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International socialist news and analysis
Far right makes gains in Germany
The 1 September state elections in the eastern German states of Brandenburg and Saxony saw a continuation of the decline of Social Democrats (SPD) and Christian Democrats (Angela Merkel’s CDU), currently Germany’s ruling parties.
South Africa: Xenophobic violence – a product of failed capitalist policies
The Socialist Party of Nigeria condemns the raging xenophobic attacks in South Africa which have affected Nigerians alongside other African migrants in South Africa.
West Papuans demand self-determination in London
Dozens of West Papuan protesters and supporters demonstrated outside the Indonesian embassy on 7 September against state repression of the independence movement.
What we think
Tories in tatters: Corbyn must seize the time
Opinion
Capitalist ‘democracy’ v socialist democracy
Parliament is packed with pro-capitalist politicians who neither reflect the balance of the views of the electorate on Brexit, nor the needs of the working class to overturn austerity.
Workplace news
TUC: Lost opportunity to organise a united struggle
With the Tories in meltdown, having lost their majority, and Boris Johnson reeling and on the ropes, many workers would be hoping that Labour and the trade unions would now deliver the knockout blow and force them from office.
NSSN lobby of TUC: Upbeat meeting calls for trade union lead to boot out Tories
A packed and enthusiastic National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) rally took place at Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in Brighton on 8 September, the tenth year that the rally has taken place.
Fighting PCS general secretary needed – Marion Lloyd: Why I am standing
End austerity in the civil service: General election now
Prior to the conference of the Trade Union Congress, a motion was put by Socialist Party members and others to the national executive committee (NEC) of the PCS civil servants’ union.
PCS strike at BEIS: “The life we live is not liveable”
PCS members working as cleaners and catering staff at the government’s business department, BEIS, are on indefinite strike. The workers are employed by private companies Aramark and ISS.
Unions must fight to make bus drivers and passengers safe
A major report has at last been published, following concerns over driver fatigue on London’s buses. High levels of deaths and injuries involving buses have been recorded.
Asda workers protest against worse contract
Asda workers are being threatened with the sack if they refuse to sign a new contract which will worsen their terms and conditions.
UCU ballots – yes to strike action on pensions, pay, workloads and equality
University staff in the University and College Union (UCU) are currently voting on strike action – this time in two ballots. The ballots close on 30 October.
Short reports of workplace and trade union struggles
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Students and workers unite against fees, low pay climate change
Boris Johnson and his Tory government are teetering on the edge of a precipice. Students and young workers have been hit hard by cuts and want to see the back of this pro-austerity government.
Tory meltdown – Organise to finish them off
Another London block of flats destroyed by fire – remove unsafe cladding now!
I woke up on 9 September to learn about the fire that happened at Worcester Park, south west London, exactly three months after the fire that took place in Samuel Garside House in Barking, the building where I live.
Leeds pensioners occupy BBC to save free TV licenses
“BBC, shame on you” was the chant as around 50 pensioners from across Yorkshire, including as far away as Scarborough, occupied the reception area of the Leeds BBC offices.
Frimley hospital staff fight back-door privatisation
There was a noisy and enthusiastic demonstration outside Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on 22 August against outsourcing NHS staff to a ‘wholly owned subsidiary’. Good to see NHS staff in uniform joining the protest.
Leicester Kashmir protest rejects religious smokescreen
Leicester Socialist Party supported the 7 September demo against attacks on the democratic rights of the Kashmiri people by the right-wing Modi government.
Salisbury welcomes Socialist campaigners
On 7 September, Wiltshire Socialist Party held our first campaign stall in the centre of Salisbury. Considering it has always been a Conservative safe seat, we were expecting a hostile reaction.
Socialist newspaper sales round-up
Just some of the sales of the Socialist newspaper in the past few days…
Coventry: 100 pack meeting against congestion charge
The threat of a government-imposed congestion charge in Coventry led 100 people to attend the second public meeting called in opposition to it on 2 September.
Climate strikes: trade union round-up
Campaigning for trade union action on the climate crisis
Scotland
Scotland and Brexit: Developing threat to the capitalist union
In the third of our series of articles exploring Brexit and the ‘national question’ Philip Stott of Socialist Party Scotland examines its effect on Scotland.