Rohingya Rights demo 2/12/2016

UCU day of action against precarious work - 24 November 2016

Thursday 24 November 2016 is UCU's anti-casualisation day of action in both higher and further education.

Already we have reports of many branches organising events. Events include recruitment stalls, advice surgeries, open meetings, campaign launches, or in some cases events that celebrate recent positive agreements.

Branch organised events

A national priority campaign

Thanks to our union's work, there is growing press and political interest in this campaign and this provides us with vital leverage in pressuring our employers. The fight against precarious contracts is one of UCU's cross-sectoral priority campaigns. The campaign has real momentum and its impact is already being felt nationally and on the ground for our members.

In recent weeks alone, we have seen significant campaigning and negotiating successes at Sussex, Coventry and Essex universities.

In the coming weeks, UCU will be accelerating this campaigning work in both sectors and providing branches with new resources to take the fight to your employers.

The day of action on the 24th is a great opportunity to raise the profile of this issue among your members. Please play your part and think about how you can support the day.

• You can read about UCU's campaigning and negotiating successes around casualisation in the last year.
• Or  download our annual campaign report [406kb]

What to do now

Tell us what you're doing! Email your events to anticasualisation@ucu.org.uk

On the day, we will use social media to raise the profile of all our events as well as highlight the issues. Make sure you email us a photo or report from your event so that we can publicise it on social media. Email your pictures to anticasualisation@ucu.org.uk or send them to us on Twitter at @ucuOpens new window or UCU's Facebook siteOpens new window and use the hashtag #anticas16.

What if the workers were in control?

Hilary Wainwright reflects on an attempt by British workers to produce a democratically determined alternative plan for their industry

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/what-if-the-workers-were-in-control/
November 2016

Lucas project documentary and reminder

just to let you know that you can now see the trailer for the documentary 'the plan' (a segment of which will be screened to open the conference) on the 'archive & resources' page of the website: http://lucasplan.org.uk/more-about-the-lucas-plan/

AND

don't forget

The conference on the 40^th anniversary of the Lucas Plan in Birmingham on November 26th is set to be the exciting beginning of a new initiative for arms conversion, green jobs and local democratic planning. It is being supported by a group of 16 trade union/left, green and peace organisations, the latest of which is Momentum. Highlights of the conference will include talks by former Lucas Aerospace Combine members, the screening of a new film on the Lucas Plan and many talks by leading campaigners. The workshops will be run so that there is a maximum chance for everyone to participate. Conference places are filling up fast, so BOOK NOW to make sure of your place. Please help us to publicise the conference by forwarding this message appropriately, inviting your Facebook friends, or following us on Twitter: @lucasplan40. Thanks for your help.

Could a Trump presidency mean 'game over' for the climate? Please join us on Friday outside the US embassy, from 5.30pm

Campaign against Climate Change <info@campaigncc.org>

Could a Trump presidency mean 'game over' for the climate? With our climate already on the brink, the idea of a climate denier in the White House is terrifying. But at COP22, nations and civil society, while calling on Trump not to pull out of the Paris agreement, vowed to press ahead with climate action whatever he does.

International solidarity is more important than ever. Please join us on Friday outside the US embassy, from 5.30pm to stand alongside those in the US who are vowing to block any attempt to ramp up carbon pollution.

Facebook event - join and share!

Website page

Can't make it this time? Watch this space for more on preparations for 20 January, Trump's inauguration. And remember action within the UK is still vital - we can't afford to let our own government off the hook. Join our Christmas climate action or sign up to support the Campaign against Climate Change.

Read more about Trump and climate change:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/11/trump-presidency-a-disaster-for-the-planet-climate-change  
http://www.vox.com/2016/11/9/13571318/donald-trump-disaster-climate

Best wishes and solidarity

from all at the Campaign against Climate Change

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Lucas Plan!

