Unions Together

10 reasons to fear the Tories…

12.10.09

1.If you, your partner or family member work in the public sector, you have every right to be alarmed. Tory plans to slash worker pensions will mean that you won't just be worse off under the term of the next Tory government, you would be worse off for the rest of your life.

2.The legal right to join a Trade Union only came into British law in 1999. The same is true of the right to form new unions (union recognition) and the right to be represented in a grievance or disciplinary at work by your union – even in non-union firms. Cameron voted against all these decent laws, and is tight lipped on their future.

3.The Tories won't dare abolish Labour's minimum wage. But like the Republicans in America, when in government, they won't increase it. Under the Tories, the minimum wage will wither, and the very poorest working people will continue to get poorer.

4.Tory plans for party political funding are frightening. The Cameron plan is for wealthy individuals to be able to give £50,000 per year. Unions and other organisations would also be stuck on the same limit as individuals – so the result would be that all major political parties would be dominated by wealthy individuals. Scary stuff, and barely reported.

5.The Tories brag that they will end national pay bargaining in the education system. They want every head teacher to decide pay levels for their teachers. In every school this will create a massive distraction from the business of educating our children. Strife and confrontation is inevitable. Parents and Teachers are right to be worried that this approach will be detrimental to the education of our children.

6.The Tories are thrilled about the recession. It has given them the political excuse they need to move towards their ideological aim of “smaller government”, i.e cut public services. Cuts in recession cause depression – an historical fact. The Tories are prepared to risk a depression to meet their ideological zeal to reduce the size of the public sector. The fact that the private sector has just failed....spectacularly – is lost on them.

7.One of the big beneficiaries of the inheritance tax cuts they promise would be the Camerons themselves. Imagine the newspapers if Labour introduced a law that netted Gordon Brown's wife a fortune !

8.Most of the Shadow Cabinet went to the same school together.

9.Tories want us to trust them run our schools and our hospitals. But the overwhelming majority of Tory politicians send their kids to private schools and barely use the NHS! It's common-sense to have people in charge of public services who actually use them.

10.The Tories are RIGHT to say Britain is in a mess. Casino capitalism is to blame. The worst Casino Capitalists – the ones that brought down Halifax / Bank of Scotland, are the same “Hedge Fund Managers” that are members of Cameron's exclusive “diners club” and are the Tories biggest donors. Yes Labour should have done more to properly regulate the capitalist spivs and speculators. But only a centre-left, Social Democratic vision can rebuild Britain and prevent this mess from happening again. That will require a Labour Party that is in tune with it's traditional values. But to turn to the Tories now – the very same people who went to posh schools with the big bonus City Bankers – would be to reward the villains of the recession.

Free-market Tories are part of the credit crunch problem – they are not the solution.

Britain is sleepwalking towards a Tory Government – WAKE UP !!

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The case for universal free healthy school meals

05.10.09

Conference, Mary Turner, GMB. Proud to be moving the contemporary issue on school meals.

I want to start by thanking everyone, especially in the CLP's who have supported this crucial issue. I also want to congratulate our Labour government for being the champions of children and families and for taking the bold step of piloting healthy free school meals in Newham and Durham and extending the provision In Wolverhampton. Conference now is the time to go all the way. Be bold!

Since 1980 when the Tories scrapped Free school meals and opened up the school meal service to a constant diet if pizza's, hot dogs and burgers we have been warning that this would damage our children's health. Now our children are suffering record levels of diabetes and obesity. We've campaigned passionately about this because it's so important for our children's education and well being.

It's a fact that well fed and nourished children are healthier and healthy children behave and learn better. Compare a well balanced, nutritional hot school meal with burgers from a chip van or, as we sometimes see, just a chocolate bar, or just a packet of crisps. Or the child who says they have no lunch at all. Often, a school lunch is the only decent meal a child gets. Too often, it's the only meal at all. The current free school meals system is good. However it's historical link, as a safety net for poorer families only, has led to almost one third of a million of children, who are entitled to them, don't claim them. It's the children who lose out first. It's the family that suffers. It's the country that loses in the long run.

