News and views for trade Unionists and supporters in the Green Party
Thursday, 7 April 2016
ARCHITECT OR BEE?
Launch at TUC Congress House of the new edition of Mike Cooley's pioneering book, ARCHITECT OR BEE?, on Wednesday 6 April
I attended as London Federation of Green Parties Trade Union Liaison Officer and representing UCU London Retired Members’ Branch.
About 30 + attended a large minority being from CND and associated groups.
A short extract from Lucas plan video (https://youtu.be/0pgQqfpub-c) was shown. Followed by an address from Frances O’Grady, (TUC General Secretary), who focussed on the importance of consultation between workers and managements over the questions of deciding what production should be done and how it should be carried out.
She also argued that since the original Lucas Plan In 1976, many jobs were still repetitive and boring and did not involve workers in decision-making, and in some ways the contemporary situation was worse as many of the workers doing this type of work were over qualified for it. Generally she argued that the British economy suffered from “financialisation” at the expense of manufacturing. She mentioned projects that the TUC had been involved in, which addressed such matters eg the green workplace projects. Currently the negotiations around Tata steel included TUC planning for alternatives for the workforce.
Other contributions ( form Robin Murray, Hilary Wainwright and others),recounted similar projects, concerned with extending planning beyond than a managerial elite, that had taken place since 1976 including the work of the Economic Policy Unit, the Greater London Enterprise Board and the Defence Diversification Agency.
Tony Simpson (of Spokesman Books) had introduced the event by suggesting that that there was a good fit between a revived or updated Lucas plan and proposals for coping with climate change such as those in “One Million Climate Jobs: Tackling the Environmental and Economic Crisis”, but this was not discussed much, even though a message sent by Mike Cooley contained the following question: “Can sophisticated electronics renovate our transport system and keep us safe from climate change? Is there a way of combatting the dehumanisation of whole communities?”
It may be unfair to take these remarks out of a wider context of Mike Cooley’s concerns about climate change and the nature of working lives, but it would be good to debate ways in which technical fixes such as those enabling new forms of transport could fit in with a wider programme that facilitated older low-carbon forms of transport, eg walking, cycling, canals etc. Clearly transport is not the only aspect of a low carbon economy/society where such solutions could be planned and enacted.
There is a conference proposed to commemorate the Lucas Plan and also to discuss its relevance for future developments. This event is planned for October or November 2016, date and venue to be finalised (contact breakingtheframe.org.uk)
References
Mike Cooley “Architect or Bee: The Human Price of Technology”, Foreword by Frances O'Grady, http://www.spokesmanbooks.com/
Campaign Against Climate Change “One Million Climate Jobs: Tackling the Environmental and Economic Crisis” http://www.campaigncc.org/greenjobs
APPENDIX: The Lucas Plan
In 1976, the militant workforce within Lucas Aerospace were facing t layoffs. Under the leadership of Mike Cooley, they developed the Lucas Plan[2] to convert the company from arms to the manufacture of socially useful products, and save jobs.
The plan was not put into place but it is claimed that the associated industrial action saved some jobs. It's a model to enact a just transition from ecologically damaging to ecologically positive employment in a low-carbon economy, where certain industries will have to shrink- for example, the power generation, aviation and cars. However, instead of a net loss of jobs, efforts must be put into creating green jobs or ‘converting’ old jobs. to produce the hardware for harnessing renewable wind and solar energy- employing skilled engineers and training new engineers for the future.
The Plan, drawn up by workers on the shop floor, contained over 150 ideas with detailed plans. The issue of climate change was not so well known as it is today, but there was a problem of oil supply and the Lucas plan focused extensively on the development of alternative, renewable energy.
Plans included:: Efficient wind-turbines, Solar cells and heat pumps, The “Power Pack” to create cars with 80% less emissions and 50% greater fuel economy, an efficient method for small scale electricity generation and a vehicle like a train but with pneumatic tyres allowing it also to travel on roads.
However, the importance of the Lucas Plan is not the specific technologies and products but in the questions raised about production under capitalism and the vision it offered of a new society in which human needs come before the blind pursuit of profit.
