EU acts the bully
22 February 2022
The EU is trying to bully the governments of EU members Hungary and Poland into accepting EU policies, using using the European Court of Justice to do so.
News
News
Covid-19 mandate mania
Over 10 billion coronavirus vaccinations have been given. Now some governments are turning to compulsion. But people in Canada aren't putting up with it.
UCU steps up pensions and pay action
16 February 2022
Staff at 44 universities are on strike this week after university employers refused to withdraw cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme or accept the University and College Union's compromise proposals.
‘Net zero’ fantasy to blame for energy crisis, not Russia
British politicians and media have blamed Russia is responsible for “turning off” gas supplies, but the culprit is closer to home.
Campaigners fight to protect farmland from power grab
13 February 2022
A plan to build a huge solar farm on prime agricultural land is being challenged by an impressive local campaign group determined to fight it all the way.
Scientists unite against EU ‘punishment’
13 February 2022
Scientists across Europe are taking on the EU as it seeks to exclude Britain and Switzerland from research collaboration for purely political reasons.
British steel betrayed by government
Transport minister Andrew Stephenson has admitted that HS2, Europe’s largest construction project and funded by public money, has no target for the use of British steel.
South Yorkshire bus workers win big pay rises
15 January 2022
More than 560 Stagecoach bus workers in South Yorkshire have won a 10.7 per cent pay increase from May after walking out on indefinite strike following the company’s refusal to improve its pay offer.
Agriculture policy under fire
13 January 2022
A parliamentary committee has indicted the government for an agriculture policy that will see food imports rise and farmers’ incomes fall, while exporting the environmental impacts of food production.
Refuse workers Sheffield victory [print version]
Refuse collection workers in Sheffield have won a victory over pay against a backdrop of dramatically increased inflation.
Battle for London's transport [print version]
London Transport union RMT has begun balloting over 10,000 members across all grades after Transport for London (TfL) refused to give assurances on jobs, pensions and working conditions...
Scotland: Energy 'surrender' [print version]
Extensive publicity showed Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pressing the button to blow up the famous industrial landmark that was the 600-foot chimney of Longannet coal-fired power station in Fife on 9 December.
Yemen: Creating a disaster [print version]
What the UN has called the greatest humanitarian disaster in the world is taking place more than 3,500 miles away in Yemen.
Deal - of a sort - on fishing
In spite of threats from the French government, agreement has been reached on licences for French fishermen to fish in British territorial waters, within the 6 to 12 mile limit.
'Reclaim our time' in uni fight
After three days of national strike action from 1-3 December members of UCU, the university workers union, have now moved to a “reclaim our time” campaign underpinned by a form of working to hours.
Hospitals: Scientists strike
Biomedical scientists working for East Lancashire NHS Trust started a third period of strike action on 15 December in their pay dispute with the employer.
Scotland: Energy surrender
20 December 2021
In the latest abandonment of energy sources in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pressed the button to blow up the chimney of Longannet power station on 9 December.
London Transport: the big battle begins
15 December 2021
London Transport union RMT has begun balloting over 10,000 members after Transport for London refused to give assurances on jobs, pensions and conditions in the midst of an ongoing financial crisis driven by central government.
University workers on the picket lines in pensions fight
2 December 2021
Support is growing for the university staff action over pensions, pay and working conditions taking place at campuses across the country, with picket lines swelling.
Shhh! Don’t mention Britain’s role in the bombing of Yemen...
2 December 2021
What the UN has called the greatest humanitarian disaster in the world is taking place more than 3,500 miles away in Yemen – aided by billions of pounds of arms sales from Britain.
Sheffield refuse workers pay victory
29 November 2021
Refuse workers in Sheffield working for Veolia have won an important victory on pay at a time when real wages are being hit by increased inflation.
Social care – still at risk
28 November 2021
Social care is far from fixed. Sector trade union Unison reports dangerous staffing levels and many care workers thinking of leaving. The long delayed funding question needs urgent attention too.
HS2 – The Great Northern Train Robbery
24 November 2021
Boris Johnson’s decision to scrap vital parts of HS2 and other key rail investment in the north of England met with angry criticism from trade unions and many others.
Rolls-Royce: steps to net zero
13 November 2021
With the COP26 climate conference coming to a close Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Shell called for further collaboration to enable the transition of long-haul aviation towards net zero.
Future of Rolls-Royce plant at Barnoldswick finally secured
13 November 2021
Workers at the Rolls-Royce Barnoldswick have won a commitment that there will be no compulsory redundancies for five years and manufacturing will continue on the site for at least 10 years.
Coal still needed in Wales
12 November 2021
The Welsh government is trying to close Aberpergwm colliery, the only anthracite mine in Europe. Its "net zero" dogma also puts the Port Talbot steel plant at risk.
Most primary schools lack a library, says report
3 November 2021
A report from the National Literacy Trust reveals that one in eight primary schools in England do not have a library – despite the proven link between school library provision and literacy levels.
Budget fails British seafarers, says RMT
1 November 2021
Shipping tax changes are a capitulation to global capitalism and do nothing to reverse long-term decline in seafarer jobs.
Caution on public transport funding
1 November 2021
Extra funds to improve public transport are welcome, but government spending may not reach the right places .
Strike wave greets COP26 [updated]
Road closures and police cordons reminded people in Glasgow of the reality of hosting the city’s biggest ever gathering, the COP26 climate conference.