Reminder from the Institute of Employment Rights-
(1) Equal Pay Act at 40 Conference Wednesday 23rd February
(2) Unions at Work: resisting attacks in the workplace Saturday 5th March: Free conference in association with SERTUC
I would be grateful if you could distribute this message to colleagues, activists, networks and members. Find out more and book places here. If you have any queries concerning the seminars, please contact me at the details below.
Best wishes
Phelim
(1) Equal Pay Act at 40 Conference Wednesday 23rd February 9:30am- 4:30pm
At NUT Hamilton House London WC1H 9BD
with contributions from: Baroness Gould; Sheila Wild, Equalities and Human Rights Commission; Marian Scovell, Prospect; Ben Cooper, Old Square Chambers; Barry Smith, GMB; Amanda Brown, NUT; Anna Bird, Fawcett Society; Alison Humphry, Unison; Caroline Underhill, Thompsons; Sally Brett, TUC
Topics include: Inquiry into Sex Discrimination in the Finance Sector; Length of service as a determinant in pay: Wilson v HSE & Cadman v HSE; When objective justification is required: Gibson v Sheffield Council; Demonstrating disparate impact: Pike v Somerset Council; The road to equal pay: a new approach; TUPE and Equal Pay: Sodexo Ltd v Gutridge; Farewell Equal Pay Act: future prospects for narrowing the gender pay gap
(2) Unions at Work: resisting attacks in the workplace Saturday 5th March: Free conference in association with SERTUC 10:00am- 3:00pm at TUC Congress House London WC1B 3LS
with contributions from Gail Cartmail (Unite) on facility time arrangements; Prof Aileen McColgan (Matrix Chambers) on Equality Impact Assessments and the Equality Agenda; Alan Bogg (PCS) on victimisation; Prof Keith Ewing and John Hendy QC on collective rights. Chaired by Megan Dobney (SERTUC) and Carolyn Jones (IER)
Phelim Mac Cafferty
Projects and Events Officer
Institute of Employment Rights
179 Preston Road
Brighton East Sussex
BN1 6AG
t: 01273 330819
e: phelim@ier.org.uk
www.ier.org.uk
We are proud of our ongoing work but recognise more needs to be done. Show your continued support by taking a subscription and joining our debate. Go to www.ier.org.uk
Friday, 21 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Support PETER ALLEN
«
Candidate Interview: Peter Allen (Green) (acknowledgements to Saddleworth News)
Green candidate Peter Allen has described his party as “the voice of hope” in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election.
Mr Allen also used an interview with Saddleworth News to say he believed the government was wrong to cut public sector jobs, and called for higher taxes on the wealthy and tougher measures on tax evasion to help reduce the deficit instead.
He explained: “We’re against all cuts in public services. Not only are they immoral and unjust and will lead to massive deprivation, but also we think that they’re not going to be an effective way of reducing public expenditure and reducing the deficit.”
Mr Allen continued: “If a public sector worker on an average wage of £25,000 was made redundant, the actual saving to the state once reduced taxation and the payment of benefits is taken into account, could be as little as £2,000. So it doesn’t actually make a lot of economic sense.”
He pointed to research which suggested that “around £70 billion” could be saved by increasing taxes on higher earners and significantly reducing the amount of money lost in tax avoidance. He added that the Greens would support some spending cuts, such as “an immediate end” to the war in Afghanistan.
Mr Allen said the Greens opposed the scaling back of the government’s school-building programme, which meant the planned new Saddleworth School in Diggle had to be shelved. He said: “If a local decision is that there needs to be a new school in this area, which would be a decision that would be appropriately made locally, then that would be something that we would want to see carry on.”
On the related issues of the new Tesco at Greenfield and the impending parking restrictions in Uppermill, Mr Allen recognised the convenience of supermarkets, but added: “On the other hand, people also have a commitment to local shops on local high streets. I know there’s a vibrant one here in Uppermill, and I know there’s a parking problem.”
