The trade unions of today came out of working class struggle. Socialists played a critical role in developing them.
The national strike by postal workers this week is a battle that will determine the future.
The days leading up to what could be the most important industrial conflict for many years saw one side preparing for all out class warfare – while the other was desperately looking for peace.
Solidarity is the key to victory for the post strike – and everyone, everywhere can do something to support the workers.
To find a group near you or to get help setting one up, phone 020 7819 1175
It’s clear that it is a diktat from government – and the Lord of the Dark Arts himself, business secretary Peter Mandelson – that prevents any settlement to our dispute.
This is a fight for jobs. Royal Mail has axed 53,000 jobs in the last seven years.
We are repeatedly told that the volume of mail that Royal Mail is handling is falling.
Postal workers are seething after the Labour government gave its full backing to Royal Mail bosses in this fight.
"Now the SS men were ready to attack. In closed formations, stepping haughtily and loudly, they marched into the seemingly dead streets of the Central Ghetto. Their triumph appeared to be complete.
According to the gospel of Jeremy Clarkson (bear with me on this), if anyone calls him sexist he would, "grab you by the epiglottis and bash the back of your head repeatedly into the pavement".
This week marks the 150th anniversary of a rebellion that helped end slavery in the United States. Michael Bradley looks back at a raid that many said was doomed to failure, and at John Brown, the man who led it.
