Why are pensions being cut or not paying out money that was promised? All over
Europe pensions are under attack. Everywhere workers are being asked to retire
later, to give up on the idea of a guaranteed state pension and to look to the
private sector for a pension. British Socialist Appeal looks at the real reasons behind the pensions crisis.
The victory of Tony Woodley as general
secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers’ Union, Britain’s third
biggest union, is a further confirmation of the continuing swing to the left in
the British trade unions. It is also a clear indication of the discontent within
the union rank and file with right wing trade union leaders and the policies of
the Blair government.
This weekend the AMICUS conferences (of the MSF and AEEU, the two unions that have merged to form
Amicus) start in Blackpool. This
document analyses the present situation in the union and also looks at its
history and how the left managed to win the position of General Secretary of the
AEEU – a good insight into the state of the British trade unions as
they steadily shift to the left. It also looks at the tasks ahead for the left
in the union.
Mick Brooks answers some of the myths and distortions about asylum seekers
and "illegal immigrants" by simply stating what the facts are.
Mick Brooks looks at the question of the movement of labour (emigration and
immigration) and how the bosses have always managed to have a flexible approach
on this question depending on the needs of their system at any given moment. In
the end whether they are campaigning for it or against it, it is always used to
enhance their profits as they attempt to divide the workers on this issue.
The debate over whether Britain should join the Euro is heating up. On both
sides of the debate we find a capitalist logic being applied. One side stands
for so-called British "sovereignty", the other praises the merits of
the wider market. Neither side is defending the real interests of the workers.
As Mick Brooks points out, "The answer is surely for us to control the
movement of capital by taking over the means of production, not relying on the
goodwill of our enemy, the capitalist class."
Marxists are often accused of having a class bias, of having an irrational prejudice against the capitalist class. We must admit, that yes we don’t particularly appreciate the fact that while millions go hungry in the underdeveloped countries a handful of super-rich billionaires actually decide on the fate of the world. While workers in the advanced countries are struggling to make ends meet, to pay the rent or the mortgage, to pay the bills, to feed their children, the super rich squander huge amounts on totally unnecessary luxuries. But don’t these rich company directors also play a useful role in […]
A process of radicalisation is taking place among the British engineering
workers (or metal workers). This is reflected in the main union of the sector,
Amicus. The old rightwing lost the position of General Secretary recently. Now
the left of the union is preparing to take a majority on the union’s national
executive committee.