Trade Union Pledge in support of the St Paul’s Occupiers

Launched by the initial signatories given below at a general assembly of the St Paul’s Occupation on the evening of the 27th October 2011. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

‘As trade unionists we express our support and admiration for the activists taking part in the occupation at St Paul's. We believe that they deserve the support of all those who think that we need a fairer and more just society. 

‘The occupiers represent the rage against the bankers and a government that puts the interests of the rich before the interests of ordinary people. 

‘We welcome the occupation’s statement giving support to the public sector pensions strike on 30th November. The support that the occupiers have given to the demonstrations by electricians facing huge attacks to their pay and conditions has also been magnificant. 

‘We support Reverend Giles Fraser, a man of principle, forced to resign due to his opposition to the possible threats of violence against the occupiers. His resignation must not be taken as a green light for the police to step in to clear the occupation. 

‘We pledge to stand with the occupiers against any attempt to physically remove them. 

‘The right-wing media and politicians may seek to vilify the occupiers, but we stand firmly with them. We are heartened by the growth of a new, young and vibrant movement that, like us, seeks a better society - one that puts human need before bankers' greed'. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

Initial Signatures (all in a personal capacity): 

Mark Campbell, UCU National Executive Committee, and London Metropolitan University UCU 
Jess Edwards, Assistant Secretary, Lambeth NUT 
Ian Bradley, Unite London Rank & File Committee 
Andy Reid, PCS National Executive Committee 
Nick Grant, NUT National Executive Committee 
Richard McEwan, UCU National Executive Committee, and Tower Hamlets College UCU 
Simon Hester, Prospect, Vice-chair, HSE Branch 
Jeni Reid, PCS, Asst Branch Secretary, HSE National Branch 
Rachel Eborall, Unison East London Mental Health Branch 
Matt Saywell, GMB Holborn Branch Secretary, and GMB London Regional Council 
Keith Crane, PCS, DEFRA Group Executive 
Craig Farr, Lambeth NUT LGBT Officer 
Ursla Hawthorn, NUT Waltham Forest 
Luke Evans, Goldsmiths UCU Executive Committee 
Des Freedman, Goldsmiths UCU Executive Committee 
Ken Muller, Islington NUT Assistant Secretary 
Mandy Brown, UCU Branch Secretary, Lambeth College 
Peter Coville, Vice-chair, Reading College UCU 
Jake Douglas, Asst Branch Secretary, CONEL UCU 
Jim Wolfrys, UCU National Executive Committee, and Kings College UCU 
Kelvin Smith, Queen Mary University London UCU 
Charlie Kimber, NUJ 
Matthew Myatt, NUJ Hampshire Chapel 
Richard Willis, GMB Redbridge 
Maureen Taylor, GMB Redbridge 

Reinstate Abdul Omer Mohsin

Time	Monday, November 7 · 9:00am - 10:00am
Location	Radius House 51 Clarendon Road WD17 1HU Watford, United Kingdom
Created By	Raymie Kiernan
More Info	Abdul Omer Mohsin, the Unite convenor at London Sovereign buses, was sacked in March 2010. He played a leading role in organising workers at Sovereign, first as a rep, then as convenor. They are the lowest paid drivers in the capital. Abdul became a leading figure in Unite’s London Bus Campaign. He led successful industrial action at Sovereign at the beginning of 2009. His leadership attracted the attention of Sovereign management. He was first suspended by the company over an incident at the Harrow garage. An anti-fascist poster put up by Abdul Omer advertising a demo backed by Unite was ripped down. He was then reinstated, with no charges brought against him. His eventual sacking followed his defence of a worker at a disciplinary hearing. Abdul has suffered severe health problems and financial difficulties since his dismissal. Unite have backed the campaign for Abdul’s reinstatement. His sacking is seen by the union as a case of victimisation. Unite’s general secretary Len McCluskey has offered his “100 percent support”. Drivers at Sovereign have refused to elect a new convenor to replace Abdul and are still calling for his reinstatement. At the start of October they voted for a ballot on action to reinstate Abdul Omer, linked to their present pay campaign. Rights Abdul’s victimisation is an issue for every trade unionist. The Tories and the employers are using the economic crisis to attack trade unionists and trade union rights. We have to defend union reps if we’re to stop the onslaught on our pay, conditions and jobs. Abdul has an Employment Tribunal on 7-11 November. Unite are funding his legal representation. Supporters have called for a protest on the first day of the hearing. Bring union and campaign banners, show your support – defend the right to organise!

