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Motherwell Socialist Forum

Motherwell Socialist Forum votes for Left Unity 19.01.09
At the first meeting of this newly created forum, there was a unanimous feeling that it was the responsibility of the Left to unite and fight for the working class against those political parties and capitalists who have brought the country to the current recession and the brink of depression.
The meeting was made up of rank and file members of various trade unions including the R.M.T., F.B.U., P.C.S. and Unison along with community activists and members of Solidarity, the Communist Party and the S.S.P.
It was generally agreed that the Labour Party was no longer capable of bringing about a socialist transformation of society and as a result it was clear that all the major parties had a capitalist agenda. For some time now the Left had been split and it was now crucial that it showed a united front to defend the interests of the working class who are being made to pay for this present crisis of capitalism.
Job cuts, attacks on wages and conditions, youth and student unemployment, house repossessions and fuel poverty were amongst the issues discussed and it clear that campaigns to defend the working class against these growing evils had to be mounted. The credibility of any left unity movement would greatly depend on how it leads these campaigns within the community.
There was not a better time to recruit to the forces of a United Left rank and file trade union and labour movement. It was important that past "baggage" and individual egos were not allowed to weaken the potential of this movement and that this initiative should quickly spread across the communities and become a nationwide phenomenon.
The new Charter of rights and demands at present being formulated in Britain was also discussed and it was agreed that it would be reviewed by the Socialist Forum.
It was stressed at the conclusion of the meeting that members should bring outline ideas and plans to the next meeting in February and that campaigns would be hitting the streets in the near future!
Ray Gunnion, Central Regional Secretary, Solidarity 27.01.2009

PUBLIC MEETING

East Kilbride Central Solidarity Public Meeting July 2008
The public meeting organised by Lanarkshire Solidarity in the Greenhills Estate , East Kilbride was a huge success with an audience of over 70 people gathered to hear Margaret White (Sunvic Striker), Jim Walls ( Convenor of TGWU(Unite) coalfieds) and Tommy Sheridan.
Several people indicated they wished to join Solidarity and we are now confident that a new branch will soon be in existence in East Kilbride.
From The East Kilbride News
By Graham Mann
Full article at http://iclanarkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/
TOMMY Sheridan has accused Andy Kerr and Adam Ingram of shedding crocodile tears over Freescale.
The Solidarity leader was rallying support for his party at a public meeting in East Kilbride when he lashed out at the town’s Labour politicians.
Addressing an audience of around 70 people at Greenhills Community Centre on Thursday, the former Scottish Socialist leader said: “Adam Ingram and a load of his New Labour cronies came into politics as union men but clearly aren’t any more.
“What we’re seeing now from him and Andy Kerr are crocodile tears.”
He continued: “Andy Kerr and Adam Ingram have been bumping their gums over job losses at Freescale and the poor treatment of workers by the American owners.
“Perhaps if they and the other Labour MPs and MSPs had got their finger out and changed the employment laws in this country then these workers wouldn’t be in this situation.
“New Labour promised to repeal the anti-trade union legislation in this country but have done nothing to dismantle the chains that Margaret Thatcher and John Major shackled workers to.
“In this country workers are the least protected in Western Europe. They get the very bare minimum when it comes to redundancy payments and it’s a disgrace……..”
……..He added: “I’m extremely grateful to the people of EK for showing support, particularly as the semi-final of the Euros was on council telly the same evening.
“People in East Kilbride have always been supportive of the Socialist movement and the other night proved no exception. There are a number of issues in the town which people are concerned about and Solidarity has its views on how to solve them. I’m encouraged that so many people turned out to hear them.”

Lanarkshire Branch Meetings

Central Region Solidarity

Lanarkshire Branch meetings are held on a fortnightly basis

every second Wednesday

starting On Wednesday 14th January

for information details

contact Ray Gunnion at 01698 536461 or

07948562039

or by email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

North Lanarkshire Labour Council bankrupcy policy for council tax payers

Central Solidarity fights for justice

Solidarity MSP Tommy Sheridan has called on North Lanarkshire Council to stop their outrageous bankruptcy policy for council tax arrears. Since 2005 this policy has led to over 300 local families being taken to court and stripped of any financial assets.
Many of these families live with the constant threat of their homes being sold from under them, all for a paltry sum of debt amounting to as little as £1,500.

North Lanarkshire’s Labour controlled authority appears to be ‘gun ho’ in their pursuit of vulnerable families. Many of these victims have had their offers of debt repayment refused by the Council; others were already paying back arrears when they received a citation to attend court to be declared bankrupt. The Council decided to take families to court, appointing private solicitors to act on their behalf at an enormous cost to the council tax payer.

Council tax payers are footing the bill to take the families to court, and when a family has been made homeless because of the court action, they are then paying to have them re-housed by the council.

The only winners in all of this would appear to be the solicitors and insolvency (bankruptcy) practitioners who are coining it in at the expense of the residents of North Lanarkshire. Solidarity wonders if the council will continue to make vulnerable families homeless over the next 4 weeks or if they will suspend their court cases due to the election campaign?
Local Solidarity candidate Ray Gunnion stated “A vote for Labour would be a vote for more misery for hundreds of families who may have built up some council tax arrears for any number of reasons.
Solidarity will fight for the removal of this draconian policy for the benefit of all council tax payers.”
Solidarity would be happy to hear from anybody who has found themselves in this situation and should contact Ray through www.solidarityscotland.org

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