“The workers... battle-cry must be: 'The Permanent Revolution.'” — Marx and Engels, 1850
Tue 17, August 2010 @ 17:30
Dear all, nominations have been secured from Shetland to Swansea, Carlow to Cambridge, and all points between. Support coming from every region and every sector has meant that even though there is still a quarter of the nomination period to go we can announce that we will be on the ballot paper. It's a fantastic achievement and down to the huge amount of work by so many people, our message, what we stand and our politics.
Fri 06, August 2010 @ 22:18
There will be a mass demonstration outside the offices of London & Regional, 8th Floor, 55 Baker Street London W1U 8EW on Friday 13 August 2010 from 4-6pm.
Sun 01, August 2010 @ 20:39
Lambeth Activists is a group of Unison activists who have played a key role in building the union in recent years, and getting fighting policies passed through the Lambeth branch. This is their newsletter for this summer
Sun 25, July 2010 @ 11:02
The phoney war is over. The lies and emollient phrases of the election campaign TV debates and press conferences have given way to the gory detail of how the government is going to downsize the welfare state.
Wed 07, July 2010 @ 23:25
In a troubled year outsourcing is a threat that has loomed large for over 100 staff. The Unite chapel now finds itself in dispute with the management of GNM over plans to outsource large numbers of staff in the wages office, the creative department and the technology enterprise department....John Stuttle of Unite guardian.co.uk
Sun 27, June 2010 @ 10:11
By sheer coincidence UNISON announced the result of the election for the general secretary of Britain's largest public sector union on the same day as George Osborne unveiled the Emergency Budget, the most serious assault on the public sector and its workforce in more than a generation.
Fri 25, June 2010 @ 10:53
The coalition's Academies Bill is
going through parliament at the moment. Education secretary Michael
Gove wants the first batch of new ones to open in September 2011.
Some 850 schools "have expressed interest" so far as the end of
June deadlline for applications approaches. Here, Dave Gay and
Eleanor Davies outline what's at stake
Wed 23, June 2010 @ 15:28
“While not surprised our members are still shocked as details emerge of the Con-Dem coalition’s Emergency Budget,” said Camden UNISON Branch Secretary George Binette. He added, “The Cabinet of millionaires seems determined to have a showdown with the public sector workforce and those who rely on the services we provide. The combination of VAT rising to 20% and pay cuts is toxic.”
Tue 22, June 2010 @ 00:09
George Binette, Camden branch secretary of Unison, supports an emergency resolution ar Unison conference for action to throw back the government offensive.
Mon 21, June 2010 @ 00:36
T
he
phoney war is over. The lies and emollient phrases of the election
campaign TV debates and press conferences have given way to the
gory detail of how the government is going to downsize the welfare
state. With the budget the real war begins, says Keith
Harvey
Mon 14, June 2010 @ 21:39
The Coalition’s Academies Bill is an attack on the entire state education system. Audacious in the scale of its ambitions, the bill envisages a massive increase in the number of Academies, with the privatised Academy model becoming the norm for schools.... fighting it will require equally audacious action from union militants writes Dave Gay.
Sun 13, June 2010 @ 10:06
Sun 16, May 2010 @ 17:54
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The overt bias in the media is to be
expected. If the BA cabin crew weren't accused of "insular
thinking," "cynicism," and much more besides by the bosses and
their media servants, then it would have been an unusual turn of
events. You simply can't have a fair and balanced media when the
workers refuse to know their place, can
you?
What is cause for worry is the latest development reported by BBC News
Tue 11, May 2010 @ 15:10
The second issue of a new bulletin produced by Permanent Revolution workplace activists is now available online.
It includes an analysis of the post-election situation, a report on the ongoing witch-hunt against the left inside UNISON, a piece on why we need to defy the anti-union laws, and a report on the london demonstration against college cuts and where the campaign needs to go next.
If you wish to make a contribution to the bulletin please contact us gugo_5@yahoo.co.uk
Tue 04, May 2010 @ 23:35
The combined strike today of eleven
colleges and four universities is a very important step in building
the fight back against attacks on public services.
Critically we have not waited for the general election to finish and for the next government to settle in. We all know that the next government will be formed from one or more of the three main parties and Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems have all made it clear that they intend to take an axe to public services. They only differ on by how much and how fast.
Sun 18, April 2010 @ 14:09
The first issue of a new bulletin produced by Permanent Revolution workplace activists is now available online.
It includes an interview with Alberto Durango, Unite shop steward sacked from UBS for his union activities, and a report on the Sussex University occupation last month.
If you wish to make a contribution to the bulletin please contact us gugo_5@yahoo.co.uk
Fri 16, April 2010 @ 15:44
The ongoing series of attacks on left activists in Britain’s second largest union, UNISON, has continued and intensified in March. The most sensational development came on Friday 5 March with early morning raids on the offices of three London branches where the elected branch officials – all members of the Socialist Party – were ousted after a disciplinary process that consumed more than two and a half years while eating tens of thousands in members’ subs. There were partially successful attempts to remove computer hard drives and assorted files from the Greenwich office in particular, with evidence of collaboration between regional official and senior officers of the local Labour-controlled council.
