Here are all the articles I wrote about my visit to Ukraine, published around the world in socialist and labour publications: Australia: Green Left Weekly Canada: Our Times (link coming soon) Germany: Jungle World Germany:…Read more…
Necessity trumps ‘fiscal rules’
We cannot afford NOT to do what is necessary The message from Rachel Reeves is that because of the economic … MoreRead more…
An emergency appeal for help from LabourStart
Let’s start with the good news. At the end of April, we held the most successful Global Solidarity Conference ever. Nearly 300 trade unionists from 30 countries gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia in an impressive display…Read more…
International working class solidarity in an age of crises, wars and disasters
The following was my opening speech to the LabourStart Global Solidarity Conference – Tbilisi, Georgia – 28 April 2023. Tbilisi, Georgia: Opening plenary of the LabourStart Global Solidarity Conference, 28.4.23. Friends, brothers and sisters, comrades….Read more…
Reinstate Lee Fowler! Demo 20 April!
Reinstate Lee Fowler – electrician sacked after raising concerns about safety on site in Liverpool.
PROTEST
Thursday 20 April, 1:00pm
Cargill site
The Dock Road
Bootle
L20 8DF
SAFETY BEFORE PROFIT
Further information
Morning Star. Socialist Par…Read more…
Evidence sought in independent blacklisting collusion inquiry
Unite is stepping up its search for information into the possible collusion by trade union officials into the blacklisting of construction workers. In April 2022 Unite established an independent inquiry into allegations that some union officials may have colluded with the blacklisting of construction workers. Workers were frequently denied work for raising safety concerns on …
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Another electrician fired after raising site safety concerns
Blacklist Support Group statement Solidarity with Lee Fowler, who has been dismissed by the electrical contractor Bilfinger after he raised safety issues at the Cargill’s Refinery site in Merseyside (next to the new Everton football stadium construction project). The experienced and highly qualified electrician made several complaints about unsafe working conditions and helped four …
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Royal Courts of Justice – full statement on the Daniel Collins case
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE Claim No: QB-2021-000523 QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION BETWEEN: DANIEL GUY COLLINS Claimant And (1) CROSSRAIL LIMITED (2) COSTAIN GROUP PLC (3) COSTAIN LIMITED (4) COSTAIN CIVIL ENGINEERING LIMITED (5) COSTAIN ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION LIMITED (6) COSTAIN INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED (7) SKANSKA UK PLC (8) SKANSKA CONSTRUCTION UK LIMITED (9) SKANSKA …
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Unite member says he feels fully vindicated in Crossrail “blacklisting” case as open court statement delivered
Unite news release. 21 March 2023. A landmark case involving allegations of contemporary “blacklisting” on the flagship Crossrail project has concluded following a statement in open court yesterday (Monday 20 March). Skilled electrician Unite member Daniel Collins, an electrician, took a case for blacklisting, breaches of data protection and misuse of private information against construction …
Reinstate the Murphy 4!
Victisation dispute at Murphy’s, Limerick, Ireland Central London protest, 14 March Construction giant Murphy’s has sacked four Unite members, including the long standing steward, for attending a union meeting in a site canteen in Limerick. Originally 14 workers were suspended but only those most associated with the union were dismissed. This is blatant union victimisation. …
Spycops inquiry confirms spying on unions and blacklisting
Blacklist Support Group update and statement The public inquiry into undercover policing held hearings this week at the end of Tranche 1, and involved a number of lawyers making closing statements based on the evidence so far. The most important statement was from the Counsel to the Inquiry – which was effectively a summary of …
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And just 11 years later …
I have learned that an article of mine from The Guardian appeared in this book, which was published in 2012. It might have been nice to have heard that from the publisher, but …
Electricians protest at blacklisting in high voltage sector, warn of safety risks
Electricians are demanding energy firms SSE and Scottish Power intervene after one of their contractors allegedly sacked and blacklisted three colleagues when they sought recognition for their union Unite. They warn labour shortages in the booming high voltage energy sector could lead to an erosion of safety standards without the protective effect of unions and …
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5 years later…
Today, the TUC releases an eve-of-the-World-Cup report, detailing the experiences of workers who spoke to our researcher earlier this month. The link to the report is below, but the foreword was written with the Playfair Qatar team, and is an important follow up to our last post 5 years ago. ______________________________________________________________________ In 2014, the TUC […]Read more…
Georgia and the Russian Civil War: A reply to Paul Vernadsky
This letter to the editor of Solidarity was published in the 27 July 2022 issue of the newspaper. I have not yet read Antony Beevor’s new book on the Russian revolution and civil war so…Read more…
From Foxley to Facebook: Thinking the unthinkable about dictators
A few weeks ago Russia indicated that it might designate Facebook as an extremist organisation. To block such a thing occurring, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, clarified its position. It had…Read more…
From Foxley to Facebook: Thinking the unthinkable about dictators
A few weeks ago Russia indicated that it might designate Facebook as an extremist organisation. To block such a thing occurring, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, clarified its position. It had recently changed its rules to…Read more…
Review: Confronting Antisemitism on the Left – Arguments for Socialists, by Daniel Randall
Dan Randall is a British socialist and opponent of anti-semitism. That should be a tautology; after all, aren’t socialists by definition opponents of all forms of racism, including…Read more…
Our economy is an organised rip-off
“British capitalism has been a playground for asset strippers, speculators and monopolists” “When business profits, we all do.” Keir Starmer … MoreRead more…
No housing crisis in Peppa Pig World
Swindon Tories deny there is a housing crisis In response to a Labour resolution calling on Swindon Council to declare … MoreRead more…