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Austerity

Philadelphia Protest Against Transit System’s Proposed Draconian Cuts

April 15, 2025 Betsey Piette, Workers' World. , , , ,
Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia’s transit system, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), released a budget on April 10 that includes draconian cuts in services, increased fares and reduced hours of operation. Claiming a $213 million deficit, the budget due to take effect July 1 would impose a 45% service cut, a 21.5% fare increase and layoffs of transit workers. Under the proposed plan, some service cuts would go into effect on Sept. 1, along with the fare increase. Between Aug. 24, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026, fifty bus routes would be shut down and 16 others shortened. On Jan. 1, 2026, five Regional Rail lines between neighboring suburbs and the city would be eliminated and a 9 p.m. rail curfew would go into effect.

Trade War And Austerity: The Final Stages Of US Capitalism

April 14, 2025 Margaret Flowers, Clearing the FOG. , , , , , ,
The Trump administration is imposing tariffs on a growing list of countries in a desperate effort to find leverage for protecting US interests abroad and to ostensibly re-industrialize the United States. Clearing the FOG speaks with Jon Jeter, author of "Class War in America: How the elites divide the nation by asking are you a worker or are you white?", about the motives behind the trade war and how this may impact both the global and domestic economies. Jeter explains that the United States is entering uncharted territory as it increasingly isolates itself from the rest of the world and hurtles toward another Great Depression. For the first time, the US may experience a situation in which the shelves are empty and families are unable to afford what is left.

Labor Fights Back Against Trump’s Medical Care And Research Cuts

April 12, 2025 Natalia Marques, People's Dispatch. , , , , ,
Hundreds of organized workers, representing a variety of unions including the United Auto Workers (UAW), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the National Educational Association (NEA), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), among other groups, took to the streets in demonstrations across the country opposing planning Trump administration cuts to the National Institutes of Health.

Resistance Grows As Proposed Cuts Threaten Health Care For Millions

April 7, 2025 Eleanor J. Bader, Truthout. , , , ,
Kelly Smith, a 57-year-old New York City resident, is part of the Nonviolent Medicaid Army (NVMA), a growing national movement of poor people who are organizing to stop proposed cuts to Medicaid and promote health care as a human right. “The need for health care unites us all,” Smith told Truthout. “Right now, I’m terrified of losing Medicaid and being unable to get injections for pain control. They’re the only thing that makes it possible for me to be on my game.” Nonetheless, she says that her health is somewhat fragile. Not only is she a breast cancer survivor, but she also has severe scoliosis and takes medication for hypertension, high cholesterol and depression — all covered by Medicaid.

Child Care Funding Cuts Will Compound Crises For Generations To Come

April 5, 2025 Schuyler Mitchell, Truthout. , , , ,
Head Start normally isn’t considered a partisan issue. The early child care program, under the purview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was launched six decades ago as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “war on poverty.” It’s historically had support from both sides of the aisle in Congress; after all, few would publicly argue with the program’s central mission of improving children’s emotional well-being, physical health and access to crucial education. Since 1965, nearly 40 million children from low-income families have been supported by Head Start programs.

We Demand Change Summit Charts Resistance To Labour Austerity

April 3, 2025 Ana Vracar, People's Dispatch. , , , , , ,
More than 2,000 people joined the We Demand Change summit in London on March 29, taking a stand against the anti-people agenda of Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, as well as the racism and warmongering embedded across Britain’s mainstream political landscape. Organized by groups including the Peace and Justice Project, the Stop the War Coalition, and several trade unions, the summit was described as the beginning of a national resistance-building effort, with local meetings to follow. “The government and the employers tell us that they can’t afford decent pay or afford to fund our schools and hospitals but when it comes to wars, there is a bottomless pit,” reads the summit’s statement.

Belgium On Strike Against Arizona Coalition’s Austerity Plans

April 1, 2025 Ana Vračar, People's Dispatch. , , ,
“In short: they lied,” declared the General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB-ABVV) in an announcement of the general strike launched on March 31, in coordination with the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV-CSC). The statement refers to the recently inaugurated Arizona coalition government, which, despite campaign promises to improve living standards, is pursuing over €1 billion in cuts to social services at the national level – while simultaneously boosting spending on militarization and so-called defense.

