Archive for January 2012
3 January 2012
PCS Left Unity open organising conference in defence of pensions
Saturday 7 January, 11am - 4pm, Friends Meeting House, opposite Euston station, London. Chair: Janice Godrich, PCS president
4 January 2012
Liverpool's managed decline: Tarzan to the rescue?
In a breathtaking example of Tory mendacity former 'Minister for Merseyside' Michael Heseltine claims he rescued Liverpool from 'managed decline', writes Tony Mulhearn, Former Liverpool councillor.
4 January 2012
Unity against wage cuts in construction
Construction workers’ strike on 14 December: Corus Redcar electricians, photo Elaine Brunskill
The 'Dirty 7' construction companies, who want to slash skilled workers' wages, have finally been dragged kicking and screaming to the negotiating table, writes Rob Williams, Chair, National Shop Stewards Network.
4 January 2012
Cuts used to attack trade unionists
In its latest round of cuts, Waltham Forest's Labour council has cut another 26 jobs and merged its library service with the Waltham Forest Direct benefits, council tax and advice service...
4 January 2012
The only thing Santa brought the staff at the Oasis Academy, Salford, is P45s. Thirteen staff are to lose their jobs, nine teachers and four support staff, writes Paul Gerrard.
4 January 2012
Marching against NHS cuts and privatisation , photo Paul Mattsson
Con-Dems' lethal policies threaten health service: Under cover of the Christmas break, the government slipped out two lethal policies for the National Health Service, writes Terry Pearce, Save Heatherwood Hospital campaign, personal capacity.
4 January 2012
Nigeria: Boko Haram's Christmas Day bombings
Among the more audacious previous attacks of Boko Haram were the bombings of the National Police headquarters and the United Nations office in the capital, Abuja, writes Segun Sango, General secretary, Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM - CWI, Nigeria).
4 January 2012
Ian Pattison - a marcher on the Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow march - replies to Labour leader Ed Miliband's recent comments which claim to offer a 'radical rethink' on benefits, writes Dear Ed Miliband.
4 January 2012
USA: Occupy movement links with working class
The US 'Occupy' movement and its slogans, such as "We are the 99%", have reflected the huge anger at widening economic and social inequality at a time of recession...
4 January 2012
2012: Millions face poverty and homelessness
There's been no good news for people worried about their housing situation over Christmas and New Year, writes Sarah Wrack.
4 January 2012
"Seismic collapse" of private pensions
Government ministers have continually attempted to sow divisions between public and private sector workers over occupational pensions, writes Dave Carr.
4 January 2012
The real scroungers: Benefit scroungers are destroying our economy, right? All those greedy, lazy people living off the hard work of others? But as the website Political Scrapbook pointed out, the average benefit fraud amounts...
4 January 2012
Reject pensions 'deal' - fight until we win
Editorial: The strike on 30 November - involving 24 trade unions and up to two million workers - was the biggest single day of strike action in many decades...
4 January 2012
Recently film director Ken Loach contrasted the BBC of the 1960s and 70s, which allowed a degree of political commitment and artistic freedom, with today's conservative, commercially driven programme making...
4 January 2012
National meeting for women in the Socialist Party
1500 marched on the Fawcett Society demonstration 19 November to tell the government "Don't turn back time" on women's rights, dressed in 1950s clothes, photo Sarah Wrack
National meeting for women in the Socialist Party, Sunday 8 January, 10am - 3.30pm
Morning: Women and the Cuts - how the crisis is affecting women
Afternoon: The Socialist Party and the Women's Movement
4 January 2012
In this special new year feature, Peter Taaffe looks back at 2011, a year of crisis, struggle and revolution. This article is based on a statement prepared for the Committee for a Workers' International, the world socialist organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated.
6 January 2012
Fighting racist attacks and the far-right
After 18 years two men have finally been convicted of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. Here we republish an article from the Socialist in 2003, written on the 10th anniversary of Stephen's death
6 January 2012
Ambulance workers vote for action to defend pensions
NHS ambulance workers in the NHS have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action short of strike action in defence of their pensions...
