edisred

Footage of our Pirates of the Tax Havens fun - 18 August - Northumberland Street, Newcastle

2011-08-23T23:37:00.001Z

Thanks to Ewan for this great video clip, and to all Tyneside Pirates...

Support the Postal Workers Strike this week

2009-11-04T23:49:00.003Z

As part of the Tyneside Postal Workers Solidarity group i've set up the blog on behalf of the group. You can visit that blog here.

It includes, links to all strike dates, stalls details for this saturday (2pm, newcastle monument) and next weekly planning meeting (wed 11th Nov 6pm, gateshead civic centre)

For Workers Liberty bulletins (see here) and other reports from workers liberty here

To join the facebook group go here

Blog's i like

2009-05-25T15:20:00.003Z

Hi comrades not been on here for ages and just realised i hadnt added David's excellent blog http://republic-of-teesside.blogspot.com/

Its here now for you to link to and its also in the listing on the side.

David is involved in the Teesside Solidarity Network which organises meetings for for our revolutionary mates in the South of the region and very good thing too, though i havent been to one for a few months.

Ed

Yes, fight for jobs - and for all workers!

2009-02-03T20:22:00.001Z

a response to the recent strike waves on workers liberty.org

Wildcat strike action has spread across the UK in support of a strike by construction workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire over an Italian firm getting a contract for part of the refitting work on the refinery. The Italian firm will use its permanent workforce of Italian workers.
Part of the background to the strike is increased use of sub-contracting on construction jobs, using EU rulings which allow contractors to undercut union-negotiated agreements by employing sub-contractors from other EU countries.
On Monday 2 February the Lindsey strikers adopted a series of positive trade-union demands. But socialists have faced the paradox that the most inspiring working-class movement for many years takes place under a central slogan, "British Jobs For British Workers", which cannot conceivably answer the needs which spur the action. What should our attitude be?

click here to read the full article:

Yes fight for jobs - and for all workers!

Yes, fight for jobs - and for all workers!

2009-02-03T20:22:00.000Z

a response to the recent strike waves on workers liberty.org

Yes fight for jobs - and for all workers!

Teesside Solidarity Network: inaugural meeting

2009-01-29T22:05:00.002Z

Teesside Solidarity Network: inaugural meeting

Ecology, feminism, solidarity

Time and Place
Date:	Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Time:	7:30pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Sassaris (upstairs)
Street:	Linthorpe Road

Contact Info
Email:	modernlonely@hotmail.co.uk

Description

With the recent war in Gaza, the economic crisis across the globe, and attacks on abortion rights, asylum seekers, and civil liberties many activists are looking for new ideas about how to confront injustice and oppression.

We are a group of activists inspired by workers and womens solidarity movements and are a from a variety of different traditions - what we are all concerned with is thinking about which way forward for the left and for working class and feminist politics.

This is the first of a new series of meetings where we can get together and talk openly and critically about politics with each other and revitalize the threads of radical history and politics that have been part of Teesside's hidden history.

Ed Whitby

ed.whitby@workersliberty.org

www.edisred.blogspot.com

Class, Climate Change and Clean Coal

2008-11-03T23:01:00.002Z

Class, Climate Change and Clean Coal - a conference organised by the IWW (one big union) with support from National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Rail, Maritine and Transport Union (RMT) and green activists was held in Newcastle on Saturday 2 November.

Over 60 trade unionists, socialists, anarchists, greens and climate activists crammed into the room for this very welcome and ambitious conference. Though the platform in the morning was heavily nominated by "Pro- coal" 3 NUM fulltime or ex-fulltime official speakers including Dave Douglas, Arthur Scargill, and Ian Lavery, and just one critical of coal, Paul Chatterton (Leeds Univ and Climate Camp activist)

The room seemed evenly split with half retired miners / friends with suits and NUM ties, alongside many activists mostly half their age, and a handful of the organised left.