(Rob Marsden & P.Murry “Swords into Ploughshares, Tridents into Turbines: It’s Time for a New Lucas Plan” in Watermelon
I attended as London Federation of Green Parties Trade Union Liaison Officer and representing UCU London Retired Members’ Branch.
About 30 + attended a large minority being from CND and associated groups.
A short extract from Lucas plan video (https://youtu.be/0pgQqfpub-c) was shown. Followed by an address from Frances O’Grady, (TUC General Secretary), who focussed on the importance of consultation between workers and managements over the questions of deciding what production should be done and how it should be carried out.
She also argued that since the original Lucas Plan In 1976, many jobs were still repetitive and boring and did not involve workers in decision-making, and in some ways the contemporary situation was worse as many of the workers doing this type of work were over qualified for it. Generally she argued that the British economy suffered from “financialisation” at the expense of manufacturing. She mentioned projects that the TUC had been involved in, which addressed such matters eg the green workplace projects. Currently the negotiations around Tata steel included TUC planning for alternatives for the workforce.
Other contributions ( form Robin Murray, Hilary Wainwright and others),recounted similar projects, concerned with extending planning beyond than a managerial elite, that had taken place since 1976 including the work of the Economic Policy Unit, the Greater London Enterprise Board and the Defence Diversification Agency.
Tony Simpson (of Spokesman Books) had introduced the event by suggesting that that there was a good fit between a revived or updated Lucas plan and proposals for coping with climate change such as those in “One Million Climate Jobs: Tackling the Environmental and Economic Crisis”, but this was not discussed much, even though a message sent by Mike Cooley contained the following question: “Can sophisticated electronics renovate our transport system and keep us safe from climate change? Is there a way of combatting the dehumanisation of whole communities?”
It may be unfair to take these remarks out of a wider context of Mike Cooley’s concerns about climate change and the nature of working lives, but it would be good to debate ways in which technical fixes such as those enabling new forms of transport could fit in with a wider programme that facilitated older low-carbon forms of transport, eg walking, cycling, canals etc. Clearly transport is not the only aspect of a low carbon economy/society where such solutions could be planned and enacted.
There is a conference proposed to commemorate the Lucas Plan and also to discuss its relevance for future developments. This event is planned for October or November 2016, date and venue to be finalised (contact breakingtheframe.org.uk)
References
Mike Cooley “Architect or Bee: The Human Price of Technology”, Foreword by Frances O'Grady, http://www.spokesmanbooks.com/
Campaign Against Climate Change “One Million Climate Jobs: Tackling the Environmental and Economic Crisis” http://www.campaigncc.org/greenjobs
APPENDIX: The Lucas Plan
In 1976, the militant workforce within Lucas Aerospace were facing t layoffs. Under the leadership of Mike Cooley, they developed the Lucas Plan[2] to convert the company from arms to the manufacture of socially useful products, and save jobs.
The plan was not put into place but it is claimed that the associated industrial action saved some jobs. It's a model to enact a just transition from ecologically damaging to ecologically positive employment in a low-carbon economy, where certain industries will have to shrink- for example, the power generation, aviation and cars. However, instead of a net loss of jobs, efforts must be put into creating green jobs or ‘converting’ old jobs. to produce the hardware for harnessing renewable wind and solar energy- employing skilled engineers and training new engineers for the future.
The Plan, drawn up by workers on the shop floor, contained over 150 ideas with detailed plans. The issue of climate change was not so well known as it is today, but there was a problem of oil supply and the Lucas plan focused extensively on the development of alternative, renewable energy.
Plans included:: Efficient wind-turbines, Solar cells and heat pumps, The “Power Pack” to create cars with 80% less emissions and 50% greater fuel economy, an efficient method for small scale electricity generation and a vehicle like a train but with pneumatic tyres allowing it also to travel on roads.
However, the importance of the Lucas Plan is not the specific technologies and products but in the questions raised about production under capitalism and the vision it offered of a new society in which human needs come before the blind pursuit of profit.
