Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 23:09:12 GMT
Subject: M-NEWS: THE WAY FORWARD


The following message although addressed specifically to the working class
movement in Britain with a General Election imminent, is circulated here as
a contribution to the discussion on rebuilding and strengthening the
workers' movement internationally.

TO ACTIVISTS IN THE WORKERS' MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN 

Dear Sisters & Brothers,

The way forward for the working class 

With a General Election imminent, the ITUSC Committee unanimously endorsed
the following points as a basis for discussion throughout the workers'
movement, now and beyond the Election. These points are an extract from a
six page 'Open Letter', which contains a detailed political/industrial
analysis and is obtainable from the above address, by simply sending a
large, stamped addressed envelope or by e-mail on request. 
If you, your trade union branch or trades union council would like to take
the discussion further, just contact us at the above address and we will
arrange for an ITUSC speaker to introduce the topic.
We would also be pleased to receive your views/comments (critical or
otherwise) on these points.

1)  Only a socialist society can answer the urgent needs of humanity. The
rule of capital, in countries with parliamentary 'democracy' as well as
under repressive dictatorships, has in the 20th century brought misery and
death to countless millions in war, famine and exploitation. Its continued
existence threatens the very survival of humanity and of the planet.
2)  The winning of socialism, and the running of the future socialist
society, will be the work of the working people themselves. A party for
socialism can have no interests separate and apart from those of the
working-class, before or after the overthrow of capitalism. Socialist common
ownership of the means of production is nothing to do with the
bureaucratically controlled nationalised industries, directly serving
capital, introduced by Labour Governments, nor with the type of control once
exercised by Stalinism. From the time the working people take ownership and
control, the state will begin to 'wither away'.
3)  The working-class and all those who join it in the fight for socialism
are international, rejecting all distinctions, barriers and discrimination
of a nationalist or racialist nature. The movement for a socialist party
must therefore be international and internationalist (as the ITUSC has
always been).
4)   The traditional parties claiming to be socialist and working-class
(Labour,   Communist, Social Democratic, Socialist) have failed and betrayed
socialism and the working-class. They have completely accepted the rule of
capital, that is, they now accept that the mass of the people will always be
wage-slaves. A new party is necessary. The movement for a new socialist
party seeks to unite all those who work for such a party.
5)  Socialism cannot be achieved through parliament (which is part of the
capitalist state-machine) and parliamentary political parties.
a)  The new party must be a party of the working-class, not for it.   
b)  It will aim at socialism through self-action, political independence and
self-organisation of the working-class and all those fighting against
capital. Most important is to build up the mutual solidarity and combination
of these many forces. 
c)  The separation between the industrial and political 'wings' of the
working-class movement must be ended, because capital's domination extends
and must be countered in every sphere, from work and everyday life to its
control of the state and attacks on basic rights.
 
6)  The anti-union laws must be challenged and defeated. To do this, trade
unionists will need to organise against the government (Tory or Labour),
that is to say, politically, as a class. This means putting an end to the
control of the unionised workers by the trade union bureaucracy, which
accepts the laws and is integrated into the capitalist state.

These aims and principles are no utopian ideals but are the only alternative
to the uncontrolled and uncontrollable destructiveness of capital in its
insoluble, structural, historical crisis nationally and internationally.

With fraternal greetings.


____________________________________________________________________
This is from the International Trade Union Solidarity Campaign (ITUSC) at:-
e-mail:        itusc-AT-gn.apc.org
website:  http://www.itusc.org.uk
'snail' mail:  PO Box 18, Epsom, Britain, KT18 7YR
Tel/Fax    ++44 (0) 1372 817 778
The ITUSC is an international and internationalist association of organised
workers and communities, dedicated to rebuilding the workers' movement and
to overcoming sectarianism and division in working class organisations. It
was founded in 1991 on the following principles:
1) trade unions independent of the state and employers;
2) democracy within trade unions, and;
3) workers' internationalism.
Any individuals or organisations that accept these principles and are
prepared to work for them, are regarded as comrades by the ITUSC.
____________________________________________________________________