The Socialist 15 September 2009

Big business to blame for climate change

No to cuts in jobs and services

Capitalist market prescribes diet of cuts

TUC conference - reactions to Brown's speech

TUC conference: Fightback rally

End the Afghan nightmare now

Nationalise Anglesey Aluminium to save jobs

Rover - Gangster capitalists were treated as saviours

London RMT: Discussing an election coalition

Leeds council workers on indefinite strike

National Greed

Construction workers' pay - reject the deal!

The fight against the building blacklist

Students left penniless

For real jobs

Cardiff: Youth Fight for Jobs

College workers strike against vicious cuts

Vestas: the fight is far from over

Coventry Socialist Party councillors show support for Vestas

Interview with POA leader Brian Caton

Victory - Decent jobs not exploitation

A life of revolution

Japan: Election ends Liberal Democrats' 54-year reign

Bangladesh: Angry protests at police attacks

Sri Lanka: Defiant Tamil protest

Previous issues, etc

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National Greed

Workers from Newcastle's National Grid office walked out on 11 September in protest at the threat of their jobs being outsourced to a low wage economy. Hundreds then rallied at the Monument in Newcastle to protest against the threat of 189 workers from the office being sacked.

Elaine Brunskill

Terry Merrin explained: "The main aim today is to raise the profile re the potential job losses in Newcastle. National Grid are actively looking at outsourcing jobs to outside providers. They are looking at poorer countries like India".

One of the workers, Wah, commented: "The National Grid is profitable, they made £3 billion last year, so it's not the recession - just shareholders wanting more". Another protester, Darren Polwarth, whose wife works at National Grid pointed out: "They're already making a profit - so it's just greed". While workers in Newcastle face the sack, seven National Grid directors have been given £9.7 million in salaries and bonuses.

Workers have also been angered to hear that while they are facing the sack National Grid found money for a senior executive to park his Ferrari in a dehumidified garage!

Workers who spoke to The Socialist were pleased with the turnout for the rally. However, one worker correctly pointed out: "Today's demo will raise awareness, but we also need strike action".

In this issue

Big business to blame for climate change