Amid threat of national emergency declaration
US government workers call in sick, demand strike action against lockout and payless paydays

By Barry Grey, 12 January 2019

The growing opposition of federal workers comes together with the preparations of Los Angeles teachers to strike, the mounting opposition of auto workers to plant closures, and a rising wave of class struggle internationally.

“We are being treated like pawns”
As payless payday looms, federal unions stage protests in US cities

Trump’s “national emergency” threat and the danger of presidential dictatorship

As US shutdown heads toward its fourth week
Trump delivers fascistic White House rant to demand border wall

Mobilize the working class against the US government shutdown

More on the Trump presidency »

Following Oshawa GM sitdown protest, autoworkers fed poison of Canadian nationalism at Windsor rally

By Shannon Jones, 12 January 2019

Autoworkers attending a rally called by Unifor in Windsor, Ontario who were looking for a way to fight GM plant closures were instead hit with a strong dose of Canadian nationalism by union officials.

Unite Canadian, US and Mexican autoworkers!
Build rank-and-file committees to fight GM’s plant shutdowns in Oshawa and the US

Ford to lay off thousands, close plants across Europe

Jaguar Land Rover announces nearly 5,000 UK job losses in global restructuring

By Robert Stevens, 12 January 2019

Last October, JLR posted losses of £90 million and has seen a collapse in sales by nearly 50 percent in its main and most profitable market, China.

More on autoworkers issues »

Security personnel at German airports continue protest strikes

By K. Nesan and Marianne Arens, 12 January 2019

The work stoppages make clear the enormous anger of security staff and their willingness to fight.

Pompeo in Cairo: The ugly face of US imperialism

By Bill Van Auken, 12 January 2019

Reflecting US imperialism’s priorities in the region, Pompeo mentioned Iran 25 times in his speech, compared to a mere dozen references to “terrorism.”

Was the hack of German politicians data supported by the state?

By Ulrich Rippert, 12 January 2019

Out of all the parties represented in parliament, only politicians from one remained unaffected by the hack: the far-right AfD.

Financial warnings point to Australia’s economic and political instability

By Mike Head, 12 January 2019

Two reports raise the spectre of a financial crisis that would blow up the pre-election claims of both the Coalition government and the Labor Party.

New in Arabic

أصول ونتائج التحقيق الأمني الذي قامت به الأممية الرابعة

١٣ تشرين الثاني نوفمبر ٢٠١٨

تجدون فيما يلي نص وتسجيل لمحاضرة ألقاها إريك لندن في مدينة ديترويت في ولاية ميتشيغان وفيها استعراض للتحقيق الضخم الذي أجرته اللجنة الدولية للأممية الرابعة تحت عنوان الأمن والأممية الرابعة.

New in Bengali

সামাজিক বিপর্যয় ও রাজনৈতিক প্রতিক্রিয়াশীলতার বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই করতে ভারতীয় শ্রমিকদের প্রয়োজন এক বিপ্লবী সমাজতান্ত্রিক কার্য্যক্রম

দীপাল জয়েশেখেরা ও কিথ জোনস্‌, ৮ জানুয়ারী ২০১৯

সামাজিক বিপর্যয় এবং "বিনিয়োগকারীদের স্বার্থে" বিজেপি সরকারের করা অর্থনৈতিক পন্থার - অর্থাৎ বর্বর নিষ্ঠুরতা, বেসরকারিকরণ, নিরাপত্তাহীন চুক্তি অনুযায়ী কাজের প্রচার, পরিবেশ বিধি ও কর্মক্ষেত্রে নিরাপত্তার নিয়ম না মানা, বড় ব্যবসা ও ধনীদের জন্য কর-এ প্রবল ছাড় দেওয়া এবং শ্রমিক ও গ্রামের গরীব মানুষদের কর-এ ব্যাপক বৃদ্ধির বিরুদ্ধে আগামী মঙ্গলবার ও বুধবার হাজার হাজার শ্রমিক ও যুব সারা ভারত ব্যাপী ৪৮ ঘন্টার ধর্মঘটে অংশগ্রহণ করবে।

New in French

Ford va licencier des milliers de travailleurs et fermer des usines dans toute l’Europe

Will Morrow, 12 janvier 2019

Le communiqué de l’entreprise énonce sans détour le rôle que doivent jouer les syndicats, qu’elle décrit correctement comme ses « partenaires syndicaux », en supprimant l’opposition des travailleurs.

