SP Newsletter No.267
June 17 saw over 250,000 people take to the streets in more than 80 cities across Germany. They were protesting for a better education system and their main demands were for smaller classes, 100,000 more teachers and the abolishment of tuition fees.

In Berlin, 27,000 young people marched together with university and school teachers, who were called out on strike by the union for education and science workers. In other cities, nursery nurses, who have been on strike for several weeks, also joined the protests.

The protests on Wednesday were the high point of a one week education strike held from 15-19 June in many universities. The strike was organised by Linksjugend Solid – the youth organisation of Die LINKE (Left Party) as well as other left groups including Sozialistische Alternative, the sister party of the Socialist Party in Australia.

The situation is not yet comparable to the political movements in France, Greece and Italy. However, it could be the first serious step towards building such a movement and raising the consciousness of a younger generation of activists.

During the activities that took place throughout the week, students often raised the idea that this was just the first protest of many and could be used to build structures and committees to prepare for further protests in the near future.

For many young people it is clear, that after the general election in September, the German ruling class will try to recover the money that they gave to the bankers. It will be young people and workers who will be asked to the price for this.

It is clear that we have to build a strong movement to resist attacks on education and healthcare, on pensions and on social projects. Wednesday’s strike was a crucial and successful turning point for many workers and young people across the country.

Australian workers and young people need organise similar movements to ensure that we are not forced to pay for an economic crisis that we did not create.

Melbourne day school: What is Marxism?

The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party will be holding a day school on Saturday July 4. The school will be a good introduction to the basic ideas of Marxism. It will be of interest to new members or to people who are keen to find out more about the politics of the Socialist Party.

The details are: 1pm – 5pm Saturday July 4 @ Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street Carlton South. The agenda will be as follows and prior reading is available on request.

1.00pm – 2.00pm
The method of Marxism: An introduction to Dialectics and Historical Materialism

2.30pm – 3.30pm
How would democratic socialism work? What it is and what it isn’t.

4.00pm – 5.00pm
Organising for socialism: What type of organisation is required?

To book your place, or for more information contact the SP National Office on 0396399111.

Upcoming SP meetings

The Melbourne Branch of the Socialist Party meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. Upcoming meetings include:

24/6/09 – Education under capitalism
1/7/09 – The politics of George Orwell
8/7/09 – Trotsky’s theory of Permanent Revolution
15/7/09 – The history of the Greens

For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

News links

Sweden: ‘Wild cat’ strike at warehouse
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/06/1702.html

Germany: SAV City Councillor re-elected in Rostock
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/06/1301.html

Britain: Rob Williams reinstatement a victory for all workers
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/06/1203.html

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.

We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.

Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!

Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.

Socialist Party contact details

Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.

The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.

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