He went on to suggest: “I’m wondering whether the Tesco car park couldn’t be used by people shopping here in Uppermill, and perhaps Tesco could lay on free buses so people could actually continue to shop in Uppermill as well as using Tesco, and that would be something that Tesco would be contributing to the community, and quite rightly so.”
Mr Allen said he was fully behind Network Rail’s plans to expand the railways in our area, which includes the re-opening of the disused Standedge tunnels and perhaps a new station at Diggle. He said this and other infrastructure projects could be paid for by “a massive shift away from investing in road building.”
Reflecting on the actions of Phil Woolas, which have led to this by-election taking place, Mr Allen said he remembered the former MP as a contemporary of his from his student days in Manchester. He condemned the leaflets sent out by Mr Woolas in last year’s general election, adding: “The Green Party welcomes the multiracial and multicultural nature of modern Oldham and modern Britain, so we don’t think immigration is a problem, we actually think it’s a quality.”
Mr Allen lives in Glossop and is an advice worker in Manchester.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
UNCERTAINTY FOR 130 WORKERS AT THREATENED WIND TURBINE FACTORY
acknowledgements to Martin Empson CCCTU
UNCERTAINTY FOR 130 WORKERS AT THREATENED WIND TURBINE FACTORY
By Lucinda Cameron, Press Association Scotland
A company which makes wind turbine parts has gone into administration.
Skykon Campbeltown suffered when its Denmark-based parent company Skykon suspended payments to creditors in October.
Around 130 people work at Skykon’s factory in Machrihanish, Argyll.
Colin Dempster and Andrew Davison of Ernst & Young are the appointed administrators.
Mr Davison said: “We are currently reviewing the facility’s financial position and order book with a view to assessing its immediate trading prospects.
“Some initial expressions of interest have been made and all options will be explored to find a future for the site.”
Danish firm Skykon bought the plant, which makes towers for wind farms, from Vestas in 2009.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scottish Development International and HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) are working with the administrators and their various stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome, and every effort is being made to secure the viability of the asset and long term, low carbon jobs for the area.”
Douglas Cowan, Argyll and The Islands area manager for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “HIE and our partners have been working hard to avoid this outcome for Campbeltown.
“We will now do all we can to assist the administrator to identify and negotiate with a new operator.
“Investment in this site over the past 10 years has created a great asset for Argyll and I have no doubt it will attract international interest from potential tenants.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute Alan Reid said he had been in contact with the administrators as well as Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Alex Salmond after the announcement.
Mr Reid said: “The Scottish Government must do all that it can to ensure that the Machrihanish factory resumes production as quickly as possible and that a buyer is found to give the factory a secure future.
“As well as the many jobs that are at stake, the towers being made there are important to help meet our renewable energy targets.
“Without this factory, future employment prospects for people in Kintyre would be grim. Everything possible must be done to keep the factory going.”
end
UNCERTAINTY FOR 130 WORKERS AT THREATENED WIND TURBINE FACTORY
By Lucinda Cameron, Press Association Scotland
A company which makes wind turbine parts has gone into administration.
Skykon Campbeltown suffered when its Denmark-based parent company Skykon suspended payments to creditors in October.
Around 130 people work at Skykon’s factory in Machrihanish, Argyll.
Colin Dempster and Andrew Davison of Ernst & Young are the appointed administrators.
Mr Davison said: “We are currently reviewing the facility’s financial position and order book with a view to assessing its immediate trading prospects.
“Some initial expressions of interest have been made and all options will be explored to find a future for the site.”
Danish firm Skykon bought the plant, which makes towers for wind farms, from Vestas in 2009.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scottish Development International and HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) are working with the administrators and their various stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome, and every effort is being made to secure the viability of the asset and long term, low carbon jobs for the area.”
Douglas Cowan, Argyll and The Islands area manager for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “HIE and our partners have been working hard to avoid this outcome for Campbeltown.
“We will now do all we can to assist the administrator to identify and negotiate with a new operator.
