Today Lloyds TSB shareholders voted to accept a taxpayer subsidy while also voting to buy out one of their biggest rivals.  People must be wondering why a bank that can afford to be buying other banks needs a state subsidy.  It is like asking for housing benefit so that you can afford to but a second home.

Meanwhile, the Government spend more public money on TV advertisements calling on people to report benefit fraud.  Today we have witnessed a glaring example of an undeserving and dishonest claim for state help, get phoning!

The SNP answer was to have HBOS taken over by their wealthy supporter Sir George Matthewson.  According to Alex Salmond Sir George is the man to protect Scottish banks.  When Matthewson was in charge of the RBS he presided over 18,000 job cuts, and he is still paid by RBS as a consultant.

Solidarity believe in the democratic nationalisation of the banks and financial institutions to provide cheap credit for housing and for the economy as a whole.  To read Capitalism in Crisis - A Socialist Reponse, passed unanimously at the recent Solidarity Conference, click 'read more' below

The members of two trades unions representing council workers in Scotland have rejected the pay offer from Cosla.  Cosla had offered a pay rise of below the rate of inflation this year and next year, effectively a pay cut for workers.  Today's figures see inflation falling to 4.5% from 5.2%, still well above the Cosla offer of 3% this year and 2.5% next year.

GMB represent 25,000 council workers and voted 2-1 against accepting the offer.  Unite members also rejected the deal, their Scottish Regional Orgainser Jimmy Farrelly said his union's members voted for rejection in a high turnout.

"There is a genuine resentment and frustration by our members".

Solidarity Co-Convenor Rosemary Byrne called on the party's members to get behind the union members in the next stage, possible strike action:

"Many of Solidarity's members play an active role in these unions in local government, we will stand alongside them in this fight for as long as it takes."

SUN 30 NOV

SRSM annual John Maclean Rally, assemble 1pm at eastwood cemetery Glasgow, march to John Maclean cairn in Pollockshaws.  Live music and entertainment, all welcome.

Speakers: Bill Kidd MSP (SNP), Tommy Sheridan (Solidarity), Brian Quail (SRSM/SCND)

TUE 02 DEC

SWP Meeting – Capitalism Isn’t Working – The Case For Socialism.  7.30pm, St Andrews in The Square, Saltmarket, Glasgow

Speakers: Lindsey German and Martin Smith

Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement have called for a full public inquiry into health and safety in Scotland's open cast coal mines following the deaths last year of Colin Ferguson and Brian French at Pennyvenie.
 
At Solidarity's annual conference in Glasgow last weekend, a motion from Coalfields Solidarity calling for the inquiry was passed unanimously.  Jim Walls, convenor of shop stewards in TGWU/unite Scottish Coal branch, who represents workers across Scotland's coalfields said:
 
"We are delighted that Solidarity have backed our call for a full inquiry.  A fatal accident report will not be sufficient to explain why so many deaths occur in this industry, only a full public inquiry will identify any systematic problems in the operation of open cast sites."
 
Coalfields Solidarity is a branch of Solidarity, Scotland's Socialist Movement formed by workers in Scotland's open cast mines.

To read the full motion click below.
 

Anyone watching the coverage of Barak Obama’s US Election victory could not fail to be moved by the genuine outpouring of joy and enthusiasm that accompanied the result. 

Millions of Americans, angry at the state of the economy, angry at the inequality that exists in their nation and angry at American foreign policy have delivered a stinging rebuttal of the politics of George W Bush, John McCain and the Republican Party.