gezi Parkresistance that led to the June uprisingin Turkey in 2013. The police aimed at

the young boy and shot him in the headwith a gas cylinder. He was in a coma for269 days and died on 11 March 2014, just15 years old when he died.

Berkin had left his home to buy a loafof bread for his mother.

The majority of the cities in Turkeyprotested against the brutal suppressionof pickets at Gezi Park last June when2.5 million protested and 8,000 receivedinjuries from police attacks. Protestshave continued since then.

Berkins funeral took place on 12March and police brutally attacked thefuneral injuring 20 of the demonstrators,one was shot in the head by a tear gascanister and 150 were arrested.

The masses were chanting primeminister resign, and, AKP governmentkilled Berkin. However, there is no signthat the prime minister Tayyip Erdoganor members of the AKP government willresign.

It is said over a million people in 30cities took to the streets that day and forthe next few days.

Marches were also supported by the leftunions KESK, DISK, TTB and TMMOBwho called for mobilisations with a onehour stoppage in workplaces.

The RED militants, section of theIWL, were at the fore-front of the ghtcarrying their ags. ISL comrades joinedthe 1,000 protestors in London whomarched to the parliament buildings toshow solidarity to the Turkish resistanceand in memory of Berkin.

Youth in the forefrontThe high school Youth Oppositionof Hope started a protest in Kadikoy,Istanbul on 17 March 2014.Many students went to the streets

They shoot children forprotesting

of Istanbul after Berkins death, andcalled on all high school students to goout onto the streets, and stated that incommemoration of Berkin they wouldnot leave the streets.They protested against the Turkishgovernment and police force and shoutedif theres no Berkin, theres no lesson,marching and chanting slogans, We willnot forget Berkin, he will live in our highschools.

Berkins mother Gulsum Elvan said,its not god who took my son it isTayyip Erdogan.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister, MPsand their children have been takingsomething else millions of euros fromthe public purse.

Mrs Elvan said that their children stealand our children die!

Although the cause of death was known,the government asked for an autopsy,which increased the anger of the massesand was an insult to his family.

Konak, Directorate of Education,requested a list of students, teachers,

administrators who attended the protestsafter Berkin Elvans death. He convenedan urgent meeting for one reason only,that was to nd out who had attendedBerkin Elvans funeral.

Student occupationOn 19 March an abandoned house inBesiktas was occupied by students. Theynamed the house the Berkin ElvanStudent home.The four story building had not beenoccupied in over four years. Theoccupation took place on the birthday ofAli Ismail Korkmaz who was beaten todeath by police in Eskisehir in the Juneuprising.A placard was hung in front of the housesaying Berkin Elvan Student home.One youth said, We came to thisneighbourhood as friends andneighbours. Firstly, we would liketo invite everybody to help withcleaning. We want to make this housea permanent student home. In time we

will build a library, student centres anda symposium and there will be art andcultural activities.The neighbourhood expressedastonishment but approval.

W e, the Spanish youth, havebeen raised thinking that welive in a welfare state with asplendid public education system whichwould provide us with a dreamlikefuture and a great health system thatcured everyone and most of all, allow usirreversible high minimum wages wherepeople could buy a house, a car and evenhave decent labour rights!

Spanish youthbuild thestruggle

MAY ASSIR, MEMBER OF CORRIENTE ROJA,IWL SECTION IN THE SPANISH STATE

We grew up like the Greeks, Portugueseand Italians, but since 2008 (the year ofthe crisis) we discovered that we live ina day-to-day worst-fare state.

Our public education is not cheapanymore and once we nish we havethree options: leave our country to workin England or Germany, stay and hopewe are lucky enough to nd an insecurepart-time job, or be one of the 60 percent of unemployed youth in Spain.

Our public health service has beenturned into a private wealth businessfor the private sector that has prioritisedmaking more money, even if that is atthe cost of curing fewer patients.

Minimum wages are minimised moreevery day, and of course our labourrights are disappearing rapidly.

The deterioration of society is nocoincidence. For the past twenty yearshigh level business men and bankershave been speculating in the construction

market to such an extent that it collapsedand unveiled a huge debt to the EuropeanUnion.

For us, the European Union is ahierarchy where the German governmentrules and the rest must obey.

bread, jobs, dignity a million in Madrid, 22March

CANAN SAGAR, INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST LEAGUE


11/12

NUMBER 14 > APRIL/MAY- 2014 11 Australia

In this new reality we knew we had tostand up for our rights.

The effects of this unmerciful crisis,on 15 May 2011 led thousands of peopleto an occupation of la puerta del sol(the most important square in Madrid)against our governments corruption and

injustice and we took to the streets formany days.

This young movement shook many outof a long apolitical sleep and we havenot stopped since then.

