Solidarity 336, 17 September 2014

Four hour strike in NHS not enough

Last week’s Solidarity carried an article that argued “a four hour walk out [on 14 October] is a good tactic in the NHS [as a starting point]” and “It is vital that discussions on strike tactics are held at workplace level where union members know what action can be most effective”. I disagree. Unison’s leadership are worried about low turnout and unnecessary deaths on a strike day. They have attempted to solve these problem by proposing a four-hour stoppage. They hope healthworkers will be more likely to strike for half a day and it will be less risky for patients. But the four-hour tactic...

The Jobbik-Putin nexus

Although my first week (of a study year) in Budapest has been filled with mundane tasks of internet installation, sim cards and university course registration, it was not uneventful. The city is covered in political posters for the local elections on 12 October. These elections are not without controversy — the date for them was only set in late July, and they follow a change to the electoral law brought about by the ultra-conservative Fidesz majority government to ensure they will win the Budapest elections more easily, an area that is a traditional stronghold of its leftist oppositions...

Stop humiliating students!

At the start of term 50 students at Heaton Manor school in Newcastle were put into isolation and issued with detentions for wearing “the wrong uniform”. The school has insisted that a certain type of trousers be worn, saying students should not wear “tight fitting trousers or leggings”. This is not an isolated case, it has similarities to a movement in the US against sexist dress codes in schools (where there are usually no uniforms) and colleges. Those movements have been highlighting dress codes that ban short skirts or shorts, “spaghetti strap tops” or tight trousers. At South Orange Middle...

Q&A: socialists and Scottish independence

Solidarity opposes the demand for Scottish independence. Shortly after we publish, the referendum will be over, but the issues it has raised will be around much longer. This “Q & A” is a response to some questions we have encountered. We encourage readers who disagree or want to raise other issues to write in . It’s up to the people of Scotland to decide on independence. Yes, but no one denies that. Given the widespread demand for independence, it is good that a referendum is being held (whether it’s good that the demand is widespread is another matter). It doesn’t automatically follow that...

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