We don't need another reason to oppose privatisation of the metro but if we did...

The victory from RMT cleaners on london underground to secure increased pay (to the London Living Wage / minimum wage) is significant not just as an improvement for those members, but as a message that the "unorganisable" are organisable, that the "weak" sections in the movement can with the right strategy and commitment become the strong sections of our union.

The victory though as many commentators have shown here and here is not perfect by far, does show that privatisation has made it harder to fight, that if services on tyne and wear metro are seperated out as on national rail and the underground, with stations seperate from the companies running the metros themselves, with different employers, then wages will be driven down to make a profit, and it will be the most vulnerable and poorest paid who will suffer.

The fact that the RMT cleaners have won this partial victory is important, but we have a chance in the north east to prevent profiteers from driving down public sector wages, to prevent one group of workers to have one minimum wage, and another a completely different one. All the unions whether they represent drivers, cleaners, station staff, or office staff who work to deliver the Tyne and Wear metro need to plan action now to defend the publicly owned and run unified system and prevent profiteers from driving wages, cutting corners on safety and taking the subsidy that we rightfully expect of public transport and creaming it off as unearned profit for shareholders

for more on this see

Spot the difference: Unison in scotland takes different tone in negotiations

Do unison activists in england, wales and northern ireland have something to learn from our colleagues in scotland?
- taking action alongside all local government workers (yes, perhaps that one)
- taking action alongside civil servants (yes, okay that's another)

But perhaps the most significant thing that differentiates the Scottish dispute (other than the better turnouts, and majorities for action) is the tone of the statement from the leadership to the opening of negotiations.

I don't want to overplay it, or claim a radical socialist campaigning strategy but compare Scotland
with that for the rest of us just 2 weeks earlier

Mainly: 

"make preparations for further strike action"

"members made it clear they want a deal that does not lock them into multi year deals"

"talks are welcome but not in themselves a solution"

I hope that the talks on 22 August made some progress, but since i have heard nothing from branch, region, or unison's site, and the previous reports (agreeing a timetable for more talks etc..) give no information of what improved offer is in the pipeline, then perhaps we should learn something from the scottish leadership and being doing as they are at least claiming to be doing?

We could always propose something radical like proposing a date for joint action with our scottish comrades for september and building for it now? Perhaps this may focus the minds of both sets of negotiators and both sets of employers and central government... perhaps this may speed up the timetable? its just a suggestion.

update on keep tyne and wear metro public

Just got some updates from RMT on this campaign.

Metro unions are meeting later this month, with the next public meeting for the campaign being

2nd September at Newcastle Labour Club 6pm

Hope to see you all there.

Actions planned include lobbies of PTA, mass leafleting of stations, lobby of labour party conference with local transport planned as well as monthly meetings in Newcastle
7th October – Keep Metro Public – Newcastle Labour Club 6pm
4th November – Keep Metro Public – Newcastle Labour Club – 6pm

It looks like they are moving to short list for companies to tender in October so it is all moving very fast. I will try and post more after the meeting on 2 Sept, or see you all the meeting

Ed

Negotiations start and Heather Wakefield has nothing to say....

Unison and Unite began pay negotiations with the Employers today and members in my office will be asking tomorrow what happened. But according to unison they just set the timetable? It would be useful to know what the employers are bringing to the table .. but yes its okay because we can read the lead negotiator and head of local government for Unison's report... but can we? well if you follow the link it appears Heather Wakefield has nothing to say.

Well jokes aside (and i have emailed the unison website to ask what the error is).

It would be good to find out what will be discussed by the NJC next week, and for activists to be able to discuss what action we can take now and how we can put maximum pressure on the employers and give maximum support to the negotiators, but we will be stronger if the employers know that negotiators have the full support of our members and for this we need to know as much as possible as soon as possible

inflation, pay rises and negotiations

Inflation (as measured by Retail Price Index) is up to 5% the highest for 17 years. This is the measure usually used to inform pay negotiations so should add much needed weight and confidence to our Unison negotiations who met today with the local government employers.

And meanwhile Labour Research Dept showed that pay increases for private sector were at 4% for the last month

And the guardians polly toynbee (not that i have ever been much of a fan) rreported 20 years ago directors of FTSE top 100 companies earned 17 times average earnings and now 75 times as much. So lets remember who is fueling this record inflation and who is suffering massive pay cuts.

So what happened in pay negotiations today ? well according to the unison website not much, but next talks are on 22 August and in between that there is an NJC meeting. So getting in touch with NJC reps would seem like a good think to do if we want them to ensure that negotiators don't:
- sign upto a multi year deal when inflation is still rising quicker than ever
- agree any attacks on terms and conditions as a compromise for this deal

PS anyone got any idea what "nothing ruled in, nothing ruled out" negotiations means? what is it that the employers don't want us to rule out?

lets be clear when we speak to our negotiators that for our members there are some things that should be ruled out and an attack on our conditions is one of them.

Test with photo

With a pic too? Eating cake in berlin's tv tower.

Test

Test post from mobile. Ed

Happy Birthday to... me (and Deb too!)

I took a well deserved break to celebrate mine and comrade Deb's 38th birthday's at upstairs at my local and a lovely bunch turned up too, thanks for coming y'all and for cards and stuff especially those who came far (Anna & Jose spain) and near (Lyndsay like me had to travel well 50 yards) but i heard there were folks a few folks from Manc, a canny few from North Tyneside and even from Gateshead (can you blame them!)
And for those of you who couldn't make it, here's an arty photo of me and Lyndsay dancing

Picture of me fella by the river at a campsite in Snowdonia, forget what it was called but Lee will hopefully post a comment with the website for it, cos it was beautiful, next to the river (which you can swim in) and was very quiet, with nice facilities..
oh but don't forget some of those candles that stop the midgies or don't camp next to the river...
anyway we found it by accident and had a lovely second anniversary there, before a day trip to Portmeirion (yes i know we don't agree with privatised villages - £7 to get in, but they are remaking prisoner ...)

oh just found link to the website click here

August - a good month for crushing a labour movement

Forwarded from Eric Lee at LabourStart please act! Ed

August is a time when many of you (particularly those living in the northern hemisphere) are on vacation. Thousands of you won't even see this message until you come back to work.

