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Blackpool gets rid of top jobs as town faces more cuts

Matthew Finnegan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:08:18 +0000

A COUNCIL leader has admitted: “Our budget wont be fair.”

Blackpool Council Labour leader Simon Blackburn has warned that services will be taken from the needy and staff will lose their jobs.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: “Will it be a fair budget? No, because we’ll end up taking services off people who need them and end up losing staff we should be keeping.

“But I am confident it will be fairer than the budget the Conservatives produced.”

Blackpool has taken a robust approach to the highest paid jobs at the council – Labour has already axed five senior roles, including tourism director, saving £1.8m over four years.

Now another two top jobs are to go – the executive director for children, adults and family services and the director of the Blackpool Services Directorate.

Only chief executive Neil Jack has stayed on a six figure salary, pocketing £100,000 a year.

Coun Blackburn said £10m savings would be found from a restructure of senior management and cuts to councillors’ remuneration which would save £3million over four years.

But there will be further job losses say the council with up to 100 compulsory redundancies. Unions say the job losses could be double that.

The Government has cut Blackpool’s grant by £5.4m, following cuts of £27million last year which saw 750 jobs axed, including 350 compulsory redundancies.

Savings of £1.5m will come from workers agreeing to take four days’ unpaid leave for the second year running, but pay increments will be re-introduced and a scheme forcing council workers to pay for parking will be scrapped.

Writing in his Leader’s Blog, Councillor Blackburn added: “Once again it is a reduction in our grant funding from Government that has led to this situation. Northern councils like ours with high levels of poverty and a consequent high demand on local public services, are suffering more than most.”

Join the March 7th rally to save our NHS

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:26:08 +0000

UNION members are stepping up the pressure on the Government with a central London rally to stop the Health and Social Care Bill.

Wednesday 7 March will see nurses, midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, managers, paramedics, radiographers, cleaners, porters and other employees from across the health service joining with patients to fill London’s Central Hall in Westminster for a 6pm ‘Save our NHS’ rally.

Hundreds of health service workers from across the North West will be travelling down to London to join the protest.

Andrew Lansley’s Bill is hugely unpopular with NHS employees and patients, who have major concerns that the Bill will force competition and markets on to the NHS, allowing the private sector to take over NHS services.

The ‘All Together for the NHS’ campaign has called the rally amid fears that the NHS will be broken-up, care will worsen and there will be continued uncertainty for NHS employees, with training and terms and conditions likely to suffer.

More professional bodies have been joining the calls to amend significantly or withdraw the Bill completely. The March rally is intended to add to the pressure by demonstrating the broad coalition of opposition to Bill.

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Some changes have been made to the Bill but not nearly enough.

“Only this week we have seen a private company taking over an NHS hospital for the first time, as Circle moves in to the Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

“This will be the future the NHS has to look forward to if the Bill stays in its current form.

“Peers must listen to the concerns of the people that know the NHS best – the staff who work in it. Health workers fear the increased competition and the extension of markets will have a devastating impact on patient care, especially poorer people who will find themselves pushed to the back of ever-growing waiting lists.

“But it’s not too late for peers to make a difference and we hope our rally in early March will provide the opportunity for NHS workers and patients to send a loud message across Parliament Square to convince the House of Lords that this Bill would be a disaster for the NHS.”

“We are staring over the cliff into recession – the Government must pull back now”

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:04 +0000

REGIONAL Secretary Alan Manning today demanded that the Government turn away from its austerity programme and invest in policies for growth and jobs.

Mr Manning, leader of the North West TUC which represents one million working people in the region, was reacting to today’s 0.2 per cent growth figures for the UK – worse than had been feared.

He said: “We are now on the edge of a double dip recession, with the economy flatlining, public services being dismantled and unemployment increasing. The message for Chancellor George Osborne is clear: ‘It’s hurting, but it’s not working.’

“We are now staring over a cliff into recession – the Government needs to pull back immediately. Our economy is deep in the doldrums and we desperately need policies for growth and jobs to get people back to work, paying taxes and spending money.

“These official figures are in stark contrast to the forecasts made by the Government 18 months ago when they set out on this disastrous road to recession with their austerity programme.

“At the time of the spending review, they said the economy would grow by 3.6 per cent – the reality is that the economy has been worsening ever since. In the last three months, there has also been a 0.9 per cent fall in manufacturing, with industrial production down by 1.2 per cent.

