We fight for:

• Substantial wage increases to reverse the unequal distribution of wealth over the last decade.
• Trade union rights for all workers to end sweatshop conditions.
• For the Trade union movement to launch a campaign to recruit the hundreds of thousands of unorganised workers.
• Resist all job losses. For state intervention and investment to provide jobs for those that capitalism throws on the dole.
• For a 35 hour week for all workers, without a loss in pay.
  

In the South:

• €8 an hour minimum wage, tax free and no exemptions for all workers as a step to the EU Decency Threshold of €10.
  

In the North:

• Scrap the youth exemptions.
• £5 an hour minimum wage for all workers over 16 as a step towards the EU Decency Threshold Of £7.50.
• Scrap the New Deal.
• For real training and decent jobs - end the exploitation of Job skills trainees. [back to top]
  

EDUCATION

Education is a right not a privilege. But there’s still bias against people from working class background as those with money can pay for a better education and therefore have better opportunities.

In the schools we fight for:

• Pay the teachers a decent wage, for a united struggle of students and teachers to fight to improve the education system.
• For a democratic school students union to fight on all the issues that affect young people.
• For the right to be politically active in school & the right to vote at 16.
• For an education system to be run democratically by students, parents and teachers. No involvement of the churches in the running of schools.
• No to education for profit. No to the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in the north or Performance Related Pay In the south.
• Extra investment so schools can cater for children with special needs.
• No to compulsory attendance of religious education classes. Knowledge of all religions and philosophies should be made available on the syllabus.
  

In the south:

• End the discrimination in primary education, state schools must provide educational quality on a par with the best available.
• Scrap the Points System. A system of continuous assessment and a guaranteed place in third level education for all.
  

In the north:

• Immediate investment to improve facilities and reduce class sizes and the pupil teacher ratio.
• Scrap the 11+ now.
• A fully integrated comprehensive education system, as a step towards eradicating sectarianism amongst school students.
• No to PFI -Keep profit out of education.

In the colleges we fight for:

In the north:

• Third level education for all who want to study.
• Scrap tuition fees, no graduate tax - for a living grant.
• For a militant students union to campaign for non-payment of tuition fees and for a better education for all.
  

In the south:

• Increase the Grant to £150 per week plus rent allowancefor all students.
• For the immediate building of decent student accommodation on campus, subsidised by the government.
• For massive Investment in all levels of education to provide decent facilities and an end overcrowding.
• Rebuild a fighting students’ unions in all colleges. [back to top]
  

ENVIRONMENT

Capitalism is doing untold damage to our environment. Not only G. W. Bush but even the governments that have accepted the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions put profits before the environment. Kyoto itself is far too 1ittle. Unlike some in the so-called "Green movement" Socialist Youth believes economic and social development is important but should be organised in a way that doesn't destroy our environment globally or locally.

We fight for:

• The cutting of green house gas emissions by 50% by 2020.
• Companies who refuse to comply should be taken into public ownership.
• Make big business reduce waste at source and pay for a system of recycling.
  No to Incinerators and mass land fill sites.
• In the South for the building of a mass campaign of non-payment to defeat the double taxation of domestic refuse charges.
• Close Sellafield. For serious investment into renewable energy sources as a step to ending the reliance on nuclear power. [back to top]
  

FIGHTING PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, SECTARIANISM AND RACISM

No person is born a bigot or a racist. Capitalism has created and accentuated divisions in society on the basis of class, nationality, colour, religion and between the sexes. Instead of providing a secure future for the peoples of the world based on co-operation, capitalism attacks democratic rights and promotes competition and hostility.

We fight for:

• An end to all forms of discrimination based on colour, nationality, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
• For homes, services and jobs for all - not racism or religious discrimination.
• End discrimination and stereotyping of travellers.
• Investment and planning to end the accommodation nightmare of the Travelling Community through well serviced halting sites or group housing schemes as appropriate.
• No to deportations -defend the right to asylum and the rights of economic immigrants.
• The right to work for al asylum seekers with decent pay and conditions.
• We call for a united campaign of the unions, young people and asylum seekers to answer the lies about refugees.
  The rights and cultures of all people living here to be respected.
• Active opposition to any attempt to establish fascist organisations in this country. [back to top]
  

WOMEN

We stand for the full economic, social and political emancipation of women. Despite many gains, inequality and oppression of women continues under capitalism. Socialist Youth accepts that women suffer oppression at the hands of men and we fight against all chauvinist and sexist attitudes. However the root of the oppression is to be found in the exploitative nature of capitalism itself. The fight for, women’s liberation is a key part of the struggle for socialist change.

We fight for:

• End chauvinism, sexual stereotyping and the degrading of women in the media, advertising, schools and the workplace.
• End the discrimination in pay, employment or promotional opportunities for women.
  Change the law and court procedures to protect the victims of domestic violence.
• For the provision of more refuges, financial support and counselling services to help those who suffer from domestic violence and abuse.
• A network of good quality publicly funded free childcare, including pre-school, after school and holiday schemes accessible to all parents who want them.
• Support for women in crisis pregnancies and respect for decisions they make. For the provision of abortion facilities through the health service. [back to top]

KICK PROFITEERING OUT OF MUSIC AND SPORT

Major promotion companies are killing creative and artistic initiative and are robbing young people by charging exuberant prices for their goods. Many young people don't get a chance to be involved don't have enough money to buy the latest album or concert ticket.

(Music) We fight for:

• Government investment in local facilities for young musicians.
• Venues and equipment to be provided free of charge.
• Free, state run recording facilities in all major towns.
• State regulation of the price of tickets, albums and other goods to an affordable level.

