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....