6 January 2012
NUT confirms won't sign pensions 'heads of agreement'
The NUT has issued a press release confirming that it will not sign up to the heads of agreement for the TPS as it doesn't resolve any of the issues of paying more, working longer, getting less...
8 January 2012
Organising to step up the pensions struggle
"PCS Left Unity have called this emergency meeting because this is an emergency" PCS president Janice Godrich said as she welcomed around 500 union activists to an open organising meeting yesterday in Friends Meeting House in London
8 January 2012
New video: Mark Serwotka speaking at the PCS Left Unity open organising conference in defence of pensions on Saturday 7 January...
10 January 2012
Unite rejects local government pensions offer
The government's latest proposals to cut local government pensions were rejected by Unite, Britain's biggest union, today (Monday, 9 January)...
11 January 2012
Haringey - Save community schools, No to academies
Six hundred parents, teachers, governors and other local residents were at a meeting at Downhills primary school in Haringey, London, to build the campaign to stop the school from becoming a 'forced academy'
11 January 2012
Reader's comment: The right wing media and Diane Abbott
Shadow health minister Diane Abbott was wrong when she said: "White people love playing divide and rule", writes Senan, Tamil Solidarity international coordinator.
11 January 2012
Unite rejects pensions attacks: Unite's local authority national industrial sector committee rejected the government's pensions proposals on 9 January...
11 January 2012
1,200 jobs threatened by DVLA closures
PCS union members working at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are angry and frustrated at plans by the Con-Dem government to shut all 39 local offices by the end of 2013, writes Hugh Caffrey.
11 January 2012
In December 2011, after a dispute between Scotrail and rail union Aslef, an agreement was reached which provides for the recruitment of at least 32 train drivers in 2012 and for eliminating rest day working by April 2013, writes Pete, Worcester.
11 January 2012
Waltham Forest workers and campaigners will lobby the north east London borough's first 2012 council cabinet meeting on 12 January in support of sacked library and Waltham Forest Direct workers, writes Bob Severn.
11 January 2012
Nigeria shut down at start of indefinite general strike
Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) in Nigeria, sister party of the Socialist Party in the UK, , photo by DSM
Nigeria has been gripped by widespread anger and protest since the sudden New Year's Day announcement of a more than doubling in the price of fuel; something which hits not just transport of people and goods but also fuel for the generators people need for electricity and fuel for cooking...
11 January 2012
Fat cat pay: empty words from Cameron
Prime minister David Cameron now tells us that he is determined to announce action in this spring's Queen's speech on the phenomenally high pay of 'fat cat' company executives, writes Roger Shrives.
11 January 2012
The cumulative effect of unemployment, a shortage of affordable housing and the cuts to housing benefit is turning the clock backwards on housing, writes Alison Hill.
11 January 2012
Feast like an MP: When was the last time you had seared breast of pigeon with aubergine purée and spiced couscous? How about risotto of pea and broad bean with Golden Cross goat's cheese? Well that's the kind of cuisine...
11 January 2012
Socialist Party 2011 fighting fund target smashed!
Help support the fightback in 2012: Socialist Party members raised a magnificent £33,322 fighting fund in the last three months of 2011, surpassing the target of £25,000 for the quarter and reaching 133%, writes Ken Douglas Socialist Party national treasurer.
11 January 2012
Win the Ken Loach at the BBC DVD box set (RRP £51.05), reviewed in the Socialist issue 699, by entering the Socialist Party raffle - £1 a ticket...
11 January 2012
Film review :The Iron Lady in meltdown
Thatcher: The Iron Lady, still from movie
The widely hyped film 'The Iron Lady' is not intended to cover all the political events of Thatcher's life. It deals with the political issues through the incoherent rambling recollections of an old and demented Thatcher...
