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

UCU Campaign update: 13 May 2016

Campaign update: 13 May 2016

HEADLINES THIS WEEK

Higher education (HE) members: strike action 25 and 26 May 2016

Members in HE are called on to observe a two day national strike on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May 2016. Please contact your branch, join picket lines and support fair pay, gender equality and secure contracts in HE.

Members are also asked to work to contract from 25 May. Guidance on working to contract, the strike action and advice for external examiners is still being finalised with our legal advisors and will be issued early next week.

Leaflets and poster available for download here.

Support fair pay in further education (FE)

Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden addressed a busy parliamentary event in support of the FE sector, and heard members' concerns about issues including area reviews and social mobility. Other speakers including Green party leader Natalie Bennett, UCU president Liz Lawrence and the NUT's Kevin Courtney reinforced the value of further education and the need to support FE staff. Thanks to everyone whotweeted or sent in selfies with our 'I support the FE pay claim' poster.  Please continue to share #fairpayinFE or campaigns@ucu.org.uk

Other news this week

In the news:

• UCU confirms industrial action at universities over pay
• reports on HE access raise concerns about young men and part-time students

Read all about it here

UCU national recruitment week: 16-20 May

Next week sees a nationwide drive to encourage more staff to join UCU. There's never been a more important time to build the union and help stand up for education. Please support our national recruitment week by getting involved locally and encouraging colleagues to join at: https://www.ucu.org.uk/joinOpens new window

Defend union reps at London Metropolitan University

Thanks to over 1,600 of you who've signed the petition against redundancies and trade union victimisation at London Met. Please continue to sign and circulate the petitionOpens new window and stand up for our reps Mark Campbell and David Hardman.

Academic related and professional staff

Administrators, librarians, computing and other professional staff in HE are invited todownload our new newsletter '...and related' containing  all the latest news, views and events. Why not circulate copies or hand out the new posters and leaflets to your team?

Demand a vote on TTIP and CETA

While TTIP may be on the ropesOpens new window, there remains a serious threat from CETAOpens new window,  a similar trade deal that could soon be ratified and implemented between the EU and Canada. Tell David Cameron to veto the provisional implementation of the dealOpens new windowand demand a vote on CETA.

Convoy to Calais.

On Saturday 18 June, The People's Assembly, alongside other campaigns and unions, is organising a Convoy to Calais. We will be making a huge political statement about our governments shameful lack of action over the biggest humanitarian disaster since the second world war. This is a 'protest convoy', we will be taking aid, but more than that - we will be demanding Refugees Welcome Here.   We have now negotiated a discount with the ferry company & block booked tickets. All ferry bookings should be done through us. Please book asap as spaces are limited. Click here for full details & to book Convoy to Calais - Refugees Welcome Here Saturday 18 June 2016 Assemble: from 8:30am - 9:30am Whitehall, London New dates added to #JC4PM tour The JC4PM tour has been travelling around the country attracting thousands of people. Here's the next two dates. The People's Assembly has been invited to speak on many of these events to promote the important work the anti-austerity movement is doing across the country. Come and support anti-austerity politics with some of the UK's finest comedians, musicians and speakers. Cambridge - 17th May With: MC: Arthur Smith, Jeremy Hardy, Hal Cruttendon, Robin Ince, Francesca Martinez, Grace Petrie, Clare Ferguson-Walker, Weyman Bennett, James Meadway. Tickets from £7.50: https://www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/cornex/events/jc4pm Manchester - 19th May With: MC: Barbara Nice, Jeremy Hardy, Francesca Martinez, Steve Gribbin, Jack Carroll, Grace Petrie, Gerry Potter, Ian Hodson, Maxine Peake + Diane Morgan, Dave Ward, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP. Tickets from £5: http://www.thedancehouse.co.uk/events/2016/48-jc4pm The People's Assembly Against Austerity http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/

Should trade unionists oppose a third Heathrow runway?

Public Meeting

Should trade unionists oppose a third Heathrow runway?

The election of a new Mayor of London will add to the pressure for a decision on the building of a third runway at Heathrow. For trade unionists this poses the dilemma of whether the advantages in terms of the creation of jobs outweigh local and global environmental considerations. This meeting aims to discuss the issue from all points of view and seek to resolve the contradiction between the need to create jobs and the preservation of a habitable environment.

