This led to the 1973 military coup, the butchering of tens of thousands of workers and the crucifixion of the Chilean working class on the alter of ‘neo-liberal’ free market policies, masterminded by the US Government and the CIA. The concern was that a similar disaster could be in the offing again if the working class in Latin America did not develop a leadership prepared to intransigently oppose the capitalist agenda of globalisation.

Economic crisis

The second session (led off by Robin Clapp, SW England Regional Organiser) dealt with the present economic crisis in the USA and implications of the US recession for the United Kingdom economy. After a tour through the wonderland of the capitalist loan and debt bubble, the meeting got down to discussing the concrete effect of recession on the working class in Wales; job losses, cuts in health and education and a growing hostility of working people to the established political parties, which would desperately need to be channelled into a political alternative. A statement prepared by the Welsh Committee on developments in Wales was discussed and adopted (see document).

Organisation

Wales Secretary Alec Thraves gave a report on the growth of the Welsh organisation, noting exciting developments in the North West, and an expansion of our work in the South East with four new branches being launched. Wales has an enviable record of meeting or exceeding all our targets in Fighting Fund, subscriptions and paper sales. A Fighting Fund collection raised £1738. A raffle by Vi John raised a further £35.
One new member joined at conference and five more are discussing joining.
The meeting marked a new phase in the development of Socialist Party Wales. Already deeply rooted in the Welsh working class the party will be taking a lead in struggles in 2008