Archive for June 2019
5 June 2019
Tories deny dire poverty ...look around you! Boot out the Tories
"I reject the idea that there are vast numbers of people facing dire poverty in this country." Those were the unbelievable words of Tory chancellor Philip Hammond.
5 June 2019
7,000 GP vacancies are expected in the UK by 2024. Chronic underfunding is causing doctors to resign, without prospects of replacing them.
5 June 2019
Theresa May admits tuition fees system is broken - but plans new attacks on students
Theresa May has admitted that her and the Tories got it wrong on tuition fees and higher education funding.
5 June 2019
Laughable research denies low-pay scandal
That's how many young adults will have felt when, sat in their bedsits, back living in childhood bedrooms, or sitting in their single rented room in a shared house, they read that actually they are benefiting from better pay according to the Resolution Foundation.
5 June 2019
Nationalise the threatened Glasgow 'Caley' railway depot
Skilled jobs are going and more are threatened with the possible closure of the St Rollox 'Caley' historic railway yard in Glasgow. Owner Gemini is now issuing compulsory redundancies.
5 June 2019
Sexual harassment of LGBT+ workers shows need for unions to fight
68% of LGBT+ people have faced sexual harassment at work, finds a recent report from the Trade Union Congress. Of these, two in three did not report it to their employers. A quarter of those chose not to for fear of being outed.
5 June 2019
Universal Credit workers' strike
Benefit processing workers in Walsall and Wolverhampton have been leading the way in the fightback against Universal Credit.
5 June 2019
India: Modi victory underlines need for real socialist fightback
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and his party have scored a second general election victory.
5 June 2019
On 4 June 2019, the day of the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, counter-revolutionary forces allied to the ruling regime in Sudan launched a violent attack on the two month-long mass opposition occupation outside the military barracks in Khartoum.
5 June 2019
George Orwell's last and most famous novel is still the go-to source, 70 years on, for anti-authoritarian imagery. But the socialist author's 1949 dystopian masterpiece is also widely misrepresented.
5 June 2019
South Yorkshire: No to fire service cuts!
South Yorkshire Fire Brigade Union (FBU) members will be lobbying Sheffield City Council meeting outside the Town Hall at 12.30pm on Wednesday 12 June.
5 June 2019
Protesters condemn Tory candidate
Around 20 people gathered outside the Brown Cow pub in Bingley on 30 May, where former Department for Work and Pensions minister Ester McVey was launching her Tory premiership campaign tour.
5 June 2019
Step forward for campaign to reverse mobility pass cuts in Nottingham
On 20 May members of the Reverse Mobility Pass Cuts campaign, including the Socialist Party, lobbied the first meeting of the new Nottingham Labour Council. 50 councillors out of 55 are Labour.
5 June 2019
LS26 campaign lobbies council to save their homes
"Leeds City Council hear us say, vote to save our homes today" was the chant that rang out from the tenants of Sugar Hill Close and Wordsworth Drive in Boulton, Leeds
5 June 2019
Neglected Newham tenants demand action
For decades, repairs on the homes on the Lawrence Street estate in Canning Town, east London, have been neglected. These homes have also been under threat of demolition. 30 residents met on 30 May to discuss their problems.
5 June 2019
Corbyn must go on the offensive against the Labour right
The Tory party is consumed by a leadership contest that is revealing the fissures along which it could tear itself apart.
5 June 2019
The Tiananmen Square massacre - 30 years on
China's present defence minister has maintained that the crackdown 30 years ago in Beijing was absolutely justified.
5 June 2019
Worcester libraries campaign victory
Money has been found to secure the future of St John's and Warndon libraries in Worcester.
5 June 2019
Protest against Send education funding cuts
Particularly powerful were the children who spoke and demanded a decent education for them and their siblings.
5 June 2019
People marched from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street to protest against Trump's visit to Britain
5 June 2019
UCU conference 2019: Preparing for struggle
The University and College Union (UCU) conference 2019 took place 25-27 May, at a important time for our union.
5 June 2019
Welsh train fleet workers' victory
Train fleet maintenance workers in the RMT transport union are celebrating in South Wales after scoring what looks like a complete victory without having to fire a shot.
5 June 2019
Strike together to kick out the Tories!
This year's NSSN conference takes place as the Tory crisis reaches a new stage
6 June 2019
Ford closure announcement must be met with united response of defiance
The closure of the Bridgend engine plant is to be closed after nearly 40 years of production.
6 June 2019
Stagecoach strike - bus workers show how it's done
Preston and Chorley's Stagecoach bus workers are demanding an extra 50p an hour
10 June 2019
Fire tears through flats - cladding off now!
