against the stream

Writings on the struggle for workers unity and socialism

Month: March 2024 (Page 2 of 2)

Switch of Jeffrey Donaldson and Arlene Foster from Ulster Unionist Party to Democratic Unionist Party in 2004 was a key moment in process which lead to eclipse of latter as unionism's largest party, a position it had held since 1921.

From the Archives (2004): Can the Sectarian Stalemate Be Broken?

March 10, 2024 /

First published Socialist Voice, Newspaper of Socialist Party Ireland, Jan 5th 2004

ON 5 JANUARY Jeffrey Donaldson, Norah Beare and Arlene Foster announced that they were joining the DUP. Their move underlined the results of the recent elections. The DUP are now the largest unionist party and Sinn Fein the largest nationalist party

Despite this some commentators are arguing that the forthcoming review of the Agreement will achieve a deal and re-establish an Executive. Some even argue that the outcome of the election will result in greater long term stability as a deal reached between the extremes will be more likely to stick.

Their logic largely rests on the argument that the leading members of Sinn Fein and the DUP are competent and ambitious administrators who are keen to once again get their hands on the levers of power. For this reason the DUP will abandon their position of refusing to talk to and share power with Sinn Fein. Whilst there is some truth in this it is a minor factor and will not determine the course of events in the next period.

Of vital importance is the fact that three more elections are due in the next 18 months-the European poll in June of this year and the local and Westminster elections next year. Both Sinn Fein and the DUP will see these contests as opportunities to emphasise their dominance over their rivals.

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An Epic Struggle: The 1984 -85 Miners’ Strike

March 5, 2024 /

This article is based on an article first published in Socialist Voice, paper of Socialist Party, 9th April 2004

Forty years ago on March 6th the great miners’ strike began. For a year 140,000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) were engaged in a titanic battle with Margaret Thatcher’s Tory government and the full force of the state.

Ultimately, they went down to defeat but it was an honourable defeat. It was a dispute that would have been won were it not for the betrayal of the right wing trade union and the Labour Party leaderships.

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A View from the North March 2nd, 2024: The North and the Miner’s Strike

March 2, 2024 /

Downshire Hospital COHSE (Confederation of Health Service Employees) Branch Secretary Raymond Blaney handing over funds collected for Scottish striking miners, October 1984

March 6th, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the great miners’ strike. The strike lasted almost one year. It ended with the miners marching back to work behind their bands and their banners on March 3rd, 1985.

This heroic struggle will never be forgotten by every socialist activist who lived through it. There were no mines or miners in Northern Ireland, but the effects of the strike were profound.

It has been said that workers in Northern Ireland raised more money per head of the population than any other area and England, Scotland and Wales, outside the mining areas.

Trade unions and trade unionists were involved in fundraising efforts, and collected food and basic essentials to send to the pit communities. The workers movement in Northern Ireland were asked to contribute directly to the Scottish NUM and miners’ representatives from Scotland visited Northern Ireland in the first few weeks in the strike. Eventually, Barri McClatchy a Scottish miner, stayed for the duration of the strike and indeed remained in the North when it was over.

Today we published an article on the 40th anniversary of the strike. The miners’ strike was a high point for the British workers movement and its defeat has left his mark to this day. Nevertheless, we remember their struggle with pride, and we are determined to learn from their courage and determination.

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