Thu 15, April 2010 @ 10:29
Alberto Durango, a leader of the
Latin American Workers Association and member of Unite spoke to
Eleanor Davies about the role of Unite in the recent campaign to
defend cleaners at UBS.
Mon 12, April 2010 @ 14:10
Manchester Metropolitan University Unison (MMU) have been balloting their members for industrial action against a £6 million compulsory redundancy package being pushed through by the Vice Chancellor. This will result in 126 compulsory redundancies of low paid support staff. After winning a consultative ballot by a majority of 75% the branch moved to ballot for industrial action. This ballot has now been suspended following the anti-trade union rulings against British Airways and the RMT. The letter below is the notification of that suspension from the Unison Regional Organiser, Kevin Lucas.
Mon 22, March 2010 @ 16:20
On Friday 19th March over 100 trade unionists and activists gathered together outside UBS HQ in London in support of UBS cleaners and Alberto Durango (victimized cleaner and Unite shop steward for the UBS branch).
This was the third protest outside UBS but it was the first day of international solidarity as protests were organized outside UBS branches in New York, Zurich, Buenos Aires, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Sun 21, March 2010 @ 10:18
The pilots were asked to give savings of 5% of their annual budget. Not so difficult when you earn £100,000+. Cabin crew have been asked to save 15%. Fair?
Sat 13, March 2010 @ 10:57
I write to you about the election for General Secretary (GS) of Unite which this time round will involve the whole union, unlike last year’s election for Joint General Secretary which was only held in the Amicus section.
Sat 13, March 2010 @ 02:28
Full time officials from Unison's London Regional Office led
teams of staff into branch offices in Bromley and Woolwich in South
East London taking control away from locally elected
officials.
The Tenant Services authority branch was also placed under regional
control.
Sat 06, March 2010 @ 18:30
NUT members will be receiving ballot papers this week in elections for the Union’s Executive. It is obviously crucial that left candidates are elected and put to the test of office.
In the Inner London Executive elections, however, there are no right wing candidates. PR is calling for a critical vote for the Socialist Party’s Martin Powell-Davies and the SWP’s Sara Tomlinson. Why are we calling on NUT members not to vote for the other “left” candidate, Alex Kenny of the Socialist Teachers Alliance (STA)?
Tue 16, February 2010 @ 13:27
The attacks on key left activists in Britain’s largest public sector union UNISON by their leaders have continued through the autumn. A concerted witch-hunt to neutralise opposition to general secretary Dave Prentis and his supporters had already seen the expulsion of two elected local officers.
Tue 09, February 2010 @ 20:42
I am seeking your branch’s support in the forthcoming General Secretary election. I am Branch Secretary of Kirklees Unison (a branch of 10,000 plus Unison members) and a National Executive Council member. I have been a steward for 35 years. I am also a member of the Local Government Service Group Executive and the National Joint Council for Local Government. I have much experience in service conditions, organisation, representation and negotiations.
Sat 16, January 2010 @ 09:12
In the election for Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) we are calling for a vote for Kevin Courtney 1 and Hazel Danson 2. But we do so on a highly critical basis arguing for the elections to be used as a spingboard to mobilise and organise action by members against privatisation, cutbacks and attacks against education... argues Jason Travis
Wed 30, December 2009 @ 18:51
When the postal strikes were called off in early November there was much boasting in the media of a “period of calm” and a “strike-free Christmas”.
Thu 17, December 2009 @ 11:23
The two week occupation of the Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight was an inspiration to all those who care for the future of the planet. In those days in late July/early August the determination of a dozen or so men to risk arrest, conviction and loss of redundancy money in order to try to keep the factory open brought hundreds of supporters down to the factory gates to join the tent camp. Thousands more people across the UK joined local days of action, raised money and support in their workplaces and union branches.
Thu 17, December 2009 @ 11:15
A series of militant struggles against plant closures and job losses – Lindsey, Visteon, Vestas – marked the first half of 2009. It led some on the left to declare that a major turning point has been reached in the fightback against the recession. But, as George Binette documents, the sharp downturn has yet to spark a mass upsurge in resistance
Sun 18, October 2009 @ 19:47
A leaked management document from Royal Mail shows how they and the government are planning to break the national strike and, if they can, cripple the union. A London postal worker explains what is at stake in the strike.
Sun 18, October 2009 @ 19:44
The
strikes last week involved both the lecturing staff, UCU members,
and support staff, from Unison. Back in July the Unison leadership
sabotaged strike action by withdrawing support the night before the
strike but on Thursday and Friday lecturers and support staff stood
shoulder to shoulder on picket lines.
