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Nov
17: NHS props up the private profiteers
A practice nurse, from the Welsh NHS reports:
With the recent events in the world of high finance, we have seen many
examples of the state bailing out private financial institutions. However
this is not a new phenomenon.
Within the
field I work in, the NHS, the tab is frequently picked up for botch-ups
within the private sector.
continued:
Oct
28: Save the Royal Glamorgan Neo-natal Unit!
Working class
people in the Pontypridd area are mounting a determined and inspiring
campaign against the ’temporary’ downgrading of the Neo-natal services
at the Royal Glamorgan hospital, in Llantrisant, near Pontypridd.
Sarah
Mayo reports:
Oct
20: Bangor Students vote to fight fees.
After a long campaign spearheaded by Socialist Students,
Bangor students overwhelmingly voted yes to fighting fees - 271 students
voted YES, whilst the no campaign only received 104 votes. This shows
that a clear majority supporting our policies of opposing ever-increasing
student debt and fees. We put forward the need for a mass campaign including
a national demonstration.
Iain Dalton reports
Unfortunately
Socialist Students and others had to build this campaign in the teeth
of opposition from the NUS leadership. NUS National President Wes Streeting
and NUS Wales President Ben Gray spoke at meetings against the Campaign
to Defeat Fees. Instead of calling for a campaign involving the mass
of students linking up with the trade unions, the NUS leadership called
for a strategy of merely 'negotiations with ministers'. This was clearly
rejected by students in a ratio of almost 3 – 1
Students also passed a motion forcing the students union into calling
action on November 5, as part of the NUS day of action on student debt.
NUS Wales is not organising any event this day, which is of increased
importance given that the Welsh Assembly is discussing cutting back
on the assistance that is available to all Welsh students studying in
Wales.
Oct
1: - Swansea SP public meeting - 'Capitalism in crisis - was Marx right?'
Swansea Socialist Party's public meeting chimed
with the mood and outlook of thinking workers and students in Swansea.
This was reflected by the fact that of the 25 in attendance, 6 signed
up to join the Socialist Party and £220 was raised for the fighting
fund.
Sarah Mayo reports:
Dave Reid, SW Wales organiser, made a searing analysis of the failures
of capitalism, condemning state handouts to bankers and spivs,-‘socialism
for the rich’. In contrast, we stand for ‘socialism for the poor’ -
genuine, democratic socialism. We link immediate campaigning issues
(such as defending the NHS,and calling for a windfall tax on the gas
and energy companies) with the wider need to fundamentally change society.
Kate Williamson, from the ’Youth Against Racism’ campaign, explained
the vital need to campaign against the BNP and the far-right and how
she is keen to learn more about socialist ideas as a positive alternative
to this threat. There were thoughtful and generally optimistic contributions
from the floor, including a discussion on the role of the trade unions,
how to campaign effectively against the far-right, lessons of the anti-war
movement and why we need a new mass party for working class people.
Swansea SP branch are proud of our best public meeting in some time
and we are as enthusiastic about making the most of these new opportunities
for the party as we are in our determination to fight capitalism!
Sept
27: Students move left.
Reports from college freshers' weeks....
Sept 26: Train cleaners second strike
Swansea train cleaners employed
by ISS and contracted to clean First Great Western (FGW) trains have
staged a second 24 hour strike over poor pay and conditions.
Alec Thraves spoke to RMT pickets at Swansea's High Street station.
"We were initially offered zero % by ISS who are blaming FGW for
not paying them enough. There is now a small offer on the table but
given the current cost of living it is still a huge pay cut in real
terms. Our members are stuck in the middle of these two huge 'cash rich'
companies and are being treated abysmally. Most of our members are on
minimum wage with no shift pay, no sick pay, no enhancement for overtime
and some cannot even get uniforms and safety footwear. ISS staff at
Swansea are getting at least 40% less wages than FGW pay their own staff
for doing the same work".
Send messages of support to: -
b.kelly@rmt.org.uk
Sept
17:Swansea Singleton
Hospital -concessions won, but public debate denied.
Despite huge concerns and demands
for an open public debate, Swansea Community Health Council (CHC) has
voted by 5 votes to 2 to deny public consultation over plans to change
Swansea's minor casualty unit at Singleton Hospital into a GP led service.
Alec Thraves reports:
NHS campaigners, with Swansea Socialist Party members to the fore, argued
that these proposals were part of the ongoing downgrade of the unit
and were being bulldozed through without public consultation, by the
Trust management.
At the CHC meeting, the Trust blamed government policies for the acute
shortage of staff to cover the unit and claimed that recent regular
closures of the casualty meant it was 'unsafe'. They threatened complete
closure if their proposals were not accepted. This 'pistol to the head'
approach obviously affected the decision not to allow the general public,
patients and staff to scrutinise the Trusts proposals..
However, even our relatively short campaign has resulted in the Trust
modifying its original proposals. Instead just a 12 hour, daytime GP-led
service with no provision between 8pm and 8am, the unit will now remain
open 24 hours. Unlike the original proposal, no patient will be turned
away during the night.
Singleton staff, the CHC and health campaigners will be monitoring the
unit closely to ensure the service promised is delivered and that it's
long term future is guaranteed.
Aug 19:Credit
crunch bites Cardiff Bay
Another building development in Cardiff Bay has
been frozen as the credit crunch bites. The Bay is peppered with half-finished
apartment blocks, newly-built relics of boom and bust, semi-permanent
eyesores that remind us of the inability of capitalism to solve basic
human needs.
Report
by Dave Reid....
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