Save Our NHS - Manchester, 29 September

Tell the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester: SAVE OUR NHS. Defend Jobs and Services. No to Austerity.

March and Rally - Sunday 29 September 2013

Supporters of the National Health Service and all those who want to defend jobs, services and a decent welfare state will be marching in Manchester to deliver a clear message to Conservative Party Conference that we mean to Save Our NHS from cuts and privatisation.

A march and rally have been called by the North West TUC, backed by unions and NHS campaign groups. They'll be assembling at Liverpool Road (M3 4FP) from 11am, and marching to a rally in Whitworth Park.

The protest will highlight the impact of huge job losses and spending cuts across the health service, as well as the rapid sell-off of the most lucrative parts of the NHS to private healthcare companies - many of whom like Circle are also Conservative Party donors.

The event will also raise concerns about the wider effect that government economic policies are having upon communities across the UK.

Get involved:

• Sign up to support the march and rally  / http://tinyurl.com/ohjempf
• Join the march and Rally on Facebook  / http://tinyurl.com/ptvcb3p
• Follow on Twitter at @NHS299

PDF Downloads:

•  Save our NHS A4 poster - http://tinyurl.com/pw3pflf
• Save our NHS A5 flyer -  http://tinyurl.com/neefyar
• Save our NHS and Pride A5 flyer - http://tinyurl.com/oymmelw

e-Petition To Save the Forestry Commission!

We have received this note from Unite - please support!

Unite was a major part of the fight that saved our Forests from being taken out of public ownership. A key part of that success was the huge public support that was mobilised behind the issue and protecting these open spaces for the benefit of millions of ordinary people. Placing the ownership in to the hands of greedy profit merchants would have had a significant impact on the restrictions to access these areas, many of which are a key feature to some of the most breath taking landscapes within the UK. Our e-petition was supported by thousands of members and the wider public and against such a wave of public outcry the Con-Dem Government thankfully did one of its now infamous U-turns  and has left the future of our Forests in the public domain.

The Government has now enacted a review of the Forestry Commission (FC) with the intention of breaking up the FC. The FC has been responsible for the management of our Forests since 1919 and much of the success of the FC has been down to the dedicated, professional and vocationally motivated staff many of whom are Unite Members.

There exists huge concern that if the commission is allowed to be broken up then that commitment could well be lost in the replacement organisations to the detriment of the ordinary people who access those forests. If the Government are allowed to destroy the FC then who knows what damage may be done and how many workers may be displaced as a consequence.

The clear message must be that protecting the Forestry Commission is a further step to preserving the future of our Forests and those who ensure that these areas are kept in existence for public benefit for this generation and future generations to come.

I am therefore asking that you support the attached e-petition

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/53057

New fees for harassment and abuse claims is great news for Britain’s worst bosses

The TUC has today (Monday) slammed new laws that will force employees to pay upfront fees if they want to pursue a sexual harassment or race discrimination complaint against their employer.

From today it will cost someone £1,200 if they want to take their boss to an employment tribunal hearing for sexually harassing them. Worker’s facing racist abuse will also face the same barriers to justice, says the TUC.

Employees will also have to pay fees for all other employment tribunal claims such as unfair dismissal, discrimination or non-payment of the minimum wage.

The TUC believes these reforms will deter victims from coming forward and force them to suffer in silence.

The TUC says the measures are part of a wider campaign by the government to reduce people’s basic rights at work and stop bad bosses from being held to account. Other measures introduced today include “settlement agreements” that will make it easier and cheaper for an employer to get rid of someone.

The government has already raised the qualifying period for an employee to take an unfair dismissal claim to two years. This means that nearly three million employees can be sacked on a whim if they have been employed for less than two years.

While the government’s plans for tribunal fees include a ‘remission scheme’ which will make some of the lowest paid exempt from the proposed costs,  the TUC believes that a substantial proportion of workers who are on the minimum wage will still be required to pay fees to take a case to an employment tribunal.

This is because the test for the ability to pay will be based on household income rather than an individual’s earnings. This assumes that all household income is shared equally between a couple. The TUC does not agree that a woman’s capacity to enforce her individual rights should depend on her partner’s income.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: “Today is a great day for Britain’s worst bosses. By charging up-front fees for harassment and abuse claims the government is making it easier for employers to get away with the most appalling behaviour.

