Watch video of NSSN TUC rally & lobby HERE
Hundreds of union activists crowded into the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) #KillTheBill rally before the start of TUC Congress in Brighton. Buoyed by the victory of anti-austerity candidate Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader the previous day, they heard speakers from the all layers of the union movement. Union general secretaries Mark Serwotka PCS, Mick Cash RMT, Matt Wrack FBU, Ronnie Draper BFAWU, Dave Ward CWU and Steve Gillan POA spoke alongside rank & file union reps and activists Suzanne Muna Unite EC, Tony Seaman Teesside ‘Pay the Rate’ construction protestor, Isai Priya Tamil Solidarity, Corinthia Ward from Youth Fight for Jobs and John Vasey, a sacked Royal Mail rep.
After a fantastic meeting, everyone lobbied delegates going into Congress to vote for motions calling for action against the Tory Trade Union Bill and the cuts. On Tuesday morning, a composite motion and a stand-alone RMT motion were passed that means the TUC is now mandated to organise a mass demonstration outside Parliament on November 2nd when the Bill gets its 3rd reading and can consider ‘generalised strike’ action if it is passed.
But we know that we have to build rank & file pressure to keep all this on the agenda of the union movement.
The NSSN encourages all union branches and trades councils to organise #KillTheBill rallies, public meetings and protests to help build opposition to the Tory Trade Union Bill – email us the details of your events and we’ll publicise them on this website and the NSSN leaflet that will be given out at the TUC demonstration outside Tory Party conference in Manchester on Sunday October 4th.
NSSN public meetings – “After the TUC lobby – how can we fight the Tories’ anti-union laws?”
Tuesday 3 November:-
Manchester, 7pm, at the Britons Protection, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, M1 5LE.
Liverpool, 7.30pm, at the Casa pub, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BQ.
Tuesday October 13th – Trade Union Co-ordinating Group ‘Kill the Bill’ protest & rally – 5pm outside Parliament for protest then 6pm Committee Room 10 House of Commons for rally – Chair: Steve Gillan POA. Speakers: Matt Wrack FBU, Michelle Stanistreet NUJ, Mark Serwotka PCS, Mick Cash RMT, John Hendy QC, Professor Keith Ewing, John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor, Caroline Lucas MP, Ian Lavery MP, Hannah Bardell MP, Rob Williams NSSN, Unite the Resistance More info from TUCG website
Rob Williams NSSN chair was interviewed live on BBC’s Daily Politics watch here at about 30 minutes
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter here
Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet here
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
CWU
Reinstate sacked Royal Mail rep John Vasey now! – John Vasey, a CWU postal rep in Wakefield, West Yorkshire has been sacked on what his work colleagues recognise as stitched up charges. The NSSN calls on all our supporters and affiliates to support John’s campaign for reinstatement and his union the CWU:-
Messages of protest to Jon Millidge, Royal Mail Group HR Director, c/o Tallents House, South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB.
(Copies to Paul Clays, CWU Regional Secretary, 6 Concept Court, Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor, YORK, YO30 4XF – e-mail: [email protected])
Please sign the petition and like Reinstate John Vasey on Facebook
RMT
RMT warns Government of biggest rail strike in a generation (14 Sept) – RMT warns Government of “biggest national rail strike in a generation” if attacks on jobs, services and safety aren’t halted read more
PCS
TUC ovation for PCS National Gallery strikers (15 Sept) – There was a standing ovation and glowing support from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for PCS National Gallery strikers at TUC Congress today. Our members, who are into their 92nd day of strike action against privatisation, are opposed to the privatisation of all the gallery’s visitor services and are fighting for the reinstatement of our senior rep Candy Udwin who an interim tribunal found was likely to have been sacked unlawfully for trade union activity in relation to the dispute. They have been on all-out strike since mid-August. We have more than 200 members at the gallery who are gallery assistants among other jobs. The gallery announced the appointment of private security firm Securitas to manage some visitor-facing and security staff services at the end of July read more and how to help
PCS in first ever strike at Natural Environment Research Council (15 Sept) – 900 PCS and Prospect members working for the NERC staged a half day walkout yesterday as part of a dispute over pay. Members at the NERC, which funds and carries out impartial environmental science research, have been given the choice of either accepting an inadequate buyout or remaining on their current contract but with no future pay increases. PCS members and their colleagues in Prospect walked out from 12:30 pm at 17 sites including Edinburgh, Belfast, East Kilbride, Nottingham, Lancaster, Bangor, Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton, Liverpool, Swindon and Plymouth. Around 900 members of staff were involved and it was the first time that members at the NERC had ever taken strike action read more
