Five reasons why the Left should accept Labour council cuts
We are in the midst of a three week period many when many Labour councils are setting their budgets. All of them will make cuts.
Labour councillors up and down the country will receive abuse for what many on the left will see as their betrayal and cowardice. This is the first part of an unashamedly detailed article on why such abuse is both unjustified and counterproductive.
Labour councils and the broad left should be coming together to bash out a better way forward than the Tory-pleasing acrimony currently developing.
continue reading… »
Amnesty slammed by Unite on workers’ rights
A response by Amnesty is at the end of the article
The global human rights organisation Amnesty International has been slammed by Unite the Union today for threatening workers’ rights.
Amnesty International has told workers based outside the UK they will no longer have the right to remain members of Unite, says the union.
It also claims that as part of the same move, union members at the International Secretariat in London have been given three months to agree to these new terms or face de-recognition.
This means many of Amnesty’s staff based in cities such as Beirut, Moscow, Geneva, Hong Kong, Kampala and New York would have less protection than staff in London.
Some within the organisation claim Amnesty is making the move because it plans to ask staff from London to move to others parts of the globe.
De-recognition of workers rights would make it easier for Amnesty to avoid paying union-backed redundancy compensation if staff balked at moving. But these changes has not yet been announced.
Unite has represented Amnesty workers since 1973.
The union refused to enter discussions while Amnesty’s management is “holding a gun to the heads of its staff members,” they say, by threatening them with de-recognition.
It’s worth nothing that Amnesty UK is a separate entity to Amnesty International; the latter is pushing these changes.
Amnesty claims on its UK website that:
Trade unions have made a great contribution to the defence of human rights through Amnesty’s Trade Union Network. We invite you to help us have an even bigger impact by affiliating your union.
It’s a pity Amnesty is not listening to its own advice.
Update: A spokesperson from Amnesty has told Liberal Conspiracy:
Contrary to what Unite has suggested, management at Amnesty’s International Secretariat has no intention of derecognising the union. The rights organisation won’t weaken the principle of collective bargaining among its staff and definitely doesn’t intend to threaten its own workers’ rights. Amnesty remains committed to its staff belonging to any union of their choice.
Management at the International Secretariat, Amnesty’s headquarters, were advised that staff based outside the UK who are governed by local national employment law would be better represented by a local union or staff association with local knowledge and expertise. Staff remain free to join a UK-based union if they choose to do so.
These fresh negotiations with Unite are simply to put in place a proper working agreement that replaces one from 1973. It’s certainly not the intention of Amnesty to threaten its own workers’ rights. That would go against the very principle of Amnesty International.
Cameron is in the Middle East to promote the arms trade, not democracy
contribution by Sohail Jannesari
David Cameron’s decision to fly to Egypt for talks with leading government and opposition figures is not, as he states, to ensure “a genuine transition from military rule to civilian rule”. It is to safeguard the geo-political balance which was present under Hosni Mubarak.
It is no surprise that Cameron is reportedly accompanied by personnel from no less than eight different defence firms.
continue reading… »
Tory MSP resigns over rape comments outrage
Scottish Tory MSP Bill Aitken has decided to stand down as Convenor of the Justice Committee, after a storm of controversy around his comments last week.
In an interview with the Scottish Herald he seemed to suggest that a woman who was gang-raped in Glasgow was a prostitute – questioning why she was present in the area.
This morning a motion tabled by Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie called for Aitken to step down as Convenor.
Political Scrapbook also asked why Aitken hadn’t stepped down this afternoon.
This afternoon, by around 5pm, Aitken finally relented.
Here is his statement:
In a speech in the Scottish Parliament in December I said:
“… no one would take a more serious view of violence against any woman than I would. Human trafficking, for any purpose, is totally unacceptable. The courts must react, and everyone is entitled to their protection. That is especially true in the case of many prostitutes, who work in a very vulnerable situation.”
That was my view then. It is my view today and it will be always be my view.
However by asking a journalist by way of background during his inquiry to me, about the circumstances of a particular case I left myself open to misrepresentation. That is my fault and that is why I immediately issued a full and unreserved apology for any misunderstanding or distress it caused.
Unfortunately, the newspaper chose not to publish my full statement. It also decided not to publish any quotes from my second telephone call from the journalist during which I made my position clear. I leave it to others to comment on these facts and the reporting of a background conversation.
But, however unfairly, an impression has been created that I hold certain views about rape.