This blaze should never have happened. Grenfell was a stark warning that the drive for profit in the housing sector is putting people's lives at risk.
12 June 2019
Michael Gove's Tory leadership campaign was tripping to catch up after he admitted taking cocaine on several occasions while working as a journalist
12 June 2019
South Western Railway guards to strike again
Talks between the RMT transport union and South Western Railway (SWR) at conciliation services Acas have failed to achieve an acceptable agreement.
12 June 2019
Widespread condemnation of horrifying, violent, homophobic assaults
Two lesbian women were subjected to a horrifying, violent, homophobic assault on a London night bus on 30 May.
12 June 2019
Terrible child murders linked to cuts
The terrible murders of two young children in Northamptonshire have been published in reports called 'serious case reviews'.
12 June 2019
Sudan: Military crackdown to break revolution
A violent counterrevolutionary offensive is underway in Sudan. Health officials say hundreds of civilians have been killed and wounded by the Rapid Support Forces - the militia operated by the ruling military clique.
12 June 2019
Nigeria: Stop police harassment of Abbey and Azeez!
Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky) - a member of the Socialist Party's sister organisation in Nigeria, the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) - has been arrested by Nigerian police again and again and again.
12 June 2019
Grenfell two years on - Still fighting for safety and justice
Two years ago, on 14 June 2017, 72 people perished in the Grenfell Tower fire in west London.
12 June 2019
D-Day for fighting Trump attack on NHS
There was anger amongst trade unionists and young people to Trump's hypocritical visit to take part in D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth on Wednesday, with over 300 turning out to a lunchtime rally in the Guildhall Square.
12 June 2019
Edmonton joins Enfield North Labour in supporting 'no cuts' fightback strategy
Edmonton Constituency has become the second Enfield Labour Party to pass a resolution opposing all cuts, calling for 'no-cuts' budgets using reserves and for launching a mass campaign.
12 June 2019
Over 600 people marched through Chelmsford on 8 June in protest at Tory-run Essex County Council's plan to shut 25 out of its 74 libraries.
12 June 2019
TV Review: Chernobyl - Workers' heroism vs sclerotic Stalinism
This five-part docudrama focuses on the disaster in 1986 that took place at the Chernobyl (now part of Ukraine) nuclear facility in the Soviet Union.
12 June 2019
Fight the closures save every job!
Every week seems to bring a new story of factory closure; another chapter in the destruction of British manufacturing.
12 June 2019
Socialist Party members make big impact at trades council conference
Socialist Party members made a big impact as delegates at the TUC's trade union councils' congress 8-9 June in Bournemouth.
12 June 2019
Southampton hospital workers win
Security staff at Southampton General Hospital, who have been attacked in the A&E department, have voted to accept a new offer covering pay, sick pay and new protective equipment.
12 June 2019
Nationalise Ford to prevent closure
The announcement that Ford Bridgend is to close is the latest in a series of blows to manufacturing workers.
12 June 2019
Scottish airport strikes - fight for better pay and pensions
Hundreds of Unite trade union members at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are striking to defend pensions and for better pay.
12 June 2019
Socialists in Unison hold positions in elections
28 socialists who are supporters of broad left group Unison Action have been re-elected to the national executive committee of public sector union Unison maintaining its position on the 67-strong committee.
12 June 2019
For media commentators and pundits the big story of the local and European Union elections in Southern Ireland was the surge in support for the Green Party.
19 June 2019
Welsh government must block NHS privatisation or face workers' action
Two Welsh health boards have announced plans to privatise their hospital pharmacies, writes Beth Webster, nurse.
19 June 2019
Council cuts continue while reserves rise
Local authorities in England are sitting on almost £22 billion of financial reserves, £5 billion more than the year before, the Sunday Times reports, writes Dave Walsh, Liverpool council worker and Unite member.
19 June 2019
Cancer stats reveal deep inequality
"This year, more than 300,000 people in England will receive the life-changing diagnosis of cancer. And the number of people living with cancer is predicted to rise by 3.2% each year, writes Jon Dale, secretary, Unite Notts NHS branch.
19 June 2019
Move along: In a blow to the supposed benefits of privatisation, research by the Office for National Statistics shows that public sector workers are more likely to stay in their jobs
19 June 2019
What way forward to tackle climate change?
