Once the bustling heart of Christian pilgrimage, Bethlehem now faces shuttered hotels, empty streets and a shrinking Christian community, while Israel’s assault on Gaza and the tightening grip of occupation destroy hopes of peace at the birthplace of Christ, writes Father GEOFF BOTTOMS
EUROPEAN and global trade unions are at the forefront supporting independent trade unions in Belarus.
They are calling for an end to violence and attacks on unions, political opposition and journalists by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his government.
Opposition leaders, journalists and independent trade unionists have been jailed, among them the former president of the Independent Trade Union of Belarus (BNP) Mikalaj Zimin, together with at least three other union activists.
It is only trade union power at work that will materially improve the lot of working people as a class but without sector-wide collective bargaining and a right to take sympathetic strike action, we are hamstrung in the fight to tilt back the balance of power, argues ADRIAN WEIR
In an address to the Communist Party’s executive at the weekend international secretary KEVAN NELSON explained why the communists’ watchwords must be Jobs not Bombs and Welfare not Warfare
TONY BURKE says an International Labour Conference next month will try for a new convention to protect often super-exploited workers providing services such as ride-hailing (taxis) such as Uber as well as fast food and package delivery



