The First Shoots of a New Industrial Fightback?

The following encouraging developments on the industrial front highlight two of the strategies discussed and debated at the Third Global Commune event, the report of which can be found at:- Report of the Third Global Commune Event Major gains for Lower Paid at Heron Tower Dispute Brian Higgins and the Anti-Blacklist Campaign Success at Brussels…

Review of From Davitt to Connolly by Chris Gray

The following review of From Davitt to Connolly: ‘Internationalism from Below’ and the Challenge to the UK State and British Empire 1879 – 1895 appears in Issue 20 of Permanent Revolution Allan Armstrong, From Davitt to Connolly: ‘Internationalism from Below’ and the Challenge to the UK State and British Empire 1879 – 1895 (Intfrobel Publications…

20 Years After the Poll Tax – Lessons for the Anti-Cuts Movement?

The article below was originally written for Red Banner, an Irish socialist magazine for discussion and debate. In its conclusion this article draws some of the key lessons needed to conduct a successful struggle against the cuts today. It is twenty years since Thatcher’s Tory government tried to impose the Poll Tax. Officially termed the Community…

International Resistance To Public Sector Cuts

4 items Resisting public spending cuts, the movement we need, the movement we don’t – Emancipation & Liberation no. 20 editorial Holyrood Cuts – Allan Armstrong Resisting the cuts in Wisconsin – Eric Chester, Susan Dorazio, Jack Gerson, Socialist Party of the USA The 1% Network – John O’Neill, Irish Socialist Network Resisting public spending…

Trade Unions In The Twenty First Century

Below are two articles. The first is a report of the Third Global Commune event entitled ‘Trade Unions – Are They Fit For Purpose?’. The second is Allan Armstrong’s talk given to the Independent Workers Union conference in Dublin on 4.4.09. on behalf of the SSP’s International Committee. 1. THE THIRD GLOBAL COMMUNE EVENT, 29.1.11…

Trade Unions – Are They Fit For Purpose? – Global Commune Event

3rd Global Commune Event Trade Unions – Are They Fit For Purpose? Saturday, January 29th, 2011 Registration 10. 30 for 11. 00 – 16.30 Out of the Blue Centre, Dalmeny Street, Leith Edinburgh In both the UK and Ireland today, the overwhelming majority of trade union leaders have signed up to social partnerships. These effectively…

Brian Higgins Anti-Blacklist Campaign

Updates on anti-blacklisting campaign and Brian Higgins Tribunal process grinds on… and on After months of being involved in the tribunal process, Brian Higgins, with other UCATT and UNITE members, has now reached the stage where he is waiting for a preliminary hearing which will decide whether he has a case that will be heard…

Report of Second Global Commune Meeting

May 22nd, 2010 The second Global Commune day school, jointly organised by the Republican Communist Network (RCN) and The Commune, was held in the Out of the Blue Centre in Edinburgh on May 22nd. People attended from Aberdeen, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Midlothian. The first workshop session, ‘After the Election, What Next?‘ was introduced…

Report Of The Second Republican Socialist Convention, 13.2.10

Below is the report of the 2nd Republican Socialist Convention. This was hosted by the Socialist Alliance London on 13.2.10. Both Colin Fox and Allan Armstrong spoke for the SSP. The report is followed by Allan’s contribution. This produced a response from Nick Rogers of the CPGB-WW which is also posted along with Allan’s reply. 1.…