BRENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Meeting 23/11/2010

Introduction from Steffi Gray (Brent FoE) and Derek Wall (GPEW)





Nick Grant, National Executive, National Union of Teachers (pc)



Ann Hunter, Brent Lib-Dem Councillor



Love Food Hate Waste



Questions & discussion part 1



Questions & discussion part 2

Reply from Chairman = NO

From Darren


Here is Brian Coleman's response to the formal question I tabled at today's Fire Authority meeting, requesting an investigation into injuries to firefighters excercising their legal right to strike.


(i) Question 257 from Councillor Darren Johnson AM (Green Party):
Will the Chairman request the Commissioner undertakes a formal investigation, including an independent element, of the following > reported incidents during industrial action on 1 November:


a) firefighter hit by a car at Croydon Fire Station, and withholding
of first aid equipment;
b) FBU London representative and firefighter hit by fire engines at Southwark Fire Station


And will the Chairman ensure that the findings of such an investigation are published?


Reply from Chairman
No.


Darren Johnson AM
 Green Party Member
 London Assembly
City Hall
Queens Walk
 London SE1 2AA
 020 7983 4388
 http://www.london.gov.uk/profile/darren-johnson

Manchester Airport Protest

In May 2010, seventeen people staged a non violent protest/direct action at Manchester Airport, temporarily shutting it down. They did this to stop some of the 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions that the airport is responsible for annually and in opposition to plans to destroy local homes and biodiversity spots to expand the World Freight Centre. We have built up strong links with the local community in this area and together have managed to hold off previous expansion plans supported by Caroline Lucas(the Rose Cottage Campaign). This is the regional equivalent to the Heathrow campaign and any support you can give would be very welcome.17 people are now facing two trials as a result of this action. 11 people will be tried for 'obstruction of the highway' in Dec 2010. The remaining 6 will face a trial in early 2011.


Please email statements of support to or simply leave a comment on this facebook page< http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manchester-Airport-On-Trial/162820910424769?v=info >

For more information - http://www.manchesterairportontrial.org/

Best Wishes
Gayle

Manchester University Students Occupy against the cuts

Just had a (brief) phone call from Gayle O'Donovan who is currently occupying the Finance offices at Manchester University, along with about 60 others. (Chris Cotton)


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
Manchester University Students Occupy against the cuts
Statement from students in occupation at Manchester University:


“Students at Manchester Univeristy have peacefully occupied the John Owens Building and are lobbying the finance board over the Coalition’s attacks on higher education.


“We are demanding that the University opens its books so that we know where the cuts will fall, how many voluntary redundancies have already been made and to highlight the fact that the vice Chancellor is paid 20 times the average salary. The financial director has denied any cuts are planned, despite the fact that voluntary redundancies have been announced and the combined studies department has already been cut.


“We are here to support lecturers and administrative staff who will be losing their jobs. To oppose the rise in tuition fees that will price out most working class students. And to oppose the privatisation of our Universities.”


Rush messages of support to manunioccupation2010@gmail.com

Birmingham Stop the War Coalition

From Birmingham Stop the War Coalition


Afghanistan: Time to go Demonstrate 20 Nov, 12 Noon, London Coach leaves Birmingham Carrs Lane 8:30am. Tickets £12/6. Call Nick 1782 801 3091 or Stuart 0777 156 7496 to book.


Birmingham Stop the War public meeting Salma Yaqoob, chair of Birmingham Stop the War Owen Watkins, human rights lawyer for REPRIEVE Viva Palestina convoy speaker 7pm Wednesday 17th November, Carrs Lane Church


Alum Rock Stop the War public meeting Lindsey German, convenor of Stop the War coalition Romayne Phoenix, Green Party Aleema Akhtar, a recent returnee from Afghanistan RESPECT speaker 7pm Thursday 18th November, St Saviour's Hall (next to St Saviour's Church) St Saviour's Road, Alum Rock B8 1HW


No to Racism, Fascism and Islamophobia March and carnival called by Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism backed by TUC and Muslim Council of Britain Saturday 6 Nov, 12 Noon, London Coach leaves Birmingham Carrs Lane 8:30am. Tickets £12/6.


Regards Roy

Mayor must call chair of Fire Authority to account & Darren Johnson's formal question for the 18th November LFEPA meeting.

