My friend and comrade Gary Heather is standing for Labour Party Conference Arrangements committee. He is asking Labour Party CLP's to support him and Gaye Johnston see see their election statements below


Gary Heather says:

“I would very much appreciate your support for one of the two CLP places on the Conference Arrangements Committee.
As a longstanding member I have always taken a very keen interest in our party’s democracy and rulebook. I am chairperson of my CLP, and have experience as a council and parliamentary candidate. I am also a committed trade unionist and on the CWU NEC, and a member of the Cooperative Party and the Fabians.
I joined the party to campaign for a fairer society, social justice and equality. I want public services that deliver first class: housing, education, health care and transport for all our citizens, under public ownership and democratic control.
On the CAC I would seek to make annual conference more democratic and inclusive with more participation by delegates.
Our conference should be a place where delegates debate and vote on policies – not dominated by privileged platform speakers while delegates are left seated to cheer them on.
Conference should take the opportunity this year to reinstate resolutions and, longer term, decide to vote on and refer back policy documents section by section.
Party leaders and committees should be accountable at conference to the members that elect them. If elected I would uphold the rules of the party, and seek to ensure conference is an accessible forum for CLP delegates in terms of access, childcare, speaking and support for new delegates.
Along with Gaye Johnston, I am standing with the support of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance and CLPD”.
Gary Heather Islington North Labour Party 59 Mayton Street London N7 6QP
020 7607 4739 * 07918 170 901
gheather@cwu.org
Labour Party Membership No: A006966

Gaye Johnston says:

“ Please consider giving me your support for one of two CLP places on Conference Arrangements Committee.
On CAC I would aim to be a guardian of Party democracy and fully accountable to Party members. Conference should be run in the interests of the Party as a whole and particularly of grass roots members. It should be a forum where Party leaders, and senior officers, give account of their work.
Resolutions (or contemporary issues) should be debated when they have been submitted by a significant number of CLPs/affiliated organisations. Hopefully Conference 2009 will decide to re-instate debating and voting on resolutions. Debates should reflect the level of support for policies across the whole Party.
My personal campaign is for a more equal society in Britain, an end to poverty and war involving the UK, and worldwide, and excellent public services that are publicly owned.
Ordinary delegates should have more opportunities to speak and vote freely- to express their own and their CLPs’ views. Childcare and access must be improved and impartial support offered to first time delegates.
An active member of the Labour Party all my adult life, former Labour Parliamentary candidate and councillor, I am Political Education Officer of my CLP and Branch Chair. I am Chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and Vice- Chair of Save the Labour Party and a member of UNISON and the Co-Operative Party.
With Gary Heather I am standing with the support of the Centre Left Grass Roots Alliance. Thank you for your kind consideration.”
(Jean) Gaye Johnston
Hyndburn (Lancashire) CLP
20, Winterley Drive,
Huncoat,
Accrington,
Lancashire BB5 6UE

UNISON Defend the 4 Protest Thursday

The defend the 4 campaign have called a lobby of UNISON HQ (1 Mabledon place nearest tube kings x/Euston) on Thursday 30th July @12 noon.


There has been some debate over on Jon's blog http://www.jonrogers1963.blogspot.com/ about the decision, I think its worth stating a few of the facts - like the charge of racism was dropped long ago!


First let's take it back a bit - when the complaint was first brought the 5 (as they then were) wanted to apologise for any offence but were not allowed to address conference to do so!

Secondly if UNISON believes the use of the cartoon is racist why did unison staff still use it in a recent regional disabled members publication!?!

Thirdly look at the charges the 4 were found guilty - 1st charge -of an attack on the integrity of the members of the Standing Orders Committee.- so now we can't question what our elected soc are doing? What happened to accountability?


Second charge "Failing to show due care in not anticipating that someone might take offence [from the leaflet]".


