The TUC is organising a Concert For Haiti on Wednesday February 3 at
Congress House in London as part of its fundraising effort through the
TUC-Aid Haiti Earthquake Appeal. It will feature Billy Bragg, Cuban
band Son Mas with Omar Puente, and a number of special guests. Details
at www.concertforhaiti.co.uk or telephone 020 8800 0155. To donate to the
TUC Haiti Aid Appeal: www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-17424-f0.cfm
(acknowledgements to Joseph Healy)
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Greens oppose Kraft takeover of Cadbury (Caroline Lucas statement)
20/1/10
Reflecting on the news that Cadbury is to be taken over by the US food company Kraft, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said: "Today marks a day of anxiety for almost 7,000 workers employed by Cadbury. Greens share the concerns raised by Unite, the union representing Cadbury workers, about the amount of debt that Kraft currently has.[1]
"Kraft's debt almost tripled to $18.54 billion in the two years between 2006 and 2008. We are worried that Kraft will service that debt as it has previously -- Kraft has sacked 60,000 workers to pay for its profits in the last 10 years. The Green Party is deeply concerned that a successful, independent UK company, whose products are loved all over the world, has become the latest victim to the ever-growing Kraft brand."
Caroline Lucas added that: "The jobs at Cadbury's are being lost in Birmingham, a city that is still recovering from the Rover shutdown, as well as Ford and Land Rover job cuts. Investment in a Green New Deal would cushion the effect of these job losses in a time of deep recession."
Phelim Mac Cafferty, joint International coordinator for the Green Party, stated: "Of the approx £12 billion offer, Kraft is borrowing £7 billion.[2] Again, the myopia of the City has taken precedence, and the lives of thousands of workers have been sidelined in this process. Kraft is a giant company - with giant debt and a record of under-performance, while Cadbury's makes world-beating confectionery, and it is independent."
Notes to Editors
[1] http://www.unitetheunion.com/pdf/017-Kraft
[2] http://www.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/
Reflecting on the news that Cadbury is to be taken over by the US food company Kraft, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said: "Today marks a day of anxiety for almost 7,000 workers employed by Cadbury. Greens share the concerns raised by Unite, the union representing Cadbury workers, about the amount of debt that Kraft currently has.[1]
"Kraft's debt almost tripled to $18.54 billion in the two years between 2006 and 2008. We are worried that Kraft will service that debt as it has previously -- Kraft has sacked 60,000 workers to pay for its profits in the last 10 years. The Green Party is deeply concerned that a successful, independent UK company, whose products are loved all over the world, has become the latest victim to the ever-growing Kraft brand."
Caroline Lucas added that: "The jobs at Cadbury's are being lost in Birmingham, a city that is still recovering from the Rover shutdown, as well as Ford and Land Rover job cuts. Investment in a Green New Deal would cushion the effect of these job losses in a time of deep recession."
Phelim Mac Cafferty, joint International coordinator for the Green Party, stated: "Of the approx £12 billion offer, Kraft is borrowing £7 billion.[2] Again, the myopia of the City has taken precedence, and the lives of thousands of workers have been sidelined in this process. Kraft is a giant company - with giant debt and a record of under-performance, while Cadbury's makes world-beating confectionery, and it is independent."
Notes to Editors
[1] http://www.unitetheunion.com/pdf/017-Kraft
[2] http://www.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/
Sunday, 24 January 2010
FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK, Saturday 30 January, Central Hall, Oldham Street , Manchester
FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK
Come to the conference of resistance and solidarity
Saturday 30 January,
Central Hall, Oldham Street , Manchester
11.30am-5pm
- Fight for every job
- Organise to stop the cuts
- Defend services and pensions
- Unite the public and private sectors
- Demand a million green jobs
- Jobs not bombs
- Defend migrant workers – jobs for all
Visit www.righttowork.org.uk
There’s a deep economic crisis – and the bosses and the politicians want us to pay for it. It’s bad now, and an avalanche of cuts is coming after the election. But there’s also a fightback, and we need more of that.
Whenever there’s resistance, then we need solidarity. Many working people rallied round the postal workers’ national fight. And many have also backed the Leeds bins workers, the BA workers, the Superdrug workers and other groups who have taken action.
This conference is designed to bring together those networks of resistance and to make them stronger. This is a brilliant chance to learn from one another and spread the lessons of the fightback.
It’s not just for trade unionists, and it won’t just be about workplace struggle. We are having speakers and workshops on issues like the war in Afghanistan, anti-racist battles, decent housing, and so on. We want students, unemployed workers, anti-war activists, pensioners, campaigners for green jobs, housing activists and anti-racist activists to come.
