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What we think
After the budget – unions must launch pay fight
Millions of public sector workers will be vainly sifting through Hammond’s budget for details of any pay rises. The reality is that most will be looking down the barrel at a full decade of Tory pay caps
Socialist Party news and analysis
Historic fall in living standards: working class people are already forced to borrow just to make ends meet
Tory housing policy: build zilch, hike prices
We say: cap private rents and build council homes now: Closer inspection shows Hammond’s housing initiatives don’t amount to a hill of beans
Uni boss’s raise v our lost wages; no tax for Cadbury’s and food price hikes for us; model’s mansion v fines for homeless
Socialist Students
Socialist Students day of action demands free education
London: Across England and Wales students took part in the education shutdown day of action to fight for free education on 22 November coinciding with the Tories’ budget
Refugees
We’re fighting for the right to live and work in Britain
Interview: Refugee Rights Campaign: Tamil asylum seekers have formed the Refugee Rights Campaign to fight for their rights
Workplace news and analysis
Now prepare for the next battle: The Socialist Party salutes the marvellous campaign of Birmingham’s bin workers. The scale of this victory, after 12 weeks of action, can’t be underestimated
North West: drivers and housing workers escalate strike wave
Kirklees bin workers ballot for strike over schedule and bullying
On top of the additional days over Christmas, workers report managers are refusing holiday requests – and bullying, swearing at, and treating them “like children”
Brighton Uni lecturers strike against job cuts
A lunchtime walkout preceded a full day of action, after a magnificent 85% vote in favour of striking against forced redundancies
DWP to outsource more work to Capita
The decision to outsource new benefits claims to Capita will be disastrous
PCS union says no to pay misery
Other public sector unions are considering their position, with a number proposing to hold similar consultative ballots. This is to be welcomed – and they need to get on with it
NHS
Save Glenfield Children’s Heart Centre! Save our NHS!
A grassroots movement is continuing to build up against the grievous bodily harm being committed against the NHS by the Tory government
‘Hands around HRI’ to save Huddersfield A&E
Fighting ‘closure by stealth’: The campaign to save Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Hands Off HRI, has called a protest on 2 December in solidarity with staff and patients
Tyneside to protest against A&E and walk-in cuts
Two NHS walk-in centres, and night-time A&E services at North Tyneside General Hospital, face closure
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Bristol libraries safe – for now – as council caves to pressure
This follows growing pressure from below in the Labour Party. The cracks are beginning to show in the council’s assertion that it has no choice
Osborne evades Carlisle socialists
New ebook: Liverpool A City That Dared To Fight
Economy
Amber warning lights flash on British economy
For workers, young people, the disabled and the unemployed, the lost decade since 2007 has been the equivalent of a Mark II Great Depression