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NSSN Bulletin No. 84
30 March
Report from Martin Powell Davis NUT NEC member & NSSN Steering
Committee
On what felt like the hottest day of the year so far, thousands of teachers and
lecturers gathered in Malet Street. It was soon clear that Londoners HAD turned
out in force to show that, given the call to action to stop this pensions
robbery, trade unionists will respond!
The official totals at the start of the march were between 6 and 7,000 but, as
we headed down Whitehall, I heard two police officers at the front of the march
discussing whether 'it's more like ten thousand now”!
Of course, and as a harsh lesson in 'media studies' to striking teachers, the
press has largely tried to ignore the strike and hope that they can pretend it
never took place. But the thousands of parents whose schools have been closed
and the thousands of trade unionists waiting for good news from London will know
the truth - that the strike was solidly supported
Outside Downing Street, our public-sector demonstration met up with
private-sector ex-Visteon workers who were also marching against the robbery of
their pensions. As the banner at the front of the NUT/UCU march explained, this
was about 'Fair Pensions for All' not just for teachers. This Government wants
to rob ALL of us and we should ALL be fighting that robbery together.
What the day has shown is that the anger against the threat to make us work on
to 68 or more, as well as the pay cuts that will start next month as the
increased contributions begin, runs as deep as ever. The debate will continue at
NUT Conference over Easter but, for now, London NUT and UCU members have pulled
off an important and successful action - now let's go forward from here to build
a united national campaign that can still force this Government to retreat.
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The NSSN says - Now March 28 must be a springboard to further nationally
co-ordinated strike action with unions like PCS, NIPSA, EIS, UCAC and Unite in
health. The NSSN urges these unions and any other willing ones to name the date
for such a strike as soon as possible. May 1st - May Day (M1), with its
historical significance for the labour movement but right now the timing sounds
like it could fit the bill for what's needed to reignite joint national action
to defend our pensions across the public sector.
Full report and photos http://tinyurl.com/ccmudgy Short video calling for
National Action renewed:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA-vzrTJxJ0
Also on the 28th - VISTEON & PENSIONS: 3 years on, the campaign to restore
pension rights promised before Ford transferred 3,400 employees to the doomed
Visteon UK continued on the 28th March. Over 200 Ex Visteon workers and
pensioners gathered to reinforce the demands directed at Ford to restore
pensions earned and paid for with Ford and transferred to the daughter company,
Visteon – only to discover later that Visteon UK was a major loss maker before
separation and with worsening prospects once cut adrift from Ford. With the
closure of Visteon UK in 2009 the pension scheme passed into the Governments
lifeboat scheme – the Pension Protection Fund carrying a £350 million shortfall
in funding. Only plant sit-ins lasting 6 weeks extracted some compensation to
redundant workers. http://tinyurl.com/c2slabm
RMT members on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the service that supplies the Royal
Navy fleet around the world in times of both war and peace, also took part in
strike action over pensions and RMT LU members are being urged to Vote yes for
action over pension. Ballot closes 16th April. http://tinyurl.com/7p78pke
UPDATES************************************************************************
MMP Bootle - Solidarity and support from NSSN as company now announced the
closure of the plant at Bootle, which produces packaging for the food industry,
whilst in dispute over the unfair method of selecting redundancies and the
redundancy terms being offered to 49 staff. 149 workers have been locked out of
the site since 18 February after a series of strikes that began on 10 February.
4 of the workers have now been sacked following a sham of a disciplinary
hearing. Members are now planning what to do next and welcome messages of
support, visits to the picket line and money for the funds. Contact
[email protected]
Unite oil tankers vote for strike!: As Unite oil tanker members voted for strike
action over Maude without regard for any health and safety of the public
suggests people stock & petrol prices rise!