“Investment in this site over the past 10 years has created a great asset for Argyll and I have no doubt it will attract international interest from potential tenants.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute Alan Reid said he had been in contact with the administrators as well as Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Alex Salmond after the announcement.
Mr Reid said: “The Scottish Government must do all that it can to ensure that the Machrihanish factory resumes production as quickly as possible and that a buyer is found to give the factory a secure future.
“As well as the many jobs that are at stake, the towers being made there are important to help meet our renewable energy targets.
“Without this factory, future employment prospects for people in Kintyre would be grim. Everything possible must be done to keep the factory going.”
end
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
1968 and all that - deja vu all over again? by Sean Thompson
In the hazy golden glow of hindsight, Wordsworth seemed to have been writing about us in the spring of 1968; ‘Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven!’ The Tet offensive seemed to be a decisive turning point in the Vietnam war (a prediction which turned out, unusually for the left, to be correct). The Vietnam Solidarity Campaign had organised a demonstration of over 20,000 people the previous October and the next, in March, had been over 100,000 strong and even more militant. In May, as I drove through Finsbury Park with the first bundles of the first edition of the Black Dwarf, I listened on the car radio to the sound of the Internationale being sung on the streets of Paris by a huge demonstration of workers and students. Bliss indeed.
There had been a few sit-ins, such as at LSE in protest at the appointment of Walter Adams as Vice Chancellor, the previous year. However, in response to the May Events, a rash of student protests and occupations started to sweep the country - and, indeed, Europe. For a few weeks, students in Bristol, UEA, Sussex, Keele, Hornsey, Guildford, Corsham and at the time, it seemed, almost everywhere else, occupied their colleges - and in many cases won significant reforms from the authorities. Then they all went on holiday.
There was a was a lot of nonsense talked about ‘The Student Revolution’ at that time, with silly theories - such as universities becoming ‘Red Bases’ and whatever it was that Marcuse was going on about - gaining a temporary currency. Despite all that, there was a significant radicalisation among at least some students in 1968 that breathed new life into the dusty archives of socialism. However, while not wanting to overstate the significance of the specific events we have witnessed over the past month or two, I think that the current wave of student unrest is different from - and more significant than - the events in those dear dead days of May and June 1968 in three potentially vital ways.
First of all, while the student protests of 1968 were political, they were political in somewhat abstract ways; opposition to the war in Vietnam or to Apartheid, or even to the universities‘ involvement with corporate and/or state interests. Even the protests about the content and form of teaching in the art schools tended to reflect the concerns of an advanced, fairly politicised, minority. On the other hand, the protests we have been seeing over this winter have been largely the expression of students’ outrage at the attacks on their living standards and educational prospects - in other words, they have been rooted in the real life experience and aspirations of ordinary students.
Second, the student protests of ’68 were overwhelmingly middle class in their makeup; not suprising, since even though HE had expanded in the ‘60s and become an option for more working class kids, they were still a very small minority in a sector that was much smaller than it is today. Today, the HE sector has vastly expanded and far more working class youngsters attend university, or aspire to it. In addition, FE colleges have become an alternative to sixth forms for many working class kids and preparing them for university entrance has become a central role for FE. For these youngsters, the Education Maintenance Award scheme (EMA) is a vital support and the Government’s plans for its abolition from April has been seen by many of them (rightly) as a vindictive and mean minded attack on their living standards and their plans for the future. Thus, a feature of the street demonstrations across Britain has been the involvement of many much younger working class students from FE colleges and sixth forms.
Third, in 1968 there was little or no popular support for the student protests, certainly not within the labour movement. However, this time the protests have not just involved a much wider layer of students than were ever involved in 1968, but reacting as they were to what were merely the most visible of the savage cuts in social provision that face us, the students have to some degree come to be seen by many trade union activists (many of whom, of course, have children who have been or will be affected by the cuts) as the first wave of real opposition to the Tories and their Lib Dem bag carriers. And while Len McCluskey’s public support for the students may turn out to be largely rhetorical, it is public support nonetheless.
