With fascists and their supporters cynically and falsely posing as ‘defenders of women,’ the left must take violence against women seriously and gain a better understanding of women’s oppression, warns HELEN O’CONNOR

As some celebrate a pay rise, outsourced, privatised workers face continued exploitation — ending this injustice by bringing them in-house must become a top priority for the labour movement, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

HELEN O’CONNOR sees a worrying trend of women exiting the labour movement in their thousands, and warns that if this tide is not stemmed with proper and effective action, it will only be to the benefit of the capitalist class

Far from being ‘more efficient’ and providing ‘choice,’ privateers taking over the public sector have worsened service delivery, and workers rights’ have been utterly compromised on the altar of corporate greed, warns HELEN O’CONNOR

Outsourced workers at Princess Royal hospital are fighting back against appalling treatment by their employer, ISS. They deserve our full support, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

Dedicated staff at Epsom and St Helier NHS are taking strike action over unjust pay practices – they deserve our full solidarity as they stand up for their rights, says HELEN O’CONNOR

The way in which women like this legendary Irish trade unionist and socialist rose from extreme poverty to political leadership of the class struggle should be remembered — and emulated, writes HELEN O'CONNOR

The millionaire celebrity’s attitude towards women was on open display long before the recent criminal allegations — he is no left-wing, anti-establishment hero, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

The fight against cuts and privatisation must be at the centre of a real-world agenda that speaks to working-class people's day-to-day needs, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

We need an openly political and co-ordinated fightback against any kind of privatisation of the NHS, rather than a slightly slower path to its annihilation, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

Although there have been setbacks in healthcare organising, nurses and other NHS workers are becoming more active and engaged in their trade unions and this is still a beacon of hope, says HELEN O’CONNOR

Only pertinent arguments and staff engagement in union work will deliver lasting success, writes HELEN O'CONNOR

Union equality structures need a fresh approach to break out of siloed thinking and develop women’s abilities to organise within their workplaces against exploitative employers, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

Ambulance staff are out on strike on January 11 and once again they are calling on the entire labour movement and the general public to support them in their struggle to save universal healthcare, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

Speak to any striking nurse and they will tell you ‘reform’ is not needed — indeed, it is the supposed modernisation of the NHS that has been slowly wrecking the system for private profit, explains HELEN O’CONNOR

Industrial action is sounding the alarm about the crisis point our health service has now reached after years of being deliberately run down by the government, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

Now the ballot has been won, we must all do what we can to support industrial action when it comes — for the good of the NHS itself, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

It is time for all NHS staff in all unions, especially nurses, to vote Yes to industrial action during this ballot period, or further 'restructuring,’ marketisation and degradation of our health service will follow, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

As 65 per cent of the public-sector workforce are female, this puts them on the front line of the struggle against privatisation and de-regulation — unions must centre women workers for an effective fightback, writes HELEN O'CONNOR

We must build a united front industrially and politically, with clear, relevant demands and a co-ordinated campaign to deliver them or the Tories will crush us, argues HELEN O’CONNOR

Labour has lurched to the right under Starmer – and it’s working people who are suffering as a result of a lack of proper opposition, writes HELEN O'CONNOR

The battle against outsourcing is being fought in south London — and this May 30, we must all show our support, writes GMB regional organiser HELEN O’CONNOR

HELEN O’CONNOR is unimpressed by an imbalanced discussion of ‘sex work’ where women who do not feel empowered and liberated by prostitution are either dismissed or ignored

This is the finale to decades of free-market ideological war on our jobs, homes and lives. What seems like chaos reigns, but we must realise this is a well-organised attack – and our response must be too, writes HELEN O’CONNOR

HELEN O'CONNOR charts the slow creep of damaging change in the NHS since the ’90s, with a burgeoning number of ‘managers’ with no healthcare experience, increased fragmentation and privatisation, and the abolition of the nursing bursary

… but Croydon hospital workers have won — so can you! HELEN O’CONNOR tells the remarkable story of how they organised from scratch to win a groundbreaking 24% pay rise and a sick pay scheme

Women have just as big a role to play in the trade unions and in political life as men – every aspect of our day-to-day lives is affected by workplace policies and by the decisions of the politicians in Westminster, argues HELEN O’CONNOR

Hospital staff in south London will soon ballot for strike action to gain proper sick pay, a living wage and to be brought in-house — this is a fight for the future of nationalised healthcare, writes HELEN O'CONNOR

HELEN O’CONNOR explains how brave GMB members are battling Mitie to try to prevent it eroding standards in St George’s Hospital – and why everyone should get behind these workers in their fight for pay justice

G4S employees who carry out vital NHS work are struggling to survive on the minimum wage and don’t get decent sick pay. HELEN O’CONNOR says they deserve all our support

The push to move responsibility for our health onto our personal lifestyle choices is increasing – but all the evidence about growing inequality shows that traditional in-hospital care is absolutely vital, explains HELEN O’CONNOR

HELEN O'CONNOR reviews the very recent disasters from attempts to use private companies and private finance instead of a publicly funded NHS — now this discredited approach is back to 'drive down waiting lists'

Revisiting the work of Bolshevik revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai HELEN O’CONNOR finds that when genuine efforts are made to involve working-class women into the labour movement, this advances the interests of the entire working class

Launching and winning future health ballots will require a drive to engage members and to explain to them what is at stake — and the struggle is only just beginning in earnest, says HELEN O’CONNOR

NHS staff are rising up against a Tory move to open up our health service to privatisation. Join them, support them — or lose the NHS for good, writes HELEN O'CONNOR