Assault on Palestinian East Jerusalem‏

Al-Haq Action Alert:  "What we are now witnessing is a further restriction on the rights of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to move and live within their own city, and a significant assault on the Palestinians right to self-determination", reports the Palestinian human rights organization.

Wonderful destruction of taxdodgers alliance

Check out the UNISON Scotland blog for a wonderful destruction of the taxdodgers alliance rubbish about public sector jobs, by Chris Bartter. http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/2010/03/big-business-group-rattled-by-unison.html

Tax Dodger's Alliance attacks UNISON campaign to save jobs and services‏

The Times leads today with a report that the British Government is being pressed by the unelected European Commission to ‘outline further spending cuts and spell out where the axe will fall’. The Commission is due to release its latest assessment of Britain’s plans to reduce the deficit tomorrow but a leaked report confirms that it will state “a credible timeframe for restoring public finances to a sustainable position requires additional fiscal tightening measures beyond those currently planned.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7063308.ece

The People Fight Back Against the Banks‏

From hilltop towns of Italy to Oakland California USA the people and their elected representatives are fighting back against the bloodsucking banks. Not content with crippling our economies and being bailed out with our money they are now reaping billions from local councils. Last Sunday's New York Times ran an article blowing the lid off a Wall Street scheme called "interest rate swaps" (dodgy insurance to you and I) that are sucking money from cities and states across the country.

Dave Prentis launches Northern region 'Vote for Public Services' campaign‏

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, yesterday launched UNISON Northern region’s ‘Million Voices - Vote for Public Services’ campaign. To a packed audience Dave promoted the region’s vision for the future - which builds on the Million Voices themes of social justice, good jobs, and decent public services.
http://www.unison.org.uk/northern/campaigns.asp

Is it better to pay pensioners or bankers?‏

The Independent, no friend of public sector pensions, headlines with more inflated news about public sector pay as you go pensions. Pensions that will be paid to hospital porters, doctors, nurses and teachers. Public sector pension costs may reach £79bn a year (by 2060)http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/public-sector-pension-costs-may-reach-16379bn-a-year-1920091.html

Notting Hill Housing strike starts

Today is the first day of strike action by UNISON members of Notting Hill Housing Trust. The main picket lines will be at their headquarters Broadway, Metro Building, 1 Butterwick, Hammersmith, London W6 8DL. This is about 5 mins from both Hammersmith Underground stations - Come and show solidarity before work or lunch time. Check out the office location here.

Scottish cities facing major sell-off threat

UNISON members in two major Scottish local government branches are facing fights against a headlong rush to privatisation. Saturday’s Herald newspaper reports on a private company in talks with Glasgow City Council while Edinburgh looks for bids that could outsource 3,500 jobs.

The Tories are clueless about UNISON's political fund‏

The ConservativeHome website is leading on an article ‘would Labour be better off without UNISON cash?’ Exploiting the media hysteria about the BA dispute and the mythical ownership of the Labour Party by Unite, the Tories are working up a local government equivalent – this time substitute UNISON for Unite and higher council tax bills for cancelled honeymoon flights.

The Fatal Train by David Peetz

To the widowed father, it's like a bad dream
For the sake of his kids, he suppresses a scream
But if he'd been on time, might his wife not have been
Aboard the fatal train.