In this week's issue:

The Socialist 25 January 2012, issue 702

Hard Times - but not for the 1%

On the London demonstration during the 30 June public sector pensions strike, photo Paul Mattsson

Defend pensions, fight the cuts in jobs and pay: As the clouds of recession grow darker, practically every section of society feels the grim effects. Apart from one group - there are few signs of recession for the super-rich! writes Roger Shrives.

The trade unions and Labour

Unions like Unite have donated millions to Labour but Labour promises nothing in return to union members, photo Paul Mattsson

What we think: Labour lords voted against the introduction of the benefit cap which threatens 67,000 families with poverty and homelessness. Yet Liam Byrne, shadow Work and Pensions secretary, made it abundantly clear Labour supports the cap.

Add your name to the TUSC petition

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition election conference

Public sector pensions: 'Coalition of the willing' gathering strength

30 November 2011 public sector strike, photo Paul Mattsson

In the immediate aftermath of the TUC-led retreat over pensions, the 'coalition of the willing', those unions still determined to fight on, have needed time to regroup, writes Martin Powell-Davies, NUT executive, personal capacity.

Financial vultures kill Peacocks

Con-Demned to unemployment

Fight the Tories' Welfare Reform Bill

Victory against Dorries' abstinence education bill

Keep the racist EDL out of Leicester

Them & Us

Haringey parents say: No to academies!

Chestnut Grove School in Balham, Wandsworth, south London

Primary school parents in Haringey, north London, are in the front line of the battle against the Con-Dems' destruction of our education, writes Paul Gerrard, National Union of Teachers.

NUS calls national student walkout

Balfour Beatty re-ballot: Vote to strike again

'All power to the Sparks' - Electrician construction workers: protest at Cannon Street, London, photo by Paul Mattsson

The next two weeks are absolutely vital in the construction electricians' struggle against the employers' imposition of the Besna contract, writes Rob Williams, National Shop Stewards Network chair.

Sweetheart stitch-ups in the electrical industry: A spark's history of the Joint Industry Board

Exposed - the dirty world of the construction blacklist

Egypt - A year of revolution and counter-revolution

Egyptian revolution: Lenin said of revolutions that they demonstrate two things. The first is that the people cannot go on being ruled in the old way. The second is that the rulers cannot go on ruling in the old way (Guardian Editorial, 4 February 2011).

The 2011 revolutionary movements of young people, workers and the most downtrodden swept through north Africa and the Middle East and inspired social movements across the world...

Stepping up the action to defend pensions at Unilever

Unilever strikersat Ewloe, north Wales, 18 January 2012, photo by Stillshooter

Workers at multinational company Unilever are making a stand to defend pensions. Following a strike of 2,500 workers last month, from 17 January thousands of Unite, Usdaw and GMB members at Unilever are taking strike action...

Defend Len Hockey: Outrageous attack on Whipps Cross hospital workers

Pontefract hospital: Army withdrawn - now kick out PFI!

Save Vine services

Llanelli: Save Prince Philip's A&E

Stop the Salford day centre closures

Kirklees parents say 'save our children's centres!'

Greenwich Unite members oppose cuts, privatisation and racism

Workplace news in brief