Devon Socialist Party - For the millions not the millionaires

New website for Devon Socialist Party

2009-02-06T13:32:00.002Z

We are always looking for ways to improve how we get our ideas across to people, throughout the county and beyond, and this blog has served a useful purpose in that respect for two years now. But while this site is fine for reading articles and occassionally commenting, we would like a website to be a resource for action as well. This is why we have created a new website, the link for which is below. This website will make it easier for you to act on what you read, through downloading leaflets and petitions for example and also to submit articles yourself.

Please update your links and bookmarks to:

www.devonsocialistparty.org

Thank you to everyone who has contributed articles and comments to this site, we look forward to your contributions on the new site. A special thank you also to David Bishop of Exeter Socialist Party for doing the vast bulk of the work creating the new website.

Lindsey refinery: workers show their strength

2009-02-05T14:03:00.003Z

Strikes repel attacks on jobs and conditions

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party, reporting from the Lindsey refinery strike

Shades of the miners' strike - mass protests, car park meetings, loud hailers that don't work. Not so much flying pickets as flying texts and emails leading to spontaneous unofficial walkouts and 'illegal' strike action. The anti-trade union laws have been brushed aside without a thought.

Each day brings news of more power plants and construction sites walking out. There's a feeling of: "We must strike while the iron's hot. Enough is enough. If we don't win this we'll be signing on for the rest of our lives."

Out of the frenzy of activity comes improvisation and initiative. National trade union leaders who were secretly holed up in a four-star hotel were tracked down and forced to accept strike committee representation in any negotiations.

So far we can't make direct contact with the Italian workers that have been bussed in and accommodated on a barge in Grimsby dock, rumoured to be a prison ship. They are fenced in by security. The strikers need to reach these workers and leaflets have been produced in Italian.

But an Italian TV station did an interview with strike committee members which will go out in Italy and be seen by the Italian workers on the ship.

There's massive anger against the companies like Total and subcontractors Jacobs and IREM. There's anger against the EU and their directives and court rulings but mostly against Gordon "Thatcher" and "On yer bike" Mandelson.

There's a real sense of betrayal by Labour. The BNP have been bounced off from this site and not been back. Yes, there are one or two union jacks and Brown's promise of "British jobs for British workers" is reflected in some home-made hand bills. But nearly all the strikers will tell you it's not about the foreign workers, it's about the national agreement. It's about jobs, pay and conditions, about trade union strength and stopping this race to the bottom.

The Lindsey oil refinery strike committee issued a call on Monday 2 February to spread the strike into an all-out strike to force the government and employers to concede the demands.

In the first meeting with the strike committee, Total said there would be no negotiations until the strike was called off and the workers returned to work. 48 hours later, on 4 February, they capitulated.

They initially conceded that UK workers could have 60 (40 skilled, 20 unskilled) workers on the IREM contract.

In addition some other concessions were promised. Socialist Party member Keith Gibson recommended rejection of the company's proposals to a mass meeting on behalf of the strike committee. The meeting discussed them for half an hour and overwhelmingly rejected them as not enough.

The company then made an offer which means half the jobs will be filled by UK workers, parity with IREM's own workforce. They have also agreed that all the workers will be paid according to the national agreement. The unions will be able to see the details, so they can ensure that national agreements are being complied with.

No Italian workers will be laid off, only 100 of whom are in Lindsey as yet. All the Italian workers are a core workforce for IREM so will still be employed by them.

So, as The Socialist goes to press, the strikers could be on the verge of a significant victory. The new proposals will be recommended by the strike committee to a mass meeting on 5 February.

But the strike committee know this is only the beginning of the campaign nationally. There's a meeting of the national shop stewards forum on 9 February to plan where to go from here. There's already a big demand for at least a march on parliament.

Socialist Party members and supporters have influenced the strike around a clear set of demands:

No victimisation of workers taking solidarity action.

All workers in UK to be covered by the NAECI agreement.

Union-controlled registering of unemployed and local skilled union members with nominating rights as work becomes available.

Government and employer investment in proper training/apprenticeships for the new generation of construction workers. Fight for a future for young people

All immigrant labour to be unionised.

Trade union assistance for immigrant workers, via interpreters, to give right of access to trade union advice - to promote active integrated trade union members.

Build links with construction trade unions on the continent

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Since this article was written, the workers at the site have agreed to a huge climbdown by the bosses, and as a result an extra 102 jobs will be created at the site, with the jobs for the migrant workers also secured. This victory is a testament to the action taken by the strikers, and also the impact of the solidarity of refinery and power station workers up and down Britain, including by Polish migrant workers at Langage Power Station.

This strike was about trying to undermine unionised labour with non-union labour, an employers dirty trick, aided by legislation put in place (and preserved) by neo-liberal governments in Britain and from the bosses representatives in the European Commission.

The only answer to these insults is workers unity, between workers at different sites, and between workers in different countries. We call for a socialist Europe, emphasising cooperation and collaboration between workers, and not used as a way of dividing workers as part of the 'race to the bottom'.

The Socialist Party, most notably Keith Gibson, a member of the strike committee, have at all times insisted that this was not about 'British Jobs for British Workers', a slogan used by many workers to point out the hypocrisy of Brown and Mandelson, but about 'Trade Union Jobs and Conditions For All'. The BNP sensed an opportunity, but were turned away with their tail between their legs.

When Keith Gibson ended an address to a mass meeting with 'Workers of the world unite' he was greeted with a big round of applause. However the media and other groups like to present this, this strike was a victory for the working class, in Britain and across Europe.

Across Europe, workers are standing up and saying 'Enough!'. Workers in Britain this past week have done the same, and set a tremendous example by smashing through the anti-trade union laws prohibiting secondary picketing in the process.

It doesn't end here!

Lindsey Oil Refinery Strikers Reach Out To Italian Workers

2009-02-04T13:05:00.002Z

A leaflet has been produced by Socialist Party members Keith Gibson (also a member of the strike committee) and John McEwan, for the Italian migrant workers at the site. We publish the document below not in anticipation of many readers of this blog speaking Italian, but to demonstrate that this is a strike about jobs and protecting trade union agreements, and not a racist or xenophobic action as the media and other elements on the left have painted it. This follows hard on the heels of the Polish workers at Langage Power Station coming out in solidarity.

Workers of the world unite!
I lavoratori del mondo unitevi!
Trabalhadores do mundo uni-vos!
Robotnicy świata łączą!

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Appello ai lavoratori italiani -
Partecipate al nostro sciopero per salari e lavoro a condizioni sindacali

Estendiamo lo sciopero!

Volantino scritto da Keith Gibson (G.M.B comitato di sciopero improvviso LOR),
John McEwan (Rsu foro nazionale) entrambe a titolo personale

L’Islanda, la Grecia, la Francia, la Lettonia… In tutta l’Europa i lavoratori scendono in piazza per protestare contro governi che hanno fatto arricchire i padroni e i banchieri mentre attaccano i nostri posti di lavoro, salari e pensioni. Finalmente i lavoratori britannici dicono “basta”. La settimana scorsa il nostro sciopero si è esteso rapidamente, con azioni di solidarietà in tutto il Paese, in 20 stabilimenti. Migliaia di lavoratori stanno scioperando malgrado le leggi antisindacali. Il governo è scosso. È l’ora di estendere lo sciopero per costringere il padronato e il governo ad accettare le nostre rivendicazioni.

Gordon Brown - il tuo governo è ‘indifendibile’

Gordon Brown dice che il nostro sciopero improvviso è ‘ indifendibile’. No Gordon, dopo 10 anni di politica a favore del grande padronato, è il tuo governo che è indifendibile. Il New Labour Party ha incoraggiato il padronato a sfruttare i lavoratori britannici attraverso la deregolamentazione, la mano d’opera a basso costo e le politiche antisindacali. Il ministro del Commercio, Peter Mandelson, dice che i lavoratori britannici possono andare a lavorare nell’Unione europea. Queste parole assomigliano a quelle del ministro conservatore Norman Tebbitt, che durante gli anni ‘80 ha detto ai disoccupati di andare in bici a cercare lavoro! Perché dovremmo essere noi a lasciare le nostre case e le nostre famiglie per poter lavorare, mentre le imprese come Alstom e IREM non ci permettono di lavorare qui?

Lottiamo per difendere il lavoro - FERMARE LA ‘GARA AL RIBASSO’

Il padronato, i banchieri e il governo ci hanno messo nei guai dal punto di vista economico. Adesso vogliono che paghiamo noi la crisi, attaccando il nostro lavoro, i salari e le condizioni lavorative.

Non se ne parla neanche!

Con questo sciopero vogliamo fermare la ‘gara al ribasso’. Scioperiamo contro i padroni, come quelli di Alstom e IREM, che rifiutano di assumere i lavoratori locali. Facciamo sciopero contro le leggi europee, che favoriscono il padronato e contro le decisioni giudiziari che rendono legale lo sfruttamento della manodopera a basso costo per massimizzare i profitti dei padroni.
Questo sciopero punta a fermare i datori di lavoro che violano il nostro accordo nazionale (NAECI) e stanno cercando di dividere la nostra forza sindacale.

L’obiettivo non è “lavoro inglese ai lavoratori inglesi” ma:

Lavoro a condizioni sindacali per tutti i lavoratori COSA VOGLIAMO?

Il Partito socialista pensa che i sindacati dovrebbero lottare per:

- Dire no alle azioni disciplinari contro i lavoratori che hanno scioperato per solidarieta’
- Estendere a tutti i lavoratori nel Regno Unito la tutela dell’accordo nazionale (NAECI)
- Registrare i disoccupati e gli iscritti alle sezioni locali del sindacato, sotto il controllo dei sindacati, con graduatorie di avviamento al lavoro
- Investimenti da parte del governo e dei datori di lavoro nella formazione e nell’apprendistato per la nuova generazione di lavoratori dell’edilizia: un futuro per i giovani
- La sindacalizazzione di tutti i lavoratori immigrati
- Sostegno sindacale agli immigrati, incluso gli interpreti, e accesso alla consulenza per promuovere l’integrazione attiva nel sindacato

Update on the spreading strikes by construction engineers in the refinery and power industry

2009-02-02T14:22:00.001Z

Report by phone from Alistair Tice (Yorkshire Socialist Party) on the mass picket at the Lindsey total refinery North Lincolnshire.

"The strike committee accepted the main demands of Keith Gibson and John Mckewan to put to the mass meeting today.

Keith is a Socialist Party member and on the strike committee and John is a Socialist Party supporter and victimised worker from the refinery.

The strike committee added an extra demand, calling for John to be reinstated into his job.

The demands were

No victimisation of workers taking solidarity action.

All workers in UK to be covered by NAECI Agreement.

Union controlled registering of unemployed and locally skilled union members, with nominating rights as work becomes available.

Government and employer investment in proper training / apprenticeships for new generation of construction workers - fight for a future for young people.

All Immigrant labour to be unionised.

Trade Union assistance for immigrant workers - including interpreters - and access to Trade Union advice - to promote active integrated Trade Union Members.

Build links with construction trade unions on the continent.

The mass meeting overwhelmingly voted for the demands put to them by the strike committee.

Prior to the meeting Keith and John (and their wives who had came to support the strikers) had seen some BNP members in the car park and told them that they were not welcome, with that the BNP cleared off.

Socialist Party members gave out over 700 leaflets putting our position (which was now the position of the strike committee) and the leaflet was welcomed. One worker (before he read the leaflet) thought that were giving out BNP leaflets and protested that he was not a racist and didn't support the BNP and was relieved when it was explained to him that they were Socialist Party leaflets and supported workers unity.

Keith is part of the negotiating committee that is now in discussions with the management at the refinery. The strike is continuing and looks as if it is spreading throughout the country at the time of writing with Sellafield and Heysham nuclear plants out. Workers at other plants, according to the BBC, have also decided to stay out, these include Grangemouth and Longannon in Scotland. Warrington and Staythope in Newark are also out as well.

The strikes are spreading from fiddlers ferry in Warrington to the Drax power station in Yorkshire."

Strike While The Iron Is Hot - Socialist Party leaflet written by workers in the refineries dispute

2009-02-01T22:02:00.004Z

Iceland, Greece, France, Latvia ….. all across Europe workers are taking to the streets in protest against governments that have let the fat-cats get rich while our jobs, wages and pensions are being attacked.

Now at last, workers in Britain are saying “Enough is Enough!” Our strike spread like wild-fire last week with solidarity action all across the UK with around 20 sites out by Friday. Thousands of workers taking militant action completely disregarding the anti-trade union laws.

We’ve got the government rattled. We must strike while the iron is hot. We must spread the strike to force the employers and government to concede our demands.

GORDON BROWN – YOUR GOVERNMENT IS “IN-DEFENSIBLE”

Gordon Brown says our wildcat strike is “in-defensible”. No Gordon, it is your government and ten years of pro-Big Business policies that are indefensible. New Labour have encouraged employers to exploit workers in Britain through de-regulation, cheap labour and anti-union policies.

Peter Mandelson says British workers can go and work in the EU. Sounds like Norman Tebbitt telling the unemployed in the 1980s to get on their bikes! Why the hell should we have to leave our homes and families to work when companies like Alstom and IREM won’t let us work here?

FIGHT FOR JOBS – STOP THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM!

The bosses, the bankers and the government have got us in this economic mess. Now they want us to pay the price with our jobs, wages and conditions. NO WAY!

This strike is to stop this race to the bottom. We are striking against the employers like Alstom and IREM who refuse to hire local labour. We are striking against the EU pro-business laws and court rulings that make it legal for employers to exploit cheap labour to maximise profits.
This strike is to stop employers undermining our national NAECI agreement and trying to break our trade union strength.

Rather than saying British jobs for British workers we should say:
TRADE UNION JOBS & CONDITIONS FOR ALL WORKERS

WHAT DO WE WANT?

Socialist Party thinks that the trade unions should fight for:

· No victimisation of workers taking solidarity action.

· All workers in UK to be covered by NAECI Agreement

· Union controlled registering of unemployed and locally skilled union members, with nominating rights as work becomes available

· Government and employer investment in proper training / apprenticeships for new generation of construction workers – fight for a future for young people

· All Immigrant labour to be unionised.

· Trade Union assistance for immigrant workers - including interpreters - and access to Trade Union advice - to promote active integrated Trade Union Members. Build links with construction trade unions on the continent.

The story so far ……………..

A ninety day redundancy notice had been issued around mid November 2008 at Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR) for Shaws’ workforce. This meant that by February 17th 2009 a number of Shaws’ construction workers (LOR) would be made redundant.

The day before the Christmas holiday Shaws’ shop-stewards reported to the men that a part of the contract on LOR’s HDS3 plant had been awarded to IREM, an Italian company. The Stewards explained that Shaws had lost a third of the job to IREM who would be employing their own core Portuguese and Italian workforce numbering 200-300. Stewards and Union Officials asked to meet with IREM a.s.a.p. after Christmas to clarify the proposal i.e. would IREM employ British labour? Shaws’ workforce were told that the IREM workforce would be housed in floating barges in Grimsby docks for the duration of the job, they would be bussed to work in the morning, bussed to and from the barge for lunch.

IREM workers would work from 7.30am - 11.30am and 13.00 – 1700. On Saturdays they would work 4 hours to make up a working week of 44 hours. The normal working week is 44 hours divided by 5 days, from 7.30 -1600 finishing at 1400 on Fridays (most workers work overtime). Normal breaks include 10 minutes in a morning and a 30 minute dinner break.
Stewards were told that IREM workers would be paid the national rate for the job; to date this has not been confirmed. After Christmas the nominated Shop Stewards entered into negotiations with IREM. Meanwhile, a National Shop-Stewards Forum for the construction Industry held a meeting in London to discuss Staythorpe Power Station where the company Alstom were refusing to hire British labour relying on non union Polish and Spanish workers instead.

It was decided that all Blue Book sites covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering and Construction Industry (NAECI) should send delegations down to Staythorpe to protest against Alstoms’ actions. The workforce on the LOR site sent delegations. Then, on Wednesday 28th January 2009 Shaws’ workforce were told by the Stewards that IREM had stated they would not be employing British labour.

The entire LOR workforce, from all subcontracting companies, met and voted unanimously to take immediate unofficial strike action. The following day over a thousand construction workers from LOR, Conoco and Easington sites descended outside LOR’s gate to picket and protest.
This was the spark that ignited the spontaneous unofficial walk outs of our brother construction workers across the length and breadth of Britain. This worker solidarity is against the ‘conscious blacking’ of British construction workers by company bosses who refuse to recruit skilled British labour in the U.K.

The workers of LOR, Conoco and Easington did not take strike action against immigrant workers. Our action is rightly aimed against company bosses who attempt to play off one nationality of worker against the other and undermine the NAECI agreement.

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. UNITY IS OUR STRENGTH

The RACIST ORGANISATION - the BNP - are attempting to intervene in this strike.
How dare they?
The BNP is an anti-trade union organisation that supported Thatcher against the miners in the 1980s.
They opposed the Firefighters’ strike claiming ‘they should not even have the right to strike’.
They have set up their own ‘segregated’ union that will split and divide workers.
BNP policies are like the policies of company bosses who attempt to play off one nationality of worker against another thus undermining the national agreements that protect the hard won rights of workers like the NAECI Agreement in the Construction Industry.

WORKERS NEED A NEW PARTY

The Labour Party is no longer for the working class.

Blair then Brown under a misleading banner of ‘New Labour’ insists on a ‘Pro-Capitalist Agenda’.
The bankers and bosses whose greed for profit has decimated the global economy are rewarded with billions of tax payer’s money. Our money! Daily, without any consultation, it is announced that WE will pay for their greed and incompetence! Trade unions like Unite and GMB should stop paying the trade union levy to ‘New Labour’ because workers know that a NEW party of LABOUR is needed to fight for the interests of workers and their families.

The trade unions should initiate a new workers party, TO REPRESENT THE MILLIONS NOT THE MILLIONAIRES! Join the Campaign for a New Workers Party. Look on www.cnwp.org.uk

CAPITALISM ISN’T WORKING – TIME FOR SOCIALISM

This recession highlights a fact - capitalism does not work. Around the world millions of ordinary people are being thrown into unemployment and poverty while bankers and bosses grow exceedingly rich.

Socialists know that there is enough wealth and resources in the world for everybody to have a decent standard of living but it will never happen under this crazy system of greed that puts profit before the human needs of people, the environment and our planet. We stand for a ‘Democratic Socialist Society’ where the main industries and services will be publicly owned and democratically run by the working class for the benefit of the majority in society.

A well planned society will eradicate capitalist competition that accumulates vast profits for a few at the expense of: mass unemployment, poverty, disease, wars and environmental destruction.

If you agree and would like to know more - then contact us on www.socialistparty.org.uk

Trade Union Jobs and Conditions For All Workers - Support the Striking Refinery Workers

2009-02-01T21:52:00.003Z

Thousands of construction workers in oil refineries and other major utilities sites are still on strike.

There were mass meetings in the Lindsey and Conoco refinery sites in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Friday and Socialist Party members were well received with 18 copies of the Socialist sold.

The main issue is not that "foreign" workers are being brought in by the employers, as reported in the media, but that there are thousands of unemployed construction workers.

The Socialist Party is raising the demand that any worker should be part of the national engineering construction agreements that cover the wages and conditions on the sites.

We are also calling for an unemployment registrar to be set up under union control that can supply labour to the sites when that is needed.

The reason for the strikes is that the employers have awarded the contracts to an Italian firm that has brought in labour which is not part of the national agreements.

A six-strong strike committee has been set up with a Socialist Party member on the committee. The strikes have been spreading like wild fire according to the BBC, currently covering sites from Scotland to Wales and from Northern Ireland to Merseyside.

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What's Really Behind the Lindsey Oil Refinery Strike?

By Keith Gibson, GMB Union (pc), Socialist Party member and member of the unofficial strike committee

A ninety day redundancy notice had been issued around mid November 2008 at Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR) for Shaws' workforce.

This meant that by February 17th 2009 a number of Shaws' construction workers (LOR) would be made redundant.

