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What we think
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
News
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Workplace news
Glasgow’s equal pay uprising shows power of working class
Around 8,500 working class women in Glasgow made history on 23-24 October when they took industrial action. As BBC news commented, it was “one of the biggest ever strikes in the UK on the issue of equal pay”.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Precarious workers march against gig economy
Peterloo massacre
The huge demonstration in St Peters Field on 16 August 1819 was the high point of the working-class part of the radical reform movement, which was demanding democratic rights.
International socialist news and analysis
Bolsonaro – a threat to workers and all oppressed people
Left must build a powerful socialist alternative: The victory of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s second round presidential election by a 10% margin over the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate Fernando Haddad, represents a setback for the Brazilian working class and opens a new chapter in Brazil.
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.
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
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.
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.
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.
Opinion
‘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.
Letters to the Socialist’s editors including Labour Party double standards, Universal Credit, The Apprentice and Brexit.