The political consensus to merge social care and the health service would be a disaster, unless the cuts are stopped and more funding is provided, writes Raymie Kiernan

Unite union policy conference takes on NHS cuts, Labour, fracking and racism

The Unite union put the fight for the NHS centre stage at its policy conference in Liverpool last week.

Cheers outside court in Sheffield for arrested Freedom Ride pensioners

Well over 250 people gathered outside Sheffield Magistrates Court on Monday of this week.

Stand up for the scientists as Northampton hospital lockout continues

Up to 78 biomedical scientists were still locked out at Northampton general hospital as Socialist Worker went to press.

New ballot over pay claim at Care UK in Doncaster

Care UK workers in Doncaster were set to begin a two-week strike ballot over a new pay claim on Wednesday of this week. They could strike from 25 July.

Safety concerns over scabbing on Tube

Workers have raised severe safety concerns as Tube bosses waste millions of pounds of public money in an effort to beat a strike.

Glasgow's Common Weal festival sets out vision for progressive Scotland

Around 800 people attended the Festival of the Common Weal in Glasgow on Sunday of last week.

Education workers round-up

Primary Charter meeting to defend childhood | King’s lecturers to join 10 July strike | Croydon teachers are fighting back

Lambeth College strikers plan next step in their fight

Workers at Lambeth College were meeting to decide the next moves in their indefinite strike as Socialist Worker went to press.

Gaza resident speaks out as Israel attacks

Israeli airstrikes killed nine people in Gaza on Monday of this week—and the bombardment is continuing. Fawzi al-Massri, a Gaza resident, spoke to Socialist Worker.

Argos workers strike against bosses’ greed

More than 1,000 workers struck at Argos distribution centres around Britain on Thursday of last week.

Sainsbury's distribution workers to vote on strike

Workers at Sainsbury’s distribution centres were voting on strikes to defend pensions this week.

Britain First Nazis' roadshow is a washout

Protesters turned a planned national roadshow by Britain First into a disaster for the fascists last weekend.

Victory after Brighton Palestine campaign forces EcoStream shop to close

Activists are celebrating news that the EcoStream shop in Brighton has ceased trading.

Kingsley Burrell's family vow to fight on to get justice

The sister of Kingsley Burrell vowed to continue fighting for justice after last week’s announcement that no cops will face charges over his death.

Blacklisting 'payout' scheme slammed

Blacklisted construction workers have denounced the launch by eight building firms of a scheme claiming to compensate workers.

Cherry Groce inquest hears of aftermath of police shooting

The inquest into the death of Dorothy “Cherry” Groce last week heard a statement written by her after she was shot by police.

Tilbury port workers go all out

Workers at Tilbury docks began an all out strike on Monday of last week.

Mark Duggan judicial review set to begin

The judicial review into the death of Mark Duggan is set to begin on Wednesday of this week.

Tyneside glass strike won't crack

Workers at Tyneside Safety Glass in Gateshead have entered the second week of their three week long strike against low pay.

Workplace and protests round-up

Social housing; NHS; Adapted housing; Disability protest; Refugees; Stand up to Ukip

Picturehouse boycott begins as Ritzy workers strike for eighth time

Bectu union members at the Ritzy Picturehouse cinema in south London struck for the eighth time on Sunday of last week to demand the London Living Wage.

Tories hope child abuse inquiry will divert gaze from top

The Tories hope that the announcement of a panel of inquiry into how allegations of child abuse were handled will get them past the election.

News in brief

Daniel Morgan murder panel head appointed | Hillsborough inquests hear police tactics | Met told to co-operate over 'undercover' relationships | Andy Coulson jailed over hacking

Lambeth College workers reject bosses' offer and call off strike - but the fight is not over

Workers at Lambeth College have unanimously rejected a new offer from management and voted to return to work.

Rolling coverage of 10 July public sector strikes

As up to 1.5 million public sector workers strike across England and Wales Socialist Worker will be running coverage of picket lines, protests and rallies throughout the day

Photos from the 10 July 2014 public sector strike

Photos of strikers from across England and Wales

Photos of 10 July 2014 public sector strike rallies

Rallies by public sector strikers striking for pay and conditions

Marxism festival 2014 opens with a celebration of workers' strength

The annual Marxism festival began on Thursday of this week with a packed opening rally.

Thousands join London demo for Palestine

Some 10,000 people joined a demonstration in London today (Friday) to show solidarity with Palestinians facing an Israeli military onslaught.

International

Workers turn up the heat as Greek coalition clings on

Public sector workers were set to strike in Greece on Wednesday of this week. They plan rallies across the country and a protest at the ministry of finance in Athens.

Protests in Egypt over cuts to fuel subsidies

The Egyptian government removed fuel subsidies and put tax up on cigarettes, wine and beer last weekend.

International round-up

Metal workers' strike shakes South Africa | Maliki hangs on but Iraq may split | Massive march in Hong Kong | Former French president Sarkozy arrested

Comment

Struggle could change you, genetically speaking

New evidence that our environment shapes our genes should spur us on to change the world, argues John Parrington

As the rich enjoy housing bubble, the poor see no recovery

Firms aren’t investing because they don’t expect a big enough profit to make it worthwhile. So they’re relying on lower wages and a property boom instead, writes Alex Callinicos.

Features

Why Karl Marx remains relevant - Deciphering Capital by Alex Callinicos

Alex Callinicos’s new book Deciphering Capital argues that Karl Marx’s main work is still vital to understand how to change the world, writes Mark L Thomas

Exit Stage Right - Why isn't Labour offering an alternative to Tory austerity?

Workers are furious with the Tories, but Ed Miliband’s Labour Party seems determined not to offer anything better. Tomáš Tengely Evans looks at why Labour isn’t working—and how we can build a real alternative

Reviews

Mali All Stars

The influence of music from the west African state of Mali is disproportionate to its population.

A Bright Room Called Day

American playright Tony Kushner’s new play tells the story of a group of Communists and artists living in 1930s Berlin.

Making Colour exhibition offers a fresh perspective on history of art

Making colour begins with a quote from the impressionist painter Renoir. He said, “Without paints in tubes there would have been no Cezanne, no Monet, no Sisley or Pissarro, nothing of what journalists call impressionism.”

Glasgow Girl talks about new TV drama on their victorious anti-deportation campaign

Amal Azzudin, one of the original 'Glasgow Girls' who stopped their friend’s deportation, spoke to Socialist Worker about the BBC's new musical adaptation of their story