(Rob Marsden & P.Murry “Swords into Ploughshares, Tridents into Turbines: It’s Time for a New Lucas Plan” in Watermelon
Conference Newsletter of Green Left Spring 2016)
Monday, 4 April 2016
Solidari-Tea actions with the BMA Junior Doctors on strike this week.
See below three confirmed Solidari-Tea actions with the BMA Junior
Doctors on strike this week.
Please support these if you can - even if you can only come along for a
few minutes, your support is greatly appreciated! Also distribute the
details as far as you can.
Please also let us know if you have any similar actions planned. More
info on Solidari-Tea at: http://gptu.greenparty.org.uk/
---
KINGSTON HOSPITAL - WEDNESDAY 6th April, 8am
Greens from GPTU and Kingston Green Party will be showing solidarity
with the junior doctors at Kingston Hospital, on WEDNESDAY 6th April
from 8am. Picket line will be either at Kingston Railway Station or at
the hospital main entrance on Galsworthy Road just round the corner. Let
us know if you can come - and let us know if you can bring tea or coffee
along.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
ST GEORGE'S HOSPITAL, TOOTING - THURSDAY 7th April, 8am
Greens from GPTU, Wandsworth Green Party and the Young Greens will be
showing solidarity with the junior doctors at St George's Hospital,
Tooting, on THURSDAY 7th April from 8am. Picket line will be at the
Effort Street entrance. Nearest tube: Tooting Broadway. Let us know if
you can come - and let us know if you can bring tea or coffee along.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY - this week 6th-8th April
Bristol Greens and GPTU will be showing solidarity with the junior
doctors at Bristol Royal Infirmary this week from 6th-8th April. See
Facebook event below for details of picket lines and times.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
In solidarity,
Kieron
Kieron Merrett
Secretary, Green Party Trade Union Group
secretary@gptu.greenparty.org.
07545 705 964
Doctors on strike this week.
Please support these if you can - even if you can only come along for a
few minutes, your support is greatly appreciated! Also distribute the
details as far as you can.
Please also let us know if you have any similar actions planned. More
info on Solidari-Tea at: http://gptu.greenparty.org.uk/
---
KINGSTON HOSPITAL - WEDNESDAY 6th April, 8am
Greens from GPTU and Kingston Green Party will be showing solidarity
with the junior doctors at Kingston Hospital, on WEDNESDAY 6th April
from 8am. Picket line will be either at Kingston Railway Station or at
the hospital main entrance on Galsworthy Road just round the corner. Let
us know if you can come - and let us know if you can bring tea or coffee
along.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
ST GEORGE'S HOSPITAL, TOOTING - THURSDAY 7th April, 8am
Greens from GPTU, Wandsworth Green Party and the Young Greens will be
showing solidarity with the junior doctors at St George's Hospital,
Tooting, on THURSDAY 7th April from 8am. Picket line will be at the
Effort Street entrance. Nearest tube: Tooting Broadway. Let us know if
you can come - and let us know if you can bring tea or coffee along.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY - this week 6th-8th April
Bristol Greens and GPTU will be showing solidarity with the junior
doctors at Bristol Royal Infirmary this week from 6th-8th April. See
Facebook event below for details of picket lines and times.
Details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
---
In solidarity,
Kieron
Kieron Merrett
Secretary, Green Party Trade Union Group
secretary@gptu.greenparty.org.