News Release
Darren Johnson
London Assembly Green Party Member
www.london.gov.uk/profile/darren-johnson


Press Office: 020 7983 4424, 07967 205 330 Darren:07887 737 276
9th November 2010


Mayor must call chair of Fire Authority to account


Darren Johnson has responded to comments by Brian Coleman, the chair ofthe London Fire and Emergency Authority. Mr Coleman has suggested that Fire Brigade officers should explore, as part of the budget process, whether the Brigade needs all 27 of the fire appliances removed from
stations during the current industrial action to be returned or whether there is an over-supply of appliances.


Darren Johnson said:


"It is highly provocative and badly timed comment, which raises the prospect of unacceptable cuts to the fire service in London. Most Londoners breathed a sigh of relief when the Fire Brigades Union responded to legitimate concerns over safety and called off their strike
on bonfire night. The chair of the Authority should be helping to sort out the trade union's grievances, not stirring things up in this way.


The London Mayor needs to step in and remove Brian Coleman from his role as chair, as he has become a barrier to the dispute being resolved."




ENDS


Darren Johnson is available for comment




GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY
------------------------------


Darren Johnson's
formal question for the 18th November LFEPA meeting.


'Industrial action on 1 November: investigation of incidents'


Darren Johnson


Will the Chairman request the Commissioner undertakes a formal investigation, including an independent element, of the following reported incidents during industrial action on 1 November:


a) firefighter hit by a car at Croydon Fire Station, and withholding of first aid equipment;
b) FBU London representative and firefighter hit by fire engines at Southwark Fire Station?


And will the Chairman ensure that the findings of such an investigation are published? '

NUS/ UCU demo 'Fund Our Future' is this Wednesday, 10th November

The joint NUS/ UCU demo 'Fund Our Future' is this Wednesday, 10th November. Assembly will be at 11:30am Horse Guards Avenue in London and the march will begin at 12.30 through Westminster and past the Palace of Westminster.Nearest tube: Westminster. Alternatively, if you live in London, you can meet LSE YGs on Houghton Street 1t 11:30. (Contact Zain:07950458207)


The demonstration is a protest against government plans for tuition fees to increase to on average £6,000, with the prospect of the elite and most prestigious Universities being able to increase their fees to a maximum £9,000.


This is an onslaught on Higher Education and will ensure that not only those from the wealthiest backgrounds will be able to go to University, but also only those from the academic elite as Universities with less well developed commercial services and with less prestigious academic traditions will struggle to continue to attract those students from more impoverished backgrounds (like Middlesex University and London Met) as well as cover the cost of teaching cuts.


At the moment we need more public funding in HE, not less..please join us if you can.

Coalition of Resistance Against Cuts & Privatisation National Organising Conference - 10am-5pm, Saturday November 27th

Coalition of Resistance Against Cuts & Privatisation
National Organising Conference - 10am-5pm, Saturday November 27th


Camden Centre Bidborough St, London WC1H 9AU (opposite St Pancras station)


Register here: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=317


Already several hundred people have registered for the conference. If you have and have not yet heard back from us please don't worry. We will be sending out tickets and a full programme of sessions in the next week. We have had to book further space for the conference and have obtained three large halls within 100 metres of the Camden Centre for workshops and forum sessions.


Apart from the opening and closing plenaries, sessions will include:
• Organising against the cuts locally
• Defending the Welfare State
• States of Inequalities
• Mobilising in the unions
• Analysis of the crisis
• Debate on our alternatives
• What should political representatives do?
• What future for education?
• Cultures of Resistance
• Youth and students
• Women and the crisis
Confirmed speakers include: Billy Bragg, Caroline Lucas MP, Tony Benn, John McDonnell, Paul Mackney, Bob Crow, Jeremy Dear, Dr Jacky Davis, Professor Colin Leys, Dot Gibson, Zita Holborne, Ozlem Onaran, Derek Wall, Lindsey German, Chris Baugh, Laurie Penny, John Hilary, Lowkey and many others.


There will be speakers from local anti-cuts groups from around the country. The National Secretary of the French railway unions will report on the recent strike wave there. And there will be a fraternal speakers from the People's Charter and other organisations.


The conference will discuss a plan of action and will elect a National steering committee.


