Articles from the Socialist, issue 541

8 July 2008

The working class needs its own party

Campaign for a New Workers’ Party conference 2008, photo Socialist Party

Editorial: THIS MONTH talks will be taking place between union leaders and the New Labour government. Most of the national trade union leaders are hoping that the talks will lead to a ‘Warwick Two’ agreement, which they hope will result in a few scraps being thrown…

UK economy sliding into recession

Cost of living – from CNWP leaflet

THERE HAS been a raft of economic data in recent weeks showing the continuing decline in the UK and world economy but Alistair Darling says there is nothing to worry about, writes Jane James.

MP backs student fees campaign

Bonuses for chiefs, pay restraint for civil service workers

Government lies on public-sector pay

High farce from Boris Johnson

G8 leaders’ ‘world hunger’ banquet

On the other side of the financial divide…

Defend the NHS!

The Socialist Party’s ‘Grim Reaper’ joins the Keep Our NHS Public ‘Defend our health service’ protest outside the Department of Health on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the health service, photo Paul Mattsson

LAST SATURDAY, 5 July marked the 60th anniversary of one of the greatest gains of the British working class, the introduction of the National Health Service, writes Wylie Hume, Devon Socialist Party.

Cancer vaccines: who decides?

Terry Fields: A socialist voice that rocked Whitehall

Terry Fields addressing an FBU lobby in London 1989, photo Steve Gardiner

THE voice of workers anger reached the hallowed chambers of the Houses of Parliament on 24 June 1983, when Terry Fields, MP for Liverpool Broadgreen, spoke for the first time in the Commons…

Marching against homophobia & racism

Socialist Party members campaigning at Pride, photo Chris Newby

London Pride -: Members of the Socialist Party lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group and London Socialist Party had a fantastic response when campaigning against homophobia on Saturday 5 July, writes Greg Randall, Convenor, Socialist Party LGBT group.

Argos warehouse workers vote to strike

Argos distribution workers have voted by 67% to strike over pay. A senior steward for Unite at the Argos distribution centre in Basildon, spoke to The Socialist about the dispute and about organising distribution workers…

National Shop Stewards Network Conference: Organising migrant workers

A day in the life of a call centre worker

Call centre charter: A framework for workers’ rights

RMT conference discusses crisis of political representation

Socialist stands for Usdaw general secretary

Robbie Segal

Socialist Party member Robbie Segal is standing as a candidate for Usdaw general secretary. Ballot papers will be distributed from 8 August.
At the National Shop Stewards’ Network conference Robbie launched a conference for all those who oppose the Usdaw leadership’s social partnership strategy and the direction in which they are taking the union.