Tag: sheffield

Step in to Save our Steel – Unite urges the government to take action

Dear colleagues

On Saturday, Unite joined with our fellow steel unions, the GMB and Community, to hold a rally in Sheffield.

The event brought together hundreds of members and their families, travelling from Wales, Scotland and across England.

A film of the full event is in production and will follow shortly, but for now here is the GS’s speech to the workers and their families.

 


Here, too, is Len’s piece from the Sunday Mirror yesterday (it appeared both in the paper and online)

The campaign goes on – please do lend your support to our members and this vital industry by sharing these links.

With best wishes

Unite communications team

Save our Steel Rally Sheffield

 

There was anger at the Conservative government at the Save Our Steel rally in Sheffield, for allowing the collapse of our steel industry.

SOS speakers were Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror, Julie Dore leader of Sheffield Council, Charlotte Upton of Unite Tata Steel, Roy Rickhuss the General Secretary of steelworkers’ union, Len Mckluskey the Unite General Secretary, Alan Coombs of Community Port Talbot, Frances O’Grady of the TUC, Andy McDonald Labour MP for Middlesbourough, Tim Roach and many more!

Fantastic speeches were made by the United Steel Workers (from America) who have been locked out for 100 Days and Charlotte Upton of Unite Young Member and TATA Steel Rep.

National ‘Save our Steel’ rally

Colleagues

This Saturday Unite, in conjunction with the GMB and Community the union, is hosting the ‘Save our Steel’ rally at Sheffield City Hall.

It comes amid a growing crisis in the UK’s steel industry which has seen thousands of job losses announced in recent months. In addition to the closure of SSI in Redcar and the collapse of Caparo, Tata Steel plans to cut over 1,100 jobs in Scunthorpe and Scotland on top of 700 job losses it announced earlier in the year in Rotherham and South Yorkshire.

Hosted by Kevin Maguire, associate political editor of the Daily Mirror, there will be family activities before the rally and fantastic line up including steelworkers and politicians from steel and manufacturing communities from across the UK. They will be joined by myself, Frances O’Grady general secretary of the TUC, Tim Roache, GMB general secretary elect and Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of Community,

Interest in the rally is building, but we need to use these remaining days to continue to promote it to our members, in their workplaces and communities. More information can be found here or by contacting campaigns and communications.

This is a time our members look to us for solidarity with their struggles and leadership in the battles ahead, please ensure that you do everything possible to make sure that Unite has strong representation at the rally and that where possible you and your colleagues make every effort to attend.

Our members will expect to see us standing by their side.

I hope to see you in Sheffield on November 21st.

In Solidarity,

Len McCluskey
General Secretary

 

Save our Steel Rallies: Sheffield & Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe: Tuesday 10th November 2015
Church Square, Rotherham. 12.00pm.

Steelworkers, their families, supporters and the community are invited to rally in Church Square. With speakers including senior union officials, MPs and special guests/

We will then march to the council offices in time to attend their meeting. Let’s get our voices heard!

Sheffield: Saturday 21st November 2015
Irwin Mitchell Oval Hall, City Hall, Sheffield, S1 2JA. 2.00 – 5.00pm

As you are aware discussions have been taking place about holding a rally to ‘Save our Steel’. Sheffield City Hall has been booked for the rally on Saturday 21 November. Over the coming days we will be seeking to firm up speakers and other guests for the rally, which is set to start at 2pm and finish at 5pm. Families will be welcome at the event, which is aimed to celebrate our steel and metal industry and send a strong message to the government to ‘Save Our Steel’. There will be speakers, music and face painting for the children.

I will update you all on speakers and promotional leaflets and posters, which are being designed and being sent to the Regional Office for distribution. In the meantime can you please get the word out to our Activists and Members. Details of transport will be provided as soon as possible.

Please make every effort to come along to City Hall Sheffield to celebrate and support the UK steel and metals industries.

Let us know you are coming on Facebook.

THIS SATURDAY! Sheff4Ten – Defend Our Unions

This Saturday 24th Oct – Public meeting
Novotel Sheffield, 1pm -2.30pm

Nick Rudikoff Senior Organiser with Service Employers Industry Union Talks about the great success of the American Union in the Fight for $15 and a union.

Ian Hodson National President of the Bakers Food Allied Workers Union Talks about the Fight for £10 an hour minimum wage and an end to zero hour contracts.