Please register for the conference. You can either do this online using paypal or by printing off the form - http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=317 - and sending it to our office with a cheque to the address below.


Conference Registration:
Unemployed / Student Rate £3.00
Standard Rate £5.00
Representative £10.00


The conference is costing many thousands of pounds to put on and we are keeping the registration fees as low as possible to allow maximum attendance.


We need volunteers to help cover the forthcoming student and Stop the War marches. Please contact Sam on 07872481769 if you can help.


There will be a small number of stalls for movement organisations at the conference and these will be £75 each. The stalls will have to be booked and paid for in advance.


Coalition of Resistance badges and t-shirts are now available and will on the website soon.


Please circulate this bulletin throughout the labour and trade union movement.


Andrew Burgin
07939 242229
Coalition of Resistance
Housmans Bookshop
5 Caledonian Road
London N1 9DX
www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk

Private teachers' pensions subsidised

Sunday 07 November 2010


Millions of pounds in taxpayers' money is being used to subsidise pensions for teachers at elite public schools such as Eton and Harrow, the government has been forced to admit.


The disclosure came today in response to a Freedom of Information request regarding independent school membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme made by the Green Party.


Eleven named institutions, including Eton, Harrow and Cheltenham, have 1,639 members of staff in the scheme with the top 100 schools receiving an estimated £40 million in subsidy per year.


London Green Party chairman Noel Lynch said: "It's scandalous that taxpayers are unknowingly paying towards the pensions of teachers at schools like Eton and Harrow. It will come as a surprise to a lot of people that these elite, private-sector employers have access to the government's Teachers' Pension Scheme to the tune of over £40 million."


Mr Lynch said the money should be ploughed into more urgent areas such as building new local schools in deprived areas and employing more teachers.

GET REAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE! Brent CCC Public Meeting Tuesday 23 November 7.30pm

Time to tell the politicians...


GET REAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE!




Faced with cuts to jobs and services it’s easy to forget that if we don’t act now climate change will be a far worse threat to our future than the economic crisis. If the banks are too big to fail, then so is the planet. We need carbon cuts, not job cuts!


Come to the Local Public Meeting
Tuesday 23 November 7.30pm
Willesden Green Library Centre 95 High Road NW10 2SF
(nearest tube, Willesden Green)
Speakers:
Derek Wall, Green Party, author No Nonsense Guide to Green Politics
Jonathan Neale, Campaign against Climate Change, author One Million Climate Jobs Now!
Nick Grant, National Executive, National Union of Teachers (pc)
Ann Hunter, Brent Lib-Dem Councillor


Join the National Climate March
March on Parliament for a Zero Carbon Britain
Saturday 4 December 12.00 noon Hyde Park


Brent Campaign against Climate Change
www.brentcacc.com
www.campaigncc.org

Defend South Manchester Law Centre

DEFEND LEGAL AID. PROTECT ACCESS TO JUSTICE. SAVE THE LAW CENTRE.
Defend South Manchester Law Centre


The law centre’s judicial review of the Legal Services Commission immigration tendering process is to be heard on Monday, 8 November at the Civil Justice Centre, on Bridge Street, next to the peoples history museum.


There will be a protest outside the civil justice centre at 9:30am, before the JR hearing. The hearing is due to start at 10:30.


We would appreciate your attendance at the protest and also in the court for hearing.




So that the Judge hearing the case can see its not just about legal issues: the case is of great importance to the people of Manchester.


We look forward to seeing you there.




-------------------------------------------------------------


For more information on the campaign to keep the Law Centre open go to www.smlc.org.uk




South Manchester Law Centre has been providing free legal advice and representation to the Manchester community for the last 35 years.




Our expertise is in Women's rights, Immigration and Asylum Law.




The problem...
The Law Centres ability to provide these services is under threat because of a severe reduction in its funding from both Manchester City Council and the Legal Services Commission. Funding for Welfare Rights, Housing and Employment has already been withdrawn.




The Result...
As you may have guessed, the result of these cuts will be severe. The Law Centre is now faced with closure. This will mean the death of an organisation that has, for 35 years been a pillar of the community, helping the most vulnerable members of society to access advice and and protect their rights. This will leave;•NO Free court representation for employment law or benefits issues
•NO Free Asylum and Immigration advice in South Manchester
•NO Choice of providers for free advice
•NO Law Centres in Manchester
Why we need you...We now need members of the community to help us fight these cuts. We demand that Manchester City Council and the Legal Services Commission continue to fund the Law Centre to help us deliver services to the most vulnerable in YOUR community.


