The referendum in France: Workers say "no" to capitalist Europe The referendum in France on the European Constitution has resulted in a decisive defeat for the ruling class. In spite of a particularly intense campaign by the media, the UMP government and the right-wing of the Socialist Party, 55% of voters have rejected the treaty.
The referendum in France: Workers say "no" to capitalist Europe The referendum in France on the European Constitution has resulted in a decisive defeat for the ruling class. In spite of a particularly intense campaign by the media, the UMP government and the right-wing of the Socialist Party, 55% of voters have rejected the treaty.
Early elections in Germany – a reflection of a deep crisis The political situation in Germany is changing rapidly as one political earthquake has been followed by another over the last few days. In last Sunday’s regional elections, Chancellor Schröder’s Social Democratic Party lost its traditional stronghold in North Rhine Westphalia . The SPD saw their share of the vote fall to a level not seen since the mid-1950s.
The struggle to defend the 35-hour week in Germany In 1984 there was a militant mood at the May Day rallies as the print workers and engineering workers in Germany prepared for an offensive struggle to achieve a reduction of the workweek without loss of pay. On May Day 2005, 21 years later, a new round of defensive battles to defend the 35-hour week started in the German printing industry.
Resolution in support of Pakistani journalists This resolution was unanimously passed by the Central London Branch of the National Union of Journalists in a meeting held on May 12.
The General Election of 2005: Results and Prospects As a postscript to British Perspectives 2005 (What is happening in Britain) Phil Mitchinson analyses the results of the recent general election in the context of mounting insecurity in the British economy, politics and society as a whole. Labour won the election with the smallest share of the vote of any victorious party in history. With the government's majority severely reduced how much longer can Blair last? 'New' Labour has set off on a collision course with its own backbenches and with the trade unions and the working class.
Gerry Ruddy and Danny of the IRSP in the Basque Country Ezker Marxista and El Militante organised a speaking tour last week throughout the Basque Country, with Gerry Rudy and Danny of the IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) speaking in many Basque working class neighbourhoods, drawing the lessons of the experiences in Ireland and linking these to the struggle for national liberation of the Basque Country. The common thread was the need for the organised working class to take a lead in the struggle and link it to a socialist perspective.
Gerry Ruddy and Danny of the IRSP in the Basque Country Ezker Marxista and El Militante organised a speaking tour last week throughout the Basque Country, with Gerry Rudy and Danny of the IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) speaking in many Basque working class neighbourhoods, drawing the lessons of the experiences in Ireland and linking these to the struggle for national liberation of the Basque Country. The common thread was the need for the organised working class to take a lead in the struggle and link it to a socialist perspective.
FBU Conference 2005: No2 Fire Deaths, No to attacks on our working conditions Last week’s FBU conference revealed a militant fighting mood, with Matt Wrack, the new General Secretary, expressing an equally fighting spirit.
Massive general strike in Greece – A new stage in the class struggle On May 11th a massive general strike took place in Greece. The trade union leaders were forced to call the strike as the anger of the workers mounted. The ND government has come out with an all-out attack on the working class and the workers have responded. Report from Marxistiki Foni.
1945 – 2005: Never again! We have just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation from fascism. Exactly 60 years ago the leadership of the German Wehrmacht signed the capitulation. Yesterday in the former concentration camp (KZ) of Mauthausen and in Vienna thousands of people showed their opposition to war and to fascism.
Labour wins third term – Only Labour can defeat Blair Labour has won an historic third term victory in the 2005 General Election, yet there will be no dancing in the streets, no street parties, in fact little enthusiasm at all. The combination of widespread opposition to the war in Iraq, distrust of Blair, and disillusionment with the failures of the last two terms of Labour government means that Labour won the election with the lowest share of the vote, just 36 percent, of any victorious party in history.
Faith: the drama of the Miners' Strike: Interview with the director, David Thacker We recently published a review of a film shown on the BBC entitled Faith which wove together the lives of its fictional characters with the real events of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike. The result was a moving drama and an unusually honest account of this great struggle, sympathetic to the miners and their communities. The film’s director, David Thacker spoke to us about the making of the film and his own political views.
MG Rover: What Went Wrong? Mick Brooks looks at the historical background to the British car industry and in particular that of Rover. It is a history of decline, of underinvestment, and finally of collapse. Now all the attempts to save Rover by looking for private buyers have failed. It is a reflection of the decline of the British capitalist class as a whole.
Nationalise Rover under workers' control The closure of Rover involves the loss of 26,000 jobs, in the plant and the industries that supply it. The present owners were called in to “save” jobs. All they have done is siphoned off millions for themselves. The only answer is nationalisation under workers’ control.
