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| Shahrar Ali (Green party) with pickets |
WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Showing posts with label public sector. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public sector. Show all posts
Thursday 10 July 2014
Greens support the Public Sector strike in Brent and Central London
Brent Green Party backs today's public sector strike
A message to all the public sector unions striking today
On behalf of the Green Party of England
and Wales, we would like to express our solidarity with you in your struggle for decent, secure work and fair pay and working conditions.
We believe that public sector workers provide excellent and vital service to our country, and that our public services represent a very significant part of the true wealth of this nation.
The public sector in the UK has, for decades, been systematically attacked. Workers are bearing the brunt of this, and are being expected to pay the price for an economic crisis not of their making.
We recognise that going on strike is the option of last resort, and that the decisions to do so have not been taken lightly. We sincerely hope that this co-ordinated action succeeds in defending your jobs, pay, and working conditions.
With very best wishes,
Brent Green Party
We believe that public sector workers provide excellent and vital service to our country, and that our public services represent a very significant part of the true wealth of this nation.
The public sector in the UK has, for decades, been systematically attacked. Workers are bearing the brunt of this, and are being expected to pay the price for an economic crisis not of their making.
We recognise that going on strike is the option of last resort, and that the decisions to do so have not been taken lightly. We sincerely hope that this co-ordinated action succeeds in defending your jobs, pay, and working conditions.
With very best wishes,
Brent Green Party
Tuesday 8 July 2014
Greens stand alongside unions in million strong public sector strike on Thursday
On July 10 the Green Party will stand alongside unions in the largest
one-day strike over pay by public sector employees since 2010.
The Green Party have pledged to support the employees’ right to strike and to picket peacefully in order to assert their right to fair wages and proper treatment. Public sector employees are facing unprecedented financial hardship with part-time and female employees the most affected under the Government’s ideological austerity agenda.
The strike will see more than one million workers protesting the Government policy of frozen and restricted pay and will include workers from the PCS, The National Union of Teachers, Unison, and others.
Thousands of people around the country are forgoing a day’s pay to express their unhappiness with the Coalition Government’s economic attack on public sector employees.
Greens across the country will show their support:
Green MP, Caroline Lucas said:
"It is very clear that austerity isn't working. It's cruel and counterproductive. It should not be the most vulnerable who are paying the price of an economic crisis that was not of their making. People are struggling, the cost of living is rising and it's time the Government recognised the value of workers who provide us with crucial services every day.
"People have had enough, it is time for plan B and it's time for the Government to listen. On July 10, people from all over the country will stand together to make their voices heard loud and clear."
Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett said:
"This government's austerity agenda is making public sector employees, joined with benefit recipients, the increasing numbers of poorly paid, and insecure private sector employees, pay for the financial crisis that was not of their making.
“George Osborne is cutting the tax rate for multinational companies and inviting them to dodge even that reduced rate of taxes, and at the same time has slashed the real pay of the dinner ladies, the cleaners, and the local officers who keep our communities running. I'll be showing my support on Thursday by visiting picket lines around my local area of Camden before joining the march and rally in central London.
"We cannot continue to see soaring poverty and dependence on foodbanks in Britain; we need to make the minimum wage a living wage, and ensure local government employees have a chance of decent progression beyond that."
Green Party Trade Union Liaison Officer of GPEW national executive, Romayne Phoenix:
"The economic crisis was caused by the banks; how could it ever be fair - or effective - to fix it by cutting workers' pay? Our public services benefit the majority. This is about not letting those at the top blame the rest of us for problems we didn't cause."
Green MEP for South East, Keith Taylor:
“When the government decides to stop spending their time dismantling public services and oppressing the low paid and unemployed, and instead focusses on reigning in the power and wealth of the top 1%, then I'll have a shred of sympathy for them.
“Until then I am 100% behind the strikers and their efforts to defend our services, and seek decent terms and conditions for public sector workers.”
Kirklees Green Party Councillor, Andrew Cooper commented:
"I'll be joining staff on the Picket line in Huddersfield. Kirklees Jobs and services for local people have suffered greatly due to Coalition targeting of local government for cuts.”
Dudley Councillor and Deputy Leader, Will Duckworth said:
“I will be on the picket lines early in the morning and then going on the planned demonstration in Birmingham with Dudley Trades Union Council. We need to fight the Government's attempts to destroy decent pay and pensions for normal working people.”
The Group of London Green Party Councillors said:
“It can’t go on like this. We can't continue with rapacious cuts to the NHS, the closure of local children's centres, and mounting queues at foodbanks. The government must hear the public's message that cuts are hurting the people of Britain. An alternative economic strategy and an alternative future is possible and together with communities up and down the country we will be out promoting that message on Thursday.”
North West Green Party Representative, Laura Bannister commented:
“In the North West, members will be visiting and taking part in picket lines and supporting the mass rally in Manchester. We are also sending letters of solidarity to regional TU branches on behalf of the regional party"
As a member of the Green Party and the Green Party Trade Union Group, I will be supporting the picket of Brent Civic Centre and the Central London march.
The Green Party have pledged to support the employees’ right to strike and to picket peacefully in order to assert their right to fair wages and proper treatment. Public sector employees are facing unprecedented financial hardship with part-time and female employees the most affected under the Government’s ideological austerity agenda.
The strike will see more than one million workers protesting the Government policy of frozen and restricted pay and will include workers from the PCS, The National Union of Teachers, Unison, and others.
