Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/614/8960
From The Socialist newspaper, 3 March 2010
Workplace news: In brief
Visteon pensioners
Former Visteon workers fighting for their pensions will lobby parliament on 31 March. When Visteon was 'spun-off' from Ford, workers were assured that their pensions would be protected. But this has not happened, with the company being put into administration. Some former workers are losing as much as 40% of their pensions.
3,000 Visteon workers' pensions have been put into the Pension Protection Scheme, which is £11 billion in deficit. Ford is denying responsibility, claiming that Visteon was "fully independent".
Opposing NHS privatisation
Activists from Lancashire trades councils and the Unite trade union lobbied the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT) on 26 February. They were protesting at the PCT putting several NHS services up for tender, including cervical cancer screening, dermatology and substance misuse services.
Protesters held up the Unite "Health B4 Profit" placards and leafleted staff and members of the public to alert them to this pernicious attack on the NHS.
- For further info see: www.unitetheunion.org/sectors/ health_sector/ health_b4_profit_campaign.aspx
Andy Ford, Unite North and East Manchester Health branch, personal capacity
Twinings ballot
Shopworkers' union Usdaw has decided to ballot its members working for Twinings in Andover and North Shields. Twinings' parent company, the highly profitable ABF, want to scrap 400 jobs at the two sites and move production to Poland and China.
The determined campaign to save jobs has built a lot of support from trade unionists and others in Andover and North Shields. See www.savetwiningsjobs.co.uk
New start for bus drivers
At New Cross bus garage in south east London, many drivers were jubilant to see the garage rep and branch chair replaced in the Unite union elections. The losing candidates had spent over 20 years in office. This means all four garage reps at London Central Bus Company have been replaced this year. Socialist Party member Andy Beadle won the New Cross branch chair. Andy used to be rep at Peckham garage and fought off an attempt to sack him four years ago.
Notting Hill strike
Workers at the Notting Hill Housing Trust have voted for strike action by a massive majority, in one section 100% voted to strike. 93.5% voted to strike in the rest of the Trust. The dispute is over imposed cuts to flexitime and carers' leave, also cuts to relocation arrangements.
The first strike will take place on 15 March.
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In The Socialist 3 March 2010:
Fighting for jobs, services and conditions
PCS: All Out to Defend Jobs and Services
Youth fight for jobs
Invest in jobs, education & Training
Cut the working hours, not the jobs!
Portsmouth students and workers unite to fight cuts
Brighton students say: Save our nursery
EMA inadequacy impacts badly on students
International socialist news and analysis
Greece - millions take part in general strike
Spain: Thousands join mass demonstrations
Socialist Party news and analysis
Activists launch socialist challenge
Walsgrave hospital Coventry: Stop the parking charges rip-off
Socialist Party workplace news
Where is the BA cabin crew dispute going?
Smash the bosses' construction blacklist!
Leeds lecturers win concessions - but cuts remain to be fought
Unison
Unison general secretary election: Nominate Roger Bannister
Legal ruling exposes hypocrisy of Unison leadership
The Socialist Interview
FBU general secretary speaks to The Socialist
Socialist Party women
Women will be at the fore in the fightback!
Media
Global media monster News International condemned
The hounding of Tommy Sheridan
Savage cuts planned at the Beeb
Football
Supporters should own Pompey, not developers
Socialist Party feature
The worldwide thievery of big business
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