That's ridiculous someone somewhere can take offence at anything anyone ever says or does should we never therefore question anything? We wouldn't be much of a trade union then!
Should we not say anything about the ridiculously low pay offer from the tory employers in case we offend them?

In fact I frequently take offence at some of the sexist and ageist stuff that other members of UNISON write about me and others on blogs/leaflets and in the sexist/ageist way I and others have been treated by UNISON staff etc most of these which attack me and others personally not making political criticisms as the 4 were - but somehow these don't get investigated or when one complaint did surprisingly everyone was found not guilty.

Anyway I digress, please please please send in protest letters/emails if your not sure of what to say feel free to copy and past this

d.prentis@unison.co.uk and g.gallagher@unison.co.uk

Dear Dave Prentis
I am shocked and angry at the treatment of four Unison branch officers in London.
These are Glenn Kelly (NEC member and Bromley branch secretary), Onay Kasab (Greenwich branch secretary), Suzanne Muna (Housing Corporation branch secretary), and Brian Debus, Hackney branch chair.)
I am extremely angry having found out that the four have been found guilty of producing a leaflet which "gave racist offence to members" and that they "attacked the integrity of the Standing Orders Committee" Their "punishment" is to be banned from office for three years !
To find four members who have always opposed, fought and campaigned against racism of effectively being racist themselves is not only outrageous but a terrible accusation for these four unison members to have to bear. Such a racist slur is bound to cause difficulties in the future, especially when working and applying for jobs in the public sector. Why were the four charged with giving "racist offence" when the investigation concluded that it was "satisfied that there was no racial intent" ?
This has provoked anger and outrage both within Unison and in the wider trade union movement. The priority of every union should be to defend its members from job losses, reduced hours and worse conditions which are being foisted on workers during this recession. The bosses protect their profits and are in turn backed by New Labour by bailing out the banks and expecting ordinary workers to pay the price for this capitalist crisis.
However the Unison bureaucracy is instead narrowly focused on silencing any opposition to the Unison leadership, especially socialists with a track record of fighting for their members.
I am urging you to remove the charges and instead support these much respected and hard working activists instead of attacking them.

Yours sincerely




CC: Defend the Four Campaign, PO Box 858 London
e-mail: info@stopthe witchhunt.org.uk

Defend the 4 suspended for 3 years

In the latest crap from unison and the witch hunt the 4 received sanction letters this morning informing them that they have been suspended from holding positions for 3 years.

This is clearly absurd and the 4 will be appealing - anyone with half a brain cell can see that this makes "a laughing stock of our union" to quote Rory Bremner and the trumped up charges are ludicrous.

A number of UNISON comrades and not just those associated with the left have already emailed me to express their dismay at the levels our union is descending too.

I'll let you know details of protests as soon as I hear (they may be short notice)

As well as continuing to send protest msgs please forward this around any email networks you are a member of.

Please continue to send msgs of protest to d.prentis@unison.co.uk and g.gallagher@unison.co.uk (unison president)
Solidarity msgs and copies of protest emails to info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk

MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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Defend the 4 found guilty

DEFEND THE FOUR NEWSLETTER
JULY 17TH 2009
The four found guilty of both charges and await their penalites!
 
The 2-day hearings have now finished. The four have been found guilty of both charges (see details below). However the four will have to wait for up to 14 days to find out what penalties will be imposed on them.
 
Glenn, Suzanne, Kas and Brian have been charged with producing a leaflet at the annual conference of Unison in 2007 which questioned why the Standing Orders Committee had ruled out key motions from being debated. Simply highlighting this on a leaflet resulted in the first charge of an "attack on the integrity of the members of the Standing Orders Committee."
 
The second charge relates to the use of a well known Buddhist proverb and cartoon on the leaflet of the three wise monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil). The four have been charged with "Failing to show due care in not anticipating that someone might take offence [from the leaflet]".
 
