Today Lloyds TSB shareholders voted to accept a taxpayer subsidy while also voting to buy out one of their biggest rivals.  People must be wondering why a bank that can afford to be buying other banks needs a state subsidy.  It is like asking for housing benefit so that you can afford to but a second home.

Meanwhile, the Government spend more public money on TV advertisements calling on people to report benefit fraud.  Today we have witnessed a glaring example of an undeserving and dishonest claim for state help, get phoning!

The SNP answer was to have HBOS taken over by their wealthy supporter Sir George Matthewson.  According to Alex Salmond Sir George is the man to protect Scottish banks.  When Matthewson was in charge of the RBS he presided over 18,000 job cuts, and he is still paid by RBS as a consultant.

Solidarity believe in the democratic nationalisation of the banks and financial institutions to provide cheap credit for housing and for the economy as a whole.  To read Capitalism in Crisis - A Socialist Reponse, passed unanimously at the recent Solidarity Conference, click 'read more' below

The members of two trades unions representing council workers in Scotland have rejected the pay offer from Cosla.  Cosla had offered a pay rise of below the rate of inflation this year and next year, effectively a pay cut for workers.  Today's figures see inflation falling to 4.5% from 5.2%, still well above the Cosla offer of 3% this year and 2.5% next year.

GMB represent 25,000 council workers and voted 2-1 against accepting the offer.  Unite members also rejected the deal, their Scottish Regional Orgainser Jimmy Farrelly said his union's members voted for rejection in a high turnout.

"There is a genuine resentment and frustration by our members".

Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne called on the party's members to get behind the union members in the next stage, possible strike action:

"Many of Solidarity's members play an active role in these unions in local government, we will stand alongside them in this fight for as long as it takes."

Solidarity's candidate in the East Ayshire Council ward of Ballochmyle is Danny Masterton of Coalfields Solidarity.  Keep up to date with the campaign in the by-election and read the latest election blog 'Making History in Ballochmyle?' by Jim Monaghan

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/blogsection/5/34/

Wed Nov 19

Edinburgh Stop The War Coalition Planning Meeting
7:30pm Friends Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh 

Thu Nov 27

Solidarity Public Meeting - Ballochmyle by-election7.30pm IFE Wing, Muirkirk,  Speakers - Danny Masterton, Jim Walls, Tommy Sheridan

Sat Nov 29

Day School: Non-violent Direct Action for Palestine & Against War 10:30am Augustine Church Centre, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

Organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The purpose of the day school is to explore the effectiveness of non-violent Direct Action drawing on the experiences of successful campaigns in Derry (Derry Anti-War Coalition) and Brighton (Carmel Agrexco Campaign).

Speakers: Colm Bryce, Ratheon 9 and Chris Boycott, Agrexco Carmel Campaign

Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement have called for a full public inquiry into health and safety in Scotland's open cast coal mines following the deaths last year of Colin Ferguson and Brian French at Pennyvenie.
 
At Solidarity's annual conference in Glasgow last weekend, a motion from Coalfields Solidarity calling for the inquiry was passed unanimously.  Jim Walls, convenor of shop stewards in TGWU/unite Scottish Coal branch, who represents workers across Scotland's coalfields said:
 
"We are delighted that Solidarity have backed our call for a full inquiry.  A fatal accident report will not be sufficient to explain why so many deaths occur in this industry, only a full public inquiry will identify any systematic problems in the operation of open cast sites."
 
Coalfields Solidarity is a branch of Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement formed by workers in Scotland's open cast mines.

To read the full motion click below.
 

Anyone watching the coverage of Barak Obama’s US Election victory could not fail to be moved by the genuine outpouring of joy and enthusiasm that accompanied the result. 

Millions of Americans, angry at the state of the economy, angry at the inequality that exists in their nation and angry at American foreign policy have delivered a stinging rebuttal of the politics of George W Bush, John McCain and the Republican Party.

Storm Clouds Over Glenrothes

Solidarity's candidate Louise with her guide dog Heidi

People like Eddie who is now retired after moving to Glenrothes form Pollock in Glasgow. Like thousands of other people Eddie was attracted to the Fife new town by the thought of a bright future and a better tomorrow. Instead, he joins a growing list of people concerned about pensions, low pay, unemployment and rising fuel bills. 

“I hear Gordon Brown’s in the town today,” he said, “I’ve been looking for him all morning to ask him how I am supposed to pay my bills on the pension they give me.” 

Gordon Brown however had long since left Glenrothes. A staged managed appearance at a supporter’s café across town was the extent to his by-election campaigning. Throughout the day scores of angry shopper told us that they were waiting for Brown. 

“He’ll no show face here…he might be daft but he’s no stupid,” said one woman.

To read more of this article go to our by-election blog icon on the right

Over 100 people attended a successful Solidarity public meeting in Dundee on Thursday October 16th.Tommy Sheridan, Co-Convenor of Solidarity joined Dundee trade unionist Jim McFarlane and other local activists in calling for a socialist solution to the crisis in world capitalism. 

Tommy speaking in Dundee

"It is a sad reflection on both society as a whole and the university sector specifically that so much university research now is military related. Every pound invested in researching how to kill and maim other human beings is not only a pound lost to cancer, anti-poverty and renewable energy research, it also represents a waste of publicly-trained scientists, researchers and university laboratory space." Tommy Sheridan

SOCIALISM or EXTINCTION? How Humanity Can Survive Capitalism:
 
A series of seminars on the economic and political conditions for socialism, organised by the Dunfermline Branch of Solidarity.
 
Seminar 1)

Saturday October 18th from 12 to 4 in the Chapel Room at St Stephen's Church Centre, 260 Bath St., Glasgow. Tel0141 332 4293
 
Seminar Title.

Marx's Capital: Its Vindication in the Age of Neo -Liberalism.

Leader Dr Paul Cockshott, author of "Towards A New Socialism".
 
 Themes

a) The law of value and how modern science supports this

b) The exploitation process

c) The falling rate of profit and the future of capitalism

d) The labour theory of value and socialism

e) Transitions steps to socialism (Paul was invited a couple of years back to advise the Venezuelan Government on economic planning)

f) The nature of class
 
 It is envisaged that after a short presentation a general debate would follow.