Emancipation & Liberation » Trade Unionism

Jul 08 2017

DURHAM MINERS’ GALA – BIG MEETING GETS BIGGER

Category: Commemorations,Cultural Celebration,For Emancipation: Struggles against Exploitation,For Liberation: Struggles against Oppression,For Self-Determination: Struggles against Alienation,How we organise,Independent class organisations,Political Campaigns,Trade Unionism — RCN @ 12:05 pm

The 133rd Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday 8th July will see some 150,000 march through the ancient city. Dave Douglass, ex-miner and author of Stardust and Coaldust autobiographical trilogy looks at its history and the ongoing significance.

BIG MEETING GETS BIGGER

A day of looking back and looking forward

Crowds are now back to the size they were in the immediate post-war years following nationalisation, when they celebrated the defeat of the hated private coal-owners. This mother of all miners’ galas, featuring both picnics and demonstrations, was the labour movement’s most prestigious public platform. The miners formed the bedrock among the proletarian, trade union and socialist ranks; they made up an army of labour that was strategically placed in terms of their bargaining power and influence – the politics of coal dictated much of politics per se. The position of the miners in the class war sent waves across the broad labour movement. Continue reading “DURHAM MINERS’ GALA – BIG MEETING GETS BIGGER”

Tags: 'Ghost Dancers', 'Stardust and Coaldust', Arthur Scargill, Author: Dave Douglass, Bob Crow, Chartists, CPGB, Davie Guy, Davie Hopper, Dennis Skinner, Durham Miners Gala, Ed Miliband, George Brown, Great Strike 1984-5, Harold Wilson, Irish republicans, ITGWU, James Callaghan, Jim Larkin, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Michael Heseltine, Miners Federation of Great Britain, Neil Kinnock, NUM, Peter Kropotkin, The Big Meeting, Tony Benn, Vietnam War

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Jul 07 2017

NO G20, NO UK – SCOTLAND GOES TO HAMBURG

The SSP was involved in leading the socialist opposition to the G8 summit in Gleneagles in 2005. Connor Beaton is currently representing the Scottish Socialist Party at the anti-G20 protest in Hamburg. Here is his report posted on the SSP blog. (https://scottishsocialistparty.org/no-g20-no-uk-scotland-goes-hamburg/)

NO G20, NO UK – SCOTLAND GOES TO HAMBURG

The Scottish Socialist Party is proudly supporting and participating in the massive mobilisation against the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany this weekend.

Thousands of people from outwith Germany – a handful of SSP members among them – have responded to the call of Hamburg-based organisers for a bold, broad and borderless display of resistance to the latest international demagogues convention.

SUMMIT OF REPRESSION

When the likes of May, Trump, Putin and Erdoğan meet in Hamburg, they will be a stone’s throw from the city’s traditionally autonomist and progressive Sternschanze and St Pauli districts, where locals view the imposition of the summit as provocative, undemocratic and violent. Continue reading “NO G20, NO UK – SCOTLAND GOES TO HAMBURG”

Tags: Alan McCombes, Alternative for Germany, Author: Connor Beaton, Big Issue, BlockG20 - Colour Red Zone, Donald Trump, Front National, G20 Hamburg 2017, G8 Gleneagles 2005, Hinz&Kunzt, Mexikaner shot, Recep Erdogan, St. Pauli, Sternschanze, Summit for Global Solidarity, Theresa May, Two Worlds Collide, Vladimir Putin, YesWeCamp

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Dec 08 2016

DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE EMANCIPATION & LIBERATION BLOG ABOUT THE EU AND MIGRATION

Our Emancipation & Liberation blog has posted articles about the EU and Migration since it was set up. The earlier postings covered the Republican Communist Network’s involvement, when it was a platform in the Scottish Socialist Party. The first debate was in 2002 over whether the SSP should back joining the euro in the event of a referendum over the issue. The majority in the SSP was anti-euro, although there was a small pro-euro minority. The RCN formed another minority, which was for a campaign of active abstention.
Continue reading “DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS ON THE EMANCIPATION & LIBERATION BLOG ABOUT THE EU AND MIGRATION”

