Monday 21 December 2015

Update #80

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party.

It's the last update of 2015: onwards to a bigger, better fightback against racism, fascism, the Tories and the capitalist system in 2016!

Branch Meetings


The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

At our first public meeting of the new year we will
discuss the way forward for socialists in the year ahead - priorities,
challenges and prospects for those who want to build a better, fairer
world. Join us!
 Thursday 14th January 2016 at 7 pm, West End Community Centre!




All welcome. See you there!






Stand Up To Racism vigil

On Saturday the largest vigil yet took place in Derby, reclaiming the space occupied by fascist Britain First the previous week. A great turnout and buoyant mood helped to make this a really positive event.
Derby Stand Up To Racism Campaign are holding a launch meeting in January - this should be a high priority for socialists and all other anti-racists!

More details on the Derby Stand Up To Racism Facebook page - search Facebook for Derby Stand Up to Racism or click on this link.


Stop The War - National Demonstration

Our report from the national demonstration is now up on the blog here.


Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Thursday 17 December 2015

Report from National Stop the War Demonstration in London

Last Saturday several comrades joined the national Stop the War demonstration calling for an end to bombing in Syria. Here's a report back from the day!

We arrived outside the BBC headquarters and there was already a huge crowd gathered. There was a palpable feeling of excitement and energy. It had attracted a big mixture of ages, lots of students and middle-aged people. One group were chanting "they say warfare, we say welfare!" 

The mood of the march was peaceful and friendly, as far as I could tell. 

Walking straight through the centre of London was an interesting experience. On both sides of the pavement people were stopping to stare and gawp at us. Generally people looked quite taken aback by it.

The speeches were good, most people there were united as one. 

Overall it was a great day. There was a decent turn out and it felt good to be part of it. 

This 1 minute video gives a decent general overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcPRAki-Ki4



















Saturday 12 December 2015

Update #79

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party. What's going on? Find out below!

Branch Meetings


The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This week: in the run up to Xmas, something a bit more cultural and informal - Dusty Springfield, Sex and the Sixties! Join us where we will hear and discuss author Alan Gibbons' talk from this year's Marxism Festival, on Thursday 17th December at 7 pm, West End Community Centre! (refreshments provided!)




All welcome. See you there!





Stop The War - National Demonstration



Several comrades joined the national demonstration against bombing Syria in London on Saturday 12th December. A report will be on our blog as soon as possible.

There was also a local demonstration - a vigil organised by local students outside the Council House. They were lively and friendly, and several comrades were present to show their support. It was, unfortunately a positive event marred by the arrival of Britain First thugs (see below).


Stand Up To Racism vigil

On Saturday 12th December, Nazi thugs Britain First turned up in Derby once more. Unfortunately this was a big day for them. They spent a lot of time on St Peter's St, spreading their racist message and intimidating passers-by. They then followed this up by threatening, harrassing and intiidating a small, peaceful candlelit vigil against the bombing of Syria outside the Council House. The students who called the event were brilliant, refusing to rise to the hysterical shouting and screaming of the racists.

This group are becoming a recurrent problem in our city. We must stand up to their raids and tell them next time they come that they are not welcome here. We need a mass movement. The first step towards building this has to be the biggest vigil possible Saturday 19th December at 10 am on St Peter's St. If you can come, please do - and spread the word! When fascists feel confident, we all feel the effects, but they can be stopped by unity!

A Derby group of Stand up to Racism has been set up - search Facebook for Derby Stand Up to Racism!

After Paris Killings: No to racism and war

Our recent talk on the way in which the awful murders in Paris would be used by our rulers to make war and the right to whip up racism is now on the blog here.

Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

After Paris Killings: No to Racism, No to War

Recently we had a discussion on the topic of the horrific murders in Paris and the ways in which these deaths would be used by our leaders to justify war and the right to fuel racism against Muslims and immigrants.

We are occasionally able to present the text of these talks. Although the speaker didn't rigidly follow the whole of the below, here's the piece upon which our discussion was based. We had a great discussion on the night - if you like what you read here, why not join us at our next meeting?








Sunday 6 December 2015

Update #78

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party. What's going on? Find out below!

Branch Meetings


The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This week's meeting: 75 years after his murder, what do Trotsky and Trotskyism mean today? Join us on Thursday 10th December at 7 pm, West End Community Centre!




