Archive for December 2010

1 December 2010

Bristol students defend their right to march!

After last weeks demonstration against tuition fees and education cuts, where 4000 students were disgustingly prevented from marching into the city centre by police, over 2000 Marched this Tuesday (30th November), writes Frankie Langland, Bristol Socialist Party.

1 December 2010

Hundreds occupy Nottingham University

Nottingham University students occupy

University of Nottingham students held a protest on 30th November against cuts in education and the proposed increase in tuition fees, writes Becci Heagney, Nottingham Socialist Party.

1 December 2010

Fight against cuts continues to grow

800 march in Ipswich: Between 700 and 800 people marched through Ipswich town centre on 27 November with banners from Unite, National Union of Teachers, Communication Workers Union, Unison and the Fire Brigades Union, writes Dave Murray Eastern region Socialist Party.

1 December 2010

Riot police called to Lewisham town hall lobby

On 29 November Lewisham council met to vote on £20 million worth of cuts, a third of that planned in the next three years, writes James Kerr, Lewisham Socialist Party.

1 December 2010

Wales TUC leadership tries to stifle action to stop the cuts

The Wales TUC (WTUC) special conference against the cuts on 26 November would have disappointed any trade unionists who came looking for a real campaigning strategy to defeat the cuts in Wales, writes Katrine Williams, PCS Wales chair, personal capacity.

1 December 2010

A united battle for pensions

On top of the fight against cuts is the battle to save the pensions of five million public sector workers, writes A Unison member.

1 December 2010

NHS walk-in centre saved, but campaign continues

On 13 November 30 people demonstrated their opposition to NHS plans to close Bitterne Walk-In Centre (BWC), writes David Rawlinson, Southampton Socialist Party.

1 December 2010

We can win: student struggle must escalate

Newcastle students protest, photo Elaine Brunskill

On 24 November 130,000 school, college and university students walked out in the biggest education action for 25 years...

1 December 2010

Workplace news in brief

Bucks hospitals strike: Workers employed by Medirest in the Wycombe and Amersham hospitals have voted by 90% to strike in a row over pay...

1 December 2010

News in brief

Breeding ignoramus: DID THE newly appointed Tory peer, Howard Flight, confuse EU farm subsidies with child benefit when he said such payments will encourage "breeding"...

1 December 2010

North Korean artillery attack raises tensions

THE UNSTABLE military regime in North Korea has once again thrust itself into global headlines. On 23 November its artillery exchanged shellfire with South Korea on the island of Yeongpyeong, administered...

1 December 2010

Portugal: 'Biggest strike action ever'

OVER THREE million workers downed tools in Portugal on 24 November, as a massive general strike brought the country to a halt, writes Cedric Gerome, Committee for a Workers' International (CWI).

1 December 2010

Nuneaton protest against racist EDL

Anti-EDL campaigners in Nuneaton, photo Bob Smith

On Saturday 27 November Socialist Party members and allies in the Nuneaton Anti-Fascist Alliance staged a successful counter-protest of over 150 people as the English Defence League (EDL) marched through Nuneaton, writes Pete Playdon Nuneaton Anti-Fascist Alliance.

1 December 2010

Our health - A market for big business

YOUR HEALTH care is being privatised. Your body's ailments may worry you but to someone else they will be soon be a commodity to be bartered for, bought and sold on the free market, writes By an NHS healthworker.

1 December 2010

Bankers: The new untouchables?

THE BANKERS' astronomical pay just won't go away, however much the Con-Dems wish it would. George Osborne asked the banks (nicely) to tell him how many of their staff earned over £1 million a year (remember:...

1 December 2010

Coventry council - stop job cuts

"WE'RE NOT the back-room, we're the back-bone," was one council worker's comment on Coventry council's proposed redundancies, where the New Labour council is making £101 million cuts over three years, writes Rob Windsor, former Socialist Party councillor, Coventry.

1 December 2010

Defend jobs and services

Birmingham council workers strike, April 2008, included Unison, GMB, NUT and PCS workers, photo S O'Neill

100,000 council workers given redundancy notices: During the first week of December local councils will be told in exact cash terms what the cuts will mean for them over the next four years, writes A local government worker.

