Home of Ashfield District Council candidate targeted by racists

The article below has been reprinted from the Ashfield CHAD newspaper and yet again clearly shows the difference between the racist and legitimate political parties.
Annesley home of politician Don Davis, which was daubed with a swastika and BNP graffiti.
http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/home_of_ashfield_district_council_candidate_targeted_by_racists_1_3346639
Published on Thursday 5 May 2011 08:35


RACIST graffiti has been daubed on the home of an Annesley political candidate who is campaigning for a seat on Ashfield District Council.
Don Davis, of Derby Road, said he was horrified after discovering a Nazi swastika had been scrawled on his garden fence sometime between the evening of Thursday 21st April and the following morning.
Someone had also sprayed ‘BNP’ - believed to refer to far right political party, the British National Party.
The Labour Party member said prior to the incident, thugs had damaged campaign signs he had fixed to the fence.
“I did not really know what to make of the vandalism but this disgusting graffiti was something else completely - I was horrified.
“The incident has caused a lot of stress and worry in the family and I have made the decision not to put the signs back up. But then you wonder has what these thugs have done prevented me from having my right to express my political opinion?”
Mr Davis said his car had also been damaged by key scratches while he was out canvassing for support.
But he would not let the incidents put him off standing for the role of Ashfield District Councillor for the Woodhouse ward in tomorrow’s local election.
“It makes me more determined to win and work to make sure things like this do not happen. People do not want to see this sort of thing going on around here,” he said.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they were investigating reports of vandalism and treating the incident as a hate crime. Anyone with information should ring them on 0300 3009999.

Equalities and Human Rights staff take action

Employees at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission took strike action today against proposals to cut funding by 68% and staffing by 66%. Workers at the Birmingham office and call centre took to the streets to make their point. Boosted by support from the public and passing motorists workers commited to fighting cuts which will mean closing the public helpline which advises people of their rights and will mena the closure of regional offices.
One worker on the picket line said, "It is not just about our jobs, it is about support for the public at a time when they are facing discrimination and are having a really hard time. The services we provide may not get headlines but are invaluable to the thousands of people who rely on the EHRC for justice."
You can show your support for EHRC staff and the work thye do by signing the online petition at: gopetition.com/petition/43944.html
Alternatively sign up to the Facebook page, "Save the Equality and Human Rights Commission" or email your MP and Trevor Phillips via the PCS website at: www.pcs.org.uk/ehrc

Chesterfield May Day 2011 video launched

Chesterfield May Day, one of a number of long standing and excellent trade union celebrations, has a video of the march which can be viewed below.

Voting has opened for the Labour video of the year

Voting has started in LabourStart's annual Labour video of the year competition. Details can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/599P5KX

And the LabourStart website can be found here: http://www.labourstart.org/

I laughed out loud at one of the vidoes, well worth watching them all and do vote.

EHRC staff to take action against proposed cuts

PCS and Unite are looking for support for the first industrial action supporting staff at the Equalities and Human Rights Commission who are facing unprecedented cuts to staff and services.
Recent media coverage has reported that staff at the EHRC voted overwhelmingly in favour 1 hour strikes over plans which would effectively close the Commission ending most of its advice services to the public and communities. Our first day of action is a one-hour walkout on 4 May at 11am –12pm.
We are now asking our partners to join us for this first day of action in support of our campaign to save the Commission for future generations.
The government has already announced it is withdrawing funding for the Commission’s helpline and grants programme and the Commission has also decided to close its regional offices, including the office based in Birmingham covering the West Midlands Region. These decisions will take effect by March 2012.
At a time of unprecedented cuts that will hit the most vulnerable in society hardest I'm sure you'll agree that it is vital to show the government that we will stand together to protect this vital service.
Where to meet:
We will be assembling at 11am – 12pm at the rear entrance to the Commission's Birmingham office, (EHRC 3rd Floor Lancaster House, 67 Newhall Street, B3 1NA) on the public footpath (on the corner).

