gptu statement on Unite NHS strike 24 November 2014; Please circulate

Unite the Union have announced that

“NHS workers have had their wages cut by up to 15 per cent since 2010 thanks to the government's draconian pay policy of pay freezes and minuscule below inflation pay rise”.

 The Green Party Trade Union Group believes that this is characteristic of  a nation where neo-liberal economics has run riot, penalising the poor, the sick,  the vulnerable and also those who provide their health care.

Unlike Cameron’s cronies, nobody who works in the NHS expects to become a billionaire, but NHS workers will be striking again for decent pay on November 24^th. The Green Party Trade Union Group sends it support, we all need the work that these workers do and they need a decent wage!

St Mungo's Bdwy industrial action works!

St Mungo's Bdwy industrial action works!

From Peter Kavanagh, Unite the Union Regional Office, London & Eastern Region

Blog title by Swheatie of the KUWG

Stunning victory!

I have some great news!

Following seven days of strike action and with ten further days planned at St Mungo's Broadway, the management have now agreed to roll-back on all the changes to pay, conditions, policies and union recognition that were the reason for this dispute.

This was never a dispute just about pay, but it was all about protecting quality services for some of the most vulnerable people in society.  This has now been achieved and St Mungo’s Broadway will continue with a reputation for providing services that the workers are so proud of.

 
This fantastic result is a testament of what can be achieved when workers, service users and commissioners stand shoulder to shoulder and say enough is enough.

Thank you to everyone from across the UK for your support in sending emails, lobbying, joining protests and helping to achieve this victory.
Click here to send a message of congratulations to Unite members for this stunning victory!

Thank you for your support, together we are stronger
In solidarity

Peter Kavanagh
Unite Regional Office, London and Eastern

Staff at the Ritzy Picturehouse cinema in Brixton, London, have been fighting a long and difficult campaign to be paid a living wage.

Dear Peter, Can you help support an important campaign for decent wages in the increasingly low paid and casualised entertainment sector? Staff at the Ritzy Picturehouse cinema in Brixton, London, have been fighting a long and difficult campaign to be paid a living wage. They've faced strong opposition from management and the threat of redundancies, but by standing strong with their union BECTU, they've managed to strike a deal that has seen their base rate of pay rise significantly to £8.20 an hour. However, this pay rise will only go to staff at the Brixton branch of the Picturehouse chain, not to staff at the other 21 Picturehouses around the country. BECTU are stepping up the campaign for all Picturehouse employees, from Exeter to Edinburgh, to receive a fairer wage for their work. Please help: Sign BECTU's petition The people who work for Picturehouse Cinemas across the country love their jobs, they love cinema, and they love helping to bring great films to the public. What they don’t love is the poverty wages they are paid. The company argue they can't afford pay increases. Yet their operating profits last year rose by 31% to £1.3 million, and their parent company, mulitnational cinema group Cineworld, made even healthier profits of £31 million in 2013. Other independent cinemas can do it - Curzon Cinemas now pay the Living Wage at all their cinemas across the UK. There's clearly room for Picturehouses to treat their dedicated staff with more respect. Although BECTU have members at many Picturehouse cinemas, the company won't talk to them about recognising the union or pay. One thing that helped change the company's mind in Brixton was pressure from their customers, who did not want to see staff at their local cinema exploited. We're running a petition in partnership with BECTU. Can you sign it, and help show Picturehouse just how many of their potential customers nationwide believe they can and should pay their staff a living wage. Sign the petition now Thanks for all your help, John and the Going To Work team

Unite members working in the NHS will step up their fight for fair NHS pay with a further four-hour strike on Monday 24 November.

Second NHS strike day announced: Monday 24 November

http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/list-of-sectors/healthsector/healthsectorcampaigns/nhs-workers-deserve-a-pay-rise/

Unite members working in the NHS will step up their fight for fair NHS pay with a further four-hour strike on Monday 24 November. 

Thousands of NHS workers took to picket lines at hospitals across England on the 13 October, behind a swell of public support, to protest against the government’s refusal to implement a tiny 1 per cent consolidated pay increase to all NHS staff. (check out the photo gallery below) 

YOU deserve a pay rise – we know it, the public know it. Take action on the 24th to make sure the government knows it too. 

Join a picket line on Monday 24 November between 7am-11am. Get your Unite flags and placards from your rep. Let’s show the government that it’s time to pay UP for NHS workers. 

NHS workers have had their wages cut by up to 15 per cent since 2010 thanks to the government's draconian pay policy of pay freezes and minuscule below inflation pay rises. 

You work hard taking care of others - now you need to take action.

• Four hour strike action –  Monday 24 November 2014 from 07:00 -11:00 
• Action short of a strike (work to rule), starting at midnight on Monday 24 November to 18 January 2015 

"Blacklisting Bristol"

Hi, please take a look at this great you tube video produced by a local [to me] media activist group and also email it to your contacts, thanks. Let me know what you think of it.

"Blacklisting Bristol": http://t.co/zU7InegW61 Excellent expose & explanation of blacklisting its origins & effects by local media activists

acknowledgements to derek wall & jerry hicks

The Green Party Trade Union Group sends its support to striking FBU members

The Green Party Trade Union Group sends its support to striking FBU members who are resisting the government’s current attack on their pensions and retirement rights, which is just another part of a wider governmental attack on public services and workers’ pay and conditions. All workers deserve  a properly paid retirement at the end of their working lives and should not be forced to go on working when they aren’t fit to do so, especially if, like firefighters , their work is physically demanding and dangerous. The firefighters' cause is just and GPTU members hope and trust that they will prevail. 

'Breaking the Chains' art exhibition and play highlighting modern slavery

TICKETS ON SALE NOW VIA EVENTBRITE!
The 'Breaking the Chains' art exhibition and play highlighting modern slavery closes on Thursday 6 November, and so the last chances to see the exhibition are this Saturday 1 November, Tuesday 4 November and Thursday 6 November 2014, all between 2pm and 5pm. 'Breaking the Chains' helps to raise awareness of modern slavery of the border crossing sort that does not include workfare and the practices of Jobcentre Plus.

Modern slavery in the form of human trafficking is happening now, as Radio Pete's interviews with 'Breaking the Chains' presenters pointed out on 23 October. It has been argued elsewhere, "No form of present day slavery is comparable to the Atlantic Slave Trade which lasted for four hundred years with the lost of approximately 12 million lives," but not by me.

I believe that the Atlantic Slave Trade referred to as not comarable with modern slavery was once legal and people who saw the injustice of it took action to raise people's awareness and change the laws of the lands. Even in those days, some slave states were better and worse than others. Then and now comparisons that sidestep taking action in the here and now are a distraction. Action is required in the here and now to abolish modern day slavery in all its forms and slavery covers a broad spectrum rather than being an absolute.

We cannot bring back the dead but in helping to stop modern day slavery we are using what liberty we have constructively.

PS: You may wish to check out RadioPete