Theatres: stoking division
22 October 2024
A play in Manchester was cancelled due to divisive ideological disputes. This reflects a climate of censorship and the invasion of dogmatic viewpoints, neither healthy.
News/Views
Pay rises on the railways
22 October 2024
Rail workers in most train operating companies have voted to accept the national pay deal. This ends over two years of intermittent strikes and other industrial action.
Net zero is a trade union issue
21 October 2024
This year’s TUC showed rising tension between an ideological support of net zero and the real-world impacts on workers. A life-long trade unionist has contacted Workers with his observations.
Action over pay on the Tube
21 October 2024
Transport unions Aslef and RMT are planning strikes over pay for their members on London Underground. In separate disputes both will be taking action in early November.
The boiler tax is back
21 October 2024
The new government wants to revive a policy of its predecessor to increase heat pump take up by taxing gas boilers. Its enthusiasm for net zero makes it blind to the reason why the idea was dropped.
No to fire and rehire
21 October 2024
Food manufacturer Oscar Mayer wants to fire and rehire workers at its Wrexham factory to reduce wages. The workers began a 4-week strike in September, extended when the firm refused to negotiate.
Employment rights – still blocked by law
21 October 2024
The Employment Rights Bill, published on 10 October, does not repeal all the anti-union acts enforced by Thatcher and her successors, Tory and Labour. And the promises of change don’t stand up to scrutiny.
Rally against fuel payment cuts
11 October 2024
Pensioners held rallies in London and Belfast on Monday 7 October for the restoration of the winter fuel payment. As well as the direct financial effect those in fuel poverty will suffer worse health, increasing demand on the NHS
Suit You Sir: a reader writes
11 October 2024
A letter from a reader in Scotland reflects on gifts of clothing to Keir Starmer and others in the Labour leadership and the theme of clothing in Macbeth.
No mine here: threat to industry
11 October 2024
The assault on British industry in the name of the environment and net zero continues. The latest step is halting the development of a coal mine in Cumbria, aided by the courts and the new government.
Electricity imports at record high
11 October 2024
Electricity imports from continental Europe have hit a record high. Britain increasingly depends on undersea cables, with risks to both continuity of supply and prices.
Focus on Britain! No support for foreign wars!
11 October 2024
Escalating military action in the Middle East rightly worries British workers. But nothing good comes out of the involvement of our leaders in these conflicts. We should simply say “stay out”.