Feed the world –without destroying the planet

A TALK WITH: MARIA NERI FROM CONZARRD, AN NGO FOCUSING ON AGRARIAN REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES.

7:15PM THURSDAY 17TH  OF NOVEMBER

FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, JESUS LANE, CAMBRIDGE.
OPEN TO ALL – FREE FOR ALL.

Rapidly rising food prices are one of the most immediate ways that the economic crisis hits the poorest people. It led to riots in many parts of the world in 2010 and was a significant factor in igniting the Arab Spring. Millions are dying of starvation in Africa and it’s easy to assume that this is because we aren’t
producing enough food to feed everyone. In fact food production has become increasingly globalised and distorted since the 1970s with the result that a handful of countries now dominate the trade in staple foods.

This leaves the most vulnerable countries at the mercy of those who dominate the trade. Global warming
compounds the problem through drought. The rich countries of the north have imposed so called “liberalisation” on poorer countries – often through institutions like the International Monetary Fund –
and subsidising agribusiness at the expense of the most vulnerable.

Agribusiness and GM crops have pushed up yields in a way that destroys the environment and denies food to hungry people. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez hit the nail on the head when he said that the food crisis is “the greatest demonstration of the historical failure of the capitalist model.

Socialist Resistance and Green Left argue for an ecosocialist approach to the problem where the people who produce food have the right to determine their own agricultural policies, free from interference from the
multinationals or international institutions with their neo-liberal policies such as the IMF and the World Bank.
These issues are not discussed enough on the left and this seminar gives us a unique opportunity to do so.

A Red/Green Forum Meeting

TAX JUSTICE e-petition

Subject: [London] Sign the TAX JUSTICE e-petition started by Caroline Lucas MP - cascade to all Greens and all others

Sign the TAX JUSTICE e-petition started by Caroline Lucas MP : Just 100,000 signatures and there will be ructions in the House - that is, a guaranteed debate in the House of Commons.

Use all your groups / email lists to share the link :

Sign the petition here:http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/18996

CoR had the story up and posted a few days back, and now has the direct petition link on the website : http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2011/10/tax-justice-epetition-by-car
oline-lucas-mp/


Romayne Phoenix

OLSX event "Your workplace: cuts, grievances and organising resistance"

From: Pete Firmin
Occupy London Stock Exchange (outside St Pauls Cathedral) are hosting an event on Thursday (27 Oct) evening entitled
"Your workplace: cuts, grievances and organising resistance"
The occupiers would like to invite as many trade unionists and workers to come along.

We would also like to get people from different trade unions speaking, in particular about Nov 30th strikes and the preparations for it.

It will go on from 5 until 6.30pm in front of the steps of St Pauls.
After which they would like to take anyone who would like on a tour of the camp.

Please come down and support the event, bring people from your workplace and union and if possible collections.

London Fire Brigade services should be under public ownership - Darren Johnson

Acknowledgements to Martin Francis' blog Wembley Matters http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/

London Fire Brigade services should be under public ownership - Darren Johnson

Responding to the FBU, UNISON, GMB joint report ‘Privatisation of London’s fire service training and control centre report published on October 24th, London Assembly Member Darren Johnson said:

“I don’t believe that Londoners agree with privatisation of the fire service, and the uncertainties that come with it. I don't want to see pivotal London Fire Brigade services privatised as we have seen far too many privatisations that have been costly and ineffective. That is why I welcome these proposals by the unions for the Fire Brigade to work with staff and unions in designing improved in-house provision for training and fire control."

On the privatisation of fire engines, Darren said:

“The financial fiasco of the privatisation of London Fire Brigade fire engines has raised fundamental questions about the financial viability and safety of handing key frontline emergency services assets such as Fire engines over to the private sector. I have urged the Mayor of London to bring it back under public ownership”
Posted by Martin Francis at 11:02 AM
Labels: asylum seekers. Darren Johnson. Green Party., London Fire Brigade

Donate to support Mick Dooley

Derek Wall writes
I have sent some money, would encourage others to do we need to be in the thick of these battles, supporting working class socialist candidates for union posts
http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2011/10/ucatt-election-for-general-secretary.html
I know times are very difficult and things are tight, but please take a look at this finacial appeal and consider making a donation. Also, please forward on to those who you consider would have an interest and that may be sympathetic to the request.
UCATT election for General Secretary: Financial appeal: Friends of Mick Dooley


