Yesterday, workers across Greece took part in a huge general strike in angry opposition to a new "austerity cuts package." The strike hit all public and private sectors and closed down airports, docks and stopped all public transport. In Athens over 200,000, possibly 300,000, marched in the biggest ever trade union protest.

The worst capitalist crisis since the 1930s has led to increasing crises and change across the world. In the last months, Greece has been at the epicenter of turmoil in Europe, which now threatens the very core of the European Union. The Greek workers' resistance to the bosses' attacks provides an inspiring example to working people across the world who are struggling against the effects of the economic crisis.

After last fall reaching its highest levels since the Great Depression, official U.S. unemployment has improved slightly to 9.7%, while actual unemployment and underemployment remain far higher. Last month, the highest ever long-term unemployment rate was recorded, with 6.5 million Americans out of work for six months or longer.

METHUEN, Mass.- On March 7 over 300 workers at a Shaw’s Supermarket distribution center voted to go on strike. Shaw’s had asked the workers to freeze their pensions and increase their health care payments by 30%. Management also wanted to lay off over 20 full-time workers. Instead of giving the workers a raise, the company’s initial proposal was to give them a Shaw’s gift card.

1,000 nurses and 500 professional/technical workers at Temple University Hospital struck on March 31 after working without a contract for the last six months. The workers are represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP).

On March 21 of this year, the immigrant worker rights movement was reborn with hundreds of thousands protesting in Washington, D.C. An “immigration reform” bill is being discussed in the halls of power, co-sponsored by Democrat Charles Schumer and Republican Lindsey Graham. While many immigrants’ rights activists are excited for the prospect of this bill passing, the legislation would leave many workers as indentured servants under a guest worker program while tax-payer money would be wasted on militarization of the border.

We’ve all heard this phrase. It implies that those without one are lazy and that jobs are there for those who are willing. 9.7% of the adult population isn’t working, and I’d be willing to bet my next unemployment check that most of them want to work

METHUEN, Mass.- On March 7 over 300 workers at a Shaw’s Supermarket distribution center voted to go on strike. Shaw’s had asked the workers to freeze their pensions and increase their health care payments by 30%. Management also wanted to lay off over 20 full-time workers. Instead of giving the workers a raise, the company’s initial proposal was to give them a Shaw’s gift card.

1,000 nurses and 500 professional/technical workers at Temple University Hospital struck on March 31 after working without a contract for the last six months. The workers are represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP).

On March 21 of this year, the immigrant worker rights movement was reborn with hundreds of thousands protesting in Washington, D.C. An “immigration reform” bill is being discussed in the halls of power, co-sponsored by Democrat Charles Schumer and Republican Lindsey Graham. While many immigrants’ rights activists are excited for the prospect of this bill passing, the legislation would leave many workers as indentured servants under a guest worker program while tax-payer money would be wasted on militarization of the border.

The worst capitalist crisis since the 1930s has led to increasing crises and change across the world. In the last months, Greece has been at the epicenter of turmoil in Europe, which now threatens the very core of the European Union.

On March 4, 2010, coalitions of unions, student organizations, and community groups rallied around the country, staging strikes, teach-ins, and protests, as part of the National Day to Defend Education.

CORE - the Caucus of Rank and File Educators - is a group of teachers who work for the Chicago Board of Education and who recently put together, through a democratic internal election process, a slate that is challenging the incumbent leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union in the elections this May.

In February, the school board in Central Falls, Rhode Island, the poorest and most densely populated city in the state, voted to fire all 93 teachers and staff at the city’s only high school because it is allegedly “failing.” On March 1, speaking before the US Chamber of Commerce, President Obama cited this mass firing as a model of how to hold schools and teachers “accountable.” The local school board was actually following one of four “turn around” models the Obama administration has put forward for districts to get a share of the $3.5 billion School Improvement Grant.

The majority of union leaders today are completely unprepared to meet the current onslaught on jobs and public services. But that does not mean that the inevitable resistance is destined for defeat. On the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the poll tax to England and Wales, Peter Taaffe looks back on the ‘unofficial’ mass movement which humbled the seemingly invincible Margaret Thatcher.