Cuba Update 28 March 2020 Help Cuba fight COVID-19 and the US blockade Sign our open letter here Dear friend, Please sign our open letter asking for the US blockade to be lifted to help Cuba fight the coronavirus at home and abroad. Cuba has shown international solidarity to Britain and other countries during this global pandemic. Now is our chance to show our appreciation. Join the call on the British government to make urgent representations to the Trump administration to lift the blockade today. Add your name to the open letter below: As the world fights an international battle against the coronavirus pandemic, Cuba has once again proved itself a paragon of internationalism and solidarity. In recent days the island has sent highly skilled medical brigades to many countries including Italy, Grenada, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Venezuela to support foreign health services overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis. On 18 March the Cuban government offered safe haven to passengers of the stricken British cruise ship MS Braemar allowing it to dock in Havana when many other countries had refused. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab publicly thanked Cuba for this assistance in a statement to the UK parliament. It has also made its anti-viral drug Interferon Alpha B available to nations around the world to help in the treatment of patients infected with COVID-19. The island’s altruistic response to the global emergency continues a long history of Cuban humanitarianism. In the last 56 years 400,000 Cuban health workers have responded to natural disasters and helped build health services in 164 nations. This includes sending medical brigades to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Kashmiri earthquake (2005), to Haiti to assist with the devastating cholera outbreak following the earthquake (2010), and to West Africa in the region’s fight against Ebola (2015). Cuba has also trained 35,613 health professionals from 138 countries at its Latin American Medical School since 1998. At the same time the island has suffered the effects of the 58-year old criminal United States blockade which causes daily shortages of food, fuel and other basic necessities. Last year the cost to the Cuban health sector alone amounted to more than $104 million. As we write, Cuba is itself combating the spread of coronavirus within its own population and needs access of medical equipment and resources to safeguard the well-being of its most vulnerable citizens. Cuba has always put the humanitarian needs of people first, regardless or borders or politics. At this time of international crisis, the US blockade is criminal, not only for its impact on the Cuban people, but also for hindering their ability to assist in the worldwide battle against the virus. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign sends its eternal gratitude to the Cuban medical teams for their inspirational example of global solidarity. At the same time we call on the British government to make an urgent representation to the US to end its blockade immediately, or at the very least to temporarily suspend it to allow vital supplies of food, fuel and medical equipment to the Cuban people. The Cuban people supported the British people in a time of need. This is a chance to demonstrate our appreciation. Please add your name to this open letter here Coronavirus update Stories on Cuba’s international response to coronavirus At the time of writing Cuba itself has had 67 cases of coronavirus, resulting in one death, and more than 1,000 people in quarantine. Doctors and medical students throughout the country are taking place in door to door health check ups and reminding people of what symptoms to look for and the importance of social distancing. On 20 March, when the island had less than twenty cases, the government took the decision to close its borders, except for residents and foreign nationals wishing to return. Tourists in the country at the time were quarantined in hotels for fourteen days or until their flight home. At the same time the island provided inspirational international solidarity around the world. Cuban medical brigades were sent to help beleaguered health services in several countries including Italy and Jamaica, the island allowed a British cruise ship to dock so that infected passengers could be flown home. And Cuban anti viral Interferon Alpha 2B was made available to help with treatment. Cuba’s response was mentioned in the British parliament both by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and by Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn who said: “The internationalism of the doctors from Cuba who have gone to fight the virus in Italy is inspirational." International praise also came from former president of Brazil, Ignacio Lula da Silva, who said “the Cuban people showed the world an example of solidarity.” In an embarrassing U-turn, Brazil’s health minister, begged for Cuban doctors to come back, less than eighteen months after they were expelled by President Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. Cuba’s inspirational humanitarian response to COVID-19 came despite the country facing shortages and difficulties at home as a result of the tightening of the US blockade by President Trump. On 26 March, the Cuban Foreign Ministry was forced to issue a strongly worded protest in response to “particularly offensive statements” and “lies” against Cuba’s international medical cooperation from the US Department of State which unbelieveably attempts to pressure countries to reject Cuban aid during the coronavirus pandemic. CSC joins the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other international organisations and groups, in calling for an immediate end to the US blockade in the light of the current global emergency. Further reading • Cuban doctors head to Italy to battle coronavirus • Cuba’s welcome to stricken cruise ship reflects a long pattern of global humanitarian commitment • BioCubafarma guarantees production of drugs for COVID-19 • Cuba faces squeeze on food production as US oil sanctions bite • Dominic Raab thanks Cuba for coronavirus assistance (CSC statement) • Cuba sends 144 health workers to Jamaica • Bolsonaro’s Brazil begs for Cuban doctors – after expelling them • Cuba welcomes UN demand to suspend sanctions • US pressures countries to reject Cuban aid during coronavirus pandemic • Cuba protests at offensive US statement Cuban doctors fighting COVID-19 We hope you and your loved ones stay safe and well during this difficult time. In solidarity The Cuba Solidarity Campaign team