That's why we must have free healthy school meals for all. And those authorities that are trialing universal free school meals are loving it. It is socially right. It's popular with parents. It's a doorstep winner. Just the right sort of policy for operation fightback. Our critics will ask about the cost. I don't see a cost. I see an investment in our children's health and education because that's the difference between us and the Tories. The Tories, who looked at the pilot in Newham, said free school meals for all was great for kids and families. It clearly led to a better diet, happier and more content children in the class room, improved learning and better behaviour but then went on to say they wouldn't support it, because it costs money. So an old story, Tories put children after their wallets and the Lib Dems are of the same view. They scrapped the successful free school meals that Labour had introduced in Hull.

Exactly what price do the Tories and the Lib Dems put on the health of our children? Because in our party, the Labour Party, we care about our children's future and where we can do something to help we step in investing in the health of our children today brings massive dividends for the future of our nation.

Conference please support universal free healthy school meals.

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Your support for justice

24.09.09

Since we launched our video about Plaques at TUC Congress last week, we've been incredibly moved by the responses we've received. This is clearly an issue that has really touched people, and the support the campaign has had has been incredible.

These are just a fraction of the messages of support that you have sent:

"The basic human rights for compensation is therefore a reasonable request to help support the comfort and final moments of our loved ones... My message of support comes from the heart, I truly hope for change. I truly hope for comfort to Pleural Plaques victims... I will be doing what I can to spread the message for support in my workplace..." Michael

"Good luck. You truly deserve justice and fair treatment for yourselves and your families." Kerry

"You should not have to suffer illness through working your whole life. I hope the law is changed." Elizabeth

You can also read a piece in the Northern Echo about Alan Clark, whose call for justice is featured in our video, and who sadly died of Mesothelioma earlier this year.

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Justice

02.09.09

Over the past few weeks, our campaign about Pleural Plaques has been going from strength to strength. Literally thousands of people have signed our petition calling for justice for people living with Plaques.

The backing for the campaign so far has been overwhelming, and we have been touched by the messages of support we have been sent.

You can add your voice to our campaign now.

These are just a handful of the messages we have received since the campaign began:

"I am appalled at what the Law Lords have done, if you have been injured by any means whilst in employment then you should be entitled to appropriate compensation for damages." Kevin Richards

"It is wrong that people through no fault of their own are denied compensation from employers when they contract this disease from doing their job. Bring back the compensation!" Jacqueline Wilkinson

"As a person who lost her grandad to a work related injury, I know we have to do all we can to protect the rights of current employees and compensate those whose lives have been blighted by industrial injuries and health compromising conditions. Keep fighting." Diane Green

"My father in law had this in his lungs due to working with asbestos and subsequently died of related lung disease just as he had retired. He worked hard all his life and his widowed wife was entitled to no compensation and has to struggle on a pathetic pension....... this is outrageous and should be turned around to compensate the people and families who have had to or currently endure this condition." Angela Southworth

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Not in my name

14.07.09

Today, the two BNP MEPs who were elected last month take their seats in the European Parliament. In the run-up to those June elections, thousands of trade union members campaigned up and down the country to try to turn out votes to stop the BNP and their politics of hate getting a voice in Europe.

Hope not hate have run an amazing campaign to get people active in their communities in getting people out to vote on polling day, and in exposing the BNP's extremist politics.

Watch their 'not in my name' video now - it's an incredible testament to the how strongly so many people feel that the BNP do not speak for Britain.

Labour's MEPs have also spoken up strongly about today. Glenis Willmott MEP, Labour's Leader in Europe, said: "60 years ago we fought against the fascists together. Today, two UK fascists are taking their seats in this Parliament for the first time. Today is a sad day for Britain and we will not let matters rest."

Watch the 'not in my name' video now, and sign up up to the Hope not hate website if you haven't already.

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You are invited

15.06.09

Streatham CLP have been working on putting together a discussion meeting, to bring together local trade unionists and Party members.

 The Missing Link - the Labour Party & the Trade Unions - a discussion

Wednesday 24 June 2009
7:30 pm

The Assembly Hall, Lambeth Town Hall, Acre Lane SW2 1RW

- organised by -

Streatham Constituency Labour Party in association with the GMB Union.

- speakers include -

Chuka Umunna
Streatham CLP Parliamentary Candidate

Paul Kenny
General Secretary GMB

Tony Berwick
Lambeth TUC Chair

refreshments provided - all welcome

- supported by -

the Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation
the Lambeth Trades Union Council
UNITE 1/1148 Branch

 

 

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It still matters

01.06.09

We're all rightly disgusted about this expenses scandal and the way some of our politicians have behaved. They have let us all down. It might seem easy to voice our anger by not voting this Thursday.

