Shop stewards lobby TUC

(Pictures by Suleyman Civi and Dave Beale)

The very successful lobby of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Manchester, organised by the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), points the way forward for the trade union movement in the looming conflict between the organised working class and the brutal Con-Dem government.

In the very commendable demonstration, the meetings and the speeches that took place, the growing anger and demands for action now against cuts which will slash to the bone the welfare state and effectively dismantle it was forcefully expressed. Click here to read on and to see a video of the demonstration...

This Saturday - National Shop Stewards Network conference!

"We are entering a stormy period where the seeming inertia of the trade union movement can be swept aside in mighty battles, laws or no laws. Now is the time to act." Bill Mullins, Socialist Party industrial organiser

11am Saturday 26 June, South Camden Community School, London NW1 1RG

or 8.30am Brighton Station for group tickets. Call 07709 696561 for more local NSSN info or visit www.shopstewards.net

Support striking BA Cabin Crew workers

Defending jobs and conditions

The sickening bonanza for the rich goes on; last week the Forbes “rich list” showed that the number of billionaires on the planet has increased significantly over the last year, and they have seen their incomes soar.

Here in Britain, the Audit Commission has released the results of a study on the severance packages of council chief executives. In a 33 month period, 37 individuals received £9.5 million. It is from this wealthy layer and their representatives in the main political parties that venom and condemnation is unleashed on civil servants and British Airways cabin crew - workers who have been forced to vote for strike action to stop a relentless driving down of their terms and conditions.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis declared that a strike of BA cabin crew would be “totally unjustified” - this from a man who was not even elected to parliament, about a strike that was democratically decided by an overwhelming majority of the cabin crew. New Labour leader Gordon Brown joined the baying mob, by calling the BA strike “deplorable.”

Yet the BA workers’ trade union, Unite, is the largest donor to New Labour, giving £11 million of its members’ money to the party over the last four years alone. So Brown urges on the imposed “race to the bottom” for working class people’s living standards, while raking in their union subs to fund further vicious attacks.

Members of the PCS union are mainly in the public sector, British Airways cabin crew are in the private sector, but both cases they have been forced to fight simply to defend previously agreed contracts and conditions - an aim that is a million miles away from the greed of the fat cats who are behind the denigrations of their struggles.

An enormous class chasm separates the interests of the workers being forced into action and those who are leading the attacks on them.

But the potential strength of all the working and middle class people under attack, or threatened with attacks, is enormous. Not just hundreds, or thousands, but millions of other workers will be able to identify with the plight of those taking strike action now, and would be willing to give support if the trade union movement mobilises it.

• Support the striking BA Cabin Crew
• Nationalise to defend jobs and conditions
• End the undemocratic anti-trade union laws
• End all trade union links with New Labour
• Support the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in the general election: http://www.tusc.org.uk/

Visit airstrikes.wordpress.com for more information.

BRIGHTON WORKERS FIGHT BACK!

March for Jobs!
First up, Brighton Hove and District trades council involving Socialist Party members have organised a March for Jobs demonstration for this Saturday 6 March starting at 12 midday on The Level, Brighton.

With jobs losses and the threat of job cuts and public service cuts looming, as the private sector and the main political parties prepare to make working people pay for this crisis of capitalism, it is as important as ever that workers, pensioners, the unemployed, students and youth mobilise and unite to fight back against these unjustified attacks.

Visit brightontradescouncil.blogspot.com for more info.

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
The trade union movement is leading the way in many workplaces to defend their members and the working class. But none of the political parties standing in the coming general are going to stand and fight for working people. In fact, they all want to lay the burden of the recession onto the shoulders of working people while the fat cats are fed larger and larger bonuses paid for by us!

For years working people were told there was no money for decent pay, pensions, homes, health, jobs and education. But suddenly there is enough to bail out the capitalist gambling and speculation that has caused this mess! We say enough is enough.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition is a political alliance preparing to standing in constituencies right across the country consisting of leading trade union fighters and socialist campaigners striving to defend working class communities, jobs and services against the cuts on offer from the capitalist parties.

With RMT General Secretary Bob Crow and Socialist Party Deputy General Secretary Hannah Sell speaking at this Brighton launch to introduce your TUSC Brighton Kemptown candidate Dave Hill, this meeting offers workers the opportunity to get involved in the crucial political fight back that links together the industrial and electorial battles against the job losses and cuts that our not the fault of working people.

Visit www.tusc.org.uk, brightontusc.blogspot.com, Facebook: Brighton TUSC

Join us at the March for Jobs and the TUSC election launch.

BHT workers strike to defend pay, jobs and public services

[By Lee Vernon, Brighton Thursday branch]

Local charity workers in Brighton held their first strike action in the face of devastating attacks by management on their pay and working conditions. Over fifty workers manned a vibrant and visual picket line demanding fair pay, an immediate halt on dismissals and for an open and transparent negotiation process.

