Here is more coverage from the anti-sanctions day of action.
The Northern Echo 200315 Benefits sanctions day of action
More day of action coverage
categories: sanctions
Tag: yorkshire
Full List of Sanctions Protests in our Region
categories: sanctions
Here is the Full List of Sanctions Protests in our Region. If you require further materials call The Leeds Regional Office on 0113 236 4830 or Email claire.mawson@unitetheunion.
Here are a few useful links: http://www.unitetheunion.org/
Teesside Anti Sanctions Protest. March 19th 12 o’clock Jobcentre Plus Employment Center Town Centre
Address: 79 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2BA.
Grimsby Anti Sanctions Protest. March 19th 12 o’clock Rally at Riverside Square.
Barnsley Anti Sanctions Protest. Meet Barnsley Town Centre (Out Side Boots the Chemist 34-40 Cheapside,
Barnsley S70 1RT) at 12.15 pm, For Protests at various Town Centre Locations.
Huddersfield
NO SANCTIONS FOR CLAIMANTS!!
NO TARGETS FOR STAFF!!
DEMONSTRATION AGAINST BENEFIT SANCTIONS
THURSDAY MARCH 19 2015
12.00 MIDDAY
UPPERHEAD ROW (NEAR THE BUS STATION)
HUDDERSFIELD.
Newcastle
Meet 12 O’clock
Newcastle City Jobcentre Plus,
1 Cathedral Square,
Mosley Street,
Newcastle Upon Tyne,
NE1 1EE.
Leeds Unite Community Anti Sanctions Demo. Meet 12 O’Clock Address: 64 Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LH (Outside Body Shop) For Protests at various Town Centre Locations.
Bring Friends, Banners, Flags, Music, Noise and Imagination!
Sunderland Protest
60-66 John Street
Sunderland
United Kingdom
SR1 1QT
12 pm to 2 pm.
Doncaster Protest
Doncaster Crossgate House, Wood street Doncaster DN1 3LL
11 am to 1pm.
Selby Anti Sanctions Demo
Unite the Union Anti Sanctions Demo
12 Noon Outside the Selby Job Centre
Flaxley Road YO8 3BH.
Sheffield No to Sanctions. Meet 12 noon at Hartshead Square S1 2FD outside Atos Assessment Centre for protests at various city centre locations No Sanctions for Claimants, No Targets for Staff.
Redcar Protest. 10 a.m. – Redcar Jobcentre Plus, Portland House, West Dyke Road, TS10 1DH.
Stockton Protest. 2 p.m. – Stockton Jobcentre Plus, Bridge Road, TS18 3BW.
Activist Bulletin 4
categories: Unite the Union
Please click on the link below to read the latest Unite North East, Yorkshire & Humber Region Activist Bulletin.
Stop TTIP Yorkshire and Humber group
Hi there
I’m contacting you to ask if you would be interested in working with others to create a ‘Stop TTIP Yorkshire and Humber’ group or network.
TTIP (The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) is a threat to democracy, public services, workers’ rights and environmental protection. You can read more on the World Development Movement’s ‘Ten Reasons Why You Should Be Worried about TTIP’ http://www.globaljustice.org.
Your group is a group that has come out as opposed to TTIP- or a smaller local group who we think may be sympathetic. You can see the full list of groups (including your own) on the final page of the #No TTIP Times. You can see this here http://www.globaljustice.org.
At the bottom of this email is a complete list of recipients in the region.
A Yorkshire and Humber network could be a way of making links between local groups (e.g. mapping the lobbies of MPs that have taken place), collectively lobbying MEPs and possibly coming together for some sort of demonstration on a day of action (There’s talk about the next one being in April). We don’t have a huge amount of time. Our regional MEPs are expected to vote on TTIP in May (see https://www.opendemocracy.net/
Leeds Tidal have very kindly offered in principle to host a meeting of ‘Stop TTIP Yorkshire and Humber’ to help to get the ball rolling.
