Young Greens to join university strike pickets and call for student support 

from http://younggreens.org.uk/news/2013/10/30/young-greens-to-join-university-strike-pickets-and-call-for-student-support/ 30 October 2013

Young Greens groups across the country will be backing lecturers and other university staff on strike this Thursday, following a unanimous vote by the Young Greens National Committee to support the industrial action over pay and other issues.

Members of the Green Party’s youth branch will be joining picket lines in Manchester, Norwich, York and elsewhere.

The strike action is over a 13% real-terms pay cut over the last four years and a below-inflation 1% pay offer this year, as well as calls for equal pay between male and female workers. There is currently a £1bn surplus in the higher education sector which the Unite, Unison and UCU unions argue should be used to ensure fair remuneration.Manchester Young Greens will be joining the action, with Young Greens national Co-Chair Clifford Fleming speaking at a strike rally on the day, where he will say: “We are united against an ideological affront to Higher Education, an affront which has resulted in tripled tuition fees, course closures, cuts, and the shoddy treatment of workers in the sector.

The attacks to university pay and conditions are part of a broader attack on education by the coalition government, and it’s vital that students support the strike.”

In Norwich, University of East Anglia Young Greens will be joining picket lines on the day. Chris Jarvis, society Equality & Diversity Co-Ordinator, said: “The UEA Young Greens are proud to support our lecturers and other university workers faced with a measly 1% pay offer – a real-terms cut in the income of thousands of staff at the University.

‘Students must show our solidarity in the face of the government’s attempts to undermine education and the public sector as a whole. This race to the bottom has to stop. With 15 members of staff at the top paid more than the Minister for Higher Education, decent pay for our cleaners, catering staff, technicians and other workers should be a given”.

University of York Green Party members have launched a student petition in support of the workers taking action. Chair Nick Devlin said: “We are encouraging all students to visit the picket lines during the strike and show some support for the people who keep our university running. This petition is calling for fair pay for all at the University and is a show of solidarity from students.

“With the Vice Chancellor paid nearly 18 times more than the lowest paid, it’s time for fair pay on campus – a Living Wage for all and a maximum pay ratio of 10:1.” The petition is available here.

The strike comes after the launch of a Young Greens report, The Fair Pay League, which shows that the average Vice Chancellor pay is over £248,000, and 1,633 senior staff members in the sector are paid over £140,000 per year – more than enough to pay the nearly 5,000 workers on the Minimum Wage at Universities a Living Wage.

More information on the strike and a petition for those backing the strike to sign is available here: http://www.fairpayinhe.org.uk/

Fracking: neither cheap nor safe

Frontline article by Ken Montague (reproduced with permission from http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=12389)

The growing resistance to fracking - the "hydraulic fracturing" of deep level shale rocks to extract natural gas - promises to reignite the climate movement after years of demoralisation following the failure of the UN climate talks in 2009.

A feature of the recent march and blockades at Cuadrilla Resources' drilling site near Balcombe in West Sussex was the diversity of the people involved, as well as the numbers. Local residents were central to the protests, as they have been at Fylde, near Blackpool, where two Cuadrilla fracking operations led to minor earthquakes.

Today there are 45 anti-fracking groups around the country preparing to take action when further licences are issued. Given that 64 percent of England sits above shale gas and oil deposits, and their commercial exploitation could mean thousands of fracking sites, the protests are likely to increase and erupt into a full-scale war of attrition against the Cameron government and its dash for gas.

What has made fracking such an explosive issue is the evidence after 20 years of drilling in the US that the process is inherently unsafe. This is due to the uncontrolled leakage of methane into the air and groundwater, and the possible risks to health of the chemical additives in the fracking fluid used to prize the rocks open. Methane is a neurotoxin, which can cause early-onset dementia. The mix of additives, which in America has found its way into drinking water, includes chemicals that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

The British government says that fracking will only be permitted under strict regulation. But this ignores the fact that we do not have the technology to ensure that the cement barriers encasing the drilling shafts can withstand the pressures involved or that gas can be prevented from escaping from the pipelines and processing units.

