Sad news today. I met the guy a couple of times during the eighties. I also went up to Broadgreen to campaign for him. I believed he took a principled socialist position on just about any issue. He suffered for his principles by refusing to pay his poll tax, was imprisoned for 60 days, and therefore contributed to the downfall of Thatcher.
After mistakenly, in my view standing against Labour, he was kicked out of the party, to be replaced by the New Labour robot Jane Kennedy. A mediocre replacement.
At a time of MPs sleaze which still has not ended to this very day, he stood as a workers MP on a workers wage.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Inequality 2008
Had my email update from the TUC today. Interestingly it comes with the usual detail about the economy and inflation helpful information for all activists engaging in negoatiations with their employers.
What struck me though was this report which shows that the gap in wealth in the UK has not reversed at all from the dark days of the 80s.
As it says in the email
Income inequality remains high by historical standards – the large increase which took place in the second half of the 1980s has not been reversed.
Bit sad really. You would have thought that after eleven years, the disaster that New Labour often tells us about, what the Tories then in government represented, we could have at the very least seen the division in wealth halved. We cant even argue we are going in the right direction at the moment.
What struck me though was this report which shows that the gap in wealth in the UK has not reversed at all from the dark days of the 80s.
As it says in the email
Income inequality remains high by historical standards – the large increase which took place in the second half of the 1980s has not been reversed.
Bit sad really. You would have thought that after eleven years, the disaster that New Labour often tells us about, what the Tories then in government represented, we could have at the very least seen the division in wealth halved. We cant even argue we are going in the right direction at the moment.
More people die through work than are murdered through crime
Hat tip to Charlie for this one. This report was referred to in the Guardian the other week and its information like this that needs to be broadcast to all union members, but in particular used to lobby or representative in Parliement. The best way though to improve Health and Safety in the workplace is through good effective organising.
Mansour admitted to Coronary care unit
Serious news this. The incredibly brave stand this man is taking is an example to trade unionists the world over.
I have major problems with the Iranian regime and the only way to defeat them is to spread solidarity and support to the Trade Union movement in Iran who operate in incredible danger.Can I also point out that the answer is not supporting another anti trade union nation in invading the country and introducing their version of 'psuedo democracy.'
I have major problems with the Iranian regime and the only way to defeat them is to spread solidarity and support to the Trade Union movement in Iran who operate in incredible danger.Can I also point out that the answer is not supporting another anti trade union nation in invading the country and introducing their version of 'psuedo democracy.'
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Davies and the loonies
I was amazed when I saw the line up to contest the bye election about the 42 days. F*ck me, how many different indy candidates can there be? Why cant they all join up and form a united independent party?
The full total of candidates are here. Personally I was a bit surprised that the Lobotomy Squad Party werent standing. Still there is always 2010.
While I personally consider the 42 days bill to be a f*ck up of momentous proportions for New Labour, I seriously consider the election that Davies is contesting is seriously becoming the farce of the decade.It doesnt really mean anything apart from proving how futile it is challenging the establishment using the present legitimate methods. The Government always wins, a view that is central to New Labour philosophy.The lessons to be drawn from this fiasco are obviously far deeper than the issue being voted on.
The full total of candidates are here. Personally I was a bit surprised that the Lobotomy Squad Party werent standing. Still there is always 2010.
While I personally consider the 42 days bill to be a f*ck up of momentous proportions for New Labour, I seriously consider the election that Davies is contesting is seriously becoming the farce of the decade.It doesnt really mean anything apart from proving how futile it is challenging the establishment using the present legitimate methods. The Government always wins, a view that is central to New Labour philosophy.The lessons to be drawn from this fiasco are obviously far deeper than the issue being voted on.
Unrest in the Tory Camp
Oh Dear. Spellman has upset the Tory rank and file with her sleazy indiscretions.
Whats interesting about this is how Tory and New Labour sleaze rolls into the same shitty lump.
On the one hand we have Spellman making excuses about her nanny, on the other we have the born again socialist, north of the border trying to wriggle out of her own brand of corruption.
