United States
Ford slashing 7,000 white collar jobs
By Jerry White, 21 May 2019
In a scene played out just a few months ago at General Motors, hundreds of white-collar workers at Ford will be thrown out of their jobs this week as Ford cuts 10 percent of its salaried global workforce.
Protests erupt across US over barbaric anti-abortion ban in Alabama
By Valery Tsekov, 21 May 2019
The most significant of theses protests took place in Alabama and in Kansas City, Missouri, where a similar bill has been passed.
060 US neo-Nazi update
21 May 2019
070 East Bay teachers strike
21 May 2019
080 US-Chinese tech workers
21 May 2019
Mobilize the working class in defense of abortion rights
By the WSWS editorial board, 21 May 2019
The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality are distributing this statement at demonstrations across the US on Tuesday to defend the right to an abortion.
Death of a Los Angeles dockworker
By Rafael Azul, 20 May 2019
The death of Joseph Santoyo and severe injury to Pedro Chavarin at the Los Angeles port of San Pedro occurred in the midst of speed-ups and the destruction of working conditions.
Kicking off his presidential campaign
Biden makes right-wing plea for “unity” with Republicans
By Patrick Martin, 20 May 2019
At the kickoff rally for his campaign, the Democratic frontrunner avoided any mention of the growth of social inequality or the domination of a financial aristocracy over America.
010 Media silence on Manning
20 May 2019
Missouri becomes the latest state to pass punitive anti-abortion legislation
By Kate Randall, 20 May 2019
Trump's appointment of two anti-abortion justices to the high court has emboldened anti-abortion zealots, who hope this action will shift the court in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade.
As UAW starts closed-door talks with management
Toledo hospital strikers call for broader mobilization
By Shannon Jones, 20 May 2019
The hospital workers, members of the UAW, who have been supported on their picket line by other sections of UAW workers, must break through the union's straitjacket and broaden their struggle further.
Teachers rally in Nashville, Tennessee to demand pay raises
By Warren Duzak, 20 May 2019
More than 1,000 teachers and school employees called in sick last week in the latest protests by educators in the US.
Ethiopian Airlines tells Boeing, FAA to stop blaming dead pilots for 737 crashes
By Trévon Austin, 20 May 2019
While neither the carriers nor the pilots had been informed of the existence of a new anti-stall system, Federal Aviation Administration officials are trying to scapegoat those pilots who died trying to overcome the airplane's design flaws .
Supreme Court justices battle over execution delays
By John Burton, 20 May 2019
In opinions last week, the three most extreme right-wing Supreme Court justices lashed out at two fellow members of the five-vote right-wing bloc.
Police escort workers out of closed plant in Central Pennsylvania
By Samuel Davidson, 20 May 2019
Police were called to stand by as nearly 1,000 workers were abruptly thrown out of their jobs at this Central Pennsylvania factory
The assault on the Venezuelan embassy
By Bill Van Auken, 18 May 2019
The violent police seizure of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington expressed in microcosm the criminality of US imperialism the world over.
Video: Mass layoffs hit Illinois Fiat Chrysler plant
By Michael Walters, Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 18 May 2019
Workers at the plant are worried that Fiat Chrysler will eliminate another shift later this year, with hundreds or thousands more jobs cut.
Democrats back trade war with China
By Patrick Martin, 18 May 2019
The main criticism of Trump’s trade policy by congressional Democrats and most presidential candidates is that the president should focus exclusively on China and enlist Canada, Mexico and the European Union in an anti-China coalition.
New Jersey education budget reallocation threatens hundreds of jobs
By Erik Schreiber and Sandy English, 18 May 2019
The Democratic and Republican politicians of one of the wealthiest states in America are refusing to adequately fund public education in working class communities.
As New York City transit contract expires, governor launches vindictive attack on workers
By Daniel de Vries and Alan Whyte, 18 May 2019
The union is keeping 40,000 workers on the job while governor Cuomo whips up hysteria over allegedly fraudulent overtime.
Massive flooding in New Orleans as five pumps go offline
By Aaron Murch, 18 May 2019
The breakdown of the city’s pumping system following an evening of heavy rains exposes the continued neglect of infrastructure in a city devastated due to the failure of levees in 2005.