Dear friends,

The conference on the 40^th anniversary of the Lucas Plan in Birmingham on November 26th is set to be the exciting beginning of a new initiative for arms conversion, green jobs and local democratic planning. It is being supported by a group of 16 trade union/left, green and peace organisations, the latest of which is Momentum. Highlights of the conference will include talks by former Lucas Aerospace Combine members, the screening of a new film on the Lucas Plan and many talks by leading campaigners. The workshops will be run so that there is a maximum chance for everyone to participate. Conference places are filling up fast, so BOOK NOW to make sure of your place. Please help us to publicise the conference by forwarding this message appropriately, inviting your Facebook friends, or following us on Twitter: @lucasplan40. Thanks for your help.

Dave King

info@breakingtheframe.org.uk, www.breakingtheframe.org.uk

Celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Lucas Plan!

Veteran trade unionists and younger activists see Nobel prize-nominated plan as inspiration for the future

Leading figures from the left, trade union, environmental and peace movements are coming together at a conference on November 26^th with a fresh perspective on tackling current crises, using the ideas of socially useful production pioneered in the Lucas Plan. The Plan, produced by workers at the Lucas Aerospace arms company, showed how jobs could be saved by converting to make socially useful products, rather than weapons. See www.lucasplan.org.uk, or the notes below for more information on the Lucas Plan.

The conference will focus on 5 key themes:

• The Lucas Plan and socially useful production.
• Arms conversion and peace.
• Climate change and a socially just transition to sustainability.
• The threat to skills and livelihoods from automation.
• Local/community economic and industrial planning.

Linking all these issues is the need to rethink how we can produce what people and society actually need and overcome corporate domination through their control of technology. 

Highlights of the conference will include:

• Talks by Phil Asquith, Brian Salisbury and Mick Cooney (Lucas Aerospace Shop Stewards Combine).
• Screening of a new film on the Lucas Plan by Steve Sprung.
• Contributions from: Chris Baugh (PCS), Suzanne Jeffery (Million Climate Jobs Campaign), Hilary Wainwright (Red Pepper), Natalie Bennett, Molly Scott-Cato and Jonathan Essex (Green Party), Philip Pearson (Greener Jobs Alliance), Romayne Phoenix (People’s Assembly Against Austerity), Mary Pearson (Birmingham Trades Council), Tony Kearns (CWU), Mika Minio-Paluello (Platform), Philippa Hands (UNISON), Stuart Parkinson (Scientists for Global Responsibility), Dave Elliott (Open University), Liz Corbin (Institute of Making), Tony Simpson (Bertrand Russell Foundation), Dave King (Breaking the Frame), Simon Fairlie (The Land magazine), Karen Leach (Localise West Midlands), Marisol Sandoval (City University), Tom Unterrainer (Bertrand Russell Foundation), John Middleton (Medact), Gail Chester (Feminist Library), Julie Ward (Labour Party), David Cullen (Nuclear Information Service) and Richard Lee (Just Space).

The conference on the Lucas Plan 40^th anniversary will be held at Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (138 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR) on November 26, 2016. See www.lucasplan.org.uk. The conference is being organised and sponsored by: former members of the Lucas Aerospace Shop Stewards Combine, Breaking the Frame, PCS, UCU, Million Climate Jobs Campaign, Green Party, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Campaign Against Arms Trade, CND, Left Unity, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Red Pepper, War on Want, Conference of Socialist Economists, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Newcastle TUC and Momentum.

Tickets are £10/£5 concessions: To book for the conference, visit

www.lucasplan.org.uk/tickets. For more information, email info@breakingtheframe.org.uk

BACKGROUND INFO: The Lucas Aerospace Shop Stewards Combine’s Alternative Corporate Plan (‘The Lucas Plan’) was launched in 1976 and became famous worldwide, sparking an international movement for socially useful production and workers’ plans. Facing the threat of redundancies, the Combine collected 150 ideas from shop floor workers about alternative socially useful products that could be produced by the company, instead of relying on military orders. Many of the innovations in the plan, such as hybrid car engines, heat pumps and wind turbines were commercially viable and are now in widespread use. Although the Alternative Plan was rejected by Lucas Aerospace managers, it was instrumental in protecting jobs at Lucas in the 1970s. The Combine was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and Mike Cooley received the Right Livelihood Award in 1982. More information about the Plan, including the 53-page summary of the five 200 page volumes, can be found on the conference website, www.lucasplan.org.uk.

