Working people around the world who are attracted to the Fifth Socialist International  see glimmers of hope and the possibility of historical transformation, and they are willing to commit themselves to the struggle. These are the people who make history. January 15, 2010 — Critics who have planted themselves firmly on the sidelines have been [...]

“You have to resist if you don’t want to perish” by Binayak Sen [A body mass index] below 18.5 is regarded as chronic subnutrition.  33% of our adult population, one third of the country, have a body mass index below 18.5.  For me this is a shocking figure. . . .  We find that, in [...]

India: A nation of working poor “The impact of the global financial crisis is already being felt in the country and the poor are worst affected. In the first half of the year the unorganised workers were pressed hard due to high commodity prices and after the global financial crisis they are hit by loss [...]

by Michael D. Yates [Excerped from the transcription of the  Keynote speech (mp3) at the conference "How Unions Matter in the New Economy" in Toronto, 28-29 October 2005.] First, working people want and need good jobs and benefits, but the vision worthy of a struggle to achieve, they need that, too.  People are likely to [...]

Speech of W.F.T.U. General Secretary Com. George Mavrikos at 98th ILC Plenary Session Geneva June 17th , Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations a. The economic crisis: the realistic and necessary targets. Dear Mr President, Dear colleagues On behalf of the World Federation of Trade Unions (W.F.T.U.) we believe that the worries, the thoughts and the [...]

A ten-step guide to workplace organisation from scratch. By Patrick Smith 1 Keep it quiet at first When faced with mistreatment in the workplace, it is tempting to respond angrily and spontaneously. It is much more effective, however, to step back and think strategically about long-term solutions. Dissent from an individual may result in that [...]

by Michael D. Yates “The “primacy” of organized labour in struggle arises from the fact that no other group, movement or force in capitalist society is remotely capable of mounting as effective and formidable a challenge to the existing structures of power and privilege as it is in the power of organized labour to mount. [...]

Declaration of the Congress of South African Trade Unions International Solidarity Conference, Johannesburg, June 24-26, 2009. COSATU — Gathered at this historic International Solidarity Conference of COSATU are workers, activists and internationalists committed to a new and just world order, free from poverty, hunger and injustice. We have concluded two days of intensive engagements, critical [...]

At the moment, among the US workers there is a feeling of shock, disbelief, anxiety, fear and depression. But that will not last forever. There is a profound questioning of the very system taking place, and eventually, fear and frustration will be transformed into anger and a desire to take action. Many have sincere illusions [...]

FRENCH EXPERIENCE What are the broad lessons we can take away from the French experience? For one thing, the protests and strikes, and the organizing that made them possible, show that resignation, panic and “everyone for themself” are not the only possible responses to the onset of economic hard times. While people will often respond [...]