It won’t be a talking shop. We want to organise initiatives from the conference. For example, some people have suggested a day of action around welfare ‘reform’ or a coordinated push to unionise in specific areas, or action to defend and organise migrant workers.
We want to people to bring their own ideas to the conference and to go away with stronger organisation.
Speakers include:
Mark Serwotka (PCS),
Sally Hunt (UCU),
Mark Smith (former Vestas worker),
Tony Kearns (CWU),
Jeremy Dear (NUJ),
Jerry Hicks (Unite),
Paul Brandon (Unite bus worker),
Nahella Ashraf (chair, Greater Manchester Stop the War),
Dave Chapple (Chair National Shop Stewards Network),
Clara Osagiede (RMT cleaners’ secretary),
Kevin Courtney (NUT national executive, personal capacity),
Dot Gibson (General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention)
and speakers from the Fujitsu strike, Royal Mail dispute, Brighton bins dispute, BA cabin crew, Superdrug… and many more.
Structured around various workshops ranging from how to stop the great pension robbery, to the fight for a million green jobs.
Please visit: www.righttowork.org.uk
Come to the conference of resistance and solidarity
Saturday 30 January,
Central Hall, Oldham Street , Manchester
11.30am-5pm
- Fight for every job
- Organise to stop the cuts
- Defend services and pensions
- Unite the public and private sectors
- Demand a million green jobs
- Jobs not bombs
- Defend migrant workers – jobs for all
Visit www.righttowork.org.uk
There’s a deep economic crisis – and the bosses and the politicians want us to pay for it. It’s bad now, and an avalanche of cuts is coming after the election. But there’s also a fightback, and we need more of that.
Whenever there’s resistance, then we need solidarity. Many working people rallied round the postal workers’ national fight. And many have also backed the Leeds bins workers, the BA workers, the Superdrug workers and other groups who have taken action.
This conference is designed to bring together those networks of resistance and to make them stronger. This is a brilliant chance to learn from one another and spread the lessons of the fightback.
It’s not just for trade unionists, and it won’t just be about workplace struggle. We are having speakers and workshops on issues like the war in Afghanistan, anti-racist battles, decent housing, and so on. We want students, unemployed workers, anti-war activists, pensioners, campaigners for green jobs, housing activists and anti-racist activists to come.
It won’t be a talking shop. We want to organise initiatives from the conference. For example, some people have suggested a day of action around welfare ‘reform’ or a coordinated push to unionise in specific areas, or action to defend and organise migrant workers.
We want to people to bring their own ideas to the conference and to go away with stronger organisation.
Speakers include:
Mark Serwotka (PCS),
Sally Hunt (UCU),
Mark Smith (former Vestas worker),
Tony Kearns (CWU),
Jeremy Dear (NUJ),
Jerry Hicks (Unite),
Paul Brandon (Unite bus worker),
Nahella Ashraf (chair, Greater Manchester Stop the War),
Dave Chapple (Chair National Shop Stewards Network),
Clara Osagiede (RMT cleaners’ secretary),
Kevin Courtney (NUT national executive, personal capacity),
Dot Gibson (General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention)
and speakers from the Fujitsu strike, Royal Mail dispute, Brighton bins dispute, BA cabin crew, Superdrug… and many more.
Structured around various workshops ranging from how to stop the great pension robbery, to the fight for a million green jobs.
Please visit: www.righttowork.org.uk
Friday, 22 January 2010
RadioLabour.net
I thought that all of you might be interested to know about the
upcoming launch of I thought that all of you might be interested to know about the
upcoming launch of RadioLabour.net
next week -- and that you might want to be talking about this in the
Labour Podcasting group
on UnionBook.
International Labour News Audiocast Starting Up February 1st, 2010
A weekly presentation of international labour news is being organized
on the Internet.
The audiocast - called Solidarity News - will be available on
RadioLabour.net every Monday morning.
Solidarity News will focus on union and workers' activities and
issues from around the world with special emphasis on emerging market
and developing countries.
RadioLabour reporters will provide regular weekly presentations, but
a special feature of the audiocast will be reports from unionists who
want to report on particular events or publicize an activity of their
organization.
Scripts of the audiocasts will be available as aids for unionists who
want to learn the use of English as an additional language in the
international labour movement.
For more information about RadioLabour, listen to the audiocasts, or
provide reports, visit the RadioLabour site
.
