"Women and the Global Economic Crisis" International Women's Day

In association with SERTUC Speakers:

Frances O’Grady Deputy General

Secretary, TUC

Yvette Cooper MP Shadow Home

Secretary and Shadow Minister for

Women and Equalities

Fatima Del Rosario Herrera Olea SITAG

(Agricultural Workers Union, Peru)

Margaret Browne Secretary of Women’s

Committee, Irish Congress of Trade

Unions and President of the Irish Bank

Officials Association

Pemba Lama Deputy General Secretary

of the General Federation of Nepalese

Trade Unions

On the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day the TUC will be highlighting the global fight back against the

disproportionate impact that the global economic crisis has had on women all over the world.

Women are more likely than men to be in vulnerable jobs, or to be unemployed, to lack social protection, and to have limited access to and control over financial resources. Women in both developed and developing countries are facing job cuts, loss of livelihoods, increased responsibilities in all areas of their life, and even an increased risk of violence.

As we in the UK fight savage, ideologically driven cuts that are hitting the women and the poorest hardest and hollowing out public services, we also stand in solidarity with our sisters around the world in their battles for equality and social justice.

Please RSVP to Tanya Warlock on twarlock@tuc.org.uk t: 020 7467 1357

INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN’S DAY

ANNIVERSARY

100TH

Photo: Dar Yasin/AP/Press Association Images

Stop the Millionaire Gangsters Massacring our Services

LONDON DOWNING STREET TWILIGHT  RALLY – 14 FEBRUARY 5-8pm.

"It would be great if you could make a brief outdoor contribution at the ‘Stop the Valentine’s Day Massacre of Our Services’ Rally, opposite Downing Street 5 – 8 pm on Monday 14 February (along the lines of the budget day 20 October event).  This event is supported by SERTUC, UNITE (London & Eastern Region").

Hat tip Unite

Red Star Over Russia at the Tate Modern

The other Saturday, after the morning SERTUC council meeting (which I will hopefully post upon some other time) I decided to pay another visit to the Tate Modern and view its wares. 

I go there every 5 years or so, whether I want to or not, to see if I can "get" modern art.  Sad to say, once again, I didn't. I have nothing against a field of Porcelain Sunflower Seeds and absolute respect for those who are indeed moved by such sights.

I would however recommend to everyone that they should visit and make their own minds up.  It is a fantastic venue and experience - but modern art does not do much (in fact practically nothing) for me I am afraid. 

However, there was a brilliant display (double click collage) of original Russian Revolution and Soviet Street posters (Level 5 Room 11) which I enjoyed hugely and made the whole visit worth while.  This is what I call "Art". 

The Tragic Launch of HMS Albion

"On 21 June 1898 the public launch of the warship HMS Albion at Blackwall in London was attended by over 30,000 spectators.

It was to become one of the worst peacetime disasters in Thames history. The Duchess of York (later Queen Mary) tried 3 times to break the champagne bottle on the steel hull but it just bounced off. When the launch finally went ahead, the ship rumbled into the water and created a mini-tidal wave that caused a gangway to collapse and swept spectators into the river. Thirty eight people drowned and repercussions were felt in the local community for a long time to come.

During the morning session, historian’s Chris Ellmers (founder of Museum in Docklands) and John Graves (curator of Ship History at the National Maritime Museum) will lay out the wider historical context and social significance of this momentous tragedy.

The event was recorded by early film makers and work survives from two figures, R.W. Paul and E.P. Prestwich. Prestwich filmed from a high altitude and Paul shot his footage from a boat while his fellow crew were allegedly rescuing people from the water. When RW Paul exhibited his work soon after the disaster it became a source of bitter controversy.

BFI Silent Film curator Bryony Dixon will illuminate early film history and the key figures at the centre of this momentous event. Patrick Keiller (artist and director of London, Robinson in Space, Robinson in Ruins) will consider why this event captured his interest and imagination and why he decided to include it in his acclaimed exhibition, The City of the Future. The films are a key moment in early cinema and raise important moral questions. Finally, a speaker from the British Board Film Censorship will consider the wider debate around regulations that would begin over a decade later.

