Solidarity 3/100, 20 October 2006

Free to chose?

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 17:22

By Amy Fisher

The furore over Jack Straw’s comments on the niqab has generated hundreds of column inches from liberal commentators at The Guardian. Many, including David Edgar, quite rightly rail against state bans on religious clothing and stand up for the right to wear whatever you choose. As Edgar says "if we want to have a leg to stand on when we stand up for The Satanic Verses or Behzti or Jerry Springer, we must defend to the death the right to wear it [the niqab]". However, the issue of choice is much more complicated than this.

Able to teach?

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 17:20

Can a Teaching Assistant carry out her job in the classroom whilst wearing a niqab? Being prepared to take it off when no male is present does not resolve the issue. Men work in schools.

Direct action can beat top-up fees

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 17:11

By Sofie Buckland, National Union of Students National Executive

On Sunday 29 October, NUS is holding a national demonstration in London under the slogan “Admission impossible”. This is something student activists should welcome. After last year’s decision to cancel the national demo, and the 2004 decision to move it to Cardiff with the result that no one turned up, a well-planned and publicised protest in London is a big step forward.

Unions must lead NHS fight

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 17:02

By Mike Fenwick

The growing numbers of local demonstrations, lobbies and meetings about the crisis in the NHS has pushed the issue to the front of the national political debate.

NHS campaigning

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 17:00

Whipps Cross victory

by a unison member

After a ten year struggle, involving three rounds of strike action, a significant victory has been won for contracted out workers at Whipps Cross Hospital in East London.

School cleaners unionise

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 16:57

Cleaners in PFI schools work for private companies, as do the premises staff. However, many premises staff were TUPE’d over from the local authority when their employer changed. This means that they took their local authority wages and conditions with them.

Strike against wage cuts

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 15:30

Council workers in Coventry have stepped up their action against the imposition of a Single Status scheme which will see many workers' wages cut by up to 33%. Single Status comes in the name of equal and fair pay, but in practice penalises some of the worst-off workers.

Support Robin Sivapalan!

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 15:28

On 7 September, Tony Blair and Education Secretary Alan Johnson visited Quinton Kynaston school in North London to announce the rolling out of their "trust schools" programme - including to QK itself.

Passport strike

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 15:26

Several thousands workers in the Identity and Passport Service took a day of strike action on 12 October over their employer's refusal to settle last year's pay claim.

The two (and a half) worlds of Labour Party Conference

Submitted on 22 October, 2006 - 15:13

by Bruce Robinson

I spent five days as a free-floating activist at Labour Party conference, leafleting delegates, taking part in protest demonstrations and attending fringe meetings. At times I felt that I was existing in two parallel universes.