Opposition to library closures mounts

The proposal to close fifteen libraries in the Belfast area has been met with strong opposition. Hazel Gilliland, who has been campaigning against the closures in Ballymacarrett told the The Socialist that, "the proposals would have a devastating effect. There are no facilities left in the community. Children will grow up without local access to books and the elderly will lose an important place to relax and enjoy a good book."

Home Help Slander

Privatisation to blame, not workers!

Following the recent revelations that the Southern Health Trust has received 15 accusations of ‘ill treatment’ by home help workers, Socialist Party representative Pat Lawlor has stated that privatisation is the problem, not workers.

Stand up to homophobia

To the editor, The Impartial Reporter,

I'm sure I wasn't the only reader of your paper to be disgusted by the homophobic content in the letter from Patrick Maguire in last week's paper.

It is estimated widely that approximately one in ten people are born homosexual and that this ratio is similar pretty much around the world. As a result of widespread hostility and prejudice, many homosexual people suffer from unremitting bullying, isolation and rejection from their families and communities. The situation in Fermanagh is known to be particularly grave in this regard.

Bonuses for Bankers… Dole for youth…

CAPITALISM STINKS!
Join the socialist opposition

Bankers at Barclay’s Capital have been thrown a pay increase of a staggering 93%. From a modest £99,000 these investment bankers have gone up to £191,000 in just one year and that doesn’t include their bonuses!

NHS - Not safe in their hands!

"You call this cuts - I'm not scared to say cuts... The amount of money available to the NHS is decided by the government. We will have less money to meet rising demands... There are hard decisions to be made. I have to balance the books."

That was the £140,000 a year chief executive of North Central London NHS (NCL) trying to explain to 350 people at a protest meeting why NCL were discussing seven different "scenarios" to cut £560 million from its £2.27 billion budget by 2016-17

Picket against Health Cuts

Show your opposition to the cuts
Picket Belfast Trust Executive meeting
9.30am Thursday 25 March
Knockbreda Health Centre, Upper Knockbreda Rd (opposite Forestside Shopping Centre)

Called by the Socialist Party

For more info Tel: Pat Lawlor on 07810522111

Abolish “Steps to Work” – modern day slave labour

Youth Fight for Jobs is demanding the immediate abolition of Steps to Work, the scheme introduced by the Assembly which forces the unemployed to work for free. Steps to Work can be compared to modern-day slave labour. If people refuse to participate, they face getting their dole cut off – not much of a choice there! Employers don’t have to pay a single penny in wages to those who are put to work.

We need jobs, not to be patronised!

Paddy Leathem Flynn outlines some of the ways which the unemployed are forced to take part in useless “back-to-work” schemes.

Steps To Work
An introduction to enslavement for the unemployed this “training” scheme includes practices such as creating a chair made from blown up balloons and telling your fellow victims something about yourself which is embarrassing. This type of humiliation and patronising of the working class is deemed “preparation for the world of work”.