Puerto Rico Protests Against Higher Education Cuts

March 29, 2025 Jonathan Ng, Truthout. , , ,
This February, President Luis A. Ferrao Delgado of the University of Puerto Rico resigned after attempting to suspend 64 educational programs. The measure targeted core disciplines such as history, philosophy and comparative literature, stunning the university community and provoking bitter opposition. Eleven days of protests followed, compelling Ferrao to reverse the decision before stepping down. The university showdown is the latest chapter in a two-decade struggle against austerity, as Puerto Rico grapples with a debt crisis and economic stagnation.

Trump Begins Process Of Dismantling Department Of Education

March 24, 2025 Natalia Marques, People's Dispatch. , , , , ,
On March 20, US President Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education. The order aims to move education funding from the federal government to the states, and coincides with the plan outlined in Project 2025 by the right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, which set eliminating the DOE as a goal. The DOE, which, among other objectives, plays a key role in providing funding for impoverished and low income students, students with disabilities, and other underserved students, has been a target of conservatives in the US for decades.

‘Organize The Future’: Potere Al Popolo Charts Resistance To Militarization And Cuts

March 20, 2025 Ana Vračar, People's Dispatch. , , , , , ,
“Why organize the future? Because the present we face is repulsive.” With these words, Marta Collot began her speech at Potere al Popolo’s national assembly in Rome on March 15, marking the culmination of months of organizing and political discussion. The assembly launched a new program, developed through a bottom-up process rooted in labor and territorial struggles, outlined to serve as a framework for truly organizing the future. According to Maurizio Coppola, a member of Potere al Popolo’s national coordination, the process was launched for multiple reasons.

Solidarity With Argentine People Against The Fascist Government

March 15, 2025 Resumen English. , , , , ,
We, the social organizations of the Alba-Movimientos., strongly condemn the brutal repression unleashed by the government of Javier Milei and his Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich against pensioners, football fans and social organizations that mobilized peacefully to reject the neoliberal austerity to which the government of La Libertad Avanza is subjecting the Argentine people. The excessive use of force, with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon, resulted in 114 people being illegally detained — including children — 20 people being injured and the photographer Pablo Grillo being seriously injured after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister.

The Greatest Threat To Social Security In Its 90 Year History

March 9, 2025 Nancy Altman, Counter Punch. , , , ,
The last few weeks have been the most destabilizing for Social Security in its 90-year history. America’s historic retirement security program has survived world wars, pandemics, and recessions. But without a rapid course correction, it may not survive Donald Trump and Elon Musk. In mid-February, Musk demanded access to private Social Security data. When the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) declined, President Donald Trump immediately replaced her. He leapfrogged over 120 more senior employees to install a DOGE sympathizer, Leland Dudek.

A Higher Education Union’s Response To Trump’s Attacks

March 7, 2025 Workers World. , , ,
Higher education — colleges and post-secondary education — has been a target of right-wing, reactionary attacks for decades, but the Musk-Trump-MAGA grouping has brought a new, vicious intensity to this campaign. The Department of Education has threatened schools with losing all federal funding if they have policies supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. The MAGA assault on DEI is intended to roll back civil rights and other efforts that address historic inequities. Much of the research funds in science, technology and clinical work has been frozen. Research and publishing on cultural and gender issues have been actively suppressed.

Who’s Fighting Back (And Not) Against Cuts in Veteran’s Administration

March 7, 2025 Steve Early and Suzanne Gordon, Popular Resistance. , , , , ,
Among the Republican voters experiencing buyer’s remorse are more than a few military veterans who chose Trump over Harris by a margin of 65 to 34%, according to some exit polls. Their shock and dismay surfaced in DC this month during the legislative conference of the reliably conservative and hawkish Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), which has 1.4 million members. In the run-up to that annual event, VFW national commander Al Lipphardt, urged his members to “march forth” and “engage with lawmakers” to “stop the bleeding” at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

What Are European Leaders Going To Choose: People Or War?

March 3, 2025 Ana Vračar, People's Dispatch. , , , , , ,
Europe’s militarization has been accelerating long before Donald Trump’s return to the White House. In the past three years, Poland has increased its military spending to nearly 4% of GDP, French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to “transform” the French military for a new era, and most recently, Britain’s Labour government announced plans to slash international aid to fund a “generational” boost in defense spending. This renewed focus on expanding arsenals is growing while the region remains subordinated to US interests.
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