The annual commemoration of anti-fascist volunteers who fought fascism in Spain now includes a key contribution from Italian comrades
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The National Union of Mineworkers will never stop fighting
‘Legalised theft’ from miners’ pension funds is just one of the issues on which the NUM is campaigning, says general secretary CHRIS KITCHEN
Police violence during the miners' strike
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
SINCE the coal industry was privatised in 1994, successive governments have creamed off £7 billion in surpluses accrued by the two pension schemes covering workers in the industry.
When the remains of the coal industry were privatised, an agreement was struck with the government under which it would underwrite any future losses. In return the pension funds had to share any surpluses the funds accrued 50-50 with the government.
At the time that this arrangement was entered into by the pension fund trustees it was thought by the government of the day that this would be a good deal as it could expect to receive £2bn from the pension schemes over the first 25 years.
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CHRIS KITCHEN, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, reminds us that the defining industrial battle of the last century isn’t over until there is full justice for Orgreave's victims — and for miners’ pensions
As well as our industrial strength, we need to build up reserves of class pride — and events like this festival are key, writes general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers CHRIS KITCHEN
General secretary of the NUM CHRIS KITCHEN argues that while Britain is still importing and burning coal from abroad, reopening mines and using our own reserves actually reduces the amount of carbon emissions
Can coal be part of the solution to tackling climate change, asks CHRIS KITCHEN, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers
