Support Your Public Libraries - Lobby Parliament on 13 March 2012

#librarieslobby UNISON, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), Voices for the Library, The Library Campaign, Campaign for the Book and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) will hold a joint lobby of Parliament on 13 March 2012 - calling on politicians to protect vital library services: http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/
pressrelease_view.asp?id=2567

Wife to Noah by Eunice Buchanan

I didna speak   whan it bleetert doon.
Ma man wis gey taen up wi' getting us
sortit, an' it wis fell lang afore we had
the bastes in an' the fowl settled.

10 myths of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)

The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) has published a useful briefing which demolishes the myths about PPP's - in a nutshell they don't supplement public spending they absorb it: http://www.epsu.org/a/8193

Another Tory attack on time off for union reps rebuffed

Conservative MP Jesse Norman has assumed the mantle of premier trade union basher from his discredited parliamentary colleague Aidan Burley MP. Yesterday, as part of an orchestrated campaign by the Tory Party's far right, Norman put his name to a Private Member's Bill seeking to force unions to refund employers the pay of union representatives who carry out union duties at the workplace. Thankfully, Labour MP's mobilised to defeat the Bill by 79 votes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9675000/9675068.stm

Regional pay in the public sector - Westminster Hall debate

Last November Tory Chancellor George Osborne announced a review of public sector pay with a view to introducing regionalised pay bargaining. Yesterday the proposals were debated in Westminster Hall and a number of MP's made impressive interventions including Labour's Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) who said 'we should remember that salaries at the lower end of the public sector, as in the private sector, are not those on which a family—or often even an individual—can live.

Breaking News LGPS - UNISON agrees to negotiate

UNISON's lay representatives covering members in the LGPS met on 10th January to consider the next steps in the campaign. Each of the Service Group Executives (SGE) separately agreed a motion to proceed with detailed negotiations.

UNISON to consult members on NHS Pension Scheme proposals

UNISON's health care Service Group Executive (SGE) voted decisively to put the NHS Pension Scheme Heads of Agreement to the membership. By a margin of 5 to 1 the SGE rejected calls to throw out the agreement and take immediate and sustained industrial action.

Join Cuba’s amazing May Day celebrations

Witness the sights, sounds and smells of Cuba and experience first hand the principles of equality, community and international solidarity. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is organising two specialised trade union visits to Cuba next Spring to enjoy the iconic and unforgettable May Day celebrations and learn more about the country, its unions and the effects of the US blockade.

ANC celebrates 100th Anniversary

The 2 million strong Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has sent its best wishes to the leadership and membership of the African National Congress on the occasion of its centenary celebrations: http://www.politicsweb
.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71656?oid=273474&sn=Detail&pid=71616

The Actual Dialogue by Mongane Wally Serote

Do not fear Baas.
It's just that I appeared
And our faces met
In this black night that's like me.
Do not fear--