Join the Labour Podcasting group on UnionBook
If you're interested in internet radio and podcasting, you should
join this group
on UnionBook. But don't forget -- you have to login first.
next week -- and that you might want to be talking about this in the
Labour Podcasting group
on UnionBook.
International Labour News Audiocast Starting Up February 1st, 2010
A weekly presentation of international labour news is being organized
on the Internet.
The audiocast - called Solidarity News - will be available on
RadioLabour.net every Monday morning.
Solidarity News will focus on union and workers' activities and
issues from around the world with special emphasis on emerging market
and developing countries.
RadioLabour reporters will provide regular weekly presentations, but
a special feature of the audiocast will be reports from unionists who
want to report on particular events or publicize an activity of their
organization.
Scripts of the audiocasts will be available as aids for unionists who
want to learn the use of English as an additional language in the
international labour movement.
For more information about RadioLabour, listen to the audiocasts, or
provide reports, visit the RadioLabour site
.
Join the Labour Podcasting group on UnionBook
If you're interested in internet radio and podcasting, you should
join this group
on UnionBook. But don't forget -- you have to login first.
upcoming launch of I thought that all of you might be interested to know about the
upcoming launch of RadioLabour.net
next week -- and that you might want to be talking about this in the
Labour Podcasting group
on UnionBook.
International Labour News Audiocast Starting Up February 1st, 2010
A weekly presentation of international labour news is being organized
on the Internet.
The audiocast - called Solidarity News - will be available on
RadioLabour.net every Monday morning.
Solidarity News will focus on union and workers' activities and
issues from around the world with special emphasis on emerging market
and developing countries.
RadioLabour reporters will provide regular weekly presentations, but
a special feature of the audiocast will be reports from unionists who
want to report on particular events or publicize an activity of their
organization.
Scripts of the audiocasts will be available as aids for unionists who
want to learn the use of English as an additional language in the
international labour movement.
For more information about RadioLabour, listen to the audiocasts, or
provide reports, visit the RadioLabour site
.
Join the Labour Podcasting group on UnionBook
If you're interested in internet radio and podcasting, you should
join this group
on UnionBook. But don't forget -- you have to login first.
next week -- and that you might want to be talking about this in the
Labour Podcasting group
on UnionBook.
International Labour News Audiocast Starting Up February 1st, 2010
A weekly presentation of international labour news is being organized
on the Internet.
The audiocast - called Solidarity News - will be available on
RadioLabour.net every Monday morning.
Solidarity News will focus on union and workers' activities and
issues from around the world with special emphasis on emerging market
and developing countries.
RadioLabour reporters will provide regular weekly presentations, but
a special feature of the audiocast will be reports from unionists who
want to report on particular events or publicize an activity of their
organization.
Scripts of the audiocasts will be available as aids for unionists who
want to learn the use of English as an additional language in the
international labour movement.
For more information about RadioLabour, listen to the audiocasts, or
provide reports, visit the RadioLabour site
.
Join the Labour Podcasting group on UnionBook
If you're interested in internet radio and podcasting, you should
join this group
on UnionBook. But don't forget -- you have to login first.
Monday, 18 January 2010
Joel Kovel: Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Road, at 7pm on Monday 25 January
Joel Kovel will be speaking at a London Federation/Green Left meeting at the Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Road, at 7pm on Monday 25 January. Joel talking about his book, “The Enemy of Nature, Overcoming Capitalism or the End of the World?” the situation post Copenhagen, and anything else people want to discuss, on Monday the 25th.
ACT NOW to save the life of Farzad Kamangar, Iranian teacher trade unionist
Solidarity with Iranian trade unionists
Farzad Kamangar, teacher
16 January 2010 (from TUC website)
ACT NOW to save the life of Farzad Kamangar, Iranian teacher trade unionist
Iranian teacher trade unionist and Kurdish activist Farzad Kamangar is facing the threat of imminent execution, and the TUC has joined the campaign led by international teacher union organisation Education International (EI), and teacher trade unions in Britain and around the world, to call on the Iranian authorities to lift that threat and commute his death sentence. Please add your name to the email protest.
In the wake of the intensification of repression against unionists and all Iranians who do not share the views of the government, and also in connection with the recent execution of Kurdish political activist Fasih Yasamani, we are gravely concerned about Farzad's future.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has sent a letter to the Iranian Supreme leader requesting that Kamangar not be executed, and the TUC has asked the British Foreign Secretary to intervene - trade unionists around the world are making the same request of their Governments.