Studies in the US showed that in 45 percent of cases the barriers failed at some point in the process and 5 percent of rigs leaked from the start.

The other, broader, issue is the government's intention to make gas a "core part" of Britain's energy mix "well into and beyond" 2030. This flies in the face of the warnings by many authorities that, with the unabated burning of fossil fuels, the world is on course for an unthinkable temperature increase of 4 to 6 degrees above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.

A recent report by Lord Stern and the Carbon Tracker think-tank made it clear that, if we are to have any chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change, we have to switch to renewables now, and leave 80 percent of coal, gas and oil reserves "in the ground".

Last year the government's decision to cut investment in renewables and make Britain "even more attractive" for the oil and gas companies provoked an angry letter from its independent Committee on Climate Change stating categorically that gas-fired power generation "could not form the basis for government policy" if it was to meet its carbon reduction targets.

Of course there are apologists for fracking who argue that gas can be a "transitional" fuel because it emits only 50 percent of the CO2 emitted by coal. In a recent speech on climate change, US president Barack Obama even referred to it as "clean" energy. This overlooks the effect of the leakage of methane, which is a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.

For natural gas to be cleaner than coal, methane emissions would need to be kept below 2 percent of annual production, but recent studies by the US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration at gas fields in California, Colorado and Utah found that leakages ranged between 2.3 percent and 17 percent of production.

As well as giving tax breaks to the fracking companies and cash sweeteners to local communities, the government tries to sell us fracking by saying it will offer unlimited cheap energy and create thousands of jobs.

The Committee on Climate Change, however, has shown that extracting gas is actually more costly than installing renewables and even Cuadrilla admits that the impact on fuel bills would be negligible.

Leaving aside Green MP Caroline Lucas's comment that "there are no jobs on a dead planet", there is clear evidence that renewables generate more jobs than fossil fuel industries. A study by the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute suggests that a million dollars invested in gas would create five jobs while the same amount invested in wind and solar power would create around 13 jobs. This is the kind of argument behind the growing campaign in Britain for a million climate jobs.

Fracking for gas is not safe, not clean, not cheap, and nor the best way to create jobs or to tackle climate change. Nonetheless, Lord John Browne, the government's chief adviser on the subject, says it's the way forward. He should know; he is chairman and 30 percent owner of Cuadrilla.

Ken Montague is the secretary of the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group

CWU serves notice for Royal Mail strike

from http://www.cwu.org/

28th October 2013

CWU has today (Monday) served formal notice for strike action in Royal Mail for Monday 4 November. Under UK laws a trade union must give at least seven days' notice of any industrial action. 

Talks are continuing between CWU and Royal Mail as the union seeks an agreement on pay, job security and terms and conditions in the newly-privatised company. Talks are scheduled for every day this week, in addition to the three days which took place last week. If no agreement is reached by the end of the week then 24 hour strike action on 4 November will affect all non-managerial functions in Royal Mail and Parcelforce. It will be the first national strike since 2009 and would hit deliveries, collections and other mail operations such as sorting, logistics and call centre functions. 

Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, is leading the negotiations with Royal Mail. "Our members have clearly spoken that they care more about their jobs than they do about shares" he said. "It's important that we secure a legally-binding, lasting agreement which will tackle the big issues facing postal workers in their work lives. 

"There's a lot of concern about job security since privatisation and it's that as well as pay and addressing the outlook of the company that we're tackling in these talks. Regardless of who owns this company, CWU will be here to protect the interests of workers who literally deliver the service." 

Postal workers voted by four to one (78%) in favour of strike action in a ballot announced on 16 October. CWU balloted 115,000 members in Royal Mail group and Parcelforce working in non-managerial jobs including deliveries, drivers, sorting staff, admin and support grades. Strike action is due to take place all day on Monday 4 November 2013 with members going on strike at the beginning of their normal duty and not returning to work until their next normal day of work starting on Tuesday 5 November.