You may be aware of the election for the General Secretary of UCATT. Nominations have finished and theballoting of members begins on 11th November.
The election has been forced upon UCATT following Michael Dooley’s successful challenge in proving illegal malpractice surrounding the previous election in 2009. The union appealed the decision and lost.
Disgracefully, in the mean time UCATT has sacked Michael Dooley. As I write this note we await Mick’s tribunal result against the unfair dismissal.
Michael Dooley is contesting the election and without any doubts stands a great chance of winning, the other main candidates can be best summed up as ‘establishment hacks’.
He is the only candidate who pledges to take an average wage if he is elected to GS.
He is the only candidate that not only believes in direct action but actually takes part in direct action.
He is the only candidate believes that the grass roots, rank and file member are the most important element of any trade union organisation.
He is the only candidate would make employers sit up and take notice.
Now tell me we would not all be better off if Michael Dooley won the election and became General Secretary of UCATT and that is why we should help.
However all of this has taken its toll financially and a call is now being made to supporters who want to see UCATT as a fighting union.

Please make a donation for the fighting fund and to do anything you can to support Mick Dooley in this vital election.

Donations to: ‘Friends of Mick Dooley’
Lloyds bank: Sort code 30 97 84
Account number: 41395168
Or send cheques made payable to ‘Friends of Mick Dooley’
To: 27 Surbiton Road, Southend on Sea, Essex; SS2 4NR
One of Mick Dooley favourite quotes is from Frederick Douglass…………..
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

Rehad Desai Speaking Tour

Below are details of the Campaign Against Climate Change speaking tour taking place over the start of November, there are a number of dates across the country and it would be good to see Green Party trde unionists getting involved.

The Campaign Against Climate Change is bringing over climate activist and film maker, Rehad Desai from South Africa.

This years UN Climate Conference takes place in Durban, and Rehad is part of organising the mobilisations of people from across the country to demand "Climate Justice".

On the same day that they protest, the CaCC demonstration will take place in London.

Rehad is speaking in several different cities across the UK, alongside other climate activists, trade unionists and campaigners. We hope that you will be able to join us.

Please note that while these are firm dates, some information, such as additional speakers may be subject to change.

Rehad is also hoping to raise money while in the UK, to help fund the mobilisations in South Africa. If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of the tour, or towards the cost of the mobilisations in South Africa, please contact CaCC via the website below.

London - Saturday 12 November

London Climate Justice Conference – organised by the Campaign Against Climate Change - Murad Qureshi, GLA member, Labour, Bangadeshi Community, Dr Daanish Mustafa Lecturer on Geography at Kings College, Herbert Mwalukomo ex of Concern Universal and the Wildlife and Environment Society of Malawi, Ichin Cheng, Research Director Sustainable Innovation Lab, Polly Higgins to speak on “Ecocide”and speakers from Biofuelwatch, Action Aid, Platform, CCC Trade union group. www.campaigncc.org/cjconference

Manchester - Monday 14 November, 6.30pm
Manchester University Students Union, additional speakers include Martin Empson, treasurer, CaCC Trade Union group & Bombardier rail worker

Sheffield - Tuesday 15 November, 6.30pm for refreshments, speakers from 7.15pm
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St. James Street, S1 2EW. Additional speakers include Suzanne Jeffrey, chair CaCC Trade Union group. Meeting organised by Sheffield Campaign Against Climate Change.

London - Wednesday 16 November, 7pm
PCS Union headquarters, 160 Falcon Road, London, SW11 2LN. Additional speakers include Chris Baugh, assistant General Secretary of PCS. Meeting sponsored by UCU, PCS, GMB at PCS, Battersea & Wandsworth Trades Council & the Greener Jobs Alliance.

Cardiff - Thursday 17 November, 7pm
Transport House, 1, Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, CF11 9SD. Additional speakers include Phil Thornhill, CaCC national co-ordinator & Marianne Owens (PCS). Meeting sponsored by PCS Wales. CardiffCCC@hotmail.co.uk / 07940108146

Exeter - Friday 18 November, 2pm
Exeter University, meeting organised by Exeter University and College Union (UCU)

London - Saturday 19 November
Unite the Resistance conference, 11am – 5pm, Royal Horticultural Halls & Conference Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PE. http://uniteresist.org

For more information, please contact:

Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union group
www.climate-change-jobs.org

Prince William’s homeless charity Centrepoint faces strike action

30 September 2011

The homeless charity Centrepoint was urged to enter into last-minute talks with Unite, after the majority of its members voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over staff losing thousands of pounds a year in pay.

