GREENS CALL FOR UNITED STRIKE ACTION OVER PAY

Thursday, 24 July 2008

(NB Derek's statement is also covered in the Morning Star 25/7/2008 p.4 )

Derek Wall, the Green Party's Male Principal Speaker, has called for trade unions to put increased pressure on the Government and public sector employers by uniting to carry out sustained strike action, in opposition to attempts to impose pay cuts.

Last week over 500,000 local government workers across the country – including care assistants, refuse collectors, cleaners, teaching assistants and social workers - took industrial action because employers are attempting to impose pay cuts. The employers "final offer" amounted to just 2.45 per cent, whilst food prices have risen over 9 per cent in the last year and energy bills by 15 per cent.

In the wake of a national two-day walkout by UNISON and Unite last week, many union activists are discussing the potential for joint action between unions across different sectors.

In Scotland, a local government dispute is likely to lead to strike action, whilst a decision by the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Teachers resolved to ballot for further discontinuous strike action in late September. Civil servants union, the PCS, is also to ballot its public sector membership for twelve weeks of discontinuous action. In June, delegates of the Communications Workers Union voted unanimously for strike action against pension cuts, post office and mail centre closures, and up to 40,000 job losses.

Derek Wall stated, "What public sector workers are asking for is entirely fair – that they are not forced to pay for economic problems which they are not responsible for."

"Many Green trade unionists believe that further strike action must be planned now and should be coordinated between trade unions as far as is possible. We support the widest and broadest coalition of industrial action."

"Sustained and united strike action can force the hand of the employers and overturn their plans to impose pay cuts. All public sector workers deserve a pay rise not only to cover inflation, but to make up for 10 years of below inflation pay deals, which are pay cuts in all but name."
The Green Party has a record of championing trade union activism, from defending attacks on public services to advocating the repeal of the anti-trade union laws introduced by the Conservatives and left in place by Labour. On the Greater London Assembly, Green Party Members were integral in establishing the Living Wage Unit aiming to lift London's lowest paid workers out of the poverty trap.

ENDS
Contact
James Caspell, 07941 154912

London bus workers take action over pay and conditions

From Unite website

London's bus workers, members of Unite the union, will today (Thursday 24th July) march on City Hall to demand a single rate of pay across all bus companies that operate within the capital.

In a recent ballot of Unite's 28,000 busworkers 99 percent voted yes to the proposed single rate of pay across the network.

Unite is calling for a single rate of pay for drivers of £30,000 a year, based on a 38 hour week. Currently the eighteen London bus companies all operate with different pay structures, with pay inequalities of up to £6,000 a year.

There is a startling disparity between bus drivers' pay in the capital, with rosters in some companies seeing many drivers complete nearly 60 hours per week.

Driving on London's roads is a potentially hazardous job, and as a result Unite is calling for standard rosters, scheduling and pay rates that will remove this culture of excessive working hours on London's bus routes.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite senior regional industrial organiser said: "If the tendering system Transport for London (TfL) and the employers insist on continuing with their 'Race to the Bottom', our members will be taking part in a race of their own - a race to the picket lines!"

Employers are also threatening to introduce lower rates of pay for new employees and even to set up new 'low cost' operations as sub-divisions, with inferior terms and conditions, in their frenzy to win or retain contracts for certain routes.

Steve Hart, London regional secretary for Unite said: "Boris Johnson recently described London's bus drivers as the 'World's finest'. If he really believes this then he needs to act quickly to end the huge disparities in pay across London's bus networks. Unite has written to the mayor inviting him to comment on our campaign for equal pay for his drivers."

ENDS

For further information contact: Jody Whitehill, Unite Press Officer on 020 7420 8938 or 07768 693956

PAT CARMODY REINSTATED!

Dear all,

Thank you everyone who joined this group, spread the word, came to a demonstration, wrote to their MP, or in protest to CEO Karl Holweger.