STATEMENT passed BY GL & GPTU COMMITTEES Workers Rights and Coronavirus

STATEMENT passed BY GL & GPTU COMMITTEES

Workers Rights and Coronavirus

'Green Left and Green Party Trade Union Group (GPTU) call on all Green Party of England and Wales’ publicly elected representatives, MP, Assembly Members and Councillors, to seek out and work with trade unions and local and national authorities to ensure that

· all essential workers are provided with adequate protective equipment, sanitary measures and testing during the CV19 crisis. We note that this should not only include health and caring workers but also cleaners, food and pharmaceutical distribution and preparation workers, transport workers and security workers.

· no threats of dismissal, pay cuts or other means of coercion are used to compel workers to work when they are in danger of transmitting or contracting CV19.

· workers who take industrial action due to the unsafe attitude of some employers and government, are supported, so that they do not suffer financial and/or disciplinary sanctions for taking such actions

· attempts to organise non-unionised workers are supported.

*The Green Party of England & Wales (GPEW) is a significant political presence at local authority level with over 300 Councillors many organised in the Association of Green Councillors (AGC). They and other public representatives can play a positive role in defending workers rights at a local level.

We would also ask local Green Parties to stand shoulder to shoulder with workers over this issue at this very important time.

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2020/04/brent-council-found-no-cause-for.html

http://greentulondon.blogspot.com/2020/04/london-bus-drivers-must-be-provided.html

https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/nurses-told-to-refuse-to-treat-coronavirus-patients-if-they-cannot-get-protective-equipment-as-criticism-of-government-mounts

https://www.rcn.org.uk/covid-19/rcn-position

End

London bus drivers must be provided protection against COVID-19

Join the Fight for a CoronaContract and Solidarity with Bus Drivers Please find below a mailing from the #CoronaContract campaign. Please share this widely and join their webinar this Thursday 9 April at 7pm. Dear colleagues and comrades, Apologies for this mass email. My name is Jordan, I’m a fixed-term postdoctoral researcher at Birkbeck, UCU member and one of the organisers of the #CoronaContract campaign to secure the livelihoods of precarious university staff during this crisis. Will you please consider sharing this email with your members and relevant lists? Our open letter has gathered over 1000 signatures and counting, and we were recently featured in a Guardian article calling out universities’ shameful treatment of casualised workers. This Thursday at 7pm we will be hosting a #CoronaContract webinar, featuring UCU President Elect Vicky Blake and a host of inspiring anti-casualisation organisers. We’ll discuss the background to our campaign and the practical ways we’re going to exert pressure on our universities, unions, and the wider public in order to secure our livelihoods during this crisis and beyond. Please join us by registering here... In order for our campaign to succeed we need to get the word out as much as possible. Please join us on the webinar, follow and RT us on Twitter @CoronaContract, and sign our open letter. In solidarity, Jordan London bus drivers must be provided protection against COVID-19  Petition... In light of recent disheartening news in relation to  the death of 8 London bus drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, I strongly believe measures need to be taken to protect our essential bus drivers, who are responsible for allowing key workers to complete their daily journeys. Bus drivers are not being provided with basic personal protective equipment such as gloves, hand sanitisers or face masks. This puts our essential workers at risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to everyone they interact with, including key workers travelling on the buses and their families when they return home. Please help our essential workers to stay safe and healthy while providing essential services. There is no doubt that leaving their houses is putting them at risk primarily but providing that extra protection may be the difference between life and death. They are doing their jobs to help you and your families. Please place yourself in the shoes of our essential workers and help them to stay safe during this pandemic. Petition...