The morning didn't start too well, with an unfortunately biassed platform, speakers such as Ian Lavery (NUM) claiming that what ever scientists said he saw Coal as the future, and with NUM speakers failing to recognise that Paul was critical of all carbon based fuels(not just coal "what about gas, what about oil"), and was not saying that Clean Coal (Carbon Capturing Systems) couldnt be part of a "just transition" away from the present fossil fuel dependence which leads us sleep walking to environmental destruction.

Paul made significant efforts to recognise the importance of unions and history of NUM (his grandfather was a miner) while NUM speakers showed less understanding of the other activists present (socialist, green, anarchists, and other non-aligned activists) by referring to them as Green Party members (of which i am not sure any were!)

When the top table contributions were over the event livened up (though many NUM speakers including Scargill left after speaking)

When some of us challenged the bias and the amount of time for the top table, there was some recognition that this needed adjusting and the NUM chair limited afternoon speakers to 10 mins (in the morning they had 25!) this gave more opportunity for discussion and although by now many of the NUM had left, it did show that we had a lot more in common. Also at odds with Dave Douglas's (NUM / IWW organiser of this event) reports of Climate Camp, that of activists uninterested in unions or the history of the miners, this event showed that those critical of coal, were very keen to work with unions, to build links with NUM and understand the importance that unions play in challenging the government and bosses.

Kev Bland (Green Anarchist) explained that Workers Climate Action had made important links with Kingsnorth workers at climate camp explaining that our ways of workers are already moving towards a united response with workers. And myself and Paddy (Plane Stupid) handed out Workers Climate Action publicity that seemed to get a good audience. The NUM regional officer also agreed to discuss with the campaigners against open cast pits in Northumberand, working more closely together and helping with resources for the campaigns.

But the most important thing is that this event happened and at all, and for this we should congratulate IWW and NUM for organising it, and offer to work with them in this kind of initiative where we can

So where now?
This conference was an important first step and it was reported that NUM reps from Notts are talking about approaching Notts Trades Council to organise something similar there. Hopefully supporters of Solidarity, and those active in Workers Climate Action can help make this a reality and consider something similar in Yorks / Derbyshire / Leics areas?

We should also approach the speakers and see if we can get there speaches or articles published on Workers Climate Action website to contribute to the debate, or perhaps see if we can turn them into a pamphlet.

We cannot the seemingly huge culture change between climate campaigners and miners to prevent events like this from happening. We congratulate the IWW and NUM for organising this event and should look to work with them to make sure this is just the start.

Ed Whitby
ed.whitby@workersliberty.org
www.edisred.blogspot.com

Capitalist Crisis and Workers Plan

2008-10-03T18:34:00.005Z

My mate Craig asked earlier this week what I thought about the capitalist crisis and suggested meeting up in a pub soon and chat about it... both things that i like doing... so i will...

To get my head into gear I'm attending this meeting on Saturday in Manchester

Details of meeting (and reading here) for anyone interested in meeting in either manchester or London

If anyone else i know wants to join us for an after work pint and chat about the crisis (informally obviously) let me know! Or look at the reading (see above) or editorial from this weeks solidarity (which is shorter) and let us know what you think

republic of teesside

2008-10-03T18:19:00.001Z

Recently met republic of teesside blogger... on a visit to meet my workers liberty comrades from Teesside... we are now meeting in both Newcastle and Stockton and a public meeting is in preparation on Socialist Feminism for the near future

But I wonder recommend others in the north east who are reading this blog to pay a visit to Republic of Teesside as well ...

Berlin from 2007

2008-10-03T18:15:00.001Z

Emily asked me about my previous blog to Berlin (for anyone visiting it is full of useful information honest)

But it is on myspace... and although i am sure i can repost it here i am too tired to ... so instead visit it by clicking here

but please also post any comments here on what else there is cool to do / visit when i go next...

Kevin Keegan gets support of Newcastle City Council?

