Archive for November 2018

5 November 2018

1,000-strong rally in London this weekend

Come together with over 1,000 socialists to debate and discuss ideas to change the world.

7 November 2018

East London public square threat halted

The Save Our Square (SOS) campaign in Waltham Forest, east London has heard that building company Mount Anvil has pulled out of the contract with the shopping centre owners to build monster tower blocks in our town square

7 November 2018

Labour councils should use £14bn reserves to fight all cuts

A new report from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has set out the ability of Labour councils to resist cuts.

7 November 2018

University bankruptcy threat - kick the market out of education

"A university going bust is more likely than at any other point in the last generation". These were the words of Nick Hillman - former advisor to Tory universities minister David Willets.

7 November 2018

Stand up against abuse - justice not racism

Huddersfield has once again been in the news for all the wrong reasons, as 20 men found guilty of street grooming and abuse were jailed for a total of 221 years.

7 November 2018

Care crisis cashing in

Private companies are making millions treating NHS patients in psychiatric hospitals that often fail to provide decent and safe care.

7 November 2018

Pittsburgh Synagogue shootings: Unite to fight anti-Semitism and far right

On Saturday morning, 27 October, a man shouting antisemitic slogans opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the historically Jewish Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh.

7 November 2018

Mexico: The movement of 68 and the massacre of Tlatelolco

The movement that developed from July to December 1968 was undoubtedly one of the most intense and revolutionary chapters in the history of class struggle in Mexico.

7 November 2018

CWI news in brief

Short stories on workers' struggles around the world including US conference and Australian strike.

7 November 2018

Cable workers' Halloween picket line attempts to 'scare' management into talks

It was a spooky affair outside Prysmian Cables in Eastleigh on 31 October with workers joining the picket line dressed appropriately for Halloween.

7 November 2018

Bradford uni strike

"Today is the day we say enough. Together we can't be defeated," said workers at a strike rally on the first day of a four-day walkout by Unison union members at Bradford University.

7 November 2018

Hundreds march to save Blackwood leisure centres

Hundreds of people from Blackwood and Pontllanfraith marched to keep open their local leisure centre and swimming pool.

7 November 2018

Crowds turn out for Corbyn in Rugby

Jeremy should condemn Blairite cuts and promise nationalisation: 350 people packed into Rugby's Indian Association on 3 November to hear Jeremy Corbyn and the Momentum-backed parliamentary candidate for Rugby, Debbie Bannigan.

7 November 2018

Thousands march against overnight closure of Shropshire A&E

Princess Royal Hospital faces overnight closure. 3,000 people marched against plans that would force people to travel an extra 17-23 miles for emergency health services after 8pm.

7 November 2018

Protesters drive far right out of Liverpool

Hundreds of anti-fascist protesters prevented a far-right group, Frontline Patriots (FP), from moving more than a few yards from the entrance of Liverpool Moorfields train station.

7 November 2018

Unions and campaigners challenge Southampton cuts inside Labour and out

The phony unity in Labour has been exposed! Blairite cutting councillors in Southampton have had their proposals to close two care homes opposed overwhelmingly by Labour Party members as well as by council unions Unite and Unison.

7 November 2018

Support the Socialist alternative, subscribe to the Socialist

"The Socialist is a proper newspaper that cuts to the chase. It is a no-frills paper that doesn't have the same bias as the mainstream media. It is written by ordinary people, and the news reported we can relate to."

7 November 2018

The Socialist inbox

Letters to the Socialist's editors including Trident, meerkats and music venues.

7 November 2018

Tories out - we need socialism!

We need socialism. That will be the central case presented on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November at Socialism 2018 - a weekend of discussion and debate hosted by the Socialist Party.

7 November 2018

Another victory against NHS privatisation

Bolton hospital cleaners, caterers, porters and other workers have won a dispute.

7 November 2018

Occupy and demand nationalisation to save Devon shipyard

The owner of Appledore Shipyard in north Devon, Babcock International, has announced its closure. Such an action would be devastation for the workers, their families and the whole community.

7 November 2018

Arriva Rail North strike hits 34 days of action

1,300 train guards across the north of England took their 34th day of strike action in defence of a safe, secure and accessible railway on 3 November.

7 November 2018

Unison HE ballot: Anti-union rules block action

Unison trade union members at universities across the UK voted 62% in favour of strike action after rejecting the employers' final offer of 2% (with slightly higher increases for the lowest paid of up to 2.7%).

