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From The Socialist newspaper, 9 September 2009
Vestas workers: Stop the blades
Vestas workers are continuing their fight for nationalisation and jobs on the Isle of Wight (IOW), building for a national day of action on Thursday 17 September. The eleven sacked Vestas workers who occupied the Newport Vestas plant have still not been paid their redundancy money. The company are preparing to move wind turbine blades from the factory and the campaign is mobilising support to stop them being moved!
The campaign is appealing for support from the trade unions on the IOW to take part in the mass protest. Vestas workers have shown their solidarity with striking postal workers and bus workers on the island.
Make sure you take resolutions to your trade union meeting supporting the workers' demands for jobs and nationalisation.
Vestas workers Mark Smith and Mark Flowers visited and spoke at the recent Socialist Party summer camp. They outlined the campaign and the work they are doing to build support, which will include visiting the TUC as part of the RMT union delegation. Mark thanked the Socialist Party for its continuing support and gave support to the Youth Fight for Jobs march in November.
Wessex RMT are organising a protest at the Southampton Vestas factory and a rally as part of the national day of action. Support Vestas fight for jobs, 5pm, Vestas, Hazel Road, Woolston, rally 7pm at the Dockers Club, Brunswick Square, Southampton.
Nick Chaffey
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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 9 September 2009:
One million unemployed young people: 'We demand real jobs!'
Youth unemployment: Future jobs or fake schemes?
War and occupation
Trades Union Congress
TUC conference: Workers willing to fight - in spite of leadership
Socialist Party workplace news and analysis
Workers' action can stop NHS cuts
PCS members prepare to fight cuts and privatisation
Unite election: United Left hustings
Witch-hunted Unison member given extra charge
Inaugural meeting to establish a North Wales branch of the National Shop Stewards Network
Socialist Party trade unionists meeting
Postal workers strike
Postal workers national ballot: Vote 'yes' for strike action
Protesting against scabbing managers
RMT action
RMT action: Bus workers strike for pay rise
Vestas workers: Stop the blades
RMT wins no compulsory redundancy position but future battles loom
Marxist analysis: history
Marxists and the Second World War
International socialist news and analysis
Return of al-Magrahi to Libya ignites a political storm
Northern Ireland: Councillor joins Socialist Party
Education
Socialist Party review
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