Amendments to our education policy

When the London Fed, ( London Federration of Green Parties).  agreed last night to consultation with community and campaign groups regarding revision of our education policy I was asked to circulate the wording of the placard I displayed. The placard had been applauded by striking teachers on the London march

 *NO* to privatisation, academies, free schools, phonics test and SATs

 *YES* to creative teaching in democratically accountable LA schools

 *TOO MUCH, TOO SOON!*/(reference to formal curriculum for young children starting to soon)

 *68-TOO LATE!* (/reference to pension reform proposal requiring teachers to work until the age of 68)/ /

If anyone would like to join in drafting amendments to our education policy to take into account the changes brought about by Michael Gove please email me on mafran@globalnet.co.uk

acknowledgements to Martin Francis

FREE THE ARCTIC 30

1546188 emails sent so far
Free our activists

Right now, 28 of our activists, a photographer and a videographer are being held in custody by the Russian authorities. We urgently need your help to free them.

The Arctic Sunrise had been part of a peaceful protest against energy giant Gazprom, which is poised to drill for the first oil to come out of the icy waters of the Arctic.

Using a helicopter and ropes, armed Coast Guards illegally boarded the ship and held those on board under armed guard whilst they towed the ship to shore. Our team were then remanded for up to two months by a court in Murmansk.

The authorities say they need time to investigate possible charges of piracy - even though President Putin has said that he did not believe they were pirates.

Please send an urgent email to the Russian Ambassador in London and demand the immediate release of these peaceful protestors.


Sign a petition and send a letter to the Russian ambassador

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY | 5 NOVEMBER

WE WANT TO MAKE THIS FIREWORK NIGHT ONE WHICH DAVID CAMERON WILL REMEMBER AND REMEMBER FOR A LONG TIME! THE PEOPLES’ ASSEMBLY IS CALLING FOR A DAY OF PROTEST IN EVERY TOWN AND CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

THE ACTIONS WILL BE MANY AND VARIOUS, RANGING FROM OCCUPATIONS OF PUBLIC SPACE TO OCCUPATIONS OF BANKS, FROM ONLINE PETITIONING TO BLOCKING ROADS, FROM LEAFLETING WITH THE RAIL UNIONS AGAINST THE PRIVATIZED RAIL COMPANIES TO STUDENT OCCUPATIONS.

WE ARE HOPING FOR THREE WAVES OF ACTION: ONE IN THE MORNING, ONE AT LUNCHTIME AND ONE IN THE EVENING. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE LOCAL OUT-SOURCING CONTRACTS, THE WELFARE LEGISLATION, THE LOAN COMPANY ADVERTS WILL ALL MAKE A SPLENDID BONFIRE…AND YOU CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THE GUY IS CAMERON, GOVE, CLEGG OR OSBORNE.

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW. POST YOUR ACTIONS / IDEAS BELOW AND GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL GROUP TO FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING PLANNED NEAR YOU.

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY – LOCAL ACTIONS/ MEETING POINTS

LONDON – BLOCK WESTMINSTER BRIDGE – ASSEMBLE AT JUBILEE GARDENS AT 6PM, CONTACT OFFICE@THEPEOPLESASSEMBLYORG.UK/ FACEBOOK

LONDON PLANNING MEETING: 6PM, THURS 17 OCT, UNITE HQ, 128 THEOBALDS RD, WC1. CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE HERE.

ANONYMOUS – TRAFALGAR SQUARE, 6PM

BARNET – ASSEMBLE AT 6PM OUTSIDE HENDON TOWN HALL, THE BURROUGHS, NW4 4BG, 

BIRMINGHAM – ASSEMBLE AT WATERSTONES, HIGH STR. AT 5PM, CONTACT BIRMINGHAMPEOPLESASSEMBLY@GMAIL.COM

BRIGHTON – ASSEMBLE AT THE CLOCK TOWER AT 12PM, CONTACT PPLSASSEMBLY.BRIGHTON@GMAIL.COM/ FACEBOOK

BRISTOL – 5TH NOVEMBER, 5 PM, 5 CAMPAIGNS

ACTIVISTS MEETING ON THE 16 OCTOBER AT TONY BENN HOUSE, 7PM

CONTACT BRISTOLPEOPLESASSEMBLY@GMAIL.COM/ 07971630005

CAMBRIDGE – ACTIVISTS MEETING 23 OCTOBER, 7.30PM, UNIVERSITY CENTRE (GROUND FLOOR)