11 January 2012
Reject slave labour for young unemployed
The Jarrow March for Jobs 2011 ends with a demonstration in London on 5 November , photo Sujeeth
"Thanks but no thanks": In October, Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) activists, marched over 300 miles from Jarrow to London to hand a petition into Downing Street demanding job creation instead of workfare, bringing back EMA student payments, scrapping tuition fees, saving youth services and building affordable housing...
11 January 2012
Workers need an electoral alternative that fights for them
ust days after hundreds of trade unionists met to plan how to continue to fight the Con-Dems' attacks on public sector pensions, Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged that a Labour government would have to 'face the reality of the deficit' and make cuts, writes Paula Mitchell, London Socialist Party
11 January 2012
Socialist Women: At the frontline of the resistance
Socialist Party members from eight regions were represented at an excellent national women's meeting on 8 January, writes Sarah Wrack.
11 January 2012
Fighting the pensions battle: An interview with Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, speaking at the PCS Left Unity, photo by Socialist Party
Rob Williams, the Socialist Party's industrial organiser, interviewed PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka in the run-up to the PCS Left Unity meeting on 7 January.
11 January 2012
Unison member: no pensions sell-out
Unison placard - we won't pay for the financial crisis on 30 November 2011 strike, photo Paul Mattsson
This is an extract of a response on the pensions 'heads of agreement' which was recently sent to a Unison official in local government, from a steward in a large Unison branch...
11 January 2012
Heseltine continued Liverpool's decline
Liverpool struggle in the 1980s. pic: Philip Gordon
Former Liverpool councillor and then-District Labour Party president Tony Mulhearn shows how it was a Labour council, led by supporters of Militant (the forerunner of the Socialist Party), that saved the city from Tory decay.
11 January 2012
We say: NO WAY! Strike to defend pensions
PCS left Unity meeting: Organising to step up the pensions struggle
On Saturday 7 January Left Unity in the PCS civil service union hosted an emergency open organising meeting because our movement in defence of public sector pensions is at a critical point, writes Janice Godrich, PCS President and national chair of PCS Left Unity.
11 January 2012
Pensions dispute: Everything is still to fight for
PCS left Unity meeting: Organising to step up the pensions struggle , photo by Senan
What we think The open organising conference on Saturday 7 January, hosted by PCS Left Unity, the left in the largest civil service union, could prove to be a very significant moment in the public sector pension struggle...
11 January 2012
Stephen Lawrence murder - the untold story
Youth Against Racism in Europe (YRE) and Panther platform in Welling as part of the campaign to drive the racists out after the murder of Stephen Lawrence, photo R. Newton
On 3 January 2012 Gary Dobson and David Norris were found guilty of the horrific murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence and sentenced to life imprisonment...
12 January 2012
Successful Merseyside Shop Stewards Network meeting
Merseyside Shop Stewards Network held a successful meeting on 11 January, with 18 attending from unions including PCS, Unison, Unite and ASU/GMB, writes Hugh Caffrey, North West Socialist Party.
12 January 2012
Administrators KPMG announced they were 'delighted' to have saved 1,000 jobs with La Senza in the UK on Monday, writes Ian Harris, Hillingdon Socialist Party.
12 January 2012
Union members lobby the TUC Public Services Liaison Group
Over 100 union members lobbied the TUC Public Services Liaison Group (PSLG) today, Thursday 12 January, to call on the union leaders to reject the government's new offer on public sector pensions and to set a new strike date, writes Rob Williams.
12 January 2012
N30: Pic Paul Mattsson
Following the strike of two million public-sector workers in November, the fight to safeguard pensions hangs in the balance.
Socialist Party deputy general secretary Hannah Sell reports on this crucial stage of the battle.
13 January 2012
Shop Stewards' Network Meets in Preston
Local supporters of the National Shop Stewards Network met in Preston on Wednesday 11 January to discuss the national pension dispute, writes Dave Beale, Preston Socialist Party.
