SERTUC activities and news

Day of Portugal

Sunday 12 June on Streatham Common, there will be a SERTUC stall in collaboration with Lambeth trades council and our comrades from the CGTP. This will support our project organising Portuguese and Polish workers in the East of England (see below). More info fromlheselden@tuc.org.uk

Interpart project with CGTP and OPZZ

SERTUC, with Portuguese and Polish TU confederations CGTP and OPZZ, is working on a EU funded project organising Portuguese and Polish workers in the East of England. More info from mdobney@tuc.org.uk and resources are being posted here https://sertucresources.wordpress.com/east-of-england-organising/

Commemorating the Irish Famine

Sunday 22 May join SERTUC Race Relations Committee and assemble at 12 noon outside Congress House in the heart of the parish of St Giles, the neighbourhood formerly home to many Irish migrants. Speakers Phien O’Reachtigan and Peter Middleton. More info from Austin Harney au5tin67@yahoo.co.uk

Burston Strike School Rally

Sunday 4 September with Mick Whelan ASLEF, TUC President Liz Snape, Attila the Stockbroker, Steve White and the Protest Family, NASUWT Brass Band, Red Flag, Grace Petrie, Banner Theatre 1^st May Band and newly announced JOHN MCDONNELL MP Shadow Chancellor https://burstonstrikeschool.wordpress.com/2016-rally/

TUC

TUC comment on the European Referendum

·         Briefing: Free movement is a two-way street https://www.tuc.org.uk/international-issues/europe/eu-referendum/free-movement-two-way-street-brexit-would-risk-it-all

·         TUC video “The EU Referendum: a big decision, don’t risk it” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjxjaEE4eWQ

Registering to vote

Voter registration for the EU Referendum closes on Tuesday 7 June – ensure your members are registered https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Trade union actions

PCS dispute at the National Museum Wales

In a reflection of the National Gallery dispute, workers at the National Museum Wales are on strike following another attack on low paid workers’ terms and conditions – details on the action here in a short film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJgX0xWr0oo

Please support as requested here http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/pcs_comment.cfm/back-striking-amgueddfa-cymru-national-museum-wales-staff

PCS: major win as check-off removal ruled unlawful

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/pcs_comment.cfm/major-win-as-vindictive-check-off-ban-ruled-unlawful

Trades Council actions

Establishing a TC in Basildon & Thurrock

Tuesday 17 May 7.30pm Basildon with Laurie Heselden SERTUC, Riccardo Latorre FBU, Teresa Mackay TUCJCC contactacoburn@blueyonder.co.uk 07973 414 555

Establishing a TC in Thanet

Wednesday 22 June 7.30pm Broadstairs with Megan Dobney SERTUC, contact stumac59@sky.com Meeting, film (Strike, Thanet trade unionists fighting against cuts) and refreshments…

Battersea & Wandsworth  trades council: young workers

Wednesday 1 June from 7pm come and have a drink on the trades council at Bread & Roses pub in Clapham. Here’s the infohttps://www.facebook.com/events/1713070152308064/

Wisbech and March trades council

Film showing, documentary “The Divide” followed by a Q&A with political economist Richard Murphy on Tuesday 14 June 7.30pm more info here http://wisbech.lightcinemas.co.uk/the-divide

Waltham Forest trades council

·         Public meeting Saturday 21 May 2pm on the Walthamstow housing masterplan, more from wftradescouncil@gmail.com 07952 283 558

·         Pubic meeting Wednesday 25 May 7.30pm “EU Referendum Debate, what do trade unionists say?” with Michael Chessum (Another Europe is Possible), Chris Ford (Momentum), Nancy Taaffe (TUSC), Sally Campbell (Left Exit) https://www.facebook.com/events/238450859850977/

Southwark trades council

Public meeting “What ‘Momentum’ do we need to fight back?” Monday 13 June 7pm with Matt Wrack FBU, Nadine Houghton, Aramark Striker, Cllr Paul Fleming, April Ashley contact stucsec@gmail.com

Reading trades council

European Union Referendum Question Time event Wednesday 18 May 7.30pm with Jonathan Hayward Unite, Cllr Matt Rodda, Steve Hedley RMT contact jamesparker7@me.com for further information

Ipswich trades council

Public debate on the EU Wednesday 18 May 7.30pm with Jane Basham Labour In for Britain and Enrico Tortolano Trade Unionists Against the EU contact Teresa.mackay@ntlworld.com for further information

Medway trades council

Debateon the Euro Referendum Monday 6 June 7.30pm with Alan Higgins USDAW and other speakers to be confirmed, info herehttps://www.facebook.com/events/1041268615921182/

Other actions/events

Stand up to Racism

·         Keep Racism out of the Referendum Rally Wednesday 25 May 6.30pm London with Lord Alf Dubs, Natalie Bennett Green Party, Colette Levy, Rabbi Lee Wax, Talha Ahmad Muslim Council of Britain, Weyman Bennett & Sabby Dhalu Stand up to Racismhttp://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/2016/04/rally-refugees-welcome-racism-referendum/

