Ikea’s Sick Pay Scandal
In the midst of a global pandemic, Ikea Glasgow introduced a new sick pay policy forcing self-isolating workers onto just £95 a week. A union rep, Richie Venton, fought back – and soon found himself sacked.
4350 Articles by:
Raven Hart
Raven Hart is co-founder of the Bristol Cooperative Alliance, an organisation that aims to promote a decentralised economy that empowers local communities and facilitates democratic self-determination.
Why ‘Responsible’ Capitalism Is Not Enough
In an era of runaway inequality and environmental destruction, corporate giants are rebranding as socially-conscious – but these problems are caused by the same system that makes them rich.
Capitalism Isn’t Free or Democratic
Under capitalism, the decisions that shape society are made by those who own the wealth – and the rest of us have to work for them to survive. That’s neither freedom nor democracy.
How a Decade of Cuts Made School Reopening Harder
The safe reopening of schools has been undermined by the government’s failure on test and trace – but also by a decade of cuts which have left our schools disgracefully under-resourced.
How Covid-19 Is Increasing Inequality
Inequality was steep in Britain before the pandemic, but those who entered this crisis with insecure work, low pay and high rents will leave it even worse off – if we want a better future, it’s time to organise.
Why They Want a ‘Rule, Britannia!’ Culture War
Reforming the Last Night of the Proms was never a left-wing demand – but by elevating the controversy, the Tories can consolidate their base, disguise their failures and advance their reform agenda for the BBC.
The Covid-19 Mental Health Crisis
New research suggests that depression has doubled during Covid-19 – but years of cuts to mental health services have left support systems struggling to cope.
How Asian Workers Fought Racism on the Railways
In 1990, Asian rail workers who applied for positions as drivers on British Rail found themselves frozen out in favour of less-qualified white colleagues. They fought back – and won a landmark battle.
2. “Neoliberal Authoritarianism”: An Interview with Guillaume Long
In the second episode of A World to Win, Grace discusses the rise of Latin America’s new right-wing with Guillaume Long, former foreign minister of Ecuador under Rafael Correa.
Marx in London
When Karl Marx arrived in London as a refugee in 1849, he believed his stay would be brief – little did he know that he would remain for the rest of his life, or how profoundly the city would shape him.
Open Letter: Arts Educators Say No to Tate Redundancies
More than 100 artists and educators from across the world sign a letter condemning the proposed redundancies at the Tate – and demanding that management takes immediate action to defend workers’ jobs.
Trying To Fix My Introduction
Barney Farmer’s novel Coketown builds on his work on Viz classics like Drunken Bakers to create a comic horror update of Dickens’ Hard Times.
The Covid Crisis Has Revived Arts Trade Unionism
Across the creative industries, already precarious workers have been left in limbo by government and institutional inaction during this crisis – but the unions that fight for them are adapting quickly.
Ireland’s ‘Golfgate’ Is a Story of Ruling Class Entitlement
Just days after imposing new lockdown restrictions, a circle of elite politicians in Ireland attended a golf dinner which brazenly flouted them. Their attitude was simple: rules only apply to the common people.
Remembering Wave Hill: When Australia’s Indigenous Fought Back
On this day in 1966, hundreds of indigenous workers walked off the job in Australia’s Northern Territory demanding equal pay. Their strike lasted nine years – and resulted in the return of ancestral lands stolen for generations.
He Was Curious Red
Olof Palme, the radical social democrat who led Sweden in the 1970s, first came to international prominence in an unexpected place – a cameo in the notorious ‘sex film’ I Am Curious Yellow.
How Co-operative Architecture Shaped Britain
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Britain’s growing co-operative movement provided an alternative to capitalist business practices – and made its mark on cities and towns with ambitious building projects.
Fabric Cybernetics
The work of the Soviet textile designer Anna Andreeva, recently rediscovered by New York’s Museum of Modern Art, is an insight into Soviet cultural diplomacy, right down to a commemorative scarf made for Queen Elizabeth II.
On Your Marks, Get Set, Unionise!
For years, international track and field athletes have watched the decisions that shape their sport made by elite organisations while their right to protest was curtailed – so now, they’ve decided to unionise.
Delays Are Not Enough – It’s Time to Cancel the Rent
Hundreds of thousands of renters face unaffordable arrears on top of their runaway housing costs. Delaying evictions isn’t a solution – it’s time to campaign for write-offs.