Owen TudorHere’s a great video from the US Transport Workers Union, part of their campaign against worse terms and conditions at American Airlines and American Eagle, whose parent company has filed for bankruptcy. It contrasts the commitment that workers give to their job with the rewards they – and management – receive, emphasising a dignity of labour/respect at work agenda. TUC surveys over the years find that – although we all grumble about our jobs and our employers – most workers are proud of the work they do, and want their employer to demonstrate the same about them. So, does this video work? Is it the sort of thing that UK unions should be doing?
Union campaigns
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Here’s a short film from Unite, setting out the backdrop to their members’ decision to ballot for industrial action over the erosion of safety and work conditions in the oil tanker industry.
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A further nine public sector and health unions have sent us glowing messages of solidarity for tomorrow’s Save our NHS rally. The latest batch of messages – solicited by UNISON – have come from Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Korea, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and Zimbabwe. As usual, it’s a mix of horror at what is being contemplated by the British Government, and tales of what has happened in countries which are already suffering the results of similar measures.
In particular, the Greek public sector trade union confederation ADEDY sent this message:
The neoliberal policies, the abolishment of social and labour rights, the privatizations, the unpopular austerity measures imposed by most of European governments aim to the dismantling of social and welfare state and will lead the workers, the citizens and the society to misery and poverty.
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An opportune time to give this UNISON campaign video another airing. It may be tongue in cheek, but points to a deadly serious problem.
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Union delegation at German Embassy in London for ETUC day of action
Billy Hayes, TUC General Council spokesperson on Europe, today hand delivered a letter calling for jobs and justice, not the new European austerity treaty, to three London Embassies. The main countries pushing for the treaty, which would force Governments to slash services to meet new public sector deficit rules, and would prevent countries implementing the policies needed to avoid or escape recession, are France and Germany.
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Here’s a quick video from Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) outlining why unions across Europe are coming together today (29 Feb) for an EU-wide Day of Action, ahead of negotiations on a new treaty that could hardwire austerity into Europe.
In the UK, we’re a bit hampered in the form of action we can take in that our government are one of only two to have thrown their toys out of the pram and been rewarded by being cut out of having any say over a treaty that will affect us, whether we like it or not.
However as individual UK citizens, we can still support our colleagues taking action across Europe today by writing to those countries’ Ambassadors to the UK. We’ve a special e-action up at GoingToWork.org.uk – Please take a moment to send your own protests out to the representatives of those countries still round the table, backing up what their own workers will be telling them today close to home.
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The House of Lords are to start discussing proposed changes to the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill on 8 February. The seriousness of this Bill cannot be understated. It threatens the very principles on which the National Health Service was founded by turning it into a business where our taxes will pay for private companies to provide our healthcare. Profit will come before patient care. These reforms are being pushed through at a time when the government is asking the NHS to make unprecedented cuts. Despite Government assertions to the contrary, deep concerns about the Bill are held by practitioners and patients from across the health service. They are also shared by many of the coalitions own supporters, including a number of MPs and Peers, who have criticised what Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary is trying to push through.
Now we are asking anyone who cares about our NHS to join us in a Save our NHS rally in Westminster Central Hall, opposite the Houses of Parliament at 18:00 on 7 March. The rally has been organised by the All Together for the NHS Campaign and brings together a range of unions, professional bodies, patients and members of the public who are opposed to the Bill.
John Wood
Frances O'Grady
