Where Is Britain Going?

A new edition of Leon Trotsky’s classic book ‘Where Is Britain Going?’ is now available from Wellred Books Online. First published in 1925 this important work analyses the crisis facing British society and outlines the basis and role of reformism in the Labour and trade union movement. As such it has maintain its relevance for modern readers. Available now for just £3 plus postage and packing charges.

ISBN: 9781898231206 (Union Books)

New Book From Lal Khan

PAKISTAN’S OTHER STORY.

The Revolution of 1968-69

Lal Khan (The Struggle) £14.99 plus postage

We now have a limited stock of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE edition of this book – order now to ensure you get a copy!

The publication of this book on the Pakistan revolution of 1968-69 represents a most important addition to the theorectical arsenal of Marxism. This book serves as both a detailed history of the events and an analysis of what happened – and what lessons are relevant to today.

” In 1968 the attention of most people in Europe was absorbed by the revolutionary events in France but I can vividly remember the marvellous movement in Pakistan, which made a deep impression on me… The situation in Pakistan had “got out of hand” from the bourgeois point of view. the government had lost its nerve; the ruling clique was suspended in mid-air; the police force was demoralised and sections of the armed forces wavering; the mass movement, affecting all sections of the populace had set about the transformation of society. All the elements of a classical revolutionary situation were present, except one: the revolutionary leadership…  “  Alan Woods (from the introduction)

Morning Star Strike Dates

NUJ members at the London-based Morning Star are to strike over low pay. They’ve voted 11 to three in a ballot for industrial action and last night called a one-day walk-out for Monday 23 February – with a week of strike action to follow if management refuses to compromise. NUJ Father of Chapel Steve Mather said: “We’re not going to take any more of our bosses’ broken promises.” Two years ago, management at the socialist daily averted strike action by pledging to boost pay as soon as money was available. But, after a £600,000 investment from an “anonymous consortium”, staff have been told that none of it will go on their wages. NUJ members have roundly rejected an offer close to 2008 inflation – effectively a pay freeze – alongside a one-off four per cent bonus, because it does nothing to address the long term issue of low pay at the title. Steve explained: “We don’t need one-off bribes, we need a step towards decent pay. “We all work hard to bring out a decent paper against all the odds, yet our bosses won’t even pay us £19,000 after the biggest investment in our history.” NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear backed the Morning Star chapel, saying: “Our members feel forced into this action by a management that is refusing to pay its staff a fair rate for their work. They don’t want to go out on strike but if that’s what it takes to win fair pay then they are clear that is what they’ll do.” Deputy Father of Chapel Carl Worswick added: “It’s time for management to put its money where its mouth is. We write about workers fighting for fair pay all the time – now it’s our turn.” The paper’s management committee, which includes several leading trade union figures, has already unilaterally imposed an offer of three per cent on the journalists. The imposition of a pay deal has only served to intensify the dispute. The NUJ has today served notice on Morning Star management that its members will take strike action on Monday 23 February and from Sunday 1 March to Friday 6 March. 13 February 09

Xmas orders

Hey folks, time is nearly up on getting your orders to you by Xmas. If you want to have your stuff before the 25th, you need to place your order NOW. Orders placed by this Friday should make it – but the earlier the better.

HOV Conf – Next Saturday 22 NOV

Come and hear Jesus Pino from the Revolutionary Front of Steel Workers (SIDOR). He is speaking at the Hands Off Venezuela National Conference in London in less than two week’s time. He will speak about the struggle to nationalise the steel industry and the fight for workers’ control in Venezuela. The nationalisation of SIDOR earlier this year was a direct outcome of a militant struggle by the steel workers themselves. This shows the direction that the Venezuelan Revolution is taking and highlights the need to complete the tasks of expropriating the Oligarchy.

Other speakers include John McDonnell MP, Matt Wrack (FBU), Bob Crow (RMT), Jeremy Dear (NUJ), Alan Woods (author of ‘the Venezuelan Revolution’), Derek Wall (spokesperson for the Green Party), Samuel Moncada (the Venezuelan Ambassador), and others. There will also be workshops on Green Venezuela, Socialism of 21^st century, workers’ control, and solidarity with the Latin American Revolution.

The Conference will be held on 22 November in the Main Lecture Theatre, Clore Management Centre, Birkbeck College, Torrington Sq., London WC1 (nearest tubes: Goodge Street & Russell Square). Come and discuss solidarity with the Venezuelan Revolution! Everyone Welcome! To register contact us at <!–
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International Manifesto On Economic Crisis

The International Marxist Tendency (IMT) – to which Socialist Appeal is linked – has issued a new document in the form of an international manifesto on the world economic crisis. This is being translated and published by Marxists around the world. Socialist Appeal has produced an English language version with a cover price of £1 GBP.

The document explains the nature and causes of the collapse of the financial markets worldwide and presents a series of demands aimed at arming the labour movement to provide a clear way forward in response to the attempts by the bosses to make us may for their crisis.

Entitled ‘The Crisis: Make The Bosses Pay,’ this pamphlet can be ordered from Wellred book online at www.wellred.marxist.com for just £1.50 each – which includes postage and packing.

Manifesto Of The Communist Party

Socialist Appeal have produced a new edition of Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto. This edition also includes Trotsky’s introduction and Alan Woods’ 1997 assesment of the importance of this work.

With a cover price of £1, this pamphlet can be ordered online at www.wellred.marxist.com

I know December seems a long time away… but for international customers in particular, you will need to keep an eye on the date.

According to the UK post service the recommended last dates for posting stuff to arrive before Xmas are as follows:

South and Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Far East, Asia, New Zealand and Australia – Friday 5th December

Japan, USA, Canada,  and Eastern Europe – Wed 10th December

Western Europe – Friday 12th December

UK – Friday 20th December

Stuff sent after these dates may make it but I wound not bank on it – order early to avoid disapointment!

Normal service resumed

The stock exchanges of the world may be in chaos, banks are threatening to fold and Iceland has gone into recievership and is being sold off on ebay, but after a longer than expected delay while we resolved problems with the bookshop site following a server upgrade… the online store is now back in full operation and ready to deal with your orders.

Go now to www.wellred.marxist.com to get your supply of socialist reading!

System Down :(

Not only is the world financial system in chaos but the online bookshop site is currently down due to technical problems relating to the server update of a few days ago. The tech guys are working on it – and no I have no idea what is involved – and have promised that normal service will be resumed shortly once things are fixed.

I will post an item once this is done

Sorry about all this!

Steve

Thursday Oct 9th