The Midlands TUC has published a new newsletter which can be found at: https://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-17382-f0.cfm?regional=6
This is an occasional publication and back copies can be viewed at the Midl;ands TUC website: https://www.tuc.org.uk/newsroom/newsletters.cfm?regional=6
Midlands TUC Media This blog contains material from the Midlands TUC. Our media releases will appear on this site as well as linking to the Midlands TUC website which hosts our enewsletters and much more.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Over 14,000 will spend their second successive Christmas on the dole in the East Midlands
Over 14,000 east midland people will be spending their second successive Christmas on the dole, a TUC analysis of labour market statistics reveals today (Wednesday).
The TUC analysis shows that the number of people in the region claiming Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for over 12 months has increased from 6,400 in December 2008 to 14,350 in November 2009 and the number of long-term dole claimants will continue to rise into the new year, the TUC says.
The national analysis reveals that 58 local authority areas already have over 1,000 long-term JSA claimants, compared to just 19 in December 2008. In the east midlands there are two local authorities, Leicester and Nottingham, which have exceeded two thousand JSA claimants. Northampton and Derby have both seen significant increases in the long term unemployed, pushing both local authority areas closer to 1,000 JSA claimants. The number of JSA claimants has more than doubled in 34 local authority areas across the east midlands, with sharp rises away from the three cities in areas such as Erewash, Corby, Blaby, Daventry and Melton.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The festive period is an expensive time of year and the 200,000 people spending their second Christmas on the dole face even greater financial hardship.
“While millions of working families are enjoying their Christmas food and presents together, those reliant on JSA will struggle to afford much Christmas cheer.
“Every job loss is a human tragedy, but when people are out of work for over a year they risk being permanently scarred by joblessness.
“Government investment has kept unemployment well below the levels reached in previous recessions, but there can be no room for complacency.
“The Government should extend its job guarantee for young people to anyone out of work for 18 months to stop people getting mired in semi-permanent joblessness.”
For the full release and statistics go to: http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-17373-f0.cfm?regional=6
The TUC analysis shows that the number of people in the region claiming Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for over 12 months has increased from 6,400 in December 2008 to 14,350 in November 2009 and the number of long-term dole claimants will continue to rise into the new year, the TUC says.
The national analysis reveals that 58 local authority areas already have over 1,000 long-term JSA claimants, compared to just 19 in December 2008. In the east midlands there are two local authorities, Leicester and Nottingham, which have exceeded two thousand JSA claimants. Northampton and Derby have both seen significant increases in the long term unemployed, pushing both local authority areas closer to 1,000 JSA claimants. The number of JSA claimants has more than doubled in 34 local authority areas across the east midlands, with sharp rises away from the three cities in areas such as Erewash, Corby, Blaby, Daventry and Melton.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The festive period is an expensive time of year and the 200,000 people spending their second Christmas on the dole face even greater financial hardship.
“While millions of working families are enjoying their Christmas food and presents together, those reliant on JSA will struggle to afford much Christmas cheer.
“Every job loss is a human tragedy, but when people are out of work for over a year they risk being permanently scarred by joblessness.
“Government investment has kept unemployment well below the levels reached in previous recessions, but there can be no room for complacency.
“The Government should extend its job guarantee for young people to anyone out of work for 18 months to stop people getting mired in semi-permanent joblessness.”
For the full release and statistics go to: http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-17373-f0.cfm?regional=6
Over 27,000 people in the west midlands spending second Christmas on the dole
Over 27,000 west midlands people will be spending their second successive Christmas on the dole, a TUC analysis of labour market statistics reveals today (Wednesday).
The TUC analysis shows that the number of people in the region claiming Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for over 12 months has increased from 15,200 in December 2008 to 27,500 in November 2009 and the number of long-term dole claimants will continue to rise into the new year, the TUC says.
The national analysis reveals that 58 local authority areas already have over 1,000 long-term JSA claimants, compared to just 19 in December 2008. In the west midlands there are now seven local authorities with over 1,000 JSA claimants compared to just one, Birmingham, a year ago. In addition to Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall have all seen significant increases in the long term unemployed, each recording over 1,000 additional JSA claimants since December 2008. The number of JSA claimants has more than doubled in 21 local authority areas across the west midlands, with sharp rises away from the west midlands conurbation in areas such as Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock Chase, Tamworth, Redditch and Stratford-on-Avon.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The festive period is an expensive time of year and the 200,000 people spending their second Christmas on the dole face even greater financial hardship.
