News and Analysis

By Alec Thraves Swansea Unite retired members branch, probably one of the largest and most active trade union branches in Wales, invited our new Swansea West Labour MP and recently promoted Pensions Minister, Torsten Bell, to address our meeting on the performance of first seven months of the Starmer government. Around 30 Unite members, ex- shop stewards, conveners and activists, ...

By Aris Prevost, Cardiff Socialist Students Since the news of 400 jobs cuts at Cardiff University, there has been a flourish of activity to fight back against the cuts. The University and College Union (UCU) held a rally outside of the Senedd (Welsh Government) building to show their members’ outrage on 4 February. Over 400 people were present. There was ...

By Aris Prevost (Cardiff University Socialist Students) Cardiff University has announced a massive slate of cuts, with up to 400 jobs at risk, along with entire courses facing closure. The School of Music, Nursing, Modern Languages, and the School of Religion and Theology are set to be completely cut. And other courses are being combined into new schools, a cover ...

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 Mark Evans, Retired Members Branch Secretary Carmarthenshire County Unison (personal capacity) Members gave blood,sweat and years to the council pay their pension For approximately the first ten years I was branch secretary of Carmarthenshire County Unison local government branch with around 4,000 members I cannot recall the branch dealing with a case of a member being refused ill-health retirement ...

Build the socialist opposition to Starmer’s Labour By Joe Fathallah, Cardiff Socialist Party As if working-class people are not already struggling enough with rising bills and prices, from this April essential bills are set to increase by an average of almost £250 for millions of households. Energy prices are projected to rise by an average of £47 a year, water ...

By Matt Dobson, Socialist Party Scotland I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all dayOvertime hours for bullshit paySo I can sit out here and waste my life awayDrag back home and drown my troubles awayIt’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten toFor people like me and people like you…Livin’ in the new worldWith an old soulThese rich men north ...

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 Aris Prevost, Cardiff University Socialist Students The Welsh Labour government announced recently that it would be following the Labour government in Westminster by raising university tuition fees. From September 2025, Welsh students in Wales will be charged £9,535 a year, an increase of £285. Fees had already been raised by £250 this September. The changes bring the university sector ...