The attacks have nothing to do with these trumped up charges and everything to do with eliminating any opposition to the Unison leadership, and specifically when this opposition is from members of the Socialist Party, as with the four. Five Unison members were originally investigated but charges against the member who was not in the Socialist Party were dropped!
 
Socialist Party members in Unison have consistently argued that Unison should put their members before the interests of New Labour who receive huge sums of trade union money but then attack public sector workers.
 
This is a classic witch-hunt, with some Unison members already expelled and others under investigation for opposing the leadership. The two-year investigation and hearings have whipped up widespread anger towards the Unison leadership. The Defend the Four campaign has attracted huge support within Unison and the wider trade union movement.
 
Please protest against the charges
All supporters of the four are called on to flood the union headquarters with protests against this blatant witch-hunt. The charge of racism in particular, no matter how it is framed, could not only jeopardise their union membership but also their employment chances.
 
Send your protests now to Unison HQ:
UNISON
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Telephone: 0845 355 0845 
e-mail: <> d.prentis@unison.co.uk 
Please Send copies of protest statements
email: <> info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk
post to: Defend the Four Campaign,  PO Box 858 London E11 1YG
Check out    <http://www.stopthewitchhunt.org.uk/> www.stopthewitchhunt.org.uk.  for further details

MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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UNISON - Defend the Four - lobby the hearings tomorrow

 

  

Defend the Four Lobby

LOBBY OF HEARINGS  Friday 17th JULY

 

Lobby from 8.30 am; The Grange, Holborn Hotel, 50-60 Southampton Row, WC1B Nearest tubes Holborn or Russell Square.

 

It is possible that these could be the last hearings before a decision is made as to whether charges are made against the four and if so what disciplinary action will be taken against them.

The amount of support that the four have received so far is tremendous and very much appreciated by the four.  Many of you have attended all the lobbies and we are asking you to once again turn out on the  17 July 2009

Protest letters to Dave Prentis D.prentis@unison.co.uk are also important (please send copies to:    info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk)

 

GROUNDBREAKING COURT CASE

The Four are taking their case to court to test a European court ruling that states that people cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of "Philosophical Beliefs". The four are arguing that Unison is discriminating against them because they adhere to distinctive philosophical beliefs (i.e. those of the Socialist Party.)

More updates in future newsletters.

Donations to the campaign are also needed. Please make cheques payable to 'Stop the witchhunt', and send to: Defend the Four Campaign, PO Box 858, London, E11 1YG.

 

Support the joint UNISON and UCU strike at London Met Uni tomorrow.

Many of you will already be aware of the campaign at London Met Uni. Management have proposed cutting a 1/4 of the workforce around 800 jobs!

UCU have already taken a day of strike action and tomorrow will take another day this time (thankfully!) with UNISON members as well.

The picket lines will be at the campus buildings in Holloway Road, Moorgate, Aldgate East, and Whitechapel at 8am

There will then be a rally at 12 at Central House Building - opposite Aldgate East tube on the District line.

To send solidarity messages, get more info on picket details or the situation at london met see http://savelondonmetuni.blogspot.com
MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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Labour Link Forum report 2009

Please see below report from Val Graham a unison and Labour Representation Committee member.

Unison Labour Link National Forum 2009

What a difference a year makes -two little elections. Well one euro/local election and one Unison NEC election to be precise.

Last year was my first as a delegate to the National Forum. Dave Prentice, reeling from the National Conference move to review the union's political arrangements, spent much of his speech Trot bashing, particularly singling out the Socialist Party. A motion from my region, East Midlands, calling on labour link to consider how to be more discriminating in our relationship with labour MPs present and future was the only motion not passed at the forum, the opposition being led by Ann Black of the National Committee. It would frighten off the poor dears!

