"A Future that Works" : Building for the TUC London demo 20 October 2012

Picture from this morning's UNISON London Regional Council of Laurie Heselden from SERTUC briefing delegates on the demo.

The TUC are planning a major national demonstration in London on Saturday 20 October. The march will be called "A future that works" and its focus will be to end the austerity polices that have sent the economy back into recession. Laurie helped organise the successful "March in March" and the demonstration on 30 November 2012.

He believes for it to be another success then we need to get even more than the 500,000 people we got in March out on 20 October.

A communications website www.afuturethatworks.org.uk will be up and running before the summer break. An email group has been set up for union organisers and "...of course (we will use) twitter, both in advance and on the day". Laurie made a plea for more stewards to put themselves forward.

I will probably be marching with my branch but I will be working with Newham Labour Group, TULO and trades council to encourage and maximise the Newham Labour Movement family to march together again on 20 October!

As they say - watch this space as there will be lots and lots more on this event to follow.

Debate "Should trade unionists support the Labour Party?"

I have been invited to debate "Should trade unionists support the Labour Party? with the London branch of the Socialist Party (Great Britain).  I have of course accepted (personal capacity only). The agreed invite will state:-

"Bill Martin (Socialist Party Speaker).

John Gray (Labour Party Activist and Blogger -http://grayee.blogspot.com/)

"Should trade unionists support the Labour Party"

Thursday 17th November 1930hrs. @ Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA.   (Nearest Tube Holloway Road.)

I do not know that much about the SP(GB) except some of them have posted a few comments on this blog over the years.  While I would not always agree with all their comments they have usually been pretty thoughtful and intelligent (unlike their evil wannabe doppelgangers).  I was also very fond of the regular East End historical and political columns by the late Robert Barltrop in the Newham Recorder, who was a member of the SP(GB) for many years (he did eventually leave).

I look forward to the debate on the 17th November (which by coincidence is in the same building as my UNISON branch office).   There will also be apparently a YouTube video recording of the debate. 

Picture above is of some of the Labour Party banners that took part in the Labour movement TUC March for Jobs, Growth and Justice on March 26th.  Double click pic to bring up detail.

UNISON Housing Association Branch: New Website

Picture left is a screen print from our new branch website.  Many thanks to our branch manager for this update.  The site is far more attractive and professional looking to download and to access information.

For a branch such as ours, which has 3500 members in over 180 different employers spread all over London and South East England, an effective
web presence is vital.

The main picture is of our banner at the rally in Hyde Park after the March in March TUC demo. Check out also the Labour link page.

TUC March for an Alternative: What would Clem do?

Tower Hamlets Labour Party on the TUC March 26th.  With the very apt placard to the front "What would Clem do?" (Clement Attlee - former Labour Prime Minister and local MP).   This is important because the National Debt in 1945 was far, far higher than now and yet the Labour government of the time led by Clem managed to nationalise Coal and Steel, have a mass housing building programme and set up the NHS. 

Those were the days!  Hat-tip Col. Roi. Picture Dan McCurry.

March for the Alternative Big Night Out

"After the 26.03.2011 TUC March for the Alternative Philosophy Football organised a 'Big Night Out in association with the TUC. Featuring the spoken word electronica of Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, comic Josie Long, juggler Rod Laver and soulful acoustic from Maddy Carty. Plus contributions from trade unionist, campaigners, journalists and marchers on what the protest mean to them.

'Does my Society Look Big In This' T-shirt available from www.philosophyfootball.com"

It's tomorrow! Stand up for your Public Services and an Alternative Economic Policy

Get out and march tomorrow.  Newham Trade Unions and the local Labour Party are meeting up outside Stratford Station ticket barrier at 10.30am. But you can turn up as late as 2pm to Embankment to take part in the March. Check TUC latest tips here. 

TUC March for an Alternative next Saturday: March with us for Newham

Picture is from the TUC March on Saturday 26th stall outside Stratford Shopping centre last week (and opposite the historic Old Town Hall).

Labour Party and trade union activists were handing out to shoppers the jointly produced "March with us for Newham" leaflets.

There were stalls also in East Ham and Beckton on both weekends.

On Saturday "Battle of Cable Street" Veteran Max Levitas came again up to the stall to help out.