Unite, the largest union in the country, has asked the conciliation service Acas to intervene as managers seem intent on imposing pay cuts which could see some of the more than 100 staff losing thousands of pounds, while top executives will have their pay ring-fenced from cuts.

Unite’s members voted by 70 per cent to 30 per cent for strike action at the charity, which looks after homeless young people, and its members will meet on Monday (3 October) to decide strike dates.

The charity’s patron is Prince William and Centrepoint hit the headlines when its chief executive Seyi Obakin left the pay negotiations to join the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their visit to America. Unite described Mr Obakin’s trip as ‘an unnecessary sycophantic jaunt’.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: ”There is a clear mandate supporting the view that our members are not prepared to accept that the lowest paid frontline staff should take savage pay cuts, while the senior management keep their pay at the same level.

”Unite calls on the senior management to get back round the table to resolve this potentially damaging dispute at one of Prince William’s favourite charities.

”We hope the board will intervene and bring this iconic charity back from the brink of disaster. We need to prevent this charity from carrying out the cruellest of ironies - cutting our members’ pay by so much it could potentially force them to join the very  homeless that they do so much to help.

”We have a members’ meeting on Monday to decide on strike dates. Unite has contacted Acas in an attempt to resolve this, but the management is being completely unreasonable and putting the future of the charity at major risk.

”At the last meeting we had at Centrepoint the senior management was confident our members would not vote for strike action and they would bat off any negative publicity. This is a dangerous under estimation of our members’ feelings. The senior management's naive industrial relations attitude is a real concern for Unite.“

Unite said that more than 100 staff at Centrepoint have been singled out to face severe wage cuts, demotion and redundancy.

ENDS

Notes to news editors:

For further information please contact Matt Smith 07918 640 587 and/or Unite communications officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940

In the ballot, 69.4 per cent voted for strike action and 30.6 per cent voted against. The number of ballot papers returned was 36, with 25 in favour of strike action and 11 against.

Unite research into Centrepoint’s 2010 public accounts has revealed that the organisation pays six of its senior executives over £60,000-a-year, with one being paid £110,000.

on line petition at http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/centrepoint

Support Bombardier

Feed the world without destroying the planet

A seminar on food sovereignty

November 12, 11-5.30
Registration 10.30.

University of London Union,
Malet Street, London WC1

Organised by Socialist Resistance and Green Left
http://socialistresistance.org/     http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/

Agenda11- 1.30 Introductory plenary
1.30-2.30 Lunch
2.30-4.00 WorkshopsWomen and Food Sovereignty
Agribusiness and the supermarkets
Land rights not Land grabs
Food Sovereignty and Climate change4.15-5.30 Closing Plenary

with Maria Neri Pampilo

Maria has worked for CONZARRD since the mid 1990’s.

CONZARRD is a grouping of popular and non-governmental organisations working on agrarian reform and rural development in Mindanao, in the Philippines. For CONZARRD organic farming is not a luxury – but essential to the survival of the famers.Organic rice for example is more resilient against both disease and flooding as well as cheaper. Organic fertiliser, produced locally enriches the soil rather than depleting it in the way chemical fertiliser does.

Other principal speakers include: Graciela Romero War on Want International Programme Director and author of their report on Food Sovereignty
Rehad Desai: South African climate change activist and documentary film maker, visiting Britain to build support for the climate justice protests in Durban to coincide with the COP 17 summit in December
Derek Wall, Green Left – former principal speaker of the Green Party, author of the No Nonsense Guide to Green politics 
Pierre Rousset : Noveau Parti Anticapalist (NPA), France, and Europe-Asia social forums – Editor of www.europesolidaire.com, has written extensively on Asia particularly the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan
Terry Conway: Socialist Resistance Editorial Board

Food sovereignty not `food security’ is answer  to world hunger

One and a half billion people are at risk from rising food prices. This is the dramatic conclusion of the report by UN food agencies; The state of food insecurity in the World today.  The report talks of a triple crisis of food, climate change and depleted natural resources, which could affect 1.5 billion people across 10 countries. It says: “having 600 million people suffering from hunger on a daily basis is never acceptable”

But the way the UN agencies focus on the concept of “food security” is fundamentally flawed. They promote private investment and increased agricultural productivity – both of which are part of the problem. They have contributed to the development of widespread hunger, rising food prices and small producers being forced off the land by increasing power of agribusiness and the supermarkets.