If I were the leader of a country intent on crushing an independent trade union movement, this would be a good time to do so. The outcry around the world will be limited. After all, it's August.

About ten days ago, the South Korean government issued arrest warrants for the leaders of the country's trade union movement. Among those named were the President, Vice President and General Secretary of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), as well as leaders of affiliated unions. The KCTU Vice President was arrested by police and she's now being held at the Youngdeungpo Police Station.The others are still at large. Police have encircled the union headquarters in Seoul.

The “crime” these trade union leaders are accused of committing is this: in early July, they called for a general strike. The South
Korean government, in defiance of universally recognized human rights standards (including ILO conventions) has decided that this strike was illegal.

The KCTU has asked us all to take a moment and send off a strong message of protest to the South Korean government. LabourStart has launched a major new online campaign to do precisely that. Please go here now to send off your message:
http://www.labourstart.org/kctu

If you are on Facebook, sign also up the new Cause we've created, here:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/107071

Time is of the essence and we need to mobilize thousands of our fellow trade unionists very quickly. I know that I can count on all of you. Thank you.

test post from facebook

Sorry, just still learning this so posted this from facebook

Scottish Council Workers Strike 20 August

Advance notice - council workers' strike on 20th August
 
For the first time ever all 3 unions in Scottish local govt have simultaneously balloted for strike action, won resounding YES votes [see figures below] and now plan a one-day strike on 20 august, followed by selective action and probably further all-out one day strikes in September
 

Ballot results
UNISON 70% YES -  35% turnout
GMB 74% YES-  30% turnout
Unite(TGWU) 68% YES - 25% turnout

and some comments:

- when unions all work together for action you get a higher turn out

- the situation is getting worse with prices rising and this could help explain a higher turnout and yes vote in this ballot

- if English regions want to build confidence this side of the border then publicising and supporting this action by organising high profile regional and city protests could both build real solidarity and help make english local government workers feel stronger by seeing this as an important step in winning an increase in negotiations

- worth noting that the scottish unison website proposes that this day of action will be followed by key dates of selective action of workers

If the scottish leadership are serious about coordinating this action, and Unison's Local government this side of the border listening then together both sets of employers can be put under serious pressure.

But we need to remind them that the vote for action by Unison members is actually getting stronger not weaker. Now what we need is leadership and a clear strategy to win.

Keep Tyne and Wear Metro Public

On Thursday 31 July Rosie Winterton (minister for transport) announced the government funding for the Tyne and Wear Metro .. the catch, privatisation and break up of metro services and operation.

Labour MPs including Newcastle Centrals Jim Cousins, Dave Anderson and John McDonnell have supported an early day motion opposing the privatisation, as well as a public meeting supported by the RMT and Northern TUC read more here

see letter here from Stan Hershell RMT below

31st July 2008
RMT
Keep the Metro Public Campaign

Dear All

On Wednesday 30th July the Department for Transport issued a press statement announcing that Rosie Winterton would be at Newcastle Central Station on Thursday the 31st of July to make announcement on Metro funding (privatisation)

That announcement took place at 9.45 pm today.

The press and media were invited to witness this deplorable event.

Nexus management were there basking in their glory.

The first I heard of this was via Tyne Tees TV followed by various calls from journalists.

We are dealing with a shower of shite and this only makes us more determined to put a stop to this despicable act of betrayal.

Our campaign must now be notched up.

Having met with RMT General Secretary we will proceed on the following lines.

• Commission Opinion Poll
• Organise Petition – including exploring possibility of on line registration.
• Production of 100,00 + leaflets aimed at public
• Letters to all councillors (again)
• Lobby Labour Party Conference
• Lobby Council Meetings
• Lobby PTA
• Lobby Nexus
• Total involvement of all groups and individuals – meeting to be called as matter of urgency
• Request meeting with Northern Labour Group of MP’s
• Set up campaign fund under the umbrella of TUC
• RMT to kick start fund with £5,000 and request other Metro trade unions to do like wise. It is agreed that this kind of money is nowhere near what is required but it is simply a way of declaring a commitment.
• There is no such thing as a safe seat in politics and any elected represented who is against the wishes of the majority can expect to be challenged.


It is now evident, if we did not already know it, that we are dealing with underhand politicians and Management, therefore, the gloves must come off and we get in the gutter with them.

Until such times as action is coordinated then if you want to make representations or demonstrate then feel free to do so, but, please keep me advised of all activities.

I hope to find suitable venue for early meeting and will advise accordingly.

On the industrial front then RMT will be asking the other Metro trades unions to support the following principles and demands.

• Guarantee no compulsory redundancies now or in the future
• Retain one collective bargaining procedure
• Staff remain in current pension scheme and this to include all new entrants
• No compulsory transfers
• Guaranteed staffing levels
• Guaranteed travel facilities, including new entrants

Should these demands not be met then we shall be in dispute and take “appropriate action”.

Full details of the act of betrayal can be seen on the NEXUS web site

Haste La Victoria Siempre

Stan Herschel
RMT Regional Organiser

John McDonnell on bbc on leadership contest

John McDonnell MP on leadership election

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7539698.stm