Archive for October 2018
3 October 2018
Camden - Unison members in pay fight
Unison members in Camden, north London are on strike on 2 October against parking contractor NSL, fighting for an £11.15-an-hour wage
3 October 2018
More party than protest, but great response to socialist ideas at Leicester Pride
With over 10,000 attendees including 3,000 people in the parade, Leicester Pride was the largest the city has seen
3 October 2018
1,000 head teachers march on parliament
Head teachers are starting to take up the methods of struggle of the workers' movement
3 October 2018
Over 25,000 people have been infected with contaminated blood products the NHS bought from profit-making pharmaceutical companies. Nearly 3,000 have died so far
3 October 2018
Shocking new data on declining life expectancy
Life expectancy has stalled in England. However, for the first time in 35 years, babies born in Scotland and Wales will live shorter lives
3 October 2018
Anti-fracking protesters jailed
Three anti-fracking activists became the first environmental protesters to be imprisoned since 1932
3 October 2018
The crisis of capitalism, and its increased inability to offer young people a fulfilling future, is driving the search for an alternative
3 October 2018
Labour conference shows: Blairites must be ousted
If the popular policies put forward at Labour Party conference are to be enacted, it will entail struggle
3 October 2018
Coordinated catering and courier strikes prove potential for mass union mobilisation
A massive step up in the battle to unionise workers in fast food and hospitality
3 October 2018
Socialist Party campaigns against the Blairites at Labour conference
We got a very friendly response from the majority of delegates
3 October 2018
Zombie Tory government: general election now
Tory conference was a picture of a party in crisis. Rows and rows of empty seats highlighted the dire state of what was once the most successful capitalist party in the world
3 October 2018
NHS pay discrimination - militant union action can achieve fair pay for all
The recent report on the pay gap between black and white NHS medical workers also highlighted the appalling disparity when it came to pay across all NHS occupational groups
3 October 2018
Maximus profitus: disabillity profiteering scandal
While extracting huge profit from disabled-worker employer Remploy, Maximus made a further 100 employees redundant
3 October 2018
The Tories are planning a 'Festival of Brexit Britain' in 2022
3 October 2018
Catering and courier workers strike together
"I work for the pub chain Wetherspoon where it's possible to work 6am-3pm one day and 3pm-12am the next - with only sporadic days off"
3 October 2018
York NHS workers strike against privatisation
Pickets made their voices heard on the first day of strike action against York Hospital transferring ancillary staff into a 'wholly owned subsidiary'
3 October 2018
"It's about agreements that we've had in place for years - 20 or 30 years - that management are not abiding by"
3 October 2018
USA: crisis follows Supreme Court justice nomination
Build a mass movement to stop the Republicans: Even before Kavanaugh's alleged history of sexual assault was revealed, he was a serious threat to women's rights
3 October 2018
Indonesia tsunami - a disaster compounded by capitalism
This horrific catastrophe also poses urgent questions over the failure of the Indonesian authorities to warn the population, and not to have a disaster relief plan in place
3 October 2018
'Tories must go' demonstration in Birmingham
On the eve of the Tory party conference in Birmingham, people gathered in Victoria Square to protest Tory and Blairite austerity, say enough is enough, and demand an urgent snap election
3 October 2018
Save Wirral NHS walk-in centres
Only months since Eastham NHS walk-in centre was restored to full opening hours after the tremendous successful local campaign against the previous threat to close it, five centres across the Wirral face closure under new plans
3 October 2018
The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists: one-man show's new take on lively socialist classic
Theatre: We interview socialist theatre company Townsend Productions about a brand new version of The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists
3 October 2018
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. Nationalisation; Trotsky crosswords; pensioners' homes; driver-only operation; Labour affiliation
3 October 2018
Trade union model motion on fighting the far right: jobs, homes and services, not racism
3 October 2018
Enthusiasm for Socialist ideas at the freshers fairs
Students have been keen to get involved in campaigning and discussion
10 October 2018
Fight the right - fight for socialism
After ten years of capitalist crisis, socialist ideas are making a comeback.
10 October 2018
Precarious workers march against gig economy
A brightly coloured and noisy protest of precarious workers marched and danced its way round central London this morning (Tuesday 30th October).
10 October 2018
12 years to halt irreversible climate disaster. Capitalism's time is up
Real and immediate horrors face humanity even if the world limits global warming to the current target of 2°C.