7 November 2018

Nae Pasaran: a film about working-class solidarity

This is an inspiring film and I don't doubt that if you see it you will shed a tear. It is a story of international solidarity of the working class and the power of those acts of solidarity having a ripple effect.

7 November 2018

Worldwide walkout at Google against sexual harassment

#MeToo hit the tech world

7 November 2018

Back Chris Baugh and Marion Lloyd for a fighting, democratic, lay-led union

This month votes take place to decide the PCS Left Unity candidates for the union's 2019 elections.

7 November 2018

Dozens of militant trade unionists to address Socialism 2018

Militant trade unionists from around the country will participate in Socialism 2018, this weekend in central London

8 November 2018

TUSC suspends electoral activity

The national steering committee of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has published a statement on the TUSC website saying that TUSC electoral activity has been suspended until further notice

9 November 2018

Socialist Party branches

A list of Socialist Party branches meeting regularly.

13 November 2018

Tube strike solid against victimisation

Workers on the Central line of the London Underground walked out for 24 hours on 7 November, organised by transport union RMT and train drivers' union Aslef

13 November 2018

Latest Socialism podcasts

Listen to the latest podcasts on Trumpism, and on the trade unions

14 November 2018

1918: revolution ends World War One

By the time the war ended it had put into question the 'right' of the ruling classes to rule

14 November 2018

US midterms: Republicans weakened - but workers' fightback needed to end Trumpism

The midterm elections in the US represented a limited 'blue wave' and an overall rejection of Trump by the electorate

14 November 2018

Major private care operator puts thousands of vulnerable people at risk

The crisis in social care continues to worsen, as councils prepare to find alternative provision for 13,500 more elderly and disabled people by the end of the month

14 November 2018

Grenfell - no more cover-ups!

An engineering firm hired by the government to test cladding in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire was banned from criticising or embarrassing Theresa May

14 November 2018

Tories out now to save our NHS

New winter crisis looms: Now we need to build a movement on a national scale. Health unions should take the lead by initiating mass action

14 November 2018

A mass, trade union-led, socialist anti-racist campaign can defeat the far right

Thousands of people are marching against racism and fascism on 17 November

14 November 2018

TGI Fridays strike wins control of tips

After two rounds of strike action, TGI Fridays staff have won

14 November 2018

British Gas workers need rank-and-file leadership

The engineers who actually showed leadership to the workers while the union tops failed in their responsibilities will be targeted by the company

14 November 2018

PCS union members: why we're backing Chris

Re-elect Chris Baugh PCS AGS: "I can see an emergent threat in the union, where we want this union to be member-led, but at the moment it looks as though the union's moving towards control by unelected full-timers"

14 November 2018

Victory for democracy at CWU 'redesign' conference

The 'redesign' conference of the Communication Workers Union held vibrant debates on invigorating the union's impact on the new world of work and the gig economy

14 November 2018

National Education Union: vote for action on funding

Vote yes for industrial action, vote James Kerr #1 for Inner London

14 November 2018

Haringey's 'Corbyn council' must refuse to make cuts!

Haringey council has written to all Labour members that it will "have to" make 10% budget cuts - on top of 40% already inflicted

14 November 2018

NHS Tayside facing massive job cuts

Deepening Scottish health funding crisis: NHS Tayside in September discussed plans to axe 1,300 jobs - 10% of the entire workforce!

14 November 2018

Mansfield: keep our park open!

At only four days' notice, over 250 people joined a protest against the closure of Berry Hill Park in Mansfield

14 November 2018

Newham by-election: We need anti-austerity councillors

Will Moniba support the use of reserves and prudential borrowing powers to legally stave off cuts?

14 November 2018

Leeds meeting backs striking rail guards

It was standing room only as a packed meeting in Leeds supported the long-running dispute to maintain the safety-critical role of the guard on Arriva Rail North

14 November 2018

Welsh Socialist Students campaign and meet in Swansea

Over the course of the afternoon we discussed the current political landscape

14 November 2018

Engaging book about Corbyn's rise doesn't provide answers on how to change Labour

Non-fiction: The Candidate - Jeremy Corbyn's improbable path to power: As with many commentaries of Corbyn and the Labour Party the main weakness in Nunns's analysis is what it fails to say rather than what it does

14 November 2018

Theatre: The Last Seam - a lasting tribute to Mary Jackson

The Last Seam is a piece of theatre with a script based on interviews that relate the story of a Yorkshire pit community throughout the miners' strike of 1984-85 and afterwards

14 November 2018

The Socialist inbox

Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. Leicester football, Brum cuts.

