Category: Anti-Union Laws

Barnsley Trades Council Trade Union a Bill Meeting

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Barnsley Trades Council had a 50 strong public meeting last night with Ian Hodson of BFAWU and Liz Lawrence of UCU speaking. It was a good start to our campaign against the Tory attacks on unions.
We are obviously pushing for a big turnout on November 2nd and are starting building our second public meeting entitled “Defy the Tory anti-union Laws” with Steve Turner and Tosh McDonald speaking. It will be in the Yorkshire Miners Hall, Victoria Road at 7pm on Wed. Nov. 18th.Flyers should be available soon.

Fight the Trade Union Bill!

Dear Colleagues
 
As you know, the TUC is organising a lobby of parliament on 2 November 2015, as part of our campaign to stop the government’s Trade Union Bill.  We want MPs to hear directly from their constituents that:
·         The Bill threatens the right to strike
·         Employers will be able to break strikes by bringing in agency workers to cover for strikers, which could risk public safety and impact on the quality of service.
·         The Bill proposes new heavy-handed restrictions on picketing and protests – striking workers will have to tell their employer all of their plans (including what they will post on Facebook or Twitter or whether they will use a loudspeaker) two weeks before they strike.
·         Threatening the right to strike tilts the balance in the workplace too far towards the employers and that will mean workers can’t stand up for decent services and safety at work, or defend their jobs or pay.
 
Every MP should recognise that their constituents have a right to lobby them, whether or not you voted for them.  You can lobby your MP either in Parliament or at the constituency surgery which most MPs will organise on a regular basis.  If they don’t have regular surgeries, they will usually list a phone number on their website where you can make an appointment to see them.
 
I attach here information the TUC’s Trade Union Bill Briefing, which gives full information about the Bill which you can use when speaking to your MP.
 
Below are further links to information which I hope you will find useful:
 
Find our who your local MP is            http://www.theyworkforyou.com   
 
Send them an email or write a letter at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.  An example of a letter can be found at
https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Model%20Letter%20to%20your%20MP_copy%20and%20paste.pdf
 
Organise a petition:  download a petition here     https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/A4%20Petition%20for%20home%20printing.pdf.   Send your petition to your local MP and email national TUC at Congress House at campaigns@tuc.org to let them know that you’ve sent it.
 
A4 posters for stalls, events, meeting or workplaces can be downloaded at https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/A4%20Poster%20for%20home%20printing.pdf
 
I hope that you will find this information useful – please keep us informed of any campaigning work that you are doing in the region.
 
Many thanks
 
Chris
 
 
Chris Beastall
Yorkshire & the Humber TUC
West One
114 Wellington Street
Leeds LS1 1BA
T: 0113 242 9696

Fighting the anti-union laws

We’ve had a very positive response to the proposal for a protest/rally against the anti-union laws on Tues. 13th October at 5pm on the Town Hall steps below the fountains. It is timed to coincide with the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group protest and rally in London. We will issue a press release on that basis.

Barnsley College UCU have agreed to ‘chair’ the protest/rally and I urge all unions to bring union flags/banners and placards opposing the anti-union laws. I hope union representatives or individuals will speak too.

Please encourage the maximum number of your members/friends to come. A lively very visual protest  will build on the fantastic turnout in Manchester on Sunday and kickstart a co-ordinated campaign of opposition to the Tories’ Bill in Barnsley.

In solidarity,

Dave Gibson