“I would rather starve to death than change my opinion”
Chelsea Manning jailed again after refusing to testify against WikiLeaks
By Niles Niemuth, 17 May 2019
Manning has courageously insisted on principle that she will never testify before any grand jury about her possible contacts with Assange and WikiLeaks or anything else.
More migrant deaths as Trump unveils class-based immigration quota
By Eric London, 17 May 2019
Trump announced the new plan as the military agreed to build six new internment camps along the US-Mexico border.
US security forces storm Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C.
By Nick Barrickman, 17 May 2019
The raid of the embassy is of a piece with the reckless and illegal actions taken by the Trump administration in an effort to force a regime change in Venezuela.
030 Death penalty conflict on US Supreme Court
17 May 2019
University of California unions wear down workers with fifth one-day strike
By Evelyn Rios, 17 May 2019
Dwindling numbers participate in the fifth one-day, unpaid strike, as workers have been kept on the job without a contract for nearly two years.
With contract deadline approaching, Michigan auto parts workers vote by 97 percent to strike global parts maker
By James McDonald, 17 May 2019
Michigan auto parts workers, angry over deplorable conditions and years of UAW-backed concessions, face a contract expiration date of May 31.
Students for Justice in Palestine at New York University smeared as anti-Semitic
By Isaac Finn, 17 May 2019
The attack on the Students for Justice in Palestine is part of an international campaign to slander left-wing organizations that criticize the Israeli state.
Rising US health insurance costs take toll on workers
By Alex Johnson, 17 May 2019
Since 2007, annual deductibles for job-based health plans—the most common form of coverage—have increased fourfold, with the average for plans rising to an estimated $1,300.
The US war drive against Iran and the conflict with Europe
By Alex Lantier, 17 May 2019
Amid growing conflicts with its strategic rivals, including its European Union “allies,” Washington is seeking to reorganize Eurasian geopolitics, beginning with a war drive targeting Iran.
Washington orders US personnel out of Iraq amid war buildup against Iran
By Bill Van Auken, 16 May 2019
The evacuation order came as a senior British general said there was no heightened threat from Iranian-backed forces in the region.
Pentagon threatens Europe over EU army plans
By Alex Lantier, 16 May 2019
The letter came amid mounting tensions between Washington and its European imperialist rivals over US war threats against Iran.
In another escalation of trade war against China
Trump issues executive order directed at Huawei
By Nick Beams, 16 May 2019
The latest US action is an escalation in what could be described as a drive to “weaponise” all arms of the state in the economic confrontation against China.
Protesters occupying Venezuela embassy in Washington DC speak out
By our reporters, 16 May 2019
For over a month, protesters opposed to the illegal US regime change operation in Venezuela have defended the embassy from being taken over by pro-Guaidó forces.
ICE conducts armed raid on student pastor’s home in Chicago, abducts three
By Jacob Crosse, 16 May 2019
Betty Rendón had been preaching at Emaus Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin while studying for her doctorate degree in Chicago when she, her husband and cousin were snatched by federal agents last week.
Detroit teachers demand action on pay, class sizes and testing
By J. Cooper, 16 May 2019
Hundreds of red-shirted teachers demanded to be heard at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
Censorship in the guise of opposition to monopoly control
Co-founder Chris Hughes calls for government break-up of Facebook
By Kevin Reed, 16 May 2019
The New York Times op-ed by Hughes is part of a campaign for government regulation of social media and technology corporations in order to step up censorship of left-wing political views.
Alabama abortion ban: Back to barbarism
By Patrick Martin, 16 May 2019
The purpose of the law is to give the new right-wing majority on the US Supreme Court the opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Trump planning nationwide military round-up of 10,000 immigrants
By Eric London, 15 May 2019
The unprecedented scope of the raid would require de facto martial law and serve as a test run for the mass arrest and detention of political dissidents.
After shouting “I’m pregnant,” woman fatally shot by Texas police officer
By Marcus Day, 15 May 2019
Video recorded by a bystander and posted to Snapchat quickly went viral, prompting widespread outrage at the horrific killing.
Five years since the poisoning of Flint’s water supply: Part two
By James Brewer, 15 May 2019
This is the second part of a two-part series drawing a balance sheet of five years of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Part one was posted on May 14.
Washington pushes to brink of war against Iran
By Bill Van Auken, 14 May 2019
Pompeo’s abrupt trip to Brussels and the deployment of more US military assets to the Persian Gulf point to a calculated US escalation of a war crisis.
