NHS - 65th Birthday Party on the beach at Weston super Mare

Here's a photo from today courtesy of Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary, South West TUC

Weston Hospital Anti-Privatisation Campaign - Organising Meeting on 2nd July

In order to develop a strategy to fight the Privatisation of Weston General Hospital, we have arranged an organising meeting for all interested parties. The details are:

Tuesday 2nd July
 7 - 9 pm

Upstairs room at Weston Working Men’s Club
6 - 10 Orchard Street
Weston-Super-Mare
BS23 1RQ

If you have any good ideas and want to contribute, or if you want to help oppose this threat, please come along.

Keep Weston Hospital in the NHS - Public Meeting on 29th June

TUC Austerity Uncovered Bus in Weston super Mare on 29th June

COME ALONG AND TELL YOUR STORY ABOUT HOW THE CUTS ARE AFFECTING YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY

SATURDAY 29th JUNE

WESTON SUPER MARE

9.30 am - 2.30 pm at Weston Football Club, Winterstoke Road, Weston super Mare, BS24 9AA

3 - 5 pm at the For All Healthy Living Centre, 68 Lonsdale Avenue, Weston super Mare, BS23 3SJ

Britain is hurting. Too many politicians have no idea just how tough life is for the many. Prices are rising while wages are held back. Service cuts are biting hard. And getting tough on cheats is used as an excuse to cut vital benefits and tax credits for millions who have played by the rules.

In June 2013, the TUC and Britain’s trade unions will be travelling across the country letting people tell their own story about life in Britain today. We are making videos, blogging what we find, and bringing journalists to report life on the front line of austerity Britain.

We are gathering the evidence to convict government policies. They are hurting, but they are not working.

Download the flyer here

More information at: http://austerityuncovered.org/

Unite the Resistance Bristol Event - 8th June

Unite the Resistance Bristol Event
Saturday 8 June, 12 - 4pm
Ashley Down Centre, City of Bristol College, Refectory, Ashley Down Road, Bristol BS7 9BU

Speakers include:

Jane Aitchison, PCS and Unite the Resistance Joint National Secretary
Anne Lemon, NUT National Executive
Liz Lawrence, UCU National Vice President
Kevin Beazer, CWU South West Regional Secretary (on behalf of the general secretary)
Andy Wilkes, Leading Unite rank and file electrician from the recent dispute that beat the BESNA pay attack
Kevin Doogan, Author of New Capitalism? The Transformation of Work
Phil Chamberlain, UWE academic and investigative journalist into blacklisting
Rob Murthwaite, Disabled People Against Cuts
Support Stafford Hospital, Leading organiser of 30,000 strong march to save the A&E

Some speakers are appearing in a personal capacity

Download the flyer here

Congratulations to our Secretary on his re-election as Chair of the South West TUC

Richard Capps, the Secretary of Weston & North Somerset Trades Union Council, has been re-elected as Chair of the South West TUC. Congratulations to Richard and also to Rosie McGregor from the White Horse Trades Union Council.

Sign the petition for a Living Wage in North Somerset

The Weston & North Somerset Trades Union Council, which is a joint trade union group representing workers in transport, communications, local government, teaching and the civil service, has today launched a petition to urge North Somerset Council to adopt the Living Wage and use its influence as a community leader to encourage employers across North Somerset to pay their staff the living wage.

Research by the South West TUC released during Living Wage Week (November 4 – 10, 2012) showed that 26% of workers (22,463) in North Somerset earn less than £7.20 an hour – the lowest rate that campaigners believe supports a decent standard of living outside London. From November 2012 the Living Wage was increased to £7.45 an hour.

