privatisation
From state provision to charity sector - the friendly face of privatisation
From the Bulgarian education system to the Bolivian water supply, capitalists love nothing more than turning an area of life previously financed by universal taxation into a source of profit.
The announcement that the government’s new get-tough-on-disabled-people regime will not be implemented by a government department is an indicator of a much wider process - the wholesale privatisation of public services in Britain. The ‘assessment’ of disabled people, care homes, employment and training services, the justice system; all are up for grabs.
£5bn city academies among worst schools
Half of the government's city academy schools are among the "worst performing schools" in Britain.
The effectively part-privatisation schemes are costing UK taxpayers £5 billion.
Of the 14 academies open long enough to be included in the leagues tables, seven are among the 200 lowest performing schools, based on the proportion of pupils achieving five or more good passes at GCSE.
NHS Pensions Agency staff vote for strike action
Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for the NHS Pensions Agency (NHSPA) in Fleetwood have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over the effects of plans to privatise the agency.
80% of those taking part in the ballot voted in favour of a one day strike on 20 January. The agency which looks after the pensions of approximately 1. 25 million NHS staff is set for privatisation this year without a tender process or any competition.
P-P-Privatising the underground, and 'opposition'
As London Underground (LU) workers strike once again, Daniel O’Rourke looks at Labour’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme which is largely behind the recent problems
New year's eve strike account here:
http://libcom.org/news/article.php/underground-new-year-strike-04012006
NI: Water privatisation delayed until 2007
Government plans to implement water charges and privatise the Water Service in Northern Ireland has been put back again, this time to April 2007.
Ineptitude, opposition and a desire to dissipate growing resistance may all play their part in the further delay.
The most damaging aspect of this announcement is that it becomes harder to focus attention on the issue and build effective resistance.
On tap at the WTO: Private water
The focus of the Hong Kong round for rich western nations is to squeeze every drop of money they can by privatising public services. When it comes to water systems, that can be deadly.
Hong Kong – Activists gathered here say that no issue highlights the tension between the human values they advocate and the economic logic of the legion of corporate globalizers that have descended on this city more clearly than water.
Tower Hamlets strike over staff victimised for opposing stock transfer
Staff at Tower Hamlets council began a two day strike today after a housing campaigner lost her job after working for the council for 14 years.
There will be a picket of the council offices over the course of the two day strike in solidarity for Eileen Short, after her job 'ceased to exist' during a town hall reorganisation. Ms Short is also a council tenant and member of the national committee for Defend Council Housing.
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.
Mayday 1999 - On the tube
An article and critical accoung about May Day - International Workers Day 1999 in London, which took the form of a demonstration on the Underground and concentrated on public transport issues.
1million walk out against French labour reform
Over one million French workers struck and demonstrated yesterday, October 4th against planned labour reforms by the Jacques Chirac’s government.
Widespread disruption was caused across public and private sectors, including on the trains, in aviation, the postal service, education and power. Workers took to the streets in nationwide protests in 150 cities, with 150,000 marchers reported in Paris, 100,000 in Marseille.
