Socialist Worker

Issue: 2402

Dated: 06 May 2014

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The threat of Ukip grows - but so does opposition to it

Politicians turn on Ukip but pander to its key argument of scapegoating migrant workers, reports Judith Orr

International Comment Features Reviews What We Think Other

News

British state manoeuvres lie behind the arrest of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams

Gerry Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, was arrested last week.

Lambeth College strikers defiant despite bosses’ injunction

Workers at Lambeth College in south London held a defiant strike on Thursday of last week against hated contracts imposed by bosses.

After Unison postpones strike Gwalia workers say, ‘We won’t be walked over’

A 12-hour strike by residential care workers in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales, set for Tuesday this week has been called off. A 24-hour strike has been called in its place from 7pm on Tuesday of next week.

Anger at CWU union conferences over bullying

The postal and finance and telecoms sectors in the CWU union both held their conferences in Bournemouth from Tuesday to Thursday of last week. The postal conference was the first since Royal Mail was privatised last year. It showed signs that workers already face serious problems.

UCU news round-up

UCU union members in higher education have accepted a below inflation pay rise of 2 percent—a cut in real terms. Elections for the union president is underway. And support grows for sacked staff in Glasgow.

Firefighters call for action to be stepped up against government

Firefighters across England and Wales walked out on strike on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of last week to defend their pensions.

Unions voice support for Barnsley Freedom Ride campaign

Trade union support is increasing for the South Yorkshire Freedom Ride campaigners.

Anti-fascist news round-up

Campaign to get rid of Nazi Nick Griffin in the North West continues, while anti-fascists returned to the Isle of Dogs, east London, to commemorate a victory against the Nazi British National Party 20 years ago

Ritzy strikers plan next move in pay fight

Staff at the Ritzy cinema in south London walked out on Thursday of last week to join colleagues protesting outside.

May Day marches mark International Workers' Day

May Day marches were held around Britain from Thursday of last week to Monday of this week to mark International Workers’ Day.

London housing meeting voices anger at private landlords

Over 100 people came to a meeting on London’s Housing crisis called by Waltham Forest and Redbridge trades councils on Wednesday of last week.

Egypt Solidarity organises meeting to discuss resistance, revolution and repression

Egypt Solidarity has organised a workshop in London on 24 May to discuss how campaigning activities can help those who struggle for change. Resistance, revolution, repression includes sessions on: Egypt after the coup, human rights and repression, universities and student life, workers and labour struggles.

Make joint strikes a reality in PCS

The PCS union executive (NEC) voted last week to not make any immediate approach to the NUT and Unison or other unions likely to join them in defence of pay and conditions.

London Tube strike is suspended—but the fight isn’t over

Bosses and the RMT union agreed on a review of closures after last week’s strike, but Tube workers say prepare for more, reports Raymie Kiernan

Power to striking EDF workers

Nearly 500 workers at EDF energy struck on Tuesday of this week, against a national 2 percent pay offer and two regional pay disparities.

Transport for London staff to walk out over pensions

Workers based at Transport for London (TfL) headquarters and Travel Information Centres were set to strike to defend their pensions on Friday of this week. The strike was due to begin at 6am and last for 24 hours.

Scottish bedroom tax cap lifted

The government has said it will allow the Scottish government to decide how much Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) can be given to bedroom tax victims.

Protest to defend One Housing rep

The Unite union has called a protest in defence of suspended One Housing Group rep Bryan Kennedy.

Unison service group elections get underway

Elections to Unison’s Service Group Executive are underway. Socialist Worker supporters are campaigning for the following left candidates.

Join protests for fast food rights

Supporters of the Fast Food Rights campaign around Britain are set to join others in more than 30 countries in an international day of protest on Thursday of next week.

Save St Joseph’s Primary School

Over 300 people protested to save St Joseph’s primary school in Milngavie, Glasgow on 26 April.

Sacked drivers protest at Tesco

Some 50 former Tesco lorry drivers in the Unite union protested outside Tesco’s distribution centre in Doncaster last Saturday.

Workers out for 14 days in Doncaster - determined to beat Care UK

Care UK workers in Doncaster began a 14-day strike on Monday of this week. The leading NHS privatiser has launched a massive attack on workers with the introduction of new contracts last month.

Corrupt and racist—but most cops keep their jobs

Fresh accusations of police racism and corruption in Scotland Yard emerged this week.

Take zero hours contracts or starve, Tories tell jobless

For the first time unemployed workers could have their benefits cut off for up to three years if they refuse jobs with zero hours contracts.

News in brief

Hillsborough inquest adjourns, Harmondsworth detainees halt hunger strikes, Infant deaths high in Britain, NHS contract selloffs soar

Anti-racists disrupt Ukip's London rally

A Ukip rally in London turned into chaos on Wednesday evening as speeches attacking migrants were disrupted by anti-racist protesters.

International

ANC win in South Africa's elections won't stop historic challenges to its dominance

Charlie Kimber reports from South Africa on a critical election, mass workers’ strikes and political turmoil

‘Mines should be run democratically in the interest of all’ says union shop steward in South Africa

Around 80,000 platinum miners have been on strike since January. The 15-week strike is one the biggest in South Africa’s history.

The World Cup is deepening the struggle for Brazil's cities

Henrique Sanchez says big business will be the real winner of the World Cup—while ordinary Brazilians are losing their homes

Angry strikers react to Marikana massacre film in South Africa's platinum belt

Two years ago South African cops shot and killed 34 strikers at Marikana platinum mine, with the collusion of bosses and politicians. Now a documentary film about the massacre is being shown in the platinum belt where 80,000 miners are on strike. Charlie Kimber describes the atmosphere at one of the mass twilight screenings

Violent clashes in lead-up to Ukraine breakaway polls

Ukraine lurched closer to civil war this week. Ukrainian soldiers, pro-Russian fighters and civilians were killed and injured when Ukrainian government troops stepped up attacks against rebels in the eastern town of Slovyansk.

Resistance and repression on world’s May Day marches

Hundreds of thousands of people marched and rallied for International Workers’ Day on Thursday of last week.

Boko Haram's plan to sell kidnapped school students in Nigeria creates crisis for government

The abduction of over 200 school students by Islamist group Boko Haram has created a crisis for Nigeria’s government.

Comment

Claims of economic recovery and China's growth don't live up to hype

Much recent economic news around the world is best described as smoke and mirrors. It’s true that there is some real evidence that advanced economies are starting to recover from the Great Recession of 2008-09.

Features

Digging the dirt on the diamond trade

In the second of a series on commodities that shaped the world, Simon Basketter looks at how brutal imperialist bosses turned useless rocks into a lucrative market

The terrible price of ‘conveyor belt social care’

Workers who care for elderly and disabled people are under attack in the media and from greedy new bosses racing to cut corners. They spoke to Raymie Kiernan about how privatisation and cuts are making life in care homes more stressful and dangerous—for workers and those they care for

Reviews

The Wind Rises: Miyazaki gets caught up in a swirling dream of war planes

The Japanese animator’s final film The Wind Rises is, as always, strange and beautiful—but it opposes war through rose-tinted glasses, says Ken Olende

Everyday Robots: Beautifully crafted and haunting

Everyday Robots is former Blur and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn’s first full blown solo studio album. It is a diverse collection of 12 tracks, seldom uplifting but beautifully crafted and at times haunting.

To be Frank, they made the wrong film about comedy legend Sidebottom

Anyone who grew up with Frank Sidebottom’s regular appearances on Granada TV in the 1980s and 90s will be sorely disappointed if they expect this film to be about him.

The Price of Experience: Ripping through individualistic approaches to cancer care

Cancer is met with much fighting talk these days. But charity ads that tell us we can make the disease “scared” won’t impress socialist Mike Marqusee.