13 January 2012
'The members want to fight!' - Greater Manchester shop stewards network meeting
Supporters of the Shop Stewards Network in Greater Manchester met on 12 January to review the situation on the pensions dispute in light of the TUC's refusal to coordinate further action, and PCS's statement that together with other 'rejectionist' unions it will seek to continue coordinated action, writes Hugh Caffrey, Socialist Party north west secretary.
13 January 2012
Unilever: hands off our pensions
Unilever's attempt to scrap its workforce's final salary pension scheme, which will affect 5,000 workers, is being vigorously opposed, writes Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party
16 January 2012
EDL intimidation fails in Barking
EDL in Barking
Protected by a large wedge of police, roughly 100 supporters of the racist and divisive English Defence League (EDL) marched through Barking town centre in east London on Saturday 14 January...
16 January 2012
South Yorkshire Stagecoach bus drivers take eighth day of strike action
Stagecoach bus drivers in Barnsley and Rotherham, members of the Unite trade union, took their eight day of strike action on Monday 16th January in pursuit of their pay claim for £9.50 an hour...
16 January 2012
Appeal from protesting electricians and construction workers
The Socialist Party received this message from Alan Keays, Joint Sites Committee: 'Our dispute has reached a critical stage. Wages will be cut by 35%.'
16 January 2012
Rob Windsor: socialist fighter and Coventry Socialist Party councillor 1964-2012
Rob Windsor
On 14 January Rob Windsor, socialist fighter and previous Socialist Party councillor in Coventry, lost his long struggle against liver disease and died at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth hospital.
16 January 2012
Electricians' national meeting plans next steps in battle against pay cut
Electricians from across England, Scotland and Wales met in Birmingham to plan the next steps for the fight in defence of pay rates and their skilled trade
18 January 2012
Unilever strike: 'It's us that make them their money!'
"Unilever is the 18th richest company in the world. But it's us that makes them their money!"...
18 January 2012
Remploy workers vote for industrial action
Remploy workers in Chesterfield and Springburn, Glasgow voted to take industrial action over the semi privatising of their factories, writes Les Woodward, National Convenor and Trades Council Coordinator, Remploy Trade Union Consortium.
18 January 2012
Cameron's attack on Scottish independence referendum backfires
National tensions over the issue of Scottish independence were raised significantly following the recent blundering intervention of David Cameron and the Con-Dem coalition, writes Philip Stott, Socialist Party Scotland.
18 January 2012
Unilever workers say hands off our pensions
Unilever's attempt to scrap its workforce's final salary pension scheme, which will affect 5,000 workers, is being vigorously opposed, writes Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Socialist Party.
18 January 2012
Doctors support call for action
As the fight for public sector pensions intensifies, unity in building the resistance is crucial. The message from the Con-Dems is clear in their final offer for public sector pensions - work longer, pay...
18 January 2012
End the slave labour culture of workfare
Youth Fight for Jobs on the Jarrow march, in London marching past Parliament, photo by Sarah Wrack
The clocks are being turned back. The future for young people is looking like it has been ripped from the pages of Dickens' novels - with the Con-Dem government and local governments playing the role...
18 January 2012
John Lewis economy: another fantasy from Corporal Clegg
Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has outlined his vision of a 'John Lewis economy' saying that businesses owned by their staff are more dynamic and have higher morale, writes Elaine Brunskill.
18 January 2012
Ofsted: "requires improvement"
Ofsted, the body responsible for inspecting schools, wants to toughen the language of inspections in England - changing the "satisfactory" rating to "requires improvement", writes Derek McMillan, Mid-Sussex Socialist Party.
18 January 2012
Bonus restraint? Fat chance!: I have just seen with disgust that Bob Diamond, the boss of Barclays Bank, is in line for a £10 million bonus (on top of his £1.3 million a year salary) for his efforts in the financial world this year, writes Lin Black, Swansea.
