SPEAKERS' CORNER: SATURDAY 22 JULY

SPEAKERS' CORNER: SATURDAY 22 JULY

Around 80 people turned up to support our 3rd. Speakers' Corner on Saturday - they were treated to a range of excellent speeches, & the heavy rain that was forecast fortunately didn't come: after a little drizzle at the start, the sun came out!!

For those unable to come, here are some video clips, courtesy of Tina Rothery of the Anti-Fracking Nanas, of some of the day's events (more-or-less in order!!):

1. Anti-Fracking Nanas:

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/3006191329517881

2. Early group photo:

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/786287983180494

3. Clara Paillard (Tipping Point UK/ Unite) - Voices from the Global South

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/1476445923166604

4. Willie Black (Scot E3/Unite):

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/954268182535164

4. Gail Bradbrook (Co-founder of XR): https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/1233333554050534

5. Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour Party councillor/Unite):

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/1447407082677006

6. Joseph Healey (Left Unity/Unite):

https://www.facebook.com/tinalouiseuk/videos/987020836057098

And here's what George Monbiot (Environmental journalist and activist) thinks about the plans for a new coalmine:

“Fossil fuels are one of the main drivers of climate breakdown - and the most polluting of all fossil fuels is coal. It is a complete betrayal of ‘climate leadership’ for this government to have approved the UK’s first deep-sea coalmine in decades. It will release 9m tonnes of CO2 emissions a year - greater than the combined emissions of Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

“More than for decades ago, the International Energy Agency declared that if climate goals are to be reached, no new coalmines could be built. More recently, the UN’s Acceleration Agenda calls on governments to commit to no new coal. It’s not complicated: opening a new mine will make the climate crisis worse - and will accelerate the collapse of other Earth systems. What Cumbria - and the world - needs is a rapid just transition to clean green energy jobs.”

Stop closure of rail ticket offices

Train operators have announced plans to close up to 1,000 ticket offices. We have only 21 days to take part in the public consultation. The RMT has prepared template letters for each train operator. Please have your say  https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/save-ticket-offices/

 

SAVE OUR TICKET OFFICES - DAYS OF ACTION: 13TH AND 18TH JULY

 

 These days of action are a key focal point and an opportunity to talk directly to the public and get them to fill in consultation responses objecting to the closures.

 

Campaign materials are being sent to all RMT Regional Offices and branches or you can request more materials by emailing saveourticketoffices@rmt.org.uk

 

There are materials available to download at the RMT campaign page: https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/save-ticket-offices/

 

·         POSTER: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/public-document-library/a3-ticket-office-poster-pdf/

·         LEAFLET: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/public-document-library/ticket-office-leaflet/

·         DOWNLOADABLE CONSULTATION RESPONSE:  https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/public-document-library/ticket-office-a4-flyer/

 

And crucially, don't forget to respond to the consultation yourself online here:

https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/save-ticket-offices/

 

This is obviously a huge issue for everyone - for the rail workers themselves, for passengers, especially those who may be unable to access electronic forms of booking or sources of information, or need personal assistance with this; and of course, a further blow to hopes of mitigating emissions from transport by creating inclusive access to good public transport and getting more cars off the road! And after years of campaigning by disability groups, passenger groups and workers, it looks like these changes are planned to be imposed at short notice and with absolutely no regard for access or safety issues. 

 

So please spread the word as much as possible, find out what plans for protest are being made where you are, and support them

PR AND ANTI-TORY ALLIANCES GREEN LEFT OPEN MEETING 20 JULY 2023 AT 7PM.

PR AND ANTI-TORY ALLIANCES

GREEN LEFT OPEN MEETING

20 JULY 2023 AT 7PM.

 

SPEAKERS

James Doran, and William Relton (Get PR Done),

Stuart Hill Unite activist and member of Unlock Democracy's Council

 

How should we campaign for a fairer electoral system in the UK?  ‘First past the post’ elections support a duopoly of political parties apparently committed to managing the capitalist system that is perpetuating climate change.

 

Is Proportional Representation a solution? Are there any tactics to resist the existing unfair system?

 

The meeting was open to Green Party members and other ecosocialists.

 

Monday 12 June at 7pm, Zoom meeting for Green Party members in Unite

 

On Monday 12 June at 7pm, we're hosting a Zoom meeting for Green Party members in Unite the union - a chance to meet, make connections, and discuss how we can make greener workplaces and a greener union.Click below to RSVP to attend.

RSVP TO ATTEND

https://actionnetwork.org/events/greens-in-unite-meeting/?link_id=0&can_id=9a9fc9ee18cd06434a2dd7d6f3e32232&source=email-today-support-uyghur-and-tibetan-people-2&email_referrer=email_1940354&email_subject=meeting-greens-in-unite

If you're a Unite member in the Green Party, please sign up. If you know a party colleague who is in Unite, let them know about the meeting!