Thousands of people around the country are forgoing a day’s pay to express their unhappiness with the Coalition Government’s economic attack on public sector employees.
Greens across the country will show their support:
Green MP, Caroline Lucas said:
"It is very clear that austerity isn't working. It's cruel and counterproductive. It should not be the most vulnerable who are paying the price of an economic crisis that was not of their making. People are struggling, the cost of living is rising and it's time the Government recognised the value of workers who provide us with crucial services every day.
"People have had enough, it is time for plan B and it's time for the Government to listen. On July 10, people from all over the country will stand together to make their voices heard loud and clear."
Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett said:
"This government's austerity agenda is making public sector employees, joined with benefit recipients, the increasing numbers of poorly paid, and insecure private sector employees, pay for the financial crisis that was not of their making.
“George Osborne is cutting the tax rate for multinational companies and inviting them to dodge even that reduced rate of taxes, and at the same time has slashed the real pay of the dinner ladies, the cleaners, and the local officers who keep our communities running. I'll be showing my support on Thursday by visiting picket lines around my local area of Camden before joining the march and rally in central London.
"We cannot continue to see soaring poverty and dependence on foodbanks in Britain; we need to make the minimum wage a living wage, and ensure local government employees have a chance of decent progression beyond that."
Green Party Trade Union Liaison Officer of GPEW national executive, Romayne Phoenix:
"The economic crisis was caused by the banks; how could it ever be fair - or effective - to fix it by cutting workers' pay? Our public services benefit the majority. This is about not letting those at the top blame the rest of us for problems we didn't cause."
Green MEP for South East, Keith Taylor:
“When the government decides to stop spending their time dismantling public services and oppressing the low paid and unemployed, and instead focusses on reigning in the power and wealth of the top 1%, then I'll have a shred of sympathy for them.
“Until then I am 100% behind the strikers and their efforts to defend our services, and seek decent terms and conditions for public sector workers.”
Kirklees Green Party Councillor, Andrew Cooper commented:
"I'll be joining staff on the Picket line in Huddersfield. Kirklees Jobs and services for local people have suffered greatly due to Coalition targeting of local government for cuts.”
Dudley Councillor and Deputy Leader, Will Duckworth said:
“I will be on the picket lines early in the morning and then going on the planned demonstration in Birmingham with Dudley Trades Union Council. We need to fight the Government's attempts to destroy decent pay and pensions for normal working people.”
The Group of London Green Party Councillors said:
“It can’t go on like this. We can't continue with rapacious cuts to the NHS, the closure of local children's centres, and mounting queues at foodbanks. The government must hear the public's message that cuts are hurting the people of Britain. An alternative economic strategy and an alternative future is possible and together with communities up and down the country we will be out promoting that message on Thursday.”
North West Green Party Representative, Laura Bannister commented:
“In the North West, members will be visiting and taking part in picket lines and supporting the mass rally in Manchester. We are also sending letters of solidarity to regional TU branches on behalf of the regional party"
As a member of the Green Party and the Green Party Trade Union Group, I will be supporting the picket of Brent Civic Centre and the Central London march.
Tuesday 21 May 2013
The end of the public sector ethos and democratic accountability in Barnet as Capita take over
From Barnet Unison
Yesterday staff were told at a series of briefings that Capita Symonds is the preferred bidder to deliver a whole range of Council Regulatory services to Barnet residents and businesses.
Yesterday staff were told at a series of briefings that Capita Symonds is the preferred bidder to deliver a whole range of Council Regulatory services to Barnet residents and businesses.
The services to be handed over to
Capita include the following:
Trading Standards & Licensing, Land Charges,
Planning & Development, Building Control & Structures, Environmental
Health, Highways Strategy, Highways Network Management, Highways Traffic
& Development, Highways Transport & Regeneration, Strategic Planning
& Regeneration, Hendon Cemetery & Crematoria
Barnet Council has a number of
statutory responsibilities to monitor the private sector in order to
ensure the health and safety of their residents. The recent high- profile
national public-health scandal about the use of Horsemeat in processed
foods emphasises that private companies do not adequately monitor
their own activities, leaving the public at risk. If Barnet Council is allowed
to privatise these services, it will set a dangerous precedent for other
councils.
Barnet Council has been promoting
itself as an innovator for the future of public services by adopting the
Commissioning Council model. In the last 12 months the Council has
overseen a significant number of services outsourced to other providers. The
full list of services are HERE.
John Burgess UNISON Branch
Secretary said:
Barnet Council is making a huge mistake in handing over these critical services to the private sector. It is not just about the risks this brings but what it means in term of democratic accountability. Next year we have the local elections in May 2014. What options will there be for the electorate if all the council spend is tied up into complex contracts? As for all the remaining staff the message is stark: no matter how loyal you are, no matter how hard you work political dogma is dictating all services are to be outsourced. Today a number of our members have chosen to wear black armbands/ black clothing as a sign of the demise of the public sector ethos in Barnet Council.
Monday 18 June 2012
Don't miss this vital meeting tomorrow
Romayne Phoenix, a London Green Party activist will be chairing this important meeting tomorrow evening. We will be brought right up to date with the events in Greece as well as strike action being planned by various unions.
Bringing together the public sector unions, campaigns and community activists this will be a vital step in organising the resistance to austerity and privatisation.
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