Website moved!

The CS website has now moved back to our own server at www.communiststudents.org.uk

This allows us much more flexibility and space. The site here will be left up for a few months so that links to articles will still work.

If you have a link to us on your website or blog, please update it!

The shattering left

The current issue of the Weekly Worker, paper of the CPGB, features reports on several left conferences which have taken place recently:

Rightist politics and wishful thinking
The Socialist Party-sponsored Campaign for a New Workers’ Party is just about treading water, writes Peter Manson. But that does not stop the SP from claiming that the fight for a new Labour Party is making great strides forward

Time for a radical rethink
CPGB comrades attended the June 26-29 Permanent Revolution school. A good event, but there are some important questions for the comrades to face up to, reckons Mark Fischer

Licence to liquidate
A day school on building broad parties organised by Socialist Resistance provided little in the way of direction, writes James Turley. But the International Socialist Group’s right trajectory is unmistakeable

‘Regroupment’ or rebranding
The International Socialist Group is calling for the establishment of a ‘new revolutionary organisation’ limited to its co-thinkers. Mike Macnair looks at the basis for this new sect

Ivan the terrible
Lawrence Parker discerns a threat that could further dissipate the CPB’s fading influence

No alternative for workers
As the Left List gives its Respect rump a grandiose new name, Jim Moody talks to some of the ‘unity’ coalition’s disgruntled former councillors

No more physical attacks
A Left Alternative member appeals to his comrades for solidarity

Space to breathe
The rank and file needs to think before it can organise, writes Alan Stevens

Moshé Machover speaks on Iran, Israel, and nuclear weapons

This video is from the recent Hands Off the People of Iran (HOPI) weekend school which took place in London over June 14 – 15.

As well as being a member of the HOPI steering committee, Moshé Machover is an Israeli socialist, a founding member (1962) of the Socialist Organization in Israel (Matzpen). In the 1970s and 80s, he was co-editor of Khamsin, Journal of revolutionary socialists of the Middle East. He is on the Editorial Board of Middle East Forum (formerly Iran Bulletin). He is author of many articles on the Middle East and socialist theory, as well as of several books, including Laws of Chaos: A probabilistic Approach to Political Economy (co-authored with Emmanuel Farjoun), Verso, 1983.

A new wave of protest and strike action at the Iran Khodro Car Manufacturing Company

Thousands of workers at the Iran Khodro Car Manufacturing Company have been on strike. The protest began in the form of a hunger strike on June 28, 2008 and since then it expanded across the company and thousands of workers have jointed protests and strike actions since then. Workers demands include:

- Freedom of labour organizations and prohibition of entry by the security guards to the workstations.

- End to mandatory over-time

- Increases to the productivity benefits

- Wage increased according to the increases to the cost of living

- And end to temporary contracts and hiring of workers on a permanent basis

- Stop the expansion of subcontracting companies; all workers should be under the Iran Khodro

- Participation of workers’ representatives in decision making committees on job classifications

- Participation of workers’ representatives at the hard and hazardous work committee

- Reduce work pressures through hiring new employees.

Support RMT tube cleaners!

Last Thursday London underground cleaners struck for 48 hours demanding better pay. They go back on strike again from 7pm this evening. We urge you to join them on their picket lines and show them all the support you can.

For more details see the RMT website here.

The Labour Representation Committee have also organised a rally in support of the RMT cleaners:

Rally in support of the RMT Cleaners Strike

8th July 6pm, The Grimond Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons.

RMT Tube cleaners working for private contractors on the London Underground are engaged in a campaign of industrial action for a living wage of at least £7.20 an hour. Come along and show your solidarity with the struggle of the Tube cleaners. Speakers include:

John McDonnell MP, Clara Osagiede (RMT Cleaning Grades Secretary), Joe Marino (BFAWU General Secretary), Glenroy Watson (RMT Finsbury Park), Andy Reed (ASLEF National Organiser), John Leach (RMT President), Matt Wrack (FBU General Secretary).

http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/news/events/cleaners_rally.pdf