AltAusterity Digest #13 September 7-13, 2017

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party will force a Commons vote on scrapping the 1% public sector pay cap. However, when asked whether Labour would support a general strike by public sector employees, the shadow health secretary, Jon Ashworth replied: “People go on strike for industrial reasons. They don’t go on strike for political reasons and … the Labour party supports people who take industrial action.” Ashworth continued by saying Labour preferred the government to lift the cap rather than go on strike.

According to different sources, between 200,000 and 400,000 protestors have taken to the streets in France to oppose labour law reform proposed by President Emmanuel Macron. The new laws hand companies more flexibility in negotiating wages and conditions directly with employees, and limit damages paid to workers for unfair dismissal.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump met with North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to discuss tax reforms with these Democrats in “red” states. The Republicans can pass tax reform in the Senate with a simple majority vote only if the plan would not increase the nation's deficit outside of the 10-year budget window, but are looking to shore up support across the aisle.

National Post newspaper workers have announced plans to try to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The unionization drive follows a controversy over bonuses paid to several top Postmedia executives while the company cut staff.

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