“With the budget due in March, we are now at real risk of a double dip recession – something the TUC has warned about for the last 18 months.

“It is time for the Government to turn away from austerity and take positive steps to stimulate our economy – with policies for jobs and growth, a tax on bankers’ bonuses and a Robin Hood tax so that working people do not pay the prices for a bankers’ recession.”

4,000 jobs to go in Merseyside’s NHS

Matthew Finnegan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:10:36 +0000

FOUR thousand jobs are being axed from the NHS on Merseyside, according to the Liverpool Post.

Amongst the people whose jobs will be going are nurses, midwives and health visitors.

850 jobs are set to go at Fazakerley Hospital by 2014, with Alder Hey losing 350.

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals will also lose almost 450 jobs.

At least 236 nurses, midwives and health visitors working at hospitals and mental health trusts on Merseyside lost their jobs in the first six months of last year – but that number is now set to soar.

Srtaff are already complaining of shortages, which is affecting the care of patients.

Paul Summers, regional organiser for Unison, told the Post: “These losses will have a really detrimental effect on the services for the public and the staff left behind.

“They will have to do more with less resources. People are really fearful for their jobs, morale has reached rock bottom.

“Whether its nurses, doctors, medical secretaries, we are losing a range of skills.”

Compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out as trusts bid to make £20 billion cuts in the NHS.

On top of the Merseywide figures, North West jobs are also being cut, some of which will be in the Liverpool region.

Remember this?

80,000 jobs to go from public services in North West

Matthew Finnegan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:51:53 +0000

MORE than 80,000 jobs will be axed from public services in the North West over the next five years.

That’s the shock finding of a TUC analysis of official figures produced by the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) following the Autumn statement in November by Chancellor George Osborne, Conservative MP for Knutsford.

The massive job losses in our region come on top of the 30,000 jobs which have already been lost from public services here since the Coalition came to power in May 2010, according to surveys by the North West TUC and the general workers union, the GMB.

The latest analysis is based on official OBR figures, which have forecast that 710,000 jobs will be axed in public services across the country up to 2017, as a result of the Chancellor’s policies.

The TUC is providing a regional breakdown of that total for the first time, which shows that of the 710,000 jobs lost nationally, exactly 81,075 jobs will go from the North West – the worst hit region in Britain outside of London.

Greater Manchester will be worst hit, losing 30,000 jobs from public services. Merseyside will lose just over 20,000 jobs, Lancashire almost 20,000 jobs and Cheshire will lose almost 10,000 jobs from the public sector.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “This is another hammer blow to the regional economy and to tens of thousands of public servants and their families in the North West.

“The cuts to public services which we have already suffered are having a devastating effect on the most vulnerable people in our communities and have choked off any hopes of growth in the North West economy, because the private sector can’t fill the gap.

“Now we are set for five more years of pain – without any gain. As a North West MP, George Osborne should stop and take stock – his policies are hurting, but they are simply not working.

“It’s time we had policies which put people first, by getting them back to work earning a living, paying taxes and helping stimulate growth.”

	Impact of 710,000 job losses nationwide
North West	81,075
North East	32,668
Yorkshire and the Humber	63,906
West Midlands	59,137
East Midlands	45,545
East of England	52,937
London	94,190
South East	80,836
South West	59,018
Wales	39,703
Scotland	70,225
Northern Ireland	25,992
Not assigned to a region	4,769
Total	710,000

Sources

OBR, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2011

http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/wordpress/docs/economic_and_fiscal_outlook_23032011.pdf

ONS Labour Market Statistics, December 2011

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_245812.pdf

ONS Public Sector Employment, Q3 2011

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_247739.pdf

NW Public sector:

http://www.nwriu.co.uk/research_and_intelligence/economy/economy_publications/public_sector_in_the_nw.aspx

Children pay price for Coalition cuts in Liverpool

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:57:32 +0000

CHILDREN in Liverpool are paying the price for the Coalition’s cuts in public services.

Twenty-four thousand children will be hit by the council’s plans to scrap school uniform grants (£20 for primary and £40 for secondary children) to cut £738,000 from its spending.

Funding for the the city’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) will be slashed by £200,000, while the teenage pregnancy service will lose almost half its funding, with its £176,000 budget slashed to £76,000.

