Archive for January 2019
2 January 2019
Opinion: China's Orwellian 'social credit system' is a product of capitalism, not 'communism'
In reality, Chinese workers are fighting the same beast as we are in Britain: an exploitative economic system protected by a cold-blooded political elite.
2 January 2019
Our new year's message: Tories out - general election now!
Corbyn must use the opening weeks of 2019 to go on the offensive
2 January 2019
New Year. Same Universal Credit misery. Scrap it now!
Christmas was far from merry for many - we need a living wage and welfare system!
2 January 2019
Rip-off landlords make money out of misery
600 homeless people died in 2017 in England and Wales. If people can't afford to rent, then rents should be capped, controlled and cut.
2 January 2019
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. German revolution, Brexit red lines, Harry Leslie Smith, flue jab jibe.
2 January 2019
Early morning cabinet meeting nods through £24 million cuts
Swansea Labour's cabinet meeting agreed a projected loss this year of 145 teaching posts and 161 council jobs
2 January 2019
Yet another wage-busting fare hike? Nationalise rail now!
Queues and scuffles to squeeze aboard, delays and cancellations as the life sweats out of you
9 January 2019
Ferry workers protest against £2.45 an hour pay
The scandal of low pay by profiteering shipping lines is being fought by a sustained campaign of the RMT transport union
9 January 2019
Bringing socialist ideas into movements on women's rights
Over 40 women members of the Socialist Party met on 5 January to discuss the important work we do in fighting the attacks on women and raising socialist ideas with women and men who are becoming politically active on these issues
9 January 2019
Carmarthenshire council: Unison demands no-cuts budget
Just before Christmas, Carmarthenshire county Unison union branch sent a letter to councillors demanding they set a no-cuts budget to prevent more job losses and further reduced services
9 January 2019
Linking LGBT+ rights to the fight for socialism
The growing Socialist Party LGBT+ group held its first national meeting of the year on 6 January, writes Fred Ray.
9 January 2019
Tories Out. End austerity. Mass working-class action for a general election
Few things sum up the complete disarray of this Tory government like the 'Brexit ferries'debacle.
9 January 2019
Death in a doorway: struggle can end homelessness
Joby Sparrey died on Christmas Day in the doorway of a shop in Malvern, Worcestershire. Brays is a long-established shop with large doorways so he was probably able to stretch out to sleep.
9 January 2019
It's one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us including millionaire Miliband and the Queen's golden piano.
9 January 2019
Press coverage for Socialist Party campaigns in Southampton and East London
9 January 2019
PCS Left Unity assistant general secretary election rerun
Chris Baugh is standing for the PCS Left Unity assistant general secretary nomination in a rerun of this election.
9 January 2019
Far right attack on Manchester rail workers' picket line - trade union fightback needed
Far-right protesters, wearing yellow vests, verbally abused the RMT transport union picket line at Manchester Victoria station on 5 January.
9 January 2019
Grayling's attacks on rail workers wages 'un-fare'
The government continues to claim that Britain's economy is doing great and that everyone's wages are sky high.
9 January 2019
Heroic martyrs of German Revolution
January 15 marks the 100th anniversary of the murders of Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, two of the outstanding leaders of the German and international working-class movements.
9 January 2019
Tremendous effort sees Socialist Party smash fighting fund target in 2018
Socialist Party members and supporters raised £44,171 in the final three months of 2018 - 147% of the target of £30,000! Because of this huge effort we also surpassed the annual fighting fund target, raising £130,632 altogether.
9 January 2019
NHS funding crisis: Tory 'super-plan' is a super-con!
Theresa May has been trumpeting an increase in spending on the NHS and a ten-year 'super-plan' for NHS England. But this is not what it seems.
9 January 2019
North Tyneside Campaigning to save our footbridge
Following an initiative of the North Tyneside Socialist Party, a 60-strong public protest took place on 29 December against Labour-run North Tyneside council's plan to demolish the historic Borough Road footbridge in North Shields' town centre.
9 January 2019
Protests continue to rage in Sudan
Sudan has been rocked by extensive anti-government protests since 19 December. People in the diaspora have come out in large numbers outside Sudanese embassies to show their solidarity. In contrast, most media outlets in neighbouring countries have been silent.
9 January 2019
Blocked for years, but the Socialist Party of Nigeria is now standing in elections
After years of campaigning to be officially recognised, the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN - launched by the Democratic Socialist Movement and others) is able to stand in elections.
