PEOPLE'S CHARTER CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

PENSIONERS STILL LEAD PROTEST IN BARROW
Again, the photograph is deceptive; the place seems deserted!  But, in fact, this is the upper end of the main shopping street in the town on a Saturday when it was quite busy.


As usual, just three pensioners set up and manned the stall from 11am until 1pm with no assistance or support from any local Trade Union or union members.  Barrow Trades Union Council was absent.




Words from an old song were used to introduce the day's campaign:
"It's the same the whole world over,
Ain't it all a bleedin' shame?
It's the rich what gets the pleasure;
It's the poor what takes the blame!"


And in highlighting some of the cut-back measures already outlined before the results of the Spending Review are announced next week, members of the public were urged to tune in to their radios and TVs next Wednesday to hear what this government has in store for them - a bit like Christmas except that instead of being told what gifts we are to receive we'll be told what 'gifts' are to be taken away from us.


Weather permitting, Barrow pensioners have confirmed they will hold another stall next Saturday - with, or without, union support (sorry, there are no prizes for guessing which one it is likely to be!) 
  
There is no evidence of any People's Charter campaign in Ulverston or any other town or village in Furness.  The Insular Peninsula sleeps on..........

IS A REVOLUTIONARY SITUATION DEVELOPING?

WHAT'S A 'REVOLUTIONARY SITUATION'?
A revolutionary situation is a build-up of social/political conditions necessary for revolution.


Its symptoms may change at various stages in history but in all cases it presupposes a profound crisis of the old system.  It can be brought about by economic shocks, failures of government policy (such as the collapse of a military adventure), or national or racial conflicts leading to a sharp aggravation of social contradictions, etc.


Lenin defined these symptoms as follows:
1.  a crisis among the upper classes, when it is impossible for them to maintain their rule without any change,
2.  the suffering and want of the oppressed classes have grown more acute than usual,
3.  as a consequence of the above causes, there is a considerable increase in the activity of the masses who, in peace time, uncomplainingly allow themselves to be robbed and exploited but, in turbulent times (such as a severe financial crisis) are drawn by all the circumstances into independent historical action.
V. I. Lenin   Collected Works Volume 21 pp213-14


Think now of the draconian laws passed by the previous New Labour government and the errosion of civil liberties these brought about, the rising unemployment figures and the suffering that will result from the coalition government's austerity programme, British involvement in the military disaster in Afghanistan, and now the threat of yet another 'banking crisis' and all the boxes seem to be ticked for the creation of a revolutionary situation in Britain today.  So why isn't it happening? 


Lacking a politically educated, class conscious, advanced section of the proletariat means a revolutionary situation remains just that - a revolutionary situation (impotently without direction).  When will it become evident that the British working class has developed class consciousness?  Only when it supports the political parties that truly represent its interests. 


Until then, the proletariat will be prey to all manner of diversions such as soft porn comics masquerading as 'newspapers'; radio, TV and popular mass-produced culture dumbed down to the lowest common denominator; to intensive advertising campaigns for shoddy goods or the latest technological toys; to the religious messages of a better life after death and that joyous poverty has more merit than miserable wealth;  to a choice of political parties that claim to be different yet which all promise to maintain the capitalist system of greed and exploitation.  A politically educated working class would not tolerate this stinking mess but flush it down the nearest lavatory - where it belongs.
And that is why the ruling class will do everything in its power to keep the proletariat in political ignorance.


And once more to comrade Lenin -
" The division of any society into different political parties is revealed most clearly of all in times of profound crises shaking the whole country .... all phrase-mongering, all that is petty and extraneous, is brushed aside by the gravity of the struggle; the parties strain every nerve and appeal to the masses, and the masses, guided by their unerring
instinct and enlightened by the experience of an open struggle, follow the parties that represent the interests of a particular class."
V. I. Lenin  Collected Works  Volume 18 page 45


The party of the working class, the Communist Party, is the advanced, politically organised and active section of the working class - its vanguard.


All other organisations of the proletariat - trade unions, social, cultural and educational associations, etc. serve as necessary means in the class struggle but they cannot solve the fundamental problem - the problem of abolishing the capitalist system and carrying out a socialist revolution.


Only a Marxist-Leninist Party, which is the highest form of class political organisation of the proletariat, is capable of uniting the activities of all proletarian organisations and guiding them to the single aim of socialist revolution.

UNIONS AND PENSIONERS UNITE AGAINST CUTS

CAMPAIGNING DESPITE RAIN

At lunchtime on Wednesday 29th September, despite remorselessly pouring rain, pensioners and trade unionists covered the three entrances to Barrow's indoor market to distribute TUC leaflets about the proposed government cuts in public services.

