Chief Treasury Secretary David Laws, described as "a genius" by colleagues, is planning cuts in public spending which will impoverish millions. He has apologised after it emerged he had been claiming MPs' expenses to rent rooms in homes owned by his partner.
The Daily Telegraph blew the whistle on Laws. They said this scam totalled £40,000 of the public money this "genius" is so careful with.
He said his motivation was to keep the relationship with the man private and not to reveal his own sexuality.
So having his hand in the till is OK but being gay is something to be ashamed of?
Liberal values indeed.
The rottenness and corruption is not solely the preserve of the two main parties it seems. They really are all the same. "A workers' MP on a workers' wage" was the slogan of our TUSC candidates.
(TUSC = Trade Union and Socialist Coalition)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
OMG What is the matter with the SWP?
Now that it appears talks between BA and Unite have collapsed the Socialist Party has released the following statement concerning the actions of the SWP and the cabin crew dispute.
Occupation A Mistake
The defeat of Willie Walsh and the brutish BA management is the most important aspect to this dispute. It is therefore unfortunate that the reported decision of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) members at the end of the Right to Work Conference to invade talks between British Airways management and Unite has partially obscured this issue. This occupation was completely mistaken.
Whatever the nature of the deal being negotiated it is not for a group like the SWP to decide to break up talks. A decision to accept or reject a deal is solely the property of cabin crew and their democratically elected representatives.
In an industrial dispute the final decision on tactics to confront the employer must always rest with the strikers themselves. Socialists can assist by sharing experiences and ideas in past disputes and building support and solidarity for the strike among the general public. This has always been the method of the Socialist Party. We will offer our opinion on the course of a dispute to workers but we believe that any initiative taken in support of a dispute should be taken in consultation with the workers themselves.
A key task for socialists and trade union activists is to raise the confidence of workers to fight not to substitute themselves for workers in struggle. This will mistakenly create the impression that a special minority of activists will do the fighting leaving workers as bystanders. The Socialist Party stands for the maximum control of workers over their dispute.
It is the view of the Socialist Party that the actions of the SWP on Saturday was not in the best interests of striking cabin crew workers. Such tactics will prove to be counter-productive. It is the mass action of cabin crew through their union that is the key to defeating Walsh, not the actions of a self appointed minority. Despite this we are totally opposed to any victimisation of those who took part in this mistaken protest.
The priority for all workers in the trade union movement now is to support the cabin crew workers against Walsh and BA management.
Occupation A Mistake
The defeat of Willie Walsh and the brutish BA management is the most important aspect to this dispute. It is therefore unfortunate that the reported decision of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) members at the end of the Right to Work Conference to invade talks between British Airways management and Unite has partially obscured this issue. This occupation was completely mistaken.
Whatever the nature of the deal being negotiated it is not for a group like the SWP to decide to break up talks. A decision to accept or reject a deal is solely the property of cabin crew and their democratically elected representatives.
In an industrial dispute the final decision on tactics to confront the employer must always rest with the strikers themselves. Socialists can assist by sharing experiences and ideas in past disputes and building support and solidarity for the strike among the general public. This has always been the method of the Socialist Party. We will offer our opinion on the course of a dispute to workers but we believe that any initiative taken in support of a dispute should be taken in consultation with the workers themselves.
A key task for socialists and trade union activists is to raise the confidence of workers to fight not to substitute themselves for workers in struggle. This will mistakenly create the impression that a special minority of activists will do the fighting leaving workers as bystanders. The Socialist Party stands for the maximum control of workers over their dispute.
It is the view of the Socialist Party that the actions of the SWP on Saturday was not in the best interests of striking cabin crew workers. Such tactics will prove to be counter-productive. It is the mass action of cabin crew through their union that is the key to defeating Walsh, not the actions of a self appointed minority. Despite this we are totally opposed to any victimisation of those who took part in this mistaken protest.
The priority for all workers in the trade union movement now is to support the cabin crew workers against Walsh and BA management.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
FT let the cat out of the bag
Has anybody got any lingering doubts of the government's intentions? The Financial Times – house journal of the capitalist class – let the cat out of the bag in an article on 20 May 2010
“ Before the election, the coalition parties aimed to avoid a direct confrontation with the unions. They now appear braced for a pitched battle.
