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Fra Socialist Worker nr. 2137

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Frontpage: Blame the bosses not ‘foreign workers’

2137

7.2.09

Content

Blame the bosses not ‘foreign workers’

2137

1

7.2.09

Millions of working people across Britain are fearful and angry at the mounting economic crisis. Manu­fac­turing industry is now shedding jobs at a rate of 30,000 a month.

Who says?

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2

7.2.09

Clippings from the week's news

Simon Basketter: The bitterness that lies behind the wildcat strikes

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2

7.2.09

The anger against the growing impact of the economic crisis broke out last week in Britain. Some 6,000 workers across over 20 construction sites at power stations and oil refineries have taken unofficial action by walking off the job.
Clearly workers are furious at the mounting job losses in construction and are fearful about what the deepening recession holds for them.
But what is less clear is why the unions, in the face of thousands of job cuts, have chosen to focus their attention on foreign workers on the sites.

A tradition of unity that can take on the bosses

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2

7.2.09

The Italian workers live in barges on the Grimsby docks. They are allegedly paid the national rate for the job – although deductions are taken for “bed and board”.
They are expected to work different hours to other workers on the site, including Saturdays.

Labour’s attack on workers’ union rights

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2

7.2.09

Derek Simpson, joint Unite general secretary, has said that moves should be taken to overturn European legal cases that allow employers to undercut wages and conditions as part of resolving the dispute.

Subcontracting: companies are the problem

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2

7.2.09

Companies say they use subcontracting firms to carry out specific parts of a project to try and reduce costs. This is opposed to direct labour – workers being employed directly by the main contractor.

Tim Sanders: Cartoons: They cause unemployment

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2

7.2.09

Willie Black: Unite steward: ‘We need a positive movement’

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3

7.2.09

All the militancy and strength we have seen needs to be put into a battle against the bosses that involves everyone in the fight for jobs.
Using the slogan “British jobs for British workers” is playing with fire. The trade unions can still do the right thing – but we can’t pretend this slogan doesn’t have racism running through it.

Ex-Ford's worker: 'This is a recipe for divide and rule'

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3

7.2.09

Berlyne Hamilton is a retired car worker who used to work at the Ford plant in Dagenham, east London. He spoke to Socialist Worker about his experience there as a shop steward.

‘British jobs’ and backing a united fight on the buses

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3

7.2.09

Many union activists on the buses are worried that the “British jobs for British workers” slogan will set back their struggle to build unity among workers.

Alex Callinicos: Giles Ji Ungpakorn: Defend this key Thai socialist

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4

7.2.09

Sometimes the really important social conflicts between exploiter and exploited find expression by distorted means, via conflicts among the exploiters themselves.

Alan Walter: Keep pushing Gordon Brown over council houses

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4

7.2.09

Gordon Brown announced last week that is he is backing down over rules that have stopped councils from building council housing.

Dave Sherry: Scottish unions take up fight over future of housing

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4

7.2.09

Scotland faces its biggest housing crisis in 60 years. The economic collapse has destroyed the myth that competition and the “free market” can deliver on housing.

Simon Basketter: Waterford Crystal: ‘We’re occupying this plant to save our jobs’

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5

7.2.09

Workers at the Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland have delivered a powerful example of how to take on the recession – they are occupying their plant to keep it open.

Jim Wolfreys: Millions in France on strike against Sarkozy

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5

7.2.09

“Nobody notices when there’s a strike anymore”, French president Nicolas Sarkozy declared last summer. On Thursday of last week he was made to eat his words.
Up to 2.5 million people took part in strikes and demonstrations across France that day to protest against Sarkozy’s handling of the economic crisis.

Greek protests continue to pressurise government

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5

7.2.09

Farmers’ protests in Greece have increased the pressure on the country’s right wing government, which had already been rocked by riots, strikes and protests in December.

Russian protests at the economic crisis

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5

7.2.09

Defying riot police, protesters took to the streets of Vladivostok, Moscow and other Russian cities in protest at the economic crisis.

Sadie Robinson: Obama’s economic plan won’t fix the crisis

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6

7.2.09

Barack Obama’s plan to save the US economy has been caught up in a growing panic among world leaders over protectionism.

