The Daily Blog Open Mic – Saturday 17th December 2016

1. Hillary Clinton would like to ban RT from the internet as dangerous propaganda which lost her the Election. Is this fascism?

   …and the mainstream media generally agrees with her about Russia. Why is Russia being scapegoated?

   …Here is RT’s Peter Lavelle on ‘CrossTalk’ discussion of these issues:

   ‘Mainstream’s revenge’

   https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/370221-mainstream-media-fight-control/

   “The mainstream media is very angry and fighting back – and fighting back dirty. As a result of low ratings and the inability to control the narrative any longer, the mainstream now demonizes alternative media. The powers that be couldn’t be happier.

   CrossTalking with Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, and Eddie Scarry.”

   …and

   ‘Russia card’

   https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/370503-america-europe-politics-russia/

   “When it comes to American politics specifically and European politics in general, there is nothing like playing the Russia card. If there is something wrong or there is something you don’t like, simply blame Vladimir Putin. That is exactly what the CIA is doing.

   CrossTalking with Ray McGovern, Philip Giraldi, and James Jatras.”

2. This is the text of a leaflet by the Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement for a planned demo tomorrow

   OPPOSE 90-DAY ‘FIRE AT WILL’ TRIAL PERIODS!

   SUPPORT FELLOW WORKER, OLLY HILL!

   PICKET – SUNDAY, 18th DECEMBER – 12.00 to 1.00pm

   Loretta Café & Restaurant, 181 Cuba Street, Wellington

   The Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement (AWSM) are protesting the firing of hospitality worker Olly Hill from Loretta, under a 90-day trial clause. No reason was given to Olly, a complete violation of the principles of natural justice.

   We will not let this go unchallenged!

   We demand that Loretta cease using 90-day trial periods in their business and any associated businesses.

   AWSM also calls on the Government to completely abolish 90-day trial periods. They are designed to instigate fear into new employees, to prevent them exercising their rights in the workplace and standing up for better terms and conditions of employment. They are method by which employers can lower wages and conditions across the working class by creating access to a pool of workers made docile by the fear of losing their jobs with no legal redress. We see them for what they are – a means of creating increasingly precarious employment – an attack on the working class as a whole.

   90-Day trials periods are even a failure when judged by the Government’s own supposed reason for introducing them – to increase employment by opening up ‘job opportunities’ for ‘vulnerable’ workers! The Government’s own research conducted by Treasury released earlier this year showed that the very small increase in hiring which might be attributable to employer’s ability to use the 90-day trial period was “statistically and economically insignificant”.

   While the study found that there was no evidence that workers from disadvantaged groups were more likely to be hired it did find that 13,700 employers sacked at least one person on a 90-day trial in the most recent year surveyed! That’s a lot of workers thrown back on to dole and the tender mercies of WINZ.

   We believe the best way to defeat the 90-Day fire-at-will law and start to fight back is to use the collective power we possess as workers and working class communities to come together to disrupt business as usual.

   Our tools are strikes, pickets, occupations and other direct action tactics that challenge the smooth functioning of capitalist society – solidarity is our most powerful weapon.

   When we stand together we can become a force that is unstoppable.

   AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!

   Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement – http://www.awsm.nz

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