1 December 2010

How can an anti-cuts movement be built? Coalition of Resistance conference report

EIGHT HUNDRED people came to London to fill the main hall of the Camden Centre, and a smaller overflow meeting room, for the inaugural gathering of the Coalition of Resistance (CoR) on Saturday 27 November, writes Clive Heemskerk.

1 December 2010

Irish working class in huge show of defiance

DESPITE THE atrocious weather between 50,000 to 100,000 people braved the arctic conditions and marched through Dublin on Saturday 27 November in a massive display of anger against the Irish coalition government's latest austerity budget...

1 December 2010

Len McCluskey speaks to The Socialist: Building workers' confidence

Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary, photo Suzanne Beishon

Interview with Len McCluskey, General secretary elect of Unite, Britian's biggest union You've only just been elected and already David Cameron is condemning you in Parliament - for correctly pointing out there's no such thing as an 'irresponsible strike'. What are your priorities as the new leader of an important union?

1 December 2010

PCS: Vote 'yes' for action against cuts

PCS on strike on budget day 2010, photo Paul Mattsson

The national executive (NEC) of civil service union PCS is launching a policy ballot urging members to vote 'yes' to reject the government's proposals on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS), writes John McInally, PCS national vice-president, personal capacity.

1 December 2010

Young people lead fight against cuts

Nottingham University students occupy

Join the national education shutdown on 'Day X'
There is now no doubting the opposition to education cuts amongst young people. Over 50,000 marched in London on the 10 November National Union of Students (NUS) demo. But, students were not willing to...

1 December 2010

Unity - but not unity of the graveyard

Unite workers protest, photo Paul Mattsson

Editorial On 27 November 100,000 workers took to the streets in Ireland in a gigantic show of opposition to the cuts raining down on them.
At this stage it is young people who have taken the lead with the magnificent students' strikes, but there is also growing determination among trade unionists to wage an intransigent struggle to defeat the government.

1 December 2010

Climate change: Socialist planning needed to avert a global catastrophe

CLIMATE CHANGE is already destroying lives. 21,000 people died as a direct result of extreme weather conditions in the first nine months of this year, a new Oxfam report says. Millions suffered great hardship...

1 December 2010

London Underground strike most solid so far

Tube strike: RMT strikers picket the London Underground, photo Paul Mattsson

The message sent round the London RMT and TSSA picket lines was 114 stations closed, the most shut down at this time on any of the four strikes, writes Paula Mitchell.

2 December 2010

Press Release for immediate use: 02/12/10

Massive student demo called by the NUS expresses anger against cuts, photo T.U. Senan

· Students to shut down education on 'Day X': Walkouts have been organised by school, college and university students for 9th December - 'Day X' - when the government will be voting on fees...

2 December 2010

Sheffield students March on Clegg and occupy

Over 300 students marched the 2 miles from Sheffield University to Nick Clegg's constituency office on November 30th...

2 December 2010

Students to shut down education on 'Day X'

Newcastle student demonstration, photo Ray Smith

Walkouts have been organised by school, college and university students for 9th December - 'Day X' - when the government will be voting on fees.
These walkouts will shut down the education system across Britain in a mass demonstration of opposition against tuition fees and education cuts.

3 December 2010

For a mass demo 9th December as parliament votes on tuition fees

Press release from the National Shop Stewards Network Inspired by the tremendous struggle of young people, and recognising that the vote in parliament could be a watershed, the National Shop Stewards Network banner will be on the mass demo on 9th December...

3 December 2010

Yorkshire Socialist Students action against cuts

Socialist Students members from around Yorkshire built for and participated in the 2nd National Day of Action against cuts and fees on the 30th Nov, despite the appalling weather conditions...

3 December 2010

West Cheshire Against Cuts launch meeting

Fifty-five people attended the launch of West Cheshire against cuts this Thursday. Cheshire Socialist Party...

4 December 2010

Student protests force Lib Dems to cancel conference

Stop Press:Liberal Democrats have been forced to cancel their London conference today due to student protests supported by Socialist Students and Youth Fight for Jobs...