Trump au Rubicon

Patrick Martin et Andre Damon, 12 janvier 2019

Une déclaration présidentielle d’une « urgence nationale » pour écarter l’opposition du Congrès signifierait une rupture permanente et irréversible avec le gouvernement constitutionnel des États-Unis.

Unissez les travailleurs canadiens, américains et mexicains de l'automobile!
Il faut construire des comités de la base pour lutter contre les fermetures d'usines de GM à Oshawa et aux États-Unis

WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 12 janvier 2019

Unifor ne peut faire l'objet de pressions ou de réformes. Les travailleurs doivent prendre en main la lutte pour mettre fin aux fermetures d'usines.

Le gouvernement de Syriza impose de nouvelles coupes budgétaires en Grèce

John Vassilopoulos, 12 janvier 2019

Syriza applique un autre budget d’austérité qui réduit encore plus la position sociale d’une classe ouvrière déjà dévastée.

Après la tentative de coup d’Etat au Gabon, le gouvernement impose le black-out de la diffusion par Internet et des médias

Eddie Haywood, 12 janvier 2019

L’imposition d’une panne totale d’Internet et des services de radiodiffusion a longtemps été utilisée comme un outil de répression par le gouvernement Bongo.

Au Venezuela, Maduro a prêté serment pour un second mandat dans un contexte d’agitation sociale croissante et de menaces d’intervention

Bill Van Auken, 12 janvier 2019

Washington, l’UE et le « groupe de Lima » des gouvernements de droite d’Amérique Latine ont traité le deuxième mandat de Maduro d’ « illégitime », invitant à un changement de régime.

New in German

Trump am Rubikon

Patrick Martin und Andre Damon, 12. Januar 2019

Wenn der Präsident wirklich den „nationalen Notstand“ ausruft, um die Opposition im Kongress auszubooten, dann wird dies ein dauerhafter und unumkehrbarer Bruch mit der verfassungsmäßigen Regierungsführung in den Vereinigten Staaten sein.

Parteien und Medien solidarisieren sich mit der AfD

Ulrich Rippert und Johannes Stern, 12. Januar 2019

Die Attacke auf den Vorsitzenden der Bremer AfD Frank Magnitz wird von allen Bundestagsparteien und den Leitmedien benutzt, um ihre Solidarität mit der rechtsextremen Partei zu erklären.

Ford plant Werksschließungen und Tausende von Entlassungen in Europa

Will Morrow, 12. Januar 2019

Von seinem Kölner Standort aus gab der Ford-Konzern 10. Januar bekannt, dass er in Europa „Tausende“ von Arbeitsplätzen vernichten will. Die Gewerkschaften bezeichnete er als „Partner“ und machte damit die Rolle deutlich, die sie bei der Unterdrückung des Arbeiterwiderstands spielen.

„Das Leben ist uns verboten … Wollen Sie sich danach richten?“
Zur Wiederentdeckung von Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz’ Roman „Der Reisende“

Clara Weiss, 12. Januar 2019

Obwohl vor 80 Jahren geschrieben, ist „Der Reisende“ nicht nur ein wichtiges literarisches Dokument der Nazizeit, sondern spricht unmittelbar die großen politischen und historischen Fragen unserer Zeit an.

New in Spanish

Trump frente al Rubicón

Patrick Martin y Andre Damon, 12 enero 2019

La declaración presidencial de una “emergencia nacional” para evadir la oposición del Congreso significaría un rompimiento permanente e irreversible del gobierno constitucional en Estados Unidos.

El aumento de la ira social se está viendo en dos días de huelga contra el gobierno indio

nuestros corresponsales, 12 enero 2019

Mientras que los medios de comunicación capitalistas intentaron en gran medida bloquear la huelga, fue apoyado por amplios sectores de la clase trabajadora.

Cómo el WRP traicionó al trotskismo:1973-1985
5. La expulsión de Alan Thornett

Declaración del Comité Internacional de la Cuarta Internacional, 12 enero 2019

Este es el texto del análisis realizado en el verano de 1986 por el Comité Internacional de la Cuarta Internacional sobre el colapso de su sección británica, el Workers Revolutionary Party.

