Welcome to the first issue of the Socialist Alliance national newsletter
Getting this monthly newsletter up and running is one of many outcomes
of the Socialist Alliance’s very successful Second National Conference
in Melbourne on May 10-11.
At that conference, the 121 delegates from 25 branches around the country
discussed, debated and decided to implement a wide range of proposals to
build the Socialist Alliance as a united, multi-tendency party, and to strengthen
the progressive and working-class movements.
Fighting the US’s war of terror—End the occupation of Iraq
Against the backdrop of the United States and its allies’ occupation
of Iraq and escalating threats of US war against many other Third World
countries, the Socialist Alliance will be continuing to build the anti-war
movement through local community peace groups, in the trade unions, among
students and in broad anti-war coalitions. We are supporting, and helping
to organise, the July 4 protest actions against the occupation of Iraq.
No to Howard’s war budget—Medicare not missiles, Books not bombs
As part of the campaign to stop the warmongers here in Australia, the
Alliance is circulating a “No to Howard’s war budget” petition
demanding “Medicare not Missiles. Books not Bombs”. Our stand
for free, universal health care and no education fees has been getting a
good response at the public meetings we have organised to help build campaigns
which can stop the government’s withdrawal of these essential public
services.
For militant, democratic unions – Defend the CFMEU
One of the most important outcomes of the national conference was the
adoption of a vision and plan for rebuilding militant, democratic trade
unions in Australia. The Cole Royal Commission’s attack on the CFMEU
is an attack on all unions that fight for workers’ rights, and Socialist
Alliance members will be campaigning hard to defend the CFMEU and strengthen
fighting unionism in general.
To assist the many active unionists in the Socialist Alliance to do that,
national caucuses of Alliance members in particular unions are in the process
of being formed, alongside cross-union solidarity committees in a number
of states and territories. As well, a new Socialist Alliance pamphlet on
the state of unionism in Australia, the nature of the current attacks, and
how to fight them, will shortly be published. This pamphlet will be the
first in a series which aims to assist union militants and left activists
to understand and organise effectively against the government and employers
offensive against working people.
Troops out of Aceh—End Australia’s military ties with Indonesia
Since our conference, the Indonesian military has launched a campaign
of terror against the people of Aceh in an effort to crush their struggle
for self-determination. The Socialist Alliance has issued a statement calling
for Indonesian troops out of Aceh; an end to Australia’s military
ties with Indonesia; and self-determination for the Acehnese. Branches around
the country have been doing film showings, forums and street campaigning
in solidarity with the people of Aceh, and an Asia Pacific Solidarity email
group has been set up for members.
Left unity
There are many struggles ahead of us to halt and reverse the neo-liberal
war on workers and oppressed peoples in Australia and around the world,
but the tide is beginning to turn. The historic mobilisations against war
this year revealed the deep disquiet and anger in wide sectors of the community.
It showed a growing awareness of the links between corporate interests and
the manipulation of power and truth to achieve their ends. It also showed
that masses of people are now willing to take united action against the
corporate rulers’ agenda.
The steps forward in left unity that the Socialist Alliance is taking
will strengthen that broader unity in action, which is necessary to shift
the balance of power from the profiteers to the people.
Click here for more information about the discussions and outcomes of the Socialist
Alliance national conference.