I would like to leave this proposal with you and to ask you to get in touch if this interests you by one month today ie 18th February. (This allows for all groups to have an opportunity to discuss at a monthly meeting). My suggestion would be that, of those who reply we could then discuss suggestions about when would be a good time to meet and what would be a good agenda for the meeting. (I would imagine that this would be a Saturday in March).
When you reply I would be grateful if you could clarify whether you’d be happy for your email address to be shared with others (ie in the ‘To’ or ‘CC’ boxes). This would mean that groups can communicate to each other and not just via me.
At the bottom of this email is a complete list of the organisations that I have sent this to. While I know the network in my area – Kirklees, West Yorkshire- well, I am very much ‘feeling my way in the dark’ with other areas. Therefore, I’d be really grateful if people could forward this to other groups in their area and let me know who they have sent this to. I haven’t included the Labour Party contacts in this email as the party’s does not seem to be anti-TTIP in a straightforward sense- but you may know individuals within your network and will know whether grassroots Labour activists are opposed to TTIP. Please share this with them.
It’s likely that I will send a reminder at some point during the next month about this but will only do so to the organisations I have contacted through email addresses- not contact forms.
I am also going to contact 38 Degrees to ask if they will send this to individuals within the Yorkshire and Humber region.
I hope that your group will be interested in engaging with this project.
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
All the best
Tim Padmore
Kirklees Campaign Against Climate Change
More on TTIP at this link.
Download War on Want’s booklet about TTIP here.
Unite Community Regional Day
UNITE COMMUNITY REGIONAL DAY
UNITE OFFICE
LEEDS
Thursday November 13 2014
What an amazing day!! It was well organised, informative, fun and inspirational!
Unite Community is 3 years old. There were 480 members in this region (Yorkshire, Humberside and North East) last September, now there are 1000! No other union is organising people who are out of work. There are now 5 branches in this region, with South Yorkshire the biggest and 2 other branches are on the way.
This was a day for 3/4 activists from each branch in the region. Other members came from Newcastle, Durham, Barnsley, Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, Grimsby Teesside and Newcastle. It was inspiring to hear what the campaigns were achieving with the support of Unite Community.
Unite Community is helping release an absolute powerhouse of energy. It is involving people of all ages, abilities and experience. Campaigns include support for the Freedom Riders which has grown into a national campaign; Justice for Orgreave; the Bedroom Tax, opposing benefit sanctions, boycotting workfare, demonstrating against ATOS, campaigns against the closure of children’s centres and campaigns around student fees.
Branches have petitioned, held public meetings, rallies, demonstrations and supported picket lines. Two branches have had joint meetings with PCS members to encourage union staff to refuse to carry out unfair and cruel sanctions.
Some branches have established food banks and clothing banks – with a laundry in one branch area, washing and ironing the clothes for free. This has been very helpful for people attending job interviews.
There are courses for public speaking, learning computing skills, welfare benefits training; banner-making – whatever the need to take a community forward – it can be done with Unite Community support.
It was agreed that we needed to be clear about our aims which are to raise political awareness and give a voice to people who are not working, helping people shape and build strong working class communities.
Many of our campaigns will be about resisting austerity cuts to jobs and services and challenging racism. It was felt important that we link up with industrial unions and with other community organisations who are working with the unemployed and that we send delegates to trade councils.
Legal help and advice is available to members from the experienced trade union law firm, Thompson’s solicitors. Services include personal injury and accident compensation, criminal law, clinical negligence, free legal advice, pensions and conveyancing.
See photos from the day in the gallery below.
Training members in Graphic Design
categories: Unite Training Course
Educate Agitate Organise!
Unite / Unite Community offer a wide range of educational courses that are designed with the intention of giving you the skills to effectively campaign in your workplace or community.
Below are some examples from our recent Graphic Design Course held in Leeds please follow this link to see more courses available. We need to build a team of skilled activists in every workplace and community across the whole country if we are to win the battles that face us.
The Con Dems are very determined and organised, we need to be more determined and better organised if we are to win!
