Grid of posts 2×3

  • ACC PROTEST : Strong and weak points

    Don Franks  The Accident Compensation Commission has “blown out’ financially and needs major reform, ACC minister Nick Smith claimed last year. The government now says it must control costs by raising levies, cutting entitlements and coverage, and privatising parts of ACC. Seasonal and part time workers, people needing hearing aids and sexual abuse survivors stand Read more

  • Can students be radical?

    The following article is extracted from a talk given at a Workers Party forum at Canterbury University in October, 2006, by Philip Ferguson. The article is reprinted here and originally appeared in an earlier edition of  The Spark that was published on 12 October 2006. For many people, especially on the left, the answer to this Read more

  • The nature of Israel: A state of all its citizens or a racist state?

    The Spark February 2010 “…no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial” – Ariel Sharon On May 15th 1948 the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel stated that due to a “natural and historic right” a “Jewish state” would be established in the former Read more

  • Reclaiming the right to strike and how it’s essential for rebuilding workers’ power

      The following article is a shortened and edited version of a Workers Party internal document by Jared Phillips  printed in The Spark February 2010  Initially socialist organisations in New Zealand responded to the anti-strike laws contained in the Employment Contracts Act and Employment Relations Act with some vigor, including in The Spark. In response Read more

  • Chavez calls for a Fifth International

    Ian Anderson The Spark February 2010  In a characteristically bold move, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called for the formation of a “Fifth International” in November last year. The Latin American leftist leader made the call at the World Meeting of Left Parties, a conference held in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.  For those not immersed in Read more

  • Christchurch: Living Wage Picket Organising Meeting

    The Workers Rights Campaign is holding a meeting this Monday (the 8th) to organise a picket of an MP’s office on Saturday the 13th as part of the nation wide day of action protesting the pitiful 25 cent increase in the minimum wage and demanding a living wage now! (see Facebook group) At this meeting Read more