The Socialist 24 February 2009

Organise to defend jobs

Car industry in crisis: Death of jobs by a thousand cuts

Jobs protest continues

Workers march for jobs in Cardiff

Fight to save Royal Mail

What do union members get from Labour link?

Ireland: workers say 'We won't pay for your crisis'

General strike movement grips island of Guadeloupe

Kashmir: Health workers take strike action

Iran 1979: A revolution that was taken from the working class

ECB suffers Stanford hangover

Defend Yahya Al Faifi campaign

BNP bigots retreat under pressure

Greenwich: "Hands off my school"

Look at the gravy train!

Devon residents against incinerators

Leeds journalists strike against job cuts

Successful launch for United Left

Manchester Unison: Good vote for left

Protest at the Unison witch-hunt - date change

Previous issues, etc

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Workers march for jobs in Cardiff

About 200 Unite and GMB members from power stations from across South Wales marched for jobs through Cardiff city centre on 21 February. This included a number of unemployed members.

The stewards were very clear that they were demanding that trade union agreements should be adhered to and opposed the bosses' attempts to undermine these agreements. On one contract the unions negotiated the same terms and conditions for all the workers, including 30 Polish workers. This shows the real potential of trade union organisation and action.

Disgracefully, UK Independence Party (UKIP) members turned up to try to exploit some of the biased media coverage over migrant workers. But they got short shrift from the trade unionists.

The speakers at the rally correctly criticised the opportunist approach of UKIP and the far right parties in Europe, who always oppose any legislation to protect or enhance workers' rights. Any attempts by employers to divide and defeat the working class need to continue to be robustly challenged to take the movement forward.