10 October 2018
Super-rich flee to Monaco to evade Corbyn
Britain's very wealthiest are already moving their trusts and setting up more offshore accounts in tax havens
10 October 2018
8,000 Glasgow workers plan historic mass strike
A historic mass strike for equal pay by 8,000 council workers in Glasgow, 90% of whom are women, will take place on 23 and 24 October
10 October 2018
Workers in UK do £1.2trn of unpaid housework and care
People in the UK do unpaid domestic labour equivalent to almost half of GDP - and the growing burden still falls mainly on women
10 October 2018
Workers' action wins Amazon pay rise
Nationalise Amazon! £10 an hour now! Collective workers' action has forced billionaire boss Jeff Bezos to concede pay rises - £9.50 an hour in the UK and $15 in the US
10 October 2018
The murky world of the 'Big Four' accountancy firms
The murky world of accounting is not easy to follow but it certainly reveals a lot about big business
10 October 2018
Mexico: socialists violently attacked by gangs - urgent solidarity needed
Socialists in Mexico have been attacked by fascistic gangs
10 October 2018
Precarious workers marched in London against the gig economy, 30.10.18, photo by Paula Mitchell
10 October 2018
Tories' crisis conference - Corbyn must fight for general election
Dancing distractions, Brexit boos, Johnson leadership bids: The Tories are afraid. Of the Brexit negotiations, and of a general election
10 October 2018
It's one world for the super-rich, and another for the rest of us. Brett Kavanaugh, wage depression, deaths
10 October 2018
Fight racism: fight for jobs, homes and services for all
Today, racism at work, racist attacks, racist immigration laws, deportations and police racism, are facts of life for millions of workers and young people
10 October 2018
25 years since 50,000 marched against the far-right threat
In 1993 a mass protest demanded the HQ of the far-right BNP be shut down - with Militant, predecessot of the Socialist Party, playing a central role
10 October 2018
We need democratic, rank-and-file leadership to win national UCU disputes
Big battles loom in post-16 education - the best way to win is to put UCU members in democratic control of our union
10 October 2018
First coordinated catering and courier strike whets workers' appetite for action
Workers at several branches of McDonald's, Wetherspoon and TGI Fridays have struck together, joined by couriers for Uber Eats and other gig economy workers #FFS410
10 October 2018
Another first: pub strike victory in south London!
Striking workers at the Ivy House pub in Nunhead, south London, have won all their demands after three days of stoppage
10 October 2018
Cable makers strike against real-terms pay cut
At midnight on 26 September, staff at cable manufacturer Prysmian in Eastleigh downed tools, with more strikes and a demo planned
10 October 2018
South Western rail guards hit 18 strike days
Guards at South Western Railway struck for 48 hours on 5 October - their 17th and 18th strike days - in their ongoing battle to maintain their safety-critical role
10 October 2018
Polarisation, risks and resistance in Brazilian elections
Brazil's most polarised and unpredictable election campaign in recent history has ushered in a new era for the country, with the far-right candidate coming within inches of victory
10 October 2018
Socialist Alternative (Socialist Party co-thinkers in the US) helped to call dozens of protests before and after Brett Kavanaugh was brought onto the Supreme Court
10 October 2018
Liverpool 47 plaque: "Better to break the law, than break the poor"
Standing ovations in a packed room as the Liverpool councillors who beat Thatcher called for fighting councils again today
10 October 2018
Palestinian solidarity: "We are not victims. We are freedom fighters."
Ahed Tamimi addressed a meeting in Coventry via Skype
10 October 2018
Ireland: 10,000 march for homes in Dublin
"Inspired by the successful campaigns for marriage equality, repeal of the anti-abortion laws and abortion rights, young people from the 'locked-out generation' are turning their attention to housing"
10 October 2018
Strike raises pay at Liverpool airport
Striking workers at Liverpool's John Lennon Airport who run essential safety-related services have settled for an improved pay offer
10 October 2018
Leicestershire: stop the cuts to our hospital services
Ninety people gathered for a public meeting on Saturday called by Save Our NHS Leicestershire to oppose plans to remove, without consultation, intensive care beds from Leicester general hospital
10 October 2018
Save Huddersfield Royal Infirmary - the fight goes on
Hundreds of onlookers pledged their support when they heard the fight for all Huddersfield hospital services still has to be won
10 October 2018
Do you have something to say? Letters to the Socialist's editors. Varoufakis wrong on far right; GDPR at uni; street fighting; rail safety
10 October 2018
Finance - a crucial component of socialist campaigns
Socialist Party members and supporters raised £27,483 in the July to September fighting fund quarter
12 October 2018
New anti-poll tax type revolt needed today
A letter sent to the Guardian by Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe.
