Joint union statement on HE job cuts

The following is from the UCU website:

The following statement has been signed by NUS, UCU, Unison, Unite, GMB and EIS.

'As representatives of both staff and students in higher education, we are deeply concerned at the announcement by the UCEA (the national body that negotiates on behalf of UK universities) that two-thirds of all universities are considering job cuts.

At a time when demand from students for access to higher education has never been greater we believe that any strategy of cutting jobs is deeply problematic.

The scale of redundancies in those institutions who have already announced cuts is substantial with both jobs and whole departments threatened. Cutting jobs could further raise staff:student ratios (which have already doubled in the last 15 years), and lead to larger seminar, class and lecture sizes; less contact time and an increased workload for those staff who remain. Any proposals to cut crucial support and academic related staff jobs without whom universities simply could not function will not be accepted by any union as a rationalisation for protecting such ratios. Cuts of any kind could have a devastating impact upon the quality of education experienced by current and future students.

Given UCEA has raised the spectre of mass redundancies across HE at national negotiations, there should be nothing in principle to stop the HE sector from coming together to provide reassurances on seeking to avoid job cuts rather than their current position- hiding behind claims of institutional autonomy.

We therefore believe that a partnership between unions and employers to reach a national agreement on job security is essential if we are to defend education.

We pledge to campaign together on defending education, reflecting the belief that our sector plays a critical role in mitigating the effects of the economic recession; creating the conditions for future prosperity and providing all in our communities with access to the opportunity to learn.'

Petition to: challenge the Office of National Statistics (ONS) position on including a question on sexual orientation in the upcoming 2011 census and,

Since 2006 the ONS 'Sexual Identity Project' has investigated the development of "a question (or set of questions) that can be used on social surveys and for equality monitoring purposes”. The current position is that no such question is likely to be included in 2011, meaning at least another decade before we see such a question on what is the most important survey of the UK population.

The survey will contain references to same-sex civil partnerships (which is a great step forward), so it makes no sense to then omit a question on sexual orientation.

At the 2009 Stonewall Workplace Conference, the Chief Executive of the Equalities & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) indicated clearly that the EHRC's view was that such a question should be included in 2011, challenging the ONS position. As the UK authority on equality issues, the EHRC's point of view should be taken seriously.

In keeping with the proposed Single Equality Act, it is the perfect time to add a question on sexual orientation to the census.

This government has an excellent record on LGB rights so far, please don't tarnish that by accepting the ONS stance on this issue. Show courage and don't make us wait yet another decade.

Sign the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/lgb2011census/

Scottish TUC votes for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel

The following is from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign website:

Scotland today joined Ireland and South Africa when the Scottish Trade Union Congress, representing every Scottish trade union, voted overwhelmingly to commit to boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. This is the third example of a national trade union federation committing to BDS and is a clear indication that, while Israel can kill Palestinians with impunity and Western support, it has lost the battle for world public opinion. It is now seen to be a state born out of ethnic cleansing and still expanding through the violent dispossession of the Palestinian people.

National Demonstration 16 May - Remember Gaza – Free Palestine!

Remember Gaza.. End the Siege now! Free Palestine!

National Demonstration 16 May 2009

Assembling 12noon in Central London, Rally in Trafalgar Square

Free Palestine - End Israeli Occupation - End the Arms trade

Called by: Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Supported by: Action Palestine, Amos Trust, Arab Media Watch, Association of Palestinian Communities UK, Britain-Palestine Twinning Network, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Friends of Sabeel UK, The Green Party, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK, Jewish Socialist’s Group, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Midlands Palestinian Community Association, Muslim Association of Britain, NUS Black Students Campaign, UNISON, Pax Christi, Public and Commercial Services Union, Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Viva Palestina, War on Want, Zaytoun.

Download the leaflet here.

Leaflets are also available from the PSC office – please save the date and start organising transport now!

We are looking for plenty of volunteers on the day, please contact us if you can help!

Please contact the PSC office for more information:

Tel: 020 7700 6192

Email: info@palestinecampaign.org

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

TV Turn Off Week

Monday signals the start of TV Turn Off Week 2009. This international week of events encourages us to turn off our TV for a week. Can you manage it?

Details at White Dot

Even the weather is on our side this year.

BBC Trust criticise Jeremy Bowen

I was astounded when I read today that the BBC Trust found that BBC Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, had breached guidelines on accuracy and impartiality.

I have always found Bowen to be one of the most impartial reporters around on the Israel/Palestine issue and often felt he could be a lot more critical of Israel's actions.