The day before the Christmas holiday Shaws' shop-stewards reported to the men that a part of the contract on LOR's HDS3 plant had been awarded to IREM, an Italian company.

The Stewards explained that Shaws had lost a third of the job to IREM who would be employing their own core Portuguese and Italian workforce numbering 200-300.

Stewards and Union Officials asked to meet with IREM a.s.a.p. after Christmas to clarify the proposal i.e. would IREM employ British labour? Shaws' workforce were told that the IREM workforce would be housed in floating barges in Grimsby docks for the duration of the job, they would be bussed to work in the morning, bussed to and from the barge for lunch.

IREM workers would work from 7.30am - 11.30am and 13.00 - 1700. On Saturdays they would work 4 hours to make up a working week of 44 hours. The normal working week is 44 hours divided by 5 days, from 7.30 -1600 finishing at 1400 on Fridays (most workers work overtime).

Normal breaks include 10 minutes in a morning and a 30 minute dinner break. Stewards were told that IREM workers would be paid the national rate for the job; to date this has not been confirmed.

After Christmas the nominated Shop Stewards entered into negotiations with IREM. Meanwhile, a National Shop Stewards Forum for the construction Industry held a meeting in London to discuss Staythorpe Power Station where the company Alstom were refusing to hire British labour relying on non-union Polish and Spanish workers instead.

It was decided that all Blue Book sites covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering and Construction Industry (NAECI) should send delegations down to Staythorpe to protest against Alstoms' actions.

The workforce on the LOR site sent delegations. Then, on Wednesday 28th January 2009 Shaws' workforce were told by the Stewards that IREM had stated they would not be employing British labour.

The entire LOR workforce, from all subcontracting companies, met and voted unanimously to take immediate unofficial strike action.

The following day over a thousand construction workers from LOR, Conoco and Easington sites descended outside LOR's gate to picket and protest.

This was the spark that ignited the spontaneous unofficial walk outs of our brother construction workers across the length and breadth of Britain.

This worker solidarity is against the 'conscious blacking' of British construction workers by company bosses who refuse to recruit skilled British labour in the U.K.

The workers of LOR, Conoco and Easington did not take strike action against immigrant workers. Our action is rightly aimed against company bosses who attempt to play off one nationality of worker against the other and undermine the NAECI agreement.

THE B.N.P. SHOULD TAKE HEED, U.K. CONTRUCTION WORKERS WILL NOT TOLERATE 'ANOTHER RACIST ATTEMPT' TO SEVER FRATERNAL RELATIONS WITH WORKERS FROM OTHER NATIONS

Demands for Construction Industry:

No victimisation of workers taking solidarity action.

All workers in UK to be covered by NAECI Agreement

Union controlled registering of unemployed and locally skilled union members

Government and employer investment in proper training / apprenticeships for new generation of construction workers

All Immigrant labour to be unionised.

Trade Union assistance for immigrant workers - via interpreters - to give right of access to Trade Union advice - to promote active integrated Trade Union Members

BNP Stall In Exeter

2009-02-01T19:42:00.001Z

The BNP held a brief stall in Exeter High Street yesterday, and faced with various opponents including the Socialist Party and complaints from the public which attracted the Police, they were forced to pack up and retreat. Unfortunately the Police then made everyone pack up their stalls for the sake of appearing 'even-handed'.

Next Saturday we are encouraging every Community, Campaign and Political group to come and bring a stall to the High Street so that we send the message loud and clear that the BNP are not welcome in Exeter, and also that we will not let them spoil it for the rest of us and allow the Police or Council to stop groups from having stalls in the Town Centre.

Fight for Jobs Public Meeting 11th February

2009-01-29T21:45:00.004Z

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

2009-01-22T21:10:00.003Z

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

2009-01-19T21:51:00.003Z

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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

2009-01-19T17:17:00.000Z

Exeter's Palestine Solidarity Protest Is A Success

2009-01-18T19:12:00.004Z

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

Stop the Massacre: Israel Out of Gaza

2009-01-07T21:18:00.000Z

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

2009-01-07T21:02:00.008Z

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

2009-01-05T17:03:00.001Z

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

Year of war and economic collapse ends in bloodshed

2008-12-31T17:02:00.003Z

Stop the Slaughter in Gaza - Mass struggle is the only way out

Israel's government's rule has been a chain of scandals and failures. Now they are trying to save themselves from defeat in February's elections, by means of a wholesale slaughter of Palestinians in this long planned attack.

Bush, and Obama, have refused to force Israel to immediately halt the carnage. Bush used similar brutality in their occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. While Miliband makes feeble calls for a cease-fire, the White House has even blamed Hamas for the attacks and condemned the Hamas rocket fire into Israeli cities.

Abu Abas, Mubarak and the Arab league leaders condemn the massacre. But they were complicit in Israel's starving of the Gaza's 1.5 million inhabitants by Israel's 16-month siege. These regimes willingly carry out the dictates of imperialism. Mubarak's authoritarian regime in Egypt collaborated in the imprisonment of the Palestinians by preventing free movement of goods and people on Egypt's border with Gaza. Mubarak even met Israel's foreign minister Livni on the day before Israel's attack.

Hamas' rocket fire cannot defeat the Israeli state's oppression of Palestinians. The Israeli ruling class do not care about the working class inhabitants of the towns bordering Gaza, but uses their plight to justify the war. The Israeli government does not defend the real interests of ordinary Israelis, rather it exploits their fears.

Every gain made in the history of Palestinian struggle has been the result of active mobilisation of the masses. Tragically for Palestinians neither Hamas, nor Fatah, nor the Arab regimes, have a strategy to defend the masses and stop the Israeli state's slaughter.

The Socialist Party and the Committee for a Workers' International calls:

· For an immediate end to Israeli attacks. For and immediate end to the siege.

· For escalation of demonstrations and protests against the war, in the Middle East and internationally.

· No trust in the world powers or the United Nations. Organize the masses in self-defense. Mass action by Palestinians and Egyptians to break the siege that imprisons Gaza and appeal for support from the working masses internationally, especially in the Middle East, including Israel.

· For united struggles by the workers and poor to overthrow all the capitalist regimes in the Arab states and in Israel. For worker's governments across the Middle East which can end the cycle of violence by resolving the contentious issues in the interests of working people and start to create a society run for the needs of ordinary people.

· For a Socialist Palestine and a Socialist Israel as part of a Socialist Federation of the Middle East.

---- DEMONSTRATIONS THIS SATURDAY (3rd January) ----

Exeter -

12noon in Bedford Square, Exeter High Street.

Organised by Exeter Stop the War.

London -

12.30pm in Embankment, Central London.

For more details please email us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------

No new incinerator in Barnstaple!

2008-12-10T19:20:00.004Z

In conjunction with Devon County Council, North Devon Council has approved in principle the plan to build a rubbish incinerator as part of the redevelopment of a stretch of land by the river Taw in Barnstaple. The proposed incinerator would burn 50,000 tonnes of waste per year and is intended to ensure that the local authority complies with the European Union Landfill Directive, which aims to reduce the amount of refuse that is disposed of in landfill rubbish dumps.

However, these incinerators have been linked to a number of health problems, including increased risk of heart disease and cancer. They can release heavy metals, fine particulates (linked to cancer and heart disease) as well as polluted water, which could be an issue considering the site is a flood plain. They also release dioxins, the chemical implicated in the Irish pork recall.

The location of the mooted incinerator is right bang in the centre of town. Surrounding it is housing, retail units and the new further education college will be built next door! Downwind of it is more housing as well as a large secondary school. It is estimated that most, if not all, of the 25,000 residents of Barnstaple and nearby villages will be exposed.

A meeting for those opposed to the scheme was arranged last Tuesday (9th December). Two anti-incinerator campaigners from Cornwall were the invited speakers, and gave an in depth analysis of the environmental and health dangers, as well as emphasising that there needed to be a positive argument for an alternative, which could help comply with the EU Directive as well as provide a means to use the waste as a potential resource, rather than just get rid of it.

Much helpful practical advice was given, in terms of contacting officials and finding out information. However, the Socialist Party members present at the meeting made the point that getting over a technically and legally correct argument, while useful, would not win the campaign by itself. What is needed is to involve the citizens of Barnstaple in stopping this threat, by campaigning in the town and on the estates, and ultimately putting immense pressure on the Council. Both Lib Dem County Councillors in the town support the scheme, and are up for reelection next year, while the Lib Dem MP, up against a strong Tory challenge at the next election, is 'keeping an open mind', which translated means 'waiting to see which way the wind blows'.

The scheme is at an early stage at the moment, as is the campaign. North Devon Socialist Party intends to work and make the necessary arguments to stop these potentially dangerous plans.

Appledore shipyard workers end dispute

2008-11-30T18:42:00.002Z

Workers at Appledore shipyard have accepted an offer from Babcock Marine management, ending the industrial action they have participated in. Among other grievances, the strike action was concerned with pay, which was £60-80 less per week than Devonport workers in the same company doing equivalent jobs.

The deal sees a 12% wage increase over two years, and the majority of other demands put forward by the unions (GMB and Unite) accepted by management.

Throughout the dispute, Babcock Marine had attempted to bully and threaten the workforce into submission, with threats of closure and downsizing. An annoucement of job cuts at the company's Devonport operation was made, and middle managers were threatened with the sack if they joined in the action. Unfortunately for Babcock, the news of their record profits had to be released at this important time also!

Despite all that the company threw at the workers, they held firm, with large numbers on picket lines and 100% of engineering staff out. Although they did not achieve parity with their Plymouth counterparts, they did achieve a significant above inflation pay increase at a time of insecurity and increasing redundancies and hours cuts. They showed that unity in action, even in the current climate, will get results, even with only a few days strike action. Both unions on site worked together, and they received the support and solidarity of their fellow workers at other shipyards, through the Confederation of Ship Building and Engineering Unions (CSEU), as well as North Devon Socialist Party.

North Devon Socialist Party branch meeting report 25th November

2008-11-25T21:38:00.004Z

The main focus of the latest North Devon branch meeting was the housing crisis.

Introducing the discussion, JL noted the dramatic increase in housing repossessions, which seem to be particularly acute in North Devon. He gave background about the cause of the crisis which has resulted in soaring private sector rents and mortgages, and the decimation of social housing.

He outlined the importance of the neo-liberal measures brought in by the Tory government of 1979-1997, most notably the Right to Buy scheme, the attacks on the unions and the restructuring of the economy away from manufacturing and mining and towards financial services.

The move towards financial services and the increasing lack of social housing resulted in a house price bubble, where house prices rose to ridiculous levels. These prices are now declining due to the banks being much stricter in their lending since the so-called sub prime mortgages came to light and paralysed the financial 'industry' with fright. This, combined with rapidly increasing unemployment is resulting in the elevated repossessions. As GS noted in the discussion afterwards, the situation for people repossessed now is worse than it was 40 years ago, when there was more of a social safety net and more council housing.

It was agreed that as socialists we need to put the political arguments forward for nationalisation of the banks and construction industry under democratic workers and for a house building programme to be initiated and for repossessions to stop.

It was also agreed that practical support needed to be offered, and pressure put on the council to improve its provision of housing benefit and help for those threatened with, or victims of, repossession. A housing campaign will be established, and contact made to other organisations and interested individuals to help kick-start and build that.

In the discussion on organisational matters, a new branch programme was agreed, and the forthcoming regional conference debated. In industrial reports, DL outlined the 12% pay rise over two years the Appledore shipyard workers had achieved, and looked forward to Robbie Segal's forthcoming election campaign in the USDAW union.

Appledore strike update

2008-11-17T19:08:00.002Z

Industrial action at Appledore shipyard is currently suspended pending negotiations currently taking place between the unions and Babcock Marine.

The suspension has come at the same time as an announcement by the company of record profits of £50 million in the first half of the year, up 30%! This is the same company that continues to make threats of closure and losing contracts in response to the reasonable request by Appledore workers that they earn the same as other Babcock workers in equivalent jobs. At the moment, they earn around £60-80 per week less than their counterparts at Devonport dockyard. They tried to claim that this was due to the higher cost of living in Plymouth, something easily contradicted by a worker who had previously lived in Plymouth!

In reality, they have tried to take advantage of the fact that North Devon is a low wage area. They, and the company that preceded them, have made no investment at the site, the consequence of which is that a site previously used as a model for overseas fact finders now has grass growing all over the roof. In addition to the pay insult, picketers have been unhappy about a number of issues at the site. There is widespread bullying by management (including threatening middle managers with the sack if they went on strike), and unilateral decisions taken, such as to change shifts and deploy workers to other sites. The petty attitude of management is exemplified by a previous round of negotiations, in Hatherleigh, when in response to an unofficial overtime ban, managers refused to meet with and speak to shop stewards situated in another room. The union officials had to act as messengers and go-betweens!

In response to our comments on the picket line that the workers themselves should run the shipyard, pickets gave examples of management incompetance and short-term thinking. For instance, apprentices were not allowed to go on day release to college, the skills base is kept narrow, and civilian contracts have been turned down.

It is clear that private ownership cannot develop and safeguard the future of the shipyard in Appledore. We renew our call for the nationalisation of the yard and for its placement under democratic workers control.

We also reaffirm our complete support and solidarity for this action, which has remained solid, with as many as 50 on the picket line at times. Unanimous support has also come from the Confederation of Ship Building and Engineering Unions (CSEU).

We would like to make a solidarity appeal, for support and donations to the Appledore shipyard workers. If you would to express your support or to make a donation to the strike fund, please email North Devon Socialist Party at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com and we will give you the details of how to help, and pass on your messages.

Socialism 2008 report

2008-11-10T20:53:00.005Z

On Saturday, members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Students from across Devon descended on London for the Socialist Party's annual weekend of debate and discussion, Socialism 2008.

The Devon delegation attended sessions on the two days covering topics as varied as the environment, how to build a revolutionary party, racism, China, the 1978/79 Iranian revolution, how to fight the BNP, how to build in the unions and many others.

As always, the level of discussion, both from the introducing speaker and those attending sessions, was very high. There were many matters to debate, and contributions made, all in a freindly and inclusive manner.

On the Saturday night, the rally saw speakers from Britain and all over the world share their experiences and analyses of the changing world situation. The theme was that 'Marx was right', as the economic crisis -and our prediction that it would occur - clearly shows. A worker from the Ford Transit plant in Southampton explained how he and his co-workers had acted, in the face of indifference from the official union structures, to organise what has become a prominent campaign to save the plant and their jobs.

In the wake of her excellent result in the USDAW general secretary elections, Robbie Segal explained the lessons of the campaign, which found real resonance with shop workers despite the attempts of the official pro-New Labour union bureaucracy to suppress her candidacy. She will soon be standing for the Presidency of the union, and shortly we will be carrying details of how you can help the campaign to democratise the union and improve the lot of some of Britain's most exploited and bullied workers.

The recently elected Deputy Youth Mayor for Lewisham, Natalie Powell-Davies, gave us an insight into how she won the support of so many young people with clarity and passion, demonstrating that young people can be won over with a clear, campaigning, practical programme and someone who is sure to provide a strong voice for them.

There was a real international flavour to the rally also, with speakers also from Greece, Germany, Italy and China. In Greece, mass protests and militancy have led to the development of a new left force, SYRIZA. Nikos Anastasiadis, from Xekinima, our sister organisation in that country, presented an inspiring video of the struggles that have taken place before outlining the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Fang Guoli from China, outlined the critical role that genuine revolutionaries and Trotskyists have to play in China, and cautioned against despondency that we 'are in winter' as one day 'it will be spring'.

As most years, there were rousing and often amusing contributions from Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, and Tony Mulhearn of the Liverpool 47, who reminded us of what a genuine workers party could achieve, with the Liverpool struggle's legacy still standing 'in bricks and mortar'.

Janice Godrich brought solidarity greetings from the International Socialists in Scotland, and outlined the effects that a socialist leadership could have in a trade union, in this case the PCS (civil servants union), of which Janice is the President. The left wing leadership of the PCS has radically democratised the union and involved rank and file members in activity and campaigning like never before in that union. As a consequence, its membership is growing and it has achieved notable successes for its members which many predicted were 'impossible'.

In a similar vein, Onay Kasab, a Socialist Party member in UNISON, related the possibilities opened up when a principled branch leadership delivers for its members. Against a backdrop of many council workers receiving quite significant wage cuts, Greenwich UNISON, which Kas is the secretary of, secured a deal which meant that not a single worker had their pay reduced, while some had substantial increases. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, Kas and three other Socialist Party members are currently facing disciplinary action at the hands of the union hierarchy, on trumped up charges as part of a witchhunt against left activists in the union. To find out more and offer your support, please visit the 'Defend the Four' website, located here.

The final rally on the Sunday afternoon saw the future of political representation for working class people discussed by Cllr. Dave Nellist (of the Socialist Party, and chair of the Campaign for a New Workers' Party), comedian and author Mark Steel (formerly of the Socialist Workers Party), Kevin Ovenden (of Respect) and Hannah Sell (deputy general secretary of the Socialist Party). There was a friendly atmosphere, and consensus that the need for an alternative to the pro-capitalist policies of the three main establishment parties was needed now, more than ever.

Socialism is always a fascinating, morale boosting, informative event. This year more than ever this was transfused by a spirit of defiance and fightback, that we will not pay for the crisis the bosses and the banks have created.

4th November North Devon Branch meeting report

2008-11-05T19:46:00.003Z

Members and non-members of North Devon Socialist Party gathered last night in Barnstaple, and enjoyed extensive discussions about the American elections, building the left in the US and in Britain, and future activities of North Devon Socialist Party.

JL, introducing the discussion on the American elections, noted the importance of the grassroots movements built up by Barack Obama and Ralph Nader (the independent pro-worker candidate). He reiterated the political positions and likely acts of the incoming President Obama, including making the American working class pay for the economic crisis caused by the capitalists, as well as continuing with the substance of Bush's imperialist foreign policy, albeit with a different focus and Clinton-style charm and superficial multilateralism. He emphasised the need for the movement built by Nader to continue to organise on 'November 5th and beyond' to build an independent pro-worker force, preferably moving towards forming a workers party with other elements including peace campaigner Cindy Sheehan.

Those present agreed with the characterisation of the Democrat Party as just a wing of the capitalist party in the US, the Republicans being the other wing. The mass movement backing Obama were set for disappointment, and it would be the task of the left in America to engage with those people, and patiently explain the need for a break with the Democrats.

Concerns were raised about the scale of the task facing the American left, and certainly the challenges of organising and building on a continental scale are great, but there was consensus at the meeting that there was no alternative, and the best we could do in Britain and Europe would be to offer practical and political support to our American comrades. In addition, we need to work towards establishing our own workers party in Britain, emulating and learning the lessons of the tremendous efforts in Germany and France in this respect.

There then followed industrial and student reports, in which our support for the Appledore shipyard workers was reiterated, and an update was provided on the efforts to build the Shop Stewards Network in North Devon.

Support the Appledore shipyard workers

2008-11-02T19:14:00.003Z

On Friday, workers at Appledore shipyard took part in the first of six days of strike action, which will continue tomorrow and every Friday and Monday after that up until the 17th November.

Every worker involved in shipbuilding was out, reflecting the anger at their treatment by owners Babcock Marine, and the strong union presence at the yard. Babcock Marine, who also own Devonport Dockyard, pay the workers much less at Appledore, and also do not provide them with a pensions representative or workplace nurse.

Wages in North Devon are lower than the average for Devon and nationally, and it seems Babcock Marine have been taking advantage of this to exploit the Appledore workers for years. Extensive negotiations by the GMB and Unite representatives brought no significant concessions from Babcock Marine, and there has been no comment from the company on the strike action. However, Appledore workers are not known to shirk from a fight - the shipyard has been constantly threatened over the past thirty years, being nationalised by the then Industry Minister Tony Benn in the 1970s, and being taken over by the workers in 2003 when it was temporarily closed by the then owners.

Babcock Marine have threatened workers with closure in response to the strike action, even though they only ask to be paid at the same rate as their counterparts in Plymouth.

