Category: News

Learning from the 1938 Stepney Rent Strikes – 29th October

A member of SolFed and the London Renters Union will be giving a talk on a little known case of working class direct action; the Stepney rent strikes.

The rent strikes organised by Stepney Tenants Defence League in the thirties saw barricades raised at blocks of flats and stopped evictions, got rents lowered and forced landlords to do repairs. What can we learn today from this exemplary movement? Come and hear tales of flour bombs and rolling pins and discuss the lessons of the rent strike for our movement today.

The talk will take place on Wednesday the 29th of October, at Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Road E1 5QJ, from 7pm to 9pm.

Reading Group 15 – What About The Rapists?

For our fifteenth reading group we will be reading What About The Rapists by Dysophia. From the blurb:

“This short book is aimed at anarchists thinking about how to deal with abuses of power and acts of domination in their communities. It brings together a collection of articles representing different approaches to this problem, from transformative justice-based accountability processes to retributive-based acts of survivor-led retaliation.

Focusing on lessons learnt from experiments in this field and concerns that persist about these methods, it offers possible ways forward for those looking for grassroots responses.”

A free version of What About The Rapists can be found on the Dysophia site here and our friends at Freedom Press here have offered a 10% discount on physical copies for the reading group. Just quote “London SolFed Reading Group” or pop into Freedom for your general radical book buying needs.

The reading group will be meeting on Tuesday the 28th of October, 19:00, at Freedom Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. You are welcome to come and join in the discussion even if you have not finished the reading.

New Monthly Drop In Sessions

We will be starting a regular monthly drop in session from this month. Need advice about an issue with your boss or landlord? Want support organising in your workplace or community? Want to talk about anarchism or syndicalism? Want to meet members of the group and find out how SolFed works? Just want to say hi? Then come see us at one of these drop in sessions.

The first session will be on Thursday, October 16th, 19:00 – 20:00, at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 62 Fieldgate Street, E1 1ES. If you can, please bring a donation for the space.

Reading Group 14 – Anarchy Works

For our fourteenth reading group we will be reading Anarchy Works by Peter Gelderloos. From the blurb:

Anarchy Works takes examples from around the world, combing through history and anthropology, showing that people have, in different ways and at different times, practiced mutual aid, self-organization, autonomy, horizontal decision-making: all the principles that anarchy is founded on, regardless of whether they call themselves anarchists. Well documented and expansive, this book is an inspiring answer to those who would say that anarchism is unrealistic, that it sounds nice but it couldn’t actually work. This point-by-point introduction shows that it already has.

A free version of Anarchy Works can be found on The Anarchist Library here and our friends at Freedom Press here have offered a 10% discount on physical copies for the reading group. Just quote “London SolFed Reading Group” or pop into Freedom for your general radical book buying needs.

The reading group will be meeting on Tuesday the 30th of September, 19:00, at Freedom Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. You are welcome to come and join in the discussion even if you have not finished the reading or are jumping in half way through the book.

Reading Group 13 – No Spiritual Surrender Part Two

For our thirteenth reading group we will start reading No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred by Klee Benally. From the blurb:

“The most bitter medicines are the strongest. We end despair by ending what is causing our suffering: destroying what destroys us. After all, anti-colonial means anti-settler society.

No Spiritual Surrender is a searing anti-colonial analysis rooted in frontline experience. Klee Benally (Diné) unrelentingly agitates against colonial politics towards Indigenous autonomy and total liberation of Nahasdzáán (Mother Earth).”

We have been reading No Spiritual Surrender over two months. This month we will finish the book, starting from chapter eight: Indigenous-Rooted Direct Action.

A free version of No Spiritual Surrender can be found on LibCom here and our friends at Freedom Press here have offered a 10% discount on physical copies for the reading group. Just quote “London SolFed Reading Group” or pop into Freedom for your general radical book buying needs.

The reading group will be meeting on Tuesday the 26th of August, 19:00, at Freedom Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. You are welcome to come and join in the discussion even if you have not finished the reading or are jumping in half way through the book.

SolFed Hospitality Workers Union


The Hospitality Worker’s Union is a democratic trade union that seeks to organise all people working in the hospitality industry. Our aim is to fight for better pay and working conditions for all hospitality workers. Our long term aim is to create a better world in which the economy is democratically controlled, environmentally sustainable, and run for the benefit of society as a whole rather than the rich and powerful. The Hospitality Workers’ Union is part of the Solidarity Federation which seeks to organise workers across the whole of the economy. We have listed below the answer to frequently asked question about the Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers Union (SFHWU). If you require further information please get in touch and we will be glad to answer any queries you may have.

Find out more HERE!

Reading Group 12 – No Spiritual Surrender Part One

For our twelfth reading group we will start reading No Spiritual Surrender: Indigenous Anarchy in Defense of the Sacred by Klee Benally. From the blurb:

The most bitter medicines are the strongest. We end despair by ending what is causing our suffering: destroying what destroys us. After all, anti-colonial means anti-settler society.

No Spiritual Surrender is a searing anti-colonial analysis rooted in frontline experience. Klee Benally (Diné) unrelentingly agitates against colonial politics towards Indigenous autonomy and total liberation of Nahasdzáán (Mother Earth).”

We will be reading No Spiritual Surrender over two months. This month we will read up to and including chapter seven; The Politics of Frybread.

A free version of No Spiritual Surrender can be found on LibCom here and our friends at Freedom Press here have offered a 10% discount on physical copies for the reading group. Just quote “London SolFed Reading Group” or pop into Freedom for your general radical book buying needs.

The reading group will be meeting on Tuesday the 29th of July, 19:00, at Freedom Bookshop, 84b Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. You are welcome to come and join in the discussion even if you have not finished the reading or are jumping in half way through the book.

Towards a Workers Centre: Building Worker Power in Tower Hamlets?

An event organised by Notes from Below:

Workers Centres have proven transformational for local organising initiatives, ranging from the defence of migrants to the waging of workplace struggles. Across this three-part series of discussions and workshops, we will explore what it would mean to establish a Workers Centre at Pelican House.

Join us to hear about the experiences of worker centres internationally with Janice Fine, followed by a roundtable discussion on the local challenges and opportunities in Tower Hamlets. Worker centres are community-based organisations that provide support and resources to low-wage and immigrant workers. They often focus on campaigning for workers’ rights, providing education and training, and helping workers navigate the law and regulation about work. After the speakers, there will be a practical workshop on building a worker centre in Tower Hamlets!

23 JULY- EVERYBODY WELCOME – NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NECESSARY !! 

Admission is free, though a £5 donations is suggested to support programming at Pelican House!

Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E1 5QJ

Arrive from 6pm

Discussion begins 7pm

Social from 8:30pm

The venue has level access throughout and an accessible toilet.

Imagining a far Better Future – 12th July

The News From Nowhere Club is hosting a panel of representatives from various left wing political parties & groups to give a short introduction of their competing visions of politics. After these introductions, members of the panel will answer questions from the audience. This will involve speakers from across the left, both radical and mainstream, and a member of the London group of the Solidarity Federation will be part of the panel. Come along for what is likely to be a lively discussion on what the future might look like and how best to get there.

St John’s Church Hall,
High Road Leytonstone E11 1HH
Free entry
Donations/Raffle/Voluntary Membership £5pa
7.30pm Buffet (please bring an item if you can: vegetarian or vegan only)
No entry before 7.30pm please (unless specified)
8.00pm Talk and discussion till about 10pm