Archive for August 2011
1 August 2011
Marching to save supported accommodation in Salford
Lancaster House provides supported accommodation for hundreds of young men. It now faces closure.
1 August 2011
BBC journalists take second day of strike action
Coventry
Despite a large number of staff holidays during August, numbers at the picket line in Leeds remained high today
1 August 2011
National Union of Journalists members in Doncaster, Selby and Mexborough are now in the third week of indefinite strike action
1 August 2011
Overwhelming vote for action over IT offshoring plan
IT workers who maintain the records of millions of people for the Department for Work and Pensions have voted for industrial action over plans to offshore their work, the Public and Commercial Services union has announced...
3 August 2011
Jail the bankers ... and nationalise the banks!
A multinational team of financial regulators, led by the US Department of Justice, is investigating allegations that some of the world's leading banks manipulated currency rates at the time of the credit crunch crisis in 2008...
3 August 2011
Action to save our libraries: Planned strike action by Lambeth libraries staff for 22 July was postponed as the council management conceded that there will be no compulsory redundancies, writes Andy Tullis, Lambeth Unison.
3 August 2011
Outside Stroud general hospital, Gloucestershire, there were angry shouts of 'keep out the private profiteers' from over 100 protesters on 28 July, writes Chris Moore, Gloucestershire Socialist Party.
3 August 2011
Kazakhstan oil strike: solidarity urgent
'We are not begging - we are demanding our rights!'...
3 August 2011
You scratch my back: The News International (NI) phone hacking scandal has exposed the symbiotic relationship between the Murdoch empire and the political establishment...
3 August 2011
Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
The south east region of the TUC and transport union RMT recently hosted a new interpretation of the famous play by Robert Tressell, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, writes Bill Mullins.
3 August 2011
"Workers of the world unite": This month commemorates the centenary of the Llanelli Railway Riots in Wales when railway workers participating in a national rail strike, along with the local community, faced the guns and bayonets of Churchill's troops...
3 August 2011
TUC must call action: "We can't afford a pay cut or losing our increments. People are beginning to see what they've lost and for some its £1,000.... The Tories are living on another planet and Labour are no different. The country is crying out for change”, said refuse workers back out on strike in Southampton
3 August 2011
Merthyr to Cardiff 4-6 August: Tory work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, singled out Merthyr Tydfil when he implied that the main barrier to jobseekers finding work was their own apathy - 'why don't they just get on a bus to Cardiff?' he asked
3 August 2011
Paddy Brennan, Unite convenor at the Swindon Honda plant has been suspended from work. Paddy's suspension is a provocative attack on a prominent trade union fighter
3 August 2011
Vicious Tory bullies hit...: Government ministers, aided and abetted by the right wing media, have labelled the majority of disability benefit claimants as scroungers after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 39% were fully fit for work
3 August 2011
Syria: State unleashes new terror
The death toll is rising from the Syrian army's brutal assault on the mass uprising in the city of Hama and other areas
3 August 2011
Spain:"Throwing a shoe at the system"
"The indignados don't take holidays", commented one newspaper. "Instead they came in their tens of thousands from all over Spain to turn the heat up on an already sweltering capital.
3 August 2011
The great PFI schools rip off - once again!
Before the 2010 general election Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was correct when he said Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes are "a bit of dodgy accounting - a way in which the government can pretend they're not borrowing when they are
3 August 2011
Building a workers' political alternative to the establishment parties
The following resolution on the upcoming Greater London Assembly (GLA) elections was passed at the July meeting of the London Transport regional council of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
3 August 2011
photo Paul Mattsson
Save jobs, renationalise UK rail and train building: Around 10,000 marched against job cuts on 23 July in the biggest demonstration in Derby for decades.
3 August 2011
NHS cuts from a nurse's viewpoint
photo Paul Mattsson
Cameron's government claims to be 'defending the NHS.' He claims the health care budget is 'ring fenced', writes an NHS mental health nurse.
3 August 2011
Eurozone and USA - Debt crisis
Xekinhma, Greek section of CWI
The price of capitalist failure: Governments in Europe and the US are making working class people pay for the crisis caused by the bankers and the capitalist system.
The Greek bailout, welcomed by the European ruling classes, will do nothing for the Greek masses
3 August 2011
Norway: right wing terrorist killings
United working class struggle needed: The terrible mass killings carried out by far right activist Anders Breivik have horrified the world
3 August 2011
Waltham Forest: a victory for unity
Waltham Forest, a north east London borough, saw a victory for working class unity against division on Saturday 30 July, writes Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Walthamstow Socialist Party.
