Archive for September 2014
1 September 2014
Council proposes worst cuts in living memory
Last week, the Labour Cabinet in Kirklees introduced a cuts package of £70 million for so-called public consultation
1 September 2014
Romford sparks victory over 'umbrella' scheme
Electricians working at Romford rail station have won a great victory in winning direct employment and the re-employment of three workers
3 September 2014
Fourfold rise in youth on poverty pay
We need real jobs with a living wage, photo Paul Mattsson
Fight for £10 an hour now! Don't be young. Not if you want a house or enough to live on. A new study out this month details the continuing decay of youth wages and home ownership
3 September 2014
Pre-election Britain - crisis brewing on all fronts
The 2015 general election is a mere eight months away yet impossible to call. But, as Hannah Sell, Socialist Party deputy general secretary writes, what is clear is that none of the capitalist parties hold any real attraction for working class voters
3 September 2014
Stop the Con-Dems destroying our NHS!
The People's March for the NHS reaches Bolsover, photo Elaine Evans
Cameron's government is destroying the National Health Service by privatising huge swathes of it. Last year Simon Stephens was appointed chief executive of NHS England. Stephens used to run US firm UnitedHealth's European arm
3 September 2014
Victory for disabled transport campaign
Salford City Council forced to continue transport for adults with disabilities
3 September 2014
CWU Telecoms leaders get consent for BT pay cuts
A special CWU conference on 21-22 August agreed BT proposals for reduced pay and conditions for new staff by a three to one majority
3 September 2014
Gas bubble: Despite wholesale gas prices falling 50% in the last six months, British Gas - one of the 'big six' UK energy companies - is charging its customers at least three times more than what it pays for gas
3 September 2014
Ukraine conflict ratchets up the international crisis
Fighting in Ukraine escalated sharply over the last week as anti-government forces carried out a successful counter-attack, gaining territory in the south and east, writes Niall Mulholland.
3 September 2014
Teachers want action from their trade union
At my school in Coventry a number of staff have been out on strike, picketed, attended marches and rallies each time the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have been on strike, writes Nicky Downes.
3 September 2014
Planning, not competition, to meet our transport needs
Unite rally against cuts to London buses, photo Paul Mattsson
Apparently, outside London where bus use is expanding, fewer people than ever are using buses because of rising prices
3 September 2014
At a pre-season football fans' protest in London, Liverpool FC supporters held a banner saying 'Football is nothing without supporters'
3 September 2014
New member thirsts for knowledge
As someone who has only been a member of the party for just over a year and a half, I always seek opportunities to gain knowledge and experience from fellow comrades, writes Ben Dixon, Leeds Socialist Party.
3 September 2014
Due to local hostility, misnamed film company "Love Productions" has not been seen in public recently, writes Sue Atkins, Southampton Socialist Party.
3 September 2014
Rally for history's longest strike
In April 1914 Kitty and Tom Higdon, teachers at Burston Village School in Norfolk, were sacked for their socialist and trade unionist activities
3 September 2014
Fighting Huddersfield library cuts
Socialist Party members in Huddersfield sold 24 copies of the Socialist and raised over thirty pounds for the fighting fund when campaigning against library closures last Tuesday lunchtime, writes Iain Dalton.
3 September 2014
Care UK workers continue fight for decent pay
As we go to press, having already taken 48 days of strike action, Doncaster Care UK workers are in the second week of their current three week strike, writes Alistair Tice.
3 September 2014
Anti-racist day of action: 18 September
An anti-racist day of action has been called on 18 September to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Greek left-wing hip hop activist Pavlos Fyssas by the neo-fascist Golden Dawn
3 September 2014
Workers' action can stop NHS cuts and privatisation, photo Paul Mattsson
Health workers balloted to join 14 October public sector action: While NHS bosses hold secret meetings with private health companies looking to get their greasy hands on £1 billion worth of public money, NHS workers have seen their pay fall by 15% in real terms since 2010
3 September 2014
Rotherham: Council and police cover up abuse
There has been widespread revulsion and outrage at the findings of the report by Professor Alexis Jay into the horrendous abuse of children and young people in Rotherham, published on 26 August
3 September 2014
Clacton Tory MP defects to Ukip
A new Punch and Judy show: MP Douglas Carswell has left the Tories and joined Ukip, resigning from parliament to trigger a byelection
3 September 2014
Tamil Solidarity Day - building unity to fight oppression
Tamil Solidarity is holding its annual "Solidarity Day" with Day-Mer, Turkish and Kurdish Community, on 6 September
3 September 2014
Wales: Save the Financial Contingency Fund
The Welsh Government announced on 20 August 2014 it had abolished the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) for universities in Wales this academic year
3 September 2014
London bus pay demo: On 11 September, London bus drivers are demonstrating for unified pay rates across the several bus firms
3 September 2014
Ukip's bandwagon is coming to town. This rotting carcass of bigotry and filth no longer presents itself as the friendly racist at the country pub
3 September 2014
Protesting against police racism
The bank holiday weekend saw the Notting Hill Carnival. Our successful campaign work focussed on the continued unrest in Ferguson, Missouri
3 September 2014
Join the fight for free education and student grants!
