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Report from the Shelter strike
Shelter workers held their first strike day on Wednesday 5 March - it was a great success. The National Pensioners' Convention were there with their banner, as was the National Shop Stewards' Network, with theirs.

The brand new banner of the 1/542 branch had its first outing, and nine members of the Crisis shop turned up to support (most of us at 7.30 am others a bit later).There were other branch members there as well.

When the National Executive Committee of the TGWU turned up to support, Shelter management called the police and said they were blocking the pavement. The police came and said: "there is no problem" and went away.

This is typical of the aggressive bullying and intimidatory tactics Shelter's management has used throughout the dispute -- in particular now proceeding with the disciplinary process for all those staff who have refused to sign to vary their contract -- preparatory to sacking them, in order to re-employ them only on lower terms and conditions.

Some of the staff they plan to sack have worked there for ten years and more -- and have habitually worked extra hours with no pay, because they are passionate about the service they provide to their clients.

Adam Sampson, Shelter's Chief Executive, claims that he only cares about the clients, and that this means that he can treat staff any way he wants. However, attacking workers' wages and conditions will inevitably result in a worse service.

The principled and dedicated workers at Shelter know that if they are driven out, and others brought in on continuously deteriorating wages and conditions (because government policy on getting public services on the cheap continues, along with a worsening economic situation and a decline in grants to government bodies commissioning the public services) the service itself will suffer.

Just look at what has happened in the social care sector -- home helps working 70 hours a week on the minimum wage, without CRB checks, taking the work because many don't have right of residence in the UK, and it is the only job they can get.

Shelter workers will not accept that management can threaten them into signing away their contractual rights.

They are taking another day of strike action on Monday 10 March -- same time same place. Respect National Council member Ken Loach has said he will turn up on the picket line on that day.
 

News and articles of interest

Here are some articles and news reports we think are worth looking at

From Triumph to Torture by John Pilger
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it.

SATs school tests criticised by official report by Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery
In May, millions of school children throughout England undertook their Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in English, mathematics and science. The statutory tests are widely considered to be flawed and almost universally reviled by teachers and children alike.

Health: Who asked for choice? - Morning Star
IF Health Minister Ben Bradshaw believes that there is political capital to be made by taking on our NHS doctors, he will quickly come unstuck.

Afghanistan troop deaths outnumber those in Iraq by Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Militants in Afghanistan killed more US and Nato troops than those in Iraq in June after a fresh spate of rebel attacks that highlighted the growing strength of the Taliban.

Iran legally entitled to develop nuclear energy, says UK MP
Iran is legally entitled to develop nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a British MP visiting Tehran for the first time. George Galloway, who was expelled from Britain's ruling Labor Party for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war, also criticized the hypocrisy of Israel's belligerence towards Iran, which has its own illegal stockpile of nuclear weapons.

In the Cause of Fear and Ignorance by John Pilger
Muslims are alone as they watch the British state, with its "obstinate incomprehension" of their faith, do to them as it would never do to those of other faiths. Imagine Jews treated this way. You cannot imagine it; the profanity is too great. The silence of British Jews, who have the history, is also great.

Migrant Myths by Adam Ford
As part of her degree course, Kurdish migrant Filiz Celik researched the conditions that workers from overseas face in the United Kingdom. The full text of her study can be read here, but this summary by Adam Ford gives some idea of the reality behind the media-generated myths.

Tesco shareholders reject TV chef's chicken welfare call
Tesco shareholders today voted against a resolution from TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which called for the retail giant to improve its chicken-rearing standards.

Academies expelled 10,000 pupils
Academies have been accused of excluding disproportionately high numbers of students after it emerged that they excluded nearly 10,000 pupils for poor behaviour last year.

Let companies run state schools for profit, says Sir Simon Milton
Private companies should be allowed to run state schools at a profit and be free to dismiss teachers who are not up to the job, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said yesterday.

For more stories, click here