Derby SWP Weekly Update #4

Hello everyone,

Welcome to your essential guide to the week in Derby!

SWP Branch Meeting – Marx and Religion

What is religion? Does it have anything to do with God? What attitudes should Marxists have towards religion? Can you be an atheist and still believe that Richard Dawkins is dead wrong? Some of these questions and more may well be answered at this week's branch meeting. All welcome.

Thurs 22nd August 7 pm West End Community Centre, Derby.

Demonstrate Against the Tories
On the 29th September the Tories will be holding their conference in Manchester. The trades unions and campaign groups have called a massive demonstration against them and their policies. If you would like to join in and need transport, let us know by replying to this email.



For more details see the Unite The Resistance website here: http://uniteresist.org/2013/06/marchonthetoryconference/

Unite Against Fascism

There is a relaunch event for UAF in Derby on Monday 19^th August, 5.30-7 pm at St James Centre in Normanton.

If you are concerned about the attempts of the EDL and BNP to march in several cities recently, come and join us to get an active and broad-based group going in our city.

Unite the Resistance

The assault on workers from plummeting pay to zero hour’s contracts has brought the question of organisation in the workplace to centre stage. At the 4000 strong Peoples Assembly it was clear most delegates wanted to see a stronger response to austerity from the unions. Strengthening trade union organisation in the face of attacks by the employers and the government is a crucial task for every socialist. This conference can play a real part in building the resistance to the bosses and the Tories. We should be fighting to get new activists signed up alongside long time trade unionists. This is a place for all of us to learn the lessons of previous fights, discuss today’s workplace experience and to develop strategies to make the workplace the centre of resistance to austerity. We should be fighting to get as many trade union branches and campaign groups backing this event as possible. Download the model motion to back the conference here. Register now here.

Rally to defend education

On Saturday 14th September there will be a rally to defend education in Nottingham. We want this to be as large an event as possible and any available comrades should make sure they are there. The government has been attacking education with the same viciousness that they have shown in health, and teachers are taking strike action in the autumn to defend education for every child.

The rally will aim to build teachers' confidence and public support; so come and make it big and loud enough to be heard in Westminster!

Transport will be available, email us for details.

Derby People's Assembly

The People's Assembly have been holding public events to raise awareness of the September 29^th demonstration against the Tories and the Derby People's Assembly launch event on October 26^th. If you would like to help out, there is a regular stall on Saturdays from 12 pm on St Peter's Street, next to the SWP stall. We have committed to helping the stall on a rota basis – see you there!

Teachers on strike

The two largest teaching unions, NUT and NASUWT are engaged in a rolling programme of strike action in the autumn. The first will be in the week commencing September 30th, which Derby will be involved in. Before this there will be a rally in Nottingham on 14th September which we would like to get as many comrades to as possible. Further updates as we have them.



Fire Brigades ballot for strike action
FBU: Firefighters’ ballot: Firefighters are balloting for national strike action against attacks on their pensions. FBU members could face mass sackings as the government forces firefighters to work to 60 years old. We need to get into as many of the fire stations as we can the latest SW leaflet arguing for a yes vote. You can download the leaflet from http://swp.org.uk/resource/246

Derby LGBTQ Pride -cancelled

Unfortunately, it appears that Pride has been cancelled this year, due to problems with fundraising. More here: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Gay-pride-event-cancelled-lack-funds/story-19672603-detail/story.html#axzz2cKNHsupN

Marxism 2013 recordings
Marxism is our annual festival of political meetings, discussions and events, the largest of its kind in Europe. Meetings on a huge range of subjects, from the uses and abuses of Gramsci to the tricky topic of socialism and Doctor Who are attended by thousands of people.
Thanks to much hard work by Kevin and the recording team, audio versions of many Marxism 2013 meetings will soon be available at www.swpradiocast.bandcamp.com There will also be a range of videos available on our Youtube channel.