Macron lanza un “debate nacional” fraudulento sobre las protestas de los “chalecos amarillos”

Alex Lantier, 12 enero 2019

El debate es un intento para estrangular la creciente oposición mientras continúa implementando sus reaccionarias políticas de austeridad y militaristas encubriéndolo con frases vacías.

Todos los maestros del país deberían salir
Educadores de California y Michigan piden una acción junto a maestros de Los Ángeles

nuestros reporteros, 12 enero 2019

El Boletín para maestros del WSWS conversó con docentes ansiosos por luchar junto a los maestros en Los Ángeles por defender la educación pública en el país e internacionalmente.

Los Ángeles y el plan de los milmillonarios para destruir la educación pública

Alan Gilman, 12 enero 2019

Los docentes de Los Ángeles están en el frente de batalla contra el interés de Wall Street en privatizar la educación.

New in Norwegian

Trump ved Rubikon

Patrick Martin og Andre Damon, 12. januar 2019

En presidenterklæring om en «nasjonal nødssituasjon» for å overstyre Kongress-opposisjonen ville bety et permanent og irreversibelt brudd med konstitusjonelt styre i USA.

Voksende sosialt raseri uttrykt i to-dagers streik mot den indiske regjeringen

våre korrespondenter, 12. januar 2019

Mens kapitalistmediene prøvde å overse streiken, ble den støttet av store deler av arbeiderklassen.

Indiske arbeidere trenger revolusjonært sosialistisk program for å bekjempe sosial ruinering og politisk reaksjon

Deepal Jayesekera og Keith Jones, 12. januar 2019

Titalls-millioner arbeidere og unge mennesker deltok i denne ukas 48-timers nasjonale streik i India – mot den sosialt brennbare «pro-investor» økonomipolitikken til den BJP-ledede regjeringen. ICFI/WSWS-supportere førte kampanje blant streikende arbeidere i Chennai og Kolkata begge dagene, der de blant annet distribuerte denne WSWS-artikkelen.

Foretaksmedier sverter WikiLeaks og Julian Assange

Oscar Grenfell, 12. januar 2019

En rekke artikler som angriper Julian Assange denne uka er representative for hva den verdensberømte gravejournalisten John Pilger med berettigelse kalte «Vichy-journalistikk».

Macron lanserer bedragersk «nasjonaldebatt» om «gul vest»-protester

Alex Lantier, 12. januar 2019

Debatten er et forsøk på å kvele voksende opposisjon mens regjeringen under dekke av noen få tomme fraser fortsetter den reaksjonære politikken med innstramminger og militarisme.

Fransk regjering på heksejakt etter eks-bokseren som dro til opprørspoliti i en «gul vest»-protest

Will Moreau, 12. januar 2019

Bølgen av populær støtte for Dettinger har utløst en hysterisk kampanje fra Macron-regjeringen mot eks-bokseren og de som støtter ham.

Venezuelas Maduro innsverget for andre presidentperiode under voksende sosial uro og trusler om intervensjon

Bill Van Auken, 12. januar 2019

Washington, EU og den såkalte Lima-gruppa av høyreorienterte latinamerikanske regjeringer har kalt Maduros andre termin «illegitim», og invitert til regimeendring.

New in Urdu

سرمایہ دارانہ حکمرانی کا عالمی بحران اور سوشلسٹ انقلاب کی حکمت عملی

جوزف کشوور

قومی خصوصیات خواہ کچھ بھی ہو ں، طبقاتی حکمرانی کا سیاسی بحران ہر ملک میں یکساں عالمگیر پروسس کی وجہ ہے

New in Russian

Восьмидесятилетие Четвертого Интернационала: Уроки истории и борьба за социализм сегодня

Дэвид Норт, 11 января 2019 г.

7 октября 2018 года Дэвид Норт, председатель международного редакционного совета Мирового Социалистического Веб Сайта, выступил с нижеследующей речью на публичном митинге в Коломбо, организованным Партией Социалистического Равенства Шри-Ланки.

New in Turkish

ABD-Türkiye arasındaki gerilimler Suriye’den çekilme planı üzerinden yükseliyor

Bill Van Auken, 11 Ocak 2019

Salı günü, Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, kendisini ziyarete gelen ABD’li bir güvenlik ve ordu heyeti ile görüşmeyi reddetti.

