The silence from some the trade union leaders over further action against the
Government’s plan to make public sector workers work longer, pay more and get
less has been deafening! Support for N30 was phenomenal with all those
participating in the magnificent marches and rallies all over the country were
as one in looking to that day as just the beginning of the campaign – not the
end! April 1st is the Government’s implementation date, which coming
increasingly closer. But yesterday we have seen a light at the end of the
tunnel as the PCS and NUT National Executive Committees have agreed to launch a
consultative survey to build for on-going pensions action. This will open on
24 February for national strike on Wednesday 28 March! They do not see this
as winding down the campaign but giving it a new momentum where they will
re-group ‘a coalition of the willing’ to counter those right wing unions
who have decided to withdraw from the battle. Pressure must be increased the
other unions so that our General Secretaries hear the message loud and clear
– we need more action not less so let’s begin to build for 28 March!
With the FBU Executive Council recommendation that there is a rapid move to
prepare a strike ballot over fire service pensions & Unite balloting NHS
members on the offer, everything moves forward again.
http://www.fbu.org.uk/?p=5218
http://tinyurl.com/6utsxa5
As part of the campaign against pension cuts, Unions will be appealing against
the High Court on Feb 20th over moving from RPI to CPI (word play for working
longer and paying more!). This is affecting both public and private sector
workers such as BA, RSA and the Pensions Trust. Unite is calling for a large
protest in the morning.
Save the NHS! Under the Health and Social Care Bill self-governing Foundation
Trusts will be allowed to raise 49% of funds through non-NHS work so fee-paying
private patients will get priority over NHS patients. There will be increased
competition between hospitals for resources leading to more cuts and closures.
A leaked NHS report showed that private companies will direct the commissioning
of patient services when 80% of the health budget is transferred to GP
consortia!
Support the actions on Wednesday 7 March, but we would take this a step further
& demand that the TUC call a massive Saturday demo as a part of a determined
united campaign to save and rebuild our NHS, calling on trade unions to strike
against this Bill. The alternative will be to see its implementation after
Easter! Also sign ‘Drop the Health Bill’ - e-petition.
epetitions.direct.gov.uk
********************************************************************************
NSSN 6th Annual National Conference: Saturday 9th June, London
NEWS: BOB CROW, RMT leader to speak! http://tinyurl.com/7y2vsx7
********************************************************************************
DISPUTES & UPDATES…………………………………………………
Stagecoach South Yorkshire – Strike Day 11 – management getting desperate,
is doing everything to try to break this strike. Since November, they have
bussed in management and scabs. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.245.htm
Sparks and the law – As they are dragging it out in the local law court,
wasting £1000’s rank and file members and UNITE will taking part in a
national day of action next Wednesday 15th Feb. (And for all those who didn’t
get to put on their glad rags the night before, the ECA Awards dinner is also
on the 15th) http://jibelectrician.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/events/241483325933453/ Full details in ‘Diary’
RMT gets £500 Olympics payment for more workers & has secured a pay rise to
£8 for Eurostar cleaners. http://tinyurl.com/7kmlpdx 25,000 London bus workers
who are members of Unite are also being balloted over the £500 Olympic award.
Oil tanker drivers, employed by haulage firm Wincanton on the ConocoPhillips
contract to deliver fuel to Jet forecourts, began their second week of strike
action http://www.shopstewards.net/news.244.htm
Unilever management are now in talks with conciliation service ACAS, the
national officers of the joint trade unions - Unite, Usdaw and GMB - statement:
"We welcome the fact that Unilever has at last recognised its responsibility to
talk to us about a possible resolution to the dispute. However, it is very
early days and the dispute will continue until proposals have been put forward
that are acceptable to our members."
Following today's (9 February) announcement from Bombardier that its Derby
plant is secure for the next three years, Unite has called on the government to
learn lessons from its mistakes and ensure there is not a repeat of the
Thameslink fiasco. UNITE: "The Department for Transport must now construct the
bidding process for new train contracts so that UK based manufacturers can
compete on a level playing field.”
Private companies to profit from public debt - collecting the money owed to
government will mean more private companies profiting from public debt, PCS
warns. Take it this is not big corporate tax dodgers eh?
http://tinyurl.com/86zjn7r
RMT & Railways: A NEW REPORT commissioned by rail union RMT reveals that two
decades of private profiteering, alongside years of underinvestment in
infra-structure while fares have gone through the roof, and UK’s railways at
the bottom of the league compared to other parts of Europe.
http://tinyurl.com/7ctrdum
Bromley Council has announced that they intend moving away from the National
Agreement for Local Authority workers.
Bin Collectors across Stoke-on-Trent are planning to vote on strike action to
defend their pay. The council wants to tear up their contracts and force
workers to 'drop pay bands' which means they will lose up £90 a week!
Birmingham 40 years ago - 30,000 engineers walked out in solidarity with
striking miners over pay cuts. Bill Mullins, NSSN officer, then rep, was part
of this action report will be added to our website.
http://www.saltleygate.co.uk/
VICTIMISATION……………………………………………..
Len Hockey - Good News! Health bosses back off from attack on Unison rep joint
Unison branch secretary at Whipps Cross hospital in London, received a letter
from his employer Initial stating that there is no case to answer. As soon as
the threat to Len was raised, with a unanimous show of hands an emergency
meeting of Unison members agreed to prepare for strike action and to demand the
London region of Unison do everything in their power to defend Len. Emails of
protest flooded in to the employer from all over the country, and to Unison to
demand they defend Len.
Overwhelming votes for action on Heathrow Express over sacking of driver and
victimisation of RMT activist. Nearly 80% have voted to strike in a ballot of
drivers over the sacking of driver member Zahid Majid and over 80% for strike
action in a ballot of all Heathrow Express staff over the continued
victimisation of RMT rep Liaqat Ali.
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=155156
***********************************************************************************
INTERNATIONAL…………………………………………………
GREECE
Greek workers have just begun another 48-hour general strike after 24 hours
earlier this week. http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/5571
IRELAND
Sat Feb 11 March with the Vita Cortex Workers 2:00pm until 4:00pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/160905400689547/
Campaign against household charges is growing http://nohouseholdtax.org/
BRAZIL
Police took strike action over pay last week & then occupied a key government
building. Over 300 have been surrounded by the army in a stand off.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIARY See http://tinyurl.com/79wpk2d for other dates & details
And please send us dates of budget meeting protests that are currently
happening.
Sat 11th Feb
Scottish Rank & File meeting Glasgow @ STUC Woodlands Rd 10am -1pm
Mon 13 February
NSSN Staffordshire "Solidarity with workers in struggle!" 7.30 pm
With workers from Unilever, Remploy, PCS & NUT –
Sacred Hearts Social Centre corner of Downey St & Regent Rd, Hanley ST1 3BY.
Tue 14 February
London Keep Our NHS Public meeting, Camden Town Hall, WC1 7:00pm
Save the DVLA Protest Trafalgar Street Office Brighton 12:30pm
Wed 15th Feb
Sparks National Day of Action
6am - Connoco Phillips in Immingham, Sellafield, Ratcliffe, Grangemouth
5.30pm - protest @ employers' awards - Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London
Southampton Unite & Unison lobby of the Council 1.00 - 2.00 p.m
Thurs 16 Feb
No Cuts! Barking against the Cuts Broadway Theatre 7:30pm
SAT 18th Feb
Health and Safety at Work with London Hazards Centre 13:00 - 17:00 Contact:
info@lawas.org.uk or a text: 07412 396713. (Spanish with English translation)
Mon 20th Feb
Unisons will be appealing against the High Court ruling over pensions moving
from RPI to CPI. 8.30am – 10am Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, WC1
Tue 22 February
Kirklees Save Our Services are organising a lobby of Kirklees Council 4pm
Sat 25 Feb
Protest against Tory Local Government Conference, Leeds
Wed 7 March
Save our NHS National rally and lobby of Parliament. London
http://tinyurl.com/7l6rqrq
Wed 28th March
Proposed STRIKE day of action over pension cuts – NUT & PCS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please donate or affiliate to support the NSSN.
Email: info@shopstewards.net
Phone: 07952 283 558
Post: PO Box 54498, London E10 9D
Web: www.shopstewards.net
Twitter: NSSN_AntiCuts
Main FB group http://tinyurl.com/4yckq5j
FB NSSN ‘Stop the cuts’ http://tinyurl.com/7esg2gp
Showing posts with label NSSN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NSSN. Show all posts
Monday, 13 February 2012
Friday, 29 July 2011
NSSN Bulletin - 29th July
With the Murdoch Media scandal ongoing, the massacre in Norway and continuing
starvation of growing numbers in Somalia, plus the rise in poverty globally as
the cuts hit, whilst we pay for the bosses’ crisis, it would be easy to
despair. In the UK alone, there has been a rise of those taking anti
depressants to 43% in the past 4 years, with more and more workers and
communities struggling with unsecure jobs, homes and futures. The question seem
unanswered, what kind of world are we living? It could be easy in some ways to
think this was just part of life, something to accept or that theres nothing we
can do to change things. But we can! We are part of the trade union and anti
cuts movement not just to fight for our jobs, services and homes but, within
that, fight the establishments idea that says we can not or do not have the
right to fight, to question or to consider alternative ways of running our
society for the collective benefit of us all, not the tiny minority who work
hard to burden us with their greed and manipulation.
Last Saturday in Derby saw a huge trade union and community demonstrations of
around 10,000 against the closure of Bombardier.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.129.htm
NSSN midlands held a public meeting with the Vice chair of the Bombardier shop
stewards committee, Alex Gordon RMT president and Rob Williams NSSN organiser.
The nationalisation of the company was called for; something that unfortunately
none of the outdoor platform speakers suggested. http://tinyurl.com/3jysbkj
Shamefully, Tony Woodley of UNITE ended his speech at the main rally with the
call for ‘British jobs for British workers.’ This pandering to the race to
the bottom and dangerous set of nationalist ideas was unnecessary and holds out
nationalism and the ideas of the far right as the torch to follow. It is not a
fight between worker against worker in this country or workers in other
countries but a fight by workers in every country for our jobs and future.
And that is part of the reason we are lobbying the TUC on the 11th of Sep. To
push our leaderships to make use of all the resources, financial, human
publicity to call for a 24 hour public sector strike, to raise the idea more
clearly and openly of co-coordinated action and not to leave it rotting on a
website of motions passed for the virtual world to imagine that because its
written, it will happen, it wont, anything we have ever fought for, takes time,
energy, conversations, meetings, actions, strategies worked out together and
then for each and everyone of us to take responsibility to act together.
We welcome the national support from RMT & PCS for the lobby of the TUC and
Mark Serwotka and Bob Crow will be speaking at our rally, starting at 1:30-3:30
on the 11th at Friends meeting house before we move onto the march and protest
at TUC. Coaches have been booked from Newcastle, Coventry & Stoke so far, other
areas will be organizing to come together on trains and in cars.
http://www.shopstewards.net/sign.htm
Leaflets & Petitions: http://www.shopstewards.net/resources.leaflets.htm
As the volume of work has increased with the number of events and actions we
are involved in we need more finances: Please send in donations and
affilations: http://www.shopstewards.net/affiliate.htm
DISPUTES & UPDATES
Swindon Honda Steward Suspended
The National Shop Stewards Network has just received word that Paddy Brennan,
UNITE Convenor at the Swindon Honda plant has been suspended from work. More
details to follow when we get them, but Paddy's suspension is a provocative
attack on a prominent trade union fighter and by extension an attack on the
right to organise at Honda. We demand Paddy's reinstatement and the NSSN
pledges to do all it can in support of this.
Please text messages of support to Paddy on 07503 174 827 and email letters of
protest to humgen@honda-eu.com. More updates to follow.
EDL & Muslims Against Crusades
The right-wing group Muslims Against Crusades has called a national
mobilisation in Waltham Forest this Saturday; in response, the EDL are
threatening a counter-protest.
Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union is calling on all trade unionists and
anti-fascists to come to Walthamstow Town Square on this Saturday 30th July
from 11am onwards. This is to help the Anti-Cuts Union give out leaflets
promoting working class solidarity, opposing all those forces that create
divisions in the fight-back against cuts, and pointing the finger at the real
fight culprits ie the bankers, the bond traders, speculators and global finance
companies.
We stand for working class solidarity in Waltham Forest against any demands
that workers pay for bankers’ greed, and we will not allow our neighbourhood
and our fightback to be divided along racist or religious lines.
NUJ Strikes
Members of the NUJ working at the BBC will be taking their second 24-hour
strike action on Monday 1st August in opposition to compulsory redundancies of
NUJ members in the BBC. The industrial action will be from 00.01 hours to 23.59
hours on Monday 1st August 2011 and there will be picket lines on a majority of
the BBC sites across the United Kingdom. There will be an indefinite work to
rule from 2nd August 2011.
Coca-Cola Strikes
Workers from Coca-Cola Enterprises have voted overwhelmingly for industrial
action. Staff from distribution centers across the country will strike for 24
hours from 6am on 4 August in a dispute over pay with an offer of 2.3% 4th
August
http://tinyurl.com/3g4n7fy
Save Our Coastguards
Over 200 people packed into Oystermouth primary school, Swansea on Friday
evening (22 July) to hear coastguards and local campaigners make the case for
saving Swansea coastguard station.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-swansea-coastguard.html and respond to
the consultation on the Department for Transport web site.The original
government proposal was to close Milford Haven station and downgrade Swansea to
a daylight hour’s only service. Now the Con-Dem coalition has done a U-turn
and proposes to close Swansea, the busiest coastguard station in Wales,
although Milford Haven has had a reprieve.
Remploy
Remploy & the Sayce report: Remploy is still the biggest employer of disabled
people in the UK, but it must be remembered that it is not the ONLY employer of
disabled people there are still very many more ranging from factories run by
charities to those run by local authorities.
Birmingham Council backtracks on offshoring: http://tinyurl.com/3ffalzj
Stop bullying disabled claimants, says PCS
http://tinyurl.com/3eppk4a
Support for Korean strikers as they picket Standard Chartered UK headquarters
http://tinyurl.com/3g9vfz9
RMT & TSSA to merge: http://tinyurl.com/42rdngg
DIARY
Sat 30 July
12 - 3pm Croydon Town Centre, North End
GMB to join UK UNCUT protest in CROYDON over cuts and tax dodging at SOUTHERN
CROSS HOMES : http://tinyurl.com/42jmd9w
Mon 1 August 12.30pm
Demonstration against the Health Bill when Health Minister Andrew Lansley will
be at the Royal Hospital Farnborough, Bromley BR6 8ND from 1 to 1.45pm to open
the new stroke unit (which we are not against!). Assemble at car park entrance
to Hospital near Sainsbury’s. Frances Hook Tel: 020 8853 2567
Wed 3rd August
Southampton Council Strike Rally Guildhall Square Southampton 11am
Brighton Stop the Cuts 7:30pm King and Queen
25th July – 12th August News International Wapping – 25 Years on TUC
http://tinyurl.com/3pk37te
11th Sep Rally & Lobby TUC for call for 24 hour public sector strike!
Assemble 1.30pm Friends Meeting Hse, Euston Rd, NW1 for a rally before our
protest.
http://www.shopstewards.net/sign.htm
5th November London March for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October
2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed
workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment
http://jarrowmarch11.com/about/
Join, Get involved, and donate!
http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
info@shopstewards.net
07952 283 558
starvation of growing numbers in Somalia, plus the rise in poverty globally as
the cuts hit, whilst we pay for the bosses’ crisis, it would be easy to
despair. In the UK alone, there has been a rise of those taking anti
depressants to 43% in the past 4 years, with more and more workers and
communities struggling with unsecure jobs, homes and futures. The question seem
unanswered, what kind of world are we living? It could be easy in some ways to
think this was just part of life, something to accept or that theres nothing we
can do to change things. But we can! We are part of the trade union and anti
cuts movement not just to fight for our jobs, services and homes but, within
that, fight the establishments idea that says we can not or do not have the
right to fight, to question or to consider alternative ways of running our
society for the collective benefit of us all, not the tiny minority who work
hard to burden us with their greed and manipulation.
Last Saturday in Derby saw a huge trade union and community demonstrations of
around 10,000 against the closure of Bombardier.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.129.htm
NSSN midlands held a public meeting with the Vice chair of the Bombardier shop
stewards committee, Alex Gordon RMT president and Rob Williams NSSN organiser.
The nationalisation of the company was called for; something that unfortunately
none of the outdoor platform speakers suggested. http://tinyurl.com/3jysbkj
Shamefully, Tony Woodley of UNITE ended his speech at the main rally with the
call for ‘British jobs for British workers.’ This pandering to the race to
the bottom and dangerous set of nationalist ideas was unnecessary and holds out
nationalism and the ideas of the far right as the torch to follow. It is not a
fight between worker against worker in this country or workers in other
countries but a fight by workers in every country for our jobs and future.