2008-09-07T20:48:00.003Z

There are several reports in the press of Newcastle City Council's support for Keegan. In a motion proposed by Labour Leader Nick Forbes and seconded by Lib dems (and in a show of cross party unity - highlighting just how important this is) they called on NUFC to get it sorted quickly "recognising the wide scale public support for Kevin Keegan"

Not that i am trying to downplay the significance of this for United fans, but just a thought... is this what the council is there for? I am waiting for the motion from councillors opposed Nexus's plans to sell off the metro "recognising the wide scale public support for a publicly owned and run metro system" and telling Nexus to end this speculation now and say no to a privately run metro..rather than waste thousands of pounds of our money checking whether to go with the in-house bid or a private one?

(PS there is no truth at all in the rumour that this post was just an opportunity to put a picture of keegan in tight shorts on this blog!)

amaizing maze

2008-09-07T19:59:00.005Z

A bit "corny" i know, but for anyone in the northwest, next Saturday its a must.

Last night, me, Lee, Kim and Anna went to "Moonlight maze". Sounds a bit odd, but Lee is a bit maze crazy (last summer in Barcelona he made us walk miles in the middle of nowhere to see a park with a maze in it) and so when he heard about the Moonlight Maze he made us go

(Lee as a zombie!)

It was fantastic.. you take torches (& a hipflask!), get sent off with a flag on a stick in case you cannot get out, and go round this massive maze made out of Maize (yes hence "a-maize-ing") find bits of maps to help you find your way out... all in the pitch dark, and what a fantastic night.. (there another maze too, a massive trampolene & stuff for the kids) but go at night. Last chance is next Saturday 13 September!

For the website visit here

Pretty sure we will be visiting Spookyworld this October too!

More council houses yes, but giving money to struggling building contractors No

2008-09-04T21:48:00.002Z

At the weekend i read in the Newcastle Papers that Newcastle City Council could be the first in the country to step in to "help shore up the housing market"

Because it is "commercially sensitive" they cannot give more details and there is nothing on either Newcastle City Council or Your Homes Newcastle (the almo that runs housing) saying how it will work.

What is clear is the present credit crunch, economic crisis, fall in pay for especially low paid workers means many more need good quality council housing and mortgages are not what will help the thousands in newcastle who need a secure affordable home.

But if there is money to support council housing how should we spend it?

Private businesses have made millions in the last few years building houses in the northeast after years upon years of rising prices where those with money have invested in buying up land knowing that its value is going up, building apartments to sell to businesses that have not helped the most vulnerable in the city. They have profited handsomely at our expense from the market, and this has been contrasted by no new housing built in the public sector.

So now that things are tough, are we helping them out with "cash flow problems" as one of the articles suggests. Yes the council will of course get the housing at a discount, but by buying up 15 houses on the new estate are we making it viable for the private company to still make a good profit on this estate... Are we giving public money, yet again to private profit.

Should we not instead look at building decent houses, that kind that we know are needed, not just those that private sector can't shift, and forcibly taking over run down and empty pockets to make them suitable for tenants.

More on Keep Metro Public campaign

2008-09-03T22:09:00.002Z

Tonight i went to a well attended meeting of this newly launched campaign.

The meeting was introduced by RMT and UNITE organisers and then elected a chair and secretary and went on to discuss the campaign and future actions.

The meeting had a good number of RMT / UNITE metro workers as well as trade unionists, students and the left.

Future proposals were discussed including:

- lobbies of tenders meeting;

- lobbies of PTA and councillors;

- mass leafleting

- street theatre;

- public meetings;

- strike action;

- public referendums and more

The next action is:

Tues 9th September meet outside St James Stadium at 10.30am

for a protest against the future tenders for the metro services who will be meeting to find out more.

The next meeting is:

7th October at 6pm at newcastle labour club, leazes park road, newcastle

latest on local government pay negotiations

2008-09-02T21:30:00.003Z

Unison's news on its website, as well as the information on negotiations so far and the statement agreed by the unions and employers make grim and contradictory reading

We have been told that unison wants to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that the framework for talks is until end of December... when it would be too late to take action if the best deal they come up with is still crap!

