A Sign of Things to Come
The working class currently faces the challenge of the combined consequences of the pandemic and the underlying crisis of capitalism. Even though the health emergency is far from over, the wave of redundancies and restructuring has already started. The degree to which workers are able to not only resist attacks on their conditions but to impose their own interests on the ruling class in the next few months will shape the balance of class forces.
In the early days of the pandemic we documented the global working class response. In the UK a number of smaller strikes, some wildcats, initially took place as well (at various Royal Mail sites, Moy Park in Portadown, bin collectors in Thurrock and on the Wirral, etc.). Undoubtedly however the introduction of furlough, the extension of Universal Credit and the ban on evictions have helped to stave off more discontent. But the "honeymoon" period is gradually coming to an end as the need to “pay for the crisis” looms ever closer.