Colin Barker + Yuri Prasad: Karen Reissmann NHS whistleblower tribunal is settled

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6

7.2.09

Leading health trade unionist Karen Reissmann has settled her employment tribunal case against Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.

Revelations in Yunus Bakhsh case shake the union

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6

7.2.09

Attempts to witch-hunt well known health worker Yunus Bakhsh from his job and his union continue to cause a storm – particularly in the north east of England.

Letters

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7

7.2.09

Trading in the planet | ‘Extremists’ at school | Raise funds for Gaza | System’s crisis made me socialist | Guadeloupe general strike | Trevor Phillips and the empire | Social Mobility needs more equality | I’ve cancelled my TV licence | We all need right to work

Anindya Bhattacharyya: Exposing myths of a segregated Britain

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8

7.2.09

The popular perception that parts of Britain are becoming “ethnic no-go areas” is based on a misreading of the facts, population expert Ludi Simpson tells Anindya Bhattacharyya

Ken Olende: Sri Lanka: what lies behind the latest violence?

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9

7.2.09

The Sri Lankan government has launched a brutal crackdown on areas held by Tamil rebels. Ken Olende examines the conflict – and its roots in the divide and rule tactics of the British Empire

Sheila McGregor: SWP Democracy Commission

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10

7.2.09

The Democracy Commission was set up at the recent Socialist Workers Party (SWP) annual conference. It is made up of ten elected members and four members appointed by the SWP’s Central Committee. Its first meeting will be on Saturday 7 February.

Phil Turner: Film review: Red Oil – profits, poverty and redistribution in Venezuela

2137

11

7.2.09

A new film looking at Venezuela’s oil coporation gives a fascinating portrait of the contradictions facing Hugo Chavez.

Charlotte Bence: Musicr review: The Tivoli: National Service: A brilliant depiction of life in small town Britain

2137

11

7.2.09

If you live in Rotherham or support Rotherham United Football Club, you may have already heard the first single from The Tivoli’s debut album, National Service.

Editorial: Women are not to blame for children’s unhappiness

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12

7.2.09

The Good Childhood Inquiry report commissioned by the Children’s Society tries to explain why children in Britain are the unhappiest in the developed world.
Much of the media has seized upon the sections of the report which identify working mothers as a key factor in “damaging” children.

Editorial: No model democracy in Iraq

2137

12

7.2.09

With the elections in Iraq behind them, warmongers in Britain and the US have been quick to declare once again, “mission accomplished”. Iraq, they say, should become a model for democracy across the Middle East.

Editorial: House of Lords? Off with their heads!

2137

12

7.2.09

One is in jail for fraud. One is a convicted perjurer. One is a convicted arsonist and insurance fraudster. Some 92 are there only because of their thieving ancestors.

Graham Turner: Which economy will be bottom?

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12

7.2.09

The economic crisis is hitting Britain and the US hard, but they are not the only countries that will suffer

Andy Wilson: Sexuality and the system

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13

7.2.09

To mark the beginning of LGBT History Month, Colin Wilson explores the roots of gay oppression

Spread the solidarity for Glasgow council’s indefinite strike

2137

14

7.2.09

The indefinite strike by Glasgow community service supervisors is entering its fifth week.
The 21 workers are fighting regrading resulting from the council’s single status agreement.

Simon Assaf: Israeli blockade stops aid to Gaza

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16

7.2.09

Israel and its Egyptian ally are continuing to hamper the entry of desperately needed humanitarian goods into the Gaza Strip after Israel’s assault on the Palestinians there.

Keep up the solidarity with Gaza

2137

16

7.2.09

A magnificent movement of solidarity with Gaza is rolling out across the country.

Siân Ruddick: Student protests for Palestine remain strong

2137

16

7.2.09

Resistance to Israel’s aggression and its siege of Gaza has continued to rage on college campuses across Britain.

Crisis grows for occupiers in Afghanistan

2137

16

7.2.09

Barack Obama’s tenure in the White House has had a bloody beginning. January has seen the highest number of coalition troop casualties in Afghanistan.