Thanks @bellacaledonia.bsky.social for sharing our report on union-busting at Rockstar Games!

When you think of unions, you might think about guys in hard hats. But, unions are for every single worker. Baristas, Apple store employees, professional spreadsheet makers, and games workers all need unions!

Trade unionists are fighting back after Rockstar Games fired more than 30 people in Edinburgh and Dundee in a brazen act of union-busting, Heckle reports. @gameworkers.co.uk

Come see us at Edinburgh’s #RadicalBookFair on Sunday! We’re looking forward to meeting local activists and talking about using socialist journalism to support our movements.

Following Zohran Mamdani’s triumph in New York City's mayoral election, we’re revisiting @seancmbell.bsky.social’s July article about his victory in the Democratic primary.

Heckle was delighted to make a small contribution to the fundraising efforts of the first Scottish trade union delegation to Ukraine, whose participants will report back at this free online meeting on Monday at 7pm.

ICYMI, my tribute to Assata Shakur for @heckle.scot

One month after her passing, Sean Bell pays tribute to Black revolutionary Assata Shakur. @seancmbell.bsky.social

A new biography of John Maclean brings fascinating new information to light, writes Iain Gault. @ecosocialist-scot.bsky.social

Global fawning over Trump and his so-called “peace plan” will not force Palestinians into submission, Gilbert Achcar writes. @gilbert-achcar.bsky.social

“Capitalism has never existed without also producing the kind of deprivation that inspires those trapped within it to seek escape by whatever means they can, even if that escape leads to oblivion.”

Thank you to everyone who came along to our sold-out event with Peter Oborne, discussing his new book Complicit - about UK complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. We're still adding up all the raffle money but the event has raised over £2000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians!

Opponents of harm reduction cannot be allowed to dominate Scotland’s drugs debate in the tragic absence of its most prominent champion, argues Sean Bell. @seancmbell.bsky.social

#ICYMI: Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, wrote Jason Henderson in August. #SCOBEL

Heckle’s Jennifer Debs speaks to Nico Calabrese, an Argentinian-Brazilian activist sailing to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Obviously, this article was filed before it happened, so my thanks to Keir Starmer for proving my point with his latest characteristically stupid intervention.

As flags force their way to the forefront of political discourse, Sean Bell urges those on the left to resist the lure of so-called “progressive patriotism”. @seancmbell.bsky.social

Fans of the Star Wars series Andor are planning a six-week discussion group to explore and develop its radical political themes.

Keir Starmer’s plan to reluctantly recognise a Palestinian state is too little, too late – and will do nothing to bring an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, writes Sean Bell. @seancmbell.bsky.social heckle.scot/2025/08/the-...

Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, writes Jason Henderson.

Heckle speaks to Living Rent’s Edinburgh City Chair, Joshua Climax, about what needs to be done to deliver a fairer Fringe. @living-rent.bsky.social @seancmbell.bsky.social

Sean Bell explores how Zohran Mamdani overcame the panicked red-baiting of New York’s great and good to become the Democratic candidate for mayor. @seancmbell.bsky.social

The Republican Socialist Platform has described the proposed banning of Palestine Action by Keir Starmer’s UK government as another move to suppress criticism of Israel, as seen by the criminal prosecution of Kneecap while UK ministers meet and aid the actual war criminals of Israel.

I love LA.

Sean Bell writes in solidarity with the protesters facing down ICE and Trump’s war on immigrants in Los Angeles. @seancmbell.bsky.social

Nearly seven years on from Catalonia’s so-called illegal referendum, Sean Bell reviews a new Marxist analysis of the events which garnered much attention and sympathy in Scotland. @seancmbell.bsky.social

Heckle is deeply upset to learn of the sudden passing this week of harm reduction campaigner Peter Krykant. 1/5

Chairperson Owen Maitland sets out why the Scottish Socialist Youth (@ssynational.bsky.social) have called for the establishment of a new left party.

As South Korea elects a new president, we’re revisiting this piece from last month where Ewan Forrest explored the country’s martial law crisis, what it tells us about democratic backsliding, and how to resist a coup d’état.

Apologies to anyone who found themselves unable to access the heckle.scot website earlier today. We had some technical issues which have now been resolved.

We’ve just sent our latest email newsletter to subscribers. If you aren’t already on our mailing list, sign up at heckle.scot. Signing up to our mailing list keeps you in the loop – and makes us less reliant on social media algorithms.

Collette Bradley, standing for @thessp.bsky.social, told Heckle she would “reject the big £75k MSP salary all other candidates will happily pocket”. 4/6

Ann McGuinness, the @scottishgreens.org candidate, told Heckle about her focus on “using the tools in the hands of the Scottish Parliament to make life better for normal people”. 3/6

Voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will head to the polls next Thursday for the first by-election of this Scottish Parliament. 1/6

A veteran of the Scottish left poses six difficult questions for any new project of left regroupment to address.

My latest for @heckle.scot:

One month on from the Supreme Court ruling which rolled back trans rights, Sean Bell reflects on what the reactions tell us about the state of Scottish public discourse. @seancmbell.bsky.social

A trans woman shares her anger in response to last month’s Supreme Court ruling.

Ewan Forrest discusses the recent martial law crisis in South Korea, what it tells us about democratic backsliding, and how to resist a coup d’etat.

Duncan Chapel reviews a new book making the case for ecosocialism.

Heckle wishes all our readers and contributors a happy International Workers’ Day. Millions of socialists and trade unionists around the world are marking the occasion by taking part in May Day marches and demonstrations. We are delighted to share some of the events taking place across Scotland.

Heckle is sharing the text of an open letter which was sent to the general secretary of the STUC on Friday on behalf of more than 70 trade unionists after it became clear that an anti-trans campaign group known as “Labour Women’s Declaration” would have a stall at this year’s Congress.

Hello all! We have finally landed on BlueSky 🦋 after a very productive National Forum meeting this afternoon! So please do follow our new account 💙

Called by Abortion Rights Scotland. We support a person's right to choose. We support bodily autonomy in healthcare. Trans rights and reproductive rights are a shared fight, and we will be joining Abortion Rights Scotland for their counter protest on Saturday the 26th of April ✊️💕

Heckle is delighted to publish this report from members of Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh (@rtie.org) on the enormous trans rights demonstration which took place in the Scottish capital on Saturday 19 April 2025.

Jason Henderson recalls the revolutionary streak among the thousands of Lithuanians who made Bellshill their home in the early 20th century.

To survive, the Edinburgh Fringe must build a fairer future - by Sean Bell bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/03/16/t...

My review for @heckle.scot of the excellent Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass, by @sarahjones.bsky.social