Time for industrial action!
It’s back to the drawing board for the ACTU with their strategy to defeat Work Choices. First, the rallies in late November – especially the attempt to fill the MCG in Melbourne – had fewer workers than expected. Then the ACTU’s favourite ALP leader, Kim Beazley, lost the leadership to Queensland right-winger Kevin Rudd who has much less ties to organised labour.
This is an updated version of a previous article carried on this site. It is also featured on the front page of the Dec/Jan edition of ‘The Socailst’ newspaper. (more…)

Forty years ago, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was founded. It represented the highest point of the vast rebellion against racism and poverty that swept the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. At the height of their influence, J Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI, described the Panthers as “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country.”
By Hannah Sell, Socialist Party (more…)

Three days before the congress of the United Socialist Party (CWI, Sri Lanka) was convened in Colombo, a suicide bomb attack in the city targeted the minister of defence - the brother of the president, Mahinda Rajapakse. Two of his entourage were killed and thirteen people hospitalised with severe injuries. Gotabhaya Rajapakse narrowly escaped with his life but the attack was seen as a virtual declaration of war by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
By Elizabeth Clarke, CWI, Colombo (more…)

The Fijian military has overthrown the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. Military head Commodore Frank Bainimarama has declared himself interim President and appointed military doctor Jona Senolagakali as Prime Minister. This is the nation’s fourth coup in 19 years.
By Socialist Party reporters Sydney (more…)

Muslims, socialists, unions and other groups will conduct a counter-rally against bikini protesters who plan to march on a Brunswick mosque on Saturday. Police will monitor the demonstrations, with white supremacists claiming to have infiltrated bikini protest ranks, increasing the potential for confrontation.
By Mark Dunn. Originally published in todays Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne. (more…)

Burger King next on hit list!
After months of negotiation the Unite Union in New Zealand has reached a breakthrough collective employment agreement with fast food giant McDonald’s. Earlier this year Unite also signed agreements with Red Rooster and Restaurant Brands who own KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. (more…)

In contrast to any other President or head of state in the world today, Hugo Chávez, has been re-elected for a third term by a landslide. With turnout reaching 70%, it appears that Chávez has been re-elected with approximately 60% of the vote compared to approximately 38% which went to his right-wing challenger, Manual Rosales. However, at the time of writing it is not clear if Chávez succeeded in his objective of winning 10 million votes.
By Tony Saunois, CWI secretary (more…)

When thousands of workers come together, as a class and on a working day, to defend their industrial rights, this has to be a good thing. It is estimated that over 250,000 workers in total rallied around Australia in support of the National Day of Action against John Howard’s industrial laws. Many defied aggressive employers to attend the event.
By Socialist Party reporters, Melbourne (more…)