Electrifying PCS public meeting hears how to defeat austerity (14 Sept) – A packed PCS public meeting heard compelling ideas of how to defeat austerity and replace it with an alternative for the good of the people. There was an air of tremendous positivity exemplified by wave after wave of standing ovations at the meeting last night which was chaired by PCS president Janice Godrich. There was great applause when she told the audience her congratulations to Jeremy Corbyn for his election as Labour leader. “Jeremy Corbyn has done so much to bring hope back into British politics,” she said. The crowd of more than 500 people was attracted to the Brighton Corn Exchange on Sunday by the great line-up of: former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka, MP John McDonnell and MP Caroline Lucas read more
DVLA welcome back IT workers (14 Sept) – Today (Monday 14 September) some 300 private sector IT workers join DVLA, including many ex-civil servants who were originally privatised twenty years ago. DVLA made the decision at the start of the year to bring back in-house all work associated with the DVLA PACT contract (Partners Achieving Change Together), led by IBM on business change and with Fujitsu providing end-to-end ICT services and support. Staff have been TUPE transferred into the public sector and PCS Fujitsu Group reps have been very active in negotiating over the terms of the TUPE transfer, on job security, pay and on pension issues read more
Unite
Unite holds consultative ballot of Legal & General members at Kingswood HQ (9 Sept) – Unite members at Legal and General’s flagship site in Kingswood, Surrey are holding a consultative ballot over possible strike action following the company’s decision to threaten 1,700 jobs. The insurance and investment giant, which has reported an 18 per cent increase in operating profits, announced plans in August to vacate the Kingswood site by 2017, citing potential cost savings. The ballot will end on 16 September. Following the result Unite will proceed to ballot for full industrial action unless Legal & General commits to serious consultation read more
GMB
Stop Durham Tees airport attack on pensions (Sept 16) – GMB exposes attack by Durham Tees Airport on workers’ pensions. Once again loyal committed staff are going to be held to ransom; their pensions or the airport staying open and this is unacceptable says GMB read more
Unison
Further 7-day strike by Camden NSL traffic wardens – UNISON has today (Wednesday 16 September) issued formal notice to private parking contractor NSL of a further seven-day strike by over 130 of Camden’s traffic wardens (Civil Enforcement Officers) that will start on Wednesday 23 September read more Camden Unison
BFAWU
Watch BFAWU videos!! What’s on the menu at the Chancellor’s bakery? Work? Under 25? You need to see this That awkward moment when you’re paid less because you’re 19
Fast Food Rights campaigning in Manchester
Dear Comrades
The BFAWU is holding an exciting event at Moston miners club Manchester on the 9th of October. The Fast Food Rights Autumn Party will be an evening of Comedy, Music with the added bonus of a live discussion with the American fight for $15, Reflecting on their astounding success in doubling the minimum wage in cities all across the States.
The aim will be to use this event to draw in fast food workers from across the city for an evening that shows the value of being a member of a union. And to have a great time along the way.
In the build up to this event the BFAWU and the Fast Food Rights campaign are looking for people to help us speak to fast food workers across the Manchester area and beyond. We have arranged days of action in Manchester with the TUC and ask local trade unionists and members of the public to join us.
The Days of action are as follows:-
Saturday 12th September FC United vs Corby Town. 1pm-3.15pm Meet Moston Miners club car park.
Tuesday 22nd September. 4-6pm Meet escalator outside Arndale food court.
Tuesday 29th September. 12-2pm and 5-7pm Meet escalator outside Arndale food court.
Friday 2nd October. FC United vs Worcester city 6pm-8pm Meet Moston Miners club car park.
Thursday 8th October 12-3pm Meet escalator outside Arndale food court.
Friday the 9th October. 12pm-5pm meet escalator outside Arndale food court.
Friday 9th October Live link up with US Fight for 15 6.30pm Bands Start at 7.30pm
Please can you email me at the address below and let me know what time and days you are available. If you cannot make any of these times don’t worry email me or give me a ring and we can talk about how you can support.
