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Workplace news in brief

Fast Food Rights protest, Helen Pattison speaking, photo Judy Beishon   (Click to enlarge)

Low pay: no way!

In response to the new so-called 'living wage' the bosses are looking for ways to claw back the pennies it will cost them. Corporation tax-avoiding Caffè Nero has blamed the National Living Wage for its decision to scrap free staff lunches. Despite making millions of pounds in the last year the company, which has not paid corporation tax since 2007, told staff they would be forced to cough up 35% of the cost of their lunchtime panini. One staff member, who didn't want to be named, told BuzzFeed News the move was "ridiculous". She said: "We work for them, we make the money for them, and we're always understaffed. On top of everything, they don't give you food anymore."

Meanwhile, two Topshop cleaners who campaigned against their poverty wages have been suspended from their jobs at the chain's flagship Oxford Circus store in London. One of the cleaners, Maria Susana Benavidez Guaman, used a Change.org petition to campaign against "poverty wages" calling for "a living wage so I can provide a decent life for me and my family". She was asking for a pay rise from £7.50 an hour to £9.40 an hour. There will be a protest against their victimisation, organised by United Voices of the World trade union, at 4.30pm on 9 April at Topshop on Oxford Street.

The Fast Food Rights campaign for £10 an hour and union rights also continues on 14 April with an international day of action with protests planned in Wakefield and other UK towns and cities, for more information see fastfoodrights.wordpress.com and youthfightforjobs.com

RMT London strikes

Transport union the RMT will strike again at Kings Cross on 14 April in their fight with ISS on the Virgin East Coast contract. The RMT accused global facilities giant ISS of failing to take staff concerns seriously and have confirmed that a further 24-hour strike will kick off on the Virgin East Coast contract at Kings Cross. RMT has also demanded that Virgin, which holds the East Coast franchise, intervene with its contractors to end what the union describes as a "pay and conditions scandal at one of Europe's busiest railway stations." Also, the next 24-hour strikes on London Underground's Piccadilly Line against "bullying, harassment and intimidation" take place on 19-20 April and 21-22 April.

In this issue

Panama Papers

Panama Papers reveal corrupt system of the 1%

Austerity not needed

Reactionary EU campaigners implicated by Panama Papers

Another Fifa corruption scandal

Houses for offshore investment, we're stuck at home

Socialist Party workplace news

Nationalise to save all Steel jobs

Save BIS Sheffield: we won't be a Northern Poorhouse!

RMT branch calls for TUSC backing to continue

Doctors fight on against imposed contracts

Construction workers defend jobs and pay

Workplace news in brief

Review: Militant by Michael Crick

Review: 'Militant' by Michael Crick

Refugees

Solidarity with refugees: fight for jobs, homes and services for all

Campaigning for scholarships for refugees - and free education for all

International socialist news and analysis

France: full-scale struggle with government is erupting

Bangladesh: stop the Rampal power project

Brazil: solidarity with attacked civil servants

International Panama Papers protests

EU referendum

Bosses back EU to boost NHS sell-offs

Socialist Party campaigns

Library occupation ends with march on cutting council

Sales of the Socialist on the rise, read all about it!

No A-level courses in Knowsley thanks to 'academies' system

Workers and youth unite to defend vital services

"Not the church, not the state - women must decide their fate!"

Defend the NHS

Huddersfield A&E fightback grows

Demonstration to defend the NHS in Leicester

Worcestershire: hands off our health service!

Comment

Letter: Women and work

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Related links:

Trade union:

Colombia: Mass trade union-led protests force tax retreat

Preparing for the revolts to come

Trade union fighters rally to support victimised workers

Reinstate Moe - stop trade union-busting at Abellio!

Stop union busting on the buses: Reinstate Declan Clune and Moe Muhsin Manir

London:

Sparks fight continues

North London Socialist Party: Israel-Palestine flare-up - how can the conflict be ended?

North London Socialist Party: After the elections - the fight for socialism

Metroline buses to face summer of strikes unless it drops 'remote sign-on'

RMT:

RMT: Militant industrial and political strategy must be fought for

Rally for sacked RMT rep Declan

Trade unionists under attack - solidarity meeting

Pay:

Norwich City Council workers vote for strike action over broken promises on pay and conditions

Thurrock refuse workers strike escalates

Low pay:

Freeports spell deregulation, low pay and a new race to the bottom

Union:

Obituary - Jon Elvin

Living wage:

Low-paid workers shouldn't pay for Covid crisis

Fast Food Rights:

Hospitality workers coordinate historic strike

Wakefield:

Wakefield Socialist Party: Splits in the EU

London underground:

Transport workers and passengers mustn't pay the price