Socialist Resistance and Green Left say that the answer is food sovereignty; that is the right of the people who produce food to determine their own agricultural policies, free from interference from either multinationals or from international institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. The promotion of neo-liberal deregulation by these institutions has been one of the key factors leading to today’s food crisis.

We say no to the power of the supermarkets. Food producers are at the mercy of the supermarkets who dictate what is grown and what price they will pay. Tesco makes two thirds of its sales and profits in Britain. In the second quarter of this financial year like for like sales in British stores fell by 0.7% while profits increased by 12% in the first half of the year! 

These are not issues that the left in Britain often addresses – we hope you will join us to hear Maria and other speakers discuss why they are vital to us all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want to register for the Feed the world without destroying the planet seminar

Name----------------------------------------------------      

Address--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------        

Email-----------------------------------------------------------

Phone ---------------------------------------------------

Send  £7 or £4 unwaged to PO Box 62732, London SW2 9CQ or by paypal.com to pay resistance@sent.com

GPTU statement on BAE redundancies

GPTU debated the Green left statement at its meeting on 12/10/2011 and decided to change the word "war" in the second line of the second para , wirth the word"struggle". the staement as endorsed by GPTU now reads as follows.


"Green Left offers its support and solidarity to the BAE workers facing redundancy. We believe that everyone has the right to work in secure and rewarding employment and we actively campaign with others in the struggle to make this a reality.

However, we do not mourn the loss of jobs in the defence industry . Rather than producing weapons of war workers at BAE should be employed in the struggle against Climate Change. We support the policy of a Just Transition to a greener economy where workers wages are protected as they make their transition into new areas of industry - even if this covers a period of unemployment or retraining. Just Transition schemes have been shown to be cost effective and also prevent the destructive wider effects to families and within our communities.

The Green Party, at its recent conference, unanimously expressed support for the One Million Climate Jobs Campaign. The campaign booklet, which we recommend everyone to read, and which is available here http://www.climate-change-jobs.org/node/14 sets out clearly and coherently how one million climate jobs could be planned and paid for as part of the UK’s contribution to dealing with the international climate change emergency. Employment would be secure and sustainable, in the transformation of the transport, power generation and housing stock. The initiative would dramatically reduce carbon emissions and dramatically increase employment.

We have no doubt that the skilled workforce at BAE would be valuable in various roles throughout the new and necessary green industries , as could members of the armed forces who are also facing redundancy.

Workers for the World Unite !"

From: noel doyle
To: greenleftdiscuss@lists.riseup.net
Sent: Tuesday, 11 October 2011, 23:14
Subject: [greenleftdiscuss] Sparks against deskillingFrom: noel doyle
To: greenleftdiscuss@lists.riseup.net
Sent: Tuesday, 11 October 2011, 23:14
Subject: [greenleftdiscuss] Sparks against deskilling

Sparks De-Skilling And Pay Dispute Ballot Or No Ballot All Out To Defend Our Future

A sometimes angry and consistently passionate meeting of over 100 electricians, or sparks as they are known in the trade, took place at Conway hall central London tonight to discuss future tactics in their struggle against attacks on their pay and terms and conditions. The sparks are facing an entirely calculated and cynical attack by a cabal of seven construction firms Balfour Beatty, Crown House, Spie WHS/Matthew Hall, Shepherd Engineering Services and NG Bailey. The seven have given workers a stark choice either sign new contracts by December 7^thor face the sack, the new contracts downgrade the sparks from skilled to semi skilled workers and includes a hefty 35% pay cut, from £16.25 to £10.50 per hour. With inflation running at 5% and food and fuel prices through the roof, the sparks have been left with no choice by their employers, they have to fight back.

This is quite clearly an attempt by the group of seven employers to take advantage of the current economic environment of high unemployment and falling wages, to drive down wages in order to increase profits, Balfour Beatty the biggest of the firms and the instigator of this initiative made profits of £50 million last year. These firms have seen the actions of the coalition government in attacking the pay and conditions of the public sector workforce and taken inspiration from that, if the Condems can get away with slashing the conditions of such a highly unionised workplace as the public sector then what's to stop the private sector doing the same to their less organised workforce.

