74. How the unions need to fight now Socialism

We need to fight for every job. But is such a fight possible?

Thousands of new members are flooding into Britain’s trade unions. But thousands more are losing their jobs every day.

Black Lives Matter and coronavirus inequalities have thrown racism into the spotlight too. Precarious work in the gig economy, and even sweatshop conditions in some areas, are pressing issues for more and more of the working class. How can the unions lead a fightback here?

Meanwhile, as major sections of the union leadership tried to partner up with the government, rank-and-file union members with no choice but to fight have led heroic struggles themselves. What does this mean for how workers need to organise?

This episode of Socialism looks at working-class organisation in the new stage of the pandemic crisis: how the unions need to fight now.

Further listening and reading

Episode 72. You can't have capitalism without racism: https://soundcloud.com/socialismpodcast/72-you-cant-have-capitalism-without-racism

Fight for every job: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31025/08-07-2020/fight-for-every-job-fight-for-socialism

NSSN conference: "Fight for our lives and livelihoods": https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31039/08-07-2020/fantastic-virtual-nssn-conference-fight-for-our-lives-and-livelihoods

Southampton UCU - election victory for combative rank and file: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/31036/08-07-2020/southampton-ucu-election-victory-for-combative-rank-and-file