SERTUC newsletter 24 – digest of trade union and trades council activities in the region
Unite bus drivers at Abellio Byfleet 24 hour strike Monday 13 August over pay and duty rostas contact paulbrown1571@virginmedia.com
RMT supporting the Morning Star’s new double CD http://www.rmtv.org.uk/video/video160/index.html
NUT Worthing opposing Academy schools in West Sussex contact serencollins@ymail.com and see http://epetition.westsussex.public-i.tv/epetition_core/community/petition/1952
PCS Equality & Human Rights Commission proposals for staff reduction to 150 are subject to a 90 day statutory consultation. Open letter from staff available from Richard Edwards richarde@pcs.org.uk
PCS ATOS request for messages of support for pay dispute contact Peter Olech commercialsec@pcs.org.uk and see www.pcs.org.uk/cs
FBU Essex hardship fund donations welcome to Unity Bank, Essex FBU Hardship Fund, sort code 08 60 01, account number 20292568, or cheques payable to “Essex Hardship Fund” contact adrian.clarke@fbu.org.uk
TUC with transport unions Action for Rail day of action Tuesday 14 August many SE and Eastern stations and including Waterloo station http://actionforrail.org/fair-fares-now-demo-and-national-day-of-action-14th-august/
TUC with Disabled People Against the Cuts join the ATOS Games Monday 27 August to Friday 31 August http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-21294-f0.cfm see Belfast demo here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlMJyfVd24E
TUC Congress Brighton Sunday 9 to Wednesday 12 September preliminary agenda available at http://www.tuc.org.uk/union/tuc-21285-f0.cfm
TUC Library has reached an agreement with the London Metropolitan University for funding over the next academic year. Sadly, there is no news as yet for the Women’s Library
TUC A Future that Works 20 October demonstration
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration with rally in Hyde Park Saturday 20 October http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-21056-f0.cfm The newsletter and twitter #mdobney will include further details as they are available. New TUC demo website www.afuturethatworks.org.uk
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration coach parking bookings are now being accepted on some sites (some are too busy with Olympic events at present) – your union’s national liaison officer will have details
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration the TUC is working closely with the TUC Disabled Workers Committee on accessibility; main plans thus far are a short march assembling off Piccadilly and a raised viewing area in Hyde Park
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration marching bands are welcome, but please let the TUC know so those with instruments can be accommodated
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration first flyers are available from the SERTUC office dlewis@tuc.org.uk see http://afuturethatworks.org/downloads/
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration an updated version of the TUC’s “Cuts are not the Cure” booklet Austerity is failing – vital for activists – available from dlewis@tuc.org.uk and also downloadable from http://afuturethatworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/aftw-booklet.pdf
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration transport details can be seen at, and should be uploaded to http://falseeconomy.org.uk/oct20
A Future That Works TUC mass demonstration coaches we have been informed of (for full list see http://falseeconomy.org.uk/oct20):
- Hastings trades council swpsam@hotmail.com
- Unison South East s.loweth@unison.co.uk coaches from Aylsebury, Basingstoke, Fareham, Gosport, Maidstone, Medway Towns, Portsmouth, Sevenoaks, Southampton, Winchester
- Unite South East john.rowse@unitetheunion.org coaches from Portsmouth, Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Crawley, Medway Towns
- Unite South East gerry.harvey@unitetheunion.org 4 coaches from Southampton
SERTUC
SERTUC “Ending the Low Pay Culture” seminar Congress House Saturday 3 November hold the date – more details shortly
Information from SERTUC Disabled Workers’ Network new cartoon/blog venture on Disability Arts Online http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/?location_id=1779&item=2969
Information from SERTUC Disabled Workers’ Network latest figures show a big (15%) drop in people claiming Access to Work support http://www.bhfederation.org.uk/federation-news/item/1740-access-to-work-figures-are-%E2%80%98disgraceful%E2%80%99-says-shadow-minister.html
Burston Strike School Rally Burston near Diss Sunday 2 September with Bob Crow RMT, Clive Lewis, Mark Serwotka PCS, Cath Speight Unite www.burstonstrikeschool.org.uk
Burston Strike School new booklet A Striking Village, memories of Burston 28pp, published 2012, written, compiled and edited by Anne M May (nee Potter) £5 plus p&P from David Maclean (Strike School treasurer) cemacl@hotmail.com see http://burstonstrikeschool.wordpress.com/trustees/
Chelmsford trades council demonstrating against the EDL 11.30 Tindal Square Saturday 18 August http://www.chelmsford-tuc.org.uk/ and maljan9@googlemail.com
Kensington & Chelsea trades council is organising 3 street stalls 12-2pm on Saturdays 22 September and 6 and 13 October promoting 20 October and opposition to local health cuts contact davidwelsh83@btinternet.com
Brighton trades council demonstration during the Liberal Democrat conference Saturday 22 September contact Phil Clarke secretary@lewes-eastbourne-and-wealden.nut.org.uk or 01273 380 819
Greenwich and Bexley trades council demonstration Saturday 15 September assemble 1pm General Gordon Square “No hospital closures, no cuts to services” contact lynne.windeatt@btinternet.com
Chelmsford trades council says “Stop the EDL” Saturday 18 August. Planning meeting Thursday 2 August 7.30pm contact Malcolm Wallace maljan9@googlemail.com and see http://www.chelmsford-tuc.org.uk/article173.html
Battersea and Wandsworth trades council is campaigning against the sell-off of playing fields at Elliott School in Putney. Petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34446 and substantial briefing document also covering the wider school sports issues is available from Spencer Barnshaw barnshaw@barnshaw.plus.com
Croydon trades council barbecue Sunday 12 August 3pm in the garden (safe for children) at Ruskin House followed by the Ruskin House Folk and Blues Club in the evening http://www.folkandblues.org/ contact Melanie Jenner meljenner10@yahoo.co.uk
UpRise fundraising event Hackney Attic in the Hackney Picture House Friday 10 August 8pm-midnight with Lyric L, Cynikal, Imaani, Abdul Shyllon, Kevin Leo, Alim Kamara, Fenomeno Show, Claire Zak tickets £7 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150999735468985&set=a.10150203149453985.314878.287520803984&type=1&theater
Book by Jim Thakoordin “Our Lives, Our history, Our Future” 320pp of historical information from slavery to modern material on racism info@jimthakoordin.com
Workers Education Association London Region free briefing for trade unionists “Raising Awareness of Autism in the Workplace” Friday 19 October no info on WEA website but see http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/3310 for full details or contact Monica Gort mgort@wea.org.uk
We are Waltham Forest march “We are united against the EDL” and public event Saturday 1 September 11am see http://www.facebook.com/events/180772488711411/
Socialist Economic Bulletin “The UK’s budget deficit is rising not falling” see http://socialisteconomicbulletin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-uks-budget-deficit-is-rising-not.html
Hackney Unites community conference “Inspire Hackney” Saturday 22 September see http://hackneyunites.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/hackney-unites-needs-you.html
Sylvia Pankhurst Memorial Lecture 7pm Wortley Hall, Sheffield Friday 17 August with Sarah Veale TUC “Divide and Rule – the oldest tactic in the book” http://sylviapankhurst.gn.apc.org/
Ross Pritchard Memorial Fund Annual Essay Competition £750 prize for best essay of no more than 1,000 words on Is Scottish independence a vehicle for a development towards socialism? Essays to megan@gn.apc.org by Monday 1 October 2012
Fawcett Society part-time Communications Officer and part-time Campaigns Assistant http://fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=731
Camden Trades Council 