The annual conference of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) last weekend saw major debates on how it should organise and intervene into resistance to the crisis.

McCluskey challenged in Unite leadership election

Victimised former union convenor at Rolls-Royce in Bristol, Jerry Hicks, has put himself forward for Unite union’s general secretary election.

Halesowen staff undivided over sacked maths lecturer

More than 50 UCU lecturers and supporters from other unions picketed three entrances of Halesowen College in the Black Country on the first day back on Monday of this week.

Growing pressure for teaching unions to call strikes in spring

Hopes were rising as Socialist Worker went to press that teaching unions could soon announce a date for a strike in schools this term.

Strike ballot closing for 80,000 jobcentre workers

A ballot of 80,000 workers will close this week at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Protest for health workers called in Bolton

Health workers in Bolton, Greater Manchester, are beginning a campaign against attacks on their jobs.

Demo to save Hinchingbrooke

Health campaigners in the Hands Off Hinchingbrooke hospital campaign are set to demonstrate on Saturday of this week.

Occupiers' adventure to save threatened playground

The demolition of a south London playground has been delayed after activists occupied the site to save it.

Reports round-up

Reservoir campaign makes a big splash Campaigners in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, have beaten back plans to drain Cupwith reservoir into a muddy puddle.

Desperate lies can't hide savage Tory war on benefits

Parliament was about to vote on deep cuts to benefits that millions rely on as Socialist Worker went to press.

Labour joins in attack on welfare with new scheme to hit ‘workshy’

Unemployed people will be forced to work or lose their benefits under plans unveiled by Labour’s shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

London protest at assassination of Kurds in Paris

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Turkish Embassy in central London yesterday, Friday, to protest at the killing of three Kurdish activists in Paris. Workers, students and campaigners united to demand justice. Among the banners were flags from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

International

Locksmiths' direct action blocks evictions in Spain

Locksmiths in Pamplona in northern Spain are refusing to co-operate in evictions. This is part of a growing backlash across the Spanish state.

Censorship sparks strike in China

Journalists at Southern Weekly newspaper in Guangzhou, China, walked out on strike on Monday of this week over press censorship.

No end to Syria war, says Assad

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria sent a defiant message to the opposition last Sunday in his first public speech in six months.

Crisis grows as speculation surrounds Chavez's health

Venezuela has been gripped by political crisis amid speculation that long serving left wing president Hugo Chavez could be at death’s door.

Rape accused on trial as punishment is debated

The trial has begun of five men accused of raping and murdering a woman on a bus in Delhi two weeks ago. A sixth suspect will be tried in juvenile court.

New Canadian indigenous movement blocks roads over land grab

Flash mobs of indigenous activists and their supporters, hundreds strong, blocked roads, bridges and railway lines across Canada last week.

Socialist editor attacked in Nigeria

Femi Aborisade, the editor of Socialist Worker in Nigeria, has been attacked in his house.

Argentina: Two alternatives to the Fernandez government's crisis

Anger is growing in Argentina against the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner—and two very different social movements are articulating it.

Comment

Tory's crocodile tears for 'white male working class' students

David Willets, the Tories’ universities minister, claimed last week that white working class men need a special campaign to encourage them to go to university.

Features

Egypt's socialist paper

Two years ago this month, mass protests and strikes in Egypt forced out hated dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Michael Roberts interview: How far can the US economy fall?

Who will benefit from the new US budget deal?

Reviews

Utopia: a grim and darkly comic vision of a far from perfect future

Channel 4’s new six part thriller Utopia is set in an unremittingly bleak London, beaten down by recession.

Don McCullin's striking portraits of world in crisis

News photographer Don McCullin has covered wars, famines and conflict zones since the early 1960s.

Bad Pharma: a guide to how drug companies mislead doctors

In his latest book, Bad Pharma, journalist and psychiatrist Ben Goldacre narrows his sights on a single powerful target—the global pharmaceuticals industry.