International Socialists (CWI Scotland)

There is anger and disbelief in Dundee at the jailing of two teenagers who were involved in joke Facebook pages “organising riots”. Four youth, the youngest being fourteen, were arrested by Tayside police in August as riots swept across cities in England.

Thousands of young people, trade unionists and other supporters joined the Jarrow marchers in London on the final leg of their long march from Jarrow. In a display of determination, enthusiasm and solidarity, the Jarrow marchers led the way from the Embankment to Trafalgar Square, where a lively rally was held to mark the end of this 2011 march, a re-enactment of the original Jarrow to London march against unemployment 75 years ago.

The Jarrow to London youth march for jobs has begun. 50 young people from across Britain including three long term unemployed Scots are part of the recreation of the 1936 march from Jarrow to London organised by the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign. Jamie Cocozza from Glasgow, Matt Dobson from Dundee and Luke Ivory from Brora are joining the march as it progresses to London.

Article by Wayne Scott 30th August 2011

David Starkey’s comments on Newsnight expose the racist attitude of the British establishment. He implied that black culture is synonymous with violence and criminality. He also attacked rap music for glorifying riots. Starkey’s comments are to be condemned.

Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ), a campaigning organisation, is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October 2011. This is on the 75th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment.

It’s that time of year again when a fresh batch of school leavers will be thrown head first into the world of unemployment. t will make little difference how many qualifications we have, or how hard we’ve worked at school, almost all of us will be in the same boat.

150 school students walked out of Harris Academy in Dundee on April 1 and marched on Dundee City Council. The walkout was organised and co-ordinated by Students Defending Dundee Schools (SDDS),  a citywide school student led campaign group set up to oppose the councils £4 million cuts to school budgets and proposals to merge Advanced Higher classes into a “City Campus”. 

An uprising has occurred of school, college and university students, fighting for their futures. The trigger has been the trebling of tuition fees, but the anger is wider - against the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), the massive cuts proposed in education, and the robbing of a decent future from an entire generation.

Dundee students, from the universities, local colleges and schools took part in protests across the city on November 24 as part of the national walk outs and protests. Activists from Youth Fight for Jobs and Education, Socialist Students and Socialist Party Scotland helped by mobilising support and giving direction to the action.

The bosses and their politicians intend to create a lost generation of young people that will pay for the economic crisis by being CON DEMned to joblessness, losing the right to a decent education and exploited as cheap slave labour. Young people have no option but to get active and fight for a future.