The annual commemoration of anti-fascist volunteers who fought fascism in Spain now includes a key contribution from Italian comrades
Latest editorial
From Germany May 2 1933 to Odessa May 2 2014
There are parallels between these two pitch-black episodes of European history which should never be forgotten — and they should make those who wish to send yet more weapons to Ukraine think twice, writes KEITH BARLOW
MASSACRE: The Trade Unions House of Odessa, Ukraine, during the clashes on May 2, 2014
The Islamic Republic’s suddenly weakened regional position exposes the nation to grave threats from US imperialism
DONG XUE explains why US tariffs hold no significant threat to China
ANSELM ELDERGILL asks whether artificial intelligence may decide legal cases in the future, in place of human judges, and how AI could reshape the legal landscape
Like pieces on a chess board, centrist parties lose ground as they accommodate rather than challenge far-right agendas — socialists must play things better, warns MATT KERR
Yanis Varoufakis and Jeremy Corbyn laid out a roadmap for peace, justice and equality as they celebrated the legacy of inspirational socialist Tony Benn, reports LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
The NEU’s annual conference promises heated debate, with motions on international politics, curriculum reform and union amalgamation likely to provoke strong reactions and challenge the status quo, writes Education for Tomorrow editor ROBERT POOLE
ON May 2 1933, exactly 91 years ago today, Hitler ordered the suppression of German trade unions and banned the German General Trade Union Federation, their central body.
He did so under the terms of the Reichstag Fire Decree passed immediately after the Reichstag fire on February 27 1933. The decree marked a key moment in the Nazi ascent to power and the suppression of any remaining opposition. Over the summer of 1933, labour leaders, especially members of the Communist and Social Democrat parties, were being rounded up for despatch to Dachau, the first concentration camp.
It is a date that we should remember today here in Britain as the legal assault on trade union freedoms becomes ever heavier. It is also a date that we should remember for another reason.
Exactly 10 years ago, on May 2 2014 — and exactly 81 years later, there was another attack on trade unionists. This was at the Trade Union Centre in Odessa.
Following the Nato-backed putsch against the elected Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych in early 2014, people worldwide were shocked to learn of what happened in Odessa.
With the police standing by, fascist-backed mobs made a brutal arson attack on the trade union house: 48 trade unionists were burned to death and over 200 were injured.
More from this author
The man who oversaw the peaceful yet tragic end to state socialism in the east, then stayed to fight for the working class in the newly unified Germany, passed away on February 10, aged 95. KEITH BARLOW salutes his life and career
The legal attempts to exclude the German Communist Party from the Bundestag Elections have failed — but no thanks to some parts of Die Linke, writes KEITH BARLOW
Similar stories
If we want to take on war in 2025, we must take on our own governments in the West, and most of all, take on Nato, writes the convener of the British Peace Assembly, LIZ PAYNE