North Devon Socialist Party has expressed its support and solidarity for the industrial action, and also point out that the best way to safeguard the future of the shipyard for the workers and their families is to nationalise the yard and place it under the control of the workers. They can develop a plan of production to meet the needs of producing ships for civilian use as well as safeguard their own livelihoods, as part of a democratically planned economy locally, nationally and internationally.

Exeter Socialist Party - November programme

2008-10-31T19:46:00.003Z

Venue: Exeter Community Centre, Heavitree Room, St Davids Hill, Exeter

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=st+davids+hill+exeter&countryCode=GB

Tuesdays, 7.30pm

Tuesday 4th November

Today's economic crisis: can we compare it to the 1930s? Recession or depression?

Tuesday 11th November

The Campaign for a New Workers Party -as New Labour shows its hand in helping Capitalism, who will represent the working class?

Tuesday 18th November

The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: Propaganda – truth is lost – are the wars lost for Imperialism?

Tuesday 25th November

To be announced

Exeter Socialist Party also has weekly a table stall in Exeter High St on Saturdays at 12 noon and holds Public Meetings and campaigns on local and national issues.

Further information on the Socialist Party is available at our national website http://www.socialistparty.org.uk or locally: http://socialistpartydevon.blogspot.com/ or by contacting the Secretary on 07890630221

How the decontamination threat was averted - lessons from UNISON's successful campaign

2008-10-30T20:22:00.002Z

In the wake of their successful campaign to stop the privatisation of Sterile Services departments across the south west, UNISON South West has published a review of the campaign they ran. It is an excellent guide to how a union should go about campaigning to defend public services.

We publish here several of the key lessons of the campaign -

- Get involved in any formal groups set up by the public body. UNISON accepted a place on the Human Resources group established by the NHS Trusts and attended the meetings of it. While the group had no power, it enabled the UNISON rep Graham Parrish to gather information "about the project, the bid parameters and...the companies who were bidding". They also attended meetings with the companies involved, which enabled them to analyse the likely consequences for staff and understand the weaknesses of the scheme.

- Establish links with other relevant unions, branch officials and stewards and the staff concerned themselves. An email list was established for quick and easy communication and use was made of video conferencing facilities to share information and coordinate action.

- Meetings were arranged with workers (members and non-members) to "advise them on their rights and to establish their views on the possible transfer and to involve them in campaigning".

- A detailed case was built up against the proposal, including the impact on staff, clinical standards, practicalities, the environment and finances.

- A public campaign was built and the media was used to promote the cause. Information was fed to the BBC who covered the issue on the national news.

- The case was made to professional bodies, such as the Royal College of Nursing, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Surgeons. These bodies all came out either in outright opposition to the plans or expressing serious reservations.

- A petition was established, in hard copy and on the internet.

- MPs were lobbied, including Health Minister and Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw.

- The argument was made FOR the present arrangement, in terms of its effectiveness and financially.

- A Freedom of Information request was put in which established the £1 million pound bribe the Department of Health was offering Trusts in order to buy them over to the scheme.

- An Equality Impact assessment was sought from the Trusts identifying the impact on the predominantly female and part-time workforce.

- Attempts were made to influence Trusts, and Trust board members. This helped the campaign to find out which Trusts were unconvinced by the scheme, providing a morale boost and information to build the case against the plans.

- The postcard scheme got all staff and the public involved, providing for Trust Chief Executives the arguments of the campaign, as well as illustrating the strength of feeling.

As the attempt to 'outsource' Sterile Supplies is a national policy, UNISON South West has sent it's reflections on the campaign to other areas still facing the threat.

The menace of privatisation stalks all the public sector though, and hopefully the lessons of a successful campaign can help in other areas also.

Critical to supplementing the industrial struggles will be a political voice for the working class, in the form of a new workers' party, which could link all these excellent campaigns together and campaign for an end to privatisation and cuts in the public sector, and for public services to be democratically run in the public sector for people's needs, not private greed.

New service for housing and debt advice + useful contact information

2008-10-09T20:11:00.005Z

In a timely move, Ilfracombe Citizens Advice Bureau has established a team of specialist legal advisers on housing, mortgage and debt problems at the Ilfracombe Centre. Anyone who is experiencing problems including rent and mortgage arrears, or other housing or debt problems is encouraged to make an appointment. The phone number is (01237) 479222 (the specialists are provided by Bideford Citizens Advice Bureau).

Below is a list of Citizens Advice Bureaux across Devon, with their addresses and phone numbers. If you live outside Devon, the search facility on the Citizens Advice Bureau website can help you locate your nearest one.

As Citizens Advice is a charity, many of them rely on volunteers and have limited opening times, so please check opening times and whether you need an appointment.

Axminster - Lea Combe House, Lyme Close - 01404 44213

Barnstaple - Ground Floor, Belle Meadow Court, Albert Lane - 01271 377077

Bideford - 28a Bridgeland Street - 01237 473161

Brixham - Brixham Town Hall, New Road - 01803 297803

Bude and Holsworthy - Neetside, Bude - 01288 354531

Crediton - Council Office, Market Street - 01363 778410

Dawlish - Tunnicliffe, Barton Hill - 01626 864110

Exeter - Wat Tyler House, 3 King William Street - 0844 4994101

Exmouth - Town Hall, St Andrews Road - 01395 264645

Holsworthy (also see Bude and Holsworthy) - Manor Offices - 01409 253372

Honiton and East Devon - Honiton Library & Information Centre, 48-50 New Street, Honiton - 01404 44213

Ilfracombe - The Ilfracombe Centre, 44 High Street - 01271 377077

Ivybridge - The Town Hall - 01803 862392

Newton Abbot - Bank House Centre, 5b Bank Street - 01626 203141

Okehampton and West Devon - The Ockment Centre, North Street, Okehampton - 01837 52574

Paignton - 29 Palace Avenue - 01803 521726

Plymouth - 2nd Floor, Cobourg House, 32 Mayflower Street - 0844 826 717

Sidmouth - The Community Partnership, Mill St - 01404 44213

South Molton - The Library, 1 East Street - 01769 572342

Tavistock and West Devon - Kingdon House, North Street - 01822 612359

Teignmouth - Teignmouth Library, Fore Street - 01626 776770

Tiverton and Mid Devon - The Town Hall, St Andrew Street, Tiverton - 01884 234926

Torquay (Specialist Debt Advice - for other matters see Paignton) - 11 Castle Road - 01803 297803

Totnes and South Hams - The Cottage, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes - 01803 862392

Photos from Tolpuddle Festival

2008-10-09T16:55:00.004Z

As you can see from the pictures, the festival fell on one of the few good days of the Summer.

The event commemorates the Tolpuddle Martyrs, agricultural labourers who were sentenced to transportation to Australia for forming a union.

Organised by South West TUC, this year Devon Socialist Party had a stall.

All photos were taken by SB.

Help workers, not fat cats - save people's homes

2008-10-06T18:20:00.008Z

Remember the boom years, the 'nice decade' as the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King described it? It certainly was a nice decade for the so-called 'masters of the universe', who benefited to the tune of billions from the neoliberal counterrevolution that begun 30 years ago. Meanwhile, real wages for workers froze or declined, and public services were privatised and scaled back. Now, in the death throes of neoliberalism, the ones who made the mess are assured a soft landing by Governments on both sides of the Atlantic.

They will keep their mansions, and holiday homes. Meanwhile, ordinary workers in America and Britain are losing their homes. A report in today's Guardian revealed that the amount of repossessions of homes in the south west has recently increased dramatically. The report states that

"One repossession and eviction court in Penzance, west Cornwall, raced through 50 cases in one morning recently. In Barnstaple, north Devon, the last repossession court heard 26 cases - more than double the number before the credit crunch."

We would agree with Stephen Davis, of Torridge and Bude Citizens Advice Bureau, who blames "lower than average wages and above-average house prices". But the picture is much worse than suggested by even the outrageous ratios of average house price to average wage. The average wage given is heavily skewed by a small number of very high earners.

We have very high house prices in the south west (and nationally) for a number of reasons. Firstly, the amount of social housing has shrunk dramatically over the past 25 years, due to the Thatcher government's 'Right to Buy' scheme, the privatisation of council housing in many areas, and lack of funding and legal oportunities for local authorities to build new houses. Secondly, the availability of cheap and easy credit enabled certain parasites to buy up lots of housing and rent it out to recoup the mortgage costs and make some profit. This has led to the quality of private rented accommodation falling as the cost of it increases. Thirdly, the attractiveness of the area, and the enrichment of a small section of the population in the Thatcher-Major-Blair years has led to a boom in second home ownership, further reducing the amount of houses available, allowing sellers and estate agents to hike up prices.

The lack of availability of social housing and undesirability and expensiveness of private rented accommodation has led many people to buy their own homes. Many will have decided to buy for security, which obviously is absent in the private rental sector. The consequence of low wages, high house (and flat) prices, and the (now ended) willingness of the banks and other financial institutions to lend a large amount of money to people (the so-called 'sub-prime' mortgages), is now that ever higher numbers of people are losing their homes, and are now either living with relatives, in temporary accommodation or are homeless.

The solutions to the crisis will not be found in the City, Wall Street, the US Congress or the Houses of Parliament. The class war was long ago declared dead by the likes of the newly resurrected Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, but the Tories and New Labour have been waging it fiercely, in the interests of capitalists and their rotten system. The measures taken in these early stages of the economic crisis show that clearly. Nothing is done to help people turfed out of their own homes, yet the financial wizards are bailed out. Banks are nationalised as they are deemed 'too important to fall'. Yet MG Rover wasn't. Nor was Ford Dagenham. Or the many other businesses whose closures over the coming months will put thousands of workers out of work.

We must demand that all the banks and financial institutions are nationalised, with compensation provided only on the basis of proven need. People struggling to pay their mortgages will have their debt cancelled, and their house transferred to the ownership of the local authority, who will be obliged to rent the house at a minimal rate to them with absolute security of tenure, and be able to pass on the tenancy to a child. Bureaucratic restrictions placed on council tenants should be scrapped.

The restrictions on councils building houses should be removed. The housing associations, and homes belonging to private landlords, should be nationalised also, and those homes transferred to the local housing stock.

There should be a national council house building programme, funded from central government but carried out by local authorities. Local people should have a democratic say in how the new housing developments should take shape, and community facilities should be provided, including transport links, general stores, a Post Office, GP surgeries, health centres, schools and amenities.

The building and construction industries will need to be nationalised under the democratic control of the workers in that industry and the public as a whole. In a break from current practice, the new houses and flats would be built according to people's various needs, not to make vast profits.

Fundamental to all this is the need to replace the profit obsessed system of capitalism, which leads to perpetual crisis, and which on the upswing gives the wealthy all the lolly, and on the downswing, makes workers pay for the bosses folly.

Next week - Exeter and North Devon Branch Meetings

2008-10-04T12:39:00.004Z

Exeter Socialist Party Meeting

Date: Tuesday 7th October, 7.30pm

email socialistpartydevon@gmail.com for details of the venue.

Agenda includes discussion of trade union and industrial news, Socialist Students activities, our fuel poverty campaign and a discussion on the individual under capitalism introduced by SB.

North Devon Socialist Party Meeting

Thursday 9th October

7.30pm

Henry Williamson Room, Barnstaple Library

Agenda includes discussion of the National Shop Stewards Network, a report back from the Devon, Cornwall and Somerset aggregate meeting, Socialist Students and ISR campaigns, the fuel poverty campaign and a discussion on the roots of the current economic crisis introduced by JL.

Organising for action - first aggregate meeting of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

2008-09-28T18:04:00.005Z

Saturday marked the first aggregate meeting for Socialist Party members across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. The purpose of these meetings, to be held monthly, are to coordinate activity and organisation across what is a very large, sparsely populated area. The day's activity started with a stall in Exeter High Street, where our demand for the nationalisation of the oil, gas and electricity companies met with a positive response.

In the meeting itself, Tom Baldwin from Bristol Socialist Party and the National Committee introduced a session on the current economic crisis and the role of our party in the turbulent weeks, months and years ahead. Following this was a vigorous discussion, in which most who attended made contributions, ranging from the role of a revolutionary party in influencing events and bringing to the working class past experiences of struggle, which will be essential in the trying times ahead, to how the rising unemployment will affect people and their ability to fight back.

In the second session, JT analysed the recent work of the party, most notably in establishing new branches and campaigning in workplaces, colleges and universities, and outlined his view of how we should proceed over the coming months, and coordinate our work across the counties. In the debate that followed, action was decided upon and the future work of the party was thrashed out. We are entering times when it is necessary that we are at the top of our game, in defending workers and youth from the attempts by capitalist politicians to make us pay for the mess they and big business has created, through their wasteful, exploitative, crisis ridden system.

Meetings like this, with full and frank discussion aimed at working out how we can take effective, coordinated and organised action, will help the Socialist Party play an important role in the south west.

Socialist Party on the recession and banking crisis

2008-09-22T19:35:00.002Z

Below are two videos taken of an introduction given by South West Socialist Party regional secretary Robin Clapp at a Bristol branch meeting on the current economic crisis.

Part One -

Part Two -

More videos from South West Socialist Party can be found here.

Excellent result for Socialist candidate in USDAW election

2008-09-16T17:27:00.006Z

Socialist Party member Robbie Segal shook the entire shopworkers' union USDAW by gaining 40% of the vote for General Secretary in the ballot result announced today. Robbie is a Tesco worker who on shoe-string resources with a tiny band of activists in a David and Goliath battle faced the entire USDAW official machine. The whole right wing union full time bureaucracy was mobilised to crush her, but she still managed to gain over 18,000 votes winning the moral victory by far.

The incumbent, John Hannett, had the entire union behind him - except the members. He appears in the union journal and other union publications every month. Robbie was virtually unknown to most of the members other than those that have known her first-hand as a fighter over the years.

As an example, three NEC members were flown into the Central London branch meeting to argue against one Socialist Party member to secure the nomination of all the London branches for Hannett.

But Robbie's programme clearly appealed to the members by calling for an £8 minimum wage for all, no to partnership between the union and the employers- as there is in Tesco, for democracy within the union, and for an alternative to New Labour for ordinary people to have a party that genuinely represents them.

Robbie also pledged to reject the £100,000 Hannett took and to continue on her Tesco wage.

The result is in no way a ringing endorsement of the current leadership. The low turnout of 13.2% reflected the fact that Hannett did his very best to subdue the issue, by calling a summer election, calling no debates with Robbie and producing no other material other than the ballot paper and a letter to the branches demanding their support. Hannett's support cannot be seen as a vote of confidence in his performance in the job. In fact, quite the opposite.

This result, for a clearly socialist candidate in the USDAW General Secretary election is testimony to the changing mood in the unions.

USDAW has for many years been the bastion of the right wing with an avid New Labourite leadership. John Hannett pulled all the stops out to use the union bureaucratic machine in his favour for this election. Robbie's brave stand, under continual threats from the right wing, has given a voice to the ordinary members. This must be built for the future.

John Hannett: 27,320

Robbie Segal (Socialist candidate): 18,673

Total number that voted: 46,002 (out of 348,278 members)

To view Robbie's election video, go to www.socialistparty.org.uk/vids/robbie_segal.wmv

USDAW national public meeting to discuss the election results and plan for future action is this Saturday, 20th September, Lucas Arms, 245A Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8QZ. Nearest station, Kings Cross St Pancras. If you are interested in going to this meeting, you can contact Robbie by emailing robbie@robbiesegal.org or by phoning 07776 195 563.

Exeter Socialist Party meeting - Tuesday 16th September

2008-09-14T14:30:00.002Z

This coming Tuesday's Exeter branch meeting will be a busy one, discussing various activities, including coming worker's struggles, combatting the BNP and building in the College and at the University. There will also be a discussion introduced by WH, the subject being 'Socialism and Internationalism are intertwined'.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm and will be held as always in the Exeter Community Centre, on St David's Hill. For more details please contact us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com.

The real housing crisis - low wages, high rents and mortgages

2008-09-13T20:20:00.008Z

Research published by the Halifax Bank has named four Devon districts as having the least affordable housing in the country. North Devon comes out worse, with the average house prices being 9.1 times the average yearly wage. East Devon, Teignbridge and the South Hams are the others in the top 10 named by Halifax. Devon (and Cornwall, which also figures in the top 10) suffers from a combination of low wages, lack of social housing, and extensive second home ownership.

The shire counties were the test bed for the mass privatisation of council housing via 'Arms-Length Management Organisations' or ALMOs, also known as Housing Associations. The then Tory government thought that it would be easier to push through in rural areas, which generally it was. New Labour has taken this to the large towns and cities, where it has met with a mixture of success and fierce resistance.

An exception in rural Devon (Exeter still has substantial council housing) is Mid Devon, where a local campaign, with significant involvement from a Socialist Party member in Tiverton, stopped the proposed privatisation of council housing stock. Needless to say, Mid Devon is not included among the most unaffordable districts.

Very little social housing is built now, and any that is built is unlikely to make much inroads into the waiting list of 1.6 million people who would like it. This number doesn't include those who don't add themselves to the waiting list, because they know that realistically they will never get it.

Thatcher's scheme of allowing council tenants to buy their homes (Right To Buy) decimated the national council housing stock. Many of the council homes sold have ended up in the hands of unscrupulous speculators who have been part of the 'buy to let' trend encouraged by the years of house price increases and readily available credit from banks. Both of these conditions are now largely a thing of the past, but the vast polarisation of wealth that the Tories and New Labour have helped to increase means that there are still plenty of private landlords out there, renting out rooms in shared houses to individuals families that ten years ago would have been able to live in a three bed semi for the same rent.

We now have a situation where it is incredibly difficult to either buy a house or rent one cheaply from the council, putting more and more people at the mercy of these unregulated landlords. The real housing crisis in Britain today is not the declining house prices, a problem mainly for the middle classes who see where they live as an investment rather than a place to live. It is the countless workers and their families who have to work increasingly harder to pay extortionate rents and mortgages on quite modest dwellings. It is the sheer shortage of housing that in rural areas in Devon mean people cannot live where they grew up or work, and in urban areas mean increased tensions as racist politicians, not limited to the BNP but including New Labour, exploit it to stir up divisions amongst the working class.

Hypocritically, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government in the wake of the report, but they are equally to blame. The housing policies of the three main parties are fundamentally the same when they have power at national and local level.

The Socialist Party (and it's predecessor Militant) is quite different, as the record of Liverpool City Council in the 1980s, in which Militant councillors played a leading role in a Labour administration, shows. The city's council housing stock was comprehensively modernised, with families moved from tenements and flats to houses with front and back gardens, in addition to thousands of houses and flats being improved.

The demands we have today are very reasonable:

- A mass national house building programme, the homes to be of a high standard, with gardens, and with a range of sizes.

- The houses to be owned by the local council, who will not be permitted to sell them. All income from rents to be ringfenced and used for maintenance, upkeep and the construction of new homes.

- Council lease to allow for the homes to be passed from generation to generation, security of tenure, and for residents to modify and decorate their homes without having to jump through bureaucratic hoops.

- Housing estates and new towns to have dedicated public transport links such as train stations and bus stops and routes.

- Infrastructure such as schools, GP and dental surgeries, health centres, parks, Post Offices and local shops to be built alongside new housing.

- End to council tax rebate for second homes. Nationalisation of any homes that are not the primary house of a person or family, with compensation provided on the basis of proven need.

- Increase the minimum wage to £8 per hour and restore trade union rights to enable workers to fight for better economic and social conditions.

- For the creation of a new workers' party to campaign for these demands, and lead the fightback against neo-liberalism, privatisation and the rule of profit in general.

Successful first meeting of North Devon Socialist Party

2008-09-07T19:30:00.002Z

Last Thursday marked the first meeting of the Socialist Party’s new North Devon branch. New members from Barnstaple (pictured left) and Braunton, a mixture of youth and experience, met in Barnstaple Library to listen to an introduction given by Robin Clapp, the South West regional secretary.

The introduction was wide ranging, from the current economic situation to the role of the Socialist Party locally, nationally and (for the CWI) internationally. This was followed by a discussion of how the Socialist Party could work in the current climate to get our ideas across and shape events, which all who attended contributed to. There was agreement with Robin’s point about our work, in workplaces, colleges, and the wider world, was about a dialogue with working class people, listening being as important as getting our own views and analysis of events across.