It was encouraging to see full time Trade Union officials, Deborah Hamilton and Steve Forbes providing leadership by attending and supporting the campaign.

The photograph of a group at one market entrance suggests it was a rather forlorn affair but it was not: the weather failed to daunt the spirits of the campaigners and   a great number of leaflets were distributed in a short while.


Incredibly, not one member of the PCS was present.  This is the union that is supposed to be spearheading the anti-cuts campaign and whose members' jobs are to be culled in massive numbers!

It is true that the turn-out by other pensioners and trade union members was disappointing but the response by the public to the leaflets was most encouraging.  During brief conversations it was clear the public knows the proposed austerity measures that are about to be inflicted are grossly unfair to the poorer sections of society but they do not know what to do about it.

This is where Barrow Trades Union Council should step up to the mark.  Barrow Trades Union Council should be organising events such as public meetings with national speakers to inform the public about how this financial crisis happened and why the depth of the proposed cuts is unnecessary.  The public need to be made aware of a believable alternative strategy that would be much less devastating for family incomes and standard of life and would provide a programme to create jobs rather than cause massive unemployment and misery. Apart from a somewhat limp letter, written by the secretary of Barrow Trades Union Council and published in the local evening newspaper, Barrow TU Council has done precisely nothing.  Similarly, there is a 'mortuary' silence at Ulverston TU Council.

Barrow pensioners have been campaigning against the cuts - first proposed by the New Labour government - since before the general election last May by promoting the People's Charter. They have consistently invited trade unions to use this as a focal point for their own local campaign but to no avail. All the unions would have to do is turn up for a couple of hours on a Saturday lunchtime with their banners, placards and leaflets.  They would have no 'setting up' to do because the 'site' is already established.  However, if they really wanted to demonstrate determination and commitment, they could provide their own pasting table and loud hailer!  Only when such measures become evident will local trade unions convince pensioners and other members of the public that they really are capable of leading a determined campaign against the cuts.

  

FURNESS TRADE UNIONISTS MEET FOR FIGHTBACK

CLASS WAR: FIRST ACTION IN BARROW
At 5pm on Monday 13th September, Furness trade unionists met at the GMB union's offices in Hartington Street, Barrow, to consider the strategy for mounting local defence of public services.  Community groups had also been invited to attend.


Unfortunately, shortly before the start of the meeting, Northern TUC co-ordinator for South Cumbria, full-time Unison officer Deborah Hamilton, sent word that she was unable to attend.  This clearly caused full-time GMB official, Steven Forbes, some anxiety for he exclaimed he had been "Dropped in the doo-doo." Fortunately, pensioners attending the meeting were able to advise him to accept suggestions from people present so that a plan of campaign could be drawn up.


There was a further delay to the business of the meeting when Mr Forbes announced that some GMB members had expressed their objection to the attendance of Steven Smart as he was a member of the Conservative Party.  As a trade unionist (NUT) I reminded Mr Forbes that this was neither a GMB nor a Labour Party meeting but a TUC meeting open to all who opposed the proposed government cutbacks; the GMB objectors were sectarian and this should have been explained to them by their union official.  Margie Arts, Secretary of Barrow and Furness Pensioners' Association informed Mr Forbes that Mr Smart was attending as Deputy Chairman of the Pensioners' Association and had every right to be at the meeting. With such ignorance existing in local trade unions, it is hardly surprising no support was ever given by them for the People's Charter stall and petition held by pensioners since before the General Election in May.


The meeting finally returned to the matter of planning a campaign against the cuts and, following expressions of solidarity, it was agreed a Day of Action (to coincide with the TUC's national campaign) would be held in Barrow town square from noon until 1pm. Is that impressive, or what?


Pensioners announced they would set up their People's Charter stall at 11am and advised trade unions to apply for a quantity of official TUC campaign leaflets to distribute on the day (and I made a note to also apply for some just to ensure they were available - decision to do so based upon past experience in these matters)


Pensioners also advised that union officials should urge their retired members to turn up to support the Wednesday event and that the Students' Union at both Furness College of Further Education and Barrow Sixth Form College be contacted as cuts were to be inflicted on these institutions. These proposals were agreed.  


Naturally, I shall attend on Wednesday - for 11am - to fully support the action and also take along my camera to record this historic moment.


CONGRATULATIONS TO COMRADE TEBBS ON HER WELL-DESERVED AWARD!
Much to the delight of the women of Manchester Trades Union Council, Betty Tebbs, 92 years old and still active in the labour movement, was presented with the Elizabeth Gaskell award at a ceremony at Manchester Town Hall last week.


