Solidarity 269, 9 January 2013

Gove moves against teaching unions

In December, the government announced proposals for changing teachers’ pay arrangements. The plan is to tear up national pay scales and move to a system of individualised pay. The current system includes national pay scales, though no right to collectively bargain on pay rates or conditions. The national rates must apply to all state schools, except academies and free schools which can adopt their own models. This latest attack is partially a response to the fact that the vast majority of academies have agreed to follow the national system and showed no appetite for developing their own scales...

Rail fares rise again

Rail fares have risen at above-inflation rates for the tenth consecutive year — nearly three times faster than average wages since 2008. Research shows that rail transport costs workers up to 8% of their entire annual salary. Commuters in London and south east England face some of the sharpest increases. Campaign for Better Transport figures show the average season ticket cost has increased by £1,300 since 2003. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “At a time when real wages are falling and household budgets are being squeezed, rail travellers are being forced to endure yet another year...

Sectarian impasse in Northern Ireland “flags” crisis

Although the Belfast protests, and clashes with the police over limitations on the flying of the Union Flag have continued into the new year, they reveal an undercurrent of desperation amongst sections of Northern Ireland’s loyalist community. Although the protests over limitations on the flying of the Union Flag have continued into the new year, they reveal an undercurrent of rudderless desperation amongst Ulster loyalists. The flag protests, which began in early December with a decision by nationalists and the liberal Alliance Party on Belfast City Council to end the flying of the flag on...

The SWP crisis: politics without oxygen

At the annual conference of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP, the largest of the would-be Trotskyist groups in Britain) on 4-6 January, the Central Committee was almost defeated in a vote on whether to endorse its handling of an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct against a prominent member. This is a longer version of the article than in the printed paper . We do not feel it is appropriate to comment further on that here. The following article was written before those details became public, in response to the debate on questions of party democracy and organisation prior to...

Drivers break from USDAW

A retail distribution driver spoke to us about recent moves by workers to break from the retail union USDAW and join Unite. AWL has criticised USDAW's role as a collaborationist and sell-out union in the retail sector. However, we do not have a formal policy of advocating or supporting breakaways from majority/recognised unions, and relate to particular cases on an individual basis. We publish this report for information. Members of USDAW at the Sainsbury's distribution centre in Sherburn-in-Elmet, Leeds (operated by Wincanton), have rebelled by defecting to another union - Unite. In less than...

Free hunger striking Iranian trade unionist Reza Shahabi!

Reza Shahabi, an Iranian labour leader imprisoned since June 2010, went on hunger strike on 17 Dec 2012 to protest against mistreatment by jail guards as well as prevention of his medical treatment by the judicial authorities. Reza Shahabi's physical conditions have deteriorated. He has announced that he will refuse taking his medication and eating food until he is allowed to be transferred to a hospital outside prison for complete treatment. Mr. Reza Shahabi who had gone under major surgery of his neck, and according to doctors’ recommendations was in need of at least “two months rest at home...

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