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Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Coalition of Resistance | Dot Gibson - National Pensioners Convention |
AND PENSIONERS CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY!
The General Secretary of the National Pensioners' Convention advised those attending a meeting of the Coalition of Resistance not to underestimate the support pensioners can give to the campaign. Yes, some may be slow moving, poor sighted and hard of hearing but they have enjoyed the benefits of the Welfare State and know what is at stake for the working class and lower middle class of this country.
Their parents demanded, after the second World War, no return to the 1920's and 1930's lack of social care for working people. The war had left Britain in a position of financial ruin much worse than today yet the newly elected Labour government was able to establish the National Health Service and all other sections of the Welfare State that became the envy of countries throughout the world. And pensioners rightly ask, if it could be done then, then why not now?
(The difference is that in 1945 there was mass mobilisation of people demanding a better standard of living and social care and nobody was scared of using the word 'socialism')
This same question will be asked at the Monday 13th September meeting of the Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association when a plan will be drawn up for conducting direct action in October.
Clearly, the pensioners will rightly expect the local Trade Unions to support their action for two very obvious reasons: one, trade unionists will be pensioners themselves one day; two, the protest is not just about pensions and care for the elderly, it is about resisting the most savage and wholesale attack on the standard of living of ordinary people this country has ever seen.
If just a few local pensioners are left to engage in some form of civil disobedience to draw attention to the cuts programme this will be a huge condemnation of the apathy of the local population. Indeed, if the level of local support is the same as that given to the courageous pupils of Parkview School who stood alone in defence of their school against the proposed academy then protesting pensioners will be on their own.
When the well known comedian, Mike Harding, described Barrow in Furness as 'a medieval town (at the end of a 32 mile cul-de-sac)' he did not refer to the local architecture but to the peasant mentality of the local population (as he allegedly found it to be). And the word Barrow describes a mound in which the dead are housed. Do the people here truly deserve this? As it is said: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
Saturday, 4 September 2010
PENSIONERS SET EXAMPLE
FURNESS PENSIONERS PROMOTE PEOPLE'S CHARTER FOR CHANGE
Members of Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association could never be described as a bunch of revolutionaries but they can certainly tell the difference between right and wrong and this is why most members have signed the Charter's petition and why a few also promote the Charter in Barrow town centre whenever possible.
The Charter sets out particular steps for resolving the current economic crisis without need for savage cuts in public spending - cuts that, if implemented, will have very serious consequences for the well-being of the most disadvantaged members of our nation i.e. the sick, the disabled, anyone on benefits, those on low wages, and people on fixed incomes such as the elderly on the state pension.
THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER, adopted by the Trade Union Congress at its annual conference, Sept 2009.
A FAIR ECONOMY FOR A FAIRER BRITAIN. Progressive taxes without loopholes or tax-havens. We must own and control the main banks. Guarantee all pensions, mortgages and savings. Tie pensions and benefits to wages. Give pensioners free transport and heating. Increase the minimum wage.
MORE AND BETTER JOBS. Protect existing jobs. Reduce hours, not pay, to create more jobs. Make a massive investment in new jobs, particularly in green technology, for the sake of our children.
DECENT HOMES FOR ALL. Create 3 million publicly owned homes. Stop the repossessions. Control rents.
SAVE AND IMPROVE OUR SERVICES. Energy, telecommunications, postal, water, and transport to be placed in public ownership to serve people not shareholders. Remove profit making from our NHS and schools. Support our public service staff.
FOR FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE. Equality of opportunity for all. Together against racism and all forms of discrimination. Equal pay for women. End child poverty and give young people a future. Provide free child and youth facilities, education and training for all. Repeal the anti-union laws to fight poverty and inequality.
A BETTER FUTURE STARTS NOW. No more blood and money for war. Bring our troops home. No more billions of pounds for nuclear weapons. We want massive investment for a greener, safer world. Get rid of the debt economy in Britain and cancel the debts of the poor of the planet.