This special award is given to an individual or group that has promoted the role of women in public life and made a significant contribution to charities or humanitarianism
Betty, a long-time member of the Communist Party, shop steward from a young age, dedicated peace activist and, it is thought, probably one of the oldest and longest serving members of a Trades Union Council has never wavered in her commitment to the Party, to peace and socialism.


Comradely greetings and very best wishes from a Furness Red to Betty Tebbs. 


AND, TO CONCLUDE...
Mr E Milliband was elected as leader of the New Labour Party yesterday (Saturday) 

THE 'BIG BANG' THEORY

ON BRINK OF A WORLD-WIDE SOCIAL REVOLUTION?
It's an interesting question so let's look at the situation in several countries throughout the world...


There are, at times, situations in human history that present unique opportunities for human beings to bring about radical social change - if the human 'forces for change' are capable of meeting that challenge, that is.


The Boss Class owned and controlled news media remorselessly spouts encouraging messages of 'recovery' (from the economic crisis) but there is no recovery.  Billions upon billions have been spent on saving the banks yet the banks are still not lending to inject funds into businesses that would aid economic recovery.  Why not?


The simple fact is that the banks used methods usually applied for getting out of a recession during the boom period.  How bloody irresponsible was that, do you think?
Such stupidity must even have left the bourgeoisie itself totally gobsmacked! So why did they do it?


Well, they used low interest rates to avoid a recession (but merely to delay the inevitable). But now the recession is far more serious than it could have been - a bit like somebody delaying an operation on their foot that subsequently results in the amputation of their leg.


Marx explained the role of credit in capitalism: it serves to artificially expand the market beyond its normal limits. However, borrowed money must be repaid with interest.  The basic contradictions of capitalism remain - all that happens is that the crisis is delayed but, when it comes, it is much worse than it would have been, as in the example above.


In countries throughout the world there are signs that people are becoming aware of their exploitation.  And not just their exploitation but the exploitation of the whole planet in the cause of generating profit at any price no matter what the cost.


In all countries the comfortable barons of the Trade Unions are desperately trying to do a deal with the capitalists. They want a peaceful life (see the next posting 'Furness Trade Unionists Meet For Fightback') They want to do a deal they can sell to their members but the Boss Class has nothing to offer except cuts and more cuts.  Thus it will be that even the most right-wing, pro-Capitalist, union leaders will be obliged to enter the battles of the Class War or be thrown out of office.


Workers must learn to view things in a 'political' fashion.  A one-day strike, for example, is just a 'big demonstration'.  An indefinite general strike, however, challenges POWER.
Yes, Communists support one-day strikes because these provide the workers with a sense of their own strength but acknowledge this type of action will never defeat the schemes of the Boss Class. 


Even the most determined and protracted strikes will achieve no fundamental change in the social-economic order.  What is required is the complete overthrow of the capitalist system.  And only the working class and its allies (having attained a mature level of class consciousness) fully prepared to follow the course mapped out by the political vanguard are capable of achieving this.


Without political class consciousness, working people are condemned to live out their lives in uncertainty and insecurity.  Either socialism or barbarity - it's their choice.

120 YEARS THE INTERNATIONALE ANTHEM - FOR A SOCIALIST WORLD!

THERE AREN'T MANY OF YOU ABOUT, ARE THERE?

This - more of a statement than a question - was put to me by a Roman Catholic acquaintance as I gave him a lift home one wet and windy winter evening.  He meant 'not many in Furness' and that, with so few, not much was likely to be achieved. 


He was, of course, absolutely correct; there are not many communists in Furness.
However, I reminded him that Jesus Christ had apparently started out with just a dozen followers and he should think what they ultimately managed to achieve......    


There being but few comrades in this largely politically backward part of the country is actually of little consequence for it is in the cities and large conurbations that revolutionary political activity is most likely to bear fruit.  As for 'numbers' -  well, at the last count, there are still quite a few communists in the world. And numbers are increasing as more and more workers understand that capitalism can never provide them with a secure future but only misery, wars, and further pollution of the planet in the quest for private profit.


Meanwhile, here's the English version of the Internationale (Eugene Pottier) as sung by comrades of the Communist Party of Britain at the close of major Party events....


