Reports round-up

Devon and Cornwall bus strike back on

First Devon and Cornwall bus drivers in the RMT union were set to strike over pay on Thursday of this week.

They have rejected of a revised offer from the company. First Group had conceded some of the drivers’ demands but insisted that these must be “self-financing”.

This follows a lively strike last month. Send messages of support to a.scott@rmt.org.uk

Marxists convene to debate in London

Up to 900 people attended the ninth annual Historical Materialism conference in London last week. Visitors from around the world came to nearly 150 meetings over four days.

Indian Marxist Jairus Banaji gave the Deutscher Memorial Prize lecture. The prize itself went to David McNally for his book Monsters of the Market: Zombies, Vampires and Global Capitalism.

Ballot at airport as pay is grounded

Workers at Birmingham airport are being balloted for industrial action over pay.

The baggage handlers, technicians, engineers and security, safety, administrative and information desk staff have been offered a below inflation 2.5 percent pay rise.

This follows a three year pay freeze and attacks on pensions and conditions. The workers are members of the Unite union.

Factory jobs under threat in Norwich

More than 100 workers at Syfer Technology in Norwich could lose their jobs as it moves its non-defence work to China and Taiwan.

Last week staff were shown a presentation of the new site in China. “It’s like they were expecting us to be excited about how they can make more profit,” one worker told Socialist Worker.

“But it didn’t quite happen like that—people were really angry.” Syfer made over £5 million profit in their last published accounts.