Saturday, 11 September 2010
STRIKE A SPARK
Nurses in the NHS work hard in difficult circumstances and are thus highly regarded by the majority of the country. They suffer verbal hostility and abuse on a regular basis and violence is a common occurrence, particularly in A&E and mental health departments. Despite the NHS staff remain dedicated to those who require care.
It is somewhat of a surprise then that this commitment and dedication doesn’t cross over into the political arena.
For many years the refusal of nursing staff to take any proactive actions to prevent damage to services and care has been justified by the simple doctrine of ‘If we strike people will suffer’. A doctrine actively encouraged by management and successive Governments.
So it appears that whilst nurses refuse to take any action which will immediately impact on patient care, they remain complicit in the deterioration of the same care over a number of years by neglecting to defend it.
The NHS has been slipping into the private market place for many years now. Almost all non-frontline services are now run by private businesses eg cleaning, food and repair services. All this has happened without so much as a whimper of concern from staff or unions. The formation of Foundation Trusts and giving GP’s the responsibly to but services in, will only serve to speed up the privatisation process.
If nurses were to go on strike how long would it be before the Government were forced to make concessions? It wouldn’t be possible to bring the Army in as they have done when Fire services have walked out, and there is certainly not enough scab labour to fill the role. Nurses therefore are in a very unique position to halt this privatisation.
The time has long passed for the signing of petitions or looking for unions for support. Lose your short sighted idealistic vision of how to care and get on strike before the NHS doesn’t exist.
We’re First, your Last, We’re
First UK shares are doing well at the moment, what an unsurprising shame that the services aren't improving and drivers pay and conditions are worsening.
If you've found yourself waiting for a bus longer that usual or noticed the longer queues at bus stops the past few months there is a very simple explanation for this. First in Bristol no longer pay for 'spare' drivers. 'Spare' drivers are rota'd to cover services that are without drivers because the allocated driver can't do their shift because of ill health or other legitimate reasons like family or child commitments.
The company is refusing to pay drivers to come into work to do nothing until they are needed to cover a colleague. Makes perfect sense to the share holders and bosses but if you are late getting into or home from work or school because your bus doesn't show you might wonder where First Bus UKs' loyalties lie. Doesn't look like with the passengers and drivers you may conclude!
So, now you know what to tell your boss/teacher when you show up late for work/study/hospital or doctors appointment/family visit; capitalism does not benefit the majority of people only a small minority of the rich.
Bristol Class War says - don't vote, bash the bosses and the rich who do all they can to make us suffer whilst enriching themselves. If the working class were in control this would never happen!
If you've found yourself waiting for a bus longer that usual or noticed the longer queues at bus stops the past few months there is a very simple explanation for this. First in Bristol no longer pay for 'spare' drivers. 'Spare' drivers are rota'd to cover services that are without drivers because the allocated driver can't do their shift because of ill health or other legitimate reasons like family or child commitments.
The company is refusing to pay drivers to come into work to do nothing until they are needed to cover a colleague. Makes perfect sense to the share holders and bosses but if you are late getting into or home from work or school because your bus doesn't show you might wonder where First Bus UKs' loyalties lie. Doesn't look like with the passengers and drivers you may conclude!
So, now you know what to tell your boss/teacher when you show up late for work/study/hospital or doctors appointment/family visit; capitalism does not benefit the majority of people only a small minority of the rich.
Bristol Class War says - don't vote, bash the bosses and the rich who do all they can to make us suffer whilst enriching themselves. If the working class were in control this would never happen!