6 December 2010

Youth Fight for Education launched

Jethro Waldon addresses Youth Fight for Education launch meeting

In the midst of the frantic activity of the student movement, important meetings took place on 4th and 5th December...

7 December 2010

Defend Ian Pattison against police harassment

Ian Pattison, Leeds University Against Cuts press officer

Ian Pattison, Press Officer for the Leeds University occupation and a member of the Socialist Party has become the victim of a campaign of police harassment.
Ian has been served with an injunction holding him responsible for anything that happens on the student demonstration in Leeds tomorrow.

7 December 2010

Mass peaceful demonstrations against cuts treated to repressive and sometimes violent 'policing'

On 5th December, for the fourth time in a month, hundreds of officers subjected a mass peaceful demonstrations against cuts to repressive, and sometimes violent 'policing'...

7 December 2010

Journalists strike at Newsquest in Southampton

Southampton journalists on strike, photo Nick Chaffey

Large numbers of striking NUJ members in Southampton formed pickets early this morning to intensify pressure on Newsquest over their dispute on pay, pensions terms and conditions...

7 December 2010

Successful Coventry against the Cuts march

Saturday 4th December saw up to 400 people march through Coventry city centre in a demonstration called by the Coventry against the Cuts campaign...

8 December 2010

Reports of Wednesday 8th Student protests

Kettled students protesting against massive fees rise and the abolition of the EMA, photo Suzanne Beishon

Updated 10/12/10 Demonstrations, occupations and meetings are taking place, some part of NUS and UCU day of local actions. Many are marching again with Youth Fight for Education. We are posting reports as they come in.

8 December 2010

Resisting police intimidation

OVER 60 young people were arrested after the protest action at Millbank on 10 November. Students as young as 13 were kettled for nine hours in London on 24 November. Young people learned from this experience,...

8 December 2010

Youth Fight for Education launch

Jethro Waldon addresses Youth Fight for Education launch meeting

Sunday 5 December saw the launch rally of Youth Fight for Education (YFE) - a campaign formed by Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) to help coordinate some of the actions taking place in defence of education and with the aim of giving a strategy for victory to the protests, writes Michael Wrack, Westminster University YFE.

8 December 2010

Socialist Students conference

On 5 December Socialist Students members met for our conference to discuss how we can build the fightback against the government's brutal onslaught on education, writes Nick Hart.

8 December 2010

30 November: student day of action on cuts and fees

London: Thousands of students marched again on 30 November, to protest as tuition fees were to be debated in parliament...

8 December 2010

All-Britain Anti-Cuts Campaign to be launched

NSSN lobby of TUC, photo Dave Beale

National Shop Stewards Network: Just as the student movement reaches Day X, the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) has set out the agenda for its anti-cuts conference on 22 January, writes Rob Williams, NSSN vice-chair.

8 December 2010

Building the anti-cuts movement

2,000 march in Norwich: Saturday 4 December saw approximately 2,000 people march through Norwich. This was in protest against cuts to vital services that the Tory administration in Norfolk County Council will implement on behalf...

8 December 2010

Tories' secret job cuts plan exposed

ON 1 December the Daily Mirror published an article revealing secret plans by the Tory dominated Local Government Employers (LGE) group on how to sack workers using stealth tactics and to prepare for a bitter battle with unions, writes Tim Cutter, acting deputy branch secretary, Hampshire Unison.

8 December 2010

Campaign stops health bosses' closure plan

THIRTY PEOPLE, including midwives, parents, children and Socialist Party members, lobbied a North West NHS board meeting that was expected to rubber-stamp the already deferred decision to close Salford Royal Hospital's maternity services, writes Paul Gerrard.

8 December 2010

Scotland: Unison votes for fighting cuts strategy

Unison's Scottish council, made of delegates from all branches in Scotland, voted on 3 December to raise with the other public sector trade unions the need for a Scottish industrial action strategy beginning with a one-day Scottish public sector strike to fight the cuts, writes Brian Smith, Glasgow Unison branch secretary and Socialist Party Scotland member.

