By Tim Nailsea The trade union movement in Britain saw something of a strike wave in 2022-23, in response to the double-digit inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Yet in the following years the tide has definitely ebbed. In December 2022, 830,000 working days were lost due to strike action; by December 2024, they had dropped […]

Workers Power proposed local organisation and a clear position on radical democratisation of the unions.

Rank and file activists build on success of first conference

As the government prepares to cut civil service jobs, a crisis in the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has left it unable to respond. Union branches are pushing for a Special Delegate Conference to resolve the leadership deadlock, but in the meantime no strikes or campaigns are initiated, allowing Labour’s attacks to continue unchallenged.  […]

Great power rivalry is back. That means more wars, more coups — and an end to the farce of global cooperation on climate change. On the home front, a general election is a chance for workers to put our demands on the agenda.

How can we build a rank and file movement?

Over 800 workers at the homeless charity St Mungo’s have voted to end their three-month all out strike.

Under pressure from rank and file activity most of the revolutionary socialist groups turned left, workers power argues now is the time to unite all who want to develop a rank and file strategy.

The 2022-2023 strike wave, despite its impressive size, failed to achieve what was possible for workers. George Banks argues the rank and file needs organisation and unity.

An important step forward for grassroots trade unionists

CWU bureaucracy wins on rotten deal, but struggle won't end.

Editorial July-August 2023, No.405

An Open Letter to union activists and the left on the next steps for our movement

Rotten agreement will not provide job security and will weaken union.

800 striking workers at St Mungo’s homelessness charity have escalated to indefinite action, Jeremy Dewar reports.

The CWU leadership are running scared of their own members. Workers Power argues for a rank and file movement

Editorial June 2023, No. 404

Workers need a rank-and-file movement to take control of the dispute to stop a bad deal

THE STRIKES that have dominated the headlines for six months represent a decade of pent-up anger.Millions of workers, especially in the public sector, have seen their real take-home pay collapse by 20–25% under the Tories; now they’re asking us to take another 10–15% cut. The dam has burst. Industrial action stands at a 30 year […]

Tim Nailsea reviews A Collective Bargain: Unions, Organising and the Fight for Democracy by Jane McAlevey

Despite all the start-and-stop action, setbacks and limited victories, it is doubtless the case that there is a growing militant mood amongst refuse workers, which Sharon Graham’s new leadership and its organising drive on the bins has built on.

Refuse workers employed by Urbaser at Welwyn Garden City have shown the way to deal with bullying bosses.

Unite’s organising drive across the industry is spilling over into other unions, inspiring refuse workers in the GMB in particular to join the struggle.

HGV drivers striking against Coventry City Council since 31 January remain determined as ever, while the city’s Labour councillors continue strike-breaking tactics.

Instead of waiting for the leaders, rank and file activists and reps need to make the start.

The promised shop-steward combines are a good start, but should go further.

The Civil Servants’ union PCS will hold a consultative ballot on pay and pensions between 14 February and 21 March.

The University and College Union (UCU) has confirmed a new wave of strike action at 68 universities in February and March.

The 14.6% turnout in the pay ballot marks a dangerous low point.

Remember the old slogan - "with the union leaders where possible, without them where necessary".