Louise Nousratpour in Manchester
Monday September 13, 2010
The Morning Star
TUC Congress: THE spectre of nationwide resistance is haunting the Con-Dem axemen after TUC delegates from across Britain returned to the birthplace of the movement to organise joint action against the cuts.
The right-wing media were hard-pressed to find the hoped-for cracks in the movement as one union leader after another stepped onto the Congress platform to declare unequivocal support for co-ordinated industrial action across all sectors.
In his opening speech to delegates in Manchester, TUC leader Brendan Barber attacked the "demolition government" and said it was "time for us to build a diverse, dynamic and progressive alliance for change - a coalition against cuts."
There was a consensus among delegates that it was vital to build "progressive alliances" with service users, community activists and charities to bolster public support for action.
Congress rejected claims that public-sector cuts were necessary, arguing that the TUC's alternative proposals for progressive taxation and investment in manufacturing and other productive industry would wipe out the deficit, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
The emergency Budget would cost over a million jobs, drag the economy into depression, increase inequality, hammer women and children, turn the NHS into a mere logo and "rip the heart" out of Britain's welfare system, it declared.
Moving a composite motion on defending public services, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis vowed to build alliances with charities and local groups, and "move to co-ordinate industrial action" to defend services.
"The coalition is taking a chainsaw to our services, hoping no-one will notice the amount we lose every year in tax evasion and avoidance by big corporations - more than enough to wipe out the deficit at a stroke," he said.
"If there is money available to bail out banks, if there is money for war, for Trident, there's money for our public services."
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail warned that women were in the firing line.
"Seventy-two per cent of the cuts will hit their income as they make up 65 per cent of public-sector workers. It will set back by decades the already unacceptable gender pay gap."
FBU leader Matt Wrack said: "This is a Cabinet of millionaires who do not need or use public services and therefore don't care a hoot about them."
GMB national secretary Brian Strutton reported that his union would "begin preparation for national industrial action next month," while Unison and PCS have already teamed up for co-ordinated action.
PCS leader Mark Serwotka said tax evasion cost the Treasury £120 billion and added: "There is no need for a single job cut or a single penny cut in public-sector spending."
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We can pass all the resolutions we want but, ultimately, we either lay down or stand up and fight."
The composite motion was passed by all but one of the 700 delegates - Balpa leader Jim McAuslan, who insisted it was wrong to say that "not a penny" needed to be cut and that the "tone" of the debate would not resonate well outside the conference hall.
Commons craves more war
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday September 09, 2010
The Morning Star
In an unprecedented Commons vote the government rubber-stamped continued war in Afghanistan even as bereaved military families published an open letter demanding Britain's immediate withdrawal.
In a sparsely attended debate that lasted much of the afternoon MPs voted on a motion put forward by the newly established backbench business committee stating: "This house supports the continued deployment of UK armed forces in Afghanistan."
There have been many ministerial statements and Parliament discussions since the invasion in November 2001, but this was the first time a motion was presented to MPs. Even the decision to join the US-led war was taken without a Commons vote.
Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP expressed outrage after her amendment arguing for the "swift withdrawal of troops" was not selected for debate by the deputy Commons leader.
"Even though more names were supporting it than two other amendments, my amendment wasn't selected," she told the Star.
Labour MP John McDonnell, who supported Ms Lucas's amendment, said: "The failure to introduce the possibility of peace talks to solve the criminal impasse in Afghanistan confirms this government's addiction to military excess, whatever the cost."
Fellow Labour MP Paul Flynn, who opposed the war, accused ministers and military officers of being "in denial" about it.
"The majority of the public would like to see the troops home before Christmas, and Parliament is not reflecting that," he added.
The latest opinion poll found that 72 per cent of the public believe troops should be withdrawn.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox repeated the government's mantra that a withdrawal now would unleash the terror of "jihadists everywhere" and threaten "our national security"
He also told MPs that "our influence in the region would be severely deminished" if Britain pulled out now.
As Mr Fox sought to justify the continued slaughter in Afghanistan, military families published their letter calling for an immediate withdrawal from the "unwinnable" war.
"This war is not making the world a safer place and not helping the Afghan people. Wounded troops are not being given proper treatment," it read.
"The casualty rate is going up on both sides."
Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German has dismissed Commons debate as an attempt by the government to place a democratic fig leaf over the conflict.
She added that a cross-party group of MPs, called Troops Out of Afghanistan, had been set up to bolster the anti-war argument.
Thursday September 09, 2010
The Morning Star
In an unprecedented Commons vote the government rubber-stamped continued war in Afghanistan even as bereaved military families published an open letter demanding Britain's immediate withdrawal.
In a sparsely attended debate that lasted much of the afternoon MPs voted on a motion put forward by the newly established backbench business committee stating: "This house supports the continued deployment of UK armed forces in Afghanistan."
There have been many ministerial statements and Parliament discussions since the invasion in November 2001, but this was the first time a motion was presented to MPs. Even the decision to join the US-led war was taken without a Commons vote.
Green Party leader Caroline Lucas MP expressed outrage after her amendment arguing for the "swift withdrawal of troops" was not selected for debate by the deputy Commons leader.
"Even though more names were supporting it than two other amendments, my amendment wasn't selected," she told the Star.