8 December 2010

Egypt's regime perpetrates a massive election fraud

WIDESPREAD INTIMIDATION of voters and opposition candidates and blatant ballot rigging resulted in 'victory' for Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) in the country's recent parliamentary elections, writes David Johnson.

8 December 2010

Warmonger Rajapaksa forced to abandon his Oxford Union speech

HOWLS OF outrage greeted the news that the Oxford Union debating society had invited Sri Lankan president and suspected war criminal, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to address it on 1 December...

8 December 2010

Kazakhstan - a repressive and corrupt state

TIMUR KULIBAYEV is married to the daughter of Kazakhstan's dic-tatorial president Nursultan Nazarbayev, writes John Sharpe.

8 December 2010

Protesters demand halt to opencast coal mining in Bangladesh

Protesters demand halt to opencast coal mining in Bangladesh outside mining company Global Coal Management Resources Ltd annual general meeting , photo M Thain

PROTESTERS VOICED their anger at Global Coal Management Resources Ltd (GCM), outside the mining company's annual general meeting (AGM) in central London on 6 December, writes Manny Thain.

8 December 2010

This is just the start!

November 24th student demonstrations against tuition fees rises and the abolition of the EMA, photo Senan

Hundreds of thousands of young people have taken to the streets against the Con-Dem destruction of education, writes Suzanne Beishon.

8 December 2010

Youth Fight for Jobs conference reports

Photo Senan

An explosive new period of mass action against the government and its cuts agenda has opened up.

Students have protested in their thousands and have walked out and occupied colleges and universities up and down the country, writes Jethro Waldron, Youth Fight for Jobs colleges organiser

8 December 2010

Organising a college walkout

Sixty students from Haberdasher Aske's Hatcham College in New Cross Gate joined the central London protests on 24 November, writes Tom Jousselin.

8 December 2010

Con-Dems can be defeated: Welsh Assembly backs down on EMA and fees

Showing the impact of the mass student protests over the past few weeks, the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has pledged to maintain Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) despite the funding from Westminster being stopped from next year, writes Sarah Wrack.

8 December 2010

Medirest health workers need help to fight multinational

As we reported last week, workers employed by Medirest at hospitals in Buckinghamshire are balloting for strike action to achieve their rightful terms and conditions...

8 December 2010

Housing under attack: Ripping off the roof over our heads

A housing protest on the Seven Stars estate in Wrekenton, Gateshead, photo Elaine Brunskill

The Con-Dem government plans a 63% cut in funding for social house building. They want to remove security of tenure for new social housing tenants and are introducing massive cuts in housing benefit...

8 December 2010

The fight goes on against fees and cuts

Students protesting against fees rise, photo Suzanne Beishon

AN UPRISING has occurred of school, college and university students, fighting for their futures. The trigger has been the trebling of tuition fees, but the anger is wider - against the removal of the Education...

8 December 2010

TUSC calls election campaign conference

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be standing candidates in the May 2011 local council elections that are taking place in every area of England except London...

8 December 2010

Nottingham march against billionaire tax dodgers

As part of a national day of protests on unpaid tax, Nottinghamshire SOS (Save Our Services) organised a protest outside a Vodafone store before moving on to other stores to expose tax avoidance by companies, a Nottingham Socialist Party member writes.

8 December 2010

Cuts cost lives

Kettled students protesting against massive fees rise and the abolition of the EMA, photo Suzanne Beishon

Council cuts put most vulnerable at risk: The Tory/Liberal-led Birmingham council is preparing to trim £300 million from its budget by 2014 by cutting 10,000 jobs and devastating services, a Unison member writes.

8 December 2010

'We need fighting unions to halt cuts'

NEATH AND Port Talbot local authority has reached an agreement with the majority of unions, including Unison, representing its 7,000 workforce on implementing massive cuts, Socialist Party members in Unison write.

8 December 2010

Don't let profit become the bottom line in care

FOLLOWING A BBC South 'Inside Out' programme in October that showed the moment in January 2009 when a nurse switched off a ventilator that led to a disabled man being permanently brain-damaged, film of the incident went 'viral' on the internet, a Unison member writes.

