Turning our back on the world - UNISON NEC disaffiliates from ICTUR

On 23 September 2021 the NEC's international committee declined to reaffiliate to the International Centre for Trade Union rights (ICTUR), on cost grounds. 

This appalling decision ends over two decades of UNISON support for the London based organisation which defends and extends the rights of trade unions and trade unionists worldwide, including raising awareness of their violations. 

https://www.ictur.org/About.html

The 7 Deadly Myths that control the world economy...

Global Justice Now has done a great job in highlighting the 7 arguments that are presented as the deepest wisdom by Global Leaders on why the world economy is the way it is. Like a force of nature or some almighty God who we dare not anger, these myths are the foundations of Capitalism in the 21st Century. As the High Priests gather in the snowy tourist trap of Davos in Switzerland to consult the oracles, we are left to wait hopefully for signs that the Gods are appeased.

But the Global Justice Now campaign shows that even the slightest and quickest of examinations reveal that these 7 myths are man-made constructs. They are nothing more than simple justifications for a global economy where the worlds 80 richest people own more than half the wealth of the world. It is an outrage. They are lies. Read for yourself about Free Trade, the poverty of Africa, the Free Market … http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/dangerous-delusions

Meanwhile in Davos Global Union Leaders are shut out, prevented from meeting and speaking to World Leaders. But they are there and they are pointing the finger …
http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/jennings-call-new-magna-carta-makes-waves-davos

Italian unions stage General Strike in defence of workplace rights

Yesterday Italian unions staged a General Strike in protest at the Jobs Act which seeks to deregulate employment rights by weakening national bargaining and removing protections against unfair dismissal.

CGIL leader Susanna Camusso addressing a strike rally in Turin said: 'The government has to change its policies on employment. The Jobs Act and the budget do nothing to revive the economy and create jobs' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30447158

Italian trade unionists stand up in defence of workers' rights

In their biggest protest for a decade, up to one million Italian trade unionists mobilised in Rome yesterday in opposition to attacks on employment rights by the Democratic Party led Italian Government. Susanna Camusso, head of the CGIL, the trade union centre which organised the protest, said: "We want work for everyone, and work with rights. This is a demonstration for those without work, without rights, those who suffer, who have no certainties for the future. We are here and we're not going away. We will strike and use all our strength to fight to change this Government's policies."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-29771540

Workers’ rights under attack in Italy

‘We want to eliminate the poison that kills investment’ said Italian politician Giuliano Poletti in a debate this week in the Italian senate. Poletti, the labour minister in the supposed centre left Democratic Party led Government, was referring to redundancy protection and other employment rights long enshrined in Italy’s labour code. The main Italian union centre CGIL is pledged to fight the so called Jobs Act and will be holding a national demonstration in Rome on 25 October:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/09/italy-pm-matteo-renzi-wins-confidence-vote-labour-reforms

Trade union internationalism and practical solidarity

This weekend a very productive joint region international seminar at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester brought together 50 UNISON activists from Northern, North West and Scotland. Building on a session in Glasgow in 2013, the event heard a keynote presentation on TTIP from Polly Jones of the World Development Movement and following workshops an action plan was agreed to step up campaigning/lobbying on the proposed trade deal which will open up public services to US corporations as well as undermine democracy.

Who benefits from union bashing?

Jane Carter, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee (AFSCME), addressed the 2013 UNISON conference in Liverpool about the relentless and well funded attacks on unions in the USA. Here she is interviewed by Thom Hartmann on The Big Picture and discusses the forces behind the anti union psychosis in many US states. Jane highlights the continued existence of a union wage premium despite decades of membership decline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhJ1BrjnPNU&feature=youtu.be

In Iraq again, not in my name

As the war drums continue over the situation in Iraq, and the predictable “experts” call for yet another military intervention, British media as usual are ignoring alternative voices, and alternative view points. It took a million people marching through London for the BBC to report on the anti war movement before the last invasion. It will take another million before the opposition to another military adventure is noticed. Seumus Milne in today’s Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/13/war-in-iraq-yazidis-aid-military-intervention  provides an excellent summation of the illogical nature of the arguments being made to justify further imperial escapades, and the politics behind the martial music being played so very loudly. Read it now and check http://www.stopwar.org.uk/  for local events that will allow your branch to participate in protest events .

Gaza: 'We march for three things. The children, the children, the children.'

#Gaza Edinburgh’s Princes Street came to a halt again this week when marchers stopped and sat for two minutes silence to remember the dead in Gaza. Even onlookers respected the silence and applauded as the demonstrators set off again for Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.

On the 90 minute march, people carried a card, each with the name of one of the 2,000 Palestinians, almost 400 of them children, killed by Israeli forces. It was a poignant and powerful way of highlighting the human cost.

The demands were straightforward: An immediate end to the killing, Israel to lift the siege and to abide by UN resolutions. An end to arms sales to Israel and boycott, divestment and sanctions to bring pressure on the Israeli government. A free Palestine.

