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Socialist Party news and analysis
The Low Pay Commission has just recommended a 3% increase in the minimum wage from 1 October. This is a pathetic 19p an hour or a loaf of bread more on an eight-hour shift or a pack of nappies more for a 40-hour week
Pay us a living wage now!
Need for new mass workers’ party is undeniable
After a conference that lasted just two hours… it was gone! Labour’s Saturday 1 March special conference actually took place in the very constituency where Kier Hardie, the first Independent Labour MP, was first elected
Government condemns millions to housing misery
Meanwhile fat cat landlords cream the cash: Since the global financial crash of 2007-8 the lack of affordable housing has become increasingly acute for ‘the 99%’, particularly shattering the lives of young people and the poor with a relentless cruelty
NHS in crisis: Stop Hunt’s hospital closure plans
Tory Health Minister Jeremy Hunt’s decision to dissolve Mid Staffs Health Trust has taken a long time – but it comes as no shock
Fight the government’s vicious sanctions regime
Experiencing the daily grind of poverty and fruitless job searches when you’re out of work is very demoralising. But the Con-Dems go the extra mile
International socialist news and analysis
Ukraine crisis: Ruling elites foster division and conflict
At least 6,000 Russian troops have taken up positions throughout the Crimean peninsula, formally an autonomous republic of Ukraine
Northern Ireland rocked by ‘on the runs’ crisis
The past continues to haunt the present in Northern Ireland. In the last week of February a major crisis rocked the Northern Ireland Executive and almost brought it crashing down
International Women’s Day
The miners’ strike changed women’s lives
International Women’s Day:
This year is the 30th anniversary of the 1984-85 miners’ strike. An important feature of the strike was the involvement of tens of thousands of women in a huge support network. Sarah Wrack spoke to Mary Jackson, who was involved in the strike in Yorkshire.
An NUM holiday camp in Blackpool for miners’ children, photo John Smith
Socialist Party workplace news
Determined Doncaster care workers in 7-day strike
“Cowardly company of carpet-baggers” is how Unison officer Jim described Care UK, that is tearing up staff terms and conditions
Protest picket outside Care UK’s Doncaster office , photo A Tice
Wales: Unison branch challenges Labour with no-cuts budget
‘What’s the point of New Labour?’ ask many working class people in Wales as all 11 Labour-led councils vote for cuts
Support strike action against legal aid cuts
Leeds council workers discuss cuts fightback
On 4 February Leeds Unison branch had an all-stewards meeting in response to our employers’ cuts proposals.
Train drivers vote for action at Northern Rail
Depot drivers who are in the RMT at Heaton Depot, Newcastle and Neville Hill Depot, Leeds, working for Northern Rail, have voted by a massive majority, for strike action
Cleaners strike at London college
Outsourced cleaners working at SOAS college in London were on strike on 4 and 5 March 2014, photo I Pattison
Readers’ comments and reviews
Nigeria’s battle for a mass workers’ party
Book review: Over the weekend of 1-2 March, 74 people were killed in a terror bombing by Boko Haram insurgents in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria
Union question time – Labour has no answers
I went to a recent Communication Worker’s Union Question Time in Manchester. The panel included Michael Kane, newly elected Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Kevin Maguire from The Mirror
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Action against vicious council cuts
It came as no surprise to campaigners and trade unionists in Hull that the Labour council passed a budget which will mean cuts of £48 million to services over the next two years, with a loss of up to 500 jobs
Police spying ends lives – end it!
Fighting youth low pay (and security bullies)
On 1 March Socialist Party and Youth Fight for Jobs campaigners protested against zero-hour contracts, low pay and poor working conditions in Croydon
Calderdale and Huddersfield: People ready to defend A&Es
Barton Moss protesters say no to fracking