Witney Pensions Rally

Now with proper link!

Click here for new SOS video.

Nov30: Video in Support

@OxfordNov30: Support the strikes! Check out this video produced by Oxford SOS. http://t.co/ydfV86Bc #Nov30 #N30" --http://twitter.com/OxfordNov30/status/141646301220716544

Oxfordshire prepares for November 30: Three Great Campaigning Resources

Oxfordshire prepares for November 30: Three Great Campaigning Resources: On Saturday, the South East Region TUC held an excellent mobilising conference - Fighting for Public Services: Pensions Justice for All . ...

Oxfordshire prepares for November 30: We're all in it together... except for the fat cat...

Oxfordshire prepares for November 30: We're all in it together... except for the fat cat...: We all remember Cameron’s words - “We’re all in it together”. But public servants are taking a hit for the bankers’ mistakes! The public sec...

Great new blog for November 10th!

London Riots

I'll be honest and say that there's only one thing that has truly surprised me about the riots across London over the past few days.

And it's not:

~ that, following the police shooting of a 29 year old father of four (who it now seems may have been carrying but did not fire a gun wrapped in a sock), people in Tottenham felt angry;

~ that, in a borough with over 10,000 people unemployed and 54 people chasing every job vacancy which has (like most communities in Britain) been under sustained attack since this government came to power, that anger swiftly tipped over into violence;

~ that, with the closure of 75% local youth centres (which youth workers predicted would lead to violence on the streets) and 100% of young people losing access to EMA, young people felt angry and betrayed and wanted to get back at 'the system' which has let them down;

~ or that the riots have quickly spread to other areas of London.

It's that the official response of the Labour Party, delivered by Shabana Mahmood, drew attention to none of this, instead condemning the violence as 'appalling and unacceptable' and saying that it 'must not be tolerated'. Now I am not suggesting that these riots are an answer to the issues facing our communities.

But the people of Tottenham deserve more than a simple condemnation. There needs to be an attempt to understand WHY this happened and neither the failure of policing in Tottenham nor the role of government cuts, which have ripped the heart out of communities across Britain, should be brushed under the carpet.

I don't believe it is any coincidence that we last saw riots on this scale under a Tory government, in the 1980s and the 1990s. This is an anti-people government and it is bound to generate anti-government feeling amongst the people, however that is expressed.

Even the Guardian is not afraid to draw the links between cuts, social deprivation and riots, referring to Tottenham as a 'a social tinderbox waiting to ignite' and drawing parallels with Toxteth in the early 1980s. And yet from the Labour Party, there is silence on the issue of why.

The notable exception has of course been Ken Livingstone, who has not been afraid to call a spade a spade.

'The economic stagnation and cuts being imposed by the Tory government inevitably create social division,' he said. This is a point that must be rammed home over the next few weeks as we will undoubtedly see the riots being blamed on a 'small criminal element' and calls for tougher policing.

Cuts have consequences and we need to make that clear unless we want to see our communities ripped apart and then blamed for their own self-destruction.

Demonstration @BMW 6am Tomorrow

Tomorrow (Tuesday) Unite will be holding a demo at 6:00am outside gate 5 BMW Plant Oxford in support of the 68 dismissed BMW workers in Ontario.

The company intends to dismiss almost 100 workers on 31st August then immediately re-open the parts distribution centre, employing cheaper, less-experienced workers. They will have a similar demo at Southampton Docks.

I know it is very short notice but please pass this on to as many people as you can.

In solidarity,
Gawain Little
President
Oxford & District TUC

Support BBC Journalists

Date: Aug 1, 2011 12:20 PM

Just come back from a lively determined picket at BBC Oxford where NUJ members are fighting compulsory redundancies across the country as part of national strike action.

The current round of cuts are likely to be only the first wave and there is real concern that, when the Delivering Quality First report comes out in September, it will mean many more redundancies across the service.  Though it looks like BBC Oxford will be retained, after a vigorous campaign by journalists and the viewing public, there are likely to be compulsory redundancies in Oxfordshire, which will lead to a drop in service.