“While millions of working families are enjoying their Christmas food and presents together, those reliant on JSA will struggle to afford much Christmas cheer.
“Every job loss is a human tragedy, but when people are out of work for over a year they risk being permanently scarred by joblessness.
“Government investment has kept unemployment well below the levels reached in previous recessions, but there can be no room for complacency.
“The Government should extend its job guarantee for young people to anyone out of work for 18 months to stop people getting mired in semi-permanent joblessness.”
For the full press release and statistics go to: http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-17372-f0.cfm?regional=6
The TUC analysis shows that the number of people in the region claiming Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) for over 12 months has increased from 15,200 in December 2008 to 27,500 in November 2009 and the number of long-term dole claimants will continue to rise into the new year, the TUC says.
The national analysis reveals that 58 local authority areas already have over 1,000 long-term JSA claimants, compared to just 19 in December 2008. In the west midlands there are now seven local authorities with over 1,000 JSA claimants compared to just one, Birmingham, a year ago. In addition to Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall have all seen significant increases in the long term unemployed, each recording over 1,000 additional JSA claimants since December 2008. The number of JSA claimants has more than doubled in 21 local authority areas across the west midlands, with sharp rises away from the west midlands conurbation in areas such as Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock Chase, Tamworth, Redditch and Stratford-on-Avon.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The festive period is an expensive time of year and the 200,000 people spending their second Christmas on the dole face even greater financial hardship.
“While millions of working families are enjoying their Christmas food and presents together, those reliant on JSA will struggle to afford much Christmas cheer.
“Every job loss is a human tragedy, but when people are out of work for over a year they risk being permanently scarred by joblessness.
“Government investment has kept unemployment well below the levels reached in previous recessions, but there can be no room for complacency.
“The Government should extend its job guarantee for young people to anyone out of work for 18 months to stop people getting mired in semi-permanent joblessness.”
For the full press release and statistics go to: http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-17372-f0.cfm?regional=6
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
CWU Youth Conference and Social event - 29th and 30th January 2010
The CWU will be holding its Annual Youth Conference on Saturday 30th January 2010 at the Regional Offices, 46-48 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3TH. The CWU would like to offer any young activists from other unions the fraternal invitation to attend this event as a visitor and guest of the CWU.
In addition, the CWU Midland Regional Youth Committee (MRYC) have organised a social event the night before for attending delegates. This is an open invite to that event also.
The venue for the social event is:
VELVET BAR
200 BROAD STREET
BIRMINGHAM
B15 1SU
The social kicks off from 19:30 till late. There will be a buffet available and music from the brilliant experimental hip-hop band 7th Wave and guest DJ’s. The MRYC have as one of their priorities for the year to fund raise for the CWU Humanitarian Aid charity - the social event is an ideal opportunity to generate donations for CWU HA in the form of raffle prizes etc. Any assistance in this venture would be very much appreciated and the CWU Midland Youth Committee would welcome any affordable donations unions can afford to make fund raising for CWU HA more successful.
To donate for the purchasing of raffle prizes etc please make any cheques payable to “CWU YOUTH” or to donate directly to CWU HA please make any cheques payable to “CWU Humanitarian Aid” – please send any donations to:
CWU Midland Regional Youth Committee,
C/O CWU Room G01,
29 St. Katherines Street,
Northampton, NN1 2QZ
For more info on CWU HA go to: http://www.cwuha.org/
On behalf of the CWU I sincerely hope that a young activist from your Union will be able to attend the Youth Conference and the social event. To reserve a place please contact me at:
MIDLAND REGIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE
c/o CWU Room GO1
29 St Katherines Street,
Northampton, NN1 2QZ
Mob: 07711070684 Email: gareth.eales@yahoo.co.uk
Yours fraternally,
Gareth Eales
CWU Midland Regional Youth Secretary
In addition, the CWU Midland Regional Youth Committee (MRYC) have organised a social event the night before for attending delegates. This is an open invite to that event also.