8 December 2010

Hull: racist BNP demo stopped

On Saturday 4 December around 250 local activists in Hull, including trade unionists, Kurdish people and users of the Pearson Park mosque, joined together to oppose a hate-spreading demonstration by the British National Party (BNP), a Hull Socialist Party member writes.

8 December 2010

Battle for Barking

RMT general secretary Bob Crow addresses an RMT protest against the BNP in Barking, east London, photo Senan

TV documentary, reviewed by Naomi Byron
DESPITE THE crushing electoral defeat for the British National Party (BNP) in May 2010, and the internal struggles it caused them, the discontent and anger they were exploiting still exist in Barking...

8 December 2010

Education White Paper a 'poisonous amalgam of twisted logic and dangerous threats'

The Con-Dem government is not only attacking higher education. They recently brought out a new Education White Paper, 'The Importance of Teaching'...

9 December 2010

Youth Democratic Rights Campaign to kettle Scotland Yard on 11th December

Police kettled students, photo by Suzanne Beishon

Press release from Youth Fight for Jobs: After today's use of violence by the police against peaceful demonstrators in London and use of intimidatory tactics, Youth Fight for Jobs is launching a Youth Democratic Rights campaign...

10 December 2010

Day X student demo against fee rises

9th December 2010: what the students said

10 December 2010

Condemn brutal policing of students

Ian Pattison, Leeds University Against Cuts, photo S. Beishon

Youth Fight for Education statement: As parliament prepared to vote on Thursday 9 December on the trebling of tuition fees, 35,000 marched to defend their futures...

13 December 2010

Trade unionists lobby Mancester council

North West Shop Stewards Network Lobby 8 December 2010, photo by Hugh Caffrey

Shop Stewards Network supporters working and living in Manchester lobbied outside the Manchester city council meeting on Wednesday 8 December, with a great response from council workers and passers-by, writes Andy Ford - secretary, North-West Shop Stewards Network (NWSSN) and Hugh Caffrey, Socialist Party.

13 December 2010

Anti-cuts campaigning in East London

A cold wind of savage cuts is sweeping across east London - as it is across the country. In Newham, a New Labour 'one-party state', the council is threatening to axe 1,600 jobs...

15 December 2010

Fighting back against council cuts

Manchester: North West Shop Stewards Network (NWSSN) supporters working and living in Manchester lobbied outside the Manchester city council meeting on Wednesday 8 December, and received a great response from council workers and passers-by...

15 December 2010

Swansea: Council cuts must be fought

Lib Dem councillors in Swansea, only days after voting to shut Daniel James community school, had the nerve to join students in protesting about the vote on tuition fees, writes There are plans to:.

15 December 2010

Hands off the Forest of Dean!

On 10 December, over 300 people attended a public meeting held at the Miners Welfare Hall, Cinderford, to show their anger and disgust at proposed closures of libraries throughout the Forest of Dean, writes Lee Hyett, Gloucestershire Socialist Party.

15 December 2010

Salford Against Cuts gets organised

On 13 December Salford against Cuts (SAC) got down to brass tacks, electing officers and planning the January lobby of the Labour council...

15 December 2010

Tories to legalise tax cheating

VODAFONE, THE company dealing in mobile phones and mobile internet, has mobile profits too. Revenue and Customs (HMRC) bosses recently decided to let the phone giant avoid paying up to £6 billion tax on...

15 December 2010

Come to the TUSC conference

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be standing candidates in the May 2011 local council elections that are taking place in every area of England except London...

15 December 2010

Medirest workers on strike

After four years of waiting for nationally agreed terms and conditions to be paid by Bucks Healthcare and the Medirest/Compass group, Medirest workers at Amersham and Wycombe Hospitals have had enough and voted to take strike action...

15 December 2010

Europe: Working class enters the struggle

Demonstrations in France against attacks on pension rights, photo Judy Beishon

The tenth world congress of the socialist international to which the Socialist Party is affiliated, the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), took place in Belgium between 1 and 9 December...