Jobs are threatened at childrens centres and Liverpool’s Parent Partnership Service, which helps families with disabled children, will also see its budget slashed from £258,000 to just £150,000.

The city council also plans to close three libraries, reducing opening hours at 17 others and axing 76 jobs as well as charging for the Bulky Bobs household refuse collection service.

The cuts are part of a £16million package, which will be followed by another £4million cuts, with a further £60million of cuts to be found between 2013 and 2015.

Demonstrate in Liverpool against the Health and Social Care Bill

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:14:54 +0000

A DEMONSTRATION is being held outside the Liverpool Royal on January 27th, against Andrew Lansley’s Health Bill.

Organisers say the Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament, will have major effects on the future of healthcare in Liverpool.

An amendment, pushed through just before Christmas, will enable NHS Trusts to allocate up to 49% of bed space and theatre time, to private patients.

This will leave NHS patients waiting longer for a bed, or for surgery, while more private patients than ever before will be able to jump the queue.

Local Liverpool MPs and councillors will join the demonstration which starts at 11am, until 2pm.

Protesters will be urging patients, visitors, residents & staff to support the ”Drop The Bill’ campaign.

Meanwhile Kailash Chand, chair of Tameside and Glossop NHS and a former member of the BMA Council and General Practitioners Committee, is campaigning to force a parliamentary debate by using the Government’s own e-petitions website.

Dr Chand, who was a GP in Ashton-under-Lyne for many years and who received an OBE for services to the NHS last year, hopes re-opening the parliamentary debate will delay the Bill’s progress or persuade the beleaguered Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to drop it altogether.

Dr Chand said: “This bill is a disaster which will mark the end of the NHS as we know it. It is designed to privatise the NHS at all levels – primary care, secondary care, community health services and commissioning – all of it concealed behind the publicly trusted NHS logo.

You can sign Dr Chand’s e-petition here Drop the Health Bill

Private sector can’t fill spending gap – so Manchester’s New Year fireworks are cancelled

Matthew Finnegan — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:46:04 +0000

MANCHESTER has cancelled its New Year’s Eve fireworks display – after the city’s private sector failed to fill the gap left by the Coalition’s public spending cuts.

The city council has been forced to cancel the annual event – which drew tens of thousands of New Year revellers to Spinningfields – because they could not find a corporate sponsor to stump up the cash.

The firework display, which cost up to £20,000 to stage, is the latest victim of the Coalition’s public spending cuts.

Council chiefs decided they could not splash out on a free December 31st party at the end of a year in which they have been forced to close Surestart centres and youth centres.

They had first appealed to the city’s private businesses to step forward and instead cough up the cash for the display to go-ahead.

After all, the firework displays brings thousands of extra people into the city centre and helps boost trade in city centre pubs and restaurants.

But the city council’s plea fell on deaf ears, to no-one’s great surprise.

It means that despite this being the season of goodwill, there is yet another example of the private sector being unable to plug the gap left by public spending cuts.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne, MP for Tatton in leafy Cheshire, have repeatedly claimed that the private sector will step into the breach and provide services which the public sector has been forced to axe.

But they have again been proved mistaken, again to no-one’s great surprise.

Predictably Manchester’s Pub and Club Network, have reacted angrily to the cancelled display fearing it could lead to people shunning the city to celebrate New Year’s Eve elsewhere.

Spokesman Phil Burke said: “This is so disappointing. We campaigned for years to get a New Year’s Eve firework display – it brings thousands to the city centre to celebrate together.

“Now there’ll be nothing to see at the strike of midnight, it’s a shambles. I worry people will start to go to other cities instead.”

To be fair, the city’s pubs and clubs are feeling the icy chill of recession, with people losing their jobs and spending money drying up.

This of course, is a direct result of the austerity measures which the Coalition are obsessed with.

So, the vicious circle continues – Coalition austerity measures bring spending cuts which reduce public services. And the private sector can’t fill the gap left…because of the austerity measures.

City centre spokesman councillor Pat Karney said: “It’s very sad that no company has come forward to fund the fireworks.

“Instead we’ll be watching other cities around the UK on the television and Manchester won’t be able to take part.”

Of course, some resourceful New Year’s revellers may still turn up in Manchester on December 31st and start their own firework displays.

But that could prove an extra headache for publicly-funded emergency services such as firefighters, ambulance personnel and NHS staff.

Surely, there must be a better way to run the country than this.