Other Languages

Perspective

The political significance of India’s two-day general strike

12 January 2019

This week’s general strike in India, one of the largest strikes in history, is part of a growing upsurge of the world working class.

Earlier Perspectives »

Autoworkers struggles

No layoffs! No concessions!
Autoworkers call for demonstration February 9 to fight GM plant closings

By Jerry White, 12 January 2019

The Steering Committee of the Coalition of Rank-and-File Committees, which was established last month, is calling on workers and young people to march on February 9 at the headquarters of GM in downtown Detroit.

The struggle to defend education in California

For a united struggle to defend public education in California and beyond!

By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 12 January 2019

As teachers in Los Angeles prepare to strike, they confront the fact that the unions are working to undermine and isolate their struggle against privatization and other attacks on public education.

More on teachers' struggles »

Commentary

US astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson targeted by #MeToo campaign

By David Walsh, 12 January 2019

Nothing that has come to light so far demonstrates that Tyson is guilty of wrongdoing. On the contrary, the published material suggests he is the victim of a virulent strain of political hysteria.

Actor Kevin Spacey arraigned on indecent assault charge in Massachusetts

The struggle against austerity and the fight for the United Socialist States of Europe

By the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 12 January 2019

The SEP insists that the answer to austerity in the UK is not the election of a pro-capitalist Labour government, but the unification of the working class across the continent in the struggle for socialism.

Trump at the Rubicon

By Patrick Martin and Andre Damon, 11 January 2019

A presidential declaration of a “national emergency” to override congressional opposition would mean a permanent and irreversible break with constitutional government in the United States.

The Strategy of International Class Struggle and the Political Fight Against Capitalist Reaction in 2019

By James Cogan, Joseph Kishore and David North, 3 January 2019

The year 2019 begins amidst the explosive interaction of geopolitical, economic and social crises. All over the world the ruling class is turning to ultra-right and neo-fascist politicians and organizations to defend the capitalist system. The threat of dictatorship and war can be defeated only through the political mobilization of the working class on the basis of an international socialist strategy.

Corporate media smears WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

By Oscar Grenfell, 11 January 2019

A host of articles attacking Julian Assange this week are representative of what the world-renowned investigative journalist John Pilger aptly described as “Vichy journalism.”

Ecuador unveils “special examination” of Julian Assange’s asylum

Silence follows Trump attorney’s statement that Julian Assange did nothing “wrong”

More on the fight to free Julian Assange »

Venezuela’s Maduro sworn in for second term amid rising social unrest and threats of intervention

By Bill Van Auken, 11 January 2019

Macron launches fraudulent “national debate” on “yellow vest” protests

By Alex Lantier, 11 January 2019

French government witch-hunts ex-boxer who punched riot police in “yellow vest” protest

More on the 'yellow vest' protests in France »

Arts Review

Steins;Gate 0: A sequel to the popular time-travel anime series

By Matthew MacEgan, 12 January 2019

One of the top anime series of 2018, based on a 2015 video game of the same name, deals with a small group of friends who discover a way to time travel, with dangerous consequences.

If Beale Street Could Talk: A film version of the James Baldwin novel

By Joanne Laurier, 10 January 2019

South Park episodes dramatize plight of Amazon workers, ridicule Jeff Bezos

By Ed Hightower, 9 January 2019

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko: A novel of 20th century Korea and Japan—“History has failed us, but no matter”

By Sandy English, 7 January 2019

New in Arabic

Arabic translation of “The origins and findings of the Security and the Fourth International investigation”

We are publishing here the Arabic translation of a lecture delivered by Eric London in Detroit, Michigan reviewing the monumental investigation conducted by the International Committee of the Fourth International titled Security and the Fourth International. The lecture was first published on the WSWS on November 14, 2018.

