Tag Archives: Trade Unions
You only love us when we strike
In the defence of trade unionism The anarchist (broadly speaking) critique of mainstream trade unions is well known, and valid. Big unions are arbiters and enforcers of social peace, supporters of the Labour Party, which is part of the system of electoral liberal democracy, and as such a reinforcement of business as usual. They are [...]
The General Strike 1926: The Great Betrayal?
Was the General Strike an expression of working class self-determination? Or was it a revolutionary strike aimed at overthrowing the ruling class? The way that the General Strike, or should that be The General Strike as it is the only one to have taken place in Britain, is remembered is often with a strong romanticism [...]
High court bans strike action
Judge’s ruling allows employers to stop workers striking A disturbing new trend is emerging in industrial disputes with the willingness of the courts to directly intervene on the side of the bosses in preventing strike action by unions. The latest example of this is the management of Milford Haven port in South Wales who have [...]
Shock as Unison Four lose appeals
EXCLUSIVE: Supporters of union activists disciplined for a “racist” leaflet depicting Unison leaders as the three wise monkeys have expressed their shock after the four lost their appeals and tribunals. Glenn Kelly, Onay Kasab, Suzanne Muna and Brian Debus, all members of the Socialist Party, were stripped of their branch roles for publishing a leaflet [...]
Green Scientists Show Red Fire
Environmental researchers at state-owned group ISPRA were due to finish a rooftop occupation of their labs, as Freedom went to press, after negotiations were agreed over the firing of nearly one third of company staff. Last year saw 200 people sacked, while another 250 on temporary contracts have been put on notice that they could [...]
Visteon Workers Fight On
Workers at the car part manufacturers who won a momentous battle for redundancy payment from Ford motor giants last year are still locked in a bitter dispute with their ex-employers over money owed through the pension fund after the collapse of Visteon UK. Visteon UK, formerly the main car parts supplier to Ford, went into [...]
Bad News For Students and Workers
There has been growing opposition to Peter Mandelson’s plans to slash funding for universities. In a letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) late in December, Mandelson, himself a beneficiary of a free Oxford education, announced cuts totalling £398 million. Earlier in the year Mandelson told universities that they would have to [...]
IWA Support Campaign To Stifle Serbian Dissent
International anarchist union the IWA has vowed to throw funds behind a campaign to clear the names of six Serbian members who are facing decades in prison on charges of international terrorism. The decision came just days after an open letter from Serbian intellectuals was published denouncing the court case as a politically motivated attempt [...]
Many Thousands March In Italy
Far right drive to privatise galvanises public sector Hundreds of thousands of workers across Italy went on strike and marched on 11th December against reforms designed to set up huge swathes of the public sector for cuts and sell-offs. Despite opposition against demonstrations from several major unions, protests were held in Rome, Milan and Naples [...]
French Posties Say NON!
UK parallels unmistakable as EU postal directive hits La Poste As a massive public outcry continues to build throughout France against the privatisation of postal services, thousands of workers have gone on strike against a free-for-all market. The anger of the workforce at proposed changes to the sector led to a major demonstration on 24th [...]
