The world turned upside down: radical ideas during the English revolution - Christopher Hill
Historical study of the proto-communist groups in the time of the English revolution and the conditions that birthed them.
Steve Hedley: not “cleared of domestic violence” with a case still to answer - Andy Littlechild
Submitted by libcom on Apr 9 2013 15:13
Steve Hedley was not cleared of domestic violence and still has a case to answer according to the RMT rep representing his former partner in her complaint of physical, emotional and verbal abuse.
I’m writing the following statement as the RMT rep representing Caroline Leneghan in relation to her complaint of physical, emotional and verbal abuse by Steve Hedley RMT Assistant General Secretary.
Street parties greet news of Thatcher's death
Submitted by libcom on Apr 9 2013 09:22
Hundreds gather in spontaneous celebrations in London, Glasgow and Bristol on the day former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's death was announced.
Although there had been talk for some years of gatherings to take place after the passing of the former Conservative leader, as the event happened people emerged onto the streets rather quickly.
Thatcher's death – some quick thoughts
Submitted by Phil on Apr 8 2013 20:36
Former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died. The occasion has been the cause of both mourning and jubilation. What follows is a reflection on what this means in the context of the ongoing class struggle.
Today, along with up to 55,000 other workers in HM Revenue & Customs, I was taking part in a half day's strike. It was just before one when literally hundreds of us were gathered outside work for a mass walk-in, and a member of the public ran past excitedly. “Maggie Thatcher's dead!” He yelled.
Merseyside anti-bedroom tax groups meet in Liverpool at the first all-Merseyside anti-bedroom tax conference
Submitted by AnarchoDoom on Apr 6 2013 19:40
Today, Saturday 6th April saw around 60 delegates from the various local anti-bedroom tax campaigns on Merseyside come together to discuss a strategy for co-ordinating action across the region.
After hearing the stories of several tenants affected by the tax and a brief overview of the campaign so far, the room heard what legal avenues are open to tenants in fighting the bedroom tax.
Strike threat at the University of Sussex
Submitted by libcom on Apr 5 2013 11:24
The three recognised trade unions at the University of Sussex are conducting a co-ordinated indicative ballot for strike action, against plans to outsource 235 campus jobs.
The indicative ballot by Unite, Unison and UCU will open on Monday 8 April and will gauge the level of support for industrial action in an increasingly bitter dispute over outsourcing. This week has seen High Court bailiffs evict the 8-week occupation of the Bramber House conference centre.
The need for a labour movement that can defy the law
Submitted by Phil on Apr 5 2013 06:16
The Public and Commercial Services Union has responded to threats of legal action by removing one section of its membership from the strike action due to take place on the 5 and 8 April. This shows the limits of legal trade unionism. It also underlines the urgent need for strong rank-and-file movements in the UK.
We’ve been here before. At the end of 2011, Balfour Beatty threatened to get an injunction against Unite the Union to stop the industrial action it had called for its members in construction. Unite responded by instantly capitulating.
Education Worker #10 - Victimisation
The tenth issue of Education Worker, focuses on victimisation in education, including articles on the Halesowen Four, London Met, and an interview with a victimised NUT rep.
Education Worker: bulletin of the Education Workers Network. Issue 10.
Special Issue: Victimisation in Education
“The revolution starts in the ATOS smoking area” - on welfare, addiction, and dependency
Submitted by Ramona on Apr 2 2013 19:00
A blog about welfare reform from a social care worker's perspective, and the creation of the "welfare addict" as a recession-era scapegoat. Inspired largely by today's Novara show, and the people I work with.
I've got a personal grudge against a colleague of mine. I know this is bad for workplace solidarity. A month ago I sat in the office filling out a service user's DLA1
- 1. Disability Living Allowance – a non-means-tested benefit intended to cover the additional costs of having long term care or mobility needs.
The relevance of anarcho-syndicalism
A talk given by a SolFed member about the reality of working-class life today and the need for a labour movement based on militant solidarity, direct action and rank-and-file control. This was given at a public meeting in 2011 commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the 1911 Liverpool general transport strike.
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