Today, Tuesday 17th June, around 1,500 trade unionists gathered at
Westminster Central Hall, London, to launch a fight-back over the
privatisation of public services. This was an excellent turnout for a
weekday rally.
Peugeot is planning to move production from its Coventry plant in the UK
to Slovakia, where labour costs are one quarter of what they are in the UK. Capitalists
have no concern for their workers. They go where they can maximise profits. The
only answer is nationalisation under workers’ control.
On the eve of Unison Conference we are publishing here articles from
the latest edition of Socialist Appeal which deal with some of the
questions facing delegates and activists. Unison has a vital role to
play in the struggle to defend pensions, against the attacks launched
by the government on the welfare state (and the NHS in particular), and
for socialist policies in the labour movement. The conference will also
discuss solidarity with Venezuela, an issue being raised by members of
Hands Off Venezuela in the union.
The concluding section of British Perspectives 2006 looks at the state
of the British economy, which has been propped up by colossal debts for
some time, but is now grinding to a halt. The decline of manufacturing,
and the domination of banking and financial services is an expression
of the enfeeblement of British capitalism. This lies behind the attacks
on the welfare state, on jobs and conditions, and on democracy. All the
conditions are being prepared for a new outbreak of class struggle that
will have a profound impact on British society in the next period.
As the 2006 World Cup kicks off in Germany Steve Jones looks at the
commercialisation of football and the impact of profiteering on the
sport and the fans.
There
is no greater threat to democratic rights than a capitalist system in fear of
its future. British capitalism has long been in decline, and this decline is
accurately reflected in the crises of the Tory Party. The sickness of British
capitalism also means a growing class polarisation of British society, which at
some stage must be reflected in the Labour Party.