PC users: You are viewing the mobile version. View this page better on http://www.socialistparty.org.uk
Dave Nellist, Socialist Party councillor. addresses Socialism 2011, photo Senan (Click to enlarge)
In particular during the last year we have been involved in the struggle of a number of trade unions against the government's attacks on public sector pensions and other austerity measures.
On 26 March 2011 half a million people marched on this issue and against other cuts; then strike action was taken by 750,000 civil servants, teachers and lecturers on 30 June 2011; by over two million public sector workers on 30 November 2011; and by 400,000 workers on 10 May 2012.
We help to build anti-cuts alliances throughout the country in opposition to all the attacks of the Con-Dem government.
November 24th 2010 student demonstrations against tuition fees rises and the abolition of the EMA, photo Senan
We fight against all cuts in jobs, services and benefits; against student tuition fees and against privatisation. We campaign for better pay, pensions and benefits.
We actively support workers in industrial disputes. During the last year we've supported workers in many disputes, including those of construction workers fighting reductions in pay, Unilever workers trying to stop a cut in their pensions and oil tanker drivers fighting against job insecurity.
We play a leading role in building the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), which helps workers in struggle at rank and file level and that has played a key role in mobilising pressure on the trade union leaders to organise action against government austerity measures.
We campaign against the war on Afghanistan and occupation and against other military interventions by imperialist powers. We fight for a socialist world free of war and terror.
We campaign to stop the destruction and pollution of our environment.
Militant newspaper - Defy the Poll Tax law
We led Liverpool City council's battle in the mid 1980s for decent housing, jobs and services, and later were leaders in the battle to defeat Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's poll tax which forced her to resign.
Today we campaign for a new mass party that can draw together workers, environmental and community campaigners, anti-capitalist, anti-war and other protesters to represent and fight for the interests of ordinary people. You can join us by clicking here.
The Socialist Party stood candidates as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the 2010 general election and the May 2011 and 2012 local elections, demanding "no to cuts and privatisation".
In May 2012 TUSC stood 134 council candidates, in 40 councils, and averaged 6.2% of the vote in these seats. It also stood in the London Assembly list election and the Liverpool mayoral election.
Trade unionists that founded the coalition include the transport workers' union (RMT) general secretary Bob Crow, the former general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, Brian Caton, the civil servants' union (PCS) assistant general secretary, Chris Baugh, and PCS vice president, John McInally (all in personal capacity).
TUSC stands for public ownership, not cuts and privatisation; jobs, not handouts to the bankers; the repeal of the anti-trade union laws, protection of the environment, decent pensions, and democratic rights. TUSC calls for the troops to be brought back from Afghanistan immediately and for a democratic socialist society run in the interests of the people not the millionaires.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, speaking at the London No2EU election rally, photo Paul Mattsson
In the June 2009 European elections we were part of the trade union-led No2EU - Yes to Democracy campaign.
Between 1983 and 1992, when we were part of the Labour Party, we had three socialist MPs - Dave Nellist, Terry Fields and Pat Wall - who lived on the average wage of the workers they were representing.
They never forgot their working class roots, or the problems of those workers that elected them - unlike many political and trade union leaders who live on inflated salaries.
Campaigning for TUSC in Swansea, photo Socialist Party Wales (Click to enlarge)
We have also had Socialist Party councillors elected to represent the working class: Dave Nellist, Rob Windsor and Karen McKay in Coventry; and Ian Page and Chris Flood in Lewisham.
In 2006 in Huddersfield, Socialist Party member Dr Jackie Grunsell also won a council seat - with a majority of over 700 - standing as a 'Save Huddersfield’s NHS' candidate.
Xekinhma, Greek section of CWI, on massive general strike in Greece on 15 June 2011 , photo Xekinhma
Our sister sections in the Committee for a Workers' International in countries such as Australia, Ireland, Germany, Sri Lanka and Sweden also have members who have been elected to be councillors. Socialist Party Ireland members Joe Higgins and Clare Daly are Socialist Party TDs in the Irish parliament. Socialist Party Ireland also has a representative in the European parliament, Paul Murphy MEP.
Joe Higgins
Joe, Clare and Paul only take the average wage level of a skilled worker in Dublin, donating the rest to fund the struggles of the working class.