DONCASTER - ACTIVISTS PLANNING MEETING ON 15 OCTOBER AT CHURCHVIEW CENTRE, DN1 1AF, 7PM, CONTACT DONCASTERPEOPLESASSEMBLY@GMAIL.COM/ 07587697028

LAMBETH – BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER – CONTACT 07913496012

LEEDS - MEET AT 4PM IN DORTMUND SQUARE (OUTSIDE THE ST JOHN’S SHOPPING CENTRE). ACTION JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WEST YORKS PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY AND UNITE COMMUNITY BRANCH

LUTON - ACTIVISTS MEETING 16 OCTOBER 6.30PM, UNITE THE UNION, 10 CARDIFF ROAD, LUTON LU1 1PP

MANCHESTER - TEN WAYS TO DISOBEY

ANTI AUSTERITY TORCH LIT TOUR OF THE CITY 

ASSEMBLE AT ATOS HQ ALBERT BRIDGE HOUSE BRIDGE STREET M 60 GATE 5PM

WE WILL ASSEMBLE WITH TORCHES AND A VERY LOUD SAMBA BAND AND PROCEED TO TAKE OUR GUY ON A GUIDED TOUR OF THE OFFICES AND SHOPS OF LOAN SHARKS, TAX DODGERS, PRIVATISERS AND THE GENERAL FOUL SMELLING UNDERBELLY OF TORY MANCHESTER. BLUE PLAQUES WILL BE CEREMONIOUSLY APPLIED ON ROUTE. PREPARE TO BE HORRIFIED AND DISGUSTED AT WHAT YOU SEE  WHILST HAVING THE MOST FUN YOU’VE EVER HAD ON NOVEMBER 5TH !

AT 8 AM WE WILL BE LEAFLETING WORKERS AS THEY ARRIVE IN THE CITY AND LOCAL TRAM AND BUS DEPOTS. OUR LEAFLET WILL HAVE TEN IDEAS THAT ANYONE CAN DO DURING THE WORKING DAY AS WELL AS THE ACTIONS THEY CAN JOIN IN WITH

REARRANGE RETAIL: TAKE A PHOTO FOR #BURNAUSTERITY

RECOMMENDED READS  - ADD A POST IT ‘ THIS IS CRAP READ THIS… ‘ WITH YOUR RECOMMENDED ANTI AUSTERITY READ ON TO BEST SELLERS LIKE BIOGRAPHIES OF BRANSON

FILL A BASKET OF GROCERIES AND LEAVE A NOTE AT THE CHECKOUT SAYING ‘DEAR TESCO PLEASE DONATE TO LOCAL FOOD BANK’ LEAVE AN ANTI AUSTERITY REVIEW ON AMAZON, ARGOS MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS

RING FOR A REFUND

MAKE NOV 5TH THE DAY WE JAM THE PHONE LINES TO VIRGIN TRAINS COMPLAINTS, ROYAL MAIL OR BOOTS

EMAIL MICHAEL GOVE

EMAIL THE COUNCIL

REPORT YOUR VIEWS ON THE CUTS

MANCHESTER (TAMESIDE) – ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN MEADOW CAFE, OLD STREET ASHTON UNDER LYNE AT 12.30PM

MEDWAY – ACTIVISTS MEETING MONDAY 14TH OCTOBER, 7:30PM, RED STAR LEARNING CENTRE LOCATED IN THE CAR PARK AT CHATHAM STATION NEXT TO THE COASTBOUND PLATFORM, CONTACT MEDWAYPAAA@GMAIL.COM

MERSEYSIDE - CONTACT ANDREA@MERSEYSIDEPEOPLESASSEMBLY.ORG/ FACEBOOK

NEWCASTLE - ASSEMBLE FROM 5PM OUTSIDE HAYMARKET METRO STATION.