Many thanks and see you on Monday 12 June.Finally, if you're in a different union and would be interesting in convening a meeting like this for Greens in your union - with the Trade Union Group's help - let us know by replying to this email.

Let's build those connections.Best wishes,Green Party Trade Union Group

 https://youtu.be/CzEJYmrO7gU

‘Get Organised. Against Poverty and Isolation’.

Green Left open meeting on 17 May 2023 7pm

This meeting is for and about the numerous people, who for various reasons, are not reached by conventional ‘mainstream’ organisations such as trade unions and political parties. Does involvement in such organisations have anything to offer? Or are low levels of participation caused by prejudice, discrimination and wilful ignorance from the mainstream?

Each speaker will have their own perspectives, insights and experiences of this topic.

The meeting will be online, via zoom, it will be open to Green Party members and other ecosocialists.

Speakers

Beccy Sawbridge, Co-chair and Equal Opportunities Officer, Green Left

Joseph Healy, Anti-Capitalist Resistance, former advisor for elderly and disabled people on employing carers.

Dzaier Neil Green Party Disability Group/

Chair D. McNamara

If you have any questions, please contact Peter Murry, Co-Secretary Green Left yrrumuk@googlemail.com.

PIZZA EXPRESS WORKERS NEED YOUR HELP

 

PIZZA EXPRESS WORKERS NEED YOUR HELP

UNITE HOSPITALITY VIA MEGAPHONE UK CAMPAIGNS@MEGAPHONE.ORG.UK VIA EMAIL.ACTIONNETWORK.ORG

Megaphone UK is a project of the TUC, in collaboration with our 48 member unions and the nearly 5.5 million union members in the UK. We know big change only comes when we stand together. Learn more: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/

Below is a message from Unite Hospitality. Their members at Pizza Express are facing a huge cut in hours, but they're fighting back. If they can win, it will show hospitality workers everywhere that by coming together in their union, they can improve their industry.

,Pizza Express are proposing the mass roll-out of a 'labour management scheme' which would effectively remove non-salaried managers from the rota for lunchtime shifts.This may see thousands of waiters lose hundreds of hours without proper consultation and managers having to do even more work for the same wage!The impact this will have on the most financially insecure part-time workers who need these lunchtime hours to fit around school and childcare is catastrophic.In less than 24 hours the backlash from all levels of the workforce has been so acute that the CEO Paula MacKenzie was forced to call an emergency meeting with all General Managers yesterday

As we did on fair tips, we shall be organising our members across the company to force the abandonment of this awful policy proposal.But we need your help!

Pizza Express may not care about their workforce but they certainly care about the future custom of the general public. If you believe that Pizza Express should abandon attempts to cut lunchtime hours, please sign, share and make your voice heard

:View the petition

Exploitative bosses, insecure work, blatant disrespect - hospitality workers across the country are facing the same problems everywhere you go

Signing our petition helps us grow the campaign, and shows other hospitality workers that through a union they have a better chance at standing up for their rights and making a difference.Together, we can ensure that workers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Bryan Simpson,Unite Hospitality

via Megaphone UK

May 19th (London) RE: TONIGHT: ex-GKN FOR FUTURE

Here is the London event Friday May 19^th 7-11pm in Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Road London E1 5QJ                   

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-transition-is-a-class-conflict-tickets-632403204007

 

On 9 July 2021, the automotive factory GKN Florence made the Italian news: on that day, one email fired all of its 422 workers. This sparked a struggle that will go down in history: the factory takeover by the GKN workers’ permanent assembly, the Insorgiamo (Let’s rise up) slogan, the convergence between labour and environmental struggles, and much more.

As the struggle of workers organized in the Collettivo di Fabbrica (Factory Collective) opened up to institutional negotiations, they developed a strategy of convergence between working class struggles and climate justice struggles that led to four national marches and hundreds of initiatives across Italy.

The alliances between the two movements, united by the slogan “End of the Month, End of the World, Same Struggle,” overcame the prevailing paradigm that pits environmentalists and workers as naturally opposed.

The GKN dispute is on the edge. It could become either a further textbook case on how to shut down a workplace or a precedent to disrupt in a positive direction the methodology of struggle against layoffs and precarious employment, kickstarting a real ecological transition.

This event is part of the WE MAKE TOMORROW programme that the Climate Justice Coalition Trade Union Caucus is running to build workers power on climate and crisis. The series of events will dig into how rising energy prices, inflation, falling wages and the climate crisis are not only connected but actually being driven by the same systems.