And that is part of the reason we are lobbying the TUC on the 11th of Sep. To
push our leaderships to make use of all the resources, financial, human
publicity to call for a 24 hour public sector strike, to raise the idea more
clearly and openly of co-coordinated action and not to leave it rotting on a
website of motions passed for the virtual world to imagine that because its
written, it will happen, it wont, anything we have ever fought for, takes time,
energy, conversations, meetings, actions, strategies worked out together and
then for each and everyone of us to take responsibility to act together.
We welcome the national support from RMT & PCS for the lobby of the TUC and
Mark Serwotka and Bob Crow will be speaking at our rally, starting at 1:30-3:30
on the 11th at Friends meeting house before we move onto the march and protest
at TUC. Coaches have been booked from Newcastle, Coventry & Stoke so far, other
areas will be organizing to come together on trains and in cars.
http://www.shopstewards.net/sign.htm
Leaflets & Petitions: http://www.shopstewards.net/resources.leaflets.htm
As the volume of work has increased with the number of events and actions we
are involved in we need more finances: Please send in donations and
affilations: http://www.shopstewards.net/affiliate.htm
DISPUTES & UPDATES
Swindon Honda Steward Suspended
The National Shop Stewards Network has just received word that Paddy Brennan,
UNITE Convenor at the Swindon Honda plant has been suspended from work. More
details to follow when we get them, but Paddy's suspension is a provocative
attack on a prominent trade union fighter and by extension an attack on the
right to organise at Honda. We demand Paddy's reinstatement and the NSSN
pledges to do all it can in support of this.
Please text messages of support to Paddy on 07503 174 827 and email letters of
protest to humgen@honda-eu.com. More updates to follow.
EDL & Muslims Against Crusades
The right-wing group Muslims Against Crusades has called a national
mobilisation in Waltham Forest this Saturday; in response, the EDL are
threatening a counter-protest.
Waltham Forest Anti-Cuts Union is calling on all trade unionists and
anti-fascists to come to Walthamstow Town Square on this Saturday 30th July
from 11am onwards. This is to help the Anti-Cuts Union give out leaflets
promoting working class solidarity, opposing all those forces that create
divisions in the fight-back against cuts, and pointing the finger at the real
fight culprits ie the bankers, the bond traders, speculators and global finance
companies.
We stand for working class solidarity in Waltham Forest against any demands
that workers pay for bankers’ greed, and we will not allow our neighbourhood
and our fightback to be divided along racist or religious lines.
NUJ Strikes
Members of the NUJ working at the BBC will be taking their second 24-hour
strike action on Monday 1st August in opposition to compulsory redundancies of
NUJ members in the BBC. The industrial action will be from 00.01 hours to 23.59
hours on Monday 1st August 2011 and there will be picket lines on a majority of
the BBC sites across the United Kingdom. There will be an indefinite work to
rule from 2nd August 2011.
Coca-Cola Strikes
Workers from Coca-Cola Enterprises have voted overwhelmingly for industrial
action. Staff from distribution centers across the country will strike for 24
hours from 6am on 4 August in a dispute over pay with an offer of 2.3% 4th
August
http://tinyurl.com/3g4n7fy
Save Our Coastguards
Over 200 people packed into Oystermouth primary school, Swansea on Friday
evening (22 July) to hear coastguards and local campaigners make the case for
saving Swansea coastguard station.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-swansea-coastguard.html and respond to
the consultation on the Department for Transport web site.The original
government proposal was to close Milford Haven station and downgrade Swansea to
a daylight hour’s only service. Now the Con-Dem coalition has done a U-turn
and proposes to close Swansea, the busiest coastguard station in Wales,
although Milford Haven has had a reprieve.
Remploy
Remploy & the Sayce report: Remploy is still the biggest employer of disabled
people in the UK, but it must be remembered that it is not the ONLY employer of
disabled people there are still very many more ranging from factories run by
charities to those run by local authorities.
Birmingham Council backtracks on offshoring: http://tinyurl.com/3ffalzj
Stop bullying disabled claimants, says PCS
http://tinyurl.com/3eppk4a
Support for Korean strikers as they picket Standard Chartered UK headquarters
http://tinyurl.com/3g9vfz9
RMT & TSSA to merge: http://tinyurl.com/42rdngg
DIARY
Sat 30 July
12 - 3pm Croydon Town Centre, North End
GMB to join UK UNCUT protest in CROYDON over cuts and tax dodging at SOUTHERN
CROSS HOMES : http://tinyurl.com/42jmd9w
Mon 1 August 12.30pm
Demonstration against the Health Bill when Health Minister Andrew Lansley will
be at the Royal Hospital Farnborough, Bromley BR6 8ND from 1 to 1.45pm to open
the new stroke unit (which we are not against!). Assemble at car park entrance
to Hospital near Sainsbury’s. Frances Hook Tel: 020 8853 2567
Wed 3rd August
Southampton Council Strike Rally Guildhall Square Southampton 11am
Brighton Stop the Cuts 7:30pm King and Queen
25th July – 12th August News International Wapping – 25 Years on TUC
http://tinyurl.com/3pk37te
11th Sep Rally & Lobby TUC for call for 24 hour public sector strike!
Assemble 1.30pm Friends Meeting Hse, Euston Rd, NW1 for a rally before our
protest.
http://www.shopstewards.net/sign.htm
5th November London March for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October
2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed
workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment
http://jarrowmarch11.com/about/
Join, Get involved, and donate!
http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
info@shopstewards.net
07952 283 558
Friday, 22 July 2011
NSSN Bulletin 22nd July
nfo@shopstewards.net via riseup.net to shopstewardsnet
show details 22 Jul (13 days ago)
Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary this week called for Maximun Unity over
pensions. PCS is considering further industrial action in the autumn aimed at
putting more pressure on the government to agree to full and meaningful
negotiations on all the main issues, and there are already indications there
will be more unions on board. http://bit.ly/oRHetT.
A joint statement from UCU, NUT & ATL noted the success of the strike & concern
at the lack of real negotations, which could lead to more action in the Autumn.
The National Association of Head Teachers and UCAC have also already decided to
ballot their members for industrial action so joint co-ordinated action in
Education is developing further. http://bit.ly/evExBC.
Last week the NEC of PCS agreed to support the NSSN march & lobby of the TUC on
Sep 11th. PCS will be moving a resolution at this year's TUC conference calling
for co-ordinated industrial action to defend public sector pensions. However,
we are aware that some key motions may have been supported in the few years
which include and require the TUC to lead the fight over the cuts which are
devasting our lives and the futures of our younger generation, but there has
been little if any actions taken to move these motions into reality. The
demonstration of the 26th March showed a little of what is possible when the
TUC begin to mobilise its membership, a call for national co-ordinated action
will have an echo from so many more workers now the cuts have really begun to
bite. Please arrange to attend the 11th Sep lobby, invite your fellow stewards,
members, friends and family & also sign the petition we will be handing in to
the TUC. http://bit.ly/qVuOAW. The pre-lobby rally is in the Friends Meeting
House on Euston Rd, NW1 2BJ. The speakers include PCS General Secretary Mark
Serwotka - for flyer http://bit.ly/phIn71 and letter to union branches & trades
councils http://bit.ly/nQckWS.
London NSSN, RMT, CWU, FBU & PCS joint meeting earlier this week started with
Steve Hedley RMT London, "This is what the National Shop Stewards Network is
for - to bring together the most advanced elements in the unions to develop
strategy." He and others also discussed the need for Unions such as Unite,
Unsion & GMB to take part in the co-ordinated action, the need to ensure unions
are not divided by the government was essential. Ben Sprung (FBU London)
reported that the FBU had agreed to ballot its members over pensions, and is
"fully prepared for serious, sustained action; of course we want to be in
coordinated action". The meeting was an important step in London to bring
together leading members of some of the most powerful unions for the battles
ahead and also begin to mobilse for the lobby of the TUC 11th Sep.
We have been actively supporting the campaign to save the 1400 Bombardier jobs
and will be marching with RMT, UNITE, TSSA workers and the community. There
will be a huge march and rally to save Bombardier this Saturday 23rd July 10am
Bass's Recreation Ground. NSSN will be having a meeting after 1pm at the
Flowerpot, 23 King St, Derby, DE1 3DZ with RMT President Alex Gordon to discuss
what next in the fight for jobs. http://bit.ly/pdeDcO.
DISPUTES & UPDATES
Libraries strike suspended - victory for jobs and services
Strike action planned to close all Lambeth Council’s libraries on Friday 22
July will not now be going ahead as the council management conceded that there
will be no compulsory redundancies in an offer put to the union today.
The latest management offer will be put to all UNISON members in Libraries at a
joint shop meeting on Monday. No deal can be made before it is discussed and
agreed by members in Libraries and we can not rule out industrial action to
protect the service, but management’s offer represents a significant victory
as it protects both our jobs and many frontline services.
This is a tribute to the unity and determination of our members in the
libraries, who were ready to strike to defend the library service and protect
their jobs. This is a lesson to every other worker – in Lambeth Council and
elsewhere – that to look after your interests you have to be prepared to take
industrial action.
NUJ - South Yorkshire journalists on indefinite strike to protect jobs
This strike continues and support on picket lines is welcome. Striking South
Yorkshire journalists believe their management is using work placement
volunteers to undermine the industrial action launched by the NUJ last Friday
to protect jobs and quality journalism. A " 16-year-old has been asked to
extend his work experience by a week by bosses desperate to ensure the paper is
printed on time." www.nuj.org.uk.
SOUTHAMPTON UNITE & UNISON - Despite talks the council has refused to withdraw
cuts members are continuing to take selective strike action in parking
services, port health, Itchen Bridge, street cleaning, libraries, children’s
contact centres, building maintenance, refuse collection and vehicle workshops.
Members in social services also voted at a meeting on 19 July to join strike
action in August. UNISON and Unite have already lodged a legal challenge to the
Council’s failure to consult unions on their proposals. http://bit.ly/95wvrY.
TSSA - Strike over equal pay - as women workers recieve £4k less a year than
men on similar grades. http://tinyurl.com/3kvlbkf
NUJ BBC - Thousands of BBC journalists have held a 24-hour strike against
compulsory redundancies, and the NUJ is accusing the corporation's top
management of wilfully avoiding talks which could have averted the stoppage. A
further strike is due on Monday August 1. http://bit.ly/p0VM2P.
REMPLOY- Lobby board in Leicester to save jobs, about 1,000 grievance letters
alleging failure in the duty of care by Remploy’s chief executive, Tim
Matthews, for the organisation’s 2,800 disabled workers have been collected
by Unite, the country’s largest trade union; the GMB; and Community
http://bit.ly/pLUDF8.
Bromley Unison reps leave to join UNITE - This includes newly elected NEC
member Kathy Smith, "Faced with the biggest onslaught against our jobs, wages
and conditions in our history we had a right to expect that every ounce of
energy of the union would be used to fight the employers. However in Bromley,
Unison nationally has put in massive resources, but not to fight the employer
and organise the members, but to effectively strangle the rights of the branch
and its members and its ability to resist the cuts. http://bit.ly/q1OqLi.
Major strike is raging in the Mangistau oblast in the west of Kazakhstan, where
at its height; up to 16,000 workers in the oil industry have been on
strike.Workers faced with jailings, intimidation and brutal repression.
Solidarity urgently needed http://bit.ly/pMVwIZ.
DIARY
23 July
March and rally to save Bombardier:
Saturday 23 July, 10:00 am, Bass’s Recreation Ground
NSSN meeting after the rally:
THE FLOWERPOT
23-25 King St, Derby DE1 3DZ 1:00pm,
http://bit.ly/pdeDcO.
Noon Demo & rally against welfare cuts!
Assemble on The Level, Brighton
http://on.fb.me/rm7BM7.
YouthRock4Jobs gig in Nuneaton .07931455391
http://nuneatonagainstcuts.wordpress.com
25 July
Public meeting: Our NHS is not for sale! 7pm
Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton
How we can unite to stop the government's cuts and privatisation plans.
Speakers from health workers' trade unions and professional bodies, Keep Our
NHS Public and workers involved in the June 30 strike.
26 July
Lobby the council Communities need council libraries!
1pm, at County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston
www.saveourservic.es
27 July
Lobby of Cambridge City Council
1pm. Meet at Guildhall, Cambridge
www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/
30 July
12 - 3pm Croydon Town Centre, North End
GMB to join UK UNCUT protest in CROYDON over cuts and tax dodging at SOUTHERN
CROSS HOMES http://bit.ly/nK9wA9.
11 Sep
Assemble 1.30pm Friends Meeting Hse, Euston Rd, NW1 for a rally before our
protest. http://bit.ly/qVuOAW.
March for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October
2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed
workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment.
jarrowmarch11.com.
Some NSSN videos:
http://bit.ly/jP96UU
http://bit.ly/nhMsmP
Join, Get involved, Affilate
http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
info@shopstewards.net
07952 283 558
show details 22 Jul (13 days ago)
Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary this week called for Maximun Unity over
pensions. PCS is considering further industrial action in the autumn aimed at
putting more pressure on the government to agree to full and meaningful
negotiations on all the main issues, and there are already indications there
will be more unions on board. http://bit.ly/oRHetT.
A joint statement from UCU, NUT & ATL noted the success of the strike & concern
at the lack of real negotations, which could lead to more action in the Autumn.
The National Association of Head Teachers and UCAC have also already decided to
ballot their members for industrial action so joint co-ordinated action in
Education is developing further. http://bit.ly/evExBC.
Last week the NEC of PCS agreed to support the NSSN march & lobby of the TUC on
Sep 11th. PCS will be moving a resolution at this year's TUC conference calling
for co-ordinated industrial action to defend public sector pensions. However,
we are aware that some key motions may have been supported in the few years
which include and require the TUC to lead the fight over the cuts which are
devasting our lives and the futures of our younger generation, but there has
been little if any actions taken to move these motions into reality. The
demonstration of the 26th March showed a little of what is possible when the
TUC begin to mobilise its membership, a call for national co-ordinated action
will have an echo from so many more workers now the cuts have really begun to
bite. Please arrange to attend the 11th Sep lobby, invite your fellow stewards,
members, friends and family & also sign the petition we will be handing in to
the TUC. http://bit.ly/qVuOAW. The pre-lobby rally is in the Friends Meeting
House on Euston Rd, NW1 2BJ. The speakers include PCS General Secretary Mark
Serwotka - for flyer http://bit.ly/phIn71 and letter to union branches & trades
councils http://bit.ly/nQckWS.
London NSSN, RMT, CWU, FBU & PCS joint meeting earlier this week started with
Steve Hedley RMT London, "This is what the National Shop Stewards Network is
for - to bring together the most advanced elements in the unions to develop
strategy." He and others also discussed the need for Unions such as Unite,
Unsion & GMB to take part in the co-ordinated action, the need to ensure unions
are not divided by the government was essential. Ben Sprung (FBU London)
reported that the FBU had agreed to ballot its members over pensions, and is
"fully prepared for serious, sustained action; of course we want to be in
coordinated action". The meeting was an important step in London to bring
together leading members of some of the most powerful unions for the battles
ahead and also begin to mobilse for the lobby of the TUC 11th Sep.
We have been actively supporting the campaign to save the 1400 Bombardier jobs
and will be marching with RMT, UNITE, TSSA workers and the community. There
will be a huge march and rally to save Bombardier this Saturday 23rd July 10am
Bass's Recreation Ground. NSSN will be having a meeting after 1pm at the
Flowerpot, 23 King St, Derby, DE1 3DZ with RMT President Alex Gordon to discuss
what next in the fight for jobs. http://bit.ly/pdeDcO.
DISPUTES & UPDATES
Libraries strike suspended - victory for jobs and services
Strike action planned to close all Lambeth Council’s libraries on Friday 22
July will not now be going ahead as the council management conceded that there
will be no compulsory redundancies in an offer put to the union today.
The latest management offer will be put to all UNISON members in Libraries at a
joint shop meeting on Monday. No deal can be made before it is discussed and
agreed by members in Libraries and we can not rule out industrial action to
protect the service, but management’s offer represents a significant victory
as it protects both our jobs and many frontline services.
This is a tribute to the unity and determination of our members in the
libraries, who were ready to strike to defend the library service and protect
their jobs. This is a lesson to every other worker – in Lambeth Council and
elsewhere – that to look after your interests you have to be prepared to take
industrial action.
NUJ - South Yorkshire journalists on indefinite strike to protect jobs
This strike continues and support on picket lines is welcome. Striking South
Yorkshire journalists believe their management is using work placement
volunteers to undermine the industrial action launched by the NUJ last Friday
to protect jobs and quality journalism. A " 16-year-old has been asked to
extend his work experience by a week by bosses desperate to ensure the paper is
printed on time." www.nuj.org.uk.
SOUTHAMPTON UNITE & UNISON - Despite talks the council has refused to withdraw
cuts members are continuing to take selective strike action in parking
services, port health, Itchen Bridge, street cleaning, libraries, children’s
contact centres, building maintenance, refuse collection and vehicle workshops.