Strike Action: Britain Needs a Pay Rise
Here is a round-up of strike action in our area. We would like to encourage all Unite Community members to please go and support your local picket lines, marches and rallies. Unite flags can be obtained from your local branch office. Please also send your photos and reviews of any strike action that you attend to Joe or Andy, so that we can include them on the blog.
March with us in London on Saturday 18th October, to call for an end to the longest squeeze on living standards for nearly a century. March for a better Britain, full of hope for ordinary people and the next generation, jobs that pay and affordable homes. Book your seat – Contact Caroline on 0113 322 3385 to book a seat on Unite’s free transport for members and family.
Please note that all of the details below are correct at the time of publication. As more details become available, we will update the list, so check back regularly. Please also check with you local branch office if in doubt.
Monday 13th October 2014
BARNSLEY: NHS solidarity BREAKFAST
Hospital workers in UNITE, UNISON and RCM (Royal College of Midwives – striking for the first time in their history) will be on strike from 7am-11am.
Pickets at Barnsley Hospital, Keresforth Centre, Kendray and Mount Vernon hospitals/day care centres.
SHEFFIELD: Strike Action
NHS workers in UNISON, GMB, UNITE and Royal Society of Midwives are taking limited strike action against George Osborne’s refusal to pay even the 1% pay rise recommended by the Government’s own Pay Review Body.
SHEFFIELD: Rally
Northern General Hospital
Herries Road Entrance at 10am
Speakers:
Tony Pearson, UNISON
Bill Adams, Reg TUC Sec
John Dunn, Orgreave Campaigner
Doncaster Care UK striker
All staff welcome to join the rally
0114 2714408 john.campbell@sth.nhs.uk
YORK: March
Assemble at 12noon by the West End of York Minster.
We don’t just want strike day to be a stay-at-home day. We want to show that this is an active campaign with demands that people are passionate about. Better pay in the public sector means more pressure for better pay in the private sector – and more taxes to provide support for those unable to find or undertake work. Its a win-win-win.
Picket Lines: 7am to 11am
Scarborough Hospital
Woodlands Drive
Scarborough
YO12 6QL
Bridlington Hospital
Bessingby Road
Bridlington
YO16 4QP
York Hospital
Wigginton Road
York
YO31 8HE
Keresforth Centre
Keresforth Close
Barnsley
S70 6RS
Fieldhead Hospital
Ouchthorpe Lane
Wakefield
WF1 3SP
Northway Clinic
Northway
Scarborough
YO12 7AF
Leeds Blood Transfusion Service
Bridle Path
Seacroft
LS15 7TW
Reginald Centre
263 Chapeltown Road
Leeds
LS7 3EX
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX
St James Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Durham Health
UHND – Darlington Memorial
07880 196359
Gateshead Health
Queen Elizabeth and Bensham Hospitals
0191 4452371
Newcastle Hospitals
RVI and Maternity Services
Freeman Hospital
0191 2231373
North Tees & Hartlepool
Outside main gates at University Hospital of Hartlepool and University Hospital of North Tees.
01642 383804
Northern Blood
Blood Centre – Holland Drive, Newcastle.
0191 219 4518
Northumbria Health
Main Hospitals – Wansbeck, North Tyneside, Hexham.
01670 529347 / 825
South Tees Health
Three main sites – JCUH Middlesbrough, Redcar Hospital, Friarage (Northallerton).
01642 246 434
South Tyneside Health
General Hospital and other sites.
0191 2024066
TEWV
Four main sites – Middlesbrough, Darlington, Durham and Northallerton.
01642 837 364
Wearside Health
Sunderland Royal Hospital
0191 569 9909
Tuesday 14th October 2014
HUDDERSFIELD: March and Rally
Assemble from 11.00 am St George’s Square HD1 1JS
Move off 11.30 am for town centre march
Rally back at St George’s Square
Speakers will include: Paul Holmes UNISON, Lyall Singleton UNITE, speaker from GMB, chair Nick Ruff Huddersfield TUC.