Check out this site here for TUC tips for first time Marchers.

"Battle of Cable Street" Veteran Urges Support for TUC March on 26th

Max Levitas who marched against the fascists in Cable Street in 1936 joined our Labour Party and Trade Union stall in Stratford on Saturday to pledge support for the TUC March for an Alternative on the 26th.

Max (picture) is now 95 and was a Communist Party Councillor in Whitechapel from 1945 to 1958. At Cable Street he marched alongside Phil Piratin (on of the first Communist MP's and father of one of my former UNISON branch secretaries).

He still comes shopping to Stratford twice a month and takes the 25 bus here and back.

I have seen Max speak at events in the past and once even knocked on his door while canvassing for Labour.  He is still proud to be a Communist but says he would usually vote for Labour if there was not a real Communist standing and is pleased to see the Labour Party out campaigning.  He will be there on the TUC March on the 26th.

Max warned us about the threat to the Labour Movement from those who have their own agenda and will try their best to wreck and split us.  Of course, I haven't a clue who he means?

"Don't Privatise Our Blood Service"

"UNISON Reps from across the South east including Isle of Wight handed in a letter to the TUC Trades Union Congress in London urging them to join the campaign to oppose the threat to privatise the NHS Blood Service and pledging support for the TUC demonstration in London on Saturday 26th March

Debbie Jones UNISON South East Blood Service Convenor stated

"We are fully committed to maintaining the blood collection service on the Isle of Wight and a delegation from the Isle of Wight blood collection team will be attending the demonstration on Saturday March 26th in London we hope many of our blood donors will join us"

Michael Walker UNISON Regional Officer states

"UNISON nurses and donor carers will fight any attempt to privatise the NHS Blood Service and we urge the public to support our campaign in the coming months".  (UNISON press release)

March with us for Newham: Saturday 26th March

I am really pleased that in Newham, our Local Labour Party and trade unions are mounting a joint campaign against these vile Tory-led Government cuts.  This Labour Movement family leaflet was jointly produced and paid for by the Party and the unions.  Yesterday it was handed out across Newham.

Never let anyone forget that the blame for these massive and unnecessary cuts lies solely with this dogmatic and ideological Tory-led government.  There is an alternative.

UPDATE: DISTRICT LINE DOWN ON 26.3.11 - EVERYONE NOW MEET UP 10:30AM OUTSIDE TICKET BARRIER STRATFORD STATION

Join Ken on 26 March and tell Cameron, Osborne and Boris there is an alternative.

"After the Big March we're having a Party"

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Flyer from Philosophy Football "Saturday 26 March is the day of the enormous TUC March for an Alternative. At the end of a day's marching Philosophy Football is organising,  in association with the TUC, a big night out. Headlined by the superb electro hip-hop beats of Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, with the brilliant comedy of Josie Long, the show is opened by the surreal juggling of Rod Laver. And after the acts have finished the Melstars: Music soundsystem provide an upbeat set to fill the dancefloor. 

Its a fantastic bill. The night starts with a specially commissioned film of the day's march introduced by TUC Deputy-General Secretary Frances O'Grady. And reviewing the politics of protest a panel of speakers featuring Guardian columnist Zoe Williams, London Citizens organiser and academic Maurice Glasman, student activist Jessica Riches and Unison National Secretary for Local Government Heather Wakefield.

The show starts at 7pm , its the perfect way to complete the day. At the excellent theatre-pub The New Red Lion 271 City Road, London EC1, nearest tube The Angel handy to get to from the end of the demo.

STOP PRESS! Only standing room tickets now remaining.  Available from > http://www.philosophyfootball.com/view_item.php?pid=638

Or you can phone to book on 020 8802 3499. Do book early, we don;t expect to have any tickets on the night".

Flyer for March in March

Some top arguments that we must never forget and never stop putting forward.  "Investment in growth creates jobs; reducing benefits spending and increasing taxation income"

"The public sector deficit has been higher than today for most of our lives including in 1948 when we
built the NHS"

"Government plans make the poorest and most vulnerable pay...children didn’t cause the global banking crisis: bankers’ greed did"

"We will spiral into economic disaster with millions out of work... like Ireland is doing".

Hat-tip SERTUC.