Exclusive: Cuba, the unions, and the world
In an exclusive interview with Workers, two veteran Cuban communists give a fascinating insight into the view from a country where the working class is in command.
Workers January/February 2016
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What makes us safe
In the “war against terror”, British governments have wilfully ignored the best ways of fighting it. It won’t be defeated by smart missiles or drones. It won’t be defeated by toppling secular governments.
1972 -1974: The London Allowance campaign
Astronomic rises in house prices and rents, young teachers unable to live in the capital, a staffing crisis in the schools. Sounds familiar?
Energy: we know how
A talk at the Free Thinking Festival in Gateshead shows we can use low-carbon energy to keep the lights on. We have the expertise to produce low- and no-carbon energy in large quantities safely.
Last deep mine closes
The decision to close Kellingley Pit, the last of Britain’s deep coal mines, sounds the death knell not only for coal mining but electricity generation from coal.
Stop the bombing of Syria!
David Cameron has got his way, and the RAF is bombing Syria. We will all live to regret the despicable vote in parliament which saw the bombing authorised. MPs voted for invasion and death. Then they laughed.
How to defeat the Bill
With the fascistic Trade Union Bill – attacking membership and finances – shortly to become law, we need organisation and clarity of thinking.
Three big lies in the attack on health students
How can Britain be short of nurses and midwives and yet cut back on training places and support? The answer is simple: rob other countries by importing their trained specialists…
Why the deficit is being dumped on us
Deliberate policies from successive governments have turned Britain into a debtor country, with foreign credit used to finance imports and mortgages.
Sick of capitalism
New research from the worlds leading authority on health inequalities highlights the links between inequity in society, poverty and ill health.
Ambulance emergency
In November the Care Quality Commission gave the London Ambulance Service its lowest rating. What’s going on? And what is the way forward?
1: Caught in the check off trap
Rail unions learned just how vulnerable their finances were many years ago when British Rail summarily ended the check-off facility to RMT during a dispute in 1993.
2: Half a century of attack
“Kill the Bill!” was the slogan adopted by trade unions more than forty years ago, in opposition to the Industrial Relations Bill – which came perilously close to being accepted in toto by British trade unions.
India's loss
Before Theresa May added nursing to the shortage occupation list the Indian Health Ministry was expecting to gain from the implementation of her previous immigration rules which had been due to take effect on 6 April 2016.
Union prophecy proved right
From a Unison Branch Secretary letter in 2014: “The trickle of staff leaving that we saw nine months or so ago has developed into a tidal wave. A tidal wave that, if not stopped, will take our Service down.
Trade gap widens
The latest official figures show that exports of goods and services fell in October while imports rose, leaving Britain in the red to the tune of £4.1 billion.
Borders: Brussels bids for power
The EU is proposing a radical extension of its powers, with plans to take over control of their member states’ borders in “emergencies”.
Postal workers walk out
No law can restrain workers when they choose to ignore it. In Bridgwater, Somerset, Post Office workers walked out without a ballot in protest at the dismissal of a colleague – and no law was invoked.
'Incoherent' teacher plans
A recent Ofsted report talks about local authorities failing to raise school standards – but noted the long-standing difficulties in recruiting teachers.
Local government pay talks under way
The 2016 local government pay negotiations are under way. Unite, GMB and Unison gird their loins for a battle, but the claim is weighted towards the “Living Wage”.
Welcome to the board: Labour, Inc
Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor, has been appointed to the board of directors at Morgan Stanley, the US-based financial services firm, while Gordon Brown is to join a global investment firm.
Co-op Bank close Cuba solidarity account
The Co-op Bank has closed the accounts of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. The action follows on the heels of the closure of 20 accounts held by British pro-Palestine groups.
Industry: output falls
Manufacturing output fell by 0.4 per cent in October. This continues the consistent decline of the manufacturing sector throughout 2015.