Sri Lanka: Resist Austerity

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) is advocating for the establishment of independent rank-and-file committees within workplaces to combat worsening social and economic conditions. They argue that the trade unions, particularly the United Auto Workers (UAW), have become complicit in attacks on workers' wages, benefits, and working conditions, effectively serving as extensions of corporate management and the government. The SEP views the global economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, as driving a capitalist assault on the working class. They point to rising inflation, job losses, and attacks on democratic rights as evidence of this offensive. They claim that the existing trade union structure is inadequate to address these challenges, as unions prioritize collaboration with employers over defending workers' interests. The SEP calls for workers to organize independently to fight for demands such as wage increases that keep pace with inflation, improved healthcare, and the defense of democratic rights against government and corporate overreach. The formation of action committees is presented as a crucial step in building a socialist movement capable of challenging the capitalist system and establishing a workers' government. They also emphasize the importance of international unity among workers to combat global capitalism. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/15/fkiw-m15.html