The Lessons of West Virginia
West Virginia’s historic wildcat strike has the potential to change everything.
20432 Article(s) by: William G. Martin
William G. Martin teaches at SUNY-Binghamton and is co-author of After Prisons? Freedom, Decarceration, and Justice Disinvestment (2016) and a founding member of Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier; he covers local justice matters at www.justtalk.blog
What Orbán Knows and His Enemies Don’t
Hungary’s right-wing strongman owes his success to his diagnosis of the country’s ailments: economic liberalization has failed many of its citizens.
When Polish Women Revolted
Looking back at the struggle that, two years ago, defeated a historic anti-abortion bill in Poland.
“Socialists Can Lead and Change Opinions”
Diane Abbott on her life on the Left, the debate over migration, and her hopes for the future of the Corbyn project.
Don’t Mourn “Democracy Promotion”
The National Endowment for Democracy is a vehicle for Putin-style foreign meddling. Yet some liberals are now bemoaning Trump’s assault on the organization.
NATO’s Scribes
Recent smears against Jeremy Corbyn are part of an ongoing attempt to undermine his opposition to imperial foreign policy.
What the Teachers Won
West Virginia shows that we can fight back and win. We talk to two teachers to assess the tentative settlement and what comes next.
You Get What You Pray For
The ultra-conservative pastor Robert Jeffress preaches white supremacy, misogyny, and homophobia. No wonder Donald Trump loves him.
We Don’t Need More Competition
Trying to fix Obamacare by increasing competition could easily do more harm than good.
“There Is No Illegal Strike, Just an Unsuccessful One”
The West Virginia teacher strike represents a return to public worker unionism’s radical roots.
Notes on Italy’s Election
After yesterday’s Italian election, the old is dying and something superficially different but not altogether new has been born.
The Strike Against Fear
On this day in 1943, a strike in Italy’s FIAT company marked the beginning of the end for Mussolini.
Working Hard, Hardly Working
A new report shows Americans are working longer hours — even as millions can’t find jobs at all.
The Top Labor Battles in West Virginia History
West Virginia has been the site of mass labor militancy many times before. Here are some of the highlights.
It Never Went Away
In Italy, where fascism was born, far-right violence is a growing feature of political life once again.
Italy Is the Future
Today’s Italian election has much to tell us about Europe’s future.
Fighting Hopelessness
Italy’s left is struggling to present an alternative in an election where abstention is expected to hit record levels.
The State of the Strike
An update from West Virginia, where it’s virtually certain the strike will continue on Monday.
When the Rank and File Leads
It’s unclear how the standoff between West Virginia workers and the state senate will end, but if nothing else, this week’s decision to keep striking is a reminder that the rank and file can lead.
Another Balkans Is Possible
While nationalists agitate over the Macedonia naming dispute, the Macedonian left is seeking alliances with progressive forces in the region.