A Political Report on the ‘Reclaiming Our Trade Unions’ conference in Dublin.

Reclaiming the unions –  Bluster about bureaucracy, but no alternative programme – Socialist Democracy (Ireland) The “Reclaiming our Trade Unions” conference in Dublin on 1st October (better seen as a convention because of the limited political discussion) had its theme set by Kieran Allen, the President of SIPTU’s education branch. Kieran denounced the corruption of…

A Republican Re-alignment

A REPUBLICAN RE-ALIGNMENT John McAnulty (Socialist Democracy – Ireland) Shortly before Elizabeth Windsor’s visit to Dublin, the death of police officer Ronan Kerr led to a moral panic across Ireland, with demonstrations in support of the status quo and with the great and the good claiming all Irish society was under threat. In the Assembly elections which followed a…

New issue of the commune (no. 26)

the euro in crisis editorial – opposition and the cuts balls to miliband – Clifford Biddulph pickets and porkie pies at fujitsu – Mark Harrison cleaning up the industry – Siobhan Breatnach sparks fly in electricians’ dispute – Siobhan Breatnach a weekend camping at dale farm – Daniel Harvey a state of uncertainty – Pete…

The State Murder of Troy Davis

At the South Carolina State Penitentiary on the 16th, June, 1944, 14 year old, George Junius Stinney, was strapped to the electric chair. Securing him to the frame holding the electrodes proved difficult as the child was so slightly built and merely 5’1”, a reason to suspect it wasn’t he who had wielded the huge…

Capitalism offers us no future

Since the current economic crisis broke out in 2007, the bosses and their paid politicians have tried to persuade us that if we tighten our belts and accept painful cuts, then the ‘good old days’ will return. However, it has become increasingly clear that their imposed cuts have only made the situation worse, as we…

Fighting the Cuts

The Scottish working class confronts an escalating series of cuts in social services as the welfare state is systematically dismantled. This assault on the public sector has sparked a variety of protests, ranging from the militant actions of UK Uncut, and the demonstrations in support of the Accord Centre, to strikes of public sector workers…

Tommy McKearney’s new book – ‘The IRA – From Insurrection to Parliament’

Tommy McKearney, former Provisional IRA member and hunger striker, now an organiser for the Independent Workers Union in Ireland, has spoken at the first Republican Socialist Convention organised the the SSP’s International Committee, and at the third Global Commune event – Trade Unions – Are They Fit For Purpose (organised jointly the the RCN and the…

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…