“The unions were always bound to figure prominently in this parliament. The government must rein in a fiscal deficit of 11.1 per cent of output. Public jobs and pay must bear the brunt of spending cuts. In the state sector,68 per cent of employees are bound by collective pay agreements.
“The parties’ manifestos suggested plans to outflank the unions. They wanted to force through tight pay settlements while undermining the unions by contracting out an increased share of public services to private providers. The coalition agreement sets out a path to direct confrontation.”
Of course the “must” in this article is disingenuous. They take as read that the working class, starting with the public sector, “must” pay the price for a crisis not of their making. There is no “must” about it.
The government will throw down the gauntlet to the trade union movement. The nice Cameron/Clegg mask will be torn off to reveal the Thatcher within.
In particular for teachers, the national pay and conditions agreements will be torn up. The FT puts it like this
“More explosively, the new government intends to attack national pay bargaining. It wants to “reform the existing rigid national pay and conditions rules…” for schools. If anything, the coalition’s ambition should be greater. National pay bargaining is a problem well beyond education.”
They have a touching faith in the combativity of the trade union leaders. Yes this should be “explosive” but it is up to the rank and file to make sure it actually is “explosive” Trade union leaders of “left” and “right” may seek delay and compromise as they have always done in the past.
And as the FT clearly understand, a defeat for the teacher unions will be the harbinger of a defeat for workers with national pay bargaining unless they are prepared to fight back.
NUT Executive member Martin Powell Davies' call for the June executive to indicate that a strike ballot will be the response to any such attack from the government is timely.
And we are fully aware that strike action is not enough, this is political attack requiring a political response.
And New Labour has always sought to destroy national pay bargaining through precisely the tactics laid out in this FT article. Those union leaders who continue to back New Labour are acting against the interests of their members.
Anyone who voted for the LibDems to keep the Tories out will be reconsidering now. We need a party for the common people – a party of the working class.
Derek McMillan
“ Before the election, the coalition parties aimed to avoid a direct confrontation with the unions. They now appear braced for a pitched battle.
“The unions were always bound to figure prominently in this parliament. The government must rein in a fiscal deficit of 11.1 per cent of output. Public jobs and pay must bear the brunt of spending cuts. In the state sector,68 per cent of employees are bound by collective pay agreements.
“The parties’ manifestos suggested plans to outflank the unions. They wanted to force through tight pay settlements while undermining the unions by contracting out an increased share of public services to private providers. The coalition agreement sets out a path to direct confrontation.”
Of course the “must” in this article is disingenuous. They take as read that the working class, starting with the public sector, “must” pay the price for a crisis not of their making. There is no “must” about it.
The government will throw down the gauntlet to the trade union movement. The nice Cameron/Clegg mask will be torn off to reveal the Thatcher within.
In particular for teachers, the national pay and conditions agreements will be torn up. The FT puts it like this
“More explosively, the new government intends to attack national pay bargaining. It wants to “reform the existing rigid national pay and conditions rules…” for schools. If anything, the coalition’s ambition should be greater. National pay bargaining is a problem well beyond education.”
They have a touching faith in the combativity of the trade union leaders. Yes this should be “explosive” but it is up to the rank and file to make sure it actually is “explosive” Trade union leaders of “left” and “right” may seek delay and compromise as they have always done in the past.
And as the FT clearly understand, a defeat for the teacher unions will be the harbinger of a defeat for workers with national pay bargaining unless they are prepared to fight back.
NUT Executive member Martin Powell Davies' call for the June executive to indicate that a strike ballot will be the response to any such attack from the government is timely.
And we are fully aware that strike action is not enough, this is political attack requiring a political response.
And New Labour has always sought to destroy national pay bargaining through precisely the tactics laid out in this FT article. Those union leaders who continue to back New Labour are acting against the interests of their members.
Anyone who voted for the LibDems to keep the Tories out will be reconsidering now. We need a party for the common people – a party of the working class.
Derek McMillan
Friday, May 07, 2010
TUSC The only way is up!
The brand new Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition has made a start on the long march to create a workers' party after the shameful betrayal of New Labour.
