DEMAND FOR AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO BRENT COUNCIL

wembley matters Thursday, 25 September 2014

Brent TUC and ex-Labour councillor join call for 

independent investigation into Brent Council 

following racism judgment

Brent Trades Union Council (Brent TUC) has followed Brent Green Party in calling
for an independent investigation into Brent Council and their Corporate Management
Team:

This is the resolution passed at their meeting yesterday:

DEMAND FOR AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO BRENT

COUNCIL AND THEIR CORPORATE MANAGEMENT TEAM

Brent Trades Union Council considers that the Employment Tribunal judgement

that Brent Council has been guilty of racial discrimination, victimisation and

constructive dismissal brings shame on the Council, especially in a borough that

rightly prides itself on its diversity.

We call for the dismissal of Cara Davani, whose position is now clearly

untenable, using the Council’s disciplinary procedures.  

In the light of the tribunal findings, we call for an investigation

headed by an independent expert in race relations acceptable to

both Councillors and Council Unions of:

1. The extent of racism and discriminatory practices within the Council;

2.  The working culture of the Human Resources department;
3.  Brent Council's Whistle Blowing Policy to ensure that it adequately

    protects whistle-blowers from harassment and retribution;

4. Corporate Management Team officers being paid through their

   private companies rather than normal payroll;
5. The contractual arrangements for CMT officers and interim

   appointments;
6. Previous employment and business connections between senior

   offices appointed by Brent Council on an interim basis.

In addition former Labour councillor and member of the Labour Representation
 Committee, Graham Durham has written to all the current Labour councillors:

I trust you have read of the finding of race discrimination,

victimisation and constructive dismissal against Brent Council.

I recommend that you find time to read the full report of the case

( Employment Tribunal Case Number 3302741/2013.)

I  am sure you will agree that this is a shocking indictment  of an

 individual senior manager but also  of the apparent culture which

was allowed to flourish in Brent Council management. It is a disgrace

to all of us in Brent and especially to the Labour Party which was in

control of the Council throughout the period referred.

I am sure that you will want to ensure appropriate disciplinary action 

commences promptly. Perhaps more importantly I hope you will support

the demand of Brent Trades Council that an independent enquiry is

established headed by an independent expert in diversity practice and with

membership agreed by Council trade unions and the Council members. The

enquiry should cover diversity policy, management behaviour and culture

and the rights of staff to be  protected  from victimisation.

Many of you will know that Brent Council once had an international

reputation for challenging racism and promoting equalities. In the 1980’s

the Tory press attacked the Labour Council ,of which I was proud to be

a member, for our determination to challenge decades of racist behaviour.

Journalists from The Sun and other papers harassed us but we stood firm.

Our stand then led to a proud history of record numbers of black councillors

and MPs in Brent and for Brent having a reputation as the equality Council.

This proud reputation is now in tatters. It will be important for us to debate

in the party how the Council leadership allowed this to occur.

I urge you to take immediate action to try to restore our reputation

HEALTH WORKERS TO STRIKE MONDAY 13 OCTOBER 7 - 11am

Romayne Phoenix

12:46am Sep 30

HEALTH WORKERS TO STRIKE MONDAY
13 OCTOBER 7 - 11am
JOIN THEM WITH
BREAKFAST FOR THE NHS!
Many health workers are planning to invite supporters to join them on their picket lines for Breakfast for the NHS in a show of support for health workers and in defence of our health service.

Health workers will strike against the pay cuts being imposed on NHS staff. Their wages have fallen by between 12 and 15% since 2010 and this year in England 60% of staff will get no rise at all. This leaves many of those caring for patients on barely more than the minimum wage. The strikes can also help make campaigns to defend the NHS stronger.

Contact your local NHS workers and make contact with trade union reps to offer your support.

Natalie Bennett backs Care UK workers' strike action

29 September 2014

GREEN Party leader Natalie Bennett has today offered her further backing for strike action, starting today, by the Care UK workers in Doncaster. 

Bennett said:

“I was delighted to be able to meet the workers briefly on Saturday, and to hear first-hand their determination to protect their pay and conditions and the quality of care that their patients receive. 

“The case of Care UK in Doncaster has rightly become an iconic symbol of the resistance to the slashing of the pay and condition of workers in the care sector, and the huge damage that’s been done to the quality of care while private sector owners rake in profits from the suffering of their patients and staff. 