·         With the People’s Assembly, Unite, CWU, Momentum, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, TSSA, War on WantConvoy to Calais: Saturday 18 June http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/2016/04/convoy-2-calais-saturday-18th-june-2016/

Kent Anti-Racism Network conference

Saturday 21 May 10am Canterbury with Wilf Sullivan TUC, Anindya Bhattacharyya, Wyman Bennett UAF, Donna Guthrie BARAC, Betty Joseph SERTUC   https://kentantiracismnetwork.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/karn-conference-poster/

Tolpuddle Festival

15 to 17 July 2016 the annual event commemorating the contribution of the Tolpuddle Martyrs http://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/welcome

Sylvia Pankhurst Memorial Lecture

Saturday 13 August 7pm at Wortley Hall, near Sheffield. Lecture by Ruth Taillon “Socialism, Feminism and the Women of 1916”http://sylviapankhurst.gn.apc.org/index.htm

The rise of the ‘Jujitsu-suffragettes’

Lecture organised by the Bagri Foundation Thursday 19 May with Dr Emelyne Godfrey, London 6.30pm http://www.bagrifoundation.org/events/suffragettes/

Marx Memorial Library events

·         Thursday 19 May lecture 7pm “The 1926 General Strike” by Professor Roger Seifert http://www.marx-memorial-library.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=216&reset=1&id=73

·         Thursday 26 May 7pm Grunwick Dispute film screening with Professor Mary Davis http://www.marxlibrary.org.uk/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=216&reset=1&id=77

·         Thursday 2 June lecture 7pm with Phil Ballard on the 1966 Seafarers’ Dispute http://www.marxlibrary.org.uk/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=216&reset=1&id=74

·         Thursday 16 June lecture 7pm with Andrew Murray on Lenin’s Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalismhttp://www.marxlibrary.org.uk/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=216&reset=1&id=75

·         Exhibition: Socialist Opposition to World War 1 will be at Congress House 25 June to 11 July

·         17-30 October Remembering the International Brigades, two week festival http://www.marx-memorial-library.org/education/festival-remembering-the-international-brigades

Immigrants of Spitalfields Festival

19 to 21 June and all details here http://immigrantsofspitalfields.org.uk/

Townsend Productions present “Dare Devil Rides to Jarama”

Details here http://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/feedback/test and it will be on in the following towns in our Region from September to December

·         Bedford

·         Aylesbury

·         Lowestoft

·         Peckham

·         Marx Memorial Library

·         Hertford

·         Southsea

·         Margate

·         Bedford

·         Luton

·         Oxford

London 1916 Commemoration Committee

Historical walk in north London Sunday 29 May 2pm and Lecture and cultural event at 6pm https://www.facebook.com/events/1144164262292977/

Lambeth & Wandsworth Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Public meeting Tuesday 17 May with Awad Abdel Fattah (Palestine NDA), Philipa Harvey NUT, Bernard Regan PSChttp://www.palestinecampaign.org/events/13363/

Trade unions affiliated to the Labour Party…

May wish to know that the campaign office in Tooting is now up and running, contact Siobhan Feasey on 07703 716 815siobhan_feasey@labour.org.uk

Ruskin College Political School

Saturday 18 June with John McDonnell MP, Matt Wrack FBU, Diana Holland Unite, Dave Ward CWU, Immanuel Ness, Ellen Clifford, Glyn Robbins, Richard Boyd Barrett. Register here https://www.ruskin.ac.uk/events/2016-06-18-political-school 

Justice for Egypt’s disappeared

Public meeting Friday 20 May 7pm Cambridge with Daniel Zeichner MP, Nadine Haddad Amnesty International, Priscilla Mensah CSU, Dr Waseem Yaqoob UCU, Keith Murray NUJ https://www.facebook.com/events/587176488109845/

European integration and the role of trade unions

BUIRA seminar Friday 27 May London 10.30am with Dr Torsten Muller ETUI, Dr Aristea Koukiadaki University of Manchester, Professor Richard Hyman LSE http://www.buira.org/news/204

CLASS, Centre for Labour & Social Studies

Public discussion “Does the EU work for working class people? Wednesday 1 June London 6pm with Faiza Shaheen CLASS, Dr Olivier Sykes University of Liverpool, Owen Tudor TUC http://classonline.org.uk/events/item/does-the-eu-work-for-working-people

Justice for Colombia – volunteers wanted

To travel to Colombia to provide international accompaniment to agricultural organisations, must speak Spanish, details herehttp://www.actionpeace.org/?p=1837

Pleural plaque petition

Reinstate compensation to sufferers of pleural plaque https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/118949

A job…

CLASS, Centre for Labour & Social Studies

Policy and Events Officer, permanent contract, £27-29k, full time, London. Closing date Wednesday 25 May, full details herehttp://classonline.org.uk/news/latest/job-vacancy-policy-events-officer

Printed and promoted by Frances O’Grady on behalf of the TUC, both of Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

To add to this newsletter contact mdobney@tuc.org.uk