Support the Brighton UKuncut activists

Continuing this week is the trial of Brighton UKuncut activists. They are keen for people to head down to the court on Edward Street to show support, so please do! Keep up to date herehttp://www.facebook.com/groups/235680219810950/

PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS TO BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION

The big news is of course is the announcement at the TUC this week that pretty much every major public sector union will be balloting for strike action to defend pensions.

Stop the Cuts will be doing all it can to get the truth out that public sector pensions are affordable, fair and in fact already reducing in cost. We also must work to stop the divide and rule by the government, the real scandal is the lack of pension provision in the private sector. Slashing public pensions will not help private sector workers in any way.

Campaigning forces government u-turn on FE fee remission:

As many members may already know, the government has performed a U-turn on its policies for FE fee remission – at least for now. At the start of the new term, thousands of potential learners were going to be faced with a real hike in fees under government plans to restrict remission to only those actively looking for work (on JSA or ESA). UCU campaigned with other organisations, including the AoC and through the Action for ESOL campaign, to force a last minute change of heart (which at the moment will only stand for this year). You can read more about this here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5690&from=5686

*What you can do*: tell us how the government’s u-turn is affecting your institution. The government announced that it would allow colleges greater flexibility in awarding fee remission to people in receipt of benefits but the u-turn came very late in the day, when many colleges had already planned their provision. If you have any information about how the u-turn and the new rules will affect learners, staff and college finances, please email Dan Taubman at dtaubman@ucu.org.uk.

Read more here: http://www.actionforesol.org <http://www.actionforesol.org> .

TPS under attack – joint unions call mass lobby and launch new petition

The joint union campaign against pension cuts (involving ASCL, ATL, NAHT, NASUWT, NUT, UCAC and UCU) is organising a joint lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 26 October 2011. The event will provide the opportunity to lobby Member of Parliament and make the arguments against the proposed changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (full briefing documents will be available). For those unable to get to see their MP, we will also be presenting the Government with our joint petition against the changes. Every school, college and university has been asked to provide one representative to lobby their MPs. The unions have also launched a new mass petition. The union also committed to join the day of action to defend pensions on 30 November if there is no negotiated settlement.

*WHAT YOU CAN DO*: sign the petition on our website now here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/tpspetition. Alternatively, you can download hard copies here:  https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/l/r/tps_pensionspetition.pdf. Read the union’s press statement on the 30 November action here:http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5738  and coverage in the Guardian here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/14/unions-ballot-pension-reforms-action – Guardian

UCU members vote for a campaign of sustained industrial action over changes to USS

UCU members at 67 universities have voted overwhelmingly for a campaign of sustained industrial action in protest against changes to the USS pension scheme. UCU is now discussing a long-term national plan of action with branches. The action is likely to begin in mid-October and UCU warned that it will continue until there is a breakthrough. Branches and members will receive more detailed guidance soon. UCU General Secretary Sally Hunt wrote to all UCU USS members this week. Read Sally’s letter here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/sh_14sep2011.

Read our press release here:http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5736. The story was also covered in the Times Higher and the BBC here:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=417473&c=1 and here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14916672.

STOP THE GOVERNMENT SELL OFF OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

Our English countryside is under threat again. The government is trying to rush through massive changes to the planning system, which would make it much easier to build on green field sites. We’ve just a few weeks to stop this happening.

Experts are lining up to condemn the government plans. The National Trust warns of “unchecked and damaging development”. [1] Friends of the Earth predicts “a building free-for-all that will blight our countryside with bad building”. [2]

A massive people-powered petition can make the government think again. It worked to stop England’s forests being sold off. [3] It can work again to stop precious countryside being wrecked by bulldozers and concrete.

Please add your name now, then forward this message to all your friends:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-countryside

The English countryside is something we all enjoy. It’s far too precious to build on willy-nilly. Once our green fields are gone, they’re gone forever.

FIGHT GOVERNMENT PRIVATISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

November 9th Demonstration

Major London demonstration against the Government’s higher education white paper.

Protest Outside Tory Party Conference -Sunday 2nd of October, 12 noon at Liverpool Road, Manchester City Centre.

Organised annually by Right to Work campaign, this protest is being jointly organised by the TUC nationally and is supported by Brighton and Hove Trades Council.

This Tory government is slashing funding to vital public services, jobs and pensions whilst allowing huge bankers bonuses to be paid at the public’s expense. It is continuing with the privatisation of the NHS and Royal Mail and with the trebling of tuition fees. The same government which has hired former editors of the disgraced News of the World and which has fiddled expenses is now calling for maximum sentences for those who took part in recent riots and who are at the sharp end of the devastating cuts to jobs and services.

Make Your Voices Heard! Sunday 2nd of October, 12 noon at Liverpool Road, Manchester City Centre.

Please show your support:

– Donate funds so that transport can be organised locally
– Buy tickets
– Let people know about the event and about why you are marching

Phone 07886 308520 for tickets or further information

Donation cheques – made out to BH&DTUC – should be sent to
Bill North
Gen Sec BH&DTUC
131 Whitehawk Crescent
Brighton
BN2 5FE

Please write ‘October 2nd Protest’ on back of cheque.

LEWES STOP THE CUTS NEXT STEERING GROUP MEETING

Next meeting Wednesday 5^th October Black Horse 8pm

Everyone welcome, if you want to get involved in fighting against the cuts please come.

2nd Lewes Trades Council Festival ‘Defeat fascism -Defend Services‘

Tuesday  October 4th 2011, All Saints Centre 7.30 Free

1st May Band “Fighting the Cuts”

Friday  October 14th 2011, The Royal Oak Folk Club

Roy Bailey, music and song,

£10 in advance now on sale, £12 on door

(apply the Royal Oak Folk Club tinvic@globalnet.co.uk),  (A Folk Against Fascism event)

Wednesday October 19th 2011,  The Elephant and Castle 8.00 Free

Attila the Stockbroker, supported by Oliver Gozzard satirical poetry

Wednesday  October  26th 2011, Lewes Arms, upstairs function room Free 7.45pm – 9.45 pm

PUBLIC MEETING

with BILLY HAYES (leader of CWU),

Megan Dobney (Regional Secretary SERTUC),

Brian Traynor (regional officer POA),

Paula Black (officer UNISON)

For more details contact  http://www.lewesdistricttuc.org/