Speakers: Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA; Chris Baugh, Assistant General Secretary, PCS;  John Stewart, Chair, HACAN

Tuesday 17^th May, 7.30 pm 

St Paul’s Centre, St Paul’s Church, 

Queen Caroline Street, London W6 9PJ 

A short walk from Hammersmith Underground station

Organised by Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group with assistance from HACAN. All welcome.

Meet National Museums of Wales PCS members on all out strike LONDON SOLIDARITY MEETING

Meet National Museums of Wales PCS members on all out strike

LONDON SOLIDARITY MEETING

Thursday 12 May 6.30pm 

Quaker Meeting House St Martins Lane WC2N 4EA (Leicester Square tube)

PCS Culture Sector together with the SERTUC Creative & Leisure Industries Committee (CLIC) and the Show Culture Some Love campaign have arranged a solidarity meeting to hear from the strikers and to organise support. 

It is being held on Thursday 12 May from 6.30pm onwards in the Quaker Meeting House, St Martins Lane, London WC2N 4EA, (nearest tube: Leicester Square). Full details of the meeting can be found on Facebook – here: https://www.facebook.com/events/223956481307824/

URGENT APPEAL FROM SOUTH EAST REGION TUC CREATIVE AND LEISURE INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE

We are writing to you in relation to an appeal from the PCS union in relation to the dispute currently taking place at the National Museums Wales. Members are currently taking all-out industrial action in response to management proposals to remove extra payments for weekend working. Some staff - including gallery assistants - are paid as little as £15,640 a year and work over 35 weekends a year. They depend on the weekend working allowances to survive and have been threatened with dismissal if they do not accept the latest offer from management.Full details can be obtained from the PCS website – here:

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/pcs_comment.cfm/welsh-first-minister-promises-to-intervene-in-museum-dispute

Support the Strikers

·         Please do what you can to show solidarity with these workers – including:

·         Sending a message of support

·         Sign the petition for fair pay at NMW 

·         Backing the PCS NMW campaign on Facebook

·         Making a contribution to the hardship fund

Donations can either be sent via the Unity Trust Bank – see account details below – Or via PayPal. 
Account name: PCS Amgueddfa Cymru 107006 Branch Hardship Fund
Account number: 20364700
Sort code: 60-83-01

London Solidarity Meeting
For people based in the London area, the SERTUC Creative & Leisure Industries Committee (CLIC) and the Show Culture Some Love campaign have helped arrange a solidarity meeting with the PCS strikers. It is being held on Thursday 12 May from 6.30pm onwards in the Quaker Meeting House, St Martins Lane, London WC2N 4EA, (nearest tube: Leicester Square). Full details of the meeting can be found on Facebook – here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/223956481307824/

With best wishes,

Nicola Hawkins (Chair) & Tom Taylor (Secretary), SERTUC Creative & Leisure industries and “Show Culture Some Love” Organising Committee

SERTUC activities and news

SERTUC activities and news

Levellers Day seminar, march and debate

Friday 13 May 8pm seminar at Alvescot Lodge

·         Trish Lavelle CWU, Revd Professor Mark Chapman, Dr Ariel Hessayon, Megan Dobney SERTUC
·         Some B&B rooms available at Alvescot Lodge traceybushrod@btconnect.com price £38 per person
·         Register for the seminar at sertuc@tuc.org.uk
·         https://levellersday.wordpress.com/friday-seminar-2016/

Saturday 14 May 10.30 to 3.30 at Burford

·         Commemoration at Burford Church with the Revd Professor Mark Chapman and the Sea Green Singers
·         Parade from the church to Burford Recreation Ground with Cry Havoc Morris, Pikemen, trade union and community and campaign banners, for stalls, refreshments, music, dancing and the Debate with John Rees, Adrian Arbib, Megan Dobney
·         Book a stall for £25 at mdobney@tuc.org.uk
·         https://levellersday.wordpress.com/whats-happening-2016/

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. More info from lheselden@tuc.org.uk

Commemorating the Irish Famine

Sunday 22 May outside Congress House in the heart of the neighbourhood formerly home to many Irish migrants. 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 https://burstonstrikeschool.wordpress.com/2016-rally/

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 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/

Waltham Forest trades council

·         Public meeting Saturday 21 May 2pm on the Walthamstow housing masterplan, more from wftradescouncil@gmail.com07952 283 558
·         Public meeting Thursday 12 May 7pm Defend Your NHS, more from wftradescouncil@gmail.com 07952 283 558

Greater London Association of Trades Councils

Following the May Day march in London, you can hear the speeches from Clerkenwell Green (Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnel, Frances O’Grady) here http://www.londonmayday.org/ plus the Trafalgar Square speeches

