Preferable to Starmer he may be, but there is scant sign of a sharp political break in Burnham’s policies so far — while left challenges aren’t making much of a running either, finds ANDREW MURRAY. How can socialism be put back on the map?
Latest editorial
We need to unite to defeat the anti-strike Bill
The massive surge in union activity and industrial action is inspiring, but we must now channel that energy against this draconian legislation, writes RMT general secretary MICK LYNCH
General secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) Mick Lynch addresses NHS workers after they marched from St Trafalgar Square, London, May 1, 2023
CHARLEY ALLAN reports from Clacton on Farage’s fears his by-election stunt has backfired
JEREMY CORBYN says we should never forget the horrific reality of nuclear weapons, or cease our efforts to rid the planet of them entirely
The new TUC Cymru general secretary speaks to Morning Star Wales reporter David Nicholson about her trade union background and ambitions for the movement
Internationalism is deeply embedded in socialist theory and practice. Examination illuminates its complexity asserts the Marx Memorial Library and Workers’ School
The Claudia Sheinbaum government is no pushover and is holding firm despite US abuses of the relationship, says DAVID RABY
As we approach the grim anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, SIMON BARROW sounds the alarm over the dangerous and murderous direction our government is heading
FROM his prison cell George Loveless, one of the Tolpuddle Martyrs scribbled the words: “We raise the watchword, liberty. We will, we will, we will be free!”
Despite the fact this was nearly 200 years ago, the trade union movement finds itself in a position where it has to reassert its values and the rights of workers to take action to improve their lot.
The so-called “minimum service” legislation is being rushed through Parliament with the view to making effective industrial action unlawful.
The conscripting of labour and the prospect of unions having to instruct their members to cross their own picket lines represents a very real threat to our existence as effective organisations.
I have said repeatedly that our union, RMT, will not be bowed or cowed by the Tory government or any government in the future.
We have demonstrated the tenacity and the determination to defend our members on the railway, campaigning to keep ticket offices open and attempting to inspire the rest of our class where we can to take action.
At our AGM in Bournemouth, our union unanimously backed calls for a national demonstration against minimum services legislation and we call upon all trade unionists to join that march.
I told delegates at the conference: “The trade unions must now, in this time and under a new government, exert themselves as an independent working-class movement.
“And we will put every politician whether they are in Scotland, Wales, the councils and the mayors, wherever they are, under extreme pressure.
“You can’t cosy up to them and hope they will do you a favour.
“We have used the last year to present a different vision for transport. Bus, road, maritime and rail — run for the benefit of the passengers and the workers.
“That is our vision, and we must always fight for it.”
We have seen the trade union movement flex its industrial muscle across almost every industry in this country.
And that has been inspiring to see.
But as some of those disputes end, and others begin, we need a sense of unity of purpose that we are not going to meekly accept new draconian legislation that stops us from being able to win for our members in the workplace.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were operating at a time when trade unions were illegal in this country.
And we must look to them for inspiration to defeat these anti-democratic laws and this dreadful Tory administration.
Similar stories
TIM ROBERTS says unions have always led on the fight for equality as well as for justice at work
In Unite I see the solidarity the Tolpuddle Martyrs stood for in today’s picket lines and workplaces
MATT ALLEN salutes the workers and reps who push back against bosses, win for members and make the Unite union what it is
Outsourcing is at the heart of inequality. Only collective unity in the trade union movement can topple the Establishment’s obsession with it, says SAM GURNEY
Labour’s watered-down legislation won’t protect us from unfair dismissal or ban some zero-hours contracts until 2027 — leaving millions of young people vulnerable to the populist right’s appeal, warns TUC young workers chair FRASER MCGUIRE