07545 705 964
Thursday, 31 March 2016
UCU London Retired Members Branch: Annual General Meeting Tuesday April 5th 2016 - 2pm - 4pm
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Wednesday, 30 March 2016
NUT CLIMATE CHANGE MOTION
NUT CLIMATE CHANGE MOTION
Conference recognises the following:
1. Keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or below is essential if human civilisation is to be sustained and there is to be a future for our children;
2. Doing so requires sharp cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions on a very rapid timescale;
3. This requires 75-80% of known fossil fuel reserves to be left in the ground;
4. The technology exists to make a transition to a sustainable carbon neutral society with gains in living standards for the majority of humanity at an annual cost little greater than the current cost of annual fossil fuel subsidies, but this is incompatible with high levels of inequality and a society based on aspiration for luxurious lifestyles;
5. That growth will have to be primarily in those areas of the economy that enable this transition to take place;
6. The world’s wealthiest countries will have to make cuts in emissions of 8-10% a year (on top of those made by exporting manufacturing and related pollution to China and other countries);
7. Governments will have to put our economies on a war footing and take charge of necessary investment in sustainable energy, transport and urban planning because the private sector is not doing what is necessary;
8. This will not happen while the needs of our planet and our civilisation are held to ransom by the short-term profitability of the fossil fuel industries; and
9. This has profound implications for the structure and content of our education system, both in terms of content and values.
Conference instructs the Executive to call on the Government for:
i. The production of national plan for the most rapid possible transition to a carbon zero economy, including an immediate reversal of the current Government’s withdrawal of support from wind and solar energy;
ii. The most rapid possible retrofitting of all school buildings to make them as carbon neutral as possible (as part of a concerted plan for all publically owned buildings);
iii. An end to restrictions on solar panels by heritage considerations;
iv. A re-examination of the curriculum to put sustainability and the values of a sustainable society at the heart of it;
v. An immediate abandonment on fracking domestically and an embargo
on the import of any fracked gas or tar sand oil from any other country;
vi. The most rapid possible transfer of fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy generation and the phasing out of coal power without Carbon Capture Storage by 2023; and
vii. The most rapid possible socialisation of power generation.
Conference further instructs the Executive to:
a. Negotiate with the DFE on a new curriculum and seek support from other education unions;
b. Convene a working party of all interested teachers to work with relevant campaigns, like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Campaign against Climate Change, to find all the aspects of the current curriculum that can be developed to draw out a sustainable content and to examine those areas or values that need to be challenged and changed and produce model alternatives; making 2016-17 the year of the Green Curriculum;
c. Work with these campaigns on developing termly themes that link educational content with active citizenship and encourage our members to push them in schools;
d. Encourage union bodies at all levels to support national and local demonstrations and campaigns against fracking and climate change, negotiate with local authorities to make our schools carbon neutral solar power stations and press governing bodies to adopt a green school plan of action;
e. Take this issue up with other unions through the TUC, our international counterparts bilaterally and through Education International, supporting initiatives like the German TUCs new ‘Marshal Plan’ for Europe; and
f. Affiliate to the campaign against climate change:
Conference recognises the following:
1. Keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or below is essential if human civilisation is to be sustained and there is to be a future for our children;
2. Doing so requires sharp cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions on a very rapid timescale;
3. This requires 75-80% of known fossil fuel reserves to be left in the ground;
4. The technology exists to make a transition to a sustainable carbon neutral society with gains in living standards for the majority of humanity at an annual cost little greater than the current cost of annual fossil fuel subsidies, but this is incompatible with high levels of inequality and a society based on aspiration for luxurious lifestyles;
5. That growth will have to be primarily in those areas of the economy that enable this transition to take place;
6. The world’s wealthiest countries will have to make cuts in emissions of 8-10% a year (on top of those made by exporting manufacturing and related pollution to China and other countries);
7. Governments will have to put our economies on a war footing and take charge of necessary investment in sustainable energy, transport and urban planning because the private sector is not doing what is necessary;
8. This will not happen while the needs of our planet and our civilisation are held to ransom by the short-term profitability of the fossil fuel industries; and
9. This has profound implications for the structure and content of our education system, both in terms of content and values.
Conference instructs the Executive to call on the Government for:
i. The production of national plan for the most rapid possible transition to a carbon zero economy, including an immediate reversal of the current Government’s withdrawal of support from wind and solar energy;
ii. The most rapid possible retrofitting of all school buildings to make them as carbon neutral as possible (as part of a concerted plan for all publically owned buildings);
iii. An end to restrictions on solar panels by heritage considerations;
iv. A re-examination of the curriculum to put sustainability and the values of a sustainable society at the heart of it;
v. An immediate abandonment on fracking domestically and an embargo
on the import of any fracked gas or tar sand oil from any other country;
vi. The most rapid possible transfer of fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy generation and the phasing out of coal power without Carbon Capture Storage by 2023; and
vii. The most rapid possible socialisation of power generation.
