MORE THAN 500 people took part in a noisy demonstration in London last Saturday against the government's Mental Health Bill. The bill's proposals may result in the forcible detention of around 600 people each year.
Over 50 delegates from universities around the country attended a meeting in Manchester last Saturday of student supporters of Socialist Worker. Most universities start back this week, at a time of mass opposition to Blair's plans for war with Iraq. Last academic year saw the biggest anti-war movement in the universities since the Vietnam War.
OVER 1,300 bus drivers in Edinburgh and the Lothians were poised to start an indefinite strike over pay this week. But a last minute offer halted the action.
Firefighters are to begin voting next week for their first national strike in 25 years, as they head towards the biggest confrontation Tony Blair has yet faced. The move towards a series of strikes has New Labour deeply worried that firefighters and control room staff could spearhead a wider revolt over public sector pay.
Pressure for strikes over pay is growing, along with the feeling for united action across different unions:
THE ANNUAL gathering of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) this week was unlike anything even the most seasoned delegate could remember. The threat by George Bush and Tony Blair to launch war dominated the opening day on Monday. It led to one of the most important and electric debates ever seen at a labour gathering in Britain.
POSTAL workers across Britain have begun a strike ballot at long last. It has been called by the CWU union in opposition to management plans to launch a joint venture with one of Britain's nastiest multinationals. Bosses want to transfer CWU union members in the Romec cleaning and maintenance section to a new company 49 percent owned by construction group Balfour Beatty. After weeks of delay the ballot began last week.
WESTMINSTER Unison members are very angry and hurt by the decision by our union, both regionally and nationally, to instruct us to return to work. Union leaders called the return to work after a seven-week strike by nearly 300 Unison members against Westminster Tory council's plans for wholesale privatisation of services. This decision came after the council initiated legal action against the strike, using the anti trade union laws. But if the national and regional union had followed the strategy of the local branch, this legal action would not have happened.
HOSPITAL campaigners and health workers were set to hold a lunchtime rally on Thursday of this week.
DOUG McAVOY, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), is to authorise a ballot for one-day strike action in London over allowances for working in the capital. NUT leaders say the ballot will take place before half term and they hope the NASUWT, the second largest teachers' union, will also vote for action on London allowances.
