A second increase in Unite membership subs in just six years—both occurring within the past ten months under Sharon Graham’s leadership—is nothing short of a betrayal of the rank and file. While we are told that membership is on the rise, this claim rings hollow when we see the strike fund slashed from £40 million to a mere £4 million. Where is the money going if they have such an increasing membership? Instead of strengthening workers' industrial power, it’s clear that the leadership is plugging financial gaps while demanding more handouts from the membership. Perhaps fighting corruption and bullying claims is more important to Unite leadership these days.
Graham's empty rhetoric of breaking, or threats of breaking with the Labour Party, Unite still hands over £1 million a year in affiliation fees to a party that has proven itself hostile to workers' interests. On top of that, another £500,000 has been funneled into 88 MPs of Unites choosing, many of whom offer little more than empty gestures towards working-class struggle. This is money that should be going towards fighting for higher wages, strike pay, and real class organisation, not greasing the palms of political careerists.
This is not a leadership genuinely committed to class struggle, but pantomime fist waving, while keeping its feet firmly planted in the old game of Labourite opportunism. Instead of empowering workers, Graham’s tenure has seen a systematic weakening of strike resources (even strike breaking in favour of her husband) and a continuation of Labour patronage, all while squeezing more from Unite members’ pockets.
Workers must demand full financial transparency and, more importantly, an end to the siphoning of union resources into a party that serves capital, not the working class.
- Karl Marx, Wage, Price and Profit
https://skwawkbox.org/2025/03/05/unite-raises-member-subs-for-2nd-time-in-a-year-despite-claims-of-rising-numbers/
Class Consciousness Project.
Graham's empty rhetoric of breaking, or threats of breaking with the Labour Party, Unite still hands over £1 million a year in affiliation fees to a party that has proven itself hostile to workers' interests. On top of that, another £500,000 has been funneled into 88 MPs of Unites choosing, many of whom offer little more than empty gestures towards working-class struggle. This is money that should be going towards fighting for higher wages, strike pay, and real class organisation, not greasing the palms of political careerists.
This is not a leadership genuinely committed to class struggle, but pantomime fist waving, while keeping its feet firmly planted in the old game of Labourite opportunism. Instead of empowering workers, Graham’s tenure has seen a systematic weakening of strike resources (even strike breaking in favour of her husband) and a continuation of Labour patronage, all while squeezing more from Unite members’ pockets.
Workers must demand full financial transparency and, more importantly, an end to the siphoning of union resources into a party that serves capital, not the working class.
"The trade unions aim at nothing less than to prevent the reduction of wages below the level that is traditionally maintained in the various branches of industry. That is to say, they wish to ensure the least possible degree of comfort to the workers. They fail generally from not rightly understanding their power."
- Karl Marx, Wage, Price and Profit
https://skwawkbox.org/2025/03/05/unite-raises-member-subs-for-2nd-time-in-a-year-despite-claims-of-rising-numbers/
Class Consciousness Project.
THE SKWAWKBOX
Unite raises member subs for 2nd time in a year – despite claims of rising numbers
Email sent in name of finance director who’s off sick after alleged bullying Unite general secretary Sharon Graham is increasing members’ subnoscription rates for the second time in a yea…
Forwarded from Anti Imperialist Action Ireland
The Shadow of the Imperialist Gunman looms over Ireland.
Say No To NATO and an EU Army!
In their attempts to curry favour with their masters, the 26 County administration is hellbent on forcing the Irish people into NATO or an E.U. Army.
This is despite the overwhelming opposition of the Irish people to further militarisation and imperialist war.
Joining NATO or an EU Army means Irish working class men and women dragged off to die in foreign conflicts to enrich a small set of imperialists.
It means putting Ireland at risk of retaliation from the countless enemies of Europe, Britain and the USA.
This campaign has nothing to do with ensuring the "security" or sovereignty of the Irish nation and everything to do with deepening the imperialist dominance over our country, already partitioned and occupied by a NATO power - Britain.
All Republicans, Socialists and Progressives must fight tooth and nail against this latest war against the Irish people and their sovereignty.
Say No To NATO and an EU Army!
In their attempts to curry favour with their masters, the 26 County administration is hellbent on forcing the Irish people into NATO or an E.U. Army.
This is despite the overwhelming opposition of the Irish people to further militarisation and imperialist war.
Joining NATO or an EU Army means Irish working class men and women dragged off to die in foreign conflicts to enrich a small set of imperialists.
It means putting Ireland at risk of retaliation from the countless enemies of Europe, Britain and the USA.
This campaign has nothing to do with ensuring the "security" or sovereignty of the Irish nation and everything to do with deepening the imperialist dominance over our country, already partitioned and occupied by a NATO power - Britain.
All Republicans, Socialists and Progressives must fight tooth and nail against this latest war against the Irish people and their sovereignty.