Trump's climate policies are nothing short of genocidal

Date: THIS FRIDAY, 18th November
Time: 6:00pm
Location: US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, W1A 2LQ. Map here
As the UN COP22 climate talks in Marrakesh draw to a close, a new dawn for climate policy is breaking with the election of Donald Trump as the President of the USA.

Environmental campaigners' worst fears look to be justified, as Presdent-elect Trump has already announced the appointment of Myron Ebell, a prominent climate change denier with strong links to the fossil fuel industry, as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Earlier this week, the World Meteorological Organization predicted that 2016 is almost certainly going to be the hottest year on record, surpassing last year's record. Trump has called climate change a "hoax". The disconnect between the climate crisis and those holding power has never been starker. Now only the most wildly optimistic have any hope that the world won't pass 2°C.

This time last year the world's leaders came together in Paris to agree the historic Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit the increase in temperature to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It came into earlier at the beginning of the month. America is responsible for almost 20% of global carbon emissions and is the world's highest per capita polluter.

Trump has made it clear that he wants to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as possible and his staff are already looking for ways to do so. There are real fears that this could pave the way for similar moves from other countries looking for a way to appease those with vested interests.

So, join us outside the American Embassy in Mayfair at 6pm on Friday to send a clear message: Trump's climate policies are nothing short of genocidal and will seal the fate of the millions, if not billions of people who are set to lose their lives as the planet warms irreversibly.

Please join and share our Facebook event with all the latest information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/333429317036859
----
info@climatedefence.org
07903 316 331 / 07779 500 235

greenerjobsalliance.co.uk

Here's your copy of the November edition of the GJA newsletter. With the current threats to climate change policy it's never been more important to keep up to date with news and analysis from the labour and environmental movement.

http://www.greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/GJA-Newsletter-No3-November-2016.pdf

All the best

Graham

GJA Secretary

Anneliese Dodds MEP -Tuesday 6 December 2016

Nb In the original version of this notice, SERTUC described Anneliese Dodds as "The South East's Voice in Europe", as there is a Green MEP for the South East, Keith Taylor, this is a piece of gratuitous Labour tribalism.

SERTUC Pensioners Network welcomes Guest Speaker:

Anneliese Dodds MEP - 

Anneliese was elected for the first time in May 2014 and was already very active across the length and breadth of our region. Regularly out and about talking with constituents, local businesses, charities and other organisations about the issues which matter most to them, she now visits SERTUC Pensioners Network.

Anneliese will discuss life after Brexit, the European Work Programme including issues that affect pensioners, and stopping discrimination against disabled people in the workplace. There will be opportunity for questions and discussion.

Tuesday 6 December 2016

1 - 2 pm, TUC Congress House

FREE ADMISSION (REGISTRATION ESSENTIAL)

REGISTRATION CLOSES - THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER

sertuc@tuc.org.uk

020 7467 1220

SERTUC Pensioners Network OPEN invite: Pensioners Seminar 2017

19 November 2016: United for education

19 November 2016: United for education

We have joined up with our sister union the National Union of Students (NUS) for a mass demonstration in defence of free, accessible and quality further and higher education and to demand an end to privatisation and cuts in universities and colleges. Staff, students and supporters from across the education sector and trade union movement will march in London in what promises to be a huge show of opposition to government policy on post-school education.

Help us make the national demo on 19 November the biggest ever!

