Fight for Jobs Public Meeting 11th February

Devon Socialist Party Public Meeting

7.00 pm

Wednesday 11th February

Exeter Community Centre, St Davids Hill, Exeter

The free market is in meltdown, as the economy falters ordinary working class people face the brunt of the recession with job losses and cuts in pay & conditions – 55% more out of work in Devon & Cornwall in one year. How can workers and young people organise to fight to save jobs and fight back? Come and hear how.

20,000+ people are now on the dole in the Westcountry - the number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Devon and Cornwall in November was 55% higher than November 2007. But the actual number of people out of work could be up to twice the size. Whilst overall rates of unemployment are still lower in the region than other parts of the country, increases in the last year have been the biggest of any region in the UK. Companies like Marks & Spencer, who still made massive profits and increased sales in the past year, have taken advantage of the situation, closing stores in Honiton and Torquay anyway and laying off more workers. Working people are being used as scapegoats, we refuse to pay for the crisis the Bosses have created - Join us and fight for:

• The right to a decent job for all.

• No job losses, open the books to let workers see where the profits have gone.

• Bailout workers not the bosses. Nationalise industries threatened with closure or large scale job losses.

• Rebuild fighting trade unions, involving young workers and unemployed.

• Skilled training linked to decent jobs.

• No cheap labour apprenticeships! All apprentices on at least the minimum wage, with a guaranteed job after.

• No University fees. Support the campaign to defeat fees.

• No to bullying management. For decent working conditions.

• For a real living minimum wage of at least £8 an hour for all with no youth exemptions.

• Share out the work. For a 35 hour working week with no loss of pay.

• For government investment in socially useful jobs.

• For a massive public program of house building, renovation and infrastructure projects.

• No to these projects being run by private companies who will put profit first.


For more information please email us at: socialistpartydevon@gmail.com

Exeter retail workers back Robbie Segal for USDAW President

On Thursday the 15th, Exeter Socialist Students took to the high street, not to take advantage of the recession bargains, but to campaign on behalf of Robbie Segal, Socialist Party activist and USDAW presidential candidate. Robbie’s campaign follows her recent bid for general secretary of the union, where she won 40% of the vote, despite a fierce counter-campaign led by the union’s pro-New Labour right wing.

Her latest campaign for president carries with it the task of reclaiming the retail worker’s union and making a genuine stand for their wages and conditions, increasingly under threat as the recession bites. Supermarket workers in particular have long been unrepresented, as union bureaucrats back non-strike agreements, and managers try to keep any dispute ‘in house’. The recent collapse of Woolworth’s is testament to the need for a militant leadership that can stem the tide of redundancies among vulnerable young workers, already on the pitiful youth rate, and their seigniors who are often supplementing family income in the face of savage living expenses.

Mixed responses were received from members of staff. Generally, younger workers were impressed to hear that a fighting alternative existed, but as expected many knew very little about trade unionism. This illustrates the impact that ‘casual labour’ has had on the spirit of young workers, who are now most at risk of loosing their jobs. What was also striking was the genuine fear among staff in certain workplaces, where unionizing clearly had tight restrictions. This was the case in both Boots and M&S. On the whole however, our patient and open approach was well received by shop floor staff, and impressed the few shop stewards available for discussion.

Exeter Socialist Students is presently building for a public meeting on the topic of unemployment. This is linked to the recently launched Youth Fight For Jobs campaign, which is now taking priority.

Report by RE, Exeter Socialist Party and Socialist Students

For a democratic and fighting USDAW - vote Robbie Segal for President and National Executive

After receiving an outstanding 40% of the vote in the recent election for General Secretary of USDAW (Shopworkers union), Robbie Segal has been asked to stand for President of the Union by rank and file members fed up of a leadership completely craven in their acceptance of all that New Labour and the bosses throw at their members. She is also standing to be reelected as a member of the National Executive.

Shopworkers are some of Britain's lowest paid and most exploited workers. They are punished for being ill, and even pregnant, by punitive and bullying management, and many lack basic job security. All this while New Labour supporting USDAW General Secretary John Hannett receives over £100,000 per year and a chauffered Jaguar for his use!

Robbie stands for greater democracy in the Union, and for members to have a say over whether their Union should keep using their subs to fund New Labour, who have done nothing to protect workers against the vicious management of companies such as Tescos.

Robbie wants USDAW to be transformed into a union that really fights for its members, meaning no sweetheart deals with employers and Government, but action to defend and extend workers rights and conditions in the workplace.

In her campaign for General Secretary, Robbie rejected the salary and perks attached with the job, and would have only accepted the average wage of a Tesco worker if elected. Similarly, if elected President she will reject all the perks and frivolous expenses associated with such a position. She is standing to serve USDAW members, and make the union more effective in winning for them, not to serve her own interests or fatten her wallet. She is standing for reelection to the National Executive to continue to argue for all this, and for the rights of the workers she represents, as a Tesco worker herself.

The time has come to say we have had enough!

Enough of bullying bosses!
Enough of poverty pay!
Enough of being punished for being sick!
Enough of cosying up to New Labour and the supermarket bosses!
Enough of the undemocratic gravy train at the top of USDAW!
Enough of insecure, temporary contracts!

