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From The Socialist newspaper, 8 April 2020
Socialists in Unite meet via Zoom: Struggles continue in the workplaces
(Click to enlarge)
Unite union members in the Socialist Party, and our Scottish and Irish sister groups in the Committee for a Workers' International, held a Zoom meeting on 4 April.
They discussed developments in the union, and how to intervene in the workplaces during the coronavirus crisis.
Members gave examples from the NHS, passenger transport, local government and other services of how workers have to fight for decent health and safety in this emergency, but also to break through the mood of 'national unity' that many trade union leaders, including on the left, are backing at the moment.
One member raised problems that have arisen on London Buses. Public transport is considered a key service. Yet, tragically, an increasing number of bus workers have died after contracting Covid-19. Every safety measure had to be ground out of the management of bus companies. In addition, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was urging people not to travel but not putting pressure on the companies to protect their workers.
The meeting showed that workers' struggle continues in this crisis, but is sometimes reflected through different channels. Members made financial pledges to help the Socialist Party through a period in which much public activity has been closed off to us. But the class battles continue inside the workplaces.
- There will be reports on bus workers during the crisis in the next issue of the Socialist
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 8 April 2020:
What we think
End of the Corbyn era - Organise to fight for socialist policies
Workers take action while union leaders call truce with government and bosses
International news
Coronavirus: Amazon workers threaten revolution!
Coronavirus, capitalism and fighting for socialism worldwide
Coronavirus news
Dispatches from the front: shortages of NHS staff, equipment - and union leadership
Expired PPE relabelled for NHS use
The minimum wage must go up! Fund coronavirus workers, not bosses' profits!
Capitalism causes crisis profiteering: fight for workers' oversight and public ownership
Under the microscope: Pandemic news in brief
Workplace news
Where's the PPE Welsh Assembly?
EE puts workers' health and safety at risk
Things will never be the same again
Anger as London local authorities bulldoze through powers to discipline workers
A day in the life of a frontline worker
Victory for Medway bin workers
Socialists in Unite meet via Zoom: Struggles continue in the workplaces
World War Two
Class collaboration and worker militancy in World War Two Britain
Campaigns
Labour leadership election: Starmer wins but the fight for socialism goes on
Coronavirus crisis finance appeal
May Day greetings: we need to fund independent workers' media now more than ever
Getting the Socialist out safely under lockdown
Readers' opinion
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2020