There are a number of short stories and novels that shouldn't just be regarded as exceptional fantasy and science fiction, but should be considered amongst the best modern literature we have.
There are a number of short stories and novels that shouldn't just be regarded as exceptional fantasy and science fiction, but should be considered amongst the best modern literature we have.
THOUSANDS OF civilians are fleeing their homes in Kashmir. The death toll is mounting as shelling by Indian and Pakistani troops escalates. India and Pakistan were teetering on the brink of all-out war at the beginning of this week. Both states have nuclear weapons. Even a war using conventional arms will inflict slaughter in Kashmir and along the India-Pakistan border.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE set to hold a national demonstration in London on Tuesday 11 June as part of their fight over pay. Council workers will then strike across London over pay on the two days following the firefighters' march.
THE VOTE which could oust Blair's favourite union leader, Sir Ken Jackson, from the head of the AEEU section of the Amicus union will start on 24 June. Jackson faces a serious challenge from left candidate Derek Simpson who gained over 100 nominations. These include factories like Ford, Vauxhall, Nissan and Rover.
THE STRIKING mood sweeping journalists in local newspapers throughout Britain was set to hit the small Lincolnshire town of Spalding on Saturday. Journalists at the Spalding Guardian were to start strikes over low pay, the same issue which has sparked a spate of action in titles elsewhere (see round-up below) Trainees on the Spalding paper with university degrees are on just £9,500 a year.
"I'M INSULTED. We've got wishy-washy people telling us things we already know." That was the reaction of Jo Arrowsmith, a teacher at Fortismere School in north London, to a farcical rally on Wednesday of last week called by the teachers' NUT union.
TGWU LEADER Bill Morris will be one of the speakers at a rally in support of the sacked Friction Dynamics strikers. Workers went on strike on 30 April last year and were dismissed eight weeks later.
TRADE UNIONISTS, tenant activists and socialists are joining forces to campaign to defend council housing in Lewisham. The campaign is aimed at fighting off proposals to set up any "arms length" companies.
Alarming signals for bosses at BT
WORKERS IN one section of BT have beaten off an attempt to hand them over to another firm. The dispute involved some 120 members of the CWU union in BT's RedCare section, which monitors BT alarms installed in business premises.
OPPOSITION IS growing among postal workers to the new pay deal. The ballot has started and many workers are outraged at being offered a low pay deal which still has productivity strings attached.
WORKERS on Arriva Trains Northern were due to strike this week in their ongoing battle over pay. Conductors in the RMT union were to strike on Saturday. Retail staff in the RMT and supervisors in the TSSA union were to strike for 48 hours from Wednesday. Workers are furious that Arriva management is trying to blame them for disruption.
BUS DRIVERS working for First Group in Bristol have won their dispute after management conceded to all their demands. The dispute had arisen after management introduced "mystery shoppers", plainclothes inspectors, onto the buses to entrap drivers. At a mass meeting drivers gave management 48 hours to withdraw the mystery shoppers or they would ballot for a strike.