We discussed how the party would build in North Devon, a large rural area with dispersed population, low union membership and no real history of left activity. It was agreed that our activities needed to be centred around helping youth and workers to organise, at the local Further Education College, individual workplaces and unions and through setting up a local branch of the National Shop Stewards Network. In addition to leading the fightback against low pay and exploitation at work, the point was raised that young people in particular need help in combatting the growing authoritarianism of the police and local councils.

Ambitious but achievable targets have been set for raising fighting fund and attending national and regional events, new members being very keen to learn more and get active. We are a small branch, aware of the challenges as well as opportunities of working as socialists in Britain in 2008. We are optimistic about the impact we can have in North Devon, while realising that it will take consistent hard work and patience to achieve what we want to.

Coastguards strike over bank holiday in pay protest

2008-09-05T13:47:00.002Z

On 23 August, 700 PCS members in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency went on a 48-hour strike over pay. Sean Brogan, an ex-marine radio officer, from Teignmouth, Devon, reports:

The refusal of this government to negotiate with those workers who watch out for the safety of lives at sea led to closure of the Brixham station in south Devon over the busiest bank holiday of the year.

Wages are £9,000 below the equivalent in the ambulance service after six year's service. With a starting salary of £12,000, how can anyone expect to live never mind find accommodation?

Emergency workers face very strong dilemmas when choosing to go on strike. The 'right' and the 'good' sit in judgement condemning such action as immoral and unjustified.

MPs seem to need five times as much as us to live on, never mind the expenses of ten times that amount and the free meals that are thrown in.

The refusal of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to have meaningful negotiations over pay is part of New Labour's strategy to make workers pay for the recession. The myth that wage increases cause inflation was buried by Marx 150 years ago but just like they did in the 1970s, the rich and their representatives are desperate to blame anyone but themselves for inflation.

They are prepared to allow our coastguard stations to be manned by managers with very little operational experience, putting lives at risk.

Russia and Georgia - new articles

2008-08-26T20:37:00.003Z

Two new essential articles are now on the Devon Socialist Party articles website.

Written by our sister organisation in Russia, it concerns Georgia and our analysis of the recent conflict there. Please take the time to visit the site and read the articles.

Making football fairer - one way to help level the playing field

2008-08-25T14:49:00.003Z

At the moment, the success of a football club is largely determined by its resources. In the Premier League and Football League, this means that clubs without a rich chairman or very large stadium cannot hope to compete at the very highest level. Clubs promoted to the Premiership have the main ambition of staying there rather than actually winning anything.

The top four, who all qualify for the Champions League, is effectively the preserve of the same four clubs every season. The seperation of this top four from the rest of the league has even led to bookmakers offering odds on who will be the ‘best of the rest’ and finish fifth. Everton fans enjoyed winning that particular ‘league’ last season. Outside of the top two divisions, Leagues One and Two seem to be determined by who has received points deductions for financial problems, and how severe those deductions are. Luton’s decent record of a win, a draw and a defeat has translated into -26 points so far. They will need to get the sort of points a play off contender would accrue just to stay in the league.

While there are certain reforms that could redress the balance slightly, nothing short of the replacement of capitalism with socialism could make the Premier and Football League game resemble fairness. At non-league level though, the financial resources are more evenly spread. There are the odd clubs who have a wealthy owner which propels them artificially to success, but this is generally unsustainable and eventually the club either goes bust or sinks to a more ‘natural’ level. Truro fans should enjoy it while it lasts. Generally at non-league level the success of a club rests on using limited resources well. This means clubs rely on the efforts of volunteers, and also on the gate money that they receive. Expenditures that would be insignificant to a Football League club tend to make up a high percentage of outgoings. Travel to away games is a case in point.

For a competition to be fair, certain factors have to be equal. For example, athletes competing in the 100m sprint have to start at the same position and cross the same finishing line. The lanes have to be of the same width. But not all factors have to be equal. The clothes and shoes worn don’t have to be. Nor do the athletes’ training and dietary regimes. It is a subjective judgment what needs to be kept equal for fairness, but it generally involves factors that the actions of the individual or team competing cannot change.

In football things that a club can change (or influence) are the environment (ground etc.), attendances, coaching and management, tactics, style of play and players. Something a club cannot change is its geographical location. Sure, it can move from one part of town to another, but it generally does not move town or county. The obvious exception to this is the MK Dons, the plastic football club which usurped Wimbledon’s place in the Football League. Since AFC Wimbledon is generally recognised to be the same club as the Wimbledon which won the FA Cup in 1988, and MK Dons an ugly American-style franchise the product of an egomaniac and a town that could not be bothered to actually earn a place in the Football League by winning promotions, it can be ignored. Football clubs are rooted in their own particular area, be it a village, suburb, whole town or even district. They cannot be moved out of that particular area, and if they are they can no longer be considered to be that same club, but a newly founded one.

Travel costs are a product of (an unchangeable) geographical location and are far from equal between clubs at the moment. They therefore be considered to be something which would need to be kept roughly the same. Money taken up in paying for travel will likely take money away from other areas of the club, such as player wages or expenses, coaching and ground improvements. They may also necessitate the increasing of admission prices. Travel costs often put clubs off seeking promotion. Bideford AFC, stung by their financial problems in the 1970s largely caused by travel costs when they were in the Southern League, have not sought promotion to a higher level despite success in recent years. Clubs in Cornwall are also reluctant to seek promotion for this same reason. The fact that the only Cornish club to do so in recent years, Truro City, have been bankrolled by a multimillionaire, confirms this.

So, can the burden of travel costs be shared more fairly? A possible solution is outlined below:

1. Mileages between clubs in a league are calculated. The total mileage per season can then be worked out, then divided that by the number of weeks in the season, and then by the number of clubs in the league.

2. Every week, the cost of a mile’s travel will be calculated using the latest fuel prices. This will be necessary to take account of changing fuel prices.

3. Every club whose average mileage per week is less than the average for the entire league will pay a sum into a central pot, administered by the league, equivalent to how much they are below, multiplied by the fuel costs for team travel determined for that week.

4. Every club whose average mileage per week is above the average for the whole league gets paid the difference, multiplied by the fuel costs determined for that week out of the central pot.

The advantages of this scheme are many. An unchangeable and unfair situation which can contribute to the success or failure of a team is taken out the equation. The geographically well positioned team pays the same fuel costs as the geographically isolated team. Teams will be more likely to be promoted because of what happens on the pitch rather than an accident of geography. Another advantage is that the scheme will be easy to administer, only requiring an Excel spreadsheet and a league chequebook. There may be opposition from the teams who are currently at an unfair advantage, but they will have few legitimate arguments about the fairness and simplicity of the scheme.

Socialists seek to transform society in a profound way by removing capitalism, the system which relies on the exploitation of the many to provide riches for the few, producing inequality, authoritarianism, instability and war. We seek to replace that with socialism, based on cooperation and collaboration, equality, liberty and democracy in every aspect of human society. But we also seek to improve things in the here and now. Sport is an essential part of society, and there is nothing wrong with healthy competitiveness, and the rollercoaster of emotions that supporting a football team can bring. It is only right that we seek to make things fairer now, and one small way to do is what I have outlined in this article.

Devon Socialist Party will be sending these proposals to Philip Hiscox, Secretary of the South West Peninsula League, a competition for teams across Devon and Cornwall.

BNP out of Devon!

2008-08-17T18:51:00.003Z

According to the Express & Echo, the BNP recently held a 'secret meeting' of up to 100 people in Broadclyst, near Exeter. The meeting was organised by one Colin Fribbens, a Parish Councillor who runs a local youth group. The meeting has caused a storm of controversy, with letters flying in to the Echo, mostly from BNP supporters, and local parents removing their kids from the youth group. A couple have also complained to the local authority about being intimidated by BNP canvassers in Broadclyst.

Some of the letters in support of the BNP have been ridiculous, and it seems there are a lot of people being taken in by the BNP's propaganda, accepting it at face value. These people need to be educated as to the nature of the BNP as an organisation, as this is a Party whose leading members nationally have a combined total running to well over 100 convictions for a huge range of offences including gun and knife crime, explosives offences, violent assaults, racist assaults, domestic violence and armed robbery. The BNP is not only a racist and certainly formerly an openly fascist organisation, it is also chock full of thugs, and racist and violent attacks generally increase where there is BNP activity.

One woman- Jane Holmes of Exeter, writes she has "Fear of a terrorist bomb attack" in Exeter, as if the BNP will somehow protect her from this. She seems unaware that the London Nail Bomber, David Copeland, was a member of the BNP and even acted as a Steward at some of their meetings. He carried out a 13 day bombing campaign across London in 1999, the bombs killed three, including a pregnant woman, and injured 129, four of whom lost limbs. No warnings were given. I was in Brixton High Street in 1999 when the bomb there detonated and witnessed the carnage first hand. I have seen the violence at rallies and marches organised by the BNP, and have met the victims of vicious racist attacks conducted by BNP thugs. When asked his motivation for carrying out the bombings against Black & Bengali Communities, Copeland replied "Because I don't like them, I want them out of this country, I'm a national socialist, Nazi, whatever you want to call me, I believe in the master race."

Another woman who attended the meeting, Vicky O'Hara, from Ottery St Mary, says that they are all 'nice people'. She would do well to understand the nature of the organisation she and her husband are getting involved with. The BNP's annual 'Red, White and Blue Festival' has been held at a number of locations, and features performances from skinhead bands and attracts crowds of football hooligans sporting swastika tattoos and giving Nazi salutes. There has been violence associated with every event.

The BNP have sought, in the last decade, to bury these truths about their nature, and to apply a thin veneer of respectability to their activities. They have dropped marches and rallies and abandoned (at least openly) their paramilitary activities. But they are still a Party of hate, and they offer no solutions for the people of Devon. Look at their dismal record where they have been elected to Councils: in Burnley two Councillors were convicted for violent offences and one resigned stating: "I keep asking myself how could I have been so stupid as to have anything to do with them." In Blackburn a Councillor left the BNP after complaining about the drug dealers and football hooligans who dominated his local BNP branch. He also criticised the Burnley BNP councillors as useless. No BNP Councillor has successfully moved a motion to assist local people in any way on any Council on which they are represented, and their attendance records are dismal.

We have to combat the growing number of people in Devon getting conned into believing the BNP's lies and half truths, revealing to them the truth about the Party they are joining, so that they understand what they are getting themselves into. I don't believe most of these individuals clearly understand the nature of the beast, and consider the BNP as a political alternative, as Socialists we have to fight back with ideas, offering a far more clear and appealing alternative for the people of Devon.

Article by SB, a Socialist Party member in Tiverton.

Decontamination threat - averted!

2008-08-17T18:37:00.004Z

The tide of privatisation and marketisation has been halted in Devon, with the news that Northern Devon Healthcare Trust will not be contracting out it's Sterile Supplies work to private company Decon Sciences. This means that the proposal, which was once supported by 10 trusts in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, is now dead.

The health union UNISON ran an excellent campaign, and gathered support from the public as well as healthcare workers. The idea of a postcard sending campaign to the Chief Executive clearly worked. The clinical risks of the venture were spelt out forcefully, and ultimately worked to force the Trust's hand.

In order to try and force it through, the Government promised £1 million to each Trust if they took part. The growing unpopularity of privatisation meant that even with this giant bribe, the move didn't go ahead. The Trusts must now link together to campaign to get this cash, which is obviously available, to fund overstretched services.

While the proposal has been defeated, it is clear that there is still some uncertainty, and the Trust has said that in the 'middle-term' other options might be explored. They didn't state what the 'middle-term' meant, but it may well be that an attempt will be made again to privatise a service provided by NHS staff. We celebrate this victory, but are aware that there may be more battles to come.

Textual Healing - A Review of 'What's Going On' by Mark Steel

2008-08-13T18:27:00.012Z

The new book by Mark Steel, the socialist and comedian perhaps best known for his excellent 'Mark Steel Lectures' and occasional appearances on shows such as 'Have I Got News for You' and 'Mock the Week', is written in the engaging, entertaining and light style that made his previous books such a joy to read. The formula of outlining a ridiculous situation and then taking a logical - and humourous - leap is present and obvious as always, though no less effective for that. Humour and analogy are perhaps the best ways we have of outlining the absurdities of many aspects of life under capitalism that people might take for granted or not question.

Where 'What's Going On' really departs from his previous work is in the tone and mood. Even when recounting defeats and setbacks in his earlier books, there was not the mood of melancholy that appears regularly in this one. The reason for this is the subject matter - a midlife crisis involving the breakdown of two of his most important relationships, with his wife and with the party (the Socialist Workers Party or SWP) that he was a member of for nearly 30 years.

The key theme running through is one of change, and not necessarily for the better. His marriage like so many starts off bright, but gradually the problems mount and he ends up sleeping on the settee. He sees the SWP change from the party he perceived it to be to one that has lost its way. He also mulls a lot about changes in Britain, particularly how the need to make a profit out of everything has changed the idea of public service, and how modern working practices turn human beings into a product on a factory line. He recounts the late Linda Smith's description of work in an apple pie factory. The apple pies became known as 'little f*ckers' to one of the workers, no longer an apple pie but simply a product, one that keeps coming along the production line, giving him no respite. Steel compares being served in a cafe or getting through to a call centre to this production line, where the customer is simply a product, and the worker has to work through a checklist of things he or she needs to ask or say. No room for human interaction or initiative.

Running through a thread in the book is the unspoken fear that he may be changing. He seems to live in a middle-class neighbourhood and regularly rubs shoulders with celebrities such as Bob Monkhouse, who bizarrely struck up a friendship with Steel shortly before he died, starting when he praised Steel's book 'Reasons to be Cheerful' (a book charting his experiences as a revolutionary socialist), which he had received as a gift from Jeremy Beadle! It is clear though that politically, Steel hasn't changed much, though his interests and concerns will obviously differ from many workers, as a result of his fame and (relative) wealth, though he does get irritated by the (apparently incorrect) suggestion by right wing controversialist Dr David Starkey that he earns a six-figure sum.

He does outline quite perceptively the subtle mechanisms the British ruling class has to bring people into the system, ostensibly to neuter them. Attending a party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Independent newspaper, he is surprised to see Gordon Brown, the then chancellor, praise the newspaper to the hilt, despite it being opposed to the Iraq war, which Brown of course financed. There might be cross words, but fundamentally the Establishment is a fairly cosy club. This leads into a discussion of the way, through gossip, charm and positions on meaningless and powerless bodies, the Establishment wins rebels over. The now ex-rebel, once in the system, tries to go deeper and deeper in to try and exercise some power and influence, but ultimately fails. By way of illustration, Steel paints the picture of former left-wing anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain on the phone to Labour MPs to persuade them to vote for the renewal of the Trident nuclear missiles.

While his passages on the breakup of his marriage are thoughtful and moving, laced with a bittersweet humour, some of the more revealing passages appear in the later stages of the book, dealing with the break up of Respect and the bad behaviour on both sides of the split, from George Galloway and his supporters and the SWP. Despite now being associated with the Galloway Respect (known as Respect Renewal to many), he has some harsh criticisms of the Bethnal Green and Bow MP, many of which we would agree with. The ludicrous spectacle of Galloway in the Big Brother house loomed large, but even more significant than his unpleasant behaviour on live TV was the fact that none of the leading members of Respect (including SWP big cheese John Rees, who Steel only refers to as 'the National Secretary of Respect') knew about Galloway's entry into the show, or rebuked him after it. He did not behave the way a socialist MP should behave in many ways, and was not held accountable to the democratic structures in the party he was in.

Steel does not mention the fact that Galloway is the third highest earning MP, up there with the likes of William Hague and Ann Widdecombe. The Socialist Party has a policy that all its elected representatives should earn the average wage of the workers they represent. The late Terry Fields MP only took his firefighters wage when he entered parliament. The other Militant MPs did the same, taking only the average wage of a skilled worker in their constituency and donating the rest back to the workers movement. This is critical. How is an MP supposed to properly represent and work in the interests of their working class constituents if they live in the Westminster pay and expenses bubble, and don't know what it's like to have to think about bills and other concerns?

Of course, at the time, the SWP leadership did not say boo to Galloway. Rather than build on a principled, if slower, basis, the SWP were prepared to stay hitched to Galloway because he gave (and gives) Respect a media profile. But Steel also doesn't address the problems inherent in Respect from the beginning, that of being a party that was not a union of workers parties, organisations and campaigns, but a coalition with other groups and individuals outside of the working class. Respect was for a time making claims to be the 'Muslim party'. Now, there's nothing wrong with trying to attract disaffected working class Muslims who may have been radicalised (leftwards) by the 'war on terror'. But Respect was trying to recruit all Muslims, regardless of class. The SWP used to have the slogan during the Cold War, 'neither Washington nor Moscow'. Now they were effectively saying 'both the factory worker and the factory owner'.

With both the factory workers and factory owners, Respect was never a viable proposition for the liberation of the working class. It was a textbook example of a popular front, an organisation containing both workers and bourgeois parties, organisations and individuals. A key cornerstone of Marxism is the independence of the working class and their organisations. If this independence is compromised, by entering into a popular front, defeat is inevitable, as the front gets pulled by the bourgeois elements away from where it needs to go to fight effectively for the working class. This contributed to the defeat of the Spanish Republic to General Franco's fascists in the 1930s. In the 2000s it meant Respect didn't put forward a taxation policy in one election because they didn't want to upset supporters and voters who were businessmen. One council candidate, when asked by a journalist what he thought of trade unions, hesistated and then answered that he thought anything that boosted trade was good. This year, three Left List (the SWP's post-Respect organisation, now called Left Alternative) councillors defected to New Labour. Previously, an SWP councillor elected under the Respect banner defected to the Tories.

The most revealing chapters of the book were the ones dealing with how the SWP precipitated, and disastrously mishandled, the split from the rest of Respect centred around George Galloway. It perhaps wouldn't be right of me to recount all the examples of the behaviour that eventually led Steel to resign his membership, but a few examples highlight where the SWP have been going wrong. I think the most damning comment I can make is that the behaviour of the SWP leadership makes Galloway look innocent and virtuous in comparison.

The split began when Galloway circulated criticisms of the work of high-up SWP people in Respect. He suggested that someone be employed to work alongside the National Secretary, John Rees. The criticisms were constructive and aimed at improving the effectiveness of the party. But the SWP reaction was to go nuclear. Soon they were circulating petitions talking about a 'witchhunt'. One SWP member, to the approval of others in the audience of a meeting held to discuss the 'witchhunt', compared it to the military coup in Chile in 1973, which resulted in the torture and murder of tens of thousands of people, and the installation of a vicious right wing military dictatorship.

Members who criticised the party line on the 'witchhunt' were informed that they couldn't submit articles to the party's newspaper Socialist Worker, because according to party records, they weren't members. This Stalinist tactic of declaring anyone who dissented a 'non-member', is doubly laughable given the SWP's incredibly lax standards when it comes to claiming membership figures. People who have very definitively told the party that they don't want to be a member are included in membership lists, including people who have signed petitions. This reflects the SWP's opportunism in trying to boost membership numbers, either by recruiting people who later don't blink as they join the Tories, or just adding anyone to the rolls who smiled at an SWP member in the Post Office. It also reflects an anti-democratic culture inside the SWP. One SWP member once told me that the Socialist Party is 'too democratic'. What he means by too democratic is that we have vigorous debates over all sorts of issues and then take a democratic vote to determine the party's tactics, strategy and policy. Guilty as charged.

Ultimately, the consequences of the Respect adventure have been disastrous for the SWP. They have lost many members like Mark Steel. Some have joined George Galloway's Respect. Many more will have dropped out altogether, disillusioned. Fortunately, Steel doesn't seem to have given up, despite the dispiriting events in his personal and political life. An excellent, eye-opening and readable book, 'What's Going On' is by a man who has lost the certainties of his younger days, but hasn't lost his hope, despite hope often setting him up for a fall.