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Forwarded from The Communists
As US president Donald Trump announced his government’s intention to initiate ‘ceasefire talks’ with Russia, European leaders scrambled to hold an emergency summit, at which they pledged to continue their support for Ukraine, no matter what.
It has been pointed out that this was, in fact, what the US government has been demanding – that the Europeans should take over arming and managing the war effort against Russia while the USA turns its attention to China.
https://thecommunists.org/2025/03/15/news/americas-proxy-war-against-russia-failed/
It has been pointed out that this was, in fact, what the US government has been demanding – that the Europeans should take over arming and managing the war effort against Russia while the USA turns its attention to China.
https://thecommunists.org/2025/03/15/news/americas-proxy-war-against-russia-failed/
The Communists
America’s proxy war against Russia has failed
The European ruling class is in disarray over how best to handle this unwelcome reality – or even whether to admit to it at all.
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In capitalist countries, a welfare system is not a sign of progress but a necessity born from the system’s inefficiencies and exploitation. Capitalism fails to utilise workers to their full potential—if it employs them at all. Every industry is subject to cost-cutting and profiteering, leading to lower wages, declining service quality, and even the outright destruction of entire sectors through outsourcing and deindustrialisation. Workers are used only for as long as they serve the profit motive, then discarded without adequate provisions to ensure a healthy and productive life.
Under socialism, a welfare system like the one found under capitalism would be seen as a failure to provide for the people. The elimination of profit as the driving force of society would naturally enhance workers’ capacity, ensuring that labour is directed towards socially necessary and meaningful work rather than artificially created "busy work." Jobs would exist to benefit society, not to enrich a handful of capitalists. Workers would not be forced into degrading and precarious employment dictated by market forces but would instead be placed in roles suited to their skills and the needs of the collective. They would also be guaranteed all necessary provisions to carry out their work and live fulfilling lives.
Welfare under capitalism is not a step towards socialism; it is a patchwork reform designed to compensate for capitalism’s fundamental inability—or unwillingness—to provide workers with stable, dignified livelihoods. It is not a gift from the ruling class but an admission of their failure to ensure that workers can always contribute their labour. Rather than seeing welfare as socialism within capitalism, we should recognise it as proof that capitalism is incapable of meeting human needs without constant intervention. True provision for the working class will only come through the abolition of the profit system itself.
Class Consciousness Project.
Under socialism, a welfare system like the one found under capitalism would be seen as a failure to provide for the people. The elimination of profit as the driving force of society would naturally enhance workers’ capacity, ensuring that labour is directed towards socially necessary and meaningful work rather than artificially created "busy work." Jobs would exist to benefit society, not to enrich a handful of capitalists. Workers would not be forced into degrading and precarious employment dictated by market forces but would instead be placed in roles suited to their skills and the needs of the collective. They would also be guaranteed all necessary provisions to carry out their work and live fulfilling lives.
Welfare under capitalism is not a step towards socialism; it is a patchwork reform designed to compensate for capitalism’s fundamental inability—or unwillingness—to provide workers with stable, dignified livelihoods. It is not a gift from the ruling class but an admission of their failure to ensure that workers can always contribute their labour. Rather than seeing welfare as socialism within capitalism, we should recognise it as proof that capitalism is incapable of meeting human needs without constant intervention. True provision for the working class will only come through the abolition of the profit system itself.
Class Consciousness Project.
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Forwarded from 🇺🇸 Donald Courter 🇷🇺
🇺🇸💥🇪🇺U.S.-EU TRADE TENSIONS ESCALATE, TARIFFS HIT KEY INDUSTRIES
U.S.-EU trade tensions are escalating as tariffs imposed by the Trump administration disrupt industries and strain transatlantic relations, with German automakers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz among the hardest hit.
These companies, which account for 73% of EU car exports to the U.S., warn that tariffs will raise costs, burden consumers, and stifle innovation, potentially jeopardizing thousands of jobs.
Economists predict that a prolonged trade war could shrink Germany’s economy by over 1% and risk 300,000 jobs, while also harming U.S. competitiveness and global supply chains.
Despite the U.S. administration’s “America First” stance, protectionist measures may ultimately damage both European and American economic interests.
Boost Us @TheRevolutionReport
Support our work by donating here!
U.S.-EU trade tensions are escalating as tariffs imposed by the Trump administration disrupt industries and strain transatlantic relations, with German automakers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz among the hardest hit.
These companies, which account for 73% of EU car exports to the U.S., warn that tariffs will raise costs, burden consumers, and stifle innovation, potentially jeopardizing thousands of jobs.
Economists predict that a prolonged trade war could shrink Germany’s economy by over 1% and risk 300,000 jobs, while also harming U.S. competitiveness and global supply chains.
Despite the U.S. administration’s “America First” stance, protectionist measures may ultimately damage both European and American economic interests.
