International Socialists

Throughout pretty much all of the commemorations on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was one thing lacking that had been front and centre in the commentary at the time of the actual event: triumphant praise of free market capitalism.

With the global economy still in the midst of its biggest crisis in 80 years, very few people are out shouting about how "this is the best of all possible worlds!" In fact, the most interesting aspect of the anniversary of the Wall falling is just how many people are now frustrated with the free market system.

A BBC World Service global poll found that "dissatisfaction with free market capitalism is widespread, with an average of only 11 per cent across 27 countries saying that it works well". Further, "an average of 23 per cent feel that capitalism is fatally flawed, and a new economic system is needed".

Attitudes of workers in the former Eastern Bloc are the most instructive.

All of us are here because we recognise that there’s a lot of bad stuff in the world, and that something has to be done to fix it. Socialism as a whole provides a goal, if you wish, but the greatest source of controversy amongst those on the left is how this goal is to be reached. The strongest competition has always been between those on the left who believe that we can work within the existing system to try and gradually morph it into the fair and equal society we all desire, and those who believe that the very nature of the existing system makes this ‘slowly slowly’ approach to socialism impossible. Our group was formed by members of the later persuasion.
Despite what is often the very best of intentions in people who join the Labour party or Alliance, rather than being two different routes to the same goal, the very form of their solution means that we in fact desire two different goals. This talk will address not only why reformism is a dead end in the long term, but also argue that  revolutionary methods are far superior in winning change in the short term too.

Unite, New Zealand's youngest and fastest growing union, is throwing a party for working people, young and old, in the Octagon on Labour Day.
The event is the Dunedin launch of the nationwide Campaign for a Living Wage, which aims to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour through a citizens initiated referendum.
Kevin Hodder, physics student and member of the International Socialist Organisation (ISO), said it was past time wages rose to keep up with rising fuel and food prices.
"450,000 New Zealanders work for less than $15 an hour, while CEOs like [Otago University Vice-Chancellor] David Skegg earn more than half a million a year."
Modelled on the old-fashioned trade union picnic but jazzed up with some fresh Dunedin sounds, the event is co-hosted by Unite, the ISO and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ). Sound support is provided by Sam Carroll, manager of iconic Dunedin music venue, Sammy's.
Ecophonik, TLA, Baba Yaga, and Emere Leitch Munro are a few of the musicians who will join Dunedin’s Aruande Capoeira school in providing a laidback party atmosphere for the launch.
Hodder said the campaign had wide appeal, particularly for young workers and students and the support from local musicians was great.
But the message of the campaign is serious.
Unite regional delegate Chris Matahaere has been working hard organizing fast food workers in Dunedin. He said Labour, the Greens, the Maori Party and the CTU support a $15 minimum wage and Unite aimed to make that a reality through union organisation and the Campaign for a Living Wage.
Labour MP Pete Hodgson will share the stage with Unite National Director Mike Treen and local activists and trade unionists.
 “There’s a lot of scare tactics about higher wages causing unemployment but there’s no hard evidence,” Matahaere said.
“In fact, small businesses will be better off because working people will have more money to spend.”

-Campaign for a Living Wage launch, Octagon, 2pm, Labour Day (October 26)
-Speakers include Pete Hodgson, Mike Treen (unite national director), and representatives from the International Socialists, the Alliance Party, Young Labour, the Public Service Association and others.
-Acts include Ecophonik, TLA, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Baba Yaga, Sundance Kids, Emere Leitch-Munro, Aruande Capoeira, the university juggling club

In the last month or so, the International Socialist Organisation has put a lot of effort into building the Campaign for a Living Wage, which was launched by the Unite, New Zealandís newest and most dynamic union.

Why have we chosen to work on this campaign, when there are so many other issues at the moment?

The most pressing is the campaign to provide relief to the Pacific islands which were hit by a lethal tsunami. That campaign has attracted widespread support as New Zealanders recognise the close ties between us and other Pacific islands.

Another campaign we have supported, although not as strongly, is the campaign against cuts to ACC which will protect rapists by making it harder for victims of sexual abuse to access support.

The biggest campaign is the international day of action on climate change. The scale of environmental damage poses a threat not just to working people, not just to NZ and the Pacific, but to the whole of human civilisation. Why then do we not throw all of our weight behind this campaign?