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
Thursday, 30 May 2013
Thursday, 25 April 2013
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.
Friday, 12 April 2013
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
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
Saturday, 16 March 2013
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
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
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.
Friday, 22 February 2013
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/
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/
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