The Brighton Housing Trust (BHT), a registered charity that works for the council to provide advocacy and support to those most vulnerable in society, was up until recently an employer of choice - its employees happy to work there, even proud. This all changed when, after the usual “consultation” process, they were presented with new contracts with increased hours, less sick pay, less maternity leave and, on top of all this, between a £4,000-£6,000 pay cut! Management's reaction to date had been one of refusing to negotiate with the union or anyone else. Even more disgustingly, whilst they were demanding cuts to front line staff, their own salaries were apparently going up to fit into the new pay structure.

Anyone who refused to sign the new contract would be laid off within four weeks of it coming in leaving the workers little choice but to ballot for strike action which they came out overwhelmingly in favour of. The chief executive, Andy Winters, ironically an ex-councillor who had been thrown out of the Labour Party for refusing to pay the Poll Tax and is still a member of Unison, even sent an email around the day before condemning the strike claiming they were "only hurting their clients". This only strengthened the worker's resolve against the out of touch management as it was them who clearly worked above and beyond their paid hours for their clients rather than the money.

On the picket lines many workers highlighted that this was all part of a growing trend happening in the voluntary sector to make charities “more competitive”. This will be seen more and more as public spending is slashed and council budgets reduced. Charities will be forced to drive down costs.

However, these cuts were not a direct result of the recession. As one worker pointed out, they were discussing these attacks last year but held back until a more opportune moment to push through the changes. Even more worrying was that they were increasingly being told that the charity had to focus on making money! This is just another example of the race to the bottom mentality of bosses, who believe they can make the biggest savings by squeezing their workforce to breaking point. But all this will achieve in the long run is a massive decline in service provision as qualified workers are driven away with the remaining workforce overstretched and beaten down. As with any important public service, it is vital we fight these cuts by any means necessary. This is a fight against the long term devastation of our services.

Already the workers are making links with the local refuse collectors who are also in dispute and fighting against similar cuts to pay and conditions. Other Unison branches within the council have pledged their full support and are likely to be facing the same attacks soon and are all preparing for further action. Workers know that if this new contract stands many will be forced to leave as they simply can't afford to live off this massively reduced salary. Plus, they know that there's nothing to stop even greater cuts six months down the line. They are not deterred by threats from management and will continue the fight if they refuse to negotiate.

Support the Vestas workers! DEMONSTRATE 6PM WED 29 JULY

Vestas workers, the RMT trade union and the working class community of the Isle of Wight are calling for a show of strength in support of the fighting Vestas workers at a demonstration this Wednesday evening outside the factory gates. RMT general secretary Bob Crow will address the public rally at 6pm but all supporters will be welcome at any time during the day. A report will be given of the County Court hearing happening at 10.15am that morning whereby the company is seeking to evict the protesters and a demo is planned outside this venue too.

The wind turbine company has set this Friday (31 July) as the deadline for closing the factory with the loss of 625 jobs. The factory has been under workers’ occupation since Tuesday last week. Communication lines into the factory have been cut and deliveries of food and water have been blockaded by private security guards.

This is a crucial labour dispute about the right to protection from companies who hire and fire, and the right to live in a world where the environment and sustainability are absolute priorities. There is massive support for the striking workers on the Isle of Wight with hundreds of people turning out every night, including as many as 700 on Thursday last week where RMT general secretary spoke. See the video above...

A minibus organised by the Brighton and Hove TUC Unemployed Workers' Centre will be leaving Brighton around 1pm on Wednesday to attend the 6pm demo. Please email us at info.bhsp@gmail.com if you would like to go. Spaces are limited so do hurry.

Alternatively, you can make your own way from London and the South East with these RMT supplied directions:

Travelling from London and the South East: Take the Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth Harbour and then bus number 9 from Ryde Esplanade to Newport town centre (40 minutes) and then a number 1 bus (3-4 minutes), getting off at St Mary’s and follow the signs to St Cross Business Park.

Travelling by car from London and the South East: Travel from Portsmouth Gun Wharf to Fishbourne, when exiting follow signs to Newport town centre and just before the town centre take the A3020 to Cowes and when you see the B&Q shop, turn off the dual carriageway and follow signs to St Cross Business Park

Finally, please send the workers your urgent messages of support and solidarity to savevestas@gmail.com and spread the word of the campaign.

South East Shop Stewards launch meeting

[By Phil Clarke - Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden NUT Secretary (personal capacity)]

Nearly 40 trade unionists attended the launch of the National Shop Stewards Network in Brighton. Organised by local Socialist Party members to get the network started, reps were present from various branches of NUT, UCU, Unison, RMT, GMB and both halves of Unite. 

