A message of support to the May 10 strikers

Thursday's national strike in defence of pensions by up to 500,000 public sector workers across PCS, UCU, UNITE Health, NIPSA, plus some RMT members, will send another message to the Government - already reeling from their election defeats - that trade unionists are not going to accept paying more, to work longer, and to get less when we eventually do get to retire.

Like many other NUT Associations, Lewisham NUT's members' meeting unanimously agreed to send solidarity - including a £100 donation to each of the three strike funds - to local colleagues in UNITE, PCS and UCU and are calling on our members to visit local picket lines on the way to work. Teachers are not on strike tomorrow but some, including myself, will join the demonstration outside St.Thomas' Hospital at 12.00 and march over the river to the strike rally in Westminster.

Teachers will also be holding their own picket of the Department of Education after work at 5.30 pm in Great Smith Street, Westminster to protest against the first wage cuts owing to increased pension contributions imposed last month. It's also part of the joint-union "68 is too late" campaign http://www.68istoolate.org.uk/

The solid action taken by London NUT members on March 28 encouraged strikers to take action on May 10. In turn, the PCS/UNITE/UCU action will encourage NUT members to take further action ourselves.

We know that the message that striking colleagues on May 10 really want to hear is that the NUT will be joining them in the next action, as we step up our united fight to oppose pensions robbery. The NUT Executive will be meeting during the strike, in the afternoon of on May 10. I, alongside others, will again be calling for the NUT to declare that it will be taking further national strike action in June.

Together, we can - and must - defeat both this Government's outrageous robbery of pensions and the cuts and privatisation of the services that we know our young people and communities so desperately need.

Martin Powell-Davies

A political earthquake in Greece

MAY 15 UPDATE: New elections called: See http://electmartin1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/greek-elections-unite-for-left-majority.html

The Greek socialist organisation, Xekinima, affiliated to the CWI, has produced this statement in response to the Greek election results:

A political earthquake in Greece

Greek voters have sent out a message that has terrified the Troika, their craven political parties and the ruling class in Greece and Europe. 

Two out of three Greeks voters said NO to the EU/IMF/ECB Troika’s austerity ‘Memorandum’ ! Compared to the 2009 election, PASOK lost 72.6% of its support – a loss of 2.19 million votes. The right-wing ‘New Democracy’ lost almost half of its support - over 1million votes! SYRIZA (the Coalition of the Radical Left) jumped from 4.6% to 16.8 % earning over 700 thousand new votes (from 315,000 in 2009 to over 1million today)! 

The political landscape that existed in Greece for almost 4 decades has been shattered. The mass struggles of the last two years have led to this change in political outlook. In turn, this result can give new impetus to these mass movements. 

Forming a "Government" through electoral fraud?

The parties of the Troika and the ruling class will still try to make sure they can form the Government through an electoral system that distorts the will of the people by giving 50 additional seats to the leading party – even though ND had only a small and declining vote ! [ND’s 18.9% translates into 108 seats, SYRIZA’s16.8% gives only 52 seats]. ‘Democracy’ was never, more hollow and hypocritical. 

Despite this blatant electoral ‘fraud’, ND and PASOK are still short of the target of 151 MPs needed to form a majority ( they have respectively 108 and 41, totalling 149). So they have started trying to pull together a government of "national unity" with the supposed aim of renegotiating the ‘Memorandum’. 

There is only one response that the movement can give to any such Government: strikes, occupations in workplaces, in squares, in schools and colleges - until it falls.

 

SYRIZA, the big winner

The big winner of the elections was SYRIZA. This is a great victory for all social movements and the Left in general, but more specifically for a series of political positions and proposals put forward by SYRIZA. Apart from their opposition to the Memorandum, the vote for SYRIZA translates into massive popular support for the policy of unity and co-operation across the Left, and clear support to the idea of a Government of the Left. 

The danger of fascism returns

But there is also a very serious threat from the election of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, who finished in sixth place. The 434,000 who voted for them are not neo-Nazis but people who chose this way to condemn the ND and far-right LAOS MPs in parliament, by sending them "extremists." But Golden Dawn will try to exploit this effect to strengthen its base. This perspective is a huge risk for the entire labour and popular movement, and our democratic rights. 

The Left has to wake-up to the danger of fascism, to see the need for a serious joint struggle against the rise of neo-fascism. This is a further reason for joint action and for cooperation of the Left.

 

The struggle for an alternative society

Today SYRIZA is the "vehicle" which the Greek people has chosen to take into the political arena. In truth, notwithstanding some of the weaknesses in SYRIZA’s policy, this result opens the way to a struggle for an alternative economic and social policy, namely the struggle for an alternative society. 

SYRIZA must face-up to its historical responsibilities. The crisis has only one answer: bold socialist policies.

