Saturday 28 May 2011

Corporation tax cuts do not create jobs, says TUC

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary
Low corporate tax rates reduce revenues but fail to create jobs, according to a new TUC report published today (Saturday). The TUC report Corporate tax reform and competitiveness, written by chartered accountant and tax specialist Richard Murphy, warns that recent tax reforms and ongoing reductions in the headline corporation tax rate will reduce vital tax revenues without any significant benefit to ordinary taxpayers.
The report cites data from OECD countries to show that the UK enjoys an extremely competitive tax rate. More than 90 per cent of UK businesses pay the small business rate of 20 per cent while the effective corporate tax rate for large companies is currently estimated by PriceWaterhouseCoopers to be 23.2 per cent, far lower than the OECD average of 26.5 per cent.
Previous TUC research has estimated that the effective corporate tax rate is lower than 23.2 per cent and has been falling by 0.5 percentage points a year for the last decade. It is likely that many multinational corporations are now paying a lower rate of corporation tax than UK small businesses, says the TUC.
The report also compares corporate tax and employment growth rates between 1997 and 2010 across OECD countries and finds no strong correlation between low taxes and high employment or GDP growth.
The study suggests that at a time of constrained public finances, the economic benefits are not significant enough to justify tax cuts of the scale that the government has embarked upon, particularly given the UK’s already low corporate tax rates. Cutting corporation tax to attempt to stimulate growth is a poor economic strategy, says the TUC.
The report highlights recent changes to tax policy that have encouraged further tax avoidance and the channelling of profits away from the UK.
The last government agreed that in exchange for tougher Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules, from April 2009 any dividends paid by foreign subsidiaries to UK parent companies would not be subject to UK tax. But while the tougher CFC rules have not yet made it into law, the new rules on dividend payments have weakened the UK tax base by encouraging companies to move profits out of the UK, says the TUC.
With corporate tax receipts expected to fall as a proportion of the total tax take from April 2012, and the estimated 15,000 job losses across HMRC making it even harder to monitor the flow of profits from the various subsidiaries of multinational companies, growing tax avoidance could undermine the government’s deficit reduction targets and put further pressure on spending cuts, the TUC warns.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The government has been seduced by employer calls for more corporate tax cuts. But while everyone wants to pay less tax, from multinational corporations to ordinary taxpayers, the argument that simply cutting corporation tax will fuel jobs and growth does not stand up to scrutiny.
“UK corporate tax rates are already extremely competitive. And while some people, including the Chancellor, have talked about emulating the Irish economy’s aggressive low tax policies, its current woes suggest this is not a sustainable economic model.
“Big business has been steadily cutting its effective tax rate every year for the last decade, even though headline rates were fixed for much of this period. Despite pledging to crack down on tax avoidance, recent reforms and huge job losses at HMRC mean that tax dodging opportunities are now greater than ever.
“The more that big businesses and the super rich avoid paying their fair share, the more ordinary taxpayers will have to pick up the tab though tax rises and reduced public services.
“The government must stand up for hard-pressed workers and enforce a fairer tax regime and a fairer and more sustainable approach to securing economic growth.”

Friday 27 May 2011

Corby and Kettering pick date for inaugural Annual Meeting

The Corby Trades Council banner
gets an airing at the recent Workers Memorial Day
commemoration in Corby town centre.
Discussion between trade union branches in the Corby and Kettering areas have resulted in agreement to form a new trades council covering both boroughs. The first annual meeting of the new trades council will take place on Wednesday 8th June at the Corby Trades and Labour Club, Stuart Rd, Corby NN17 1RL at 6.30 p.m. This is a delegate meeting comprising of trade union members nominated by their branches in the area.  
This meeting will be followed by an open meeting for people in the Corby and Kettering areas and will look at campaign priorities and how the new trades council can work with other organisations that have similar values. This meeting will hear from the Midlands TUC Regional Secretary, Cheryl Pidgeon, and Secretary of the Wolverhampton and Bilston trades council, Nick Kelleher. This second meeting starts at 7.30 pm, and will also be held in the Corby Trades and Labour Club.

Fair wages and jobs are essential for an economic growth strategy, says TUC

Commenting on Growth Without Gain? – the interim report of the Commission on Living Standards published today (Friday) – TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Today’s report is a wake-up call to anyone who assumes that rising living standards will automatically accompany our economic recovery.
“Wages have failed to keep pace with economic growth in recent decades. The concentration of wealth at the top has left a growing debt burden for low and middle earners, which contributed to the global financial crash.
“As the UK seeks to recover from the downturn, we need a radical rethink of the way our economy is structured. Securing fairer wages for working people and strong jobs growth are essential to achieving a strong and sustainable recovery.”