“We need to care for our carers. That means acknowledging both the skills they need to do their difficult job well, and giving them decent pay and conditions.” 

Bennett added:  

“Bridgepoint, the private equity owner of Care UK, is in it for the money – and that should never be the principle behind our healthcare. 

“The wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of our society should not be in their hands.”

*Still the Enemy Within*,

On *Friday 3 October * *FRONTLINE CLUB* will be hosting a screening of *Still
the Enemy Within*, a documentary offering a unique insight into the 1984-85
British Miners’ Strike; we believe that this screening may be of interest
to you and your network.

The government used all means available to fight the 160,000 coal miners
that took to the street during the British Miners’ Strike of 1984-85. Those
who stood on the front line of the strike for an entire year were labelled
‘the Enemy Within’ by Thatcher. These miners became part of a battle that
has shaped Britain today. *Still the Enemy Within*
<http://the-enemy-within.org.uk/the-film-3/> is a unique insight into the
1984-85 British Miners’ Strike, told through unique archive footage and the
raw first-hand experiences of those who lived through Britain’s longest
strike.The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Owen Gower and
producer Mark Lacey.



Further details of this event can be found here: *TRAILER & FILM DETAILS
<http://www.frontlineclub.com/still-the-enemy-within/>*

It would be fantastic if you could share details about the performance with
people you think might be interested in this subject. Please don’t hesitate
to get in touch if you have any further questions.

--
*FRONTLINE CLUB | CHAMPIONING INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM*



*www.frontlineclub.com <http://www.frontlineclub.com/> 13 Norfolk Place
Paddington W2 1QJ Direct: +44(0)20 7479 8940
<%2B44%280%2920%207479%208940> *

Recent/ongoing industrial disputes etc.

a)London Fed AGM 28/9 10.30 am Development House

b)Lambeth College UCU Strike Ballot 29/9 to renew strike over new contracts, Unison at LC also in dispute,  demo in support 7/10 Clapham Centre 5pm (see http://lambethcollegestrike.wordpress.com/)

c)13/10 series of 4hr strikes by Unison members in hospitals and ambulance crews see http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/health-care/key-issues/nhs-pay/home/

d) 15/10 PCS strike see http://gptublog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/national-strike-on-15-october-pcs-to.html

e) TUC demo 18/10 see http://britainneedsapayrise.org/

f) National Pensioners’ Convention launches Pensioners’ manifesto 5/11 see http://npcuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Pensioners-Manifesto-2015.pdf

National Pensioners’ Convention launches Pensioners’ manifesto 5/11/2014

Despite what some may claim, Britain’s older generation are not to blame for the economic crisis. Neither does it help when the media suggests that there is a conflict between young and old, especially when the age groups share the same concerns over affordable housing, public transport, low incomes and retirement ages.

But growing older can be a real challenge. Britain’s state pension is amongst the least adequate in the developed world, some of the stories surrounding the care of older people are absolutely shocking and last winter over 30,000 pensioners died from the cold.

A country can be said to be judged by the way it treats its young and older members. That is why we need a series of policies that improve the lives of Britain’s 11m pensioners, as well as protecting future generations of older people. At the General Election we will call on candidates to support our Pensioners’ Manifesto that will put the concerns of older people at the heart of the political process.

See the full manifesto at http://npcuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Pensioners-Manifesto-2015.pdf

National strike on 15 October - PCS to join 72 hours of action in public sector

National strike on 15 October - PCS to join 72 hours of action in public sector

23 September 2014

PCS national executive met today to consider the next steps in our national dispute in the civil service and related bodies.

The NEC decided that a national strike will be called on Wednesday, 15 October. The action will be coordinated with unions representing workers in the health service which have announced action on Monday, 13 October, and with unions in local government which have announced a strike on 14 October so that there will be 3 consecutive days of strike action over pay in the public sector.

Strike action is a last resort, but the government introduced a 2-year pay freeze in 2010 and in recent years has imposed a 1% pay cap for all public sector workers.

The action on October 15 follows the successful day of action on 10 Julywhen joint action took place with other public sector workers. Now we are stepping up the campaign with 72 hours of strike action in October aimed at securing a fair settlement.

The strike on October 15 will not include PCS members in Scotland working in bodies falling under the jurisdiction of Scottish Government ministers where we are working with colleagues in Unison Scotland to build for joint action aimed at tackling the Scottish pay gap.

More information will follow.