14 November 2018

The Activist issue 78

15 November 2018

Tories Out! General election Now!

Theresa May's government is on the brink.
This morning the resignations began.
Esther McVey and Dominic Raab were first out the door, along with a number of junior ministers

16 November 2018

Demonstration to save the Swindon Honda plant, 30th March 2019, photo by S. German

Demonstration to save the Swindon Honda plant, 30th March 2019, photo by S. German

16 November 2018

Leicester college staff strike against low pay, University and College Union, Abbey Park campus, 31st January 2019, photo Steve Score

Manchester Deliveroo strike, 13.2.19, photo Tom Costello

16 November 2018

Lobby of the Swansea City Council's budget setting meeting on 28th February, photo by Swansea SP

Lobby of the Swansea City Council's budget setting meeting on 28th February, photo by Swansea SP

16 November 2018

Climate Change strike on 15th March 2019, London, photo by Paul Mattsson

Climate Change strike on 15th March 2019, London, photo by Paul Mattsson

16 November 2018

Over 2.5 million students emptied the classrooms on International Women's Day - 8th March - in the Spanish state, called out by Libres y Combativas. photo by LyC

Over 2.5 million students emptied the classrooms on International Women's Day - 8th March - in the Spanish state, called out by Libres y Combativas., photo by Libres y Combativas

16 November 2018

Climate change protesters in Newcastle, 24 March 2019, photo by Elaine Brunskill

Climate change protesters in Newcastle, 24 March 2019, photo by Elaine Brunskill

16 November 2018

Protesters at the 15 March Climate Change protest in Central London, photo Isai Priya

Protesters at the 15 March Climate Change protest in Central London

16 November 2018

Socialist Party contingent on the People's Assembly demo, 12 January, photo Mathan Nathan

Socialist Party contingent on the People's Assembly demo, 12 January, photo Mathan Nathan, photo Mathan Nathan

16 November 2018

Climate change protest in London on 12.4.19, photo Mary Finch

Climate change protest in London on 12.4.19, photo Mary Finch

16 November 2018

Climate change protest in London on 12.4.19, photo Mary Finch

Climate change protesters in Newcastle, 24 March 2019, photo by Elaine Brunskill

16 November 2018

Manchester Deliveroo strike, 14.2.19, photo Tom Costello

Birmingham bin workers and home care workers strike together, photo by Birmingham SP

21 November 2018

Global opposition to victim blaming in rape trial

Global publicity followed after Solidarity TD and Socialist Party member Ruth Coppinger questioned Leo Varadkar in the Irish parliament

21 November 2018

Indefinite dinner ladies' and teaching assistants' strike

The strike action at Ladywood primary school in Grimethorpe reached its 29th day

21 November 2018

Over one million students strike against sexism and for inclusive sex education

The general student strike called by the Students Union and Libres y Combativas (free and combative) was a powerful success.

21 November 2018

Even UN slams Tory poorhouse Britain

General election now to reverse austerity! A United Nations special envoy has published a report that harshly condemns poverty in the UK, and links the capitalist establishment's brutal austerity programme to it directly.

21 November 2018

Housing arrears double, suicide risk soars - scrap Universal Credit!

General election now to reverse welfare attacks: Universal Credit claimants are being pushed into serious mental health problems, with some even considering suicide, according to public health researchers in the North East.

21 November 2018

75,000 kids in foster care - and counting: end cuts and for-profit care

"Fostering sector ripe for consolidation... fostering is a growth market..." These were the thoughts of the Financial Times back in 2013. Translation? Children going into care are seen as a profit opportunity by capitalist vultures.

21 November 2018

Them & Us

It's one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us.

21 November 2018

What we saw

What does the European Parliament... well... do? It can at least write angry letters. The latest missive is to internet retail giant Amazon, signed by 27 MEPs. It calls for "the discontinuation of sales of goods with the hammer and sickle symbol, representing the Soviet Union."