The Living wage has many benefits. First of all it lifts families out of in work poverty - it is a very depressing fact that of all the children living in poverty in the UK over half of them (55%) live in a family where at least one parent is working. Many of the people who regularly use our local foodbank are also in work. Paying the living wage will have economic benefits for the district and the country as a whole. The extra income in people’s pockets translates into extra spending in the local economy, thereby stimulating demand and ensuring local businesses remain sustainable. In addition paying the living wage results in massive savings to the costs of the benefits bill in terms of reduced spending on working tax credits, child tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Currently we have a situation where the taxpayer is actually subsidising employers who pay their staff low wages. Employers who have implemented the living wage have also found that it encourages higher quality of work, and makes workers more willing to implement changes in their working practices. Businesses who have implemented the living wage have seen benefits including: improved recruitment and retention of staff, less absenteeism, and increased consumer awareness of their organisation’s commitment to be an ethical employer.

Sign the petition now by following this link: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/a-living-wage-for-north-somerset.html

You can also download paper copies of the petition to print out and take into your workplace here.

If you are an organisation who would like to sign up to our campaign please download our Campaign Statement here.

Signed campaign statements and petitions can be returned to Living Wage North Somerset Campaign, c/o UNISON Office, Town Hall, Weston super Mare, BS23 1UJ

The Spirit of '45 at the Curzon Clevedon on 9th June

Ken Loach's new film The Spirit of '45 will be shown at the Film Club at the Curzon Cinema in Clevedon at 7.45 pm on Sunday 9th June.

Trade Union members will be granted Honorary Film Club member status for the night and will get a discount - the ticket price will be reduced to £6.50 or £5.40 concessions.

The box office, exhibition and Lounge Bar will open at 6 pm, the auditorium will open at 7.15 pm, and the main film will start at 7.45 pm.

If you've never been to the Curzon Cinema before you're in for a real treat. The films start when they say they're going to start, the staff are really friendly, you don't get ripped off when you buy popcorn and if you're really lucky there'll be someone playing the organ.

For more information on the Curzon Cinema go to their website: www.curzon.org.uk

Workers' Memorial Day - 28th April

Sunday 28th April 12.30-2.30pm
Bristol Cathedral

The South West TUC Executive has confirmed its support for a grand gathering of trade unionists and others who wish to remember those killed and injured at work and fight to protect the living. Plans are being developed for a short event in Bristol Cathedral involving the TUC, unions, people who have faced the trauma of accidents at work, various faith community representatives, those who have responsibility for public health and safety at work, etc. People will be invited to gather outside the Cathedral at 12.30 with as many union banners we can muster in order to join a gathering from 1 to 2pm. We hope to a have a good cross section of speakers along with music from Red Notes Choir. It will be important to reflect the international dimension and remember workers around the world killed to supply us with goods, services and news. The event will also highlight those who suffer for challenging dangerous conditions and confront the current attack on health and safety regulations. Following the event, wreaths will be laid at the Workers’ Memorial Day plaque in Castle Park. Plans are still taking shape so please let southwest@tuc.org.uk know if you have suggestions for speakers, music or guests to invite.

People's Assembly Against Austerity - 22nd June

Weston and North Somerset Trades Union Council will be sending 2 delegates to:

People's Assembly Against Austerity
Saturday 22 June 2013, 9:30am – 5pm,
Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London, Westminster, London SW1H 9NH



The People’s Assembly Against Austerity was launched with a letter to the Guardian:

This is a call to all those millions of people in Britain who face an impoverished and uncertain year as their wages, jobs, conditions and welfare provision come under renewed attack by the government. With some 80% of austerity measures still to come, and with the government lengthening the time they expect cuts to last, we are calling a People’s Assembly Against Austerity to bring together campaigns against cuts and privatisation with trade unionists in a movement for social justice. We aim to develop a strategy for resistance to mobilise millions of people against the Con Dem government.

The assembly will provide a national forum for anti-austerity views which, while increasingly popular, are barely represented in parliament. A People’s Assembly can play a key role in ensuring that this uncaring government faces a movement of opposition broad enough and powerful enough to generate successful co-ordinated action, including strike action. The assembly will be ready to support co-ordinated industrial action and national demonstrations against austerity, if possible synchronising with mobilisations across Europe. The People’s Assembly Against Austerity will meet at Central Hall, Westminster, on 22 June.