Arise ye starvelings from your slumbers;
Arise ye criminals of want.
For Reason in revolt now thunders,
And at last ends the age of cant.
Now away with all your superstitions,
Servile masses arise! Arise!
We'll change forthwith the old conditions, 
And spurn the dust to win the prize.
Chorus;
    Then comrades come rally,
    And the last fight let us face.
    The Internationale 
    Unites the human race.
(Repeat) 


We peasants, artisans and others;
Enrolled among the sons of toil.
Let's claim the earth henceforth for brothers,
Drive the indolent from the soil.
On our flesh too long has fed the raven;
We've too long been the vulture's prey.
But now, farewell the spirit craven,
The dawn brings in a brighter day.
Chorus;


No saviour from on high delivers;
No trust have we in prince or peer.
Our own right hand the chains must shiver;
Chains of hatred, of greed and fear.
Ere the thieves will out with their booty
And to all give a happier lot.
Each at his forge must do his duty
And strike the iron while it's hot.
Chorus;


Go on, bellow this out with enthusiasm and blow the cobwebs away while you prepare for the coming trials and tribulations of Class Warfare unleashed on the poor by the multi-millionaires of the Boss Class.

KKE EXAMPLE NOT FOLLOWED IN UK

REVISIONISTS EXPEL COMMUNISTS TO GRAB CPGB!
Even in the 1970s I sensed something was wrong in the fabric of the Communist Party of Great Britain.  There appeared to be a willingness to 'dumb down' the terminology to make some things more understandable for the (presumably) dim British working class. So, gone was the term 'Dictatorship of the proletariat' as this was deemed to be too 'foreign sounding' for the parochial islanders of Britain.  Neither was there to be further mention of Democratic Centralism - the bedrock of the Communist democratic process.


In the 1980s there was much blathering about 'pluralism' and Gorbachev's Perestroika and Glasnost.  The publication 'Comment' was transformed from a pulp paper magazine into a full colour 'coffee table' glossy named 'Marxism Today' which featured luminaries such as Michael Heseltine and contained articles that argued for the sale of council houses.  I stopped buying the magazine.  


And soon after that there were rumours of some comrades being referred to as 'Tankies'.  What a ridiculously infantile expression!  This was followed by a serious attempt to take control of the People's Press Printing Society, the democratic organisation responsible for the production of the Morning Star, the only English language socialist daily newspaper in the world. Fortunately, the revisionist assault was defeated and control remained firmly in the hands of that democratic co-operative society.


The Party branch of which I was a member consistently met in full its financial obligations to both the District Quota (target sum of money) and to the National Appeal (another financial target) and was pleased to announce this at regular north west regional meetings.  Was the branch praised for its achievements?  Well, no, it was not.  When the time arrived for branches to report progress, this particular branch was sneeringly referred to as 'the best branch in the North West.'  This childish idiocy was incomprehensible to this author.  Was this really how professed revolutionaries conducted themselves?  Who were these creatures who labelled themselves 'EuroCommunists' and what were they doing in the Communist Party of Great Britain? What was the source of these deviants and how had they been allowed to become so influential within the Party? 


Worse was to follow.  The National Executive overturned the democratic election of a new North West District Committee.  The branch to which I belonged deliberately withheld all financial contributions to the Party and demanded reinstatement of those elected to the NW District Committee.  


Matters turned decidedly 'uncomradely' as the months progressed towards the fateful, final, National Congress of the CPGB.  I was elected as a delegate to that congress, defeating a comrade nominated by the trendy liberal EuroCommunists.  During the election process, I was called a 'Stalinist'.  The pathetic idiot who made the remark had clearly intended it to be an insult and was very much surprised when I congratulated them on their perceptiveness. Indeed, I considered it to be a compliment!  However, my Euro opponent in the election was 'slipped in' by means of a discovered spare place and that is when I fully understood the gravity of the situation - this scum was out to conduct a cull of genuine Communist comrades and to erase any vestage of Marxism-Leninism from British politics.  


I resigned from the CPGB and gave support to the Communist Campaign Group set up to defend the fundamental principles of the CPGB.  The dross that purged the Party of its intellectuals and activists abandoned the name 'Communist' and instead chose to call themselves the  Party of the Democratic Left.  They clapped and cheered and then disappeared back into the political void from which they had come.


And socialism was abandoned in the former countries of the Warsaw Pact without need of violent insurrection. (If working people demand to be screwed by the capitalists, then let them be screwed until their pips burst - then what will they do and to what will they turn?  To fascism, perhaps?)


Communist recovery in the UK was not as joyful or successful as that of our Greek comrades but the Party reorganised under the title Communist Party of Britain and adheres to the principles of Marxism-Leninism.  In Britain, various splinter groups exist which also call themselves 'communist' and, generally, their hearts are in the right place - it's just their cognition that seems to be out of kilter; there can be no place for factions in the class struggle for these simply undermine the principle of solidarity as was experienced in the 1980s and play into the hands of the class enemy - could that be their objective? Only time, and the intensifying class struggle, will tell.