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Disabled people urged to continue fight back against the cuts at TUC conference

Disabled people will be urged to continue their resistance to the government spending cuts which are hitting every aspect of their lives at the TUC’s annual disability conference which begins in London today (Wednesday). A new TUC briefing – Disabled people fighting the cuts – issued to coincide with the conference reveals the true impact of the government’s spending cuts on disabled people, and encourages unions and disabled people to fight back.
The TUC report highlights several key areas of concern, including:
• Employment: The employment of disabled people is especially vulnerable to public sector job cuts. Between 1998 and 2008 there was a continuous increase in the proportion of disabled people in work. For the first time nearly 50 per cent of working age disabled people were in paid employment. One reason for this was that a higher proportion of disabled people found work within the public sector. With hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs already lost or under threat, disabled people’s employment is at risk.
• Benefits: Changes to benefits and to welfare to work programmes will penalise disabled job seekers. For the millions of disabled people reliant on benefits because they cannot work or are no longer of working age, reforms such as the abolition of the disability living allowance and changes to carer’s allowance will lead to increased poverty for some of the poorest people in the UK.
• Healthcare: The proposed cuts to NHS budgets will affect most groups in society, but disabled people face significantly reduced provision in areas like mental health services. The False Economy website has uncovered at least 6,300 job losses in 53 mental health services around the UK. Combined with deep cuts in community mental health teams, this will progressively reduce the services available to the many people who desperately rely on them.
• Transport: Reductions in public transport services and transport subsidies will impact on the ability of disabled people to participate in society, particularly those living in more rural areas.
• Housing: In addition to some disabled people facing the consequences of the cap on housing benefit imposed in the 2010 budget, the Supporting People programme – which has paid for disabled and elderly people to live independently – has also been severely affected by cuts.
• Safety: The government’s propaganda in support of its benefit reduction plans has led to a campaign against ‘scroungers’ and a surge in disability hate crime, while at the same time cuts to police budgets threaten to turn back progress made in recent years in challenging such attacks.

The TUC report also suggests ways that unions can help disabled people challenge the cuts, both in the workplace and the wider community.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “This report shows just how hard some of the most vulnerable members of our society have been hit by the government’s deep spending cuts.
“But a fightback is taking place and unions have a key role to play. Thousands of disabled people joined the TUC March for the Alternative earlier this year, and many more took part in the Hardest Hit march and rally on 11 May – the largest demonstration by disabled people for decades.”
Speakers at the two-day disability conference at Congress House include TUC Assistant General Secretary Kay Carberry, Anne Begg MP, Stephen Brookes from the NUJ disability hate crime network, and John McArdle from the Black Triangle anti-defamation campaign in defence of disabled peoples’ rights.
Disabled people fighting the cuts is available at www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/21/disabled_people_fighting_cuts.pdf
The TUC disability conference is from 11am on Wednesday 25 May until 5.30pm on Thursday 26 May, at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. For more information please contact Peter Purton on ppurton@tuc.org.uk or 020 7467 1271.
Visit the False Economy website at www.falseeconomy.org.uk

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Teatime for change, 9 June - lobby MPs for more aid, tax justice and for a Robin Hood Tax

Please take action to encourage your members/activists to lobby MPs on Thursday 9 June at the big “Tea Time for Change” parliamentary lobby - home page: http://teatimeforchange.org.uk/community/

What we’re calling for

Called by the major development aid agencies the lobby has three objectives, all in line with TUC policy:

• Keeping up the commitment to overseas aid (thrown into doubt recently by Defence Secretary Liam Fox’s leaked letter)

• Stopping tax dodging – a critical issue for developing countries, but pretty important in the UK too!

• And calling for the British Government to support a Robin Hood Tax
 What will happen on the day?

The way Teatime for Change works is that your union members register an interest in seeing their MP at http://teatimeforchange.org.uk/community/signup - then go to Westminster on Thursday 9 June, and have tea with their MP at Westminster Central Hall, making the arguments that are set out on the Teatime for Change website (downloadable lobby pack at http://teatimeforchange.org.uk/community/files/teatime-lobby-pack.pdf ). In particular, there’s a special page on the Robin Hood Tax campaign at http://teatimeforchange.org.uk/community/blogs/45/7/could-2011-be-the-year-of-the-ro

How you can promote this to union members and activists
Embed the following video on your website:


Send an email round any email lists you have access to about signing up to lobby -remember, that’s at http://teatimeforchange.org.uk/community/signup 
And, if people cannot make the lobby on 9 June, they could always lobby their MP locally using the materials on the Teatime for Change website.

Monday 23 May 2011

More for Less: pay at the top

Janet Williamson writes on the TUC Touchstone blog:
The High Pay Commission (HPC) – whose commissioners include TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady – has brought out its interim report. It includes a blizzard of charts, figures and tables that clearly establish that executive pay has increased rapidly over the last fifteen or so years and has left the pay of average workers trailing far behind. Average FTSE 100 CEO total pay was 145 an average worker’s salary in 2010, and the HPC calculates that if current trends continue by 2020 the multiple will be 214.
The report also shows that rapid rise in executive pay does not reflect company performance or returns to shareholders: earnings per share actually fell by 1% per year between 1998 and 2009, while earnings of FTSE 100 CEOs rose 6.7% per year over the same period. To sum up: executive pay awards are neither fair nor linked effectively to performance. In other words, the current system is not working.