Members in social services also voted at a meeting on 19 July to join strike
action in August. UNISON and Unite have already lodged a legal challenge to the
Council’s failure to consult unions on their proposals. http://bit.ly/95wvrY.
TSSA - Strike over equal pay - as women workers recieve £4k less a year than
men on similar grades. http://tinyurl.com/3kvlbkf
NUJ BBC - Thousands of BBC journalists have held a 24-hour strike against
compulsory redundancies, and the NUJ is accusing the corporation's top
management of wilfully avoiding talks which could have averted the stoppage. A
further strike is due on Monday August 1. http://bit.ly/p0VM2P.
REMPLOY- Lobby board in Leicester to save jobs, about 1,000 grievance letters
alleging failure in the duty of care by Remploy’s chief executive, Tim
Matthews, for the organisation’s 2,800 disabled workers have been collected
by Unite, the country’s largest trade union; the GMB; and Community
http://bit.ly/pLUDF8.
Bromley Unison reps leave to join UNITE - This includes newly elected NEC
member Kathy Smith, "Faced with the biggest onslaught against our jobs, wages
and conditions in our history we had a right to expect that every ounce of
energy of the union would be used to fight the employers. However in Bromley,
Unison nationally has put in massive resources, but not to fight the employer
and organise the members, but to effectively strangle the rights of the branch
and its members and its ability to resist the cuts. http://bit.ly/q1OqLi.
Major strike is raging in the Mangistau oblast in the west of Kazakhstan, where
at its height; up to 16,000 workers in the oil industry have been on
strike.Workers faced with jailings, intimidation and brutal repression.
Solidarity urgently needed http://bit.ly/pMVwIZ.
DIARY
23 July
March and rally to save Bombardier:
Saturday 23 July, 10:00 am, Bass’s Recreation Ground
NSSN meeting after the rally:
THE FLOWERPOT
23-25 King St, Derby DE1 3DZ 1:00pm,
http://bit.ly/pdeDcO.
Noon Demo & rally against welfare cuts!
Assemble on The Level, Brighton
http://on.fb.me/rm7BM7.
YouthRock4Jobs gig in Nuneaton .07931455391
http://nuneatonagainstcuts.wordpress.com
25 July
Public meeting: Our NHS is not for sale! 7pm
Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton
How we can unite to stop the government's cuts and privatisation plans.
Speakers from health workers' trade unions and professional bodies, Keep Our
NHS Public and workers involved in the June 30 strike.
26 July
Lobby the council Communities need council libraries!
1pm, at County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston
www.saveourservic.es
27 July
Lobby of Cambridge City Council
1pm. Meet at Guildhall, Cambridge
www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/
30 July
12 - 3pm Croydon Town Centre, North End
GMB to join UK UNCUT protest in CROYDON over cuts and tax dodging at SOUTHERN
CROSS HOMES http://bit.ly/nK9wA9.
11 Sep
Assemble 1.30pm Friends Meeting Hse, Euston Rd, NW1 for a rally before our
protest. http://bit.ly/qVuOAW.
March for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October
2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed
workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment.
jarrowmarch11.com.
Some NSSN videos:
http://bit.ly/jP96UU
http://bit.ly/nhMsmP
Join, Get involved, Affilate
http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
info@shopstewards.net
07952 283 558
Friday, 1 July 2011
NSSN Bulletin - Striking together (1st July)
Yesterday was an amazing day for the fight-back against pension cuts and
beyond! A demonstration of what can be achieved when the unions move into
action!
There were picket lines, lunch time rallies, walkouts, occupations and support
from unions not even officially on strike but desperate to be involved in some
way, despite the vile and vicious propaganda from the government & media, &
sadly those you would hope to gain support from. Mary Bousted, general
secretary of the ATL, won the biggest cheer at a rally yesterday with: "The
response of Ed Miliband has been a disgrace – he should be ashamed of
himself. If our strike is a mistake, what has he done to oppose this
devastating attack on our pensions? If the Opposition will not defend our
pensions, we will."
You would think from looking at most of the main stream press this we are not
supported or that very little happened, but to be honest it impossible for us
to report the all of the details in one bulletin! In terms of demonstrations
there were: 4,000 Brighton, 5,000 Birmingham, Manchester & Bristol, 3,000
Liverpool, 500 Ipswich, 800 Cardiff, Exeter & Truro, 300 Chester & York, 1,000
Glasgow, Southampton & Hull, 200 Southend, 600 Preston, 1500 Cambridge, 350
Reading, 550 Plymouth, 400 Doncaster, 100 Lincoln, 200 Derby, 700 Norwich,
30,000 London & many many more! More area reports will be added to the website
over the next week, please send in yours & details of follow up meetings &
actions.
In some areas the NSSN joined forces with local unions to organise demos and
rallies. Outside Central Hall Westminster NSSN speakers addressed the overflow
crowd. With a one –day warning shot across the bows of this millionaire
coalition government, now is the time to prepare to step up the fight.
Thousands of our leaflets, bulletins and postcards were given out; placards
were held high. Our message to develop a general strike was welcomed &
supported. Tomorrow the new NSSN Steering Committee will be making an
assessment of yesterdays action and discussing a lobby of the TUC on September
11th in London in order to help ratchet up the pressure on these leaders to
follow up the March 26th demo with bigger joint strike action in the autumn.
We would encourage unions, campaign groups etc to follow up meetings of what
next, if you have visited a new workplaces then re-visit and develop union and
community actions for the future. If you were not on strike this time, look at
how your union and workplace can take part in the future, invite a local
striker & donate to the hardship funds.
Over the last 5 months we have been involved in a huge amount of work,
organising & speaking union meetings & conferences, anti cuts campaigns and
organising events and publishing different leaflets, stickers & cards. The cost
of this work adds up and we are in much need of finances right now! Please
could you consider donating by affiliating individually or via your trades
council or union. £5 per individual or £25 minimum for branches and local
trades councils. Online: http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm or cheques made
payable to 'National Shop Stewards Network’ NSSN PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
DISPUTES:
UCU London Southbank University took strike action to defend pay and conditions
29th June. Lobby Board of governors 14th July.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.113.htm
RMT Strike ballot on First Devon and Cornwall for strike action and action
short of a strike in a dispute over the axing of essential staff transport.
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=146966
UNITE to ballot workers for strike action at Centrica (Hull) over pay
http://tinyurl.com/67d4sf8
NHS UPDATE: http://www.stopcuts.net/news.51.htm
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Sat 2nd July Bournemouth & Poole Anticuts Coalition
10:15am Broadstone Library, 10 Story Lane, Poole, Dorset BH18
info@bpacc.net
North Tyneside Public Services Alliance
11am North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields NE29
l.nelson@unison.co.uk
6:30pm Birmingham Against the Cuts open planning meeting, Unison Offices, 19th
Floor McClaren Building. B4 Planning meeting
Mon 4th
Save the Accord Centre, Parkhead Forge Shopping Centre, Duke Entrance 3pm
Tues 5th
5pm-6: 30pm Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) Lobby of council house
meeting.
Other celebrations & protests as part of the campaign to save the NHS on its
birthday will take place in Stoke, Preston, Manchester, Birmingham,
Wolverhampton, South Tyneside, Bradford, London & South Sea, & more!
Wed 6th
7.30pm Brighton Stop the Cuts, King & Queen
7:30pm Handsworth Anti-Cuts Group public meeting, St Andrews Sports and
Community Centre
Thur 7th July
12 – Manchester Central Conf Centre, M2
Protest outside the NHS Confederation National Conference with Langsley
speaking! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101668313261415
7:30pm – Birmingham TUC meeting - rooms 3&4, Council House, B1
Fri 9th
Save Our NHS Day of Action. Nottingham SOS nottssos+doa@gmail.com
11th Sep – NSSN lobby TUC to actively develop national action against the
cuts! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222515987782045
Joint meeting of London NSSN, RMT, CWU, FBU - Trade Unions battle ConDem cuts:
Mon 18th 6pm Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T
Some of the strongest & most militant unions in London will come together to
discuss what we can do now to help get all our unions up for concerted action
to stop ALL cuts.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.110.htm
JOIN AFFILIATE & GET INVOLVED
Email: info@shopstewards.net
Phone: 07952 283 558
http://www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
beyond! A demonstration of what can be achieved when the unions move into
action!
There were picket lines, lunch time rallies, walkouts, occupations and support
from unions not even officially on strike but desperate to be involved in some
way, despite the vile and vicious propaganda from the government & media, &
sadly those you would hope to gain support from. Mary Bousted, general
secretary of the ATL, won the biggest cheer at a rally yesterday with: "The
response of Ed Miliband has been a disgrace – he should be ashamed of
himself. If our strike is a mistake, what has he done to oppose this
devastating attack on our pensions? If the Opposition will not defend our
pensions, we will."
You would think from looking at most of the main stream press this we are not
supported or that very little happened, but to be honest it impossible for us
to report the all of the details in one bulletin! In terms of demonstrations
there were: 4,000 Brighton, 5,000 Birmingham, Manchester & Bristol, 3,000
Liverpool, 500 Ipswich, 800 Cardiff, Exeter & Truro, 300 Chester & York, 1,000
Glasgow, Southampton & Hull, 200 Southend, 600 Preston, 1500 Cambridge, 350
Reading, 550 Plymouth, 400 Doncaster, 100 Lincoln, 200 Derby, 700 Norwich,
30,000 London & many many more! More area reports will be added to the website
over the next week, please send in yours & details of follow up meetings &
actions.
In some areas the NSSN joined forces with local unions to organise demos and
rallies. Outside Central Hall Westminster NSSN speakers addressed the overflow
crowd. With a one –day warning shot across the bows of this millionaire
coalition government, now is the time to prepare to step up the fight.
Thousands of our leaflets, bulletins and postcards were given out; placards
were held high. Our message to develop a general strike was welcomed &
supported. Tomorrow the new NSSN Steering Committee will be making an
assessment of yesterdays action and discussing a lobby of the TUC on September
11th in London in order to help ratchet up the pressure on these leaders to
follow up the March 26th demo with bigger joint strike action in the autumn.
We would encourage unions, campaign groups etc to follow up meetings of what
next, if you have visited a new workplaces then re-visit and develop union and
community actions for the future. If you were not on strike this time, look at
how your union and workplace can take part in the future, invite a local
striker & donate to the hardship funds.
Over the last 5 months we have been involved in a huge amount of work,
organising & speaking union meetings & conferences, anti cuts campaigns and
organising events and publishing different leaflets, stickers & cards. The cost
of this work adds up and we are in much need of finances right now! Please
could you consider donating by affiliating individually or via your trades
council or union. £5 per individual or £25 minimum for branches and local
trades councils. Online: http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm or cheques made
payable to 'National Shop Stewards Network’ NSSN PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
DISPUTES:
UCU London Southbank University took strike action to defend pay and conditions
29th June. Lobby Board of governors 14th July.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.113.htm
RMT Strike ballot on First Devon and Cornwall for strike action and action
short of a strike in a dispute over the axing of essential staff transport.
http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=146966
UNITE to ballot workers for strike action at Centrica (Hull) over pay
http://tinyurl.com/67d4sf8
NHS UPDATE: http://www.stopcuts.net/news.51.htm
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Sat 2nd July Bournemouth & Poole Anticuts Coalition
10:15am Broadstone Library, 10 Story Lane, Poole, Dorset BH18
info@bpacc.net
North Tyneside Public Services Alliance
11am North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields NE29
l.nelson@unison.co.uk
6:30pm Birmingham Against the Cuts open planning meeting, Unison Offices, 19th
Floor McClaren Building. B4 Planning meeting
Mon 4th
Save the Accord Centre, Parkhead Forge Shopping Centre, Duke Entrance 3pm
Tues 5th
5pm-6: 30pm Disabled People Against the Cuts (DPAC) Lobby of council house
meeting.
Other celebrations & protests as part of the campaign to save the NHS on its
birthday will take place in Stoke, Preston, Manchester, Birmingham,
Wolverhampton, South Tyneside, Bradford, London & South Sea, & more!
Wed 6th
7.30pm Brighton Stop the Cuts, King & Queen
7:30pm Handsworth Anti-Cuts Group public meeting, St Andrews Sports and
Community Centre
Thur 7th July
12 – Manchester Central Conf Centre, M2
Protest outside the NHS Confederation National Conference with Langsley
speaking! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101668313261415
7:30pm – Birmingham TUC meeting - rooms 3&4, Council House, B1
Fri 9th
Save Our NHS Day of Action. Nottingham SOS nottssos+doa@gmail.com
11th Sep – NSSN lobby TUC to actively develop national action against the
cuts! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222515987782045
Joint meeting of London NSSN, RMT, CWU, FBU - Trade Unions battle ConDem cuts:
Mon 18th 6pm Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T
Some of the strongest & most militant unions in London will come together to
discuss what we can do now to help get all our unions up for concerted action
to stop ALL cuts.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.110.htm
JOIN AFFILIATE & GET INVOLVED
Email: info@shopstewards.net
Phone: 07952 283 558
http://www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
Friday, 24 June 2011
NSSN 45 - Nothing unaffordable about public sector pensions
‘There is nothing unaffordable about public sector Pensions”, wrote the
Torygraph earlier this week. Well yes they would know, given the huge and
obscene pensions and bonuses those who have caused the economic crisis in the
country have accepted, and continue to take, whilst expecting us to pay for the
mess. If this government gets away with it, millions of public sector workers
will pay in more to their pensions, to get less out and to wait longer to get
it - all to pay for a crisis caused by the bankers!
Also, the current pensions proposals plan to steal another £2.8 billion from
us pushing 3.5 million pensioners into fuel poverty. This is totally
unacceptable; we already have 2.5 million pensioners who cannot afford to
adequately heat their homes. Is that the kind of society we want to bring our
next generations into? Is that what we want for those who have contributed to
our lives, work and of building the very homes and hospitals we use and live
in? We don’t want or need further cut backs, but a better distribution of
our collective wealth, which a tiny, tiny minority sucks up. And they call us
irresponsible!
On Thursday 30th of June, there is an important opportunity to take a stand and
strike as just under a million workers who have been balloted so far, will be
taking action. This is the first National co-ordinated strike action against
this government.
Sadly the largest public sector union, Unison is not taking part nationally in
this but has agreed at this weeks conferences that they will prepare for
co-ordinated action, as many of its members asked why aren’t we on strike on
the 30th. This should lead to another national strike in the Autumn - in the
words of PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka "to turn 750,000 on strike on June
30th into 4 million." NSSN supporters will be giving out our leaflet on June
30th calling for a 24-hour public sector general strike. You can download it
from our website or email us to get copies.
If your union is on strike - what can you do?
Hopefully you will have discussed this with your reps & officials, to set up
picket lines, leaflet and recruit new members, get inactive members involved,
discuss with other local unions for support and solidarity. Join/set up local
and regional marches to show this government that we will not accept this and
more importantly show each other, and those not yet on strike, there is an
alternative to the ‘cuts’. If you need any assistance or some material let
us know.
If your union is not on strike - what could you do?
Attend picket lines of those on strike
Send messages of support
Donate to the respective hardship funds
Assist in organizing locally; get your workmates, family, and friends to attend
Arrange meetings for after the 30th – what next
Move a resolution in your next union branch meeting calling on your union to
ballot for strike action and urging them to co-ordinate the action with the
other unions. Also, support the NSSN lobby of the TUC on September 11th in
London calling for co-ordinated action across the unions
Not in a union or workplace?
You might want to take part in walkouts or local protests with others.
For those not in work link up with strikers through your anti cuts campaigns,
share information, consider what actions you could take. Join the picket lines
and the local rally’s and marches. Students will also be looking to walk out
and support picket lines.
Support and visits to picket lines is most welcome as the con-dems try to
divide us!
STRIKES & DISPUTES
Two bits of Good news for RMT, Arywn Thomas has won the ET against unfair
dismissal and has now been reinstated! Workers on the Heathrow express have
suspended strike action following a better offer. Congratulations to all those
who were involved and took action.
We would also like to congratulate UCU members will also be celebrating as UCU
Wales Vice President has had his disciplinary action withdrawn after members
took unofficial action furious at the actions.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.98.htm
Earlier this week 34 cleaners took part in 2 days of strike action in protest
over unpaid wages from Ocean in the city of London.
SOUTHAMPTON City Council Unison & Unite workers strike against cuts in jobs,
conditions and services continues as talks failed at ACAS. Workers will be
striking on the 30th of June to link up their issues with those nationally.
http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/newsletters.htm
http://southamptonanticuts.wordpress.com/
Birmingham Unison announced it would also be on strike on the 30th of June
given the £300 million cuts budget with over 37% to be cut by 2015.
http://www.birminghamunison.co.uk/
http://birminghamagainstthecuts.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/mass-strikes-in-birmingham-on-30th-june/
NUJ Newsquest in south London will begin 4 day strike 27th – midnight 30th
June over redundancies.