Meanwhile, one year on from the Charter's TUC endorsement, Furness Trade Unions remain comatose and their slumber is enhanced by the blanket silence of the local press on the issue.
There was a glimmer of hope of a fight-back against proposed cuts to housing benefits for the unemployed when, in a recent article in the local press, Barrow Borough (Conservative) councillor, Ray Guselli, openly criticised his own party in government for this measure. How are these unfortunate people, he asked, going to be able to afford to make up their rent shortfall from their meagre benefits? Landlords will have no alternative but to give them 'notice to quit' and then seek tenants who can afford to rent the flats and bed-sits (a difficult proposition when there are increasing numbers of unemployed and a glut of empty properties in Barrow). But then, of course, councillor Guselli is himself a landlord of rented properties in the town. Was he concerned about his tenants, or about a loss of income?
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
NORTHERN TUC OFFERS FIGHT-BACK
TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST CUTS
Under the title 'Northern Region Public Service Alliance', Northern Region Trades Union Congress has held a series of meetings across the North East and Cumbria to decide how to respond to the Government's planned spending cuts.
Although union-led, it is hoped to involve members of social and community groups such as Pensioners' Associations, residents' groups and special area voluntary organisations (health, environment, nature conservation, etc) whose very existence is now under threat.
At a meeting held at the Castle Hotel, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria at 5.30pm on Friday 6th August, assembled members of various Cumbria Trades Unions agreed the county be divided up into three zones: Cumbria North to cover Carlisle and Penrith; Cumbria Central to cover the west coast (Workington down to Millom) and Cumbria South to cover Furness and Kendal.
North Cumbria has already announced campaign meetings to be held but all remains quiet in Cumbria Central and Cumbria South (with the exception that Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association has agreed to hold a meeting to determine what direct action is possible to support the National Pensioners' Convention demonstration in the capital in October).
Very recently, 50 jobs were lost at the Telephone Directory Call Centre in Barrow. The pharmaceutical company, Welcome Glaxo Smith Klein, at Ulverston is to enforce 100 compulsory redundancies. Job losses of this kind are not simply 'losses'. The work these jobs did has been eliminated and they will never arise again to offer occupational opportunities.
And for the people of Furness, that distant thunder draws ever closer. They, like the rest of the population of Britain, freely vote for a barbaric system of 'Profit before people' then wonder why things get a bit tough for them. They appear to be incapable of grasping the fundamental truth that history is made by the people, not by kings and queens or prime ministers and generals.
A better society can only be established by the will and actions of masses of people united in their determination to strive for it - even willing to risk their lives for its achievement. That level of political enlightenment and commitment does not yet exist in today's Britain; which is why we are now in such a hell of a mess.
Under the title 'Northern Region Public Service Alliance', Northern Region Trades Union Congress has held a series of meetings across the North East and Cumbria to decide how to respond to the Government's planned spending cuts.
Although union-led, it is hoped to involve members of social and community groups such as Pensioners' Associations, residents' groups and special area voluntary organisations (health, environment, nature conservation, etc) whose very existence is now under threat.
At a meeting held at the Castle Hotel, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria at 5.30pm on Friday 6th August, assembled members of various Cumbria Trades Unions agreed the county be divided up into three zones: Cumbria North to cover Carlisle and Penrith; Cumbria Central to cover the west coast (Workington down to Millom) and Cumbria South to cover Furness and Kendal.
North Cumbria has already announced campaign meetings to be held but all remains quiet in Cumbria Central and Cumbria South (with the exception that Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association has agreed to hold a meeting to determine what direct action is possible to support the National Pensioners' Convention demonstration in the capital in October).
Very recently, 50 jobs were lost at the Telephone Directory Call Centre in Barrow. The pharmaceutical company, Welcome Glaxo Smith Klein, at Ulverston is to enforce 100 compulsory redundancies. Job losses of this kind are not simply 'losses'. The work these jobs did has been eliminated and they will never arise again to offer occupational opportunities.