Wed 30, September 2009 @ 21:54
At the end of the summer term 30 teachers, most of them NUT members, left St Paul’s Way Community School in Tower Hamlets. Amongst those who left were the whole of the NUT Committee at the school. Dave Gay reports on how this defeat came about
Tue 22, September 2009 @ 18:23
Eleanor Davies reviews the recent struggle by the Visteon workers and looks at the implications of it for the rest of the motor industry
Sat 19, September 2009 @ 18:08
Brian Lyons an ESOL teacher at Tower Hamlets for 8 years and an active member of the strike committee talked to Kirstie Paton about the strike. He describes the mood as “one of defiance, of solidarity and of standing firm to continue the strike until we win what has become the bottom line of the strike which is no compulsory redundancies.”
Sun 06, September 2009 @ 19:15
On Saturday 5 September 2009 the United Left in the union Unite met at Manchester’s Friends House to decide which candidate it was going to back for the election of General Secretary Designate of the union. The election is scheduled for some time next year by a Unite Shop Steward (personal capacity)
Sun 16, August 2009 @ 19:14
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is finally balloting its members across Royal Mail for a national strike in response to a management offensive on jobs, terms and conditions. But as a CWU activist from London reports the union's leadership is still not offering an effective strategy for resistance to the onslaught
Tue 04, August 2009 @ 23:18
Today at 11.10 in a court in Newport, Isle of Wight, magistrates issued an eviction order against the 10 Vestas workers occupying part of the nearby wind-turbine factory. Kirstie Paton and Keith Harvey report from the Isle of Wight on the day’s events and their significance.
Mon 03, August 2009 @ 09:29
The Vestas workers’ occupation has been an inspiration to all those who care for the future of the planet. The decision to get a jump on works manager Paddy Weir and the security guards and secure the offices before being locked out was risky, brave and correct. The action has made front-page news around the UK and exposed the government’s plans for renewable energy jobs as so much green wash.
Wed 29, July 2009 @ 14:34
Sean and Matt, two of the leaders of the Vestas occupation talk about their struggle and demands.
Wed 22, July 2009 @ 09:48
VESTAS WORKERS BESIEGED BY RIOT POLICE (Updated Press Release) from the Save Vestas website
Workers staging a sit-in at the soon-to-close Vestas wind turbine plant on the Isle of Wight are being starved out by police.
The police, many inside the factory and dressed in riot gear, have denied food to the workers who took over the factory offices last night, to protest about the closure of their factory. The police, operating with highly questionable legal authority, have surrounded the offices, preventing supporters from joining the sit-in, and preventing food from being brought to the protestors.
Fri 17, July 2009 @ 18:08
The kangaroo court set up by the unison bureaucracy (called the hearings) has found the four Socialist Party members, Glenn Kelly, Brian Debus, Suzanne Muna and Onay Kasab guilty of producing a leaflet ( to paraphrase) “that could give racist offensive and was disrespectful to the unions standing orders committee” .
Wed 15, July 2009 @ 22:52
This
week saw two more days of strike action at Haggerston School in
Hackney. Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) are
fighting against compulsory redundancies. Six teachers have been
told they will be made redundant in December. The school governors
claim that there is not enough money in the budget to pay for this
group of highly experienced teachers, but they can’t explain how
the school frittered away a surplus of £1.3 million in just one
year.
Sat 11, July 2009 @ 11:30
Alex Kenny wrote a letter to St Paul's Way NUT members arguing why the action should be called off. Members have asked us to post it here to have the argument out in full. We think the letter is woefully inadequate and set out below what we think should happen... writes Jason Travis, Tameside NUT
Wed 08, July 2009 @ 22:33
A graphic illustration of trade union bureaucracy’s capacity for betrayal was seen earlier this week when the NUT’s Action Committee pulled the plug on official strike action due to be taken by the St Paul’s Way NUT group. The NUT group had been trying to secure strike action from the Union since the end of the Spring term when the Headteacher (acting on behalf of the school’s Interim Executive Board) had revealed a restructuring plan that contained a vicious attack on jobs and conditions, with over 20 jobs under threat...writes Dave Gay..
Wed 08, July 2009 @ 09:19
National Union of Teachers' action committee abandoned its members at St Paul's Way Community School in Tower Hamlets as they called off the official strike action planned for Thursday 9th July. At a meeting on Tuesday with over 40 members present a vote to reject the LEA’s offer of a guarantee of no redundancies this term and to continue with the planned strike action was passed unanimously. Later that afternoon the NUT Action Committee told the NUT rep at the school that they were calling the action off. NUT members at the school will be meeting later today (Wednesday 08 July) to vote on a resolution for unofficial action. Please see the message below from the NUT rep at the School, Ammar Al-Ghabban, in the wake of the developments of Tuesday afternoon 07 July...
Thu 02, July 2009 @ 22:16
On Saturday 27 June, beneath North London’s sweltering skies, the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) gathered for its third annual conference. There were some cracking speeches and some cracking speakers.
Fri 26, June 2009 @ 20:44
From Bloomberg...Total SA, Europe’s largest refiner, said its contractors at the Lindsey plant reached an agreement with strikers, bringing back laid-off workers and ending a spate of sympathy walkouts across the U.K.“The contractors and unions came to a positive conclusion last night,” Total spokeswoman Emily Cooper said today....