We now have to stay in compulsory education until we're 18, without Education Maintenance Allowance
3 September 2014
Democratic rights attack under 'fighting terror' guise
The government has raised the terror alert level from 'severe' to 'substantial'. The main threat now, they say, is the Islamic State (IS) organisation and British Muslim fighters returning from Iraq
3 September 2014
Ritzy cinema workers continue living wage struggle
Workers at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton, south London, have been involved in a long, bold campaign for the London Living Wage of £8.80 an hour, writes Laurence Maples.
4 September 2014
Communities determined to protect remaining leisure facilities
Cardiff council is threatening massive cuts to leisure services
5 September 2014
Ukraine's ruling elite desperate to besmirch socialist ideas
Pete Glover comments on some of the views and sights he encountered during a visit to the Ukraine
5 September 2014
Ukip candidate screams at Socialist Party member on air
Many news outlets have reported on the behaviour of Ukip's MEP candidate in London, Elizabeth Jones, who screamed at young Socialist Party member Helen Pattison in a radio interview yesterday
6 September 2014
NUT executive opposes participation in 14 October strikes
On Friday afternoon, the National Union of Teachers executive committee met to consider its attitude to the motions on the TUC Congress agenda and to consider its ongoing Stand Up For Education Campaign
8 September 2014
NSSN rally: Building pressure for the widest possible coordinated anti-austerity action
Linda Taaffe, secretary of the National Shops Steward Network, welcomed over 150 people to a rally on 7 September near the conference centre in Liverpool hosting the TUC congress.
9 September 2014
On two recent Saturdays, Worcester Socialist Party members held stalls opposing zero-hours contracts and calling for a £10 an hour minimum wage
10 September 2014
Abuse: Cuts have robbed us of the time to talk to these young people
The recent horrific report on the cover up of large scale child sexual abuse in Rotherham was analysed in the last issue of the Socialist (issue 823). The week we have a powerful view written from personal experience.
10 September 2014
Scottish referendum: A mass revolt against austerity
The 6 September YouGov survey for the Sunday Times has sent shock waves through the capitalist political establishment in Britain
10 September 2014
Scotland in revolt against austerity
2013 Glasgow demonstration against the bedroom tax, which has now been defeated in Scotland, photo Jim Halfpenny
'Yes' support hits the Tories: Polls showing big growth in support for a Yes vote have sent dismay and terror coursing through Westminster's capitalist elite
10 September 2014
Care UK workers set for longest NHS strike
Dave Honeybone, lead Unison steward at Doncaster Care UK, spoke to the Socialist about the latest developments in their pay strike
10 September 2014
North West marches for end to austerity
Hundreds of trade unionists from across the North West marched in Manchester on Saturday 6 September calling for an "End to Austerity"
10 September 2014
British leaders back expansion of Nato war machine
The world does not look like a safer place after the Newport Nato Summit, held on 4-5 September
10 September 2014
Labour lets down NHS protesters
The People's March for the NHS finished its 300 mile trek from Jarrow on 6 September when over 5,000 people joined it for a demonstration in London
10 September 2014
London bus demo: Unite's "Driving Up Pay" campaign aims to win a common contract across all London's bus companies
10 September 2014
Bedroom Tax edges toward its doom
...but tenants still suffer: If a man dives headlong into a cesspool and then clambers out of it, the first thing he will do is find a way to wash his face and hands, writes Dave Murray.
10 September 2014
Government spending cuts deepen prisons' crisis
Government cuts, leading to massive staff shortages, are deepening the crisis in the prison service as John Hancock of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) national executive committee, explains
10 September 2014
Universal chaos: As anticipated, the government's cost-cutting Universal Credit (UC) system is leading to increased rent arrears among tenants
10 September 2014
US: building a movement to end poverty pay!
On 4 September strikes and protests took place in over 100 cities around the US demanding an end to low pay in the fast food industry and a $15 an hour minimum wage
10 September 2014
TUSC councillors back taxi struggle
100 RMT members packed Leicester town hall last Wednesday evening at the city council's planning control meeting, writes Tessa Warrington and Wayne Naylor, Leicester TUSC.
