Film Industry Workers Are Fed Up With Long Hours
Punishingly long hours have always been the norm in the film industry. But now, a year and a half into the pandemic, the workers behind television shows and movies are fed up and starting to organize.
21058 Article(s) by: James Bloodworth
James Bloodworth is a writer and journalist from London.
Blue Collar Is a Dark Masterpiece of Working-Class Cinema
The 1978 film Blue Collar, starring Richard Pryor, is far from pleasant. But its riveting portrait of the brutality of life and work for American autoworkers still makes for essential viewing today.
There’s No Time Like the Present to Cancel All Student Debt
Two student loan servicers recently exited the industry after years of atrocious behavior. We can either use this moment of crisis to move toward dystopian student loan solutions proposed by the Right and liberals — or we can just cancel all student debt.
The Rise and Fall of Poland’s Solidarity Movement
Four decades ago, Poland’s communist system faced the challenge of a powerful independent workers’ movement and eventually drove it underground. Understanding Solidarity’s fate during and after communism is essential for making sense of Polish politics today.
Barack Obama Has Been One of the Worst Ex-Presidents Ever
Since his retirement from politics, Barack Obama has displayed an astonishing lack of regard for the public good. Instead of serving his fellow human beings, he has mainly devoted himself to a rigorous program of conspicuous self-celebration.
Big Corporate Money Is Funding the GOP Election Deniers
Plenty of corporations and billionaires weren’t scared off from donating to members of Congress who voted to overturn the election. On the contrary: the super PAC behind House Republicans who opposed the election results took in more money than before the January 6 capitol riot.
It’s No “Mistake” That Bill Gates Was Palling Around With Jeffrey Epstein
In a new interview, Bill Gates apologized for his ties with Jeffrey Epstein even as he downplayed their relationship. That’s self-serving nonsense: their friendship was a grotesque demonstration of what happens when you give a small group of people unfathomable wealth and power.
The Remaking of the Arab Working Class
Once powerful Arab left-wing movements took a battering in recent decades, but they’ve reemerged since 2011 to play a vital role in struggles for freedom and social justice. Rebuilding strong labor organizations is crucial for democracy in the Middle East.
The Market Is Incapable of Creating Affordable Housing
There isn’t a single place in the United States where minimum-wage workers can afford to live near their jobs. Addressing the affordability crisis will require a major rollback of market influence over the housing sector.
The Fight for Palestine’s Sheikh Jarrah Isn’t Over
The Israeli Supreme Court’s verdict on the Sheikh Jarrah evictions, which set off huge protests in Palestine earlier this year, was deferred this week. But the deal offered to Palestinians shows that Israel is still intent on dispossessing them.
Benoît Hamon to Jacobin: “French Democracy Is Unquestionably in Crisis”
Next year’s French election looks like it’ll be dominated by right-wing discourses around identity and immigration. Former Socialist candidate Benoît Hamon tells Jacobin how the Left can put inequality back on the agenda and win.
How Australia Won Universal Health Care — And How Workers Saved It With a General Strike
In 1974, the Whitlam Labor government introduced Australia’s first universal health care system. Despite its flaws, Medibank was a huge step forward — and Australia’s unions organized a general strike to defend it against conservative attacks.
The Opioid Settlement Is Good for Big Pharma. It May Not Be Good for Us.
The pharmaceutical companies that fueled the opioid crisis must be held legally accountable. But to confront the social problems at the root of the addiction crisis, we’ll need political victories, not just courtroom ones.
Canada’s Social Democrats Could Make Big Gains in a Snap Election
Justin Trudeau is widely expected to call a snap election. With the Tories and Greens in disarray, the NDP is well-positioned to make gains — if it runs an effective and unapologetically populist campaign.
Old Had Immense Potential — But M. Night Shyamalan Squandered It
Insufficiently developed characters, awkwardly acted scenes, embarrassing dialogue: M. Night Shyamalan has made some awful movies in his day, but Old is one of his worst.
Frank Sinatra vs. Australia’s Trade Unions
Touring Australia in 1974, Frank Sinatra launched into a sexist tirade against female journalists. Trade unions hit back — by shutting down Sinatra’s tour.
We Need a World Without Landlords
Recent battles over eviction moratoriums and homeless encampments have shown the depressing limits of our political horizons. We need to envision a radically different system that guarantees everyone the right to decent, stable housing.
1,100 Union Miners in Alabama Are Now in Their Fifth Month on Strike
More than 1,000 union miners have been on strike in Alabama for months, resisting a company that puts its shareholders over workers’ well-being. Yet the political establishment remains conspicuously silent — showing again they have little regard for the working class.
When It Comes to Stopping Evictions, Suddenly the “Rule of Law” Matters
The rules in Washington are simple: there can be little to no restrictions on the president’s ability to bomb and brutalize foreigners. But when it comes to stopping mass evictions, executive power must be strictly restrained.
Amazon’s Power Will Only Keep Expanding in the Near Future
Amazon was already gargantuan before the pandemic. Its rapid growth since then has made it one of the most powerful institutions in the country’s history — shaping our physical as much as mental landscapes, and putting more and more of our daily lives under its control.