All welcome. See you there!





Stop The War - National Demonstration



In the wake of the Tory (and Labour right's) decision to further worsen the situation in Syria by joining the bombing of an already devastated country in a desperately cynical bid to have a seat at the table when it comes to dividing the country up when the dust settles, Stop The War have called a national demonstration in London. If you oppose this gross injustice that will do nothing but further harm ordinary people living in terror of ISIS, join the demonstration! For transport to London, contact us on 07742 532 677 or derbyswp@gmail.com

The government does not have the support of the leader of the opposition, or the electorate. It doesn't even have the support of all the media. It certainly has no rational case for war. Together we can stop the Tories and the other Westminster warmongers!


Stand Up To Racism vigil

Last Saturday Nazi organisation Britain First once again came to Derby, spreading their hatred. Stand Up To Racism put out a call for anti-racists to hold a vigil on St Peter's Street to send the message that they are not welcome in Derby. Many enthusiastic people turned out - hopefully a serious Stand Up To Racism organisation can be built in Derby to be prepared for the Nazis if they decide to come back to our city.

The People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs

A report from last Sunday's march is on the blog here.

Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Thursday 3 December 2015

Britain's Biggest Ever Climate March

50,000 people marched in London last Sunday in the largest march demanding immediate and significant action to prevent 2 degree climate warming that has been seen in Britain.

Recently it was announced that the Earth has warmed by 1 degree since the industrial revolution began, and that the rate of warming is rapidly increasing. We are already experiencing the effects of climate change, but the scientific consensus is that if we are to avoid runaway climate change, where the climate will begin to warm more and more rapidly, we must act now.



At this year's Marxism festival there were some great talks on climate change, but this one by Suzanne Jeffrey was particularly pertinent:

ISIS, War and Our Rulers - What You Need to Know

Stand Up To Racism Call Vigil Against Britain First

Dear Friend
 
Last Saturday the fascist organisation Britain First once again targetted Derby. Their 'Midland Division' descended on our city and about 10-15 of them handed out rabid, racist anti-Islam leaflets. We cannot allow this disgusting organisation to gain a foothold in Derby so please join a peaceful protest vigil this Saturday from 10am - 11am outside St Peter's Church on St Peter's Street (the site of the BF stall last Saturday).
 
We will be handing out leaflets and talking to the general public about why we need to counter Britain First wherever they appear. 
It is highly unlikely that Britain First will return this Saturday but if they do we need to make sure there are many more of us than them so that we can occupy the space and show them how unwelcome they are. Please come, bring friends, family and placards - spread the word and let's show these people they are NOT WELCOME IN DERBY.

Called by Derby Stand Up To Racism

Saturday 28 November 2015

Update #77

This is much briefer than usual - it will be edited later. For now, just briefly - next week's meeting:

EDIT: Following the vote for airstrikes, tonight's meeting will be even more significant - what can Stop the War do in Derby?


And a reminder that the national climate change demonstration in London is tomorrow - get there if you can!

Sunday 22 November 2015

Update #76

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party. What's going on? Find out below!

Branch Meetings


The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

In the wake of the killings in Paris and the attempts of the right both within and without the ruling class to stir up anti-Islamic sentiment and justify a further drive to the wars that created ISIS in the first place, we have decided to change our next branch meeting to:
After Paris killings: no to racism and war.

What should our response to these events be? How can we prevent a drive towards racism and war from the right and the ruling class? Join the discussion and help plan our course of action!


Thursday November 26th, 7 pm, West End Community Centre.

All welcome. See you there!





Junior doctors petitioning in Derby

On Saturday some of Derby's junior doctors held an outstanding petition in the city centre, collecting signatures from the public to support their imminent strike action. Some comrades were there - see our report on the blog here.

The People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs


It is becoming ever more clear that the ruling classes of the world, left to their own devices, will simply work in the short-term interests of their class - and that means untold destruction for the climate and the lives of millions, if not billions of people. There is another way: join the campaign for climate, justice and jobs. There is at least one coach going to London on the demonstration on the 29th November.

This has become even more vital as the French authorities have used the horror of the murders as a fig leaf to ban the demonstration planned for the 12th December.

