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
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Tough times for our movement
Amid the mounting challenges one thing is now clear – pay is a health issue, says JAMIE CALDWELL
Members of Unite the union on a protest
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
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NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
LAST WEEK, the STUC congress took place. This normally brings trade unionists together from across Scotland and afar to discuss challenges ahead for our movement and celebrate our wins. But this year it was broadcast into kitchens, living rooms and home offices.
Arguably it was one of the most open conferences for years. If there was an official location for this event it was a council house in Kilwinning of the outgoing president Jackson Cullinane from Unite.
It was a little disappointing we could not reward Jackson within more normal traditions for the wonderful stewardship in these difficult times.
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