 Poster for 19 Nov demo [594kb]     Flier for 19 Nov demo [815kb]

The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 12 noon: March assembles at Park Lane. If you are arriving via public transport please approach from the North end - nearest tube stations are Marble Arch and Bond Street. Coaches should drop off from West side of Park Lane)
• 1pm: March starts off from Park Lane. 2.4 mile route through central London to rally point at Millbank, Westminster. 
• 2.45pm: Rally begins. Speakers include journalist Owen Jones, Malia Bouattia, president NUS; Sally Hunt, general secretary, UCU; Shakira Martin, vice president further education, NUS; Sorana Vieru, vice president higher education, NUS; Rob Goodfellow, president, UCU; George the Poet. Other speakers also tbc.
• 3.45pm: Rally ends, marchers disperse
• 4:30pm: Coaches pick up from Albert Embankment, Victoria Embankment or Tothill Street. Please contact campaigns@nus.org.uk in advance to arrange which of these points your delegation should be collected from.

Bedroom tax Supreme Court judgement: Report back

Bedroom tax Supreme Court judgement: Report back

Wed 9 Nov 2016

9.15 am - 9.30 am photocall – Charlotte and Jayson Carmichael (Southport, Merseyside), and Sue and Paul Rutherford (Pembrokeshire Wales) are coming to London for the ruling

9.30 go in to Court 1 to hear the announcement

9.45 Judgement announced -- livestreamed here

at the Supreme Court

Parliament Square, London SW1P 3BD

opp. Westminster Abbey, corner of Victoria St
 Westminster

Share Facebook event

Jim Scott (Green Left Wales & GPTU) reports"Paul and Sue won their case (as did Jason and Jacqueline) but that the court had split up the cases in a very unfair way and that it was a shock that the case over a victim of domestic violence was lost. Also she said that the Court had cited the "discretionary payments" that Councils can give to claimants and used them as a get out clause to not rule in other people's favour, despite the fact that in reality when people apply to their councils for these "discretionary payments" usually the council just says "no there's no money", Austerity etc...! (Ba***rds!)

There is a good Guardian write up here;  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/09/families-win-supreme-court-appeals-over-unfair-bedroom-tax-jacqueline-carmichael"

AND ,in the Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-hated-bedroom-tax-defeated-9225019#ICID=sharebar_facebook

Bedroom tax Supreme Court judgement Wed 9 Nov 2016

Come and support disabled people & carers, single mums & kids fleeing domestic violence, and all hit by the bedroom tax:

Bedroom tax Supreme Court judgement

Wed 9 Nov 2016

·          9.15 am - 9.30 am photocall – Charlotte and Jayson Carmichael (Southport, Merseyside), and Sue and Paul Rutherford (Pembrokeshire Wales) are coming to London for the ruling

·          9.30 go in to Court 1 to hear the announcement

·          9.45 Judgement announced -- livestreamed here

at the Supreme Court

Parliament Square, London SW1P 3BD

opp. Westminster Abbey, corner of Victoria St Westminster

Share Facebook event

Our daily vigil at the court case in Feb/March

·          See Daily Mirror report of the court hearing in March 2016

For more info contact WinVisible or Women Against Rape 020 7482 2496

win@winvisible.org        war@womenagainstrape.net

Supported by: Disabled People Against Cuts, Single Mothers’ Self-Defence,Taxpayers Against Poverty, anti-sanctions campaigner Gill Thompson,

and others

No more deaths from benefit cuts – we remember Stephanie Bottrill

Stop all benefit cuts and sanctions

Every Chilld Deserves the Best: NUT demos November 2016

London NUT March and Rally - Thursday 17 November 2016
Assemble for March: 17:00, Whitehall, (Opposite Downing Street)
Rally: 18:30, Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, SW1P 3DW

Midlands NUT Rally – Saturday 26 November 2016
Rally: 11:00, Vista Suite, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Holliday Street, Birmingham, B1 1HH

North West NUT Rally – Saturday 26 November 2016
Rally: 12:00, Sackville Gardens, Manchester, M1 3HB

Bedroom tax:Wednesday (9th) there will be a vigil/demo at the Supreme Court London.

Bedroom tax:Wednesday (9th) there will be a vigil/demo at the Supreme Court London.