Sat 20, June 2009 @ 15:14
The conference was, as I suspected it to be, totally bureaucratic and undemocratic. However there were signs of anger about the witchhunts and lack of strategy from UNISON to take on the cut backs and privatisation, writes a delegate from UNISON conference.....
Wed 10, June 2009 @ 18:19
If the Lindsey construction workers had been looking for a political lead from the far left they would have found a fair bit of confusion, and quite a bit of shrill denunciation. The right wing media campaign against foreign workers and the sight of hundreds of workers apparently rallying around a “British jobs for British workers” slogan spread panic in groups who either couldn’t remember, or chose to forget, the nationalist and job protectionist slogans that dominated the workers’ movement in the 1970s and 80s.
Wed 27, May 2009 @ 18:00
Thousands of workers strike, pushing aside the resistance of their leaders, breaking the anti-union laws and sending out mass pickets. It sounds just the answer to years of retreat in Britain’s unions. But the strike at the Lindsey refinery polarised the left. Stuart King examines why
Sun 26, April 2009 @ 19:19
Last weekend local Liverpool musician Alun Parry went to entertain the Visteon workers sitting-in at the car factory in West Belfast.
Sat 18, April 2009 @ 22:18
The occupations at the Visteon plants in Enfield
and Belfast have had a profound effect on those of us who want to
fight. By standing up with courage, initiative and creativity,
workers at Visteon have shown that we don’t have to take it and
that there is another way. They have done this at a time when
millions of us are worried about our own jobs and what the future
holds...write Eleanor Davies & Kirstie Paton...
Download the collection sheet here. Download PR Visteon bulletin here.
Wed 15, April 2009 @ 09:19
Tuesday 14 April, Visteon factory, Enfield
Piers Hood, Deputy Convenor at the Enfield Visteon plant, who was threatened with jail alongside Kevin Nolan for their role in the occupation, spoke to Kirstie Paton from Permanent Revolution about the origins of the occupation at Enfield and what the state of play is today…..
Thu 09, April 2009 @ 16:55
Whilst its effects are being felt first in the private sector, the economic crisis will undoubtedly have an impact on education and the rest of the public sector. Jobs, pensions and pay are all under threat. Meanwhile, despite the crisis, the capitalist vision of education in the 21st century driven by private companies making profits continues to hold sway. Business orientated management is encouraged: vocational qualifications are proposed for working class children, whilst old-style grammar schools are retained for the middle classes....by Dave Gay ELTA
Thu 09, April 2009 @ 16:53
NUT Conference meets this Easter against a background of the most severe economic conditions since the 1930s.
Wed 01, April 2009 @ 18:58
Readers of PR’s journal and website will be familiar with
the case of Adrian Swain, the NUT rep from St Paul’s Way Community
School in Tower Hamlets who was sacked for refusing to follow a
dress code imposed without consultation by the school’s management.
It is a case that has wide implications for NUT members fighting
increasingly authoritarian “business style” managements, and one
that has exposed the failure of the left leadership in the union to
defend its members.
Wed 11, March 2009 @ 18:18
The National Union of
Teachers (NUT) has given the green light to strike action by
members at St Paul’s Way Community School demanding the
reinstatement of a teacher sacked for wearing trainers.
Thu 05, March 2009 @ 13:41
Starting at 5pm on Wednesday
4th March, an occupation by workers at the Prisme Packaging factory
in Dundee began after the twelve employees were told their
contracts were being terminated immediately and that they would not
be receiving a penny of redundancy pay
Sun 01, March 2009 @ 21:35
Voting in the election for the general secretary of the Amicus
section of Unite is underway. It was called because Jerry Hicks,
interviewed here, submitted a legal challenge to the sitting
general secretary, Derek Simpson, continuing in office beyond his
official retirement due date.
Wed 25, February 2009 @ 15:13
On 17 November at a public meeting in Derby over 200 parents, pupils, school governors and teachers voted unanimously against the city council’s plans to turn Sinfin Community School into a privately run academy. This was an “unofficial” vote and the city council may still press ahead with their plans regardless of the eventual outcome of the official consultation which runs until 15 December. However, it is a huge boost to the Derby campaign.
Wed 25, February 2009 @ 15:10
In November the National Union of Teachers (NUT) called off any action on pay. Following a ballot that had run over the October half term holiday, the Executive of the union decided that the turnout was too low to carry strike action, despite the fact that the majority had voted “yes”.
Sat 21, February 2009 @ 19:02
200 attend launch of Unite broad left meeting in Birmingham, writes Richard Belbin
Mon 16, February 2009 @ 19:06
On Friday night at Friends Meeting House in London 150 people came to hear Keith Gibson and Jerry Hicks talk about the lessons of the Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR) strike. Stuart King reports.