Cutbacks at the BBC will mean a loss of democratic accountability as we will find it harder and harder to access high-quality news which reports genuine issues and holds politicians to account. The recent scandal at News Corp (owners of the News of the World) shows what happens when news provision is left to the likes of Rupert Murdoch.

We should stand together with journalists at the BBC, locally and nationally, to demand an end to cuts and no more compulsory redundancies.

900 public sector workers march in Oxford

Sweet Solidarity!

A fantastic (and very tasty) gesture of solidarity!

Support from Unite

Just received a letter of solidarity from Unite members at the Cowley BMW plant in Oxford.

PCS picket line

Lively and enthusiastic picket line at Worcester Street Job Centre with reports coming in from accross Oxfordshire of the best ever response in a number of workplaces.

Member out in Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon, Didcot and Witney

PCS have members out across Oxfordshire and have just heard that High Wycombe has had its best response in years. Only managers are keeping offices open.

Joint the Oxford picket at Worcester Street Job Centre.

141 Schools Closing

Where have Michael Gove's bullying tactics got him? Teachers and head teachers in Oxfordshire know better.

They know that pension changes are part of the slow death of the education system as we know it.

We will not stand back and let this happen!

Support tomorrow's strike.

PCS Update - One Day to Go

Reps at one job centre took laptops and stood outside the office. They got each member of staff to put their details into a pensions calculator and signed up loads of staff to the union. People are joining up to the union to strike when they realise how much they are going to lose. It's a matter of losing one day's pay now or losing a day's pay every month for the rest of your working life.

139 Schools to Close and Rising!

139 schools across Oxfordshire have announced full or partial closure due to strikes by NUT and ATL tomorrow over pensions.  Teachers' unions are taking action alongside colleagues in the UCU and PCS in what will be the first co-ordianted national action against the ConDem government.

 

In comparison to the 53 schools affected during pay strikes in 2008, this is a real increase, reflecting members anger about government proposals.  the government plans to impose changes which will mean teachers and other public sector workers working longer, paying more and receiving less when they retire.

 

There will be picket lines at:

Oxford & Cherwell Valley College (Oxpens Site) from 7am

Job Centre (Worcester Street) from 7.30am

Oxofrd & Cherwell Valley College (BBL Site) from 8am

any support would be greatly appreciated.

 

Striking workers will gather from 12noon in Oxford Town Hall and there will be a solidarity demonstration from 12.30pm at Carfax.

 

From 1.30pm, workers will march to Broad Street for a public rally.

 

Messages of solidarity can be emailed to June30@odtuc.org.uk or texted to 07967392229.

 

Regular updates will be uploaded during the day.

SE Anti-Cuts

Attended a useful and inspiring meeting of anti-cuts groups in Brighton this weekend. There were groups from across south east England and a range of different experiences, but with some definite commonalities.

The focus was on sharing experience and learning from each other. It was amazing how much similarity there was between campaigns which have developed from very different beginnings, particularly in terms of the diversity of groups involved. One lesson which followed directly from this was the need for broad anti-cuts groups to support and communicate, rather than attempt to direct, local activity.

The public sector strikes on June 30th were a major item of discussion. Groups talked about what unions were planning in their local area and how best anti-cuts groups could support actions on the day.

There was also some really useful sharing of practical ideas on publicity, fundraising and involving a range of different organisations and individuals. I certainly came away re-invigorated and enthusiastic.

Brighton Stop the Cuts Coalition should be congratulated on organising the day and I look forward to working with friends across the South East in the near future.

Strike Ballot Opens

Following a unanimous vote for action over pensions at the NUT conference in April, the ballot itself opens today.

Under the government's proposals, eachers will be asked to work until 68, pay up to double the current level of contributions and receive a massively reduced pension at the end of their working life.  In response, the NUT is balloting members for discontinuous action with the first day planned for 30th June.