Feel free to call me on 07739326006
Gareth Lane – BFAWU community Organiser Northern England
Follow me on Twitter @gar1ane
Email [email protected]
Reports of Fast Food Rights protests on Youth Fight for Jobs and Fast Food Rights websites – Please send details of any local actions to [email protected] / [email protected]
FBU
Video | Matt Wrack slams the Trade Union Bill (Sept 10) – Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, has called the Trade Union Bill an attack on ordinary working people in a new video released by the union see video
UCU
500 jobs at risk as Open University plans to close regional centres (15 Sept) – Almost 500 jobs could disappear from seven Open University centres in England under controversial plans described as ‘catastrophic’ by UCU. Thousands of current and potential students could be affected by the move, which would see the removal of vital services, such as careers counselling, study advice and support for disabled students 500 jobs at risk as Open University plans to close regional centres read more
United Voices of the World
Reinstate the Sotheby’s 2! – www.facebook.com/unitedvoicesoftheworld See photos and reports from the protest outside Sotheby’s Battersea Car auction on Monday September 7th www.facebook.com/events/967757346578854/
Other News
London Labour Film Festival Sept 24-26: Cinema Celebrating Working People – The 2015 London Labour Film Festival will take place between Thursday 24th & Saturday 26th September at the Arthouse Cinema in Crouch End. This year’s festival might best be described as intimate and beautiful, which would also be an apt description of our wonderful venue. We are being hosted by the Art House cinema in Crouch end, a gloriously revamped former-Salvation Army hall that provides the perfect backdrop for what promises to be an engaging and stimulating few days of great film and lively discussion. Read more on LLFF website – www.londonlabourfilmfest.com
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Buy the book ‘Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Union Activists’ Author: Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain. Blacklisted tells the controversial story of the illegal strategies that transnational construction companies used to keep union activists away from work. See the official trailer from ReelNews
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work in 2015 we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Blacklist Support Group – TUC Congress week 2015
- Jeremy Corbyn & John McDonnell
Blacklist Support Group congratulates Jeremy Corbyn in his landslide victory in the Labour Party leadership election. Jeremy has always supported blacklisted workers, signing Early Day Motions (when most Labour MPs didn’t), attending BSG meetings in parliament and in his Islington constituency and over the years has stood next to us on picketlines outside building sites.
John McDonnell is a founder member of the Blacklist Support Group – he organised and chaired our first ever meeting in the spring of 2009. He has stood by us ever since; as our spokesperson in parliament, on picket lines, in the media, at our AGMs & meetings. John also wrote the foreword for ‘Blacklisted’ book and is the MP who exposed the role of the police in the blacklisting conspiracy in parliament. One of our own is now the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. He will rip George Osbourne’s head off. GET IN THERE!
Corbyn’s election is a victory for the trade unions over the Blairites. Corbyn and McDonnell together are a massive boost for the blacklist campaign. It’s just got very interesting.
- No Public contracts for blacklisting firms
Corbyn is sending out emails asking Labour Party supporters what questions he should ask Cameron at PMQs. If you are a LP member, you can support the campaign by suggesting that he asks why firms involved in blacklisting trade union members are still being awarded public contracts. The firms need to be punished not trade unions. Make your suggested question short and snappy and please post any on social media.
Message to blacklisting companies: Corbyn and McDonnell both actively support our demand that ‘no public contracts for firms involved in blacklisting’. Be worried.
Wigan Council ban blacklisting firms:
https://www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2015/Sept/Council-takes-a-stand-against-blacklisting.aspx
Other public authorities should follow suit and when contracts come up for renewal – throw the blacklisters off
Pix from Liverpool Royal Hopsital protest against Carillion: http://www.newzulu.com/en/photos/news/2015-09-04/14923/liverpool-unite-union-anti-blacklist-protest-at.html#f=0/181624
Reel News video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsTsalDsQDs
- Trade Union Bill will create a state organised blacklist says leading academic Professor Keith Ewing (big time friend of the Blacklist Support Group from the start)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/picket-laws-would-make-cops-6401286
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-90ad-Union-Bill-creates-a-state-blacklist
http://www.ucatt.org.uk/blacklisting-real-threat-if-tory-union-attack-goes-ahead
2nd Reading of the TU Bill is today (Monday 14th) – For anyone in London, there is a lobby of parliament from 6pm
- Blacklisting at TUC
There are a number of fringe events at TUC Congress this week to coincide with the 2 motions being debated on blacklisting and undercover police spying on trade unions. BSG get name checked in Motion 74
Tues 5:45pm – Spycops Fringe – Room 1A Brighton Centre (flyer attached) – John McDonnell, Matt Wrack, Helen Steel, Shamik Dutta, Dave Smith
Wed Lunchtime – Blacklisted book signing t the Bookmarks stall – Phil Chamberlain & Dave Smith
Wed 7pm – Blacklisting fringe event – Phil & Dave again – http://freeuniversitybrighton.org/events/blacklisted-the-secret-war-between-big-business-and-union-activists/
Motions at TUC Congress on blacklisting and undercover police spying on trade unions.