Labour MP John McDonnell, who supported Ms Lucas's amendment, said: "The failure to introduce the possibility of peace talks to solve the criminal impasse in Afghanistan confirms this government's addiction to military excess, whatever the cost."
Fellow Labour MP Paul Flynn, who opposed the war, accused ministers and military officers of being "in denial" about it.
"The majority of the public would like to see the troops home before Christmas, and Parliament is not reflecting that," he added.
The latest opinion poll found that 72 per cent of the public believe troops should be withdrawn.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox repeated the government's mantra that a withdrawal now would unleash the terror of "jihadists everywhere" and threaten "our national security"
He also told MPs that "our influence in the region would be severely deminished" if Britain pulled out now.
As Mr Fox sought to justify the continued slaughter in Afghanistan, military families published their letter calling for an immediate withdrawal from the "unwinnable" war.
"This war is not making the world a safer place and not helping the Afghan people. Wounded troops are not being given proper treatment," it read.
"The casualty rate is going up on both sides."
Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German has dismissed Commons debate as an attempt by the government to place a democratic fig leaf over the conflict.
She added that a cross-party group of MPs, called Troops Out of Afghanistan, had been set up to bolster the anti-war argument.
Unions dismiss Cable moan
Louise Nousratpour
Thursday September 09, 2010
The Morning Star
Union leaders have hit back at Business Secretary Vince Cable's inflammatory remarks in which he accused them of "public posturing" over threats of industrial action on impending spending cuts.
Even as his Tory colleagues sharpen the axe for the looming public-sector cull, Mr Cable insisted that the government was not seeking confrontation with the unions and that he hoped for a "productive working relationship."
Looking ahead at next week's TUC conference, which is expected to see a growing mood for co-ordinated action against the cuts, the Lib-Dem backpedaller claimed that the public would have little patience for talk of industrial action to defend workers' jobs and livelihoods.
He went on to dismiss much of the talk of action over cuts as "public posturing" and singled out "militant" RMT general secretary Bob Crow for criticism in light of the successful London-wide Tube strike on Tuesday.
"Several British public-sector unions are threatening action over cuts, though the extreme rhetoric of Bob Crow - who talks of 'fiscal fascism' - is almost certainly regarded as an embarrassment by leaders of bigger unions," Mr Cable blathered.
A spokesman for civil servants' union PCS, which has teamed up with Unison to co-ordinate action against the looming cuts, declared "full support for Bob and his union."
He added: "We are looking forward to getting together with other unions next week to formulate our response to his government's shameful and unnecessary spending cuts."
Mr Crow said unions would take "no lectures" from Mr Cable, who had "postured his way right into the Cabinet.
"He represents a party that said one thing to the voters before polling day and then immediately leapt into bed with the most right-wing administration since Margaret Thatcher strutted the stage."
Responding to Mr Cable's personal dig, Mr Crow added: "When you use economic power, with the support of your unelected allies in finance and the courts and the rest of the state apparatus, to try and bully and control the working class, that is fiscal fascism in the raw."
Mr Cable made his unsavoury comments in an article in the New Statesman on Thursday and expressed "disappointment" at the withdrawal of his invitation to address the Manchester conference.
This means that next week's gathering will be the first in more than a decade to have no address from a government minister.
Thursday September 09, 2010
The Morning Star
Union leaders have hit back at Business Secretary Vince Cable's inflammatory remarks in which he accused them of "public posturing" over threats of industrial action on impending spending cuts.
Even as his Tory colleagues sharpen the axe for the looming public-sector cull, Mr Cable insisted that the government was not seeking confrontation with the unions and that he hoped for a "productive working relationship."
Looking ahead at next week's TUC conference, which is expected to see a growing mood for co-ordinated action against the cuts, the Lib-Dem backpedaller claimed that the public would have little patience for talk of industrial action to defend workers' jobs and livelihoods.
He went on to dismiss much of the talk of action over cuts as "public posturing" and singled out "militant" RMT general secretary Bob Crow for criticism in light of the successful London-wide Tube strike on Tuesday.
"Several British public-sector unions are threatening action over cuts, though the extreme rhetoric of Bob Crow - who talks of 'fiscal fascism' - is almost certainly regarded as an embarrassment by leaders of bigger unions," Mr Cable blathered.
A spokesman for civil servants' union PCS, which has teamed up with Unison to co-ordinate action against the looming cuts, declared "full support for Bob and his union."
He added: "We are looking forward to getting together with other unions next week to formulate our response to his government's shameful and unnecessary spending cuts."
Mr Crow said unions would take "no lectures" from Mr Cable, who had "postured his way right into the Cabinet.
"He represents a party that said one thing to the voters before polling day and then immediately leapt into bed with the most right-wing administration since Margaret Thatcher strutted the stage."
Responding to Mr Cable's personal dig, Mr Crow added: "When you use economic power, with the support of your unelected allies in finance and the courts and the rest of the state apparatus, to try and bully and control the working class, that is fiscal fascism in the raw."
Mr Cable made his unsavoury comments in an article in the New Statesman on Thursday and expressed "disappointment" at the withdrawal of his invitation to address the Manchester conference.
This means that next week's gathering will be the first in more than a decade to have no address from a government minister.
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