The venue for the social event is:
VELVET BAR
200 BROAD STREET
BIRMINGHAM
B15 1SU
The social kicks off from 19:30 till late. There will be a buffet available and music from the brilliant experimental hip-hop band 7th Wave and guest DJ’s. The MRYC have as one of their priorities for the year to fund raise for the CWU Humanitarian Aid charity - the social event is an ideal opportunity to generate donations for CWU HA in the form of raffle prizes etc. Any assistance in this venture would be very much appreciated and the CWU Midland Youth Committee would welcome any affordable donations unions can afford to make fund raising for CWU HA more successful.
To donate for the purchasing of raffle prizes etc please make any cheques payable to “CWU YOUTH” or to donate directly to CWU HA please make any cheques payable to “CWU Humanitarian Aid” – please send any donations to:
CWU Midland Regional Youth Committee,
C/O CWU Room G01,
29 St. Katherines Street,
Northampton, NN1 2QZ
For more info on CWU HA go to: http://www.cwuha.org/
On behalf of the CWU I sincerely hope that a young activist from your Union will be able to attend the Youth Conference and the social event. To reserve a place please contact me at:
MIDLAND REGIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE
c/o CWU Room GO1
29 St Katherines Street,
Northampton, NN1 2QZ
Mob: 07711070684 Email: gareth.eales@yahoo.co.uk
Yours fraternally,
Gareth Eales
CWU Midland Regional Youth Secretary
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
TUC sets Chancellor three big tasks for the PBR
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The Chancellor has three big tasks in the Pre-Budget Report (PBR).
“He must do nothing to endanger economic recovery by taking premature action on the deficit. Unemployment is still rising and the economy remains fragile.
“He must do more to help the jobless, particularly action to prevent this generation of school and college leavers being scarred for life.
“And he must show that those who brought about the crash and did so well out of the boom years will pay the price of putting it right. A windfall tax on bank bonuses should just be the start of building a fair tax system and reforming finance.
“We need a finance system that once again serves the rest of the economy, not just itself.”
“He must do nothing to endanger economic recovery by taking premature action on the deficit. Unemployment is still rising and the economy remains fragile.
“He must do more to help the jobless, particularly action to prevent this generation of school and college leavers being scarred for life.
“And he must show that those who brought about the crash and did so well out of the boom years will pay the price of putting it right. A windfall tax on bank bonuses should just be the start of building a fair tax system and reforming finance.
“We need a finance system that once again serves the rest of the economy, not just itself.”
Monday, 7 December 2009
Leading economists say now is not the time to cut spending
Commenting on the letter from a dozen leading economists urging the Chancellor not to undermine recovery with cuts, published in the Financial Times today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“This letter that shows that while politicians talk tough on public spending, our leading economists are deeply concerned about immediate spending cuts which could undermine recovery.
“Those who think the recession is over and are calling for immediate deep public spending cuts are being dangerously complacent.
“With unemployment rising, and both consumer and business confidence on a knife edge, cutting back on spending now runs the risk of sending us into a second wave of recession.”
Full text of letter
Sir, As we look forward to the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) there is inevitability a great deal of debate about the best pace and scale of reductions in the deficit and about how to balance the likely solutions of economic growth, tax and spend.
These are important concerns the Chancellor will want to address but the more immediate focus of the PBR is the financial year ahead. As economists with a variety of specialties, we urge the Chancellor to resist any temptation to start cutting public spending in 2010/11.
Despite improvement in the outlook, taking risks at this point while recovery is delicate would risk a return to recession. What progress has been made towards recovery in the UK and abroad has been, in some considerable part, due to decisions by governments to increase spending as a stimulus, to actively support labour markets and to accept higher deficits as an inevitable outcome of these measures.
To reverse this policy just when it is having an effect would be mistaken. Although, in such unusual times, it is difficult to be sure of the best actions to take, we feel that the balance of risk suggests our country should be more concerned about a likely deepening of unemployment than about possible inflationary pressure.
Reducing the deficit now through spending cuts would undermine the recovery and ultimately damage the public finances further.
