InDepth – End the blockade of Gaza

Socialist Alternative representative Ramy Khalil debated Tea Party leader Keli Carender on radio Socialist Alternative representative Ramy Khalil…

 

Capitalist strategists are filled with gloom at the prospect of a new economic downturn.

2010 - The most tumultuous year for two decades

Peter Taaffe, General Secretary of the Socialist Party (CWI England and Wales), reviews the developments and events of 2010 in Britain and worldwide, and looks forward to further struggles in 2011. This article will also be published in the first issue of The Socialist (weekly paper of Socialist Party) in 2011. 2010 was socially and politically unrecognisable compared to 2009. This was undoubtedly the most tumultuous year for over two decades, particularly in Britain. The British general election took place a mere seven months ago yet, such is the speed and sweep of events, that now we almost live in a ‘different country’. From the moment of their installation the Con-Dems – with the ‘Fib Dems’ selling their ‘principles’ for the lure of office - have been under siege.

The significance of the Thomas Cook occupation cannot be overstated. At the time of writing the issue of redundancy payments is not resolved but already the struggle has exposed the pro-big business nature of the courts and the Gardai. Crucially it was a victory of the spirit of the workers and showed the extraordinary ability of people to fight to defend their rights.

Twenty-eight workers arrested and dragged through the courts in scenes more common in far away dictatorial regimes. The Thomas Cook occupation showed that “social partnership” does not exist. It also illustrated the anger that working class people feel at being made pay the price for the crisis through job cuts and attacks on rights. When told that the company was going to close with immediate effect the workers occupied the building.