We are posting this appeal from the Ukrainian Solidarity Campaign (https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2016/11/06/urgent-appeal-for-solidarity-from-rail-workers-union-of-ukraine/). The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign is calling on our affiliates and the Labour Movement to provide solidarity to the Free Trade Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine (VPZU) who are in struggle at the Kurenivsky trolleybus depot in Kyiv. The VPZU which…
JAMES CONNOLLY, THE 1916 EASTER RISING AND THE DURHAM MINERS ASSOCIATION
As part of our series of articles commemorating the centenary of 1916 Rising in Dublin, we are publishing the following article by Dave Temple of the Durham Miners Association, first published in their special journal for the Durham Miners Gala held on July 9th (see http://republicancommunist.org/blog/2016/08/03/david-hopper-and-the-durham-miners-gala/) JAMES CONNOLLY, THE 1916 EASTER RISING AND THE DURHAM MINERS…
DAVID HOPPER AND THE DURHAM MINERS GALA
David Hopper died on July 16th. He was the General Secretary of the Durham Miners Association and last spoke on Saturday July 9th at the Durham Miners Gala. This was attended by 150,000 people. David Hopper was central to the revival of this major working class political and social event, after the defeat of the…
SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS
SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS NO COMPROMISES, NO BACKDOOR DEALS DEFEND THE NHS For months, the junior doctors of the National Health Service have stood firm in the face of an onslaught from the Conservative government in Westminster. Socialized medicine works and, indeed, it is extremely popular. With a national health service, access to…
WHY NO PITCHFORD ENQUIRY IN SCOTLAND?
Allan Armstrong (RCN) asks why the Pitchford Enquiry into undercover policing does not extend to Scotland. Last July, Theresa May, Conservative Home Secretary, set up the Pitchford Enquiry into undercover policing in England and Wales. The Channel 4 Programme Dispatches had highlighted the role of the Met’s Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) in trying to undermine the family…
THE UK STATE AND BRITISHNESS
This article, written by Allan Armstrong (RCN) in 2015, has now been updated to include a new section 3 on Scotland. It has been moved from its earlier site. Section A – The UK State and Britishness Section B – From the Irish-British and ‘Ulster’-British ‘Insider’ to the Irish ‘Racialised’ and ‘Ethno-Religious Outsider’ to the new ‘National…
RCN BULLETIN FOR THE 4th RADICAL INDEPENDENCE CAMPAIGN CONFERENCE
Today we are holding the 4th RIC conference. RIC has been very much a contributor to Scotland’s ‘democratic revolution’, where 97% registered and 85% voted. Despite the ‘No’ result, politics in Scotland have been transformed. However, both the British unionists and the wannabe Scottish ruling class, who have latched on to the SNP, are trying…
JOHN MACLEAN COMMEMORATION DAY
On November 30th, 1923, John Maclean, the great Scottish socialist, died, after two decades of committed struggle. Eric Chester (RCN) has written the following piece, which is a contribution to today’s celebration of John Maclean’s life. JOHN MACLEAN – 1879 – 1923 Glasgow has a proud tradition of radical politics, one that is particularly…
UKRAINE: MINERS STAND TOGETHER STATEMENT BY THE NUM
CONDEMN THE DEFAMATION OF NUM SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINIAN MINERS The National Union of Mineworkers has issued a strong statement on the Ukrainian question as a rebuttal to a number of smears against their union. That any section of the labour movement would engage in such smears is further evidence of the shocking depths of…
SOCIAL JUSTICE – RADICAL HISTORY, CENSORSHIP AND HOW THE TORIES STOLE OUR LANGUAGE
Pauline Bradley (RCN and RISE) outlines the emergence of the notion of Social Justice during the Liverpool Dockers campaign and how the Tories have attempted to hijack the term. SOCIAL JUSTICE – OUR RADICAL HISTORY, CENSORSHIP AND HOW THE TORIES STOLE OUR TERM Social Justice is a concept which has been stolen from the left…