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UK Workers' Movements Newswire Archive

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Wildcat strikes - an open letter to the anarchist/anti-authoritarian movement

01-02-2009 20:36

Below is an open letter written in response to the recent wildcat strikes

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A 'Racist' Strike?

31-01-2009 19:24

Hundreds walk out of their workplace. On the second day the strike spreads, pulling up to a thousand workers out on secondary action across sites in Northern England and Scotland - much of it illegal under the anti-trade union laws Labour has, to its eternal shame, left on the statute books. In short, an outbreak of the very 'spontaneous' actions of our class that would normally excite the left in this country.

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Waterford workers occupy plant, Dublin

31-01-2009 15:17

A crisis meeting on the future of Waterford Crystal takes place in Dublin today as 100 angry workers continue to occupy the plant. The firm's receiver David Carson said that 480 of the 670 employees at the famous crystal maker in Kilbarry outside Waterford city have been made redundant.

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Brighton Councillors sign Petition to Disclose Public Cost of Fighting Transgender Tribunal Cases

30-01-2009 20:40

A petition has been signed by a number of Brighton & Hove City Councillors, demanding the City Council disclose the Public Interest question of how much Public Money they spent fighting two un-winnable Employment Tribunal cases against Natasha Thoday, a transgender teacher. Notably 2 other councillors (North Devon & Edinburgh) and Carline Lucas MEP have also signed. A letter was sent today asking the remaining City Councillors to also sign it.

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BNP activists agitating at wildcat strikes

30-01-2009 13:33

The BNP have been joining wildcat strikers according to news reports, the bnp will use any chance to spread their message of hate.

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Around the Campaigns Friday 30th January 2009

30-01-2009 09:55

57 days in Yarl's Wood IRC - Raphael aged 5 

Still need one surety in Bury to stand bail for Raphael and his mum. Surety must be resident in the UK and will be subject to a police check. If you can help please get back immediately to:  JohnO@ncadc.org.uk

Please send urgent faxes/emails immediately to Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, requesting that Raphael and his mother are released. Please use the updated 'model letter' RaphaelShaubaJS.doc attached or write your own version. If you do so, please remember to include HO ref: S/38066/3
Fax: 020 8760 3132 / + 44 20 8760 3132 if you are faxing from outside UK)
Emails:  UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
"CIT - Treat Official"
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/Newszine102/Raphael.html

Full article | 1 addition

'Crisis' General Strike in France, Paris some rioting.

30-01-2009 00:09

PARIS (AFP) — More than a million French workers took to the streets Thursday to voice anger and fear of job losses during a one-day strike over President Nicolas Sarkozy's handling of the economic crisis. Billed as a "Black Thursday," the nationwide day of action caused less transport disruption than expected but the strike was well supported, with a quarter of France's five million public sector workers downing tools.

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Unite backing Heathrow Expansion

29-01-2009 19:46

Unite the union claim, Heathrow expansion is not detrimental to the environment. They claim the challenge is to expand without additional greenhouse gas emissions. Unite state that by placing an environmental cap on flights into Heathrow it forces the industry to invest in cleaner and quieter aircraft, the benefits of which go beyond UK airspace. They also say that the Heathrow expansion during Phase I of development means reducing stacking and queuing on the runways which could save an estimated 330,000 tonnes of CO2.

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1,500 involved in shocking Sharjah riot

29-01-2009 18:59

Around 1,500 workers were involved in the riot that rocked Sharjah on Tuesday, during which they damaged and set fire to property and vehicles.

Workers set fire to management offices within their labour camp and smashed windows, state news agency Wam reported late on Tuesday.

Workers also burnt down five cars, damaged 40 others and stoned 28 buses, before turning their anger on police officers and labour officials at the scene.

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Metronet HQ occupied in London

29-01-2009 16:20

The RMT come to Metronet.
Metronet you may remember had to be bailed out by the government in 2007 when it very nearly went bust due. The obvious thing to do was to nationalise it. But back in those heady days Metronet was the flag bearer of Mr Brown's Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. So that would have seemed like admitting failure. So to this day Metronet is responsible for vast parts of the running of London Underground. Which also includes subcontracting the cleaning out to the less than humane ISS company. See:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/407016.html

So on Wednesday the RMT returned to Metronet with plenty of mops and buckets in the hope that they might clean up their act by getting a contractor that does not pay people the minimum wage while grassing up its employees to the immigration services. ISS are also finding all kinds of dubious excuses for sacking anyone who joins a trade union. The demo itself was loud and lively but nowhere near as surreal and eventful as their last visit. See:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/380456.html

Full article

Please help Rashida Yasmeen and her four sons

29-01-2009 07:36

Rashida Yasmeen and her four sons
Rashida Yasmeen and her sons Safeer (8), Zaheer (9), Mahmood (15), and Qadeer (21), all nationals of Pakistan and residents of Glasgow. Were 'captured' on Tuesday 27th January whilst signing at the Home Office reporting centre in Glasgow. They are now in Dungavel IRC and due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK758 from London to Lahore at 20:00 on Tuesday 3rd February.

The family were previously detained and threatened with forcible removal as recently as August after their claim for asylum was refused. On that occasion they were released and the flight stopped when their lawyer successfully applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to remove them.