So, for the record, let me repeat again: Rape, in every case and for every victim is an abhorrent, vile violation. Every case and every victim must be treated equally. The circumstances of any case are only pertinent to the lines of inquiry which the police would follow.
Whilst even the First Minister went on the record to say that he did not believe I held the views attributed to me, another Glasgow MSP has now tabled a motion calling for me to resign as Convenor of the Justice Committee.
That Committee does and will continue to do important work even as we approach dissolution for May’s elections. I have been proud to lead it, and I am proud of its achievements.
Some months ago, I announced that I would not be seeking re-election to Holyrood in May.
In politics, you have to have a thick skin. But this issue is no longer about me. For far too many people, perception is reality.
Today, I am standing down as Convenor of the Justice Committee.
I do so with a mixture of emotions. Frustration at allowing myself to be misrepresented. Anger at being misrepresented. And remorse to rape victims and their loved ones for any hurt they feel. But also in the hope that my true views can now be heard.
In all my years as a City Councillor, a JP and an MSP I have spoken out against criminals and spoken up for victims of crime. That will not change in retirement. I will continue to battle for justice for all.”
(statement via @MrHarryCole).
Bill Aitken has already said he will stand down as an MSP at the next election.
Legal action threat at Gove over EMA cuts
Legal action could be launched on behalf of students who believe their two-year contracts for study has been breached by the government’s decision to axe the education maintenance allowance (EMA).
The Save EMA campaign is receiving advice from trade union lawyers supported by Unison who are examining whether they can win payments for students who began courses in September expecting two years of financial support.
Students sign an EMA contract which commits them to rules on attendance, punctuality and achievement in return for the payments, prompting the claim that the Government may be obliged to fulfil its part of the bargain for around 300,000 students.
Both Save EMA and Unison are currently gathering further evidence on paper work.
According to a YouGov poll last week almost half the British public oppose the government’s plans to abolish the Education Maintenance Allowances (EMA).
The poll also showed that a substantial amount of those who voted for both coalition parties at the last election and who intend to vote at coming elections also oppose the abolition of the EMA:
· 50 % who voted Lib Dem in 2010 oppose abolition of EMA
· 42% who still intend to vote Lib Dem oppose abolition of EMA
· 27% who voted Conservative in 2010
· 25% who still intend to vote Conservative oppose Abolition of EMA
James Mills, head of the Save EMA campaign, said:
David Cameron went to a few colleges and said, ‘We won’t scrap EMA.’ There was a clear promise that EMA won’t be axed and students joined their courses on that basis and committed themselves for two years.
Michael Gove said before the election that he would not scrap EMA, and that anyone who said he would was a liar.
A report by the think-tank IFS earlier this year destroyed government justifications for cutting EMAs.
Survey: pvt employers won’t hire public wkrs
Do you remember government ministers explaining their plan that job losses in the public sector will be compensated for by more jobs being created in the private sector?
“More than half of private sector companies in the UK say they are not interested in hiring people who have lost their jobs in the public sector, delivering a blow to ministers hoping to limit the impact of spending cuts.
57 per cent of companies are not interested in taking on former public sector workers, while 52 per cent believe these workers are not equipped to take a post in their businesses.”
For years, the Tories and their allies in the right-wing press spread propaganda and ran regular Two Minute Hates against people who work in the public sector, and this sort of idiocy is the consequence.
Boycotting the Census is a counter-productive move
During March, people across the UK will be receiving forms for the Census. There are calls by groups such as No2ID and the Stop the War coalition for people to boycott the census, on grounds ranging from protest against state intrusion to concerns about the involvement of US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
It’s perfectly reasonable for campaigners to use the fact that the Census is coming up to campaign on these issues.
But a boycott of the Census is the wrong way to go about this.
continue reading… »
Five reasons why Aaron Porter was right not to seek re-election
It’s official: Aaron Porter will no longer be the British student movement’s official figurehead. For only the second time since 1969, a NUS President will not serve a second term.
Aaron Porter chose the wrong time to be a Blairite at the helm of the student movement. If the joint NUS/UCU demo on November 14th had been half as big, Porter would still be in office. But it lit a torchpaper. No-one on left or right had a real sense of the burning anger on campuses and in sixth forms across the country.
continue reading… »
Excl. statement: Aaron Porter not running again
The NUS President Aaron Porter has said today has he will not be seeking a second term as President, which is almost unprecedented in the union’s history.
