UK

West Midland firefighters vote to strike

Submitted by Steven. on Nov 5 2005 10:31

Fire crews vote for strike action West Midlands firefighters have voted in favour of strike action over changes to their shift system.

More than 2,000 FBU members took part in a ballot last month which had a majority of three to one in favour of action, however dates have not yet been set for the walk outs.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service has been liaising with the Army to provide emergency cover.

Exposing John Prescott's housing policies

Submitted by Steven. on Nov 4 2005 14:44

The office Of The Deputy Prime Minister (ODMP) laid down the Decent Homes Standards to improve social housing by 2010, therefore directly benefiting communities. The flip side to this is the destruction of communities in Co-op run social housing.

Councils are repossessing all their properties, effectively making Co-op tenants homeless. Traditional social housing stock is disappearing, Co-ops are facing critical times.

NHS workers strike in Newcastle

Submitted by Steven. on Nov 3 2005 10:40

Over 600 staff at hospitals in Newcastle were out on a 24 hour strike this week with more potential action coming up.

The industrial action is the result of new Agenda for Change rules which allow new staff to earn more than staff with many years of experience.

This has seen staff with more than 20 years of experience being paid 20p an hour less than colleagues who are new to the job.

First Bus drivers' sixth strike

Submitted by Steven. on Nov 3 2005 10:38

First Bus drivers in north Staffordshire and south Cheshire are on their sixth one-day strike, part of an ongoing pay dispute.

First drivers are demanding to be paid the same amount as their colleagues around the country.

The company has offered to raise the current £6.60 hourly rate. But the offer has so far been dependent on other conditions being imposed.

The Transport and General Workers' Union said strikes have also been planned for 7, 19 and 21 November.

Secure in the knowledge...

Submitted by Freedom on Nov 2 2005 10:42

If you go down to the festival today... In a special report, Matt D enters the murky world of security.

You're sure to notice the large numbers of security guards in their various brightly coloured polo shirts and high-visibility jackets. Many festivals including Glastonbury, Reading, and the London anti racist one day free festival (Rise) employ the Glasgow based Specialised Security(sic).

Mail to be private?

Submitted by Freedom on Nov 2 2005 10:41

A major review of Royal Mail has suggested that 20% of the company should be given to employees, as more jobs losses and rural office closures are announced and amid condemnation of plans to remove the public service's monopoly.

A three-month Royal Commission led by Sir George Bain is due to report next Friday 21st October with recommendations for the future of the postal service.

House of Commons cleaners to strike again

Submitted by Steven. on Nov 2 2005 10:37

Cleaners at the House of Commons plan to strike for a second time in a bitter dispute over low pay and poor working conditions

The action follows a breakdown in negotiations with the parliamentary authorities to increase the wages of cleaners from £5.20 an hour to £6.70. The adult minimum wage is £5.05 an hour.

The strike means MPs and peers will face picket lines as they go to work tomorrow.

Debord's New Book (review) - by The Red Menace

The Red Menace was produced by an informal group of communists and appeared for several issues in late 1980s London. It contained news and reviews of class struggle topics.

1917-1945: Anti-Parliamentary Communism: The movement for workers councils in Britain - Mark Shipway

Submitted by libcom on Oct 28 2005 09:31

A history of the libertarian socialist movement in the UK in the first half of the 20th century, focusing in particular on the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation.

online version from: http://af-north.org

Gate Gourmet dispute continues

Submitted by Steven. on Oct 25 2005 10:51

Although it's dropped out of the headlines, the Gate Gourmet dispute is still very much going on.

Workers are still picketing daily on Beacon Hill, Gate Gourmet workers called a press conference today, the details of which follow below.