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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing Archives of Author »Terry Bell«
The real message of International Women’s Day
Tuesday, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD). It comes at a time of ongoing global economic crisis and when we, in South Africa, face further massive job losses, turmoil on the university campuses and in the labour movement. Perhaps, as never before, has the real message of the founders of IWD been more pertinent.
No joy for SA labour in 2016 Budget
February 28, 2016
South Africa's 2016 Budget has come and gone — and has done little or nothing to assuage the anger felt in many sections of the embattled trade union movement. If anything, it has given added impetus to a move by those unions set to convene a “workers’ summit” to seek new directions both for the labour movement and the country.
Avoiding the real state of the SA nation
February 20, 2016
South Africa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 11 and the subsequent debates all seem long on rhetoric and somewhat short on realistic plans that take cognisance of the world of the 21st Century.
A Valentine message for labour
February 16, 2016
Perhaps it was appropriate that Sunday was Valentine’s Day. It provided some respite from political shenanigans of the past week and the parlous state of the real economy. But the history of the day provides a glimpse of the reality of technological progress and its effect on jobs.
A wake-up call for SA trade unions
February 8, 2016
South Africa is heading into a particularly rough year economically. For those on minimum wages or fixed incomes, let alone the army of the unemployed, this is a frightening prospect.
Dealing with the “4th Industrial Revolution”
January 30, 2016
The so-called "Fourth Industrial Revolution" has the potential to free humanity from drudgery and poverty, but only if it is under true democratic control and serves the interests of humanity as a whole. So it is not a matter of demanding changes in mere policy, but in the political system itself.
Opening the debate on alternative economics
January 28, 2016
“The doors of learning and culture shall be opened.” So states the eighth clause of the ANC’s Freedom Charter. It has again come to the forefront as university students embark on another series of protests about the cost of tertiary education.
Forward to a Cold War future?
January 24, 2016
In the face of the ongoing global economic crisis, with massive unemployment and a wage and welfare gap continuing to grow, the remnants of communist parties around the world see a chance of again becoming major, even leading, political forces. And the prime vehicle toward this goal is the trade union movement.
Terry Bell Writes 
March 6, 2016
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