News and Information Round-Up

NHS Strike. Unions involved in the long-running dispute with NHS over pay have suspended their strike action scheduled for Thursday 29th January. Currently unions are consulting their members on a revised offer. You can read the details of the offer in Jeremy Hunt’s letter attached at the end of this email.

Barnsley College UCU Strike.
Barnsley College UCU have started a 3 day strike – see attached for more info. Dave Gibson Chair of Barnsley Trades Council says “They have an excellent record of solidarity with other workers. They need our support.Can you: 1. Send a message of support 2. Take a collection/send a donation 3. Join the pickets beteween 7am and 9.15am Friday and Monday.Barnsley Trades Council has given its second donation to the strike fund and is taking our banner to the picket tomorrow” More information in the attachment.

“Saving Our Safety Net” – Unions at the Heart of the Welfare State Friday 27th February TUC Congress House London
Please scroll down for more information about this important conference. The TUC and the Trades Council movement are supporting a big push to explode the myths about benefits “scroungers” and expose the scandal of Benefit Sanctions which are impoverishing literally hundreds of thousands of benefit claimants and their families. Places are free but hurry – you must register.

“In Conversation with France O’Grady” 6pm Thursday 19th February
Please scroll down for more information about this opportunity to hear TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady here in Sheffield. You’ll need a ticket – there’s no charge but you’ll need to book

Know anyone on a Zero Hours contract or Bogus Self-employment? Were they forced into this by Job Centre Plus?
Please scroll down for a message from Bill Adams TUC Regional Secretary. The BBC Politics Show is looking for people to interview – but it’s difficult to find anyone who is willing to go on the telly and discuss their circumstances. Can you help?

CLASS think tank – information, blogs and regional events
Please see attached circular from CLASS – Centre for Labour and Social Studies – the new left think-tank set up by the unions. Are you getting their emails? They are making a real difference to the political debate; challenging austerity, the politics of inequality, the attack on the welfare state and trade union rights…….

“The Greek People Have Chosen Hope” Letter from Trade Union leaders and others to the Guardian
Please see attached letter from union leaders and other published in the Guardian last week welcoming the election of Syreza in Greece. Did you know that PASOK (the Greek equivalent of the Labour Party) has sunk to under 5% of the vote?

Campaign Against Climate Change. “Time to Act” demonstration in London on 7th March
Please see attachments 1. Letter to trade union branches appealing for support and 2. model branch motion. N.B. Sheffield trade Union Council has agreed to support travel to London for this important demonstration on 7th March

And finally…. a message from Sheffield Unite Against Fascism
1. Public meeting: Stand Up to Racism and Fascism
No to scapegoating immigrants – No to Islamophobia – No to anti-Semitism – Yes to diversity
Tuesday 3 March 7pm, Central United Reform Church, corner of Chapel Walk opposite the Crucible Theatre.

2. Holocaust Memorial Day Candlelit Vigil
Tuesday 27 January, 5.30pm – 6.30pm Winter Garden, Sheffield
Please go to http://tinyurl.com/pcbeq6m for details of all the events in Sheffield

3. Unite against racism and fascism – UAF national conference
9.30 – 4pm Saturday 21 Feb 2014, TUC Congress House, Great Russell St, London. Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road
See uaf.org.uk to register

4. Stand Up to Racism and Fascism national march and rally on UN anti-racism day
Saturday 21 March in London
To book your seat on the Sheffield bus please email info@sheffielduaf.org or ring 0775332 4055. Tickets £14 waged and £6 low waged.

*Follow Sheffield Unite Against Fascism on twitter and facebook www.sheffielduaf.org

Hello,
You are invited to the following event:

WELFARE CONFERENCE – UNIONS AT THE HEART OF THE WELFARE STATE
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Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:

Friday, February 27, 2015 from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM (GMT)

Trade Union Congress
23-28 Great Russell Street
WC1B 3LS London
United Kingdom

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Unemployed and disabled people are at the sharp-end of the attacks on the Welfare State. The trade union movement knows well that the demonization and impoverishment of benefit claimants is aimed at undermining the safety net of the Welfare State, creating fear and vulnerability at work and in the job market. This conference aims to bring together trade unionists and the TUC unemployed workers.

The conference is aimed at trades union councils, trade unions and trade union members and TUC Unemployed Workers Centres staff and users.

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We hope you can make it!

TUC National Unemployed Workers Centres Consultative Committee

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‘In Conversation with Frances O’Grady’, General Secretary of the TUC

19th February 2015, 6pm, The Octagon

The Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) is holding the third of its ‘In Conversation’ evenings at 6pm with Frances O’Grady, on Thursday 19 February 2015 in the Octagon Centre at the University of Sheffield.

Publications and Events Coordinator
Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI)

University of Sheffield
3rd Floor, ICOSS
219 Portobello
Sheffield, S1 4DP
Tel: + 44 (0)114 222 8346
Email: l.astill@sheffield.ac.uk
Website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/speri

www.facebook.com/SPERIshefuni

www.twitter.com/SPERIshefuni
Attachments area
Preview attachment speri_inconversation_FrancesOgrady.jpg

Image
speri_inconversation_FrancesOgrady.jpg

Subject: BBC Politics Show

Dear Colleagues,
I have been asked by the BBC Politics show to see if we can find any of our members, friends , family who would be prepared to talk to the BBC (anonymously) if required if they work on a zero hours contract, or they have been forced into self employment by Job Centre Plus.

I think the caller may have also contacted unions directly on this matter also.

If you know of anyone who has been affected, can you let me know by email of their details if they are willing to help. I think this will be a real powerful story against the government’s claim that all is well with the economy.

Many thanks
Bill

Bill Adams
TUC Regional Secretary
Yorkshire and the Humber
33 Park Place
Leeds LS1 2RY
01132429696
Twitter: @yorkshumbertuc
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