Blogs

The Di Canio case: children are watching

Children are watching. And they are frightened by our indifference to fascism.

Hospital workers fight police in Milan

Healthcare workers at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan protest after receiving the first 40 letters of redundancy. After a general assembly, the struggling workers occupied the hospital reception and the roof of the building, prompting the heavy-handed response by police.

Giorgio Napolitano reelected Italy’s president amid protests and political chaos

Giorgio Napolitano is elected as Italy's president for a second mandate, an unprecedented event in the institutional history of the country. His re-election follows a few days of political stalemate and chaos and was welcomed by loud protests, emphasizing the political crisis and the inner contradictions of the Italian Democratic Party.

Spokes on a Wheel: Some Labor Notes on Intersecting Struggles

With the recent Labor Notes Troublemaker's School in mind, how can labor begin to further tie into the housing struggle? Voices from We Are Oregon, Labor Notes, and elsewhere say that this may be from finding an "intersection" in struggle.

Bosses open fire on migrant workers in Greece

More than twenty migrant workers were injured when their bosses fired on them with shotguns on Wednesday.

Direct action, Occupy Wallstreet, and the future of housing justice: an interview with Noam Chomsky

Check out this interview with Noam Chomsky about the growing housing justice movement, the future of Occupy, and how direct action can play into all of this.

World Earth Day – marches in Italy

The national forum “Salviamo il Paesaggio” (Save the Countryside) launches demonstrations across the country on Earth Day (April 21, 2013), to protest against the consumption and destruction of fertile soil.

Working at Artistry Bakery and Cafe - Madaline Dreyfus

In this article, Madaline tells the story of how she fell into organizing and the IWW – pushed both by terrible bosses and by amazing solidarity among her coworkers.

1000 demonstrate in Piacenza against ban for union organizer

Around 1000 people marched through the streets of Piacenza on April 6 to protest against the exclusion notice served on Aldo Milani, national coordinator of the radical union SI-COBAS.

Just another day in Greece

Police outside the Maragopouleio occupation in Patra

The last few days have seen a number of incidents across Greece. Fascist attacks, hunger strikes, rival groups of protesters clashing and thousands of people having their electricity cut off are just some of the news stories from one day.

Thatcher's death – some quick thoughts

Former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died. The occasion has been the cause of both mourning and jubilation. What follows is a reflection on what this means in the context of the ongoing class struggle.

IWW liquor store workers in Minneapolis fired for union activity

Some updates on a recent IWW campaign in Minneapolis, in which 5 workers were fired for organizing.

Callout for submissions: depression and the class struggle

A number of us have begun work on a pamphlet/online text which seeks to offer advice to those who suffer from depression. While the bulk of the text is complete, we’re still looking for submissions from those who’ve dealt with depression, how it’s affected their involvement in class politics, and what strategies folks have found useful for managing mental health in general.

Merseyside anti-bedroom tax groups meet in Liverpool at the first all-Merseyside anti-bedroom tax conference

Today, Saturday 6th April saw around 60 delegates from the various local anti-bedroom tax campaigns on Merseyside come together to discuss a strategy for co-ordinating action across the region.

The need for a labour movement that can defy the law

The Public and Commercial Services Union has responded to threats of legal action by removing one section of its membership from the strike action due to take place on the 5 and 8 April. This shows the limits of legal trade unionism. It also underlines the urgent need for strong rank-and-file movements in the UK.

Greek islands against the Golden Dawn

Residents of Crete and Thasos have recently stopped Golden Dawn activities in separate incidents on the Greek islands.

“The revolution starts in the ATOS smoking area” - on welfare, addiction, and dependency

If anyone knows who to credit this picture to please let us know

A blog about welfare reform from a social care worker's perspective, and the creation of the "welfare addict" as a recession-era scapegoat. Inspired largely by today's Novara show, and the people I work with.

Workers' struggles in East Asia (March 2013)

Dock workers on strike do demand a pay rise in Hong Kong

Summary and links to news stories of workers' struggles around East Asia during March 2013 and related resources. The most important stories appear on my Twitter feed as soon as I find them: http://twitter.com/spartacusnews.

Ten thousand demonstrate against MUOS in Sicily

Citizens of Niscemi in Sicily have been struggling for years against the proposed construction of the new MUOS station, a new satellite network serving the US Navy. Health hazard and environmental impact are the main concern of the population. On March 30, over 10,000 people took part in a protest demo. Meanwhile, activism and resistance are starting to pay off: on March 29, Sicilian Governor Rosario Crocetta permanently withdrew authorization to the project.

Asda, workfare and company scrip

AADA - part of the Wal-Mart family

Are the UK government planning to use Workfare placements and welfare store-cards as part of a state-run 'Truck system'?