Right to request training will enable workers to improve their skills

Commenting on the Skills for Sustainable Growth consultation, launched today (Thursday) by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said:
“Ten million workers received no training last year so the Government must use every possible lever to encourage more employers to offer staff training.
“The consultation rightly focuses on the needs of learners in delivering training. The Government can achieve this by honouring the right to request time off for training, which gives workers the flexibility they need to improve their skills.
“We welcome the recognition that unions can play a key role – particularly through our network of 25,000 learning reps – in encouraging employers and workers to take up training.
“But while no one disputes the economic imperative for a better skilled workforce, modern research facilities, apprenticeship schemes and employer incentives to train their staff require investment as well as good will.
“It’s therefore vital the Government’s commitment to skills is not undermined by self-defeating budget cuts.”

Mikron Theatre returns to the Midlands

The excellent Mikron Theatre returns to the Midlands with their play "Striking the Balance" from Thursday 29th July.They return with a performance at The Waterman Canalside Pub & Restaurant, Birmingham Road, Hatton, Warwick, CV35 7JJ, starting at 7.30pm.

The performance will be held in The Waterman gardens, overlooking the famous stairway to heaven flight of locks on the Grand Union. Bring your own blankets and chairs!
Further tour dates in the midlands are available from the Mikron website: http://www.mikron.org.uk/tourDates.php

Lincoln and District TUC look to the future

Lincoln and District TUC delegates met last night (Thursday) to discuss plans for future campaigning work across the City.
The Trades Council heard from TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon who outlined the campaigning opportunities for the trades council, recognising that the future looked bleak for many public servants - and the people who relied on them. Cheryl emphasised that it was not just public sector workers who are going to suffer, the communities we live in will be hit and private sector jobs will also be lost as public sector contracts disappear.
Cheryl congratulated the trades council on their work over the past year, organising against the BNP, fundraising for striking Royal Mail workers, protecting elderly care homes and organising Lincoln's first May Day celebration for 20 years.
Delegates discussed plans for future campaigns against public sector cuts and how they can use these campigns to grow the trades council and recruit new trade union members.

TUC fears Budget will slow recovery

Commenting further on the Emergency Budget today (Tuesday) TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “This Budget got the big judgement about the economy wrong.
“The economy is still fragile, and today’s measures will certainly slow recovery and could well stop it in its tracks. Spending and benefit cuts together with the VAT increase will take much needed spending power out of the economy. The private sector has been hit as hard as the public sector today.
“Nor does the Budget live up to any claim to be fair. The unexpectedly big cuts in benefits will hit not just the poor but middle income families too. Unemployment will continue to be high, and anyone leaving school or college in the next five years faces a bleak future.
“The rich have largely been let off. They will hardly notice the VAT increase. The bank levy is less than half the £5-8 billion predicted – and is a fraction of city bonuses. The capital gains tax (CGT) increase is full of loopholes, and won’t stop tax dodging.
“Some of the really bad news is yet to come. Unprotected departmental budgets will be savaged. Local government will need to slash services if they are to freeze council tax.
“Public servants did nothing to cause the slump but are being asked to bear an unfair share of the burden. A wage freeze when inflation is high is a real cut in living standards – and the small concession for the low paid is still less than inflation.
“This budget was economically dangerous and socially divisive. The one thing we can now say is that we are very definitely not all in this together. Those on middle and low incomes have done worse than expected, and the rich have been let off much of what they feared. But we will all suffer from an economy that is now likely to be sluggish at best, and with a double-dip recession at worst.”

Budget is ‘dangerous and divisive’, says TUC

Responding to the Emergency Budget today (Tuesday) TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said:
“This Budget was economically dangerous and socially divisive. The one thing we can now say is that we are very definitely not all in this together. Those on middle and low incomes have done worse than expected, and the rich have been let off much of what they feared.
“But we will all suffer from an economy that is now likely to be sluggish at best and with a double-dip recession at worst.”

Leicester to lose central library

Leicester is to lose its' central libraries with the loss of 14 equivalent full time jobs. See the full story at: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Stacks-potential-closure-overdue/article-2327156-detail/article.html
The Belvoir Street libray is to merge with the Reference Library on Bishop Street saving £228,000.

Unions ramp up campaigns against Academy plans

The Government is encouraging all schools judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted to become academies. Each school’s Governing Body will need to decide this month if it wishes to become an academy from this September. There is no requirement for the Governing Body to consult with parents before making this decision. This means that children could be attending an academy after the summer holidays, without any prior consultation with parents.
Once a school has become an academy, there is no way back.
Trade union members are committed to continuing to provide children with an outstanding education, but we have grave concerns about the proposed academy model. Academies were originally set up to improve the educational attainment of secondary school pupils in disadvantaged communities and under challenging circumstances. There is no evidence to suggest that converting an outstanding school into an academy will make any difference to pupils’ educational attainment, nor is there any evidence to suggest benefits for pupils in primary or special schools. In fact, we believe that the risks involved in academy status, in particular the loss of support from the local authority, far outweigh any of the suggested advantages of obtaining academy status.
We strongly believe that schools can only remain outstanding with the support and trust of its parents. Any
decisions affecting the future of  children’s education in such a fundamental way must be taken jointly by parents, staff, governing bodies and the community. If you, as a parent, share our concerns, we urge you to contact your parent representative on the Governing Body immediately to make your voice heard.

The teaching unions have produced model letters and petitions for use in campaigning against the spreading of Academies and these are avialable here:
http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/11674
and here:
www.nasuwt.org.uk/ChampioningEducation/Academies