On
Saturday 20th March the ragtag bunch of ex-football hooligans
and far-right activists who call themselves the English Defence
League (EDL) descended on Bolton, in their latest attempt to stir up
trouble.
Civil Service workers organised by the PCS union will be taking further
industrial action on Wed 24th March, Budget day, in defence of jobs and
conditions. The attacks being mounted by the government on the
redundancy arrangements currently in place are aimed not only at saving
money at workers’ expense but also at preparing the ground for further
waves of attack at a later stage.
Civil Service workers organised by the PCS union will be taking further
industrial action on Wed 24th March, Budget day, in defence of jobs and
conditions. The attacks being mounted by the government on the
redundancy arrangements currently in place are aimed not only at saving
money at workers’ expense but also at preparing the ground for further
waves of attack at a later stage.
Ireland: The
decision to make redundant all of ‘Aer Lingus’ 1,200 cabin crew (270
permanently) and then rehire most on a lower wage and longer working
hours, has been met with fierce resistance from the 1,000 strong IMPACT
union at the airline. The
airline announced these plans for job cuts, after restructuring plans
were introduced due to 66.2 million Euros worth of losses in 2009. Job
cuts and restructuring are part of plans at Aer Lingus to save 97
million Euros by 2011, in order to save the airline from bankruptcy.
Ireland: The
decision to make redundant all of ‘Aer Lingus’ 1,200 cabin crew (270
permanently) and then rehire most on a lower wage and longer working
hours, has been met with fierce resistance from the 1,000 strong IMPACT
union at the airline. The
airline announced these plans for job cuts, after restructuring plans
were introduced due to 66.2 million Euros worth of losses in 2009. Job
cuts and restructuring are part of plans at Aer Lingus to save 97
million Euros by 2011, in order to save the airline from bankruptcy.
13
years after declaring that New Labour’s priorities were "education,
education, education", it seems that the government has a new mantra of
"cuts, cuts, cuts". On the 18th March, it was announced that funding
for universities would be slashed by £573 million, representing a cut
of 7.3%. The budget cut is the first time higher
education (HE) funding has been reduced since New Labour came power
and is a threat not only to students, but also to academic staff and
other university workers, who are facing the prospect of large job
cuts.
13
years after declaring that New Labour’s priorities were "education,
education, education", it seems that the government has a new mantra of
"cuts, cuts, cuts". On the 18th March, it was announced that funding
for universities would be slashed by £573 million, representing a cut
of 7.3%. The budget cut is the first time higher
education (HE) funding has been reduced since New Labour came power
and is a threat not only to students, but also to academic staff and
other university workers, who are facing the prospect of large job
cuts.
The call issued by President Chavez to
set up a new revolutionary
international, the Fifth International, has provoked a passionate
discussion in the ranks of the workers’ movement in Latin America and on
a world scale. It is impossible for Marxists to remain indifferent to
this question. What attitude should we take towards it?
The call issued by President Chavez to
set up a new revolutionary
international, the Fifth International, has provoked a passionate
discussion in the ranks of the workers’ movement in Latin America and on
a world scale. It is impossible for Marxists to remain indifferent to
this question. What attitude should we take towards it?
Eight months ago the Worcester-based company, Faithful
Workwear, which
was owned by former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell MP and made
industrial
clothing, went into so-called "pre-pack administration." The assets
were sold
to a new business trading under a new name but without the pension
liability
of the old business.
Now instead of the firm’s pensioners living a well earned
retirement,
after contributing for years to a pension fund, they are set to lose
30 to 40% of
their pension.
Eight months ago the Worcester-based company, Faithful
Workwear, which
was owned by former Tory cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell MP and made
industrial
clothing, went into so-called "pre-pack administration." The assets
were sold
to a new business trading under a new name but without the pension
liability
of the old business.
Now instead of the firm’s pensioners living a well earned
retirement,
after contributing for years to a pension fund, they are set to lose
30 to 40% of
their pension.
We reproduce here a statement being sent out by Jerry Hicks to
branches and members in Unite concerning the forthcoming election of a
General Secretary for the Unite union.