24 articles from the Socialist, issue 452
24 August 2006
Unite against war, terror and racism
THE ISRAELI ceasefire was met with great relief in Lebanon. During 34 days of intensive shelling, over 9,500 Lebanese ‘targets’ had been hit by the Israeli army and navy, writes Jenny Brooks.
ISR on demonstration against Israel’s war on Lebanon
Wars and terrorism
THE LATEST alleged terror plot in the UK has brought memories of 7/7 flooding back, when more than fifty people were killed while travelling to work in London, writes Hannah Sell, Socialist Party deputy general secretary.
Socialist Party NHS campaign
"We won’t be treated like dirt"
LOW-PAID ancillary workers were on the picket line outside Whipps Cross hospital in east London on 14 and 15 August. “We are determined to get a just settlement of our claim”, joint UNISON branch secretary Len Hockey told the socialist.
ON 21 August, UNISON issued ballot papers to over 750 members across the five NHS Logistics (NHSL) depots at Alfreton, Bury St Edmunds, Maidstone, Normanton and Runcorn. The ballot will close on 11 September, writes Brian Loader, NHSL National Staff Side Secretary, personal capacity.
PFI – Labour’s binge profiteering
THE GOVERNMENT has announced that a new £1.5 billion wave of new hospitals will be built under the costly but profitable (to private firms!) Private Finance Initiative (PFI)…
CHANNEL FOUR’S Dispatches programme on 14 August gave a detailed exposé on the costs of PFI to the public services…
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OVER 300 people demonstrated against proposed hospital cuts in Nuneaton on 17 August. The Acute Services Review wants to transfer some emergency care along with children’s and maternity services from Nuneaton to the new PFI hospital in Coventry.
Ballots and lobbies in Pontefract
PONTEFRACT’S 70-strong "Keep Our NHS Public" meeting unanimously supported the proposal to set up a broad-based campaign to defend local health services and fight NHS privatisation, writes Mick Griffiths Wakefield and Pontefract hospitals UNISON branch secretary (personal capacity).
Sheffield – stop these attacks on children’s health
THE NHS in Sheffield faces huge cost-cutting measures. Over £100 million has already been announced in cuts over the next three years. About 10% of this is based at the Sheffield Children’s NHS trust, writes Jon Smith GMB branch secretary, Sheffield Children’s hospital.
Cuts and sell-offs in Birmingham
AT BIRMINGHAM Socialist Party’s city centre stall on 19 August some health workers including trainee doctors and nurses, told us they don’t have jobs at the end of their training…
*No to NHS job losses, cuts and closures.
*No to NHS privatisation and ‘the market’…
Socialist Party youth and students
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…so let’s give him one at schools and colleges around the country!
Many young people see Tony Blair as a poodle to the foreign policy of warmonger George Bush…
SOCIALIST STUDENTS is planning its campaigning activity in colleges and universities across the country for the next term, writes Matt Dobson Socialist Students national co-ordinator.
Lincoln launches anti-BNP campaign
Lincoln Socialist Party held a public meeting on 16 August to build a coalition against the rise of the BNP and far right in our area. Over 30 people, including trade unionists, campaign organisations and local activists supported the initiative to launch Lincoln against Racism and Fascism.
Socialist Party campaigns
Liberal U-turn stops tenants’ ballot victory
“YOU CAN’T trust the Liberals”, an angry council tenant said on leaving the 26 July meeting of Lewisham council. Socialist Party councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood had moved a resolution calling for tenants to be balloted, writes Clive Heemskerk.
Cream for fat cats – debts for us!
TOP EXECUTIVES’ pay is still soaring. Chief executives from the 100 biggest UK-based firms received average pay rises of 10% last year, more than twice as high as increases across industry…
Socialist Party workplace news
Visteon workers fight for their future
WORKERS IN Ford’s parts business Visteon are facing rumours that the company is looking to sell. Union representatives met the European management in Germany last week to get an update on the sale of the chassis division, writes a Visteon worker.
Prison officers vote to strike
PRISON OFFICERS have voted to take industrial action, up to and including a strike. 71% voted for action in an 83% turnout in the ballot…
MEMBERS OF the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) held a protest outside the Swansea branch of WH Smith last week to highlight the threat to jobs and services if the city centre Crown Post Office is closed and franchised out…
Saturday 2 September, 10.30am – 5pm, central London…