It is not known if Chancellor Osborne and Prime Minister Cameron will be attending their own firework displays on New Year’s Eve – and whether these will be publicly funded. Or not.

Almost 200,000 to spend Christmas on the dole queue in the North West

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:17:24 +0000

ALMOST 200,000 people in the North West will be spending Christmas on the dole this year.

And for more than 33,000 individuals and their families in our region it will be a second Christmas without work, as cuts in public services add to the festive misery.

The number of long-term dole claimants over the Christmas period in the region has increased by 5,500 from 28,000 in 2010 to 33,645 in the last year – a 20 per cent increase, according to a new NW TUC analysis of official statistics published today (Wednesday).

Worst hit are areas like Blackburn with Darwen, where long-term unemployment (the number out of work for more than a year) has soared by an astonishing 86 per cent to 530 in the last year – the fourth highest increase in the country.

But the North West TUC says the unemployment figures do not tell the stories of thousands of people and their families who will be losing out this Christmas. The dole causes family breakdowns, hits both physical and mental health and can permanently scar people’s future prospects.

As unemployment rises, wages are also falling in real terms – leaving many families who are in work trying to enjoy Christmas on low wages.

The TUC say falling living standards has been the main cause of the economy flat-lining, with no economic growth this year. The government’s austerity measures are tightening this squeeze.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “As people gear up for the festive break, there won’t be much cheer for the 200,000 people who are spending Christmas on the dole – 33,000 for the second time.

“Unemployment is not just a personal tragedy for the families and friends of those unable to find jobs, it affects entire communities and carries a huge economic cost.

“But as the dole queues lengthen, the government brands many of those struggling for work as ‘scroungers’.

“The TUC is calling on the Coalition to tackle our mounting jobs crisis. Wage-led growth, fuelled by decent pay rises and new high quality jobs, is the only way to achieve a sustainable economic recovery.”

Scenes from the NW TUC march and rally for Pensions Justice in Liverpool, November 30

Matthew Finnegan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:27:15 +0000

Blackburn’s trade unions: biggest mobilisation for 40 years

Matthew Finnegan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:22:29 +0000

Blackburn’s strike witnessed the complete closure of leisure centres, the central library, Blackburn College and several other key local workplaces.

CWU members working for Capita at the Darwen TV licensing centre also joined the day of strike action.

The strike was a resounding success and the Trades Union Council co-ordinated march witnessed more than 2,000 trade unionists marching through the centre of Blackburn before an hour-long rally.

This was the biggest mobilisation of the trade union movement in Blackburn for 40 years.

The response from the public was overwhelmingly supportive and the mood was electric, with all the participating unions working in complete harmony on the day.

The message to the government was very clear: “We wont let you do a Robert Maxwell on our pensions – we have negotiated over them, signed up for them, paid into them over the years and we are not going to have them robbed to subsidise the bankers.”

John Murphy

President Blackburn and District Trades Union Council

Strike for pensions justice is a resounding success

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:37:51 +0000

TODAY’S strike by 300,000 public service workers in the North West was a resounding success according to TUC chiefs.

Highlights included the 30,000 people who marched through the centre of Manchester and the 12,000 who marched through Liverpool.

There were unprecedented scenes in both cities – and at other places in the North West – when shoppers stood three and four deep along parts of the routes and applauded the marchers.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “It was heart warming to see the public show their strong support for pensions justice in the two big cities of the North West.

“But we are also getting reports of the same response from the public at the other marches and demonstrations in our region. Motorists have been honking their car horns and many of the public were offering hot drinks to early morning pickets.

“It really encouraged many union members who were taking industrial action for the first time in their working lives.

“The atmosphere at all 14 of the demonstrations in our region was extremely orderly, peaceful, enthusiastic – but very noisy.

“People made their views known in no uncertain terms.

“The strike has been a resounding success today, with solid support all over the North West and many of our unions reporting big increases in membership applications.

“The government must now listen to the very real anger that public service workers feel about being picked on for cuts and pension increases.”

Through the efforts of the 18 North West TUC-affiliated trade unions taking strike action in the North West, lunchtime demonstrations and rallies took place in Bury; Bolton; Blackburn; Blackpool; Chester; Crewe; Lancaster; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Preston; Warrington; Wigan and Wirral.

TUC chiefs estimated that 120,000 public service workers had joined the strike in Greater Manchester alone.