10 September 2014
Guardian story confirms councils can resist cuts
Aditya Chakrabortty's Guardian story on the efforts of Enfield council to respond to the housing crisis shows that councillors can find ways to resist austerity if they choose to.
10 September 2014
TUC votes for £10 minimum wage
The first day of the TUC congress was dominated by discussion over £ pay in the public and private sectors, writes Neil Cafferky.
10 September 2014
Probation officers protest against privatisation
Around 180 Napo members attended a mass lobby of parliament
10 September 2014
Solidarity Day: a great success
Over 100 people from Tamil, Turkish and Kurdish communities, with other activists and trade unionists, celebrated Tamil Solidarity Day 2014
10 September 2014
NUT members angry at lack of October strike action
I was recently elected as National Union of Teachers (NUT) executive member with a manifesto clearly stating we needed to escalate strike action, writes Jane Nellist, NUT executive member (personal capacity).
10 September 2014
At Unison's 2007 conference, the union's standing orders committee ruled out of order a third of branch motions, including ones questioning union strategies and the union's link with Labour
10 September 2014
Students: Fight debt, poverty and capitalism
Going to university is supposed to be a stepping stone to a job which you couldn't get without a degree. The reality is that, because of Westminster politicians, the only thing guaranteed for students after completing a degree is debt
10 September 2014
Ebola virus: Victims of a failed capitalist system
Health workers in Liberia have been on strike demanding better protection from Ebola virus and improved pay
Infectious bodies rotting in the streets... health care facilities overwhelmed... health workers dying in shocking numbers. These horrific scenes are spreading across West Africa
11 September 2014
The Fire Brigades Union has announced a nationwide "Ring of Fire" tour of the UK to highlight the devastating impact the government's austerity agenda is having on the fire and rescue service
11 September 2014
London bus drivers march for decent pay
London bus drivers' pay campaign: Assembling for the demo, 11.9.14, photo Judy Beishon
Surprised tourists saw our hundreds-strong demonstration come up to the Houses of Parliament from Victoria station
12 September 2014
Scotland: Defeat Project Terror with socialist policies
The possibility of a majority 'Yes' vote for Scottish independence has produced panic and trepidation among the British capitalist establishment and their counterparts internationally
15 September 2014
Tommy Sheridan on BBC's Sunday Politics
Tommy Sheridan on the BBC's Sunday Politics - Andrew Neil reduced to sneers.
16 September 2014
16 September 2014
"Britain will never be the same again"
Whichever side wins, Britain's ruling elite will have suffered a battering which will leave it permanently damaged.
16 September 2014
Inequality and fightback in the United States
Seattle $15 Now campaigners
A wave of strikes by fast food workers and the election of Kshama Sawant to Seattle city council are indicators of the change taking place in the US. Peter Taaffe reports on his recent visit.
17 September 2014
One of the mass protests in the campaign to defeat the bedroom tax in Scotland, photo Socialist Party Scotland
After Scotland vote: The Con-Dem government is teetering. Whatever the vote in Scotland, taking place as we go to press, the government has been damaged, writes Steve Score.
17 September 2014
Scotland independence referendum: Socialist Party Scotland members report on the intensive campaigning and politicisation around the referendum in the final week of the campaign
17 September 2014
Back to the future: Government austerity has resulted in spending on public services falling to the lowest share of national income since 1938, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility
17 September 2014
Bradford benefits under attack
"Look for work nine to five, or face losing your benefits." That was the government's right-wing mantra for cities like Bradford, which has about 14,500 claimants for Jobseeker's Allowance, and is part of a pilot scheme to pile on more misery, writes Peter Robson, Bradford Socialist Party.
17 September 2014
The Socialist: a tool for workplace organisers
Selling the Socialist on an NHS demo, photo Dave Carr
The Socialist Party can be described as present and active in Peterborough delivery office. One of our most effective engagement tools is the Socialist, writes Carl Harper, Royal Mail worker.
17 September 2014
Socialist Party members campaigned with transport union RMT against rail fare increases on Monday 8 September, writes Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party.
17 September 2014
TUC congress: Reject Carney's 'equality of sacrifice'
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) met on 7-10 September off the back of the longest continuous decline in working class living standards in 100 years, writes Neil Cafferky.
17 September 2014
Ritzy cinema workers win 26% pay rise
Bectu union members at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton, London, have won a major victory in their fight against low pay and for the Living Wage with a 26% pay increase over three years, writes Laurence Maples, Lambeth Socialist Party.
