TUCAN NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2019

Support to the RMT in its protest against ticket office closure on London Overground stations,

As London and Brent  Green Party Trade Union liaison officer I would like to send our support to the RMT in its protest against ticket office closure on London Overground stations, (https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/transport-union-to-hold-protest-against-ticket-office-cuts-1-631598 and https://www.rmt.org.uk/campaigns/rail/save-london-overground-ticket-offices/ ). 

Just as with the campaign to retain and reinstate guards on trains, this is not just an issue of protecting jobs, but it is also a public welfare issue. Stations will become less safe, secure and accessible and it will probably become more difficult to purchase the correct tickets. Additionally, the reduction in station staffing discourages use of public transport, just at a time when it should be being encouraged, as an alternative to car use because of the need to combat climate change.

Funding Nuclear Power, a Book Launch and a request from the RMT The Government is proposing to fund a new nuclear power station using a funding model known as Regulated Asset Base (RAB). This would appear to work by charging electricity consumers up-front to provide EDF with the investment to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell C. Given the existing problems with the EDF facility at Hinkley Point. Fuel Poverty Action, amongst others, are raising objections in the current consultation exercise. More details here... Treason: Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors An Occasional Publication from The Socialist History Society Book Launch 14th November 2019 6:30pm Bookmarks Bookshop, 1 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QE £2 on the door, includes a glass of wine Contains, amongst others, articles by UCU retired members: Resistance to the Nazis from 1933 from within the German workers’ movement (Merilyn Moos) German and Italian Volunteers in the French Resistance (Steve Cushion) Supporting the Enemy in the Death Agony of French Colonialism (Ian Birchall) as well as Soldiers of Misfortune: Napoleon’s Polish Deserters in the West Indies (Jonathan North) The Saint Patrick’s Battalion (David Rovics) Deserters, Defectors and “Diehards” – The British men who fought and died for Irish Freedom (Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc) More details... Pay the real Living Wage to Mitie Cleaners NOW From Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary I’m writing to you to ask you to support RMT members fighting poverty pay. Network Rail have contracted out the cleaning of six of their stations to an outsourcing company. Mitie’s cleaners have had enough and we’ll fight for a real Living Wage, but we need your help. Please help us to persuade Mitie and Network Rail to put an end to this scandal. Read on...

UCU London Retired Members' Branch Meeting September 17th 2019 Speaker - Sam Mason, , on "Climate Change and a Just Transition"

UCU (The University and College Union) London Retired Members' Branch Meeting September 17th 2019 Speaker - Sam Mason, Political Officer PCS (The Public and Commercial Services Union), on "Climate Change and a Just Transition" UCU (The University and College Union) London Retired Members' Branch Meeting September 17th 2019 Speaker - Sam Mason, Political Officer PCS on "Climate Change and a Just Transition" url:https://youtu.be/it90iKtEezk UCU (The University and College Union) London Retired Members' Branch Meeting September 17th 2019 Speaker - Sam Mason, Political Officer PCS on "Climate Change and a Just Transition" : Questions and discussion url:https://youtu.be/NQdFxwbN4R0

Waltham Forest TUC support for 20/9/19 Climate action

Brent FoE/ TUC meeting 11/9/2019:"Green Jobs and Economy"

Brent FoE/ TUC meeting 11/9/2019:"Green Jobs and Economy" Introductions Ian Saville (Brent FoE) and Mary Adossides (Brent TUC) url:https://youtu.be/5DhSDoGzA3c Sarah Wooley of The Bakers and Allied Food Workers Union (BFAWU) url:https://youtu.be/sB1TkD_MCds Aaron Kiely of Friends of the Earth url:https://youtu.be/S9TRpD0NTOs Councillor Roxanne Mashari (Brent) url:https://youtu.be/6GsHZgK9DPo John Youel of Labour Green New Deal url:https://youtu.be/qcYyzLliHbk John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer url:https://youtu.be/aVnDWLCU_YA Questions and discussion chaired by Ian Saville (Brent FoE) url: https://youtu.be/nIo8ElpowX4 Closing remarks from the Panel url:https://youtu.be/G1HfmPDjfEM

TUC conference has today unanimously passed a motion to support the school student Global Climate Strike on 20th September & LONDON COUNCILS SUPPORTING CLIMATE STRIKE

As the statement below makes clear, we want to thank everyone who worked to get this through, in particular UCU.

I'd like to add the words of Jill Eastland as well, who spoke in favour of the motion from Artists Union England: "We need to be courageous and imaginative to turn the agreement of this motion into something bolder... be visible and strong and proud"

Claire

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TUC conference has today unanimously passed a motion to support the school student Global Climate Strike on 20th September and has called on TUC affiliate Unions to organise a 30 minute work day campaign action to coincide with the school students strike on 20th September.

We congratulate the delegates at TUC who have voted to recognise the significance of the Global School Students strikes, initiated by Greta Thunberg and the need for adults and especially the Trade Union movement to stand alongside young people, to ensure they do not stand alone in fighting for the urgent action needed to tackle climate change and ecological crisis and to deliver Climate Justice.

We ask all Trade Unions to now turn words into action and get organised to build on the fantastic examples of Trade Union solidarity action already in place for 20th September. 

The 20th September is already set to be the biggest turnout of working people many organised through their Trade Unions in the UK uniting in solidarity with young people. But it can be even bigger and we still have two weeks to deliver solidarity action to put hundreds of thousands of Trade Unionist onto the streets.

We would like to salute the young people who have led the action and also the UCU NEC members who put forward the motion to TUC conference calling for a 30 minute stoppage. They have been bold enough to recognise the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for Trade Unionists to not only respond to the call for Trade Unions to join them but to be bold in their actions and demands. The support for the UCU statement with over 2000 Trade Unionists and over 100 organisations backing the call for solidarity and a 30 minute workplace stoppage on 20th has also shown us the appetitive that there is for climate action within the Trade Union movement.

We ask all Trade Unionists to do everything they can to match the boldness required of us by the urgency of the Climate Crisis. We have just under two weeks now to build maximum solidarity on the 20th. 

This is just the beginning and we will need to continue the work of building solidarity, fighting to ensure our unions have the most progressive policies which match what the science tells us that we need to do and to continue to demand the Climate Jobs and a Green New Deal which can deliver the Just Transformation that we need.

INFO ABOUT LONDON COUNCILS SUPPORTING CLIMATE STRIKE

In Camden UNISON have an agreed lunchtime rally on 20 Sept outside the main council building. On the day before the strike an all staff briefing will give a slot to Camden UNISON Branch Secretary to join Council officials to talk about the Climate Emergency and the rally and protest on 20th. Camden UNISON is organising a delegation to join students at the central London protest. 

Hackney 12.00 Rally at Town Hall with school strikers and Mayor expected. Council workers negotiating time off to join Central London demo in the afternoon

Lambeth Unison - Rally at Town Hall 12.30 moving on to central London demo (council workers negotiating time off)
Southwark 12pm rally outside London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle, 1pm rally outside Southwark Council offices, then to central London