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.
Friday 22 April 2011
Tuesday 19 April 2011
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.
Thursday 14 April 2011
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!
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!
Thursday 7 April 2011
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.
Monday 4 April 2011
Cameron U-turn on NHS
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
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!
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!
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