Leeds Council UNISON will join GMB balloting over proposals for cutting up to
3,000 jobs over 4 years
NUT Forest Hill School took first day of strike action against compulsorily
redundancies.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Sat 25th
Hampshire Stop the cuts & Hampshire Assoc of Trades Councils demo 11am
Oram’s Arbour, Clifton Road. Linking up the ongoing council strikes of Unite
& Unison members with Medirest .
Lewes March for the NHS 10.30
Nevill Green, BN7
Nuneaton Against the Cuts 10.30 meet outside specsavers for campaign activity.
Tues 28th - RMT demonstration outside Liverpool’s BT Conference Centre 08.30
Sir Roy McNulty the architect of the Governments “Rail Review” carve-up -
will be addressing a major railway industry conference.
THURS 30th JUNE – NATIONAL STRIKE Action against pension cuts!
Just a few rallies & marches on the strike day:
Aberystwyth Rally 12 Morian Centre, Queens Rd
Bangor 2 Meifod Hotel
Barnsley 9.45 March to Parkway Cinema
Birmingham at 12 Victoria Square
Bedford 10 Civic Centre
Bradford 10 Valley Parad Ground
Brighton 10.30 The level (opposite open market)
Bristol 11 College Green
Calerdale 10 Arden Rd, Social Club
Canterbury 10-2 Abbots Barton Hotel
Camberley 1pm Camberley station march. 2pm Rally@Theatre
Cambridge 12 Parkers pierce
Carlisle 12.30 Old Town Hall
Cardiff 11 Cathays Park & 12.15 Canton Bridge
Ceredigion 12 Morian Centre
Chatham 12.30 Command House, ME4
Chelmsford 11 High St
Chester 12.30 town hall
Chippenham 11 Town Hall
Colchester 12.30 Town Hall
Derbyshire 10.30 Market Hall Chesterfield
Doncaster 9.30 Council house, College rd
Dorchester 9.30 County hall
Dover 12 St Mary’s Church
Exeter 11 Corn Exchange
Glasgow 12 George Sq
Gloucester 10.30 Gloucester Park
Gravesham 9.30 Three Daws Pub DA11
Gwynedd Mefild 2 Hotel Bontnewydd
Halifax 10 Arden Social Club
Hastings 10.30 White rock hotel
Hertfordshire 10.30 Campus West, Uni
Huddersfield 10 St Pats Irish centre 12-12.30 rally Market X, HD1
Hull 10am Royal Hotel
Isle of Wight 10 St Georges Football PO30
Ipswich 10.45 Giles Circus, Princes Circus
Kirklees 10 St Patricks Centre
Lancaster 11 Market Sq
Llandrindod Wells 11am Pavilion, Spa Rd
Lincoln 1 Stags Head
Liverpool 11.30 William Brown St
Leicester 12 Victoria Park
Leeds 12 City Square
London 11 Lincoln Fields
Luton 12 Market Hill
Manchester 11 All Saints
Maidenhead 11-2 Walnut Tree & 4pm Outside County Hall
Maidstone 11 Village Hotel, ME14
Merthyr Tydfil 12.30 Civic Centre
Middleborough 4.30 Bottle sculpture
Milton Keynes 12 Campbell Park
Newcastle 12 Life Centre
Newbury 10 St Nicholas Church Hall
Newport 12 John Forest Sq
Norfolk 12 Outside Forum NR2
Norwich Noon Forum Amphitheatre
Northampton 12.30 Guildhall
Nottingham 11 Forest Recreation March to Albert Hall for rally
Oxford Noon Bonn Square 1.30 March
Peterborough 10am
Plymouth 10.30 Albion Rugby Club
Portsmouth 12 Guildhall, PO1
Preston 12 Flag Market
Powys 10.30 The Pavilion
Reading 11am RISC, London St, RG1
Rotherham 11am All saints Sq
Sheffield 12 Barker’s Pool to City Hall
Sheffield 11 Peace gardens to City Hall
Sittingbourne 11 Phoenix house, Central Av
Slough Queensmere Centre
Somerset 10 Taunton Rugby Club
Southampton 11 Guildhall
Southend 12.30 Victoria Circus
Staffordshire 11.30 Reardons, Adventure Place ST1
Swansea 11.30 Castle Sq
Swindon 10 Outside Swindon Library
Taunton 11 Rugby club
Telford 12 Southgate
Truro 1-1pm Lemon Quay
Wakefield 10 Outside Cathedral
Welwyn 10.30 Campus West, Roller City
Wembley 10 Torch Pub
Wigan 11-1 Market Place
Wolverhampton 10.45 Metro One
Worcester 11 St Peters Baptist Centre
Worthing 11 Steyne Gdns, BN11
Wrexham 11.30 Queens Sq
York 11.30 Parliament St & 4pm lobby Council
Tues 5th July East London NSSN – ‘All out together’ 7pm
Durning hall Community Centre, Earlham Grove E7
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/
Torygraph earlier this week. Well yes they would know, given the huge and
obscene pensions and bonuses those who have caused the economic crisis in the
country have accepted, and continue to take, whilst expecting us to pay for the
mess. If this government gets away with it, millions of public sector workers
will pay in more to their pensions, to get less out and to wait longer to get
it - all to pay for a crisis caused by the bankers!
Also, the current pensions proposals plan to steal another £2.8 billion from
us pushing 3.5 million pensioners into fuel poverty. This is totally
unacceptable; we already have 2.5 million pensioners who cannot afford to
adequately heat their homes. Is that the kind of society we want to bring our
next generations into? Is that what we want for those who have contributed to
our lives, work and of building the very homes and hospitals we use and live
in? We don’t want or need further cut backs, but a better distribution of
our collective wealth, which a tiny, tiny minority sucks up. And they call us
irresponsible!
On Thursday 30th of June, there is an important opportunity to take a stand and
strike as just under a million workers who have been balloted so far, will be
taking action. This is the first National co-ordinated strike action against
this government.
Sadly the largest public sector union, Unison is not taking part nationally in
this but has agreed at this weeks conferences that they will prepare for
co-ordinated action, as many of its members asked why aren’t we on strike on
the 30th. This should lead to another national strike in the Autumn - in the
words of PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka "to turn 750,000 on strike on June
30th into 4 million." NSSN supporters will be giving out our leaflet on June
30th calling for a 24-hour public sector general strike. You can download it
from our website or email us to get copies.
If your union is on strike - what can you do?
Hopefully you will have discussed this with your reps & officials, to set up
picket lines, leaflet and recruit new members, get inactive members involved,
discuss with other local unions for support and solidarity. Join/set up local
and regional marches to show this government that we will not accept this and
more importantly show each other, and those not yet on strike, there is an
alternative to the ‘cuts’. If you need any assistance or some material let
us know.
If your union is not on strike - what could you do?
Attend picket lines of those on strike
Send messages of support
Donate to the respective hardship funds
Assist in organizing locally; get your workmates, family, and friends to attend
Arrange meetings for after the 30th – what next
Move a resolution in your next union branch meeting calling on your union to
ballot for strike action and urging them to co-ordinate the action with the
other unions. Also, support the NSSN lobby of the TUC on September 11th in
London calling for co-ordinated action across the unions
Not in a union or workplace?
You might want to take part in walkouts or local protests with others.
For those not in work link up with strikers through your anti cuts campaigns,
share information, consider what actions you could take. Join the picket lines
and the local rally’s and marches. Students will also be looking to walk out
and support picket lines.
Support and visits to picket lines is most welcome as the con-dems try to
divide us!
STRIKES & DISPUTES
Two bits of Good news for RMT, Arywn Thomas has won the ET against unfair
dismissal and has now been reinstated! Workers on the Heathrow express have
suspended strike action following a better offer. Congratulations to all those
who were involved and took action.
We would also like to congratulate UCU members will also be celebrating as UCU
Wales Vice President has had his disciplinary action withdrawn after members
took unofficial action furious at the actions.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.98.htm
Earlier this week 34 cleaners took part in 2 days of strike action in protest
over unpaid wages from Ocean in the city of London.
SOUTHAMPTON City Council Unison & Unite workers strike against cuts in jobs,
conditions and services continues as talks failed at ACAS. Workers will be
striking on the 30th of June to link up their issues with those nationally.
http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/newsletters.htm
http://southamptonanticuts.wordpress.com/
Birmingham Unison announced it would also be on strike on the 30th of June
given the £300 million cuts budget with over 37% to be cut by 2015.
http://www.birminghamunison.co.uk/
http://birminghamagainstthecuts.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/mass-strikes-in-birmingham-on-30th-june/
NUJ Newsquest in south London will begin 4 day strike 27th – midnight 30th
June over redundancies.
Leeds Council UNISON will join GMB balloting over proposals for cutting up to
3,000 jobs over 4 years
NUT Forest Hill School took first day of strike action against compulsorily
redundancies.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Sat 25th
Hampshire Stop the cuts & Hampshire Assoc of Trades Councils demo 11am
Oram’s Arbour, Clifton Road. Linking up the ongoing council strikes of Unite
& Unison members with Medirest .
Lewes March for the NHS 10.30
Nevill Green, BN7
Nuneaton Against the Cuts 10.30 meet outside specsavers for campaign activity.
Tues 28th - RMT demonstration outside Liverpool’s BT Conference Centre 08.30
Sir Roy McNulty the architect of the Governments “Rail Review” carve-up -
will be addressing a major railway industry conference.
THURS 30th JUNE – NATIONAL STRIKE Action against pension cuts!
Just a few rallies & marches on the strike day:
Aberystwyth Rally 12 Morian Centre, Queens Rd
Bangor 2 Meifod Hotel
Barnsley 9.45 March to Parkway Cinema
Birmingham at 12 Victoria Square
Bedford 10 Civic Centre
Bradford 10 Valley Parad Ground
Brighton 10.30 The level (opposite open market)
Bristol 11 College Green
Calerdale 10 Arden Rd, Social Club
Canterbury 10-2 Abbots Barton Hotel
Camberley 1pm Camberley station march. 2pm Rally@Theatre
Cambridge 12 Parkers pierce
Carlisle 12.30 Old Town Hall
Cardiff 11 Cathays Park & 12.15 Canton Bridge
Ceredigion 12 Morian Centre
Chatham 12.30 Command House, ME4
Chelmsford 11 High St
Chester 12.30 town hall
Chippenham 11 Town Hall
Colchester 12.30 Town Hall
Derbyshire 10.30 Market Hall Chesterfield
Doncaster 9.30 Council house, College rd
Dorchester 9.30 County hall
Dover 12 St Mary’s Church
Exeter 11 Corn Exchange
Glasgow 12 George Sq
Gloucester 10.30 Gloucester Park
Gravesham 9.30 Three Daws Pub DA11
Gwynedd Mefild 2 Hotel Bontnewydd
Halifax 10 Arden Social Club
Hastings 10.30 White rock hotel
Hertfordshire 10.30 Campus West, Uni
Huddersfield 10 St Pats Irish centre 12-12.30 rally Market X, HD1
Hull 10am Royal Hotel
Isle of Wight 10 St Georges Football PO30
Ipswich 10.45 Giles Circus, Princes Circus
Kirklees 10 St Patricks Centre
Lancaster 11 Market Sq
Llandrindod Wells 11am Pavilion, Spa Rd
Lincoln 1 Stags Head
Liverpool 11.30 William Brown St
Leicester 12 Victoria Park
Leeds 12 City Square
London 11 Lincoln Fields
Luton 12 Market Hill
Manchester 11 All Saints
Maidenhead 11-2 Walnut Tree & 4pm Outside County Hall
Maidstone 11 Village Hotel, ME14
Merthyr Tydfil 12.30 Civic Centre
Middleborough 4.30 Bottle sculpture
Milton Keynes 12 Campbell Park
Newcastle 12 Life Centre
Newbury 10 St Nicholas Church Hall
Newport 12 John Forest Sq
Norfolk 12 Outside Forum NR2
Norwich Noon Forum Amphitheatre
Northampton 12.30 Guildhall
Nottingham 11 Forest Recreation March to Albert Hall for rally
Oxford Noon Bonn Square 1.30 March
Peterborough 10am
Plymouth 10.30 Albion Rugby Club
Portsmouth 12 Guildhall, PO1
Preston 12 Flag Market
Powys 10.30 The Pavilion
Reading 11am RISC, London St, RG1
Rotherham 11am All saints Sq
Sheffield 12 Barker’s Pool to City Hall
Sheffield 11 Peace gardens to City Hall
Sittingbourne 11 Phoenix house, Central Av
Slough Queensmere Centre
Somerset 10 Taunton Rugby Club
Southampton 11 Guildhall
Southend 12.30 Victoria Circus
Staffordshire 11.30 Reardons, Adventure Place ST1
Swansea 11.30 Castle Sq
Swindon 10 Outside Swindon Library
Taunton 11 Rugby club
Telford 12 Southgate
Truro 1-1pm Lemon Quay
Wakefield 10 Outside Cathedral
Welwyn 10.30 Campus West, Roller City
Wembley 10 Torch Pub
Wigan 11-1 Market Place
Wolverhampton 10.45 Metro One
Worcester 11 St Peters Baptist Centre
Worthing 11 Steyne Gdns, BN11
Wrexham 11.30 Queens Sq
York 11.30 Parliament St & 4pm lobby Council
Tues 5th July East London NSSN – ‘All out together’ 7pm
Durning hall Community Centre, Earlham Grove E7
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/
Friday, 17 June 2011
NO 44 Conference report & more
Results from the NUT, PCS and ATL ballots clearly show massive support for
strike action on the 30 June. ATL have never in the 100 odd years of being a
union taken strike action so their result is even more telling! It looks like a
sharpening mood against cuts and privatisation is developing. Under pressure
from his members, even Dave Prentis has stated that Unison will ballot for
strike action in the coming months!
As seven workers from Honda Swindon were leaving the National Shop Stewards
Network (NSSN) conference on Saturday 11 June, one car worker remarked: "I wish
we could have brought a coach-load!” This was a typical reaction amongst the
350 workers attending the best conference we’ve held so far, a regular event
that is rapidly becoming a feature in the calendar of the labour movement.
Alex Gordon, Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) president, reminded
delegates about the biggest ever trade union demonstration that was held on 26
March, showing what the TUC can do when it lifts its little finger. He urged
that attendees don’t squander that energy. The correct conclusions about the
way forward needed be drawn out – primarily, a general strike is needed. The
£81 million of cuts so far are only year one of the Tory programme.
Conference gave a very warm reception to Les Woodward from GMB Remploy who
reported on disabled workers fighting cuts & he appealed to the
"temporarily-abled" for solidarity.
The ‘Right to Strike' theme of the afternoon session was recognition that
whilst we are preparing for mass action, the bosses are too. The
representatives of the rich and powerful are ready to introduce even more
draconian laws to restrict strikes.
Frank Morris described his blacklisting from the Olympics site. Tube drivers
Arwyn Thomas and Eamonn Lynch outlined how they were sacked for participating
in legal industrial action.
John Hancock from the Prison Officers Association (POA) national executive
explained that POA is banned from striking, but that pressure is building up to
break those restrictions, especially because of the drive for privatisation.
Keith Gibson, who spoke at the NSSN conference two years ago about the victory
of construction workers at Lindsay Oil Refinery against all odds, gave us, in
his bold inimitable style, a vivid account of a recent battle at Saltend, near
Hull, where 400 construction workers were locked out. Despite a willingness of
the workforce to fight, the battle was eventually lost, leaving many questions
being asked of some trade union officials.
This theme was taken up in the many contributions from the floor, including by
Unite convener Paddy Brennan, who appealed to NSSN for assistance with current
problems at Honda. Unison member Kathy Smith also spoke, she had stood for the
NEC seat of her union colleague who was suspended from office by the right wing
union leadership and won! FULL REPORT, Motions & great video:
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.94.htm
The conference also included a rousing and in depth speech by Apostolis
Kasimeris, one of the leaders of the OASA bus workers union in Athens. Workers
in Greece were taking part in their 8th General strike and with bus fare
boycotts that linked trade unionists with the community. He clearly connected
the situations across Europe and the role of the EU & IMF and how they were
still making money on the backs of the workers despite having caused the
economic crisis. Full speech: http://www.shopstewards.net/news.93.htm
The energy and commitment of those attending to take a lead in the strike
action against cuts on June 30th and develop a wider movement in the coming
months is moving across Europe was clear. We have always been in a class war
but now we begin to flex our collective strength!