The sparks are not taking this lying down though, they have not waited for the Unite leadership to direct tactics, the last month has seen protests outside building sites up and down the country with more planned over the coming weeks. This action seems to have upset some of the Unite leadership with Bernard McAuley - Unite National Officer, who was present at the meeting, coming under particular criticism for an email he sent describing the wild cat protest movement as “cancerous” and “divisive”. The militancy of the rank and file, who are crying out for a national ballot on strike action, was palpable at the meeting, and seemed to be completely at odds with the measured tone of Mcauley and Gail Cartmail Unite Assisstant General Secretary. The Unite leadership still seems to be hamstrung by the high court decision in May 2010 that ruled its strike of BA cabin crews illegal, McAuley stressed the need for Unite to have a proper membership audit before balloting, obviously the fear of another court case stalks them. This is no use to the sparks of course the clock is ticking for them and it looks likely they will have to take action without the explicit backing of the union.

It is clear that this dispute is a tester for the rest of the construction industry, these seven firms are dipping their toes in the water to test the temperature of union resistance. A defeat of the sparks here, who are a relatively well unionised and organised section of the construction workforce, would open the doors to a more general wage reduction for all skilled construction workers.

The sparks are determined to continue the fight with or without an official ballot, more protests are planned in the coming weeks which will hopefully build into wild cat strikes and targeted closures of high profile construction sites up and down the country, building into the biggest mass walkout of construction workers in years on November 30^th to coincide with the public sector strikes. To do this the sparks are going to need bodies at the protests and picket lines and money fighting fund is being set up to support striking workers details of which can be found  

On their blog http://jibelectricia​n.blogspot.com/

On twitter http://twitter.com/#!/JIBElectrician

On facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002827871645&sk=info    http://www.facebook.com/groups/264935423529258/

Noel Doyle

Scapegoat:Why we are failing disabled people

Scapegoat:
Why we are failing disabled people
Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
11.00am – 13.00pm, Saturday 26 November 2011 with Katharine Quarmby, author, journalist and broadcaster
There is no charge for attending this event
Congress House is a fully accessible building
Please register in advance by contacting:
Email:                        sertucevents@tuc.org.uk         
Telephone:              020 7467 1220
Post:                          SERTUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
Name  
Email  
Address

 
Contact Phone Number  
Union, trades council or organisation  
Any special access or dietary needs

 

Why we are failing disabled people



Programme:
10.30am onwards             Tea and coffee will be provided
11.00am                               Introduction by the Chair of the event
11.05am                               Katharine Quarmby
                                                Panel discussion and questions from the audience
13.00pm                               Buffet lunch/reception
13.30pm                               Close
           
Our society is poisoned by discrimination and prejudice against disabled people. Police crime statistics show that the number of disability hate crimes recorded increased by more than 20 per cent in 2010, to 1569, although that is probably a tiny fraction of the real number that occurred. A recent report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission found that ‘many disabled people regard harassment as inevitable’.


In a recently published and acclaimed book, Katharine Quarmby, asks what can be done to prevent hate crime being perpetrated against disabled people? In her book Katharine analyses the incidence of such crimes and the motivations behind them. And she finds that all too often the assaults were dismissed by social care agencies, before they culminated in murder. Consequently, she asks how and why we are failing disabled people in Britain? Then we must ask, “So where do we go from here? What concrete steps that we can take to achieve much needed and dramatic change”.
‘Scapegoat: how we are failing disabled people in Britain’, was published by Portobello Press on 6 June. It is the first British investigation into disability targeted violence.

Katharine Quarmby is a writer, journalist and film-maker specialising in social affairs, education, foreign affairs and politics, with an investigative and campaigning edge. She has spent most of her working life as a journalist and has made many films for the BBC, as well as working as a correspondent for The Economist, and contributing to British broadsheets, including the Guardian, Sunday Times and the Telegraph.

Katharine was recently the joint winner of the prestigious 2010 Radar Human Rights Person of the Year award for her work on disability hate crime, with friends and colleagues Stephen Brookes and Anne Novis, for their online forum, the ‘Disability Hate Crime Network’.

More details of Katharine’s work can be found at www.katharinequarmby.co.uk
Seats for this event are limited. To reserve a place please register at sertucevents@tuc.org.uk, or call SERTUC on 020 7467 1220 or register by post at SERTUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
____________________________________________

Vote for Mick Dooley the left candidate for General Secretary of UCATT.

