The Socialist

The Socialist 30 May 2012

Fight back against austerity

The Socialist issue 720


Needed: a socialist plan for the environment

Monarchy - not just a 'harmless relic'


Fight back against austerity - Come to NSSN conference!

Dismal prospects for Britain's economy

Leveson inquiry - the offer the 'Godfather' couldn't refuse?

Rajapaksa visit to UK

Them & Us


NHS under the Con-Dem cosh

Keep the profiteers off our schools


Fight the bosses' Beecroft report

PCS shows real unity for fighting the cuts

Wales TUC conference censures Unison's critics

Workplace news in brief

 
 
 
Socialist Party logo Socialist Party on the climate change demo December 2007, pic Paul Mattsson Socialist Party News
Socialist Party Policy statements
Socialist Party contemporary Marxist analysis

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Fight the bosses' Beecroft report

Kevin Parslow
The RMT and POA call on parliament to unshackle the unions in 2010, photo Paul Mattsson

The RMT and POA call on parliament to unshackle the unions in 2010, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge)

Adrian Beecroft is a 'venture capitalist', investing money where he thinks he can make huge profits. One of the companies he finances is Wonga, the 'pay-day loan company' that charges extortionate interest to those unfortunate enough to have to utilise its services.

His Beecroft report extends his extreme Thatcherite ideas to the whole of the country's workforce. Not content with Britain having some of the most anti-working class employment legislation in Europe, Beecroft wants to see the government implementing the idea of 'no fault' dismissals. This really means 'no rights'.

With very little notice, no consultation and minimal compensation, workers that any boss did not like could be sacked at a whim. This, of course, could include trade union workplace reps. What a cheap and nasty way of getting rid of 'troublemakers'!

Beecroft claims this would create more jobs. The only jobs it might create are low-wage jobs with bosses acting like dictators! He was assisted in the drafting of the report by David Cameron's former adviser, Steve Hilton, now departed to Stanford University in California.

Liberal Dem business secretary Vince Cable wants to kick the report into the long grass, at least the most contentious bits. Beecroft said that Cable was a 'socialist' for opposing its recommendations! Yet the Lib Dems have collaborated with adverse changes to workers' rights in the last two years, including the extension of the period of employment, from a year to two years, before a worker has full employment rights.

If the government tries to implement any of this report, the TUC and individual trade unions should call conferences as preparation for protests and industrial action against it. This should be linked to the campaign to end all the anti-trade union and anti-worker laws.


In this issue


Socialist Party features

Needed: a socialist plan for the environment

Monarchy - not just a 'harmless relic'


Socialist Party news and analysis

Fight back against austerity - Come to NSSN conference!

Dismal prospects for Britain's economy

Leveson inquiry - the offer the 'Godfather' couldn't refuse?

Rajapaksa visit to UK

Them & Us


Socialist Party reports and campaigns

NHS under the Con-Dem cosh

Keep the profiteers off our schools


Socialist Party workplace news

Fight the bosses' Beecroft report

PCS shows real unity for fighting the cuts

Wales TUC conference censures Unison's critics

Workplace news in brief


 

Home   |   The Socialist 30 May 2012   |   Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe   |   Donate   |   Bookshop

Related links:

Trade union:

triangleStop the health cuts!

triangleKiln workers enter third week of strike

triangleClass survey diverts focus away from power of working class to change society

triangle24-hour general strike

triangleBuilding TUSC in the unions

Jobs:

triangleSacked Tesco drivers on the march again

triangleGive us jobs, not Tory lies

triangleTrade unions recommend more cuts in Neath/Port Talbot

triangleDefend Liverpool's jobs and services - then and now

Union:

triangleYeadon Mill strike 1913

triangleWorkplace news in brief

trianglePCS conference 20-23 May