Save Lewisham Fire Stations: public meeting 14/03/13

Lewisham Trades Council have organised a public meeting to help the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) campaign against proposed closures of New Cross and Downham Fire stations. Details as follows:

Thursday 14th March 7:30pm (refreshments from 7pm)

Barnes Wallis Centre, 74 Wild Goose Drive SE14 5LL
(off Queens Road, rear of New Cross Fire Station)

Speakers: Simon Chapman (FBU) Len Duvall (GLA) Paul Bell (local councillor) Tony Reay (Lewisham Trades Council)

Please come along and find out what you can do to help.

Trades Council delegates should note that the trades council meeting on 14/03/13 has been cancelled in favour of this meeting

Thank you to Millwall and Charlton FCs

Both our local football clubs have lent their support to the campaign to save Lewisham Hospital's A&E. Trade unionists joined campaigners to leaflet matches over the past two Saturdays. Millwall players (and their Mascot) wore t-shirts supporting the campaign during their warm up. They also urged supporters to join the demonstration next Saturday and have moved the cup tie with Aston Villa to Friday night, so they can join the march on Saturday.

Latest news from Trades Council

Lewisham Trades Council met on 15/01/13. It agreed to donate £400 to the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign, arrange public meeting with the FBU to fight the proposed closure of New Cross Fire Station and another to discuss a campaign on Welfare.

Delegates also gave reports about campaigns in various union branches in the borough:   

RMT have two current campaigns. The first concerns station security. Management are considering reducing staff numbers approaching nightly closure. This increases the security risk to both customers and staff. The union will rightly oppose any such proposals.

RMT are also recruiting cleaners in order to help them gain decent working conditions and pay. A lot of cleaners are unaware that employers have a legal obligation to pay the minimum wage for example.

UCU are dealing with a raft of issues arising from the merger of Southwark and Lewisham colleges. The union aims to resist redundancies, protect conditions and maintain services.

The newly formed Lewisham NUJ branch has 600 members in the borough. Their industry like most is affected by austerity. The union is campaigning for all journalist interns to be paid and not exploited.

CWU has a major campaign on its hands thanks to the disgraceful antics of Virgin Media who have derecognised the union. A number of different companies provide installation services for Virgin. Many of these communication workers belong to the union and want it to remain.

UNISON at Goldsmith's college await yet another restructure plan, which they fear could involve privatisation of some services. The union has resolved to fight any such proposals.

PCS and NUT are gearing up for industrial action over pay and conditions in March, but a strike in jobcentres planned for January has been called off because DWP have backed  away from compulsory redundancies. At least 12 months work has been guaranteed for 43 workers threatened with the sack in six months time.

March again to save Lewisham Hospital on January 26

Another march has been called to Save Lewisham Hospital - and NHS Services across South London -  on Saturday 26th January. 

Trades Council members helped leaflet outside Charlton FC today

10,000 people marched through Lewisham on 24th November last year, now the campaign needs an even bigger turnout on 26th January. Members of Lewisham Trades Council are supporting the campaign and also encouraging healthworker trade unions to mobilise to defend their jobs and our services.

The demo will again assemble at Lewisham Roundabout (on the 'grassy knoll') at 12 noon. We will march past our hospital to Mountsfield Park where there will be a rally, music and a giant petition. Make surte your trade union is there with its banner!

You can see further information and download the leaflet from http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/demonstration-26th-january/

Lewisham unions continue to fight cuts

Towards the end of one busy year and ready to start another one, Lewisham Trades Council members have continued to take an active role in fighting cuts:

Bromley Council attack workers

On Saturday 8th December we joined UNITE members from Bromley leafleting homes to warn residents of the council's proposals to sack all its employees and offer them new contracts on lower pay and worse conditions. Read more at the link below:
http://archive.unitetheunion.org/news__events/latest_news/bromley_bosses_told__don_t_br.aspx

Binmen set to strike

We also fully support the Unite members striking for reinstatement of their colleagues disgracefully sacked by Bromley Council. Read more below:

http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/bromleybinmensettostrikeasbossesignoretheirpleas/

Save Lewisham Hospital

Union members across Lewisham joined protests on Thursday 13/12/12 to show mark the end of the consultation on the proposed closure and show their determination to defend the hospital. Hundreds joined in outside their workplaces like PCS members at Catford Jobcentre.

PCS Balloting for strike action

PCS Union members across the DWP are voting for strike action in January to stop compulsory redundancies across their department. If management do not back down the union has no choice but to strike. National ballots across the civil service to fight government attacks on pay and conditions look set to follow in February.

Bromley, Lewisham, civil service, private sector, public service - wherever the cuts are, unions will fight them!  

 

 

 

 

Trades Council Meetings 2013

Lewisham Trades Council meets six times a year at Depford Campus of Lewisham College on Deptford Broadway (nearest station: Deptford DLR). Meetings are on a Tuesday evening and start at 7pm and finish at 8:45pm, as the college closes at 9pm.

Meeting dates for 2013

Tuesday January 15th
Tuesday March 12th
Tuesday May 14th
Tuesday July 2nd*
Tuesday September 10th*
Tuesday November 12th

* these may be subject to change to accomodate college term dates

Usual Agenda

1. Introductions/apologies
2. Minutes and matters arising
3. Secretary'sreport
4. Campaigns and Disputes
5. Delegates reports
6. AOB

Attendance

Meetings are open to all trade union activists who live, meet or work within London Borough of Lewisham. We will, of course, ask your union branch to affiliate to the trades council, but appreciate that different unions have differing approaches to affiliation to the trades council network. Any issues about this can and will be resolved.