Liberal Conspiracy has the full statement:
Dear All
The last few months have been momentous. Our response to the Government’s austerity measures will go down in the history books. We’ve kick started a wave of student action, brought the coalition to its knees, and we’ve shaped the public debate on education in an unprecedented fashion. This campaign began over 3 years ago- a long-term strategy to deliver a real alternative to a market in fees, and it’s a campaign I have been heavily involved in from the very beginning as a student officer in Leicester, as Vice President (Higher Education) and then as NUS President.
The Government’s decision to treble tuition fees was a bitter pill to swallow- and whilst a number of concessions were secured, notably for part-time students as well as an increased threshold of repayment for all graduates, this was still not the outcome we wanted. Thousands of students will now decide that Higher Education is not for them- and the ones that do get to go will be plunged into an era of market chaos. It’s a tragedy- and one that requires relentless pressure, both locally and nationally, to ensure that it is exposed and replaced with something better as soon as possible.
So this new regime brings with it a new landscape, and I believe NUS now needs reinvigorating into the next phase of this campaign. After considerable soul searching, I believe there needs to be a new President to lead the student movement into that next phase. As a result, I’ve resolved not to seek re-election at National Conference this year.
The challenge for a new National President will be great. They’ll need to support students’ unions and student officers to get the best deal for students, whilst running a major national campaign to defeat damaging marketization in education. They’ll need to build activism and radicalism on the ground whilst defending legitimate, democratic students’ unions from attack from our enemies. Above all, they’ll need a fresh outlook- because if we are to reach out, and engage with, the full diversity of our membership, we need to move beyond the tired rhetoric and redundant tactics of some factional groups.
I want to say thank you to the hundreds of students and student officers who have been so supportive this year, and indeed for the nominations for a second term which I had already been sent. It goes without saying that with a white paper on its way, the next four months remain a huge opportunity for the organisation, and I will be relentless in ensuring I do the very best I can in the role.
We should continue to be proud of what we have achieved, and it has been an honour to be President at this time. If I have one criticism of this year, it would be that we have not been quick enough to talk about our achievements – and I hope we can pause for a moment to remedy this.
Let’s push on to make sure we credit ourselves for what we have achieved, and ensure we work together to push NUS and the student movement to the next level.
In unity,
Aaron Porter
The NUS elections are due in April.
The Middle East protests expose Blair’s hollow doctrine
Imagine if you had a quid each time you hear the dwindling band of blind supporters of the Iraq war reciting that sorry little line as the best justification for Britain’s biggest foreign policy atrocity of the last forty years.
“At least we removed a sanguinary dictator” is a sentence that oozes hypocrisy from each and every pore, a phrase rendered even more vomitous and hollow when you look at the hateful game of “this dictator good, that dictator bad” that Tony Blair played so well during his reign.
continue reading… »
You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
» Revealed: govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote
» Would raising the tax threshold actually help the poorest?
» To win London, Ken Livingstone has to step outside his comfort zone
» This trade agreement with India will destroy thousands of lives
» UK debt hasn’t hit £1 trillion – mostly because of QE
» The benefits of being a “burden” on society
» Today’s economic figures will simply confirm UK’s “lost decade”
» Have Labour realised the election is more than three years away?
» Violence in the office
» Want a more responsible capitalism? Reform how pensions work
» The world is entering the third phase of the crisis, warns ILO
|
19 Comments 33 Comments 59 Comments 18 Comments 15 Comments 25 Comments 38 Comments 7 Comments 64 Comments 11 Comments |
|
LATEST COMMENTS » Sunny Hundal posted on Revealed: govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote » Sally posted on Even by economic standards Hester's £1m bonus is unworthy » Flowerpower posted on Diane Abbott resigns from abortion panel » Tom (iow) posted on The benefits of being a "burden" on society » Anne posted on Revealed: govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote » Ian M Davies posted on Week of action against Atos begins Monday » Robert2012 posted on The benefits of being a "burden" on society » G.O. posted on Would raising the tax threshold actually help the poorest? » Dave posted on Revealed: govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote » Schmidt posted on Even by economic standards Hester's £1m bonus is unworthy » Link: “govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote” | Help Me Investigate Health posted on Revealed: govt to restrict abortion counselling despite Nadine Dorries vote » Planeshift posted on Would raising the tax threshold actually help the poorest? » Makhno posted on The benefits of being a "burden" on society » Trooper Thompson posted on Would raising the tax threshold actually help the poorest? » ukliberty posted on Does Priti Patel MP care for human rights? |