Join us in London on the 29th!

Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Solidarity With Junior Doctors

Yesterday junior doctors in Derby petitioned the public to support them in their dispute with the Department of Health. Campaigners from 38 Degrees and the NUT joined them, as did comrades from the SWP. It was a very popular petition! At some points there were queues to sign or take selfies. There was a media presence too so it got a good amount of publicity.

On our campaign stall we also collected signatures to support them and presented them to the doctors to add to their collection. Comrades' support was warmly received by doctors present and it was generally a really positive event that showed what unity can achieve.

The strike ballot was really impressive. It would have allowed national action even under the Tories' new laws that attempt to repress trades unionists and suppress our efforts to take action to defend ourselves. At last week's Unite the Resistance conference, junior doctor and BMA activist Yannis Gourtsoyannis spoke to explain the reasons for the action and the urgent need for solidarity:



The campaign was very popular with the public and at times there were queues to sign and take support selfies for Twitter. Unless the DoH backs down, the junior doctors' plan of strike action is as follows:

  • Emergency care only – 8am, Tuesday 1 to 8am Wednesday 2 December 2015
  • Full withdrawal of junior doctors' labour – 8am to 5pm, Tuesday 8 December 2015
  • Full withdrawal of junior doctors' labour – 8am to 5pm, Wednesday 16 December 2015

It is important for comrades to show solidarity on picket lines if at all possible - details will be posted on the blog as soon as they are known.

This fight is only the latest provoked by the Tories as they seek to dismantle our public services in order to open them up to be run for profit - it is not enough for them that working people are paying for the crisis they and their class caused by having our wages held down, epidemics of underemployment and the cutting of the services which we rely on, they want themselves and their cronies to be able to profit from whatever services we are able to use. This is a fight that needs our full support - it will be a real victory for working people across the country and expose the weakness of this nasty party that managed to get the support of less than a quarter of the population in the election this year.


Wednesday 18 November 2015

Change to next week's branch meeting

Change to next week's branch meeting

In the wake of the killings in Paris and the attempts of the right both within and without the ruling class to stir up anti-Islamic sentiment and justify a further drive to the wars that created ISIS in the first place, we have decided to change our next branch meeting to:
After Paris killings, no to racism and war.

What should our response to these events be? How can we prevent a drive towards racism and war from the right and the ruling class? Join the discussion and help plan our course of action!

Thursday November 26th, 7 pm, West End Community Centre.

All welcome. See you there!


Sunday 15 November 2015

Update #74

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party. What's going on? Find out below!

After Paris - SWP Statement


The horrific murders in Paris were a shock to everyone. Yesterday was a day of intense sorrow and sympathy for the victims of these awful attacks.

Unfortunately the reality is that the right will attempt to use these deaths for their own vile ends. The SWP has put out a statement following these events - read it here.

Branch Meetings


The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This week is our district aggregate, open to members only. Public meetings resume the following week.

Next public meeting:

As revolutionary socialists we are committed not just to equality, which can simply mean equality of oppression, but liberation. Our next meeting will be:


From post-feminism to the new sexism - how can we fight for women's liberation?

Thursday November 26th, 7 pm, West End Community Centre.

All welcome. See you there!





Unite The Resistance - national conference

Fantastic conference on Saturday - see our blog post here for a roundup.

The People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs


It is becoming ever more clear that the ruling classes of the world, left to their own devices, will simply work in the short-term interests of their class - and that means untold destruction for the climate and the lives of millions, if not billions of people. There is another way: join the campaign for climate, justice and jobs. There is at least one coach going to London on the demonstration on the 29th November ahead of the Paris climate conference. Join us!

Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Unite The Resistance 2015

Unite The Resistance pamphlets are available from us - come to our branch meetings or find us on St Peter's St at our campaign stalls Saturdays from 12 pm!
Report back by Kieran, branch secretary.

This Saturday was the annual conference of Unite The Resistance (UTR). UTR is a united front organisation that aims to bring together trades union activists to fight austerity and the divisive, bullying Tory government. The conference shares success stories, perspectives on the Tory attacks on the working class and how to fight it.