MITIE
Activists target MITIE HQ
On the 12th of August, an unknown group of activists attacked the corporate headquarters of asset management company MITIE Group plc in Bristol, causing extensive damage. It is reported that 43 windows were smashed during the night as protesters made their feelings felt towards the company. Two MITIE vehicles were also attacked in Staple Hill and Lockleaze, with tyres being punctures, windscreens smashed and body work damaged. The activists issued a short communiqué via the Bristol Indymedia news site explaining their actions: ’MITIE bosses make money from the recession. They are parasites on councils, the public and their own workers who are exploited … To the MITIE bosses we say feeling nervous, under attack and unsure of the future? Welcome to ProClarity.’ MITIE has been involved in a protracted and bitter dispute with cleaners in the City of London (largely undocumented and migrant worker) over pay and conditions, sacking those who have attempted to organize under the Justice for Cleaners campaign. They have also colluded with the Borders Agency and immigration police in the detention of nine cleaners who supported the ongoing campaign.
MITIE has also been targeted before, when Bristol No Borders organized a noise demo outside the HQ as part of the Co-Mutiny week of autonomous events in September 2009. MITIE, which provides services for the public sector including NHS and education, earned a total revenue of £1,521.9 million last year. Article from Freedom Press. freedompress.org.uk
On the 12th of August, an unknown group of activists attacked the corporate headquarters of asset management company MITIE Group plc in Bristol, causing extensive damage. It is reported that 43 windows were smashed during the night as protesters made their feelings felt towards the company. Two MITIE vehicles were also attacked in Staple Hill and Lockleaze, with tyres being punctures, windscreens smashed and body work damaged. The activists issued a short communiqué via the Bristol Indymedia news site explaining their actions: ’MITIE bosses make money from the recession. They are parasites on councils, the public and their own workers who are exploited … To the MITIE bosses we say feeling nervous, under attack and unsure of the future? Welcome to ProClarity.’ MITIE has been involved in a protracted and bitter dispute with cleaners in the City of London (largely undocumented and migrant worker) over pay and conditions, sacking those who have attempted to organize under the Justice for Cleaners campaign. They have also colluded with the Borders Agency and immigration police in the detention of nine cleaners who supported the ongoing campaign.
MITIE has also been targeted before, when Bristol No Borders organized a noise demo outside the HQ as part of the Co-Mutiny week of autonomous events in September 2009. MITIE, which provides services for the public sector including NHS and education, earned a total revenue of £1,521.9 million last year. Article from Freedom Press. freedompress.org.uk
Shoplifters Are Welcome!
Classics free-shop is the big red and black building on stokes croft that stocks clothes, books, children’s toys, furniture and just about anything else donated by the local community to be taken by people from the area and any interested passers-by.
From our perceptions of the project we see it a perfect example of a free exchange society. It helps people within the community to socialise, cloth and entertain themselves for free, getting things that would otherwise eat into peoples already shallow pockets.
The beauty of this D.I.Y project is that it was started and is maintained by the people with no prior experience in such projects and no real amounts of cash, only a desire to help people and a willingness to put the time and effort in. It’s ran in a non-hierarchical way by volunteers which can be anyone including you! The shop is stocked completely by donations of unwanted items. This system can be replicated by anyone in simply and easily with the determination to build a project within your own community which is beneficial to normal, skint people like you and me.
So come to the Stokes Croft free-shop and bring, take or just look around and have a chat and if you want to help out just ask what needs to be done or when you could volunteer.
The shop is typically open Thurs-Sat, 2-5:30pm but often later.
Watch out for a free-shop coming to a building near you!
From our perceptions of the project we see it a perfect example of a free exchange society. It helps people within the community to socialise, cloth and entertain themselves for free, getting things that would otherwise eat into peoples already shallow pockets.
The beauty of this D.I.Y project is that it was started and is maintained by the people with no prior experience in such projects and no real amounts of cash, only a desire to help people and a willingness to put the time and effort in. It’s ran in a non-hierarchical way by volunteers which can be anyone including you! The shop is stocked completely by donations of unwanted items. This system can be replicated by anyone in simply and easily with the determination to build a project within your own community which is beneficial to normal, skint people like you and me.
So come to the Stokes Croft free-shop and bring, take or just look around and have a chat and if you want to help out just ask what needs to be done or when you could volunteer.
The shop is typically open Thurs-Sat, 2-5:30pm but often later.
Watch out for a free-shop coming to a building near you!