9 January 2019
Theatre review: Women of Aktion - the heroic story of how World War One was ended
Women of Aktion by the Bent Architect Theatre Company tells the story of the women and men whose heroic actions brought World War One to an end.
9 January 2019
'Socialism: Utopian and Scientific'
Socialist Books has announced its next upcoming title
9 January 2019
'Fat Cat Friday' shows where all the money's gone
I hadn't even received my first paycheque of the new year when the average chief executive of a FTSE 100 company had already 'earned' more than my entire annual salary - in less than three days!
9 January 2019
Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared the rising numbers of migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats an "emergency" over Christmas. He held a conference call with officials from the Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, and National Crime Agency.
9 January 2019
For a socialist alternative to the Tory deal and bosses' EU
Parliament reconvened after the Christmas break with no let-up in the government's crisis over the coming Brexit vote.
9 January 2019
Disruption of Socialist Party meeting shows need for unions to lead real struggle
Leeds Socialist Party's meeting was harassed by individuals from 'Antifa Watch'
9 January 2019
Solid strike by Arriva bus drivers
650 bus drivers, members of Unite the Union employed by Arriva, commenced a week-long strike on 6 January in a dispute over low pay. Drivers based at Darlington, Durham, Redcar and Stockton believe they are the second-lowest paid Arriva bus drivers in the country.
15 January 2019
May facing Brexit vote catastrophe
Corbyn must put workers' movement on a war footing!
The Tories are at each other's throats - now let's get them out!
16 January 2019
The voting meetings are starting in PCS civil service union Left Unity for the re-run contest for the Assistant General Secretary (AGS)
16 January 2019
After Grenfell, thousands still in high-rise firetrap blocks
Cladding off now! Landlords and Tories must pay! Across England, 437 high-rise buildings are still covered in combustible cladding
16 January 2019
It's one world for the super-rich, and another for the rest of us. Cancer waiting times; outsourcing explosion; tube pollution; Universal Credit
16 January 2019
Glasgow: huge turnout to fight closure of Whitehill pool
Council cuts: In total, seven pools/gyms are threatened plus libraries, golf courses and bowling greens
16 January 2019
Surrey: save our children's centres
Council cuts: Surrey has just concluded a consultation over £250 million of cuts
16 January 2019
Caerphilly: right-wing Islwyn Labour councillors fight to impose cuts
Council cuts: A battle is raging inside and outside the Labour Party in Caerphilly council against the cuts
16 January 2019
Nothing to declare? Dodgy councillors hide vested interests
59 of our 62 listed local councillors had claimed 'special dispensation'
16 January 2019
North Tyneside: march to save our footbridge
Council cuts: The second meeting of the Save Borough Road Footbridge campaign took place on 12 January
16 January 2019
The 1979 'Winter of Discontent'
It was the biggest stoppage in Britain since the 1926 general strike
16 January 2019
USA: federal workers without pay - but immediate mass action can end shutdown
On 22 December, Trump shut down the government, demanding $5.7 billion for his infamous 'border wall'
16 January 2019
India: biggest general strike ever
Why did 200 million workers strike on 8-9 January?
16 January 2019
The fundamental problem with Universal Credit is austerity
16 January 2019
France: union-led action and assemblies can defeat Macron
After a slowdown over Christmas, it seems the 'gilets jaunes' movement is back in full swing.
