This week the Welsh trade union movement comes together in Llandudno for TUC Cymru congress to debate motions and consider priorities for the next two years. JESS TURNER sets the stage
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Covid-19 crisis creates a compelling case to cancel local authority debt
Cancellation of councils’ debts would free up desperately needed resources amid this unprecedented pandemic, says MARTIN WICKS
Blocked fertiliser exports and an extreme climate fluctuation may spell disaster for global food production, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
HOLLY TURNER, DR EMMA RUNSWICK, JORDAN RIVERA and PAULA DUNNE reflect on their joint union fringe meeting at this week’s Royal College of Nursing Congress in Liverpool
The Employment Rights Act marks a major victory for workers, but without stronger enforcement and collective organisation, its promises may fall short, says ALICE BOWMAN
The ghosts of Custer’s doomed campaign haunt a modern America still devoted to waging imperialist war, says STEPHEN ARNELL
Trump’s drive for ‘regime change’ in Cuba has deepened the crisis across the island – while Venezuela has reaffirmed its commitment to Bolivarian solidarity, says FRANCISCO DOMINGUEZ
TAKING on more debt is not the only way to create spending power. Debt cancellation, for instance the debt owed by local authorities to the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB), would provide a huge increase in spending power because they would no longer have to repay loans or interest charges.
Last year local authorities paid around £4.5 billion to the PWLB in loan repayments and interest charges.
Overall, local authorities have around £77bn in debt held with the PWLB.
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