London Underground workers set to hold second 24-hour strike
LU workers are involved in a political struggle with the employers and government, which want to reorganise the transport system on behalf of global capital.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Daniel O’Flynn
Protesters denounce UK and US support for Israeli military massacres
Thousands of protestors gathered outside the Israeli embassy in London, Friday, to express their opposition to Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip
•Daniel O’Flynn
Thousands mass outside Ecuadorean embassy to support Assange
Two thousand protesters massed outside the Ecuadorean embassy in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
•Daniel O’Flynn, Rick Wilson
UK Supreme Court rejects appeal over Brent library closures
The Supreme Court has refused campaigners any further appeal against the closure of six libraries in the northwest London Borough of Brent.
•Daniel O’Flynn
UK library closures and the High Court decision on Brent Council
A reply to critics of the article High court ruling paves the way for 600 UK libraries
•Daniel O’Flynn
High Court ruling paves way for closure of 600 UK libraries
At least 600 of an estimated 4,612 libraries are now under threat following a decision to throw out an appeal to the High Court by Brent SOS Libraries campaigners.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Mass job losses and privatisation on London Underground
A London Underground management document leaked to the Rail Maritime Transport Workers Union has exposed a historic assault on jobs and working conditions.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Britain: National Health Service cuts target jobs and patient care
Since the beginning of the year, not a day has gone by without a new announcement on far-reaching cuts to the National Health Service.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Rail union overturns strike ballot on London Underground
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has overturned the results of a strike ballot in order to impose London Underground’s meagre pay award on its members.
•Daniel O’Flynn, Tony Robson
Britain: Visteon workers appoint solicitor to investigate pensions rip-off
Workers at bankrupt car parts manufacturer Visteon UK have appointed their own solicitor to investigate the rip-off of their pensions, claiming the union Unite has done nothing to help them.
•Paul Mitchell, Daniel O’Flynn
Visteon workers reject “derisory” redundancy offer
Workers occupying and picketing the bankrupt Visteon car parts factories in Belfast, Enfield and Basildon in the UK have rejected the latest “derisory” redundancy package.
•Daniel O’Flynn, Paul Mitchell
Occupations at UK Visteon plants continue despite legal threats
Sacked workers from the car parts firm Visteon have been occupying three factories across the UK since April 1.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Britain: Union leaders stifle growing militancy of London Underground workers
Leaders of the Rail, Maritime and Transport trade union (RMT) are seeking to stifle the growing militancy on the London Underground rail system and prevent the development of a political opposition to the Labour government.
•Daniel O’Flynn, Paul Mitchell
UK: Unions prepare to sell out jobs fight at Rolls-Royce
At the beginning of this year, aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce announced plans to axe 2,300 highly skilled jobs, about 6 percent of its 39,500 global workforce. The company is the world’s second largest manufacturer of jet engines after the American giant General Electric, with a 36 percent share of the market. Most of the job losses are expected to hit the company’s 23,000-strong UK workforce and affect white-collar workers based at its main site in Derby.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Right-wing Popular Party attacks Spain’s leading judge
A campaign has been mounted by the right-wing opposition Spanish Popular Party (PP) against the leading judge, Baltasar Garzón.
•Daniel O’Flynn, Vicky Short
Spanish train line reopens before investigation into fatal accident begins
The death toll from Spain’s largest-ever train crash on July 3 reached 43, after a passenger died from his injuries early two weeks on. The driver, Joaquin Pardo Tejedor, was among the fatalities. One body has not yet been identified. Around 50 people were injured.
•Daniel O’Flynn
Energy policies bringing Spain into conflict with European Commission
The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the European Court of Justice for its protectionist energy policies. The EC has determined that Spanish legislation limiting the voting rights of investors in state companies in the energy industry is in breach of European regulations guaranteeing the free movement of capital.
•Daniel O’Flynn
London Olympics 2012: corporate greed and privatisation
The decision as to which city would host the 2012 Olympic Games was made amidst such accusations of foul play and naked delight at the potential profits involved that one might have been forgiven for forgetting that this was supposed to be about a celebration of sporting endeavour and spirit.
•Paul Bond, Daniel O’Flynn
Portugal: political crisis deepens ahead of February elections
Elections due to be held next month in Portugal will take place amidst a deepening political crisis unleashed by the resignation of Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso last year. Barroso (Social Democratic Party—SDP) resigned in July 2004 to take up the post of president of the European Commission (EC), leaving behind him what the media called “Portugal’s gravest political crises since the 1974 revolution.”
•Daniel O’Flynn, Mike Ingram
Head of Spain’s largest bank calls for an end to Europe’s welfare state
Earlier this year the head of Spain’s largest bank said there was not much time left to destroy what remains of social welfare in Spain.
•Daniel O’Flynn