Campaigning work of Austrian section of REVOLUTION, May-July 2008

In May the government decided a health care reform, which is going to come into effect in 2010. Lots of medics went on strike. On the 11th of July there was a demonstration of medics against the health care reform. REVOLUTION and LSR (League of the Socialist Revolution, Austria's Section of the League for the Fifth International) collected contributions for a militant health-labour union in Sri Lanka. The Socialist Party of Sri Lanka is in contact with the LFI and we tried to show our solidarity with our Asian comrades by supporting this activity. In addition it's important to deepen our collaboration to strengthen the internationalism.

More over, in contrast to a possible imperialistic attack on Iran, REVOLUTION participated together with LSR, a commission against the attack, KI (Communist Initiative) and Atilim (a socialist newspaper) in a manifestation. We called for termination of sanctions from USA and EU but also confessed our rejection of the Teheran-regime. Further more we sold newspapers and had an information booth to show the importance of the organization of the working class to fight imperialism, but also the importance of the organization of the Iranian workers to fight their national oppression.

The most important occurrence in July was the announcement of a re-election for the 28th of September. The coalition between OEVP and SPOE proved to be unable to work together. In view of the crisis of the social democracy, in Austria represented by the SPOE, a confederation of many left organisations called „Linksprojekt“ (left project) had been founded already in May. REVOLUTION supports the project and placarded in front of job centres and selected companies for a conference of the confederation, which was on the 19th of July. We also produced flyers and talked to people about a left alternative to the SPOE.

At the conference, we spoke for a candidacy of „Linksprojekt“ at the re-election. This wasn't self-evident. At the first conference on the 5th of July it seemed that the predominant view was against a candidacy. About 70 people were present and the media became attentive. This helped us to gain popularity for the second meeting. But the candidacy wasn't our only request in the confederation; we also proposed a youth-workgroup, which should deal with problems of young people in capitalist society.

The conference was a great success. More than 100 people came to discuss and to work together. After some good arguments the main part voted for a candidacy. Now „Linksprojekt“ is going run for the re-election with the name „LINKE“. The aim of this confederation shouldn't be to get mandates and to enter the parliament, but we hope to show a left alternative to the neoliberal SPOE and to strengthen the whole left movement.

„Linksprojekt“ will have a second press conference on the 22nd of July to get more attention through the media. Our next activities will concentrate on collecting signatures and contributions to make the candidacy possible. There's not much time until the re-elections but we think that we can easily make it. This could mean a shift to the left in society, even if it's only a small!