If you want to find out more or get involved click here.
The 330 mile Jarrow-London march that Youth Fight for Jobs organised in October 2011, marching past Parliament, photo Sarah Wrack (Click to enlarge)
Jobs are being cut left, right and centre and young people are among the first to be thrown on the scrapheap. One million young people are unemployed.
Even when the economy was growing, young people faced low paid, insecure jobs. Youth Fight For jobs says: "The government has bailed out the bankers - we demand a bailout for the rest of us!"
During the riots in summer 2011 Youth Fight for Jobs and Socialist Party members leafletted and held public meetings in many areas on the issues involved. In Tottenham in London, where the riots started, YFJ organised a meeting of over 80 people and demanded the reopening of youth facilities in the area that had been closed.
Jarrow March 2011: Jarrow March for Jobs arrives in London, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
 |
Young people march for a future: Youth Fight for Jobs and Socialist Students on the 29 January 2011 London demonstration against education cuts, photo Senan (Click to enlarge)
Socialist Students campaigns against university tuition fees, against cuts in funding for higher education, for the restoration of a living grant and against the war on Afghanistan, to name but a few issues.
Demonstration against the murder by Israeli commandos of civilian aid volunteers on aboard a ship attempting to bring aid to Gaza , photo Senan (Click to enlarge)
The Socialist Party always opposed the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and has consistently called for the immediate withdrawal of troops. We are part of the Stop the War Coalition.
NHS demo London, May 2011 , photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
We have been involved in many campaigns to stop hospital and ward closures around the country, and against the ongoing privatisation of health services. Read our NHS campaign articles.
The Socialist carries many reports on healthworkers fighting low pay and privatisation, some led by Socialist Party members, such as at Whipps Cross.
Socialist Party members are amongst the most determined trade unionists and fighters in workplaces for decent wages and conditions, and for building the left inside the trade unions.
We have been in the leadership of many disputes and strikes and are always on hand to offer support and advice based on past experience, and to help develop struggles and solidarity from other workers. Many of our members are workplace trade union shop stewards and we have won representation on a number of trade union executives.
The Socialist consistently reports on developments in the trade union movement and on battles, for example, against low pay and privatisation.
 |
Caution wet floor - flooding in the centre of Gloucester, photo Chris Moore |
For example, we assisted local residents in Sheffield in a successful campaign to get a toxic waste disposal centre closed. The press officer of the campaign said of Socialist Party members:
"[The Socialist Party] for the last two years stood side by side with us as we battled against this huge multinational…
[They] showed us how to protest, how to sustain it over all the time of the campaign... Now our campaign has become a blue print to what can be achieved by ordinary people against these big chemical companies."
Tamil Solidarity (TS) organised a protest in front of Lancashire County Cricket Club when Sri Lanka played England on 9th July against the war crimes of the Sri Lankan government, photo Hugh Caffrey (Click to enlarge)
On the anti-EDL demo, 3.9.11, photo TU Senan (Click to enlarge)
In Lewisham, London, our Socialist Party councillors led a campaign, along with local tenants, to convince the community not to vote for privatisation. Despite the New Labour council spending a fortune – they sent a video to every home – the campaign was successful.
In London we are presently involved in 'Young Londoners - Forced Out?' which is campaigning against evictions, housing benefit cuts and the sell-off our council housing; and for rent caps, council run lettings agencies, a mass building programme of council housing, the renovation and use of empty properties, and for banks, when requested, to turn mortgages into affordable rents and offer cheap, no or low interest mortgages.
1500 marched on the Fawcett Society demonstration 19 November to tell the government "Don't turn back time" on women's rights, dressed in 1950s clothes, photo Sarah Wrack (Click to enlarge)
Fighting for Women - Rights and Socialism
 |
YRE logo |
When the Nazi nail bomber struck in London we initiated demos in Tower Hamlets and Brixton and participated in action in Soho. The Socialist Party works both independently and with other groups to fight racism, prejudice and discrimination.
Would you like to find out more about the Socialist Party? Why not Contact or Join the Socialist Party?
Reports and campaigns:
Stop the slaughter of Tamils (46)
Workplace and TU campaigns (4344)
Related websites
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