Motion 74 Blacklisting and state spying on unions
Submitted by: Fire Brigades Union
Congress applauds the tremendous work done by unions and the Blacklist Support Group in campaigning against the blacklisting of workers for trade union activity.
Congress is alarmed by media reports into police spying on, and infiltration of, activist organisations, environmental and anti-racist campaigns, including the Stephen Lawrence campaign.
Congress notes the Home Secretary’s announcement on 12 March 2015 of the Pitchford Inquiry into the operation of undercover police bodies.
Congress further notes the blacklisting meeting at Westminster on 12 March 2015, which heard the statement from a former undercover police officer disclosing that he spied on members of the FBU, UNISON, CWU, NUT and NUS.
Congress notes the significant evidence contained in a number of published books and media articles of police monitoring of, and interference in, the trade union movement
during industrial disputes, union-backed anti-racist and environmental campaigns, as well as routine trade union activity.
Congress demands that these issues are fully addressed by the Pitchford Inquiry and that relevant information is sought by the inquiry without threat (e.g. of prosecution) to those agreeing to provide evidence.
Congress believes that a trade union body such as the TUC, as well as the Blacklist Support Group, should be given ‘core participant’ status in the Pitchford Inquiry.
Congress resolves to campaign for the democratic rights of trade unionists and against secret state interference in the labour movement. This will substantially further the interests of trade union members and elected representatives to engage in their legitimate trade union activities.
Amendment
Submitted by: GMB
- Add a final paragraph:
“Furthermore, Congress calls on the European Parliament to ensure both the EU Data Protection Regulation and the EU Health & Safety Strategy 2014–2020 explicitly ban blacklisting of workers for their trade union and health and safety activities.”
Motion 73 Undercover police surveillance of trade unionists
Submitted by: Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
Congress notes that in March 2015 it was revealed that Mark Jenner, a police officer serving in the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), had infiltrated construction union
UCATT and spied on its members.
Congress further notes that former police officer Peter Francis, acting as a whistleblower, has admitted that during his time in the SDS he spied on trade unionists in the construction industry and activists in the NUT, CWU, FBU and the National Union of Students.
Congress is aware that information on the files of workers blacklisted by the Consulting Association could only have been provided by the police or the security services.
Congress is alarmed that attempts to find out further information on the involvement of police officers in infiltrating unions has been blocked by the Metropolitan Police on the grounds of national security.
Congress believes that trade unionists who were spied on by the police have an absolute right to know why they were targeted in this manner.
Congress calls on the TUC General Council to:
i campaign for a full independent public inquiry into blacklisting in order for these and other matters relating to how the lives of workers were ruined are fully revealed
ii ensure that the inquiry being led by Lord Justice Pitchford into undercover policing and the SDS fully investigates the links between the police and blacklisting
iii provide support and assistance to all unions whose members were subjected to secret police infiltration and surveillance.
Amendment
Submitted by: National Union of Journalists
- Add new final paragraph:
“Congress further resolves to support the NUJ campaign against surveillance of journalists and calls for further legislative changes, including an independent judicial process; automatic mandatory prior notification; and mechanisms to challenge and appeal in cases where the authorities, including the police, are attempting to access journalists’ communications, materials and sources.”
Full TUC Congress agenda https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Congress_2015_Final_Agenda_All_LR.pdf
Blacklisted book http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
International (also see Labourstart)
Stop the government of Finland’s massive attack on trade union rights! read more
Kyrgyzstan: Stop union-busting, reinstate Zhanaydar Ahmetov read more
Diary (see & use false economy)
September
October
4 No to Austerity, Yes to Workers Rights – National demonstration at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester more info
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE