ON THE anniversary of the declaration of Human Rights last Saturday, 100 asylum seekers and their supporters joined the annual "speak-out" in Manchester. Young asylum seekers read articles from the declaration, and through poems and songs, dance and drumming showed their strength of spirit. This government excludes many asylum seekers from even the most basic rights - a home, family life, work and refuge.
PEOPLE ACROSS the world oppose George Bush's plans for war on Iraq, a new survey has revealed. The survey of views from 44 countries was overseen by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. It shows how hostility to the US regime stems from a deeply rooted suspicion about Bush's motives for waging war on Iraq.
"THE BIGGEST ever pay deal in NHS history." That was a typical headline after the government announced a new pay package last week for NHS staff. The reality of the package, called "Agenda for Change", is very different. GILL GEORGE, a health worker in Hackney, one of the poorest boroughs in Britain, gives ten reasons why health workers should oppose it.
THOUSANDS OF students were set to join the National Union of Students march for "grants, not fees" in central London on Wednesday this week. Students are angrier this term than I've ever seen them. Higher education is in crisis. The introduction of tuition fees and the abolition of the grant put many people off going to university and stuck the rest of us with an average £15,000 debt.
THE SUN and Daily Mail were cheering this week at the closure of the Sangatte refugee camp in France. The same papers that attacked the striking firefighters also run hate campaigns against refugees.
TEACHERS, school support staff and council workers struck across London last week. Tens of thousands walked out demanding a higher London weighting allowance for the extra costs of living and working in the capital. Thousands demonstrated and they were joined by striking firefighters. Socialist Worker spoke to some of those marching about the day, and how they say the fight going forward.
TRADE UNIONISTS and campaigners met in Burnley last Saturday to discuss how to campaign against the Nazi threat across the north west of England. The mood at the conference, sponsored by the Anti Nazi League, was serious and determined after the election of three British National Party (BNP) councillors in Burnley and one in Blackburn.
WORKERS AT a factory near Burnley have entered their tenth week of selective strike action. They are Amicus-AEEU press and paintline section members at Raven Manufacturing. The workers earn £5.08 an hour and are fighting for a pay increase. Strikers have just discovered the managing director had a 17.4 percent increase last year, bringing his salary to £166,000.
EDUCATION LEEDS, the private company that now runs the city's schools, has been rocked by opposition to its secondary school reorganisation plans. Over the last couple of weeks, parents, teachers and school governors have packed into 'consultation meetings' to angrily denounce the proposals.
PROTESTERS HELD a ninth anniversary rally for the Close Down Campsfield campaign last Saturday. The rally was addressed by Labour MP Julia Drown who claimed the government's asylum and immigration policies were "compassionate".
SOME 80 people attended a conference in Manchester organised by the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs on Saturday. The morning session was boosted by about 200 firefighters who turned up for what was billed as a rally in support of their strike.