And for the people of Furness, that distant thunder draws ever closer. They, like the rest of the population of Britain, freely vote for a barbaric system of 'Profit before people' then wonder why things get a bit tough for them. They appear to be incapable of grasping the fundamental truth that history is made by the people, not by kings and queens or prime ministers and generals.
A better society can only be established by the will and actions of masses of people united in their determination to strive for it - even willing to risk their lives for its achievement. That level of political enlightenment and commitment does not yet exist in today's Britain; which is why we are now in such a hell of a mess.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
BOSS CLASS DECLARES WAR ON WORKING CLASS
ALL QUIET ON THE FURNESS FRONT
It is three months since the election of the ConDem government, a coalition of Conservatives and LiberalDemocrats, in which the LibDems are definitely the junior partner.
Much is being written about how those who voted for the LibDems now feel betrayed by the leaders of their Party. Just what did these politically immature specimens think would happen once their leaders got a whiff of the front benches of the House of Commons?
If they really believed an element of liberalism might temper the savagery of a Tory onslaught on the vital necessities of the working class - supportive public services, a living wage or salary, equal educational opportunities for all, compassionate benefits, life-saving health care, affordable housing and reasonable fuel charges, and pensions that allow the elderly to live out their remaining years with dignity - it is time for them to grow up (or grow another face on the backs of their heads, just like their leaders).
When Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939 there followed a period of calm inactivity that became known as the 'Phoney War'. Interestingly, something similar appears to be happening again in Britain today: the multi-millionaire Boss Class has declared war on the working class yet, so far, nothing much seems to be happening to affect the lives of ordinary people here in Furness. They blissfully go about their daily routines of eating, working (or collecting their benefits), watching tele and finally going to bed as if this is how it will always be and become annoyed with anyone who asks them to listen to the sound of the distant thunder of the approaching storm.
And what of those who (it is assumed) are the most politically advanced sections of the working class and middle class - Trade Unionists and members of professional associations?
With some honourable exceptions, the leadership of the Trade Union and Labour Movement (not to be confused with the New Labour Boss Class Collaborators' Party) appears to be as transfixed by the coming assault on their class as hares caught in the glare of a car's headlights. And which morons of the TUC national executive agreed the mouth-piece of the Boss Class, David Cameron, should be invited to address the National Congress this year? (The lure of the Irmine Collar never loses its appeal to ten-a-penny class traitors, does it?)
So what preparations are workers' organisations making to defend ordinary people from the attacks that are to be made upon their income, welfare and quality of life? In Furness, three groups have for several years consistently attempted to raise public awareness of injustice.
Ulverston Peace Group and Barrow & District Peace Council have regularly campaigned against the loss of life caused by illegal wars and the immorality of building submersible launch platforms for American Trident nuclear missiles with street protests, letters to the local press and public meetings.
On the matter of the local nuclear weapons industry, the groups have sought to promote the idea of alternative engineering work for 'Green Energy' projects, utilising the expertise and equipment that already exists here, that would provide long-term sustainable employment and ensure the economic survival of Furness. An influx of innovative manufacturing industries would bring wealth to the region, prosperity for local businesses and the creation of fulltime, well-paid employment for the population at large.
However, not one Trade Union, not one councillor, not any member of Barrow or Ulverston Trade Union Councils, not one local business person nor any member of the local clergy or their congregation has seen fit to lend support of any kind to this work. It's not too difficult to see what position they will adopt when the class war really arrives here.
The third group is Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association which campaigns on behalf of pensioners in this constituency. A delegation attends the annual Pensioners' Parliament which is held at Blackpool and organised by the National Pensioner' Convention. The apathy of local pensioners to the work of the Pensioners' Association matches exactly the apathy of the general public to matters that will directly affect their lives - witness the incredulity and wonderment of the general public to the People's Charter stall on Saturdays in Barrow town centre.
What will it take to wake them from their slumber? Only the 'second coming' because that's the only thing, we are told, that will waken the dead.
It is three months since the election of the ConDem government, a coalition of Conservatives and LiberalDemocrats, in which the LibDems are definitely the junior partner.
