Britain's banking system is out of control, says TUC

Commenting today (Friday) on the latest news that banks have been mis-selling risky insurance products to small businesses, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

"Britain's banking system is out of control. We are now paying a heavy price for the decades when banks and finance persuaded politicians that they were the new engines of growth.

"Yet in just three weeks RBS systems have collapsed, Barclay's has been caught market rigging and now a range of banks have been exposed for selling risky investment bank products to retail small business customers. Across Europe millions are suffering austerity in order to bail out the banks.

"But the worst that ever seems to happen to top bankers is that they have to give up their bonus while they claim they did not know what was going on in the companies they run.

"It's time for a fresh start for our finance sector that makes banking a utility that serves the rest of the economy, and ensures bank cheats face prison.

"We need a Leveson-style inquiry for banks - in public, with cross-examination and the powers to make recommendations for genuine banking reform."

TUC General Secretary visit to Derbyshire

Brendan Barber, the TUC General Secretary visited Derbyshire to hear first hand how business is coping in the recession. Brendan was able to talk to employers and trade union reps about the current situation, while he was also able to see how workplace based learning is improving the prospects for those in manufacturing.
A visit to Derby College was the first order of the day, where a new protocol for the provision of trade union education was signed by the Principle, David Craggs and Mr Barber. Here a tour of the college enginering and catering centres enabled Brendan to talk to students about their courses and where they saw their futures.
An interview with Robin Johnston from teh Derby Evening telegraph appeared in the paper today and can be accessed here

TUC General Secretary to visit Derby College and cutting-edge manufacturers

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber (above) is set to visit Derby College and three of the county’s cutting-edge manufacturers in what may be his last official visit to the East Midlands before he retires at the end of the year.

The visit which takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) begins with a tour of the Roundhouse site at Derby College. Here Brendan Barber and outgoing Principal David Croll will sign a new agreement covering the future of trade union education at the college. Every year it trains around 800 union representatives which helps contribute to more effective industrial relations across the region.

Commenting on the agreement Brendan Barber said: “I am delighted to be able to reaffirm our continuing relationship with Derby College by signing this new protocol. There are clear benefits for both employers and employees of having well-trained union representatives in the workplace so our joint work is very important.”

Following the protocol signing, Brendan Barber will set off on a whistle-stop tour of three key Derbyshire manufacturers – Royal Crown Derby, John Smedley in Lea Bridge, and Courtaulds Textiles in Belper. At each location, Brendan will talk to managers and to reps from the Unity and Community unions about the contribution that learning is making to each company.

At each of the long-established sites, Brendan will also discuss how the firms are weathering the UK’s economic downturn, and will find out more about why staying in the East Midlands is so important to them.

On the trip around these key industrial sites Brendan Barber said: “All three companies have shown faith in their Derbyshire workforce despite the harsh economic climate and this visit acknowledges that. Maintaining and developing the diverse range of skills associated with manufacturing is essential not just to the people and communities the county but also to the success of the wider UK economy.”

Going to Tolpuddle? Catch the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists play on Friday night

As part of this years Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival organisers are bringing back Townsends Productions sell out adaptation of Robert Tressell's classic working-class novel to St Marys School, Puddletown.

It is a hilarious fast-paced show following a year in the life of a group of painters and decorators, as they renovate the town Mayor's house. These workers are the "philanthropists" who throw themselves into back-breaking work for poverty wages in order to generate profit for their masters. 

This vibrant, lively story is brought to life by two hugely talented and experienced performers, Neil Gore and Rodney Matthew, using comedy routines, entertaining songs, live music from the Music Hall and uplifting hymns sung in graceful harmony. 

The show has been selling out all over the country, including a couple of runs care of Artsreach in Dorset. After the festival it heads to the Edinburgh Festival for a month residency.

Its is a brilliant adaption of an important book and is as relevant today as it was when Robert Tressell wrote it over a 100 years ago. It is lively and entertaining, and though it gets serious points across it does so in a way that never preaches or attempts to alienate the audience.

More info on the show can be found at Townsends website:

http://www.townsendproductions.org.uk/productions

The show takes place at St Marys Middle School, Puddletown on Friday 13th July at 7.30. Tickets are £9.50 and £8.00 and can be bought in advance from the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum Shop in person or by calling (01305) 848 237. For more info on the rest of the festival log onto www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk

Disability Forum celebrate contribution to Aids charity

Members of the Midlands TUC Disability Forum with the presentation cheque for nearly £500 to support Trade Sexual Health

The Midlands TUC Disability Forum lead a fundraising event for World Aids Day last December with members of Unison and Unite descending on the Nightingale Club to raise awareness of our trade union movement and to bucket collect for two HIV charities in the midlands that face funding reductions through PCT and local government budget cuts

 The trade union team was very well received at the club and the majority of customers being either young LGBT or students meant we were able to educate and inform about both the importance of trade unions and raise awareness of HIV.

Collectively over £500 was raised between the bucket collection, donations from Unite the Union West Midlands, Unison Sussex Police and Justice Branch, HSBC Commercial Services Leicester and thanks go to the support of our Unite and Unison members, especially the Unison West Midlands LGBT Self  Organised Group!

Disability Forum consider needs at TUC marches

The Midlands TUC Disability Forum today discussed what can make a trade union march and rally better from the viewpoint of a member with a disability. A number of things were highlighted by members of the Forum, including:

·      Hosting those with disabilities at the front of the march so they can help set the pace of the march;

·      Having a number of places organised where disabled members could join a march, so shortening the route or avoiding hills and slopes;

·      Refuge and toilet facilities

·      Appropriately briefed and aware stewards

·      The provision of a bus for the use of members when they are tired, so allowing them to keep up with the march rather than drop out.

 

The autumn will see two import campaign marches and rallies – at the Conservative Party rally in Birmingham on 7^th October and the TUC March for a Future that Works in London on 20^th October. These comments will help TUC march organisers get it right on the day.