UK Workers' Movements Newswire Archive
Strikes in oil refineries and power stations
10-02-2009 01:01
The walk-outs and demonstrations by workers in oil refineries and power stations over the question of unemployment show the depth of anger in the working class faced with the tidal wave of redundancies brought about by the economic crisis. This wave of lay-offs and short-time working is not confined to Britain but is engulfing the globe. From the USA to China, from western Europe to Russia, no workers' job is safe; and even when they have work, wages are being cut and working conditions worsened.Gaza Solidarity Night - 26th Feb
09-02-2009 22:29
Planned Removal of Raphael and Oluseye Thursday 12th December
09-02-2009 12:53
Targeting Bail-Out Scroungers Poster
09-02-2009 11:03
Around the Campaigns Monday 9th February 2009
09-02-2009 09:26
As Patrick was on the plane close to take off and not aware of last minute court order to stay removal, (it is still unclear whether the escorts were informed that a judge had stayed the removal), he decided to take on-board evasive action which made quite a stink (I kid you not) and resulted in Patrick being taken off the plane and returned to Colnbrook IRC. Patrick alleges he was roughed up on the plane and in the escort van. He has now been moved to Dover IRC. Thanks to all who faxed/emailed on Patrick's behalf.
Background: Keep Patrick Masengo in the UK, no removals to DR Congo
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/Patrick.html
AEC members tear gassed, beaten and arrested; residents lay blame on ANC
09-02-2009 05:26
Earlier today, Gugulethu SAPS burst into an Anti-Eviction Campaign mass meeting, tear-gassed and beat residents, and then arrested two AEC leaders, Mncedisi Twalo and Mbulelo Zuba.Aftermath of wildcat at Israel Railways
08-02-2009 23:14
Using an inside source, an Israeli libertarian communist constructs an analysis of the picture behind the scenes at the recent wildcat of Israel Railways workers.Greek banks downgraded!
08-02-2009 17:04
Three of the top Greek banks have been downgraded by the economic agency Moody’s, after losing 70 per cent of their share price in the Athens Stock Exchange during 2008.Full Disclosure or Damage Control
08-02-2009 15:38
Last week a High Court ruling confirmed Binyam Mohamed was tortured whilst in the custody of the US in the full knowledge and cooperation of the Blair government. Mohamed has claimed that he was beaten, scalded and subjected to sleep deprivation, starvation and other forms of extreme mental and physical torture. Furthermore, British authorities were aware of the extent of the torture that Mohammed was subjected to making them complicit in his unlawful detention and abuse.ASA, Home Office, BBC, M&S & Oxfam support Virgin Mad Men
07-02-2009 17:48
ASA will not 'intervene' to stop the RKCR / Y&R ad campaign despite stating that 'Council sympathized with the concern that the ad may invite unwanted attention to female staff’. RKCR / Y&R have contracts with the UK Home Office for their anti Prostitution, Domestic Violence, Child Protection on the Internet and Anti Rape campaigns as well for the BBC, M&S and Oxfam!Boycotting Israel: Enter the Dockers
07-02-2009 17:33
The Histadrut trade union intends to ask the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) for assistance with the planned boycott of Israeli ships by dockers in South Africa. “The union in South Africa is against anything connected to Israel, and in the past even objected to a cooperation agreement we signed with the Palestinian transport workers union,” said Transport Workers Union chairman Avi Edri.Two Workers Killed During Factory Occupation in Venezuela
07-02-2009 16:32
Workers accuse the police of shooting two fellow workers yesterday who were participating in the occupation of a Mitsubishi plant in Barcelona, Anzoategui state.Unionists’ Murder Followed by Marches and Arrests in Anzoategui, Venezuel
07-02-2009 16:23
Following the murder of two workers at a Mitsubishi plant, marches and meetings have involved more of the regional community in the union struggle, while six police have been arrested, and a range of commissions have been established.Starbucks Settles ULP Charges Over Firing At Michigan Store, But Union Refuses t
07-02-2009 13:09
A National Labor Relations Board regional director in Detroit Jan. 16 approved a settlement agreement with Starbucks Corp. resolving allegations of unfair labor practices by the Starbucks Workers Union (SWU), an affiliate of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), filed with NLRB Region 7 (Starbucks Corp. d/b/a Starbucks Coffee Co., N.L.R.B. Reg. Dir., No. 7-CA-51190, settlement approved 1/16/09).Prisoners' rights under attack
07-02-2009 12:32
POA supports attacks on prisoners’ rightsPrisoners have few legal tools with which to defend themselves but have at times been able to bring successful court actions against the prison system’s worst excesses. Labour’s Justice Minister Jack Straw and the Prison Officers Association want to stop them doing this.
Retro Bigotry
07-02-2009 00:22
The advertising firm RKCR have recently devised a campaign entitled ‘still red hot’ to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Virgin Atlantic’s 1984 launch. RKCR attempt to invoke the spirit of 1984 by depicting news paper headlines of the miners strike. The value and position of everyday working women is completely reduced in the ad to providing men with sexual titillation. RKCR and Virgin will claim that this is all in jest and if you don’t get the ‘joke’ you’re a part of the P.C. gone mad brigade. What is truly disrespectful here is how painful this advertisement could be for the existing Virgin Atlantic steward workforce who have not only have had their occupation so reduced by their superiors but who will now be inevitably (sized up by passengers) and compared to these deplorable representations. And as if that isn’t enough, RKCR have received advertising contracts from the Home Offices for their anti Prostitution, Domestic Violence, Child Protection on the Internet andAnti Rape campaigns as well for Oxfam! Just what the RKCR add for workplace harassment would be like makes the mind boggle.
Around the Campaigns Friday 6th February 2009
06-02-2009 11:38
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm, on plane, off plane, back in Yarl's WoodI can't believe what I'm writing here, but at 25 to six, twenty minutes after the plane should have gone, I had a phone call from Sourena on his phone. I couldn't hear a word he was saying, so asked if I could speak to someone with him. An officer said they were being removed from the plane and taken back to Yarl's Wood, and that's where they are today.
Having just spoken to Leila’s legal representative this morning he says the Home Office are ‘livid’ at what happened and want the flight rescheduling asap. It’s all still hanging on a thread…. He has spoken to Sourena. Evidently, all three of them were separated either in transit, for the flight or both, we are not sure – including 18 month old Sourena being separated from his mother! That is absolutely outrageous! Danoushm is still traumatized this morning, we hear. Sourena has scratches on his face. This is completely inhumane! Thanks to all who faxed/phoned on family's behalf.
Phil Townend
Leila, Soorena and Danoushm belong to Halifax
http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine103/Leila.html
Tax Payers Alliance - helping the rich on your behalf
06-02-2009 09:58
When the Tax Payers Alliance refuse to condemn tax dodging by rich people and corporations, they're acting in the interests of the super-rich. This is strange since, it is because the wealthy dodge tax that ordinary taxpayers have to pay more taxes than they otherwise would do.Staythorpe walkout
05-02-2009 20:38
Israel: northern Israel Railways workers in wildcat strike
05-02-2009 15:30
Israel Railways workers in Haifa conducted a wildcat strike this morning, Thursday Feb 5th, in response to fraud charges against official union members, and replacement of workers not loyal to management.