DPD driver’s death demonstrates brutality of precarious work
Alex Johnson of the Edinburgh Marxists looks at the tragic case of Don Lane – a courier who recently died due to the pressure of his draconian bosses.
Industrial news
Victory to the Suttons tanker drivers!
Gilly Singh of the Liverpool Marxists reports on the struggle of workers at Eastham Refinery, who have beaten the bosses following a determined and militant struggle.
Labour4Clause4: campaign launched to restore Labour’s commitment to socialism
Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal, reports on a new campaign that has been set up to restore Clause 4, Labour’s socialist clause that was scrapped by Blair. We encourage all our readers to support this campaign throughout the labour movement.
The story of an Amazon worker: “humiliating and depressing”
We publish here an account of life inside an Amazon warehouse, written by a Socialist Appeal supporter, who reveals the brutal, degrading, and exploitative working conditions faced by the employees of the world’s richest man.
60,000 march in London to #SaveOurNHS
Helena Nicholson reports on Saturday’s demonstration in London, where thousands turned out in defence of the NHS and against Tory austerity and privatisation.
Suttons bring in police to break strike – but drivers stand firm
Events are moving quickly at the Eastham refinery as the dispute between Suttons bosses and their tanker drives escalates. Gilly Singh of the Liverpool Marxists reports from the picket lines.
UCU members back strike action over pension attacks
Joe Attard of the King’s College London UCU discusses the record result in favour of national strike action amongst university academic staff. Workers and students must now unite and fight to defend pensions, pay, and public services.
Train workers step up campaign for safety and jobs
Mike Hogan in Liverpool reports on the continuing struggle of RMT union members to maintain safe conditions for railway workers and passengers. The rest of the labour movement must give the train workers their full support and solidarity in this fight.
Support the striking Suttons tanker drivers!
Gilly Singh of the Liverpool Marxists reports on the strike of workers at the Eastham refinery, near Ellesmere Port, who are fighting back against attacks on their terms and conditions.
McDonald’s workers score win over pay – and prepare to fight for more!
Strike action taken by McDonald’s workers last September has forced management into conceding the highest wage rise for 10 years. Moses Levi in Cambridge looks at the recent victory for McDonald’s staff, and discusses the way forward in the struggle for decent pay.
Future Unions? We need unions that fight for our future!
The Fabian Society and Community trade union – both well known for their “gradualism” and willingness to compromise with the bosses – recently released a report entitled Future Unions, which seeks to dilute down the role of the unions in an age of zero-hour contracts, precarious work, and the gig economy. But, as Terry McPartlan explains, the way to fight these problems is through militancy and organisation.
Ryanair pilots score a victory as bosses open union recognition talks
In a major U-turn, Ryanair this morning declared it would agree to engage with unions after some of its Dublin-based pilots voted in favour of strike action ahead of Christmas. The low-cost airline claimed it had written to pilot unions inviting them to recognition talks. As pilot Martin Swayne writes, this marks a major victory for the flight crew.