I always look forward immensely to the UTR conference. There are lots of organisations which oppose austerity, and which we as a party are proud to be a part of, such as the People's Assembly and TUSC. What makes UTR special is that it offers us not only a concrete and powerful way to build an effective fightback, being based where our class has power - in the workplaces, but also welcome success stories. It can be easy to believe, if you rely on the mainstream media coverage for your news, that strikes are rare and ineffective, but in fact there have been some fantastic examples of solidarity and victories from across the various sectors of the economy. UTR is also a great way to learn about ongoing fights and how to support them.

Morning Session

Yesterday we heard from Candy Unwin and Sandy Nicholl, victimised reps who won reinstatement because of solid support from their members. Candy was one of the leaders of the fantastic strike at the National Gallery, which won significant victories in their battle with management against privatisation, and Sandy's colleagues took unauthorised strike action that had their management at SOAS backtracking almost immediately. Conference also sent support to Andrew Mootoo, victimised rep at Royal Mail in Bridgwater, whose managers again are frantically retreating after wildcat action when they attempted to sack him.

Speakers were from across the trades union movement, but there were also comrades from campaigning organisations such as DPAC (Disabled People Against the Cuts) (amazing speech - IDS should be very afraid of DPAC!) and political parties (most notably Natalie Bennett, the Green Party leader, who gave an excellent speech).



John Burgess, candidate for UNISON General Secretary, was brilliant about the need to fight the bill and break the law collectively.

Obviously the focus was on how to stop the Trades Union Bill when it passes, in particular how we can organise an effective counter to it and support each other in breaking this unjust new law collectively. John Hendy QC kicked off the first speech with a short illustration of what awaits us. I was able to record it for posterity here. (The sessions were recorded by proper people with proper equipment and will be posted on the Unite The Resistance Youtube channel here - I suggest you subscribe!)

Don't let them divide us

Of course, the horrific events of Friday in Paris cast a pall over proceedings. Conference began with a statement of solidarity with the victims and many speakers also offered statements of support, particularly Natalie Bennett of the Green Party. The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, who is a longtime supporter of UTR and was scheduled to speak was unable to attend as the Shadow Cabinet were in session following the attacks. The SWP has put out an excellent statement in response to the murders, which you can read here. After the initial session I and some other local comrades attended a session which we thought was especially relevant that day: Don't let them divide us.

This session included speakers on the Prevent agenda and the Justice for Cleaners campaign as well as the general drive by the Tories and other elements within the ruling class, particularly the right wing media, to use racist bile against Muslims and migrants to divide our class wherever they can.

I was struck by the Justice for Cleaners campaigner, who spoke of the ways that bosses try to divide migrant workers, trying to pit 'documented' against 'undocumented' and Spanish against Latin American. This is the kind of hatred upon which the bosses thrive.

Repeatedly speakers emphasised the need to unite now to prevent the right from trying to capitalise on the murders in Paris to promote their racist, Islamophobic agenda. UTR is about sharing ideas and success stories, not just listening to speakers, and there were some fantastic contributions from the floor. One point which was made more than once is that the right will attempt to use the murders to attack migrants, and we need to continue to say that migrants are people fleeing exactly the sort of horror which the people of Paris experienced. One practical thing which we will need to do is continue to defend migrants and promote the Stand Up To Racism campaign to welcome refugees, especially as winter approaches and thousands are in danger from the cold in makeshift camps in Calais and elsewhere. Find out more about Stand Up To Racism and donate to the Calais winter appeal here.

Afternoon Session

In the final session we heard from speakers on the environment and climate (or as David Cameron calls it: 'green crap') and the People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs on the 29th November in London. From Derby there will be at least one coach going to this vital demonstration - come if you can!

For me there were two particular highlights of the afternoon session. The first was the speaker from the BMA who spoke very well on the dispute between junior doctors and the Department for Health.

He got a well-deserved standing ovation in his call for solidarity and his promise of solidarity in return.

Finally, Ian Hodson of the bakers' union BFAWU, who I always look forward to. He is a passionate and animated speaker, and I will remember particularly two lines. The first from the fallout when he compared Cameron's policies towards trades unions to Hitler's: "if you don't want to be compared to a fascist dictator, don't use policies out of Mein Kampf!" The second was one of my favourites, and I know one of his (it's not the first time he's used it :) ) and it's from Nye Bevan, architect of the NHS: