More than 200,000 NHS operations were carried out by private firms last year—up from just 11 in 2001. The latest government figures reveal the shocking scale of back door privatisation of the service.
The lecturers’ UCU congress, like every other trade union conference this year, was shaped by tumultuous events in the outside world.
Tory cuts are destroying a host of charities that provide vital sexual health work and support, particularly those playing a pivotal role relating to HIV and Aids.
The government hands £56 million worth of contracts to private companies every day. It has given almost 3,000 contracts to firms since the beginning of the year.
Geoff Hoon was Labour’s defence secretary in 2005. Defence giants Westland got a £1.7 billion contract from the Ministry of Defence in March of that year.
Many former Labour ministers are now working for the corporate sector.
A key debate at the UCU’s higher education sector conference was over how to fight attacks on the USS pension scheme that includes lecturers in older universities.
Bullying is becoming commonplace in colleges and universities. A delegate from Newcastle College told Socialist Worker about the potential consequences.
Postal workers in London were waiting to find out when they will strike against job losses as Socialist Worker went to press.
•Delegates at last week’s CWU union conference passed a motion against police tactics on recent demonstrations.