While we should not have any illusions about what the spontaneous upsurge of student anger will achieve on its own, I think that we should see it as a inchoate harbinger of the mass opposition that is to come - that has to come if we are to defeat this dreadful government. This is not history repeating itself - it has the potential to be the beginning of something really new.
There had been a few sit-ins, such as at LSE in protest at the appointment of Walter Adams as Vice Chancellor, the previous year. However, in response to the May Events, a rash of student protests and occupations started to sweep the country - and, indeed, Europe. For a few weeks, students in Bristol, UEA, Sussex, Keele, Hornsey, Guildford, Corsham and at the time, it seemed, almost everywhere else, occupied their colleges - and in many cases won significant reforms from the authorities. Then they all went on holiday.
There was a was a lot of nonsense talked about ‘The Student Revolution’ at that time, with silly theories - such as universities becoming ‘Red Bases’ and whatever it was that Marcuse was going on about - gaining a temporary currency. Despite all that, there was a significant radicalisation among at least some students in 1968 that breathed new life into the dusty archives of socialism. However, while not wanting to overstate the significance of the specific events we have witnessed over the past month or two, I think that the current wave of student unrest is different from - and more significant than - the events in those dear dead days of May and June 1968 in three potentially vital ways.
First of all, while the student protests of 1968 were political, they were political in somewhat abstract ways; opposition to the war in Vietnam or to Apartheid, or even to the universities‘ involvement with corporate and/or state interests. Even the protests about the content and form of teaching in the art schools tended to reflect the concerns of an advanced, fairly politicised, minority. On the other hand, the protests we have been seeing over this winter have been largely the expression of students’ outrage at the attacks on their living standards and educational prospects - in other words, they have been rooted in the real life experience and aspirations of ordinary students.
Second, the student protests of ’68 were overwhelmingly middle class in their makeup; not suprising, since even though HE had expanded in the ‘60s and become an option for more working class kids, they were still a very small minority in a sector that was much smaller than it is today. Today, the HE sector has vastly expanded and far more working class youngsters attend university, or aspire to it. In addition, FE colleges have become an alternative to sixth forms for many working class kids and preparing them for university entrance has become a central role for FE. For these youngsters, the Education Maintenance Award scheme (EMA) is a vital support and the Government’s plans for its abolition from April has been seen by many of them (rightly) as a vindictive and mean minded attack on their living standards and their plans for the future. Thus, a feature of the street demonstrations across Britain has been the involvement of many much younger working class students from FE colleges and sixth forms.
Third, in 1968 there was little or no popular support for the student protests, certainly not within the labour movement. However, this time the protests have not just involved a much wider layer of students than were ever involved in 1968, but reacting as they were to what were merely the most visible of the savage cuts in social provision that face us, the students have to some degree come to be seen by many trade union activists (many of whom, of course, have children who have been or will be affected by the cuts) as the first wave of real opposition to the Tories and their Lib Dem bag carriers. And while Len McCluskey’s public support for the students may turn out to be largely rhetorical, it is public support nonetheless.
While we should not have any illusions about what the spontaneous upsurge of student anger will achieve on its own, I think that we should see it as a inchoate harbinger of the mass opposition that is to come - that has to come if we are to defeat this dreadful government. This is not history repeating itself - it has the potential to be the beginning of something really new.
CALL MR ROBESON, A LIFE WITH SONGS - BENEFIT FOR STOP THE WAR, THURSDAY 6th january, 7.30pm
STOP THE WAR COALITION
Londoners Bulletin
4 January 2011
Email: office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition
********************
CALL MR ROBESON, A LIFE WITH SONGS - BENEFIT FOR STOP THE WAR, THURSDAY 6th january, 7.30pm
Theatro Technis, 26 Crowndale Street, London, NW1 1TT
PAUL ROBESON is a great and famous actor, singer and civil rights campaigner.