Election results for TUSC in the 2010 general election
England and Wales:
Region
Seat
Candidate
Result
% of vote
East Mids
Leicester West
Steve Score.
157
0.4%
East Mids
Wellingborough & Rushdon
Councillor Paul Croft
249
0.5%
Eastern
Cambridge City
Martin Booth
362
0.7%
London
Lewisham Deptford
Socialist Party Councillor Ian Page
645
1.6%
London
Walthamstow
Nancy Taaffe
279
0.68%
London
Greenwich and Woolwich
Onay Kasab
267
0.6%
London
Tottenham
Jenny Sutton
1057
2.6%
Northern
Gateshead
Elaine Brunskill
266
0.7%
Northern
Redcar
Hannah Walter
127
0.3%
North West
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Lynn Worthington
268
0.65%
North West
Bootle
Pete Glover
472
1.1%
North West
Carlisle
John Metcalfe
376
0.9%
North West
Liverpool Walton
Darren Ireland
195
0.57%
North West
Manchester Gorton
Karen Reissman
337
0.9%
North West
Salford
David Henry
730
2%
Southern
Southampton Itchin
Tim Cutter
168
0.4%
Southern
Spelthorne
Paul Couchman
176
0.4%
Southern
Portsmouth North
Mick Tosh
154
South East
Brighton Kemptown
Dave Hill
194
0.5%
South West
Bristol South
Tom Baldwin
206
0.4%
South West
Bristol East
Rachel (Rae) Lynch
198
0.4%
Wales
Cardiff Central
Ross Saunders
162
0.4%
Wales
Swansea West
Rob Williams
179
0.5%
West Mids
Coventry North East
Dave Nellist
1592
3.7%
West Mids
Coventry South
Judy Griffiths
691
1.55
West Mids
Coventry North West
Nikki Downes
370
0.8%
West Mids
Stoke Central
Matt Wright
133
0.4%
Yorkshire
Colne Valley
Councillor Jackie Grunsell.
741
1.3%
Yorkshire
Hull West + Hessle
Keith Gibson.
150
0.5%
Yorkshire
Doncaster North
Bill Rawcliffe
181
0.4%
Yorkshire
Huddersfield
Paul Cooney
319
0.8%
Yorkshire
Sheffield Brightside
Maxine Bowler
656
1.7%
Scotland:
Seat
Candidate
Result
% of vote
Glasgow South West
Tommy Sheridan
931
2.9%
Glasgow South
Brian Smith
351
0.9%
Glasgow North
Angela McCormack
287
1%
Glasgow North East
Graham Campbell
187
0.6%
Edinburgh East
Gary Clark
274
0.7%
Edinburgh North & Leith
Willie Black
233
0.5%
Midlothian
Willie Duncan
166
0.4%
Dundee West
Jim McFarlane
350
1.2%
Motherwell & Wishaw
Ray Gunnion
609
2%
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
George McDonald
135
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Making a complete Griffin of himself again
The BNP frequently complain that the many pro-Nazi
statements of Nick Griffin are “all in the past” and not
relevant to his current squeaky clean image.
The Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 on 30th April 2010 had the
BNP leader making a complete Griffin of himself yet again.
He repeated his claim that “the bravery of the SS kept
Europe safe from Bolshevism.”
The bravery of the SS consisted of herding Jewish men, women
and children, gay men, trade unionists and communists into
gas chambers. This is not called bravery by most people.
It also gives you a vivid picture of what life (and death)
would be like if these people were given power.
statements of Nick Griffin are “all in the past” and not
relevant to his current squeaky clean image.
The Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 on 30th April 2010 had the
BNP leader making a complete Griffin of himself yet again.
He repeated his claim that “the bravery of the SS kept
Europe safe from Bolshevism.”
The bravery of the SS consisted of herding Jewish men, women
and children, gay men, trade unionists and communists into
gas chambers. This is not called bravery by most people.
It also gives you a vivid picture of what life (and death)
would be like if these people were given power.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Real life Avatars?
