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

Government plans announced this week to cut Whitehall staff and close offices could, instead of saving money, land taxpayers with bills amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds, Tribune has learned.

A landmark decision by an employment tribunal in Reading could have far-reaching implications for firms which try to get away from paying young people properly by hiring interns for work experience on expenses only.

by René Lavanchy

Unions and MPs are seeking to oppose American food giant Kraft’s hostile takeover of Cadbury as the confectioner prepares to respond to a formal bid.

Civil service unions are considering taking the Government to court after it announced plans to save £500 million by cutting redundancy payments to civil servants.

Campaigners fear a lack of parliamentary time may hamper any chance of toughening up proposed rules outlawing blacklisting.

Colombian left-wing campaigners have accused the European Commission of seeking to “absolve” Colombian President Alvaro Uribe of his country’s human rights record as they met trade commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and members of the European Parliament this week.

Construction union UCATT has responded angrily to a new campaign by housebuilders to oppose plans to clamp down on false self-employment in the building industry.

Unions have condemned the decision by Tata Corus, the Indian-owned British steel giant, to mothball Teesside Cast Products as premature and said it will have devastating consequences not just for Teesside but for the British economy as well.

Unite has called on Lord Mandelson, ahead of the Christmas party season, to clear up the tips system in hotels, restaurants and bars once and for all.

President Viktor Yushchenko has fired the opening shots of the Ukrainian presidential election campaign by implicitly referring to his rivals as the “enemies within”.