Socialist Party, formerly Militant

SOCIALIST PARTY

Thursday, March 28, 2024
spot_img

The Socialist issue 906

15 June 2016

Exit the bosses' EU

PDF | Audio | 2016 Back issues


The Socialist issue 906

Click image for PDF

EU referendum

spotEU referendum: whatever the result, political turmoil is ahead

Editorial of the Socialist, issue 906: A Brexit vote, and Cameron’s subsequent resignation, would lift the confidence of many workers in Britain who would rightly feel they had managed to land a serious blow on the opposition. At the same time it would be a serious defeat for the capitalist class.

spotEU: busting the myths that Remain is best for the 99%

As we approach the EU referendum, panic has set in for the establishment and ‘project fear’ has stepped up. We answer three key questions. Does the EU build international solidarity? Does the EU defend workers’ rights? Does the EU keep the peace?

spotTUSC anti-EU tour touches down in Wales

The animated, friendly discussion was a refreshing change from the rubbish spoken by the official Leave and Remain campaigns. The speakers outlined how the European Union is primarily a capitalist institution that inflicts austerity and privatisation on working people across Europe.

spotBT Brexit baloney

Unions have joined forces with bosses at telecom firm BT to influence workers to vote Remain. Unions lining up with the very people they exist to combat only weakens them, whatever their position on the EU.

spotLetters: EU referendum

The Socialist Inbox: Letters to the Socialist’s editors. European Union membership referendum special.

International socialist news and analysis

spotOrlando massacre: working class unity to defeat homophobia, terrorism and racism

Homophobia and transphobia do not come from one section of society. LGBT rights have recently been under attack in the US. This is not an ‘Islam problem’, it is a problem within capitalist society as a whole.

spotFrance: workers’ revolt against labour law grows

The Hollande/Valls government hoped that by the time Euro 2016 started the months-long strike movement would have run out of energy. But the size and combativity of the 14 June march show that it’s still huge.

Socialist readers’ comments and reviews

spotHilarious, innovative satire on state bureaucracy

Theatre review – The Government Inspector: A fantastic achievement – fast paced, very funny, innovative and inclusive. The closest description might be a lost episode of Fawlty Towers – from 1836.

Workplace news and analysis

spotUnison conference 2016: fighting leadership needed more than ever

While member-led initiatives for strike action are thrown in the dustbin, democracy at the very top of the union now has massive question marks hanging over it following the scandal surrounding the recent general secretary election.

spotGMB backs no-cuts budgets and steel nationalisation

Taste for socialism at union’s 2016 conference: GMB congress passed key motions on no-cuts budgets and steel, but unfortunately backed Trident renewal and the EU Remain campaign.

spotPennine Foods strike forces bosses back to the table

Strike action has scored a victory at Pennine Foods in Sheffield. Bosses have suspended implementation of new contracts, and agreed to backdate a 2% pay rise for all workers to last August.

spotHospital porters and domestic staff claim jobs and pay victory

Domestic staff and porters at Whipps Cross Hospital in east London have won a significant pay increase and job security. The pay rise – over 20% – and permanent contracts – follow a sustained campaign by general union Unite.

spotStrike at Argos depot against contracting out of jobs

400 Unite members at the Argos Lutterworth depot are on strike for six days


spotBuses parked three deep in Leeds strike

“They make £11 million in profits in Leeds alone, and all their offer adds up to is around half a million. It’s a shame it has to come to this to get them to give us more.” Those were the words of one of many Unite the Union members picketing the two First Group bus depots in Leeds on 13 June.

spotSchool support staff mobilise against slashing of pay

Around 400 angry teaching assistants packed into a meeting called by Durham Trades Council


spotUber drivers strike against unfair fares

Around a thousand taxi drivers for multinational private hire firm Uber struck for 24 hours on 6 June. Strikers also protested outside Uber’s Birmingham office at midday

spotLorry stoppage paves the way to victory

Lorry drivers at Marshalls paving suppliers are striking across the country because of the firm’s refusal to honour an overtime agreement

spotSolidarity with victimised bakers’ union rep

After months of intimidation, Leicestershire-based food giant Samworth Brothers has sacked popular bakers’ union BFAWU rep Kumaran Bose. Workers are fighting pay restructuring at the firm.

Housing crisis

spotAction to defeat the Housing Act: we won’t move!

Disgracefully, the Tory government’s Housing and Planning Act 2016 became law on 12 May. Pressure from housing campaigners forced some concessions but the central intention of this act – to eliminate secure low cost housing for working class people – still remains.

spotHousing Act: landlords and developers set to profit

The new housing act will help property developers and landlords make profits but it will do nothing for people who need affordable secure homes.

spotGeneration rent demands affordable housing

New council houses need to be started now. In the private sector, landlords need to be controlled. A rent cap could help.

NHS

spotRe-open Chorley A&E – end the staff shortages

Residents have been protesting weekly outside Chorley and South Ribble Hospital A&E department since it closed suddenly in April because of staff shortages. The campaign called a mass protest on Saturday 11 June to demand it is reopened.

spotHands Off HRI campaign grows from strength to strength

It’s almost six months since the local Clinical Commissioning Group announced it was intending to close Huddersfield A&E. Over 100,000 people have signed petitions demanding the CCG reverse its decision, and there have been countless rallies and protests all over the town.

Socialist Party news and analysis

spotSystemic failures hurt kids in justice system

Individual abusers must be dealt with. But recent incidents also show systemic failures that the increasingly under-resourced and privatised criminal justice system is incapable of addressing.

spotThem & Us

It’s one world for the super-rich, and another one for the rest of us. Student loan sharks; BHS workers face scrapheap; Tesco sells restaurants.

spotSocialist Party fundraising: punching above our weight

13,664FansLike
1,646FollowersFollow
16,541FollowersFollow
4,006SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Posts