Solidarity 3/103, 8 December 2006

Iraq descends into civil war: Solidarity with Iraqi workers!

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By Colin Foster

The USA's Iraq Study Group, led by Republican old-stager James Baker, is due to present its ideas on 6 December.

In the run-up, another leading Washington think-tank has put out a report on Options for Iraq (29 November). The New York Times has published two leaked top-level memos: one (29 November) written on 8 November by new US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley on ideas for a "major adjustment" of US Iraq policy; the other (3 December) written by Donald Rumsfeld on 6 November, shortly before he was pushed out as Defense Secretary.

Support sacked JJB steward!

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By Amina Saddiq

Workers at the warehouse in Wigan supplying JJB Sports outlets across the UK, whose strike action last month forced their employer to make major concessions on pay and bonuses, are balloting again over the sacking of their GMB rep Chris Riley, who was interviewed in the last issue of Solidarity.

Industrial News

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UCU conference slams leaders over pay deal

By Pete Radcliff, Derby University UCU secretary

ON Friday 24 November, the University and College Union's Higher Education sector conference passed verdict on the AUT and NATFHE leadership's handling of their abortive pay dispute earlier this year.

Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland

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ON Thursday 23 November a new group in Scotland was set up to build solidarity with the Iraqi trade union movement. The group will meet in Glasgow. In line with TUC, STUC and Women's TUC conference policies, the comrades involved pledged to support all secular Iraqi trade unions and women's organisations. The group will be called Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland (IUSS) and will work with other IUS groups in England. The group is aiming to have a public meeting in early February.

Mexican state crushes Oaxaca

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By David Broder

THE five-month popular occupation of Oaxaca, Mexico, was crushed on the 27-29 October when thousands of federal riot police invaded the city, killing at least three protesters and an American journalist working for Indymedia. Hundreds were reported to be injured. The city had been under the control of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO), a coalition of indigenous, trade union and student activists created in response to the state governor Ulises Ruiz's failed attempt to evict striking teachers in June.

Hezbollah flexes its muscles

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By Martin Thomas

Just as veteran US foreign-policy "fixer" James Baker is expected to publish proposals to calm Iraq through cooperation between the USA and Iraq's neighbours Iran and Syria, Lebanon has lurched towards a return to civil war - this time between the Lebanese constituencies aligned with Iran and Syria, and those aligned with the USA.

Scrapping to unite the French left

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by Joan Trevor

The left-wing newsletter Lettre de Liaisons* (no.197, 26 November 2006) have some insightful comments on Ségolčne Royal's victory to be the Socialist Party (PS) candidate in the 2007 presidential election. (Royal won 60.6% of the 170,000 votes cast in an internal party ballot.) They say that far from Royal representing "the only way to stop Sarkozy", as she is touted in the media, she might be the candidate of choice for the French ruling class. Nicolas Sarkozy's abrasive style could quickly bring him into conflict with the trade unions and wider society if he wins the presidency; and he is too friendly with George Bush.

Green Party turns left?

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By Martin Ohr

In the same week that Derek Wall was elected principal male speaker of the Green Party, Leeds and four other West Yorkshire city councils announced the privatisation of Leeds Bradford International Airport. Leeds council is run by a Tory-Lib Dem-Green coalition.