Why should Jeremy Corbyn go to the CBI conference?

So Jeremy Corbyn is not going to attend an "important" conference hosted by the CBI - why should the leader of the Labour Party who opposes much of what the CBI stands for attend such an event? Why should Corbyn, who is leading the opposition in Parliament to the unjust Trade Union Bill - backed wholeheartedly by the CBI - attend their conference in order to exchange pleasantries and thereby convey some sort of legitimacy on that organisation's stance on workplace matters?

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady attacks the shambles of a Trade Union Bill

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady attacked the government’s Trade Union Bill as “ a shambles.”

Addressing a TUC rally at Westminster Central Hall, Ms O’Grady declared “we are going to oppose this anti-worker, civil rights denying trade union bashing shambles of a bill.”

She questioned if the Bill is not about attacking the right to strike, then why are employers being given so many more ways to take unions to court and take away their funds.

 

“They can take away our rights but never take away our spirit,” said a defiant Ms O'Grady, who declared the Bill "unfair and undemocratic."

 

The TUC general secretary challenged the government to allow unions to conduct electronic balloting if it is serious about wanting higher turnouts on strike votes. “If electronic balloting is good enough for the Tory Party to select its mayoral candidate, then it is surely good enough for trade unions,” said Ms O'Grady, who claimed that the Bill amounted to not just an attack on trade unions but all working people. “Sisters and brothers today is just the beginning, let’s show that this bill is bad for workers, bad for democracy and bad for the economy.” 

 

 

The rally at Westminster Central Hall was followed by lobbying of Mps in Parliament, with a particular focus on Tories, some of whom have shown a willingness to speak out about the legislation. Former Conservative Party leadership contender David Davis has likened elements of the bill on restricting picketing to something out of General Francos dictatorship in Spain.

The rally got off to a lively start with bag pippers heralding in a group of firefighters joining the protest. The Unison staff choir gave a rendition of “Something inside so strong” whilst a representative from the Police Federation took a bow.

Comedian and Equity member Andy Parsons brought some light relief to proceedings, suggesting that the six million trade unionists in Britain, all email and phone business minister Sajid Javid to tell him what they will be doing in two weeks time.

Andy suggested twitter messages could be sent to #SajidJavidwants to know and if reinforcements were needed agency twitterers should be brought in to keep the flow going. “If trade union officials have to wear armbands, then all trade unionists should wear armbands, then when one is asked his or her name the answer should come I’m Spartacus,” said Andy.

 

Communication Workers Union General Secretary Dave Ward called for every trade union to organise a day of action to protest against the Bill.

“This bill is more vicious than anything Margaret Thatcher’s governments did against trade unions. I’m saying that every trade unionist should receive a letter from their general secretary stating that their union has a programme for a day of action,” said Mr Ward.“We have to go further; we have to be prepared to make the sacrifices our forefathers made. We have to be prepared to do all things necessary to stop this bill being made law.”

 

Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti  warned that the government was trying to divide and rule with its application of the TU Bill. She quoted how the right to strike was lined up against the right of the public to receive a service. “Who are trade unionists if they are not the public,” said Ms Chakrabarti. “This government is on the wrong side of liberty, equality and history. “We have solidarity on our side.”

 

General Secretary of the FBU Matt Wrack accused the Tories of seeking to remove red tape for business whilst piling it on for trade unions.

 

He described the bill as an attack on the rights of every single working person in Britain today. “They intend to destroy our public services, pay and pensions,” said Mr Wrack, who called for the creation of a mass movement that makes the Bill irrelevant.

More personal debt due to ongoing low pay

Why the surprise about the growth of individual debt? The government continues to take from the poorest in our society so how are people meant to cope? The comment about failing to learn the lessons of the credit crunch seems disingenuous. The lesson was the bankers acted recklessly, spent all the money and continued as if nothing had happened. It was the poorest and most vulnerable who were made to pay.

-see:Metro, 2/11/2015

Will Lords help out on blocking Trade Union Bill?