Apart from being a 3d film of astonishing effects, Avatar tells the story of the Na'vi people fighting back successfully against the mercenaries of the global corporations which want to exploit the natural resources of their home planet "Pandora". For some reason the American military thought it was having a dig at them :)
Director James Cameron is not content to leave the film to change public perceptions. On the american indy internet news programme "Democracy Now!" he said he had begun a campaign alongside indigenous peoples to bring to light real life "Pandoras" on this planet.
"The success of Avatar triggered an interesting chain reaction, which is a lot of groups that are involved with indigenous issues and the environment and energy and so on have come to me saying, you know, “How can we use the success of the film to continue to raise awareness, not just a generalized kind of emotional reaction, but a very specific awareness on different battles that are in progress right now around the world?” And I thought, well, OK, fine, this is an opportunity to maybe do some good, beyond just the film itself. I mean, I thought, you know, as a filmmaker, as an artist, I put my story out there, you know, and people react to it, and they draw their own conclusions, and that’s it for me. I’m over and out, you know? "
"But I don’t think that’s enough in this situation, because Avatar doesn’t teach you anything specific. It only gives you an emotional reaction, a sense of moral outrage, if you will, about the destruction of nature, about the, you know, destruction of indigenous people, culture and so on. So I think people need action items. You know, they need specific things. They need specific information about what’s going on, and they need specific action items about what to do about it. So you’ve got to talk about it. There’s got to be a dialogue. So I think there’s a whole dialogue going on now in the wake of this film that’s beneficial."
For the people of the Amazon there is nothing fictional about the Belo Monte dam project. 25,000 people will be displaced if this project goes ahead and they literally have nowhere to go. The film has aroused an emotional response (and sent Rupert Murdoch's avatars at Fox News into apoplexy which is no bad thing!). The high profile support of James Cameron for the real life victims of capitalism is important but at the end of the day the corporations will only be brought to book by the working class movement.
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Hobbit and the great debate on the election
(From Classroom Teacher)
Did anybody else remember "The Hobbit" while listening to the "Great debate" on ITV? Did you feel as if you were overhearing three trolls arguing about whether to boil you alive or mince you up?
There was nobody to say the war in Afghanistan is unwinnable and unjust and we should withdraw. Instead they talked about the quality of the troops' equipment. This is about as useful as discussing the quality of the deckchairs on the Titanic.
Nick Clegg did mention ditching Trident but otherwise failed to differentiate himself from the others.
When it came to cutting public spending - and thus our jobs and the jobs of all public sector workers - the devils were only discussing the detail. The principle of robbing the poor to give to the rich was a "given."
Thank God there is an alternative http://www.tusc.org.uk/
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Dash to Digital leaves the poor behind
Digital radio is a great advance in scientific technique. Unfortunately under capitalism even the best scientific advances can be manipulated to the advantage of big business and the detriment of the working class.
So the changeover to digital is likely to leave hundreds of thousands of the poorest in the community – especially old age pensioners – with no access to the wireless. A massive leap backwards.
In the UK most people regard the radio as their prime source of news. Over 90 percent of the population listen to the radio. Many of them listen in the car and most cars of course have analogue radios. These will all fall silent in five years time and will need replacing with massively overpriced digital sets. Many people cannot afford the changeover and will simply be left behind.
Yet the electrical shops are still cynically selling off analogue radios to old age pensioners without any warning of their limited lifespan.
At the same time Mandelson (or whichever Conservative Party clone takes over from him in May!) is also seeking to cut off the internet from anyone who cannot afford the extortionate prices charged by the CD and record manufacturers. File sharing technology is another modern miracle which capitalism is incapable of accommodating it seems.
The profiteers corrupt and hinder every advance in science and technology which gets in the way of their greed. The politicians aid and abet them. After all they can all afford digital radio... or at least charge it to their expenses :)
So the changeover to digital is likely to leave hundreds of thousands of the poorest in the community – especially old age pensioners – with no access to the wireless. A massive leap backwards.
In the UK most people regard the radio as their prime source of news. Over 90 percent of the population listen to the radio. Many of them listen in the car and most cars of course have analogue radios. These will all fall silent in five years time and will need replacing with massively overpriced digital sets. Many people cannot afford the changeover and will simply be left behind.
Yet the electrical shops are still cynically selling off analogue radios to old age pensioners without any warning of their limited lifespan.
