THE CIVIL servants' PCS union launched a major campaign last Saturday to end low pay in the service. Over a quarter of civil servants earn less than £13,250 a year.
SCHOOL SUPPORT staff protested outside East Ham town hall on Wednesday of last week. This was part of a week-long strike involving selected groups of local council staff in 17 London boroughs. The action was part of the long-running fight to win an increase to £4,000 in the London weighting allowance many workers get for the extra costs of living and working in the capital.
HEALTH WORKERS in the Unison union employed by private contractors across east London are stepping up their fight for decent pay and conditions. Domestic workers, caterers and porters at Homerton and Whipps Cross hospitals have rejected an offer from ISS Mediclean.
HUNDREDS OF people have so far signed the Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (CDAS) open letter condemning racist hysteria in the press and politicians who encourage it. The signatories include Tony Benn, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, Labour Party NEC member Christine Shawcroft and Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui of the Muslim Parliament.
THE CAMPAIGN to elect the next general secretary of the TGWU union upped tempo last weekend. Barry Camfield launched his campaign to replace Bill Morris at a 180-strong rally in London.
ANTI-NAZI activists canvassed homes in Beeston in Leeds following the firebombing of an Anti Nazi League member's car last week. The Nazi BNP thinks it can win a council seat in Beeston. Most people were disgusted with the actions of the Nazis and very happy to sign our petition. Mick Dear
WORKERS AT the BBC are fighting against the sacking of journalists Adli Hawwari and Adbul Hadi Jiad from the World Service. The journalists are Iraqi and Palestinian. Around 60 reps from the journalists' NUJ union met in London last week. They voted unanimously to condemn the management's dismissal of the two workers and to call for action.
GUARDS AND conductors on 12 rail lines could call strikes next week after a two to one vote for action. The dispute to restore the safety role of guards goes right to the heart of the way privatisation has sacrificed safety, services and passengers in the interests of the rail conglomerates.
THE FIRE dispute is back on after four weeks of talks produced the worst offer yet from the employers and the government. There is pressure from firefighters for more strikes. There are also threats from deputy prime minister John Prescott to use Tory anti-union laws and the cover of war to ban action.
Heavy bombing has already started. Blair has claimed his latest victims. Full coverage of the war on Iraq and the global movement to stop it
THE DRIVE to war has caused many people to demand that Tony Blair should go. But there are many other reasons why he should be toppled. Blair is also leading a war against workers in Britain. Outrageously this week Blair suggested that people might have to pay to use vital public services.