Join us! Affiliate - ONLINE: http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
STRIKES & DISPUTES
SOUTHAMPTON City Council Unison & Unite workers strike action is escalating
action over wage cuts with members. Cleaners at Southampton Hospital also took
strike action on the same days this week and joined with Council workers at the
March against cuts on the
13th.http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/newsletters.htm
http://southamptonanticuts.wordpress.com/
RMT- Despite strenuous efforts by RMT, LU have refused to reach an agreement
that would reinstate Arwyn Thomas despite his successful appeal for “interim
relief” for unfair dismissal at the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of his
trade union activities. Strike action begins this weekend: 9pm on Sunday 19th
June then again on 27th June 28th June, 29th June, and 1st July.
http://tinyurl.com/3sbr9e2
NUT Shorefields Liverpool will strike on the 21st over plans to become an
academy.
Unite Fujistu – Defend Alan Jenney Deputy Chair of Combine over unfair and
unnecessary redundancy. Ballot closes 23rd June. Messages of support
support@ourunion.org.uk http://www.shopstewards.net/news.92.htm
UCU COLEG MORGANNWG Management has initiated disciplinary action against Guy
Stoate, President of UCU Wales and NEC member. On the day the disciplinary
action was announced over members of UCU at the college held a spontaneous
rally in support of Guy. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.96.htm
Jacqui Thomspon campaigner in Save Panticelyn School was arrested for breaching
the peace as she filmed council meeting in Carmthen. http://tinyurl.com/6lctls9
http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Mon 20th Waltham Forest Trades Council & Antic Cuts group public meeting 7.30pm
Harmony Hall, Truro Road, E17
Tue 21st SERTUC public services Open Meeting report on supporting action on the
30th June - 1.00am-1.00pm in the Council Chamber, 5th Floor, TUC Congress
House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B
Wed 22nd March & Strike against the privatisation at London Met University.
Over 198 job cuts proposed. Assemble at 2:00pm at Highbury Fields t march to
London Met, Tower Building, and 166-220 Holloway Road. Organised by UNISON, UCU
& London Met NUS. Lobby of Board at 4pm.
THURS 30th JUNE – NATIONAL STRIKE Action against pension cuts!
http://tinyurl.com/6jc4neg
Birmingham at 12 Victoria Square.
Bradford 10 Valley Parad Ground
Brighton 10.30 The level
Bristol 11 College Green
Cambridge 12 Parkers pierce
Carlisle 12.30 Old Town Hall
Chatham Noon Command House
Chelmsford 11 High St
Colchester 12.30 Town Hall
Dover 12 St Mary’s Church
Exeter 11 Corn Exchange
Glasgow 12 George Sq
Gloucester 10.30 Gloucester Sq
Halifax 10 Arden Social Club
Hastings 10 White rock hotel
Liverpool 11.30 William Brown St
Leicester Victoria Park
Leeds 12 City Square
London 11 Lincoln Fields
Luton 12 Market Hill
Manchester 11 All Saints
Middleborough 4.30 Bottle sculpture
Newcastle 12 Life Centre
Norwich Noon Forum Amphitheatre
Nottingham Trent Square
Oxford 1 Bonn Square
Plymouth 1 Plymouth Town Hall
Portsmouth 12 Guildhall
Preston 12 Flag Market
Sheffield 12 Peace Gardens
Tauntan 11 Rugby club
Worthing 11 Steyne Gdns
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/
strike action on the 30 June. ATL have never in the 100 odd years of being a
union taken strike action so their result is even more telling! It looks like a
sharpening mood against cuts and privatisation is developing. Under pressure
from his members, even Dave Prentis has stated that Unison will ballot for
strike action in the coming months!
As seven workers from Honda Swindon were leaving the National Shop Stewards
Network (NSSN) conference on Saturday 11 June, one car worker remarked: "I wish
we could have brought a coach-load!” This was a typical reaction amongst the
350 workers attending the best conference we’ve held so far, a regular event
that is rapidly becoming a feature in the calendar of the labour movement.
Alex Gordon, Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) president, reminded
delegates about the biggest ever trade union demonstration that was held on 26
March, showing what the TUC can do when it lifts its little finger. He urged
that attendees don’t squander that energy. The correct conclusions about the
way forward needed be drawn out – primarily, a general strike is needed. The
£81 million of cuts so far are only year one of the Tory programme.
Conference gave a very warm reception to Les Woodward from GMB Remploy who
reported on disabled workers fighting cuts & he appealed to the
"temporarily-abled" for solidarity.
The ‘Right to Strike' theme of the afternoon session was recognition that
whilst we are preparing for mass action, the bosses are too. The
representatives of the rich and powerful are ready to introduce even more
draconian laws to restrict strikes.
Frank Morris described his blacklisting from the Olympics site. Tube drivers
Arwyn Thomas and Eamonn Lynch outlined how they were sacked for participating
in legal industrial action.
John Hancock from the Prison Officers Association (POA) national executive
explained that POA is banned from striking, but that pressure is building up to
break those restrictions, especially because of the drive for privatisation.
Keith Gibson, who spoke at the NSSN conference two years ago about the victory
of construction workers at Lindsay Oil Refinery against all odds, gave us, in
his bold inimitable style, a vivid account of a recent battle at Saltend, near
Hull, where 400 construction workers were locked out. Despite a willingness of
the workforce to fight, the battle was eventually lost, leaving many questions
being asked of some trade union officials.
This theme was taken up in the many contributions from the floor, including by
Unite convener Paddy Brennan, who appealed to NSSN for assistance with current
problems at Honda. Unison member Kathy Smith also spoke, she had stood for the
NEC seat of her union colleague who was suspended from office by the right wing
union leadership and won! FULL REPORT, Motions & great video:
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.94.htm
The conference also included a rousing and in depth speech by Apostolis
Kasimeris, one of the leaders of the OASA bus workers union in Athens. Workers
in Greece were taking part in their 8th General strike and with bus fare
boycotts that linked trade unionists with the community. He clearly connected
the situations across Europe and the role of the EU & IMF and how they were
still making money on the backs of the workers despite having caused the
economic crisis. Full speech: http://www.shopstewards.net/news.93.htm
The energy and commitment of those attending to take a lead in the strike
action against cuts on June 30th and develop a wider movement in the coming
months is moving across Europe was clear. We have always been in a class war
but now we begin to flex our collective strength!
Join us! Affiliate - ONLINE: http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm
STRIKES & DISPUTES
SOUTHAMPTON City Council Unison & Unite workers strike action is escalating
action over wage cuts with members. Cleaners at Southampton Hospital also took
strike action on the same days this week and joined with Council workers at the
March against cuts on the
13th.http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/newsletters.htm
http://southamptonanticuts.wordpress.com/
RMT- Despite strenuous efforts by RMT, LU have refused to reach an agreement
that would reinstate Arwyn Thomas despite his successful appeal for “interim
relief” for unfair dismissal at the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of his
trade union activities. Strike action begins this weekend: 9pm on Sunday 19th
June then again on 27th June 28th June, 29th June, and 1st July.
http://tinyurl.com/3sbr9e2
NUT Shorefields Liverpool will strike on the 21st over plans to become an
academy.
Unite Fujistu – Defend Alan Jenney Deputy Chair of Combine over unfair and
unnecessary redundancy. Ballot closes 23rd June. Messages of support
support@ourunion.org.uk http://www.shopstewards.net/news.92.htm
UCU COLEG MORGANNWG Management has initiated disciplinary action against Guy
Stoate, President of UCU Wales and NEC member. On the day the disciplinary
action was announced over members of UCU at the college held a spontaneous
rally in support of Guy. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.96.htm
Jacqui Thomspon campaigner in Save Panticelyn School was arrested for breaching
the peace as she filmed council meeting in Carmthen. http://tinyurl.com/6lctls9
http://carmarthenplanning.blogspot.com/
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Mon 20th Waltham Forest Trades Council & Antic Cuts group public meeting 7.30pm
Harmony Hall, Truro Road, E17
Tue 21st SERTUC public services Open Meeting report on supporting action on the
30th June - 1.00am-1.00pm in the Council Chamber, 5th Floor, TUC Congress
House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B
Wed 22nd March & Strike against the privatisation at London Met University.
Over 198 job cuts proposed. Assemble at 2:00pm at Highbury Fields t march to
London Met, Tower Building, and 166-220 Holloway Road. Organised by UNISON, UCU
& London Met NUS. Lobby of Board at 4pm.
THURS 30th JUNE – NATIONAL STRIKE Action against pension cuts!
http://tinyurl.com/6jc4neg
Birmingham at 12 Victoria Square.
Bradford 10 Valley Parad Ground
Brighton 10.30 The level
Bristol 11 College Green
Cambridge 12 Parkers pierce
Carlisle 12.30 Old Town Hall
Chatham Noon Command House
Chelmsford 11 High St
Colchester 12.30 Town Hall
Dover 12 St Mary’s Church
Exeter 11 Corn Exchange
Glasgow 12 George Sq
Gloucester 10.30 Gloucester Sq
Halifax 10 Arden Social Club
Hastings 10 White rock hotel
Liverpool 11.30 William Brown St
Leicester Victoria Park
Leeds 12 City Square
London 11 Lincoln Fields
Luton 12 Market Hill
Manchester 11 All Saints
Middleborough 4.30 Bottle sculpture
Newcastle 12 Life Centre
Norwich Noon Forum Amphitheatre
Nottingham Trent Square
Oxford 1 Bonn Square
Plymouth 1 Plymouth Town Hall
Portsmouth 12 Guildhall
Preston 12 Flag Market
Sheffield 12 Peace Gardens
Tauntan 11 Rugby club
Worthing 11 Steyne Gdns
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Thursday, 28 April 2011
NSSN bulletin 39 - So what are you wearing Friday?
3:49pm Apr 28th
Subject: NSSN No. 39 So what are you wearing Friday?
At least we have a day off.. Anyway more good news in terms of steps towards national co-ordinated action as NUT voted unanimously at their annual conference for strike action against the attacks on pensions. The RCN is also threatening action against NHS cut with Unite's national health committee supporting coordinating strikes. We look forward to hearing about national but also local actions and disputes that will also use the 30th of June to make a collective stand to STOP the cuts!. http://www.facebook.com/l/69406cZ0X4bNXDi5WVDVNzP-g4g/www.stopcuts.net/news.37.htm
Today is also workers memorial day - Remember the dead but lets fight for the living! http://www.facebook.com/l/69406D6ksEfWyFtCfd2fYHYqHVA/www.shopstewards.net/news.76.htm.
Sunday is also International Workers Day - Mayday. With the huge and ongoing battles for democracy and against poverty across the globe there is no better day to look up from our own individual battles and see how many other workers
we have so much in common with and who we change the world with!
NSSN NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 5th annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th. We would also appreciate it if people could register for the conference in advance http://www.facebook.com/l/69406f4boLzZNJBoArYSBOP6ONg/tinyurl.com/6kdzycc
UPDATES
National union conferences will also be taking place and we have a bulletin we would ask all supporters to distribute. We are aiming to have fringe meetings as well. http://www.facebook.com/l/69406rt1etAZ1ivHvd820mnySPQ/www.shopstewards.net/news.73.htm
NUJ Journalists at Tindle Newspapers in Enfield, North London, are currently on strike until 5th May against cuts. Over one third of editorial staff that have left has not been replaced, and the remaining workers are facing increasing exploitation, with only 3 reporters producing 9 newspapers a week! strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk or FOC Jonathan: 07917 871 421
Thurs 28th
Nuneaton Against The Cuts
19.00pm at Bentley Rd Sports and Social Club, 22 Bentley Rd
Speakers Paul Riely RMT, Tom Sidwell from Unison and TUSC Steve Smith from PCS & Vanessa Gee nuneatonagainstthecuts@hotmail.co.uk
MAYDAY - International Workers Day!
Fri 29th
Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party from 1pm
Sat 30 April
Coventry May Day Rallyl11am meet opposite Council House to Sheldon Square (Coventry Against Racism and Coventry TUC)
11.30 Victoria Park, Leicester
Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and celebration Elmwood Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from 1pm)
Leeds Mayday Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens
Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services! Assemble 12:00 at the Guildhall, marching to rally Castle Square
Sun 1st May
London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406a8Re9nD31o8Ao0yDXxfFrg/www.londonmayday.org/home.php
Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm sponsored by RMT and PCS young members' network at Slaughtered Lamb Pub, Great Sutton Street, EC1V
Ipswich - Demonstration 11am Giles Circus, Princes St & March to Alexandra Park, with family events on till 6pm http://www.facebook.com/l/69406c4eOzxPWM3LdZ3UqjJTDsg/www.ipswichmaydayfestival.co.uk
Mon 2nd May
Chesterfield May Day March and Rally - Market Place, Chesterfield 10am onwards
11th May - The Hardest Hit demo, disabled people from across the country will be coming to London to demonstrate their anger and lobby their MP about cuts in benefits and services by the current government along with raising their concerns about the welfare reform bill. Assemble 11.30am Embankment/Horse
Guards Avenue
Tuesday 17th May
Our Health Service Not for Sale demo – May assemble 5.30pm University College Hospital, march to Department of Health
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May http://www.facebook.com/l/69406oeVuDaw05A0QtjZNupusVA/www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406Whl_R-whGjLfc41poWoeiA/www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406qwzD_xF77o1BK0z8jD21GQ/on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406vwZhYdH7jIKWvoGW5Rts5Q/on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.facebook.com/l/694062sMNU8Oxn1i5ALgBF9fu_g/www.stopcuts.net/
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Subject: NSSN No. 39 So what are you wearing Friday?
At least we have a day off.. Anyway more good news in terms of steps towards national co-ordinated action as NUT voted unanimously at their annual conference for strike action against the attacks on pensions. The RCN is also threatening action against NHS cut with Unite's national health committee supporting coordinating strikes. We look forward to hearing about national but also local actions and disputes that will also use the 30th of June to make a collective stand to STOP the cuts!. http://www.facebook.com/l/69406cZ0X4bNXDi5WVDVNzP-g4g/www.stopcuts.net/news.37.htm
Today is also workers memorial day - Remember the dead but lets fight for the living! http://www.facebook.com/l/69406D6ksEfWyFtCfd2fYHYqHVA/www.shopstewards.net/news.76.htm.
Sunday is also International Workers Day - Mayday. With the huge and ongoing battles for democracy and against poverty across the globe there is no better day to look up from our own individual battles and see how many other workers
we have so much in common with and who we change the world with!
NSSN NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 5th annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th. We would also appreciate it if people could register for the conference in advance http://www.facebook.com/l/69406f4boLzZNJBoArYSBOP6ONg/tinyurl.com/6kdzycc
UPDATES
National union conferences will also be taking place and we have a bulletin we would ask all supporters to distribute. We are aiming to have fringe meetings as well. http://www.facebook.com/l/69406rt1etAZ1ivHvd820mnySPQ/www.shopstewards.net/news.73.htm
NUJ Journalists at Tindle Newspapers in Enfield, North London, are currently on strike until 5th May against cuts. Over one third of editorial staff that have left has not been replaced, and the remaining workers are facing increasing exploitation, with only 3 reporters producing 9 newspapers a week! strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk or FOC Jonathan: 07917 871 421
Thurs 28th
Nuneaton Against The Cuts
19.00pm at Bentley Rd Sports and Social Club, 22 Bentley Rd
Speakers Paul Riely RMT, Tom Sidwell from Unison and TUSC Steve Smith from PCS & Vanessa Gee nuneatonagainstthecuts@hotmail.co.uk
MAYDAY - International Workers Day!
Fri 29th
Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party from 1pm
Sat 30 April
Coventry May Day Rallyl11am meet opposite Council House to Sheldon Square (Coventry Against Racism and Coventry TUC)
11.30 Victoria Park, Leicester
Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and celebration Elmwood Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from 1pm)
Leeds Mayday Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens
Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services! Assemble 12:00 at the Guildhall, marching to rally Castle Square
Sun 1st May
London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406a8Re9nD31o8Ao0yDXxfFrg/www.londonmayday.org/home.php
Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm sponsored by RMT and PCS young members' network at Slaughtered Lamb Pub, Great Sutton Street, EC1V
Ipswich - Demonstration 11am Giles Circus, Princes St & March to Alexandra Park, with family events on till 6pm http://www.facebook.com/l/69406c4eOzxPWM3LdZ3UqjJTDsg/www.ipswichmaydayfestival.co.uk
Mon 2nd May
Chesterfield May Day March and Rally - Market Place, Chesterfield 10am onwards
11th May - The Hardest Hit demo, disabled people from across the country will be coming to London to demonstrate their anger and lobby their MP about cuts in benefits and services by the current government along with raising their concerns about the welfare reform bill. Assemble 11.30am Embankment/Horse
Guards Avenue
Tuesday 17th May
Our Health Service Not for Sale demo – May assemble 5.30pm University College Hospital, march to Department of Health
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May http://www.facebook.com/l/69406oeVuDaw05A0QtjZNupusVA/www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406Whl_R-whGjLfc41poWoeiA/www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406qwzD_xF77o1BK0z8jD21GQ/on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://www.facebook.com/l/69406vwZhYdH7jIKWvoGW5Rts5Q/on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.facebook.com/l/694062sMNU8Oxn1i5ALgBF9fu_g/www.stopcuts.net/
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Thursday, 21 April 2011
NSSN Bulletin 38 - Stepping up for acton
With unions such as the ATL now looking at strike action over pensions, the
battle to fight the cuts is now deepening & widening. We would like to
encourage supporters in branches, regions and anti cuts groups to consider what
they could do to support to develop national co-ordinated action against the
cuts.
