Communist, Republican, Trade Union Militant, Scottish Internationalist, Glasgow Bear 9th February 1941 – 2nd June 2019 __________ BRIAN HIGGINS A PERSONAL AND POLITICAL TRIBUTE Brian made a big impression upon whomever he met. Nigel Jeffrey, who encountered him on the picket line during the 1984-5 Miners’ Strike wrote, “Brian Higgins stands out…
EL&SD coverage of Migration
The issue of migrants has been very important for the RCN. The RCN was central to getting the SSP to support the free movement of people and affiliating to ‘No One Is Illegal’. After ceasing to be a platform in the SSP on June 22nd 2012 , the RCN continued placing emphasis on the importance…
EL&SD coverage of Trade Union Struggle
Following earlier collections of our coverage of Ireland, Wales, the EU and Migration, EL& SD is posting our coverage of articles on Trade Union Struggle. The articles highlighted in bold have been written by RCF or RCN members and supporters. EL&SD COVERAGE OF TRADE UNION STRUGGLE 2023 Conditions not conspiracies: why workers strike, Ewan…
A victory for workers at Glen Dimplex, Portadown
This article, first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland) is about a recent victorious strike by by electronic appliance workers employed Glen Dimplex at Portadown. A VICTORY FOR WORKERS AT GLEN DIMPLEX, PORTADOWN All workers must prepare to fight! Workers on the picket line at the Glen Dimplex factory on Portadown. Glen Dimplex, a highly…
Dublin bus workers reject union backed deal on pay and conditions
This article first posted by Socialist Democracy (Ireland) outlines the growing tensions between rank and file workers and union bureaucrats in the Dublin bus workers dispute accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic. DUBLIN BUS WORKERS REJECT UNION BACKED DEAL ON PAY AND CONDITIONS Union leaders’ plan puts all workers inside the privatisation rules It barely more…
Successful resistance to fire and rehire in Manchester
Ian Allinson a member of rs21 and rank and file candidate for UNITE general secretary in 2017, writes about the successful resistance by Manchester bus workers to the imposition of Fire & Rehire using Covid-19 as an excuse. SUCCESSFUL RESISTANCE TO FIRE AND REHIRE IN MANCHESTER Strikers were celebrating after voting to accept an…
The British Left and the UK State
Below is an outline of the Contents and the concluding chapter of The British Left and the UK state, written by Allan Armstrong. The article addresses the need for a socialist republican ‘internationalism from below’ strategy to address the current challenges the Left faces. The full article can be read at:- https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/the-british-left-the-uk-state-.pdf _____________ From…
THE CONTRADICTIONS UNDERLYING BREXIT AND SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
Allan Armstrong sent this article to Conter, on September 13th, hoping to open up one of the debates on the Left in relation to Scottish independence, before and during the Radical Independence Campaign conference in Glasgow on October 26th. There has been no acknowledgement of this article by the Conter editor, despite Allan being a…
FROM BLATCHERISM TO MAYBYNISM
Below is a synopsis of Allan Armstrong’s new pamphlet The Continuing Shift to the Right in the Transition from Neo-Liberalism to Right Populism https://allanarmstrong831930095.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/right-populism-1.pdf This is followed by the last two chapters (relettered) which deal with the impact of Right Populism since the Brexit vote, _______ THE CONTINUING SHIFT TO THE RIGHT IN THE…
OPEN LETTER AND PETITION TO LEN McCLUSKEY
We have revived this open letter and petition from Ian Allinson of UNITE Grassroots Left. It calls upon UNITE members to reject Len McCluskey’s call for the Labour Party to adopt the IHRA definition anti-semitism. OPEN LETTER AND PETITION TO LEN McCLUSKEY We the undersigned call on you to oppose the adoption by the…