Time to rethink our education system

Extract from on line bulletin from 8/4/20

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary

Time to rethink our education system 

While we act to protect against redundancies and other cuts in the shorter term, we also need to take a longer view of the role which education will play in any recovery and the steps that need to be taken to guard against similar shocks in the future.

Last week I wrote to the secretary of state for education, Gavin Williamson, outlining a seven-point plan for ensuring that tertiary education can survive and prosper, during this crisis and also beyond it.

In line with our existing policy, UCU is calling on the government to:

1.    Underwrite current levels of funding across all sectors

2.    Direct institutions to collaborate, rather than compete with one another

3.    Convene a group of representatives from trade unions, student organisations, examination bodies and employers to rethink examinations and admissions

4.    Ensure job security for visa holders and other precarious staff

5.    Intervene to protect further and higher education providers if they are at risk of insolvency

6.    Cancel the REF, TEF, Ofsted inspections and other unhelpful, bureaucratic, metrics-driven exercises

7.    Reverse cuts to adult learning provision

As ever, staff and student interests are aligned, and we were pleased to receive strong support from the NUS for our proposals. For the full text of my letter, please click here. Similar representations are being made to the relevant ministers in our devolved nations. 

Tributes pour in for Indro Sen - great CNWL lecturer and trade unionist

Former secondary maths teacher, primary school governor,  College of North West London lecturer,  and most importantly trade unionist, Indro Sen has died shortly before his 68th birthday.

In 2016-17 Indro was involved in a dispute at CNWL over his allegations of corruption in an apprenticeship scheme and I worked closely with him on publicising the issue here on Wembley Matters. (Links below) He was suspended from his job allegedly because of his support at an emeployment  tribunal for a sacked colleague and his opposition to the CNWL's merger with Westminster College.

At the time Peter Murry, Trade Union Liaison officer for the London Federation of Green Parties and for Brent Green Party  supported Sen and said,   'Both of these are actions are entirely proper for a University and College Union Branch Secretary to carry out. If Indro Sen’s suspension is a result of his performing the legitimate duties of a UCU Officer, then he himself seems to be threatened with unfair treatment and victimisation.'

His son Shenin said on Twitter:

On Wednesday we lost my father Indro Sen. Being unaware of his underlying health issues, this has been a complete shock for me & my family, which is where my full focus is right now.


His whole life was dedicated to helping others, I couldn’t have asked for a better role model.

Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the NEU said:

So sorry to hear of the loss this week of Indro Sen. Long time NUT and then UCU militant.
Long time school rep at Kingsland secondary school. Successful fights against victimisation.
Highly regarded Maths teacher.Brilliant ally in fights as a parent, and governor, at Benthal Primary school. Many condolences to all the family. Rage against the dying of the light. Rest in Peace Sen.
Bernard Regan, long time member of the NUT, Summed up Indro Sen, the person:
A great comrade and campaigner. At the centre of fighting many injustices. I will remember him for his strength of character and gentleness of being. I will remember his laugh with fondness. His hat which he wore all the time - his eye for detail and passionate commitment to fighting injustices including those inflicted on him..We will remember him.

Wembley Matters postings on Indro Sen and his struggle at the College of North West London:

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2016/12/greens-call-for-immediate-and-full.html

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2017/02/support-builds-for-indro-sen-in-cnwl.html

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2017/06/support-cnwl-strikes-to-defend-sacked.html

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2017/05/indro-sens-appeal-against-dismissal-to.html

https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2017/02/cnwl-lecturers-threaten-action-to.html

HOUSMANS NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2020

HOUSMANS NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2020
NEWS
1. Update from Housmans

ARTICLES OF INTEREST2. The Pandemic, the Working Class and the Left by Andrew Burgin
3. Freedom News: COVID-19 UK Mutual Aid groups: a list
4. Beautiful Trouble's irreverent guide to activism in the time of pandemic. 7 things to do instead of hoarding toilet paper5. Coronavirus: Workers demand construction sites are shut down – report from Reel News6. International Peace Bureau Petition: Invest in Healthcare Instead of Militarisation
7. Corporate Watch: Corona Capitalism: Some Of The Companies Cashing In On The Crisis
____________________________________________

NEWS 

1. Update from Housmans

Hello there, sincerely hope this newsletter is finding you as well as can be.