On 11 October 2011 20:35, derek wall <wallddd@hotmail.com> wrote:

http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2011/10/vote-mick-dooley-working-class-hero.html

I am backing Mick Dooley the left candidate for General Secretary of UCATT.

No Ecology without socialism and no socialism without trade union struggles and victories.

Great Mick name checks The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, on the video (see above) a classic novel also a classic socialist novel about a building worker.

My friend and comrade Jerry Hicks sent be details of how you can donate to Mick's campaign, spread the word.

Ian Bone has a nice analysis of the UCATT election battle here.


The left are divided in Britain but we can unite behind strong socialist candidates in the trade unions.

 UCATT election for General Secretary: Financial appeal.

Balloting begins on 11th November Mick Dooley is the candidate who pledges to take an average wage, he supports taking direct action and believes in grass roots control of unions. We can help him.

Please make a donation for the fighting fund to

‘Friends of Mick Dooley’

Lloyds bank: Sort code 30 97 84

Account number: 41395168

Or send cheques payable to ‘Friends of Mick Dooley’ to

D Heemskerk: 27 Surbiton Road, Southend on Sea, Essex; SS2 4NR

Sotheby's strike in NY

Acknowledgements to Douglas Rouxel
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Urgent Solidarity Request for London Organizers Network
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:24:01 -0400
From: Banks Andy



I am writing to ask your assistance on an important Teamsters campaign against the Sotheby's auction house in New York, where a group of 40 workers - mostly people of color - have been locked out of their jobs by an institution that caters to the decadence of the world's richest families, individuals and corporations; and, whose Board of Directors includes the likes of James Murdoch. I have attached a fact sheet about the lock out which has passed the 60th day. (websiteishttp://www.SothebysBadForArt.com) Once again, the world's wealthy have returned to the time-honored tactic attempting to starve their workers into submission.

Sotheby's hired the notorious union busting law firm, Jackson Lewis, to master mind their strategy. Their wealthy clientele sit on the boards of museums, ballet companies and operas. These favorite "charities"
controlled by New York's elite also serve as tax shelters while legitimate providers of government social services are being cut. One in five New Yorkers live in poverty and the number is even more dramatic for families of color.

One thing we have found in our campaign is that the wealthy elite do not want to be called out publicly. We have demonstrated and hand-billed their gala fundraisers and even key auctions. Sources inside Sotheby's tell us this is having an impact on Sotheby's. For this reason we are trying to demonstrate at other Sotheby's locations around the world.

On October 13^th , Sotheby's London is conducting their biggest auction of the Fall season and we are asking the British labor movement to help us organize a spirited demonstration at Sotheby's so that all auction-goers will at least get a taste of the discomfort that the 40 families of locked-out workers feel by going without a paycheck for two months.

We are planning on sending locked-out members, local union leaders and Teamster campaign staff to London on October 9^th to help organize this event. I was wondering if we could meet with union activists in London members to ask for their support and let them hear first-hand how America's wealthy ruling elite is waging war of workers.

Thanks for any assistance or suggestions.

Solidarity

Andy

If you can help please contact Jane Holgate jane.holgate1@btinternet.com

Andy Banks

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Director, Campaigns Unit

Deputy Director, Strategic Research and Campaigns Department

+1.202.497.5663 cell phone

+1.202.624.8700 office

+1.202.624.6910 fax

abanks@teamster.org
____________________________________________

Green Left statement on BAE redundancies; GPTU support needed

As I do not think GPTU's position would or should differ from Green left's excellent statement, I will be placing it on the next GPTU agenda and calling for our support. (P.Murry, GPTU Secretary).

"Green Left offers its support and solidarity to the BAE workers facing redundancy. We believe that everyone has the right to work in secure and rewarding employment and we actively campaign with others in the struggle to make this a reality.

However, we do not mourn the loss of jobs in the defence industry . Rather than producing weapons of war workers at BAE should be employed in the war against Climate Change. We support the policy of a Just Transition to a greener economy where workers wages are protected as they make their transition into new areas of industry - even if this covers a period of unemployment or retraining. Just Transition schemes have been shown to be cost effective and also prevent the destructive wider effects to families and within our communities.

