Do we need these vicious cuts by Tory led government? Read this book for the answer

Heard about this book called "Who needs the Cuts" written by my colleague Professor Saville Kushner and his brother Barry. They started their research a few years back at the start of the current economic crisis and did a lot of work comparing the economic conditions of post WWII Britain and now. The main question they set out to answer is if the circumstances where so much worse in the 50s  coming out of a massively expensive war on top of other factors, how come we could afford to spend so much building up the welfare state and why we are now told that we need austerity and dismantling of what the working class has worked hard for decades to build to achieve prosperity again. Their answer is, of course, we don't! Instead, we need a comprehensive growth policy to improve our economic conditions. The book produces plenty of evidence to back this up.

The preliminary findings of Prof Kushner's research was used quite extensively by major trade unions, including Unite and Unison in training their officials and reps. to give them confidence to deal with queries from members and counter the propaganda rained upon us by the government and the management that without the pain of austerity, we will all be out of a job, the economy will decline and there will be no future for the country.

In "Who Needs the Cuts?" Saville and Barry Kushner argue "there is an alternative story that is not being told. There is a view of the economic events of the past five years that does not see the UK in debt crisis. It offers choice, differences of opinion, uncertainty and hope. It takes us on a different voyage, one beyond economics into politics and visions of society, our expectations and ambitions. Unfortunately, it’s a story that is been ignored in the face of phantom risks and delusional hopes." http://www.writingonthewall.org.uk/wow-news/145-cuts-book-launch.html

More on this book once I've finished it!

Time to get the youth involved in community activity

I had always thought that with declining membership and power, trade unions need to start looking at new strategies. So when Unite the Union set up their Community membership, I thought "what a fantastic step forward" - Hope other unions including my own will follow the example.

Anyhow, the importance of this move really hit home when I was talking to my daughter and her friends - still at college. They seem to have pretty good idea about the socio-economic disaster unfolding around them but not enough information about what to do about it - my daughter has always been engaged in politics standing on picket lines and going on protest demos.

Anyhow, after extolling  the virtues of Unite community membership and talking about the low costs of joining, it was great to see some of them have decided to join. I have to now make sure they follow through  

Unite the union Community Membership

Always good to meet members

Had a good AGM today. Quite a lot of discussions and queries from members about various issues. Many members looked utterly shocked that UWE has not signed up to "Living Wage campaign" yet. The topic of increase in car parking charges is still a hot issue that is not going to go away. Indeed it shouldn't considering the huge proposed jump in the costs of permits.

The chair did a fantastic job at encouraging members to stand for election to become UNISON reps. And quite a few did. So our Exec is that much bigger and hopefully that much stronger and more active!

Solidarity with sister branches!

Well, who would have thought it would take sooo much effort and time to send a simple message of support to a sister branch in trouble with employer! Couldn't believe it took a week from the day I brought the matter of the suspension of  UNISON members at London Met uni on some spurious grounds to the attention of the secretary and chair of our Branch and requested a simple message of support to them till we actually sent it. As our branch Exec has decided not to discuss issues by email or any other electronic means in between actual Exec meetings, my request had to wait till the next meeting.

Happily, the Exec authorised sending a message of support to our colleagues which  was sent off even though we were advised against sending a donation to their campaign!

It is at these moments that you begin to realise the true value of UNISON's advise in the "Code of Good Branch Practice" that email can be used to undertake branch business and that the use of “electronic” communication – email distribution, e-conferencing, virtual meetings, etc. can provide a realistic alternative to the “traditional” meeting, greatly increasing opportunities for participation. I would say the use of electronic communication also helps make the actual meetings more focussed and efficient. 

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Had a frustrating time in our Branch Executive Committee meeting last week. I had submitted a motion for discussion which was relegated to the "correspondence" section of the agenda. Had to take up the precious time of the Executive and assert my right to find out about procedures to submit motions for discussion. Oh well, it's not always good to feel you need to point out the obvious and plea for common sense . But I guess sometimes you have to!

Uniting to fight austerity!

Attended a good "Unite the Resistance" meeting last night. It was refreshing to see so many people  from so many TUs working hard towards a common goal; uniting to fight the unnecessary austerity measures imposed on us ordinary workers. The meeting launched the pamphlet "Trade Unions and the Fight against Austerity" with foreword by John McDonnell MP. Not read all yet but from what I have read it looks like a sort of publication which is long overdue. TU branches and activists  can no longer treat themselves as isolated islands concerned only with their own sector, industry or issues with their immediate employers. Austerity and cuts are hurting all of us and resistant should be on a large scale bringing all individual struggles together.

The meeting heard about the horrendous effects of the cuts in the public sector. These cuts are literally killing people. We heard how job centre, post office, NHS and other public sector staff are exploited with their terms and conditions being constantly eroded. We heard how the public sector staff are closely watched to ensure they do not exercise any of their own judgement and just carry out instructions - a military style of management?   We heard how the divide and rule policies of this Con-Dem government is pitting worker against worker / private sector against public sector / the young against the old and the employed against unemployed....

Let's unite and concentrate our efforts on exposing the real  benefit scroungers - Tax dodging companies, executives on huge bonuses, bankers who have ruined the economy and of course the government which squeezes the life out of the workers, the low income and unemployed to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.  

Looking forward to the next meeting 
http://uniteresist.org/