Trump welcomes Hungarian far-right prime minister Orbán to the White House
By Clara Weiss, 14 May 2019
The Trump administration is sending a clear message of endorsement of the far-right in the upcoming European elections.
Republicans launch “anti-Semitism” smear campaign against Representative Rashida Tlaib
By Tom Hall, 14 May 2019
The attacks on the Detroit congresswoman follow a similar campaign against Representative Ilhan Omar earlier in the year.
Trump says he reported $1.17 billion in losses over 10 years to evade paying taxes
By E.P. Milligan, 14 May 2019
Trump’s statement that he claimed losses in order to evade taxes is tantamount to an admission of tax fraud.
Former Boeing engineers say safety compromised by cost-cutting drive
By Bryan Dyne, 14 May 2019
No Boeing executives have been arrested or even charged in connection with two crashes that killed 346 people.
More than one million Americans lost health insurance in 2018
By Alex González, 14 May 2019
After decreasing or leveling off in past years, the number of uninsured is on the rise, with the poor or near-poor more than three times as likely to be uninsured as the non-poor.
Questcor Pharmaceuticals and Mallinckrodt: Financial parasitism and the US pharmaceutical industry
By Brian Dixon, 14 May 2019
The business strategy of Questcor and Mallinckrodt reflects the parasitic and predatory nature of the pharmaceutical industry under the pressure of finance capital.
A new stage in the US-China trade war
By Nick Beams, 14 May 2019
The fundamental and irresolvable contradiction of world capitalism, between world economy and the nation-state system, lies at the root of the accelerating US-China trade war.
Five years since the poisoning of Flint’s water supply: Part one
By James Brewer, 14 May 2019
This is the first of a two-part series drawing a balance sheet of five years of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
The teachers’ revolt and the fight for social equality
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 14 May 2019
Three years ago, Detroit teachers were the first to organize sickouts and protests that exposed the crisis of public education to a national and international audience.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Brazilian university workers, students to strike over cuts; series of strikes hit Argentina
14 May 2019
Public university professors and students will strike later this week over cuts by the government of Jair Bolsonaro while educators, petroleum workers and judicial workers in Argentina have set dates for stoppages.
Strikes by US workers outpacing rate in 2018
By Jerry White, 13 May 2019
There have been 17 major strikes in the US so far in 2019, involving nearly 230,000 public school and university employees, hospital staff, supermarket employees and other workers.
The working class and the threat of dictatorship in the US
By Patrick Martin, 13 May 2019
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats admit that there is a “constitutional crisis” but refuse to conduct a serious struggle against Trump’s authoritarian actions.
Toledo, Ohio workers complete first week of strike vs. Mercy Health St. Vincent
By Shannon Jones, 13 May 2019
Management has hired strikebreakers to maintain hospital operations and is relying on the UAW to contain and isolate the strike.
“This administration clearly wants to go after journalists”
Chelsea Manning restates her refusal to testify against Julian Assange as new grand jury subpoena looms
By Niles Niemuth, 13 May 2019
Speaking on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” program just three days after being released from federal detention, Manning made clear that she will resist the new grand jury subpoena, even at the cost of being sent back to prison.
Trump administration to evict 55,000 children of immigrants from public housing
By Eric London, 13 May 2019
The Washington Post reports that Trump's fascist adviser Stephen Miller propagated the new rule, while HUD itself assesses its purpose is to increase poverty and destitution among immigrant families.
Faculty at Chicago’s DePaul University condemn professor’s anti-democratic, militarist comments on Middle East
By Kristina Betinis, 13 May 2019
The faculty resolution condemned the views of Professor Jason Hill, who called for Palestinians to be stripped of voting rights and for Israel to exercise “unprecedented and excessive military might.”
Illinois passes bill criminalizing infrastructure-related protests
By Benjamin Mateus and Kristina Betinis, 13 May 2019
15 such bills, driven largely by oil and energy corporations through the pro-business think-tank ALEC, have already been enacted nationally, while 26 are pending.
US indicts whistleblower who exposed Obama’s drone assassination program
By Kevin Reed, 11 May 2019
Former US intelligence officer Daniel Hale was indicted and arrested on Thursday on charges of violating the Espionage Act.
