Amazon Worker: “If UPS Wages Go Up, Amazon Should Do the Same”
UPS Teamsters used a strike threat to win big wage increases in their tentative agreement. Amazon workers are looking at the pay gains as proof they can do the same.
19126 Articles by: Enver Motala
Enver Motala is an associate of the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT) at the University of Johannesburg and of the Centre for Integrated Post-School Education and Training at the Nelson Mandela University.
Canadian Workers Are Being Crushed Between Low Wages and Soaring Rents
The typical Canadian worker, whether earning minimum wage or an average income, cannot afford housing in any of the country’s major urban centers — which happen to be where most jobs are located.
Henry David Thoreau Was a Theorist of the Transition to Capitalism
Philosopher Henry David Thoreau has developed a reputation as an advocate for self-help in the form of withdrawal from work. But in his writing, he advanced a thoroughgoing critique of work under capitalism and defended the emancipatory potential of labor.
Post-Work Socialism Is a Tempting Illusion
Even if we were to free ourselves from the capitalist work ethic and provide everyone with a universal basic income, our society would still require some amount of socially necessary labor. Socialists should strive to reimagine work, not eliminate it.
With Donald Trump’s Indictments, It’s the Rule of Law Versus Millions of Voters
Donald Trump is rightly facing legal consequences for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. But with his supporters unwilling to accept the facts and a Supreme Court likely to side with Trump, the situation may be a powder keg under US democracy.
Baseball Fans Are Starting to Realize That the Owners Are Not Their Friends
If you peel back the curtain of professional baseball, there’s a labor battle between players and owners that has been raging for more than a century. And in recent years, fans have started to side more with the players.
The New UAW Is Ready to Fight the Big 3 Automakers
This week, the UAW presented proposals to automakers in contract negotiations covering some 150,000 workers. Autoworkers want big raises, an end to tiers, and the right to strike over plant closures — and conditions appear favorable for them to win.
Today’s Hollywood Strikes Are Fights for Workplace Democracy
Early 20th-century unions rejected the idea that bosses should be the dictators of the workplace. Today, the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and other major unions have rediscovered the strike’s power to secure workers’ control over their own lives.
Justice Samuel Alito’s Ethics About-Face Doesn’t Inspire Confidence in the Court
When Justice Samuel Alito was securing his place on the Supreme Court, he promised to adhere to ethics laws from Congress. But after failing to comply with anti-corruption laws, Alito is now insisting lawmakers have no authority to regulate the court.
Rest in Power, Sinéad O’Connor
Sinéad O’Connor was more than just a musician. She was a symbol of a changing society in Ireland that made defenders of the status quo incredibly uncomfortable.
Donald Trump Being Prosecuted for His Crimes Is Good, Actually
Donald Trump’s apologists argue that his indictment for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election is overreach. They’re wrong. Presidents and ex-presidents shouldn’t be above the law.
Actor Maxine Peake on Socialism: “That’s the Root of Who I Am”
Actor Maxine Peake is well-known for her appearances in Black Mirror, Peterloo, and countless other films and series. A socialist to the core, Peake is proud of her working-class background and vocal about the need for a left-wing political alternative.
The Joyous Blast of Pee-wee Herman Will Be Deeply Missed
Paul Reubens and his brilliant character Pee-wee Herman offered viewers a kind of weird, joyful, hilarious television and film that we aren’t lucky enough to get very often.
The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Paying the GOP Handsomely to Deny Climate Change
Republican super PACs in the House and Senate raked in major donations from the fossil fuel industry this year. Proving to be money well spent, GOP lawmakers are ramping up a campaign of outright climate denial.
Where Did the Bullshit Jobs Go?
Capitalism may not be producing “bullshit jobs” in the way David Graeber argued. But our working lives are indeed full of bullshit: marked by the petty despotism of the boss and directed to ends no one would freely choose to pursue.
Which Way Forward, Socialist?
We spoke to some of the Democratic Socialists of America members deciding the future of the country’s largest socialist organization this weekend.
Gustavo Rivera: “I Want to Destroy Health Insurance Companies’ Business Model”
New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera talks to Jacobin about his proposed state-level single-payer health care bill, why covering undocumented immigrants is crucial, and the state of progressive politics in New York.
Britain’s Tory Government Wants the Humanities to Be a Luxury for the Rich
British prime minister Rishi Sunak has launched a crackdown on what he calls “rip-off university degrees.” It’s really a push to discourage working-class students from choosing subjects that will help develop their critical understanding of the world.
Australia’s Insecure Work Framework Is Designed and Maintained by the Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is introducing legislation it claims will help end endemic insecure work. But if the party’s track record is anything to go by, casual workers shouldn’t hold their breath.
The Persecution of Azat Miftakhov Is Designed to Silence Russia’s Left
Russian anarchist Azat Miftakhov is spending his fifth year in jail for “hooliganism” — and now faces being framed on fake terrorism charges. His persecution is part of the Russian state’s campaign to intimidate the Left and silence opposition to the war.