Solidarity 3/131, 24 April 2008

Solidarity 3/131

Submitted on 23 April, 2008 - 23:25

Solidarity 3/131 denounces New Labour's tax rise for five million low paid workers. It calls for a united trade-union fight for a "floor" for wage settlements to guarantee that low-paid workers keep up with inflation, now over 15% for food and high for other basic items. It reports on South African dockers' tremendous solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, and surveys experiences of organising young workers in New Zealand and Australia. And much more: download pdf.

Immigrants aren’t criminals!

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:49

Author:

Janine Booth

This week, a police report showed that immigrants are, in fact, not the bunch of criminals that some right-wing rags and ignorant bigots would have you believe. It seems that even in the few crimes where a disproportionate number of perpetrators are foreign, the same disproportion of victims are also foreign.

Oil refinery strike for pensions

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:32

Author:

Dale Street

At the time of going to press, 1,200 members of Amicus/Unite employed at Grangemouth oil refinery are due to begin 48 hours of strike action at 6.00am on Sunday 27 April – the first strike in a British oil refinery since 1935.

Restaurant bosses and workers demonstrate

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:30

Author:

Ed Maltby

On Sunday 20 Apr, the Bangladeshi Caterer’s Association (BCA) mobilised thousands for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, calling for an end to raids on restaurants by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) and the regularisation of undocumented staff. The demonstration originated with restaurant workers and owners in China Town and spread to involving bosses and workers from other restaurants.

Deportation protester banned from flying

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:29

Author:

Robin Sivapalan

On 27 March, Augustine, a Biafran independence activist was deported to Nigeria, where his brother has been killed and his wife and children are missing. He is still laid up with the injuries he sustained by the five thugs who twisted his neck and kicked and punched him to the ground while handcuffed. Unable to afford medical care, we fear for his life.

Probation service

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:25

The Probation Service is proposing to remove the automatic annual increments awarded to most workers. It is the first public-service sector to come out with this proposal.

Unison elections

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:24

Members of the public service union Unison should have already received ballot papers for the Service Group Executive (SGE) elections being held now.

Health workers organise for “no” vote on pay deal

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:20

Following the health conference of the public services union Unison in mid April, members have received ballot papers inviting them to accept or reject the Government’s proposed three year pay deal.

Local government union proposes strike

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 08:19

In sharp contrast to the health sector, members of the public sector union Unison in local government are being given a clear direction to reject their current pay offer and prepare for strike action.

Feminists plan action for reproductive rights

Submitted on 25 April, 2008 - 07:12

Author:

Laurie Penny

On 12 April — a very wet Saturday morning — forty feminists from around the country gathered at the London School of Economics for a teach-in on the threats to reproductive rights in the UK and internationally. The event was organised by Feminist Fightback, with a balance of in-depth discussion and practical planning for action.