THE CWU postal workers' union held a national meeting for mail processing (sorting) reps on Friday of last week.
New Labour's policies of war and privatisation have led to revolt. But replacing Tony Blair with Gordon Brown is no solution. From among the millions sickened by this government's policies we need to create a socialist alternative to Labour and...
THE 2,500-strong protest outside Labour's conference in Bournemouth on Monday showed the anger ordinary people feel at New Labour. The Amicus union organised the demonstration to protest against New Labour standing by while manufacturing jobs are massacred. Sneh Sharma and Pam Degun work at AB Electronics in Romford. They told Socialist Worker, "No one feels their job is safe any more. Everyone is worried for the future. Every day we fear for our jobs. That's why we are here. But we are also worried that tuition fees will discourage young people from studying. And we want to stop the privatisation of the NHS."
HUNDREDS OF workers and supporters have occupied the Appledore shipyard in North Devon. They stopped the receivers from entering the threatened yard. Nine steel bollards, usually used to support the hulls of ships, blockade the yard's entrance. Banners read "No Surrender".
MEMBERS OF the Aslef rail workers union on the Heathrow Express have voted to take action against management bullying and low pay. This includes an overtime ban and several 24 hour strikes. The first strike was set for this Friday 3 October.
CRECHE WORKERS in Gloucester lobbied the council cabinet meeting on Thursday of last week to protest against the council's plans to close their creche. Six months ago the council opened a creche as part of a new leisure centre. The creche originally had six workers but one left to get another job.
AMICUS UNION members at the giant Fujitsu Services (formerly ICL) site in West Gorton, Manchester, are continuing their fight against attacks on union recognition.
I AM currently employed at a branch of MFI. We have just been told of pay cuts of up to 20 percent and the loss of customer care managers in our stores nationwide. Management have done this without consultation and no notice.
PRINT WORKERS at the St Ives plant in Andover, Hampshire, have won improved pay by threatening strike action. Management at the plant made them a "final" pay offer that was lower than that negotiated through the national pay agreement in the industry.
SOME 50 teachers and parents attended an rally to oppose SATs tests in Bristol last week. Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset NUT teachers' union divisions organised the meeting. Jon Illingworth, prospective left candidate for general secretary of the NUT, spoke alongside primary school teacher Suzie Coggles, children's author Pat Thompson and school student Sophie North.
THURSDAY 16 October could be set to see major strikes across London. Tens of thousands of workers employed by local councils in town halls, offices, depots and schools are to strike for the day in the latest phase of a long-running battle over London weighting.
