COULD this be a turning point for workers? It feels like we are at a cusp at the moment, a point at which the old world order is dying and something new is waiting to be born. 

On one hand we are seeing relentless attacks by employers, but on the other we are seeing big increases in the number of people joining trade unions.

The actions of companies such as Douwe Egberts are nothing short of scandalous and they are by no means alone. 

Increasingly, employers that have relied on workers during this pandemic are looking to force the costs of this crisis on those they have relied so much upon. 

Douwe Egberts made €6.65 billion last year and the new CEO received a €10 million signing bonus in November. Yet when it comes to making savings, it falls on the backs of the working class in its factories.

Through industrial action, workers and communities can fight this practice of fire and rehire — outlawed in Spain and Ireland — and win. 

In the space of less than six months we have mapped over 100 strikes in the UK alone. Increasingly workers are fighting back against fire and rehire. 

Going on strike is never an easy decision to make and it can be a very isolating experience, so we encourage people to send solidarity messages to all involved in action.

We can learn from successful industrial action by workers across the world and that’s why Strike Map is launching a book club.

Over three evenings this summer, you can join Strike Map UK on Facebook to discuss and strategise the way forward for union members and activists in the UK, based on the book Workers’ Inquiry and Global Class Struggle: Strategies, Tactics, Objectives, edited by Robert Ovetz. 

Pluto books is providing free chapters of each book that will be available to download, and all events are free for everyone.

Tomorrow, Monday June 7 2021, at 7pm, we’re joined by Ovetz, as he discusses his chapter on strike threats.

You can read the chapter for free here: bit.ly/strikethreatschapter. You can also grab the whole book we will be discussing discounted using STRIKE30 here: mstar.link/WorkersInquiry.

Come along and ask Ovetz about his chapter and hear about the work of strike threats.

It’s time now for a co-ordinated and united campaign of all of our workplaces, communities and Westminster to end fire and rehire. 

No ifs, no buts. There is power in united strike action. We support and send solidarity to all taking action, until victory.

You can register by going to mstar.link/SMBookClub. Follow the campaign at @redforworkers @strikemapuk.