NSSN NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 5th annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th this will work
well to link in with delegates attending to share information and develop
stronger links for action against the cuts and just prior to co-ordinated
action. We would also appreciate it if people could register for the
conference in advance http://tinyurl.com/6kdzycc
UPDATES:
National union conferences will also be taking place and we have a bulletin we
would ask all supporters to distribute. We are aiming to have fringe meetings
as well. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.73.htm
Our Health Service Not for Sale demo – Tuesday 17 May assemble 5.30pm
University College Hospital, march to Department of Health. As more and more
cuts are proposed such as those in Lewisham & adolescent Mental health services
of £500,000 it is crucial to step up the battle for our services.
SALTEND UPDATE: At a mass meeting of the locked-out workers today, Vivergo's
offer of cash was rejected and it was agreed to re-start the protest in the
morning. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.74.htm messages of support: Keith
Gibson: geminis@geminis.karoo.co.uk 07743135183
Lincolnshire county Council workers to look at strike action against the 900
post cuts. Union rep argues for a needs budget!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-13150339
NUJ Journalists at Tindle Newspapers in Enfield, North London, are currently on
strike until 5th May against cuts. Over one third of editorial staff that have
left has not been replaced, and the remaining workers are facing increasing
exploitation, with only 3 reporters producing 9 newspapers a week!
strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk or FOC Jonathan: 07917 871 421
RMT announced this morning that it is to ballot for strike action and action
short of a strike on Heathrow Express in a dispute over pay. In addition, RMT
today called for direct talks between the Mayor, unions and passenger groups,
and demanded an immediate halt to tube jobs and maintenance cuts, after what
the union described as 24 hours of tube hell this week.
AFFILIATE
Great to hear a few new affiliates come through this week including Coventry
CWU & Bolton Trades Council. You can now affiliate online so please do or post
us a cheque. http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm.
Other Dates for your Diary:
Thur 28th April - Workers Memorial Day - Remember the dead & fight for the
living!
Manchester: 9:30am to 11:00 am at Mechanics Institute. Rally at Peace Gardens
Chorley: 6pm Astley Park, Chorley
London Hazards Protest at DWP London, SW1H 9DA
Nuneaton Against the Cuts public meeting on Thursday 28th April 7pm Bentley
Road Sports & Social Club 23 Bentley Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5LR
MAYDAY - International Workers Day!
Fri 29th April
Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party from 1pm
Sat 30 April
Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and celebration Elmwood
Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from 1pm)
Leeds Mayday Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens (outside Leeds Art Gallery)
Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services! Assemble 12:00,
at the Guildhall, marching to rally Castle Square
Sun 1st May - London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.londonmayday.org/home.php
Ipswich- Demonstration 11am Giles Circus, Princes St & March to Alexandra Park,
with family events on till 6pm www.ipswichmaydayfestival.co.uk
Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm sponsored by RMT and PCS
young members' network at Slaughtered Lamb Pub, Great Sutton Street, EC1V
11th May - The Hardest Hit demo, disabled people from across the country will
be coming to London to demonstrate their anger and lobby their MP about cuts in
benefits and services by the current government along with raising their
concerns about the welfare reform bill. Assemble 11.30am Embankment/Horse
Guards Avenue
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark
the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The
exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
http://on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.stopcuts.net/
battle to fight the cuts is now deepening & widening. We would like to
encourage supporters in branches, regions and anti cuts groups to consider what
they could do to support to develop national co-ordinated action against the
cuts.
NSSN NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 5th annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th this will work
well to link in with delegates attending to share information and develop
stronger links for action against the cuts and just prior to co-ordinated
action. We would also appreciate it if people could register for the
conference in advance http://tinyurl.com/6kdzycc
UPDATES:
National union conferences will also be taking place and we have a bulletin we
would ask all supporters to distribute. We are aiming to have fringe meetings
as well. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.73.htm
Our Health Service Not for Sale demo – Tuesday 17 May assemble 5.30pm
University College Hospital, march to Department of Health. As more and more
cuts are proposed such as those in Lewisham & adolescent Mental health services
of £500,000 it is crucial to step up the battle for our services.
SALTEND UPDATE: At a mass meeting of the locked-out workers today, Vivergo's
offer of cash was rejected and it was agreed to re-start the protest in the
morning. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.74.htm messages of support: Keith
Gibson: geminis@geminis.karoo.co.uk 07743135183
Lincolnshire county Council workers to look at strike action against the 900
post cuts. Union rep argues for a needs budget!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-13150339
NUJ Journalists at Tindle Newspapers in Enfield, North London, are currently on
strike until 5th May against cuts. Over one third of editorial staff that have
left has not been replaced, and the remaining workers are facing increasing
exploitation, with only 3 reporters producing 9 newspapers a week!
strikegazadpres@hotmail.co.uk or FOC Jonathan: 07917 871 421
RMT announced this morning that it is to ballot for strike action and action
short of a strike on Heathrow Express in a dispute over pay. In addition, RMT
today called for direct talks between the Mayor, unions and passenger groups,
and demanded an immediate halt to tube jobs and maintenance cuts, after what
the union described as 24 hours of tube hell this week.
AFFILIATE
Great to hear a few new affiliates come through this week including Coventry
CWU & Bolton Trades Council. You can now affiliate online so please do or post
us a cheque. http://www.stopcuts.net/affiliate.htm.
Other Dates for your Diary:
Thur 28th April - Workers Memorial Day - Remember the dead & fight for the
living!
Manchester: 9:30am to 11:00 am at Mechanics Institute. Rally at Peace Gardens
Chorley: 6pm Astley Park, Chorley
London Hazards Protest at DWP London, SW1H 9DA
Nuneaton Against the Cuts public meeting on Thursday 28th April 7pm Bentley
Road Sports & Social Club 23 Bentley Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5LR
MAYDAY - International Workers Day!
Fri 29th April
Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party from 1pm
Sat 30 April
Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and celebration Elmwood
Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from 1pm)
Leeds Mayday Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens (outside Leeds Art Gallery)
Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services! Assemble 12:00,
at the Guildhall, marching to rally Castle Square
Sun 1st May - London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.londonmayday.org/home.php
Ipswich- Demonstration 11am Giles Circus, Princes St & March to Alexandra Park,
with family events on till 6pm www.ipswichmaydayfestival.co.uk
Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm sponsored by RMT and PCS
young members' network at Slaughtered Lamb Pub, Great Sutton Street, EC1V
11th May - The Hardest Hit demo, disabled people from across the country will
be coming to London to demonstrate their anger and lobby their MP about cuts in
benefits and services by the current government along with raising their
concerns about the welfare reform bill. Assemble 11.30am Embankment/Horse
Guards Avenue
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark
the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The
exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
http://on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.stopcuts.net/
Monday, 18 April 2011
NSSN bulletin 37 -NUJ supports national co-ordinated action
Excellent to hear that NUJ Conference calls for TUC to organise a
24 hour general strike and to support the National Shop Stewards as
well as other national anti-cuts campaigns. Dates for this may be June
30th as other unions are currently in ballots around various issues
including pensions. Unite have clarified they oppose ALL cuts and
support national co-ordinated action so any current or ongoing
disputes should consider holding actions on 30th June. This week has
also seen large protests against benefit cuts take place across the
UK. http://www.shopstewards.net/news.67.htm
This weekend sees the Wales shop stewards network conference on Sat
16th of April. This will be an excellent event to attend and develop
network links. http://on.fb.me/gS6zDy
The 5th Annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th this
will work well to link in with delegates attending to share
information and develop stronger links for action against the cuts and
just prior to co-ordinated action..http://tinyurl.com/6kdzycc
Keep Our NHS Public will be confirming a date for a demonstration soon given
the massive cuts that are being proposed:
http://www.keepournhspublic.com/index.php
OTHER UPDATES:
PCS strike - PCS has called for a day's strike action in all the 37
Jobcentre plus call centres on Monday 18th April. Picket lines will
be held around 7.30 - 9.30am on the 18th April - trade unionists and
anti-cuts campaigners showing their support will be very welcome.
Donate to PCS hardship fund at PCS DWP Group Office, 3rd Floor, Town
Centre House, Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LY.
http://www.shopstewards.net/news.69.htm
PCS EHRC vote for strike action over closure of the commission.
http://tinyurl.com/5rrc5w6
Fords workers call for strike action over attacks on pensions, whilst they made
$6.6 billion profit last year. - http://www.shopstewards.net/news.64.htm
Saltend - 400 workers are still locked out after action taken around the NAECI
agreement and TUPE rights. Add anything about the BP AGM protest...Send
messages of support to Keith Gibson:
geminis@geminis.karoo.co.uk 07743135183 http://www.shopstewards.net/news.68.htm
NUT Rawmarch Sheffield – 9 days of action already taken to stop redundancies.
Messages of support welcome: secretary@rotherham.nut.org.
RMT ballot closes 27th April RMT to ballot of all train operator and
instructor operator members for strike action in an escalation of on-going
disputes over the victimisation of union activists including
two-driver members -over their trade union activities.
http://tinyurl.com/6arzg7u
FBU – Congratulations to FBU members who have won two fantastic victories
against victimisation http://www.fbu.org.uk/?p=2344
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Sat 15th April
Hastings anti cuts March – 12.30 Hastings Peir.
Poole march against welfare reforms – 11.30am Kingsland Crescent
PCS March outside civil service conference 9am ICC city Centre.
17th April - Tribute to Jayaben Desai - a film about the Grunwick strike in
tribute to Jayaben Desai, one of the leading figures in the strike, who died
last year. Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, north London
2.30-5pm. http://bit.ly/eFfPlH
18th April – Save Barts & London Campaign launch meeting . 7.30 Oxford House.
28th April - Workers Memorial Day - Remember the dead & fight for the living!
Manchester: 9:30am to 11:00 am at Mechanics Institute. Rally at Peace Gardens:
12
London: 12.30 London Hazards Protest at DWP London, SW1H 9DA
MAYDAY
Fri 29th April Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party
from 1pm
Sat 30 April Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and
celebration Elmwood Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from
1pm)
Sat 30th April - Leeds Mayday
Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens (outside Leeds Art Gallery), The Headrow,
Leeds
Sat 30th April - Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services!
Assemble 12:00, at the Guildhall, marching to rally in Castle Square
Sun 1st May - London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.londonmayday.org/home.php
May Day Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm Red Dirt music,
dancing, food, sponsored by RMT and PCS young members' networks Slaughtered
Lamb Pub, 34-35 Great Sutton Street, EC1V 0DX
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark
the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The
exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/index.htm
http://on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.stopcuts.net/
24 hour general strike and to support the National Shop Stewards as
well as other national anti-cuts campaigns. Dates for this may be June
30th as other unions are currently in ballots around various issues
including pensions. Unite have clarified they oppose ALL cuts and
support national co-ordinated action so any current or ongoing
disputes should consider holding actions on 30th June. This week has
also seen large protests against benefit cuts take place across the
UK. http://www.shopstewards.net/
This weekend sees the Wales shop stewards network conference on Sat
16th of April. This will be an excellent event to attend and develop
network links. http://on.fb.me/gS6zDy
The 5th Annual conference of the NSSN will be on Sat June 11th this
will work well to link in with delegates attending to share
information and develop stronger links for action against the cuts and
just prior to co-ordinated action..http://tinyurl.com/
Keep Our NHS Public will be confirming a date for a demonstration soon given
the massive cuts that are being proposed:
http://www.keepournhspublic.
OTHER UPDATES:
PCS strike - PCS has called for a day's strike action in all the 37
Jobcentre plus call centres on Monday 18th April. Picket lines will
be held around 7.30 - 9.30am on the 18th April - trade unionists and
anti-cuts campaigners showing their support will be very welcome.
Donate to PCS hardship fund at PCS DWP Group Office, 3rd Floor, Town
Centre House, Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LY.
http://www.shopstewards.net/
PCS EHRC vote for strike action over closure of the commission.
http://tinyurl.com/5rrc5w6
Fords workers call for strike action over attacks on pensions, whilst they made
$6.6 billion profit last year. - http://www.shopstewards.net/
Saltend - 400 workers are still locked out after action taken around the NAECI
agreement and TUPE rights. Add anything about the BP AGM protest...Send
messages of support to Keith Gibson:
geminis@geminis.karoo.co.uk 07743135183 http://www.shopstewards.net/
NUT Rawmarch Sheffield – 9 days of action already taken to stop redundancies.
Messages of support welcome: secretary@rotherham.nut.org.
RMT ballot closes 27th April RMT to ballot of all train operator and
instructor operator members for strike action in an escalation of on-going
disputes over the victimisation of union activists including
two-driver members -over their trade union activities.
http://tinyurl.com/6arzg7u
FBU – Congratulations to FBU members who have won two fantastic victories
against victimisation http://www.fbu.org.uk/?p=2344
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Sat 15th April
Hastings anti cuts March – 12.30 Hastings Peir.
Poole march against welfare reforms – 11.30am Kingsland Crescent
PCS March outside civil service conference 9am ICC city Centre.
17th April - Tribute to Jayaben Desai - a film about the Grunwick strike in
tribute to Jayaben Desai, one of the leading figures in the strike, who died
last year. Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn, north London
2.30-5pm. http://bit.ly/eFfPlH
18th April – Save Barts & London Campaign launch meeting . 7.30 Oxford House.
28th April - Workers Memorial Day - Remember the dead & fight for the living!
Manchester: 9:30am to 11:00 am at Mechanics Institute. Rally at Peace Gardens:
12
London: 12.30 London Hazards Protest at DWP London, SW1H 9DA
MAYDAY
Fri 29th April Dundee Mayfest 11.30 Hiltown Park, with anti royal wedding party
from 1pm
Sat 30 April Croydon Mayday 11am Croydon Trades Union Council march and
celebration Elmwood Road, West Croydon to Ruskin House (speakers and music from
1pm)
Sat 30th April - Leeds Mayday
Assemble 11am @ Victoria Gardens (outside Leeds Art Gallery), The Headrow,
Leeds
Sat 30th April - Swansea No to Public Sector Cuts – Defend Jobs and Services!
Assemble 12:00, at the Guildhall, marching to rally in Castle Square
Sun 1st May - London Assemble 12:00 noon, Clerkenwell Green, London EC1
http://www.londonmayday.org/
May Day Youth Fight for Jobs Jarrow fundraiser - 7 - 11pm Red Dirt music,
dancing, food, sponsored by RMT and PCS young members' networks Slaughtered
Lamb Pub, 34-35 Great Sutton Street, EC1V 0DX
Exhibition - Anniversary of Wapping
The Marx Memorial Library with UNITE and NUJ is hosting an exhibition to mark
the anniversary of the Wapping / News International dispute of the 1980s. The
exhibition starts on Sunday 1 May www.marx-memorial-library.org
Join – Affiliate – Get involved!
info@shopstewards.net
http://www.shopstewards.net/
http://on.fb.me/fNkaIo
NSSN Anti-cuts campaign:
http://on.fb.me/eolOEE
http://www.stopcuts.net/
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Its been a while..
NSSN anticuts campaig (I didn't lay it out but helping to develop content and raise profile of site and campaign). Added this little word JPEG for peoples profiles, to try and quickly raise the profile of the date online, in social networking sites, ours and that of those involved.
And I don't quite know what I have done with it all.. well this week and a bit of last week has been working on a communications strategy for the NSSN anti cuts campaign. And its great to be involved in and also have people to work with and engage with. In fact, that's probably the key to it all!
I need people to work with, that I can rely on and that will rely on me, so I get something done rather than wallow about from one site to another..but often in denial at taking the risks that would show that my skills are poor, my world view is wide and generalised and the things I want to do, I sometimes get a chance to do. ..However poor or questionable they are.
Today I see my supervisor again, been a while, since Dec I think, but I couldn't have met any earlier and truly, I am not that prepared. When I have been, I have been able to make the most out of the process. The intelligent, challenging but deeply and insight fully supportive discussion. I am very lucky!
But I have questions, is this worth my while? The money, the remote nature of the process and structure. Its not enough. Its not enough for me.. I think. But I could develop a team, maybe Sophie for some Liverpool shoots and narrative challenges. Lisa for similar but the edit and discussion. Pete for additional footage, linking in the Liverpool experience and also
I can get more 1--2-1 as I work along through text
- 6-8 tutorials
- 4-5 meetings with specialist tutors
- kit?
- post kit and ideas
- some sitting in on a few units - Photography, video portraits,
- some collaborators? Ex students - you need a synopsis. Time is running short..
