In this week's issue:

The Socialist 24 February 2010, issue NHS: not safe in their hands!

NHS demonstration, photo Paul Mattsson

NHS: Not safe in their hands!

"YOU CALL this cuts - I'm not scared to say cuts... There are hard decisions to be made. I have to balance the books." So says a £140,000 a year NHS chief executive...

Private 'vultures' to run NHS hospital

How to stop cuts and defend public services

Demo opposes £29m Notts county cuts

Young people deserve a future: Join the Manchester march for jobs on 13 March

Leeds Youth Fight For Jobs demo February 2010, photo Leeds Socialist Party

"Hundreds queue for 56 jobs at Selfridges", reported the Manchester Evening News before Christmas, when 600 job-seekers waited for hours in a queue stretching two blocks for a handful of temporary posts, writes Poppy Hamilton, Manchester YFJ.

Youth Fight for Jobs Demonstrations

RMT branch supports challenge to Denham

A meeting of the Rail Maritime and Transport workers' union (RMT) local branch held in Eastleigh near Southampton was attended by a candidate for TUSC, Tim Cutter, who will be standing in Southampton Itchen in the general election, writes Kevin Hayes.

Support the TUSC election challenge

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition General Election launch rally

British Airways cabin crew v management: Round two

THE UNITE union announced on Monday that British Airways (BA) cabin crew voted overwhelmingly for strike action, writes Neil Cafferky.

Anger on Teesside over Corus closure

ID cards - an expensive threat to civil liberties

Tories attack community café...

Yarl's Wood hunger strike

Fast news

The Eton co-op won't work

Comment: HAS DAVID Cameron swapped his top hat for a cloth cap by calling for public sector workers to set up their own co-operatives?, writes Nancy Taaffe.

Nominate Roger Bannister: Unison's leadership battle

Swansea Unison workers protest against cuts and privatisation in Wales, photo Swansea Socialist Party

Roger Bannister, who is seeking nominations to stand in the Unison general secretary election, commented on the latest round of job cuts announced by councils across the country...

Unison witch-hunt continues

South Wales: Demo against council cuts

Approximately 300 people attended a demonstration and rally in Port Talbot, South Wales on 20 February, writes A Welsh Unison member.

Staythorpe: the fight for workplace safety

Port workers battle bosses... and high court

Jobcentre staff fight cuts

Leeds university: Support lecturers striking to save jobs

Fighting leadership needed for UCU

CWU women vote for political review

CWI Latin America school: A continent on the brink

CWI Latin America school, photo CWI

Members and supporters of the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI) in Latin America met for a very enthusiastic and successful political education school in Brazil between 3 and 7 February...

Iraq: All eyes on the oil prize

Campaigning rights victory: But questions remain on new Waltham Forest policy

The Waltham Forest campaign2campaign, initiated by the Socialist Party, has recorded a victory as the north east London borough's council has announced that no campaigning groups will have to pay a fee or face a fine for setting up a stall in the town square, writes Bob Severn, Walthamstow Socialist Party.

How can the racist BNP be defeated?

UAF conference shows debate needed: Thousands of pounds of trade union members' money is given to campaigns such as Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Hope Not Hate every year to help combat the rise of far-right, racist groups like the British National Party (BNP), writes A GMB member.

Scottish Defence League defeated: Working class political alternative urgently needed