21 November 2018

Save the high street: public ownership, not ghost malls

This year has been a bad year for the retail sector. About 14 shops are closing a day, a net loss of 1,123 from Britain's main high streets in the first half of this year, according to accountants PwC.

21 November 2018

'Worker's death could happen again' at Leicester plastic factory

No one expects to die at work, no one should have to. But under capitalism the harsh reality is that private profit often outweighs worker safety.

21 November 2018

Arriva Rail North under pressure after nineteenth Saturday strike

RMT transport union members picketing Manchester Victoria train station on 10 November had an unusual visitor - and it wasn't Santa Claus. It was none other than David Brown, managing director of Arriva Rail North.

21 November 2018

Hamilton posties walk out against bullying

A three-day wildcat strike by 45 postal workers in the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has taken place at Hamilton delivery office in Lanarkshire against management bullying.

21 November 2018

Political turmoil in Sri Lanka

A power struggle between Sri Lanka's main establishment parties erupted into violence last week, with MPs brawling in parliament.

21 November 2018

Save our NHS - oust the Tory wreckers!

Staff shortages in the National Health Service (NHS) could triple in just a decade, according to recent research from major think tanks. Already, the NHS is over 100,000 short staffed.

21 November 2018

Solidarity with Irish rape trial protests

Megaphones and placards declaring "end victim-blaming" and "fight sexism - no to all oppression, no to austerity" were adorned with lacy thongs.

21 November 2018

Thousands march against racism - now Corbyn and unions must take lead

Thousands of trade unionists, students and anti-racist campaigners marched on the national unity demonstration against racism and fascism on 17 November.

21 November 2018

Mansfield council must step in to save miners' park

The proposed closure of Berry Hill Park in Mansfield has led to a storm of protest. Around 300 turned out at a few days' notice to demonstrate. 7,000 have signed an online petition in under a fortnight.

21 November 2018

Stop Nottingham Labour's cuts to disabled travel!

"We're making more cuts! You ain't seen nothing yet!" This was the comment of Graham Chapman, deputy leader of Nottingham's Labour council when asked about cuts to the disabled person's mobility card, which gives free bus and tram travel.

21 November 2018

Nothing to offer from the Blairites

Non-fiction: Spirit of Britain, purpose of Labour: Labour's Blairites have been reeling from a succession of hammer blows since 2015: Corbyn's landslide victory for the Labour leadership; the Brexit vote; and in 2017, to the amazement of the right wingers, Corbyn's left manifesto gained the biggest increase of the vote for Labour at a general election since 1945.

21 November 2018

The Socialist inbox

Letters to the Socialist's editors including the Natural History Museum, public transport chaos and Universal Credit.

21 November 2018

How can Trump be defeated?

On 10-11 November, around 1,000 people took part in Socialism 2018 - a weekend of discussion and debate hosted by the Socialist Party. Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council Member for the Socialist Party's US co-thinkers, Socialist Alternative, was among the keynote speakers. Kshama led a discussion on the struggle against Trump in the US.

21 November 2018

Step up fundraising for the Xmas Collectathon!

Just over £35,000 pounds was donated and pledged at the Socialism 2018 rally on 10 November. This is a fantastic result which means we are on course to smash the fighting fund target for the whole of 2018 - but only if we maintain our fundraising drive. So we can't stop now!

21 November 2018

Government limps on... Corbyn and unions must call urgent, mass action

May's government is on the brink and the prospect of her Brexit deal getting through parliament currently appears slim

22 November 2018

In defence of socialist feminism

As the age of austerity arising from the great crash of 2007-2008 enters its second decade, a new movement of women struggling against their oppression is taking shape

22 November 2018

Brexit as a window on our times

"The task now as far as the majority of the ruling class is concerned is to try and 'walk back' the result" of the EU referendum, wrote Socialism Today in 2016

23 November 2018

Cammell Lairds shipbuilding workers walk out

Cammell Lairds workers in Birkenhead walked out at the start of their overtime ban

28 November 2018

For a socialist alternative to the EU - mobilise to kick out the Tories!

On 11 December, after a five-day House of Commons debate, Theresa May's Brexit deal will be put to a parliamentary vote.