Much is being written about how those who voted for the LibDems now feel betrayed by the leaders of their Party. Just what did these politically immature specimens think would happen once their leaders got a whiff of the front benches of the House of Commons?
If they really believed an element of liberalism might temper the savagery of a Tory onslaught on the vital necessities of the working class - supportive public services, a living wage or salary, equal educational opportunities for all, compassionate benefits, life-saving health care, affordable housing and reasonable fuel charges, and pensions that allow the elderly to live out their remaining years with dignity - it is time for them to grow up (or grow another face on the backs of their heads, just like their leaders).
When Britain declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939 there followed a period of calm inactivity that became known as the 'Phoney War'. Interestingly, something similar appears to be happening again in Britain today: the multi-millionaire Boss Class has declared war on the working class yet, so far, nothing much seems to be happening to affect the lives of ordinary people here in Furness. They blissfully go about their daily routines of eating, working (or collecting their benefits), watching tele and finally going to bed as if this is how it will always be and become annoyed with anyone who asks them to listen to the sound of the distant thunder of the approaching storm.
And what of those who (it is assumed) are the most politically advanced sections of the working class and middle class - Trade Unionists and members of professional associations?
With some honourable exceptions, the leadership of the Trade Union and Labour Movement (not to be confused with the New Labour Boss Class Collaborators' Party) appears to be as transfixed by the coming assault on their class as hares caught in the glare of a car's headlights. And which morons of the TUC national executive agreed the mouth-piece of the Boss Class, David Cameron, should be invited to address the National Congress this year? (The lure of the Irmine Collar never loses its appeal to ten-a-penny class traitors, does it?)
So what preparations are workers' organisations making to defend ordinary people from the attacks that are to be made upon their income, welfare and quality of life? In Furness, three groups have for several years consistently attempted to raise public awareness of injustice.
Ulverston Peace Group and Barrow & District Peace Council have regularly campaigned against the loss of life caused by illegal wars and the immorality of building submersible launch platforms for American Trident nuclear missiles with street protests, letters to the local press and public meetings.
On the matter of the local nuclear weapons industry, the groups have sought to promote the idea of alternative engineering work for 'Green Energy' projects, utilising the expertise and equipment that already exists here, that would provide long-term sustainable employment and ensure the economic survival of Furness. An influx of innovative manufacturing industries would bring wealth to the region, prosperity for local businesses and the creation of fulltime, well-paid employment for the population at large.
However, not one Trade Union, not one councillor, not any member of Barrow or Ulverston Trade Union Councils, not one local business person nor any member of the local clergy or their congregation has seen fit to lend support of any kind to this work. It's not too difficult to see what position they will adopt when the class war really arrives here.
The third group is Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association which campaigns on behalf of pensioners in this constituency. A delegation attends the annual Pensioners' Parliament which is held at Blackpool and organised by the National Pensioner' Convention. The apathy of local pensioners to the work of the Pensioners' Association matches exactly the apathy of the general public to matters that will directly affect their lives - witness the incredulity and wonderment of the general public to the People's Charter stall on Saturdays in Barrow town centre.
What will it take to wake them from their slumber? Only the 'second coming' because that's the only thing, we are told, that will waken the dead.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
UK PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TODAY
ALL OVER BY THIS TIME TOMORROW
It is Thursday 6th May 2010 and today the people of this country can cast their votes for the candidates of their choosing. However, owing to our ludicrous 'first past the post' electoral system, the party obtaining the most votes may not get to have a majority of seats in parliament and a percentage of the vote will not be reflected in the number of 'seats' gained.
By this time (7.30am) tomorrow the nation will know what type of government has resulted from today's elections but one thing ought to be pretty clear; the working class and lower middle class will bear the burden of the current economic crisis.
Neither the working class nor the lower middle class caused the crisis. Bankers and financiers caused the crisis and, here in Britain, the New Labour government handed over 1.3 trillion pounds of taxpayers' money to bail them out. This has allowed the bankers and financiers to return to 'working as usual' and awarding themselves the odd million pounds annual bonuses.