The meeting heard from Socialist Party industrial organiser and NSSN co-organiser Bill Mullins about the recent Lindsey construction worker strikes and went on to discuss how to build a network of shop stewards in the local area.

Many of the contributions focused on the lack of political representation for the unions and how they could be broken from Labour. The Campaign for a New Workers' Party was raised and many reps signed the declaration including a member of the RMT national executive.

A small committee of volunteers was put together at the close of the meeting who will now focus on building the network, particularly across South East bringing in unions not present, such as the CWU and FBU, as well as getting plans together to support the upcoming UCU strike at Sussex Downs College in Lewes, Newhaven and Eastbourne on the 24 and 25 March.

It is also vital in our area that we begin to organise more shop, call centre and financial workers as it is likely that it will be these groups who will be hit first and hardest by job losses in the town.

It is clear that the Socialist Party in Brighton, which has grown rapidly over the last few years, is really sinking roots in the local labour movement and will be at the forefront of efforts to defend workers from the effects of the recession.

For more information contact Phil Clarke on 07709696561 or visit www.shopstewards.net

PUBLIC MEETING: 7.30pm Wednesday 25 February - Brighton launch of the Shop Stewards' Network

Lessons of the Lindsey strike: How can we rebuild trade union power? Local launch of the National Shop Stewards Network with Bill Mullins, NSSN National Co-organiser

meeting poster ; meeting leaflet

Building a network of trade union activists across the country
(Press release from the NSSN)


Why a Shop Stewards’ network?
Workers in Britain have taken a hammering over the last 25 years. After a decade of New Labour and a so-called economic boom, the attacks by both public and private sector employers get sharper by the day. Working hours - Europe’s longest - and workplace fatalities are up. So are top executive pay and pensions. The attacks on trade unions have paved the way to an ever more unequal society with 40 per cent of London’s children growing up below the poverty line even as City bonuses add up to billions a year.

Gordon Brown’s prescription for the public sector workforce is crystal clear. From the NHS, local government and education through to Royal Mail and Civil Service, it’s more privatisation, more jobs axed and more cuts in real pay, not just this year but straight through 2010.

To curb effective resistance the Government has kept Europe’s toughest anti-union laws that make any solidarity action illegal. But further defeats are not inevitable.

We say enough is enough. We can and must turn the tide. It is time we got together to organise the fight-back against the whole range of attacks and the laws that aid and abet them.

What we are doing?
With that in mind some 300 shop stewards and workplace representatives came together in July 2007 to launch the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN). The Network’s founding conference resolved to rebuild the strength of our working-class movement from the bottom up by creating local, regional and national networks to put elected reps and shop stewards from different unions in permanent contact with each other.

Organising mutual solidarity when trade unions are in dispute will be at the heart of our work. We will also share information to develop ways of successfully resisting attacks on our union rights, jobs, pay, conditions and pensions. We aim to build a movement that can help sweep the anti-union laws off the books and make them inoperable in the meantime.

Bringing new blood into our movement is vital so the NSSN will encourage younger workers, agency and migrant workers to join their unions, organise in their workplaces and become reps themselves.

What you can do?
Full membership of the NSSN is open to all elected trade union reps who are not national paid full-time officials. So if you are a shop steward, local rep, branch official, health and safety rep, trades council delegate or union learning rep, your place is in the NSSN as well as your own union. Of course, ALL union members are welcome to attend our meetings.

The NSSN does not interfere in internal trade union business but seeks to strengthen confidence, democracy and accountability at all levels of all our unions. We seek affiliations from all official trade union bodies, from local branches to national unions. We seek the co-operation and support of local trades union councils in building our network. In turn the NSSN can help revitalise dying trades councils and help to start new ones by putting known workplace reps in a town or city in touch with one another.

While the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union played an essential role in founding the NSSN, several other unions including the CWU, PCS, POA and NUM have already supported us at national and regional level.

A Brighton-wide Network?
The potential usefulness of such a network has been demonstrated time and again over the last few months in Brighton alone. The strike of Unite workers at Sussex University over an attack on their pensions; the strike ballot of bus workers over pay on Brighton & Hove Buses; the strikes in local government and the Civil Service by Unison and PCS members; the strike of the CWU Post Office workers last winter; the strikes of UCU lecturers in FE colleges; the action of the teachers in the NUT; the so-called ‘wild-cat’ actions of the GMB organised refuse workers. Every action was a triumph in itself but would have doubtless been strengthened by an organised support network which the NSSN aims to provide. We are calling this meeting, advertised overleaf, with an aim to share our experiences and to begin to develop the structures of the NSSN locally and beyond. Come along and get involved.

For more information come along to the meeting advertised above, contact Phil Clarke on 07709 696561 or visit our website at http://www.shopstewards.net/. Thank you.