SPONTANEOUS WALK-OUT AT BRIDGWATER SORTING OFFICE

Bridgwater Posties on strike

CWU members at Bridgwater Sorting Office held an unofficial and spontaneous walk-out on Thursday 8th March, to show their anger over the sacking of a colleague.

The three and a half hour walk-out was successful. Management have agreed to bring the sacked man's appeal process forward, which increases his chances of reinstatement. There will be no victimisation of any of the workers who took industrial action, and a ballot will be held for official industrial action if their colleague is not re-instated.

Bridgwater Trades Union Council congratulates Bridgwater postal workers for their compassion and solidarity  - an inspiration to all workers.

MORE P.R PROBLEMS FOR E.D.F FOLLOWING HEAVY HANDED EVICTION

Anti nuclear protesters outside the court in Taunton

Hot on the heels of Sedgemoor District Councils  tussle with Energy giants EDF, when they delayed setting the Council Tax  due to the failure to come to an agreement with the company over 'Community Benefit' payments for the proposed construction of  a new power station at Hinkley point, the French Multinational are now in trouble over their heavy handed treatment of anti-nuclear protesters near the site.

After over 24 hours in custody Theo Simon of Shepton Mallet, and David Jesse of Taunton, appeared before Taunton Deane Magistrates court. Officials were stunned by the packed courtroom as well-wishers and supporters packed into the room to follow the proceedings, one official commented that “this was the most people we've ever seen here”.

Peaceful protest

Magistrates, after taking into consideration the time they'd spent in custody decided to release the defendants with just a conditional discharge, and no fines or court costs as they accepted that the defendants were men of good character and that they had been engaged in a legitimate peaceful protest for the last two and a half weeks.

Night time eviction

The defendent's solicitor told the protestors outside the court that the police hadn't favoured a night time eviction, but despite this EDF pulled the eviction time forward from the scheduled 7:30am to just before daybreak, said Shana Deal “ EDF are trying their hardest to keep local opposition from becoming visible not content with stitching up the legal processes they want to silence protest too. We are pleased that twice this week the courts of our land have upheld and respected our right to voice dissent at EDFs plans.”Defendant Theo Simon commented on his release “This was just one battle in the fight against new nuclear we'll be back on March the 10th & 11th with Stop New Nuclear to surround and blockade Hinkley Point, we're not going anywhere until EDF and the government get the message that nuclear power is not clean not safe and not necessary”.

SAVE OUR RAIL SERVICES

BRIDGWATER & DISTRICT TRADES UNION COUNCIL

Unions organising in the community

Join us for a PUBLIC MEETING on

MONDAY 12^TH MARCH

7pm

GWRSA Club, Wellington Road, TA6 5AH

 (next to Rail station)

·          

The  McNulty Review of British railways, represents the biggest threat to railways, passengers and rail workers since privatisation

·         Bridgwater is among the ticket offices recommended for closure.

·         We need to organise NOW if we are to defend this vital part of our local public transport service.

Chair:         Vicki Nash (NUT)

Speakers:  Glen Burrows (Trades Council)

Brendan Kelly (RMT, Regional Organiser)

Bill Monteith (TSSA, National TOC Cttee Chair)

Further details: ring Dave Chapple on 01278 450562

SAVE OUR

RAIL SERVICES!

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"   ,