Across the North West there were hundreds of early morning picket lines outside council offices and Town Halls, hospitals and major health centres, courts and job centres, tax and passport offices, schools and colleges.

More than 90 per cent of the region’s schools were also closed, along with the Mersey tunnels. Emergency cover was maintained at every hospital in the North West.

Mr Manning added: “Support for the strike understandably strengthened yesterday when George Osborne announced a measly 1 per cent pay increase for public sector workers over the next two years, on top of their existing two-year pay freeze. That came after he also announced the destruction of three quarter of a million jobs in public services.

“Public service workers believe they are the victims of an ideologically-based attack, and that they are being singled out to pay the price for a recession which was caused by the bankers. On the evidence of today, the public agree.

“The strike shows the real anger of public servants who are being told by the Government that their pensions must be cut and they must work longer and pay more for less.”

In the North West, the strike culminated in “One Noise at One” when protesters made as much noise as possible at precisely 1pm, to draw attention to the Government’s unfair pension changes.

The protests involve a wide range of public service workers, including council workers, teachers and lecturers, health workers, police and fire staff, school dinner ladies, social workers, driving test examiners, passport office staff, court staff and other civil servants.

Unions involved in the North West include: AEP; Aspect; ATL; CSP; FDA; GMB; Prospect; Napo; NUT; NASUWT; PCS; POA; SCP; SoR; UCATT; UCU; UNISON and Unite.

11am update: 300,000 join today’s strike in North West

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:29:37 +0000

MORE than 300,000 public servants today joined the TUC day of action for Pensions Justice in the North West.

Information from the 18 North West TUC-affiliated trade unions taking strike action showed solid support for the stoppage, with lunchtime demonstrations and rallies taking place in 14 separate places: Bury; Bolton; Blackburn; Blackpool; Chester; Crewe; Lancaster; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Preston; Warrington; Wigan and Wirral.

TUC chiefs estimated that 120,000 public service workers joined the strike in Greater Manchester alone.

Across the North West there were hundreds of picket lines outside council offices and Town Halls, hospitals and major health centres, courts and job centres, tax and passport offices, schools and colleges.

More than 90 per cent of the region’s schools were also closed, along with the Mersey tunnels. Emergency cover was maintained at every hospital in the North West.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said there had been strong public support shown to workers on picket lines from early morning.

He said: “All the reports we are getting indicate strong support from the public, who have been honking their car horns, waving and offering the pickets hot drinks. One woman member, who was wearing her UNISON tabard, was given a round of applause by staff in a sandwich shop!

“The strike has been very good natured and spirits are high on the picket lines. The public understand that public service workers have been left with no other option because the government has refused to negotiate constructively.

“Support understandably strengthened even more yesterday when George Osborne announced a measly 1 per cent pay increase for public sector workers over the next two years, on top of their existing two-year pay freeze. That came after he also announced the destruction of three quarter of a million jobs in public services.

“Public service workers believe they are the victims of an ideologically-based attack, and that they are being singled out to pay the price for a recession which was caused by the bankers.

“The strike shows the real anger of public servants who are being told by the Government that their pensions must be cut and they must work longer and pay more for less.”

In the North West, the strike will culminate in “One Noise at One” when protesters are being encouraged to make as much noise as possible at precisely 1pm, to draw attention to the Government’s unfair pension changes.

Unions involved in the North West include: AEP; Aspect; ATL; CSP; FDA; GMB; Prospect; Napo; NUT; NASUWT; PCS; POA; SCP; SoR; UCATT; UCU; UNISON and Unite.

“Why should our pension money be used to pay off some rich banker?”

Matthew Finnegan — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:54:14 +0000

VAL Domnez is an ‘orthopaedic practitioner’ at Liverpool’s world-famous Alder Hey Hospital – she puts plaster casts on children’s broken limbs.

She is 46 years old, is a single mum of two children and takes home £1600 a month, after stoppages.

On Wednesday November 30, she will go on strike for the first time in her life.

She will be joining the thousands of public service workers who will march through the city of Liverpool to protest against Government changes to their pensions.

For public service workers like Val, tomorrow’s strike is about making ends meet.

Under the Coalition’s proposals, Val, who has worked loyally for the NHS for 24 years, would have to pay an extra £90 a month in pension contributions.

She would get less pension when she eventually retires.

