TUC Rally and Lobby against authoritarian & extremist Tory TU Bill

Picture collage is from yesterday's TUC protest rally and Parliamentary lobby against the Tory Trade Union Bill which is an attempt by the Government to attack fundamental rights and freedoms at work.

First, there was a lunchtime rally in Central Hall, Westminister, which was packed out with over a 1000 people waiting outside. Great speeches and even a song from the UNISON staff Choir. Next I queued for over an hour to get inside the House of Commons to lobby my MP, Lyn Brown, on the Bill.  Lyn has many years of experience in the real working world and knows what is being proposed is unworkable, petty and spiteful as well as a constitutional outrage.

After a group of West Ham residents met with Lyn, some went into the Commons' public gallery to watch the debate on the Housing and Planning Bill. By coincidence (or not) this is yet another hard right, extremist Tory Bill. It was really good to see Labour Shadow Housing Minister, John Healey, monster his Tory minister opponents in this debate.

It was incredible to see and listen to the Tory ministers and MPs' inability to argue in favour of this Housing Bill. All they did was try and score points about what Labour did or did not do in 2009. John had to gently remind them that they had been in power since 2010.

Most of the Tories actually know both the Trade Union and Housing Bills are very dangerous, divisive and authoritarian. Ironically they are arguing for the ending of local democracy and employment freedoms in favour of "Big Government" politics.

Housing Associations and Council Housing stock are being effectively stolen by the State while peaceful picketing and protest will be criminalised.

A future Labour Government has now a precedent on how to act when we next win power.  The Tories will reap what they sow.

Oppose the Tory Trade Union Bill & stand up for rights and freedoms at work

Sign this Labour Party petition here (an incredible 344,000 people have so far done so).

There is a slight change of plan for tomorrow's TUC Rally and lobby. Can residents from West Ham Constituency who wish to lobby Lyn Brown MP, please meet our Trade Union Liason Officer (TULO), Kim Silver, at the central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament at 3.15pm

Please allow plenty of time to get inside and past the security checks.

TUC mass lobby of Parliament – protect the right to strike #KillTheBill #TUBill

Monday 2 November
 
"As you know the Trade Union Bill is the biggest assault on working people’s rights in living memory.  We need as many branches and members as possible in Westminster on Monday to lobby MPs and ensure they are aware of the key issues, the impact it will have on our ability to support and defend workers and the strength of feeling around this issue.    

If you haven’t already made contact with your local MP it’s not too late:-

·         Try to arrange a meeting with your MP before the day. We have set up an email template you can use, just by putting in your postcode and a few details, here:http://goo.gl/4tYUrO

·         You can also write to them by post if you would prefer, at the House of Commons. Put your post code in the box on this website: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ to find our their name if you don’t know it, then send it to House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA.

ON THE DAY:

The lobby on Monday will take place at Central Hall, Westminster - https://www.c-h-w.com/contact/location/

12.30: Arrive (please do arrive by 12.30)

Arrive for the rally at Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH. (The building is open from 11.30 am if you want to arrive earlier.)

Please first go to the Great Hall (inside the Central Hall building) to register. There will be a UNISON table

1 – 3.30pm: Rally

Hear from some exciting speakers from 1pm – 3.30pm.

2pm: Lobbying starts

The lobbying in Parliament will start from 2pm and throughout the afternoon groups will go over to the House of Commons to meet with their MPs to explain why they should vote against the bill. Please the queue outside the main entrance to the House of Commons from 2.00pm. You will need to enter through a ramped entrance (the Cromwell statue entrance) to the left of the St Stephen’s entrance to the Commons.

Finally if do meet with your MP please let me have any feedback and photos from the day .

The UNISON activists briefing ‘Everything you need to know about the TUC mass lobby on 2 November’ is attached for your info.

Hat tip KW

Trade Union Bill: Parliamentary Lobby - 2 November 2015

I have just sent my MP, Lyn Brown, a message via the UNISON website asking to meet and lobby her over the Conservative anti-trade bill at the TUC event being organised for Monday 2 November.

 If you have a Labour MP (who are opposed to the bill) you should still take part and lobby them.

All UNISON members should try and lobby their MPs regardless of their Party label.

This is a human rights and fairness argument as much as anything else.

Check out the UNISON email facility to contact your MP here 

West Ham TULO sets up Anti-Austerity Campaign Group

Last week trade union affiliates and activists to West Ham Labour Party were invited to a meeting organised by Kim Silver, who is its trade union liaison officer. ‎ At the meeting was also Peter Smith, who is secretary to the Newham joint trade union committee. 

West Ham trade union activists have been in discussions with the NJTUC for some time about forming ‎an anti-austerity campaign group. At the meeting we had a useful and constructive debate about how we can campaign against Austerity and put forward an alternative economic policy. 

It was agreed to plan and hold a launch event with if possible some keynote speakers. 

At the meeting we also discussed how to support the lobby of Parliament on 2 November against the Tory Anti-trade Union Bill. 

Kim is also looking into holding a welcome meeting for the new 461 individual trade union affiliate members in West Ham‎. Hopefully we can get Unison to support this meeting.