By Dave Reid Health visitors working for Cwm Taf Health Board have voted to extend their month-long strike for fair pay for a further two months, determined to win the banding which is theirs by right. In a process that began in 2021, Health Board (HB) bosses signed an internal job grading matching them as a band 7 acknowledging a masters qualification ...

By Dave Reid (Cardiff Trades Union Council) Unite members working for Cardiff Labour Council’s Telecare Department, supported by other council workers and Cardiff Trades Council, were out lobbying  the Council against the dangerous situations that the council management are putting them into. Telecare workers are dedicated professionals who provide a vital 24 hour emergency response service for 5,000 vulnerable people ...

By Dave Reid Needed—a real political alternative for the working class The Wales Gathering of Your Party on October 25th in Merthyr is a welcome, if limited, start to building a new workers’ and socialist party. The 31,000 people in Wales who indicated in July they wanted to join shows the huge potential for a mass party to challenge the ...

By Dave Reid, Socialist Party Wales secretary Eluned Morgan, Labour First Minister of Wales, took the first steps to distance Welsh Labour from the historically unpopular Starmer-led Westminster government, declaring that she would “call out” UK Labour if they undermined Wales. She called for Starmer to halt part of the UK government’s plans to cut disability benefits, rethink cuts to ...

By Dave Reid Workers and students have reacted with shock, although not so much surprise, at the disgraceful announcement of 400 job losses and the cutting of dozens of courses by Cardiff University. Many staff have been in tears as whole departments that have existed for decades are being closed and others merged: Ancient History, Modern Languages and Translation Programmes; ...

By Dave Reid Unite members at Princes factory in Cardiff took their second round ofindustrial action against the attempt of the company’s new owners, Newlat, torenege on a pay offer of 4.5% and impose a 3% pay deal that does not beginto address the losses of workers from increases in the cost of living. Whilefood companies like Princes have increased ...

By Dave Reid Nearly 200 workers at Princes juices in Cardiff are on strike 17 and 24 December as the company reneged on a pay offer. Members of Unite at Cardiff, Wisbech, Long Sutton, Bradford and Glasgow were offered between 4% and 7% by the original owners of the company, Mitsubishi. But the company was sold to Newlat S.p.A. which ...

By Dave Reid Thousands of farmers have been protesting at the changes to inheritance tax laws contained in Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget. The changes mean that the exemption from paying inheritance tax on agricultural land valued at over £1.5 million is removed, and farms worth over that amount will be liable for 20% inheritance tax when the owners die. ...

By Dave Reid Labour-run Caerphilly council has doubled down on its £45 million cuts agenda by announcing 600 job losses at the authority. This follows threats to close meals on wheels, Blackwood Miners’ Institute and Llancaiach Fawr house (as reported in The Socialist Issues 1287-1292). At its latest meeting the Labour administration gave in to pressure not to close the ...

By Dave Reid Junior doctors went on strike at hospitals across Wales for three days January 15th -17th. At UHW hospital in Cardiff doctors chanted “Claps don’t pay the bills” on a very lively picket line. Hundreds of junior doctors attended the rally at the Senedd on the 2nd day of strike action. Some junior doctors earn just £13.65 an ...