The elected independent mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, has been removed from office due to a court ruling over allegations of corruption. The fact that one unelected commissioner is able to overrule the votes of over 37,000 people reveals bourgeois democracy in all its impotence.
On Saturday 2nd May, up to 2,000 residents of Bedlington, Northumberland came together to make a “big noise” in protest at the declining state of their town in the face of job losses and Tory-ordered cuts. Protests like this in Bedlington are just the beginning of the fight against the Tories, their austerity, and the capitalist system they defend.
Saturday 2nd May saw trade unionists in Coventry celebrate May Day in the city centre. Over 100 trade unionists convened to hear speeces from comrades in the labour movement, and to discuss how to fight austerity and the far right. Darrall Cozens, President of the Coventry TUC, reports.
Yesterday, on April 28th 2015, commemoration ceremonies were held across the world as part of International Workers Memorial Day to honour workers killed at work or who had died from illnesses contracted during their working life. Darrall Cozens looks at the dangers of work under capitalism.
We publish here the annual report by the President of the Coventry Trades Union Council, Darrall Cozens, who discusses the impact of Tory austerity so far, the rising inequality in Britain and internationally, and the perspective for class struggle on the horizon.
Dave Smith, author and activist with the Blacklist Support Group, was arrested on the evening of 18th March at a peaceful demonstration against the sacking of two workers who raised concerns on the Crossrail project. A further protest has been called to show that those campaigning against the blacklist will not be intimidated by the state.
Since the start of the Con-Dem Coalition, the Public and Civil Service Trade Union (PCS) has been at the forefront of the trade union fight back against austerity and attacks on the wider welfare state. Now, however, the Tories are attacking the union’s very existence – by attempting to restrict the lifeblood of its members’ subscriptions.
Darrall Cozens, President of the Coventry TUC (personal capacity) reports on the latest strike action by members of the FBU, and analysis the issues at stake in this long-running dispute over firefighters’ pensions.
Hundreds gathered and marched in Coventry on Saturday 21 February in opposition to proposed massive £15m council spending cuts planned in the next year, with even bigger cuts in future years, threatening many public services and jobs in the city. The labour movement needs to mobilise across Britain in order to fight for a socialist alternative to this austerity.
Today, Monday 16th February, 170 workers on the M25 motorway are taking 24-hour strike action. Ben Gliniecki of Unite Community (personal capacity) discusses the latest strike by transport workers in Britain, and the way forward for workers who are being made to pay for the crisis of capitalism.
Yesterday, on Thursday 5th February, bus drivers across London came out on strike for 24 hours – the first of three planned days of strike action in February. Despite the freezing cold, picket lines were strong and morale was high. Supporters of Socialist Appeal and members of the Marxist societies in London visited the picket lines to offer their solidarity to the bus drivers.
Tomorrow, on Thursday 5th February, London bus drivers will walk away from their vehicles in the first of three 24-hour bus strikes planned this month. The strikes, called by Unite the Union, are over the vast pay inequality between London bus drivers. Socialist Appeal offers its full support to the militant struggle of London bus drivers against these attacks by the bosses.