For more information and to add your support follow this link:
http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2013/02/peoples-assembly-against-austerity-launched-in-the-guardian/

Campaign for Trade Union Freedom Launch and Rally - 23rd March

Campaign for the Living Wage - Weston TUC Meeting - 13th February

The next meeting of Weston and North Somerset TUC will be held on 13th February at 7 pm in the upstairs room at the Bristol Hotel, 29 Locking Road, Weston super Mare.

Our guest speaker will be Kit Leary from the South West TUC who will talk about the Living Wage.

Research by the South West TUC released during Living Wage Week (November 4 – 10, 2012) showed that 26% of workers (22,463) in North Somerset earn less than £7.20 an hour – the lowest rate that campaigners believe supports a decent standard of living outside London. From November 2012 the Living Wage increased to £7.45 an hour.

All trade union members living or working in North Somerset are invited to attend.

Further information on the Living Wage can be found at:

Fair Pay Campaign South West

Living Wage Foundation

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Justice not for Sale - Email your MP now

The PCS is asking all PCS members, whether they work in criminal enforcement and fixed penalties or not to email their MP as soon as possible asking them to oppose privatisation and come to the Parliamentary briefing on 22 January.  The letter to MPs has been updated so that it can be sent from any member of the union and not just enforcement members. Please email your MP now by using the following link:
http://pcslive.bluestatedigital.com/page/speakout/criminal-fine-enforcement


All of us are potentially at risk from privatisation as we know the aim is to sell off 'similar' work if they get away with privatising criminal enforcement and fixed penalties. This means all members have a role to play in helping to defeat privatisation.

The campaign to stop the privatisation of MoJ's enforcement services is reaching a critical stage as the Crime and Courts Bill reaches the House of Commons this month.

In the House of Lords there was some success with the introduction of an independent appeals system for people who have complaints about private bailiffs. However, the bill still allows for the work we do and our jobs to be handed over to private companies.


PCS is stepping up the pressure of our parliamentary campaigning and holding a briefing for all MPs on Tuesday 22 January at 2 pm. We will be telling them why they should vote against the privatisation.

MoJ are under considerable pressure on the issue of privatisation. MoJ procurement has been severely criticised over the court interpreters
contract and the electronic monitoring contract awarded to Serco who made record profits and ripped off the tax payer. Now is the time to step up the pressure.

Please take a moment to email your MP today to make sure they're kept informed and help us win support for our amendments to the Bill aimed at taking our clauses enabling privatisation.

You can download the full PCS document here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5j2lWfRXcIfbWY5YWZ2RHlGZzg/edit

Justice not for Sale - Stop the Privatisation of Criminal Court Enforcement

Demonstration at North Somerset Courthouse Queensway, Worle WSM BS22 7BB

30th November from 1 to 2 pm

• Stop the privatisation of the Ministry of Justice Post and Stationary Services
• Defend the civil service status, terms and conditions of staff
• Keep private companies out of the justice system

 

Follow this link to the PCS MoJ group website to email your MP asking they support Early Day Motion 73 opposing privatisation in the justice sector.

 

http://www.pcs.org.uk/justicenotforsale

WE ARE ONE NHS - Oppose the South West Pay Cartel - 1st December, Bristol

Join the protest on Saturday 1st December from 11am.

Assemble College Green for March through Bristol starting at 11.30am.

20 bosses from 20 Trusts (including Weston General Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and North Bristol Trust) seem to think that NHS healthworkers in the South West are worth less than health workers in the rest of England – they’ve forked out £10,000 each in public funds to look at ways of driving down their pay and terms and conditions by ditching the national pay agreement.

Local pay will splinter the NHS, hit the quality of patient care and ease the way for privatisation

KEEP THE ‘N’ IN THE NHS!

Sign and share the national petition to stop the South West Pay Cartel: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36063

Joint NHS union protest for all who support a National Health Service.