ACTIONS BEGIN AT 5:30PM WHICH WILL HIGHLIGHT LOCAL EXAMPLES OF TAX-DODGING, LOAN-SHARKING AND ZERO-HOUR-CONTRACTING.

CONTACT PEOPLESASSEMBLYNE@GMAIL.COM/ 07515676025/ FACEBOOK 

NORWICH – PLANNED VIGIL OUTSIDE THE TOWN HALL

ACTIVIST MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER 6:30PM AT VAUXHALL CENTRE.

NOTTINGHAM – ACTIVISTS PLANNING MEETING ON 15 OCTOBER WITH UK UNCUT AT THE ORANGE TREE PUB, 6.30 – 7.15PM

5 NOVEMBER – ASSEMBLE AT THE BRIAN CLOUGH STATUE, MARKET SQUARE AT 5PM, CONTACT SHALFORTY@GMAIL.COM/ FACEBOOK

RCT/ BRIDGEND - ACTIVISTS MEETING ON THE 15 OCTOBER AT RAILWAY PUB, DERWIN ROAD, BRIDGEND, 7PM, CONTACT LEN.ARTHUR@PHONECOOP.COOP/ 01443 227996

SHEFFIELD AND SOUTH YORKSHIRE – DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP AND PLANNING MEETING 15 OCTOBER, 6PM, SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY, OWEN BUILDING, TOP FLOOR CAFÉ AT 6PM, CONTACT SHEFFIELDPEOPLESASSEMBLY@GMAIL.COM/ 07814420319

SOUTHAMPTON – CONTACT SPAAA4EVER@GMAIL.COM / FACEBOOK

12.30 OUTSIDE THE LOCAL ATOS CENTRE

1.00PM OUTSIDE THE JOB CENTRE

5.30PM WE WILL BE HOLDING A DEMO AT THE LOCAL BBC STUDIO, OPPOSITE THE CIVIC CENTER

SUNDERLAND - ACTIVISTS MEETING ON THE 16 OCTOBER AT AGE UK SUNDERLAND, BRADBURY CENTRE, 7PM, CONTACT: SUNDERLANDPEOPLESASSEMBLY@OUTLOOK.COM/ 07958 635850/ FACEBOOK

ST. ALBANS – ACTIVIST MEETING, 21ST OCTOBER AT 7PM, FLEETVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE

WEST YORKSHIRE – ACTIVISTS MEETING ON THE 15 OCTOBER AT LEEDS MET BROADCASTING PLACE, 6:15PM, CONTACT: WEST-NORTHYORKSHIREPEOPLESASSEMBLY@LIVE.COM

Green support for rail re-nationalisation

Green Party activist and TSSA member Dave Lyons with Jeremy Corbyn MP and Manuel Cortes of TSSA showing GP support for the re-nationalisation of rail.

NEXT GPTU MEETING RESCHEDULED

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 29 October at 7pm at Development House Leonard St, London EC2A 4LT  (Old St tube).

NB this is rescheduled from the 30/10

Video of Eco-Socialism: Ideas for Action conference: Manchester 5/10/2013

Video of Eco-Socialism: Ideas for  Action conference: Manchester 5/10/2013 at http://greenleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/ecosocialism-213-ideas-for-action-video.html

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY/TEACHERS' STRIKE/NORTH LONDON PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY

BONFIRE OF AUSTERITY - ALL LONDON ACTIVISTS MEETING

Thursday 17 October, 6pm

Unite the Union offices, 128 Theobald's Road, WC1X 8TN 128

The 5 November national day of action and civil disobedience is around the corner. The Peoples Assembly is organising an all London action in the evening - we will meet at Jubilee Gardens at 6pm. The plan is to then block Westminster Bridge. We also want actions taking place during the day across London. 

We are calling an activists meeting to plan, brainstorm and share ideas and to get groups together and delegate tasks for the 5 November to make the Bonfire of Austerity as loud and visual as possible. Come along with ideas and let's make this a night that the government will not forget. 

