new issue of the commune

The third issue of The Commune’s new-look free paper is now available. It features extensive coverage on the Eurozone crisis, articles on the bid for Palestinian statehood, life as a ‘chugger’ and much, much else besides. Click image to see the PDF, or see below for a list of articles.

While much of this issue is devoted to in-depth analysis of the economic crisis, we also have a number of pieces on workplace disputes and an essay on life as a ‘chugger’ (charity fundraiser. As always we ask that if you enjoy or disagree with any of our features then please write to us and we can feature your views in the next edition. If you would like copies to distribute then send us a message at uncaptiveminds@gmail.com, and we will send some copies in the post.

news

opposition and the cuts – The Commune‘s editorial looks at Labour conference and the 30th November strike day

a state of uncertainty – Pete Jones writes on the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations

balls to miliband! – Clifford Biddulph argues that Labour will never be on our side

the land of the free – Sharon Borthwick writes on the race and class prejudice behind the US death penalty, in the aftermath of the state killing of Troy Davis

workplace + organising

life as a ‘chugger’ – owing money to your boss – An ex-fundraiser recounts life working in the charity sector, where employers’ ‘ethical credentials’ are far from the reality

pickets and porkie pies at fujitsu – Mark Harrison visited the Fujitsu picket in Manchester for the latest in a series of strikes

sparks fly in electricians’ dispute – Siobhan Breathnach reports on the battle over wages in construction

rank-and-file initiative launched – Adam Ford writes on the ‘Sparks’ group

cleaning up the industry – Siobhan Breathnach writes on a fresh turn in cleaners’ fight for a living wage

a weekend at dale farm – Daniel Harvey writes on the travellers’ fight against eviction

crisis

a very political crisis – David Broder looks at the crisis in Italy and its meaning for Europe

the whac-a-mole approach to fixing the euro – Oisín Mac Giollamóir explains European politicians’ ongoing failure to avert crisis

three myths about the crisis – Conrad Russell challenges common left myths about the meaning of the crisis, highlighting the significance of class struggle in shaping events

a beginner’s guide to marx’s capital – John Keeley attempts to explain cyclical crises and longer term trends

This is the third issue of The Commune distributed for free. After the last one we received excellent feedback, and as such are looking to expand our distribution network. Would you like to share these ideas with friends or colleagues? Leave a few in your local library or café? Contact us at uncaptiveminds@gmail.com

But to get our communist message out there, we also need money. If you enjoy the paper, the price of a couple of pints a month would be of great use to us. Email us, or set up a standing order to The Commune, Co-op sc. 089299 ac. 65317440

the commune, march 2011

Issue 21 of The Commune is now available. It features reports on local anti-cuts committees, discussion of the next steps for the movement in Egypt, Sheila Cohen on the implosion of the National Shop Stewards’ Network, and much more. See below for links to individual articles as they are posted, or click the picture for the PDF.

Contact us at uncaptiveminds@gmail.com if you would like to buy a printed copy (£1 + 50p postage) or set up a subscription. (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international.

anti-cuts news

we don’t need the TUC –  editorial in advance of the March 26th demo

where next for sheffield anti-cuts movement? – David Huckerby reports on developments in Nick Clegg’s backyard

holyrood and councils brandish cuts knife – Allan Armstrong on the cuts in Scotland

the bigger the society, the bigger the cuts – with the ‘Big Society’ project apparently on the rocks, Adam Ford asks what’s really behind the initiative

resistance starts at home – Izzy Parrott writes on the fight for housing provision in Hackney

‘we want to inspire other people to take a stand’ – interview with a Leeds City College student involved in the protests around education cuts and in the new Really Open Student Union

international

ireland after the election – Dara Hugh looks at the new political landscape

a new egypt: beyond mubarak – Taimour Lay looks at the deeper roots of the movement in Egypt, and what this means for where it goes next

on egypt, and revolutions – Joe Thorne asks what’s really changed in Egypt

from rebellion to reform in bolivia – an interview with Jeffery Webber about his new book on social movements and Evo Morales’ MAS government

theory, history, writing

trade unions: are they fit for purpose? – report on the third Global Commune day school

what it says on the tin? memories of the NSSN – Sheila Cohen on the failure of a once-promising initiative

bristol cuts: in and for the state? – Oleg Resin asks if we can do more than just defend existing services

sexism: from one prison to another – a personal account by Latife Faydali of the sexism underlying both sexual repression and violence

a hope unfulfilled: communists in WWII – David Broder looks at the disappointed revolutionary aspirations of the left in France and Italy, 1943-45

our network

china’s migrant workers rise – a 7th April meeting on last year’s strike wave in China

our platform

our meetings

the commune issue 17

The September issue of The Commune is now available. Click the image below to see PDF or use the list of individual articles as they are posted online.