18 January 2012
Nigeria: Fuel strike suspended
Nigeria's trade union leaders called off the unions' week-long general strike after the government agreed to partially reinstate the cancelled fuel subsidy...
18 January 2012
Strikers marching through London on 30 November 2011, photo Senan
Cameron's Con-Dem coalition wants workers to pay for the bosses' economic crisis. This millionaires' government wants to cut workers' jobs, pay and conditions such as pensions. In the public sector...
18 January 2012
Greece: Non-payment movement against new housing tax
Massive general strike in Greece on 15 June 2011, photo Stephan Kimmerle
In October 2011 the Greek Pasok government of George Papandreou (just before being forced out of office), announced the implementation of a new housing tax through people's electricity bills, writes Christina Ziakka, Xekinima (CWI in Greece).
18 January 2012
1972 Derry - "this was murder"
Forty years ago, on Sunday 30 January 1972, members of the Parachute Regiment (the Paras) shot 27 unarmed civilians, (14 of whom died) on a protest through the barricaded Bogside area of Derry in Northern Ireland...
18 January 2012
Keep private vultures out of our NHS!
Public Health not private wealth - protest against privatisation in the NHS 2011, photo by Paul Mattsson
Breast implant scandal exposes private healthcare: The Health and Social Care Bill, currently working its way through Parliament, is a huge threat to our NHS, writes Sue Powell.
18 January 2012
Welfare Reform Bill:- Lords compromise is no victory
On 11 January, the House of Lords rejected the Con-Dem coalition government's proposal in its misnamed welfare reform bill to limit the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that is contribution-based for disabled and sick claimants to one year, a disabled activist writes.
18 January 2012
Irish 'poll tax' battle has begun
A massive campaign against a new 'Household Charge' has begun in Ireland. The new flat tax affects 1.6 million households across the country, including the overwhelming majority of ordinary workers...
18 January 2012
Save community schools - no to academies
Six hundred parents, teachers, governors and other local residents were at a meeting at Downhills primary school in Haringey, north London, to build the campaign to stop the school from becoming a 'forced academy', writes a Haringey Socialist Party member.
18 January 2012
Protect women's rights - oppose the abstinence bill
In May 2011, Tory MP Nadine Dorries made an attack on sex education via a private member's bill. Dorries proposed that girls be given "information and advice" on the benefits of abstinence from sexual activity...
18 January 2012
Pensions attacks can still be defeated
30 November public sector strike, pic Senan
What we think: The public sector pensions battle is at an important turning point. The decision of the Unison and GMB union leaderships to break up the united front of striking unions which saw up to two million workers taking action on 30 November is a setback and will inevitably lead to a sober reappraisal of tactics and strategy.
18 January 2012
Labour leadership approves the Con-Dem cuts
Public opposition to cuts
Ed 'Moribund' and the Labour leadership's brainwave to boost election poll ratings is "Vote for us and we will freeze your pay and cut your services"! writes Dave Reid, Socialist Party Wales.
18 January 2012
Anger swells in 'lost generation'
Ian Pattison, Youth Fight for Jobs spokesperson said "Young people struggling to find work have again been dealt a devastating blow..."
18 January 2012
Hundreds of staff at the huge HMRC tax office off Bridge St in Manchester joined a very well-supported morning walkout on 16 January, writes Hugh Caffrey.
19 January 2012
The POA are delighted that the European Court of Human Rights have accepted the Union's application for restoration of Trade Union Rights, writes Steve Gillan General Secretary of the POA stated:.
19 January 2012
UCU activists suspended in North Wales
Coleg Harlech in North Wales has suspended three trade union tutors and is threatening to discipline them for gross misconduct, writes Craig Lewis.
19 January 2012
Socialism Today issue 155 February 2012
Once again, a United Nations-sponsored climate change conference has completely failed to address the issue of global warming. The latest attempt pushed any hope of a deal back far too late for meaningful action, writes Pete Dickenson for the latest Socialism Today.
