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.
Save the capital's transport!
15 December 2021
The planned government assault on the London’s transport system demands above all a collective response, and not just from transport unions.
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.
Finally, an investigation into the ARM takeover
2 December 2021
The proposed $40 billion takeover of British chip designer ARM by US company Nvidia has been referred to the Competition and Markets Authority for an investigation into the consequences of the sale.
Borrow, Buy, Strip the assets, Sell. Repeat.
The stock market and the companies traded there have never been friends of workers or nations. But now they are being overtaken by something even worse – private equity…
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.
Inflation and pay
28 November 2021
Inflation is at its highest in a decade and prices continue to rise. Trade unions are beginning to respond, but there’s opportunity for doing more.
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.
Capability Britain
24 November 2021
For a background of what's important in the current political discourse it would be difficult to surpass this new book by Will Podmore.
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.
COP26 – politics and hypocrisy
16 November 2021
The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow talked a lot about ending all reliance on fossil fuels. But modern society depends on them to feed, clothe, warm itself, and to provide security, education, health and culture.
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 2021: what it means for workers
1 November 2021
The government’s economic statement isn’t the final word on our economic future. Workers must take this on – in fighting for pay and more.
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.
Who wants this forced federalism?
The Welsh government, led by Labour, has announced what it calls an “Independent Constitutional Commission”.
Fishing: where is the Brexit dividend?
Free agent or not after leaving the EU, Britain’s fishermen are still bound in legal chains, locked into another five years (at least) of outrageous concessions ceded in the government’s agreement with the EU…
Who’s counting? Not the government
Headlines about labour shortages don’t give the full story about migration – it’s a complex picture, obscured by a lack of facts. But the statistics are clearly out, by several million. What’s gone wrong?
Nursery funding: Stop cuts, say staff
Over 200 nursery school staff marched from Parliament Square to Downing Street to demand secure long-term funding for the sector.
1848: The Communist Manifesto
Marx’s earth-shattering declaration is truer than ever – those performing all the necessary labour must take over the running of society themselves…
Profit and the housing shortage
A book published in paperback this year reveals a sorry tale of 60 years of legislation fuelling speculation in land, paving the way for the housing crisis…