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
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
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
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
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Justice not for Sale - Stop the Privatisation of Criminal Court Enforcement
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.
Thursday, 15 November 2012
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
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
Saturday, 22 September 2012
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.
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.
Thursday, 9 August 2012
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 pmWinter 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
Monday, 21 May 2012
'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.'
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.'
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