The water companies were privatised by the Tories to harness
‘the dynamism of private enterprise’ to the water industry. Most people at the
time didn’t realise there was a problem with the water supply. They could turn
a tap on any time and water rates were low. There’s a problem now – the problem
is private ownership.
Bradford and Bingley are the latest bank to catch a cold in
the present financial crisis. They’ve declared a loss of £8m for the first four
months of 2008. This compares with £108m profits they made in the same period
last year. The main reason for the losses is because they’ve had to
write down £89m of their assets. ‘Write down’ is banker-speak for the fact that
they realise they can whistle for their money.
A few days ago London’s Tory mayor, Boris Johnson, scrapped
the discounted oil deal with the Venezuelan government which allowed half price
bus fares for Londoners on income support.
This year sees the 40th anniversary of the May events of France 1968,
which culminated in the biggest general strike in history, involving
more than 10 million workers. TV programmes and newspaper columns will
mark the occasion but few, if any, will give a real reflection of the
role played by the main actors and actresses, the working class.
Socialist Appeal is pleased to announce the publication of the first in the new series run of our journal of Marxist theory, the Marxist International Review.
The election of Boris Johnson as London Mayor in May should be met with
foreboding. This is not good for train operators or working people in
and around London. Boris appears to be born not only with a silver
spoon in his mouth (having been educated in Eton), but also a foot. We
should not be taken in by the appearance of barmy Boris.
Last year’s 2.5 % pay rise for the police, agreed by the iindependent
arbitration panel, was unilaterally slashed by Home Secretary Jacqui
Smith, to 1.9%, a real wage cut. This interference caused enormous
resentment among the police. Since the 1918 strike, it has been illegal
for the police to strike. Now they are contemplating strike action.
The RMT has balloted more than 17,000 workers in a
dispute with Network Rail. The Union has been negotiating for months for the
harmonisation of terms and conditions for maintenance staff. Infrastructure workers voted 3 to 1 in favour
of strike action if necessary, though operations staff (such as signallers)
voted against a strike. The vote has brought Network Rail back to the
negotiating table. The talks are continuing.
Conference time always highlights the key issues that have
arisen in the last 12 months and the issues activists need to address in the
coming 12 months. This year’s ASLEF conference is no different. The biggest issue that could divide us is harmonisation of
wages and conditions. The basic principle should be that the hard fought-for
conditions that have been gained should not be given up. One driver should not pay to bring
another driver up to a better standard of conditions. This is just another way
for the railway companies to avoid paying and to improve their profits.
I have recently read ‘In the Cause of Labour’ (a history of British
trade unionism) by Rob Sewell. I must say it is an excellent read, in
fact one of the best books I have read in many years. The book covers
the history of British trade unionism from its early beginnings in the
1800s right through almost to the present day…
The wealth in the UK today is the product of the labour of
working people. The problem is that they do not control how that wealth is
distributed. The value that they have created over and above what they receive
in their pay packets is appropriated by the owners of industry who ensure,
through their State apparatus, that the lion’s share is creamed off to those
who already have more than enough for their needs. The present leaders of the Labour Party are tied hand
and foot to the interests of the rich, the capitalist class. A new leadership
of the Party is required that will harness social wealth to provide for all.