Review by JL, a Socialist Party member in North Devon. The views in the article are his alone, and not necessarily those of the Socialist Party.

USDAW Gen Sec Election - Vote Robbie Segal - Fight for a living wage; against partnership; fight for trade union democracy

2008-08-12T20:29:00.004Z

For too long, some of Britain's lowest paid and most exploited workers, those who work in shops and warehouses, have been in a union (USDAW) led by people that would rather cosy up to Tesco's and fund New Labour than fight for their members. Who would rather collect a fat salary with all the perks than take on the bullying bosses of the supermarkets. Who have worked against union democracy.

The campaigning group 'The USDAW Democrat' is standing Socialist Party member Robbie Segal (pictured) for General Secretary of USDAW. Robbie has been an USDAW Shop Steward for 21 years and is standing against the current General Secretary, who moved the date of the election to try and head off any competition. It didn't work as the popularity of Robbie and the campaign meant she is on the ballot paper.

USDAW members also have the chance to attend a conference for all those who oppose the direction of the union under the current leadership, to be held in London on Saturday 20th September. For more details, please contact Robbie at the email address found on her site. For Socialist Party trade unionists, elections are important, but the campaigning doesn't stop when the results are announced. The fight to transform our unions into effective, democratic voices for workers goes on all year round. If you are an USDAW member, please get in contact with us. If you aren't in a union, join one, organise, and let the fightback begin!

Robbie's campaign platform is:

A Living Wage: I will launch a campaign to fight for a living minimum wage of £8 per hour for all retail workers, from 16 years to retirement age. I will fight to link pensions to earnings.

Yes to National free collective bargaining - No to Partnership: I will re-establish Usdaw as an independent trade union. I will fight to restore our vote on pay and campaign to resist Tesco’s proposed 2% target for absence.

Fight for Union democracy: I will return power to the Union’s elected lay-member Executive Council and ensure proper EC minutes are produced as agreed by ADM.

For a General Secretary on a worker’s wage: I reject the wage and the benefits totalling over £100,000 that John Hannett, the General Secretary, receives and the General Secretary’s Jaguar car. I will take the wage that I earn as a Tesco worker and all necessary
expenses will be open to scrutiny so that any member can check them. The money released will be used to campaign for our members benefit.

Food or fuel? The choice now facing workers and pensioners this winter

2008-07-30T18:36:00.005Z

We are truly lucky to be living in an age of free market capitalism. Time and time again the unplanned chaotic 'hidden hand' pulls a rabbit out of the hat. Housebuilding slowing down when 3 million need to be built. Enough food to comfortably feed the whole world and yet there are shortages and starvation. And now, gas prices up 35%! Thank goodness everyone's pay (and benefit) rises are keeping in line with inflation....

British Gas made the announcement, citing the need to maintain their profits because of the increase in wholesale gas prices. While it is true that wholesale gas prices have increased recently, they were declining quite sharply over the course of 2006 and the start of 2007, and yet British Gas continued to increase the price of the gas it sold. The same is true for the other gas companies, who will no doubt follow suit with eye watering increases of their own in the wake of today's news.

In February of this year, British Gas announced that it made a profit of £571 million in 2007. Clearly this is not enough for the shareholders, who wish to freeze pensioners this winter to maintain and boost their income.

All privatisation and deregulation has done is increase the price of gas while enriching executives and shareholders. Any 'externalities' (consequences of a corporation's actions that do not impact on profit) are disregarded. These externalities include people struggling to pay fuel bills, squandering of finite natural resources by wasteful exploitation, damage to the environment and rank inefficiency and anarchy.

All the gas and energy companies should be nationalised immediately, with compensation paid only on the basis of proven need. The infrastructure and operations can then be harmonised and used according to a national energy plan determined democratically by gas and energy workers and the public at large. Massive investment in researching and developing renewable energy sources will enable non-renewable resources like oil and gas to be used only where they are needed, as a source of other chemicals and for heating, rather than the generation of electricity.

This will result in cheaper fuel, but also ensure that supplies are not squandered.
In addition, gas and oil must be stored in the event of shortages, not sold off for a quick buck as is presently done.

There is a rational, effective way to use natural resources, for the benefit of all and nature. The claims of pro-capitalist propagandists that their system is that way are looking increasingly threadbare and nonsensical.

Save our Post Offices campaign update

2008-07-24T19:39:00.004Z

Finally, the sham 'consultation' period is over, and as expected the Post Office has kept the hit list of Post Offices it wants closed largely intact.

We have been pressing Devon County Council to commit to saving the vast majority of the threatened Post Offices, as well as collecting names on a petition that will be presented to County Council leader Cllr. Brian Greenslade. The support for our campaign, particularly in the Exeter area, has been strong. In addition to local supporters, former Labour MP and Postmaster General Tony Benn also gave the campaign his backing.

The County Council's approach has been very weak to say the least. During the 'consultation' period it earmarked only 10 to keep open in its submission to the Post Office. A motion passed by the Council Executive earlier in the month contained only vague generalities and a committment to appoint a 'Project Worker'.

What the council needs is a bit of imagination and a bit of backbone. The Post Offices can be saved if the council steps in. These can be used as community facilities with sub-postmasters and mistresses given the opportunity to top up their income by undergoing training to perform council services closer to where people live. Council funds could also be used to develop the Post Offices to perform other functions - a local shop or coffee house perhaps. A democratic plan could have been drawn up by people living in the area served by the Post Office.

In response to lobbying by Devon Socialist Party, Brian Greenslade promised that Devon would react to the threat with a better plan than Essex's. Essex County Council saved the bulk of their threatened Post Offices. Unless Cllr. Greenslade and his associates have a rabbit up their sleeves, their 'better plan' of letting the Post Offices close seems a little underwhelming. The campaign will continue, as it will against generalised cutting of public services.

Punishing the jobless for being jobless - No to New Labour's welfare counter-reforms

2008-07-23T20:27:00.004Z

Work and pensions secretary, James Purnell, has announced a major attack on benefits claimants in his new welfare green paper. His claim that the changes will "transform lives" will be borne out, but disgracefully it will be in a transformation for the worse for large numbers of the poorest people in society. Tory leader David Cameron heaped praise on the paper, saying that he is "thrilled" with it and that most of it will be fully supported by his party.

All 4.5 million people on 'out-of-work' benefits will be affected, as major benefits will be renamed and altered. But the main aim of the changes is to force at least one million people off out-of-work benefits altogether.

The draconian measures include forcing people to work for their paltry dole money. After one year of unemployment, claimants will have to do four weeks of work, as if they have to be punished for being out of work. After two years, they will have to work continuously for their benefits, doing work "such as community work". Previously only people with criminal convictions have been forced to do community work.

Incapacity claimants are to face potentially harrowing questioning and tests to force large numbers off benefit. They will have to have a medical check from someone other than their GP.

Single parents will have to seek work when their youngest child is seven. Drug addicts will be 'required' to have treatment. Only full time carers and the severely disabled will escape similar coercion.

If this was not bad enough, the proposals go alongside measures to increase private sector delivery of welfare, consequently reducing jobs in the public sector and ensuring that the profit motive will come before delivery of good quality services.

Purnell has thrown in some small sweeteners.

Slightly higher benefit will be given to those who get through the new incapacity tests. Money given to lone parents from ex-partners will not be deducted from their benefits. Businesses will be offered more funding to help them employ disabled people. Treatment facilities for drug addicts are to be increased.

Hypocrisy

But these limited measures will not mitigate the effects of the attacks for most claimants. One illustration of this is that funding for the access-to-work programme which presently helps 24,000 disabled people to find work or stay in work will be doubled. But a doubling means this will only potentially help around 48,000 people instead of 24,000, when the government aims to force one million off incapacity benefit.

Much higher funding measures should be introduced while leaving intact the right to claim benefits without sanctions and harassment, and while increasing benefits to a level that can be lived on. But such improvements would be completely contrary to New Labour's cuts and privatisation agenda.

If the government really wants to help people who are out of work, it would not have cut £2 billion from the Department for Work and Pensions. However, the greatest barriers to reducing unemployment are a lack of longterm, well paid jobs, decent childcare, workplace facilities for disabled people, and so on.

Ironically the government tries to dress up its proposals as part of the fight against poverty, sometimes using the slogan 'work works'. But over half of children living in poverty are in working households. Millions of people in poverty are on low wages that make them little better off than being on benefits. Where community work is needed, it should be properly paid to provide real jobs, not forced out of people for £1.60 an hour as Parnell proposes.

This green paper comes at a time when the economy is fast tipping into recession. The number of people on unemployment benefit has risen by 45,000 since the end of January and hundreds of thousands more jobs are likely to go. The Ernst and Young Item Club thinktank has described the economic outlook as a "horror movie".

With its budget deficit heading way over its forecasts, the government is determined to step up its attacks on basic benefits. The budget deficit for the first three months of the financial year was a record £20.4 billion, up £12.5 billion from the same period last year. It is set to worsen further, as the slowing economy means lower government tax receipts.

Meanwhile the super rich evade an estimated £42 billion of taxes a year and the chancellor is backing off from introducing some limited tax-avoidance measures for the top UK corporations because of their cries of alarm. Yet the cries of alarm of the poorest in society are ignored.

Hundreds of thousands of the poorest and most vulnerable people are to be made to suffer further while the super rich are left to wallow in massive luxury. This green paper must be vigorously opposed.

Article by Judy Beishon, from this weeks 'The Socialist'

Local government strike - Plymouth report

2008-07-23T20:24:00.003Z

Cowardly Treasury minister Yvette Cooper ducked out of a photo-opportunity rather than face the anger of local government strikers in Plymouth.

Cooper, deputy to Chancellor, Alistair Darling, was due to attend the Tamar Science Park with Plymouth City Council's chief executive on the second day of the pay strike.

But the visit was hurriedly cancelled when strikers converged on the venue to form a welcoming committee for her.

Plymouth UNISON officer, Jeremy Guise, told the strikers: "This shows the Labour Party daren't face us. They know they have no answers to our questions and when they find out we're waiting for them, they bottle it."

Throughout Plymouth on the two strike days, lively pickets at most of the council workplaces gave a determined signal that workers will no longer settle for crumbs at a time of obscene wealth and rising prices.

At the Ballard House social services centre, union members stayed out but there were disappointingly high numbers of GMB members and non-union workers who went through the picket lines.

We were buoyed up by freshly cooked scones, a gesture from Helen, a 60-year-old worker in her final year who was gutted at having to come to work to preserve her pension. There were also solidarity doughnuts from local CWU members and plenty of support from passing drivers.

Before the next set of strikes there is clearly a lot of work to be done persuading colleagues to join us.

Report by Rob Rooney from Plymouth Socialist Party

Decontamination threat update - NDDH Trust decides to delay decision

2008-07-21T19:34:00.003Z

In response to the many postcards sent to the Trust Chief Executive and the criticisms of the scheme by health unions, clinicians and professional bodies, the North Devon Healthcare Trust has decided to delay a decision on whether to outsource sterile services to private company Decon Sciences until September.

It has become clear to the Trust that there are serious deficiencies with the plan to privatise the services, including financial considerations on top of the health, practical and environmental problems previously outlined by Devon Socialist Party, and by UNISON and professional bodies such as the Royal College of Surgeons.

Six options are now being investigated by the Trust:

1. Do nothing;
2. On-site at NDDH;
3. Collaborate with a smaller number of Trusts to create an NHS-provided service;
4. Collaborate with a smaller number of Trusts with an outsourced provider;
5. Investigate a partnership with private healthcare providers such as BUPA;
6. Create a local NHS service, provided off-site.

Devon Socialist Party would favour options 1 and 2, which appear to be the same but differently worded. The current service is very effective. The Healthcare Commission's 2007 Report on North Devon District Hospital noted that "medical devices which can be re-used were properly cleaned in well-run decontamination facilities." There is no clinical rationale for outsoucing the services. Additionally, the distance of a Taunton facility could cause supply problems. The need for Decon Sciences to turn a profit could lead to the cutting of corners, as has happened elsewhere when Sterile Supplies services have been contracted out.

Sterile Supplies needs to be LOCAL.
Sterile Supplies services need to be done by the NHS.

Please continue to send postcards, letters and emails to Trust Chief Executive Jac Kelly.

South and East Devon strike report

2008-07-17T20:40:00.002Z

This strike had a very local feeling with many picket lines within easy reach in many of the small towns in Devon. The holiday resorts of Teignmouth and Dawlish had four picket lines resulting in the closure of three schools and very dubious lack of Health and Safety cover in the other. Classroom assistants, technicians and caretakers were at the forefront in a determination to make a stand against low pay. This was their first taste of strike action and many felt that this was not the last against what they see as a paycut. What was surprising was how quickly they have learned to organise themselves into effective pickets given how little industrial action has occurred in this area over the past decades.

Towns such as Torquay, Totnes also saw schools and libraries close with disruptions in bin collections. In North Devon, Barnstaple Civic Centre had only a few going in but there was reports of agency staff covering for normal staff. Unison is following up this 'scabbing' with legal action. It was reported that one of the UNISON members was calling for unions to put up their own candidates in elections. Socialist Party members donated to the strike fund. These are things that the Campaign for a New Workers' Party fully supports.

Plymouth and Exeter saw fairly well attended demonstrations. However the impression of the 48hr strike was that this was about workers taking widespread strike action in their local area. As one picket said "We did not take serious action against pensions - but now our backs are against the wall and this is serious business, our bills have gone through the roof and we must defend ourselves and our families."

Report by SB, Secretary of Devon and Exeter Socialist Party

North Devon strike report

2008-07-17T19:18:00.004Z

The national strike action called by UNISON Local Government workers met with a great response in North Devon. Pickets were out in force in a variety of places and were upbeat and in good humour.

Around 35 were present at the Works Unit in Seven Brethren and about 15 at the main entrance to the Civic Centre. Other places picketed included the Social Services offices near Bear Street car park.

Barnstaple library, Lynton House and several schools (including Ilfracombe College, Pilton Community College, Hatfields, Chaddiford Lane and Forches) were closed.

Very few UNISON members went into work. At the Civic Centre, only 3 'exempt' members did so, because they are in their last year of retirement and even these made their support for the strike known by wearing stickers. Only 2 UNISON members went into the Works Unit, much to the disgust of pickets who feel that these people should resign from the union. After all, why should they expect any future help and support when they have let down the strikers and flagrantly flouted the democratic ballot that decided on the strike.

The use of agency staff at the Works Unit has been called into question by UNISON. Colin Lewis, a UNISON steward at the Works Unit, quoted on the North Devon Journal website, says that agency workers were deployed to perform tasks they are not contracted to perform, and have never done so before. For instance, two agency workers who usually work on recycling vehicles had been working on refuse lorries on Wednesday. UNISON are threatening legal action because of this. The agency in question, Abacus, have denied strikebreaking, but it's interesting that no agency workers turned up to the Works Unit today.

Despite affecting their pay on these two days, UNISON members are convinced they are right to strike because they have reached the point where they have no alternative, to stop their living standards deteriorating further. Their resolve is even stronger given the recent figures revealing the inflation rate is rising even further, compared with the pay offer.

Their contempt for New Labour was clear. They no longer see it as the party for working people and one of them suggested that the time had come for the unions to stand their own candidates in elections.

By DL, a North Devon UNISON Health member

Pictures of today's strike action in Barnstaple

2008-07-17T17:53:00.002Z

At the civic centre:

At Lampard Community School:

At the Works Unit at Seven Brethren:

Photos courtesy of Mark Bennett, North Devon UNISON member

Support the council workers!

2008-07-15T20:09:00.003Z

Tomorrow, 600,000 local government workers go on strike, which will continue through to Thursday. While inflation has significantly increased the cost of living, the Government has insultingly offered the people who keep public services working just a 2.45% pay 'rise' this year. Coming on top of the abolition of the 10p tax rate, this is yet another kick in the teeth for some of Britain's lowest paid workers.

Unison and Unite are therefore holding joint action, and the Socialist Party gives complete support to those on strike. The unions are asking for 6% or an extra 50p an hour, whichever is the greater. It should serve as a reminder as to the values of capitalism and its representatives and apologists in parliament that essential and valuable public servants such as refuse collectors, librarians and teaching assistants should have to strike to try and secure what is a very moderate demand, while billions are spent on war, diverting public money into shareholders pockets and tax cuts for the wealthy.

Unfortunately, Unison and Unite continue to fund the very party that is trying to cut the living standards of its members. They would be better placed for fighting for fair pay, union rights and defending jobs, pensions and public services if they broke with New Labour, which is just another party of big business, and helped form a new party that fights for workers and young people.

Devon Socialist Party calls for:

- United public sector trade union action, wherever possible.
- A Devon Living Wage at a level to be determined by the relevant trade unions and inflation linked.
- Laws limiting the ability of trade unions to be swept away, and for unions to be allowed to be more flexible in their actions and the use of their funds, and for solidarity strikes and picketing to be legalised.
- An end to cuts and selloffs in public services at local and national level.
- A new party of the working class to be formed, based on the unions and involving socialists, community campaigners, environmentalists, antiwar activists and young people.

Decontamination threat - update

2008-07-09T20:33:00.003Z

The campaign continues to persuade Northern Devon Healthcare Trust to keep Sterile Supplies services in-house (see 'North Devon District Hospital - Decontamination Threat') and not 'out-source' them to private company Decon Sciences.

Unison South West, Unite and the Royal College of Nursing South West have produced postcards containing a message for the local Trust Chief Executive, on the other side of the cartoon at the top of the post. We have a limited supply of them, so email us (at the top of the page) if you would like some for yourself and your workplace/union branch/college. It is important that there is a groundswell of opinion against this potentially dangerous move in order for it to be defeated.

Please address your postcards, or any other letters etc. to:

Mrs Jac Kelly, Chief Executive, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB.

If you would like to get in contact with North Devon Unison Healthcare Branch please contact Pauline Brennan, the branch secretary. She can be reached at Level 3, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB or by email at northdevonhealth@hotmail.co.uk

Mid-year report - looking back and forward

2008-07-09T19:06:00.003Z

The first six months of the year has seen increasing dissatisfaction with Gordon Brown and his New Labour government, the resurgence of the Tories, increasing union militancy and the continuing of the neo-liberal assault on public services and the authoritarian stripping away of our civil liberties. Troops remain in Iraq, and to a much greater extent, Afghanistan. Inflation is rising well above pay rises while tax has been hiked for the lowest earners. But don't worry, Tesco's and British Gas' profits are unharmed, in fact they're in fine shape.

For the Socialist Party in Devon, we have continued to support workers in struggle and build campaigns to defend public services such as the Fire Service and the Post Office. Our student members have been leading campaigns to stop the Exeter University Family Centre being privatised and to defenfd abortion rights. We continue to press the case for a new workers' party, a political voice for workers, unions, young people, campaigners and socialists and for continued united public sector strike action in the defence of public services, jobs, pensions, living standards and conditions.

Many new members have joined the Socialist Party over the past months. This allows us to meet more regularly in Exeter to plan and organise, and to campaign across Devon. The next six months will be critical for workers. As prices rise and wages stagnate, people's quality of life will decline. There will be increasing unemployment and cuts and privatisation of public services. The unions (public and private sector) must lead a fightback, but critically the organised working class needs a political voice. New Labour's defeat in the Henley by-election was notable for a number of reasons. One was that their candidate got less votes than the BNP. In times of increasing hardship, and with the remoteness and corruption of the mainstream parties, organisations like the BNP will grow in strength without a real alternative.

The main campaigning priorities are continuing defence of workers and public services, while building the strength of fighting and militant unionists throughout the trade union movement, while garnering increasing support for a left, worker voice on the political stage. The National Shop Stewards Network, which was an initiative of the RMT Union, seeks to do the former. The Campaign For A New Workers' Party campaigns for the latter. The Socialist Party is heavily involved in both organisations. Nationally and in Devon we seek to build these organisations and discuss the ideas behind them over the next six months.