Those who caused the crisis through irresponsible dealing should pay for the crisis but the government (whatever its composition tomorrow) will be after more money from the taxpayers and seeking to dramatically reduce government spending. Higher taxes may not be good news but reducing government spending by cutting out waste and making government departments more efficient is to be welcomed, is it not?
Just how are the vast sums of money to be raised? First up will be the sale of publicly owned facilities to the private sector. More schools will become private businesses. And privatising libraries might bring in a few quid, too. Services currently provided by councils can be flogged off and the National Health Service is well ripe for a good plucking. Prisons and associated penal and security departments also offer rich pickings. These are just a few of the areas that will be exploited for profit.
Then, of course, we have the 'savings' to be made by reducing public expenditure. There are too many sick people claiming sickness benefit so they must be examined to check just how sick they actually are and if some official thinks they are only a bit sick then they must return to work or lose their benefit. Same goes for the disabled. And the unemployed had better find themselves a job, too. There is just one problem: there are no jobs available that will pay a living wage. To make matters worse, there are to be mass redundancies in the public sector (education, social services, council employees, etc) and these will swell the number of unemployed.
Less people in work means less tax revenue. Less money in people's pockets means less purchase of manufactured products; less purchases lead to surplus of goods on shelves which means no profits for businesses which results in collapse of factories (production) and closure of shops (distribution). This situation is known as a CRISIS and it is an integral part of the capitalist system; this is the very nature of capitalism - BOOM followed by BUST (which the unelected UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stupidly announced had been ended. Duh!)
It is very likely that pay and pensions will be 'frozen' despite rising inflation. It is almost certain that VAT will be raised to at least 20% and that books and children's clothing will no longer be exempt. It has been estimated that the price of water, gas, electricity and oil is set to rise by up to 25%.
It is difficult to predict just how the general population of Britain (workers and those on benefits) will react to the future government's severe austerity measures but, based on previous experience, it is unlikely to be anything like that of those in Greece. No, it is more likely to be as described in the words of the Pink Floyd album 'Darkside of the Moon' ...."Quiet desperation is the English way."
And so it goes.
It is Thursday 6th May 2010 and today the people of this country can cast their votes for the candidates of their choosing. However, owing to our ludicrous 'first past the post' electoral system, the party obtaining the most votes may not get to have a majority of seats in parliament and a percentage of the vote will not be reflected in the number of 'seats' gained.
By this time (7.30am) tomorrow the nation will know what type of government has resulted from today's elections but one thing ought to be pretty clear; the working class and lower middle class will bear the burden of the current economic crisis.
Neither the working class nor the lower middle class caused the crisis. Bankers and financiers caused the crisis and, here in Britain, the New Labour government handed over 1.3 trillion pounds of taxpayers' money to bail them out. This has allowed the bankers and financiers to return to 'working as usual' and awarding themselves the odd million pounds annual bonuses.
Those who caused the crisis through irresponsible dealing should pay for the crisis but the government (whatever its composition tomorrow) will be after more money from the taxpayers and seeking to dramatically reduce government spending. Higher taxes may not be good news but reducing government spending by cutting out waste and making government departments more efficient is to be welcomed, is it not?
Just how are the vast sums of money to be raised? First up will be the sale of publicly owned facilities to the private sector. More schools will become private businesses. And privatising libraries might bring in a few quid, too. Services currently provided by councils can be flogged off and the National Health Service is well ripe for a good plucking. Prisons and associated penal and security departments also offer rich pickings. These are just a few of the areas that will be exploited for profit.
Then, of course, we have the 'savings' to be made by reducing public expenditure. There are too many sick people claiming sickness benefit so they must be examined to check just how sick they actually are and if some official thinks they are only a bit sick then they must return to work or lose their benefit. Same goes for the disabled. And the unemployed had better find themselves a job, too. There is just one problem: there are no jobs available that will pay a living wage. To make matters worse, there are to be mass redundancies in the public sector (education, social services, council employees, etc) and these will swell the number of unemployed.
