New openings for working class as imperialist ‘world order’ unravels

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
Donald Trump, Angela Merkel and other capitalist rulers stand off during G-7 summit June 9. Tensions are product of crisis of capitalism, which sharpens competition between rivals.

The political, economic and military institutions put together by Washington after the U.S. capitalist rulers emerged victorious in the second imperialist world war — NATO, U.N. and others — were the instruments they used to impose their domination of the…



Protests across south Iraq hit gov’t neglect, Iran intrusion

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
July 19 protest in Basra, one of many across southern Iraq.

Tens of thousands of workers and farmers have joined weeks of protests in southern Iraq against the government’s failure to provide basic necessities and opposing Tehran’s military, economic and political intervention in the country. The actions took place in the…


Woman’s right to abortion is debated in Northern Ireland

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
Rally for women’s right to abortion in Belfast July 7. “No airfare, we want health care!” chanted protesters. Because abortions are banned in Northern Ireland, unlike in the rest of the U.K., women seeking abortions are forced to fly abroad to have the procedure.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — “What do we want? The right to choose! When do we want it? Now!” chanted hundreds demonstrating outside City Hall here July 7. The youthful rally, organized by Alliance for Choice and Rally for Choice, was…


Protests across Nicaragua in making for over a decade

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
Pro-Ortega gang with mortars and other weapons prepares to attack anti-government protest in Managua April 21. Repression has deepened working-class opposition to the government.

Conditions leading to widespread protests against the government of President Daniel Ortega this year have been in the making for more than a decade. It was an explosion of pent-up grievances against what many working people and middle-class layers in…


Protests oppose Russian rulers’ moves to raise age for pensions

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
“We oppose raising the retirement age,” say protest signs in Omsk, Russia. Government proposes to raise age for women from 55 to 63, reflected in signs, and from 60 to 65 for men.

When the Russian government announced plans to raise the retirement age for workers on the eve of the World Cup, it hoped this would be drowned out by the football euphoria. But the proposal provoked widespread anger and protests across…


Locked-out National Grid utility workers rally in Boston

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018
Members of United Steelworkers union, locked out by utility company National Grid, and their supporters march in Boston July 18 against bosses’ demands for cuts to health care, pensions.

BOSTON — “If we stay strong we will get what we want,” United Steelworkers Local 12003 President Joe Kirylo told 1,500 locked-out Steelworkers and their supporters who marched from City Hall to a spirited rally at the Massachusetts Statehouse here…


Striking silver miners rally at bosses’ Idaho headquarters

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Some 100 silver miners and their supporters gathered outside the Hecla bosses’ corporate headquarters here July 20 to show support for the ongoing strike by United Steelworkers Local 5114. The workers have been on strike at…


New Zealand nurses strike for increased pay, staffing

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — “When nurses’ rights are under attack, stand up, fight back!” several thousand nurses, other health care workers and supporters chanted as they marched through the central city here July 12. The demonstration was one of many…


Striking Vermont nurses win widespread solidarity

Vol. 82/No. 29 - August 6, 2018

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Union nurses mounted spirited picket lines, several rallies and a march through the city as part of a two-day strike against University of Vermont Medical Center bosses here July 12-13. The nurses, members of Vermont Federation of…