Welsh News

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 ...

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 ...

By Dan Townsend (Pontypridd, RCT Socialist Party) Storm Bert has left communities across South Wales reeling. Streets have turned into rivers, homes are waterlogged, and Pontypridd’s lido – lovingly restored after the 2019-20 floods – is once again in ruins. While the destruction may seem natural, the root causes are anything but. RCT’s valleys, historically shaped by industry, now bear ...

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 Mariam Kamish (RCT Socialist Party) Like most councils in Britain, RCT Council faces a funding gap, after years of austerity under Tory and Labour governments. And councillors are proposing devastating cuts. The Labour council is trying to divide us. The consultation process asks you to explain how a cut or closure would affect you – and where you think ...

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 Aris Prevost and Joe Fathallah Socialist Students was at freshers to meet and discuss with all those looking for an alternative to rising tuition fees, marketisation of higher education, slum housing, and universities investing in arms manufacturers responsible for death and destruction in the Middle East. Keir Starmer’s Labour government is threatening to raise the tuition fees cap to ...