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‘A Workers Guide to Historical Capitalism’ – a political economy podcast
By IBL team. A new podcast series aims to provide an overall view of the historical development of the capitalist system – a ‘people’s history’ of the world. Trademark Belfast is the anti-sectarian unit of the Irish labour movement, which has carried out political education for trade unionists and workers ...
Communist-run Kerala’s response to Covid-19 saves lives
By Karthik Preyeswary. The Left Democratic Front (LDF)-governed Indian state of Kerala’s reaction to the coronavirus virus outbreak is now hailed as an international example for COVID-19 control. As of 18 May, this state, with a population of 35 million, had only 524 confirmed cases and just four deaths. This ...
The EU’s Stability and Growth Pact must go – or we face a future of austerity and pain
By Emma Clancy. A decade of austerity imposed by the European Union institutions and EU member state governments has caused significant deterioration in healthcare services across the EU. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the EU’s healthcare and public sectors to be ill-equipped to respond to the outbreak in accordance with ...
Government protects banks and landlords instead of jobs and small businesses
By Conor McCabe. This article is the third in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. In its response to the Covid-19 economic challenges faced by businesses – particularly micro and ...
Do Not Resuscitate Capitalism: Science in a time of pandemic
By Helena Sheehan. Of the many dimensions of the present pandemic that is swamping our lives and suspending our normal reality, one of the most central has been the role of science. Every report on our all-virus-all-the-time news references science. The new media stars are epidemiologists, virologists, mathematicians, physicians and ...
Government’s Covid-19 response falls short on rent, mortgages, debt and bills
By Conor McCabe. This article is the second in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. The effective shutdown of large sections of the Irish economy has led to the introduction ...
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After the shutdown: A just transition and Green New Deal for Ireland
By Conor McCabe. This is the fourth and final article in a series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. The current crisis is an interplay between Covid-19 and the deep-rooted inequalities and structural
Solidarity is the cure: Radically reimagining post-pandemic Europe
By Manon Aubry and Martin Schirdewan Covid-19 has brought the world to a standstill, claiming thousands of lives and bringing economic hardship to millions. As EU governments now take steps towards reopening, the need to avoid the mistakes of the past and reimagine the European project is greater than ever.
Pandemic hits Ireland’s social infrastructure, already at breaking point
By Conor McCabe. This article is the first in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. The Irish government’s initial response to the outbreak of COVID-19 was somewhat slow
Eurogroup condemns EU to perpetual austerity
By Emma Clancy. After the Eurogroup meeting concluded last night, Eurogroup President and Portuguese Finance Minister Mário Centeno tweeted: “The Eurogroup answered the call from our citizens for a Europe that protects. We agreed to 3 safety nets (for workers, businesses & public finances) adding up to half trillion euro, and
European Parliament fails to block fossil fuel projects
By Damien Thomson. Just as always, they think we are not watching. Just as always, their voting record shows where they stand. Today an extremely important vote took place in the European Parliament – an objection to the EU’s publicly funded fossil fuel infrastructure projects – and I needn’t name the
Workers and unions struggle to defend the French pension system
By Lisbeth Latham.Since December 5, France has been gripped by ongoing strikes and mobilisations by a coalition of trade unions, high school and university student unions, as well as the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) to defeat the attack by the government of President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Édouard Charles