If you would like to get involved in the fightback, and struggle for a better, democratic socialist world, email us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com

Save our Post Offices - progress so far

2008-06-17T17:30:00.004Z

Names are being added to the online petition we have set up (here) as well as to our paper petitions. Petioning had been going on in Exeter, with a special 'Save our Post Offices stall in Exeter High Street on Saturday and around the residential area near to the Post Office threatened in Pinhoe Road. If you want to sign the online petition, but are having problems (many people have been unable to sign it) please email the campaign at sopodevon@gmail.com. Already many have signed it, including former Postmaster General and Labour MP Tony Benn. And we've only really just started!

It is clear that there is a great deal of anger at the plans, and we stick to our central demand that none of the Post Offices close and that the council takes them over and sees them continue as Post Offices. It seems that they will not do this for the majority of the threatened Post Offices. We need therefore to keep up the pressure on them. If you would like to get involved with the campaign, email us either at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com or sopodevon@gmail.com

Why do we need a new workers' party?

2008-06-17T17:19:00.004Z

No one will deny that Labour has betrayed the workers. Life under New Labour has, amongst many things, taken this country to an unlawful war in Iraq, deepened Thatcheresque attacks on the public services through selling it off into business. This means instead of health prioritising in the NHS, now it is profit. Instead of education above all, it is profit. Instead of welfare, public protection and other services, profit will always come first. Our food prices keep rising every year, raising the average family’s shopping bill by £750 a year. This when Tescos have announced record profits of £2.85 billion this year already! Also, according to Energywatch, British Gas has raised our gas bills by 76.7%, to £653 per year, and our electricity by 74.3%, to £413. This might seem like British Gas has enforced this to keep the business from drowning in inflation. Yet British Gas has been able to increase profits from £95 million in 2006, to £571 million in 2007!

What has the government done? They provide tax cuts for business – from 30p to 28p - and lower public sector wages to below inflation. Inflation increases and yet business is doing better than ever. If this is the case, is it really true that society can no longer afford to give us all a decent pension, liveable wages, affordable food, etc? Personally, I’m sick of hearing the governments’ ‘justifications’ like the abused free trade metaphor, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’. This is a remarkable form of economical thought, as the reality of this ‘rising tide’ is that in order for corporations to maximise profit, they must minimise expenditure - in other words - our wages! Gordon Brown justified his policies at a TUC conference, when he said they are “to prevent inflation, maintain growth, so we never return to the old boom and bust of the past”. So that is why we are all pushed face first towards an ever-nearing breadline?

The chair of the CNWP, Dave Nellist wrote of Gordon Brown’s comment:

“It is not a message he ever delivers to company boardrooms, where pay (sorry remuneration) can be counted in millions of pounds. For Brown, the rich getting richer is a positive sign of an economy doing well. But what about the millions in insecure, low paid, often temporary jobs, trapped at precisely the ‘minimal wage’? For them it is a sign of a government that despite what it says, just doesn’t care for the majority of ordinary working-class families. Part of that reason is that, when it comes to elections, Labour believes it can take working people’s vote for granted, because they have nowhere else to go.”

None of the ‘big three’ have spoke on behalf of the majority by condemning corporate greed and corporate disdain. Nellist believes that “Britain’s three main parties act more like three wings of the same party – united on privatisation and on working class sacrifices to preserve the economy for the rich”. Maybe then, as all parties on offer are following this line, it is understandable that voter apathy has set in.

However, there is only so much that the public can take. Under New Labour, the gap between the rich and poor has widened significantly in Britain and finally the public is starting to fight back. Workers are, to say the least, angry at their government for their betrayal. A general strike is back on the agenda and New Labour is quickly losing support. Of course, this indeed would be great if we already had an alternative for the workers’ on offer, but we don’t. So instead people are forced to turn towards the Tories, and yet again, our political history will repeat itself.

So now is the time to become active and work harder than ever before. We need to make the CNWP heard all across Britain. In every street, home and workplace people need to be presented with an alternative - an alternative which proposes the rational planning of society’s resources to ensure a decent life for all. It falls to us to encourage the masses that working towards a socialist planned economy is the only way of alleviating poverty and building a prosperous society for all. It falls to us to make sure this happens.

Stand up and stand together: join the Campaign for New Workers’ Party!

Article by ZS, the CNWP coordinator for Devon Socialist Party. The 2008 conference for the CNWP will be held in London on Sunday 29th June. Contact us at socialistpartydevon@gmail.com for more details.

Support our GP surgeries!

2008-06-04T20:21:00.002Z

With the Government's plans for private companies taking over the running of NHS trusts in the limelight, it seems only right to highlight a campaign being run by local GPs and health centres up and down the country with the British Medical Association (BMA).

The campaign is opposing the replacement of local, family GP surgeries with large commercially-run and impersonal 'polyclinics'. The BMA, the Royal College of General Practitioners and GPs fear the new polyclinics could have a detrimental impact on the healthcare of millions, and in rural areas with poor public transport provision like Devon the impact could be even worse than in urban areas.

The campaign has a petition at: www.supportyoursurgery.org.uk

The RCGP has produced a more detailed factsheet analysing the Government's proposals here.

Needless to say, we support the campaign fully, and advocate an NHS run in the interests of patients, not private sector profiteers. This means private sector involvment in the NHS must end, and PFI projects and debts cancelled. Health services should be provided locally, with an expansion in the number of doctors and nurses. Improved NHS provision should be funded by savings provided by the nationalisation of the pharmaceutical and medical supplies industry, whose gigantic profits come at the expense of patients and taxpayers.

Most importantly, we need to replace a system which breeds inequality, poverty, illness and stress and replace it with a system, socialism, which will promote better health through drastically reducing inequality, reducing working hours and pressures at work, and improving people's lives, living conditions and environment.

No to war, terrorism and racism - Socialist Party public meeting Tues 27th May

2008-05-25T20:34:00.000Z

The bombing in Exeter city centre came as a shock to the West Country. For socialists the event raises important questions as to the origins and consequences of terrorist acts. Will it result in increased racism and Islamaphobia? How can we unify the left against warmongers and capitalism?

Come along for ideas, questions and discussion.

Exeter Community Centre

Tues 27th May

7.30pm

Exeter bomb - the Devon Socialist Party's response

2008-05-25T18:59:00.004Z

Last week's failed terrorist attack in Exeter has caused a wave of shock and surprise and has far reaching consequences for the political situation in Devon and Britain as a whole. Luckily, there was only one casualty, Nicky Reilly the bomber who suffered mostly superficial injuries.

It appears that there were two devices; one which failed to go off and the other which accidentally exploded in Reilly’s face while in a toilet. The bomb exploded lunch time on Thursday 22nd May in a small café in the heart of the new Princesshay shopping centre. Whether a botched suicide bomb or an accidental explosion, the perceived arrival of terrorism to the sleepy city of Exeter will have a huge effect within the community as well as to the political situation of Devon and even Britain.

Exeter is a small city which, superficially, has a relaxed atmosphere. Exeter also has little tradition of violent confrontation let alone terrorist attacks. Exeter itself prides itself on being a peaceful, picturesque city. However, a quick look beneath this veneer will show that Exeter suffers from the same problems that many cities and towns in Browns’ Britain also face. It is clear that people in Exeter face real stresses and strains which simply do not match the portrayed idyllic view of Exeter. Exeter’s suburbs face large areas of deprivation and a real lack of services. Recently, the working class have been facing closures of post offices, libraries and the wholesale sell off of all of the city’s secondary schools.

It is ironic that the shopping centre that the bomb went off in is a classic example of Exeter City Councils pro-big business agenda. The Princesshay centre, developed at a cost £230 million, is intended to draw in customers who would normally shop in Plymouth or Bristol. The Devon Branch of the Socialist Party made the point that the city council should be spending that money on improving services for the community and not on big high street chains to make even more profit. We called for the £230M to be invested in community centres, youth groups, libraries and improving housing. Unfortunately the bombing has highlighted further the inequality and despair that exists in Exeter and Britain.

Although racist violence and intimidation is comparatively small in Exeter, the recent bombing will expose many underlying tensions against Muslims in the area. It is obvious that the vast majority of the Muslim population wholeheartedly disagree with methods of terrorism and the ideas of right wing political Islam. Moreover the Muslim community will be as shocked and saddened as the rest of Exeter. The idea of Muslim extremists active in Devon will create fear, and could prompt a rise in racist violence, but it is clear that the attack was not a well organised terrorist attack. It seems that Nicky Reilly was one man acting alone. He is also suffering from mental illness which could have been the cause for the attack. This was clearly not a concerted attack by members of the Muslim community but instead the dangerous actions of a sick man.

The Muslim community must be defended from any kind of attacks. The whole of Exeter has to unite and must refuse to be pulled into sectarian violence.

It is clear that the forces of the far right will try to use the bombing in order to opportunistically build their support in Exeter. The BNP and National Front have not had a real basis in Exeter since the 1980s but are obviously keen to exploit this situation to their advantage. We have to counter their lies and distortions. They will cynically play on the genuine fears that people in Devon will now have. They will use the bombing to put forward their disgusting racist lies about immigration and multiculturalism. It is important to remember however, that terrorist attacks do not take place because there are Muslim people living in Britain, but that a small minority are driven to extremism because of social and economic factors.

At a quick glance it is confusing why Exeter found itself subject to Britain’s most recent terrorist attack. Most of the national newspapers have also adopted this confusion, pointing out that nowhere is now safe from the forces of terrorism. However, it is important to make a deeper analysis and show that the conditions created by neo-liberalism and New Labours’ polices of war and imperialism affect the whole of the British working class.

Brown, and Blair before him, inherited and then expanded Tory economic polices. Since 1997, New Labour has consistently sold off public assets to big business fat cats. Essential public services like the NHS and the post office have been cut to their bear bones. On top of that, poor pay, terrible working conditions and general attacks against the poorest sections of society, like the 10p in the £1 tax fiasco, have had a real impact on many working class people. This, combined with the current credit crunch, Britain is a place where the richer get richer while the workers foot the bill.

Moreover, New Labour’s abhorrent foreign policy in the Middle East is imperialism in the 21st Century; pillaging Iraq and Afghanistan for oil, prestige and power. Millions of people in Britain find themselves despairing at these policies and want to stop British Imperialism. However the War on Terror is also affecting people in Britain with state forces building up more and more power and infringing on civil liberties.

Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Britain are the ones who are feeling the sharp end of these new powers, while Islamaphobia is a real problem to the Muslim community. Muslims in today’s Britain find themselves victimised, oppressed and discriminated. It is no wonder that working class people of all religions and races are angry and desperately searching for an alternative. Unfortunately, a very small minority make a failed decision and choose right wing political Islam. This kind of religious fundamentalism and its terroristic methods provide no way forward for oppressed minorities or the working class in general.

Socialists absolutely condemn individual terrorism. Not only does it indiscriminately kill and maim civilians, but it is also the least effective route of struggle. Tactics like suicide bombing only cause to divide the community on religious and ethnic lines. Bombings of this nature also rarely get the concessions they call for. Instead, they give an excuse for the government and the police to introduce more repressive legislation and anti-terror methods.

The working class and oppressed ethnic minorities need a political party which can fight New Labours’ policies on a national scale. A mass party of the working class could cut across racial divisions and unite all ethnicities and religions in a struggle for public sector services, better pay and fairer society.

A party which had socialist policies and one which effectively fights against New Labours’ cuts locally and nationally offers a far better and more successful route of struggle. However, only a socialist society, where the needs of the people come before the needs of profit, could the reasons why people turn to terrorism be tackled and defeated. In this society, imperialism, state repression, cuts in essential services, poverty, despair and exploitation would not exist.

However, until then socialists, community groups, trade unions and individuals must unite and fight for jobs, services and houses. The misguided actions of someone who was mentally must not play into the hands of the vile far right and divide us. Now is the time to fight against war, terror and racism.

No to racist attacks. No to terrorism.

Save our Post Offices - campaign update

2008-05-25T18:45:00.002Z

In response to the threatened closure of over 80 Post Offices, Devon Socialist Party has initiated the 'Save our Post Offices' campaign.

The intention of the Post Office is clear - whatever good arguments are put forward to save these Post Offices, they, or another in its place, will be shut. The main aim of the campaign is therefore to get the County Council to take over the threatened Post Offices and so allow them to continue operating.

We started by contacting every Devon County councillor before they met to discuss the future of the Postal Service in Devon. The reaction was mixed, with many opposing the closures but not displaying much enthusiasm for the 'Essex solution' whereby the council takes over the Post Offices. In the council meeting on the 22nd May, a motion was passed that included the following point: "the County Council confirms its willingness to invest in achieving sustainable post office services for the affected communities".

We must continue the pressure to make sure they stick to this promise, and that this means that not one Post Office will close, and they will not be expected to run as profit making businesses but firstly as vital public services.

You can see the 'Save our Post Offices' website here: http://saveourpostoffices.wordpress.com
The email address for the campaign is here: sopodevon@gmail.com

Please get in contact if you would like to get involved.

Great Torrington School takes steps to becoming a 'Foundation School'

2008-05-15T19:32:00.000Z

A news release by Devon National Union of Teachers has revealed that Great Torrington School is moving towards 'Foundation Status'. They have produced a leaflet '10 things you need to know', which we are publishing here too. To get in contact and involved with the campaign to keep Great Torrington a community comprehensive school, you can email Dave Clinch, the secretary of Devon NUT, at Devnutsec@aol.com.

FOUNDATION STATUS AT GREAT TORRINGTON SCHOOL

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Head and Governors at Great Torrington School are moving the school towards Foundation status. This poses a real threat to comprehensive education at the school. It will effectively become a private enterprise. The process is irreversible. The legislation prevents the school from reverting to Community School status.

1 DEMOCRACY - Under the legislation the governing body will be less democratic and less representative. Governors elected by parents can be replaced by parents appointed by the foundation.

2 REPRESENTATION - The unions will be negotiating on behalf of members with an employer who may adopt different policies than the Local Authority at a future date.

3 LOCAL AUTHORITY ROLE - There will be a reduced level of support, advice and services. Foundation status is detrimental to the quality of education and the work of the local authority.

4 TERMS AND CONDITIONS - Teachers would transfer under Schoolteachers’ Pay and Conditions. The new arrangements could threaten those terms and conditions in the long term. Support staff are immediately vulnerable.

5 ADMISSIONS - Moving away from the Local Authority admissions procedure could lead to selection. We know that this is a real possibility from the actions of other schools which have taken this step. A good local school for all our children in every community means no barriers to entry.

6 TRANSFER OF PUBLIC ASSETS - The Government describes foundation status as a means to ’promote innovation and educational entrepreneurship’. Government has yet to publish any evidence that supports its arguments that the quality of education is enhanced by acquiring foundation status.

7 DIVERSITY - The proposers promote diversity between schools, which will lead in our view to potential divisions based on class and ability for example. The NUT promotes diversity within schools, in other words a good local school which serves the whole community.

8 FUNDING - The school would continue to be funded on the same basis as before, with the budget formula determined by the Schools Forum which has representatives from all school sectors, governors and trade unions. It is organised by Devon County Council’s school finance officers. There would be more financial requirements on the school and administration would increase, but it would not receive extra funding for this. If the school had a budget problem it would have to deal with it and could not expect extra support from the County Council.

9 LAND AND BUILDINGS - All land and buildings are transferred from the Council to the Foundation School Trustees and held in trust for the purposes of the school. Permission must be sought from the Council to sell off assets and the Secretary of State, who may decide that the local authority can share the proceeds. If the school were closed, ownership of the land and buildings would revert to the Council.

10 WILL THERE BE A BALLOT? - Will all interested parties in the local community be given both sides of the argument at the public meeting on Wed 4 June? Will they be ballotted? No indication has been given that a ballot will be conducted.

Devon NUT has offered to underwrite the cost of an independently run ballot of all 'stakeholders' following a debate, putting the arguments for and against foundation status. As yet there has been no response from the Governing Body. There is nothing in the legislation to say that a school cannot have a ballot.

No to post office cuts - reveal the list of closures now!

2008-05-14T20:25:00.000Z

At a recent meeting in Torquay, Devon MPs were informed by post office officials of the latest round of closures, it now being the south west's turn, after a convenient delay in the post office closure programme during the election campaign.

The MPs have been asked to keep quiet until the formal public announcement on May 20th. Needless to say, a Socialist MP would not be doing the bidding of the Dr. Beechings of the Post Office, but already assembling a campaign to fight the closures.

Well, we might not have an MP, but we are organising a campaign. Our first point is that the MPs reveal the list of closures NOW.

Our second point is that while we have no illusions in the sham 'consultations' that will be held, we will be campaigning against the closures in a variety of ways. We can win this one - campaigners in Essex triumphed when the County Council took over the threatened Post Offices.

This national closure programme is the consequence of the New Labour government having transformed the post office from a public service into a profit making enterprise, and stripping it of some of its functions. They have also opened up the postal 'market' to competition by all sorts of private companies, looking to make a quick buck. These neo-liberal measures have resulted in a less effective, less convenient and more expensive postal service. They have also resulted in vicious assaults on the pay, conditions and pensions of Post Office and Royal Mail workers.

We make a stand against cuts, as we did when we supported the postal workers last summer/autumn. The three main parties offer nothing apart from a constant diet of privatisation and cuts. What is needed is for campaigners defending local services is to link up with other campaigners, trade unionists and socialists to form a new political alternative to the mainstream parties. Together we will be stronger, especially so with a united political voice.

If you would like to get involved in the campaign, email us: socialistpartydevon@gmail.com

Devon Socialists: Pro-choice - Anti-Widdecombe!

2008-05-14T20:24:00.000Z

Article by RE, a member of the Socialist Party, president of Exeter University Socialist Students and leading campaigner against the privatisation of the family centre at the University.

Exeter Socialist Students was this Saturday Anne Widdecombe's worst headache, as a contingent armed with placards descended upon Exeter Corn Exchange, where the Tory reactionary was planned to speak.

Widdecombe, a staunch advocate of 'pro-life', was to perform one of her anecdotal stand ups for Exeter's Tory community. As her audience arrived, many who were unaware of Widdecombe's anti-choice position admitted they were now hesitant about crossing our picket. Having not paid the £14 per head entry fee the contingent instead interrupted Widdecombe's opening piece with chants demanding free choice, the nationalisation of family care and for secular politics. The contingent then took to the street, receiving support from passing motorists and punters as it marched. At 10pm, we returned to the picket where we prepared for the audience's departure. As the front doors opened the chants recommenced. Our point sufficiently made, we turned our sights on the performer herself, who's chauffeured Mercedes was parked at the back doors. Keeping our distance from security guards, the contingent organised at the car park exit. As Widdecombe emerged we struck up our chant. Clearly shaken by our presence, her driver made for a swift getaway, avoiding our lines by breaking a one way system. In response, the contingent chased the fleeing reactionary on foot, leaving her with the distinct impression that her reactionary trash is unwelcome in our city.

Socialist Students believes that it is a woman's right to choose when or whether to have children, not that of the church or individual doctors. 76 per cent of the UK population are pro-choice, yet a quarter of women having abortions in England and Wales have to pay for them, as there are no public funds available specifically to help poorer women in these circumstances. The fight for abortion rights is the same fight for woman's emancipation, hence the same fight for free child care, for free contraception and contraceptive education, for quality council housing programmes and a democratically controlled National Health Service. When students and workers organise, these basic rights and measures can be fought for and can be won. A socialist world is possible.

Below are some photos of the picket:

Unity in action - together we can win!

2008-04-24T21:26:00.004Z

In a show of unity and strength, public sector workers across Devon and the country have gone on strike in coordinated joint action. Taking part were teachers (from the NUT), further education lecturers (UCU) and workers in the Department of Work and Pensions (Jobcentre Plus) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (both PCS).

For teachers and lecturers, the main reason behind the strike was pay, triggered by an insulting below-inflation 'pay rise' for teachers and the continued underpayment of lecturers in further education. For the civil servants, pay is also an issue (a three year pay deal where some will receive a complete pay freeze!), but also privatisation and job cuts led to action. Teachers and lecturers are also concerned with this, as well as increasing workload.