Louise Haigh MP  Labour MP Shadow Digital Minister and star of last week’s question time!

Fast Food worker to talk about conditions in the fast food industry.

Natalie Bennett Leader of the Green Party will join us via video message.

1pm Novotel

Miners’ Memorial Day Service

MINERS MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE 2 001

A Miners’ Memorial Day Service is being held in Sheffield Cathedral on Sunday 11 October 2015 at 1.30pm. All welcome to attend.

Two important events this Saturday that need your support!

STOP THE IRREVERSIBLE PRIVATISATION OF OUR NHS

Saturday 18th July 10.30am
Outside Sheffield Town Hall
Come along, protest and find out more about the dangers of TTIP

AND

Another major GMB Greenco Rally in support of GMB Recycling Workers
Speakers include Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh
Saturday 18th July, 12pm — 2pm, Blackstock Green Co, S14 1JE (outside the Horse and Groom pub)

Please come and show your support for GMB Recycing Workers who face bullying and intimidation, have had both shop stewards sacked, have had their agreement on the Living Wage broken and promises of decent washing and toilet facilities torn up. these are the workers who look after and operate the City’s 5 recycling centres – on a sub-contract run by so-called charity Greenco!

It’s vitally important that Sheffield#s trade unionists and citizens show their support and publicise their case. That’s why the GMB and Sheffield Trade Union Council are calling a series of rallies at diferent sites across the city. Last month it was Shirecliffe – this month it’s Balckstock Road on Gleadless valley estate.

Public transport: from city centre use 48 to Herdings or 79/79A to Jordanthorpe

BRING YOUR BANNERS!

Download the Green Co flyer here: Green Co Leaflet July 18

Sheff Save Our NHS 18.07.15

Peoples’ Assembly 20th June

It’s looking like the Peoples Assembly demo in London on Saturday 20 June is going to be huge and important as part of the fight back. We will add travel details to this post as we get them, so check back often.

Barnsley: The bus will leave from Eldon St (opposite Gateway Cinema) at 7.30am.  Tickets are £14 waged, £5 unwaged & students. You can book your ticket by emailing or call 07837996888.

Doncaster: Our coaches will leave Doncaster Market Place, outside the Premiere Inn, at 7.30am, and return from London at 6pm.

Huddersfield: For more information and to book a seat, contact 07704202807 or 07814709853. £10 Unwaged, £20 Waged.

Sheffield: Coaches are leaving Paternoster Row, Sheffield outside The Hubs at 8am.

Durham: The coach will leave Durham at 6.00 am, picking up from the Students’ Union (Dunelm House) New Elvet and will then pick up at Darlington at 6.30am. £20 waged, £10 unwaged. It would be greatly appreciated if you could make the payment by 13th June, at the People’s Bookshop, Durham (open Thurs-Saturday 12 – 6pm). Facebook page here.

No To Sanctions!

no sanctions

Benefit sanctions are one more way of trying to keep us under the rule of the 1%.  But we’re not staying down any more.

More and more people are facing benefit sanctions; 2 million people have had their money stopped in the past 2 years.  That’s 2 million people, many of whom have been plunged into poverty, unable to heat their homes or even eat.  How is this meant to help prepare people for work?  How can we tolerate this when we know the 1% have and control all the money?  When tax dodgers, bankers, corporate profiteers and the politicians who work for them get away, robbing us all with austerity?
Our city is taking ACTION on 19 March.  Join us at 12pm at Hartshead Square, Sheffield city centre, outside the Jobcentre Plus office.
If you would like to speak at the action or have any ideas to make the day creative and bold please let me know.
Benefit sanctions must be fought.

These sanctions are cruel and handed out for ridiculous reasons such as:
◾Arriving minutes late to a meeting
◾Not applying for jobs when waiting to start a new job!
◾Missing an appointment on the day of the funeral of a close family member.

This has to stop

Up and down the country on Thursday 19 March we will be protesting against the cruel use of sanctions.

FOUR ways to get involved:

1.Join an event near you on Thursday 19 March to stop benefit sanctions in your community.
2.Sign our petition calling on the government to stop using sanctions.
3.Share your story – we are looking for people who have been sanctioned to tell their story.
4.We want to show the reality and impact on people’s lives – show your support – share on Twitter and Facebook #No2Sanctions Like us on Facebook.

Sheffield event page here