And she would have to work longer to get less.

To add insult to injury, the money raised from Val’s increased contributions will not go into her own personal pension pot, but into the hands of Chancellor George Osborne.

But Val simply can’t afford a £90 pay cut in her monthly salary.

It would be, effectively, an extra tax on her earnings.

And it would come after a two-year pay freeze for Val and for millions of other public service workers like her.

Val says: “When you are on your own like me, with two growing children, you have a really tight budget.

“I just can’t afford to part with any more of my hard-earned cash.

“I would seriously have to look at freezing my pension if they put up the contributions – and there are a lot of other people in the same boat.”

Val already pays out £150 a month for her pension – her contributions would soar if the Coalition plans went ahead.

She says: “I understand that we all have to make sacrifices because of the economic climate, but people like me feel we are already making sacrifices. We have had a pay freeze for more than two years and the cost of living keeps going up – electricity and gas, food and transport are all going up.

“It’s already hard enough for us. People like me have worked all our lives for the NHS and given 110 per cent over the years and this is how we are repaid now with our pensions being cut back. They want us to work longer and pay more, for less.

“I’ve never been on strike before, but I will definitely be out on Wednesday. This strike is not about us against our employers. I would much sooner be in work caring for the kids, but we have been forced to take action. It is about us fighting for a decent pension. “

Another UNISON colleague Leanne Doyle, aged 30, works in theatre at Alder Hey and has spent 12 years in the NHS.

Leanne, who got married just two years ago, already risks losing as much as £1,000 a month if controversial re-grading proposals and cuts in on-call payments go through as part of the hospitals £26 million spending cuts.

She says: “My income is crucial to our household and we are just about managing at the moment. But any cut in what I take home through increasing my pension contribution would be too much for us to bear.

“If push came to shove, we would have to go and live with my mum and rent our house out to get some money in to cover the mortgage.

“This will be the first strike I have ever been involved in at the hospital. The staff don’t want any child’s care to be affected and we will all make sure that there is emergency cover at the hospital, but we all feel we have a point to make.

“We have got to stand up to the government and tell them they can’t just keep taking our money and what we have earned through our own hard work.

“I don’t see how it’s fair that the bankers were allowed to have their debts paid off by us – and no one asked us what we thought – and they are still making lots of money. Yet we are being asked to pay for them through our pensions. How is that fair?

“Why should our pension money be used to pay off some rich banker?

“All the women here are taking their children along to the march and rally in Liverpool on Wednesday – the kids have been joining in and making their own posters.

“We all just hope that the outcome is positive – and that the government change their minds.”

BMA backs TUC day of action for Pensions Justice

Matthew Finnegan — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:16:13 +0000

This is a message from the British Medical Association in support of the November 30 strike for Pensions Justice:

It’s only four years since the NHS Pension Scheme was overhauled.

We accepted higher contributions, we accepted the higher retirement age, and now the scheme is delivering billions to the Treasury.

Yet the government is telling us it’s still not enough.

Like everyone else here, NHS staff are already having to deal with a pay freeze.

Pensions are deferred pay and when they cut our pensions, they are cutting our pay.

A junior doctor just out of medical school will have to pay up to two hundred thousand pounds more in contributions, and work to the age of 68. Many of you face a deal just as bad.

Our pensions are not gold-plated, and they are not an undeserved perk. They are part of our recognition for a lifetime of public service.

The doctors, the BMA, are completely with you in the fight for fair pensions, and we fully support this day of action.

2 million to join TUC’s Day of Action on pensions

Matthew Finnegan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:58:30 +0000

WEDNESDAY (30 November) will see up to two million public sector workers including teachers, nurses, probation officers, civil servants, cleaners, paramedics and dinner ladies taking part in the TUC day of action in what could be the biggest strike in a generation.

Some 30 unions have balloted their members for action over government plans to change their pensions – some haven’t taken strike action in more than a decade, others have never balloted their members before.

In the run up to the day of action, 23 TUC-affiliated unions and 7 non-affiliates sought mandates for action from their members. The TUC says this is likely to be the biggest union mobilisation in over 30 years (you have to go back to 22 January 1979 when 1.5 million public sector workers went on strike over their pay to find a comparable figure for those involved in an industrial dispute).