Conference further instructs the Executive to:
a. Negotiate with the DFE on a new curriculum and seek support from other education unions;
b. Convene a working party of all interested teachers to work with relevant campaigns, like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Campaign against Climate Change, to find all the aspects of the current curriculum that can be developed to draw out a sustainable content and to examine those areas or values that need to be challenged and changed and produce model alternatives; making 2016-17 the year of the Green Curriculum;
c. Work with these campaigns on developing termly themes that link educational content with active citizenship and encourage our members to push them in schools;
d. Encourage union bodies at all levels to support national and local demonstrations and campaigns against fracking and climate change, negotiate with local authorities to make our schools carbon neutral solar power stations and press governing bodies to adopt a green school plan of action;
e. Take this issue up with other unions through the TUC, our international counterparts bilaterally and through Education International, supporting initiatives like the German TUCs new ‘Marshal Plan’ for Europe; and
f. Affiliate to the campaign against climate change:
Don’t use living wage as excuse to cut pay & benefits
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The People's Assembly Against Austerity: Doctors & Teachers to strike - Support on 16 April
Sometimes things can change very quickly in politics. After 6 years of an aggressive Tory led government it sometimes felt like there was no way to stop them. However, in the last few weeks, we've seen the wheels start to fall off the austerity train and it's not looking so good for the Tories any more.
Over the last few days the teaching unions held their annual conferences. The National Union of Teachers voted overwhelmingly to ballot for strike action following the governments disastrous decision to force all schools to become academies. Christine Blower General Secretary of the NUT said "if there is scope to take action with junior doctors, you can be sure we will." Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, was humiliated as she made a disastrous speech at teaching union NASUWT conference > watch here
The British Medical Association also announced last week they would be escalating the junior doctor strike action taking place on 26/27 April to an all out strike.
Support the strikes: Join the demonstration
This makes the national demonstration on Saturday 16 April more important than ever. That demonstration is the place to be to show solidarity with the strikes, to give confidence and strengthen further action in our workplaces, and to demonstrate to the government that we are united against austerity.
Saturday 16 April 2016 | National Demonstration
March for Health, Homes, Jobs, Education
Assemble: 1pm, Gower Street, London NW1
March to Trafalgar Square
We're pleased to announce that the demonstration will be marching to Trafalgar Square. Christine Blower and striking Junior Doctors will be amongst those that will address the rally - alongside student nurses, housing campaigners, trade unionists, MPs and celebs (details to be announced soon).Saturday 16 April 2016 | National Demonstration
March for Health, Homes, Jobs, Education
Assemble: 1pm, Gower Street, London NW1
March to Trafalgar Square
Don't just come - get involved!
The demonstration needs to be massive, and that means it's up to everyone to make sure it becomes as big as possible. We have no big media or corporate backers so we need your help.
If you can help with any of the suggested activities in your area (or have any other ideas of other things you can do), please email office@thepeoplesassembly.org.
1. Weekend actionsBig leafleting sessions & street stalls to publicise the demonstration on 2 & 9 April. Targeting shopping centres, high streets, markets and more.
2. Leaflet your local train / tube station - weekdays
Leaflet at train stations either before or after work. Let us know your nearest station and what day / times you could do in the next couple of weeks. Just half an hour at rush hours will reach hundreds of people.
3. Leaflet your street / estate
Put leaflets for the demonstration through every house or flat on your street or estate. Doesn't take long and is an effective way to publicise the demo!
If you are able to do any of these things please contact us atoffice@thepeoplesassembly.org.
Useful demo links:
- Main info page
- Facebook event
- Route
- Transport to the demo
- Order Publicity (leaflets, posters, stickers)
- Download leaflet artwork
- Get involved: Street stalls and leafleting timetable
The People's Assembly Against Austerity
http://www.thepeoplesassembly.
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