FBU and the AA are have asked for a statement withdrawing his suggestions:
Why Tankers on strike: http://tinyurl.com/6r724u8
REMPLOY - Last Friday 23rd March, Remploy employees were once again out in
Barrow Town centre to publicise their just cause, handing out leaflets
explaining their plight and encouraging the public to sign the petition.http://www.shopstewards.net/news.266.htm
Model Letters of support http://www.shopstewards.net/news.264.htm
NHS - Last week's UNITE Executive agreed to formally call the TUC to organise a
major national demonstration to defend the NHS. More unions and anti cuts groups
are pushing from below to demand an national demonstration, this needs to happen
in the coming months as part of a wider campaign linked with industrial action
to stop the implementation of the sabotage of our NHS.
Traffic wardens take strike action against NSL http://www.shopstewards.net/news.265.htm
PCS Merseyside walkout over the transfer of about 100 admin staff from local
jobcentres to centralised call centres. http://tinyurl.com/cs8dkst
Women & Pensions - More than a million low-paid women could lose out on employer
pension contributions after the government raised the new earnings threshold for
pension auto-enrolment.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-20829-f0.cfm
Occupation at Game Former staff at closed Game stores have occupied their
workplaces to demand redundancy payouts - http://tinyurl.com/cm64pkh
Housing Campaign information: Here’s mortgage and landlord repossession data
ward by ward across the country for 2011:http://bit.ly/Hc9a1n
VICTIMISATION***************************************************************
RMT – Following two rock-solid strikes that led to cancellation and disruption
of all Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services, rail union RMT
Support 6 Unite tanker drivers sacked by Grangemouth (Tesco contract).
http://tinyurl.com/87bfbvn
INTERNATIONAL *******************************************
Spanish General Strike 29th another working day, is what the media and
governments have called it but actions took place across the country involving
millions of workers.
Canada Unions across the globe to increase pressure on Rio Tinto on March 31 to end
Quebec lockout http://ca.labourstart.org/
German Strikers shut down airports - part of public service union Verdi's
ongoing campaign negotiating for better pay and conditions.
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120327-41583.html
DIARY*************************************************************************
Friday 30th March 7.30pm - ‘Vocal Opposition!’ Brighton and Hove Women Against
Cuts fundraiser Tickets £10 (£6 concessions) Sallis Benney Theatre
Friday 30th, 7pm Bedford Square, London
Anti-choice activists are currently staging a 40 day protest at the BPAS clinic
in Bloomsbury, central London. They are outside every day, 8am to 8pm, praying,
approaching people entering and leaving the clinic, handing out inaccurate
information and on at least one occasion filming staff and clients.
Saturday 31st March - Community Picket at the Mayr Melnhof Packaging (MMP)
Deeside plant Saturday from 11.30 - 2 pm, Fourth Avenue, Deeside, Industrial
Park, Clwyd CH5 2NR
Day of action against workfare in Brighton Meet at the clock tower 11:30am
NO to CUTS - ORGANISE for the ALTERNATIVE Regional Conference hosted by
Sheffield Anti Cuts Alliance at Burngreave Vestry Hall 9.30 – 4.30 (£3 or free
low waged/unwaged).
http://sheffieldanticuts.wordpress.com/
16th April - Youth Fight for Jobs London Housing meeting - 7pm ULU, Malet St
WC1E supported by Unite LE1111
http://www.youthfightforjobs.com/wordpress/wordpress/?p=287
19th April London Remploy meeting at ULU, 7:30 PM. Jointly sponsored by NSSN, Right to
Work and DPAC.
28th April Workers Health & Safety Day - http://www.hazards.org/wmd/news.htm
May day – International workers day!
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NSSN 6th Annual National Conference: Saturday 9th June, London Confirmed
speakers - Bob Crow RMT General Secretary, Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary,
Kevin Courtney NUT Deputy General Secretary, Rank & File Unite construction
electrician New flyer/ Booking Form:http://tinyurl.com/7p6old2
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Join, get active, donate or affiliate to support & develop the NSSN.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07952 283 558
Post: PO Box 54498, London E10 9D
Web: www.shopstewards.net
Twitter: NSSN_AntiCuts
Main FB group http://tinyurl.com/4yckq5j FB NSSN ‘Stop the cuts’
http://tinyurl.com/7esg2gp
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