Want to read more? Follow the link to the full article: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/05/more-for-less-pay-at-the-top/


Union conferences this week - Equity, CWU and TSSA

There are three trade union national conferences underway this week, with Equity, the Communication Workers Union and the Transport Salaried Staff Association deliberating in London, Bournemouth and Dublin respectively. The CWU has a section on it's website where you can keep up to date with proceedings:

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/conference-2011-daily-news-monday-23-may.html

Later this week we have Aslef holding their conference in Swansea, from 24th to 27th May.

Friday 20 May 2011

More broken promises – women and the State Pension Age - Touchstone blog by Scarlett Harris


Earlier this year Sarah Veale, Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC, blogged on this site about the impact of changes to the State Pension Age on women.
Since then campaigns by Rachel Reeves MP, Age UK, Unions Together, and individual unions have all gathered momentum. Even some coalition partners have got in on the act with some Lib Dems expressing concern over the departure from the coalition agreement that these changes represent.
Just to recap, the Coalition Agreement said that the state pension age (SPA) would rise to 66 but this would “not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women.” Since then the Government performed a dramatic U-turn and published draft legislation to accelerate the equalisation for women by 2018, and then increase both men and women’s state pension ages to 66 by 2020. Women aged around 56 and 57 are set to lose the most from this shift in the goalposts, with very little time to prepare or amend existing plans.
Want to read more of this Touchstone article? Click on the link: http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/05/more-broken-promises-women-and-the-state-pension-age/

Growth of homeworking stalled during recession

The growth of homeworking stalled during the recent recession, the TUC says in a new analysis of official figures to mark National Work From Home Day today (Friday), which is organised by Work Wise UK. The TUC research shows that between 2005 and 2010, an extra 227,000 people said they mainly worked from home, bringing the total number of homeworkers to 3.7 million by 2010.
But last year saw a small fall in the proportion of people working from home, from 12.9 to 12.8 per cent of the workforce, with the total number of homeworkers increasing by just 10,000.
High unemployment and job insecurity during the recession is likely to have made staff more reluctant to ask to work from home, says the TUC.
However working from home can save on office costs, ease transport congestion and help staff manage their workload more effectively, making it a more productive and cost-effective way to work, says the TUC.
While not every job is suitable for homeworking all of the time, regular or occasional working from home is still possible in a wide range of jobs, with unions and employers agreeing flexible working arrangements in workplaces across the UK, says the TUC.
The TUC analysis coincides with National Work From Home Day, organised by Work Wise UK, as part of Work Wise Week 2011 (16-20 May).
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “Working from home can slash business costs, cut expensive and time-wasting commutes and help staff manage their workload more effectively.
“Over the last five years, more employers and staff have embraced working from home, though recent job insecurity has made some staff reluctant to ask for it. There were particularly strong increases in the West Midlands with an extra 2.4% of the working population in the region working from home.“By taking part in National Work From Home Day, we can get the UK working smarter again.”


The tough economic climate makes the business case for homeworking even stronger, and unions are encouraging more businesses to give it a try.
Chief executive of Work Wise UK Phil Flaxton said: “Being able to work from home every now and again is a sensible move for individuals and their employers. The employee avoids the stressful daily commute and can concentrate on work without the usual office distractions.
“Smart employers know this already. Now it’s time for the rest to wake up to the benefits of smarter working. Workers stuck with old-fashioned, rigid patterns of working based on ‘presenteeism’ want access to flexi-time and homeworking.
“Employers who fail to move with the times are likely to find their ability to attract and retain the best staff becomes increasingly difficult.”

Home-working 2005-10

Year Work from home (thousands) Work from home (per cent)

2005      3,517                12.2
2006      3,597                12.4
2007      3,592                12.2
2008      3,762                12.4
2009      3,734                12.9
2010      3,744                12.8

Increase 2005-10 +227,000 +0.6

Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (autumn quarters) – all in employment

More information about Work Wise Week 2011 can be found at http://www.workwiseuk.org/

Thursday 19 May 2011

Green deal still lacks a plan for heavy industry - Touchstone blog by Philip Pearson

The Energy Secretary’s statement to the Commons on May 17 2011 made two key points: committing government to a 50% reduction of our CO2 emissions by 2027 and to negotiating a low carbon plan for manufacturing during this year. Government has taken the necessary and welcome decision to follow the independent, science based advice of its Committee on Climate change (CCC). But, because it places the UK well out in front of the rest of the EU, both the Treasury and BIS had blanched at the threat to the UK’s competitiveness.
Whilst the government is evidently sincere in wishing to dig itself out of the hole of its own making, much work remains to be done this year to secure a strategy for the energy intensive industries.
Interested in reading more? The full article can be found here:
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/05/green-deal-still-lacks-a-plan-for-heavy-industry/