Workers Struggles

Indian fireworks workers protest over layoffs, Pakistan water treatment workers walkout; New Caledonia nickel miners extend strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

12 January 2019

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

“The Teamsters won’t fight for us. It’s not a good contract”
Chicago UPS workers speak out against sellout contract

By George Marlowe and Jessica Goldstein, 11 January 2019

Amazon hires public relations firm to counter popular hostility to headquarters project in New York City

By Clare Hurley, 11 January 2019

Amazon worker describes brutal conditions at Tracy, California warehouse during Camp Fire

“Amazon ruined my life”
Amazon hired private detectives to spy on injured worker

More on Amazon »

Actors and stage managers strike against developmental work with Broadway League

By Katy Kinner, 11 January 2019

Mounting social anger seen in two-day strike against Indian government

By our correspondents, 10 January 2019

India’s “rise” and the savage exploitation of the working class

Indian workers need revolutionary socialist program to combat social devastation and political reaction

Featured Interview

Portland State University threatens to fire Peter Boghossian for authoring “Grievance Studies” hoax

By Eric London, 10 January 2019

The “Grievance Studies” hoax exposes postmodernist charlatans

A discussion with Helen Pluckrose, co-author of “Grievance Studies” hoax article

Socialist Equality Party (Germany)

Socialist Equality Party takes legal action against surveillance by German secret service

By the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 10 January 2019

Dr. Peer Stolle, the lawyer for the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, has submitted formal notice in writing to the German Federal Agency for the Protection of the Constitution. The text of the letter is published here.

Obituary

In memory of Halil Celik (1961–2018)

By the International Committee of the Fourth International, 2 January 2019

Halil Celik, founder and leader of the Sosyalist Eşitlik group, which supports the International Committee of the Fourth International in Turkey, died on December 31, 2018 following a serious illness.

Science

Scientific breakthrough promises to increase agricultural productivity by 40 percent

By Philip Guelpa and Thomas H. Douglass, 9 January 2019

ICFI meeting announcement

Indian Trotskyists in Kolkata to celebrate 80 years of the Fourth International

7 January 2019

The Kolkata meeting will review the essential political lessons of the protracted struggle of the Fourth International and their relevance to the fight for socialist internationalism today.

This week in history: January 7-13

25 years ago: Bill Clinton agrees to special prosecutor in Whitewater case

On January 12, 1994, under mounting media and political pressure, President Bill Clinton agreed to the appointment of a special prosecutor in the Whitewater case.

More »

50 years ago: Sweden recognizes North Vietnam

The Social Democratic government of Sweden recognized the Stalinist regime in North Vietnam on January 10, 1969 and indicated it would send an official envoy in the spring.

More »

75 years ago: American Stalinists “dissolve” Communist Party

On January 9, 1944, the American Communist Party, under orders from Moscow, announced at a public meeting in Madison Square Garden that it would “dissolve” itself as a political party.

More »

 

100 years ago: General strike in Buenos Aires

On January 9, 1919, thousands of workers in the Argentine capital led by the Argentine Regional Workers Federation struck in protest of the police killings of workers in two separate strikes in the previous days.

More »

International Committee of the Fourth International

The 50th anniversary of the founding of the SEP (Sri Lanka)
Victory of the Trotskyists in the 1985–1986 split in the ICFI

By Saman Gunadasa and K. Ratnayake, 29 December 2018

David North addresses New Zealand meeting celebrating 80 years of the Fourth International

By our reporters, 11 December 2018

80th anniversary of the Fourth International celebrated in Melbourne with public lecture

Eighty Years of the Fourth International: The Lessons of History and the Struggle for Socialism Today

By David North, 9 October 2018

On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International

Book Review

Rohini Hensman’s Indefensible: The ISO discovers its muse—the CIA

By Alex Lantier, 14 December 2018

Rohini Hensman’s book, issued by the International Socialist Organization’s (ISO) Haymarket Books publishing house, is an endorsement of imperialist war.

Part one | Part two | Part three | Part four

Socialist Equality Party

Resolution of the SEP (UK) Fourth National Congress
The resurgence of the class struggle and the tasks of the Socialist Equality Party (UK)

By the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 6 December 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Fourth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain, which was held October 27-30, 2018.

Security and the Fourth International

The origins and findings of the Security and the Fourth International investigation

By Eric London, 14 November 2018

This is the text and audio of a lecture delivered by Eric London in Detroit, Michigan reviewing the monumental investigation conducted by the International Committee of the Fourth International titled Security and the Fourth International, which exposed the infiltration of the movement by agents of the FBI and Stalinist GPU.

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Seventy-eight years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

By Eric London and David North, 21 August 2018

On August 21, 1940, Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International and the co-leader of the Russian Revolution, died from wounds inflicted the day before by an assassin, the Stalinist GPU agent Ramon Mercader.