Tags: 'It's a Free World', 1993 Lisbon Treaty, 2009 Lisbon Treaty, 2016 Euro-referendum, Angela Merkel, Another Europe Is Possible, Anther Europe Is Possible, Apple and Ireland, Author: Adam Majos, Author: Allan Armstrong, Author: Bill Scott, Author: Corina Lotz, Author: Eric Chester, Author: Mary McGregot, Author: Matthew Jones, Author: Murdo Ritchie, Author: Sharat G Lin, Author: Steve Freeman, Battlefield Band, Brexit, Campaign for a European Republican Socialist Party, Catalunya, CUP, David Cameron, debate over euro currenct, DiEM25, Donald Trump, European Anti-Capitlist Left, European democratic revolution, European Economic Community, European Union, German CDU/SDP coalition, Gordon Brown, Greece, Ken Loach, Left Unity Party, Lexit, Manu Chaio, Marine Le Pen, migrant rights, National Front, Nigel Farage, No One Is Illegal, No2EU, Radical Independence, Republican Communist Network, RISE, Socialist Democracy (Ireland), Socialist Party of England and Wales, Socialist Party Scotland, Socialist Workers Party, SSP, SYRIZA, The Campaogn for a European Republican Socialist Party, UK, UKIP

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Nov 20 2016

FROM FARAGE’S BREXIT, TO TRUMP’S “BREXIT PLUS, PLUS, PLUS”, AND ON TO ‘MADAME FREXIT’?

WHAT DOES TRUMP’S VICTORY SIGNIFY?

– ALLAN ARMSTRONG IN CONVERSATION WITH

ALAN BISSETT, BRIAN HIGGINS, PAUL STEWART AND

JOHN TUMMON

(see short biogs at end)

1. ALLAN ARMSTRONG – 9.11.16

“An even greater leap into fantasy land is the belief that Brexit will provide a progressive example to other member states wanting to break away from the EU…. The first and unfortunately well-known non-UK person to celebrate Brexit was none other than the Right populist US Presidential hopeful, Donald Trump. With typical crassness he chose his new golf course at Turnberry in Scotland to declare his solidarity with Brexit… Another presidential hopeful, Marine Le Pen, of the French Far Right National Front, was the first significant European politician to proclaim her solidarity with Brexit.
Continue reading “FROM FARAGE’S BREXIT, TO TRUMP’S “BREXIT PLUS, PLUS, PLUS”, AND ON TO ‘MADAME FREXIT’?”

Tags: "Brexit Plus Plus Plus", 'Blatcherism', 'Butskellism', 'Madame Frexit', 'Spirit of 45', 1981-3 PSF-PCF coalition, 2008 Crisis, Alan Bissett, Alexis Tsipras, Allan Armstrong, Alternative for Germany, asylum seekers, Austria, Bernie Sanders, Blue Labour, Boris Johnstone, Brexit, Brian Higgins, Cameron, Campaign for a European Republican Socialist Party, Chicago Boys, Chile, Communist Manifesto, Cuba, Danish Peoples Party, Democratic Party, EU, European Court of Human Rights, Far Right, France, Free Citizens Party, General Pinochet, Golden Dawn, Hillary Clinton, Hollande, Independent Workers Union, indyref2, Islamophobia, Jobbik, John Rees, John Tummon, Karl Marx, Ku Klux Klan, Left populists, Lexit, Marine Le Pen, Migrant Workers, National Front, national populism, neo-liberalism, New Deal, New Labour, Nigel Farage, No2EU, Obama, Occupy Wall Street, Old Labour, Orange Order, Pablo Iglesias, Paul Stewart, Podemos, Putin, Radical Independence Campaign, RCN, reactionary socialism, Republican Party, Right populists, Sarkozy, Scotland, Scoxit, SNP, Steve Bannan, Structural Adjustment Programmes, Swedish Democrats, SWP, SYRIZA, Theresa May, Tory Right, True Finns, Trump, UK, UKIP, Unionism, USA, welfare state

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Nov 08 2016

URGENT APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY FROM THE RAILWAY WORKERS OF UKRAINE

Category: For Emancipation: Struggles against Exploitation,How they are organised,Russia and ex-USSR,Trade Unionism — RCN @ 5:13 pm

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 is an independent trade union is fighting for basic trade union rights against an anti-union employer. Please send letters of protest to the Mayor of Kyiv and republish this appeal.