McNulty review fails to address causes of inefficiency and waste, says TUC

Responding to the review of rail value for money published today (Thursday) by former Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Sir Roy McNulty, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The report rightly highlights the increased costs to passengers and taxpayers from the privatisation of our railways. But its prescriptions are wide of the mark and will make conditions worse for both commuters and rail staff.
“Privatisation has failed – as the comparisons with state run rail networks in Europe clearly show – so it is disappointing that little consideration has been given to the benefits of a nationally integrated public rail system.
“Cutting the number of ticket office workers, station staff and train crews is not what passengers want, and there is no link between staff costs and the increasing levels of taxpayer subsidy.
“The same cannot be said for the privatised train operating companies, where profits have risen in direct response to increases in public funding. If the McNulty review is serious in its attempt to protect the taxpayer from bailing out the problems in our rail industry, then it is barking up the wrong tree by targeting staff costs. Average earnings for rail workers have not risen substantially beyond national averages and gains in workforce productivity have been in advance of industry pay rises.
“Fragmentation is a prime reason why our railways are so expensive, so it is bizarre that the report recommends more with the potential break-up of Network Rail. Passengers will be rightly concerned about the implications for ticket prices and services, particularly in rural areas.
“The report makes positive recommendations too. Simpler ticketing is something commuters have been crying out for, and taking a more strategic and joined up approach to procurement offers great potential for supporting UK manufacturing.
“We welcome the call for the rail industry to work together and we look forward to rail unions playing a key role in informing and shaping the industry’s response to these recommendations.”

Tuesday 17 May 2011

TUC welcomes move to amend Localism Bill

Jack Dromey MP
Welcoming the move from the opposition front bench to table amendments today (Tuesday) to the Localism Bill that would highlight the issue of low pay in local authorities and in companies bidding for contracts to run local services, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Jack Dromey’s amendment would shine a spotlight on the growing gap between the pay of top council executives and the lowest paid workers employed by local authorities.
“If councils have to make public the amounts they are paying staff at the bottom of the pay ladder and where in the council these workers are based, it may make them less keen to pay poverty wages.
“Requiring private firms who bid for council contracts worth more than £250,000 to divulge the pay ratio between their highest and lowest pay staff might also encourage salary restraint for company directors. It would also increase the pressure on both local councils and the firms they work with to pay a decent wage to all their employees.”

Commuters suffering from high inflation and poor growth, says TUC

Commuters in Birmingham
Commenting on the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that RPI inflation fell to 5.2 per cent and CPI rose to 4.5 per cent in April, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “Prices are rising at twice the rate of wage increases, putting real pressure on people’s take home pay.
“Commuters are feeling the pinch particularly hard, with transport costs up 10 per cent on last year.
“These figures are made worse by poor profitability and business confidence, which creates a tough climate for pay bargainers.
“But global inflationary pressures and the weak state of our economy mean an interest rate rise is the wrong answer to this problem, and would only make matters worse.
“The Chancellor must do more to encourage growth, otherwise the squeeze on living standards will get even tighter and further jeopardise our recovery.”

Fair Fares now campaign for fairer, simpler ticketing on public transport.

The Campaign for Better Transport is running a Fair Fares Now campaign, mobilising public support for affordable, fairer and simpler ticketing on public transport. It is specifically organising opposition to the Government’s plans to allow regulated rail ticket prices to increase at 3% over RPI per year over the next four years.
The campaign is supported by TUC, RMT, ASLEF, TSSA and Unite. More information can be found at www.fairfaresnow.org.uk
They are looking for additional support as follows:
• Lobbying MPs for support for the Early Day Motion: http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-11/1577

• Send out the email template below:
Fair Fares Now: ask your MP to support affordable train fares
Are you fed up with paying a huge chunk of your salary on train tickets just to get to work every day? Are you frustrated by delays and overcrowded trains?
This Government promised us fair fares when it came to power, but now fares are set to rise four times faster than wages next year. This is going to hit people hard, unless we put a stop to it. We need to come together and pile on the pressure to avoid these punitive fare hikes.
Please write to your MP and ask them to support a Parliamentary motion (Early Day Motion #1577) urging the Government to reconsider its decision to raise fares even further next year. And join the campaign to show your support for cheaper, simpler and fairer fares.

