Workers Memorial Day Commemoration in Corby

Each year our friends from the GMB Northants Community Branch put on a splendid commemoration for Workers Memorial Day. A report and photographs from this year is available at thee branch website here 

Below is a photograph of the GMB sponsored Youth 2000 brass band performing before the speeches by both local and national figures.

Many Flags - One Boston

Boston is a town that has made the headlines in recent months for having the highest

ratio of Eastern European migrants, something which parties like UKIP have pounced upon for their own political means: to generate a portrait of a divided town, split along lines of nationality where tensions are high. However, is this, or does this have to be the case?

On Good Friday residents from all parts of Boston came to Fenside, an area which as seen a surge in support for UKIP, to celebrate Easter together. It was quickly apparent that the myth that the different nationalities were not willing to share and celebrate together was false. Given the chance, and the opportunity it was clear that the local residents were very excited about the idea to have a glimpse into the way others live.

Over 300 people from around the town joined in with the traditional British Easter Bonnet Parade, Eastern European egg rolling and a beautiful German Easter Tree, decorated with eggs painted by the children (and a few overly eager HOPE not hate staff). One of the most stunning aspects were the tables upon tables laden with food from all around the world prepared by local residents to share their style of Spring cooking with everyone.

Whilst the event showcased the cultural diversity of the town, the main highlight was just how much common ground there was between each community. Although each culture and nationality had their own distinct style, there was an incredible degree of overlap. The music, food and games all had an element to which each person could relate; the egg rolling was a brand new game to the British, but many could see similarities between this and their own childhood games played in playgrounds across the country.

The aim of the event was to celebrate the diversity within Boston, but much more importantly it ended up showing that under the surface that there is not much difference between us all. The languages are different and the names change, but we all enjoy an Easter Egg!

Rolling the Easter Eggs......

This was summed up by Mandy Exley from Lincolnshire CVS who commented we “really have proved that together a wonderful event can be organized, and that community spirit really is thriving in Boston thanks to a dedicated team of residents.”

Hopefully the legacy of the Easter Together celebrations can live on and we can unite as a community to solve the town’s problems as one. Moving forward HOPE not hate will be working very closely alongside the TUC which the Boston Needs a Payrise campaign.

The perpetuating myth that plays straight into the hands of the far-right and UKIP is that these migrants have come to Boston and Lincolnshire to steal British jobs and undermine the local labour force. The reality is that many of these migrant works are suffering in appalling work and living conditions on very little pay at the hands of cruel and greedy gang masters.

This new project hopes to build links between the migrant and British communities to fight together, alongside the trade unions. If we can work together to prevent the exploitation of migrants not only will we be making their lives better off, but we will provide a level playing field for the local youth to gain meaningful employment. 

Together, with Hope, not hate, we all win.

Easter Together - will you be in Boston on 18th April?

People are not celebrating an end to their cost of living squeeze yet

Responding to the latest labour market figures published today (Wednesday), TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston, (above) said:

“With wages increasing by just 1.7 per cent, barely enough to keep up with a prices measure that doesn’t even include housing costs, the cost of living crisis is far from solved. This is not worth even half a cheer.

“Workers are still on average £40 a week worse off than they were in 2010, and we will need months of much better figures to take us anywhere near a recovery to pre-crash living standards. This government will have at best presided over more than three times as many months when living standards fell than when they rose.

“It’s encouraging that the economy is creating jobs – and that young people are finally sharing in the jobs improvements. But this only tells part of the story. With three in five recent jobs created being self-employed, many people find that work no longer offers the security, basic workplace rights and decent pay that most expect.

“The time to celebrate recovery will be when ordinary workers return to pre-crash living standards and the economy is generating more secure skilled jobs with good prospects and decent pay.”

TUC comments on latest inflation figures

Commenting on today’s (Tuesday) inflation figures, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, above,  said:

“Workers are now £40 a week worse off than before the crash.

“Those waiting to hail the first month in which wages creep higher than prices as recovery will show how out of touch they are with the lives of ordinary people, especially on a measure of prices that does not include housing costs.

“A real recovery will deliver rising real wages that recover spending power lost since the crash and generate decent jobs with good pay, security and prospects. That remains a distant prospect.”

Dudley venue for LMHR Festival 26th April

Where Next with Workplace Mental Health

Delegates will be invited to decide how trade unions can win improvement in workplace mental health. e.g. developing understanding of mental health issues, improving workplace agreements, focussing representation, using ‘stress buster’ workshops, creating training opportunities for health advocates and workplace reps, building  up positive policies with employers and rolling out campaigning activities.

Key Speakers:

• Rob Johnston, TUC Midlands Regional Secretary

• Mike Jefferies, Birmingham Mind: What is mental health?

• Jason Ratcliffe, Assistant Chief Executive, Professional Cricketers Association: Combating stigma and supporting members

• Bill Cunningham, National Trainer for MHFA England CIC

• Kate Nowicki, ACAS: The view from ACAS

• Tom Ross, Northern TUC: 2 hour ‘stress buster’ workshop

• Ian Wade, HMRC: Employer/union positive partnership

Pete Try, Regional Education Officer:  Using Education to spread understanding

The conference will be held at:

Derby County Football Club

iPro Stadium

Pride Park

Derby

DE24 8XL

Thursday 15 May 2014

10am to 4pm (tbc)

Lunch and refreshments will be provided

To book places and for more information, contact Michelle Kesterton at mkesterton@tuc.org.uk