Sun 08, February 2009 @ 21:17
Mon 02, February 2009 @ 12:50
On 7 March 2009 The Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group will be holding its second trade union conference in London. The day will feature a series of workshops on topics: What is involved in being a workplace environmental representative; What we mean by a “just transition” to a low carbon economy...
Mon 02, February 2009 @ 11:52
The current rolling unofficial mass strike of Lindsey
refinery workers has sparked controversy through the prominent
display of Gordon Brown’s racist slogan “British jobs 4 British
workers”. What should socialists say in response?....The current
rolling unofficial mass strike of Lindsey refinery workers has
sparked controversy through the prominent display of Gordon Brown’s
racist slogan “British jobs 4 British workers”.
Tue 27, January 2009 @ 15:09
Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) at St Paul's Way Community School in the East London borough of Tower Hamlets have given a substantial boost to the campaign to win the reinstatement of their victimised NUT rep, Adrian Swain.
Thu 22, January 2009 @ 16:49
We write to add our voices to those opposing the dismissal
of your school NUT Representative, Adrian Swain, because of his
choice of clothing and to urge you to support action to demand
Adrian’s reinstatement....writes Martin Powell
Davies
Fri 09, January 2009 @ 10:40
Over the Xmas and New Year period the campaign to get Adrian Swain reinstated in his teacher's job at St Paul's Way Tower Hamlets was given a massive boost by the huge publicity it received on regional TV and radio, and in the national and local press.
Wed 07, January 2009 @ 18:20
Adrian Swain, NUT rep for St Paul's school in Tower Hamlets was sacked before Christmas for wearing trainers. This was the victimisation of a dedicated teacher and union representative. George Galloway the Respect MP for Tower Hamlets has issued this statement in Adrian's support. (For a petition in support of Adrian click here)
Thu 18, December 2008 @ 18:45
Despite the best efforts of a number of comrades and a sympathetic front page story in this week's edition of the "East London Advertiser", a member of the interim executive board at St Paul's Way School has dismissed maths teachers and NUT representative, Adrian Swain, earlier this evening for what was deemed 'gross misconduct'.
Fri 12, December 2008 @ 10:08
Unite, the super union formed in 2007 – is at war with itself as rival factions prepare for an election next March for general secretary of the Amicus half. A unite/Amicus member explains.
Wed 10, December 2008 @ 17:31
First it was Unison, then the NUT and PCS - one climbdown after another over pay. This was the year the public sector unions were meant to get serious about launching a co-ordinated fight for an inflation-busitng pay rise. But it all ended in the union leaders ignoring mandates for action and refusing to fight. Here PR trade union militants in these unions dissect what went wrong and how it can be avoided next time.
Tue 09, December 2008 @ 18:06
Adrian Swain is the NUT rep at St Paul’s Way School in Tower Hamlets. He is currently being disciplined by management for failing to comply with the school’s dress code. The code was imposed on staff in the autumn term with no consultation whatsoever. Adrian has been given a final written warning for misconduct (for failing to obey a “reasonable instruction” of the headteacher) and he faces a hearing in December which could result in his dismissal.
Sun 07, December 2008 @ 22:29
Both Unite shop stewards working for IMI Scott in
Manchester have been made redundant in a management-engineered
process designed to break the union. We are appealing to you to
support our campaign for reinstatement, and oppose this attack on
workers.
Tue 02, December 2008 @ 18:01
While Metronet, who run the majority of the tube network, agreed to the living wage. Tube Lines, who run the Northern, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines, refused and instead offered cleaners an increase of 60p an hour with the promise of a living wage next April.
Tue 02, December 2008 @ 17:55
After a series of strike days over the summer, RMT tube cleaners employed by Metronet have won the right to be paid the London Living Wage. Strike days planned for July were suspended when Metronet, who are responsible for the majority of the network, agreed to give cleaning staff £7.40 an hour from this September.
Tue 02, December 2008 @ 17:54
It’s been a busy last year at Lambeth Council in the Lambeth Unison branch. After narrowly losingthe ballot to turn Lambeth Housing into an ALMO, the branch has been fighting privatisation and building the campaign to stop yet another pay cut.
Tue 02, December 2008 @ 17:54
Delegates to the recent annual gathering of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for an escalation of resistance to the Brown government’s imposition of a de facto pay freeze across the whole of the public sector. General secretary after general secretary delivered fiery rhetoric against real pay cuts at a time of sharply rising inflation and pledged to confront the New Labour government as never before.
Tue 18, November 2008 @ 17:00
At a packed meeting trade union activists, Latin American solidarity campaigners and immigrant rights organisations came together to discuss how to build solidarity with Latin American workers in Britain who are organising for trade union rights at work. Dave Esterson reports....