Rashida and her sons arrived in the UK in 2007 after fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan. As Ahmadiyya Muslims, they were subject to death threats and were attacked at home by the extremist group Khadam-e-Nabuad, during which Mahmood was stabbed and Rashida's husband fled.

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What the hell's going on and what can we do about it?

29-01-2009 03:42

As the economy crashes, will Liverpool be the 2009 capital of crisis? How can we fight back?

Date:
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Time:
7:30pm - 11:30pm
Location:
Next To Nowhere (Liverpool Social Centre)
Street:
96A Bold Street
City/Town:
Liverpool, United Kingdom

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Trial against two spanish Euromayday activists postponed

28-01-2009 20:07

This is a continuation of an earlier report:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419640.html

Teh courtcase is postponed to April, apparently, and there was a supporting demo in Sevilla. Here are infos in spanish, maybe someone could translate or summarise them in English, pleeeze?

Video (Interviews, demo):

 http://blip.tv/file/1696673

Pics demo:

 http://estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/75336/index.php

Messages of support:

 http://estrecho.indymedia.org/newswire/display/75296/index.php

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Crimininalisation of Sex Workers Must Be Opposed

28-01-2009 20:02

The proposed measures threaten the safety and incomes of sex workers at a time when economic conditions are worsening. It is likely to make sex workers more, not less, vulnerable, making it more difficult for workers to denounce cases of exploitation, abuse or assault at work.

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Around the Campaigns Wednesday 28th January 2009

28-01-2009 09:10

Elsa and Betty, still here, still in detention
"Elsa and Betty set out for the airport Tuesday morning but the flight was cancelled and they were brought back in Yarl's Wood. I've been asked to pass on thanks from the campaign to all who supported Elsa and Bethlehem. Pressure now needs to be put on the Home Office to release the family as soon as possible and return them to Leeds where they belong."

Please look out for calls for support over the next few days,

John Ward on behalf of the Campaign

Background: Second attempt to remove Elsa and Bethlehem
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/Newszin98/Elsa.html

Full article | 2 comments

May Day Solidarity Conference

27-01-2009 21:35

Advance notice of a working conference on Saturday May 2nd on the theme of "Trade Unions for Asylum and Migrant Rights" in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Organising meeting 7pm this Thursday 29th Jan at UNISON office in Barnsley.

Full article

Help Sarwar Gareb get out of Campsfield IRC and stay in the UK

27-01-2009 15:21

Sarwar Gareb
Human rights campaigner Sarwar Gareb a National of Kurdistan/Iraq and resident of Leicester, has been detained in Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre, after being arrested on Friday 23rd January whilst 'Signing' at Loughborough Reporting Centre.

Sarwar came to the UK from Kurdistan/Iraq on 10th September 2000 to escape persecution by the nationalist Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).  Working as a journalist and activist he consistently fought for the rights of children, women and workers which led to his imprisonment and torture by the two parties.

His application was refused on the 18th January 2001, subsequent appeals, reconsideration were also refused, though no attempt was made to remove Sarwar from the UK, until now.

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NCADC News Service Tuesday 27th January 2009

27-01-2009 09:24

Somali's with removal directions, Charter flight to Mogadishu!
Rumours of a charter flight within the next fortnight, removing UK Somali's to Mogadishu are circulating. At least one Somali in detention has been told that the UKBA 'Removals Faciliation Team' have sent a letter to his solicitor, saying he will be removed within the next two weeks by charter flight to Mogadishu via Nairobi.

If you know of any Somali's with set removal directions, they should make a Rule 39 application to ECHR, as all Somali case with the ECHR are on hold and interim relief is being given to those Somali's, with removal directions, who apply to the court.
Making an application to the European Court of Human Rights
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/newszine89/Rule%2039.html

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Around the Campaigns Monday 26th January 2009

26-01-2009 12:38

Constant Moussavou, Still Here, Campaign fights on

"Constant said that a High Court injunction against the deportation order has been successful but he will still continue to be detained. It appears that the earlier legal ruling to disregard the new evidence and to not await the authentication of the documents (due to be received on Mon 26th Jan 09) provided on Constant’s behalf has been reversed.

He’d like to thank everybody for their support and expressed the need for your continued help and support in ensuring he’s able to resume his life and work in Leicester."

A special thank you also to Sir Peter Soulsby (MP), NCADC/supporters and to Canon Barry Naylor and colleagues for their continued support and interventions on Constant’s behalf.

Priya Thamotheram for the campaign /  priya.thamotheram@highfieldscentre.ac.uk

Background: Sanctuary for Constant Moussavou
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/Newszine100/Constant.html

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Second attempt to remove Elsa and Bethlehem

26-01-2009 08:54

Elsa and Bethlehem
Friends want them to Stay in Leeds, where they belong

Elsa Temesgen Imbaye and her 11 year old daughter, Bethlehem are currently detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre and due to be forcibly removed from the UK tomorrow Tuesday, 27th January 2009 on BMI flight BD913 from Heathrow @ 14:15 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

They were dawn raided for the second time, in the early hours of Friday 23rd January 2009

As you probably know, a previous attempt to deport them to Ethiopia in October last year failed and Elsa and Betty were able to return to Leeds.

Elsa arrived in the UK with her daughter in December 2004 and has been living in Leeds ever since.