8 August 2011
Tottenham riots: Fatal police shooting sparks eruption of protest & anger
Photo Paul Mattsson
Mark Duggan’s death in Tottenham is the latest shocking death at the hands of the police, mostly of young black men. But the highly combustible material that led to the riots was also crippling poverty, frustrated ambitions and alienation
9 August 2011
Press release from Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs and Turkish and Kurdish youth organisation Day-Mer Youth, have called a protest and public meeting in response to the riots in Tottenham
9 August 2011
PCS says 'lawlessness of financial & political elites' is the bigger problem
The PCS has issued a statement on the widespread rioting that has been taking place following the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of the police in Tottenham last week...
9 August 2011
As inner cities erupt - A mass workers' movement is needed to defeat the government
photo Paul Mattsson
This morning thousands of people have woken up to the devastation of their communities. It is a tragedy for the small shopkeepers whose businesses have been looted or set alight, workers whose cars have been burnt out, and perhaps worst of all for those who have seen their homes go up in smoke.
10 August 2011
Demonstration in support of four-week south Yorkshire NUJ strike
Chants of "No more Murdochs, support the strike" rang through Doncaster as protesters demonstrated their support for striking journalists
10 August 2011
Support the oil workers on strike in Kazakhstan
Also, a trade union lawyer has been sentenced to six years in jail. The intransigent employer refuses negotiations...
10 August 2011
EDL try to act as vigilantes in Leicester
Yesterday in Leicester, shops closed early as police gathered on the streets in anticipation that the wave of anger shown across the country would arrive
10 August 2011
Liverpool Socialist Party statement on the riots in Liverpool
Liverpool & District Socialist Party is appalled at the current rioting which has resulted in the destruction of working peoples' homes, workplaces, and the community facilities and shops they rely on
11 August 2011
Lewisham: Call for a united campaign for jobs, homes and services gains echo
About 150 people gathered at the top of Deptford High Street in south London for an anti-cuts march on Wednesday evening
12 August 2011
Massive vote to continue action against Southampton cuts
Photo Paul Mattsson
At a packed meeting of over 600 union members, Southampton council workers voted by four to one to continue their industrial action
12 August 2011
MPs' double standards on criminality
Swansea West Labour MP, Geraint Davies commenting on the rioting in Croydon, an area he used to represent in parliament, stated: "...it is clear what we have seen is just opportunist criminality."...
13 August 2011
Haringey council cut youth services despite warnings
Haringey Council papers from April reveal its children and young people's support, education and employment services budgets were slashed by 75% this financial year in a bid to save £14.1 million
14 August 2011
Reverse youth service cuts says Salford Unison
Below are extracts from a letter to Salford council Labour leader John Merry that was written on Friday 12th August by Salford Unison branch secretary Steve North in response to comments John Merry made on the riots in Salford earlier in the week...
15 August 2011
16 August 2011
YFJ and Day-Mer Youth protest & meeting in Tottenham: Demand youth services and jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs and Turkish and Kurdish youth organisation Day-Mer Youth, have called this public meeting in response to the riots in the area, writes Tuesday 16 August 2011.
16 August 2011
Con-Dems to blame for anger of youth - mass, trade union-led workers' response needed
Firefighters in Tottenham, August 2011, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson
The four days of riots that followed the shooting dead of Mark Duggan by the police in Tottenham sent a massive shock wave across the country
16 August 2011
Winston Silcott - framed by the police and justice system
The recent riots, starting in Tottenham, have reminded many of events there in 1985 when three people were framed for the murder of PC Blakelock
16 August 2011
Birmingham peace rally shows need for jobs and services, not cuts
About 3,000 people came to Summerfield Park in Birmingham on Sunday to honour the memory of the three young men tragically killed in the riots
16 August 2011
North London Unity demo - 'Workers and youth, unite and fight'
Hackney-Tottenham demo, 13 August 2011, photo Paul Mattsson
At the north London Unity demonstration on 13 August, YFJ and Socialist Party members called for jobs, EMA, and an end to Stop and Search
16 August 2011
1819 Peterloo Massacre - fitting memorial demanded
On 16th August 1819 in St Peter's Fields, Manchester, armed cavalry charged a peaceful crowd of around 60,000 people gathered to listen to anti-poverty and pro-democracy speakers...
17 August 2011
Trade union branch model resolution
Workers and youth - unite and fight all cuts: The events that followed the shooting dead of Mark Duggan by the police in Tottenham sent a massive wave of shock across the country...
17 August 2011
David Starkey's comments on Newsnight on Friday 12 August exposed the racist attitude of the British establishment, writes Wayne Scott, Socialist Party Scotland.
17 August 2011
Doors continuously shutting on young people's futures
Youth Fight for Jobs demo April 2009, photo Paul Mattsson
A video of a young man telling London's Tory mayor Boris Johnson that he shouldn't be surprised at the riots, because "everything has a knock-on effect, Boris!", has taken social networking sites by storm, writes Sarah Wrack.