23 January 2012
Tony Mulhearn replies to diatribe of council leader Joe Anderson against the 'Liverpool 47'
"There are so many falsehoods and distortions in Joe Anderson's latest intemperate attack on me and the 47 (Echo 16/1/12) that I can only deal with one or two" writes Tony Mulhearn
24 January 2012
Strike action by Jet tanker drivers
Strike action by Jet tanker drivers could lead to fuel shortages and petrol running out at the forecourts. Meanwhile the Coryton oil refinery in Essex is going into administration, writes Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party.
25 January 2012
Sweetheart stitch-ups in the electrical industry: A spark's history of the Joint Industry Board
Electricians are currently fighting a 35% pay cut and the deskilling of their trade, being imposed by seven companies using the new "Besna" contracts, writes Eddy Current.
25 January 2012
NUS calls national student walkout
The National Union of Students (NUS) has finally announced a series of actions to fight against the sweeping privatisation and cuts threatened to hit our universities if the government get their way...
25 January 2012
Add your name to the TUSC petition
As the leaders of the big Labour-supporting trade unions warn Labour of the risk of losing trade union support, an electoral challenge in the Greater London Assembly elections involving leading trade unionists is being prepared...
25 January 2012
Fight the Tories' Welfare Reform Bill
The Lords won't save us!: Tory Iain Duncan Smith's vicious Welfare Reform Bill, which the government aims to make law by May, will leave thousands destitute, writes Ben Robinson.
25 January 2012
Pontefract hospital: Army withdrawn - now kick out PFI!
At Pontefract hospital in West Yorkshire NHS bosses had been in discussion about using army medics to help run the accident and emergency unit, writes Adrian O'Malley, Unison Mid Yorkshire Health branch secretary (personal capacity).
25 January 2012
Llanelli: Save Prince Philip's A&E
In Llanelli, south west Wales, the threatened closure of Prince Philip accident and emergency unit will not be accepted without a fight, writes Rob Owen.
25 January 2012
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition election conference
Open to all TUSC candidates, agents and supporters, and those still considering whether to stand in the local elections on 3 May...
25 January 2012
Stop the Salford day centre closures
Over 100 people - service users, carers, staff, pensioners - filled the room at a Salford Unison protest meeting to stop the closure of two day centres for the elderly and disabled, writes Salford Socialist Party.
25 January 2012
Kirklees parents say 'save our children's centres!'
Towards the end of last year, the Labour-led Kirklees council in Yorkshire announced a consultation over the future of 32 Sure Start centres, writes Mike Forster.
25 January 2012
Greenwich Unite members oppose cuts, privatisation and racism
Unite members in Greenwich, south London, were out in force for the second Saturday running on 21 January, fighting to stop the council privatising the library service, writes Onay Kasab, Greenwich Unite.
25 January 2012
Financial vultures kill Peacocks
249 workers have been shown the door at Peacocks' head office in Cardiff following the retail company going into administration, writes Dave Reid, Wales Socialist Party.
25 January 2012
Official figures show that in the three months up to November last year unemployment rose by another 118,000 to break the 2.5 million mark, writes Jaime Davies, South East Wales youth organiser.
25 January 2012
Exposed - the dirty world of the construction blacklist
A London Employment Tribunal has found that engineer Dave Smith had been blacklisted by Carillion (JM) Limited and Schal International Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Carillion) because he raised concerns about asbestos on building sites and because of his trade union activities...
25 January 2012
Victory for POA: The European Court of Human Rights have accepted the prison officers' union application for restoration of trade union rights, writes Domenico Hill.
25 January 2012
Victory against Dorries' abstinence education bill
On Friday 20 January a demonstration against Tory MP Nadine Dorries' Sex Education (required content) Bill 185 was interrupted mid way through when a victory was announced, writes Beth Granter.
