Saturday, 8 May 2010
Day of dissent planned across Higher Education
Trade unionists at higher education institutions across the UK are set to mount a “day of dissent” as part of a campaign for an improved 2010/11 pay offer and enhanced job security. The action has been agreed by the five higher education unions – the Educational Institute of Scotland, the GMB, UNISON, Unite and the University and College Union. http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=411523&c=1
Friday, 7 May 2010
UNISON GS election - Time to mobilise the Dave Prentis vote
No Clear Mandate………...
The Plurality of Politics…..
Whatever your view of the outcome of the General Election, one thing is certain, after the weekend of wheeling and dealing the target of all politicians will be public services.
STUC comment on General Election result - Majority against deep cuts
“With unemployment in Scotland continuing to rise, the priority must be to secure the recovery from recession. Across the UK there is a clear majority against immediate and deep cuts in public expenditure and this must be reflected in any outcomes from discussions about the nature and form of the next government”, says STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith.
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/747/stuc-comment-on-general-election-result
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/747/stuc-comment-on-general-election-result
Banking on a majority
Now that the dust has settled everyone will be asking the question who won the election yesterday? This whole discussion misses the crucial point because no candidate of any party potentially forming a government after today will have a popular mandate, because they are not bound to listen to the voice of the people, but rather carry out the policies of their paymasters, the banks.
Prentis on election outcome - no popular support for savage cuts
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, has warned politicians that the election results show there is no public support for savage cuts in public services.
Alliance of the progressives or coalition of the damned?
Brown may have the (unwritten) constitutional right to try and form a government but does he have a political consensus to do so? Given the outcomes of last night possibly not but before we navel gaze on constitutional niceties let’s look at the consequences of not having a Lib Lab pact. Former Conservative student activist Clegg’s latest announcement is toying with supporting the Tories but is that really feasible?
Free Ameer Makhoul!
Satetement by the Palestinian NGO’S Network - PNGO: Yesterday morning, May 6, 2010 at 6 am the Israeli General Security Service and Israeli police raided Ameer Makhoul’s home in Haifa and arrested him. Makhoul, serves as General Director of Ittijah – The Union of Arab Community-Based Associations and Chairman of the Public Committee for the Protection of Political Freedoms in the framework of the High Follow-up Committee for the Arab Citizens in Israel.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
SAMWU strike victory
For more information go to:
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/search/label/South%20Africa
The end of the New Labour project
In 1983 Neil Kinnock, love him or loathe him, used his skills as a great orator to capture the mood of labour supporters with a series of warning that if Margaret Thatcher were to win the election then
‘I warn you not to be ordinary
I warn you not to be young
I warn you not to fall ill
I warn you not to get old’
‘I warn you not to be ordinary
I warn you not to be young
I warn you not to fall ill
I warn you not to get old’
Treasury butchers get busy on Tory cuts plans
The Times reports that Treasury officials are working flat out to identify the £6bn cuts pledged by the Tories in their first year of office. Centre stage as befits an anti working class party is an attack on welfare:
Main parties have no mandate for bulk of cuts
Seumas Milne, writing in today’s Guardian states that ‘whoever wins the election, the refusal of the main parties to spell out how they intend to slash spending means none can claim a mandate for the bulk of their cuts. Whatever happens today they will, as in Greece, surely be resisted at every turn.’ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/05/battle-between-gordon-brown-and-david-cameron
Tories attack unions - a response
The hypocrisy of the Tory attack on union funding of Labour is breathtaking when you consider the disparity in donations received by the main political parties during the first quarter of 2010. Electoral Commission figures show that Tory donations (£12,357,714) exceed Labour's figure (£4.072,432) by three to one and is more than twice the amount received by Labour and the Liberal Democrat's (£1,931,147) combined. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/89947
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Debt, danger and privatisation - services firms win before UK vote counted
Not content with cutting back on public services to pay back debt any new government is expected to increase the use of privatisation to reduce costs. City traders who manage our pension funds are buying up the shares of the public sector service companies in eager expectation of a new round of contract awards for the likes of Serco. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/services-firms-win-before-uk-vote-counted-2010-05-04?reflink=MW_news_stmp
FW: Stop Cutter Cameron!
A messsage from the Chair of Compass: On the eve of an historic election we're calling on you to make sure you vote tomorrow with your head to deny the Conservatives a majority and get your friends to do the same - take action now!
Solidarity with Greek public sector workers
The last refuge of a Tory - attack the unions
Back in September, as his party launched a charm offensive to coincide with 2009 TUC Congress, Tory Chairman Eric Pickles MP was fulsome in his praise of trade unions. Barely 6 months on and in the last few days of a general election campaign the same Tory politician reverts to type
‘Cuts mandate’ makes a mockery of Tory pledges to public service workers
Writing on the Public Finance website Heather Wakefield UNISON national secretary for local government takes a sceptical look at Tory Leader David Cameron’s ‘invitation to public sector workers to join the government of Britain.’
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Public Sector Industrial Complex vultures hover in anticipation of Tory victory
The Daily Telegraph reports that Carillion boss John McDonough is excited by prospect of spending cuts
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/7664241/Carillion-boss-excited-by-prospect-of-spending-cuts.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/7664241/Carillion-boss-excited-by-prospect-of-spending-cuts.html
NJC pay award – end the conspiracy of silence
Monday, 3 May 2010
Will Greece lightning strike here? - a response
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Will Greece lightning strike here?
Today the supposed 'Socialist' led government of Greece will announce a ruthless package of cuts to public sector workers' pay and pensions as well as tax rises. The austerity measures were demanded by the EU and IMF as a condition of the €45bn loans made to enable Greece to finance its debts.
Stolen Days by Pier Paolo Pasolini
We who are poor have little time
for youth and beauty:
you can do well without us.
for youth and beauty:
you can do well without us.