At the same time Mandelson (or whichever Conservative Party clone takes over from him in May!) is also seeking to cut off the internet from anyone who cannot afford the extortionate prices charged by the CD and record manufacturers. File sharing technology is another modern miracle which capitalism is incapable of accommodating it seems.
The profiteers corrupt and hinder every advance in science and technology which gets in the way of their greed. The politicians aid and abet them. After all they can all afford digital radio... or at least charge it to their expenses :)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Opt out forms for NHS summary care record
The introduction of summary care records does not fill me with confidence. The number of recent cases of personal information being left on trains and the government's general lack of concern for personal privacy suggests it might be a good idea to opt out. Naturally they have made it fiddly and difficult to opt out.
Click here for an opt-out form
Click here for an opt-out form
Thursday, March 04, 2010
To quote Joe Hill
From Democracy Now:
Utah lawmakers have approved a measure that would allow women to be charged with murder if they commit an “intentional, knowing or reckless act” that causes a miscarriage. Critics fear the measure could target women for all kinds of actions, including staying with an abusive partner.
Trade Union organiser Joe Hill was killed after a judicial frame-up in Utah. His last words are well-remembered "Don't mourn, organise". Less well known is his plea "take my body over the state line. I wouldn't be seen dead in Utah"
Utah lawmakers have approved a measure that would allow women to be charged with murder if they commit an “intentional, knowing or reckless act” that causes a miscarriage. Critics fear the measure could target women for all kinds of actions, including staying with an abusive partner.
Trade Union organiser Joe Hill was killed after a judicial frame-up in Utah. His last words are well-remembered "Don't mourn, organise". Less well known is his plea "take my body over the state line. I wouldn't be seen dead in Utah"
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Education not Censorship.
Big Brother and censorship
Linda Papadopoulos was the in-house psychologist on Big Brother . You cannot accuse New Labour of lacking a sense of irony. Her report for the Home Office on young people's sexuality contains an outline of a problem – and an Orwellian “solution” which would have Big Brother choosing which books and TV programs we are permitted to see..
Advertising treats the bodies of women, and increasingly of young children, as commodities to be exploited for profit. Children have easy access to pornography: Rupert Murdoch's newspapers are in the sweet shops. Linda's very own Big Brother was not entirely bereft of nudity and crude language.
Censorship is running away from the problem not tackling it. Education in the role of advertising and sexuality is more important than increasing the power of the state to censor. Money could be put into teaching resources instead of lining the pockets of media celebrities like Linda Papadopoulos!
There is also the practical problem that the British Home Office would have to constantly monitor and close down websites all over the world. If you do not want an internet as restricted as that available in China, which is Mandelson's dream, then you will oppose such a move.
Teachers are well aware of the problem but hampered by constant tests, targets and deadlines. We need an education system responsive to the needs of the children and young people rather than driven by centralised testing programmes.
Education not Censorship.
Linda Papadopoulos was the in-house psychologist on Big Brother . You cannot accuse New Labour of lacking a sense of irony. Her report for the Home Office on young people's sexuality contains an outline of a problem – and an Orwellian “solution” which would have Big Brother choosing which books and TV programs we are permitted to see..
Advertising treats the bodies of women, and increasingly of young children, as commodities to be exploited for profit. Children have easy access to pornography: Rupert Murdoch's newspapers are in the sweet shops. Linda's very own Big Brother was not entirely bereft of nudity and crude language.
Censorship is running away from the problem not tackling it. Education in the role of advertising and sexuality is more important than increasing the power of the state to censor. Money could be put into teaching resources instead of lining the pockets of media celebrities like Linda Papadopoulos!
There is also the practical problem that the British Home Office would have to constantly monitor and close down websites all over the world. If you do not want an internet as restricted as that available in China, which is Mandelson's dream, then you will oppose such a move.
Teachers are well aware of the problem but hampered by constant tests, targets and deadlines. We need an education system responsive to the needs of the children and young people rather than driven by centralised testing programmes.
Education not Censorship.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Changes at blogger
All blogs with addresses like derekmcmillan.com/weblog have to be transferred back to blogspot as ftp (file transfer protocol) will no longer be supported. A link to this effect will be put into derekmcmillan.com/weblog.
