Midlands TUC comment on Occupy protests

The severe impact of the recession and subsequent flat growth in the economy has meant that the majority of the population are paying the price of the governments’ austerity policies.

We have seen the rise of new forms of protest including the Occupy  protests, which are both unconventional and novel means of attracting media coverage to the inequalities and unfairness faced by so many today.

Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said, “These protest raise important questions that will not go away, questions that resonate with many in the country who face cuts to jobs and  services. These protests are quite different from traditional trade union protests but have struck a chord with many trade unionists and have the support of many in our movement. While the Occupy movement raise these questions our aim must be to continue raising the case for an economic alternative for jobs and growth.”

“Tough year ahead” says Midlands TUC Chair

Lee Barron, re elected as Chair of the Midlands TUC

Lee Barron has been elected Chair of the Midlands TUC for the second year running at Saturday’s annual conference in Derby. Lee is a member of the Communication Workers Union and was overwhelmingly voted in as Chair for another 12 months at Midlands TUC annual conference, representing almost 1 million trade unionists across the Midlands.
Lee Barron, Midlands TUC Chair, said: “I’m pleased to be elected for another term to this important role in the Midlands.
“I will continue with the trade union movement’s work of being the last-line of defence for working people against the government cuts.
“We’ve seen how effective our campaigns against job and welfare cuts can be – with the situation hopefully looking brighter at Bombardier and major changes being made to the government’s Health and Social Care Bill which so badly threatens our NHS.
“The next year will be a major challenge as the effects of the Tory-led government cuts will hit people across the Midlands even harder. We’ll be taking that message to Tory Party Conference in Birmingham in October and continuing to campaign on behalf of ordinary working people across the region.
“A highlight I’m looking forward to is launching the Women Chainmakers festival in June and continuing our celebration of local history.”


Lee Barron is from Northampton and holds the position of Midlands Regional Secretary for the Communication Workers Union. He was first elected to Midlands TUC Chair in 2011.
Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary, said: “Delegates from across the trade union movement in the Midlands came together in Derby for the 2012 Midlands TUC AGM at the weekend
In the year ahead working people and their families face many challenges as austerity continues to hurt the most vulnerable in our society.
We will be campaigning hard for an alternative economic approach, speaking up for public services and for a fairer society.
Lee Barron, elected for a second year as Midlands TUC Chair, will undoubtedly provide tremendous leadership for the movement throughout the coming important 12 months.”

Midlands TUC Regional Conference 25 February 2012

Now on to transport

Ken Usher, regional officer for RMT moving the composite motion on public transport. Andy Botham from Aslef to speak next.

More from our annual conference

Pictured is Ron Mendel from Northampton trades union council speaking on motions opposing cuts to public services and particularly libraries.

Chris Williamson MP

Midlands TUC welcomes Derby North MP Chris Williamson to our Annual conference today.
The conference takes place at The Roundhouse in Derby and is our main meeting of the year.

Margaret Beckett speaking at Midlands TUC

Margaret Beckett speaking about the Bombardier situation at the Midlands TUC annual conference.

Older workers in east midlands top league table for unpaid overtime

The proportion of employees in their late 50s and early 60s working unpaid overtime has increased sharply in the last decade – despite a fall in unpaid hours for the rest of the workforce – according to a new TUC analysis published today (Friday) to mark Work Your Proper Hours Day.

If workers who regularly put in unpaid overtime worked all their hours from the start of the year, the first day they would get paid would be today (Friday 24 February). The TUC has named this Work Your Hour Proper Hours Day (WYPHD) in their honour.

Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: “Over the last decade, more people are working well into their 60s – and many of them are putting in extra unpaid hours too. Here in the east midlands we know that 106,000 workers over the age of 50 do unpaid overtime, that’s 29.6 percent of all those doing unpaid overtime. That is the highest rate in the country and well in excess of the national average of 26.1%.

“A lot of older workers are keen to reduce their hours as they approach retirement, but many of them have to top up their contracted hours with extra working time for free.

“Around one in five workers regularly do unpaid overtime but it’s becoming the norm in far too many workplaces. Whilst most people have no objection to putting in some extra hours to help their employer through a busy period, an entrenched long hours culture causes stress, health problems and lower morale.

“We’re asking employers to support Work Your Proper Hours Day today by encouraging staff to take a proper lunch break and leave work on time. Given that managers themselves tend to do a lot of unpaid hours, taking a few simple steps to address long hours problems will benefit everyone in the workplace.”

For the full press release and statistical tables go to:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-20676-f0.cfm?regional=6

Surge in older workers doing unpaid overtime in the west midlands

The proportion of employees in their late 50s and early 60s working unpaid overtime has increased sharply in the last decade – despite a fall in unpaid hours for the rest of the workforce – according to a new TUC analysis published today (Friday) to mark Work Your Proper Hours Day.

If workers who regularly put in unpaid overtime worked all their hours from the start of the year, the first day they would get paid would be today (Friday 24 February). The TUC has named this Work Your Hour Proper Hours Day (WYPHD) in their honour.

Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: “Over the last decade, more people are working well into their 60s – and many of them are putting in extra unpaid hours too. Here in the west midlands we know that 112,000 workers over the age of 50 do unpaid overtime, that’s 27.6 percent of all those doing unpaid overtime. That is in excess of the national average of 26.1%.

“A lot of older workers are keen to reduce their hours as they approach retirement, but many of them have to top up their contracted hours with extra working time for free.

