Support the Junior Doctors Strike

On Wednesday, 9 March 2016, junior doctors are starting a 48 hour strike - the first of three further industrial actions protesting against changes to the junior doctors contracts.[1] The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers fully supports the actions of junior doctors and calls on the Government to reconsider its decision to unilaterally impose the new contracts.

The Haldane Society notes that the new contracts being forced upon junior doctors will force them to work longer hours for 30% less pay. Coupled with the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act, these changes to the NHS facilitate the privatisation of health services. This is the latest step by the Government to cut funding and working conditions in a public service and to smooth the way for privatisation.

The Haldane Society has similarly campaigned to protect legal aid against severe and excessive cuts. Over the last years, legal aid has been removed from many areas of civil law and new criminal legal aid contracts were imposed in such a deeply flawed process that they had to be withdrawn.[2] In the same way as has been seen with junior doctors, public lawyers were misrepresented as being concerned about their wages rather than the provision of public services. The Haldane Society condemns the attack on public services which extends to all sectors affecting librarians,[3] teachers,[4] and local authorities[5] amongst others. George Osborne has indicated that this is only the beginning and further cuts will be introduced in the near future.[6] 

The Haldane Society reiterates its support for junior doctors and emphasises that the challenges to cuts in public services are about more than salaries. This is about protecting our public services.

Read More

Solidarity with the #Heathrow13

The Haldane Society continues to support the 13 Plane Stupid campaigners facing possible prison sentences for their peaceful protest against the destruction of the climate.   They are set to appear at Willesden Magistrates Court this Wednesday 24th February 2016, and we encourage all of our members to attend the solidarity protest. 

Download the leaflet.

We also encourage our members to support the ongoing campaigning work of Plane Stupid against the expansion of Heathrow, and the destruction to local communities and the global climate that it would cause

"Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" Panel: Women in Work

Our final Conference session from the International Women's Conference 2015 is on the subject of Women in Work.  The speakers are:

  • Nadja Charaby
    Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
  • Yasmine Bennamanii and Zouzou Hadjer Zahida (Algeria)
    Lawyers
  • Bronwen Handyside (UK)
    Vice Chair of UNITE London and Eastern Region

"Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" Panel: The State and Women's Bodies

The sixth of our conference sessions from the International Women's Conference is on the subject of the State and Women's Bodies.  The speakers are:

  • Gareth Peirce (Chair)
  • Helen Steel (UK)
    Police Spies Out of Lives Campaign
  • Sarah Ricca (UK)
    Solicitor, Deighton Pierce Glynn
  • Mara Clarke (UK)
    Abortion Support Network

"Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" Panel: Women in Peace and Conflict

In our fifth panel session from the International Women's Conference we hear about Women in Peace and Conflict from:

  • Wafa Kafarna (Palestine)
    Norwegian Refugee Council
  • Alejandra Muñoz Valdez
    Legal Advisor, International Crimes and Accountability Department, the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights
  • Barbara Spinelli (Italy)
    Member of the Italian Association of Democratic Lawyers and Expert on Femicide/ Feminicide
  • Dr. Ahlam Beydoun (Lebanon)
    Lecturer in Law at the Lebanese University

"Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" Panel: Campaign for the Ratification of the Istanbul Convention

The European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights presented a brief session on the campaign for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on action against violence against women and domestic violence.

Previously today: Violence against Women;

Next tomorrow: Women in Peace and Conflict.

"Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" Panel: Violence against Women

Our third conference session is on the subject of Violence against Women.  The speakers are:

  • Rosa Logar (Austria)
    President of Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE).
  • Nichola Marshall (UK)
    Solicitor, International and Group Claims Department, Leigh Day