The disadvantage is that some schools block all blogspot sites indiscriminately.
The disadvantage is that some schools block all blogspot sites indiscriminately.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A voice for those who don't want cuts, privatisation and war.
There is no party of the left in Britain at the present time. The coalition of trade unionists and socialists provide a voice for those who oppose cuts, privatisation and war.
http://cnwp.org.uk/news.80.htm
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Join the Classroom Teacher Network
A group of teachers who backed Martin Powell-Davies’ recent stand in the NUT Vice-President election
For action on workload
To defend public sector schools
To defend the rights of classroom teachers in academies and trust schools
And to resist the attacks on education whichever canaille wins the general election!
Click here to join the facebook group.
Click here for the blog
Friday, January 08, 2010
Vote for Kevin for Deputy General Secretary
From the WSTA blog
It is important that members in West Sussex play a full part in the
National Union of Teachers and voting in the Deputy General Secretary
elections is part of that. By now you should have received your ballot
papers.
Kevin Courtney was overwhelmingly endorsed by the West Sussex NUT and
we are supporting his campaign to be elected as DGS.
Veronica Peppiatt writes:
Although Kevin is a leading light of one of the political groups on
the Executive, as a "non-aligned" Executive member I am convinced of
his absolute integrity and commitment to the Union as a whole and am
confident that if elected to the post of DGS he has the strength of
character to rise above old allegiances, if need be, in order to put
the best interests of the whole membership first.
Veronica Peppiatt, Executive Member for Surrey and West Sussex
'I have known Kevin for many years and in that time have been hugely
impressed with the energy, vision and commitment he has brought to
such campaigns as the defence of educational funding, opposition to
Academies, reducing workload, fair pay for teachers and many others.
I know he believes fervently in working alongside other trade
unionists and takes the same view as me that we are unlikely to win
future battles over issues such as the defence of our pensions,
without an inter-union perspective. He has already developed
invaluable links with other public sector unions.
In my view he is the candidate most likely to enable the NUT to defend
the future interests of teachers and the education profession.
Dave Thomas (Secretary, West Sussex Teachers' Association)'
You may also receive this as an email later in the week. Apologies for
the duplication but we get full marks for enthusiasm!
Derek McMillan
(Helpline Co-ordinator West Sussex Teachers' Association)
It is important that members in West Sussex play a full part in the
National Union of Teachers and voting in the Deputy General Secretary
elections is part of that. By now you should have received your ballot
papers.
Kevin Courtney was overwhelmingly endorsed by the West Sussex NUT and
we are supporting his campaign to be elected as DGS.
Veronica Peppiatt writes:
Although Kevin is a leading light of one of the political groups on
the Executive, as a "non-aligned" Executive member I am convinced of
his absolute integrity and commitment to the Union as a whole and am
confident that if elected to the post of DGS he has the strength of
character to rise above old allegiances, if need be, in order to put
the best interests of the whole membership first.
Veronica Peppiatt, Executive Member for Surrey and West Sussex
'I have known Kevin for many years and in that time have been hugely
impressed with the energy, vision and commitment he has brought to
such campaigns as the defence of educational funding, opposition to
Academies, reducing workload, fair pay for teachers and many others.
I know he believes fervently in working alongside other trade
unionists and takes the same view as me that we are unlikely to win
future battles over issues such as the defence of our pensions,
without an inter-union perspective. He has already developed
invaluable links with other public sector unions.
In my view he is the candidate most likely to enable the NUT to defend
the future interests of teachers and the education profession.
Dave Thomas (Secretary, West Sussex Teachers' Association)'
You may also receive this as an email later in the week. Apologies for
the duplication but we get full marks for enthusiasm!
Derek McMillan
(Helpline Co-ordinator West Sussex Teachers' Association)
Friday, January 01, 2010
9 Questions about the BNP
1. Why has the BNP consistently (Stoke, Burnley Pendle) voted for above-inflation increases in council taxation, despite its claims against council tax increases and property-based council tax in general?
2. Why did Broxbourne BNP vote to block free bus passes for pensioners against their pledge that "pensioners should get free bus passes"?
