The CWI in Scotland
| name | International Socialists |
| address | PO Box 7565 Glasgow G42 2DN |
| telephone | ++ 44 7725 119 869 |
| cwiscotland@yahoo.co.uk | |
| web site | www.internationalsocialists.org.uk |
The 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 civil service union the PCS, 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 socialist movement Solidarity which is led by Tommy Sheridan.
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). Many of those who left the CWI played a central role in the events that led to the split in the SSP in 2006. The forces around the CWI helped launch Solidarity - Scotland's Socialist Movement with Tommy Sheridan and others who broke with the SSP following Tommy Sheridan's victory over the News of the World in 2006.
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 regular Scottish newspaper - the Socialist. Which is sold throughout Scotland. We have branches in Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.