This isn't the world turned upside down but more like the world blended into one, giving your average voting punter the choice of nil at the next general election. Turnouts will plummet even more.
Still, back in the real world we see workers taking the genuine issues to task in strike ballots to improve their conditions in the workplace. This is where real change is made.This is where workers can actually see the real improvements in their lives that have to be fought for.Its a shame that this government are so distant from this reality.
Whats interesting about this is how Tory and New Labour sleaze rolls into the same shitty lump.
On the one hand we have Spellman making excuses about her nanny, on the other we have the born again socialist, north of the border trying to wriggle out of her own brand of corruption.
This isn't the world turned upside down but more like the world blended into one, giving your average voting punter the choice of nil at the next general election. Turnouts will plummet even more.
Still, back in the real world we see workers taking the genuine issues to task in strike ballots to improve their conditions in the workplace. This is where real change is made.This is where workers can actually see the real improvements in their lives that have to be fought for.Its a shame that this government are so distant from this reality.
UNITE Local Government workers to ballot
Members of UNITE who work in local government are to ballot for Industrial Action.
The anger against the pathetic pay offer from the government is being clearly expressed across the sector.
Derek Simpson sums up the plight of all workers, private and public here.
Meanwhile Unions are putting pressure on the Labour leadership to kick the Tory anti union laws into touch. This is the best way of assisting workers in implementing real change in workplaces. Better than the employer friendly legislation we have seen being implemented.(see earlier post)
The anger against the pathetic pay offer from the government is being clearly expressed across the sector.
Derek Simpson sums up the plight of all workers, private and public here.
Meanwhile Unions are putting pressure on the Labour leadership to kick the Tory anti union laws into touch. This is the best way of assisting workers in implementing real change in workplaces. Better than the employer friendly legislation we have seen being implemented.(see earlier post)
New Rights for Training
New Rights to Training? No change to what we have now really.Bugger all!! Lets look at the detail. The right to request training and if you get it, its unpaid. Big bloody deal!! The take up will be minimal. Also its nothing really worth inspiring trade unionists to get out on the dorrstep with at the next general election.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
British Nazi into kiddie Porn
So this is the pure Aryan future our small merry band of Hitlerites have to offer people in Britain.
The Nutzies have to be a little more careful who they recruit. Seems like the gutter is full and they are building their movement in the sewer.
The Nutzies have to be a little more careful who they recruit. Seems like the gutter is full and they are building their movement in the sewer.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Opposition pull out of Zimbabwe election
This is no surprise. I mean what is the point when no one from the international trendy left is going to support you. Meanwhile International Capitalism continues to keep its interest in the dictatorship. US sub prime market, African dictator, who cares, what's the difference?
Does anyone know how well Barclays are doing at the moment?
And is there a chance of humane intervention by the west? Well that all depends if Oil can be discovered pretty quickly otherwise its Hello Rwanda!!
Alistair Darling, Contributing to Browns suicide note.
Darling is an interesting bloke. I am fascinated by his eyebrows. So are many political commentators, mainly of the comedic (is there such a word?) variety. For me though the humour turns to deep tragedy when you listen to his latest lecture to the population given to the sorry few who haven't got hangovers from their Saturday night adventures in the real world.
Apparently its our fault if the economy turns sour and we push inflation up by our greedy wage demands. Never mind the fact that the city fat cats are busily filling their pockets faster than you can say Northern Rock. Or foreign Industrialists are shovelling wheelbarrow loads of cash to take abroad, on Peter Mandelsons advice that there is no problem about getting stinking rich, on the back of the flexibility in employment laws that John Hutton will defend with his life.
Working class people have benefited, in a perverse way, in the last ten years, from the economy. But what part of the economy have they benefited from?New Labour can claim credit for that but for every person who benefited from the minimum wage there are double or even treble who benefited more from easy loans provided by unregulated banks who are only interested in making the quickest buck possible in the shortest amount of time available.