But that would be a mistake.

It would be easy to believe the press and the talking heads on television when they say all political parties are all the same. But they are not. No matter how angry and disappointed we are - we must never forget this. Because the price of not voting is so high - it could mean the racist BNP getting elected through the backdoor and representing you and me in the European Parliament.

Voting matters, because politics still matters.

A few months ago, we launched a petition attacking David Cameron's plan to pull us out of the Social Chapter and undermine the rights we have fought so hard for. Thousands of people responded. They responded because of the very real threat that the Tories would pose to their rights - because politics matters.

If you agree that politics still matters I want you to take action now - sign our petition:

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/politicsmatters

Politics matters more than ever at the moment. We are faced with two very different visions of how to lead our country during the economic downturn.

The Tories would do what they did in the 1980s - and leave every man, women and child fighting for themselves, forcing a generation onto the scrapheap of long-term unemployment. Cutting back on vital public services, sending us back to the days of leaking school roofs, the sick dying on hospital waiting lists and record numbers of homes repossessed.

The trade unions don't think Labour's got everything right - but we do know that under this government we have seen change for the better in Britain - change that has made a real difference to people's lives.

Joan is a member of her trade union, and she got in touch with us to tell us why politics matters to her. Thanks to Labour, she was able to arrange with her employer to work hours that fit round her children's school day, so she gets to spend more time with them every day. Or Brian, who got in touch to tell us how he was paid just £1.25 an hour before the minimum wage boosted his income. Or Rachel, who told us how she is now entitled to 4 weeks paid leave, and her employer can no longer force her to count bank holidays as part of her entitlement.

Real lives - and real change.

The truth is that politics does matter. With the threat of the BNP on the horizon, and a stark choice between real help now from Labour, or sink-or-swim with the Tories - now is not the time to turn our backs on politics.

If you agree with me that, despite the anger the expenses scandal has caused, politics matters - and that it can make a real and significant difference to people's lives, sign our petition:

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/politicsmatters

The job of the trade unions is to stick up for their members. That's why we let the government know when we think they're getting things wrong, and why we're always pushing them to go further, to win a better deal for union members. But we also know that when it comes down to it, working people are always better off with Labour. That's why I'll be voting Labour on June 4th, and why I hope you'll be doing the same.

 

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Treasury could lose £900 million in Royal Mail sell-off

21.04.09

The proposed part privatisation of Royal Mail, as detailed in the Hooper Report, has taken another hammer blow today from new financial analysis carried out by Compass. It has found that the likely revenue that could be raised by a 49% sale of Royal Mail to an external equity partner would see the Treasury net less than half the value they would have secured just a year ago.

Should the Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, succeed in railroading through Hooper's recommendations (breaking one of Labour's key 2005 manifesto commitments and Labour Party policy in the process), the price for a share of Royal Mail will be based on a multiple of 8 times earnings, conservatively estimated at £250 million for 2008/09. So in other words, a 49% stake would cost an external investor roughly £1 billion.

Of course, the financial downturn has a part to play in this calculation - as recently as last year the price would have been based on 15 times earnings. If Royal Mail were sold on those terms, the national coffers would be £1.9 billion better off in the short-term - almost double what Hooper's proposal would bring in now. The government must therefore look at the poor state of the market and come up with a new plan to modernise the Royal Mail that doesn't involve selling shares at rock bottom prices and losing hundreds of £millions in revenue in the process.

If you transpose this analysis onto the continental operators that Hooper uses as examples, there is a similar picture. If TNT had been sold at the height of the market in 2007 it would have been valued at around £11 billion. Today its sale would secure only £4 billion. Less than a year ago the sale of Deutsche Post would have secured around £21 billion, today it would be lucky to raise £8.5 billion.

Nonetheless a sum of £1 billion could be seen as an attractive one-off windfall for a government struggling with its Budget during the current economic crisis. But why sell the family silver when this short term gain could be wiped out in less than two years if Royal Mail stays wholly public. With an annual profit of £630 million, which takes into account the funding of an annual £280m pension deficit and the loss of £100m in unfair access charges to private companies using the network, given these figures it is hard to see the attraction of a fire sale. Keeping these profits in public hands means they will be reinvested in the business to modernise it, could be used to provide better services and crucially money will not be lost through paying out dividends to shareholders.

