News and Analysis

How can a buyer be trusted with jobs and communities if they won’t take on workers’ pensions? By Rob Williams, former convenor Swansea Visteon It is becoming increasingly clear from the different bids to take over (or be virtually given) all or part of Tata Steel’s UK operations that none of the potential buyers won’t take on the £15 billion ...

By Alec Thraves According to some commentators, the multinational Tata Group has a reputation of being a paternalistic and caring corporation that takes into consideration the wellbeing of its workforce. Try telling that to the 4,000 steelworkers in Port Talbot and the tens of thousands across the rest of England, Wales and Scotland who either work for Tata Steel or ...

The National Front organised their annual “White Pride” event in Swansea. Barely 25 fascists from all over the UK huddled in the rain outnumbered by the police protecting them from over 300 anti-fascist protesters until they were escorted by a large police contingent and police horses back down their usual back alley before being escorted out of Swansea. One particularly ...

By Ross Saunders South Wales saw just a glimpse of the working-class thirst for a radical alternative to pro-capitalist politicians on Saturday, when over 500 trade unionists and supporters gathered to hear Jeremy Corbyn and other speakers at the Trade Union Pride rally in Cardiff. 1000 more heard him address the Keir Hardie memorial lecture in Aberdare later that day. ...

By Ross Saunders It was like a Viking raid. Over forty people – mostly children and teenagers – stormed into County Hall in Cardiff and occupied the foyer in protest at Cardiff Council plans to cut back funding for their Play Centre. Cardiff’s Labour-run council has twice tried to shut the facility in Grangetown, along with the other six Play ...

“Plaid councillors have a choice of whether to vote for cuts or not” Carmarthenshire County UNISON branch has written to Plaid Cymru councillors to demand they step backs from cuts. The Plaid Cymru group on the council has found £20 million in council reserves. But instead of using the cash to protect services and campaign for their permanent funding from ...

By Dave Reid Aslef and RMT union members at Arriva Trains Wales walked out for 24 hours on 4 January with all its services cancelled, over terms and conditions. Some services on the morning of 5 January were also disrupted, with the strike causing chaos as many returned to work after the Christmas break. The pay demands of the dispute ...

By Dave Reid “No more lies – give us a rise!” Hundreds of Cardiff Bus drivers converged on Cardiff City Centre today in an impressive show of strength as the bus network ground to a virtual halt. The drivers have taken action after weeks (and years) of fruitless negotiations with management at council-owned Cardiff Bus. They have submitted a 4% ...

Carmarthenshire council party change means no change in cuts Plaid Cymru claimed all the way through the recent General Election campaign that it was one of the “anti-austerity” parties. Having seized power in Carmarthenshire Council from Labour when the Independents changed sides, Plaid has had an opportunity to demonstrate its anti-austerity commitment since May. But as a recent press release ...

Rhydyfelin campaigners show it pays to fight cuts In a stunning victory campaigners have forced Rhondda Cynon Taff council to re-open Rhydyfelin library. After occupying the library and chaining themselves to the bookshelves the campaign took the council to court over the procedure for closing the library. The combined pressure of a vibrant campaign by the community with the threat ...