In North Devon, all secondary schools were closed for the day, a reflection of the anger and determination felt by NUT members. At North Devon College there was a tremendous 35-strong picket. Socialist Party members joining the picket to offer support were received well. The lecturers were pleased at the turnout, and one striker revealed that the strike had led to several inquiries from non-UCU members about joining the union. The problems faced by workers in further education in organising effective action centre around the multitude of different unions involved and increasing casualisation. Workers are organised not just into the UCU, but also the ATL, ASCL, UNISON and GMB. Anti-trade union laws mean that without a full ballot members of these organisations could be victimised for participating in action with the UCU.

The increasing casualisation at the college means that about half of the teaching staff are employed on an ad hoc hourly basis. This insecure and irregular employment is bad for the lecturers and their students, and obviously makes them very reluctant to raise their heads above the parapet and take part in strike action. All of this illustrates the need to organise united action across all public sector unions, and build a new political alternative to the main parties, which would enthusiastically campaign against the restrictive anti-trade union laws introduced by the Tories and kept on the statute book by New Labour.

Socialist Students and Socialist Party members also attended pickets at South Devon College and Exeter College. A lot of students signed our petition expressing support for the strikers. Many students also took part in the rally organised by the UCU from Exeter College to a rally held at St James Park, Exeter City's ground.

The rally, organised by Devon NUT, was incredibly well attended. The room was full to bursting and many people had to hand around outside the room and listen in. The broad range of speakers representing unions from the NUT, to UNISON, UCU, FBU, PCS and back to NUT (well it was their rally!) was admirable, as was the consistent theme of public sector unity. Addressing the rally, PCS National Executive member and Socialist Party member Mark Baker stressed the need for a political alternative to the main parties (all of whom condemned the strike action) and for unity: "On our own we can't defeat Gordon Brown's pay freeze. Together we can, together we will."

Eight members of the Socialist Party attended the rally. One of these, student teacher Jim Thomson, spoke from the floor following the main speeches. He stressed the need to combat the neo-liberal policies of New Labour and the other two main parties. The disaster of privatisation and private involvement in public services is clear, and he gave the local example of the costly and unpopular PFI scheme which rebuilt Exeter's secondary schools. Obviously, as well as industrial struggles to fight for 'public services not private profit' there will need to be political struggles too, which means unionists and campaigners must build a new party to represent the case for well funded public services where the priority is serving those who use it, and not lining the pockets of fat cats.

The rally ended with a tribute from the South West regional secretary of the NUT, Andy Woolley, to the late NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott. The tribute, like the rally and the atmosphere on picket lines, was positive and celebratory. All those present were aware, as Steve Sinnott was, that this action was the beginning, not the end, and that more struggles lie ahead for teachers and all public sector workers, in getting a decent pay rise, stopping job cuts and privatisation, and starting the fightback against neo-liberalism and the idea that public service = bad, and private profit = good.

Unity in action - 24th April joint public sector strike - some pictures

2008-04-24T20:41:00.003Z

From the top:

Photos 1 and 2 - Strikers at North Devon College in Barnstaple.
Photo 3 - A picture from the well-attended rally held at Exeter City's St James Park.
Photo 4 - Socialist Party member and PCS National Executive member Mark Baker addresses the rally.
Photos 5 and 6 - Jim Thomson, a student teacher and member of Exeter Socialist Party, speaks at the rally.
Photo 7 - The picket line at Exeter College.
Photos 8 and 9 - The UCU, with supporters including members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Students, march to St James Park.

24th April - Pay, pensions and 'public services, not private profit'

2008-04-21T21:03:00.001Z

This Thursday, thousands of teachers, further education lecturers, Department of Work and Pensions (Jobcentre Plus) staff and council workers in Birmingham are going on coordinated strike action. The action will take place on the same day not just to maximise the impact and pressure on the Government and other public sector unions, but to reflect the fact that the issues all these workers face are similar and linked.

Teachers are striking about the insulting pay offer, but are also angry about high and increasing workload, the privatisation of education and performance related pay. As the strike bulletin of the grassroots campaigning organisation 'Classroom Teacher' points out, "The Government wants us to carry on working ourselves into the ground meeting their targets when the best they can offer in return is year after year of below-inflation pay awards."

Further education lecturers have their own problems with pay. It seems likely that the Communication Workers' Union will ballot for strike action soon over Royal Mail pensions.

Staff in the Department of Work and Pensions are staging action on a number of issues, including pay, privatisation and brutal job cuts.

What links all 4 actions is a generalised assault on public services and the workers who day after day keep them running, despite the dead-hand of Government bureaucracy and targets, and crass and exploitative management. The New Labour government is trying to privatise and marketise public services, just as the neo-liberal faith it slavishly follows is crashing and burning in the wake of the global credit crisis and economic slowdown.

We support the strike action. With real inflation running at well over the official inflation (a ludicrous 2.5%) the Government dishonestly peddles, the pay offers to public sector workers means a decline in standard of living, and more and more workers struggling to make ends meet. In addition to this, the Government continues to claim that public sector pay rises are inflationary, a flat out lie, as admitted by most economists, many of them no friend to workers.

It is critical that this Thursday is not the end, but a stepping stone to future action involving all public sector unions. United action around the banner of 'public services not private profit', but encompassing other issues common to most public sector workers such as pay, pensions, workload and bullying management would be the best way to fight back against the Government, who won't rest until every public sector worker has their pay, pension and morale crushed, and every avenue of opportunity for private sector vultures to make as much money out of public services has been explored and exploited.

Join us on the picket lines and at the rally at St James Park, Exeter at noon!

Illegal to be young in Tiverton?

2008-04-17T18:40:00.002Z

It seems that to be young in Tiverton today is a crime. According to headline after headline in the local papers we have 'Yob behaviour' that needs to be 'blitzed'. The Police, it seems, are only to keen to oblige. Only last week I witnessed a teenage girl being forcibly removed from outside Tesco, where she was, quite rightly, refusing to get into the back of a Police car to be taken home. In the end three police cars and a van were on the scene - to remove one teenage girl, who had not been arrested, nor charged with any crime, and Tesco had not called the Police.

It seems the Police have taken to imposing their own curfew on the area outside Tesco, and are disbursing groups of more than three teenagers and removing them home, for doing nothing more than 'hanging out' outside the supermarket. This is an infringement of these young people's civil liberties and a stop needs to put to it right now. As socialists we need to inform young people of their rights.

First of all, Tesco is private land, and the only argument for removal of anyone can be under the law of Trespass if Tesco refuse the right of entry to an individual. This can only be enforced through the civil courts in an action taken by Tesco. The Police have no right to attend Tesco's car park unless they are summoned to do so by Tesco, and they have no right to remove anyone unless they are under arrest.

Secondly, the Police have no right to forcibly disperse or remove young people who are not breaking the law from any public space anyway. Under a test case brought by Liberty and 'W' (An anonymous 15 year old) in 1995 the High Court ruled as follows:

"we are entirely satisfied that the power to remove in section 30(6) (Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003) is permissive, not coercive. It therefore confers no power on the Police or a CSO to interfere with the movements of someone under the age of 16 who is conducting himself (Or herself) lawfully within a dispersal area between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am.…Section 30(6) merely confers on the police a very welcome express power to use police resources to take such a person home if he (or she) is willing to be taken home."

The young woman in question had every right to refuse being taken home against her will by the Police, as does every other young person the Police attempt to coerce into their vehicles illegally. It is not (yet, at least, under this draconian Government) illegal to be young.

The latest development is that the Police are breathalysing young people in Tiverton! Unless the young person can reasonably be suspected of drink driving, once again the Police have no right to do this! What do they find when they do? According to the local paper, that one young woman was 'nearly one and a half times the legal limit' - what limit!? The drink driving limit! Was she driving? No, she was going to an under 18's night at a local club, and she had drunk the equivalent of 'nearly' two pints. She may have drunk this quite legally at home! It is not a crime!

Frankly, with this kind if insane policing going on, I am not at all surprised that we are seeing an increase in vandalism in the town's suburbs, if you force young people away from the centre of town against their will and marginalise them like this, you can expect them to have nothing but contempt for older people and private property. We can expect a lot more of the same unless facilities and activities are provided to keep young people occupied, and they are treated with respect as valuable members of society.

We need a campaign to inform young people of their rights and to fight back against these policing methods.

"I am not here, then, as the accused; I am here as the accuser of Capitalism dripping with blood from head to foot" - John Maclean

2008-04-14T21:03:00.002Z

Ninety years ago, on the 8th May 1918, the Scottish socialist John Maclean opened the case for his defence at Edinburgh Crown Court with an impassioned speech denouncing capitalism, imperialism and war. He was charged with sedition, and more specifically with "addressing audiences in Glasgow, Shettleston, Cambuslang, Lochgelly and Harthill, making statements which were likely to prejudice the recruiting, training and discipline of H.M. Forces [and attempting] to cause mutiny, sedition and disaffection among the civil population."

These charges related to his strong opposition and campaigning against the slaughter of the Great War, then still raging. He saw it, correctly, as a war fought for the interests of the competing ruling classes in Europe, particular the British and German empires. Maclean was also a leader of the workers of Red Clydeside, whose increasing militancy in industrial struggle, anti-war protests and socialist and revolutionary leanings shook the ruling class.

As we see today with the role of the police and the courts in the witchhunt against Tommy Sheridan and his family, friends and comrades, the State is not a neutral force. It invariably takes the side of capitalism and imperialism. The case of John Maclean is no different. Prosecuted and imprisoned twice before, at his 1918 trial Maclean knew he would be found guilty and imprisoned again. The selection of the jury was rigged and they did not even bother with the formality of deliberating before finding him guilty. The judge sentenced Maclean to 5 years in prison. Upon sentencing he turned to his comrades and told them to "Keep it going, boys; keep it going". Although a mass campaign meant he was released early, his health suffered as a result of his imprisonment and he died in 1923 at the age of 44.

John Maclean remains an inspiration to all those who fight today for a better world, free from exploitation, oppression, inequality and war. We have republished extracts of his dramatic speech here in order to inform and inspire.

New(ish) article on rural poverty

2008-04-10T21:10:00.000Z

Has been added to our sister site, Devon Socialist Party articles. Originally published in 'The Socialist' in 2006, it has never been online as we didn't have a website then.

The Devon Socialist Party articles website also includes the following articles:

'Low pay - the Devon way?'
'Plymouth Power! A book review of Todd Gray's 'Blackshirts in Devon'
'The smoking ban'
'Inequality - the human cost'

Fire Authority puts lives at risk with their cuts

2008-02-22T19:25:00.005Z

Devon and Somerset Fire Authority have decided to put pennies before public safety by adopting plans, revealed at the last minute, and not debated upon or put out to consultation, to cut 24 firefighters' jobs from Barnstaple, Exeter and Torquay. The Authority also decided to introduce dual-crewing of all aerial platforms in Devon. This would mean if another large fire broke out like the recent one in Ilfracombe, firefighters would have to choose whether to take an engine OR an aerial platform.

Devon and Somerset Fire Authority have presented the plan as a choice made "between a rock and a hard place". It is true that the Government has cut funds to the Authority, which is symptomatic of this New Labour Government. They would sooner see public funds go to shareholders through privatisation and PFI (Private Finance Initiative, where schools and NHS trusts have to pay extortionate sums to rent premises from private companies) than to frontline public services and the people carrying out those services.

However, the Fire Brigades' Union put forward a 'third way', enabling the Authority to save money while maintaining services. The Fire Authority decided to ignore these proposals, which included reviewing the salary levels of those in senior management positions. Surprisingly, Chief Fire Officer Paul Young (who earns a mere £135,000 a year) didn't support these plans.

As you might imagine, FBU officials, including station representatives and Devon & Somerset Brigade Secretary Trevor French, are furious with the cuts. The Fire Authority has ignored the warnings from firefighters and the overwhelming opposition to the cuts by the public.

Speaking to the Devon Socialist Party website, Barnstaple firefighter and Socialist Party member James Leslie summed up the feelings of firefighters - "There's a lot of anger at the plans, and a feeling that management have let down the public and firefighters". He also pointed out that the Authority had previously rejected the plans to dual-crew aerial platforms due to the risk to the public, "but suddenly they're OK".

Devon Socialist Party remains completely opposed to the cuts, which will put lives at risk. It seems likely that next year the Government will come back and reduce the Fire Authority's grant even further, and also try to introduce more private sector involvement.

We will continue to campaign against the cuts and will support any action the FBU decides upon. Secretary Trevor French is hinting at strike action, which obviously firefighters would be very reluctant to do. However we are facing, not just in fire services but in the NHS, schools and other essential public services, death by a thousand cuts and the increasing involvement of private companies who are interested in profit, not people.

What is needed is united action by public sector unions to fight for 'public services not private profit'. We also need a party that will represent such a campaign politically - a party for workers, for public services, and not a party that represents the needs of big business, as the three main parties do.

Above all we need to replace the system that puts the enrichment of a greedy few before the needs and wants of the many - capitalism. We need to replace that with a system where people have real democratic control over their lives, where they work and society as a whole - socialism.

North Devon District Hospital - Decontamination Threat

2008-02-22T18:19:00.004Z

In NHS hospitals Sterile Supplies departments fulfil a vital function by making sure that surgeons have everything they need during operations, including thoroughly sterilised equipment. Last year the Government falsely claimed (based on distorted interpreatations of relevant information) that these departments weren't meeting the standards of service expected of them.

Of course, you can decide for yourself whether this was deliberate or not, but the New Labour Government's obsession with privatisation seems to override any other consideration. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that they'd eased the path for private healthcare parasites to make good money out of the NHS.

Traditionally, and with good reason, NHS Sterile Supplies Departments are based in hospitals near to where they are needed, operating theatres for example. Now, the Department for Health has plans to replace these services with regional 'super-centres' run by the private sector. In the South West this would be in Taunton.

In April Northern Devon Healthcare Trust board will decide whether to accept the 'in-house' tender from North Devon District Hospital's Sterile Supplies Department or the one from the private sector company in Taunton - Decon Sciences. If the Trust Board accepts the outside tender the contract will be for 20 years. The contract may also include penalty clauses which would hit the Trust with a large amount of money to pay if they decide to pull out of the contract. Even if there are penalty clauses if Decon Sciences don't deliver an acceptable service 20 years is still an enormous commitment, especially if the standard of service isn't up to scratch..

With the existing services, the safety of patients is paramount. In the hands of private companies profit is the main motive, so the danger is always there that the company may cut corners to save money (and so make more money).

The British Orthopaedic Association has expressed its firm opposition to these developments. They are concerned with the threat these changes pose to the quality of care they can give to patients. For surgery, it is essential that sterilised equipment is readily available. If it isn't, there's a danger that the start of an operation will be delayed or unnecessary equipment won't be available if something unexpected happens. Either of these might mean the operation not being as successful as it would normally be. There is also a danger that infection rates might rise.

This isn't just scaremongering. One of these 'super-centres' opened in Birmingham last year. In the 6 months up to September 2007 there were 3,400 decontamination 'clinical incidents'. These included mislabelled, damaged, mixed up and badly packaged instruments. One Birmingham-based consultant pointed out that in one instance they had to open up 7 sets of surgical instruments before they got the properly sterilised ones they needed.

In the case of North Devon, there's an even bigger problem - the hospital is in Barnstaple, the supplier is in Taunton! The danger of greater delays in therefore greatly increased, along with the possibility of the items being contaminated in transit.

As socialists we are particularly concerned about the welfare of the staff at the centre of this storm - through no fault of their own. What protection would they have if Decon got the contract? Well, they get the glorious opportunity to work for Decon Sciences, i.e. move to Taunton or have to commute there. If they decide to stay with North Devon Trust they'll be given other employment, but how suitable or acceptable this might be to them is open to question. Considering there doesn't seem to be any problem with the past standards of service provided by these Sterile Supplies staff, all this must be doubly upsetting and annoying for them.

Whatever the cost might be to keep the existing service at North Devon District Hospital, at least it would mean that the department remained conveniently on-site and under the control of the local Trust. Some other facts also need to be taken into account. What effect would the proposed change have on the welfare of future patients in North Devon needing surgery of some kind? The risk of something going wrong just because instruments aren't properly sterilised or available when needed - is the hospital Trust Board prepared to face the possible consequences? Also, not all of (our!) public money paid to Decon Sciences would just be for services provided - a certain percentage would be given to them just to line the pockets of their shareholders.

Despite pressure from the Government to accept this, these changes aren't inevitable. Plans in Oxford were successfully opposed. Closer to home, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust has declined to use the Taunton 'super-centre'. The Northern Devon Healthcare Trust Board isn't going to make its final decision until early April so there's still time to turn back from going down this potentially serious, risky and dangerous path.

UNISON branch officials in North Devon have been working with the hospital's Sterile Supplies staff to fight these plans. But they need more support. You can help by doing one or more of the following -

- Get your trade union branch to send messages of support to Northern Devon UNISON Healthcare branch. Pauline Brennan is the branch secretary. She can be reached at Level 3, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB or by email at northdevonhealth@hotmail.co.uk.

- Express your opposition to these plans by writing to or emailing the local MP Nick Harvey, your councillors, the Hospital Trust Chief Executive (Mrs Jac Kelly, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB) and your own GP.

Also please write to the North Devon Journal and North Devon Gazette.

No to the privatisation of Exeter University Family Centre!

2008-02-09T16:22:00.000Z

Yesterday, members of Exeter University Socialist Students' Society (a group who we have close links with, and common members) held a protest against the University's proposed privatisation of the Family Centre, which functions as a popular nursery for staff and students. They were joined by many of the parents who would be affected by the changes. Socialist Party members fully support the campaign, which has also involved the collection of over 2000 signatures on a petition, and those who were able to attended the demonstration, which gained media attention from Westcountry News and local newspapers.

Once again the Students' Guild (the name for the Student Union at Exeter University) has only showed half-hearted opposition to this attack on students and staff, as they did when Exeter Socialist Students led a large campaign against the privatisation of student catering facilites a few years back.

With the support of the Devon Socialist Party, staff and other students (including those at nearby Exeter College) Exeter Socialist Students will continue to fight this privatisation, and any others proposed in the future. If you would like to know more or express your support and solidarity with the campaign, you can contact the President of Exeter Socialist Students, Jim at: maj_mij@hotmail.com

We say 'no' to the divide and rule tactics of Devon and Somerset Fire Authority

2008-01-10T16:08:00.000Z

At the recent meeting in Ilfracombe held by campaigners looking to stop the attempt by Devon and Somerset Fire Authority to remove full-time manning from four stations in Devon (Ilfracombe, Exmouth, Paignton and Plympton), FBU secretary Trevor French condemned attempts by the Authority to set "one station against another as a means of being able to divide and conquer."

He is spot on, as is the FBU approach to this problem, and the problem of the previous proposals to remove dedicated crews from aerial platforms in several towns, a measure that was defeated. The proposal as a whole needs to be defeated as a concept, not just as the right concept but in the wrong towns. It is an absolute matter of public safety that all areas the size of Ilfracombe need full-time crews. Even the Chief Fire Officer admitted as much when he conceded that simply maintaining a retained crew would increase response times.

The aerial platform cuts were wrong, these staffing cuts are wrong. They are wrong everywhere, not just Ilfracombe, not just Devon. Unfortunately, Rodney Cann, a member of the Fire Authority and Tory county councillor for Fremington in North Devon, said that the aerial platform cuts should be looked at again rather than the staffing cuts. Others at the meeting agreed. However, the reason we and the FBU opposed those cuts was public safety as well. Only a few months ago a large fire in Ilfracombe needed a quick response from the aerial platform in Barnstaple.

We must demand no cuts, no exceptions. The FBU are of the same mind. They are aware of the safety implications far more than opportunistic Tories looking to get on a bandwagon while passing cuts. A curious argument for the front-line cuts by Trevor Stratford, the assistant Chief Fire Officer was that 90% of the budget for Ilfracombe goes on front-line services (i.e. equipment and staff) - in other words, it is already cut to the bone, so lets cut into the bone.

We demand:

A fully funded and well staffed and equipped fire service where the priority is public safety not budget cuts. There is plenty of money for the shareholders of privatised public services, nuclear weapons and war, we demand it is spent on essential public services.