UCU has already won a ballot over pensions, having taken action in March, and ATL and PCS are also balloting for the same date.  The NAHT and ASCL conferences have also voted to consider strike action so it looks like the beginnings of co-ordinated public sector action over pensions may well be upon us.

However, a number of major public sector unions are not yet at the stage of balloting for action so it looks like a fully united campaign may yet be some way off.

The trades council is looking to support action on June 30th through a number of initiatives.  If you might be able to give some time to help build for the day, please email June30@odtuc.org.uk to be put in touch with the unions directly.

NUT Conference Opens With Standing Ovation for Strike Vote

The 2011 conference of the National Union of Teachers has opened with an address from Dr. Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the ATL. Dr Bousted received a standing ovation when she announced that the ATL executive had endorsed their conference decision to ballot for strike action over pensions. She accused the Prime Minister of putting ideology before reason and warned them to "think on" if they thought they could stand up to hundreds of thousands of education workers and other public sector workers.

Fight For Our Youth Service

Today, Oxford County Councillors voted to cut 21 youth centres and a range of youth work projects across Oxfordshire.

Young people from youth centres under threat protested outside the cabinet meeting, begging for money from inside cardboard boxes in a graphic demonstration of what David Cameron's 'Big Society' will mean for the youth service. However, Tory councillors ignored them, focusing once again on the implementation of government policy, rather than representing the people who elected them.

It seems clear now that the County Council is incapable of listening to the views of people across.Oxfordshire. How long will we let this situation continue, where politicians dictate policies to people?

As Mark Serwotka said to the Scottish TUC yesterday, "We've marched for the alternative, we've argued for the alternative. Now its time to strike for the alternative."

Listening?

David Cameron has just been on Radio 4 this morning, claiming that he has "a strong personal commitment to the NHS and what it means." He also said that the government needed to listen to staff and reform their proposals for the NHS. However, at the same time, he said that the process would continue on the ground as there were some 'reforms' that no-one disagreed with.

According to our 'listening' prime minister, these include greater independence for hospitals and GP commissioning. It does make you wonder who he's been listening to. And it makes it very clear that we still have a long way to go if we are to defeat these proposals, which will effectively mean the end of the NHS as a universal public service.

Pressure over the next few weeks will be crucial and anyone who hasn't done so should contact their MP immediately, particularly if they are a LibDem or Tory with a small majority. We need to make it clear that their position on the NHS could well be the deciding factor as to whether they keep their seat at the next election.

We also need to keep the pressure up on the streets to show the strength of public feeling. This year's May Day weekend should be another display of the anger people feel about cuts to the NHS and to all public services.

The London May Day march will take place on Sunday 1st May and the Oxford May Day march and rally on Monday 2nd. Check out www.odtuc.org.uk for full details.

Pensions Crisis

"NEW PENSION HELL FOR MILLIONS
Why four out of ten will be forced to work till they're 70

"Workers are having to watch their dreams of a comfortable retirement crumble as they realise their pensions are not enough to pay the bills, a damning report revealed last night.  This year alone, almost two million people - four in ten - will be forced to keep clocking in because they cannot afford to give up working...

"Critics of Britain's pensions system say millions are heading towards poverty in old age.  Millions of public sector workers will have to pay more into their pensions and retire on less..."

You might wonder where these words come from.  A TUC press release declaring war on the government over pensions?  Or maybe a left-wing journal or trade union bulletin?  In fact, they were on the front page of yesterday's Daily Express (Scottish edition, found discarded on the ferry from Mull to Oban).  If even a paper like the Express (no friend to the working class!) can realise that we are heading for a major pensions crisis, why is this government incapable of, or unwilling to draw the obvious conclusion.

Public sector workers (and those in the private sector, as the knock-on effect occurs across the workforce) will be expected to WORK LONGER, PAY MORE and RECEIVE LESS in spite of the fact that public sector pensions are affordable.  This is simply a way of making public sector workers, and ultimately the working class as a whole, pay for the economic crisis.