This is yet another display of BBC cowardice after refusing to show the DEC Gaza appeal. Despite their arguements of impartiality, they prove to be anything but impartial by the easy ride they give Israel's government and army.

Read the full story in the Independent

Charile Brooker's Newswipe

Please do make an effort to watch tonight's episode of Charile Brooker's Newswipe. It has an excellent analysis on how the media covered the G20 demo's and distorted the news to sensationalise what was in main a peaceful demonstration.

The program also showed this picture, which I had not seen before:



(Picture taken from Earth First website)

Watch Newswipe at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jwcb3/Newswipe_Episode_4

Mark Thomas endoreses the Green Party

(If you cannot see this video click here)

Government threatens benefits for alcoholics

BBC News reported today:

Alcoholics face having their benefits docked if they do not get treatment, under government plans.

Minister James Purnell has announced a review into the idea to be carried out jointly by the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions.

This once again highlights the governments attack on the benefits system pandering to the likes of the Daily Mail.

Alcoholism is an illness and it is simplistic to think that people will simply stop drinking because their benefits are risk. The real risk is that those who cannot stop drinking could end up on the streets through lack of income.

A typical bank holiday weekend

Here's to hoping we do actually get a summer this year.

Assault on Ian Tomlinson

The Guardian website today has a video showing damning evidence of the police attack on Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests which resulted in his death.

Details at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2009/apr/07/g20-police-assault-video

Big Brother is watching you even more closely

From today ISP's will monitor your email and net phone calls under an EU directive. This information will be available to the "authorities" on providing a warrant.

Once again this is an example of the government selectively interpreting the right to privacy legislation under the Human Rights Act.

Read more at the Open Rights Group site.

Aviva job losses

Green Party anger at Aviva jobs cuts

This week Aviva announced another 1,100 job losses in the UK with 571 at its York offices, 15% of the York workforce. This huge wave of job losses is the latest in what has become regular occurrence at York with now over 1500 jobs cuts since 2006.

Green Party Trade Union Group North East spokesperson Andrew Collingwood stated 'There is absolutely no excuse for the continuing waves of jobs cuts. The dedicated staff at York have helped build Aviva and make it the success it is today with its annually increasing profits. Instead of praise and job security for their contributions they face the constant threat of redundancy, while Aviva continues to reward its shareholders and waste money on re branding and expensive celebrity advertising campaigns'.

Andy Chase, Green Parliamentary Candidate for York Central, said: "This is bad news for York's economy and terrible news for Aviva employees when the company is spending a large amount of money on advertising and re branding itself."

"Concerted government action is now needed to help people in those areas hit hardest by job losses. There is much work that can be done to create employment and stimulate the economy. As well as supporting local businesses directly, there are also many other useful tasks, such as getting the housing stock in better shape. The government now needs to get in touch with local authorities and find ways of making this happen."

The brutality of the Taliban

Yesterday on the Guardian website a very harrowing video was posted of the Taliban administering punishment on a teenage girl for being in the company of a married man. As a result of the 17 year old girl breaching the Taliban's rules she was sentenced to 34 lashes.

Our government must protest to Pakistan in the strongest terms about the brutalities exacted on Pakistani women.

Read more at on the Amnesty International website at http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=2934

Local Shops for Local People

Green Party's online drive to promote local businesses.

York Green Party has launched a directory of local shops on the internet,allowing Google users to find local and independent shops and services easily.

The online directory lists independent and locally-based shops and services in the Heslington, Fulford and Fishergate wards of the city. It builds on a booklet, called "Local Shops for Local People" that the Green Party produced in 2006. This directory was distributed to every household in the areas covered.

Dave Taylor, Green Councillor for Fishergate said, "We wholly support The Press's campaign to promote local shops. Our aim back in October 2006 was to make sure people knew what they could get from independent and local shops. The chain shops have far higher advertising budgets, and we wanted to do our bit to help the profile of independents."

"One of the things that is absolutely vital in this day and age is to have your business listed in Google. More people now use Google searches to find local businesses than the Yellow Pages. So we decided to transfer our old paper-based directory into an online version."

The map is by no means exhaustive, and York Green Party welcomes additions and refinements. Visitors with a Google account can comment on the map directly. "We hope that this initiative will eventually cover the whole of York," says Dave Taylor, "but we had to start somewhere."

"Supporting local businesses has long been a Green priority. Local businesses create more jobs, and will put more money back into the local economy than a national plc would. They help foster a sense of identity in a town or city, and will often have smaller carbon footprints, as they don't have national freight distribution networks."

The online "Local Shops for Local People" map is available at http://tinyurl.com/lsflp