Issue 1266

News

As New South Wales eases its coronavirus restrictions, the North East Forest Alliance took their anti-logging message to a state forest near Casino, in the state's north, reports Kerry Smith.

Higher education workers, students and supporters protested outside the Liberal Party headquarters in Sydney on May 21, as part of a national day of action to save higher education jobs called by the National Teritary Education Union, reports Susan Price.

The Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of McDonald’s bid to waive overtime rates and set shifts for part-timers under the fast food award, reports Jim McIlroy and Pip Hinman.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union is opposing the state government’s moves to fully privatise Sydney’s buses, saying it will hurt commuters and transport workers, reports Jim McIlroy.

More than 120 people took part in a safely distanced protest outside the Mantra Hotel in Preston on May 16 to show solidarity with the 70 detainees inside and to call for their release, report Chloe DS and Chris Slee.

The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union's call for WorkSafe to investigate a McDonald’s outlet is gaining support as more workers test positive to COVID-19, reports Kerry Smith.

Analysis

While the federal government does not care about the wellbeing of the unemployed, it still faces a dilemma: how to continue to serve big business while appearing to care about all those who have been redundant, writes Sam Wainwright.

Home affairs minister Peter Dutton is using the COVID-19 pandemic to push through amendments to security laws that will further erode people’s rights, argues Vivien Miley.

More than 1183 doctors and medical professionals have called on the federal government to release asylum seekers and refugees from detention facilities to protect them from COVID-19 infection. The letter was initiated by Dr David Isaacs.

The easing of the COVID-19 pandemic limits will increase the risk of further infections and heighten the danger for those incarcerated in the nation’s correctional facilities, writes Paul Gregoire.

Andrew Chuter, a member of the NTEU National Council and the Socialist Alliance, explains why he supports the union taking a more combative stand aimed at the federal government to provide funding to universities to save education workers' jobs.

Alex Bainbridge spoke to Alex North of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union about unemployment, the special coronavirus rate and what's next for the campaign.

While Greens MP Adam Bandt is pushing for a green new deal, Hans A Baer asks why doesn't he also push the Greens to stop being soft on capitalism?

Virulent infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, have been predicted by disease ecologists because they are the result of the destruction of the world’s natural and agricultural ecosystems, writes Alan Broughton.

The legacy of Vladimir Lenin, one of the most prominent and influential figures in the history of the labour movement and revolutionary praxis, remain valid 150 years after his birth, writes Julian Coppens.

World

While the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's right-wing government continues to attack the liberated region of north and east Syria, writes Peter Boyle

Can music start a revolution? The Turkish government clearly thinks so, judging by its treatment of the radical socialist musicians who play as Grup Yorum, writes Sarah Glynn.

To understand why Britain has fared so badly in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to appreciate the neoliberal reforms which have steadily mutated its National Health Service over decades, write Bob Gill and Sarah Gangoli

The Left Democratic Front-governed Indian state of Kerala's reaction to the coronavirus virus outbreak is now being hailed as an international example for COVID-19 control, writes Karthik Preyeswary.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement and freedom of speech are under attack, writes Wlam*, as the legal system cows under pressure and police brutality worsens.

Unemployment and hunger have risen sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, with long lines at food banks and families going without enough food, writes Barry Sheppard.

There has been scrutiny about the coal, oil and gas industries using the COVID-19 crisis to push their agenda. So why isn’t aviation being framed in these terms, writes Annabel Smith.