Much has been happening here behind the scenes at Housmans as we've been trying to adapt to the changing situation. Plans made one week became irrelevant the week after, but I think things are settling down now, not least because we can't do all that much!

We had planned to keep some mail order going, but in solidarity with warehouse and delivery workers we've suspended that plan for now.  You can still support Housmans by creating a wishlist on our website – there'll be more news on that in a following newsletter. We're still looking to increase the number of books on our online shop, and will be running a competition once it's a bit better stocked.

As you no doubt know by now, Housmans is closed, and all events are cancelled for the forseeable. This has had to include our 60^th anniversary of Peace House campaigning conference Our Power Is Real, and also the London Radical Bookfair 2020. Both of those events will hopefully still go ahead in 2021.

The decentralised Anarchist Festival scheduled for May, which we help organise, is also being postponed. The current plan is to possibly have that alongside the Anarchist Bookfair in October 2020, though possibly it too will have to wait till May 2021 - we shall see.

In the meantime we'll be keeping in touch as best we can, especially via our social media accounts.
Sending much love from everyone involved in the bookshop.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST
In place of our usual events listings, here are some links to a selection of recommended articles relating to the current crisis from a range of comrades:

2. The Pandemic, the Working Class and the Left by Andrew Burgin

Andrew Burgin looks at the revolutionary potential of the crisis and asks What Next?, as published on the Public Reading Rooms website:
https://prruk.org/the-pandemic-the-working-class-and-the-left/
3. Freedom News: COVID-19 UK Mutual Aid groups: a list
A number of mutual aid groups have started forming across the country.  The groups aim at providing community support to those who are more at risk from the virus: be it help with running errands or cooking. Find the nearest one to you here:
https://freedomnews.org.uk/covid-19-uk-mutual-aid-groups-a-list/

4. Beautiful Trouble's irreverent guide to activism in the time of pandemic. 7 things to do instead of hoarding toilet paper
A roundup of the most creative and effective social movement responses to COVID-19, filtered through seven of the most relevant tools from the Beautiful Trouble toolbox, with links to resources compiled especially for this moment:https://wagingnonviolence.org/2020/03/beautiful-trouble-guide-activism-coronavirus/
5. Coronavirus: Workers demand construction sites are shut down – report from Reel News
Reel News have been inundated with messages from construction workers all over the UK, demanding their sites are shut down during the coronavirus crisis. Anyone who's worked on a building site knows that social distancing is impossible due to the nature of the work -and this is being exarcerbated by further unsafe and dangerous practises.

Now sites are being forced to shut down through action inside and outside sites. Here's a round up of some of the stuff that's been happening; follow @ShutThesites on Twitter and Reel News on Facebook or Twitter (@ReelNewsLondon) to keep up to date and get involved.https://reelnews.co.uk/2020/04/02/all-reelnews-campaigns/workplace-struggles/construction-blacklisting/coronavirus-workers-demand-construction-sites-are-shut-down/
6. International Peace Bureau Petition: Invest in Healthcare Instead of Militarisation

We, the signatories, call on the world leaders meeting at the General Assembly of the United Nations, to dramatically reduce military spending in favor of healthcare and all social and environmental needs. Sign and share here:
http://www.ipb.org/news/petition-invest-in-healthcare-instead-of-militarization/
7. Corporate Watch: 'Corona Capitalism: Some Of The Companies Cashing In On The Crisis'
How are corporations and capitalism responding to the corona crisis? How have they contributed to it? How are they affected by it? And how are people supporting each other and fighting for a different future as it continues? Excellent analysis from Corporate Watch.

Understanding CoronaCapitalism:https://corporatewatch.org/understanding-coronacapitalism/

Some of the companies cashing in Part 1:https://corporatewatch.org/corona-capitalism-some-of-the-companies-cashing-in-on-the-crisis-from-bezos-to-big-pharma/

Some of the companies cashing in Part 2:https://corporatewatch.org/coronacapitalism-companies-cashing-in-part-2-airline-bailouts-travelodge-blackstone-goldman-sachs-wren-kitchens/
__________________________________________________
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#Resist2020.

Another Europe

@Another_Europe

Two days to go until our virtual conference #Resist2020. Join us on Zoom to discuss:

Internationalist left responses to #COVID19

Right to Stay for EU nationals

How trade deals work and what to expect from a US-UK deal Sign up to take part: http://bit.ly/2UPiaa9