Boost Us @TheRevolutionReport
Support our work by donating here!
Forwarded from The Communists
While liberal politicians and media were screaming blue murder about the harms being done to those waiting for American charity in order to survive, a very revealing list of media outlets around the world were forced to shut up shop, revealing the breadth of US imperialism’s regime-change machinery and the insidious nature of much media that is presented to the world as ‘independent’ and ‘objective’.
https://thecommunists.org/2025/03/01/news/trump-white-house-freezes-usaid/
https://thecommunists.org/2025/03/01/news/trump-white-house-freezes-usaid/
The Communists
Trump White House freezes USAid
Does the dismantling of part of the USA’s regime-change machinery really mean that US imperialism no longer aims to bring down sovereign states?
Forwarded from Going Underground
On this day in 2003, the US🇺🇸 and UK🇬🇧 illegally invaded Iraq after lying to the world about Iraq possessing WMDs and having ties to Al Qaeda. While many know the statistic of 1 million deaths as a result of the war, here are some stats you may not know:
-The US occupation privatised 200 Iraqi state-owned companies and allowed foreign firms to have 100 ownership of Iraqi assets
-After an initial half a million Iraqi citizens abruptly lost their jobs, over 50% of the workforce became unemployed
-Not only did the US military-industrial complex make huge profits from the war, US corporations profited from reconstruction: during the first year of occupation, approx. $50 billion of reconstruction contracts were commissioned to various US corporations, including Halliburton, which Vice President Dick Cheney was the CEO of before he stepped down to assume office. Only 2% of contracts were given to Iraqi firms
-By 2007 85% of Iraqi households lacked a stable source of electricity and nearly 70% of households struggled with getting rid of garbage
-By 2007, a third of Iraqis lived in poverty
-The US occupation privatised 200 Iraqi state-owned companies and allowed foreign firms to have 100 ownership of Iraqi assets
-After an initial half a million Iraqi citizens abruptly lost their jobs, over 50% of the workforce became unemployed
-Not only did the US military-industrial complex make huge profits from the war, US corporations profited from reconstruction: during the first year of occupation, approx. $50 billion of reconstruction contracts were commissioned to various US corporations, including Halliburton, which Vice President Dick Cheney was the CEO of before he stepped down to assume office. Only 2% of contracts were given to Iraqi firms
-By 2007 85% of Iraqi households lacked a stable source of electricity and nearly 70% of households struggled with getting rid of garbage
-By 2007, a third of Iraqis lived in poverty
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Forwarded from Marx Engels Lenin Institute
Capitalism is dumbing down
Every year humanity degrades, loses concentration and logic, - study
Statistics show that since 2010, people have become less able to concentrate, analyze information, and think logically.
▫️ 25% of adults in developed countries cannot cope with basic mathematics, in the US – 35%.
▫️ Since 2015, the number of 18-year-olds with attention problems has increased sharply.
▫️In 2022, less than half of respondents have not read a single book, and 45% of teenagers hardly read at all.
This is a translation of a post taken from the Eastern Bloc channel. Read the original post here
Every year humanity degrades, loses concentration and logic, - study
Statistics show that since 2010, people have become less able to concentrate, analyze information, and think logically.
▫️ 25% of adults in developed countries cannot cope with basic mathematics, in the US – 35%.
▫️ Since 2015, the number of 18-year-olds with attention problems has increased sharply.
▫️In 2022, less than half of respondents have not read a single book, and 45% of teenagers hardly read at all.
This is a translation of a post taken from the Eastern Bloc channel. Read the original post here
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Forwarded from Red Rick
Three years ago this month, the dockworkers went on strike. It was my first time experiencing a strike as a union representative. That struggle taught me a great deal about unions and collective bargaining.
I witnessed the tangible strength of the working class when they stood together, but I also came to understand the limitations of trade unionism. While unions can organise workers to fight for better wages and conditions, they ultimately operate within, and often uphold, the framework of capitalism, attempting to negotiate, and reform, rather than overturn it. As long as they exist to mediate between labour and capital, they can never be a vehicle for true emancipation—only a battleground where workers catch glimpses of their own power.
- Rosa Luxembourg
I witnessed the tangible strength of the working class when they stood together, but I also came to understand the limitations of trade unionism. While unions can organise workers to fight for better wages and conditions, they ultimately operate within, and often uphold, the framework of capitalism, attempting to negotiate, and reform, rather than overturn it. As long as they exist to mediate between labour and capital, they can never be a vehicle for true emancipation—only a battleground where workers catch glimpses of their own power.
Where the chains of capitalism are forged, there they must be broken. Trade unions are absolutely indispensable for the daily defence of workers’ interests, but they are not a means for the overthrow of capitalism. They cannot do away with the wage system; they can only confine themselves within its boundaries.
- Rosa Luxembourg
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