BRIDGWATER TRADES UNION COUNCIL CALENDAR OF MEETINGS 2012

Delegates’ meetings are held monthly, but every third month is a Trade Union Forum meeting, to which we invite local reps and activists, as well as members of the public.

Meetings are held in the GWRSA Staff Club, Wellington Road, Bridgwater, starting at 7pm

Mon 12^th March: Trade Union Forum:

“Save Our Railways”

Mon 16^th April:  Trade Union Council

Mon 14^th May:  Trade Union Council

Mon 11^th June: Trade Union Forum

Mon 9^th July: Trade Union Council

Mon 13^th August: Trade Union Council

Mon 10^th Sept: Trade Union Forum

Mon 8^th Oct: Trade Union Council

Mon 12^th Nov: Trade Union Council

Mon 10^th Dec: Trade Union Forum

BRIDGWATER TUC CALLS FOR RAIL ACTION GROUP

Bridgwater Trades Union Council is calling for a local action group to be set up to defend Bridgwater Rail Station ticket office from threatened closure, following publication by the Department of Transport of the tender documents for the new Greater Western Franchise.

These documents make it clear that the new franchise, to be put out for tendering in in 2013 ,will include closure of ticket offices recommended in the McNulty Review, currently being considered by Parliament. Bridgwater is one of the 29 ticket offices listed for closure.

“This threat to jobs and passenger services is being carried out before the review has even been through the parliamentary process and received parliamentary approval”, said Secretary Dave Chapple at the Council’s February meeting. “It is a mockery of our democratic system.”

A public meeting has been called for Monday March 12^th, to discuss this, and other threats to railway services posed by the McNulty Review.

The meeting will be at the GWRSA Club, Wellington Road, Bridgwater, and starts at 7pm.

For further details: contact G Burrows on 01278 450562/ glenburrows@btinternet.com

“The Government’ austerity programme isn’t working”

Nigel Costley SW TUC

“The Government’ austerity programme isn’t working”, said South West TUC Secretary Nigel Costley, addressing the January meeting of Bridgwater & District Trades Union Council. 

“Every pound they slash from our services should be matched by a similar reduction in the national debt. This isn’t happening. In reality, by increasing unemployment and deprivation, the Government is making our economic situation worse.”

Unemployment continues to rise – among young people unemployment has now passed the million mark  - and this is causing enormous damage to our communities. In the south-west, former areas of rural inequality and deprivation are re-emerging.

In Bridgwater, wages fell last year by 3.3% on average, while inflation rose to 5%. Meanwhile wages for top executives rose nationally by 49%!

But people are beginning to get angry about the obvious injustice of the “austerity” programme. They know now that we are not “all in it together””.

Well-organised trades unions are more vital than ever to defend the wages and living standards of working class people – whether in the public, private or retired sector. Trades unions must also educate, support and organise young and unemployed people.”

Bridgwater Secretary Dave Chapple called on all local trades union activists and representatives to support the work of the trades union council, by attending meetings, building unity and solidarity among local workers, and helping with local campaigns.

Next meeting: Monday 12^th March, 7pm, GWRSA Staff Club, Wellington Road, Bridgwater. This will be an open Forum, to discuss the threatened cuts to rail services in the area.

Further information about the work of Bridgwater & District Trades Union Council can be obtained from http://bridgwatertuc.blogspot.com , or by contacting Dave Chapple on 01278 450562/ 07776 304 276

SOMERSET ON THE MARCH FOR PENSION JUSTICE

"This is not just a campaign to defend public sector pensions. It is a campaign for all pensions: state, private and public sector. It is saying to the Government loud and clear  We will not pay for a crisis caused by bankers' greed and speculation. Hands off our pensions! Hands off our NHS! Hands off our schools! Hands off our Welfare State!" . And with these words Glen Burrows RMT  launched the Somerset March for Pension Justice on it's way from Taunton Cattle Market through the town centre to a rally outside County Hall.

The majority of Schools   across the county were closed , workplaces picketed and many Unions were on strike for the first time ever.

2,000 people took to the streets of Taunton to un precedented levels of support from the public.

Leading the demonstration was the UNISON union of Public sector workers , whose general secretary Dave Prentiss said  "Today you made history. Every single UNISON member supporting the day of action has played their part in this fantastic day. UNISON members - mostly women, many low-paid and many taking strike action for the first time ever - stood up and said, with quiet resolve: enough is enough.

Our members work every day of every year to provide the services our communities rely on. Many work behind the scenes in schools, hospitals, town halls, libraries and a thousand other workplaces unseen by the media and politicians.