For Darling , his difficulty is managing the majority of workers who have relied on easy loans to make up for their shitty wage rises in the last ten years. This majority of workers have had their perception of the political economy coloured accordingly and out of this soup we are going to see sharp explosions of anger in all directions. In short Darling and his boss will not be able to manage it. Harking back to the seventies to an audience who probably don't either remember it or were too bored to learn about it at school brings new meaning to the word pathetic. Its obvious a different direction is needed.
New Labour was a breath of fresh air in the nineties.This is what we are meant to believe. It pulled the Labour Party together on the back of declining fortunes of the party of the establishment who were discredited by sleaze (nothing new for ANY politician) and discredited economically. They conned a sleeping electorate into believing that they all belonged to some club called middle England and that they all lived in important marginal seats come the inevitable general election. A con if ever there was one. Most of all they conned the electorate that (apart from inviting Maggie Thatcher to 10 Downing Street aside) they had to vote for New Labour because the 18 years of Tory government had been a disaster for Britain.
How hollow that argument sounds now.
Workers fighting to pay their credit bills are a different breed. You didn't have them in the seventies. So the reality is that the workers who stood on picket lines at Grangemouth last month and during the Shell dispute last week are the very same people the Darling , Brown project boast they stand for. That support is disappearing fast.
This is the key thing that Darling forgets.
Apparently its our fault if the economy turns sour and we push inflation up by our greedy wage demands. Never mind the fact that the city fat cats are busily filling their pockets faster than you can say Northern Rock. Or foreign Industrialists are shovelling wheelbarrow loads of cash to take abroad, on Peter Mandelsons advice that there is no problem about getting stinking rich, on the back of the flexibility in employment laws that John Hutton will defend with his life.
Working class people have benefited, in a perverse way, in the last ten years, from the economy. But what part of the economy have they benefited from?New Labour can claim credit for that but for every person who benefited from the minimum wage there are double or even treble who benefited more from easy loans provided by unregulated banks who are only interested in making the quickest buck possible in the shortest amount of time available.
For Darling , his difficulty is managing the majority of workers who have relied on easy loans to make up for their shitty wage rises in the last ten years. This majority of workers have had their perception of the political economy coloured accordingly and out of this soup we are going to see sharp explosions of anger in all directions. In short Darling and his boss will not be able to manage it. Harking back to the seventies to an audience who probably don't either remember it or were too bored to learn about it at school brings new meaning to the word pathetic. Its obvious a different direction is needed.
New Labour was a breath of fresh air in the nineties.This is what we are meant to believe. It pulled the Labour Party together on the back of declining fortunes of the party of the establishment who were discredited by sleaze (nothing new for ANY politician) and discredited economically. They conned a sleeping electorate into believing that they all belonged to some club called middle England and that they all lived in important marginal seats come the inevitable general election. A con if ever there was one. Most of all they conned the electorate that (apart from inviting Maggie Thatcher to 10 Downing Street aside) they had to vote for New Labour because the 18 years of Tory government had been a disaster for Britain.
How hollow that argument sounds now.
Workers fighting to pay their credit bills are a different breed. You didn't have them in the seventies. So the reality is that the workers who stood on picket lines at Grangemouth last month and during the Shell dispute last week are the very same people the Darling , Brown project boast they stand for. That support is disappearing fast.
This is the key thing that Darling forgets.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Cut our pay? No Way!!
Cut our pay - no way!
Join the protest on Friday 18th July 2008
Unite members across the country will take part in day of protest against the NHS pay offer. Workers will be campaigning around the slogan - 'Cut my pay - no way!'
A ballot of Unite's health sector workers gave the union a strong mandate in favour of industrial action over the three year deal of just 7.99 per cent.
Health visitors, hospitals pharmacists, health care chaplains and members in many other health care professions and support services voted overwhelmingly against the pay deal, with 94.8 per cent turning it down.
The union is angry that the government is telling members to accept a pay deal which in the current economic climate represents a significant pay cut. On the 18th July members will demonstrate at hospitals across the country.
