Rate threat
In Washington the US Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates, even though this would destabilise already fragile economies across the world.
News
News
Schools: the long arm of the state
24 October 2015
The Schools and Adoption Bill currently making its way through parliament aims to speed up the rate of “conversion” to academy status – this time by force.
Junior doctors move to ballot
23 October 2015
After successful demonstrations on 17 October in London, Nottingham and Belfast against the new junior doctors’ contract, the BMA has announced that ballot papers will go out to its members in early November.
Camden wardens break through 'living wage' barrier
20 October 2015
Traffic wardens working for outsourcing company NSL in Camden, north London, have agreed a settlement which breaks through the ceiling of the “London living wage” and avoids the need for further strike action.
Volkswagen scandal exposes deadly consequences of loss of sovereignty
20 October 2015
The Volkswagen diesel emissions crisis is the worst ever to hit the motor industry. But what has Britain been doing? Nothing…
English National Opera on the brink as cuts loom
20 October 2015
Unions in London are waiting to hear whether the English National Opera grant has been saved from redistribution: in short, whether proper national funding will continue.
Welsh museum staff walk out
20 October 2015
Workers at the National Museum (Amgueddfa Cymru) of Wales, which is spread across a number of sites, are on strike today in the latest of a series of actions against plans to scrap anti-social hours payments for weekend working.
TTIP - the mask slips
18 October 2015
“I do not take my mandate from the European people,” said EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström in an interview when challenged about the extent of opposition to the transatlantic trade treaty.
Campaign to fight new threat to research funding
18 October 2015
A grassroots organisation of scientists and supporters of science and research in Britain is warning of plans for huge cuts to the science budget – and vowing to campaign against them.
Born free - now in chain
17 October 2015
In what appears to be the first case of a free school being forced to accept an academy sponsor, Grindon Hall Christian school in Sunderland looks set to be pushed into the arms of the Bright Tribe academy chain.
US and allies' troops to stay in Afghanistan
17 October 2015
The US government now intends to keep US troops in Afghanistan beyond President Obama’s departure from office in January 2017, breaking his promise to end the war on his watch.
Lights out on Teesside steel making
12 October 2015
On 12 October the liquidator of SSI Redcar announced the death of that steelworks. Over 2,000 workers will lose their jobs directly at the plant and more will be out of work as a result. This signifies a threat to Britain’s whole steel industry.
Here comes another crash
12 October 2015
The US Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates, even though this would destabilise already fragile economies across the world – which are being told to prepare for a rise in corporate failures.
Electoral Commission ignored as new roll is pushed through
12 October 2015
Against the advice of the independent Electoral Commission, the government has reduced the time frame for establishing the new electoral roll. The move is likely to reduce the number of voters in non-Conservative areas.
Council procurement policies under attack
12 October 2015
In yet another attack on civil liberties, the government has announced plans to to change the law so that councils may only disinvest, boycott or adopt sanctions if the action is in line with government policy.
Osborne eyes local government pensions, again
12 October 2015
The new National Infrastructure Commission has less to do with planning than with stealing money from workers’ pension funds to do what the government should be doing anyway, and isn’t.
The downward march of the makers
12 October 2015
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that production and manufacturing output in three months to August 2015 were 9.4 and 6.5 per cent, respectively, below the levels reached in the first quarter of 2008.
Agreement at National Gallery
5 October 2015
Striking museum staff met outside the National Gallery today (5 October) and went back in to work together after 100 days on strike since February.
Desperate Conservatives try to relaunch union front
5 October 2015
The announcement that the Conservative trade unionists organisation, disbanded over 25 years ago, is to be reconstituted should show everyone in the trade union movement just how weak and desperate government really is.
Action over housing
5 October 2015
The phrase “housing crisis” is a daily media prod to the London commuter. Blink and it’s still there. But we’ve been stood immobile and blinking for far too long.
Junior doctors in revolt over proposed contracts
29 September 2015
Junior doctors flooded Westminster in their thousands last night (Tuesday) to protest against planned changes to their contracts as the British Medical Association ballots members on industrial action.
Refugees: how to create a crisis
29 September 2015
NATO governments are scheming to win support for intervening in Syria – using the refugees to create chaos in Europe and provide the excuse for an illegal war.
A liveable state pension for the older generations?
20 September 2015
1 October is Older People’s Day, when the National Pensioners Convention will make the case – in leaflets to be distributed across the country – for a state pension that people can live on.
U-turn as Germany closes borders
19 September 2015
Germany wants to dictate immigration policy to Europe – and it is causing chaos across the continent. On 13 September Merkel had to introduce temporary border controls.
Finns strike against government pay cuts
19 September 2015
Finland’s national trade unions held a mass demonstration on 18 September at Helsinki Railway Station, combined with widespread strikes, against government plans to cut pay and benefits.
London teachers launch housing campaign
19 September 2015
Teachers can’t afford London, says the newly formed London Teachers’ Housing Campaign, as tthe average price of a home soars above £500,000 and rents continue to rise by over 10 per cent a year.
EU referendum: first moves
13 September 2015
A referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU will happen by the end of 2017. There’s no chance of the EU restoring powers to Britain beforehand and no prospect of a revised treaty.
EU migration shambles and the drive to war
9 September 2015
Capitalism is waging war against workers worldwide to wreck countries and uproot their peoples. We look at how the “migrant crisis” started.
Rolls-Royce aero engines: fight to keep British jobs
5 September 2015
In the midst of significant investment on the back of large order books workers at aero engine giant Rolls-Royce have cooperated with the company during closures, restructuring and redundancies. But where has this left the British workforce?
Where have all the teachers gone?
2 September 2015
Statistics quietly released at the end of August tell a devastating story: we are heading for a full-blown teacher supply crisis. For the third year running, ministerial recruitment targets fell woefully short.