We are in a time when indenite strikescan occur anywhere, where thousandsare demonstrating to defend our publichealth services, where small villageslike Burgos defeated the governmentsurbanisation plans, and where theSpanish miners are a model for every

young activist.We are ghting against a debt thatwe never generated, against corruptpoliticians who do not represent theyouth or workers, and against an EUwhich is condemning us to dire economicmisery.

We have proven the strength of ourmovement but we still have importanttasks to develop.

The leaders of the workers movementare clearly defending the business men:the two biggest trade unions (CCOO andUGT) in 2012 signed 95 per cent of themass dismissals.

The government decreases our rightsevery Friday and these trade unions havethe capacity to call for a general strikeevery Saturday; but they dont.

We as a movement have the need foran organisation to sort out our demandsand turn them into one struggle againsta government and a debt that stands forthe interests of the EUs bankers andbusiness men.

An international organisation that ghtsfor our demands and in our interestsuntil we get what we want: the right to afuture without hunger or need.

Australias Tory government haslaunched an unprecedentedattack on the rights of workers,

blaming enhancements, or penaltyrates, as they are termed in Australia,for the nancial crisis in a whole rangeof industries from car manufacturing tohospitality.

Since it was elected in a sweeping victoryagainst a discredited Labour governmentin September last year the Coalition ofLiberal and National parties has preparedthe ground for an all-out assault.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said, Weve got

to reduce our costs of making things inAustralia.

Coca-Cola Amatil, one of the largestbottling companies in the world has alsoannounced it will close, with an estimatedoverall loss of 2000 jobs.

Senior government igures, includingPM Abbott and Treasurer Hockey, claimedthat workers at SPC had astoundingconditions which were the cause of thecompanys inancial crisis.

The company denied this and even amember of Abbotts government, SharonStone, in whose electorate the company islocated, said the Prime Minister was a liar.

Union of icials said that the manager of

SPC Ardmona had told them at the endof last year that the Abbott government

World Crisis hits AustraliaCutting jobs, hitting benefitsBY DEREK MORTIMER

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane saidwe do have to have competitive workingconditions and we do have to makesure that some of the things that havehappened in industry in Australia in thepast are addressed.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott recentlyblamed penalty rates and loadings paidon top of the award wage for the proposedclosure of Toyotas plant in Australia. Atleast 2,500 workers will lose their jobsdirectly and up to 44,000 jobs in supportindustries will go.

The company will join Ford andGeneral Motors Holden in ceasingproduction by 2017, marking the end ofcar manufacturing in Australia with theoverall loss of hundreds of thousands ofjobs.

Aluminium producer Alcoa has said itssmelter and rolling mill near Geelong,Victoria will close this year, as will arolling mill in Yennora, NSW.

The company was given a $40 million

grant last year by the then Laborgovernment. There will be a direct jobloss of 980 and a further estimated loss of3000 jobs in subsidiary industries.

Fruit canning factory SPC Ardmonain Shepparton, Victoria, owned by

had pressured the company into forcingworkers onto award wages, which wouldhave meant cuts of up to $30,000 a yearfor many, if it was to receive a $25 millionbail-out.

Australias iconic Qantas airlines hasannounce it will slash ive thousand of its22,000 full time workforce over the nextthree years after announcing a loss of$250 million. It is also expected to use thecrisis to freeze wages.

Abbott, Hockey and other ministers areall singing from the same song sheet.Abbott called for an end to the handoutmentality while Hockey has demandedthe end of the age of entitlement.

The massive government and employerattacks on wages and conditions aretaking place despite the fact that the wageprice index rose only 2.6 per cent in 2013.This is below in lation of 2.7 per cent.

A Fairfax Media economics writer said,Its the lowest outcome this century, andalso the lowest on record because the

records only go back to the late 1990s.Throughout most of this century wageshave been growing at more than 3.5 percent. For four years from 2005 they grewat more than 4 per cent.

AMWU union off icial Steve Dargavel (second from left) after the announcement that the plant is to close.

Banner says Unite the struggles, [president]Rajoyand the Troika (EU and IMF) out.

Corriente Roja, the IWL section in Madrid


12/12

12 Socialist Voice

Bill Hunters ArchivesRank and file movements after the

2nd World War

Bill Hunter

Under the pressure of the feelingsof the rank and le, a NationalDelegate Conference of the docks

section of the Transport and GeneralWorkers Union declared their support forthe demand for 25 shillings a day.

A National Portworkers Committee wasset up and Bert Aylward was elected asits organiser. The National AmalgamatedStevedores and Dockers Union memberson the National Portworkers Committeeincluded Bert Aylward and Dick Barrett,

the General Secretary of the NAS&D.Both of them were at that time membersof the Communist Party.