But today they made their presence felt and their voices heard throughout the UK.They told politicians that they would not stand by and see their pensions attacked and undermined and they would not be made to pay for the crisis caused by speculators and bankers.

A historic day indeed. A day which must make the government think again and negotiate a fair deal on pensions for our members. "

Prominent amongst the Unions taking part locally was UNITE whose general secretary Len McCluskey said: ”The fight to protect public service pensions is the latest battle that working people and their families have had to mount to protect the social and economic advances that have been achieved since 1945. But now working people are being asked to pay for the economic mess caused by the greedy City elite whose behaviour this spineless government has repeatedly failed to tackle.

”When Francis Maude, the government’s lead pensions’ negotiator, can receive a pension of £43,000-a-year, but nurses, teachers, dinner ladies, fire-fighters and librarians have to pay substantially more, work longer and receive less in real terms when they retire, the mantra of  ‘We are all in this together’ has a very hollow and shabby ring."

 Also in the thick of the fight were the Teachers unions - not just the NUT but the NASUWT as well. Christine Blower General Secretary of the  NUT, the largest teachers union, said: "Today is  an overwhelming rejection of the Government's intention to irreparably damage teachers' pensions. The profession is very clearly united in its defence of pensions, which we believe are fair and affordable. We are pleased that discussions are ongoing with the education department and we are pressing hard for further concessions, but the current offer does not go far enough. "

 PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Every single person on strike today should be proud of themselves and the millionaires in the government should be ashamed of themselves. They said this day would never happen but this is the best day for the trade union movement in generations. The strikers are an inspiration. The message to the government is if you don't negotiate with us we will do this again. They should go into work tomorrow with their heads held high.”

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary said "This dispute was staretd by the coalition government in the expectation that those who work for us all in our public services could be bullied into accepting their diktat. The government lack the moral courage to now settle this dispute for fear of upsetting their right wing backbenchers and those on the lunatic fringe who attack workers rights"   ,

BRIDGWATER TRADES UNION COUNCIL SAYS FIGHT FOR PENSIONS JUSTICE ON 30TH NOVEMBER

Wednesday 30th November will see strikers, supporters and families
demonstrating outside public buildings and at rallies all over the South West.
The joint action against government attacks on pensions involves 20 public
sector unions and is supported by the TUC.
The government wants to make people pay more and work longer for lower
pensions.
Despite unions’ attempts to have proper negotiations, ministers have refused
seriously to negotiate over their changes to public sector pensions.

The issue is simple: most public sector workers are modestly paid.
Their pay has
been frozen while the price of basic goods is shooting up.

Now they are expected to pay an extra £3 billion a year for much worse
pensions,
by a government that cancelled the tax on bankers’ bonus tax that would have raised almost the same. What clearer illustration of a government by the rich,for the rich?

Bridgwater TUC says "Stand up for decent pensions and tell ministers to start
negotiating. Support the picket lines, vigils, marches and demonstrations on
November 30th."

It’s wrong to make public sector workers pay for an economic disaster they did
nothing to cause. This is everyone’s fight: private and public sector workers,
retired people and workers must unite to fight for decent pensions for all.
     
Bridgwater Trades Union Council will be giving out information about Pensions Justice in Bridgwater Town Centre, from 11-1, Saturday 26th November
 
Somerset marchers assemble on November 30th, at 12 noon ,at the Old Cattle Market, Taunton, to march to County Hall for a Rally at 1.30pm

TEDDYS AGAINST TESCO'S

“Over a hundred Bridgwater people, many of them residents of streets surrounding Bridgwater’s iconic Brewery Field, sat down to a summer picnic on Sunday in a community celebration of one of Bridgwater’s last ‘green lungs.’

Joining them were several families of teddy bears, bicycles, tents, deck chairs, dogs, kites, flags, rugs, a wind-up gramophone playing dance-band 78’s, and, of course, well-filled picnic hampers!

Under threat by Sedgemoor District Council’s sell-off to Tesco, the Brewery field links Bridgwater’s historic docks to the town centre. For a hundred years or more, it has been, literally, a playing field for footballers, dog walkers, strollers and kite flyers.

The entire Brewery Field should remain a green and public open space for Bridgwater people to continue to enjoy for another hundred years!

So Sunday was a celebration: but also another episode of a continued and determined protest led by Bridgwater Forward that will carry on until Sedgemoor revoke their intention to dispose of this priceless asset, an asset they should be holding in trust for all of Bridgwater’s citizens.”