 

There is now a realistic prospect of forming a Government of the Left in the period ahead – even more so if New Democracy and PASOK fail to form a government of "national unity" and opt to go straight to new elections.  If such a Left Government were to be formed, the reaction of capital in Greece and Europe would be ferocious. They will threaten, and very possibly will carry out such a threat, to throw Greece out of the euro. At the same time, they will try to strangle the economy and ultimately to overthrow the government by any means necessary. 

In these circumstances there will be two roads, either the overthrow of the power of capital - or compromise and selling out of the movement. 

Under the domination of big capital, there are no prospects and no hope. We must not forget that PASOK 31 years ago formed a "left" government. But its refusal to overthrow the power of capital has led to the current Memorandum under a PASOK Government. 

The ruling class are panicking and talking about a major political crisis! The Troika can now see the frightening results of their labours! This is what the terror that they have inflicted on Greek people and Greek workers has produced! The Greek labour movement said, “Drive out the Troika”, “Down with their political parties”, “An end to the two-party system”, “for a socialist way out of the crisis”. To achieve these goals means fighting for an alternative socialist society. Anything else would mean an abandonment of the principles and declarations of the Left.

Full text (in Greek) on: http://www.xekinima.org/arthra/view/article/politikos-seismos-mnimonio-telos-o-syriza-oxima-an/

Voters revolt against austerity across Europe

Elections across Europe have sent a clear message to the profiteers. Sarkozy has been thrown out in France, Pasok in Greece beaten into third place by the Syriza Left coalition, the Liberal Democrats were even beaten by a penguin in Edinburgh !

Voters have shown their outrage against the cuts and austerity being imposed by the profiteers and bankers whose hunger for profit created this crisis in the first place.

For an analysis of the elections in Britain, see : http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/14463/06-05-2012/legitimacy-of-cameron-and-clegg-further-shattered

For a report from Greece, see http://electmartin1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/political-earthquake-in-greece.html

JOBS, PENSIONS and SERVICES, not RACISM

On April 26, Lewisham NUT’s Retired Members’ Secretary was attacked and hospitalised by racists claiming to have allegiance to ‘March for England’, a group closely linked to the English Defence League (EDL).

Lewisham NUT believes that it is no coincidence that this attack took place just a few days before the elections to the Greater London Assembly where candidates supported by racist and fascist parties were seeking to benefit from the public anger against the cuts that are stealing away our jobs and services.

But racism and fascism provide no answers to the problems facing young people, nor to any part of our community. Instead of bringing people together to defend their jobs, homes, pensions and public services, racists and fascists make it harder to defend our livelihoods by dividing communities instead.

Saturday’s assault shows that, far from standing up for people’s rights, these racists instead attack trade unionists out campaigning to defend local communities from cuts. 

We are calling on trade unionists to join with us in defending campaigners and our local community from racist attacks and to build the united action needed to stop cuts. There is plenty of wealth in Britain - instead of cuts, we need investment in the future of our youth. 

The NUT stands for ‘NO CUTS’, no matter which political party is swinging the axe. We oppose the privatisation of our schools and the NHS. We have taken strike action to defend our pensions and schools from cuts - and we will do so again.

If you oppose the cuts and want to defend your jobs and services, then: UNITE AGAINST THE CUTS, UNITE AGAINST THE RACISTS! 

Join our anti-cuts campaign stall
SATURDAY MAY 12
Lewisham High St (by the Clock Tower)

Call Lewisham NUT for details of assembly point

Why I'm standing for TUSC in Thursday's Assembly elections

See my election video on: http://youtu.be/6qF9trLf99w

Thursday's elections for the Greater London Assembly provide a great opportunity to elect candidates who will stand out against the pro-cuts consensus from all the main parties. The TUSC challenge has a real chance to succeed in electing at least one assembly member. This would be a real breakthrough for everyone who wants to defend education and public services from cuts and privatisation.

Education is under attack from this Government: budgets are cut, schools facing forced privatisation, workload at intolerable levels - yet young teachers are told they should work until they’re 68! But, shamefully, New Labour’s leadership won’t oppose these attacks: Ed Balls won’t reverse cuts, Stephen Twigg supports Free Schools, Ed Milliband opposes trade unionists striking to defend their pensions. NUT conference confirmed the Union’s position of ‘No Cuts’ and condemned Labour leaders for saying they would maintain the bulk of the Coalition's cuts and austerity measures.

The NUT is also committed to opposing the BNP in elections. In London, the BNP won an assembly member on the ‘list’ last time. Voting TUSC can help knock out the BNP.

Teachers know they can’t just fight cuts and privatisation through trade union action alone. We also need political representatives that will speak out in support of union policies.

