THE GOVERNMENT is fighting to quash another revolt by backbench MPs. Labour MPs fear introducing top-up university fees could cost them seats at the next election.
THE THREAT of further action by First Group bus workers across South Yorkshire has led to a new pay offer. Over 1,000 workers had defied the recommendation of their TGWU officials to accept the previous offer.
BALLOT PAPERS went out this week for the general secretary election in Aslef, the train drivers' union. General secretary Mick Rix is seeking re-election, nominated by 83 branches. Shaun Brady, who has only 11 branch nominations, is challenging him. Rix became general secretary five years ago in an election that marked the beginning of a series of successes for left wing candidates.
THE GOVERNMENT has admitted that its Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) are a staging post towards full privatisation of council housing. ALMOs were introduced by the government in the face of opposition from tenants and trade unionists to the handover of council homes to housing associations and private companies.
ONE OF Blairism's last outposts in the trade union movement received a major blow last weekend. Delegates gathered for the last ever MSF union conference as it is about to complete its merger with the AEEU union to form Amicus. They narrowly voted to affiliate to the Stop the War Coalition.
THE RMT London Region held its first political day school last Thursday. About 70 people took part in debates and discussions on issues from the war to our links with Labour. Tony Benn and Lindsey German from the Stop the War Coalition kicked the day off with a history of the labour movement.
OVER 100 delegates from Connect, the union for professionals in communications, met last week. The conference marked a change in industrial direction for the union, with a new general secretary anxious to align Connect somewhat more closely with the "awkward squad" of unions.
RMT UNION activist Glenroy Watson has won his appeal and has been reinstated as a tube driver. This is a major climbdown for London Underground management. Glenroy suffered a clear case of victimisation when he was demoted to a station assistant. Management have backed down. But, as Glenroy rightly states, "We must continue to fight against this injustice." He still has a two-year warning, leaving him open to attack.
OVER 80 people joined a "free the refugees" rally at Haslar immigration removals centre in Gosport last Sunday. The rally was organised by Portsmouth Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers and supported by campaigners from Southampton, Oxford, Yarls Wood and the No Borders group in Brighton.