Since June 2008, EI has been questioning the fairness of Kamangar's trial and appealing to the Iranian authorities to commute the death sentence against him. His lawyer alleges that Kamangar has suffered repeated torture and ill treatment during his incarceration in Evin and other Iranian prisons.
Security and intelligence officials of Kurdistan province have repeatedly threatened Kamangar that he would be executed.
Kamangar's case has been mentioned by EI and by the ITUC in submissions to the Universal Periodical Review undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN's official review of Iran's human rights record will take place on 15 February 2010.
Further information about the campaign
Briefing document (300 words) issued 16 Jan 2010
Farzad Kamangar, teacher
16 January 2010 (from TUC website)
ACT NOW to save the life of Farzad Kamangar, Iranian teacher trade unionist
Iranian teacher trade unionist and Kurdish activist Farzad Kamangar is facing the threat of imminent execution, and the TUC has joined the campaign led by international teacher union organisation Education International (EI), and teacher trade unions in Britain and around the world, to call on the Iranian authorities to lift that threat and commute his death sentence. Please add your name to the email protest.
In the wake of the intensification of repression against unionists and all Iranians who do not share the views of the government, and also in connection with the recent execution of Kurdish political activist Fasih Yasamani, we are gravely concerned about Farzad's future.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has sent a letter to the Iranian Supreme leader requesting that Kamangar not be executed, and the TUC has asked the British Foreign Secretary to intervene - trade unionists around the world are making the same request of their Governments.
Since June 2008, EI has been questioning the fairness of Kamangar's trial and appealing to the Iranian authorities to commute the death sentence against him. His lawyer alleges that Kamangar has suffered repeated torture and ill treatment during his incarceration in Evin and other Iranian prisons.
Security and intelligence officials of Kurdistan province have repeatedly threatened Kamangar that he would be executed.
Kamangar's case has been mentioned by EI and by the ITUC in submissions to the Universal Periodical Review undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UN's official review of Iran's human rights record will take place on 15 February 2010.
Further information about the campaign
Briefing document (300 words) issued 16 Jan 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
TWO chances to see Joel Kovel in London in January.
ONE
Green Left and Socialist Resistance are co-organising a seminar studying the causes of the Palestine conflict, with an emphasis on frequently ignored issues. Speakers include Gilbert Achcar (Eastern Cauldon, The Clash of Barbarisms) and Joel Kovel (Overcoming Zionism, The Enemy of Nature). Leaflets are online at http://bit.ly/27Dcwa.
The event will be held on Saturday 16 January at Friends House, opposite London Euston station, from 10.30am to 5pm. Registration will open at 10am.
Workshops planned will include:
Zionism and the ecological catastrophe in Palestine;
Gender in Palestine;
Palestinian Refugees and the Right to Return;
Palestinian trade unions;
Land and water in Palestine;
Revolutionary struggle and national liberation;
Building direct solidarity;
Does the Zionist lobby control US polcy?
Tickets are steeply discounted for early bookings:
Advance £12/£6
On the door £15/£8
Buy advance tickets from:http://socialistresistance.org/
TWO
Joel Kovel will be speaking at a London Federation/Green Left meeting at the Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Road, at 7pm on Monday 25 January. Joel talking about his book, “The Enemy of Nature, Overcoming Capitalism or the End of the World?” the situation post Copenhagen, and anything else people want to discuss, on Monday the 25th.
Green Left and Socialist Resistance are co-organising a seminar studying the causes of the Palestine conflict, with an emphasis on frequently ignored issues. Speakers include Gilbert Achcar (Eastern Cauldon, The Clash of Barbarisms) and Joel Kovel (Overcoming Zionism, The Enemy of Nature). Leaflets are online at http://bit.ly/27Dcwa.
The event will be held on Saturday 16 January at Friends House, opposite London Euston station, from 10.30am to 5pm. Registration will open at 10am.
Workshops planned will include:
Zionism and the ecological catastrophe in Palestine;
Gender in Palestine;
Palestinian Refugees and the Right to Return;
Palestinian trade unions;
Land and water in Palestine;
Revolutionary struggle and national liberation;
Building direct solidarity;
Does the Zionist lobby control US polcy?
Tickets are steeply discounted for early bookings:
Advance £12/£6
On the door £15/£8
Buy advance tickets from:http://socialistresistance.org/
TWO
Joel Kovel will be speaking at a London Federation/Green Left meeting at the Lucas Arms, Grays Inn Road, at 7pm on Monday 25 January. Joel talking about his book, “The Enemy of Nature, Overcoming Capitalism or the End of the World?” the situation post Copenhagen, and anything else people want to discuss, on Monday the 25th.
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