Vote Robbie Segal, for a democratic, fighting USDAW.

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The election runs from today (January 19th) to Friday 13th February.

If you would like more information, either contact us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com, or visit Robbie's website at www.robbiesegal.org

If you would like some campaign leaflets for your workplace, or your local shop, please contact us ASAP at the email address above.

Video of Saturday's Gaza Protest in Exeter

Exeter's Palestine Solidarity Protest Is A Success

Following our two successful interventions on January 3^rd and 10^th, Exeter Socialist Party and Exeter Socialist Students joined probably the biggest protest Exeter city has seen in years, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War Coalition to condemn the slaughter in Gaza.

Estimates range from 700 to 1,000 demonstrators of various groups, from Christian Aid to Exeter’s very own masked anarchist bloc! Starting on Sidwell Street, the protest marched through Saturday’s busy high street and cathedral green, and concluded with a rally in Southern Hay Gardens. Socialist Party placards saturated the crowd, and CWI flags were held at the head of the procession.

While only 11 papers were sold at the event, we gained significant exposure and demonstrated effective organization, while providing a clear and relevant case for the socialist alternative to war, terror and exploitation. Many who signed our petitions also requested more information about the party. We hope to receive further contacts via our website. The demonstrations that have swept the country over the past weeks, even in regions as characteristically inactive as Exeter, are a sign of increasing awareness and of struggles to come. We are in no doubt that the spirit for change is growing.

Report by RE of Exeter Socialist Party

National Demonstration

Saturday 10 January

Stop the Massacre: Israel Out of Gaza

Assemble 12.30pm Speakers Corner, Hyde Park

March to Israeli Embassy, High St Kensington, London

Daily protests 5 - 9 January, 5.30pm-7.00 pm, Israeli Embassy, High St, Kensington, London

A personal view of private care homes

In the days after my grandmother’s (or Nan as I called her) funeral on Monday, I have naturally been thinking about the very different places we had visited her during her illness. In stays of varying lengths, she was resident at North Devon District Hospital, a Nursing Home, NDDH, North Devon Hospice and finally the same Home again.

The treatment and care she received at NDDH and the Hospice was second to none. The dedication, compassion, attentiveness and professionalism of all the staff there was outstanding, and me and my family are eternally grateful to them for this. Her (terminal) condition improved slightly at these places, and more importantly so did her comfort and mental well-being.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Nursing Home. I have no complaint with the hard work and good intentions of most of the staff there, in particular a few of the carers who were very helpful and competent. However, the stark truth is that the vast majority of those who work there (and the turnover is quite high) are simply not up to what is a demanding job, physically and mentally. Most of the staff there lacked the skills and experience so clearly evident at the Hospital and the Hospice. Basic things such as the dispensing of drugs and lifting of residents were not done properly. Matters of personal dignity were not dealt with appropriately. Complaints were responded to by some staff by a degree of vindictiveness.

In addition, staffing levels were very low, resulting in the staff there being rushed off their feet, and simply not able to cope with the needs of a variety of highly dependent elderly people. One carer, who subsequently left, said that the owners of the Home had brought lots of agency staff in when an inspection was due, allowing it to pass. The same carer said that she had complained to the management, and the regulator (the Commission for Social Care Inspection), but had been met with a brick wall.

When my mother complained, she was met with a similar reaction, including a particularly callous and high-handed response from a doctor, who perhaps loses some of his objectivity by certain ties to the Home.

What is the answer? Why was the care at the Hospital and Hospice exemplery, and lacking at the Home? Well, the only reason I can think is that the Hospital and Hospice are run as public services, with monies received ploughed into patient care (and in the case of the Hospice, further fundraising efforts). The result is high staffing levels with little turnover, well motivated and trained carers (including not just clinical staff but everyone involved, who all make a difference) and particularly in the case of the Hospice, an environment which calms and reassures.

Unfortunately in the case of the Nursing Home, funds that could be used to advance care are diverted to make considerable money for the owners. The trend in public services at the moment seems to be towards further privatisation. This is simply money taken out of the pockets of patients, of students, of rail and bus passengers and put into the pockets of well off individuals.

Despite our fears, my Nan had a peaceful, painless death, in company. It is my hope that we can make how we care for the most vulnerable– including the mentally ill as well as the elderly and dying – the gold standard for how our society is judged. Are we civilised enough to make this a priority high enough to take out of the hands of profiteering sharks, and into the custodianship of institutions like NDDH and the Hospice? I hope so for all our sakes, most of us will get old and ill one day.

Article by JL of North Devon Socialist Party

Exeter Gaza demonstration

There was a large turnout, in the centre of Exeter, to show soladarity with the people of Gaza. The demonstration was called by Exeter Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Exeter Stop The War Coalition.

Socialist Party members who took part handed out dozens of leaflets and collected £25 for the fighting fund. The presence of CWI flags was well recieved.

It was disappointing that a 'major party of the left' forgot to mention the role of imperialism in the atrocities taking place in the Middle East and by default the part that is to be played by Socialist ideas in it's solution.

Exeter Socialist Students intend to follow up the action by action in Exeter University where there is a large number of students from the Middle East.

Report by SB