Sun 26, October 2008 @ 20:52
On Monday 20 October 2008 the National Union of Teachers (NUT) branch of St Paul’s Way Community School discussed an emergency motion to the East London Teachers Association (ELTA) asking them to support Adrian Swain’s campaign against victimisation. (Download petition here)
Thu 09, October 2008 @ 17:15
Following a forty strong meeting, on Monday 6th October, of NUT members at Harper Green school, Bolton sent a message of "resolute opposition" to the intended second Bolton academy planned for their school, and a vote for strike action, governors have now withdrawn the threat to make the school into an academy... writes Jason Travis, Bolton NUT
Sun 05, October 2008 @ 17:05
Two important disputes are ongoing in Bolton this week. Refuse collectors are fighting wage cuts of up to 20% or £4000 whilst teachers are striking this Wednesday in their fourth strike against Withins School being turned into an academy. We need to make links between these disputes and unite the action of all workers against pay cuts, privatisation and other attacks.... writes Jason Travis of Bolton NUT.
Sat 04, October 2008 @ 12:57
Recently the NUT strike in Bolton and the NASUWT strike in Derby against academies have shown how to link struggles against privatisation with the pay action. After years of campaigning and being told that strike action was not viable or was in contravention of anti-union laws, these strikes open the way for a series of such actions. They couuld be the prelude to a national strike against selling off our schools to private bidders.
Sat 04, October 2008 @ 12:56
Ricky Jones and his family face eviction from their home. They are not victims of the credit crunch, but of management harassment.
Sat 04, October 2008 @ 12:55
Picket lines are a basic part of trade unionism. Pickets work to make strikes more effective. On 24 April when thousands of teachers went on strike over pay picket lines, however, became a cause for discussion and some disagreement.
Sat 04, October 2008 @ 12:54
The strike called by the NUT and other public sector unions on 24 April was hugely successful. Hundreds of thousands of teachers, lecturers and civil servants took part in the strike and city centres across the country witnessed large, vibrant demonstrations loudly protesting against the government’s attacks on public sector pay.
Wed 23, July 2008 @ 12:22
Brent TUC is organising a public meeting Wednesday 30th July in support of the RMT cleaners' strike, an important struggle by mainly migrant workers, for a living wage and basic employment rights.
Thu 17, July 2008 @ 23:33
After a successful strike Tuesday, July 15 and further action in the pipeline as well as a legal challenge, the council have backed down from closing Hayward school, Bolton and reopening it as a privatised academy in six weeks' time... writes Jason Travis.
Wed 16, July 2008 @ 15:04
Unison public sector pay leaflet PDF
Sun 13, July 2008 @ 15:23
ON SUNDAY 4 March 1984 the miners at Cortonwood Colliery in Yorkshire voted to strike. Three days earlier, the Coal Board had announced the closure of the pit on the grounds that it was uneconomic. The pit was to be closed with only five weeks notice.
Thu 29, May 2008 @ 17:11
Tue 27, May 2008 @ 23:32
Tue 27, May 2008 @ 23:31
Two decades have passed since the British miners launched a strike to defend their pits from a huge closure programme. The strike turned into one of the most decisive economic and political struggles of the twentieth century. Mark Hoskisson looks back at this contest between the British state and the thousands of working class men and women, whom the Tory prime minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher, famously described as "the enemy within".
Tue 27, May 2008 @ 22:47
Tue 27, May 2008 @ 22:28
Sun 18, May 2008 @ 18:34
Tue 13, May 2008 @ 20:46
Nearly sixty people came to the rally, outside a governors' meeting, against the Academy at Withins School, Bolton with strikers, parents, students and delegations from other schools and workplaces... reports Jason Travis
Sat 03, May 2008 @ 18:47
A school in Bolton is taking strike action after the council announced its planned closure as part of an academy program. 94% of members voted for Yes to discontinuous strike action against the change of employer. The first day of strike action is this Thursday 8th May. Rush messages of support to the Withins staff... writes Jason Travis
Thu 01, May 2008 @ 18:30
Sun 27, April 2008 @ 12:17
Wed 23, April 2008 @ 10:13
Wed 16, April 2008 @ 20:46
In the run-up to next Thursday's strike it is essential that the rank and file get organised- in workplaces, in city wide associations with rank and file strike committees, to organise pickets, union membership drives and rallies. But we also need follow-up action to make sure that the 24th is the beginning not the end.
Bolton NUT yesterday in an 80 strong meeting representing 40 schools unanimously voted for the following motion... reports Jason Travis
Sun 06, April 2008 @ 23:47
Sat 22, March 2008 @ 08:29
Young people rate climate change as one of the biggest challenges they’ll face in their lifetimes and more than two thirds are ready to take action to try to minimise its effects.... How can teacher trade unionists help bring this issue centre stage into the working class movement asks Jason Travis of Bolton NUT
Fri 21, March 2008 @ 12:08
Fri 21, March 2008 @ 12:06
Fri 21, March 2008 @ 11:57
Sun 09, March 2008 @ 15:16
Mon 03, March 2008 @ 20:16
Mon 11, February 2008 @ 13:18
Sun 27, January 2008 @ 10:42
60 people attended the 26th January Manchester Organising For Fighting Unions day school. Expecting the familiar talk-shop limitations, my expectations were only partly confirmed: in fact I came away feeling enthused... writes Jason Travis.