The Green Party, at its recent conference, unanimously expressed support for the One Million Climate Jobs Campaign. The campaign booklet, which we recommend everyone to read, and which is available here http://www.climate-change-jobs.org/node/14 sets out clearly and coherently how one million climate jobs could be planned and paid for as part of the UK’s contribution to dealing with the international climate change emergency. Employment would be secure and sustainable, in the transformation of the transport, power generation and housing stock. The initiative would dramatically reduce carbon emissions and dramatically increase employment.

We have no doubt that the skilled workforce at BAE would be valuable in various roles throughout the new and necessary green industries , as could members of the armed forces who are also facing redundancy.

Workers for the World Unite !"

Parliamentary Rally to save Bombardier Jobs, Wednesday 12th October, 12.30,

Martin Empson
Treasurer, Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union group
www.climate-change-jobs.org
079 585 35231
swpmre@yahoo.com

Subject: Support the Parliamentary Rally to save Bombardier Jobs, Wednesday 12th October, 12.30, Committee Room 10, House of Commons, London: PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY

Dear Colleague
Support the Parliamentary Rally to save Bombardier Jobs
Wednesday 12th October, 12.30
Committee Room 10, House of Commons, London

Bombardier trade unions are urging support for the Parliamentary rally to save Bombardier jobs on Wednesday 12th October.

It is vital that we keep up the pressure in the campaign.
At the Parliamentary Transport Committee on 7th September both the Secretary of State for Transport and representative of the European Commission admitted it was legally possible to reverse the decision to award the Thameslink trains contract to Siemens of Germany.
Last week the TUC unanimously agreed to back the campaign and there is now overwhelming political, media and popular support for the government to reverse their disastrous decision.
And we know if it is allowed to go ahead the impact of the government’s decision will go beyond Derby. Tens of thousands of supply chain jobs in nearly every constituency in the country will be affected. See attached list.
That is why every single MP in the country has been invited to the rally on 12th October to hear how the threat to Bombardier in Derby could also threaten the livelihoods of their constituents.
Answers to a parliamentary question last week (below) have further demonstrated the scandalous nature of the government decision. Ministers have admitted that almost £20m has been spent on consultants to provide advice on a process that could spell the end of UK train manufacturing
Please support the rally on 12th October and ask your MP to attend. Please also ask your MP to sign the parliamentary motion below tabled by Chris Williamson MP. You can check if your MP has signed by visiting http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2059
The contract is still at preferred bidder stage. There is still time to reverse this decision. Please support the rally on 12th October.
Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
General Secretary

Parliamentary Answer 14 September 2011
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which external consultants were contracted to advise his Department on the (a) design, (b) tendering and (c) award of preferred bidder status for the Thameslink rolling stock contract; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such contract. [R] [68716]
Mrs Villiers: The cost of each contract against the categories requested up to June 2011 is as follows:
£ million
Vendor
(a) Design
(b) Tendering (1)
(c) Award of preferred bidder status
Arup
2.53
2.86
0.14
Booz and Company
0.22
0.49
0.09
Freshfields
2.44
5.31
0.18
Interfleet
0.16
1.49
0.02
PWC
0.77
2.26
0.26
Total
6.12
12.4
0.69
Total
19.2


EDM 2059 Tabled by Chris Williamson MP
“That this House notes the commitment given by the Prime Minister in Derby earlier in 2011 that his administration would support local manufacturing jobs; is therefore dismayed and appalled at the implications for UK manufacturing of the Government's decision to make Siemens of Germany the preferred bidder for the 1.4 billion Thameslink rolling stock contract and to reject the bid from Bombardier of Derby; is alarmed that this decision has already led to the announcement of over 1,400 job losses at Bombardier and also threatens at least a further 12,000 jobs in the UK supply chain; is further concerned that the decision could adversely impact on the prospect of a UK-based train manufacturer bidding to supply trains for Crossrail or for high speed rail; supports Bombardier's rejection of the Department for Transport's claim that jobs at the company were under threat irrespective of the destination of the Thameslink contract; acknowledges that EU competition law has not dissuaded the German or French administrations from awarding 100 per cent. of their lucrative domestic rail contracts to domestic bidders; further notes that the contract is still at preferred bidder stage; and calls on the Government immediately to review this decision to take into account the value for money implications of the loss of tens of thousands of UK jobs”




James Croy,
Political Officer ,
RMT,
Unity House ,
39 Chalton Street
London,
NW1 1JD

j.croy@rmt.org.uk

Tel: 020 7529 8822, Fax: 020 7529 8808