_______

Continue reading “URGENT APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY FROM THE RAILWAY WORKERS OF UKRAINE”

Tags: Euromaidan, Free Trade Unionof Railway Workers of Ukraine (VPUZ), Kurenivsky trolleybus depot, Kyiv, Kyivpastrans Communal Enterprise, Ukrainian Solidarity Campaign, V. B. Groysman, V.V. Kozelesky, Vitaly Klitschko

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Oct 19 2016

JAMES CONNOLLY, THE 1916 EASTER RISING AND THE DURHAM MINERS ASSOCIATION

Category: Against Unionism,Combined struggles for Emancipation, Liberation and National Self-Determination,Commemorations,Cultural Celebration,For Emancipation: Struggles against Exploitation,For Liberation: Struggles against Oppression,For Self-Determination: Struggles against Alienation,How they are organised,Independent class organisations,Ireland,Trade Unionism,UK state/British imperialism — RCN @ 9:14 pm

As part of our series of articles commemorating the centenary of 1916 Rising inDublin, 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 ASSOCIATION

Follonsby Lodge DMA banner showing James Connolly in Irish Citizen Army uniform

100 YEARS ON

From its earliest years, the Durham Miners’ Association took a keen interest in political developments in Ireland. They were ardent supporters of the supporters of the Irish Land League-an organisation formed to fight for justice for peasants and tenant farmers against powerful Irish and British absentee landlords.
Continue reading “JAMES CONNOLLY, THE 1916 EASTER RISING AND THE DURHAM MINERS ASSOCIATION”

Tags: Asgard, Bonar Law, Captain Jack White, Charles Bradlaugh, Curragh Mutiny, Dave Temple, Dublin Employers Federation, Dublin Lockout, Dublin Metropolitan Police, Durham Miners Association, Easter Rising 1916, Eoin MacNeill, Follonsby Lodge DMA banner, Irish Citizen Army, Irish Home Rule, Irish Land League, Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, Irish Volunteers, ITGWU, James Byrne, James Connolly, James Larkin, James Nolan, John O'Connor Power, John Redmond, Michael Davitt, Molly O'Reilly, Patrick Pearse, Roger Casement, Tories, William Martin Murphy

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Aug 03 2016

DAVID HOPPER AND THE DURHAM MINERS GALA

Category: Against Unionism,Capitalism and Communism,Combined struggles for Emancipation, Liberation and National Self-Determination,Commemorations,Cultural Celebration,For Liberation: Struggles against Oppression,For Self-Determination: Struggles against Alienation,How they are organised,How we organise,Independent class organisations,Ireland,Trade Unionism,UK state/British imperialism — RCN @ 4:18 pm

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 heroic miners struggle in 1985. Dave Douglass, an ex-miner from County Durham and a member of the IWW and NUM has written the first piece posted here about David Hopper. This is followed by David Hopper’s own last speech given at the Gala.

1. DAVEY HOPPER , 1944-2016

Davey Hopper addressing Durham Miners Gala

It is impossible to overstate the importance of the role played by the ‘two Davies’ – Davie Guy and Davey Hopper, respectively the late president and general secretary of the North-East area of the NUM and Durham Miners Association.
Continue reading “DAVID HOPPER AND THE DURHAM MINERS GALA”

Tags: Arthur Scargill, Author: Dave Douglass, Bernard Kenny, David Hopper, Durham Miners Association, Durham Miners Gala, Easter Rising, EU, Frances O'Grady, Jeremy Corbyn, Jim Connell, Jo Cox, John McDonnell, Labour Party, Progress, TUC

