PRESIDENTS COLUMN

20 So far this year I have had the great pleasure of attending two events which, in different ways, signify the strength of the socialist movement. The first was to celebrate 140th anniversary of Bridgend and Llantrisant branch. Attendance was high and with me were Bob Crow, assistant general secretary Mick Cash and national secretary Steve Todd. It is always a pleasure to visit Wales, one of the major birthplaces of socialism. The occasion was marked by speeches from the leadership and, more importantly, the rank and file. There was also the unveiling of the new branch banner and the original branch minute book from 1874 was on display. I do not want to say too much more about the night as it is being covered elsewhere in the magazine. However the occasion did get me thinking about the future role of branches in the union. This is particularly apt at the time when we are looking at the whole structure of the union. I, for one, would be totally against any alteration of the branches. Yes technology has moved on and people will say that the role of the branch has diminished. Nothing, however, can replace human interaction and debate that takes place in branches. The resolutions and foundations of every major socialist party and trade union started in debates taking place in local branches. We can look back and see great socialist figures taking their first tentative steps at these meetings. People such as Nye Bevan, Lenin, Jack Jones, Jim Larkin and even Bob Crow! Branches will always be the birthplace of ideas that will push us forward to a more equal society. I would like to salute all past and present members of Bridgend and Llantrisant branch and thanks especially to Peter and Steven Skelly for putting on a wonderful night. The second event that I attended was in Liberty Hall in Dublin to launch a new book about one of my heroes, James Connolly, written by Doctor John Callow, a good friend of the union. Over 150 guests attended including members of the Connolly family, and I would like to thank them all, especially Tommy Crimes, for the usual warm and friendly welcome. The book is sponsored by us, GMB, SIPTU, Jim Connell Society and The Marx Memorial Library. There are already two very good books by Desmond Greaves and Donal Nevin already, but this a welcome addition. It has many unseen photographs and is beautifully illustrated by Sean O'Brogain. John was working in the Marx library when he came across unseen manuscripts and decided to publish them. Try to get hold of a copy if you can, but also try to read works by James Connolly, you won't be disappointed. I came to socialism, like many others, through the writings of James Connolly. I was 17 and working in a shipyard when a friend gave me some Connolly pamphlets. They changed my life and were a lot easier to read than Marx! It could do the same for you, if you have not read anything by him. You could also get your branches to affiliate to the James Connolly Society you won't regret it, a great socialist organisation. Walking through the streets of Dublin, I was saddened but not surprised by the homeless on streets. This is a common sight on the streets of our towns and cities. They were mainly young people and it is not them who are the criminals, but the leaders of our governments. They are the ones who are responsible for our young having no future and no hope. We must act, and act now, to create a fairer more equal society. Something James Connolly and the early socialists tried to do. I would like to finish with a quote from Connolly which is food for thought in today's society: "For, as we have said elsewhere, socialism is neither Protestant nor Catholic, Christian or Freethinker, Buddhist, Mahometan, nor Jew; it is only HUMAN’ Peter Pinkney President’s column