Thursday, 6 January 2011
No 29 NSSN Bulletin
(Badly written but I did have someone proof but they were looking at ideas and not flow.. more time... more practice! I have written 25 of the 29 so I guess it can't be too bad. Goes out to 665 people on FB and over that number via an elist. Some parts of it go onto the LIKES page which has 534 people)
Happy New Year & the fight goes on!
Hope you have had a decent break and we look forward to working with you all to defeat these ongoing attacks. This weeks sneaky VAT rises which will cost an average family another £7.50 per week, coupled with the fare rises will further impoverish thousands upon thousands of us. Overall they expect to take another £13billion from us through this, yet still nothing from Vodaphone and others who owe us billions!
Before we get too angry, though its hard not to, the last year has, in many ways for ourselves, and more widely within the anti cuts movement, been positive. Wider and deeper networks & alliances within the formal trade union movement and many more outside of it, have began to push the lid of silence against cuts wide open - We will not accept these cuts!
As part of the developing conversations and strategy to defeat these cuts we have a conference on SATURDAY 22nd January, London 12-4pm. This will be a key space to come together report on your campaigns and achievements but most importantly draw together a battle plan with the industrial back up of the most militant trade unionists in the country. There will be differing strands of opinions on how we go forward, who we work with, when we take particular action and references to past campaigns successful and less so. These will be important for all of us to discuss and engage in, to be clear on why we are doing something in a particular way and the potential consequences of taking different routes. We welcome union members, reps, anti cuts campaigns, student activists and reps and the wider community. Get in touch for more details of delegates and visitors passes £5 each.info@shopstewardsnet.com or phone 020 8522 1156.
Late last year we could have seen a joint TUC march with students, had the TUC honored its commitment to a youth march for jobs before the New Year. Sadly they didn't and students with some workers, were more isolated and attacked than they should have been. Finally, the TUC in conjunction with PCS & UCU has now arranged a march & rally at Platt Fields Park, just outside of Manchester at 1pm SAT 29th January in Manchester. Please do your best to attend, bring banners and encourage others to attend.http://www.facebook.com/event.
UPDATES:
Over the last month there have been Strike action by transport unions RMT & TSSA, but also ASLEF who took strike action over pay on boxing day.
Scottish Unison has voted for a public sector one day public sector strike and there is possible strike by Herald group of newspapers in Glasgow this Thursday & Friday over sackings and redundancies.
UNISON Birmingham Branch Connections half day strike Thurs 6th. Support Protests and Industrial Action Day
12.30pm at South West Connexions Centre, & Broad Street Connexions Centrehttp://www.facebook.com/l/
UNITE Heinz workers also struck over over pay and conditions.
UNITE BASSA are now balloting for action for pay and against ongoing sackings and suspensions at BA.
http://www.facebook.com/l/
UNISON KIRKLEES council workers have voted for 5 days of Industrial action over massive cuts and redundancies faced by workers and the wider community.
Sadly Grunwick strike leader Jayaben Desai died recently, an inspirational woman who took part in the strike for union recognition in 1976. The leadership of the TUC, APEX and many others should be ashamed of their role in this dispute. Had they fully supported them, the dispute and many others could have been won. Gone but never forgotten.
http://www.facebook.com/l/
TUC national demonstration against cuts MARCH 26th. We hope mobilise all members and more widely for this demonstration. days before more jobs and services are lost. And yes we would have all liked this be earlier...but we will all still build for it now.
http://www.facebook.com/event.
LIKE US - http://www.facebook.com/pages/
WEB - http://www.facebook.com/l/
Email: info@shopstewards.net
Phone: 020 8522 1156
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
No. 26 Students & Workers Fight the cuts!
Bulletin 26
Students & Workers Fight the Cuts!
It was great to see the joint UCU & NUS demonstration against sky-high fees and HE cuts, with 50,000 mainly students but also education workers marching through London. A little of what happens when a union leadership take a national lead. Perhaps this might inspire our collective unions to instigate a demonstration this year? The day surpassed the expectations of those organising it with its frustratingly short but incredibly lively demonstration.
Apparently NUS are now putting forward the idea to push out Liberal Dem MP's who vote for the fees; little is said about what position Labour would actually take on this. Meantime, many other students are organising to Walk out next Wed 24th Nov, with Sussex University are already in occupation. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134751449911080
Bob Crow (RMT) said "The political and chattering classes have seriously underestimated the public mood and RMT will work with students, pensioners, communities and our fellow trade unionists to build the strongest possible co-ordinated and peaceful resistance in the coming months."
Over 50 people are being questioned around the storming of Tory HQ, whilst the real criminals are still getting away with stealing our collective wealth & futures. http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-need-unity-defend-the-Millbank-protestors/128397300550227
UPDATES:
Over 200 people lobbied Liverpool Council last week, whilst the workforce blocked roads. Ex Deputy leader of the surcharged Liverpool 47 councillors called on the Labour council to refuse to carry out cuts, arguing there was a choice; refuse to weild the Tory axe, set a budget based on the needs of working class people in the city and mount a massive campaign to force central government to fund it. Councillors can no longer be surcharged for taking this stance. Another 100 greeted Taunton council with boos and chants as they arrived to approve £43m of cuts.
A large, and positive, meeting to set up an all Scottish Anti cuts alliance/federation was well attended with a steering group agreed, one person from each campaign. Co-ordinated action was discussed with Glasgow Unison tabling a resolution at Scottish Unison Conference for a one day public sector strike.
COMING UP
Wed 17th
FBU - National Lobby & Rally, 12 - 3 Central Hall, Westminster
Defend public safety: Investment – not cuts. No pay freeze.Hands off our pensions. Scrap Regional Controls. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9e0zhoc4Rh9l7hR5o1KG4AQ;www.fbu.org.uk/index.php
Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance – Lobby Council. 5.15pm Lewisham Town Hall. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9Q34NvlB0GqzSf5FslGeDtw;lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/
Thurs 18th
Lobby of Scottish Parliament called by PCS from 11.30
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9jGSarzVVIeNT5voD7dXj-A;www.pcs.org.uk/en/scotland/pcs-campaigns-in-Scotland.cfm
Sat 20th
Gloucestershire Trades Council and Anti Cuts Alliance March & Rally, 10:30 prompt Gloucester Park to Kings Square http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9GJ_7wUIAsF9-6NOLz5ud-w;www.anticutsglos.co.uk
Preston Trades Council March & Rally, 11.00 at the Flagmarket in Preston.
Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts conference 10.30 am – 4pm Bailey Rooms, Castle St, Cambridge http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9j2VASDubjbU-sYppmgLzuA;www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/p/register-for-20th-march-meeting.html
Nottingham March and Rally, 11.30am Forest Recreation Ground to the Market Square, rally 12.30pm.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec93qOGyGT1cM54_-7bknx_xg;nottssos.org.uk/
THIS WEEK Anti cuts meetings in:
Croydon, Birmingham, Sunderland, Manchester, Lancaster, Newcastle, Durham, Glasgow, Blackpool, Lambeth, Haringey, York, Harrogate: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9i82dn1oIQYOhJEq8SgjRgw;anticuts.org.uk/?page_id=152
Thursday 25th
RMT Rally against London Underground Job Cuts. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142422622472987
8th Dec
North West SSN: Town Hall Albert Square 7.30-10am lobby before council meets 4-6pm demonstration after council meets
07904 965 780 nwshopstewardsnetwork @gmail.com
22nd Jan
National Shop Stewards Conference
All trade unionists, anti cuts alliances, trades councils and anyone else who is prepared to fight the cuts and ongoing privatisation to attend and take part in the campaigns 12 - 4 South Camden Community School, Charrington St http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159784320718030
Book your places now!
And a bit of Culture:
Mark Thomas Tour : Extreme Rambling & The Manefesto Show
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9SkL4N8IAPKXGPyCmYZWWLA;www.markthomasinfo.com/section%5Fgigs/
Red Ladder: Liverpool, 1960. A two-week strike by both dockworkers and seafarers has paralysed the port, and against a backdrop of picketing, marches and jailings one local family plays out the changing times.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9lyJtGpzaDv7kEKH-etlCqQ;www.redladder.co.uk/bm/tours/sex-docks-rocknroll-tour-schedule.shtml
Reel News
Bi monthly Activist Video: To subscribe for 1 year (6 issues), send a cheque for £50 payable to Reel News; Shaun (Reel News): 07779 109628
WEB: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9rhJ4-ug12VD24xuL-KWruA;www.shopsteward.net
Facebook LIKES page: NSSN - Fighting Cuts & Privatisation
Tel: 0208 522 1156
E: info@shopstewards.net
Students & Workers Fight the Cuts!
It was great to see the joint UCU & NUS demonstration against sky-high fees and HE cuts, with 50,000 mainly students but also education workers marching through London. A little of what happens when a union leadership take a national lead. Perhaps this might inspire our collective unions to instigate a demonstration this year? The day surpassed the expectations of those organising it with its frustratingly short but incredibly lively demonstration.
Apparently NUS are now putting forward the idea to push out Liberal Dem MP's who vote for the fees; little is said about what position Labour would actually take on this. Meantime, many other students are organising to Walk out next Wed 24th Nov, with Sussex University are already in occupation. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134751449911080
Bob Crow (RMT) said "The political and chattering classes have seriously underestimated the public mood and RMT will work with students, pensioners, communities and our fellow trade unionists to build the strongest possible co-ordinated and peaceful resistance in the coming months."
Over 50 people are being questioned around the storming of Tory HQ, whilst the real criminals are still getting away with stealing our collective wealth & futures. http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-need-unity-defend-the-Millbank-protestors/128397300550227
UPDATES:
Over 200 people lobbied Liverpool Council last week, whilst the workforce blocked roads. Ex Deputy leader of the surcharged Liverpool 47 councillors called on the Labour council to refuse to carry out cuts, arguing there was a choice; refuse to weild the Tory axe, set a budget based on the needs of working class people in the city and mount a massive campaign to force central government to fund it. Councillors can no longer be surcharged for taking this stance. Another 100 greeted Taunton council with boos and chants as they arrived to approve £43m of cuts.
A large, and positive, meeting to set up an all Scottish Anti cuts alliance/federation was well attended with a steering group agreed, one person from each campaign. Co-ordinated action was discussed with Glasgow Unison tabling a resolution at Scottish Unison Conference for a one day public sector strike.
COMING UP
Wed 17th
FBU - National Lobby & Rally, 12 - 3 Central Hall, Westminster
Defend public safety: Investment – not cuts. No pay freeze.Hands off our pensions. Scrap Regional Controls. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9e0zhoc4Rh9l7hR5o1KG4AQ;www.fbu.org.uk/index.php
Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance – Lobby Council. 5.15pm Lewisham Town Hall. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9Q34NvlB0GqzSf5FslGeDtw;lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/
Thurs 18th
Lobby of Scottish Parliament called by PCS from 11.30
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9jGSarzVVIeNT5voD7dXj-A;www.pcs.org.uk/en/scotland/pcs-campaigns-in-Scotland.cfm
Sat 20th
Gloucestershire Trades Council and Anti Cuts Alliance March & Rally, 10:30 prompt Gloucester Park to Kings Square http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9GJ_7wUIAsF9-6NOLz5ud-w;www.anticutsglos.co.uk
Preston Trades Council March & Rally, 11.00 at the Flagmarket in Preston.
Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts conference 10.30 am – 4pm Bailey Rooms, Castle St, Cambridge http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9j2VASDubjbU-sYppmgLzuA;www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/p/register-for-20th-march-meeting.html
Nottingham March and Rally, 11.30am Forest Recreation Ground to the Market Square, rally 12.30pm.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec93qOGyGT1cM54_-7bknx_xg;nottssos.org.uk/
THIS WEEK Anti cuts meetings in:
Croydon, Birmingham, Sunderland, Manchester, Lancaster, Newcastle, Durham, Glasgow, Blackpool, Lambeth, Haringey, York, Harrogate: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9i82dn1oIQYOhJEq8SgjRgw;anticuts.org.uk/?page_id=152
Thursday 25th
RMT Rally against London Underground Job Cuts. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142422622472987
8th Dec
North West SSN: Town Hall Albert Square 7.30-10am lobby before council meets 4-6pm demonstration after council meets
07904 965 780 nwshopstewardsnetwork @gmail.com
22nd Jan
National Shop Stewards Conference
All trade unionists, anti cuts alliances, trades councils and anyone else who is prepared to fight the cuts and ongoing privatisation to attend and take part in the campaigns 12 - 4 South Camden Community School, Charrington St http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159784320718030
Book your places now!
And a bit of Culture:
Mark Thomas Tour : Extreme Rambling & The Manefesto Show
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9SkL4N8IAPKXGPyCmYZWWLA;www.markthomasinfo.com/section%5Fgigs/
Red Ladder: Liverpool, 1960. A two-week strike by both dockworkers and seafarers has paralysed the port, and against a backdrop of picketing, marches and jailings one local family plays out the changing times.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9lyJtGpzaDv7kEKH-etlCqQ;www.redladder.co.uk/bm/tours/sex-docks-rocknroll-tour-schedule.shtml
Reel News
Bi monthly Activist Video: To subscribe for 1 year (6 issues), send a cheque for £50 payable to Reel News; Shaun (Reel News): 07779 109628
WEB: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9rhJ4-ug12VD24xuL-KWruA;www.shopsteward.net
Facebook LIKES page: NSSN - Fighting Cuts & Privatisation
Tel: 0208 522 1156
E: info@shopstewards.net
Friday, 5 November 2010
NSSN likes page - 315 people
Something I set up around 23rd October - NSSN - Fighting Cuts
NSSN was set up in 2007 and I have been more actively involved this year. So I help with the weekly Facebook group bulletins and also set this likes page up as a way of putting up daily info that can go onto peoples home pages and be shared. Within 10 days we have over 300 people.
Group page is also growing... that allows us to send a weekly bulletin and it also have the January conference event on it. Group has 555 people on it.
January conference event has 157 people attending, 233 maybes, 848 not replied yet and 328 not attending. Yesterday sent them all a reminder about conference and the bulletin. Wondered if that is why the Group page has grown.. who knows!
NSSN was set up in 2007 and I have been more actively involved this year. So I help with the weekly Facebook group bulletins and also set this likes page up as a way of putting up daily info that can go onto peoples home pages and be shared. Within 10 days we have over 300 people.
Group page is also growing... that allows us to send a weekly bulletin and it also have the January conference event on it. Group has 555 people on it.
January conference event has 157 people attending, 233 maybes, 848 not replied yet and 328 not attending. Yesterday sent them all a reminder about conference and the bulletin. Wondered if that is why the Group page has grown.. who knows!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
NSSN Bulletin 24
This went out to Facebook group of 550 and then main NSSN list today: (will put up others within this)
FBU London strikes continue this week on Friday 5th for 47 hours. The mood is still strong and determined with support from across the country. This is despite an avalanche of lies in the mainstream media, whilst Firefighters are run over by scabs and managers there is a stinking silence, to heard from them. http://www.fbu.org.uk/newspress/pressrelease/2010/11_02.php
This crucial battle is against the imposition of cuts, but also bullying management tactics and the use of legislation called a 188 legal notice used to sack the whole workforce. Similar tactics & threats are being used over in Councils in Birmingham, Sheffield, Greenwich and most recently Rhondda Cynon Taff, S Wales to make cuts.
1) Messages of support: ian.leahair@fbu.org.uk or ben.sprung@fbu.org.uk, matt.wrack@fbu.org.uk
2) Letters of complaint against the shocking violence against firefighters to: Ron.dobson@london-fire.gov.uk
3) Request a health & safety impact assessment at your workplace.
RMT London started strike on Tuesday evening to save jobs and ensure our safety action on with a lively lobby outside people question time of Boris, & 3 jobs Coleman. Shouting solidarity messages with 'Hands off the FBU'. Many workers chose not to work on the underground whilst the FBU were on Strike to maintain staff and public safety. http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/1803
Messages of support: S.Hedley@rmt.org.uk
NUJ - 48 Hour strike 5th & 6th November NUJ members are to strike in protest at plans to make them pay more, work longer and get significantly lower pensions at the BBC. Public meeting Thurs 7th Nov 7pm Salvation Army Hall, Princess St, SE1 6HH organised by Southwark Save Our Services with FBU & NUJ speakers. http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1788
Messages of support: campaigns@nuj.org.uk
UCU & NUS - 10th Nov National Demonstration: Fund our Future: Stop the Education Cuts. Assemble at 12noon Horse Guards Avenue (Westminster SW1A). March through Westminster to the rally. There will be an number feeder marches from different universities across London.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4779
Local ANTI CUTS - update:
This weekend saw around a fantastic march of 2000 people in Brighton against the cuts, 100 in Portsmouth & 150 in Plymouth. 300 attended an anti-cuts meeting in Norwich and 50 at Hillingdon.
Please contact info@shopstewards.net with information about forthcoming events and reports about what you have done. Some reports have been posted on the news page.
