Economic crisis / fighting public service cuts

The People's Charter


Update: A 'Charter Convention' is being held in Camden on Saturday 21st November, Bob Crow among others will be speaking. Details here.

I just signed up to The People's Charter. A charter laying out a vision of what I would describe to be a fairer Britain. The charter lays out a number of aims. These include tight regulation of the banking sector and fairer taxation in order to ensure wealth is distributed more fairly, decent homes for all, renationalisation of key services such as transport, water and energy and other key areas where intervention could close the wealth gap in society and ensure everyone has a decent standard of living.

Resolution: Economic Crisis

This resolution, submitted by LU Fleet branch, was passd unanimously by the August meeting of the Regional Council.

Branch notes:

That the economic crisis, internationally and domestically, is leading to soaring unemployment, insecurity and devastation of communities.

UK unemployment is well over 2 million and headed sharply upwards. But much worse is to come. Nearly half a million people have now been unemployed for at least 12 months.

Wage Concern Campaign

ABOUT WAGE CONCERN

On Friday 15th May, the Employment Opportunities Bill will be debated in Parliament. The Bill has been put forward by Conservative backbenchers and it would enable employers to ‘opt-out’ of the Minimum Wage brought in by the Labour government ten years ago.

If passed, the system would be wide open to abuse by unscrupulous employers. For instance an employment agency could write a Minimum Wage Opt-Out into any contract potential staff would have to sign.

Unbelievably, they tried to claim it was against people’s ‘Human Right to work’ to have a Minimum Wage.

Resolution: Blame the bosses and the bankers - jobs for all - workers should not pay for the crisis

This resolution, submitted by LU Fleet and TfL no.1 branches, was passed at the April meeting of the Regional Council, with 10 votes in favour, none against and 3 abstentions.

The economic crisis threatens the jobs and living standards of billions of people across the world. It is essential that the trade union and labour movement fights to prevent the bosses and governments making workers pay for their crisis.

European TUC demonstration

European-wide demonstration in Brussels in response to the economic crisis. A key theme will be challenging the recent decision of the European Courts of Justice (Viking, Laval, Ruffert, Luxemburg) which fundamentally attack the ability of trade unions to take strike action and collectively bargain.

Inflation Figures for March - more evidence that LUL is cutting your pay

The inflation figures for March can be found here.

Management will undoubtedly point out the fact that RPI is now -0.4% and suggest that this means that prices are falling. However, CPI - which much more accurately reflects our real cost of living - is at +2.9%. So demands on our income are still rising significantly, but LUL still offers us just 1%, and that is tied to a five-year deal with RPI only for the next four years. The latest statistics do not justify LUL's offer: they simply confirm that it is a year-on-year real-terms pay cut.

Financial Fools Day

On April 1st, the G20 are coming to London to face up to economic crisis and political meltdown Lost your home? Lost your job? Lost your savings or your pension? This party is for you!

At 12 noon, April 1st the Bank of England

RPI down? Prices for working-class households are up

According to the latest official Retail Price Index, on average prices are now falling. But a closer look at the figures shows that the working-class cost of living is still rising.

Food prices went up 12.5% between February 2008 and February 2009. Eggs went up 11.2%, vegetables 18.6%, fruit 13%.

Fares and other travel costs went up 10.2% (January-January), gas 33.1%, electricity 18%.

The fall in the overall index comes from cheaper prices on clothing, car purchases, and “consumer durables” of all sorts, and from lower mortgage payments.

Put People First – Join RMT on the march this Saturday


Dear Colleague,

RMT members from around the country will be joining thousands of other trade unionists in central London this Saturday on the Put People First march – for jobs, social justice and the climate.

The demonstration, ahead of the summit of the ‘G20’ world leaders on the world financial crisis in London on April 2, will challenge them put the needs of people and communities ahead of corporate greed.