12 October 2018
Peterloo film exposes bloody nature of capitalism
Director-scriptwriter Mike Leigh has created an excellent feature length film of the 1819 Peterloo massacre
16 October 2018
'Corbyn-council' faces a choice: Implement or fight the cuts
Deselecting the worst of the old Blairite councillors opened a chance
17 October 2018
Quick, look rich - the royals are coming! Yet again the homeless of Windsor were moved on in preparation for another royal wedding on 12 October.
17 October 2018
Toxic fracking gets the go-ahead while protesters jailed
After seven years of an England-wide ban on fracking, high court judge Justice Supperstone has overturned a request for an injunction on the soon to be opened fracking site in Lancashire run by Cuadrilla.
17 October 2018
No to fat-cat top judges' £59k pay hike - fight for decent pay for criminal justice workers
The Senior Salaries Review Body recommends that salaries for High Court judges be increased by 32%, taking them from £181,500 to £240,000 a year. The establishment pay board says this is needed to recruit future judges.
17 October 2018
Tory and Trump hypocrisy over murder of Saudi Arabian journalist
The disappearance and presumed death of US-based, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has provoked a worldwide reaction.
17 October 2018
Fully fund mental health services now
Stigma around mental health is decreasing, and that's definitely a good thing. But it's not nearly enough when services are being cut to the bone and most of us have been left without crucial lifelines.
17 October 2018
Striking Brum home carers reject 'final' pay cut offer
At a mass members' meeting on 5 October, Birmingham Council home carers unanimously voted by show of hands to reject the council's 'final' offer and continue striking.
17 October 2018
South Western rail workers launch five-day safety strike to save guards
Workers on South Western Railway are striking for five days from 23 to 27 October against management plans to remove the safety-critical role of the guard.
17 October 2018
Uber drivers strike against unfair 'deactivation' and low pay
"We want our rights! We want our rights!" Uber drivers struck across the country on 9 October against unjust disciplinary sanctions and poverty pay.
17 October 2018
Cable makers' pay strike bites as production falls 33%
Production at Prysmian Cables and Systems in Eastleigh, Hampshire has dropped by a third since workers launched industrial action in September.
17 October 2018
Newham finance staff fight pay and grading insult
Workers for Newham's Labour-led council who are responsible for processing payments to suppliers are hacked off at bosses for grading their important jobs in a way that gets them less pay.
17 October 2018
Libres y Combativas: striking for women's rights in the Spanish state
On 8 March 2018 - International Women's Day - an unprecedented strike against sexism and women's oppression took place across the Spanish state. Libres y Combativas played a central role. Now, the campaign is building for a new student strike on 14 November. The Socialist spoke to Ana Garcia, an activist in Libres y Combativas
17 October 2018
The renewed relevance of Engels' classic Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
This short pamphlet by Friedrich Engels is, along with the Communist Manifesto, one of the best and most significant introductions to Marxism. It greatly adds to our understanding of the roots of socialism and the tasks of the working class to fundamentally change society.
17 October 2018
Socialism - the podcast offering Marxist analysis for the movement against capitalism
The Socialist Party has launched a podcast! The first three episodes of 'Socialism' are out now, with a new episode to be released every Monday.
17 October 2018
Devon foster carers fight 30% cut in allowances
If austerity is over, no-one told the Tory councillors of Devon County Council. Foster carers are to have their allowances cut by 30%.
17 October 2018
The Socialist Students stall outside this year's freshers fair at De Montfort University, Leicester - demanding 'Tories out - Corbyn in' - got a very good response with over 30 sign-ups.
17 October 2018
Letters to the Socialist's editors including Brazil's climate threat, NHS bullying and cuts and rats.
17 October 2018
Up to 2,000 marched in London against the far-right Democratic Football Lads Alliance
17 October 2018
Tories' Brexit bust-up - general election now
Editorial of the Socialist issue 1014: Before this week's EU summit Tory ministers were once again desperately trying to square the circle on their Brexit proposals
17 October 2018
Nominate Chris Baugh as Left Unity candidate for AGS
The left in the PCS will be agreeing its programme and election candidates
17 October 2018
Universal credit = universal misery
Theresa May said 'the end of austerity is in sight'
17 October 2018
Grimethorpe dinner ladies stage all-out strike against redundancy
"No ifs, no buts, no dinner lady cuts," is the song from the picket line. Nine dinner ladies at Ladywood Primary School in Grimethorpe, Yorkshire are now on indefinite strike against being made redundant.
