The Socialist 30 January 2013
NHS workers resist cuts
Privatisation: Bleeding the NHS dry
Heatherwood hospital campaign shows determination
East Midlands: Campaign forces retreat on ambulance station closure
Life as an NHS worker: bullying and stress
Cameron takes a gamble by threatening EU referendum
Aaron Swartz: a fight to free information
Southampton councillors have a choice ... Don't vote for cuts!
Hull councillors ready to vote No
Brighton's Greens vote for cuts in workers' allowances
Labour meltdown in Stoke-on-Trent continues; and Unison withholds funding
Stop Sheffield children's centre closures
Twelfth day of strike action by Tyne and Wear metro cleaners
London teachers call for strike action against Performance Related Pay
Fired up by Fire in the Blood - a story of big business cruelty and neglect
Jumping through hoops for a job
Shrewsbury 24: What is the government hiding?
Wales conference - confidence in socialist ideas
Server appeal: Members provide a huge boost to our resources
Socialist Party National Congress 2013
PO Box 1398, Enfield EN1 9GT
020 8988 8777
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/750/16035
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Frances O'Grady and Ricky Tomlinson listening to Eileen Turnbull, Shrewsbury 24 press conference, 23.1.13, photo Bob Severn (Click to enlarge)
Shrewsbury 24: What is the government hiding?
Bob Severn
On 23 January, a packed press conference in Whitehall heard the Shrewsbury 24 campaign's response to the government's refusal to publish documents relating to the Shrewsbury 24 case on the grounds of national security.
"National security - my arse!" said Ucatt building union general secretary Steve Murphy. The conference was held on the same day as blacklisting was raised in parliament.
Steve said it was the same construction firms involved in 1972 that blacklist workers today.
Ricky Tomlinson and John McDonnell, Shrewsbury 24 press conference, 23.1.13, photo Bob Severn (Click to enlarge)
1972 saw the first building workers' national strike, over pay and health and safety. Five months after the successful strike ended, 24 trade union members were charged over picketing in Shrewsbury. Two - Ricky Tomlinson and Des Warren - were imprisoned.
Tom Watson, 23.1.13, photo Bob Severn
Brookside and Royale Family actor Ricky said that, after the papers have been kept secret for 40 years, the justice secretary decided last year that the embargo would continue for another ten years.
Ricky and other speakers believed that Des Warren's death from Parkinson's Disease in 2004 was linked to drugs used to control inmates in the 1970s.
Campaign researcher Eileen Turnbull said how reams of material were being kept hidden. She appealed for everyone to sign the petition to Downing Street to release all related documents, which can be accessed via www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk.
The campaign also appeals for supporters to write to their MP urging them to support the early day motion of MP John McDonnell, who was chairing the press conference. Phone hacking campaigner Tom Watson was among the Labour MPs who spoke.
Len McCluskey, 23.1.13, photo Bob Severn
TUC leader Frances O'Grady paid tribute to the determination of the campaign. She said the Shrewsbury 24's case was one of the worst attacks on workers' right to organise.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the campaign was vital for trade union rights today. He pointed out that the 1974-79 and 1997-2010 Labour governments betrayed the 24 by not exonerating them - one of the greatest miscarriages of justice.
Film director Ken Loach urged the trade union leaders present to not just rely on parliament but to organise workers' action.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 24 January 2013 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
In this issue
Socialist Party NHS news & campaigning
Privatisation: Bleeding the NHS dry
Heatherwood hospital campaign shows determination
East Midlands: Campaign forces retreat on ambulance station closure
Life as an NHS worker: bullying and stress
Socialist Party news and analysis
Cameron takes a gamble by threatening EU referendum
Aaron Swartz: a fight to free information
Fighting the cuts
Southampton councillors have a choice ... Don't vote for cuts!
Hull councillors ready to vote No
Brighton's Greens vote for cuts in workers' allowances
Labour meltdown in Stoke-on-Trent continues; and Unison withholds funding
Stop Sheffield children's centre closures
Workplace news and events
Twelfth day of strike action by Tyne and Wear metro cleaners
London teachers call for strike action against Performance Related Pay
Socialist Party review
Fired up by Fire in the Blood - a story of big business cruelty and neglect
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Jumping through hoops for a job
Shrewsbury 24: What is the government hiding?
Wales conference - confidence in socialist ideas
Server appeal: Members provide a huge boost to our resources
Socialist Party National Congress 2013
Home | The Socialist 30 January 2013 | Join the Socialist Party
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