david murray wrote:

> ....As for is it [Socialist Trade Union Organising Group] a SP initiative,
yes, but has become broader.
>
> >And what is the
> rationale for not being in the Socialist Alliance like
> other militants
> like Chris Cain and Craig Johnston?
>
> Similar to those of Martin Kingham, Bill Game and
> others not in the Socialist Alliance. Because its
> become a complete farce.

So the Socialist Trade Union Organising Group is SP-initiated, but has become
broader.....but the Socialist Alliance
has 'become a complete farce'?

This would be the STUOG consisting of......(please fill in this 'breadth')...and
having accomplished......(again, fill
in the broad range of activities and gains).

As opposed to the 'farcical' Socialist Alliance:

* initiated by 8 socialist organisations, now with around 2000 financial members
and I believe (at last count) around
30 branches, but could be more....new branches are being formed on the Central
Coast of NSW, in parts of Brisbane, and
are being looked to in the Blue Mountains.

* Joined by militant unionists across the country including Chris Cain (state
secretary, MUA WA), Craig Johnson
(former state secretary Victorian AMWU, leader within the militant Workers First
group), Naomi Arrowsmith (former
secretary Port Kembla branch of ALP and NSW CPSU organiser), plus the likes of
the best known Australian marxist
Humphrey Macqueen, left comedian Rod Quantock, Peggy Trompf (workers health
centre Sydney)....this is a very
INADEQUATE list - across the country militant unionists are joining SA - a
recent forum in Sydney, not particularly
well built, attracted around 70 people, including someone from a new grouping
'Construction Workers First' which are
challening the rotten Andrew Furguson leadership of the CFMEU in NSW - CWF are
looking to join up members to SA.

* Not only has SA brought militant unionists together, but the last conference
saw a surge of confidence in the likes
of Johnson and Cain, who make it clear they are now going to build the SA as
THEIR party - join people from their
militant groupings, generalise their experience, etc.

* SA members are leading struggles currently (I am most familiar in Sydney) in:
Tafe/PSA work; various campaigning
work of the NTEU; building rank and file opposition in AMWU; have just run as
part of successful opposition ticket in
MUA (SA member Shane Bentley receiving 44% versus decades incumbent Robert
Coombes); in the Teachers Fed; and recently
as part of the opposition to the ABC attacks.

Well, considering all this is 'farcical', I am very eager to here about the
breadth and success of the SP-initiated
STUOG!

The 'farcical' Socialist Alliance has not only brought together militant
unionists, but moreover they are taking more
ownership of a class-struggle, broad socialist party, and willing to confidently
draw others toward it. This serious
taking of the party question will ALWAYS provide more of a challenge to the
status quo than a loose grouping on an
undefined political basis that doesn't appear to be shaking the foundations much
(but correct me if i am wrong).

That's why not not only will the ruling class and their clear reps in the ALP
throw more at the Socialist Alliance
than the likes of a STUOG, but why their left variety - the likes of Bob Gould
who will spout a veritable geisher of
Marxism but will always twist it crudely into support for the ALP - will always
save a hell of alot more acid for the
SA than the STUOG. Put simply, the Alliance is a challenge to the ALP - the tiny
STUOG does not appear to be - and the
extent to which it splits socialist forces, its a gift to those who like to see
us divided.

comradely
Paul