AN IMPASSIONED debate on fighting racism and fascism at the TUC revealed a mounting determination among trade unionists to halt the rise of the Nazi British National Party (BNP). There was universal anger that New Labour's anti-union laws allowed BNP members to sue unions that expel them from membership. Vicky Knight from the Fire Brigades Union said, "The Labour Party pandering to the right wing undermines at every stage our campaign against racism. "Their approach to asylum seekers will fuel the fascists."
"WE WANT as many CWU members on the demonstration as possible. We don't need more British troops sent to Iraq. We need more Iraqis running their own country." Billy Hayes, general secretary of the postal workers' CWU union
THE RIFT between the unions and Tony Blair's government came into full view at the TUC conference this week. Union leaders and delegates representing over seven million workers tore into every core New Labour policy-from the occupation of Iraq to foundation hospitals, top-up student fees and the anti-union laws. Calls for action over the pensions crisis moved to centre stage.
MANUAL WORKERS in the GMB union working for Manchester city Council struck for a day on Monday against the imposition of the Single Status agreement. They voted three to one to strike in an official ballot. Many other council workers in other departments refused to cross their picket lines.
Hull HULL BUS drivers, employed by Stagecoach, are striking over pay. Some 300 drivers walked out last Saturday following a mass meeting. It had rejected a company proposal for a phased pay increase that would only bring an hourly rate of £6.84.
NURSERY NURSES in Scotland plan two days of strikes in all regions next week. Some areas will strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, others on Wednesday and Thursday. The action will include a major protest in Edinburgh on the Wednesday. But the first event is the major rally planned for this Saturday, 13 September, to give other workers and parents the opportunity to join nursery nurses and show their support.
THE FIRST ever Walthamstow festival took place this weekend in north east London. The themes of the festival were "Peace on our streets" and "Celebrate our cultural diversity". The main stage saw some fantastic acts from across the world. There was a respect stage with a massive Love Music Hate Racism banner across the top of it, an urban peace stage, a dance stage and a comedy gig with Mark Steel and Shazia Mirza.
SOME 800 workers at IT company Fujitsu Services in West Gorton, Manchester, plan to take industrial action after staff unanimously rejected management's latest offer. The vote came at a union general meeting held on Thursday of last week, which also agreed to increase the planned action, adding an extra half-day strike before the end of the month.
ALMOST 100 contract workers at the Swan Hunter shipyard on North Tyneside have been sacked after walking out over pay. The men, working for C & D Industrial Services, held an unofficial strike and a few days later were told they had lost their jobs.
A DEMONSTRATION was taking place this week in defence of Egyptian anti-war activists. It is scheduled for Friday 12 September from 5pm to 6.30pm outside the Egyptian embassy at 26 South Street, London W1 (nearest tube Green Park).
GET ON your bike to raise funds for the Socialist Worker Appeal on Sunday 26 October. There are two routes covering 30 miles or 60 miles, both setting out from Victoria Park in London.
NUJ UNION members on the Sheffield Star have named dates when they could call mandatory chapel (branch) meetings after voting for industrial action in a ballot over pay. The dates are on every day in the week beginning 22 September and the meetings can take place at any time between 7am and 3pm. In the ballot 80 percent voted for a strike.