3rd North Wales SSN - AGM 7-8pm Wrexham Lager Social Club, followed by NW Against Cuts meeting 8-9pm. Eileen O'Reilly (PCS) email brynidris2@aol.com
3rd Bracknell Defend our Services - 7pm Easthamstead Baptist Church. RG12 7NS
4th Solidarity with the striking firefighters: Waltham Forest anti cuts union meeting 7.30pm, William Morris community centre, Greenleaf Road, E17 6QQ
6th Taunton & West Somerset TC - March & Rally Assemble 10.30am. Contact Nigel 07833552340
6th Falkirk TC - 11am-3pm Saturday 6 November, Camelon Education Centre, Abercrombie Street, Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4HA. falkirktuc@blueyonder.co.uk
6th Wiltshire TC - Working Class Episodes, 0am-2.30pm Saturday 6 November, St Margaret's Hall, Bradford-on-Avon.Andy Newman 07764 563855, andydl1961@yahoo.co.uk
8th - Battersea & Wandsworth TC - Starts 7.30pm. PCS HQ, 160 Falcon Road, London SW11 2LN. 07958 125 128 or Spencer Barnshaw barnshaw@barnshaw.plus.com or Nadine: 07946 172 461 or nadine@bwtuc.org.uk
10th Nov Liverpool TC- 4.30 Mass lobby against City Council cuts. Liverpool5@rmt.org.uk,Tel 07585 268 607
10th Nov Bournemouth, Christ Church, Poole TC - Public meeting 7.30pm Woodlands Hall Labour club, 485 Ashley Road, BH14. 01202 529325 chairbcptuc@freeukisp.co.uk
H &S
Updates on the Young Review of cuts to HSE and local Authority budgets will be featured in the Morning star over the next six weeks. If you can pass on a personal experience of the importance of Health and Safety please contact: mail@gmhazards.org.uk http://www.hazards.org/votetodie/neutered.htm
NSSN Conference 22nd January
We are sending out invites to unions, trades councils and anti cuts groups to send delegates and visitors to the NSSN conference on the 22nd January. If you would like a copy of the invite letter please email us and also raise this in your workplaces and alliances, thanks. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159784320718030
We are conscious we are not reporting every march or dispute but need YOUR input to do this, short reports of even 50 words and a weblink & photo would be ideal otherwise major actions are left unreported and sometimes worse unsupported.
Some info is being blocked, these will be posted on the Group page and some daily on our new 'NSSN - Fighting Cuts & Privatisation' LIKES page.
Join us! Get involved and let's fight together!
info@shopstewards.net
FBU London strikes continue this week on Friday 5th for 47 hours. The mood is still strong and determined with support from across the country. This is despite an avalanche of lies in the mainstream media, whilst Firefighters are run over by scabs and managers there is a stinking silence, to heard from them. http://www.fbu.org.uk/newspress/pressrelease/2010/11_02.php
This crucial battle is against the imposition of cuts, but also bullying management tactics and the use of legislation called a 188 legal notice used to sack the whole workforce. Similar tactics & threats are being used over in Councils in Birmingham, Sheffield, Greenwich and most recently Rhondda Cynon Taff, S Wales to make cuts.
1) Messages of support: ian.leahair@fbu.org.uk or ben.sprung@fbu.org.uk, matt.wrack@fbu.org.uk
2) Letters of complaint against the shocking violence against firefighters to: Ron.dobson@london-fire.gov.uk
3) Request a health & safety impact assessment at your workplace.
RMT London started strike on Tuesday evening to save jobs and ensure our safety action on with a lively lobby outside people question time of Boris, & 3 jobs Coleman. Shouting solidarity messages with 'Hands off the FBU'. Many workers chose not to work on the underground whilst the FBU were on Strike to maintain staff and public safety. http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/1803
Messages of support: S.Hedley@rmt.org.uk
NUJ - 48 Hour strike 5th & 6th November NUJ members are to strike in protest at plans to make them pay more, work longer and get significantly lower pensions at the BBC. Public meeting Thurs 7th Nov 7pm Salvation Army Hall, Princess St, SE1 6HH organised by Southwark Save Our Services with FBU & NUJ speakers. http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1788
Messages of support: campaigns@nuj.org.uk
UCU & NUS - 10th Nov National Demonstration: Fund our Future: Stop the Education Cuts. Assemble at 12noon Horse Guards Avenue (Westminster SW1A). March through Westminster to the rally. There will be an number feeder marches from different universities across London.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4779
Local ANTI CUTS - update:
This weekend saw around a fantastic march of 2000 people in Brighton against the cuts, 100 in Portsmouth & 150 in Plymouth. 300 attended an anti-cuts meeting in Norwich and 50 at Hillingdon.
Please contact info@shopstewards.net with information about forthcoming events and reports about what you have done. Some reports have been posted on the news page.
3rd North Wales SSN - AGM 7-8pm Wrexham Lager Social Club, followed by NW Against Cuts meeting 8-9pm. Eileen O'Reilly (PCS) email brynidris2@aol.com
3rd Bracknell Defend our Services - 7pm Easthamstead Baptist Church. RG12 7NS
4th Solidarity with the striking firefighters: Waltham Forest anti cuts union meeting 7.30pm, William Morris community centre, Greenleaf Road, E17 6QQ
6th Taunton & West Somerset TC - March & Rally Assemble 10.30am. Contact Nigel 07833552340
6th Falkirk TC - 11am-3pm Saturday 6 November, Camelon Education Centre, Abercrombie Street, Camelon, Falkirk FK1 4HA. falkirktuc@blueyonder.co.uk
6th Wiltshire TC - Working Class Episodes, 0am-2.30pm Saturday 6 November, St Margaret's Hall, Bradford-on-Avon.Andy Newman 07764 563855, andydl1961@yahoo.co.uk
8th - Battersea & Wandsworth TC - Starts 7.30pm. PCS HQ, 160 Falcon Road, London SW11 2LN. 07958 125 128 or Spencer Barnshaw barnshaw@barnshaw.plus.com or Nadine: 07946 172 461 or nadine@bwtuc.org.uk
10th Nov Liverpool TC- 4.30 Mass lobby against City Council cuts. Liverpool5@rmt.org.uk,Tel 07585 268 607
10th Nov Bournemouth, Christ Church, Poole TC - Public meeting 7.30pm Woodlands Hall Labour club, 485 Ashley Road, BH14. 01202 529325 chairbcptuc@freeukisp.co.uk
H &S
Updates on the Young Review of cuts to HSE and local Authority budgets will be featured in the Morning star over the next six weeks. If you can pass on a personal experience of the importance of Health and Safety please contact: mail@gmhazards.org.uk http://www.hazards.org/votetodie/neutered.htm
NSSN Conference 22nd January
We are sending out invites to unions, trades councils and anti cuts groups to send delegates and visitors to the NSSN conference on the 22nd January. If you would like a copy of the invite letter please email us and also raise this in your workplaces and alliances, thanks. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159784320718030
We are conscious we are not reporting every march or dispute but need YOUR input to do this, short reports of even 50 words and a weblink & photo would be ideal otherwise major actions are left unreported and sometimes worse unsupported.
Some info is being blocked, these will be posted on the Group page and some daily on our new 'NSSN - Fighting Cuts & Privatisation' LIKES page.
Join us! Get involved and let's fight together!
info@shopstewards.net
Thursday, 28 October 2010
No. 23 NSSN Bulletin 'Them & Us'
Without links as FB keeps blocking this message - noticed that was happening with FBU strike info and links too and some peoples profiles were dissapearing.. What was also good was that another support group with a wider audience cut and paste the whole bulletin and sent it round to their 1,514 members!
THEM:
The huge cheers as cuts were announced in parliment, spoke volumes of the real interests and concerns of this CONDEM government. With half a Million public sector jobs to be slashed, now a total of £18 million from Welfare, and more taken from benefits than will be collected in the bankers levy, this is not us all in it together!
The 'Debt' is not ours to pay, it has come from the Bankers bonouses, the wasted Trident spends, MP's expenses, and the uncollected taxes of the rich. The £6 million pound uncollected taxes of VODAPHONE, which provoked a protest this week, is just one example.
AND US:
When it became clear that the TUC Congress had pulled back from organising a demo in response to the ConDem Comprehensive Spending Review this year, the NSSN, along with RMT, FBU, PCS and NUT London representatives decided to go ahead and call one which was led by Firefighters and RMT members. Fuller reports on our website.
As the Scottish TUC took the initiative for a national demo 20,000 took to the streets. Over 2000 people attended the Bristol ANTI CUTS alliance protest from across the South West and were shamlessly attacked by Police. Great marches also took place in Manchester, York, Sheffield, Wrexham, Cardiff, Belfast and Lincoln. Inside the SERTUC rally Bob Crow raised the temperature and gained a standing ovation.
SO WHAT NEXT?
An NSSN model motion for united coordinated action and a national demo is now being circulated. The NSSN in London and elsewhere will encourage all its supporters to push for a 24 hour public sector strike and a national demo before Xmas! PCS at its recent NEC is also supporting this and will be pushing for this too. (PSC NEC Link disabled). This is alongside continued work within our unions, alliances and community campaigns. We will then follow up with an Anti-Cuts Conference on January 22nd.
INTERNATIONAL
TAMIL NADU - 500 workers jailed in dispute with FOXCONN. The company signed an agreement with a union belonging to the ruling party in the state -- a union which had no support at all among the workers. Messages of protest requested:
www.labourstart.org
PROTEST 2nd Nov, 4.15pm, Australian High Commission, The Strand, London: Ark Tribe is an Australian construction worker and trade unionist who faces jail for refusing to face an interrogation by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), an anti-trade union body set up by the previous Howard government.
Friday 12 November 2010, Demonstration in memory of Jimmy Mubenga RIP Died while in the hands of G4S private security guards, , Assemble 10:30am @ the Angolan Embassy in London (22 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QY). Nearest tube stations: Baker Street/ Marylebone. March to the Home Office (2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF)
GENERAL ANTI CUTS
Large Anti Cuts Lobbies & meetings took place this week in Hackney, Bromely & Greenwich.
30th OCT March
Hastings - Stop the cuts with a Halloween theme, fancy dress welcome. Robertson ST, HASTINGS
Brighton - 12 noon The LEVEL BrightonStopTheCuts-owner@yahoogroups.co.uk
Portsmouth - 11.30 Guildhall Square - louismacdonald@ntlworld.com
Plymoouth - 11am Plymouth Guildhall
Meeting WIGAN Trades Council Public 10.30am UNITE office, Wallgate.
Facebook LIKES PAGE
We will keep this group page going for now, and have set up a LIKES page as its becoming challenging to input all information into a weekly bulletin. With a this kind of page we can share information on a daily basis. Your thoughts and suggestions welcome. Please LIKE us :) NSSN - Fighting Cuts and privatisation.
NSSN WEBSITE
The new design is almost ready to go live which will be great to better navigate information and updates.
Join - Affilate - GET INVOLVED
info@shopstewards.net
THEM:
The huge cheers as cuts were announced in parliment, spoke volumes of the real interests and concerns of this CONDEM government. With half a Million public sector jobs to be slashed, now a total of £18 million from Welfare, and more taken from benefits than will be collected in the bankers levy, this is not us all in it together!
The 'Debt' is not ours to pay, it has come from the Bankers bonouses, the wasted Trident spends, MP's expenses, and the uncollected taxes of the rich. The £6 million pound uncollected taxes of VODAPHONE, which provoked a protest this week, is just one example.
AND US:
When it became clear that the TUC Congress had pulled back from organising a demo in response to the ConDem Comprehensive Spending Review this year, the NSSN, along with RMT, FBU, PCS and NUT London representatives decided to go ahead and call one which was led by Firefighters and RMT members. Fuller reports on our website.
As the Scottish TUC took the initiative for a national demo 20,000 took to the streets. Over 2000 people attended the Bristol ANTI CUTS alliance protest from across the South West and were shamlessly attacked by Police. Great marches also took place in Manchester, York, Sheffield, Wrexham, Cardiff, Belfast and Lincoln. Inside the SERTUC rally Bob Crow raised the temperature and gained a standing ovation.
SO WHAT NEXT?
An NSSN model motion for united coordinated action and a national demo is now being circulated. The NSSN in London and elsewhere will encourage all its supporters to push for a 24 hour public sector strike and a national demo before Xmas! PCS at its recent NEC is also supporting this and will be pushing for this too. (PSC NEC Link disabled). This is alongside continued work within our unions, alliances and community campaigns. We will then follow up with an Anti-Cuts Conference on January 22nd.
INTERNATIONAL
TAMIL NADU - 500 workers jailed in dispute with FOXCONN. The company signed an agreement with a union belonging to the ruling party in the state -- a union which had no support at all among the workers. Messages of protest requested:
www.labourstart.org
PROTEST 2nd Nov, 4.15pm, Australian High Commission, The Strand, London: Ark Tribe is an Australian construction worker and trade unionist who faces jail for refusing to face an interrogation by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), an anti-trade union body set up by the previous Howard government.
Friday 12 November 2010, Demonstration in memory of Jimmy Mubenga RIP Died while in the hands of G4S private security guards, , Assemble 10:30am @ the Angolan Embassy in London (22 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QY). Nearest tube stations: Baker Street/ Marylebone. March to the Home Office (2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF)
GENERAL ANTI CUTS
Large Anti Cuts Lobbies & meetings took place this week in Hackney, Bromely & Greenwich.
30th OCT March
Hastings - Stop the cuts with a Halloween theme, fancy dress welcome. Robertson ST, HASTINGS
Brighton - 12 noon The LEVEL BrightonStopTheCuts-owner@yahoogroups.co.uk
Portsmouth - 11.30 Guildhall Square - louismacdonald@ntlworld.com
Plymoouth - 11am Plymouth Guildhall
Meeting WIGAN Trades Council Public 10.30am UNITE office, Wallgate.
Facebook LIKES PAGE
We will keep this group page going for now, and have set up a LIKES page as its becoming challenging to input all information into a weekly bulletin. With a this kind of page we can share information on a daily basis. Your thoughts and suggestions welcome. Please LIKE us :) NSSN - Fighting Cuts and privatisation.
NSSN WEBSITE
The new design is almost ready to go live which will be great to better navigate information and updates.
Join - Affilate - GET INVOLVED
info@shopstewards.net
Thursday, 14 October 2010
NSSN website
One organisation I work within is the NSSN. Its been a breath of fresh air in the challenges that I have faced with Stalinist officials and those whose class interests keep them limited in their view of the world...
So this year I helped develop a facebook page. In 21 weeks we have gone from no 'friends' to 536, the biggest flurry was to start, then building for conference gave us another 100 then the lobby and recently it seems to be one or more a day. We have another conference in January so that will lift us. I hope for 700 by then.
Meantime I have been the person who writes a weekly bulletin, yes me! Its nuts but thought I would start the ball rolling with short updates of disputes and demos linked mainly to industrial issues as thats the purpose of the network and focus.
It was good, has been good to do, cyber politics and profile raising.. if we're not online, we're not alive! Hmm.. hate that but with a media that does not and has not represented society and industrial action and issues fairly then making use of tools that help is important. With NSSN we have a limited website, infact it drives me mad now.. a re-design is due as the form it takes stops people engaging in the content. As such there are perceptions about the depth of the network and its reputation. Another campaign has no grass routes meetings, events, campaigns or the kind of TU backing we have but has a stunning website and they have profile raised through that and the use of celebs... but the 'celebs' for us are us....Anyway, its now just about to be re-designed, got a young man to start the ball rolling and suggested how it might be organised. Would love to spend time on the look but can't so how it might gently appear but importantly what will go where, timescale it, and re-launch it...I think it will help us and right now, we need to share information as effectively and effeciently as possible.
So this year I helped develop a facebook page. In 21 weeks we have gone from no 'friends' to 536, the biggest flurry was to start, then building for conference gave us another 100 then the lobby and recently it seems to be one or more a day. We have another conference in January so that will lift us. I hope for 700 by then.
Meantime I have been the person who writes a weekly bulletin, yes me! Its nuts but thought I would start the ball rolling with short updates of disputes and demos linked mainly to industrial issues as thats the purpose of the network and focus.
It was good, has been good to do, cyber politics and profile raising.. if we're not online, we're not alive! Hmm.. hate that but with a media that does not and has not represented society and industrial action and issues fairly then making use of tools that help is important. With NSSN we have a limited website, infact it drives me mad now.. a re-design is due as the form it takes stops people engaging in the content. As such there are perceptions about the depth of the network and its reputation. Another campaign has no grass routes meetings, events, campaigns or the kind of TU backing we have but has a stunning website and they have profile raised through that and the use of celebs... but the 'celebs' for us are us....Anyway, its now just about to be re-designed, got a young man to start the ball rolling and suggested how it might be organised. Would love to spend time on the look but can't so how it might gently appear but importantly what will go where, timescale it, and re-launch it...I think it will help us and right now, we need to share information as effectively and effeciently as possible.
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