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May 02 2016

SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS

Category: For Emancipation: Struggles against Exploitation,For Liberation: Struggles against Oppression,How they are organised,How we organise,Independent class organisations,Other Economic Struggles,Other Social Struggles,Political Campaigns,Trade Unionism — RCN @ 11:31 am

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 medical care is free and available to all. Everyone has the right to see a doctor when sick and for periodic preventative check-ups. Yet years of underfunding have taken their toll. Doctors are overworked and stressed out. It can take several months to get an appointment to see a consultant. There are also too few nurses and support staff, so those providing care are harried and unable to give the careful attention patients need.
Continue reading “SUPPORT THE JUNIOR DOCTORS”

Tags: Author: Eric Chester, BMA, Corbyn, Junior Doctors' Dispute, Labour, Lib-Dems, NHS, SNP, UNISON, UNITE

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Mar 31 2016

WHY NO PITCHFORD ENQUIRY IN SCOTLAND?

Category: Against Unionism,Brian Higgins Blacklist,Environmental Degradation/Sharing Our Planet,How they are organised,How we organise,Independent class organisations,Political Campaigns,Scotland,Trade Unionism,UK state/British imperialism — RCN @ 6:08 pm

Allan Armstrong (RCN) asks why the Pitchford Enquiry into undercover policing does not extend to Scotland.

Home Secretary, Theresa May, announces Pitchford Enquiry for England and Wales only

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 of Steven Lawrence, as they pressed for justice following his racist murder in 1993. This knowledge only surfaced, when Peter Francis, former police spy, turned whistle-blower, provided the evidence.
Continue reading “WHY NO PITCHFORD ENQUIRY IN SCOTLAND?”

Tags: Andy Philips: Daily Record, Author: Allan Armstrong, Blacklist Support Group, Blacklisted.the Secret war between Big Business and Union Acrivists, Bob Lambert, Brian Higgins, Building Workers Group, Consulting Association, Dave Smith & Phil Chamberlain, Dominic Hehir, Frank Doherty, Gleneagles G8 Summit 2005, Greater Manchester Police, Jenny Jones, Mark Jenner/Cassidy, Mark Kennedy, Metropolitan Police, Neil Findlay, Paul Hutcheon: The Herald, Philip Gormley, Pitchford Enquiry, Rob Evans & Paul Lewis, Special Demonstration Squad, St .Andrews University, The Stalker Affair, UCATT, Undercover: The True Story of Britain's Secret Police Force, UNITE

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Nov 28 2015

MINERS STAND TOGETHER STATEMENT BY THE NUM

Category: Against Imperialism,Combined struggles for Emancipation, Liberation and National Self-Determination,For Emancipation: Struggles against Exploitation,How they are organised,How we organise,Independent class organisations,Russia and ex-USSR,Trade Unionism — RCN @ 7:40 pm

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 retrogression some have descended to recently. The NUM is the only trade union in the UK that has visited Ukraine repeatedly since the current crisis began, with a fourth delegation having just returned which visited a number of areas and met with a range of trade unionists. We encourage other sections of the labour movement to republish the NUM statement and learn from their example of true internationalism.

Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, 24.11.15

STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS

The NUM is disturbed by the smears against our union regarding our approach to the conflict in Ukraine. These smears have been promoted mainly by elements on the outskirts of the Labour Movement, sadly some who should know better have been willing to give air to such defamation. We at the NUM have long experience of those who would seek to sow divisions and discredit us and we have a proven record of defending ourselves when necessary.

Continue reading “MINERS STAND TOGETHER STATEMENT BY THE NUM”

Tags: 2014 Durham Miners gala, ASLEF, Dnipropetrovsk, Donbas, Donetsk, Durham Miners Association, Independent Trade Unions of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU), Kiev against pit closures, Luhansk, National Union of Miners, Odessa, Putin, Russian imperialism, Trade Union of Coal Mining Industry (PRUP), Ukraine, Uktaine Solidarity Committee, Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine, Western imperialism

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