OLDHAM COUNCIL, led by the Liberals, has given racists a boost by withdrawing permission for the anti-racist Respect Festival, which was planned for the town this Saturday. It had been organised by a broad coalition, including Oldham United Against Racism, North West Region TUC and the Anti Nazi League. The festival was expected to bring together 10,000 black and white people, most of them young.
PROTESTERS will blockade the Faslane Trident nuclear base on the Clyde near Glasgow on Monday. The demonstration will have a special urgency because it will also be against the bombing of Afghanistan.
WORKERS AT whisky makers Chivas Regal took part in a third day of strike action on Wednesday of last week. The workers, members of the GMB, AEEU and MSF unions, voted to strike by an overwhelming four to one in an attempt to win a pay rise.
THE planned strike by train drivers in the ASLEF and RMT unions on London Underground was called off by union leaders on Thursday of last week just hours before action was due to start.
SUPPORT IS growing for Mark Dolan, the post worker and union activist in north London who faces the sack. Management have accelerated the normal disciplinary code. They have already said Mark is guilty of harassment and gross misconduct. They will now have formal interviews and hearings!
TANKER DRIVERS working for P&O Trans European called off last weekend's strikes after P&O bosses came up with a new offer in the pay dispute. The drivers, members of the TGWU union, have held national strikes for 24 hours and at weekends for the last month.
BUS WORKERS employed by the giant Stagecoach company in the north east of England have voted for a series of one-day strikes over pay, due to start on Friday of this week. Multi-millionaire Brian Souter runs Stagecoach.
HUNDREDS OF low paid women workers in hospitals across Glasgow are preparing for an all-out strike to force hospital bosses to give them better pay and conditions. They are 300 medical secretaries who have a vital role to play in healthcare provision in hospitals.
THE NEW Labour government could face a strike by tens of thousands of workers in job centres across Britain if the current strike is escalated to national action.
SOME 1,700 workers have thrown down the gauntlet to a leading multinational after voting overwhelmingly for strike action. Workers at Scottish Power and Manweb were set to hold their first two-day strike next week.