Details of this event are on-line at :
http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/events/the_tragic_launch_of_hms_albion"

Interesting bit of East End history.  Hat-trip SERTUC

UPDATE: Check out this contemporary report in the East Ham Echo Hat-tip Newham Story

Flyer for March in March

Some top arguments that we must never forget and never stop putting forward.  "Investment in growth creates jobs; reducing benefits spending and increasing taxation income"

"The public sector deficit has been higher than today for most of our lives including in 1948 when we
built the NHS"

"Government plans make the poorest and most vulnerable pay...children didn’t cause the global banking crisis: bankers’ greed did"

"We will spiral into economic disaster with millions out of work... like Ireland is doing".

Hat-tip SERTUC.

"Ruffled" - Catwalk to High Street in 6 weeks: Who cares about ethics...?

Invitation to a play..."30 November-5 December 2010 - Ruffled, a new play by Ellen Gylen

Etcetera theatre, above the Oxford Arms pub, 265 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BU

War on Want will soon take the stage for a new play that uses both comedy and drama to put fashion ethics on the rack.

Ruffled is the story of Emma who works for Ruf: a fast-paced fashion retailer. Catwalk to high street in six weeks, with an ethical reputation to protect. When the bottom line is threatened, suppliers' credentials go out the window. But who cares when good PR can save them from bad press?  A War on Want speaker will take part in a Q and A after each show and talk about our Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops campaign.

The play has been written by and stars Ellen Gylen, with other actors Linda Lowell, Stephanie Cohen, Andrew McHale, Robbie Byrne, Jaz Deol and Elena Popovici. The director is Tim Daish.

Performances will start at 7.30 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and at 6.30 pm on Sunday.

Tickets, price £12 (£10 concessions), can be reserved on 020 7482 4857 or atwww.ticketweb.co.uk or www.etceteratheatre.com. Map at http://www.etceteratheatre.com/index.php?id=6
Download the event flyer here".

Hat tip SERTUC.

One Society Many Cultures

This is a widely supported event well worth attending I think.

Saturday 11 December 2010. 10am-5.30pm.
Mary Ward House, 5/7 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SN

- Celebrate diversity

- Challenging racism and Islamophobia

Check out website here

(even the Daily Torygraph chief Political Commentator is speaking)

Hat-tip SERTUC

UK Premiere of Pins and Needles

I must admit that I was previously unaware that a trade union had ever produced a Broadway smash hit!

"The smash hit Broadway musical PINS and NEEDLES is making its UK premiere at the Cock Tavern Theatre.

The longest running musical until Oklahoma and the only smash hit produced by a trade union, PINS and NEEDLES will be running from 16th November - 11th December 2010".

Hat-tip SERTUC.

The Spirit Level Discussion with Kate Pickett (co-author) 17 Jan 2011

From SERTUC "Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone (Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett)

This book is an attack on the inequalities in Britain caused by the Government policies of the last 30 years. An accessible but rigorous book that demonstrates with empirical evidence that more equal societies have
better outcomes. Such as less crime, ill-health and general unhappiness.

This is a very important book in the opposition to cuts in public spending in the financial crisis

SERTUC and Bookmarks present:

The Spirit Level Discussion with Kate Pickett (co-author)
Monday 17 January 2011 (6 - 8.30pm)

Location: Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B

Booking essential: sertucevents@tuc.org.uk 020 7467 1220

The Spirit Level - discount price available from: Monday 1 November – Monday 17 January 2011

enquiries@bookmarks.uk.com / 020 7637 1848 Bookmarks Special Offer was £9.99 now £8".

(I must belatedly post on a very good debate organised by the RSA a few months back between the authors and "Spirit Level deniers")

SERTUC Rally: organising to defeat public service cuts (and splitters and wreckers)

Yesterday there was a successful and vibrant Labour movement rally at Congress House about grown up trade unionists organising with others to defend public services.

There were a few problems which I will return to later. This official trade union rally of affiliated trade unions and trade councils from all over London and the South East was organised by SERTUC. Who had spent a lot of time, money and energy organising an event to unite the Labour movement against the Coalition cuts and to be a springboard to organising against them.

The Rally started at 12 noon. There was an excellent and diverse line up of speakers. I was there with London UNISON convenor Gloria Hanson and other delegates to the SERTUC Council meeting that had been held immediately beforehand. Trade union branches who had marched to the Rally arrived at about 12:10 with their banners.

At about 12.30 Gloria and I were concerned, since numbers seemed a little light and many UNISON members that I expected to be there were missing. I went out to look for them. I knew the march had finished at nearby Bedford Square, which is just around the corner from Congress House. I went there and was astonished to find that a separate rally had been organised by the “NSSN” (aka as SPEW - Socialist Party of England & Wales) in Bedford square with speakers and a PA. There was around 300 people present I guess, The speaker’s at the time were busy happily attacking trade union leaders and “New Labour” (don’t think they actually understand that there has been change of government).