New support for LGBT people at work on International Day Against Homophobia

The TUC has published new guidance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people at work to coincide with International Day Against Homophobia today (Tuesday).
The report – LGBT Equality at Work – covers changes in the law for LGBT people, workplace issues and training, recognising diversity, bullying and harassment, and the public sector equality duty.
It also includes guidance on challenging prejudice and discrimination, and promoting equality at work.
International Day Against Homophobia is held on 17 May each year, and the TUC is urging union members and the general public to use this day to remember LGBT people who have been killed around the world simply because of their sexuality.
Homosexuality is still illegal in 77 countries around the world, and in seven countries women, men and children are punished for their sexuality with death sentences.
In January in Uganda David Kato, a gay rights campaigner who sued a local newspaper which outed him as homosexual, was been beaten to death. The Ugandan parliament recently attempted to re-introduce an anti-homosexuality bill that could sentence LGBT Ugandans to death for “aggravated homosexuality”. There has been mass international lobbying against the bill – which has now been dropped – and the UK government has told the Uganda government of its outrage.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “While unions have successfully campaigned for equal rights for LGBT people in the UK, around the world the situation is sadly very different.
“In many countries LGBT people face harassment, intimidation, violence, ostracism, hate crimes – and even death, just because of their sexuality.
“International Day Against Homophobia is an opportunity for unions to highlight the suffering of LGBT people all around the world, and demand that the way they are treated is improved – both in the workplace and in the wider community.”
To mark International Day Against Homophobia, the Cutting Edge Consortium is running a seminar this evening (Tuesday) at the TUC’s headquarters in London on how the government’s free schools and academies programme could threaten LGBT equality.

The new publication LGBT Equality at Work is available at:

Monday 16 May 2011

PCS Annual Conference

The Public and Commercial Services union, PCS, are holding their annual conference in Brighton this week. The union have special pages on their website to keep members, and other trade unionists, up to date with proceedings. This can be accessed by visiting: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/conference/conference-reports-2011/index.cfm

GMB National Officer to plead not guilty with regard to alleged public order offence at Saltend

GMB is in further talks with the employers this afternoon seeking a formula to get members back to work and a financial settlement for those who wish to leave.
GMB National Official for Engineering Construction, Phil Whitehurst will attend a preliminary hearing at Hull Magistrates Court tomorrow, 17th May 2011 at 11.00 to answer a public order Act charge under Section 14 in connection with the 'lock out' dispute at the BP site in Saltend. GMB is fully supporting our National Official who will be pleading not guilty. GMB have instructed one of the most prominent human rights firms in the country – Bindmans – to represent Phil Whitehurst and will be vigorously contesting this charge.


Mr Whitehurst was arrested on Wednesday 4th May while he was attending the lawful protest against the lock out of 430 workers at the BP site at Saltend, Hull. Mr Whitehurst was taken into police custody at Hull police station and video footage that he took of the event were confiscated. He was released later in the day having been charged with being in breach of Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Hull Magistrates Court is at, The Law Courts, Market Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, HU1 2AD.
Further talks, convened by ACAS, are due to take place at 4 p.m. this afternoon between the employers and the Unions. This follows consideration by the workforce of a proposal put by the employers to pay £3,700 to employees to end the dispute. These 430 workers have been locked out of the site since 14th March 2011.
Talks to date, convened by ACAS, have failed to resolve the dispute. A mass meeting on 21st April of the members lock out rejected an offer to buy out their rights and vowed to continue the dispute until they are allowed back to work at Saltend. The members resume the protest demonstrations outside the site and the first protest demonstration took place on the 21st April.
In the middle of last month GMB announced a four part plan to end the lock out of the 430 workers locked out at the BP construction site in Saltend in Hull.
For the full story visit the GMB Press Office pages on their website at:
http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/latest_news/not_guilty_at_saltend__lockout.aspx

Latest Midlands TUC eNewsletter published

We have published a new eNewsletter on the Midlands pages of the TUC national website. This can be accessed here:  http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-19570-f0.cfm?regional=6
and downloaded as a pdf file if you would like to do so.

In this issue:
• From the Regional Secretary

• Chesterfield May Day on video

• Equality and Human Rights Commission staff take to the streets

• Raise your Banners

• Musicians Union on the move

• And don’t forget the Blog……



Thursday 12 May 2011

Don’t mess with May Day, says TUC

Banners at Chesterfield May Day rally.

Commenting on government proposals published today (Thursday) to move May Day from May to October, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said:  “From trade unionists and holidaymakers to Morris dancers and horticulturists, British people have been celebrating May Day for centuries.  “It makes no sense to mess around with an established bank holiday that workers and businesses have built their schedules around. “Rather than shifting the deck chairs, the government should instead end the UK’s embarrassing honour of having the fewest public holidays in Europe.  “A new bank holiday in late October – focused on community work and volunteering – would give the country a huge boost and help break the four month slog between the August and Christmas breaks.”
The TUC is encouraging people who want to keep May Day to register their comments at the government’s consultation webpage – www.culture.gov.uk/consultations/8068.aspx – and to join the debate on twitter with the hastags #keepmayday and #bankhol.
The economic case for a new bank holiday is made in the TUC report Why the UK can afford a Community Day, available at www.tuc.org.uk/extras/bankholidaybusinesscase.pdf