Contact us at uncaptiveminds@gmail.com if you would like to buy a printed copy (£1 + 50p postage) or set up a subscription. (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international.

News

spectre of communism haunts china’s rulers – Adam Ford on the recent strike wave

solidarity with the miners’ strike in ukraine – by Chris Kane

demo to support berns salonger cleaners – an IWW member writes on recent solidarity initiatives with migrant workers in sweden

is UNISON ready to fight the cuts? – a UNISON branch official looks at the state of the union as it gears up for major confrontations with the government

Life at work

a « zero hours » contract… for thousands of hours – Jack Staunton writes on his work in a government market research call centre

‘the security is to keep us in!’ – Sharon Borthwick reviews Rivethead, a ‘book of tales from the assembly line’

Strategies for fighting the cuts

building a movement against cuts – by Steve Ryan

nothing will be like it was before – Tom Denning writes on strategies we need and strategies we don’t

no escape from theory – Oleg Resin revisits the 1970s ‘state debate’ and questions the nature of public services

the ‘social wage’ and the hackney nurseries campaign – Camille Barbagallo and Nic Beuret look at how the cuts axe is falling, and why

proposed principles for anti-cuts movements – a motion by Dave Spencer to The Commune’s upcoming conference

Events

from meltdown to upheaval – an assembly on the crisis and how we organise hosted by The Commune, 11th September

the commune around britain – details of local groups and forums

women at the cutting edge – Feminist Fightback meeting on the crisis, 30th October

Our network, the left and theory

potere operaio: the last firebrands – Martine Bourne reports on one of the recent London forums on communist organisations past and present

a syndicalism for the 21st century? – Sheila Cohen draws the lessons of the 1910-14 Great Unrest for a modern understanding of workers’ democracy

for creative and critical thinking on the left – Permanent Revolution’s Eleanor Davies calls for joint forums and a culture of openness

issue 16 of the commune

The August issue of The Commune is now available. Click the image below to see PDF or use the list of individual articles as they are posted online.

Contact us at uncaptiveminds@gmail.com if you would like to buy a printed copy (£1 + 50p postage) or set up a subscription. (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international.

local reports and anti-cuts campaigns

fighting the cuts: the task ahead – by Kojo Kyerewaa

‘the resurgence of unions in the strangest of places’ – Angela Gorrie reports on Dundee

a ripple in the coming storm – Joe Thorne reports on Hackney

harsh cuts in north wales – Steve Ryan reports on Wrexham

education

hackney community college needs a community fight – by an hourly-paid ESOL teacher

‘unviable’ courses after man met uni cuts – by Mark Harrison

news

an olive branch to the taliban? – by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan

the EDL and the islamist far-right – interview with Ansar Ahmed Ullah

the day the EDL didn’t show up – by Richard Price

public sector

the cuts agenda and ‘social capital’ – by Dave Spencer

the NHS: a tarnished jewel – by Terry Liddle

industrial

some past rank and file movements… and the future – by Sheila Cohen

facing different ways? – Gregor Gall on the prospects of a generalised fightback

feminism

mujeres creando: rebellion, it’s your fault i’ll be happy – Helen Álvarez Virreira on Bolivian feminism

review of sheila rowbotham’s dreamers of a new day – by David Broder

our network

where next for the commune? – Leo and Mark from Bristol reply to a debate on ‘communist recomposition’

reflections on beyond resistance day school – by Sharon Borthwick

from meltdown to upheaval? – proposal for a conference in September

our platform

the commune issue 15

The July issue of The Commune is now available. Click the image below to see PDF or use the list of individual articles as they are posted online.

To purchase a printed copy for £1 + 50p postage, use the ‘donate’ feature here. You can also subscribe (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international) or order 5 copies a month to sell (£4) online here. If you want to pay by cheque, contact uncaptiveminds@gmail.com.

Editorial

beyond ‘resistance’, beyond alienation

Reports on struggles

lessons of the middlesex occupation – by an occupying student

from greek crisis to european fightback? – interview with WSM member Constantinos Avramidis

holland: victory for nine week cleaners’ strike – by Willem Dekker

migrant cleaners and organising solidarity – by David Broder

sex workers in uganda organise – interview with Macklean Kyomya, Namakula Nakato Daisy and Benjamin

Gaza flotilla massacre

‘they were like hyenas in the dark’ – interview with Gaza flotilla activist Fintan Lane

atrocity stirs protest in tel aviv – by Solomon Anker

solidarity, not silence: the academic boycott debate – by Greg Brown

Labour leadership race

what use an abbott in a ‘broad church’? – by Taimour Lay

new labour in opposition – by Dave Spencer

Understanding our situation

for the right not to work! – by Steve Ryan

who benefits from cuts? – by Adam Ford

‘to act in union…’: the changing composition of the working class and the implications for class struggle – by Sheila Cohen

‘Global Commune’ debates

second global commune – by Allan Armstrong

no national solutions – by Clifford Biddulph

‘not another communist group! – by Oisín Mac Giollamóir

we lack resistance to the present – by Nic Beuret

the commune issue 14

The May issue of our monthly paper The Commune is now available. Click the image below to see the PDF or see individual articles as they are posted online in the list below.