I went looking for London UNISON members. I said hello to an old UNISON Hackney mucker but most UNISON members I found actually thought that this was the SERTUC rally. I pointed the way to Congress House. I eventually found a bunch of London UNISON members having a chat together about 75m away from the main SPEW rally and gently chided them to come to Congress House as soon as possible.

When I got back to the Conference hall it was pretty full. CWU leader Billy Hayes gave a passionate speech about how hard work and organising had saved the Post office from privatisation in the past and will do so in the future.

FBU President Mick Shaw spoke about the cuts that fire-fighter’s have already faced across the country and that there is nothing less to cut. Today’s strike action in London by fire fighter’s is as much about protecting the service to the public as about stopping them all being sacked and re-employed on inferior terms and conditions.

Brand New Labour MP, Chuka Umunna, gave an assured Labour movement family speech (I’m trying to upload it to YouTube but having a few technical problems) pointing out the real differences between Labour and the ConDems.

Other stuff I found interesting was that the annual interest rate on new government debt (gilts) is 1.8%... in 1945 National debt was 250% of GDP yet we then went on to create the welfare state... the NHS, nationalised Coal and Steel and a mass public house building programme... the journalists who vilify trade unions would not be able to write a sentence if they had not been properly taught by trade union members.

RMT leader Bob Crow gave his usual high octane, finger waging and podium thumping speech. Great fun to listen to and highly entertaining if you are a trade union activist and but essentially empty and forgettable to everyone else (except for the hat – which was memorable). This is a problem. Which I think Bob knows.

By the time Steve Hart, the London UNITE regional secretary came to the rostrum the wanabee alternative SERTUC organisers had turned up and made the mistake of trying to repeatedly shout him down (as they do – it reminded me of a London UNISON AGM). Steve stopped and just took the abuse for about 30 seconds then laid into the “Peoples Front of Judia” and the “wreckers and splitters”. To which the hall erupted into loud clapping and cheers . This shut ‘em up and Steve continued with his attack on the real enemy – the ConDems.

Why do we put up with these Rule or Ruin sects?

SERTUC regional Secretary Megan Dobney spoke next to close the conference. The usually mild mannered and consensus Megan asked the idiot fringe present to “shut up and listen for a change”. She pointed out that the unions must either change government policy or change the government...from 1920-1960 national debt in this country was never less than 100%...72% of the cuts will come from purse not from the wallet.

On 26 March we need to have a successful TUC March against the cuts....in SERTUC there are about 1/3rd of all trade union members nationally...we need therefore to get at least 1 million members from SERTUC on that march, if we cannot even do that then we will risk losing the battle... we must not forget the elections next May.

Everyone must remember the discipline and commitment by this Government to their manta that this recession was left to them by the Labour Government...we must show the same discipline and commitment to our manta and show that this recession is due to a global banker’s crisis - not ours.

SERTUC Council meeting

This morning I went off to the Southern and Eastern Region TUC Council (SERTUC) meeting at Congress House.  Firstly there was a UNISON pre-meeting for delegates.  Then up to the 5th floor for Council. 

Normally we are in the basement conference area but this was being prepared for today’s “anti-cuts” Rally.  The meeting finished at 11.45 so that delegates can get to the Rally for 12 noon. 

SERTUC President Martin Gould gave his usual straight talking and no nonsense feisty opening report on the battles ahead.

We then moved directly to motions.  We passed unanimously a CWU motion “Keep the Post Public Coalition”.  UNISON delegate Brian Walters (and son of a postie) seconded this motion in fluent French to honour the protests taking place across the channel!  There was also an Unite motion “Attack on Public Services”.  I spoke on this 2^nd motion. 

I reminded Council that we must talk to our members and not just ourselves.  Some polls show that even a majority of union members think the cuts are necessary.  We need to challenge this and one way is to let our members know how sheer “nasty” they are – as a working front line secretary of the UNISON Housing Association branch we have to deal with a 50%  or £4 billion in cuts in housing; the ending of security of tenure which will mean that my members will be expected to evict Grannies whose kids have left home; in London there will be no more new public housing starts in 2011; who will house the expected extra 82,000 private tenants who will be evicted in London due to restrictions in Housing benefit?; London Councils report that some authorities are planning to block book B&B’s in south coast resorts; future rents in public housing will be 80% of “market rents” which in London could mean an average  2 bed flat rental will rise from £90 per week to £250.  Who can afford that?