We have gone into open ended discussions, calling off all, even selective action for negotiations which it now appears by reading the various statements was with nothing on the table, nothing at all. Calling off action and it reality even without action, no other campaigning has been carried out or called for by our leadership (yes its been summer, but we new that when we called the action for July? didnt we?)

So there is a problem with the leadership and by this I mean the real leadership at the top of our unions.

We in Unison allowed this to happen. The left allowed this to happen. The majority of the left did not debate how to hold leadership to account, or how to win this dispute... just calling for more or all out action, or saying wait until October when we can unite with others, isnt a strategy its more a "lets keep our fingers crossed and hope the other unions come to our rescue"

We haven't got a real rank and file mechanism for bringing together local gov activists across unions, branches and regions and this has helped the "leadership" get away with this crap

Some of us in Workers Liberty and with support from other good activists helped initiate a email group but this is still only a tiny fraction of that of the health activist list. And this list growing to help share reports from branches, not just of action, but issues linked to single status results or negotiations, and other local conditions that can influence how we can fight over pay.

The leaderships consultations over pay show that they have little understanding of whats going on in branches, asking for information on holidays (very very varied with many many authorities adding extra days leave) and annual leave. They think these can form part of the negotiations.

So we need to learn from this and build up the rank and file we need.

But for now we should challenge the leadership to lead:

- pull out of negotiations to call action; selective or otherwise alongside other unions (close the schools alongside the teachers?) ; close the depots and street cleaning alongside the GMB etc - Unless they put something on the table to make staying at the table worthwhile

- meet now in a high profile manner with other unions in pay dispute including our comrades in scotland with the message that we will coordinate action

- call open activists meetings in regions (not just officers) to build local protests and lobbies of MPs about to return to parliament

- say no to multi year deals when inflation is completely unpredictable and we know we could be leading our members into years of cuts in pay.

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

2008-08-26T22:36:00.003Z

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

2008-08-26T22:16:00.002Z

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

2008-08-15T16:01:00.001Z

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....

2008-08-13T21:17:00.003Z

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

2008-08-13T20:29:00.001Z

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

2008-08-07T21:39:00.000Z

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

Test

2008-08-07T21:21:00.000Z

Test post from mobile. Ed

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

2008-08-05T22:51:00.004Z

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

2008-08-05T22:13:00.004Z

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

2008-08-05T17:49:00.003Z

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

2008-08-04T22:17:00.002Z

Sorry, just still learning this so posted this from facebook

Scottish Council Workers Strike 20 August

2008-08-04T22:07:00.003Z

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

2008-08-04T21:12:00.004Z

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

2008-08-04T20:03:00.001Z

John McDonnell MP on leadership election

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

A workers' response to the crisis: fight for a workers' government!

2008-07-25T17:48:00.002Z

Still working out how to use blogging via email

But as labour nosedived in the polls in Glasgow East, and the economy continues in crisis, it is more important than ever for socialists active in the workers movement to put forward the case for the kind of government we need to respond to this crisis.

Click <http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2008/07/25/workers-response-crisis-fight-workers-government

Joint statement from emloyers, unite and unison

2008-07-24T17:40:00.006Z

Attached is a joint statement (see below) so talks will begin in 3 weeks. I will try and be constructive.

But as one unison activist said to me today, it raises more questions than it answers! But we have a date for talks, which is a start.

Perhaps Unison should set a deadline for a firm proposal from the employers, they have had a couple of months since the ballot to think about it, and we have now given them another 4 weeks since the 2 days of action to come up with a response? By which time regions will have called open activist meetings to discuss the format of future action if needed (yes i know meetings are difficult over the summer, but we can't not discuss things for four weeks? we just need to be imaginative, call more than one meetings so those who are on holiday can make at least one?)

Then the employers will know that by the end of the deadine we have given them our members will be ready to take further action if the offer is not good enough.

