- Organise!
-
There have been several anarchist groups in Ireland that have used the name Organise since 1984.
Contents
Organise! (1984–1989)
Formed from the Antrim anarchist group.[citation needed]
Organise!-IWA (1995–1998)
This version of Organise! existed in the early 1990s and was part of the International Workers Association. They published four issues of a 'monthly' bulletin called Rebel Worker from June 1998 to February 1999. It collapsed in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and was officially dissolved in May 1999.[1]
Organise! (2004–?)
At the moment this name is used by a group formed in 2004 from the Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation (ASF), Anarchist Federation (AF), Anarchist Prisoner Support and a number of individuals. The ASF and AF had previously produced two issues of a join publication, Wildcat, in which they agreed positions on trade unions and the North – the two issues on which they disagree with the Workers Solidarity Movement.[citation needed]
Organise! say of these differences that "Our attitude to those class struggle anarchists outside our organisation is comradely and co-operative, while we may have differences we seek to work to overcome these where possible and to build stronger links and more effect methods of working together as part of the process of building a broad libertarian movement in Ireland. We will not on the other hand shy away from debate and discussion of differences but attempt to deal with these in an open and comradely fashion. Most importantly, we seek through our activity and propaganda, through discussion and practical solidarity with our fellow workers to show the relevance of anarchist methods of organising and ultimately the benefits of a future libertarian communist revolution for workers everywhere."[2]
Recent activity
Activities Organise! have been involved in include the Fascists Out Campaign, building support for Joanne Delaney in Belfast through organising pickets of Dunnes Stores in Belfast and Derry, and pickets in solidarity with Afghan refugees on hunger strike in Dublin.
Organise! members also a protested a Starbucks cafe in Belfast city centre on 5 July 2008 to demand the reinstatement of Monica, a member of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT group working in central Seville Starbucks outlet, and Cole Dorsey, an IWW member who was fired by Starbucks for organising in one of their premises in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3]
In 2008 they involved in pro-choice issues, supporting the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland to enable women in the province to obtain legal abortions. Organise! are involved in pickets of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland urging them to support the amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in Westminster to extend the Act to NI – 41 years after its introduction in the rest of the UK.[4] Members of Organise! are involved in the Just Books Collective and are also involved in the Belfast Rossport Solidarity group.
Organise! is opposed to the introduction of water charges in Northern Ireland and is involved "in building opposition on a street by street basis in working class communities".[2] A former-member of Organise! was arrested at an anti-war demonstration in Belfast.
Current activity
Organise!, WSM, trade unions and various political activists picketed a Subway restaurant in Belfast in October 2008 in support of sacked Polish worker Natalia Szymanska.[5]
In April/May 2009, Organise! were involved in the support of the sacked workers at the Visteon Plant in west Belfast[6]
In May/June 2009, Organise! supported sacked traffic wardens in Belfast. The wardens had been sacked by their employer NCP as a result of wildcat industrial action taken by 26 employees. [7] The traffic wardens went on to win their dispute, obtaining either full reinstatement or a choice of a substantial severance package.[8]
In October 2009, members of Organise were involved in both taking-part and providing solidarity to the striking postal workers in Belfast [9]
International contacts
Organise says it aims to "develop and maintain contact with similar organisations around the world".[2]
Belfast Anarchist Bookfair
Organise! hosted the 2nd Annual Belfast Anarchist Bookfair in September 2008 at the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre. Organise! reported that "Overall the event was a great success, for Organise! and all those who helped out - providing stalls, giving talks, contributing to discussion (both at meetings and informally), sorting food and making the event great craic."[10]
Back2Front magazine, Choice Ireland, Glasgow Anarchists, Just Books, Revolutionary Anarcha-Feminist Group, Solidarity Federation, and the Workers Solidarity Movement all had stalls present at the bookfair.[10]
The 3rd Annual Belfast Anarchist Bookfair took place on 29 August 2009.[11]
The Leveller
In late April, 2009, Organise! launched their tabloid paper, The Leveller. The first issue featured coverage of a number of workplace issues in Ireland and the UK, including the ongoing Visteon/Ford occupation in west Belfast. The launch of The Leveller also came alongside the first issue of Education Worker News, the bulletin of the Education Workers Branch of Organise!
Issue 2 of The Leveller was published in August 2009 and issue 3 followed in November of the same year.
References
- ^ "Old Organise homepage"
- ^ a b c Organise! - Who We Are: statement from Organise!, class struggle anarchist group in Ireland, describing who the group are
- ^ Libcom - Starbucks Global Day of Action, Belfast picketLink text
- ^ Libcom story - Protests in Belfast in support of women's right to choose
- ^ Libcom - Subway picketed in Belfast to support sacked worker
- ^ Hundreds rally in support of Belfast Visteon workers
- ^ Sacked traffic wardens continue protest in Belfast
- ^ Victorious Belfast Traffic Warden speaks
- ^ The Leveller issue 3 (2009), published by Organise!, Belfast
- ^ a b Organise! - 2nd Annual Belfast Anarchist Bookfair
- ^ Organise! - 3rd Annual Belfast Anarchist Bookfair
External links
Categories:- Anarchist organisations in the Republic of Ireland
- Anarchist organisations in the United Kingdom
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