Workplace In Brief

Helicopter disaster

Four North Sea oil workers were killed on 23 August when a Super Puma helicopter ditched onto the sea off Shetland. The two main unions that organise in the off-shore industry have demanded the grounding of these helicopters as they have been involved in a series of ditchings and deaths recently. All 33 helicopters have been grounded for investigations.

Super Pumas transport thousands of workers every year to and from the rigs and platforms so the unions must draw up a concrete plan to force major improvements in safety. The oil unions in Norway fought for and won the introduction of a Sikorsky helicopter, widely seen to be safer.

Many workers will refuse to get in a Super Puma again, they must be protected from victimisation. Workers' reps must be able to scrutinise the maintenance and safety checks on all transport used in the North Sea. There must be a major programme of unionisation and preparation for industrial action to stop any more deaths.

But this shows once again the need to nationalise the oil and gas sector under democratic workers' control.

For more see www.socialistpartyscotland.org.uk

Rail strike

London Overground guards, members of transport union RMT, were on strike on 25 and 26 August. This followed the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) of their plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the whole of the London Overground network.

The government has cut 12.5% from the TFL budget so far and there are more cuts lined up over the next five years. All ticket offices are facing closure, among other things.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Closing ticket offices and hacking back the other station and on-train grades would turn the tube and rail in London into a death trap with kids in buggies jammed in gates and passengers who need assistance left to fend for themselves. The whole plan for Ł2 billion of London transport cuts must be met with industrial and community resistance to push it back."

Stop Coastguard Cuts

The Swansea and Gower coast is one of the most beautiful places in the country at this time of year and attracts huge numbers of visitors. But visiting this part of the country is a lot more hazardous this year.

According to the PCS union, 13 rescue coordinators work out of the Swansea centre, instead of the 22 there should be.

Nine out of the 19 coordination centres around the country are earmarked for closure, including Swansea. These are cuts that threaten to kill. Fight all coastguard cuts.

Ronnie Job

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

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