Around 50 people attended the recent Nottingham launch of 'This Is Not A Drill', the new handbook about challenging climate change by Extinction Rebellion (XR) which contains 'everything you need to know about' how 'to be radical', 'rise up' and 'rebel', writes Clare Wilkins, Nottingham Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Schools unions must turn anger into a fight against funding catastrophe
The catastrophe facing schools cannot be exaggerated. Schools in England have lost out on £5.4 billion in Tory funding cuts since 2015, writes Nick Chaffey, Southern Socialist Party secretary.
19 June 2019
Unite must be at the head of fighting for a general election and against council cuts
General union Unite's rules conference takes place on 24-28 June with the Tories in meltdown. Unite has correctly called on Jeremy Corbyn to resist attempts to commit Labour to a second EU referendum
19 June 2019
Trade union action can end low pay
Five million workers in Britain (over one in six) are stuck in low-paid and insecure work, writes Ruth Byrne, catering worker.
19 June 2019
Ford Bridgend workers vote to fight to save threatened plant
Following a series of mass meetings on 12 June, Unite members at the Ford plant in Bridgend decided overwhelmingly to fight the closure of the engine factory, writes Alex Wedlake, Unite Young Members national committee (personal capacity).
19 June 2019
Bluestar bus drivers' strike over pay
Bus drivers at Bluestar in Southampton were out in force at Totton and Eastleigh bus depots on 18 June, angry at their pay and working conditions, writes Southampton Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
East London bin workers call 12-day strike over wage grades
Bin workers in Newham, east London could have lost over £20,000 each over the last decade
19 June 2019
Swansea Parcelforce workers picket depot in support of victimised rep
Communication Workers Union (CWU) members at courier company Parcelforce set up a picket line on 12 June outside their Swansea depot, writes Alec Thraves, Swansea Socialist Party and vice president, Swansea Trade Union Council.
19 June 2019
Harrogate academy workers strike against closure
A lively picket of staff at Harrogate's Grove Academy, a unit educating vulnerable secondary school pupils, took place on Thursday 13 June despite the pouring rain, writes Kevin Pattison, Leeds Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Orgreave injustice - 35th anniversary march and rally
The 35th anniversary of the "Battle of Orgreave" was marked on Saturday 15 June with the biggest turnout yet of around 500 demonstrators, on what has become an annual march for "Truth and Justice", writes Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party secretary.
19 June 2019
Oppose big business's sphere of influence!
A Trump backer plans to build a sphere - as tall as Big Ben and as wide as the Millennium Dome - in Newham, east London, writes Ian Pattison, East London Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Young Socialists - re-establishing Rhondda's fighting traditions
"What's important," Sophie, year eight, told our Rhondda Young Socialists meeting, "is to tell people how socialists like us are coming together to target capitalism and its politicians.", writes Sasha O'Neil.
19 June 2019
North Shields: second march and rally to #SaveOurBridge
On the afternoon of 15 June, around 25 people again marched through North Shields town centre to save a much-loved and important pedestrian bridge, writes William Jarrett, North Tyneside Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Newton Abbot says no to Tory privatisation of the NHS!
With the local and European elections over, the streets of Newton Abbot, Devon, were clear of political parties campaigning just for people's votes, writes Richard Worth, Torbay and South Devon Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Worcester: Building on our successful library campaign
Worcester Socialist Party did another door-to-door paper sale on the back of the article of our success in the St John's library campaign (see socialistparty.org.uk), writes Ruthie McNally, Worcester Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Defend free TV licences for over-75s!
The sheer hypocrisy of this Tory government, with candidates fighting like rats in a sack for the leadership, is exposed further by its demand that the BBC rethink its plan to scrap free television licences for over-75s, writes Keith Dickinson, West London Socialist Party.
19 June 2019
Do you have something to say?: Send your news, views and criticism in not more than 150 words to Socialist Postbox, PO Box 24697, London E11 1YD, phone 020 8988 8771 or email editors@socialistparty.org.uk
19 June 2019
While Tories elect new leader - prepare action to remove the lot of them
By the end of the week votes by Tory MPs will reduce the field of leadership candidates to two
19 June 2019
Angry residents' meeting demands answers and action following fire
The fury poured out, demanding answers and action
19 June 2019
Stop climate change - fight for socialist change
In recent months tens of thousands of students have walked out of schools
19 June 2019
South Western Railway staff strike for safety
RMT members on South Western Railway are taking five days of industrial action
19 June 2019
Chinese regime's puppet government in Hong Kong pushed back by mass protests
The mass protest movement forced a humiliating climbdown by the pro-Beijing executive
19 June 2019
Sudan: The revolution under threat
Mass protests against the former dictator began in December 2018. He was removed by the Transitional Military Council to try to contain the developing revolutionary movement.
