When Britain ran its roads
Thatcher did not start the roll back of postwar nationalisation. Capitalism’s unease at state control of the British economy surfaced as early as 1953…
News/Views
The politics of Hong Kong protest
19 October 2014
The so-called “pro-democracy” demonstrators seeking to occupy central areas of Hong Kong are for the return of Hong Kong as an independent capitalist statelet, severed from mainland China.
Union organisation answer to benefits freeze
17 October 2014
Chancellor Osborne told the Tory conference in Birmingham he will freeze working-age benefits re-elected. The consequences might – and should – be a rise in trade union organisation.
More doublespeak over TTIP
17 October 2014
On 9 October the European Union released the text of its “negotiating mandate” for the TTIP – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership treaty that it is negotiating with the European Union. Perhaps inadvertently, it includes one telling admission.
Midwife anger over private ads
15 October 2014
Adverts for private care displayed at maternity units are outraging midwives. On the picket line at an east London hospital, one midwife explained why.
Survey reveals scale of teacher workload
15 October 2014
Excessive workload has driven nine out of every ten of teachers to consider giving up teaching during the past two years, according to an online survey carried out by the National Union of Teachers.
Ambulance workers’ power blunts emergency provocation
The first strikes in the NHS for 32 years on 13 October – especially in the London Ambulance Service – gave the lie to the idea that workers are weak and that unions don’t matter.
SNP threat to bypass referendum result
9 October 2014
SNP leader Alex Salmond promised on 19 September to accept the referendum result and he urged Yes supporters to do the same. He at once broke this promise.
Underemployment: Working, but not enough
2 October 2014
The number of underemployed in the workforce is increasing, according to TUC analysis in September of the latest Labour Force Survey from the Office for National Statistics.
Referendum: The truth about young voters
30 September 2014
Reports that 71 per cent of 16- to 17-year-olds voted Yes in the Scottish referendum don’t stand up to scrutiny, says statistics programme.
Midwives to take historic action
30 September 2014
Midwives and maternity support workers will walk out on Monday 13 October after the government overruled the Independent Pay Review Board’s recommendation for a 1 per cent rise.
Hands off Syria!
We are told that we have to attack Syria in order to defeat the Islamic State (IS). The peoples of the Middle East will have to deal with their own backward feudal despots.