The Socialist 24 March 2010

Strikers can beat BA bosses

BA cabin crew can win

Message of support for striking BA workers from Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins:

Striking British Airways cabin crew pickets speak to The Socialist

Support trade union and socialist alternative: Workers reject main parties

Trade unionist and Socialist Coalition

Salford: The growth of 'Hazel Must Go!'

Woolwich and Greenwich: For a workers' MP on a worker's wage

Stoke Central: Fighting for the millions not the millionaires

Trade unionist and Socialist Coalition general election launch rally

'MPs for hire' scandal

Hewitt's big business alliance

New workers' party needed

MPs: in it for the money

Far-right EDL outnumbered in Bolton, police try to even the odds!

EDL attend anti-racist meeting

Nottingham anti-EDL anti-BNP conference

Sussex: Students gain a victory - but fight must go on!

Cuts to higher education announced: Students fight back

Socialist Party youth meeting

On the march against cuts

March 1990 anti-poll tax demonstration

Massive rejection of Sarkozy's policies presages a 'third round on the streets'

Obama's neutered health bill limps through

Nottingham council targets the vulnerable

Dickens is back: Implications of poverty revealed in London

Barking council: Late developers

Battling against school academies in Hastings

HP workers take further action

Rail safety disputes

Previous issues, etc

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Message of support from Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins:

I am writing ahead of your scheduled strike to express my solidarity, as well as the solidarity of my party the Socialist Party and our sister party the Socialist Party of England and Wales, for your campaign to defend your pay and conditions in British Airways.

British Airways CEO, Willie Walsh, has a reputation from his time in Aer Lingus of savaging the pay and conditions of workers. He wants to repeat the same again in BA.

If management are successful in doing this they will be one step closer to turning BA into a Ryanair style operation with rock bottom pay and conditions for its workers.

It is important for all workers in aviation that a stand is taken. The strike is a beacon to workers in the aviation industry who are opposed to the 'race to the bottom' in pay and conditions for workers in the industry.

In my own constituency of Dublin, Aer Lingus management are planning to sack 80% of cabin crew and rehire them on inferior terms and conditions.

After the relentless cuts of the Walsh era this latest assault underlines the correctness of your decision to fight BA's impositions.

I applaud Unite's call for international solidarity action to black BA flights during your strike. International solidarity such as this will be a key factor in winning this battle.

I also would like to condemn the campaign in the media and amongst the political establishment against you over the last number of weeks and days.

If I or the Socialist Party can be of any practical or political assistance during your struggle please don't hesitate to get in contact.