A public fire service, with no place for private profit.

Wages and conditions of service for firefighters and other important staff, that they deserve - much better.

New article on low pay

2008-01-06T14:36:00.000Z

On our sister site, Devon Socialist Articles.

No to fire cuts!

2007-12-31T18:39:00.000Z

The recently honoured Chief Fire Officer of Devon and Somerset, Paul Young, is pressing ahead with plans to remove full time fire cover from towns across Devon and Somerset, echoing cuts that have had fatal consequences elsewhere, such as Newquay.

Devon Socialist Party completely condemns this dangerous penny-pinching and fully supports the fight of the FBU and all other local campaigns against the cuts. It is obvious to us that the proposed cuts are universally unpopular. We have collected many signatures against the cuts across Devon. Some opponents of cuts try to plead a special case for their town. We have seen this in Exmouth and Ilfracombe. This is not only a strategy that would disastrously undermine the unity that is needed to bin the proposal, but also if successful would only give the town a temporary reprieve until the next round of cuts.

We call for unity across Devon and Somerset against all cuts. We stand against measures which seem to be aimed at opening the Fire Service up for privatisation, which FBU general secretary, speaking at our Socialism 2007 event in November, made clear is top of the Government's agenda for the Fire Service, just as it is for the NHS, education and postal services.

New article - socialists and the smoking ban

2007-12-31T18:30:00.000Z

Is available on our sister site - Devon Socialist Articles

Important articles to end the year

2007-12-31T16:49:00.000Z

The view of the Socialist Party and the internation organisation we are affiliated to, the CWI, on the big national and international issues as 2007 draws to a close:

Socialist Movement condemns the killing of Benazir Bhutto

Defend Tommy Sheridan against State/Murdoch witchhunt

Committee for a Workers' International prepares for 2008

Problems of building new workers' parties

China's capitalist counter-revolution, a view on the nature of China's state.

Depression Hits Robinson Crusoe's Island

2007-12-31T16:38:00.000Z

Written by Mary Atterbury, the tale below is taken from a leaflet produced by the trade union 'Industrial Workers of the World':

"Friday," said Robinson Crusoe, "I'm sorry, I fear I must lay you off."

"What do you mean, Master?"

"Why, you know there's a big surplus of last year's crop. I don't need you plant another this year. I've got enough goatskin coats to last me a lifetime. My house needs no repairs. I can gather turtle eggs myself. There's an overproduction. When I need you I'll send for you. You needn't wait around here."

"That's alright, Master, I'll plant my own crop, build up my own hut and gather all the eggs and nuts I want myself. I'll get along fine."

"Where will you do all this, Friday?"

"Here on this island."

"This island belongs to me, you know. I can't allow you to that. When you can't pay me anything I need I might as well not own it."

"Then I'll build a canoe and fish in the ocean. You don't own that."

"That's all right, provided you don't use any of the trees for your canoe, or build it on my land, or use my beach for a landing place, and do your fishing far enough away so you don't interfere with my off-shore rights."

"I never thought of that, Master. I can do without a boat, though. I can swim over to that rock and fish there and gather sea-gull eggs."

"No you won't, Friday. The rock is mine. I own the off-shore rights."

"What shall I do, Master?"

"That's your problem, Friday. You're a free man, and you know about freedom being maintained here."

"I guess I'll starve, Master. May I stay here until I do? Or shall I swim beyond your 12-mile limit and drown or starve there?"

"I've thought of something , Friday. I don't like to carry my rubbish down to the shore each day. You may stay and do that. Then whatever is left of it, after my dog and cat have fed, you may eat. You're in luck."

"Thank you, Master. That is true charity."

"One more thing, Friday. This island is over-populated. Fifty percent of the people are unemployed. We are undergoing a severe depression, and there is no way that I can see to end it. No one but a charlatan would say that he could. So keep a lookout and let no one land here to live. And if any ship comes don't let them land any goods of any kind. You must be protected against foreign labour. Conditions are fundamentally sound, though. And prosperity is just around the corner."

Inequality - the human cost ...an article on our new articles website

2007-11-15T16:08:00.000Z

To keep this website a place for news, reports and announcements about events, we try to keep articles quite short. We have had a few, but we plan to publish some interesting and insightful articles about key issues such as inequality, low pay and class with a focus on Devon over the coming weeks. We have therefore decided to create a new website for these articles, at http://devonsocialistarticles.wordpress.com . When we add an article to that website we will put a notice on this main website to let you know.

Starting off the new website is an article on inequality and health, by DL, an NHS worker and Campaign for a New Workers' Party supporter who earlier on in the year reviewed the book 'Blackshirts in Devon' for this site.

Please visit the new website to read the article, and look out on this main website for news of any new articles over the coming weeks.

NHS demo and anti-BNP protest

2007-11-09T16:15:00.000Z

In response to the Exeter University Debating Society's reckless calling of a debate on the question of whether the BNP should be allowed a platform on campus (a position we strongly disagree with as the presence of fascists, which the hard-core BNP members undoubtedly are, leads to intimidation and violence against groups such as ethnic minorities and homosexuals, and also gives the impression that the BNP are a legitimate political party which only lends them credibility), Devon Socialist Party, and other groups such as Exeter Socialist Students, Exeter Socialists and Devon NUT, organised a protest outside the debating chamber.

The debate was won (if not on strength of argument but because the right wingers who see having fascists on campus as a 'cracking wheeze' dominate the Debating Society turned out in force) by those proposing the BNP be allowed on campus to spread their poison and cause safety issues for large numbers of students. They will now undoubtedly try to invite someone like BNP Fuhrer Nick Griffin down to speak, something which will be resisted by all anti-fascist campaigners. As last Friday, the Socialist Party and Socialist Students (who organised the protest last week) will be at the forefront.

On the Saturday, Socialist Party and Socialist Students members travelled from Exeter to London to go on the march to defend the NHS. It would be fair to say that the four main things you could always see on the demonstration were people, banners for the health union UNISON, banners for the general union Unite and Socialist Party members, placards, banners or papers.

The rally held at the end of the demo was kept deliberately non-political by the UNISON leadership, who seem determined to remain several centimetres up the Prime Ministers unmentionable. In UNISON they bitterly oppose any attempt to question the donation of millions of pounds of UNISON members money to the New Labour government that is kicking them in the teeth and the NHS in the direction of private sector fat cats.

We say - Break the link with New Labour - don't fund those who kick us in the teeth
- Support the Campaign for a New Workers Party and candidates standing on anti-cuts and save the NHS platforms
- Link up the local NHS campaigns to form a fighting national 'Save our NHS' campaign free from the obstructions of the likes of UNISON leader Dave Prentis

Save our NHS national demo - free bus places left

2007-10-24T19:57:00.000Z

On Saturday 3rd November there will be a national 'Save our NHS' demonstration in central London. Socialist Party members will be out in force as always, arguing not just that the NHS is an essential serve, but that the privatisation and introduction of markets and competition needs to be stopped and reversed.

The NHS needs to be a public funded and democratically run organisation to be a success. Cuts and siphoning off money to the wallets of rich shareholders of PFI and private health companies removes money from front line services and results in overstretched staff, fewer services and the rise of the superbugs MRSA and C. difficile.

The demonstration, organised by the health union UNISON, starts at 11am at Temple Place, Victoria Embankment. UNISON in Exeter and Barnstaple are running buses to (and from) the demo. There are still free seats left on the buses, which leave Exeter at 7am and Barnstaple at 5.30am (from the Square). If you are interested in getting the Exeter bus, please contact Jim at maj_mij@hotmail.co.uk. If you are interested in getting the Barnstaple bus, please contact Sue Harte on 01271 322353 or unisonhealthndevon@hotmail.co.uk .

It is still time to drive out the profiteers and save the NHS! Please make it to the demonstration if you can!

Health and inequality in Devon

2007-10-24T19:44:00.000Z

The most recent Annual Report of the Devon Directors of Public Health (‘Health in Devon’, December 2006) makes shocking reading. Acknowledging the persistent health inequalities in the county, it states ‘Recently published data from the south west public health observatory indicates a life expectancy gap of 18 years between the people living in the healthiest geographical areas of Devon, and the unhealthiest’. Yes, 18 years, in picturesque, sunny Devon, in the fourth richest country in the world.

There will shortly be a full article on this blog about this fundamental issue.

No to fire service cuts!

2007-10-06T17:16:00.000Z

After the usual sham of 'consultation', Devon and Somerset Fire Authority have decided to axe 25 jobs in the fire service in Devon, despite a budget surplus of £1 million. The jobs will go in Barnstaple, Exeter, Plymouth and Torquay and will leave these towns and cities and the areas they serve undermanned. In the event that an aerial hydraulic platform is needed for a rescue, firefighters will have to leave their posts either manning another engine or fighting a fire to operate it.

It seems fire chiefs have learnt absolutely nothing from the tragedy in Newquay over the summer, when three people died in the fire at the Penhallow Hotel. Fire cuts in Cornwall meant there were not enough firefighters or working equipment locally to tackle the blaze. Firefighters and equipment had to come from Plymouth (50 miles away).

As with the NHS and the postal services, we must fight to retain adequate levels of fire cover. Cuts kill, and the Devon Socialist Party is campaigning for no cuts in firefighters, engines or equipment, and for firefighters to be properly paid for the dangerous but essential work they do. The Fire Brigades Union is urging people to write to the Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset to protest against these dangerous and unnecessary cuts. Please send your letters of protest (when the postal workers are moving to rolling strikes next week) to:

Chief Fire Officer
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
SHQ
Clyst St George
Exeter
EX3 0NW

Devon Postal Strike round up

2007-10-06T16:52:00.000Z

Socialist Party and Socialist Students members visited the picket line at the Mail Centre in Exeter twice at midday and at midnight on Friday. Only 6 workers in this large mail centre scabbed, with the vast majority of workers solid in supporting this strike. When we raised the issue of the need for a new workers' party, pickets expressed firm support for our ideas and are mystified why the leadership continues to fund New Labour, who are behind the privatisation, cuts and job losses in the postal service and public services in general.

In Barnstaple the strike remained solid and the determination of the strikers to continue the fight was evident. Local Socialist Partymembers in North Devon are currently working to try and unite the public sector unions behind the postal workers and againstprivatisation and cuts in the public sector as a whole.

In Teignmouth and Newton Abbot, the determination to see this one out reflected what we saw and heard in Exeter. Socialist Party strike leaflets and 10 copies of the socialist were snapped up as postal workers welcomed a clear explanation of their cause. In conversations there was a higher level of political discussion than in previous strikes with many recognising that New Labour never repealed Thatcher's oppressive anti-trade union laws. Many of picket expressed anger at the media and the bullying attitude of some local managers. Tempers rose with the arrival of 'scab' agency workers at one point management threaten to call the police to arrest the socialist reporter, unfortunately for them they did not know where the picket line ought to be. This is the same management who refuse to give postal workers an opportunity to earn £8 an hour - instead they preferred to use agency workers at £18 an hour of which these receive £6.50 an hour.

Strikers felt that they were in a powerful position with the run up to Christmas. However they recognise that they will face hardship with the lack of funds for their families. During discussions the idea of setting up a South Devon Support Group was brought up. The need to build links with other unions and other members of the public was seen as vital. This would then link up with other groups in Exeter and North Devon.

Support the postal workers

2007-09-29T14:34:00.000Z

With news that the Communication Workers Union are to stage two further 48 hour strikes from Noon on Thursday 4th October to Noon on Saturday 6th October and from 3am on Monday 8th October to 3am on Wednesday 10th October, the Socialist Party would like to express our support once more for the struggle of the postal workers in fighting job cuts, privatisation and pay cuts. We will be joining CWU members on picket lines and delivering leaflets outlining the case for the action by the striking postal workers to the public at large.

If you would like to help in these crucial acts of solidarity please email Devon Socialist Party at socialistpartydevon.gmail.com .

Despite UNISON members accepting a pay cut after minor concessions by the Government there is an excellent opportunity for the public sector unions to unite to oppose pay and job cuts, and the process of privatisation and marketisation that is destroying our vital public services.

Here in Devon we face post office closures, severe reductions in postal services, cuts in fire cover, library closures, benefit office closures and also reduction in the numbers of NHS staff ans services. There is also the ongoing scandal of a lack of quality affordable housing. Only a fightback by workers and campaigners can stem this tide. For this political and industrial struggles need to be united under the banner of a new party for workers, linked with the building of the Shop Stewards Network to link up fighting trade unionists in all unions.

14/8 Exeter branch meeting

2007-08-15T17:15:00.000Z

Aside from organisational issues, the main topics of discussion and debate at the branch meeting were the world situation and the ongoing industrial action by the CWU. Also discussed was the possibility of a general election in October and events in September, October and November.

On the subject of the CWU/Royal Mail dispute, JL outlined the situation as it has unfolded to date, including the one-day strikes, the staggered strikes and the current postponement. He emphasised the support for the strikes by not just the vast majority of postal workers but the public as well. However, the leaders of the CWU seem to be pursuing a course of action better suited to getting a few concessions rather than the outright victory that is needed (for more details of the CWU action see previous posts on this site). In the discussion that followed JK talked about the strikes by Post Office counter workers, which were about the closure of 70 Crown Post Offices and the provision of the services in WH Smiths instead. AC pointed our attentions to the national demonstration in London on the 21st August. SB and JT also made some points related to the action in Devon and the tactics of the union leadership, which seems at odds with the attitudes and determination of the postal workers on the ground.

In the discussion on the world situation, JT gave a report on the event recently held in Belgium for members of parties affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI). Socialists from all over the world gathered to discuss issues such as the ongoing crisis in the middle east, American imperialism, the environment and many other issues. A report of the event can be found in the latest issue of 'the socialist'. An online version of the report is available on the Socialist Party website. A report is also available on the website of China Worker (thanks to Leftwing Criminologist for the information about this link).

Recent postal action update from 'the socialist'

2007-08-14T14:31:00.000Z

PUBLIC SUPPORT for the Communication Workers Union (CWU) action remains strong and in Bideford on 2 August only four out of 80 crossed the lines and scabbed. In Ilfracombe only two went in. And in Barnstaple only five out of 138 workers went in with no slippage in support.
Socialist Party members are helping to distribute CWU leaflets and have been approached by CWU reps to start organising a rally with other unions - NUT, UNISON, FBU - and are looking to contacts with the PCS and RMT. The theme will be 'Public Service not Private Profit'. It is hoped to expand this to other areas.

In the 'English Riveria', Torquay, a very effective leadership has led to a solid 100% turnout of CWU members. There are reports of unoffical 'work to contracted hours' and rows over use of workers' own cars, which has saved this bullying management millions of pounds over the years.
This '100%' was reflected in Newton Abbot. Teignmouth remains at 95% out, with reports coming in of agency workers being used. This apparently is illegal and a waste of time - one agency worker finished their round on a non-strike day at 7.30pm!

Sean Brogan

----UPDATE----

Since this was published in 'the socialist' the strike action has been postponed until September. Worringly, negotiations are taking place in secret behind closed doors, with only Royal Mail bosses Leighton and Crozier and CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes and Deputy General Secretary Dave Ward present. It does seem that Hayes and Ward are prepared to just get a few scraps off of Crozier and Leighton, despite the fact that anything short of complete victory for the postal workers in this struggle would open the doors for privatisation and the break up of the postal service which will lead to further setbacks in the future and weaken the power of the union to campaign and fight for its members.

Devon SP in this weeks 'the socialist'

2007-07-20T18:53:00.000Z

In this weeks 'the socialist', the newspaper of the Socialist Party, there is a special centre-pages feature on the postal strikes. Included in this is a report from Devon Socialist Party secretary on what has been going on across Devon, and our activities. The report is reproduced below:

Devon

Only a handful worked in Barnstaple and Bideford with over 95% out on strike. The strike was solid in Exeter even though there were only a few pickets there due to a different change-over time.

In Mid and South Devon the CWU scored notable successes in bringing out and unionising the delivery office at Chagford and achieving total stoppage at Bovey Tracey. Small towns and villages they may be but it shows the strength of feeling that exists and what can be done by active trade unionists.

Thanks in helping the strike were given by CWU reps to a Socialist Party member when he visited the Newton Abbot picket line. A simple letter sent to local newspapers supporting the cause had been reprinted by the union and sent to all CWU branches. The stoppage at Newton Abbot was 100%. At Teignmouth six worked out of 30.

Plans are being laid for when the next strike is called to visit the picket lines of Torquay and other towns and encourage trade unionists to show solidarity by visiting the picket lines.

Sean Brogan, secretary, Devon Socialist Party

17/7 Exeter branch meeting

2007-07-20T18:47:00.000Z

At the recent Exeter branch meeting, the ongoing postal strikes were discussed, as well as the situation in Northern Ireland and the growth in membership of the Socialist Party in Devon, the south west and nationally.

Introducing the discussion was SB, who outlined the changed situation in Northern Ireland over the past few years, and since the accession to power of bitter foes Ian Paisley (pictured left, of the Unionist DUP) and Martin McGuinness (pictured right, of the nationalist-republican party Sinn Fein). He said that it was noticably quieter, and the police now walked the streets, albeit still carrying arms. Beneath this sheen though still lies the reality that the sectarian divide still remains and the national question remains unresolved.

The DUP-Sinn Fein government, despite being in office for some months now, has little to say on the contentious issues of health, housing and education. Both parties are committed to neo-liberal anti-working class policies, and sectarian politics. A new party needs to be formed in Northern Ireland based on a socialist programme uniting workers from both communities. Sectarian schooling and housing, which entrenches the conscious policy of the British ruling class of divide and rule, need to be ended.

The national question, in Ireland as well as Cyprus, Palestine/Israel, Kashmir, Sri Lanka and elsewhere cannot be solved under a capitalist system which promotes divisions between workers in order to exploit them. SB recommended books by the secretary of the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland (affiliated to the same international organisation as us, the CWI) Peter Hadden, particularly 'Beyond the Troubles' and 'Divide and Rule'. Both books are available online, if you click on the titles.

Regarding the postal strike, those present at the branch meeting talked about their experiences on the picket line, and in a discussion we discussed the propects for the action, the postal service and how we would work to help the postal workers in any way we could.

CWU action and Shop Stewards Conference report

2007-07-17T12:40:00.000Z

Postal workers staged a second 24-hour strike over 12-13th July. Devon Socialist Party members have again supported the strike across Devon. There will be a fuller report on this website on Friday, but briefly, it is clear that the strike was still near solid. Going by our experiences on the picket lines, the CWU's estimate of 90+% seems accurate. The Royal Mail's claim of 5-60% is laughable.

In parts of Devon, Socialist Party members have also raised money for the striking postal workers, written letters to local newspapers, and delivered union leaflets outlining the reasons behind the action, and countering the misinformation of the Royal Mail bosses.

The important thing now is to keep up the pressure on the arrogant Royal Mail management who refuse even to negotiate with the representatives of the people who actually make our postal service work, and don't get fat million-pound bonuses for it. Public sector unity in opposing privatisation is also essential, as all parts of the public sector face similar threats.

The National Shop Stewards Network held its first conference on the 7th July, attended by nearly 300 trade unionists, and addressed by RMT (Rail and Maritime Transport) general secretary Bob Crow (pictured, left), PCS (Civil servants' union) general secretary Mark Serwotka and PCS President Janice Godrich.

There is a full report on the Socialist Party website here, but it's worth putting on here the significance of the establishment of the network, which in the words of Bob Crow, "will be seen as the starting point in rebuilding the TUC". The network, when it grows and develops, will play a key role in uniting workplace struggles and fighting for decent pay and conditions and opposing pay cuts and freezes and privatisation.

Also significant was the closing address by Bob Crow:

"We can't separate the trade union and the political path. We can have a great shop stewards' movement that can get pay rises and so on, but when the economy goes down those gains are taken back. That's why I argue we need not just new militant trade unionism but an alternative political party."

We fully endorse that position, which we have been arguing for quite some time, and campaigning for it in the form of the Campaign for a New Workers' Party.