Never the economics theory but surely it is madness that my members who develop homes are being made redundant at the same time as construction workers are being laid off resulting in less income tax and more claims for benefit at the same time that we have 4 million in housing need! 

SERTUC secretary Megan Dobney reminded us that the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) were on strike in London from 10am this morning (there is a SERTUC solidarity meeting for the FBU on Thursday evening at Congress House).   There is another one day strike due on 1 November 2010.  

There were a few contributions around the secretary’s report but we eventually finished early enough to even have extra items of AOB!

Off to main SERTUC rally 11.40.

Union and Victory: Organising to Defeat Cuts in Public Services

Organising to Defeat Cuts in Public Services: a SERTUC rally

12.00-13.45pm 23 October, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

A rally for key trade union activists in the SERTUC region, with keynote speakers:

BECTU                   Tony Lennon, Former President

CWU                       Billy Hayes, General Secretary

FBU                        Mick Shaw, President

GMB                       Dave Powell, Senior Organiser, Public Services

MP, Labour            Chuka Umunna

NUT                        Christine Blower, General Secretary

PCS                        Hugh Lanning, Deputy General Secretary

RMT                        Bob Crow, General Secretary

SERTUC                 Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary

UNISON                  Linda Perks, Regional Secretary Greater London

UNITE                     Steve Hart, Regional Secretary London & Eastern

SERTUC President  Martin Gould, will Chair the event

The first 500 will be admitted to the rally in Congress House on a ‘first come’. The over-spill will be directed to Bedford Square, where there will be an over-spill rally. Congress House is a fully accessible building. If unregistered please register your interest in the campaign by replying to sertucevents@tuc.org.uk

Please cascade this email to all your trade union contacts and colleagues

Megan Dobney - SERTUC Regional Secretary

(banner made for 1889 Dock Strike, carried in 1912 Transport strike and also the 1921 Poplar Rates Rebellion.  Picture taken in "People's History Museum" Manchester during UNISON Labour Party conference 2010 reception)

CONDEM Cuts: Megan tells it as it is

SERTUC Regional Secretary, Megan Dobney (standing on left), addresses the London UNISON Regional Council (sadly inquorate - but we know why).

The usual health warning on the absolute accuracy of my rather hurried typed notes.

Megan - "...there are 3 choices facing us: 1. work for a collapse of the coalition, 2: Defeat the Coalition in a General Election or 3: "armed insurrection" (this was a Joke).

Megan realised that some of the people present would in fact want "armed insurrection".  However she pointed out that this could never happen since it was not TUC policy.  So if you wanted this to be policy you should put in a motion to next year's Trade Union Congress (knowing the limited reasoning skills of some of my readers - I will stress this was also a joke).  Option 1 is her choice: Bringing down the Coalition is more likely and we do not want to wait 5 years.

Megan believes that public services are a bulwark against barbarism.  But we have a problem opposing cuts since according to some surveys - 50% of the public support the idea of CONDEM "savage cuts" including 40% of trade union members! This show's the scale of problem. We have to explain in the teeth of the media basis, what is really going on. Why the government is wrong and cannot deal with the deficit by cutting public sector investment which is essential for growth. Cuts will lead to unfairness and recession. VAT is regressive and any increase in basic tax is so also and will not help those who due to the Bankers recession are at risk.

We should get the tax that is currently avoided and evaded.  The "Robin Hood" tax would bring in lots of money for a very small outlay.  The PCS argue convincingly that 20 thousand more tax officers jobs would bring in £20 billion in tax income.  National finance is not to be paralled with consumer budgets. You saw this last week when the German government finally paid off it war debt, it's debt from World War One! While it took us 60 years to pay off our 2nd World War debt. 

Organisation in our workplace is absolutely essential but not enough - there are 6.5 million trade Unionists but this is not sufficient  We have to work with our communities. we need to stress that public sector cuts are not just job cuts but services cuts as well.

The cancellation of the "Building Schools for the Future" resonated with many people.  They could see the cuts taking place to something they could measure and value. This not just about being a romantic opposition but about good organsiation. 