15 December 2010

Tommy Sheridan trial: Cameron's spin doctor let off the hook

AS THE perjury trial of former socialist MSP Tommy Sheri-dan and his partner Gail neared its conclusion, the former editor of the News of the World (NoW) tabloid, Andy Coulson, gave evidence in court...

15 December 2010

Raking in the cash

AT A time when millions of Londoners face massive attacks on their public services and 30,000 council workers face the sack, London councillors have their noses in a £32 million expenses trough, writes Chris Newby.

15 December 2010

US government turns the screws on WikiLeaks

THE CONTINUING publication of leaked US diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks highlights the role US imperialism plays in every corner of the world, writes John Sharpe.

15 December 2010

Condemn brutal policing of students

Brutal policing faced the students protest outside parliament on Day X as tuition fees debated, photo Suzanne Beishon

As parliament prepared to vote on Thursday 9 December on the trebling of tuition fees, 35,000 marched to defend their futures...

15 December 2010

Interview with 24 November protesters

On the 24 November day of action, 8,000 people tried to march in central London only to spend nine hours being 'kettled' by police with no access to food, water or toilet facilities...

15 December 2010

London students vote to coordinate with workers

Students have shown their huge opposition to the cuts programme of the coalition government on many demonstrations and protests...

15 December 2010

Reports of 'Day X' fees protests

London: On Thursday 9 December, while parliament debated the Con-Dem coalition government's plan to treble university tuition fees, a fifth day of angry protest took place across the country...

15 December 2010

Save EMA day!

Over 100 people protested outside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in central London...

15 December 2010

Youth democratic rights campaign: defend all victimised protesters

Ian Pattison, Leeds University Against Cuts press officer and Socialist Students National Chair, was recently told by police that he had 'legal responsibilities' and 'personal liabilities' for a demonstration on 8 December through Leeds city centre...

15 December 2010

Education white paper: A threat to schools and teachers

300 students from the newly renamed Gower (Further Education) College in Gorseinon, a few miles west of Swansea, joined the national day of action against tuition fee rises and the cutting of the EMA grant, photo Rob Williams

The Con-Dem government is not only attacking higher education. MARTIN POWELL DAVIES says that their recent new education white paper 'The Importance of Teaching' is a poisonous amalgam of twisted logic and dangerous threats to teachers and the future of education in schools.

15 December 2010

Garment workers demand a living wage in Bangladesh

ONCE AGAIN thousands of textile workers in Bangladesh were forced to take to the streets last week to demand that all employers pay the new monthly minimum wage which was meant to be implemented by 1 December following protests last July...

15 December 2010

No more the 'apathetic generation'

ON 20 October I phoned my daughter to nudge her to participate in the London comprehensive spending review protests, writes a local government worker.

15 December 2010

National Shop Stewards Network anti-cuts conference

Saturday 22 January 2011, South Camden Community School, Charrington Street, London NW1 1RG, near Euston station.

15 December 2010

Fight an NHS pay freeze

Last week an article appeared on the Unison Health website from Unison national officer Mike Jackson which announced a "tough choice" Unison members will soon have to make...

15 December 2010

Workers and students unite!

Students, joined by trade unionists, protest outside parliament on Day X as tuition fees debated, photo Suzanne Beishon

The student protests against fees and cuts have marked a watershed. On 9 December the atmosphere was electric. Rough and ready placards pulled no punches. The chants were exhilarating. While students dared...

15 December 2010

Workplace news in brief

Scrooge Northern Rail bosses in Christmas pay pantomime: Rail union RMT have slammed Northern Rail for issuing deliberately misleading statements over Christmas working arrangements...

15 December 2010

Prepare to build the fight against all cuts in 2011

Students protest, photo S Beishon

Even as term draws to a close, the student protests are continuing. Hundreds of thousands of students and school students understand that the struggle to defend their right to an education has only just...

15 December 2010

Vicious cuts to youth services in Bromley, south London

In Bromley, home to local government minister Bob Neill, the Tory council is proposing to cut 40% of the support services for schools, youth services and support for vulnerable young people finding work or going into education or training...