0161 225 5111

A DAY OF SHOCKING VIOLENCE AGAINST LONDON'S FIREFIGHTERS

Darren Johnson, green party member of the London Assembly (he also sits
on the London Fire Authority), said: "- horrified that firefighters who were lawfully picketing were injured in this way - there needs to be thorough investigation and I will be tabling a formal question at next Fire Authority meeting for 18 November."


 -----Original Message-----


Sent: 02 November 2010 16:23


 Subject: [GP-TU] Fire strikers injured


http://fbu.org.uk/newspress/pressrelease/2010/11_02.php


> FBU press release
>
> 02 November 2010
> A DAY OF SHOCKING VIOLENCE AGAINST LONDON'S FIREFIGHTERS Vehicles driven at speed into three FBU pickets Two strikebreakers arrested
Strikebreaking contractors refuse first aid equipment to the injured Yesterday, three members of the Fire Brigades Union were hit and hurt by speeding vehicles driven by strikebreakers.


First, a Croydon firefighter was hit by a speeding car driven by a non-union manager at Croydon fire station. FBU president Mick Shaw, who was there, described what happened.


"A fire engine returned from an incident and drove into the fire station, its crew refusing to wind down their windows and talk to the pickets. But at least it drove slowly, at the brigade maximum of five mph, so that the pickets could get out of the way before they were mown down.


"It was followed by a car driven by the officers, and as the pickets tried to talk to the driver of the car, it accelerated suddenly and one of the striking firefighters was thrown up and into the windscreen, then several feet in front of the car.


"We asked the AssetCo employees who had control of our fire station for the first aid kit and some blankets, but they would not give them to us despite the obviously serious nature of the injuries.
"An ambulance was called at once, and the ambulance crew asked for an air ambulance. Our member was not able to move during the 25 minutes between being hit and being taken away in the ambulance."


The LFB manager was arrested at the scene. Mr Shaw and general secretary Matt Wrack intend to visit the member (whose name cannot be given until his family consents) today, Tuesday. It is understood he has injuries to his spleen and spine.


Second, two hours after the strike, Dagenham firefighter Graham Beers held his hand up at the side of a road in Southwark, to signal to the crew of a fire engine being returned to Southwark Fire Station that they should stop and speak to him. "The fire engine swerved towards me and hit my hand" says Mr Beers, who suffered a sprained and badly bruised hand.


Third, a fire engine was deliberately driven into the FBU London representative Ian Leahair, at Southwark fire station. This happened more than two hours after the strike ended.


There was a huge police presence at Southwark, and FBU members who were there accepted with cheerful good humour being penned in across the road, away from the incoming fire engines. Just eight pickets were
allowed.


Although the strike ended at six, the fire engines did not start coming until about 8 pm. When they did start coming, the permitted eight pickets, in the midst of dozens of police officers, stood in front and asked the drivers to stop while they spoke to them. The first two fire engines stopped, and waited for the two minutes or so the police allowed the eight pickets to try to talk to them, without winding down their windows.


But the third didn't stop. It just kept coming. As the pickets fled before it, the great, heavy fire engine actually picked up speed, and hit Ian Leahair and then one of the police officers, before the police
finally persuaded the driver to stop. By then, Ian Leahair's legs and half his body were underneath the fire engine and he was clearly in pain. If he had been standing an inch or so further left, his legs would have been crushed under the fire engine's wheels.


FBU pickets yelled at the driver to reverse, but he would not do so until instructed to do so by the police. The police officer, we understand, had a bruised leg. Ian Leahair has injured ribs. He was
pulled out and helped to the side of the road.


The fire engine was deliberately driven at the pickets. There was no reason to do this. The driver cannot have felt in any way intimidated.He could see at least 50 police officers who would have protected him,
had any violence been offered, which it was not.


After that, the police handled the arrival of the rest of the fire engines very differently. They decided, with great fairness, that they were not going to stop the picketing because a driver had endangered the pickets. So police officers themselves stopped the fire engines, gave the pickets their couple of minutes, then cleared the way for the engines.