Union repression in Colombia - eye witness report

A recent British delegation to Colombia visited imprisoned trade unionist Huber Ballesteros and human rights activist David Rabelo in La Picota prison near Bogota. The TUC's Paul Nowak reports on the visit: 'Meeting Huber and David was in turns both depressing and uplifting. Depressing to see two men, committed to the nascent peace process and progressive political change in Colombia incarcerated unjustly. Uplifting to see that, despite the dreadful conditions in which they are being held, both were clearly focussed on securing justice and are determined to continue to speak out even within the confines of La Picota'
http://strongerunions.org/2014/08/04/defiance-hope-solidarity-in-colombia/

Strikes across France against public sector pay freeze

On Thursday French public sector workers backed national strike action against a six year pay freeze (2010-2017). In 110 cities and towns 300,000 joined marches against the government's austerity measures which include 50 billion euros of public expenditure cuts over the next two years. Workers in state schools, hospitals, airports and police officers took part in the one-day strike.
http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20140515-french-public-sector-strikes-against-six-year-pay-freeze

COSATU welcomes ANC victory

The ANC’s huge victory in last week’s general election has been welcomed by its trade union ally COSATU - 'The ANC has proved again that it is still the party in which the majority of South Africans, especially the working class and the poor, put their trust. The election has also confirmed the absence of any credible opposition party which offers an alternative which could appeal to workers. The Democratic Alliance in particular has once again revealed itself as the party of the rich and privileged, with policies solely designed to benefit big business and increase their profits. The federation thanks all its members who helped to achieve his victory by their tireless campaigning work in the workplaces and communities. COSATU union members played a key role in achieving the high 77.3% turn-out and winning this victory for the ANC. We can repeat what we said after the 2009 ANC victory: “Our liberation movement and the National Democratic Revolution have been defended!”'

The broken Nordic Model

For many years the economic and social model of the Nordic countries - which combined a free market, capitalist economy with a universal welfare state - was held up as an alternative to the ravages of neo liberalism. A Red Pepper article on ‘Sweden’s great welfare heist’ highlights the extent of privatisation since the 1990’s with public contracts subject to competitive tendering and most new clinics and hospitals privately financed and operated: ‘They promised higher quality, cost effectiveness, better working conditions. All three were false. We can see certainly that marketisation increases inequality, especially in Stockholm. The people who need more get less. Resources are distributed according to profit not need. As for the idea that the Swedish welfare system needs big capital to survive, that’s simply a myth. Private equity does not invest money. It extracts money.’
http://europe.redpepper.org.uk/swedens-great-welfare-heist/

Rana Plaza - one year on but workers still face repression

Today marks the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza textile factory collapse when almost 1200 workers – mostly young women – were killed in the worst industrial disaster in Bangladesh’s history. In its aftermath the TUC and the international trade union movement mobilised to secure an Accord - which has now been signed by more than 150 companies that employ factory workers and ensures that 1619 factories in Bangladesh have safety inspections and work with unions to correct safety hazards. However the TUC points out that problems with Bangladesh labour law mean that workers are still facing significant repression:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international-issues/labour-standards/tuc-tells-employers-%E2%80%98pay-now%E2%80%99-bangladesh-factory-collapse

Free Marwan Barghouthi & all Palestinian prisoners

The new website of the International Campaign to Free Marwan and all Palestinian prisoners is now online. The Campaign was launched from the cell of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island on the 27th of October 2013, by Ahmed Kathrada, anti-apartheid icon who launched the Free Mandela Campaign before spending 26 years in apartheid jails. www.fmaapp.ps

Electricity Privatisation - A Record of Failure

A new independent report and video documentary on electricity privatisation in Victoria, Australia, addresses its economic failings and social costs. Professor John Quiggin of the University of Queensland provides detailed evidence to support the conclusion that free-market electricity reforms have been 'a spectacular failure' and there is no fiscal or economic justification to continue the sell-off:
http://www.etu.org.au/system/files/ETU%20Electricity%20Privatisation%20Report.pdf
http://gmpsiaprec.blogspot.sg/2014/02/electricity-privatisation-record-of.html

US Union Organising Drive stalls at Volkswagen Plant

Much glee is in evidence on the Republican right over the ballot result on union recognition in the VW plant in Tennessee. There the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) had look set to win a ballot of the workforce in favour of a recognised trade union, alongside a European style works council. After a ferocious campaign by local Republican politicians the workers voted by a close majority not to have a union, the UAW losing the vote by 626 votes for and 712 against. This was to be a show piece battle for how the UAW was going to unionise car plants across the traditional redneck deep south, but the result has led to serious questions about the organising campaign US style.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/volkswagen-workers-reject-uaw-in-tenn-union-looks-for-plan-b-to-enter-south/2014/02/15/c35c018c-967c-11e3-9616-d367fa6ea99b_story.html

Israeli Apartheid Week 2014

‘The best strategy to end the increasingly bloody occupation is for Israel to become the target of the kind of global movement that put an end to apartheid in South Africa’ says Naomi Klein in a new trailer for Israeli Apartheid Week - an international series of events that seeks to raise awareness about Israel's apartheid policies towards the Palestinians and to build support for the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
http://apartheidweek.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0KONygMEg8&feature=youtu.be

Canadian unions stand on a precipice

James Clancy, President of Canadian public services union federation NUPGE, reflects on the stark challenges facing trade unions in Canada: 'we stand now on a precipice. What happens over the next two years will likely seal labour's fate for decades to come. We will emerge either stronger than ever or broken almost beyond repair. It is an exciting but also terrifying moment. If there's ever been a time for us to speak up loudly about why unions matter - and to actively support politicians who do the same - it is now. If we don't, we will doom our children, grandchildren and perhaps even our great grandchildren to more poverty, discrimination, and authoritarianism'
http://nupge.ca/content/11392/presidents-commentary-we-stand-precipice-we-must-speak-and-loudly-about-why-unions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=theM-xmR_yI

Newcastle Labour delegation to Palestine

@Lab2Palestine Last week I was one of six Labour Newcastle City Councillors who visited Palestine with a not for profit organisation called ‘Labour2Palestine’. Their mission is to “increase understanding about Palestine in the Labour Party by organising visits.”