Together with the workers' own campaign (sticker days, petitions, and the talk of something more), this made all the difference - there is absolutely no question that without it, Pat would have no job now, and union members at P&B would be less confident.

So thanks to everyone who has been part of it.

Pat was told at 11am this morning that he is to be reinstated, with back pay and a 'final written warning'. The company, however, has not backed down on the principle, and intends to alter the text of the staff handbook to reinforce their control of press relations. We still believe that trade unionists have a right to publicise their activities.

If you would like to congratulate the company on taking the right decision on Pat's case, and letting them know it has been noticed, Karl's email remains kholweger@pellandbales.co.uk, and you can cc: us on pnbunion@googlemail.com. Please be positive!

For now, this is a victory. The union at Pell & Bales is stronger now than before this began. Pat starts work on Monday.

Solidarity,

Tom Dale
07894 461713
Field Organiser
Communication Workers Union

Tolpuddle 2008

At first the weather was rainy and windy

The Stall was obscure


Ufos attacked the site at night (or perhaps it was the cider)


Derek arrived to speak to the main rally on Sunday


Reinvigorated, the broad Green masses eargerly surge forward to embark on the next phase of the struggle!

All London workers deserve a living wage

News Release
Darren Johnson
London Assembly Green Party Member
www.london.gov.uk/assembly/members/johnsond.jsp

All London workers deserve a living wage

On the eve of a strike by the RMT in support of efforts to secure a living wage for London underground cleaners, Darren Johnson, Green Party London Assembly Member, has called on London's Mayor to lobby Tubelines, the employer, to follow Transport for London’s lead and pay cleaners of its section of the network at least £7.45 an hour.

Darren Johnson said:
"I fully support the action of the RMT in support of underpaid tube cleaners. Paying poverty wages to workers who provide an important public service is unacceptable. Since taking over the work of failed Tube contractor Metronet, Transport for London has proven that it is possible to pay everyone working on the underground a living wage.

Tubelines, and all London employers, should recognise the cost of living and working in the capital by ensuring that everyone who works for them is paid at least the London living wage of £7.45 an hour."
ENDS

Support For Unison in Norwich by Green Councillors

Chris Cotton wrote:

Quick report from Norwich- there was a decent percentage of people out on strike, although less than we'd hoped for (was really disappointing to see certain individuals crossing the picket line...). A couple of City Council buildings were shut down.

A couple of Green Councillors came to the main rally yesterday, which was attended by about 150 people, and Adrian Ramsay was allowed a speech to give a message of support. Interestingly the reception from crowd gathered was noticeably more enthusiastic than for any other speaker. There was no noticeable presence from any other party, although I'm told the Labour Leader of the Council sent about a 2-sentence email of support (as opposed to our detailed letter signed by all Councillors!)


Chris

Speech on Unison Strike by Paul Cooney

Paul Cooney gave this speech as Unison Health branch secretary, he is also a GPTU spokesperson and Green Party ppc for Huddersfield.

"Thank you for inviting me to speak at this wonderful rally of the Local Government strikers. I was proud to be on the picket line with your comrades at Briar Court Centre in Lindley this morning from 7 until 9. I can assure you that your fellow Unison members in the Huddersfield Health branch want me to express their and my own solidarity with the actions you are taking this week, for a very just cause, decent pay for the public sector.

Earlier this year I had hoped that we would be able to join you in concerted industrial action on pay, but our own union was telling us that the health offer of 2.75% was a good deal. This is the same union which has worked hard to encourage you in local government that your offer was abysmal at 2.45%. I'm not paid much working in health but I can assure you that 0.3% of my money isn't a good deal, and I don't even think the Chief Executive of our Trust thinks it's much money for them either.

We are all working hard and campaigning to get the "re-opener clause" actioned to enable a review of health pay this year in view of the high rate of inflation that you've already heard other speakers talk about, and we all want to be able to join you and the other public sector unions in combined action later and get a real victory.

Thank you for giving me this chance to talk with you all and keep fighting on and make this Govt think again about its attacks on the public sector."