Please confirm your attendance and spread the word on the Facebook group.

TEACHERS STRIKE ACTION THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER

A teachers strike action will take place next Thursday in response to the Government's plans to dismantle the national pay system for teachers and introduce a longer school day and year among other plans that will adversely affect both teachers and the quality of education. The People's Assembly has printed leaflets calling for support of the teachers and to defend education. There is one designed specifically for 6th Form colleges and one for general distribution. 

We are asking Peoples' Assembly groups, community organisations and supporters to pick one morning next week to leaflet school to help build up the support for this crucial strike. 

You can pick up leaflets from the Unite offices, please contact Pilgrim Tucker at pilgrim.Tucker@unitetheunion.org for collection or download it from thewebsite.

NORTH LONDON PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY 26 OCTOBER 10AM

Date for your diary - Join the North London People's Assembly Against Austerity at the Haringey Cypriot Community Centre.

Participants include Tony Benn, Owen Jones, Ken Livingstone, Jeremy Corbyn, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Francesca Martinez and many many more. 

Come along and share widely. See their Facebook page and Website for more details and to book your place. 

 If you want to get in touch with the People's Assembly you can drop us an email at office@thepeoplesassembly.org or call the office on 0208 525 6988, Jacqui on 07746330422 or Sam on 07872481769

Campaign to Kick Zero Hours Contracts Out of London Met.

From a motion to my union branch:

(Steve Dawe, London Met UCU & Oxfordshire Green Party)



Motion for Londonmet UCU Branch AGM

Campaign to Kick Zero Hours Contracts Out of London Met.

1. This meeting notes:

a. The claim by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development that up to 1 million workers in Britain could be working on zero hours contracts.

b. That these contracts leave workers without guaranteed regular hours, sick pay or holidays and, particularly within the context of Higher Education, opportunities for professional development. These conditions are reminiscent of Victorian employment practices.

c. That these contracts are not just the preserve of employers in the private sector like Sports Direct (20,000 workers on zero hours) and McDonald (82,000) but are also common in the public and voluntary sectors. The Higher Education sector is now the second most 'casualised' sector in the UK with an estimated half of Britain's universities using Zero hours contracts. According to research carried out by UCU nationally permanent contracts are most likely to be awarded to those 'who's face fits within the existing culture of an institution' while female lecturers, black staff, lesbian and gay workers are disproportionally likely to be employed on 0 hour contracts.

d. At London Met 0 hours contracts are increasingly used to replace permanent, full-time staff. HPLs at London Met are treated as second class employees with no job security, proper facilities, professional development or holiday pay and many have no access to sick pay. We do not have the statistics but it also seems likely that the disproportionate representation of women, black staff, lesbian and gay workers and disabled people amongst those on Zero hours contracts is reflected at London Met.

f. The recent success of UCU members at Edinburgh University in forcing management to stop using Zero hours contracts.

e. The growing furore in the national media about Zero hours contracts.

Information and press releases (press ctrl and click to follow link)

The Guardian has found that Universities were TWICE as likely to use zero hours contracts as other employers: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/05/universities-colleges-zero-hours-contracts

The THE has also picked it up here: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/ucu-homes-in-on-widespread-use-of-zero-hours-deals/2007035.article#.Uigx8JyqtXQ.facebook

Here it is in the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/colleges-favour-zerohours-contracts-says-lecturers-union-research-8798967.html

And the Herald: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/universities-slated-over-staff-on-zero-hours-contracts.22066158
+

2. This meeting believes:

a. That Zero hours contracts are unfair, exploitative, discriminatory and unacceptable.

b. That the current growing concern regarding Zero hours contracts and the success in kicking them out in Edinburgh indicate that now is the time to campaign to scrap them everywhere.


3. This meeting therefore resolves:

a. To call upon the national executive committee of UCU to immediately launch a fully funded campaign across HE and FE to urge the scrapping of Zero hours contracts.

b. To launch a campaign within London Met to urge management to stop using Zero hours contracts.