In this week's issue:

The Socialist 4 January 2012, issue Defend our pensions - escalate the action

Defend public sector pensions - "action must be escalated"

Marching on the 30 November public sector strike, photo Paul Mattsson

The current battle over pensions is a defining one for our movement. Over two million workers from 24 unions took action together on 30th November in the biggest show of strength in living memory, writes John McInally, national vice-president, PCS (personal capacity)

PCS Left Unity open organising conference in defence of pensions

Reject pensions 'deal' - fight until we win

Hands off the NHS!

Marching against NHS cuts and privatisation , photo Paul Mattsson

Con-Dems' lethal policies threaten health service: Under cover of the Christmas break, the government slipped out two lethal policies for the National Health Service, writes Terry Pearce, Save Heatherwood Hospital campaign, personal capacity.

A world in turmoil

World in Turmoil

In this special new year feature, Peter Taaffe looks back at 2011, a year of crisis, struggle and revolution. This article is based on a statement prepared for the Committee for a Workers' International, the world socialist organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated.

2012: Millions face poverty and homelessness

There's been no good news for people worried about their housing situation over Christmas and New Year, writes Sarah Wrack.

Liverpool's managed decline: Tarzan to the rescue?

"Seismic collapse" of private pensions

Them & Us

National meeting for women in the Socialist Party

1500 marched on the Fawcett Society demonstration 19 November to tell the government "Don't turn back time" on women's rights, dressed in 1950s clothes, photo Sarah Wrack

National meeting for women in the Socialist Party, Sunday 8 January, 10am - 3.30pm
Morning: Women and the Cuts - how the crisis is affecting women
Afternoon: The Socialist Party and the Women's Movement

Unity against wage cuts in construction

Construction workers’ strike on 14 December: Corus Redcar electricians, photo Elaine Brunskill

The 'Dirty 7' construction companies, who want to slash skilled workers' wages, have finally been dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table, writes Rob Williams, Chair, National Shop Stewards Network.

Cuts used to attack trade unionists

Fight job-cutting academies

Nigeria: Boko Haram's Christmas Day bombings

Among the more audacious previous attacks of Boko Haram were the bombings of the National Police headquarters and the United Nations office in the capital, Abuja, writes Segun Sango, General secretary, Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM - CWI, Nigeria).

USA: Occupy movement links with working class

Review: Days of Hope

Recently film director Ken Loach contrasted the BBC of the 1960s and 70s, which allowed a degree of political commitment and artistic freedom, with today's conservative, commercially driven programme making...

We're not scroungers!