15 December 2010

Hull university occupation

On 13 December at 9am around 50 students both from Hull University and the sixth form colleges in the city occupied areas of the Staff House building in the centre of Hull University...

15 December 2010

Hospital cleaners in Southampton take strike action

NHS cleaners employed by Compass Medirest on a 48 hour strike in Southampton and Buckinghamshire, photo Southampton Socialist Party

"What do we want? Back pay! When do we want it, now!" chanted cleaners as they marched around Southampton General hospital on the morning of 15 December...

15 December 2010

National Shop Stewards Network

NSSN lobby of TUC

Majority reply to an attack:

Following a critical email circulated by NSSN officer Dave Chapple, this reply has been sent to NSSN supporters and those outside of the NSSN who have had Dave's email, to respond and give our side of the story...

15 December 2010

The Royal Wedding? No, a Royal strike!

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (Lancashire) was totally closed on 15 December by a solid strike of NUT and NAS/UWT members in protest at the head's plans for an academy, probably the first ever strike against Gove's new 'expressway' academies, writes Lancashire Socialist Party.

17 December 2010

Workers at Heinz strike in Wigan

Twelve hundred Heinz workers struck for 24 hours at the heart of operations of the company in Wigan, Lancashire...

17 December 2010

SWP argues for 200 mile divide between students and workers

Public sector workers join students

One of the key questions facing the education movement is how it relates to workers, trade unions and the wider anti-cuts movement as a whole, writes Ben Robinson, Chair, Youth Fight for Jobs.

17 December 2010

Socialism 2010: An inspirational weekend

Socialism 2010, hosted by the Socialist Party, was a great success

17 December 2010

Students in Wales fight on

Cardiff university students protest against higher tuition fees and education cuts, photo Cardiff Socialist Students

Students in Wales continued to fight back against ideologically motivated attacks on education this week, with actions taking place at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) and Aberystwyth University, writes Edmund Schluessel.

17 December 2010

Greek society paralysed by a week of major strikes and general strike

Third wave of PASOK government austerity attacks provokes outrage
Wednesday 15 December saw one of the biggest general strikes in Greece in recent years. Nothing moved in the country, writes Andreas Payiatsos, Xekinima (CWI Greece), Athens

20 December 2010

Protesters close Vodafone in Wrexham

Protesters close Vodafone in Wrexham

Saturday 18 December, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, was a national day of action against corporate tax dodgers...

20 December 2010

Students in Bradford call an all-Yorkshire assembly

At their final meeting of the term, Bradford Student Solidarity (BSS, the anti-cuts campaign at Bradford university) agreed to host an all-Yorkshire Student Assembly on Sunday 6 February...

20 December 2010

Letter to the leader of Liverpool Council

Liverpool lobby of council

The following open letter has been sent to Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, by members of the 1983-87 group of 47 surcharged councillors, writes Dear Joe.

21 December 2010

Striking garment workers in Bangladesh victimised

Strikes and protests by Bangladesh garment workers continue in the face of harsh repression by the state...

21 December 2010

Round two of Heinz strike

Heinz workers strike, photo by Hugh Caffrey

Over 1,000 Unite trade union members at the Wigan Heinz food factory struck for a second day on Tuesday 21 December in pursuit of fair pay, mounting strong pickets despite freezing temperatures...

22 December 2010

Tribute to John Macreadie

NB: Addition posted on 30.12.10
The Socialist Party is saddened to learn of the death on 22 December of lifelong Militant/Socialist Party member, John Macreadie...

23 December 2010

Tommy Sheridan guilty verdict is a sham

Tommy Sheridan speaking at Socialism 2006, photo Paul Mattsson

Statement from Socialist Party Scotland: "I have fought the power of News International all my political life and I make no apologies for taking on the might of Rupert Murdoch...

24 December 2010

Videos of Socialism 2010 now online

Leaders of some of the most militant trade unions engaged in struggle today against cuts and sackings spoke at the Saturday and Sunday rallies of Socialism 2010...

26 December 2010

Boxing Day tube strike successful

Interview with a London Underground driver about the 26 December strike