If the Tories want to cut tax credits but raise the wages of the low paid by implementing the living wage, why the hostility to trade unions?Stronger trade unions will see more money filtering down to the low paid. The Trade Union Bill threatens to neuter unions, maybe the Lords can help on this one as well.

 

published Evening Standard - 29/10/2015

Government approach to tax credits and foodbanks ensures only a wider circle of poverty

Where is the logic to the government's approach to poverty? We learn that Iain Duncan Smith is putting jobs advisers into foodbanks, where 25% of those attending are already in low paid jobs. No doubt many of these people will become more dependent on the food banks when the government takes away their tax credits. Then there will be those at present surviving but now forced into foodbanks because their tax credits are to be taken away. Duncan Smith and George Osborne seem only interested in creating an ever larger vicious poverty circle involving low pay and tax credits requiring relief via foodbank charity.

- published in Independent - 31/10/2015/ Metro - 2/11/2015 /Guardian & Morning Star - 3/11/2015

Game of two dramas - one on pitch the other not - West Ham 2-1 Chelsea

This was a game of two dramas, one on the pitch, the other a sideshow in the stands involving Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

The drama on the pitch concerned a pulsating match that took many twists and turns, including the sending off of Nemanja Matic in the 44^th minute and a disallowed offside goal two minutes earlier.

These decisions caused the bench to erupt, first assistant coach, Silvino Loro  was  sent to the stands, then Mourinho was also sent off after making comments to referee Jonathan Moss at half time.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic stressed that it was the sending off of Matic that had the biggest impact, he was afterall involved on the field of play. “I feel for Mourinho, a lot of the decisions have gone against his team this season,” said Bilic, who nonetheless was delighted with the performance of his own team. “It is brilliant to win against the Champions, unbelievable. There is nothing wrong with admitting we’re doing good, playing well and deserved to win,” said Bilic.

West Ham began the game brightly with Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lazini a constant threat. Payet signalled his intent in the 16^th minute with a dipping free kick that Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic did well to tip over the bar. But it was only to be temporary respite, as a minute later Payet sent a corner over that fell to Mauro Zarate on the edge of the penalty area to drive home.

Chelsea came back with Willian seeing his free kick pushed aside by West Ham keeper Adrian. Another exsquisite piece of skill from Payet saw a back flick send Lanzini clear but he clipped his shot over the bar.

There then came the controversy with Matic first booked for a foul on Cheikhou Kouyate, then sent off when he scythed down Diafra Sakho.

The disallowed Cesc Fabregas goal and a ball scrambled off the line by West Ham when some thought it over helped fuel the off field drama.

In the second half, Chelsea came back strongly, controlling the game, despite being a man down. This dominance was rewarded 10 minutes into the half when a cross reached Gary Cahill who powered home.

West Ham though were not to be denied, getting back control that finally saw them regain the lead. This time it was a cross from full back Aaron Creswell that was met by substitute Andy Carroll rising at the near post to head home.

Bilic was full of praise for the big striker, explaining how the club are managing his fitness over the long term, so as hopefully to avoid injury. If he stays fit, Bilic believes Carroll with be a big benefit for West Ham and England.

Mourinho, meantime, disappeared without addressing the press.  

Why the Tory government gets on so well with the Chinese

The burgeoning special relationship between the Conservative government and China makes a good deal of sense when viewed in the wider context. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has already let slip that the Chinese economy - with its reliance on low paid labour - is the model he would like to see being adopted in Britain. The policies put in place by George Osborne under the aegis of anti-austerity mark out in embryonic form the creation of just such an economy here. 
 

The lack of concern over the human rights position can be also understood, given that Britain morphes ever closer to the China’s authoritarian model of society. So we see the attack on trade unions via the likes of the Trade Union Bill and the taking away of other basic human rights on the altar of the so called fight against terrorism.  

The lack of concern for the role of China in terms of dumping steel on world markets, thereby making the British steel industry redundant, can also be understood in terms of what drives this Conservative government. It represents a very narrow strand of finance capital, as far as it is concerned little else matters. 

None of which ofcourse explains why the government is prepared to allow China to operate a nuclear power station in the UK.