Less people in work means less tax revenue. Less money in people's pockets means less purchase of manufactured products; less purchases lead to surplus of goods on shelves which means no profits for businesses which results in collapse of factories (production) and closure of shops (distribution). This situation is known as a CRISIS and it is an integral part of the capitalist system; this is the very nature of capitalism - BOOM followed by BUST (which the unelected UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stupidly announced had been ended. Duh!)
It is very likely that pay and pensions will be 'frozen' despite rising inflation. It is almost certain that VAT will be raised to at least 20% and that books and children's clothing will no longer be exempt. It has been estimated that the price of water, gas, electricity and oil is set to rise by up to 25%.
It is difficult to predict just how the general population of Britain (workers and those on benefits) will react to the future government's severe austerity measures but, based on previous experience, it is unlikely to be anything like that of those in Greece. No, it is more likely to be as described in the words of the Pink Floyd album 'Darkside of the Moon' ...."Quiet desperation is the English way."
And so it goes.
Monday, 5 April 2010
CLASSES AND 'THE CLASS STRUGGLE'
British society is divided into classes. Membership of a class is determined by status, wealth or occupation.
Basically, we have the Ruling Class (the bourgeiosie) which is the class of the Property Owners. This class
contains the big landowners, owners of large manufacturing enterprises, commercial outlets and financial institutions that operate with the sole purpose of generating private profit. Put simply, this class 'owns the means of production, distribution and exchange'.
Then we have the class that owns none of these things - the propertyless class (the proletariat). Members of this class have only one thing to 'sell' - their ability to work ie their labour. Thus this group is known as the Working Class
But our society is also composed of strata within the class system - just like the different geological layers in rock formations.
The strata immediately below the Ruling Class is the Upper Middle Class which is composed of the very wealthy, and of judges, top members of the legal profession, and high-ranking officers of the 'Secret Service', military and the police. It also contains the owners of the news media (magazines, newspapers, radio and TV stations) and communication systems (postal and telephone). This strata defends the structure erected by the Ruling Class - the STATE - by inventing and passing laws in its favour that protect its wealth and its property. To enforce these laws, the Ruling Class has constructed a system of coercion - police, courts and prisons (and sometimes the military). The media perpetually promotes the interests of the bourgeiosie and scorns the efforts of workers to obtain fairer pay and working conditions - just observe the 'media treatment' currently being dished out to BA and railway workers (April 2010) and how The Law has been brought in to frustrate workers' industrial action.
The next layer, the Lower Middle Class, consists of small business owners, shop keepers, managers and professionals such as solicitors, estate agents, doctors, vets, dentists, teachers, etc. This group mainly (but not entirely) supports the beliefs and values of the bourgeoisie (capitalists) but lacks this strata's wealth and power hence this layer is known as the petit bourgeiosie (little capitalists).
The final layer is the Working Class and is the majority of the population. This class produces the products, builds the houses and roads, grows the food, drives the transport and maintains the energy, water and sewerage systems. Many of its children form the bulk of the lower ranks of the armed forces. This class only goes along with the Capitalist System whilst the system is able to provide most of its members with work and wages. However, the working conditions and rate of pay must be 'reasonable' and here lies the very foundation of the Class Struggle; a constant and irreconcilable contest between employers and workers.
Employers want to MAXIMISE THEIR PROFITS so wish workers to work for the longest hours for the least amount of pay whereas workers wish to MAXIMISE THEIR EARNINGS and wish to work the least hours for the greatest remuneration.
When workers are presented with terms that are intended to threaten their jobs (redundancies, closures) or worsen their working conditions (longer hours or compromising safety) or reduce their present 'spending power' (wage freeze or an actual wage cut) they attempt to negotiate with their employer to see if a compromise is possible. Individual workers are helpless in this situation for they cannot afford to seek the expert advice of specialists in employment law. But unions can.
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