Socialism

Unprecedented state intervention - but still workers suffer?

The British government has pledged hundreds of billions in funding during the Covid-19 pandemic. The US Congress has approved trillions.

Capitalist governments in multiple countries seem to be abandoning privatisation and market competition for nationalisation and central coordination. It looks quite a lot like some of the policies socialists call for.

But corporate profits are being subsidised. The big banks and finance sector are untouched. And workers are receiving too little too late when it comes to income and safety protections. In fact, lack of personal protective equipment is killing frontline health workers in the UK, and 10 million workers have joined the unemployment lines in just two weeks in the US.

What does this U-turn in policy direction by the capitalists, amid a complete failure of their system, say about capitalism - and the socialist alternative?

This episode of Socialism looks at coronavirus and state intervention: is this socialism?

Further reading

International statement - as coronavirus crisis intensifies, class antagonisms deepen: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/03/31/as-coronavirus-crisis-intensifies-class-antagonisms-deepen/

International statement - coronavirus plunges capitalism into global turmoil - the need for a socialist alternative: https://www.socialistworld.net/2020/03/23/coronavirus-plunges-capitalism-into-global-turmoil-the-need-for-a-socialist-alternative/

All the latest frontline reports, socialist analysis and working-class demands in the latest issue of the Socialist newspaper: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1080

Donate to help us keep producing independent content: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/donate/

Join the fightback - join the Socialists: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/join/

How can workers look after their interests in the pandemic?

Schools in Britain are part-closing, workers in almost every sector are being sent home with or without pay, and there are shortages of equipment for safe and hygienic working everywhere. The day after we recorded this podcast on 19 March 2020, the government was due to announce plans to support workers.

But whatever is promised, the track record so far is that workers everywhere are pulling out all the stops to fight the pandemic - while big businesses and their politicians only seem interested in their bottom lines.

What should workers demand to solve these problems? Was the Trade Union Congress right to declare for ‘national unity’ with the employers and the government? And how can workers make sure their interests are looked after in this period, whether or not they’re in a union?

This episode of Socialism looks at the Covid-19 pandemic: workers’ rights during coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic is a rapidly escalating global crisis affecting every part of the capitalist system. As well as following this weekly podcast, you should check the Socialist Party’s website, socialistparty.org.uk, and our Facebook page, for regular statements on working-class demands, socialist analysis, and reports from the frontline.

Further reading

National Shop Stewards Network coronavirus workers' support Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/814163955758626

Latest issue of the Socialist including more coverage on coronavirus: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1078

Socialist Party Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CWISocialistParty

Coronavirus latest on the Socialist Party website: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/keyword/Health_and_welfare/Coronavirus,filter

How can workers' action help overcome the Covid-19 crisis?

The new coronavirus, Covid-19, is sweeping through the world's population - exposing capitalism for disastrous weaknesses in healthcare systems,social infrastructure, and the global economy. Capitalist politicians and the capitalist state are torn between protecting public health and defending private profit.

The official number of cases in the UK as of 12 March 2020 is 590. But the British government's chief scientific advisor has said the real number could be up to 10,000. The local elections planned for May have been postponed.

Hospitals are facing overload. Workers are facing lost pay. The economy was already heading toward recession. But workers have also fought back with demands and with strike action to force a response in the interests of the majority.

Why did capitalism get us here? What action can workers take to improve things? And how could socialist change resolve the underlying problems?

This episode of Socialism looks at the coronavirus: the socialist response.

Further reading

Latest updates and demands in the Socialist: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1077

Covid-19 - a socialist response to the coronavirus crisis: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30353/04-03-2020/covid-19-a-socialist-response-to-the-coronavirus-crisis

Coronavirus crisis shakes Chinese regime: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30290/19-02-2020/coronavirus-crisis-shakes-chinese-regime

Coronavirus exposes capitalism's weaknesses in healthcare and economy: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30203/05-02-2020/coronavirus-exposes-capitalisms-weaknesses-in-healthcare-and-economy

Coronavirus - capitalism limits response to viral outbreaks: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30176/29-01-2020/coronavirus-capitalism-limits-response-to-viral-outbreaks

What could a socialist campaign for London achieve?

The London mayor and assembly are up for election in May. The Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan is the incumbent and Labour’s candidate for 2020 - but is a supporter of the pro-big business wing of Labour and an opponent of Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity politics.

Low pay, a housing crisis, disappearing council services, knife crime and air pollution are all major issues in Britain’s capital. Khan has presided over their continuation.

So how should trade unionists and socialists approach the London elections? How would a socialist Greater London Authority behave? And what could a campaign raising those ideas achieve - whether or not it was elected?

This episode of Socialism looks at the London elections: socialists into City Hall.

Further reading

London Socialist Party's website: http://www.londonsocialistparty.org.uk/

We need socialists in London's City Hall: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30035/19-12-2019/we-need-socialists-in-londons-city-hall

Strike wave around London: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30357/04-03-2020/strike-wave-around-london-this-is-why-we-need-so#cialists-in-city-hall

Trans rights: a socialist programme for united workers' struggle.