Professor David Blanchflower, Dartmouth College and University of Stirling
Professor David Bell, University of Stirling
Professor William Brown, Cambridge University
Professor Paul Dolan, Imperial College, London
Professor Peter Elias, University of Warwick
Professor Robert Elliott, Aberdeen University
Professor Saul Estrin, London School of Economics
Professor Richard Freeman, Harvard University and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics.
Professor Geraint Johnes, Lancaster University
Professor Robert MacCulloch, Imperial College, London
Professor Stephen Machin, University College London and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics.
Professor Andrew Oswald, University of Warwick
“This letter that shows that while politicians talk tough on public spending, our leading economists are deeply concerned about immediate spending cuts which could undermine recovery.
“Those who think the recession is over and are calling for immediate deep public spending cuts are being dangerously complacent.
“With unemployment rising, and both consumer and business confidence on a knife edge, cutting back on spending now runs the risk of sending us into a second wave of recession.”
Full text of letter
Sir, As we look forward to the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) there is inevitability a great deal of debate about the best pace and scale of reductions in the deficit and about how to balance the likely solutions of economic growth, tax and spend.
These are important concerns the Chancellor will want to address but the more immediate focus of the PBR is the financial year ahead. As economists with a variety of specialties, we urge the Chancellor to resist any temptation to start cutting public spending in 2010/11.
Despite improvement in the outlook, taking risks at this point while recovery is delicate would risk a return to recession. What progress has been made towards recovery in the UK and abroad has been, in some considerable part, due to decisions by governments to increase spending as a stimulus, to actively support labour markets and to accept higher deficits as an inevitable outcome of these measures.
To reverse this policy just when it is having an effect would be mistaken. Although, in such unusual times, it is difficult to be sure of the best actions to take, we feel that the balance of risk suggests our country should be more concerned about a likely deepening of unemployment than about possible inflationary pressure.
Reducing the deficit now through spending cuts would undermine the recovery and ultimately damage the public finances further.
Professor David Blanchflower, Dartmouth College and University of Stirling
Professor David Bell, University of Stirling
Professor William Brown, Cambridge University
Professor Paul Dolan, Imperial College, London
Professor Peter Elias, University of Warwick
Professor Robert Elliott, Aberdeen University
Professor Saul Estrin, London School of Economics
Professor Richard Freeman, Harvard University and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics.
Professor Geraint Johnes, Lancaster University
Professor Robert MacCulloch, Imperial College, London
Professor Stephen Machin, University College London and Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics.
Professor Andrew Oswald, University of Warwick
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Midlands TUC condemns English Defence League presence in Nottingham
The Midlands TUC today (Saturday) issued a statement condemning the English Defence League for holding a rally in the centre of Nottingham.
Cheryl Pidgeon, Regional Secretary of the Midlands TUC said, “We know that this group includes football hooligans and racist thugs who are intent on causing trouble. Their claim to be protesting against radical Islam has been shown to be a fraud, as their behaviour in other cities has shown, where they quickly descend into exposing their hate for all Muslims. They have chosen to come to Nottingham on the day that a local football derby match takes place, with Leicester City visiting Forest, and on the day the Mercian Regiment marches through the city. The timing is designed to cause maximum disruption to the people of Nottingham and will place severe demands on police resources today. The Midlands TUC rejects the EDL message of hate, and would urge the people of Nottingham to do the same leaving the EDL in no doubt that their shameful politics is not welcome in this fine city.”
Cheryl Pidgeon, Regional Secretary of the Midlands TUC said, “We know that this group includes football hooligans and racist thugs who are intent on causing trouble. Their claim to be protesting against radical Islam has been shown to be a fraud, as their behaviour in other cities has shown, where they quickly descend into exposing their hate for all Muslims. They have chosen to come to Nottingham on the day that a local football derby match takes place, with Leicester City visiting Forest, and on the day the Mercian Regiment marches through the city. The timing is designed to cause maximum disruption to the people of Nottingham and will place severe demands on police resources today. The Midlands TUC rejects the EDL message of hate, and would urge the people of Nottingham to do the same leaving the EDL in no doubt that their shameful politics is not welcome in this fine city.”
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