The CWI in Scotland
| name | International Socialists |
| address | CWI, PO Box 6773, Dundee, DD1 1YL |
| telephone | ++ 44 1382 833 759 |
| cwiscotland@yahoo.co.uk | |
| web site | www.cwiscotland.org |
International Socialists is the Scottish section of the Committee for a Workers International (CWI). Our members play a very active role in the trade unions in Scotland including the public sector union UNISON, the teachers union the EIS and the postal workers union the CWU. We actively participate in struggles against low pay, poverty, privatisation and war.
We also play an active part in the broad based Scottish Socialist Party, both in campaigns and fighting for the party to adopt a clear Marxist programme. A number of CWI members have represented the SSP in elections.
History
The programme of the International Socialists and the CWI - as well as a number of our members - are a continuation of Militant (when we worked as part of the Labour Party) and of Scottish Militant Labour - an open Marxist party that pioneered a socialist alternative to New Labour and the SNP in elections - which was launched in 1992. Many of our members played a leading role in the mass anti-poll tax struggle and other major campaigns in Scotland throughout the 1990's.
After the launch of the SSP in 1999 a number of leading figures in the SSP left the CWI. This followed an intensive debate and discussion which centred on the need to maintain a marxist organisation and programme as part of the SSP. Those who left the CWI did not agree with the need to do this and effectively dissolved themselves into the broad SSP. (The documents relating to this discussion are available from the CWI).
We relaunched the International Socialists in 2001 and have gone from strength to strength since then.
The National Question
We have always defended the right of self determination for Scotland. Today we put forward a programme for an independent socialist Scotland as part of a socialist confederation with England, Wales and Ireland. We always link the demand for democratic rights with the struggle for socialism on an international basis.
Publications and branches
We now produce a monthly newspaper - the International Socialist. Which is sold throughout Scotland. We have branches in Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