The Party had given reluctant supportto the strike at the beginning, thenbegan advocating a return to work. TheParty members eventually succeededin moving a resolution in the unofcialcommittee in London known as theLondon Progressive Committee thatthe dockers return to work and give 28days notice of strike action.

Some of the members, including DickBarrett, walked out of the nationalunofcial committee when they weretold that they had no alternative butto call for a general return to work.Bert Aylward and several other Partymembers broke with the CommunistParty over their policy during this strike.Barrett was to leave sometime later.

Ten days after the return the LondonProgressive Committee disbanded on amotion proposed by Communist Partymembers. At that time the Party had apolicy of national unity behind the LabourGovernment. A number of members ofthe Progressive Committee, led by HarryConstable and Bert Aylward, beganorganising another unofcial committee.

Aylward, like Harry Constable,subsequently joined the Trotskyistgroup in the Labour Party. Among allthe unofcial leaders Harry Constablehad the greatest ability to bring politicsinto relationship with the dockerslife. Aylward and Constable played a

leading part in developing a NationalPortworkers Defence Committee built onlinks forged during the 10 weeks struggleof 1945. The National PortworkersDefence Committee began a campaignfor a Dockers Charter. The Charter

consisted of ve economic demands: a40 hour week, a daily minimum of 25shillings, a fortnights paid holiday, apension scheme for aged and inrmdockers, and a welfare services in allports. It also demanded an end to casuallabour. During a press conference to

condemn a dock strike in 1951, ArthurDeakin, General Secretary of theTransport and General Workers Union,declared the Charter was impracticable.

The conditions and traditions thatprevailed in the docks resulted in astormy period of unofcial strikes, someof which were lengthy. In 1948 elevenLondon dockers were working on zincoxide. The men stopped work and askedfor protective clothing. The employersrefused. The men demanded dirt money

to replace their ruined clothes. This wasrefused. Eventually they worked thecargo.

Then they were charged by the DockLabour Board on which sat unionofcials, suspended for a week anddeprived of attendance money for 13weeks. This callous action enragedfellow dockers and a strike spreadthroughout the London docks. Deakin,the leader of the T&GWU, supported thesentences and declared the whole striketo be a red plot. Attlee broadcast to thecountry on the same theme.

Zinc oxide can turn the esh purpleon contact with the skin and ruins theclothes of those working with it. Attlee,however, declared that the men refusedto work because the cargo happened tobe a little dirty. The strike committeewas denounced as being led by membersof the Communist Party. The strikecommittee was in fact composed of 27dockers who were members of no party,10 Labour Party members, and ve

Communist Party members.Twenty thousand London dockers wereon strike for two and a half weeks, andthere was sympathy action in Liverpool.A State of Emergency was declared bythe government on 28 June. Aneurin

Bevan stated in a Cabinet meeting thatemergency action was inevitable if asocialist government was not to beundermined at a critical moment byindiscipline and subversion.

The dockers returned to workdemanding a public inquiry into the DockLabour Scheme, with special referenceto Clause 10 (the punishment clause).The Strike Committee recommendedthe return: in view of the completeline-up of reactionary forces against us

and the considerable complacency ofthe respective factions employers,higher trade union ofcials, and thegovernment.

In April 1949, after the Dromoreor Canadian Seamens Strike, as itwas generally known then, Constable,Saunders and Timothy unofcialleaders were expelled from the T&GWUfor acting against union policy. Theirexpulsion was carried through becausethey played a prominent part in this

strike against working on a Canadianship which was manned by members ofa strikebreaking Canadian union. Thestrike spread from Bristol to London andthen to Liverpool and Glasgow. Therst big strike I was in recounts PeterKerrigan was the `Dromore strike.

Id been in half-day stoppages hereand there, but never in a big one. TheDromore was an international strike.The whole of Bristol was out, Glasgowwas out, London and Liverpool wereout. The strike in Glasgow was an ofcialstrike called by the Scottish Transport andGeneral Workers Union. Dromore wasthe name of the ship which was blackedas a result of a Canadian Seafarersstrike. The Canadian Seamans Unionwas led by Communist Party membersand the strike was opposed by right-wing union leaders here and in Canada.There was a big witch-hunt in the press.The Dromore was manned by membersof another union and it sailed to Bristol,where dockers refused to unload it, bring

it round or throw the ropes off. The shipsailed to Liverpool, Bristol dockers camehere and Merseyside stopped work.Dockers had already stopped in Londonand Constable came up here and madea speech.

This is part two taken from Bills book on the unofcial committees of the dock workers after the Second World War.

MI5 investigated a dock strikedispute in 1949, as dock workersunofficial action increased

socialist voice april 2014

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