17 September 2014
UCU union members at Lambeth College members have voted to ballot for further strike action over new contracts that cut holiday by two weeks, add extra hours for no extra pay and slash sick pay
17 September 2014
Climate change: "We're running out of time"
Hundreds of thousands of people in the USA are expected to protest outside the UN climate change summit in New York on 23 September to demand serious and immediate action to avert an environmental catastrophe
17 September 2014
Film review: Pride - How solidarity overcame prejudice
A new film Pride, released 12 September, dramatises the founding of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) and shows the London group's work during the 1984-85 miners' strike
17 September 2014
In schools we are taught to share, respect each other and work together. This made sense. We got more done than we would have separately, giving us more time to enjoy ourselves
17 September 2014
TTIP is a multi-billion dollar agreement between the US and EU guaranteeing access to public services for giant corporations to make vast profits - irrespective of the destructive impact on these services - as Vladimir Bortun explains
17 September 2014
Students: fight to end austerity and capitalism
For many young people, this month represents the start of a new phase in their lives - an exciting and fresh chapter. Universities will welcome tens of thousands of first-year students.
17 September 2014
Workers' action to raise the minimum wage: Every day we are bombarded by new facts and figures showing that the cost of living has gone up
17 September 2014
Ian Paisley: Peacemaker or warmonger?
Iain Paisley in 1987, photo Dave Sinclair
Obituary: How will hard line unionist Ian Paisley, who has died at the age of 88, be remembered?
17 September 2014
Keep hospital services in the NHS
People's March for NHS, photo Simon Elliott
The five board members in charge of Interserve, a private company which has taken charge of estates and facilities cleaning at three hospitals in Leicester, take home just under £3 million a year between them
17 September 2014
Socialist Party campaigning news
Hackney: The Socialist Party's backing for a campaign by New Era estate residents against rent hikes has received huge support
17 September 2014
Theatre review: We're Not Going Back is a musical comedy set during the 1984-85 miners' strike. You follow the story of three sisters, all completely different, but united by one cause, to set up a branch of Women Against Pit Closures
18 September 2014
Scotland Poll: Electric mood among YES supporters
A grassroots "YES info" rally took place all afternoon and into the night on Wednesday mobilising tens of thousands of people to Glasgow's George Square
18 September 2014
The struggle for decent social care - a personal account
TUSC NHS 'credit card': The Health & Social Care Act Means: NHS Privatisation
Much of the social care system has been sold off to the private sector. Ann Parkes describes her desperate struggle to gain decent care for her husband
19 September 2014
1.6 million vote Yes in a working class revolt against austerity
In the teeth of a ferocious campaign from the British capitalist establishment, the independence campaign in Scotland won the support of over 1.6 million people, overwhelmingly working class
22 September 2014
College lecturers join 14 October strike
University and College Union members from more than 300 FE colleges will be joining the 14 October strike of local government workers
22 September 2014
Tax evasion spirals to over £80bn a year
The cost of tax evasion to the economy spiralled to more than £80 billion last year, according to new figures for the Public and Commercial Services union
22 September 2014
Demo calls on Labour to oppose Fracking
Last Sunday several thousand people marched through Manchester to protest at the Labour Party's support for fracking. The demonstration was part of an international day of action over climate change
22 September 2014
Socialist Party Scotland calls for new mass workers' party
If the 'strategists' of British capitalism believed that the narrow No vote in the independence referendum would allow politics to return to 'normal', this illusion has been shattered by the events of the last 48 hours
23 September 2014
Scotland's referendum: A working-class revolt
The referendum has turned British politics upside down - even though the No vote won. The Yes campaign became a mass mobilisation of working-class communities: against austerity and rotten establishment politics, and for a positive future. This turning point raises key issues for socialists, writes Peter Taaffe.
24 September 2014
Civil servants to strike on 15 October
Almost a quarter of a million civil servants will take part in 72 hours of action in the public sector by striking on Wednesday 15 October
24 September 2014
Hunger for socialist ideas in Scotland post-referendum
Over 90 people packed into a room to discuss how the fight for an independent socialist Scotland continues
24 September 2014
Demonstrating outside Labour's national conference in Manchester to demand a £10 minimum wage, photo Hugh Caffrey
Ed Miliband has pledged that Labour will increase the minimum wage to £8 an hour. But you'll have to wait till 2020!
24 September 2014
Support the October pay walkouts: The image of a homeless person rummaging through a bin for food is sadly quite common. But now many low paid workers are also being forced into that situation, writes Jean Thorpe, Nottingham City Unison rep, personal capacity.