Sat 26, January 2008 @ 13:31
Despite being repeatedly delayed the NUT executive have finally agreed to hold a ballot for one day strike action against pay cuts, in what could be the first national teacher stake action for decades. How, asks Jason Travis of Bolton NUT, can activists organise on the ground to ensure this is only the start of the action?
Sat 15, December 2007 @ 12:40
Under pressure from Unison officials the Manchester Mental Health branch has agreed a negotiated return to work, with promises from Unison about a national campaign, further strike days, a lobby of parliament and high profile intervention from Dave Prentis. However, amongst the strikers there is some anger and discussion about how the action can be taken forward... writes Jason Travis
Mon 10, December 2007 @ 23:02
Wed 28, November 2007 @ 02:10
Union activists in the Royal Mail mounted a bold rearguard action to secure a substantial minority of votes against the deal conceded by the CWU's leadership in mid-October. Now, however, CWU militants face the task of building a viable national movement to counter its implementation and advance an alternative direction for the union in the face of a major employers' offensive.
Tue 27, November 2007 @ 18:39
Pay and Modernisation Agreement Accepted
Do you accept the pay and modernisation agreement?
YES 51,260 64%
NO 28,894 36%
Spoilt 156
Tue 27, November 2007 @ 12:17
Mon 05, November 2007 @ 15:27
Sat 03, November 2007 @ 11:56
Leaflet produced by CWU activists (To download the PDF of the Reject the Deal Leaflet click here )
Reasons to Reject the Deal
The CWU spin says that pensions are “decoupled” from the agreement, to be dealt with separately. In reality they have already agreed that we should work till 65 and close the final salary scheme. This will lose members thousands of pounds!
Tue 30, October 2007 @ 00:22
Sat 27, October 2007 @ 14:29
Sat 27, October 2007 @ 14:28
1. INTRODUCTION
In order for Royal Mail to thrive as a business and to ensure that it remains able to compete effectively it is recognised that change is going to have to happen at a scale and at a pace never experienced before
Tue 23, October 2007 @ 14:33
Around 80 people joined a lively three hour demonstration on the third day of the disciplinary against Manchester mental health worker and Unison branch chair Karen Reissmann. Jason Travis of Bolton NUT reports...
Tue 23, October 2007 @ 11:49
On Saturday 20th October activists from National Union of Teachers' (NUT) associations in Greater Manchester met to try to begin to reorganise rank and file groups in schools across the city, in particular to co-ordinate the pay fight with Unison and other unions, to oppose academies and privatisation and to begin to get all our schools and workplaces union workplaces with an active fighting membership... Jason Travis from Bolton NUT reports
Tue 16, October 2007 @ 23:32
Mon 15, October 2007 @ 18:04
Mon 15, October 2007 @ 01:31
Mon 08, October 2007 @ 19:53
Mon 08, October 2007 @ 19:49
Tue 02, October 2007 @ 23:51
Thu 27, September 2007 @ 10:59
Fri 21, September 2007 @ 00:08
Fri 14, September 2007 @ 19:38
Mon 03, September 2007 @ 17:57
Fri 31, August 2007 @ 10:01
Thu 30, August 2007 @ 08:20
Tue 28, August 2007 @ 19:31
From tomorrow 700 NHS workers are out on a three day strike in a crucial battle. This strike isn't just about defending an activists' job, important though that is, but part of a wider struggle for a fighting trade union determined to oppose cuts and privatisation writes Jason Travis of Bolton NUT...
Fri 10, August 2007 @ 20:17
Wed 25, July 2007 @ 20:37
Sun 22, July 2007 @ 12:21
Sat 21, July 2007 @ 14:53
About 30 people attended a public meeting of Bolton TUC in solidarity with the postal workers’ strike and the strike plans of Manchester Community and Mental Health Unison whose chairperson, Karen Reissmann, has been suspended from her job in a clear case of employer victimisation of an union activist. Jason Travis of Bolton NUT reports...
Thu 12, July 2007 @ 22:20
Thu 12, July 2007 @ 21:57
Dear Comrades,
I was interested to read Mark Hoskisson’s comments on the proposed merger between the TGWU and Amicus in the last Permanent Revolution. Whilst agreeing with the overall thrust and tone of his piece, I found myself unconvinced by his arguments for opposing the merger.
Tue 10, July 2007 @ 23:37
Fri 06, July 2007 @ 21:11
Thu 05, July 2007 @ 19:14
Tue 26, June 2007 @ 17:34
Fri 22, June 2007 @ 19:05
Thu 21, June 2007 @ 18:18
Fri 01, June 2007 @ 14:54
Sat 26, May 2007 @ 11:14
I went to a meeting Thursday 24th May that Lewisham UNISON had called for Lewisham Homes staff (the staff that have gone over to the ALMO, Lewisham Homes is the name of the ALMO)... writes Daniel J...
