Reports round-up

Olympics protesters won’t back down

Activists in east London are preparing a Counter Olympics demonstration for Saturday of next week—in defiance of Transport for London attempts to ban it.

It will be preceded by a relay of the “Poverty Olympic Torch” starting this weekend.

The Counter Olympics march, followed by People’s Games, starts on Saturday 28 July at 12 noon, Mile End Park.

Go to counterolympicsnetwork.wordpress.com

Fracking occupiers on trial in Preston

Three protesters have been on trial in Preston, Lancashire, after occupying a drilling rig near Southport last November in opposition to the “fracking” of shale gas.

Activists demonstrated in their support and were set to do so again for the verdict on Tuesday of this week.

Judy Paskell

Protest at Newport passport office

PCS union members protested outside the Passport Office in Newport, South Wales, last Saturday.

This was in response to bosses announcing there would be overtime at the site at the weekend—after making more than 300 job cuts.

Des Mannay

Solidarity with Sudanese revolt

Protesters gathered opposite Downing Street in London on Saturday of last week in solidarity with the wave of revolt in Sudan. They called and for peace and justice in the country.

They also raised the cases of women such as Jaleela Khamees and Alawiyya Kibaida, who have been detained by the regime for months.

Never knowingly properly paid

Cleaners protested outside the Oxford Circus branch of John Lewis in central London on Friday of last week.

They were demanding that the department store chain—which gets much publicity for its supposedly ethical practices—pays them the London living wage.

Crumbs! Threats from Fox's biscuit bosses

All 700 workers at Fox’s biscuits in Batley have received letters saying they could be made redundant if they don’t sign up to new contracts.

The contracts include cuts to sick pay, overtime pay and bank holiday pay. Reps in the BFAWU union are set to meet bosses on Friday of this week.

John Appleyard