For more information: Bob Stoker 0730633708
www.huddersfield-tuc.org
Facebook/ Huddersfield TUC
BARNSLEY: March and Rally
Assemble at 10.30am outside Gateway Plaza for an 11am set-off, followed by a rally in the precinct. Local trade union speakers. Local MPs invited. Contact: Dave Gibson.
SHEFFIELD: March and Rally
Local Authority workers in UNISON, GMB and UNITE are taking a day’s strike action over pay restraint which has seen their pay fall in real terms faster than any other group of workers.
Assemble 11am Devonshire Green. Speakers at 11.15am. March sets off 11.30am. 12.30pm arrive at City Hall steps Barkers Pool for final rally and speeches. Close 13.30pm.
YORK: March
We’re going to be marching with UNISON, UCU and members of other unions. We want this to be a representation of our whole city. Many staff, both public and private sector, are being told year after year that they won’t get a raise, whilst money is pumped into the hands of the few. York may be doing better than many places for ‘job creation’ but so many of those jobs are paying below the Living Wage.
DONCASTER: Picket and March
Picket North Bridge, Doncaster. March Civic Building Doncaster (no other details yet available).
ROTHERHAM: Picket and March
(no details yet available).
Picket Lines: 7am to 11am
City of Sunderland
Youth Offending, Lombard Street, Sandhill View, Civic Centre
0191 5532730
Darlington
Town Hall
01325 388 270
Durham
County Hall
03000 263300/ 301/ 302/ 303
Gateshead
Civic Centre.
Still establishing position re Schools.
0191 4776638
Hartlepool
Main Admin Buildings, Departments and Schools.
01429 523027
Newcastle
Same as July. Civic Centre and other Offices and Depots.
0191 211 6980/6981
North East Ambulance
Bernicia HQ, Newburn, Riverside
0191 232 0348
North Tyneside
Bernicia HQ, Newburn, Riverside
0191 232 0348
North Tyneside
Main HQ buildings – Cobalt
0191 643 8953
Northumberland
Branch Committee meets Monday, 6 October. Will picket County Hall.
01670 624406/01670 624409/01670 624410
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear Health
St Nicholas Hospital, St George’s, Hopewood Park, Monkwearmouth.
01670 394161
Redcar and Cleveland
Civic Heart, R&C House, Belmont House.
01642 444 468
South Tyneside LG
Three main buildings – South Shields Town Hall, Middlefields Depot and Gordon House, South Shields.
0191 454 4167
Stockton
Kingsway House, Queensway House, Municipal Buildings (Church Road).
01642 528685 / 528684
Wednesday 15th October 2014
BARNSLEY: Solidarity Walk
3 PCS picketlines in Barnsley. Assemble at 7.30 am at John Rideal House, Shambles Street.
SHEFFIELD: Strike Action
PCS civil servants on strike over attacks to their pay and conditions
BRING YOUR BANNERS!
The PCS will have a picket line at every Job Centre, please visit their website for more details.
Saturday 18th October 2014
LONDON: Britain Needs a Pay Rise
Support the TUC’s Britain Needs A Pay Rise demonstration in London. The Trades Council has organised a coach which is filling fast. To book your seat on Unite’s free transport for members and family, contact Caroline on 0113 322 3385.
10 July industrial action – your story. Hundreds of thousands of people took industrial action on 10 July to call for fair pay for local government workers. Here, a few of our members tell us why they felt they had to take their demonstration right to the heart of London. Click here to view.
A message from Mark Serwotka of the PCS Union.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vwRjgsL9PFo
NHS Emergency March
categories: NHS
Here are some pictures of the NHS Emergency March as it made its way through our region. The demonstration has been hugely successful highlighting the precarious position that the NHS is in and the marchers have been greeted with overwhelming support in the local communities, The march ends this Saturday in London please show your support in any way you can link here.
Unite in Schools
categories: Unite in Schools
The Unite in Schools project got under way in the NEY&H Region today, with our first volunteers undergoing training. Another training day will take place on Friday September 26th.
If anyone would like to get involved in this important initiative, or has good contacts with their local schools please contact Joe Rollin.