Pensions are deferred earnings, they are part of the value that we create and part of our pay packet, deferred until retirement.  For the government (or any employer) to change the terms of our pay after we have earned it is a complete abuse of trust.  Similarly, changing the pension scheme for new entrants will simply create a two-tier workforce in exactly the same way that employing new entrants on a new lower pay-scale would.  And, in time, those on higher the higher rate are likely to be forced down to the lower in the interests of 'fairness'.

Instead, unions must come together to fight for their members' pensions.  And this means building the strength and determination of members at every level to take action.  The UCU led the way with their recent strike action on 24th March but we need unions to act together to defend their members' rights.

After all, Unity Is Strength!

Save Our Youth Centres!

Young people from Oxfordshire's youth centres will be delivering a giant postcard to David Cameron's Witney office today in protest at youth centre closures.

36 youth centres and projects face closure following the County Council budget set in February. WE NEED TO ACT NOW TO SAVE THEM.

Anyone, especially young people, wishing to support today's action should gather at 4pm outside David Cameron's constituency office (10 Bridge Street, Witney) or contact 07967392229 for more information.

Cameron U-turn on NHS

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8423695/David-Cameron-retreats-on-NHS-reforms.html

Well almost...

The concessions Cameron is willing to make on the NHS Bill do not amount to a U-turn. GPs will still be responsible for commissioning across much of the country and, where the scheme is specifically opposed by local GPs, it looks likely that commissioning will be run by GP consortia from other areas of the country, further weakening any semblance of local control.

Then there are the measures to prevent private firms from cherry-picking profitable services. Whilst the principle is indeed welcome (and the fact the government has had to knowledge it, even more so), these measures, if they follow the general thrust of policy from this government, will be toothless and ineffective. Cherry-picking was after all the main point of the bill - at least until a way can be found to squeeze profit from all areas of the health service by reducing standards of care and increasing the cost to the public.

However, in spite of all of these reservations, this is an important victory. The fact that, following the U-turn on forests and the changes to the proposals to cut EMA completely, the government has been forced once again to make compromises (or at least to be seen to make compromises) shows that mass public pressure DOES work. We should take heart from this and step up the campaign to KILL THE BILL in its entirety.

The NHS is a service used, and needed, by the vast majority of the population. We can and must fight to save it.

KILL THE BILL!

March 26th

What an inspiratlional event! An amazing display of unity and solidarity from such a diverse range of people. The march really did represent the breadth of opposition to the ConDem government - people from all different walks of life, from all over the country coming together to say NO to cuts.

The task now is to build the movement - in terms of breadth and depth. These cuts will affect everyone but they wont be defeated by marching alone. We need to build genuine mass support for further action, including direct action and, crucially, co-ordinated industrial action.

Anyway, today is an excellent 1st step...

President's Address, 2011

Introduction

The past year has been a difficult year for the trades union movement and working people as a whole.  The year began with calls for savage cuts from all sides of the political spectrum.  The major political parties, driven on by the media, competed to sound tougher on public spending, and a range of cuts to jobs, pensions and public services were proposed as solutions to the economic crisis.

This hysteria continued to build in the run up to the 2010 General Election, which saw the election of a parliament with no overall control but with the Conservative Party holding the largest number of seats.  There were victories for working people with the demolition of the BNP vote in Barking and Dagenham and elsewhere, but these were exceptions to the rule and the result of significant local mobilisations.  The picture across the country was fairly grim as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats united to form a coalition government ideologically committed to a cuts agenda which would have a drastic impact on the British economy and the standard of living of working people.

In this context, Oxford & District Trades Union Council has worked hard to defend and promote the interests of affiliated members, working with our affiliated branches, launching a number of specific initiatives and working as part of broader alliances to build resistance to government cuts and develop the fightback.

