Workers' rights

United national action can derail Tory assault on train unions and safety

Workers have announced fresh strikes that will shut down the Southern rail network.

‘Worker status’ is not good enough

The Taylor Review was brought about by challenges by workers in bogus self-employment. But there’s a danger that the result will serve the bosses.

Confronting the restaurant boss who refuses to pay his workers wages

Watch the embarrassing conversation when Socialist Worker confronts Robert Newmark, a boss refusing to pay what he owes to his workers

Council workers’ strike vote crashes into new anti-union law

Local government workers in Scotland have voted by a clear majority to strike to force council chiefs to improve their latest pay offer but there are no plans for action.

Sacked for wanting wages - the reality of workers’ rights under the Tories

Eleven workers fired by swanky restaurant Beach Blanket Babylon (BBB) in Shoreditch, east London, have been holding nightly protests outside it since management sacked them last week.

Theresa May grants workers the right to remain exploited

The Tory manifesto set to be released this week will continue attacks on the whole working class.

Labour’s new policy on workers’ rights tinkers but doesn’t transform

02 May 2017
The difference between what’s on offer at the general election from the Tories and Labour was underlined last week over workers’ rights.

What does the Tory Trade Union Act mean for trade unionism?

07 March 2017
As the Trade Union Act comes into force, Sadie Robinson looks at the barriers that aim to stop workers striking—and why the Tories want them

Turkey steps up attack on workers in education

14 February 2017
New decree in Turkey gives president Erdogan even greater powers already resulting in mass suspensions and dismissals of workers

'We support the free movement of labour' - trade unionists speak out

17 January 2017
Free movement of labour has become a key debate. Workers currently have the freedom to travel across the European Union (EU) under current rules.

Zero hours contracts and temporary jobs - is precarious work the new norm?

22 November 2016
We are told that the rise of precarious work is changing the world. But Joseph Choonara argues that workers’ potential power to change the world is as relevant as ever

Uber workers' win gives us a lift

01 November 2016
In a welcome judgement, an employment tribunal has ruled in favour of two Uber taxi drivers.

Don’t be played by the ‘gig economy’ hype

18 October 2016
A new report hails the ‘digital platforms’ that are making workers ‘independent’. But the claims are misleading, writes Alistair Farrow

TUC Congress - unions must break the law to defend workers' rights

13 September 2016
This year’s TUC congress in Brighton came after the Tories passed their Trade Union Act in May.

Workers in Britain and Greece suffer biggest fall in wages, says TUC report

02 August 2016
Workers in Britain have suffered the biggest fall in wages of the world’s richest countries since the economic crisis began in 2007.

Rail bosses' attack on safety is a plot to smash workers' unions—say no to DOO

02 August 2016
Workers in Scotland, London and the south east of England are stepping up their strikes to resist bosses’ plans to undermine safety on the railways.

Workers are right to reject Cameron’s EU

14 June 2016
David Cameron has handed his fate to the Labour Party. According to the Financial Times newspaper, he is “passing the baton to Labour’s leading figures to try to lure back working class voters veering towards Brexit”.

Floods can't wash away the strikes in France

07 June 2016
Workers bring France to a standstill days before the Euro 2016 football tournament, reports Dave Sewell

Strikes and blockades in France show how to win

24 May 2016
Petrol shortages gripped parts of France at the beginning of this week as the movement against the Labour-type government’s attacks moved to “shut down the economy”.

French resistance sees blockades, strikes and protests

20 May 2016
Blockades, strikes and protests against the French government’s attack on workers’ rights caused huge disruption this week. Workers and activists are out to shut down the economy.