Get involved
Get in touch with your regional contact to find out more and join other Unite members in the day of protest in your region, find out more from:
London and South East: Pete Denman, Hillingdon, 020 8573 9494 peter.denman@unitetheunion.com
South and South West: Bob Lanning, Bournemouth, 01202 294 333 robert.lanning@unitetheunion.com
Ireland: Albert Mills, Belfast, 02890 240 133 albert.mills@unitetheunion.com
Wales: Paddy McNaught, Caernarfon, 01286 672102 paddy.mcnaught@unitetheunion.com
Midlands: Peter Clews, Wolverhampton, 01902 426434 peter.clews@unitetheunion.com
North West: Tony Hayes, Liverpool, 0151 728 2200 tony.hayes@unitetheunion.com
Scotland: Jimmy Farrelly, Glasgow, 0845 345 0141 jimmy.farrelly@unitetheunion.com
North & North East: Phil Scott, Sheffield, 0114 256 2600 phil.scott@unitetheunion.com
Join the protest on Friday 18th July 2008
Unite members across the country will take part in day of protest against the NHS pay offer. Workers will be campaigning around the slogan - 'Cut my pay - no way!'
A ballot of Unite's health sector workers gave the union a strong mandate in favour of industrial action over the three year deal of just 7.99 per cent.
Health visitors, hospitals pharmacists, health care chaplains and members in many other health care professions and support services voted overwhelmingly against the pay deal, with 94.8 per cent turning it down.
The union is angry that the government is telling members to accept a pay deal which in the current economic climate represents a significant pay cut. On the 18th July members will demonstrate at hospitals across the country.
Get involved
Get in touch with your regional contact to find out more and join other Unite members in the day of protest in your region, find out more from:
London and South East: Pete Denman, Hillingdon, 020 8573 9494 peter.denman@unitetheunion.com
South and South West: Bob Lanning, Bournemouth, 01202 294 333 robert.lanning@unitetheunion.com
Ireland: Albert Mills, Belfast, 02890 240 133 albert.mills@unitetheunion.com
Wales: Paddy McNaught, Caernarfon, 01286 672102 paddy.mcnaught@unitetheunion.com
Midlands: Peter Clews, Wolverhampton, 01902 426434 peter.clews@unitetheunion.com
North West: Tony Hayes, Liverpool, 0151 728 2200 tony.hayes@unitetheunion.com
Scotland: Jimmy Farrelly, Glasgow, 0845 345 0141 jimmy.farrelly@unitetheunion.com
North & North East: Phil Scott, Sheffield, 0114 256 2600 phil.scott@unitetheunion.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tanker Drivers settle while Hutton whinges from the sidelines
You can rely on Hutton to be all doom and gloom. Didnt notice the Governor of the Bank of England blaming the Tanker drivers. But hey, what does he know.
Guardian agrees with the Governor.
What Hutton is really saying is, collective action is wrong and out of date, rely on the market, that will sort things out and dont do this because it will lose us votes. I think you have already done the damage on the last one. The other are the usual, typical Tory responses.
Looks like a deal has been put together and while not made public, will be put to the members with a recommendation to accept. The collective action has been vindicted? Lets see what the members think about the deal first.
Guardian agrees with the Governor.
What Hutton is really saying is, collective action is wrong and out of date, rely on the market, that will sort things out and dont do this because it will lose us votes. I think you have already done the damage on the last one. The other are the usual, typical Tory responses.
Looks like a deal has been put together and while not made public, will be put to the members with a recommendation to accept. The collective action has been vindicted? Lets see what the members think about the deal first.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Shell Tanker Drivers dispute
(pic thanks to Guardian)
A bit of good militancy and solidarity action taking place. A half decent report can be found here.
Unite has shown determination and grit to fight for their members on this one. For too long now the Oil companies have been raking in billions of £££s and the old arguments against the determined efforts of the union members are falling on deaf ears.