Campaigning against Cuts & Privatisation

The Trades Council was instrumental in the formation of the Oxford Campaign for the People's Charter at the end of 2009, organising a local launch for the charter, which proposes a radical economic alternative to cuts.  This work continued throughout 2010 and, as the year progressed, we also gave our support to events organised by the Oxford Right to Work campaign and Oxford Save Our Services, as well as the national Coalition of Resistance.  This was alongside our ongoing commitment to existing campaigns such as Keep Our NHS Public.

In early September, the Trades Council wrote to all the anti-cuts groups we were working with and proposed a joint meeting to co-ordinate local anti-cuts activity.  Out of this, Oxfordshire Anti-Cuts Alliance was developed as a united movement bringing together trades unions, local campaigns and community organisations to oppose the cuts.  The alliance has held a series of high-profile local events, including a day of action on the day of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the largest local march since the opposition to the bombing of Iraq, and a highly successful meeting on library closures with Philip Pullman, which was so well attended we had to turn some people away.

The Alliance continues to be very active with library read-ins, a public meeting on the youth service, a local demonstration and a lobby of the County council budget meeting planned this month.

The trades council is also working closely with Oxfordshire Anti-Cuts Alliance to build for the TUC 'March for the Alternative' on 26th March.

Anti-Academies Campaigning

During the first part of the year, the Trades Council played an important role in the Save Oxford School campaign.  This was a community campaign, with the involvement of parents, trades unions and residents of East Oxford, to save Oxford School from closure and replacement with a private academy.  This campaign, whilst ultimately unsuccessful, brought together large numbers of people for a series of significant discussions about state education.

Following, the publication of the academies bill in the summer, the Trades Council worked together with NUT, NASUWT and Unison to put on a briefing for staff and governors on the implications of the bill and the impact academy status would have on individual schools.  This will be an important area for onging camapign work over the next few months.

Affiliations

Oxford & District Trades Union Council has received a number of new affiliations throughout the year and our affiliated membership has increased by over 7,500 members to around 20,000.  This growth reflects the difficult political climate and the need of unions to work together but it also reflects the pro-active campaigning work undertaken by the Trades Council.  We can be confident that we represent the vast majority of unionised workers in Oxfordshire.  The task now will be to work with our affiliated branches to increase trades union membership as a whole locally.

Solidarity Work

Oxford & District Trades Union Council is proud to support a number of local solidarity camapaigns including Oxford Cuba Solidarity, Oxford Palestine Solidarity and Oxford Venezuela Solidarity.  Our banner has regularly been carried on local demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian people and against the blockade of Gaza.  This is an area of work we could look to develop over the coming year, particularly in terms of supporting and developing the international links of our affiliated branches.

Press & Publicity

Following our last AGM, in the run up to the General Election, the Trades Council produced the first ever edition of our own newspaper, Union Matters.  Around twelve thousand copies were distributed through local union branches.  This was followed in December with an anti-cuts issue which was distributed through union branches and at demonstrations.  We have had excellent feedback on both issues from our affiliated branches, who contributed the bulk of the copy and the newspaper looks set to be a regular publication.

During the year, we also agreed to adopt a more pro-active press strategy and the presidential team were given responsibility for press and publicity on behalf of the Trades Council.  ODTUC now appears regularly in the local papers and has had several appearances on local radio and TV.  We have also been able to promote the various campaigns we are involved with.

The Future

Oxford & District Trades Union Council is entering into an uncertain political future.  We face an onslaught from the most extreme, anti-working class government this country has seen for decades.  However, we are also witnessing the growth of what may be the broadest, most diverse and yet united movement of resistance this country has ever seen.  The Trades Council goes forward re-invigorated, better equipped to face the challenges before us and ready to take up the fight for working class people across Oxfordshire, in solidarity with our sisters and brothers across the world.

We are fully committed to standing up for the interests of the working class, to defend and extend their rights, and we call on all those who agree with our aims to join us in this fight.