For more information: 079 89 105 449

Download and distribute the flyer

The Alternative to Cuts - Public Meeting 19th September

About 50 people attended our Public Meeting at the Winter Gardens in Weston super Mare on 19th September. Guest speakers included:

Lisa Youlton, UNISON South West Regional Manager, who spoke about the joint union campaign against the South West Pay Cartel, which aims to reduce the wages of NHS staff by about 15%. She asked the audience to sign the petition against  regional pay - here's the link: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36063

Michael Wright from Youth Fight for Jobs told the audience about their manifesto's 5 key aims: to scrap workfare schemes, to bring back the EMA, to scrap tuition fees, to re-open youth serviecs and to invest in socially useful jobs and training. More information at this link: http://www.youthfightforjobs.com

Gwyneth Powell-Davies from UNITE spoke about the dangers of NHS privatisation, with massive global health care companies circling like vultures, since the Health and Social Care Act, which despite what David Cameron has said is the biggest top down re-organisation of the NHS ever.

North Somerset councillor Donald Davies spoke about the disproportionate impact of the cuts on benefit claimants, young people, women and immigrants. He also expressed concerns that the media in general (with a few exceptions like Owen Jones) seem to think there is nothing wrong with what the Tories are doing. Councillor Davies proposed that Council Tax could become a fairer tax if more bands were created at the top, and the ratio between the lowest band and the highest band was closer to current pay ratios.

Members of the audience spoke about the impact of the cuts on older people, and also expressed the view that we all need to stand together against the cuts, and that trade unions must further build their strength and also work with other groups and individuals.

The Coalition isn't Working - Public Meeting - Weston super Mare

THE COALITION ISN'T WORKING

 

 

 

 

THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE CUTS

Public Meeting on 19th September at 7 pm

Winter Gardens, Royal Parade, Weston super Mare, BS23 1AJ

Speakers on the NHS, South West Pay Cartel, Transport and Youth Services

Brendan Kelly, RMT
Gwyneth Powell-Davies, UNITE
Michael Wright, Youth Fight for Jobs
Lisa Youlton, UNISON

'A Future That Works' - mass TUC demonstration in London on 20 October

The TUC is to organise a mass demonstration in London under the banner of 'A Future That Works' on Saturday 20 October 2012. A march through central London will culminate in a rally in Hyde Park.

On March 26 2011 the TUC's March for the Alternative attracted 500,000 people to a march and rally in London.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The tide is turning against austerity. We were told that spending cuts were needed to get the economy growing, yet they have driven the UK back into recession. We were told that we were all in it together, yet Mr Cameron's main purpose at the G8 summit seemed to be protecting the banks against the growing international support for a Robin Hood tax - and the last Budget's centrepiece was cutting the 50p tax rate.

'It is becoming ever clearer that this government does not have the policies - or even much of a commitment - to build a prosperous economy that can generate the jobs and industries we need for the future.

'Rather than bold policies for investment and growth, the best that ministers can do is half-baked proposals to make it easier to sack people.

'That is why we expect a huge turnout from the growing numbers that want a future that works. With the USA and France now setting out the alternative, it's time the UK also changed course.'

10th May Strike over Cuts to Public Sector Pensions

On May 10th, trades unions representing tens of thousands of workers in the public sector joined the latest strike over cuts to public sector pensions. PCS, Unite & UCU members took industrial action.

The following article by James Franklin appeared in the Weston Mercury:

PUBLIC sector workers in Weston joined thousands of their colleagues from across the country in taking strike action last week.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) from the town Job Centre formed picket lines on High Street on May 10 as part of a nationwide 24-hour strike.

The strike was called after a dispute between the Government and unions over pension changes.

Secretary of Weston & North Somerset TUC elected Chair of South West TUC

Our Secretary Richard Capps was elected as Chair of South West TUC at its annual conference in Croyde Bay at the weekend. Dave Chapple from Bridgwater TUC was elected Vice Chair. Congratulations to the both of them.