Hardest hit march attracts thousands

Yesterday's Hardest hit march attracted thousands of people to central London to protest about cuts to the services and support they receive. The Guardian newspaper report of the march can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/11/disabled-marchers-thousands-benefits-protest

They have also produced a video of the march which can be viewed at the above link.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Unprecedented march by the disabled should make government think again

Commenting on the ‘hardest hit’ march against cuts to the benefits and services of disabled people taking place in central London today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Today’s unprecedented demonstration by the disabled should make even the most hard-hearted members of the government think again.
“The march underlines just how much some of the most vulnerable members of our society have been hit by deep spending cuts that have forced the Bank of England to downgrade its growth forecasts.
“The cuts are hurting but they are not working.”

Government proposals could make unemployment even worse, warns TUC


Commenting on the government’s review of employment law published today (Wednesday), Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “We welcome the proposed extension of the right to request flexible working. A broad right to request should have happened years ago, but this is still good news for staff and the employers who will gain from a better motivated workforce.
“But we are very worried by the other proposals up for review.
“High levels of compensation for discrimination are only awarded in severe cases. It is right that people who have lost out through the unfair practices of their employer receive proper compensation – and that helps ensure employers act fairly in the first place.
“Taking a discrimination case is not easy and requires expert legal advice. It is the employer equivalent of the urban myth that there are myriad vexatious claims.
“Making it easier to make people redundant and giving the workforce less time to come up with alternatives to job losses threatens to make unemployment even worse.”
The government’s review of employment law is available at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=419433&NewsAreaID=2

Equalities and Human Rights staff take second day of action




Staff at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission are again taking strike action against huge government cuts. Staff are protesting against cuts of nearly seventy percent in staffing and budgets and will be outside the Birmingham office on Newhall Street from 11.00 a.m. today.
The first day of action was a great success with many staff taking to the streets in support of public services.
The government has already announced it is withdrawing funding for the Commission’s helpline and grants programme and the Commission has also decided to close its regional offices, including the office based in Nottingham covering the East Midlands Region and Birmingham covering the West Midlands Region. These decisions will take effect by March 2012.

Trade Union Rights under threat in Iraq

The following post has been sent out from LabourStart calling for help for Iraq's trade unions.

Click here to support the campaign.

The Iraqi government is once again interfering in the affairs of the country's unions -- and the unions need our help. At their request, we've launched a new online campaign.

If this sounds familiar, it's because stuff like this has been going on for several years now and it's not the first time we've been asked to send off letters of protest.
So the question you may be asking yourself is -- why bother?
It's a question I put to Iraqi trade unionists when they asked me to launch a new campaign this week.
I was surprised to learn that in fact, Iraqi politicians are quite sensitive to these campaigns.
The Prime Minister in a press conference back in December acknowledged the role of international solidarity. This was echoed in a recent meeting between Iraqi union leaders and the Deputy Prime Minister. He told the trade unionists that the government wants to pass a new labour law in order to stop global trade union pressure on the Iraqi government.
In other words, they hear what we've been saying. Our campaigns work.
The most recent crackdown is particularly serious and the Iraqi unions with the full support of the international trade union movement want to flood the Prime Minister's inbox with angry messages from around the world.
Please visit the campaign page, read what the Iraqi government is trying to do and then send off your message of protest.
But please don't stop there.
Forward on this message to your fellow trade union members, to your family and friends.
The Iraqi government doesn't like "global trade union pressure". If that's the case, let's ramp up the pressure. Let's involve thousands of people who've never been involved before. Let's send them a loud and clear message that says --
Hands off the unions!
I hope I can count on your support.
Thank you.
Eric Lee

Only Hours to Stop Uganda's Gay Death Penalty

In a few hours, the Ugandan Parliament may vote on a brutal new law that carries the death penalty for homosexuality. Thousands of Ugandans could face execution -- just for being gay.
We've helped stop this bill before, and we can do it again. After a massive global outcry last year, Ugandan President Museveni blocked the bill's progress. But political unrest is mounting in Uganda, and religious extremists in Parliament are hoping confusion and violence in the streets will distract the international community from a second push to pass this hate-filled law. We can show them that the world is still watching. If we block the vote for two more days until Parliament closes, the bill will expire forever.
We have no time to lose. Over 700.000 of us have already joined the call -- let’s get to one million voices against Uganda's gay death penalty in the next 12 hours -- click here to take action: http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?cl=1061321563&v=9063



Monday 9 May 2011

Labour gain nine councils

The local election results last Thursday mean that the Labour Party have gained control of nine councils across the midlands. In the east midlands there were gains in: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Chesterfirld, Gedling, Lincoln, and Mansfield. In the west midlands there were gains in North Warwickshire, Stoke on Trent and Telford and the Wrekin.
The result in Stoke on Trent was particularly significant in that the BNP were rejected by residents  in all the cwards where they stood, in the process losing five sitting councillors. indeed, across the region only one BNP councillor was successful, a desperate situation for a party that just a year ago had hopes of breakign through across the country.

Friday 6 May 2011

Banner Theatre’s 1st of May Band is touring Fighting the Cuts!

Banner Theatre’s 1st of May Band is touring Fighting the Cuts!, a multimedia cabaret of songs, music, comedy and video. The Band delivers a punchy soundscape of reggae, rap, flamenco, folk and blues to lay bare the real story behind the crisis, and support the campaign to defend our welfare state.
See this exciting and hard-hitting new show on:
 
Friday 3 June 2011 at 7.30pm

Déda, Chapel Street, Derby DE1 3GU
Tickets £6.00 / £4.00 concessions
Box Office: 01332 370911 Website: www.deda.uk.com
Car parking available at Chapel Street Multistorey
Organised by Derby50KClub

Thursday 5 May 2011

Home of Ashfield District Council candidate targeted by racists



The article below has been reprinted from the Ashfield CHAD newspaper and yet again clearly shows the difference between the racist and legitimate political parties.
Annesley home of politician Don Davis, which was daubed with a swastika and BNP graffiti.
http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/home_of_ashfield_district_council_candidate_targeted_by_racists_1_3346639
Published on Thursday 5 May 2011 08:35


RACIST graffiti has been daubed on the home of an Annesley political candidate who is campaigning for a seat on Ashfield District Council.
Don Davis, of Derby Road, said he was horrified after discovering a Nazi swastika had been scrawled on his garden fence sometime between the evening of Thursday 21st April and the following morning.
Someone had also sprayed ‘BNP’ - believed to refer to far right political party, the British National Party.
The Labour Party member said prior to the incident, thugs had damaged campaign signs he had fixed to the fence.
“I did not really know what to make of the vandalism but this disgusting graffiti was something else completely - I was horrified.
“The incident has caused a lot of stress and worry in the family and I have made the decision not to put the signs back up. But then you wonder has what these thugs have done prevented me from having my right to express my political opinion?”
Mr Davis said his car had also been damaged by key scratches while he was out canvassing for support.
But he would not let the incidents put him off standing for the role of Ashfield District Councillor for the Woodhouse ward in tomorrow’s local election.
“It makes me more determined to win and work to make sure things like this do not happen. People do not want to see this sort of thing going on around here,” he said.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they were investigating reports of vandalism and treating the incident as a hate crime. Anyone with information should ring them on 0300 3009999.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Equalities and Human Rights staff take action


Employees at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission took strike action today against proposals to cut funding by 68% and staffing by 66%. Workers at the Birmingham office and call centre took to the streets to make their point. Boosted by support from the public and passing motorists workers commited to fighting cuts which will mean closing the public helpline which advises people of their rights and will mena the closure of regional offices.
One worker on the picket line said, "It is not just about our jobs, it is about support for the public at a time when they are facing discrimination and are having a really hard time. The services we provide may not get headlines but are invaluable to the thousands of people who rely on the EHRC for justice."
You can show your support for EHRC staff and the work thye do by signing the online petition at: gopetition.com/petition/43944.html
Alternatively sign up to the Facebook page, "Save the Equality and Human Rights Commission" or email your MP and Trevor Phillips via the PCS website at: www.pcs.org.uk/ehrc

Chesterfield May Day 2011 video launched

Chesterfield May Day, one of a number of long standing and excellent trade union celebrations, has a video of the march which can be viewed below.



Tuesday 3 May 2011

Voting has opened for the Labour video of the year

Voting has started in LabourStart's annual Labour video of the year competition. Details can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/599P5KX

And the LabourStart website can be found here: http://www.labourstart.org/

I laughed out loud at one of the vidoes, well worth watching them all and do vote.

EHRC staff to take action against proposed cuts

PCS and Unite are looking for support for the first industrial action supporting staff at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission who are facing unprecedented cuts to staff and services.
Recent media coverage has reported that staff at the EHRC voted overwhelmingly in favour 1 hour strikes over plans which would effectively close the Commission ending most of its advice services to the public and communities. Our first day of action is a one-hour walkout on 4 May at 11am –12pm.
We are now asking our partners to join us for this first day of action in support of our campaign to save the Commission for future generations.
The government has already announced it is withdrawing funding for the Commission’s helpline and grants programme and the Commission has also decided to close its regional offices, including the office based in Birmingham covering the West Midlands Region. These decisions will take effect by March 2012.
At a time of unprecedented cuts that will hit the most vulnerable in society hardest I'm sure you'll agree that it is vital to show the government that we will stand together to protect this vital service.
Where to meet:
We will be assembling at 11am – 12pm at the rear entrance to the Commission's Birmingham office, (EHRC 3rd Floor Lancaster House, 67 Newhall Street, B3 1NA) on the public footpath (on the corner).