Across the UK there will be hundreds of rallies and marches taking place in town and city centres, as well as workplace vigils and lunchtime meetings. The day is expected to see picket lines in numerous workplaces including schools, jobcentres, the Mersey Tunnels, Metro stations in Newcastle, town halls, libraries, hospitals and health clinics.

Across the health service emergency cover arrangements have been made locally and members of three of the health unions not in the TUC – the BMA, RCM and RCN – who have not balloted their members for action will also be showing support for their striking colleagues on the day.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will be visiting a North London mental health unit where occupational therapists, admin workers and community psychiatric nurses will be forming a picket line from 7am. Brendan will be at the St Pancras Hospital in Mornington Crescent from approximately 8am.

Brendan will then head to Birmingham for a rally at the Birmingham Indoor Arena which will be addressed by UNISON and NASUWT general secretaries Dave Prentis and Chris Keates, as well as by public sector workers from across the West Midlands. The rally takes place from around 1.30-3pm. Before speaking at the rally Brendan will visit a number of picket lines in the centre of the city including one at the City Hospital (at around noon).

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady will spend the morning visiting picket lines staffed by NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster and by local government workers based at City Hall. She will then join a march organised by the TUC’s London region which leaves Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 1pm and heads for a rally on the Victoria Embankment, at which public sector workers from across the capital will speak from 2pm.

Action in the North West will culminate in “One Noise at One” when protesters at 14 separate rallies in the region will be encouraged to make as much noise as possible by clapping, cheering, honking horns, and blowing vuvuzelas at 1pm.

Earlier public sector workers in Liverpool will have marched from the Pier Head in Derby Square to a rally at St George’s Plateau. In Manchester an 11.30am march leaves Liverpool Road (off Deansgate) en route to a 12.30pm rally at Whitworth Park at which the speakers include ATL General Secretary Mary Bousted.

Up to 300,000 to join pensions protest in North West

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:40:26 +0000

UP to 300,000 public service workers are expected to join the November 30^th TUC Day of Action for Pensions Justice in the North West.

Information from the 18 North West TUC-affiliated trade unions who will be taking part in next Wednesday’s action shows that support for the national strike is strengthening.

In the North West, there will be marches, rallies or demonstrations in 14 places: Bury; Bolton; Blackburn; Blackpool; Chester; Crewe; Lancaster; Liverpool; Manchester; Oldham; Preston; Warrington; Wigan and Wirral.

Picket lines will be held outside most public buildings in the region, including council offices and Town Halls, hospitals and major health centres, courts and job centres, tax and passport offices, schools and colleges.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “This will be the biggest co-ordinated trade union action seen in Britain for a generation.

“The strike shows the real anger of public servants who are being told by the Government that their pensions must be cut and they must work longer and pay more for less.

”The Government’s obstinate take-it-or-leave-it approach is no way to conduct meaningful negotiations – they must take the blame for the disruption which will inevitably be caused. They have forced this action on trade union members who have been left with no other choice.

“Meanwhile the bankers, whose irresponsibility caused the deficit in the first place, are escaping virtually scot free.

“Yet public services are being slashed and thousands of jobs are being lost as a result, leaving the economy flat-lining with no growth.”

In the North West, the November 30 action will culminate in “One Noise at One” when protesters are being encouraged to make as much noise as possible at precisely 1pm, to draw attention to the Government’s unfair pension changes.

The protests will involve a wide range of public service workers, including council workers, teachers and lecturers, health workers, police and fire staff, school dinner ladies, social workers, driving test examiners, passport office staff, court staff and other civil servants.

Unions involved in the North West include: AEP; Aspect; ATL; CSP; FDA; GMB; Prospect; Napo; NUT; NASUWT; PCS; POA; SCP; SoR; UCATT; UCU; UNISON and Unite.

Mr Manning added: “The demonstrations will culminate in ‘One Voice at One’ when whistles and vuvuzelas will be blown, horns honked, and demonstrators can clap, chant, cheer and shout to demand pensions justice.

“It’s wrong to make public sector workers pay an unfair £3billion contribution to cut a deficit they did nothing to cause.

“On November 30, we expect that up to 300,000 union members throughout the North West will show their support for Pensions Justice.”

http://pensionsjustice.org.uk is the TUC web site for information about the campaign.

Stars join Merseyside on the march for pensions justice

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:03:38 +0000

HOME-grown stars are joining tens of thousands of public sector union members on Merseyside for the “biggest labour movement event in the city for one hundred years”.

