The Radical Independence Campaign – ‘Emancipation & Liberation’ specials

We are posting a new link to an electronic version of the special issue of Emancipation & Liberation the RCN produced for last year’s Radical Independence Conference. This will provide some basis for assessing the changes which have occurred in the political situation in Scotland over the last year, and how RIC has met the…

100th Anniversary Of The Dublin Lockout

Jim Slaven of the James Connolly Society has written the following article on the 100th anniversary of The Dublin Lock-Out. The leadership of the Irish Transport & General Workers Union provided by Jim Larkin and James Connolly in the face of Dublin boss, William Murphy Murphy, stands in marked contrast to that of Len McCluskey…

Philip Chevron – 1957-2013

Philip Chevron was a guitarist with the Pogues, the London-Irish punk/traditional Irish fusion band. He died on October 10th. Stuart Munckton wrote this tribute for the Green Left Weekly, the biggest selling Australian socialist paper. Philip Chevron. “I am a gay, Irish, Catholic, alcoholic Pogue who is about to die from cancer — and don’t think I don’t…

The Case For The Republican Socialist Platform In The Left Unity Party In England

There has been considerable interest shown in the proposed Left Unity Party in England and Wales, which it is intended to launch on November 30th. We have already posted one proposed platform – the Socialist Platform (see The Socialist Platform). In an interesting development, some members of the Republican Socialist Alliance in England are Making the Case…

DUP Bigots Move To Restrict Abortion Rights

After the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in pregnancy, after being admitted to Galway Hospital and refused an abortion, most socialists are aware of the reactionary role of the Catholic hierarchy over women’s rights in Ireland (see Ireland and the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act/). The following article, written by J. M. Thorn of Socialist…

Socialist Unity – The RCN Asks 12 Questions

The RCN has been involved in preliminary discussions with Frontline, the International Socialist Group (Scotland), individual members of the International Socialist Network and Defense of Our Party faction in the SWP, as well as other individuals mainly from an SSP background. Frontline published the views a number of socialist organisations, which we reposted at Socialist Unity. Stemming…

This Land Is Your Land

We have been sent the words of this famous Woody Guthrie song, updated for today. It was written in response to the Scottish Defence League’s attempted march in Dundee on September 12th. Was listening to some music yesterday when up popped the Woody Guthrie classic This Land Is Your Land. Applying this sentiment to the…

The Case For The Independent Workers Union – Our Right To Organise

In the aftermath of the UNITE leadership’s capitulation at Grangemouth, a key issue socialists need to address is that of how to effectively organise workers. The RCN and the commune organised the 3rd Global Commune conference – ‘Trade Unions- Are They Fit For Purpose’ (see Trade Unions In The Twenty First Century) – in which a number…

AFTER GRANGEMOUTH – WHAT NOW FOR THE LEFT IN SCOTLAND?

The ignominious climbdown of the Broad Left UNITE leadership at Grangemouth highlights the need for the Left in Scotland to assess the political significance of this disastrous capitulation, which will encourage every employer to resort to similar dictatorial methods when dealing with their workers. Furthermore, the decision of the SNP government to bow to Ratcliffe and…