The Lessons of Chile 1973
Who was behind Pinochet’s coup? What interests was he defending? What were the policies of the Allende government and why was he unable to prevent the coup?
News and analysis
The latest news and analysis from The Communist, alongside reports of our activity. For Marxist theory and history, click here.
Thousands mobilise to prevent the EDL entering Tower Hamlets
On Saturday 7th September the English Defence League (EDL), a far-right racist organisation, had planned to march through Tower Hamlets in London. Such a march, had it gone ahead, would have been sensationally provocative. But faced with the prospect of thousands of anti-fascist workers and youth confronting the EDL, the police stepped in and banned the EDL from entering Tower Hamlets. Ben Gliniecki and Niklas Svensson, present at the anti-fascist demo, report.
Strike action on the agenda in FE colleges
As the new term gets under way in Further Education (FE) colleges up and down the land, trade union members are being encouraged to hold union meetings to discuss the latest pay and conditions offer from the employers’ organisation, the Association of Colleges (AoC). Co-ordinate strike action between the various teaching unions is on the agenda. Darrall Cozens of the West Midlands UCU reports on the latest struggle in the teaching sector.
Severs steel workers show that solidarity and organisation wins
Structural steel workers at Severfield Watson Structures in North Yorkshire and Lancashire succeeded this August in defending their terms and conditions against attacks from their employer. Socialist Appeal supporters from the GMB union – who help to organise the Severs steel workers – report on this latest successful struggle.
The pawns of imperialism in the Middle East fight amongst themselves
The Arab revolutions have opened up conflicts within the ruling classes of the Middle East. Along with crushing any opposition movements and the working classes in their own countries, they are also fighting amongst themselves to be the dominant power in the region. In this war of attrition, friends become foes and vice versa. The contradictions that have piled up over decades are coming to the fore and blowing away all the efforts of the ruling classes to maintain the status quo.
Blacklisted shop steward Frank Morris reinstated
We publish here the latest statement from the Blacklist Support Group, which concerns the reinstatement of Frank Morris – a blacklisted Unite the Union shop steward. Morris is returning to work on the Crossrail project on 9th September. This is a massive victory, not just for Unite but the whole of the trade union movement. His reinstatement sends out a message: unions are back and we are ready to fight our corner if we have to.
Technology, innovation, growth, and capitalism
The serious bourgeoisie are worried by evidence of a long term inability for capitalism to provide growth, jobs, and a decent standard of living – i.e. to develop the productive forces. An increasing number of mainstream commentators are now seriously questioning whether our ability to innovate – to develop science and new technologies – has fundamentally slowed down. Adam Booth looks at the question of technology and innovation under capitalism.
Women’s oppression: where it comes from and how to fight it
Women’s oppression is one of many forms of oppression that is created out of a society based upon the exploitation of the many for the profits of the few. We continue to see this women’s oppression today, but how do we struggle against it? We publish here an article from Amy Dean and Claire Martin of the Glasgow Marxists who ask: what are the origins of women’s oppression and how do we fight it?
Save Yorkshire ambulance service!
As part of overall cuts to the NHS in Yorkshire, Yorkshire Ambulance NHS Trust is replacing highly trained frontline ambulance staff with unqualified crews. Unite the Union, which has 500 members in the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, has been de-recognised by the management of the Trust for raising serious patient safety concerns as a result of these money saving measures. Richard Vivian of Unite the Union reports on the latest action by union members against NHS cuts in Yorkshire.
Welcome to the “new normality”
Despite the reality facing millions of low paid workers, we are again faced with a barrage of propaganda about the British economy “turning the corner”. All this talk of “recovery” is hot air. There has been no bounce back to “normality”. In fact, there is a “new” normality, one of on-going austerity and mass unemployment, condemning a new generation to the scrap heap and a life of despair.
The 1913 Lockout: 100 years on
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Dublin Lockout, we publish here an article by Gerry Ruddy – editor of the Red Plough – who looks back at this historic struggle of the Irish working class and asks: what lessons are still relevant for workers today?
The youth of today: where’s our future?
The youth of today have no tangible stake in the preservation of capitalism. The failure to provide any kind of future for young people has resulted in a cry of despair which is the death knell of any social system. Such a phenomenon is present in all the recent episodes of social explosion, from the austerity riots in the UK and Sweden, to the youth movements of Greece and Spain, and of course the great Arab revolutions. Paul Cummings looks at the prospect for the youth of today under capitalism.