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Coronavirus news
NHS workers speak out: austerity has left us unprepared
We have had many weeks to get ready to deal with coronavirus. It’s a shame that only in the last couple of weeks things are actually happening, writes Lucy, a NHS worker.
Schools: union oversight needed to end chaos in provision under coronavirus
Like many other teachers up and down the country, I have been trying to set lessons online for students to continue their education at home
Councils must use resources now for emergency response
The devastating impact of coronavirus is exposing the impact that austerity has had on all of our public services, and particularly the NHS, writes We will keep up the pressure. Labour councils need to use all of the resources at their disposal now to save workers, not the capitalist system..
NHS supply chain worker: privatisation has cut equipment quantity and quality
Terrified staff across the NHS are risking their health and lives treating coronavirus patients without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)
Self-isolation class divide: decent homes for all!
The nation has been told to stay home. But that doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone, writes Holly Eaton, West London Socialist Party.
Fully fund hospices to care for vulnerable children
I am a parent of a child with a terminal diagnosis.
Scandalous conditions in food distribution centre
“Too little, too late” is ringing in many workers’ ears. In my workplace, a food distribution centre, it definitely echoes.
New tests have found that ‘high-pressure laminate’ (HPL) cladding is almost as deadly as Grenfell’s ‘aluminium composite material’ (ACM) cladding in a fire
World War Two
All in this together? The ‘Blitz spirit’ myth
In the first of a series of articles on ‘war, global crises and working-class struggle’, Chris Holmes exposes the myth of class unity during the World War Two
What we think
PPE, tests, full pay – for all now
Labour must resist ‘Covid coalition’: Workers need their own voice and party
Emergency legislation: Trade unions must be on guard against attacks on workers’ interests
Food supply and the coronavirus crisis
The global coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fragility of capitalist food supply systems – whose rationale is based on maximising profits rather than meeting human needs
Workplace news
Key workers should make bold demands
The coronavirus epidemic has highlighted how important health and social care staff are in caring for some of the most vulnerable, and keeping society running, writes Jack Jeffery, North London Socialist Party.
Essential workers deserve more
Workers are receiving some very contradictory messages about their wage levels and the importance of their jobs
Working in Mike Ashley’s empire: After lockdown we won’t forget how we’ve been treated
I work for one of the retail chains in Mike Ashley’s empire. As more shops were closing, pressure began mounting for our chain to close too. But we were expected to lone work, rather than simply closing
Hull construction workers force bosses to shut down site over health and safety fears
The government says “stay at home” yet leaves the bosses to decide whether their profits are more essential, writes Keith Gibson, senior GMB union steward (personal capacity).
Bosses concede to walkouts in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland virtually every manufacturer continued to operate as normal following the coronavirus lockdown, which led to rising confusion and then mounting anger
Bus drivers halt sackings – now restore our pay
While the government gives reassurances to the public that ‘we are all in this together’ and they will do ‘whatever it takes’, bosses are doing whatever it takes to protect their profits, writes a South Coast bus driver.
Postal workers walk out over health, safety and junk mail
Working from home during the pandemic
People’s experience of the transition to working fulltime from home varies
Leicester: Nylacast worker exposes truth
Refuse collection workers strike
Bin workers in Medway, Kent, walked out on 30 March over management’s failure to follow social distancing directives, to provide adequate PPE and the closure of public toilets
Benefits
Fight for safety, staffing and services – Covid chaos for benefits claimants
More than half a million claims to working-age benefits such as Jobseekers’ Allowance and Universal Credit have been made in the last two weeks
More than ever, we need accountable union leaders
Campaigns
Help us continue to fight for workers and socialism
Readers’ opinion
Going viral – Socialist letters and comments on the coronavirus crisis
The Covid-19 pandemic is a world social crisis which touches every aspect of life.
