Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

by René Lavanchy

The threat of a national strike ballot for steelworkers and “industrial unrest” in the energy sector was raised as TUC delegates unanimously passed a motion in defence of “quality pensions”, in the face of Tory plans to review public sector pension schemes.

by René Lavanchy

Agency workers on permanent contracts will continue to suffer unequal treatment under Government plans to ratify the European Union’s agency workers directive, the Communication Workers’ Union has warned.

The Communication Workers’ Union provoked a rare confrontation on the Congress floor between major unions this year, when Unite and Unison refused to support its motion calling on Labour-affiliated unions to bypass the Labour-union link.

The European Commission is on a “politically driven agenda” to take on the working classes and drive down their rights, the Unite union’s head of international affairs claimed this week.

Recession is hitting Britain hard, but it is nothing compared to what is happening to those at the bottom of the pile in developing countries.

The British National Party faces a new challenge to its neo-Nazi members who want to serve on school governing bodies in England and Wales. The NASUWT is extending its campaign to stop BNP members working as teachers by seeking a judicial review to prevent BNP councillors serving as school governors. The union fears that a primary school in the East Midlands is about to hold an election that could see a BNP councillor become vice-chair of its governing body.

Incumbent European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was re-elected for a second five-year term by the European Parliament this week.

A persuasive new report by the Council Housing Group of MPs is making the case, ahead of next year’s general election, for greater investment in council housing in Britain and also for what it calls “fair funding” for councils.