The police, in effect, began to protect the pickets from the strikebreakers. It was the police who ensured the right to lawful picketing.


FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said today: "This has been a day of shocking violence directed at London's firefighters. "An incredible pattern seems to be emerging. It looks as though the private company hired to do our work has instructed its drivers to drive fast through picket lines. We ended the day in the extraordinary situation where the police had to protect striking firefighters from recklessly speeding vehicles, which were driven by those paid to break the strike.


"If our people had done a fraction of what they did, there would be inflammatory and self-righteous condemnation from the London Fire Brigade, and no doubt it would find something else from the personnel
files to feed to its friends in right wing newspapers. But they have not even condemned what happened. Can it possibly be that they do not care about the danger in which their contractor has placed their LFB's own employees? Could they, incredibly, even be a party to decisions which have led to this? They have brought hired thugs into London who have driven around at speed with their faces hidden by balaclavas in an
attempt to menace and intimidate our members. Tragically three of our members have been injured as a result. I wonder whether the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and the others who have spent the past week
condemning the FBU for our industrial action will now condemn this violence against us."


 FURTHER INFORMATION:
Francis Beckett 020 8349 9194 or 07813 001372 Helen Hague 07889 792360 or 020 8340 5571


GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY> EMAIL NOTICE:
The information in this email may contain confidential or privileged materials.
Please read the full email notice at
http://www.london.gov.uk/email-notice

GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION GROUP SUPPORT FBU

SOCIALIST UNITY
1 November, 2010
GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION GROUP SUPPORT FBU
Filed under: green party, FBU, Trade Unions — admin @ 10:10 am
Letter to Fire Brigades Union


I am sending you the support of the Green Party Trade Union Group who decided at our committee meeting to totally support the London fire strike and the struggle of the FBU against the draconian measures being introduced by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and the threat of sackings. We stand
in solidarity with you and hope that your industrial action will bring the employers to the table for further negotiations and that they will end their attempts to settle this dispute under duress.


Members of the Green Party and Green Party Trade Union Group will be joining picket lines across London on November 1st and on the 5th and 6th of November.


In Solidarity


Joseph Healy


Treasurer


Green Party Trade Union Group

Anti-Cuts Protests: November 2010

Protests: Ongoing

Check UK Uncut for news of further tax protests against Vodafone. UK Uncut: http://ukuncut.wordpress.com

Background info: http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2010/10/27/vodafone-and-tax-protests/

Tuesday 2rd November

Barnet – Lobby of Council from 6pm, Hendon Town Hall. Called by Barnet TUC. http://www.barnettuc.org.uk/

Saturday, 6th November

Taunton – Defend Public Services March and Rally. Assemble French Weir at 10.30 am. Organised by Taunton Trades Union Council. http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/events/index.cfm/id/960502A6-E988-4501-835402EB8C3C5FD0

Wigan Town Centre Rally from 12 noon: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=2279

Meetings and organising events:

Monday 1st November

Bristol and District Anti-Cuts Alliance Open Planning Meeting, Barton Hill Primary School, 7pm. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bristol-Anti-Cuts-Alliance/157931087568419 and http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/

Tuesday 2nd November

North Sussex and East Surrey Tuc Meeting: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=2585

Crawley Anti Cuts Coalition Public Meeting: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/events/index.cfm/id/477BE405-D283-4EF5-A6755C478CE49B0A

Wednesday 3rd November

Bracknell Defend Our Community Services Public Meeting: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=2571

Tyne and Wear Coalition of Resistance public meeting: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=2425

North Wales against the Cuts. Wrexham Lager Social Club 8-9pm. Open Meeting. http://www.shopstewards.net/Events.htm

Saturday 6th November

Scottish Anti Cuts Alliances open meeting. 1pm at Glasgow City Unison Branch, 4th Flr, 18 Albion St, Glasgow. http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/scotland/about-pcs-in-scotland/pcs-at-the-stuc/solidarity-across-scotland/

SERTUC Conference, Congress House, London: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/?p=852

Falkirk TUC “There is a Better Way” Campaign Event, Camelon: http://www.abetterway.siteiscentral.com/events/22/blantyre

South Lanarkshire TUC’s “There is a Better Way” Campaign Event, Blantyre Miners Welfare, Blantyre: http://www.abetterway.siteiscentral.com/events/23/falkirk-tuc