John Grogan MP has today quite rightly urged the government to think again, and said that the findings show how "part privatisation would represent a bad deal for the government and for the British public. Labour MPs will now be even less likely to support part privatisation once they see these figures" - he's absolutely right.

Grave concern about a bad deal for taxpayers is broadened by the lack of interest in a part sale offer. Only TNT have shown any public interest, mainly because of the scarcity of available finance in the money markets for big ticket purchases like this.

Most worrying are the prospects for quality of service. Advisors to companies such as TNT and Deutsche Post will be telling their Chief Executives that they can increase their forward earnings through a cut price purchase of Royal Mail, allowing subsequent big cuts in jobs and services, which as one off costs are not included in forward earnings calculations.

So these findings will be very hard indeed to simply ignore, and gives further incontrovertible evidence that the Hooper report and proposed part-privatisation is a case not made. Even if you think it makes sense to sell, it makes no sense whatsoever to sell now.

Compass will shortly be publishing our own proposals and positive vision for a modernised post service that remains in public hands - keep an eye out for further updates on this important campaign.

Gavin Hayes is General Secretary of the social-democratic pressure group, Compass, who campaign and organise for a more democratic, equal and sustainable world.

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Support for the Minimum Wage?

17.04.09

The National Minimum Wage has woven fairness into the fabric of our society. It's helped make work pay and shows just what good the unions and Labour can do when they work together.

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the Minimum Wage's 10th anniversary. And while it remains an important step forward, there's still more to do. We need to make sure that we build on ten years of success, to make it stronger, fairer, and to ensure that no-one is left unprotected by it. But does your MP support these goals? Ask them now:

http://unionstogether.org.uk/nmw

While the trade unions celebrate the Minimum Wage, we're also campaigning to improve it. We want to see apprentices covered by the minimum wage. We need to end the discrimination that lets employers pay young people less just because of their age. We need to make sure that the law is enforced - with tough penalties to make sure that no employer can wriggle out of paying it. And, of course, we want to make sure that the Minimum Wage keeps increasing. We need the Minimum Wage to go up in real terms and as a proportion of average wages each year - and that includes an increase this year too, as in the current climate fair pay is more important than ever.

10 years ago, there were many who said the Minimum Wage would never work - that it was a step too far. But we have proved them wrong, and shown the good that government can do by acting boldly to make work fairer.

Yet despite all the good the Minimum Wage has brought - there are still those who oppose it. So, on the Minimum Wage's 10th birthday, we want our supporters to contact their MPs and ask them if they will commit to strengthen and support the Minimum Wage over the next 10 years too. Send your message now:

http://unionstogether.org.uk/nmw

It's an important question to ask. Not many people know this, but senior Tory MP Christopher Chope is trying to introduce a new law that would allow people to opt-out of Minimum Wage payments - effectively killing the legislation. He would drag us back to the days when many people were left on poverty pay. And the Tories have a track record here. Did you know that David Cameron actively campaigned against the Minimum Wage - even when some people were earning as little as £1.20 an hour?

We think that this is such an important issue that MPs need to be candid with their constituents - are they committed to supporting and strengthening fair wages, or do they want to take us back to legal poverty pay?

Ask your MP now -

http://unionstogether.org.uk/nmw

A decade ago, trade unions and our Labour Government fought for the Minimum Wage, while the Tories mounted a whole-hearted campaign against it. We won that battle - but does your MP support the Minimum Wage now? Please take two minutes of your time to email your MP to find out.

http://unionstogether.org.uk/nmw

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Your messages to the PM

03.04.09

Today, we asked our supporters to say ‘well done’ to the PM for getting a global agreement to invest 1.1 trillion dollars in getting our economies going again at the G20 yesterday, and to ask him to make sure securing and defending jobs is at the heart of our UK strategy for economic recovery.

 

We've had a great response already. These are just some of the messages you've sent:

 

“a working Britain is a better Britain!”

“Left to the Tories we would have no fiscal stimulus, no injection of support for our economy and jobs.”

“Yes, it is a “well done” but do please put a plan of action in place to build up and sustain the jobs which should form the heart of the domestic recovery plan.”

“Well done, and now the real work begins.”

“Well done on the G20 conference - continue to support the public sector and all workers.”

 

Send the PM your message now:

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/welldone  

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