In Thurday's GLA elections, please use your vote for the all-London list - on the orange ballot paper -  to vote for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

The full list of candidiates is:
Alex Gordon, president of rail union RMT; Nick Wrack, TUSC national committee; April Ashley, Unison executive,representing black women members; Steve Hedley, RMT London organiser; Ian Leahair, Fire Brigades Union national committee member; Gary McFarlane, Black activist and journalist; Martin Powell- Davies, executive member of the teachers’ union NUT; Merlin Reader, postal worker; Joe Simpson, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers Association; Jenny Sutton, college lecturer, UCU union; Nancy Taaffe, library worker made redundant, Waltham Forest Unison; Jackie Turner, doctor; Lee Vernon, PCS Young Members convenor for London; Lesley Woodburn, Unite rep on southeast regional TUC LGBTQ committee; Mick Dooley, construction industry activist; Mark Benjamin, black disabled PCS union activist.

Local Associations National Action Conference

Details have been confirmed for the:

Local Associations National Action Conference
on Saturday 16 June 2012 
11.00 – 15.30
 
at the Quaker Meeting House 22 School Lane Liverpool L1 3BT
  

The venue is in Liverpool City Centre; just a 5 min walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station

Registration 10.30 Conference 11.00 –15.30

 




Past: For over a year NUT members and activists have been engaged in one of the most critical industrial disputes in the Union’s history- to defend our ability to retire at a reasonable age from one of the most stressful jobs there is on a decent pension. After two impressive days of strike action co-ordinated with other public sector unions on June 30th and November 30th this campaign has lost momentum. There will be national action from some unions on May 10th but, sadly, the NUT will not be taking part.

Where Next in the Pensions Dispute?

Future: The network of local NUT divisions and associations organising this conference want to rebuild the momentum we had earlier in the year. We want to give activists the chance to consider whether and how we can put the NUT back in the lead of the pensions’ dispute. We are inviting all associations and divisions to support the conference and to send delegates to take part in the discussion.

The day will be structured to allow an update on where we are in the campaign, an opportunity to consider practical means of rebuilding support for action amongst both members and the Union structures and of working jointly with other Unions in schools, with a final session looking at the future of campaigns and the local associations network.

Conference Fee: £5 per delegate (Cheques made payable to Liverpool NUT on reverse write LANAC). Please send cheques to: LANAC c/o Liverpool NUT, VICTORIA BUILDING, BISHOP GOSS COMPLEX, ROSE PLACE, LIVERPOOL L3 3BN

We are asking for sponsorship contributions to pay for the venue from local associations of between £50 & £100, please make cheque payable to Liverpool NUT & on reverse write LANAC.

Greg Foster (Cheshire West and Cheshire) Nina Franklin (Bristol) Steve Hafford (Wirral) Sally Kincaid (Wakefield) Julie Lyon-Taylor (Liverpool) Sue McMahon (Calderdale) Patrick Murphy (Leeds) Martin Powell-Davies (Lewisham) 
Local Associations for National Action Steering Committee

Lewisham NUT calls for action in June

A packed General Meeting of Lewisham NUT met last night to hear a report from Conference NUT delegates. In support of their strike action on May 10, we agreed to send £100 each to the local branches of PCS, UCU and UNITE Health. But we also agreed that the best solidarity we can show is to take action ourselves in June, in line with Conference policy!

The meeting also formally backed the Local Associations' National Action Conference in Liverpool on June 16, increasing the proposed number of Lewisham delegates from five to seven as there was such strong support for building the event:

The following motion was unanimously agreed:

This Association notes that:

1.       over 150 Conference delegates attended meetings under the banner of 'Local Associations for National Action on Pensions' to discuss the pensions campaign and prepare an amendment to the priority motion calling for the Union to urgently announce a calendar of action;

2.       many delegates went away from the pensions debate confused and unclear about the Union's message to members and exactly what delegates should report to the wider membership;

3.       even though a Special  Meeting of the Executive was held on April 26, no dates for further NUT action have yet been agreed or announced;

This Association calls on the Executive at its next meeting on May 10^th to:

1.                    carry through the clear instructions from Conference:

a)    to work with divisions and associations with the aim of organising a further one day strike before the end of June 2012;

b)    to approach other unions who have not accepted the Government’s final proposals to seek support for this plan of action as the basis of an agreed plan of co-ordinated action next term, and to urgently announce the confirmed calendar of action;

c)     while recognising the clear benefits of joint action by teacher unions, resolving that we cannot make the we cannot make the willingness of the NASUWT to take part as a necessary requirement before proceeding to call further strike action

2.           announce a calendar of action that makes it clear to Union members – and to the government – that we are serious about winning this battle, including urgently calling a further day of national strike action in June.

This Association resolves to:

1.         support the initiative being taken by 'Local Associations for National Action on Pensions' and promote the work of this group to local members;

2.       sponsor its Local Associations Conference on Saturday 16 June in Liverpool with a donation of £100 and by sending seven delegates to the Conference

3.        additionally send up to five delegates to the National Shop Stewards Network Conference in London on Saturday 9 June to discuss joint action with other union reps

4.       send solidarity and support to trade unionists taking national action in defence of pensions on May 10th and to support the Lobby of the DfE being held that evening.