Lewisham Trades Union Council meeting 20/01/15

Our first meeting of the year discussed a packed agenda and agreed that we should support a number of activities in the coming period. These include: 

·         The March for Homes: 12 midday, Saturday 31/01/15 (Elephant & Castle)  www.marchforhomes.org

·         Time to Act on Climate Change public meeting: 7:30pm, Thursday 12/02/15 (Goldsmiths College) and its demonstration on Saturday 07/03/15 www.campaigncc.org

·         Unite Against Racism and Fascism national conference: 9:30am Saturday 21/02/15 (TUC HQ) www.uaf.org.uk

·         Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership public meeting: Tuesday 24/02/15 (Catford Town Hall) www.lpbp.org.uk

·         Lobby of Lewisham Council against budget cuts: 6pm Wednesday 25/02/15 (Lewisham Town Hall)
  

·         UN Anti Racism Day demonstration: 12 noon, Saturday 21/03/15 (Trafalgar Square) www.standuptoracism.org.uk

We also agreed that we should organise following:

·         General Election hustings meetings: we agreed we should support the hustings meeting being arranged by SELPA at Goldsmiths and arrange another meeting at the Town hall or appropriate venue in the Catford end of the borough.

·         Bromley Council De-recognition of trade unions: we agreed this was a disgraceful act and to formally write to the unions affected offering our full support in their campaign against this.

·         Living Wage/Fair contracts campaign: we agreed to pursue this with various contacts we have made.

·         Banner Theatre: we agreed the Wickham Arms gig was a success and we should try and arrange a venue where they can perform the whole show about the NHS/Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign.

·         Film show: we agreed that the showing of “Still the Enemy Within” was in was a great success and that we would arrange more film shows during the year.

Delegates reported the following from their unions:

·         Unite. Lewisham Town Hall: working hard to increase membership levels and campaigning to achieve better pay for workers covered by the Glendale contracts. 

·         UCU Lewisham & Southwark College: awaiting full details of budget cuts announced recently.

·         Equity: pursuing disputes involving non payment of holiday pay and “volunteer” contracts on behalf of members.

·         UCU Goldsmiths: proposed pension deal has been put membership, branch considering their view.

·         CWU: continued problems with union recognition from satellite/phone installation contractors. Dismissals and employment law breaches commonplace.

·         NUT: planning for action in February in five local schools where academy status are being considered 
 

·         PCS: employers stopping deduction of union subscriptions over next months, campaign to switch members to DD underway. PCS to give evidence to Work & Pensions Select Committee 21/01/15 calling for sanctions to be withdrawn from the benefit system.