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is proposing to more than halve the number of staff from 460 to 200 within 12 months – PCS is calling on EHRC chair Trevor Phillips to reveal his plans for the future of the organisation, challenging him to define the ‘core functions’ which he claims will be protected. The government is currently consulting over the Commission’s future and is proposing to amend the Equality Act 2006 to strip the Commission of many of its key powers and duties.
When the Commission was formed in 2007 its budget was £70 million. This was later reduced to £60 million, then £53 million by the new government last year. The government now wants to cut funding down to £22.5 million by 2015.
Cuts on this scale would mean employers and public authorities would no longer be held to account if they carried out discriminatory policies, and would also effectively end the commission’s legal work – a recent example of which ensured six million carers in Britain are protected against discrimination in employment.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members are experts in their fields and this strike vote shows they are prepared to fight to maintain a proper national equality and human rights body at a time when government cuts are making it more likely people will face discrimination and disadvantage. “We do not accept the need for these cuts and the commission should talk to us urgently about the alternatives which would end the need for a strike and protect the vital services our members provide.”

If you can't join us on the day there are many other ways to support our campaign:
• Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 923 to safeguard the remit, funding and staffing of the EHRC
• write to Theresa May MP, Minister for Women and Equality and other Minsters you or your organisation may have close links with asking them to maintain the EHRC functions servicing the communities.
• Sign the petition http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43944.html. Please sign the online petition against EHRC cuts and ask your friends & family to sign.
MINISTERS THAT YOU MAY WISH TO APPROACH
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 5206
mayt@parliament.uk 
geo.corres@geo.gsi.gov.uk
Lynne Featherstone MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Tel: 020 7219 8401
featherstonel@parliament.uk
Lynne.Featherstone@geo.gsi.gov.uk
Naturally, you may have your own contacts whom you may wish to approach. We hope we can rely on your support in these very difficult and uncertain times.
Also you will be interested to know that the Government have started their public consultation into the future of the EHRC and PCS will be shortly producing a draft response which people can use should they wish to do so. The consultation can be found here: http://www.equalities.gov.uk/what_we_do/ehrc_reform.aspx

UNISON Connexions members to hold second half day stike

UNISON Connexions members will stage a second half day of industrial action to fight the threatened compulsory redundancies with 36 jobs at risk in Connexions in Birmingham. A widely supported first day of action on 6th April closed all Connexions centres and they will again be closed on this second day of action as UNISON members make a committed and firm stand.
Union members will protest against cuts outside Northfield, Kings Heath and Broad Street offices from 1pm when the strike starts.
UNISON will hold a Rally and People’s Debate about the cuts to Connexions and to many other support and education services for young people in Victoria Square outside the council house from 2.15pm.
Young people, union members and MPs and Councillors will debate the issues behind the cuts in an open air debate the day before the local elections. Labour MP for Erdington Jack Dromey is expected to take part.


UNISON Connexions Convenor John Grifffin saids: “We need to remember that young people and Connexions workers are now paying with their jobs and future prospects for the debts of bankers earning massive bonuses. Birmingham City Council has set a budget which puts these jobs at risk. Another solution needs to be found for the sake of the young people threatened with a lifetime of joblessness.”


UNISON Head of Local Government, Tony Rabaiotti commented: “The Connexions campaign has been running for months and the support we have had from the people of Birmingham has been magnificent. People have been telling us how much they value Connexions, that cutting support for young people at a time of high unemployment is economic insanity and that they will continue to speak up for our Connexions service. I am sure this day of action will once again be well supported and am sure that the people of Birmingham will show their displeasure at these cuts at the ballot box on Thursday in the local elections”
- Connexions provides careers advice and information advice and guidance to young people 13-19 and is available to all of Birmingham’s schools.
- Connexions drop in centres for young unemployed in Aston, Handsworth and Erdington closed in October and November. In April Birmingham City Council approved a 30% budget cut for Connexions that means 36 jobs including front line advisers are at risk.
- The Conservative-led government has axed Connexions from April 2012 and has told schools to provide Careers advice without any funds for them to provide trained advisers

Health and Safety Parliamentary Lobby and Rally - Tuesday 10th May, 14:30-16:30, Committee Room 14

The GMB has organised the above event to discuss the impact of the Government's changes to health and safety policy on workers. Invited speakers include Peter Hain, Jim Sheridan, Chuka Umunna, Lord McKenzie of Luton, Len McCluskey and Dave Prentis. The forthcoming review of health and safety legislation, combined with the budget cuts to the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities, will have far reaching consequences for workplace health and safety. The rally will hear views from across the labour movement, and identify priorities for political action.
Further information is available on request from the GMB National Health and Safety Department - John McClean (01462 492400; john.mcclean@gmb.org.uk) and Dan Shears (0208 971 4246; daniel.shears@gmb.org.uk).