To purchase a printed copy for £1 + 50p postage, use the ‘donate’ feature here. You can also subscribe (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international) or order 5 copies a month to sell (£4) online here. If you want to pay by cheque, contact uncaptiveminds@gmail.com.

the commune’s summer school, saturday 19th june

A day of communist discussion and debate. From 11am-6pm on Sat 19th June at 96-100 Clifton St, London EC2. Details and ticket purchase information below. Download double-sided A5 leaflet or A3 poster.

The last few years have seen a series of crises for our rulers. Millions of us are angry at the ongoing economic crisis, the scandalous behaviour of ‘our’ MPs and the endless wars in the Middle East.

All of these crises are part and parcel of capitalist rule, but rarely is this system itself challenged. We are constantly told there is no alternative to capitalism. Every day at work and in our communities we live out the same capitalist order, the same hierarchies, the same alienation.

The Commune issue 13

The April issue of  The Commune is now available. Click the image below to see the PDF or see individual articles as they are posted online in the list below

To purchase a printed copy for £1 + 50p postage, use the ‘donate’ feature here. You can also subscribe (£12 a year UK/£16 EU/£20 international) or order 5 copies a month to sell (£4) online here. If you want to pay by cheque, contact uncaptiveminds@gmail.com.

‘we are fighting for now and for our future’ – speeches by Jerry Hicks, Steve Kelly, Juan Carlos Piedra

striking against labour’s budget – by Steve Ryan

recession and solidarity in france – by Ramate Keita

anarcha-fems meet – by Bahar Mustafa

royal mail deal: a post mortem – by ‘Postman Pat’

BA strike: against the race to the bottom – by Gregor Gall

obamacare: the nuns strike back – by Ernie Haberkern

ESOL students and staff defend childcare – by Sally Haywill

20 years of namibian independence – by Jade McClune

terre’blanche, ‘black boers’ and the class war – by Adam Ford

gender, nation, class and the first intifada – by Aitemad Muhannah

the deficit! the deficit! but what about unemployment? – by Oisín Mac Giollamóir

‘blair plus’: a future fair for all? – by David Broder

flying the flag for socialism in scotland – by Ewan Robertson and Angela Gorrie

anna walentynowicz: an inspiring class fighter – by Chris Ford

questions of communist recomposition – by Ed Griffiths

for a league of communists – by Allan Armstrong

political platform of our communist network

upcoming events

workers’ councils: the red mole of revolution

Article de Sheila Cohen sur les conseils ouvriers (en anglais) publié en supplément du dernier numéro de The Commune.

The latest issue of The Commune featured a supplement with an extended piece on workers’ councils by Sheila Cohen. Click image below to see PDF or read full text below.

The red mole may weave unexpected patterns and assume strange disguises; it is digging, digging fast, and moving in roughly the right direction…’

Daniel Singer, The Road to Gdansk.

the commune – numéro de janvier 2010

Le numéro de janvier de The Commune est désormais disponible en ligne, ou peut être commandé auprès de uncaptiveminds@gmail.com. Sommaire des articles plus bas.

a class war in westminster? – by Adam Ford

theocrats in iran strike out against activists – by Anahita Hosseini

burn the borders – by the collective for solidarity with the accused of Vincennes

north devon hospital strike – by a UNISON branch official

no more no2eu?

serwotka re-elected

barack obama’s first year in charge – by Ernie Haberkern

a new left for a new decade – by Steve Ryan

an alternative to the age of austerity – by Chris Ford

no answers from copenhagen climate summit – by Mark Ellingsen

islamic republic mark II: theocracy with a smiley face? – by Nathan Coombs

the road to oil: hope and fear in congo – by Taimour Lay

does recession stifle resistance? – by Sheila Cohen

trades union congress: no saviours from on high – by Clifford Biddulph

british airways court ruling flies in the face of democracy – by Gregor Gall

an alternative view of the classroom – by a Tower Hamlets primary teacher

why such scope for union-busting in schools? – by Florence Mensah

letters – time to vote labour?; syndicalism resurgent; republican socialist convention

a new decade… the task: to build from below – by Dave Spencer

cracks in the electoral tactics of france’s anti-capitalist party – by Ramate Keita

is a workers’ government a capitalist government? – by David Broder

the commune’s december aggregate meeting – by Mark Ellingsen

the commune’s activities