3. Why did Halifax BNP councillors abstain from voting to block the closure of a primary school in Mixenden despite election literature promising to defend all primary schools in the area.
4. Why did BNP in Kirklees agree to council service cuts in Sep 2009 declaring "a lot of the silly posts can disappear. I've always advocated that you get rid of 25% of council staff and no-one would notice. We won't be able to guarantee early retirement and gold-plated pensions."? 5. You, Griffin, have expelled certain BNP members for their political actions (including ex-Conservative BNP councillor Geoff Wallace in Halifax for supporting greenbelt housing) but not those who have implemented these above actions which harm the majority whose interests you claim to further. Why is there this discrepancy? 6. Why did you oppose the firefighters' strike of 2002-2003, asserting that firefighters should not have the right to withdraw their labour to renegotiate terms and conditions of work? You declared firefighters "must be placed on the same level as military personnel and police officers and ... forego their ambiguous position of using strike action". Do you still agree with it? 7. Why did Stoke BNP exonerate chief executive Wayne Nutbeen for closing (in 2005) Royal Doulton's last factories. Nutbeen's explanation was the "company isn't owned by Stoke-on-Trent. It is owned by the shareholders. The board has to ensure it does right by them". 8. Why has Stoke BNP agreed to budgets (2004, 2005, 2007) that cut social spending including Citizen's Advice Bureaus, old people's services? 9. Which aspects of the "national good" in "Oriental countries" would you emulate in Britain first - a 2000% increase in work-related suicides, mass dismissals of workers for attending anti-government meetings or homeless nomad families working in low-wage sectors? (Your manifesto (2009) claimed "Oriental countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore have managed their economies to combine private enterprise competition with the national good, and these are the models the BNP would emulate.")
Friday, December 18, 2009
British Airways Dirty Tricks department
The British Airways dirty tricks department have won a victory for every bullying employer and few are more prone to bullying than our employers. Every action we take against SATS, over workload or the proposed attack on teachers' pensions runs the risk of being declared illegal on one technicality or another.
On the decision of one judge and at the behest of British Airways bosses, the workers of Britain and their trade unions have been told that the democratic right to strike has been cancelled.
This "disgraceful legal judgment" as the union Unite correctly called it, makes voting in any union ballot almost irrelevant if it does not suit the wishes of the bosses and their friends in the judiciary. Any strike can be declared 'illegal'.
Every commentator has admitted that the so-called ballot irregularities would not have made a blind bit of difference to the outcome of the strike ballot. Unless the whole trade union movement faces up to what is required then the unions face the danger of being put back in legal terms to the infamous Taff Vale judgment of 1906 which made unions liable for commercial damages following the effect of any strikes they organised.
It was the Taff Vale judgement which convinced the trade unions that they need a political voice. That is something what is laughingly called "the Labour Party" will not provide. We need a new workers' party.
On the decision of one judge and at the behest of British Airways bosses, the workers of Britain and their trade unions have been told that the democratic right to strike has been cancelled.
This "disgraceful legal judgment" as the union Unite correctly called it, makes voting in any union ballot almost irrelevant if it does not suit the wishes of the bosses and their friends in the judiciary. Any strike can be declared 'illegal'.
Every commentator has admitted that the so-called ballot irregularities would not have made a blind bit of difference to the outcome of the strike ballot. Unless the whole trade union movement faces up to what is required then the unions face the danger of being put back in legal terms to the infamous Taff Vale judgment of 1906 which made unions liable for commercial damages following the effect of any strikes they organised.
It was the Taff Vale judgement which convinced the trade unions that they need a political voice. That is something what is laughingly called "the Labour Party" will not provide. We need a new workers' party.
Let it snow
Well missing the last day of term because of snow was not the worst tragedy in the history of education :)
On the whole closing the school was probably the right move. Snow is educational.
My pupils did miss seeing me in the school panto (and the opportunity to hiss) but they were all out throwing snowballs at each other - unless there is a Wii snowball fight by now.
On the whole closing the school was probably the right move. Snow is educational.