16 January 2019
Mexico: police silence on horrific attack on CWI member
On 20 December 2018, one of our members was raped, robbed and kidnapped for more than an hour
16 January 2019
Unions must fight and demand nationalisation to save thousands of car industry jobs
Bridgend Ford bosses have said over 1,000 workers will lose their jobs over the next two years, with 370 to go this spring
16 January 2019
Hundreds join Manc RMT picket line in solidarity after far-right attack
This followed the recent attack on pickets by a far-right group
16 January 2019
UCU: Vote Yes and Yes in the higher education pay and equality ballot
In October we voted by 70% for strike action - but Tory anti-union laws mean we don't have a legal mandate
16 January 2019
Sorry to Bother You: "Socialist film Botox that made me feel young again"
Film review: Union organisation and action in telesales are the backdrop to the film
16 January 2019
Brexit: The Uncivil War - an interesting but inaccurate portrayal of EU referendum
TV review: Not an accurate portrayal, or even a good drama
16 January 2019
Letters to the editors: Do you have something to say? Keresley shooting, debt crash, BT tribunal
16 January 2019
Leicester college staff strike against low pay, Abbey Park campus, 31st January 2019, photo Steve Score
Unions should be visibly campaigning at the front of the movement to oust the Tories instead of subcontracting the business
16 January 2019
A key task - strengthen Tamil Solidarity campaign
Tamil Solidarity campaign had a very successful Annual General Meeting on 13 January
16 January 2019
30% of English secondaries in deficit
Almost one in three council-maintained English secondary schools were in budget deficit in 2017-18, according to damning new figures
23 January 2019
Corbyn: stand firm for a general election
Tory government in extremis - workers' action needed to kick them out! It is urgent that Corbyn and the unions call a mass campaign for a general election
23 January 2019
Nationalise big pharma: end this profit-driven NHS crisis
NHS faces drug price hikes: Instead of subsidising their profits with tax breaks, they should be nationalised under democratic workers' control and management
23 January 2019
Duke's car crash: one law for them and another for us
While it's unlikely one of us would be allowed on the road at 97 after such recklessness, the Duke of Edinburgh needn't worry about the consequences
23 January 2019
Racist jobs discrimination same for 50 years - unions must fight for jobs for all
Black and Asian workers in Britain have to send almost twice as many job applications before we get a positive response
23 January 2019
Wales is Europe's prisoner capital: capitalist cutters' crimes to blame
A socialist justice system would have rehabilitation and protection, not profit, as its goal
23 January 2019
Davos special! The World Economic Forum will see the planet's billionaires gather again
23 January 2019
Cuban revolution at 60: defend the gains and fight for workers' democracy
Sixty years ago in January 1959, the Cuban capital Havana erupted in celebration
23 January 2019
Birmingham: hostile Labour council attacks striking workers
Councillor resigns from cabinet: Labour councillors should be accountable to the labour movement
23 January 2019
Unison union higher education conference: a missed opportunity to develop a fighting strategy
What's necessary is a fighting and democratic leadership to develop a clear strategy for the pay battle
23 January 2019
Bristol Deliveroo workers walk out
Bristol Deliveroo workers took strike action on the evening of Friday 18 January
23 January 2019
PCS union: re-elect Chris Baugh for assistant general secretary
For those who can't attend their meeting, they can vote by post. All votes have to be in by 5pm on Friday 25 January
23 January 2019
Enfield North CLP backs no-cuts budget - now councillors must act
Other Labour parties and unions should contact Enfield North to express solidarity for the stand
23 January 2019
Help us strengthen ties between the Socialist and workers, and gain valuable income for the working-class press
23 January 2019
Leeds: don't let the far right divide us
About 100 right-wing 'yellow vest' protesters gathered in Leeds city centre on 19 January
23 January 2019
Europe: school students strike against climate change
School students in Germany and Belgium have walked out against climate catastrophe
23 January 2019
Poland: thousands mourn death of murdered mayor
Poland has been rocked by the murder of Gdansk's mayor, Pawel Adamowicz
23 January 2019
Reports from strikes and struggle in the USA, Nigeria, Russia, France, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and the Spanish state
23 January 2019
On 15 January 1919, two key leaders of the German working class and the Communist Party were murdered
23 January 2019
Theatre: Rouse, Ye Women to tell story of 1910 chainmakers' strike
Interview: breaking the chains of oppression
23 January 2019
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. Disability benefits nightmare; disappearing hospitals
23 January 2019
Mass strike wins historic step towards victory in equal pay battle
Unions representing 13,000 Glasgow council workers have an "agreement in principle" to end low-paid women's pay injustice
23 January 2019
Workers count the cost of the retail crisis
As a John Lewis worker I was gutted to hear that management might suspend our annual bonus
24 January 2019
The situation in Venezuela has reached a critical point
29 January 2019
Peter Taaffe radio interview on Venezuela
On 24th January Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe was interviewed on LBC radio on the recent events in Venezuela
30 January 2019
Join the fight to defend women's lives
Councils must save domestic violence services: Already this week, two women will have died due to domestic violence. By the end of the week, there will have been five
30 January 2019
Brazil: Hundreds die in avoidable dam collapse
60 people have so far been killed and 292 are still missing after a dam operated by mining company Vale collapsed, releasing a wave of iron ore waste. Nobody has been found alive since 26 January
30 January 2019
International solidarity with the struggle of the Sudanese people
For five weeks, demonstrations and mass outrage have continued in Sudan. This is the largest ever wave of protests against the economic policies and human rights violations of the Omar al-Bashir government.
