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By Socialist Appeal
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Monday, 10 December 2007 |
For the past sixty years, Remploy has offered skilled work to
disabled workers who otherwise would, frankly, have been dumped in a
corner and forgotten about by capitalist employers. Now the
government plans to close half the 83 factories that offer their unique
contribution from Aberdare to York. Remploy currently employs about
5,000 in its factories.
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By Rachel Heemskerk, Chair of PCS DWP East of England personal capacity
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Friday, 07 December 2007 |
Management in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are imposing a
three year pay deal on staff in their November pay-cheque. This is
because they believe that staff want money for Christmas, which is
true, but we must not be fooled into thinking short-term. The pay deal
is being hailed as a great offer by management who, in an unprecedented
move, have been putting pressure on local managers to promote the deal
and sell it to staff.
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By Kenny McGuigan
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
Two hundred day care workers in centres across Glasgow are now entering
the second month of an indefinite strike, after the Council refused to
negotiate pay and conditions until the workers agreed to 'modernisation
of services'. The day care centres provide support and education for
people with disabilities and learning difficulties and are crucial not
only for the clients who use them, but for their families.
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By Socialist Appeal
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
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On June 15th psychiatric nurse Karen Reissmann was ordered off the
premises and suspended in the middle of a delicate and difficult
consultation with a patient. Manchester Mental Health and Social Care
Trust charged her with 'bringing the Trust into disrepute'. Don't let them sack Karen Reissmann - an injury to one is an injury to all!
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By a BECTU member
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Thursday, 29 November 2007 |
Production at the
American dream factory has slowed down as workers organised in the Writers
Guild of America just completed their third week on strike. 4,000 marched in
support of the strike down the famous Hollywood Boulevard.
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By Peter Black
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Thursday, 29 November 2007 |
We are publishing
here an interesting piece on the Irish trade unions by Peter Black, an active
member of the TGWU (now fused with Amicus to form "Unite") and the Irish
Republican Socialist Party. Trade union membership is growing in Ireland, as is
the militancy of the working class and Socialist Republicans, in the tradition
of James Connolly, can play an important role in providing the militant
leadership the Irish workers deserve.
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By Ray McHale
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Wednesday, 28 November 2007 |
On Saturday 24th November over 2,000
trade unionists marched through Manchester demanding the reinstatement of
UNISON health service activist Karen Reissmann. Banners were present
from UNISON branches across the country, but also from UNITE branches, civil service
branches, teachers, lecturers, journalists, railway workers, fire-fighters,
postal workers and specialist hospital workers, like Midwives.
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By a serving firefighter in East London
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Monday, 12 November 2007 |
The London Fire Brigade have been trying to impose a change in the
current shift system on its fire-fighters. This has been in the
pipeline for some time and would benefit the LFB management to the
detriment of its workforce.
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By UNISON branches
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Friday, 09 November 2007 |
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MANCHESTER (fighting the victimisation of Karen Reissman)
BARNET, NORTH LONDON (battle against
vicious privateers, Fremantle)
NEWHAM, EAST LONDON (stop the victimisation of Michael
Gavan)
GLASGOW
(all-out strike by day centre workers)
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By Socialist Appeal
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Monday, 05 November 2007 |
BBC staff are set to ballot for strike over plans to axe up to 2500
jobs. The mood is angry and a big 'yes' vote is likely among the 23,000
workers. The three unions involved are Bectu, Unite and the National
Union of Journalists.
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By Socialist Appeal
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Friday, 02 November 2007 |
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Midland Main Line train drivers, members of the Associated Society of
Locomotive Engineeers & Fireman, have voted by 86.9% in favour of
strike action.
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By Rob Sewell
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Wednesday, 10 October 2007 |
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Some 130,000 postal workers in the Communication Workers
Union were due to return to work today after taking successful strike action in
defence of terms and conditions.
However many workers were scandalized to discover that
management had imposed new attendance times without their consent. This
provocative action fuelled the latest walkouts in different parts of the
country. Royal Mail confirmed that unofficial strike action is taking place in
Liverpool and London.
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By Andy Blake, secretary, London 7 CWU (personal capacity)
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Friday, 05 October 2007 |
Postal workers are to take industrial action this month over
a bitter row over pay and conditions. Walk-outs will take place on 5/6 October
and 8/9 October followed by a rolling programme of strikes until the dispute is
resolved.
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By Elizabeth Short
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Tuesday, 02 October 2007 |
We republish this article from Socialist Appeal April 1995 on proportionality as part of the ongoing discussion in the labour movement about reserve places as a means of overcoming discrimination. Since its original publication it has become more evident that proportionality and reserved seats have been used to undermine democracy in the trade union movement, while not resolving the issues of discrimination.
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