Transgender rights have recently become a point of contention in the ongoing Labour Party leadership contest. The Socialist Party fights exploitation, discrimination and oppression in every form.

The workers’ movement must fight for the resources necessary to guarantee all sections of the working class a decent life. If it does not, there is a danger that debates can be falsely framed as battles between supposedly irreconcilable competing rights.

By fighting instead to expand the provision of jobs, homes and services for all, the workers’ movement can resolve differences on the basis of common struggle and democratic discussion.

The following episode is a re-run of episode 14, first aired on 15 January 2019, on the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) - much of which has now been kicked into the long grass by the Tories. But we think the general approach we lay out here on the question of trans rights is entirely relevant to the debates of today.

This episode of Socialism looks at GRA reform: the fight for trans rights.

Major strikes in the civil service and National Health Service have shaken the capitalist establishment in Northern Ireland. These enormous workers’ action followed watershed struggles in the private sector at the Harland and Wolff shipyard and Wrightbus factory.

The rival sectarian parties are required by the Good Friday Agreement to agree to govern together. They had refused to reach such an agreement after a supposed renewable heating scheme collapsed due to incompetence and alleged corruption three years ago. The strikes forced them back into the Assembly to make concessions to the workers.

But having tasted some of the power of collective working-class struggle, will workers allow a return to business as usual? More strikes seem likely. But how about a political alternative to austerity, sectarianism and capitalism?

This episode of Socialism looks at Northern Ireland: the strike wave.

Divisions and surprises abound as the main parties eye an angry working class in Britain.

The Tories’ decade-long grip on power continues for now - but what about their programme? The government has announced more cuts, but has also promised infrastructure investment. They have restored their majority, but their catastrophic divisions are already re-emerging. In fact, Sajid Javid, the chancellor of the exchequer, resigned in between recording this podcast and it airing.

Meanwhile, the anger in the working class, documented each week in the Socialist newspaper, continues to simmer. The ongoing Labour Party leadership contest is asking: how can Labour win back the confidence of the working class?

So - what is the way forward? This episode of Socialism looks at Britain: the new situation.

Do the setbacks in the 2010s mean the unions can't fight today?

The 2010s were a period of major attacks on workers in Britain. But the bosses and their politicians didn’t get things all their own way. The trade unions - the basic self-defence organisations of the working class - fought many important battles, shutting down production to try to force the bosses back.

There were many setbacks in those fights, but there were also victories. Marxists try to learn from both.

With a new decade opening up alongside a change of era in politics and world relations for Britain, what are the lessons of the 2010s for trade union struggle in the 2020s?

This episode of Socialism looks at the trade unions: new decade, new challenge.

Councils have the power to resist continued Tory austerity.

It’s budget-setting season again for local authorities in Britain. The Tories in central government have succeeded in making local councils do their dirty work and implement savage austerity for a decade.

In fact, so successful was this strategy, that the lack of any practical distinction between Labour and Conservative at a local level was a significant factor in Jeremy Corbyn’s general election defeat in December. From the perspective of many in working-class communities, nothing ever seems to change. So why bother voting for Labour?

But the general election is behind us for now. Council jobs and services are utterly threadbare. And there is major economic uncertainty ahead. Councils have a choice.

Either carry on acting as managers of austerity - as tame local representatives of Tory central government. Or set no-cuts budgets, and demand the stolen millions back from Westminster - as fighting representatives of local workers and residents. This could even paralyse and eventually overturn Johnson’s unstable government.

The Socialist Party calls on Labour councils to fight, and for Labour leadership candidates to commit to pushing for such a fight. It’s the same road taken successfully by the famous socialist Liverpool Council in the 1980s. Now is the time to take the Liverpool Road once more.

This is a re-run of episode 16 from January 2019. The situation has changed, but the need for council to fight has not. This episode of Socialism asks: are no-cuts council budgets possible?

After more than 45 days of strikes, workers in France are still furious about President Emmanuel Macron’s attack on pensions. His so-called reform would mean: work longer, get less.

But there’s no clear strategy from the union leaders. And there’s no clear political alternative to Macron and his politics, including from left-wing political leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Understandably, after almost two months of upsurge, the movement is starting to slow down - for the moment. So what happens next?

Socialism the Podcast was in Paris for events including one of the national days of action, 16 January. We spoke to a striking teacher and member of Gauche Révolutionnaire, the Socialist Party’s sister party in France, about the struggle.

This episode of Socialism looks at France: how can the strike win?

Further reading...

https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30135/22-01-2020/eyewitness-report-workers-struggle-in-france-on-the-boil

https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30153/22-01-2020/france-striker-speaks-real-deep-anger-needs-union-strategy

https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/30120/15-01-2020/france-struggle-over-pension-rights-government-in-difficulty