When he gets too radical and outspoken for the establishment's liking, he is branded a traitor to his country. This rollercoaster journey through Robeson's remarkable life highlights how his activism caused him to be disowned and disremembered, even by leaders and descendants of the civil rights movement.
"Never less than utterly believable" - British Theatre Guide.
Book tickets for this excellent play in support of Stop the War.
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/2198/246/
Londoners Bulletin
4 January 2011
Email: office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition
********************
CALL MR ROBESON, A LIFE WITH SONGS - BENEFIT FOR STOP THE WAR, THURSDAY 6th january, 7.30pm
Theatro Technis, 26 Crowndale Street, London, NW1 1TT
PAUL ROBESON is a great and famous actor, singer and civil rights campaigner.
When he gets too radical and outspoken for the establishment's liking, he is branded a traitor to his country. This rollercoaster journey through Robeson's remarkable life highlights how his activism caused him to be disowned and disremembered, even by leaders and descendants of the civil rights movement.
"Never less than utterly believable" - British Theatre Guide.
Book tickets for this excellent play in support of Stop the War.
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/2198/246/
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Oldham east and Saddleworth Parliamentary by-election campaign - help needed
Oldham east and Saddleworth Parliamentary by-election campaign - help needed
As January 13th the polling date for this high profile Parliamentary by-election draws nearer it leaves the Green Party with very little time left to campaign, so we desperately need all the help that we can get.
Green Party Candidate Peter Allen and our Green Party campaign team will be leafleting in the Saddleworth area of the constituency on the following dates:
Sunday, 2nd jan meeting 11.00 at Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery
High Street (A670),Uppermill ,Oldham OL3 6HS.
Lifts available on Sunday from Greenfield Station by prior arrangement
10.43 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 11.06.
From Monday 3rd Jan to Friday 7th Jan we will be meeting daily 11.00 at Greenfield station, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, A669, Uppermill ,Oldham.
10.27 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 10.51.
Saturday 8th to be arranged, if you would be available please contact us.
Sunday, 9th Jan meeting at 11.00 at Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery
High Street (A670),Uppermill ,Oldham OL3 6HS.
Lifts available on Sunday from Greenfield Station by prior arrangement
10.43 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 11.06.
For any Green Party members from other regions who may able to come and help there will be overnight accommodation available by arrangement if required.
For further details, directions or if you are available to leaflet on other dates or in other areas of Oldham east and Saddleworth please contact:
Ian Barker Tel 0161 637 7543 Mobile 07540652752
Nigel Rolland Tel 0161 339 3979 Mobile 07709056079
email nigel@paxmundi.info
As January 13th the polling date for this high profile Parliamentary by-election draws nearer it leaves the Green Party with very little time left to campaign, so we desperately need all the help that we can get.
Green Party Candidate Peter Allen and our Green Party campaign team will be leafleting in the Saddleworth area of the constituency on the following dates:
Sunday, 2nd jan meeting 11.00 at Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery
High Street (A670),Uppermill ,Oldham OL3 6HS.
Lifts available on Sunday from Greenfield Station by prior arrangement
10.43 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 11.06.
From Monday 3rd Jan to Friday 7th Jan we will be meeting daily 11.00 at Greenfield station, Shaw Hall Bank Rd, A669, Uppermill ,Oldham.
10.27 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 10.51.
Saturday 8th to be arranged, if you would be available please contact us.
Sunday, 9th Jan meeting at 11.00 at Saddleworth Museum & Art Gallery
High Street (A670),Uppermill ,Oldham OL3 6HS.
Lifts available on Sunday from Greenfield Station by prior arrangement
10.43 train from Manchester Victoria arrives at Greenfield at 11.06.
For any Green Party members from other regions who may able to come and help there will be overnight accommodation available by arrangement if required.
For further details, directions or if you are available to leaflet on other dates or in other areas of Oldham east and Saddleworth please contact:
Ian Barker Tel 0161 637 7543 Mobile 07540652752
Nigel Rolland Tel 0161 339 3979 Mobile 07709056079
email nigel@paxmundi.info
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