New York City public housing fire kills six
By Tim Avery and Philip Guelpa, 11 May 2019
A fire in a Harlem building owned by the New York City Housing Authority killed two adults and four children.
Low-paid South Carolina teachers recruited for factory work
By Shelley Connor, 11 May 2019
South Carolina’s teachers, frustrated by pay that has not kept up with inflation, have become a reliable source of labor for a pharmaceutical company.
Trump rally roars approval for call to “shoot” immigrants
By Eric London, 10 May 2019
When an audience member at a Trump rally Wednesday yelled that the US should “shoot” immigrants, Trump laughed. Meanwhile, the government is arresting record numbers of families at the border.
US seizes North Korean ship
By Mike Head, 10 May 2019
This week’s developments demonstrate that the Trump administration has no intention of striking a deal with Pyongyang unless it involves a total capitulation and embrace of Washington’s offensive against China.
US tariff hike against China goes ahead
By Nick Beams, 10 May 2019
Trump said talks with Chinese representatives would proceed, but “I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
“They depend on us for their wealth and power”
Uber and Lyft drivers in Chicago, New York and California speak out against exploitation of gig economy workers
By our reporters, 10 May 2019
Drivers across the United States spoke out against the classification of Uber drivers as independent contractors as Uber heads into an Initial Public Offering worth billions of dollars.
GM workers denounce deals to “save” token jobs in Lordstown and Oshawa
By Shannon Jones, 10 May 2019
The moves, which will retain at most a few hundred jobs out of the thousands that are being permanently eliminated, are being denounced by workers.
Venezuela tensions mount after arrest of coup leader
By Bill Van Auken, 10 May 2019
Washington continues to threaten military intervention in the oil-rich South American country.
050 NYC public housing fire kills six
10 May 2019
Cell phone video from Sandra Bland’s 2015 traffic stop made public
By Anthony Bertolt, 10 May 2019
The video renews attention to her death in police custody and raises questions over the way it has been withheld for nearly four years.
Changing poverty formula, Trump administration to make millions ineligible for social programs
By Alex González, 10 May 2019
The “chained CPI” plan is based on a previous attack on the poor and elderly proposed by the Obama administration.
Chelsea Manning released, faces new imprisonment for refusing to testify against Assange
By Niles Niemuth, 10 May 2019
Even before she was released on Thursday, Manning was served with a new subpoena to demand testimony before a different grand jury. She could be returned to jail as early as next week.
Wild Nights with Emily: American poet Emily Dickinson undone by gender politics
By Joanne Laurier and David Walsh, 10 May 2019
By concentrating almost exclusively on Emily Dickinson’s supposed sexual relationship with her sister-in-law, filmmaker Madeleine Olnek and her collaborators recreate the poet in their own petty, self-absorbed image.
IYSSE in US holds successful meetings on postmodernism and identity politics
By our reporters, 10 May 2019
The meetings reviewed the right-wing, subjective idealist roots of the pseudo-left philosophies and politics that dominate college campuses.
House committee votes contempt charge against Trump’s attorney general William Barr
By Patrick Martin, 9 May 2019
The conflict between Congress and the White House represents the breakdown of the institutional framework through which American capitalist politics has operated for more than two centuries.
“We need to fight capitalism and change the whole system”
Uber and Lyft drivers conduct international strike
By our reporters, 9 May 2019
Thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers in the US and several other countries struck and protested Wednesday in advance of Uber’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange Friday.
“I am ready to stay out and not going back in until we get everything we need”
More than 20,000 participate in Oregon walkouts for public education
By Kayla Costa, 9 May 2019
Teachers were joined by thousands of students, parents and school workers at demonstrations in multiple cities across the state.
Pompeo lays down the law during UK visit
By Robert Stevens, 9 May 2019
The US secretary of state’s remit was to demand that the UK government toe the line in backing the geo-strategic imperatives of US imperialism… or else.
030 Harlem fire killed six
9 May 2019
Trump issues full pardon to former lieutenant who executed prisoner in Iraq
By Jessica Goldstein, 9 May 2019
The act of clemency for a war criminal was a calculated gesture to ultra-right and fascistic elements inside and outside the US military.
