In this week's issue:

The Socialist 12 January 2010, issue Decent jobs - not slave labour

Youth Fight for Jobs petition presented to Downing Street in November 2009, photo Sarah Mayo

Decent jobs - not slave labour

Want a job? Fine, but don't expect to be paid! That's the message from employers who put profits before young people's basic rights. Companies, such as the chain '99p Stores' which takes around £300 million a year, are asking people to take no pay during 'trial' periods, writes Ben Robinson, Youth Fight for Jobs national chair

Leeds City Council Future Jobs Fund is no solution

Launch of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

No2EU on G20 protest in London, photo Paul Mattsson

Editorial: After a series of discussions by participants in the 'No2EU-Yes to Democracy' European election coalition there will now be a general election challenge under the newly-registered electoral banner, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

Labour's leadership crisis - time for a new workers' party

Last week's crisis in the Labour leadership reveals how scared Labour MPs are of losing their positions in the general election. Two ex-cabinet ministers - Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt, called for a leadership contest to challenge Gordon Brown, writes Steve Score.

Global warming chills the north

The real cost this winter

Iceland debt crisis: Make the 'dirt bags' pay!

No to County Council cuts in Warwickshire!

Fast news

Corruption scandal grips Northern Ireland

THE JAWDROPPING seq-uence of events surrounding Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Iris Robinson soliciting £50,000 from two millionaire property developers has opened a Pandora's Box of corruption. Gary Mulcahy, Belfast Socialist Party (CWI Ireland), reports.

Fujitsu workers say: "Enough is enough"

I spoke to Trevor Palmer, the local workplace rep at Fujitsu Stevenage when I visited the picket line on 11 January, writes Mark Pickersgill, Stevenage Socialist Party.

Signallers' strike spreads

Buses - privatisation means worse services

Teesside fight to save jobs

Twinings jobs meeting

Hospital workers battle on

Unison witch-hunt: Shock exposures at Employment Tribunal

Between 15 and 18 December 2009, the case of four Unison branch officers under threat of suspension from office reached its dramatic conclusion at an employment tribunal, a Unison member writes.

Call centres: Union campaign makes important gains

I was interested to read the recent article in The Socialist by John McInally about the work my union PCS is doing to improve working conditions in call centres in the civil service, writes Paul Newton, PCS rep.

Greece - on the edge of a volcano

Robert Bechert attended last December's successful congress of Xekinima, the CWI in Greece. This article by him on the present political situation in Greece is based on discussions that took place at that congress.

Sri Lanka presidential elections: No to the two warmongers!

LAST WEEK Channel 4 TV news broadcast further video footage which appears to show Sri Lankan army soldiers perpetrating atrocities against the Tamil-speaking minority, writes Senan, Tamil Solidarity.

Israel: Instability, class polarisation and socialism

Chile - Freedom for Elena Varela

Hard chimes for Pompey

LESS THAN two years after winning the FA Cup, Portsmouth Football Club is a club in crisis. In unprecedented events for a club in English football's top division, Pompey have, for the third time this...