17 October 2018
Bolton hospital workers strike
Cleaners, catering staff and porters at Royal Bolton Hospital struck for 48 hours on 11 and 12 October over pay. The strikers are organised by public service union Unison.
22 October 2018
Widespread desperation and anger at seemingly endless austerity could erupt at any moment. There's still time, argues Peter Taaffe, for Jeremy Corbyn to act decisively in Labour's drawn out civil war - to develop a socialist alternative to capitalist crisis and misery.
23 October 2018
Ladywood Primary school strike
On 22 October teaching assistants (TAs) in Unison joined the 18-day strike by nine dinner ladies at Ladywood Primary School in Grimethorpe, Yorkshire - who are fighting against being made redundant
24 October 2018
PCS legal win - build further pressure from below to defeat the Tories
The PCS civil service union has won £3 million in damages following the union's challenge to the attempts by the Tory government to cut off its financial support from the DWP
24 October 2018
Universal Credit could trap women in violent relationships
The introduction of Universal Credit, under which families can lose £200 a month, has rightly provoked outrage
24 October 2018
Blairites plan to expand their very own academy chain
You would think that Labour politicians would be in favour of running schools that meet children's needs, unpolluted by the pursuit of profit and accountable to the communities that uses them. Well, these values are not held by Blairites who are at odds with Corbyn's plans to scrap the semi-privatised academy schools system.
24 October 2018
Tories ensured Carillion meltdown went unchecked
The story of the catastrophic collapse of Carillion took an even more shocking turn recently
24 October 2018
MPs revel in £2m worth of free foreign trips
Over the last two years, 340 UK MPs have benefitted from more than £2 million worth of free overseas trips, a recent BBC report reveals
24 October 2018
It's one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us including pay cuts for nurses, a new job for Nick Clegg and racist policing in Britol.
24 October 2018
Welsh Labour leadership election: 'Corbyn candidate' must pledge end to austerity
The volatility of the political situation is obvious in Wales: by the time this year ends, every political party in the Welsh Assembly will have replaced its leader at least once.
24 October 2018
3aaa collapses - 4,500 apprentices left guessing their futures
For the last two years I've been working as an apprentice through the training provider Aspire Achieve Advance or 3aaa.
24 October 2018
Can you donate to the Socialism 2018 appeal?
We are asking all our members and supporters to donate to the Socialism 2018 finance appeal. We set ourselves a target last year of £30,000, which was surpassed with a record collection of £42,000.
24 October 2018
Enthusiastic response to new podcast
As we go to press episode four of 'Socialism: the podcast of the Socialist Party' has just been published. Many were pleased to hear that the Socialist Party's publications are expanding to this new media.
24 October 2018
Students and workers march for increased college funding
Over 1,000 teachers, lecturers and college students marched through central London on 17 October to demand the end to Tory cuts and austerity in education.
24 October 2018
Joining the Socialist Party has helped me understand the world and how we can change it
I started going to Socialist Party meetings out of curiosity. In all honesty I wasn't entirely sure whether any of the ideas I heard could be achieved. Surely political change is made by 'politicians', not people on the streets?
24 October 2018
Health services in meltdown - fight to save our NHS
In the last two years, infant mortality rates in England and Wales have risen for the first time in over a century.
24 October 2018
Newcastle Utd fans' campaign against owner Mike Ashley continues
The second public meeting of the anti-Mike Ashley Magpie Newcastle United fans group was held on 3 October with hundreds of Newcastle United supporters again turning out to discuss the way forward for the Ashley Out campaign.
24 October 2018
Germany: Bavarian elections and huge anti-racist demonstration mark an historic weekend
According to the German media, an "historical event" took place on 14 October: the regional elections in Bavaria.
24 October 2018
1821 Cinderloo uprising: "The crowd thought it had nothing else to lose"
Recently, a group in Telford, Shropshire has highlighted events that took place in the county in 1821, known as the Cinderloo uprising. The very name indicates the national effects of the growing Chartist movement and the events of Peterloo two years earlier.
24 October 2018
Letters to the Socialist's editors including Labour Party re-admittance and crime and cuts in Liverpool.
24 October 2018
Council workers - historic strike for equal pay
Glasgow council workers made history by striking for equal pay
24 October 2018
'People's vote' should be a general election
On 20 October hundreds of thousands marched through the streets of London demanding a 'peoples' vote' on Brexit.