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is proposing to more than halve the number of staff from 460 to 200 within 12 months – PCS is calling on EHRC chair Trevor Phillips to reveal his plans for the future of the organisation, challenging him to define the ‘core functions’ which he claims will be protected. The government is currently consulting over the Commission’s future and is proposing to amend the Equality Act 2006 to strip the Commission of many of its key powers and duties.
When the Commission was formed in 2007 its budget was £70 million. This was later reduced to £60 million, then £53 million by the new government last year. The government now wants to cut funding down to £22.5 million by 2015.
Cuts on this scale would mean employers and public authorities would no longer be held to account if they carried out discriminatory policies, and would also effectively end the commission’s legal work – a recent example of which ensured six million carers in Britain are protected against discrimination in employment.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members are experts in their fields and this strike vote shows they are prepared to fight to maintain a proper national equality and human rights body at a time when government cuts are making it more likely people will face discrimination and disadvantage. “We do not accept the need for these cuts and the commission should talk to us urgently about the alternatives which would end the need for a strike and protect the vital services our members provide.”

If you can't join us on the day there are many other ways to support our campaign:
• Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 923 to safeguard the remit, funding and staffing of the EHRC
• write to Theresa May MP, Minister for Women and Equality and other Minsters you or your organisation may have close links with asking them to maintain the EHRC functions servicing the communities.
• Sign the petition http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43944.html. Please sign the online petition against EHRC cuts and ask your friends & family to sign.
MINISTERS THAT YOU MAY WISH TO APPROACH
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 5206
mayt@parliament.uk 
geo.corres@geo.gsi.gov.uk
Lynne Featherstone MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8401
featherstonel@parliament.uk
Lynne.Featherstone@geo.gsi.gov.uk
Naturally, you may have your own contacts whom you may wish to approach. We hope we can rely on your support in these very difficult and uncertain times.
Also you will be interested to know that the Government have started their public consultation into the future of the EHRC and PCS will be shortly producing a draft response which people can use should they wish to do so. The consultation can be found here: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/what_we_do/ehrc_reform.aspx

UNISON Connexions members to hold second half day stike


UNISON Connexions members will stage a second half day of industrial action to fight the threatened compulsory redundancies with 36 jobs at risk in Connexions in Birmingham. A widely supported first day of action on 6th April closed all Connexions centres and they will again be closed on this second day of action as UNISON members make a committed and firm stand.
Union members will protest against cuts outside Northfield, Kings Heath and Broad Street offices from 1pm when the strike starts.
UNISON will hold a Rally and People’s Debate about the cuts to Connexions and to many other support and education services for young people in Victoria Square outside the council house from 2.15pm.
Young people, union members and MPs and Councillors will debate the issues behind the cuts in an open air debate the day before the local elections. Labour MP for Erdington Jack Dromey is expected to take part.



UNISON Connexions Convenor John Grifffin saids: “We need to remember that young people and Connexions workers are now paying with their jobs and future prospects for the debts of bankers earning massive bonuses. Birmingham City Council has set a budget which puts these jobs at risk. Another solution needs to be found for the sake of the young people threatened with a lifetime of joblessness.”


UNISON Head of Local Government, Tony Rabaiotti commented: “The Connexions campaign has been running for months and the support we have had from the people of Birmingham has been magnificent. People have been telling us how much they value Connexions, that cutting support for young people at a time of high unemployment is economic insanity and that they will continue to speak up for our Connexions service. I am sure this day of action will once again be well supported and am sure that the people of Birmingham will show their displeasure at these cuts at the ballot box on Thursday in the local elections”
- Connexions provides careers advice and information advice and guidance to young people 13-19 and is available to all of Birmingham’s schools.
- Connexions drop in centres for young unemployed in Aston, Handsworth and Erdington closed in October and November. In April Birmingham City Council approved a 30% budget cut for Connexions that means 36 jobs including front line advisers are at risk.
- The Conservative-led government has axed Connexions from April 2012 and has told schools to provide Careers advice without any funds for them to provide trained advisers

Health and Safety Parliamentary Lobby and Rally - Tuesday 10th May, 14:30-16:30, Committee Room 14

The GMB has organised the above event to discuss the impact of the Government's changes to health and safety policy on workers. Invited speakers include Peter Hain, Jim Sheridan, Chuka Umunna, Lord McKenzie of Luton, Len McCluskey and Dave Prentis. The forthcoming review of health and safety legislation, combined with the budget cuts to the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities, will have far reaching consequences for workplace health and safety. The rally will hear views from across the labour movement, and identify priorities for political action.
Further information is available on request from the GMB National Health and Safety Department - John McClean (01462 492400; john.mcclean@gmb.org.uk) and Dan Shears (0208 971 4246; daniel.shears@gmb.org.uk).