Comments page in the Times gives the usual shit from the Tory rent-a-mob key-board warriors.
Unite has shown determination and grit to fight for their members on this one. For too long now the Oil companies have been raking in billions of £££s and the old arguments against the determined efforts of the union members are falling on deaf ears.
Comments page in the Times gives the usual shit from the Tory rent-a-mob key-board warriors.
Usual anti union bile from the comfortable middle class/middle england Mail on Sunday. The issue for the Mail and its many blinkered readers is that there is collective action taking place. They and their Echos in the Tory Party (and sadly in Nu Labour as well) just cant abide a collective of workers going against their Thatcherite mantra. They so believed this kind of action was dead and buried.
Lesson to be learned here. When you have greedy and filthy rich employers, that rub the faces of the workforce with their super profits and inflated bonuses , you will create a fertile ground for effective union organisation.
My message to all those Tory trolls who slag off these strikers is to get some backbone and discover some courage to improve your own conditions in your workplaces or shut up!!
Well done Unite.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
42 Days. Crushing Civil Liberties
I am not going to say much more on this issue except to say that I am embarrassed to being a Labour Party member. Civil Liberties should be the at the heart of Labour policies but together with an aggresive military agenda we are experiencing an erosion of civil liberties that even Thatcher would not have dared at the height of the IRA campaign in the 80s. Whats wrong with these people?
I would like to refer people to the debate raging here and the position taken by the remarkable Rachael North , who survived the 7/7 bombing.
John has also commented and I feel he is taking a 'sitting-on-the-fence' position over this.
Rachaels blog can be found here.
Brown is even considering using the Troops during the current Shell dispute. Unite political levy payers take note.
I would like to refer people to the debate raging here and the position taken by the remarkable Rachael North , who survived the 7/7 bombing.
John has also commented and I feel he is taking a 'sitting-on-the-fence' position over this.
Rachaels blog can be found here.
Brown is even considering using the Troops during the current Shell dispute. Unite political levy payers take note.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Survey shows voters back increased taxation on corporations
Who do the Government listen to? Employers or voters?
This just confirms what we have known all along. I suppose this is what the government means by taking those 'difficult decisions'.
This just confirms what we have known all along. I suppose this is what the government means by taking those 'difficult decisions'.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Workers forced to take pay cuts!
You can see where all this is leading. Already we are seeing redundancies announced at Zurich and Norwich Union. The GMB reports how employers are squeezing workers further. In this instance they use the excuse of either accepting the cuts or face redundancy. It is certainly not a sustainable tactic for employers to use as the drop in wages will only make the pressure on employees even worse.
Meanwhile back in Narnia, the class inequality that isn't supposed to exist, is making a mark on the consciousness of all workers who have been victimised by the credit crunch.
The role of the left is to channel this anger into support for a socialist solution to the crises. New Labour or the Tories have no answer to this, insisting that the economic crisis is out of their control. The Tories should be well versed in this , after all they used the same argument in the early nineties.
Meanwhile back in Narnia, the class inequality that isn't supposed to exist, is making a mark on the consciousness of all workers who have been victimised by the credit crunch.
The role of the left is to channel this anger into support for a socialist solution to the crises. New Labour or the Tories have no answer to this, insisting that the economic crisis is out of their control. The Tories should be well versed in this , after all they used the same argument in the early nineties.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Paying the price of flexibility
The economy is costing the capitalist a bomb.The flexibility that they yearn for is backfiring in a spectacular way. The turnover of staff at firms is putting an increasing burden on the tightening of belts that we are now experiencing due to the downturn in the economy. Training costs are an increasing burden on employers potentially costing a few thousand per staff member in a lot of companies.
What is noticeable is the reason for employees leaving. Managers at shop floor level are increasingly getting the blame as the pass on the belt tightening down the rungs of the ladder.
Signs of a failing economic system.
What is noticeable is the reason for employees leaving. Managers at shop floor level are increasingly getting the blame as the pass on the belt tightening down the rungs of the ladder.
Signs of a failing economic system.
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