Disputes

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 – information here, please take action as requested by PCS http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/wales/whats-new-in-wales.cfm/media-release-union-steps-up-strike-action-in-response-to-museum-bosses-intransigence

Other actions/events

Tolpuddle Festival

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

Britain@Work: The winter of Discontent

Symposium Saturday 14 May 11am @ Unite HQ with Professor Linda Clarke, Rodney Bickerstaffe, Helen Hague, Nick Jones, Michael Gold, Ann Field http://www.ohs.org.uk/oral-labour-history-its-value-for-trade-unions-the-winter-of-discontent-19789/

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

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

A job…

Greater Manchester Hazards Centre

Coordinator, Manchester, permanent full-time job subject to funding, closing date Tuesday 10 May, details herehttp://www.gmhazards.org.uk/

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

Megan Dobney

Regional Secretary

Southern & Eastern Region TUC

SERTUC is the TUC in London, the South East, and East of England

SERTUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

020 7467 1291    07879 631 785

@mdobney

www.tuc.org.uk/sertuc

http://burstonstrikeschool.org.uk

http://levellersday.wordpress.com

http://sertucresources.wordpress.com

URGENT APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FROM PCS NATIONAL MUSEUMS WALES

URGENT APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FROM PCS NATIONAL MUSEUMS WALES

Dear supporter

Your solidarity in our dispute at National Gallery last year was crucial to
us. Now the PCS members in National Museums Wales are on all out strike and
urgently need our of support.


Just like Junior Doctors in England they are fighting to defend their
weekends against bullying bosses who are threatening to sack them and
impose a new contract.


They are very low paid earning under £16000 without their weekend
enhancements and need all the financial support we can raise for them.  Watch
and share their video <https://youtu.be/QEsW7pzRGdw>


Please see their appeal below and attached with a collection sheet and
leaflet.

*You can donate via pay pal here <http://bit.ly/26eNhvq>
  *


And please let us know if you can invite them to speak in your area to
raise support.


Thank you!


In solidarity



Candy Udwin

PCS National Gallery



*URGENT APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FROM PCS NATIONAL MUSEUMS WALES*


*Dear Friend*


*PCS union members at the seven sites of National Museum Wales are taking
all out strike action in defence of our living standards. Our predicament
is similar to that of the junior doctors in England. Our management want to
remove the unsocial hours payments received by “front of house” staff as
compensation for working on weekends.*


*In the course of a year, they can amount to as much as 15% of the
take-home pay of the lowest-paid employees. Some earn as little as £15,639
and have only just been awarded the Living Wage.*


*We appreciate that the Museum’s budget has been cut, but we do not accept
that the lowest-paid staff should be taking such a big hit, especially when
the senior management team are not taking a comparable cut in their own
salaries.*


*We have negotiated with Museum management to try and resolve this issue
and have been willing to be flexible, provided that any new pay
arrangements provide fair compensation for staff who are obliged to work
numerous weekends every year. *


*But the Museum’s director general, David Anderson, is now subjecting staff
to enormous pressure, telling them that they must accept this offer or be
dismissed and re-engaged on the new terms, without any compensation.*


*We want to end our dispute and get back to focusing on our jobs supporting
Wales’ cultural treasures, but we cannot accept management’s attack on our
living standards – or their bullying.*


*We would very much welcome any support that you or your organisation may
be able to provide, in order to help sustain us in our campaign for a fair
settlement. Please consider doing one or more of the following:*



*• Emailing David Anderson (david.anderson@museumwales.ac.uk
<david.anderson@museumwales.ac.uk>) and your Assembly Member*


*• Checking out our Facebook page (facebook.com/nmwfairpay
<http://facebook.com/nmwfairpay>) and leaving a message of support*


*• Signing our online
petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fair-pay-at-national-museums-wales
<https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/fair-pay-at-national-museums-wales>*


*• Donating to our campaign fund: PCS Amgueddfa Cymru 107006 Branch
Hardship Fund, Unity Trust Bank, sort code: 60-83-01, account number:
20364700 **or via PayPal: http://bit.ly/26eNhvq <http://bit.ly/26eNhvq>*


*• Inviting a PCS rep from National Museum Wales to visit your organisation
to talk about our dispute and/or organising a collection*



*Many thanks  *

*Peter Hill    Branch secretary*


*(Dennishill20@hotmail.com <Dennishill20@hotmail.com>)*