“Around one in five workers regularly do unpaid overtime but it’s becoming the norm in far too many workplaces. Whilst most people have no objection to putting in some extra hours to help their employer through a busy period, an entrenched long hours culture causes stress, health problems and lower morale.

“We’re asking employers to support Work Your Proper Hours Day today by encouraging staff to take a proper lunch break and leave work on time. Given that managers themselves tend to do a lot of unpaid hours, taking a few simple steps to address long hours problems will benefit everyone in the workplace.”

For the full press release and statistical tables go to:  

http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-20675-f0.cfm?regional=6

Photo from EHRC picket line today

Photo of PCS Members taking action in Birmingham today.

EHRC staff out in Birmingham

EHRC staff take furrher action to prevent savage cuts to staffing and services in Birmingham today.

Blog Stats - Playstation 3 versus TUC

Every now and again we check to seehow this blog is being accessed and from where in the world. It is always interesting to see which new country appears on the list, normally from the southern hemisphere these days and that is great.

And we are very pleased to see people are accessing this site from IPods, and Ipads and Android phones and the rest - but from a Playstation 3? Guys, really, do we have to compete with Modern Warfare 3 now!!

Unison West Midlands Pensions videos

UNISON in the West Midlands has published a number of videos on YouTube featuring members talking about pensions in their sector. these can be viewed here: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/unisonwm

Have a look, a really good initiative!

Derby vigil to protest against cuts to disabled people

The Derby Unemployed and Claimants group are organising a peaceful vigil to protest against  cuts to local and national benefits which will undermine the independence of disabled people and our ability to lead useful and enjoyable lives.

Please show your support by joining our protest outside Derby City Council meeting. 

Oppose the Cuts in Benefits to Disabled People

Join our Peaceful Vigil

Date: Monday 5^th March

Time: 4.00 p.m.  – 7.00 p.m.                                                      

Venue: Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby 

           

Accessible : Bring your friends; we will look after each other.

Organised by Derby Unemployed and Claimants Group c/o UnitetheUnion, Pride Park. Supported by Derby Area Trades Union Council, Hardest Hit Campaign, Derby Labour Party.

Equalities and Human Rights staff on strike this Thursday, 23rd February

The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) PCS National Branch have called another half day strike on the morning of Thursday 23rd February. The strike is the latest in a 10-month campaign against the near dismantling of the commission and the resultant reduction in headcount from over 400 staff to as low as 150.
PCS members at the EHRC will stage a half-day strike against job cuts, closures and privatisation.
Three short strikes were held last summer, but subsequent talks proved fruitless, and last week we were told to expect deeper and faster cuts resulting in even more job losses and outsourcing this year.
The EHRC Chair, Trevor Phillips, has been promoting his 'vision' for a equality body which no longer delivers any public services since early 2010. A 72% jobs cut (compared with 2007) means that over 200 experienced regional, casework and advice staff will face the scrapheap, whilst the Commission continues to retain highly paid management consultants to implement the Chair's change programme.
Our members believe that no more tax payers money should be wasted on another costly restructuring exercise; every penny of our budget should now be spent helping the victims of discrimination and promoting a culture where all are equal and the human rights of all are respected.
There will be picket lines at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday 23 February until noon, in the midlands there will be a picket in Birmingham outside Lancaster House, 67 Newhall Street.
PCS would be grateful if you could bring this dispute to the attention of your local Branches, especially those who may be able to arrange solidarity visits to picket lines.
further information can be obtained from Andrew Lloyd, PCS Regional Secretary on 0121 643 4342, or email ANDREWL@pcs.org.uk
Thanks for your support

ROAR: Root Out All Racism!

Root Out All Racism! Celebrating Multiculturalism in North Staffordshire.



Saturday 24th March 2012, 11 am - 3 pm, Merrial Street Assembly Rooms, Newcastle, ST5 2AD
ROAR: Root Out All Racism! is a multicultural and anti-racism fayre organised by the North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism & Fascism and local community groups. Come along to celebrate the rich diversity of our community and find out more about how we can work together to defend North Staffordshire against racism and fascism. Talks, food, performances and stalls from North Staffs Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, North Staffs TUC, LGBT Network and other supporters.
Updated poster and blog post to follow...

West Midlands Unemployment up by 13,000

Unemployment in the West Midlands rose by 13,000 in the three months to December, official figures have revealed.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that a total of 247,000 people were unemployed in the region between October and December.

The region's unemployment rate was 9.3% and saw an increase of 5.6% during the period. The worst in the UK was the North West which saw the biggest increase in people out of work at 9.3% followed by London at 10.0%.

Across the country the unemployment rate increased to a 16-year high after another rise in the jobless total.

Unemployment jumped by 48,000 in the quarter to December to 2.67 million, a jobless rate of 8.4%, the worst figure since the end of 1995.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 6,900 in January to 1.6 million, the 11th consecutive monthly increase.

The number of women claiming the allowance increased by 1,500 last month to 531,700, the highest figure since the summer of 1995.

A record number of people are working part-time because they cannot find full-time jobs - up by 83,000 over the latest quarter to 1.35 million.

Employment increased by 60,000 to 29 million, mainly due to a rise of 90,000 in the number of part-time employees to 6.6 million.
Other data from the ONS showed a 22,000 increase in youth unemployment to 1.04 million, which includes 307,000 in full-time education who were looking for work.

Source:
http://mediapoint.press.net/article.jsp?id=8169205