What can you say?
What can you say to your son when he asks, “Why is my life so sh*te?” All you can do is listen and sympathise.
Hillsborough 20 Years On
Twenty years after the event it would be fair to say that almost all football fans who went to a game that day will remember exactly where they were at 3.06pm on Saturday 15th April 1989, the day of the Hillsborough disaster. They will have little or no memory of the game they watched and what happened in it. What they will remember is groups of people on the terraces standing around radios listening as the terrible news unfolded. What they will remember is the look on the faces of players as they came out onto the pitch to start the second half, having heard the news during the break. What they will remember is the terrible silence as people left the grounds just wishing to be home, many long before the final whistle.
Glasgow: schools occupied!
In the run up to Glasgow City Council’s decision on whether to go ahead with the proposed closure of twenty primary schools, and after a campaign that has seen rallies of hundreds in George Square outside the city chambers. parents at two Glasgow schools in Maryhilll, Wyndford and St Gregory’s primary schools, have occupied the buildings. Visiting the St Gregory’s occupation over a week later it was clear that the parents were determined to maintain their struggle as long as necessary.
Blacklist Heroes
I have been an active trade union member of Unite the union in its various forms since 1986 when I first joined EEPTU. I was first properly involved in rank and file activity in 1988 on a site in London where I was an elected safety rep. A few weeks ago, I managed to obtain my file from the Information Commissioner’s Office, which clearly proved that a blacklist was in operation for many years. It was an 18 page document containing allegations that I was a “trouble maker” and much more besides.
Factory occupations: Learning the lessons
Over the past decade, Latin America has been in the forefront of the struggle against capitalism and its evil effects upon the lives of working class people. Nowhere has been the case more than in Venezuela, where Chavez, President for the past ten years, proudly proclaims himself a socialist. Latin America of course has long been a victim of capitalism and imperialism. In Venezuela the capitalist class have often simply abandoned their factories as unprofitable, leaving the workers to rot. These workers have indignantly stood up for their rights. For years past they have struggled to occupy these factories as a way of maintaining their livelihoods. They are ahead of us in Britain and the rest of Europe. We should learn the lessons.
Occupy! Fighting for jobs at Visteon plants
The leader of the attempted occupation of the Visteon plant at Basildon (component supplier to Ford) speaks to Socialist Appeal. After the ending of the occupation, the workers have maintained a twenty-four hour picket on the factory. Belfast and Enfield remain occupied. These are the first factory occupations in Britain for more than 30 years. It is an inspiring new stage in working class struggle.
G20 riot police kill bystander
Video evidence now proves that the man killed at the G20 demonstration, Ian Tomlinson, was the victim of an unprovoked attack by the police. The labour movement must demand the suspension of the officers involved, the pressing of criminal charges, the organisation of effective workers’ committees to ensure safety on demonstrations, and the right to assemble freely without fear of violence.
Easter Rising remembered
As Easter approaches, Ireland stands once again in crisis. It is unlikely this year that we will be treated to the sight of a farcical show of strength from the Irish military or the twenty six county state government attempting to cash in on the legacy of the famous rebellion against British rule. Despite being regarded as a central point in Irish history and an event that is widely recognised as pivotal to the traditions of republicanism little of the events of 1916 are retained in their popular representation as they have been surrounded by a systematic campaign of distortion almost since they took place.
Local Government pay: Return of the halfpenny
It’s a shame that halfpennies were abolished twenty or so years ago, because that’s all that the Local Government employers think we are worth. That’s right 0.5% or a halfpenny in the pound, that’s what hundreds of thousands of UNISON members are to be offered in this year’s pay round. But as though that wasn’t enough, we are reliably informed that they intend to withdraw the offer if we don’t agree to it by June 1st.
Rally at Enfield to Support Visteon Occupation!
WORKERS DUE TO BE EVICTED
YOUR SUPPORT IS URGENTLY NEEDED
RALLY AT ENFIELD FACTORY
Tomorrow Thursday 9th April at 11am sharp!
Reject increases in top up fees
A year before the next general election is due the Labour Government is proposing another increase in top up fees for UK students. Currently universities can charge up to £3,000 per year. It is being proposed that they can be raised to £7,000. The record of New Labour on higher education has gone from bad to worse. In 1998 student grants were abolished and loans introduced. Then fees were introduced at around £1,000. A proposal for top fees up to £3,000 was introduced in 2004, to be implemented after the general election in 2005. Top up fees were implemented in 2006.
Fianna Fáil Budget: The bosses slash while the economy burns
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and the Fianna Fáil led coalition have set out their stall. This was a bosses’ budget that takes €837 out of the economy for every man, woman and child in Ireland. Worse still, if you happen to be an unemployed school leaver under the age of 20 your dole is being cut in half. RTÉ’s headline states that the “most severe budget in decades is revealed”.