26 June 2019
No to Boris, No to Hunt: General Election now
We need a general election, not a no-choice coronation of Boris or Hunt.
26 June 2019
Charging scandal in Warrington and Halton NHS Trust
The trust recently announced that 71 elective treatments would no longer be available free to patients
26 June 2019
Union action can tackle 58% working poverty rate
Almost two-fifths of those in poverty in the UK are also in work
26 June 2019
Ratcheting up of Iran-US tensions
Neither imperialism nor regional powers offer a way forward for Middle East workers and poor
26 June 2019
London demo applauds call for a democratic, socialist Sudan; no trust in imperialist powers in Leeds
26 June 2019
Unions and campaigners discuss fight to end education crisis
Loud applause for Jo Grady, newly elected general secretary of the University and College Union, calling for national coordinated strikes to stop education cuts, shows what is needed
26 June 2019
Striking workers defy the race to the bottom at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports
The strikes for pay and pensions justice at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are a fight for every trade unionist and worker in Scotland and beyond
26 June 2019
Unison conference: Socialist Party members call for anti-cuts fight and build left challenge
Despite the right-wing leadership's stunts, the union's call for a general election was saved and 200 attended the campaign meeting for a fighting, democratic Unison
26 June 2019
Salisbury South Western Rail strikers determined
RMT transport union guards striking on South Western Rail are determined to carry on the fight to keep the guards
26 June 2019
Midlands mental health workers walk out against privatisation
"If this goes through, things will never be the same again. It's the beginning of the end," said one Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust picket
26 June 2019
Notts college contract dispute
More than 80 teachers would be £1,000 worse off in addition to increased teaching hours, removal of workload protections, and cuts in holiday and sick pay
26 June 2019
Lancashire Stagecoach drivers continue their fight
Drivers and supporters gathered at Preston bus station for the ninth day of strike action
26 June 2019
Colloids workers strike to support sacked rep
Over 150 Colloids workers turned out for the fifth consecutive week for an organised day of action and mass support in the dispute with Colloids in Kirkby over the sacking of Unite the Union rep George Gore
26 June 2019
Harrogate academy workers strike against cuts
"If it hadn't been for this school I would have ended up in prison" were the words of one former student who came to support the picket line on 20 June
26 June 2019
35th anniversary of the Battle of Orgreave
The Great Miners' Strike 1984-85: The Battle of Orgreave on 18 June 1984 involved nearly 10,000 pickets. 4,000 police, including mounted police, attacked them
26 June 2019
Angry Barking fire victims demand action from landlords and authorities
Around 30 flats were destroyed - only now are the combustible balconies at other flats being stripped away by the builders
26 June 2019
Hull trade union festival a great success
Hull Socialist Party members were central in organising a hugely successful trade union festival, 'Engage for Change', on Saturday 22 June
26 June 2019
Stop the Devon and Somerset fire service cuts
Firefighters in Devon and Somerset have reacted with fury to swingeing cuts in which will cut the fire service 'to the bone'
26 June 2019
Opinion: capitalism's Fukushima showed same recklessness as Stalinism's Chernobyl
While lauding the marvellous TV series Chernobyl, the capitalist press has gleefully criticised 'socialism', and even Corbyn, for the Ukrainian nuclear disaster
26 June 2019
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. Platini's red cards, key workers' homes, heroic Eleanor Marx
26 June 2019
How can we build workers' action to support the climate strikes?
The idea of a 'general strike' has caught hold among layers of activists
26 June 2019
NSSN meeting determined to fight for Ford workers
The meeting in Bridgend brought solidarity and support to the Ford workers
26 June 2019
Universal Credit forces women into prostitution
A Tory minister has been forced to retract an official statement that there was no link between Universal Credit and people being pushed into to the sex trade to survive
26 June 2019
Unsafe, unaffordable housing scandal
It is a disgrace for people to be living in unsafe and dangerous housing in the fifth richest country in the world
26 June 2019
Come to the 2019 NSSN conference
The conference on 6 July is a fantastic opportunity to coordinate the union fightback
27 June 2019
Birmingham school strike for safe working environment
NASUWT teaching union members at Starbank school (Hob Moor Road site) in Birmingham took the first of two days' strike action on 27 June over poor pupil behaviour and the school's policies to deal with it.
28 June 2019
Three years on from the EU referendum, the ruling classes of Britain and Europe have still not found a way to deal with the seismic consequences
19 Aug Leeds Socialist Party: Women and the class struggle
21 Aug York Socialist Party: Class and the education system
22 Aug Cardiff East Socialist Party: Hong Kong - the struggle for democratic workers' rights
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