25 January 2012
Balfour Beatty re-ballot: Vote to strike again
The next two weeks are absolutely vital in the construction electricians' struggle against the employers' imposition of the Besna contract, writes Rob Williams, National Shop Stewards Network chair.
25 January 2012
Egypt - A year of revolution and counter-revolution
The 2011 revolutionary movements of young people, workers and the most downtrodden swept through north Africa and the Middle East and inspired social movements across the world...
25 January 2012
Defend Len Hockey: Outrageous attack on Whipps Cross hospital workers
Shock and outrage by porters, domestics and switchboard staff at Whipps Cross hospital east London, greeted the news of the threat by Initial Facilities to discipline Unison joint branch secretary Len Hockey, a Unison member writes.
25 January 2012
Hard Times - but not for the 1%
On the London demonstration during the 30 June public sector pensions strike, photo Paul Mattsson
Defend pensions, fight the cuts in jobs and pay: As the clouds of recession grow darker, practically every section of society feels the grim effects. Apart from one group - there are few signs of recession for the super-rich! writes Roger Shrives.
25 January 2012
What a banker: Cameron's rhetoric about clamping down on bankers' bonuses is becoming more and more farcical. RBS chief executive, Stephen Hester, looks set to receive a bonus of up to £1.6 million.
25 January 2012
Keep the racist EDL out of Leicester
The 'English Defence League' (EDL) is threatening to visit Leicester on Saturday 4 February. The last time they came, in October 2010, they attacked shoppers and smashed city centre shops.
25 January 2012
Vine in Leeds provides specialist education provision for young adults with severe and complex learning difficulties, a Unison steward writes.
25 January 2012
Stepping up the action to defend pensions at Unilever
Unilever strikersat Ewloe, north Wales, 18 January 2012, photo by Stillshooter
Workers at multinational company Unilever are making a stand to defend pensions. Following a strike of 2,500 workers last month, from 17 January thousands of Unite, Usdaw and GMB members at Unilever are taking strike action...
25 January 2012
Public sector pensions: 'Coalition of the willing' gathering strength
N30 Public sector strike
A 'coalition of the willing' - unions determined to fight - are regrouping, writes Martin Powell-Davies
25 January 2012
Welfare Reform Bill: Lords confusion exposes limits of campaigners' strategy
The House of Lords recently amended the government's Welfare Reform Bill to retain the three month qualifying period for claimants...
25 January 2012
Unions like Unite have donated millions to Labour but Labour promises nothing in return to union members, photo Paul Mattsson
What we think: Labour lords voted against the introduction of the benefit cap which threatens 67,000 families with poverty and homelessness. Yet Liam Byrne, shadow Work and Pensions secretary, made it abundantly clear Labour supports the cap.
25 January 2012
Haringey parents say: No to academies!
Chestnut Grove School in Balham, Wandsworth, south London
Primary school parents in Haringey, north London, are in the front line of the battle against the Con-Dems' destruction of our education, writes Paul Gerrard, National Union of Teachers.
26 January 2012
Unilever Burton-on-Trent - a solid and well-organised strike
Before Christmas, when Unilever workers were deciding on strike action, some Unilever bosses were gloating that workers at their Burton-on-Trent factory would not go on strike, writes Andy Bentley.
26 January 2012
Rail union RMT secures £2,500 Olympics pay deal on Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
Transport union RMT has secured a ground breaking Olympics pay deal on DLR worth £2,500 made up of a guaranteed attendance payment of £900 and guaranteed overtime payments for all staff throughout the Olympic and Paralympic games...
26 January 2012
Reinstate John Brookes, sacked PCS Steward!
A flying picket of a dozen PCS activists leafleted Triage offices in Middlesbrough and Darlington in support of sacked union activist, John Brookes, on Monday 23 January...
26 January 2012
Sparks protest at Conoco and solidarity with Jet tanker drivers
Electricians from West Burton power station in Nottinghamshire and BP Saltend in Hull took strike action on Wednesday 25 January against the new Besna contracts being imposed on them, writes Alistair Tice.
