Tulo report to London Fed march 18 2019

Tulo report to London Fed march 18 2019

·       School climate strike 15 march

Teachers stand with students in their call for urgent climate action Petition at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrZBUh1Y9asj77aukVxLH8FYAiKS47f6qXPkCI-5qfgLCasw/viewform

In recent weeks many students in the UK showed their determination to demand action to tackle the climate crisis that threatens all of us and most especially the generation that are currently in school and college.

Their action has put the climate crisis at the forefront of political debate across society.

They have become part of a movement of young people across the globe who are rightly demanding that their politicians urgently take the action needed to tackle the climate crisis and that our education system reflects this priority.

As a generation without a voice in elections, but one for whom the climate crisis will impact the greatest, we commend their willingness to engage in political activity and debate to ensure their voice is heard.

We support the demands of the students and will play our part in ensuring we campaign for a curriculum that reflects this priority.

·       Green Left London - For a Fighting Ecological Trade-Unionism

In general, the formation of an ecosocialist consciousness requires an approach and experiences at a broader level than the enterprise…

LONDONGREENLEFT.BLOGSPOT.COM

For a Fighting Ecological Trade-Unionism

Written by Daniel Tanuro and first published at International Viewpoint How can we reconcile social struggle and environmental struggle?...

·       A ban on zero-hours contracts - a victory for Irish unions https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/ban-zero-hours-contracts-victory-irish-unions?fbclid=IwAR2of8sE6HOGBukWGSXn_DFKdgRAtcJFNBQhqeIjljTqYKV4C28YOWTH2ks

·       'Support staff are overworked, underpaid and undervalued'

Seven out of 10 of those surveyed by the NEU union say their workload has increased over the past year

https://www.tes.com/news/support-staff-are-overworked-underpaid-and-undervalued?fbclid=IwAR1ssjdmX4m38jLv6xmZ4xE0e53pAkIBpi-8Y4mDoUq1viMR1hUwU0pQZNE

·       NOR4NOR The 2019 Rail Summit: For a People's Railway Saturday 27th April in Norwich. https://www.nor4nor.org/

·       DWP call handlers’ strike supported by PCS (see https://politicsandinsights.org/2019/02/26/the-dwp-call-handlers-strike-and-the-milgram-experiment-frame/) over ““severe under investment, staff shortages and ironically, criticism from claimants on how they are treated”. 

·       videos of Hugo Blanco on fighting for indigenous land rights in Peru; Socialist Resistance meeting London 26/2/2019 at http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/hugo-blanco-on-fighting-for-indigenous.html

·       Trade Union Clean Air Network Charter see: https://greentulondon.blogspot.com/2019/03/trade-union-clean-air-network-charter.html

For more information contact: gjacoms@gmail.com or janet@gmhazards.org.uk

UCU: Ten colleges face strike action in third wave of walkouts

Ten colleges face strike action in third wave of walkouts

15 March 2019

UCU members at 10 English colleges will be taking three days' strike action next week in the fight for fair pay and conditions. Members at West Thames College will kick things off with a three-day walkout that begins on Monday.

Colleagues at Bath College, Bradford College, Bridgwater & Taunton College, City of Wolverhampton College, Croydon College, Harlow College, New College Swindon, Petroc in Devon and South Bank College (previously Lambeth College) will then walk out from Wednesday to Friday.

The strikes are part of a third wave of action after UCU members at six colleges took action in November and staff at 12 colleges walked out at the end of January. The dispute centres on the failure of college bosses to make a decent pay offer to staff or address key issues such as excessive workloads.

The pay gap between teachers in colleges and schools currently stands at £7,000 as staff have seen the value of their pay decline by 25% over the last decade.

UCU said that strike action was always a last resort for staff and that colleges who wished to avoid disruption should follow the likes of Capital City College Group and Hugh Baird College who recently agreed deals for their staff to address low pay and improve conditions.

UCU said members were fed up with being told that nothing was possible unless the government came to the rescue. The union said it was simply not true that colleges could not work with it on pay, workloads or job security.

