Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
WORKERS at pub chain JD Wetherspoon joined crew from McDonald’s and TGI Friday’s and riders from UberEats this week for an unprecedented day of strike action.
It was a rebellion against low pay, zero-hours contracts, phoney self-employment and other abuses in the fast-food and service sector.
Earlier this week, one of the bigger meetings on the Conservative fringe, addressed by both Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey former work and pensions secretary and big man on the Tory right Iain Duncan Smith, considered the big question of “Is the Conservative Party making work pay?”
With ‘Your Party’ holding its founding conference in Liverpool this weekend, JEREMY CORBYN speaks to Morning Star editor Ben Chacko about its potential, its priorities — and a few of its controversies too
Roger McKenzie talks to general secretary of Unison CHRISTINA McANEA about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on members, the local government funding emergency and the threat of Reform UK
CWU leader DAVE WARD tells Ben Chacko a strategy to unite workers on class lines is needed – and sectoral collective bargaining must be at its heart
While Reform poses as a workers’ party, a credible left alternative rooted in working-class communities would expose their sham — and Corbyn’s stature will be crucial to its appeal, argues CHELLEY RYAN