17 August 2011
Youth march in Wales to demand jobs
17 young people marched from Merthyr to Cardiff to protest against the scandal of youth unemployment. The three-day march of Youth Fight for Jobs, Wales, ended on 6 August to a terrific reception...
17 August 2011
Extracts from a statement from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU):
The Fire Brigades Union says fire crews are 'sickened' by the silence of politicians over fire service cuts...
17 August 2011
Defend council tenants from eviction!
On Friday 12 August Tory-controlled Wandsworth council in London threatened a parent with eviction whose son has appeared in court
17 August 2011
Youth workers' warnings ignored across the country
Youth services have been targeted - not for cuts, but for closure. The policies of a few are wrecking our communities, writes Teresa Chalcroft
17 August 2011
Vital services "dying" because of cuts
A south London youth worker, Louie Silcott, spoke to the Socialist
17 August 2011
After the riots... A mass workers’ movement is needed
The explosion of anger on Britain’s streets was a condemnation of capitalism and its inability to offer the next generation a decent standard of living. The Socialist Party demands...
17 August 2011
Racists Out! Youth against Racism in Europe marches for jobs and homes not racism, photo Paul Mattsson
Keep the EDL out of Tower Hamlets: Supporters of the racist and hooligan English Defence League fought running battles with police in Eltham shortly after after the recent riots
17 August 2011
Strikers gather in Liverpool's Lime Street surrounding trams during ‘Red Sunday’ on 13th August 1911, photo Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries
When the press raged about 'mob rule': "Mobs" control British cities. "We are facing an absolute disintegration of society." "Yesterday mob law reigned in London."
17 August 2011
In 1911 a rail strike spread across the country. A mass demonstration in Liverpool was called to show support for the strikers and to determine a course of action locally.
17 August 2011
Build strike action to defeat Con-Dems
The coalition government is stripping our communities of jobs and services. It intends introducing a worryingly harsh "welfare" regime in an unprecedented transfer of wealth and power from the majority
17 August 2011
Reinstate Paddy Brennan at Honda
The suspension from work of Paddy Brennan, Unite convenor at the Swindon Honda plant, is a provocative attack on a prominent trade union fighter
17 August 2011
Brighton: This year Pride in Brighton charged an entrance fee for the first time. This excluded many working class LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer) people on low incomes
17 August 2011
Israel: Mass movement erupts against the rule of capitalism
300,000 people flooded the streets of Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities in Israel on 6 August 2011 roaring: "The people demand social justice!"
17 August 2011
Zero tolerance: Prime minister David Cameron has invited William Bratton, the former US police chief credited with 'zero tolerance' policing, to advise the government...
17 August 2011
Angry construction workers meet to plan strike action
Hundreds of rank-and-file workers in construction trades, mainly in Unite, attended a meeting in London on 13 August to discuss the attacks on their various national agreements and the need for a fightback, writes Kevin Parslow.
17 August 2011
World economy: Capitalists unable to stop the turmoil
Capitalists unable to stop the turmoil: As their system continues to slide further into its worst crisis since the 1930s, the frantic efforts of world capitalist leaders to reverse the process are farcical, contradictory and ineffective, writes Clare Doyle
17 August 2011
Tell the TUC - call a 24-hour public sector general strike!
photo Paul Mattsson
"If these attacks on our jobs, services and livelihoods go through there will be riots on the streets." Anti-cuts campaigners have lost count of how many times they have warned politicians of all parties of this since last year's general election.
17 August 2011
Fight for jobs, homes & services: It is no wonder young people are angry and that anger poured onto the streets of London. The bailed-out bankers, pampered parliamentary politicians, and anti-working class media and police are lining up
18 August 2011
'Youth Fight for Jobs' organises in Tottenham
A week on from the riots, 90 people attended an excellent meeting organised by YFJ and Day-Mer Youth in Tottenham to discuss the way forward for the community and local youth
18 August 2011
Lewisham Socialist Party and YFJ: London youth erupt - Fight for jobs and services
For more info or to contact Lewisham Socialist Party call Ian Page on 07970 074230 or James Kerr 07825 836477 ([email protected]), writes Thursday 18th August 2011.
18 August 2011
Child poverty in America has increased by 18% in the past decade leaving one in five below the poverty line, according to a new study by the Annie E Casey Foundation...
18 August 2011
Nothing Left about the Scottish National Party
Working class communities in Scotland will pay the price of the SNP's savage austerity measures - while SNP ministers are taking huge cash windfalls
19 August 2011
Bristol Connexions staff take strike action
Staff from Connexions in Bristol took strike action last Thursday, joined by colleagues from across the former Avon area, in the face of attacks to pay and conditions
23 August 2011
Tyne and Wear: Churchill Metro workers begin fightback
From the onset Churchill has reneged on the TUPE transfer agreement, which should have guaranteed working conditions...