This year, Dave Prentice spoke at Conference and at the Forum knowing that the game was up for New Labour and that, according to him. eight members of the Socialist Party had been elected to Unison NEC. There was a bit of SP bashing but mainly Dave outlined a strategy for Unison and the unions as a whole. Not feeding the hand that bites us was a part of this. He took privatisation and specifically NHS privatisation as the keystone, calling on members to campaign for a change of policy in the party and target Labour Link funding to this end. He said he would be calling on the other affiliated unions to do the same and would press unions such as RMT to re-affiliate to the party to join the fight inside. Someone pointed out that Bob Crowe had joined the SLP.

He was critical of attempts by these unions to stand candidates in elections and called for unity around a TU intervention to influence the Labour Manifesto. He said he did not think he could support a manifesto which did not put clear red water between Labour and the Tories on the issue of privatisation.

He said he would be approaching other unions to support a motion to LP Conference on NHS privatisation and that they would seek a restoration of the right to put motions to Labour Conferences, starting this year.

Three ministers spoke at the forum. Delegates made clear their frustration with Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband about privatisation.
What was worrying was their claim that they and Andy Burnham were unaware of the activities of the Competition Panel and the advanced plans to market test PCT services with a view to retaining only 25% in-house. They just could not see what we were concerned about. Delegates looking for inspiration were sadly disappointed.

The only clear red water came from Pensions Minister Angela Eagle who made a clear commitment to retain the LGPS which both Tories and Lib Dems want to scrap, though the commitment was linked to a raising of the retirement age.

During the workshops to discuss Dave Prentice's call on Labour Link,
It was hard to get delegates thinking about a different approach.
In mine, I proposed getting MP,s and PPC.s signed up to the million voices campaign and also to link regional funding to agreed activities which linked Unison with the party and which furthered the unions obectives rather than giving it for constituency development plans .

I hope LRC Unison member find this info useful.

Val Graham, Chesterfield CLP and Unison.

MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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Being a mum has 'devastating' impact on earnings

The fawcett society released research today that shows motherhood reduces women's pay and potential employment prospects.

Before becoming parents, men and women were equally likely to be employed but, after having children, 57% of mothers of under fives were in paid work, compared with 90% of fathers.

The report also found mothers working full time suffered a pay "penalty", while pregnant women were vulnerable to discrimination (this is nothing new to those of us who are active in trade unions but the report provides some good stats that we can campaign around and take up as unions)

.

report in full from http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk//index.asp?PageID=971

 

 

Press release. 9/7/09

The Fawcett Society , today released a report that calculates the impact that becoming a mum has on a woman's earnings. The report, entitled 'Not having it all: How motherhood reduces women's pay and employment prospects'  is a new survey of existing research, drawing together the most recent data from academic and government sources. It finds that:

• Before becoming parents, men and women are equally likely to be employed but childbirth marks the start of a great divide which continues even after children have left home. Just over half (57%) of mothers with children under 5 are in paid work compared to nine tenths of fathers.

• Even those women working full time experience a pay penalty – partnered women without dependent children earn 9% less than men on average but for mothers with two children working full time the pay gap is 21.6%

• Pregnancy can make women particularly vulnerable to discrimination. During the recent downturn there has been a marked increase in the numbers of women seeking help because they believe they have experienced pregnancy related discrimination.

The Fawcett Society today called for new policy responses to reduce the impact of motherhood on a woman's earnings. Four priority areas emerge from the report:

1. Provide mothers with the support they need to return to jobs at their previous skills levels
2. Enforce and extend the law to protect pregnant women and women on maternity leave
3. Create substantially more part-time work in higher paid occupations
4. Tackle the low pay that exists in sectors primarily employing women.

Dr Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society commented:

"The choice of whether and when to return to employment is of course a very personal one. However, it is critical that those mothers who choose or need to be in paid work should be able to do so without suffering a pay penalty. 

These findings will have particular pertinence in the run up to the school holidays when mothers are often facing the biggest challenge in trying to combine employment and child care. The report shows that women are nine times as likely as fathers to arrange not to work during school holidays .