040 Sandra Bland video
9 May 2019
Insys Therapeutics executives, makers of oral fentanyl spray, convicted of racketeering
By Ben Mateus, 9 May 2019
A study published earlier this year found that in 28 states the mortality rate from synthetic opioids had more than doubled every two years.
The social crisis and the global eruption of US imperialism
By Bill Van Auken, 9 May 2019
Washington’s brazen and reckless military threats and provocations on a world scale are driven by deep-going social and political crises within the US itself.
The New York Times and its Uyghur “activist”
By Peter Symonds, 9 May 2019
The promotion of Rushan Abbas by the New York Times is a classic example of its role in pushing the bogus “human rights” issues used by US imperialism to prosecute its interests.
Removal of white educator from African American history class in Michigan sparks widespread outrage
By Phyllis Steele and Nancy Hanover, 9 May 2019
The removal of the high school teacher from an advanced placement course in a Detroit suburb occurred after a group of parents objected to a nationally-developed, comprehensive curriculum for the class.
Two thousand nurses and support staff strike at Toledo, Ohio hospital
By Jerry White, 8 May 2019
Nurses, technicians and other support staff walked out at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center Monday to fight against increased workloads and out-of-pocket health care costs.
Trump floats proposal to cancel 2020 elections
By Eric London, 8 May 2019
Bourgeois politics has degenerated to such a degree that political and legal norms considered fundamental since the American Revolution are now challenged by presidential tweet.
“We want him to come to graduation!”
Arizona students demand release of classmate detained by immigration agents
By Norisa Diaz, 8 May 2019
Over 200 high school students in Tucson, Arizona walked out of school Monday to protest the detention and deportation of their classmate, Thomas Torres.
Uber drivers to participate in global strike
By Leslie Murtagh and Jesse Thomas, 8 May 2019
Thousands of Uber and other ride-sharing drivers around the world will strike on Wednesday to protest low wages and the spread of casualized labor.
Teachers walking out statewide today in Oregon
By Kayla Costa, 8 May 2019
The SEP calls for the creation of rank-and-file committees to unite all educators, workers, parents and students in a common fight across the United States and internationally.
Boeing continues to whitewash 737 crashes
By Bryan Dyne, 8 May 2019
Aviation journalist Rytis Beresnevičius: “The press release is just Boeing shifting the blame somewhere else. They are defending their greed.”
Former Trump chief of staff John Kelly joins board of migrant detention firm
By Genevieve Leigh, 8 May 2019
The retired general and anti-immigrant demagogue is profiting from the draconian policies he helped implement while working in the Trump administration.
Georgia governor signs “heartbeat” anti-abortion legislation
By Kate Randall, 8 May 2019
The “Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act” marks a new stage in an orchestrated campaign to outlaw abortion.
Canada’s Liberal government abets US-sponsored coup attempt in Venezuela
By Roger Jordan, 8 May 2019
Last week Canada proclaimed its support for Guaidó’s coup attempt and stepped up its efforts to bring to power a far-right, pro-imperialist regime in Caracas.
Betraying my principles is “a much worse prison than the government can construct”
After nearly two months in jail, Chelsea Manning submits powerful appeal for release
By Niles Niemuth, 7 May 2019
Manning has been detained for contempt of court after she refused to testify before a grand jury impaneled to bring frame-up charges against WikiLeaks publisher and journalist Julian Assange.
Democrats line up behind Trump’s war on immigrants
NY Times demands: “Give Trump his border money”
By Kevin Martinez, 7 May 2019
With death and misery mounting along the southern US border,the Democratic party is signaling its support for further repression.
Conflicts flare between Trump and House Democrats
By Patrick Martin, 7 May 2019
On a range of issues, the Trump administration is refusing to provide documents and witnesses subpoenaed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.
“The UAW sold us down the river”
Fiat Chrysler uses robocall to announce more layoffs at Belvidere, Illinois, plant
By Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 7 May 2019
On Monday, the auto giant announced more layoffs in addition to the shift it has already eliminated.
New Orleans Times-Picayune lays off its entire staff
By Aaron Murch, 7 May 2019
The mass layoff was the first action of the new owners after Baton Rouge-based the Advocate bought the New Orleans daily.
The nationalist “socialism” of Bernie Sanders
By Patrick Martin, 6 May 2019
Sanders presents Chinese workers, the largest single contingent of the international working class, as the enemy of American workers.
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