26 January 2012
Electricians to protest on 1 February in Manchester
Manchester electricians fighting the new Besna contracts because of pay cuts and deskilling, are appealing for a huge turnout on Wednesday 1 February from 7am at the town hall/central library site, writes Hugh Caffrey.
26 January 2012
Occupy USA - Crisis USA - London Socialist Party video
Bryan Koulouris, from Socialist Alternative, photo Socialist Party
Occupy Wall street - US Presidential elections - Economic downturn - Bryan Koulouris, from Socialist Alternative, the sister party of the Socialist Party in the USA, explains how the USA is being transformed by the occupy movements which have arisen in anger at the growing inequality between the 1%.
27 January 2012
'Save Manchester Sure Start' hosted conference
Campaigners from across the north-west and beyond fighting to save Sure Start children's centres held a very successful conference on 7th January, writes Rosie Heaton
27 January 2012
Low-paid Tyne and Wear Metro cleaners fight for free travel
"If Bernard gets up your nose - picket!", was the slogan on the leaflet handed out by cleaners from Churchill Contract Services who work on Tyne and Wear Metro.
28 January 2012
Anger over Tommy Sheridan 'gagging order'
"Tommy Sheridan's lawyer has accused prison authorities of trying to "gag" him on his release from jail, writes BBC report: 28 January 2012 Last updated at 13:41.
30 January 2012
Trade unionists and socialists prepare for May elections
TUSC candidates, pics Paul Mattsson
Last Saturday over 50 prospective candidates and campaign organisers from around the country met to plan the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition's (TUSC) challenge in May's local and London Assembly elections
30 January 2012
Jet tanker drivers' strike - latest news
The Wincanton employed tanker drivers deliver 20% of all fuel to Jet forecourts. The week long strike has had a massive impact.
30 January 2012
Stagecoach drivers reject bosses' offer
Stagecoach South Yorkshire bus drivers, members of the union Unite, have stepped up their action in the fight to improve their wages
30 January 2012
PCS members in HMRC strike on 31 January
Around 20,000 PCS members in Revenue and Customs are taking strike action against the introduction of the private sector into contact centres
30 January 2012
London Docklands transport workers win Olympics deal
Serco Docklands, operator of the Docklands Light Railway, agreed to a 25% rise in the standard overtime rate for about 550 of its employees. London RMT organiser Steve Hedley comments on this deal
30 January 2012
Disabled protesters demand scrapping of 'welfare' bill
The Welfare Reform Bill returns to parliament on Wednesday 1 February. The Saturday before, 28 January, up to 200 protesters occupied Regent Street
30 January 2012
Construction workers plan mass protest on Friday 3rd Feb
On 2nd February the ballot result for Balfour Beatty workers will be known. Unite the union is expecting a legal challenge. But come what may, a mass protest is planned at Blackfriars station on 3rd February at 7am and 7pm
30 January 2012
Gagging order on Tommy Sheridan is lifted
The threat to stop Tommy Sheridan from speaking out after his release from prison today has been withdrawn, but not his tagging
31 January 2012
Unilever strikers condemn bosses' greed
To the sound of hoots of support from passing traffic, the delivery lorries supplying Walls Ice Cream in Gloucester were backing up, as drivers refused to cross the picket line
31 January 2012
HMRC workers strike back against privatisation
PCS members in HMRC processing offices and contact centres took a day's strike action on Tuesday 31st January, in an escalation of a campaign against privatisation which has already seen staff walk out on two previous occasions
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The ‘national unity’ threat to Corbynism
Marxism and the second world war
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MARXISM
Communist
Manifesto by Marx and Engels
Communism, grotesque caricature: see Soviet Union. See also What About Russia?
How would a socialist economy work?
Lenin:
On Marxism
Terrorism: Marxism Opposes Terrorism
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