24 September 2014
Manchester: Around 3,000 people marched through Manchester to protest against the Labour Party's support for fracking on 21 September
24 September 2014
Care UK: 'We'll fight them all the way'
Doncaster Care UK workers in the Unison union, who were last year transferred from the NHS with 35% pay cuts, will start their next 21 days of strike action at 7am on 29 September
24 September 2014
Croydon leisure centre strike for decent wages
Unite members working at five leisure centres in Croydon, south London, took strike action on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 September against pay cuts by their private sector employer Fusion Leisure
24 September 2014
£10 an hour now!: Fast Food Rights campaign supporters, spearheaded by the BFAWU bakers' union, demonstrated outside Labour's national conference in Manchester demanding the banning of zero-hour contracts and the introduction of a universal £10 an hour minimum wage
24 September 2014
After Scotland revolt: all capitalist parties in crisis
Voting Yes in Scotland's referendum became, for many, a mass revolt against austerity. The capitalist class - major corporations, most of the media and the Westminster politicians - united to predict Armageddon if a majority voted Yes
24 September 2014
Tenants threatened by 'feudal lord'
Russel Brand is actively supporting the campaign to defend New Era estate tenants, photo Paul Mattsson
Tenants on the New Era estate in Hackney are faced by an unholy alliance of predatory property speculation
24 September 2014
West Midlands fire engine cuts
Hereford Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is faced by management plans to reduce the number of fire engines in the county
24 September 2014
On 14 September I was told I had until midnight to donate to Labour - and win a front row seat for Miliband's speech at Labour Party conference!
24 September 2014
Health workers in Unison have voted by 68% for full strike action over pay, with 88% in favour of action short of a strike. We are striking for our patients and their carers, as well as ourselves
24 September 2014
Tough at the top: Spare a thought for the UK's top 1% of earners, currently struggling to get by on a paltry £370,000 a year
24 September 2014
Labour to continue austerity offensive
The Labour Party conference in Manchester was the last before the general election with Labour setting out its policies for a future government
24 September 2014
Climate change: Summit for nothing
Ahead of the United Nations summit, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in 161 countries to demand immediate action on climate change
24 September 2014
Millions on streets for Catalan independence
On 11 September an estimated 1.8 million people took to the streets of Barcelona in the annual demonstration for Catalan independence, writes Rob MacDonald, Socialismo Revolucionario (CWI Spain).
24 September 2014
Film review: Matt Kilsby reviews 'Tony Benn: Will and Testament'
24 September 2014
Film review: Obvious child, described as an "abortion rom-com", is ground-breaking cinema not because of special effects, but because it's a realistic portrayal of a woman deciding on and getting an abortion, writes Helen Pattison.
24 September 2014
Theatre review: Worthing in Sussex always re-elected Tory MPs in the past and worship of the blessed Margaret Thatcher is widespread, writes Derek McMilllan.
24 September 2014
Round up: Socialist Students at the freshers fairs
Manchester: Socialist Students ran campaign stalls every day of the University of Manchester freshers fair, campaigning for a £10 an hour minimum wage, writes Bridget Russell.
24 September 2014
1.6 million vote Yes in revolt against austerity
Scotland Referendum, photo SP Scotland
In the teeth of a ferocious campaign from the British capitalist establishment the independence campaign in Scotland won the support of more than 1.6 million people, overwhelmingly from the working class, securing 45%, writes Philip Stott Secretary, Socialist Party Scotland.
24 September 2014
Academies lead to nepotism and profit making
The Socialist (issue 782) previously reported on a campaign to stop Rushey Mead in Leicester becoming an academy
24 September 2014
Sweden: Conservatives collapse, extreme-right gains
The elections in Sweden on 14 September were a catastrophe for the ruling right-wing alliance of four parties that have formed the government since 2006 (Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberal Party and Centre Party), writes Per Olsson Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden).
26 September 2014
Local government pay: Reject employers' proposal
Build October strikes to move them further: It appears that the local government employers have made a set of new proposals in the pay dispute to the unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB, writes Build October strikes to move them further.
29 September 2014
Stop corporate plunder of Bangladesh energy
A packed meeting heard professor Anu Mohammad, from the Committee to Protect Oil Gas and Natural Resources in Bangladesh.
30 September 2014
Hong Kong: Massive anti-government protests after attempted police crackdown
This was the weekend that changed everything in Hong Kong. Mass popular resistance on the streets, by night and day, with mass gatherings of up to 180,000, spearheaded by the youth
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