After 51 days in occupation the Dundee Prisme workers have decided to end their occupation. The reason we have taken this decision is that it looks like we have secured funding to take our co-op venture forward and save the jobs that we thought had gone.
Our occupation began to secure our redundancy payments and other monies that were denied to us by our employer when we were sacked. However, during the occupation we also decided to fight to safeguard our jobs because we believed there was a viable business, even if our predecessors did not. It looks like we have achieved this aim. A new company Discovery Packaging and Design Ltd is going to be launched on 1st May 2009.
This victory would not have been possible if it had not been for the support we have had from the general public, trade unionists, socialists and many others. This support and solidarity has been overwhelming and has helped give us the energy and determination to carry on for more than 7 weeks.
We said at the beginning of this that we were little people who had refused to be little anymore. We are proud of what we have achieved and our dignity is intact. We showed we would not be walked over by an uncaring employer.
We want to thank all those who have supported our struggle over the last 51 days, your support has been invaluable. Thanks once again to you all.
The Prisme workers will be leaving the factory together and united at 5pm on Friday 24th April.
Inverness By-Election
George leafleting in Inverness
Today sees polling day in the Inverness West by election. Solidarity’s small platoon of activists have delivered our election leaflet to every house in the mixed ward – easily the best leaflet of the campaign and the only one to seriously outline policies on defending public services, scrapping the council tax, opposing expensive Public Private Partnerships and creating local green jobs.
George MacDonald, our candidate has established himself as the working class anti establishment candidate who’d be prepared to enter the council to rock the boat, not sit on the gravy train.
Tommy Sheridan today called on parents and pupils not to be despondent about the decision of Glasgow Council's Labour group to endorse the council's plans for mass closures of primary and nursery schools in the city. The former Glasgow Councillor said:
"Six of the Labour councillors voted against the plans, we have to make sure that those six are joined by more at the full council meeting next week. This can be won if the message is made clear - close our school and you will lose your job!"
There are 79 councillors in Glasgow, 33 in opposition parties SNP, Lib Dems, Scottish Green Party and Conservative. It will take a full united vote from the opposition and 7 Labour rebels to overturn the closure plans.
Parents and pupils will be joined by activists from across the city at a mass rally tomorrow organised by the city-wide Save Our Schools Campaign. http://sosglasgow.wordpress.com/
Media "Terror" Bias Against Scottish Muslims
Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan condemned the BBC and other media as biased against muslims in it's coverage of stories regarding 'terror threats.' He said.
"Today we see another report on the BBC linking Pakistan and Terrorism. Even though the report is unconfirmed; and there are no details; and there has been no trial; they are quick to report the arrest of a Scottish muslim in Peshawar. And yet, still, we see no mention of the threats against the Central Mosque in Glasgow where the person who carried out the threats to bomb the mosque and behead Scottish muslims has already been tried and found guilty."
NUJ members at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail are continuing their action against redundances with a 24 hour strike this weekend and a 48 hour stoppage next Friday and Saturday. Over 200 union members have also passed a motion of no confidence in Trinity Mirror’s Scottish management.
A mass meeting in Glasgow expressed disgust about the way individuals were told they were compulsorily redundant. Union members called for the reinstatement ofthe 20 odd journalists selected forthe chop and demanded the union pursue every way at their disposal to challenge the dismissals.
Paul Holleran, NUJ Scottish Organiser, backed the call and told the meeting "We will step up industrial action, taking more strike action next week as well as pursuing all legal action possible, both collectively and on behalf of individuals.
“It is also time for the politicians to put more pressure on the people at the top of the table at the Record and Mail and demand reinstatement of our members."
Donations for the Record and Mail chapel should be made payable to the ‘Alan Hutcheson Fund’ and sent to NUJ Scotland, Third Floor, 114, Union Street, Glasgow, G1 3QQ.
Four hundred people took to the streets in Glasgow yesterday in support of the parents who are occupying the St Gregory's and Wyndford primary schools.
Save Our School's Organiser, Richie Venton, said:
"The spirits of those occupying the schools is sky high, because they know the Labour councillors are terrified by the width of support for the Save Our Schools campaign. This was a demonstration of unity in the communities against the worst attack on kids' education in living memory."
Solidarity's Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne urged all parents and campaigners to continue their individual fight from school to school and to support the wider united "save our schools' campaign. She said:
"Together, so much more can be achieved. Solidarity give our full support to the sit-ins, to the campaigns in each school and to the Save Our Schools campaign and ask all of our members to keep up the actions in support of children and parents."
EU tells UK to cut public spending, NO2EU campaigners warn
EU finance ministers have given Britain six months to come up with plans to cut public spending, the EU-critical electoral alliance No2EU – Yes to Democracy warned today.
No2EU - Yes to Democracy West Midlands co-ordinator Cllr Dave Nellist gave the warning after EU finance ministers meeting Prague last week warned the UK to cut its budget deficit to the EU Stability and Growth Pact limit of three per cent within four years.
Solidarity offers its support to the workers at Visteon who are currently in occupation at three sites in Belfast, Basildon and in London.
These ex-Ford workers have been in occupation since last Wednesday protesting against being sacked and left to claim statutory redundancy from the state.
pic by Charlie Kimber
Please text urgent messages of support to:
Des Heemskerk (Basildon) 07814432215
John Macquire (Belfast) 07816 590 380
Kevin Nolan (Enfield) 0780 889 5724
And e-mail messages to:
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Parents at Wynford and St Gregory's Schools in Glasow have occupied their school in opposition to the Council widespread schools closure programme.
Speaking from inside Wynford school, Nikki Rathmill said: "We decided to occupy the school at the start of the holidays because after the break migh be too late. We are here for as long as it takes."
There are 8 parents occupting Wynford School and 9 inside St Gregory's.
Further reports will apear here later. Send messages of Support to
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Events Calendar
Tommy Sheridan today called on parents and pupils not to be despondent about the decision of Glasgow Council's Labour group to endorse the council's plans for mass closures of primary and nursery schools in the city. The former Glasgow Councillor said:
Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan condemned the BBC and other media as biased against muslims in it's coverage of stories regarding 'terror threats.' He said.
Thursday 15 April 
A mass meeting in Glasgow expressed disgust about the way individuals were told they were compulsorily redundant. Union members called for the reinstatement of the 20 odd journalists selected for the chop and demanded the union pursue every way at their disposal to challenge the dismissals.
EU finance ministers have given Britain six months to come up with plans to cut public spending, the EU-critical electoral alliance No2EU – Yes to Democracy warned today.
Parents at Wynford and St Gregory's Schools in Glasow have occupied their school in opposition to the Council widespread schools closure programme. 