My pupils did miss seeing me in the school panto (and the opportunity to hiss) but they were all out throwing snowballs at each other - unless there is a Wii snowball fight by now.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The ambiguity of "Don't go into a fight you can't win"
Martin Reed made a rather telling point at the WSTA meeting . His father was a miner and always used to say "don't go into a fight you can't win". This is the kind of argument the right wing always use when the union is faced with an attack like the one over pensions and actually we have no choice but to fight.
What Martin Reed's quote probably means is "if you don't go into a fight you can't win". You can certainly lose by not fighting the erosion of the public sector.
The WSTA meeting overwhelmingly supported Kevin Courtney.
What Martin Reed's quote probably means is "if you don't go into a fight you can't win". You can certainly lose by not fighting the erosion of the public sector.
The WSTA meeting overwhelmingly supported Kevin Courtney.
Unity against Academy at Weston Favell School
Members at Weston Favell School in Northants are striking against the proposed academy. In this NASUWT and NUT are working together.
Messages of support would be very welcome.
The NUT rep is Paul Cutts
pcutts@weston.rmplc.co.uk
You can also copy to the NAS rep, Amanda Brett
abrett@weston.rmplc.co.uk
If you want to support them there is a model letter:
I am writing in regard to the teacher’s strike at Weston Favell School. As a parent/member of staff/local resident/member of the public/local councillor I feel that the school is a brilliant and improving asset to young people in the local area.
I disagree with plans for Northamptonshire County Council to allow United Learning Trust to take over the school, and as a result take the funding, curriculum and working conditions into their control. Those changes lead to high staff turnover at the Academies.
I am proud that we have a community school here which focuses on the needs of all its students. Academies are at best an unproven system, which have not yielded the high results that have been suggested.
Indeed ULT has recently been told it can not open any more Academies anywhere else because its standards are not high enough. However it appears the Government thinks they are still good enough for Weston Favell.
I am concerned that Academies are not holistic or cooperative, and that they attempt to ‘cherry-pick’ students and leave disadvantaged children behind – despite selective entry being against the rules. I wholeheartedly support the strike of the NUT and NASUWT unions, and am pleased that UNISON has instructed its members not to cover the work of striking workers. While Roger Webb, the chair of governors, is correct that a strike is disruptive to the students, I believe that it is Northamptonshire County Council who is responsible for the much greater disruption in stretching this consultation and uncertainty over a year. The changes any transfer would bring would also disrupt our children’s education.
The teachers unions have made it clear that if these part-privatisation plans are withdrawn they will not strike. The teachers, after all, are striking to save fully accountable local education provision, and they should be supported by all in the community.
Yours Sincerely/Faithfully
Messages of support would be very welcome.
The NUT rep is Paul Cutts
pcutts@weston.rmplc.co.uk
You can also copy to the NAS rep, Amanda Brett
abrett@weston.rmplc.co.uk
If you want to support them there is a model letter:
I am writing in regard to the teacher’s strike at Weston Favell School. As a parent/member of staff/local resident/member of the public/local councillor I feel that the school is a brilliant and improving asset to young people in the local area.
I disagree with plans for Northamptonshire County Council to allow United Learning Trust to take over the school, and as a result take the funding, curriculum and working conditions into their control. Those changes lead to high staff turnover at the Academies.
I am proud that we have a community school here which focuses on the needs of all its students. Academies are at best an unproven system, which have not yielded the high results that have been suggested.
Indeed ULT has recently been told it can not open any more Academies anywhere else because its standards are not high enough. However it appears the Government thinks they are still good enough for Weston Favell.
I am concerned that Academies are not holistic or cooperative, and that they attempt to ‘cherry-pick’ students and leave disadvantaged children behind – despite selective entry being against the rules. I wholeheartedly support the strike of the NUT and NASUWT unions, and am pleased that UNISON has instructed its members not to cover the work of striking workers. While Roger Webb, the chair of governors, is correct that a strike is disruptive to the students, I believe that it is Northamptonshire County Council who is responsible for the much greater disruption in stretching this consultation and uncertainty over a year. The changes any transfer would bring would also disrupt our children’s education.
The teachers unions have made it clear that if these part-privatisation plans are withdrawn they will not strike. The teachers, after all, are striking to save fully accountable local education provision, and they should be supported by all in the community.
Yours Sincerely/Faithfully
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