28 November 2018

Wonderful socialist play finds Edwardian poverty not in past

Theatre: The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists: On a cold November evening, myself and other Newcastle Socialist Party members went along to see The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists. To say it was wonderful is an understatement

28 November 2018

End "poverty, ill health and despair":a benefits adviser speaks out against the cuts

I have worked, since leaving college - 22 years - solely in benefits. I have witnessed the systematic destruction of a support system meant to help those who need it most, creating a widespread situation

28 November 2018

End Tory misery - general election now!

No to May's big business deal: For working-class people the Tories have always been toxic, but now they are also in utter disarray. For the capitalist class this is a foreboding crisis, with no clear way out.

28 November 2018

Haringey 'Corbyn council': end the secrecy and confusion - lead a fight against the cuts

Haringey Labour Party members have been shocked and outraged by the announcement that their north London council is considering cuts of a further 10% in its budget

28 November 2018

The Tories' letting fee ban is full of holes - we need rent controls and council homes!

The Tories have recently announced a bill to end letting agency fees, as well as capping deposits at a maximum of six weeks' rent.

28 November 2018

PCS Left Unity election: All votes should count

The voting for the PCS Left Unity elections closed on 23 November. These results determine the Left Unity slate in next year's PCS civil servant's trade union elections for assistant general secretary (AGS) and national executive committee as well as leading positions in Left Unity itself.

28 November 2018

Cammell Laird shipbuilding workers strike against job cuts on merseyside

26 November was the first day of rolling strikes by ship-building workers at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, Merseyside, bringing the yard to a halt.

28 November 2018

Black Friday day of action against Amazon

Representatives from the GMB trade union, along with Swansea Trade Union Council and Swansea Socialist Party gathered at the entrance of the Amazon warehouse in Swansea at 7am on 23 November.

28 November 2018

College lecturers in Wales strike against low pay and workload

Lecturers across Wales will be taking strike action over pay and workload on 4 and 13-14 December. This follows the fantastic ballot result of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted overwhelmingly to strike.

28 November 2018

Eyewitness: French protesters seize streets against President Macron

Over the last weeks, France has witnessed widespread protest against neoliberal president Emmanuel Macron and his government. Close to 500,000 people blockaded roads and roundabouts on Saturday 17 November.

28 November 2018

San Francisco Bay Area's toxic smoke crisis and capitalism's mismanagement

'It's getting hard to breathe': California is suffering a major environmental and health crisis that the authorities prepared no one for.

28 November 2018

Workers at the forefront of the new wave of protests in Iran

The Iranian economy is in freefall, and the Iranian working class is the main target of this slump. Prices of staples are increasing day by day.

28 November 2018

We need system change to halt climate change

Was there ever a starker example of the destructive and unplanned nature of capitalism than the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings?

28 November 2018

Islwyn Labour Party calls for council no-cuts budget

Islwyn Constituency Labour Party (CLP) has demanded Labour-led Caerphilly Council pass a no-cuts budget.

28 November 2018

Scrap the Tories' Universal Credit now!

New Tory Department for Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, of Windrush-scandal notoriety, hailed Universal Credit (UC) as a "tremendous force for good". It's been so good that in her constituency, food bank use went up by 87% in Hastings in the year following UC roll-out.

28 November 2018

Reclaim the Night marches condemn violence against women

Led by drumming-band Bangshees, Newcastle's Reclaim the Night demo attracted lots of attention and support particularly from young working-class women who stopped to take videos.

28 November 2018

King George A&E faces closure again

King George Hospital A&E remains under threat. That's the warning from a march and rally on 26 November.

28 November 2018

Southampton: Join the pledge to resist cuts

We've had a busy week in Southampton! 100 staff and others packed into Valentine Primary School hall for a National Education Union (NEU) meeting on 20 November.

28 November 2018

"Horrendous" - Bristol's privatised buses

Bristol Socialist Party member Frankie Langeland called a protest after late and cancelled buses repeatedly made her seven-month-old baby miss bedtimes and even forced her to breastfeed by the side of the road.

28 November 2018

Nat West's benefit-claimant eviction policy

Nat West bank made an ultimatum to a Belfast landlord seeking to remortgage their buy-to-let flat - either evict your vulnerable older tenant or seek a mortgage elsewhere.

28 November 2018

Trump is capricious and dangerous - but is he really in charge?

Non-fiction: Fear - Trump in the White House: 'Fear: Trump in the White House' by Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward is based on 'inside source' material - secret interviews with some of Trump's closest advisers and staff