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From The Socialist newspaper, 27 January 2016
Kill the bill: Trade Union Bill will stretch resources as well as limit action
The NSSN's 'Kill the Bill' lobby of the TUC in 2015, photo by Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Dan Celardi, Lambeth and South West London Socialist Party
The government finally released its impact assessment for the trade union bill on 21 January. It estimates the bill will cost unions £37 million over the next six years.
Initial scrutiny already suggests the predictions are far too modest.
For example, they expect trade unions to be able to process a direct debit or change of details form in just 30 seconds!
'Hard working people'
The Tories claim the bill is about protecting hard working people. This principle doesn't seem high on the agenda when they are slashing the vital jobs services that people rely on.
The real agenda is to silence resistance to their savage policies.
The TUC planned week of action for 8-14 February is nowhere near the action needed to defeat this bill.
A 'mass meeting' via the internet with Frances O'Grady will not stop the Tories.
The TUC and affiliate unions should be calling meetings in every branch and every workplace to discuss action.
Ultimately, the only thing that will stop the Tories is action on the scale of what defeated previous anti-union laws.
Workers need to organise and build together for a 24-hour general strike. A campaign of this magnitude would build a movement to kill the bill and kick out the Tories.
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 27 January 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Housing: smash the Tory wrecking bill
Davos summit: a broken capitalist system
Google pays pittance for avoiding £2bn tax
Red doors and wristbands scandal
Steelworkers may face benefit cut-off for not seeking bar jobs
Oscars snub black artists: fight racism and austerity in the arts
Labour councillor smears TUSC policy as 'BNP'
Top tweets: #TraditionallySubmissive
Teachers under attack
Teaching: a perfect storm is brewing
Teachers need national strategy for a national struggle
A day in the life of a teacher and mother
International socialist news and analysis
New wave of protests in Tunisia
India: student death exposes caste oppression
What we think
Tories 'Prevent' civil liberties
Council cuts and the fight in Labour
Labour councillor suspended for fighting cuts
Dave Nellist's byelection appeal to Jeremy Corbyn: 'let's discuss how to fight the cuts'
Labour election post-mortem: nothing to report!
The dark arts of Labour's right
Councillors must fight to defend our services
'People's budgets' and local democracy
Lewisham: no backsliding in council cuts fight!
Workplace news and analysis
"I have left work many times in tears" - a council worker
Trade union bill will stretch resources and limit action
Birmingham teachers strike to resist academy attack
Care services under threat in Haringey
Readers' comment
The end for deep coal mining jobs in Britain
Obituary: Dean Meehan 1962-2016
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Protesting against closure of Huddersfield A&E
Coventry children's services closure protest
New Socialist Party branch fights against St Austell austerity
Socialist Party discusses the fight for socialism
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