communications
News and articles about work, policy and struggles in the communications sector, from telecoms to postal and delivery services around the world.
WiMaximum profit - the wireless revolution and big business
Rob Ray investigates how a big-business ‘wireless revolution’ is set to retard urban communications technology for generations to come.
Major companies are set to introduce a broadband technology to keep control of telecommunications across the UK despite cheaper, more robust open systems being available.
Following a recent agreement over the introduction of a new global standard, WiMax is to begin testing in the UK for a nationwide roll-out possibly as early as next year.
Belfast postal workers wildcat strike - news archive, 2006
Archive of the day-by-day reports and updates, as well as background information on the victorious wildcat strike action of Belfast postal workers from 31 January to 17 February 2006.
Belfast postal strike image archive on libcom.org galleryUpdates and stories on libcom.org news
Postal workers rally crosses Belfast peaceline
Postal workers and supporters held a march and rally at lunch time today. Over 400 posties and supporters marched from the Shankill Road across the peace line at Lanark Way on to the Falls Road.
Members of the Belfast Local of Organise! are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with postal workers on this historic occassion.
Belfast postal wildcat escalates
Irish anarchist group Organise! report that the Postal workers wildcat action that started at the Tomb Street depot in Belfast is escalating.
They stated:
Belfast postal workers on wildcat strike
Two hundred postal workers in Belfast walked out earlier today apparently over the sacking of some of their colleagues. The unofficial action shut down deliveries for most of the city.
BBC news reported:
Postal workers have gone on unofficial strike
Postal deliveries in Belfast have been disrupted after workers at Royal Mail's main delivery office in the city staged a walk-out.
More than 200 employees who work at Royal Mail's Tomb Street depot went on unofficial strike on Tuesday morning.
Preliminary Notes on Recent Call Centre Struggles
Article on the growth of call centres and struggles within them, focussed on Brighton in the UK.
From undercurrent #8
Call centres are appearing everywhere. Representing a new way of integrating telecommunications and computer technology into the process of reshaping the division of labour, they are predominantly situated in the circulation process of capital - although some are within the production process itself. Bosses and politicians herald them as an example of the future of labour. Britain, whose national economy revolves around the finance sector, has 40% of the total call centres in Europe and this number is increasing every year. It is estimated that there are 350,000 workers employed in 4000 call centres, expected to rise to 500,000 in the next three years.(1)
Call Centers and Militant Inquiries - a Discussion
Review of Kolinko's book, Hotlines: Call Centre - Inquiry - Communism
from Riff-Raff #6
Kolinko
Hotlines: Call Centre - Inquiry - Communism
Published in Germany, October 2002
Postal workers on wildcat strike in Devon
Postal workers in Torquay walked out today over Christmas leave, with over 140 staff on wildcat strike for several hours.
After more than four hours of negotiations the union and management reached a deal and the strikers went back to work.
If anyone has more information on this situation please keep us informed.
Mail to be private?
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.
700 workers end Devon mail wildcat strike
An unofficial strike by Royal Mail staff in Exeter has come to an end. Workers had struck against plans to use casual labour.
The BBC reported that postal deliveries and collections are getting back to normal, after staff agreed to go back to work.
The strike action started when around 50 staff walked out of the mail centre in Exeter yesterday afternoon.