If a 1pm Club faces closures don’t wait for a demo of 9 workers outside the town hall but get service users, family, friends, shop keepers to come and protest. This is an attack on communities, not just an attack on a group of workers whose jobs might go.

We need to be aware of CSR on 19 October and the SERTUC/TUC plan to target the 150 Tory/Lib Dem MP's who are at most risk at the next General Election.  Some of them might be the most vicious towards the cuts but they are also very fond of their seats! 

Numerous other demos on 23/10/10.  Congress House rally 12-1.45. It has to be a good turnout. Megan does not want to know everyone there personally. This is crucial.

In May 2011 the Tories and Lib Dems must feel the pain.

A Marathon is not a sprint. Who knows what to expect with them at the moment. The Child benefit fury.  They didn’t expect at all the reaction that got and that is important. Also the stresses and strains over tuition. We need to be creating the understanding that allows voices to be heard.

A recentl Yougov polls may have showed that 70% want housing benefit cuts but at the same time - 60% do not want the Post Office privatised. This is an outcome of work done last year by CWU. We must do the same. Local campaigning. Unison is ideal because you have centre in every town. In the recent strikes in France there was wonderful inspiration. In one small town of 5000 - 25% of the population was on rally. In every small town thousands of people protested. This make the government realise that this is not us looking after jobs but defending the rights and needs of our communities. We are not going to win with mass rallys of polemic but by detailed work, organised work and working with communities. Finally, to finish with a chilling moment she reminded us what Cameron said at the recent Tory conference.

“Look what we have done in 5 months imagine what we can do in 5 years”.

It's Grim Down Sarf: SERTUC Cuts Watch

SERTUC (South Eastern Region Trade Union Congress) are publishing a monthly guide to the cuts facing our region.  There has been concern that some people think that the "cuts" will only impact on "the North".  When in reality:-

- "The highest change in long-term youth unemployment in UK is in Medway in the South East - up 158% compared to next highest West Lothian up 120%, with Wandsworth in London the 6th highest increase, and Peterborough in the East of England in 13th place (out of 231 authorities)

- Lewisham and Hackney in London have the highest claimant to jobs ratios in the UK, with 7 other London boroughs in the top 20 (out of 206) Many of the authorities with the highest percentage of public sector jobs are in the SERTUC region, including Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury and Hastings at over 40%, and 45 others above the national average of 26.9%

- 20 of the 62 authorities to already receive a larger than average cut to their grant allocation for 2010 were in the SERTUC region

- 500,000 people in the South East sub-region live in areas that rank within the 20% most deprived in the country

- the South East England Development Agency estimated (in August 2010) 100,000 job losses following the public sector cuts (74,000 public sector, 26,000 consequent private sector losses)-

- London has the second highest unemployment rate at 9.3% (North East 9.4%)".

By coincidence I got an email from the Fabians (I am a member) inviting me to a Policy Network meeting on Monday called "Southern Discomfort Again" about the failure of Labour to attract support in the South of England during the last election.

Striking the Balance: Thank you

Hat-tip thingy SERTUC - "Many thanks to everyone for their interest shown in SERTUC Theatre Club and extra special thanks to Mikron Theatre Company for performance at TUC Congress House on Wednesday 1 September 2010.

If you missed Striking the Balance at SERTUC Theatre Club, you can catch up with the tour dates at http://www.mikron.org.uk/ 39 years of rural touring: Mikron is the little touring theatre company with the reputation for tackling large scale subjects and turning history into vivid and dramatic entertainment.

For a free equal pay DVD sampler and additional information on equal pay or other issues, please contact: TUC Publications, Trades Union Congress Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS Tel: 020 7467 1294 Email: websales@tuc.org.uk https://www.tuc.org.uk/publications/index.cfm
If you wish to know anything additional about the work of SERTUC or join mailing list, please do not hesitate to check the website for updates or contact SERTUC:
Tel: 020 7467 1220
Email: sertuc@tuc.org.uk
Here is a video presentation of Striking the Balance".

Supporting Union Reps at Work & Campaign to Defend Public Services

SERTUC have sent me details of these two Saturday conferences to be held in November. 

Southwark TUC: Communities Unite Against the CONDEM Budget

Hat-tip SERTUC

The Longest Strike in History: Burston School Rally 5 Sept 2010

This incredible strike in a rural Norfolk school went on for 25 years - from 1914 to 1939!  There is now a museum in the village and an annual Labour movement rally to commemorate it, which I hope to visit this year.  Check out more on the history here.