Thu 24, May 2007 @ 19:55
For over a decade, Trafford NUT, in Greater Manchester, has been unable to function effectively because of a ploy used by the right wing to set the quorate (the number needed for a meeting to be declared official) at 64. However, a struglge in a lcoal school has led to activists planning tactics to tutnr this around.... writes Jason T...
Fri 04, May 2007 @ 18:39
Tue 24, April 2007 @ 19:38
Sat 14, April 2007 @ 11:27
Sat 07, April 2007 @ 13:23
Demonstrate: Saturday 28th April; Hackney March: Homerton Grove Park, 1pm; Tower Hamlets March: Altab Ali Park, 12:30pm; Rally at Hackney Town Hall Square, 2pm
Activists in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Islington and Haringey have come together and organised a demonstration in defence of adult education and against the government’s attacks on migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. The march and rally will take place on Saturday 28th April. Yet why have our leaders dragged their feet and not called a national demonstration? writes James Drummond from Hackney UCU…
Sun 01, April 2007 @ 00:02
Fri 23, March 2007 @ 21:59
Sat 10, March 2007 @ 13:00
Sat 24, February 2007 @ 09:16
Tue 20, February 2007 @ 17:31
From James Croy - RMT
Apologies again for any cross posting - the United Campaign has asked that the attached revised list of speakers be circulated for the rally on 1st March together with a model letter that trade unionists can send to their MP.
Wed 31, January 2007 @ 17:17
Wed 31, January 2007 @ 16:09
PCS national strike, 31 January 2007
PCS members have voted by large majority in a national ballot for strike action. The one-day strike and subsequent overtime ban come as the Labour government refuses to give assurances on job security, continues to drive down pay and pursues a policy of outsourcing and privatisation.
Mon 29, January 2007 @ 13:59
Around 120 trade unionists, from unions including PCS, Unison, Amicus, TGWU, NUT, and other activists attended a strike rally in Manchester Thursday 25th January. ...writes Jason T....
Tue 23, January 2007 @ 20:17
A big "Yes" vote in the PCS strike ballot.
61.3 per cent voting "Yes" for strike action and 77.9 per cent voting "Yes" for action short of a strike. Don't know what the turnout was yet; we should be getting more details tomorrow....writes Yuen C...
Mon 22, January 2007 @ 14:48
Mon 08, January 2007 @ 09:09
Thu 04, January 2007 @ 18:04
Fri 08, December 2006 @ 13:45
Thu 07, December 2006 @ 21:35
From Labournet
Only weeks after JJB workers scored a massive victory over anti-union boss Dave Whelan, their union (GMB) is under serious attack. One steward has been sacked and the convenor is facing disciplinary action as well.
Thu 07, December 2006 @ 21:33
From Labournet
Three activists in Unison are facing disciplinary investigations by the union following a walkout in protest at Tony Blair’s speech to the TUC in September this year.
Thu 23, November 2006 @ 14:37
Sat 18, November 2006 @ 12:43
Sat 18, November 2006 @ 00:06
A series of attacks have been launched against various sections of the civil service. On October 27, Defra issued compulsory redundancy notices to 19 staff. On November 1, DTI issued compulsory redundancy notices to 10 members of staff writes YC.
Mon 13, November 2006 @ 23:05
Wed 01, November 2006 @ 21:23
Tue 31, October 2006 @ 09:51
Fri 27, October 2006 @ 00:27
Fri 27, October 2006 @ 00:26
Tue 10, October 2006 @ 01:41
Sat 07, October 2006 @ 21:47
First national strike threatened in the NHS Blood Service
From Amicus
Tuesday 3rd October 2006
Amicus is warning that it is preparing to ballot for industrial action in the NHS blood service over the potential closure of fourteen blood centres across the country. The health union say that putting at risk centres in Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton, Tooting, Colindale, Brentwood, Oxford and Cambridge threatens the loss of hundreds of highly skilled technical and scientific staff from the NHS and will leave major cities without facilities for the testing and processing of blood.
Sun 01, October 2006 @ 19:34
Sun 01, October 2006 @ 14:29
This Sunday (1st October) DHL will take over NHS Logistics, a branch of the NHS which supplies the entire health service. The Runcorn site serves the North-West and Cumbria. Tom Bimpson and Greg Dropkin spoke to NHS Logistics UNISON strikers on the picket line in Runcorn during the 2nd strike day (Weds 27 Sept), just before they headed to Manchester to lobby the Labour Party conference. Beeps, shouts, whistles punctuate the interviews. Every passing car and lorry on this main road in Runcorn honks or waves and the strikers shout back.
Mon 25, September 2006 @ 12:58
Sun 17, September 2006 @ 18:05
Sun 17, September 2006 @ 18:04
Sat 16, September 2006 @ 08:54
Fri 15, September 2006 @ 23:54
Mon 07, August 2006 @ 15:34
When Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979 she had united the Tory party around the goal of breaking the strength of the British trade unions. This, the Thatcherites argued, was essential for the restructuring of industry and the restoration of British capitalism’s profitability.
Wed 19, July 2006 @ 12:52