24 August 2011
Construction workers fight to defend national agreements in London and Manchester
Hundreds of electricians protested outside the Balfour Beatty site at Blackfriars train station today (24 August). Workers also protested in Manchester.
24 August 2011
Newcastle-under-Lyme Socialist Party is now up and running!
On Monday 22 August there was a very good first meeting of Newcastle-under-Lyme Socialist Party in Wolstanton!
24 August 2011
Youth workers strike across Oxfordshire
Youth workers across Oxfordshire, including prime minister David Cameron's Witney constituency, took strike action on 23 August in response to the Tory-led county council plans to slash youth service funding from £3.7 million to £1.4 million...
24 August 2011
Plymouth Unison - Battle to reverse de-recognition - Solidarity needed!
By Rob Rooney, Plymouth UNISON shop steward (personal capacity) and Socialist Party member...
25 August 2011
Keep EDL out of the East End: for anti-racists' right to march
The English Defence League has announced its intention to march through Tower Hamlets on 3rd September.
25 August 2011
GCSE recipients face EMA slash
Youth Fight for Jobs: Urgent press release: Today millions of school students round the country received their GCSE results. Those hoping to go to college will be the first since the government scrapped EMA...
26 August 2011
Libya: No to foreign military intervention - Libyan workers, youth and poor must act independently of imperialism
After six long months of bloody, protracted struggle the overthrow of the dictatorial Gaddafi regime was greeted with rejoicing by large numbers of Libyans, although by no means all. Robert Bechert, CWI, reports.
30 August 2011
South Yorkshire Newspapers strike now in seventh week
Striking journalists travelled to London on 25 August to present a 3,000 signature petition to the CEO of parent company Johnston Press
31 August 2011
Mea Culpa: US investor Warren Buffett has ruffled the feathers of his fellow billionaires by demanding they pay more taxes...
31 August 2011
A warning from the FE sector - hands off our education!
The academies project was started by Tony Blair's New Labour government, but now the Con-Dems are 'fast tracking' it...
31 August 2011
Preparing for a 'hot autumn' of action: The Socialist Party's summer camp took place on the August bank holiday weekend in the beautiful surroundings of Epping Forest, writes Becci Heagney.
31 August 2011
Housing crisis wrecks people's lives
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has warned the government about the "chronic under-supply of homes"...
31 August 2011
We won't be a lost generation - fight for jobs and education
We won't be a lost generation
March for jobs: "Jobless figures show the real risk of creating a lost generation," read a headline in the Evening Standard on 17 August
31 August 2011
Karl Marx
Book review: Starting with today's global economic crisis, Eagleton comments: "You can tell the capitalist system is in trouble when people start taking about capitalism. It indicates that the system has ceased to be as natural as the air we breathe...
31 August 2011
Welcome to David Cameron's latest wheeze to save 'broken Britain' - the Social Impact Bond. It's got a lot in common with all Desperate Dave's other failed remedies...
31 August 2011
Keep EDL out! Jobs, homes and services - not racism
Update added on 2nd Sept at end of article The racist and divisive English Defence League planned to march through Tower Hamlets on 3 Sept
31 August 2011
'Murdochgate' places Cameron under spotlight
Con-Dem prime minister David Cameron was already up to his eyes in 'Murdochgate' before the latest tranche of revelations, writes Sean Figg.
31 August 2011
Part time workers and the great job con
The Activist is produced by Socialist Party members in the retail and distribution union, Usdaw...
31 August 2011
6,500 Swansea children in poverty
In 2010, a report commissioned by Swansea council's Children and Young People's Overview and Scrutiny board estimated that 6,500 children live in poverty in the city, write Ronnie Job and Sharif Bhagat, Swansea Socialist Party.
31 August 2011
31st August - further day of protest by construction workers
Manchester
Campaigning against the 'Big 8' construction employers' attempts to impose a 35% cut in wages, electricians and other workers protested outside the Westfield centre in East London
31 August 2011
New phase in the great recession
Capitalist strategists are filled with gloom at the prospect of a new economic downturn. Fear of recession in the US, its credit rating downgrade and political dysfunction, not to mention the ongoing eurozone. Lynn Walsh reports.
31 August 2011
Photo Paul Mattsson
What we think: The government has resorted to the traditional Tory stance of the mailed fist in the aftermath of the riots. If it can get away with it, the ConDem government will add to the panoply of anti-democratic, semi-dictatorial measures already in place.
31 August 2011
Photo Paul Mattsson
The trickle of cuts and sackings in the public sector has turned into a flood and the mood in my workplace has become one of frustration, worry and anger, a Waltham Forest Unison member writes.
31 August 2011
Health and Social Care Bill final reading: On Wednesday 7 September, Tory health minister Lansley's Health and Social Care Bill reaches its report stage and third reading in parliament.
19 Nov Socialism 2022
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