I am not sure what we should read by "nothing ruled in, nothing ruled out" but what we need to down on the ground, in workplaces, branches and regions make sure the negotiators and most importantly the employers know that are members a beneath inflation pay rise is "ruled out"; a three-year deal, when inflation and costs are still rising is "ruled out" and an attack on our terms of conditions is "ruled out"

This is the best way that we can ensure our negotiators have the best chance of winning against our employers.

So I presume that regional officers have already been asked by the NJC to organise these joint activist planning meeting with UNITE and where possible supportive GMB and teachers unions activists, and ensuring that we have a plan of action (Plan B!) if the offer from the employers does not match the needs of our members. Oh and in case the regional officers haven't been asked to organise these meetings we should encourage them, with motions from branches or do it ourselves in our towns and cities.

Ed

To: Chief Executives in England, Wales & N Ireland
(with copies for Personnel Director & Finance Director)

Members of the National Joint Council

Provincial/Associated Joint Secretaries

Local Authority Associations’ Secretaries

24 July 2008

Dear Colleague,

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES PAY NEGOTIATIONS

The following statement has been issued today on behalf of the National Employers and UNISON and Unite:

“Local government unions UNISON and Unite, and the National Employers, in the context of the current dispute on the 2008 pay settlement, agree that a new era of employment is needed to reflect properly the contribution of the workforce in purview of the NJC to service improvements and the future needs of local people.

Therefore, to secure this new settlement, the partners are committed to immediate serious and meaningful negotiations over a range of issues, including those in the trade union claim this year and a full review of the national conditions of service. These discussions will be on the basis of nothing ruled in or out and will aim to conclude with early proposals that recognise the aspirations of the workforce in the context of the financial position of local government.

Both the National Employers and UNISON and Unite will enter into these negotiations constructively with the aim of securing an employment package which is fit for the future with positive industrial relations, high quality and efficient local services and resolves the current dispute”

The agreed talks are scheduled to begin on Wednesday 13 August.

signed by Employers secretary, Heather Wakefield, UNISON, Pete Allenson, UNITE

unions postpone action for talks?

2008-07-23T18:26:00.005Z

According to unison website tonight the NJC has called off action for talks. See here

forgive me for posting quickly, but we need to respond to this quickly

whats wrong with this picture?

after an upbeat mood from the membership and a very successful (even if more patchy in some parts) two days of action, we have not lifted the pressure by suspending action until September?

so we have agreement of talks (with no dates or timetables as yet)

yes we want the employers to come back to the table and since they said 2.45% was the final offer, if this means the employers are ready to increase this figure substaintially then good we should talk, but and its a big but, why lift the threat of further action.

were the NJC given a proposed figure that the employer would come up with? were the NJC convinced that the offer was good enough to not need the threat of further action?

we should be calling the shots more, keeping the pressure on. if they have agreed to talk then this is thanks to our action, we should at the very least agreed for the NJC to meet again in a week or 10 days time to set dates for further action if the employers offer was not worth putting to the membership,

but telling the employers we're calling off action, and will discuss again in September gives the employer the upper hand, they can string out discussions believing that as each day passes the membership will be less motivated to more action, with rumours about what amount we would be offered / accept misdirecting the membership, perhaps the delays would mean we would need the expense of another ballot for action in the autumn.

this is not inevitable with rallies, public meetings and getting public sector workers and service users together including political campaigning can prevent the membership from stepping down, but by agreeing to postpone even talk of further action until september when we are still in july doesnt help those of us who want to keep our members mobilised for action if and when necessary

could not this time while talking with employers have been used usefully to discuss the types of action with the regions and open activist meetings in every locality, i.e. discussing if selective action would work, if not why not and if yes, how would we improve on how it was used learning lessons from london weighting etc

we still need to ensure regions call these meetings, even if full timers are happy for us to wait

Ed

join more discussion on this locgovactivists list or post to this blog

starting again

2008-07-20T16:04:00.002Z

I set this blog up a few years ago and didn't use it.

I am now ready to start again and will give it a shot to try and form part of discussing the present low pay disputes, the state of the left and activism in the north east, what I am planning and have been up to for my friends, amongst other things