This coming Wednesday (9th) there will be a vigil/demo at the Supreme Court London. I spoke at the last vigil (back in March) on behalf of Wales Green Party but cannot make this one due to work commitments... Can any London Greens make this? The Vigil is being organised by WinVisible (Women with visible & invisible disabilities) and other campaign groups such as DPAC will be there. I am in contact with the organisers and there will be openings for speakers, they will also appreciate any support!

A friend and comrade from Pembrokeshire, Paul Rutherford is one of the people taking the Government to Supreme court, Paul's family were hit by Bedroom tax despite the fact he is disabled himself and looks after his severely disabled grandson, he has been fighting the Government for years over this and will find out which way Supreme Court have ruled on Weds! I think I have also sorted out for Mark McGowen (The Artist Taxi Driver) to interview Paul on Weds.

Wednesday 9th November 9.15 am until 10.30am vigil outside Supreme Court London for bedroom tax ruling decision.. Please try to support this if you can if only by supporting on social media.

This is the facebook event page; https://www.facebook.com/events/1796187247304123/

Any support from London Greens or GL members would be most gratefully received for this potentially landmark demo/vigil.

In solidarity,

With thanks,

Jim Scott.

Pembrokeshire Green Party - Local Party Contact.

Wales Green Party - Local Parties Development Officer.



http://www.walesgreenparty.org.uk/


 Facebook; Pembrokeshire Green Party | Plaid Werdd Sir Benfro

Brent SOS join libraries demonstration in Central London

Brent SOS join libraries demonstration in Central London

acknowledgements to http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/

Some of the Green Party contingent

Writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen addresses the crowd

Sian Berry holds up the Green Party's demands (Photo: Sarah Cox)

March for libraries, museums and galleries from Ian Clark on Vimeo.

Brent Library campaigners were among 2000-3000 people who joined yesterday's march in protest against 'culture cuts' to libraries, museums and galleries. Some cuts come as funding cuts or closures others through the backdoor as out-sourcing and privatisation.

Brent Council closed six of its twelve libraries in the first round of local government austerity cuts. Of the six here are now volunteer libraries at Barham, Preston and Kensal Rise and Cricklewood is on its way.

Neasden Library is particularly missed serving a poor area with many children, as is Tokyngton in Cllr Butt's ward.

In her speech Sian Berry, Green Party Assembly member,  praised library volunteers (she is one too) who had fought to keep library facilities open. She acknowledged it was hard work and would be unnecessary if we had a properly resourced, professionally staffed, comprehensive system.

The rally was addressed by Barnet library staff who were on strike on Saturday. The crowd were warned that cuts and closures, if they had not already arrived, were 'coming to a library near you'.

Andreas Malm, author of Fossil Capital, will join us on Wednesday 16th November in London.

We are delighted that Andreas Malm, author of Fossil Capital, will join us on Wednesday 16th November in London. Book tickets below.

Andreas Malm will outline some of the key ideas in his book and join a conversation about the urgent need for change. Andreas Malm's brilliant book Fossil Capital suggests that the origin of the current climate crisis can be found in the coupling of fossil fuels with capitalism in 19^th century industrial Britain.

More provocatively he argues that the choice of coal to power early industrial capitalism was a conscious, rather than inevitable decision. This choice and the resultant consequence of global warming, were made in order to undermine and challenge working class resistance to early 19th century capitalism. 

In the 21st century with temperatures continuing to rise and 2016 once again the hottest year on record by some margin, the issue of an alternative to Fossil Capital is more urgent than ever.

The CACC trade union group are delighted to be in conversation with Andreas Malm to discuss this question. Is there an alternative to the dangerous relationship between fossil fuels and capitalism? What does an alternative look like? Is it possible? Can trade unions play a central role? Hope you are able to join us. 

Book tickets here: Event Brite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/andreas-malm-in-conversation-what-is-the-alternative-to-fossil-capital-tickets-28930075635

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1322590404440726/