(Sport) We fight for:

• Sport for the people -not for the multi-nationals.
• For massive investment in local sports facilities, in conjunction with communities and schools to encourage active participation in sport.
• Kick sectarianism and racism out of sport -everyone must have the right to participate in sports without fear of intimidation.
• Return the control of sports clubs to the people. Break the stranglehold which big business has on some sports.
• Sports clubs should be run in a democratic way by elected bodies made up of fans/members and players, where prices and facilities would be geared to the needs of all those involved.
• Sport is vital to the health, well being and enjoyment of young people. More and more the media and multi-nationals are just encouraging us to be spectators rather than participants. While many local sports clubs are barely surviving big multi-national companies are making obscene profits. [back to top]
  

THE SOCIAL CRISIS

The pressures of economic and social difficulties have helped create a growing sense of alienation and isolation for many people. More and more young people are experiencing homelessness and other types of personal difficulties. Some turn to drugs for comfort. Others live in misery. Suicide is now the number one killer of young people, especially young men. The state and its social services have failed these young people. The abuse of drugs has had very bad consequences for the individuals involved and society as a whole. Attempts to criminalise and prohibit the use of drugs doesn't work. In fact it can make the situation much worse.

We fight for:

• The expansion of social services so young people in difficulties can be identified and get the support both financial and emotional that they need.
• For a serious but balanced campaign to outline the dangers of the abuse of all substances, including proscribed drugs, cannabis, alcohol and tobacco.
• Opposition to the criminalisation or imprisonment of people for the taking of drugs.
• Cut across drug related crime and the power base of the dealers by providing treatment, maintenance and counselling for all heroin addicts.
• Massive investment in education, training, homes and jobs in the communities affected by heroin abuse and generally so the real causes of the social crisis can be tackled. [back to top]

POLICING AND THE STATE

We are told that the state i.e. the laws, the courts, the police and the army, exist in order to help society function in an orderly manner to everyone's benefit. It is true that society needs laws and a justice system. But in our society this is a class system, biased against working class people and designed specifically to maintain the political and economic status quo.

We fight for:

• An end to the bias against working class people in the legal system.
• Opposition to anti-social behaviour.
• An end to police harassment of youth.
• An end to vigilante activity and punishment beatings.
• A prison system that is based on rehabilitation.
• For trial by jury and the direct election of all Judges.
  Defend the right to protest.
• Scrap all repressive legislation.
• End the use of all potentially lethal weapons by the state on demonstrators.
• Disband any agencies of the state which monitor or pursue people because of their political views.
  Full trade union rights for members of the police and army.
• For genuine community policing services, locally based and run by local communities directly elected and accountable to the community. [back to top]
  

THE NATIONAL QUESTION

There is no solution to the national question in Ireland based on capitalism. There can be no solution by bringing sectarian politicians together at the top, while the same politicians are further polarising society on the ground. If an alternative is not built, Northern Ireland can descend into a Bosnia-style conflict. Socialist Youth fights to develop a real peace process on the ground by uniting working class people to fight on the common class interests. Only on the basis of genuine socialism can the national question be resolved.

We fight for:

• An end to all forms of sectarianism and all sectarian intimidation, attacks and killings.
• While opposing the sectarian ideologies of groups like the Orange Order and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, we respect their right to march and the rights of residents to object.
• The over-riding right of working class people, both Protestant and Catholic, not to be dragged into an all-out sectarian conflict on the issue of parades.
• Disputed marches or parades to be settled on the basis of face to face negotiations between marchers and genuine representatives of residents on a local basis.
• For the establishment of a new party of the working class based on the trade unions, youth and genuine community groups that could unite working class people against sectarianism and capitalism.
• For a socialist federation of Ireland. Scotland, England and Wales on a free and equal basis, within a wider socialist confederation of European states. [back to top]

INTERNATIONAL STRUGGLE, SOLIDARITY AND SOCIALISM

Socialist change can begin in a particular country but if it is to be successful it must be spread across the globe. That is why Socialist Youth is part of the Committee for a Workers' International, which is an international socialist movement based in 35 countries and on all five continents. We are not neutral on international issues, we are on the side of the oppressed masses. Capitalism at the moment controls the world. It uses its institutions like the IMF, World Bank, NATO and the UN to increase exploitation, impose economic and social hardship and war devastation on ordinary people. The anti-capitalist movement that has emerged shows that struggle can be internationalised and that people are looking for an alternative. We are the socialist wino of this movement.

We fight for:

• An end to the robbery of ordinary people through privatisations, debt repayments and 'terms of trade'.
• An end to the process of establishing an undemocratic Europe for the rich -for a democratic socialist Europe.
• The scrapping of the armaments industry and an end to all wars which are fought to uphold the prestige and profits of the capitalist establishment.
• International links and solidarity between the workers and youth of all countries in the struggle against capitalism.
• An end to the rule of the multinationals and all capitalist governments.
• International socialism to plan the world's resources so ordinary people can fulfil their potential without exploitation, oppression and hardship. [back to top]

FIGHTING FOR THE SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE

Socialism bases itself on the fact that working class people, through their labour, produce the wealth in society and ave a right to own it and control its’ use It is also based on a confidence that ordinary people have the power to break the rule of capitalism and are more than capable of establishing a genuinely democratic form of government through which socialist policies can then be implemented.

We fight for:

• The re-development of fighting, democratic trade unions, independent of the capitalist parties and the state, which fight for the interests of working class people.
• The establishment of new broad working class parties, where all those opposed to capitalism can get politically organised.
  The building of Socialist Youth into a mass socialist movement of young people.
• The establishment of a socialist government and the public ownership of the key sections of the economy under democratic workers' control and management.
• All officials to be elected, subject to immediate recall and to live on the same wages as those they are representing.
• A co-ordinated economic and social plan to overcome the problems created by capitalism and to provide for all the needs of the population. [back to top]