24 October 2018
Support RMT strikes against the elimination of guards on trains
Rail companies have undermined the safety of passengers
24 October 2018
Join the fight for refugee rights
The unprecedented refugee crisis continues to affect millions of innocent people across the globe. One person is displaced every two seconds.
29 October 2018
Rally will call for international movement against the right after Brazilian election result
On Saturday 10 November 1,000 socialists from around the country plus international guests will gather in London for a 'Fight the Right' rally
30 October 2018
Crisis Tory Budget brings no relief from austerity
Philip Hammond attempted to give the impression that his budget represented a major turning point for the economy and for Tory policy
31 October 2018
Build for national strike action: An insultingly low figure: that's the reality of Phillip Hammond's budget announcement of £400 million in capital spending for schools.
31 October 2018
Only a socialist alternative can end austerity
This week's budget shows again the urgent need to kick out the Tories. The Chancellor Philip Hammond says "the era of austerity is finally coming to an end."
31 October 2018
Philip Green scandal - bring him down like BHS
Billionaire boss Philip Green has spent millions of pounds attempting to hide multiple allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and racism towards his employees.
31 October 2018
60% of wildlife wiped out - urgent action needed to save planet
Since 1970, 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been wiped out due to deforestation, farming techniques and other human activity.
31 October 2018
CWU conference: Sharpen up our act? Yes. But weaken our democracy? No
On 3 November a special conference of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) will take place to debate proposals for a redesign of the structure and finances of the union.
31 October 2018
Welsh college staff set to strike on pay and workload
College lecturers in Wales have voted by an overwhelming majority to strike, busting the undemocratic Tory strike threshold.
31 October 2018
UCU: General secretary censured but anti-union laws frustrate strike ballot
June's University and College Union (UCU) congress was shut down when staff walked out in response to motions criticising the general secretary Sally Hunt. The annual democratic congress reconvened on 18 October.
31 October 2018
Driving London's buses - a laser in the eye and a boot up the bum!
Why are drivers involved in road traffic incidents often tired? Transport for London (TfL) could ask the real bus experts - the drivers!
31 October 2018
PCS Left Unity election: ballot opens
PCS civil service union Assistant General Secretary (AGS) Chris Baugh, elected three times since 2004, has won at least eight nomination meetings in his campaign to be the Left Unity AGS candidate for a fourth term.
31 October 2018
National Gallery reps endorse Chris Baugh
We are PCS union reps at the National Gallery. We include our branch executive positions but are writing in a personal capacity. Chris Baugh has been an outstanding source of support to the branch for many years.
31 October 2018
Parliamentary coup in Sri Lanka
Workers and oppressed must fight both rotten capitalist camps: Sri Lanka is experiencing a dramatic constitutional crisis - an unprecedented parliamentary coup.
31 October 2018
Call to arms by Southampton council unions
Unite and Unison unions representing Southampton City Council staff have declared that they will oppose and campaign against budget cuts announced by the Labour administration.
31 October 2018
Campaign building to save Scarborough and district hospitals
The campaign against York NHS Trust transferring non-medical staff into a 'wholly owned subsidiary' - a step towards privatisation - has exploded into a mass campaign to save the Scarborough and district hospitals from cuts.
31 October 2018
The Socialist sales successes in Leeds
Starting with issue 1000 of the Socialist, Socialist Party members in Leeds have been selling the newspaper every week outside the new Leeds City Council building in the city centre.
31 October 2018
Letters to the Socialist's editors including Labour Party double standards, Universal Credit, The Apprentice and Brexit.
31 October 2018
Equal pay uprising shows power of working class
Around 8,500 working class women in Glasgow made history through their strike.
31 October 2018
Housing in Britain is in crisis. Bailiffs were called to a house in Hove on 26 October after the tenant - struggling to get by on Universal Credit - fell into rent arrears.
31 October 2018
'Lucas Plan' film tells story of workers who set out alternative to job losses
Film review: The plan that came from the bottom up: 'The plan that came from the bottom up' is a new film about the 'Lucas Plan', developed by shop stewards at Lucas Aerospace in the Midlands in 1976, to make socially useful products rather than armaments used to kill people.
31 October 2018
The huge demonstration in 1819 demanded democratic rights.
31 October 2018
Bolsonaro - a threat to Brazil's workers and all oppressed people
Jair Bolsonaro's victory in Brazil's presidential election is a setback for the Brazilian working class and opens a new chapter
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