UCU head of further education Andrew Harden said: 'Strike action is always a last resort, but unless colleges work with us to prioritise their staff they will face disruption next week. Colleges who don't try and hide behind government failings, but instead engage with us on the pay and conditions of their staff will receive a positive hearing.

'Colleges who give nothing when they could work with us to solve these problems should expect to reap what they sow. Some colleges have proved what is possible when they work with UCU and those wishing to avoid disruption need to follow their lead.'

Youth Strike 4 Climate

Please invite trade union colleagues and supporters to rally in support of Youth Strike 4 Climate

12.00-14.00  Friday 15 March. Meet Parliament Square. For updates text 07981 753970

https://www.facebook.com/events/424246341670148/

Trade union members supporting Youth Strike 4 Climate Causes event by Campaign against Climate Change on Friday, March 15 2019 www.facebook.com

UK wide youth strikes

Support the strikes in more than 40 cities!

https://ukscn.org

Youth Strike 4 Climate — UKSCN UK Strike - #YouthStrike4Climate. We are choosing to rise up and take direct action where older generations have failed. We are already facing devastating and irreversible impacts around the world. ukscn.org

Trade unionists support our youth strike for climate on 15 March!

Trade unions worldwide are supporting school strikers defending their future. In Belgium The Centrale Générale (FGTB), which includes the largest power station in the country, are striking in support on 15 March - as are unions in Australia, including teachers and firefighters. Many NEU members are signing a letter supporting school strikes in the UK, which will be taking place in over 40 cities. Get your comrades out to support our youth - further details.https://ukscn.org/ 

In solidarity,

Fliss Premru

And the Green Party says:

Tomorrow, pupils from schools up and down the country will be walking out of lessons.

They’ll be gathering in dozens of locations across the country with a simple message. We need emergency climate action now.

And the Green Party says:

Will you be standing with them?

As a teacher myself, I’m proud of each and every pupil taking civic action to demand climate action.

While our political leaders call our young people “truants”, there are thousands of teachers, parents and fellow citizens cheering on this movement of radical hope.

The children of this country are not truants. They are fighting for their future. They are heroes.

While young people are leading the way, it’s up to all of us to support them in any way we can.

If you’re a parent, please support your kids in taking action if they want to. If you’re a teacher like me, press for support and understanding from your headteacher. If you’re free tomorrow, head down to support your local strike.

Most importantly, if you are a young person thinking of taking action tomorrow - go for it. Thousands of us stand with you.

All over the country, more and more councils are declaring a climate emergency, and we need Westminster to do the same. Business as usual is over. It’s time for a radical transformation. It’s time for real climate action.

As a valued member of the Green Party, I'm sure you agree it's time for this action. Will you support the school strike?

Best wishes,

Vix Lowthion, Green Party Education Spokesperson

Trade Union Clean Air Network Charter

Trade Union Clean Air Network Charter

Trade unions need a response to the public health emergency and also the occupational health emergency of air pollution.  Over 40,000 people die each year in the UK where the outdoor air that they breathe is a major contributory factor. Thousands of people will also die because of occupational diseases caused by air pollution at work. Pollution arising from work and travel to work are health issues for which employers take little responsibility. There is hardly any recognition of this in national and local authority strategies. This is an issue for workers and their families at all stages from before birth to old age and particularly damaging the growth and development of babies and children.  This charter provides a framework for unions to campaign for the health and environmental concerns of workers.  We call on the Government to:

1. Introduce a New Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to breathe clean air. It must set stringent legal limits for ambient air quality, which reflect WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines. There should be recognition that air pollution is an occupational health issue. Employers must be required to make Environmental Impact Assessments on the pollution related to their work activities. They should have a duty to present strategies for minimising and eradicating pollutants within the workplace and in the wider community.