30 January 2019
Belgium: Movement against climate change grows
School student strikes hit a record high. 35,000 marched through Brussels on Thursday 24 January, triple the size of the week before. On Sunday 27 January, more than 70,000 marched on a national climate change demo in Brussels.
30 January 2019
Germany: School student walkouts reject Coal Commission proposals
The Coal Commission, set to discuss the end of German coal energy to meet climate change targets, has presented its results - wait up to 20 years to shut down the last polluting plants while giving billions of euros to big business.
30 January 2019
Coxford ward byelection: No to cuts - defend our vital services
Following the resignation of independent anti-cuts councillor for Coxford Ward, Keith Morrell, Southampton Socialist Party has selected Sue Atkins to contest the forthcoming byelection.
30 January 2019
Keep profiteering developers out!
Walthamstow: Hands off our public amenities: 'We aren't going away'. That was the mood of the public meeting of around 60 people organised by the Save Our Square campaign on 26 January.
30 January 2019
A strategy to fight the far right
Around 20 people attended a public meeting in Leeds on 21 January to discuss 'how to stop the far right - build a movement against the Tories and austerity' - a topic on everyone's minds since a group calling itself "Antifa Public Watch" tried to disrupt a Socialist Party meeting earlier in the month.
30 January 2019
Want to oust the Tories and change the world? ...Then give us the resources to do it!
We're asking members to increase their subs to the Socialist Party. We need the resources to enable us to reach as wide an audience as possible in the developing political crisis.
30 January 2019
Exhibition: Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War
As we left this engrossing exhibition at the British Library my friend said: "there is nothing new under the sun".
30 January 2019
Letters to the Socialist's editors including Grayling's history fail and TV licences.
30 January 2019
Fiction: Tombland "The power of common people fighting for justice in the 16th century"
Tombland is the latest novel in the Shardlake series by CJ Sansom. It is a murder mystery set in the 16th century. There are no spoilers in this review about who the murderer was.
30 January 2019
Two years ago, Wakefield district's council declared that it could no longer guarantee service provision for even the most needy.
30 January 2019
Venezuela: resist the pro-imperialist coup!
The social, political and economic crisis which is currently rocking Venezuela poses crucial questions and lessons for socialists and the international working class.
30 January 2019
Tory on homeless: "tear down these tents"
We say: tear down the Tory government!: Cardiff Tory councillor Kathryn Kelloway has sparked outrage by calling on social media for the tents of homeless people in the city to be torn down.
30 January 2019
Fresh inquest into killer air pollution: nationalise energy and public transport!
The family of nine-year-old Ella Roberta have been allowed to apply for a new inquest into the wrongful death of their daughter.
30 January 2019
Unison union campaigns for school support staff action
Unison has started a six-week consultative ballot of 150,000 school support staff in England for strike action against cuts to jobs, pay and conditions.
30 January 2019
The recent indicative ballot of 82,500 teachers in England in the National Education Union (NEU) saw an overwhelming 85% vote for strike action.
30 January 2019
Trade unions protect rail workers' picket line in Hull
More than 150 trade unionists and activists rallied to Hull and District trade union council's call to defend the transport union RMT's picket line on 26 January.
30 January 2019
Socialist Party Wales conference
The Socialist Party Wales conference opened in Cardiff with an emotional minute's applause for the contribution of Beth Roper, chair of Cardiff Young Socialists, who died in tragic circumstances in December.
30 January 2019
34 delegates attended in the recent East Midlands Socialist Party conference in Nottingham to discuss the political situation and prospects for building the party in 2019.
30 January 2019
Liverpool Travelodge digger wrecking
Footage of a disgruntled construction worker, owed £600 by his employer, smashing the reception of a newly built Liverpool Travelodge with his digger has gone around the world. It has attracted humorous comments, condemnation and some sympathy.
30 January 2019
"Christmas is only just over and it's already the end of May".
That was the comment of one social media user after the government's historic 15 January defeat in parliament on the Brexit deal.
30 January 2019
Changes threaten thousands of jobs
Tesco has revealed plans to cut thousands of jobs as part of a new restructuring initiative.
30 January 2019
PCS Left Unity chooses Chris Baugh - unite behind the left AGS and NEC slate
Left Unity, the broad left in the PCS, voted for Chris Baugh to be its candidate for AGS
17/09/19 Earth strike day in London
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