Dave Chapple,

Chair,

Bridgwater Forward

NOT SUCH A RUBBISH DAY....

George Goodenough GMB delegate to Bridgwater Trades Council writes;-

   Sunday 10^th of July saw a joint initiative by Bridgwater Trades Council, Bridgwater Forward and Bridgwater Senior Citizens Forum to protest against Somerset County Council’s decision to close the Saltlands recycling centre in Chilton Trinity on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Sunday afternoons. In addition they have imposed charges for accepting certain items for recycling such as gas bottles, car tyres and soil. These charges have been a particular source of outrage in the local community.

    At 10 am I joined amongst others Dave Chapple of the CWU, Vicki Nash of the NUT and Councillor Leigh Redman of the FBU on the banks of the River Parrett opposite the gates of the recycling centre. The Bridgwater Mercury was due to cover the event and requested that we find examples of rubbish fly tipped in the local area. I kept my eyes open as I walked to the venue and as well as the usual drinks cans and bottles I was able to pick up a car number plate from out of a bush and a broken suitcase lying in the street. However the copse next to the centre proved to be a fertile source of fly tipped items and we were able to come up with a car tyre, a couple of bicycle tyres, a telly, a tarpaulin and some soggy underlay – all presumably dumped by would be users of the facility exasperated at finding it closed when they wished to use it. Perhaps our piece de resistance was a sofa dumped in the lay-by opposite the sewage farm.

   Our protest consisted of a publicity leaflet which we handed out to the users of the centre as they arrived. We were delighted to receive almost universal support. Only two or three drivers refused to speak to us and I received one challenge from a chap who thought the closures were necessary and the charges fair given the current financial climate and he expressed the view that once the economy had recovered that the former status quo would be reinstated. Something I find very hard to believe as I feel it more likely that the Council will unilaterally declare the charges a success and extend it to all items. However even he agreed that the dramatic increase in fly tipping since the cut backs was undesirable.

   The Bridgwater Mercury’s Andy Slocombe arrived for a photo session shortly before 11 a.m. Our attempts to be photographed with our collection of rubbish at the gates was thwarted by the site supervisor who was anxious about the image of the centre but after some negotiation by Dave Chapple we were able to get the photographs on the other side of the road using the site entrance as background. After the session we dutifully set about recycling the rubbish that we had recovered only to be told that we would have to pay for the tyre! Dave used it as means of having a discussion with the Viridor workers who run the site but I don’t think our treasurer was too impressed to receive a receipt for £4.20 for one rimmed car tyre the recycling thereof.

   Dave’s inquiry into the effects of the cut backs on the Viridor work force was enlightening. Over the course of the last couple of years they have seen their hours cut from 60 a week to 40. Effectively they have lost a third of their income and perhaps more distressing still is the fact that they now have to work every weekend to make up their 40 hours. Not good for those with children. It seems that whilst they have a Unite union rep at the Taunton depot not many of the workforce are in a union. Whilst they recognised that we were their to support them they were largely sceptical about whether we could achieve anything and were nervous about speaking to us for fear of reprisals by management.

   Whilst the support for us was nearly universal there were a couple of incidents that really need to be reported to show the level of outrage that the community feels over the situation. I recognised one fellow with whom I used to play rugby and who served in the Marines with my brother. Having tried to sneak past us at first I managed to get his attention and explained the situation. He pointed out that the closures didn’t affect him as he always recycles on a Sunday morning and nobody had yet asked him for money. I didn’t note his departure but was surprised to see him return a bit later and when I mildly enquired ‘Hello, back again?’ he replied ‘Yes, I had to go and get some *%$8ing money!’ I think we can safely say we gained a convert to our cause.

    One man stopped and spoke to us as he left and he still had his load of hardcore in his trailer. Apparently they wanted £14 to accept it as recycling and he simply wasn’t going to pay. We didn’t ask how he now planned to get rid of it. Another driver told us that he had been told he would have to pay to recycle tiles but simply dumped them and drove off saying they could see him in court before he would pay. Yet more people stopped and requested additional leaflets to distribute. It seems that the public are incensed by the County Council’s policy on recycling but their protests are falling on deaf ears.

    At 1pm the site closed but Dave and I hung on for 10 minutes and predictably two would be customers turned up only to be disappointed to find the site closed. It goes without saying that they gratefully accepted a leaflet and pledged support. All in all it was a very enjoyable three hours in the warm July weather and given the level of support we received from the public I think we may count it a success.