Blues singer Connie Lush and Ian Prowse, frontman for the rock band, Amsterdam will be joining a demonstration in Liverpool as part of the TUC’s day of industrial action calling for Pensions Justice on Wednesday 30th November.

After leaving early morning picket lines, workers in local government, the Civil Service, Health and Education will assemble at the Pier Head and at Derby Square for a midday march to St. George’s Plateau.

Up to 15,000 trade unionists are expected to take part.

A rally at 1.00pm will commence with “one minutes noise” followed by speakers from the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), Unite the Union, Unison and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) as well as representatives from the National Pensioners Convention and the Liverpool Guild of Students.

Following the speeches, musicians including Connie and Ian, of local group Amsterdam, will show their support for the campaign by giving their time to play live at the Rally for the Strikers.

Commenting, Peter Middleman of the PCS union and the Event Organiser said, “Members of twenty-five unions will demonstrate their determination to resist this attack on their pensions.

“After mounting hundreds of picket lines, we’re encouraging them to come together in the city centre to stage the single biggest labour movement event for one hundred years”.

More than three million union members across the UK will be on strike over changes to public sector pensions which force public servants to pay more, work longer and get less when they retire.

Blackburn and Crewe join North West rallies for pensions justice

Matthew Finnegan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:49:24 +0000

TWO more rallies have been announced in the North west for the November 30 TUC Day of Action.

So far, marches and rallies have been announced in EIGHT places in the region, involving thousands of public servants.

Nov30 is expected to be the largest demonstration of trade union mobilisation for a generation.

Blackburn:

11.30 to 11.45 – Marchers will assemble in King William Street, outside old Town Hall before march around Blackburn town centre, ending with a rally outside old Town Hall.

Crewe:

12.30 – Rally will be held at Municipal Square, Earle Street, Crewe CW1 9TL (opposite Municipal Buildings) with speakers.

Marches announced in Bolton, Chester, Manchester, Oldham, Wigan and Wirral on Nov30

Matthew Finnegan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:05:00 +0000

PROTEST marches will take place in Bolton, Chester, Manchester, Oldham, Wigan and Wirral on November 30th as part of the TUC’s Day of Action.

North West TUC Regional Secretary Alan Manning said: “Details of all of the demonstrations are still being finalised, but we already know that November 30 will see the biggest co-ordinated trade union mobilisation for a generation.”

Details of marches in six places in the North West have now been finalised for November 30th:

Bolton

8-10am – joint union picketing & protests at key workplaces across Bolton

11 – 12:30 Strike Rally with messages of support from local MPs & joint trade unions. (Bolton Town Hall Square)

12:30 – March from Victoria Square, round Bolton town centre and on to Derby Ward Labour Club, Deane Road, Bolton.

1:00 pm – Post Strike Rally at Derby Ward Labour Club

Chester:

12 noon – Assemble outside the University Riverside Campus on Castle Drive for march to the Cross and

‘One Voice at One’ (1pm) then march South West along Watergate Street to end at the Guildhall for rally at 13.30.

Manchester:

Assemble 11am Liverpool Road, off Deansgate, for march through city centre to Whitworth Park for rally at 12.30.

Oldham

Assemble from 12noon on Albion Street (close to Iceland shop) for march around town centre. 1 pm – ‘One Voice at One’ in Albion Street, followed by a short rally.

Wigan:

12 noon – leave Whelley Labour Club for march to Market Place, Wigan Town centre.

Wirral:

March from Birkenhead Park into Birkenhead.

Mr Manning said: “Here in the North West there will be activity all over the region, culminating in One Voice at One when whistles and vuvuzuelas will be blown, horns honked, and demonstrators can clap, chant, cheer and shout to demand pensions justice.

“Public servants are being expected to pay an extra £3 billion a year for much worse pensions, by a government that cancelled the banker’s bonus tax.

“On November 30, thousands of people will be on the march throughout the North West, past public buildings which are likely to be closed as a result of the Day of Action.”

Protests will involve a wide range of public service workers, including council workers, teachers and lecturers, health workers, firefighters, police staff, school dinner ladies, social workers, driving test examiners, passport office staff, court staff and other civil servants.

Co-ordinated action is being planned in twelve places in the North West – Bolton, Blackpool, Chester, Crewe, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Preston, Warrington, Wigan and Wirral.