“These reforms are part of a wider campaign to get rid of workers’ basic rights at work. Its only achievement will be to price vulnerable people out of justice.”

Youth contract figures are not cause for celebration, warns TUC

Commenting on today’s (Monday) Youth Contract statistics, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It is far too early for the government to be hailing the Youth Contract a success. Closer reading of today’s figures show that of the 7,810 people who started on this scheme 26 weeks or more ago, only 2,870 found long-term jobs. In other words, 63 per cent of those who started left employment before six months.

“There is also still a huge issue with employer take-up. Research published last month shows that nearly one in three (31 per cent) firms are still not aware of this initiative, and of those that are, fewer than one in five (18 per cent) intend to make use of it.”

EDL in Birmingham

Unfortunately, the EDL will be marching in Birmingham on July 20^th. The English Defence League is an abhorrent, vile racist organisation.Their politics of hate and division must be rejected. The EDL has no place in our diverse, tolerant region and we object to these racist extremists being allowed to vent their poison on the streets of Birmingham.

Community tensions are particularly high at the moment, evidenced by the recent appalling racist graffiti on mosques in Redditch and Cradley Heath, as well as the bomb that was recently discovered at the Aisha Mosque in Walsall, and the most recent attack at Tipton mosque just last Friday.

The TUC is proud to represent working people of all races and nationalities, and from every faith and none. The attempts to stir up racial tensions will not succeed as we stand up and champion our hugely successful, integrated, society.

In addition to our fundamental opposition to the EDL’s racist objectives, we also note that the cash-strapped West Midlands Police spent has been forced to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to police the violent EDL protests. The Police Service is under huge financial pressures owing to the government’s cuts. It is simply wrong that precious resources are being spent in order to police these violent, racist extremists.

Peaceful protests are, quite rightly, a bulwark of democracy. However, the EDL have a track record of violence and racial hatred and it simply would be inappropriate to risk violence and clashes in Birmingham city centre. The people of Birmingham deserve better.

TUC welcomes new investment in the automotive industry

Commenting on the announcement today (Friday) by Business Secretary Vince Cable MP that there is to be £1bn of new investment in the automotive industry, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It’s great to see ministers finally recognise that government can play an active role in driving growth, backed up by a proper industrial strategy and genuine investment.

“This marks a welcome break from the failed laissez-faire approach that has so caused so much damage to the UK’s industrial base.

“What we now need is for more investment across all industries to drive skilled job creation and more opportunities for young people.”

Government employment reforms are “Beecroft by the back door”, says the TUC

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady

Scrapping vital protections for agency workers and limiting the amount of compensation employees can receive for unfair dismissal will punish the victims of ill-treatment at work and let bad employers off the hook, says the TUC.

New measures announced today (Friday) by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), will see the government cut back on the enforcement of basic rights for agency workers, including the right to be paid in full and not to be charged upfront fees.

Commenting on the changes, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“These changes will remove vital safeguards for hundreds of thousands of agency workers, many of whom are employed on zero hours contracts. 

“Rogue employers will be delighted at the prospect of fewer inspectors coming around to check they are paying agency staff in full and not charging upfront fees.

“This government’s definition of a successful economy seems to be one that employs people on the minimum wage with no certainty of work or income. The trouble is that this great wage squeeze is bad for Britain’s businesses who will respond by reducing the hours and pay of their staff.

“The government’s approach adds up to a vicious circle of economic decline, when what we need are policies for growth. Beecroft by the back door is not the way to turn our economy around. ” 

The measures announced today by employment minister Jo Swinson will see resources cut for the  Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate which checks that agency workers are paid in full and on time. In addition, there will be fewer inspections to make sure that agency workers are not charged upfront fees by agencies for finding them work, and that they are not charged unreasonable fees for other services provided by agencies.

- In the future the compensation limit for unfair dismissal will be linked to an individual’s annual salary, subject to an overall cap of £72,400.  The TUC fears the new cap will disproportionately affect older workers who are likely to have difficulties in finding new work and who will not be properly compensated for loss of pension entitlements.