2. Update Health and Safety Law - The COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations and related guidance should be amended to reflect new research on indoor and outdoor air pollution.  This  includes amending Workplace Exposure Limits to place duties on employers to monitor and adopt control measures for diesel and other toxic vehicle emissions not currently covered by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) EH40. 

3. Ensure effective enforcement – Strict enforcement by relevant agencies of the occupational and environmental legislation with the power to hold public bodies and employers to account. Representatives of the trade union movement must have seats on the relevant agencies.

4. Involve the workforce – Air quality measures for indoor and outdoor occupational air pollution must be subject to the consultation requirements of the SRSC (Safety Reps and Safety Committees) Regulations.  Measures should cover both employees and others, and especially the needs of vulnerable occupants of buildings, including in particular children and young people.  Employers should be required to raise awareness and support workforce training on risks and control measures. Workers may need access to independent advice on exposure levels and health effects.

5. Protect jobs – Government and employer clean air strategies will have implications for jobs and employment. The application of Just Transition principles, including consultation and negotiation with appropriate and industry unions, must include full equality impact assessments, to ensure positive and fair outcomes for all workers.

6. Rapidly expand clean and inexpensive public transport systems alongside investment in active transport to increase levels of cycling and walking – Cleaning up air in the UK will require significant public expenditure. Government should drive the policies to ensure that those least able to afford it are not expected to pick up the bill, and to subsidise measures for less polluting forms of energy and transport. Including affordable public transport.   This will encourage more integrated and more active forms of transport.        

For more information contact: gjacoms@gmail.com or janet@gmhazards.org.uk

SAVE YOURSELVES

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By Casper Hughes

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05 March 2019, 2:47pm

The Workers Who Wanted to Stop Making Weapons and Start Waging War on Climate Change

In the 1970s, workers at a defence manufacturer in Lancashire came up with a radical idea to start making things that would be better for society.

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/mbzxb3/the-workers-who-wanted-to-stop-making-weapons-and-start-waging-war-on-climate-change

As cities march across the world to mark UN anti-racism day, join them to say #NoRacismNoFascism

As cities march across the world to mark UN anti-racism day, join them to say #NoRacismNoFascism

Racism and fascism are on the rise.

The Trump Presidency has inspired a wave of racism and the growth of the far right around the world.

In Britain, a new far-right street movement is attempting to take advantage of the political crisis by scapegoating migrants, refugees and the Muslim community.

From Bolsanoro in Brazil and Le Pen in France, to the AfD in Germany and the FO in Austria, racists and fascists are moving off the political margins to centre stage.

A wave of Islamophobic hate crime is continuing to grow, with Muslim women at the sharp end. And there has been a major resurgence of antisemitism.

The Windrush scandal has shown the inhumanity of this government's ‘hostile environment’. Detention and deportations are destroying the lives of people that are part of the fabric of our society, and thousands of refugees remain stranded in Northern France.

The threat is huge, but together we can turn the tide. This UN anti-racism day we need the biggest, broadest international display of opposition to racism & fascism we have ever seen.

On Saturday 16th March, join us to show that the anti-racist, anti-fascist majority is on the march and we will not stop until the rise of racism & the far right has been defeated.

What is UN Anti-Racism Day?

The UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was inaugurated in 1966 to commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville massacre which saw 69 anti-apartheid protestors killed and 178 wounded for taking to the streets against the regime’s racist pass laws.

In commemorating the massacre, the UN General Assembly called on all world states and organizations to participate in a program of action to combat racism and racial discrimination.

Children Unchained - Palestinian Children Under Occupation

Children Unchained - Palestinian Children Under Occupation

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17	MARCH 14:00 - 17:00

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  FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Waltham Forest Community Hub 18A Orford Road Walthamstow Village, E17 9LN London, United Kingdom

Film, speakers and stalls about the situation of Palestinian children living under Israeli military occupation. With a special contribution by Ahed Tamimi, the teenager imprisoned for slapping an Israeli soldier who invaded her home after her cousin was shot in the head.

Come to learn about the suffering and the resistance of children living a nightmare.