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

A multinational British company had £5 million in assets frozen this week, in advance of a multi-million pound claim for alleged rape, torture and assault at the firm’s mine in northern Peru.

The Leeds bin workers’ strike was continuing this week after GMB members rejected a compromise deal to implement equal pay.

As the three-way fight to succeed First Minister Rhodri Morgan as leader of the Labour Group in the Welsh Assembly hots up, the leading candidate, Carwyn Jones, has revealed he now has the support of almost half of Welsh MPs.

A packed meeting of the Blacklist Support Group has called for a public inquiry into corrupt practices in the British construction industry. MPs, academics, leading human rights lawyers and blacklisted building workers all endorsed the call for an inquiry.

Unison has hit out at business leaders who have controversially called on the government to make public sector cuts of an extra £120 billion in a bid to “balance the books”.

by Chris McLaughlin

Union leaders have reacted angrily to a Government decision to delay key parts of new laws designed to protect workers’ rights until after the general election.

Unite has condemned the “business as usual” attitude of the big banks in Britain after it was revealed that RBS – which has been bailed out by the taxpayer – is set to pay millions of pounds in bonuses this year. The top performers in its investment banking arm will get bonuses of up to £5 million for 2009.

The Conservative Party is facing the prospect of being investigated by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog after an animal welfare charity complained that pro-hunting groups and individuals had made influential donations to a member of the shadow cabinet.