ALL OUT IN SUPPORT OF PENSIONS, JOBS AND OUR SERVICES - 30TH NOVEMBER!

From Rugby Against the Cuts - http://rugbyagainstthecuts.blogspot.com/

An estimated 3 million workers will be on strike against the CONDEM Government attacks on pensions, jobs and our services. Other workers such as nurses, firefighters, police officers and the Trade Union movement as a whole will also be supporting the protest against the 'race to the bottom' in respect of pensions and services.

Rugby Against the Cuts fully supports workers in our town taking action by visiting picket lines and attending the marches and rallys taking place.

* 10.15am Cathedral Steps, Priory Street Coventry March/Rally

* 12 noon TUC March through Birmingham - Assemble Lionel

St/Livery St car park

* 1.30pm Rally with TUC Gen Sec Brendan Barber and others

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham

Midlands TUC are organising a march and rally in Birmingham to coincide with the TUC’s national day of action for Pensions Justice onWednesday 30th November, involving up to 20 unions and 3 million workers.

March: 11.30am assembly Lionel Street (B3 1DG)

Rally: 1.30pm National Indoor Arena (doors open 12.30pm)

Speakers:

CHAIR: Lee Barron, CWU Midlands Regional Secretary & Midlands TUC Chair
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary
Kevin Courtney, NUT Deputy General Secretary
Janice Godrich, PCS President
Karen Jennings, Unison Assistant General Secretary
Martin Johnson, ATL Deputy General Secretary
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary
Barry Lovejoy, UCU Head of Further Education
Joe Morgan, GMB West Midlands Regional Secretary
Tony Woodley, UNITE Executive Officer

The real voice of the 1st world war Harry Patch, 109, at Passchendaele

JOIN THE JARROW MARCHERS NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON 5TH NOVEMBER

After marching 330 miles the Jarrow March for Jobs arrives in London. Following in the footsteps of the 1936 Jarrow marchers who walked to London against unemployment.

Assemble Temple Place on Embankment 12noon!

Come and join the end demostration and rally in Trafalgar Square.

Speakers Include:

Matt Wrack FBU General Secretary
Bob Crow RMT General Secretary
Paul Murphy MEP Socialist Party Ireland
Lizi Gray Great-grandaughter of 1936 marcher
Stephen Hepburn MP for Jarrow
US Occupy Wall Street Activist
Jarrow marchers
Day-Mer Youth
Socialist Party
Young Deacon performing his rap about the riots called ‘Failed by the System’
Ed Marsh NUS
London Slutwalk Activist
Maddy Carty performing her track ‘CONDEMn AGE’
Dennis Skinner MP for Bolsover
+ More!

Join the facebook event!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=223703481020168

Book you place on the coach from Coventry!

This Saturday the march ends in London, and coaches are booked from across the country. There is a bus from the Coventry and Warwickshire area. We would encourage as many trade unionists as possible to attend this.

Meet at the Sports Centre in Cov, 9am. It is £4 waged, and £2 unwaged.

Ring Lenny on 07530 429441 to book.

Marcher’s Diary – Day 25

Coventry to Rugby

On our journey to Coventry we passed; two closed down Peugeot factories, a closed Marconi site and a closed GEC building. This is a huge amount of jobs lost to a small area, jobs which are badly needed. We also passed a local Tory council; chanting and singing “if you hate the torys” we definitely made our presence known. we had lunch at the Sheath and Sickle pub where we had a brilliant reception and there were journalists there to meet us. When we got Rugby we had a rally in the town centre hosted by the local anti cuts group,Rugby Against the Cuts. The speakers were fantastic; Martin Powell Davies – NUT, Peter – TUSC, Roy – Green Party, Lenny Shail – Socialist Party and Matt Whale and Alex Moore from the march. We then walked down to the Griffin pub where tea had been put on for us by the RMT. After discussion and drinks we went back to supporters houses to sleep. Thanks to Lorna for putting me up, had some great conversation. Also thanks to her son, Paul and her neices and nephews who drew the marchers some pictures of the march. Everyone loved them

Rugby Observer report on the Jarrow March in Rugby

Jarrow Marchers protest in Rugby

Buy photos» The Jarrow Marchers take to the streets of Rugby. 43.011.039.rug.jg4

Dan Santy

26 October. Updated: 26 October 12:47

THE JARROW Marchers rolled into Rugby this week protesting against the Government's handling of the continuing economic slump.
Around 50 marchers - recreating the famous 300 mile protest of 1936 from the north east to London against poverty and unemployment - arrived in the town centre yesterday (Tuesday).
They marched and protested against the Government's handling of rising unemployment, with local trade unionists and socialist political groups backing them.
The marchers first arrived at the Sheaf and Sickle pub in Long Lawford for lunch before a rally at the clock tower.
Tonight (Wednesday), the marchers will attend an anti-cuts meeting at which railway and maritime workers union leader Bob Crow will address them. It takes place at the United Railway Club on Railway Terrace.

Buy photos» Rugby Green party leader Roy Sandison speaking out against Government cuts. 43.011.039.rug.jg2Buy photos» A young protester with the Jarrow Marchers. 43.011.039.rug.jg3The Jarrow Marchers in Rugby. 43.011.039.rug.jg5www.therugbyobserver.co.uk/

GREEN PARTY SUPPORTS CALL FOR EU REFERENDUM AS TORY'S LABOUR AND LIB DEMS RENEGES ON PROMISES TO ELECTORATE!

As all three main political parties (Tories, Labour and Lib Dem) reneges on their election promises to support the right of people to cast an opinion on the EU. The Green Party keeps its promises!

Caroline Lucas Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion will be voting to allow the citizens of the UK to finally have their say on the European Union!.

Yes to an EU Referendum: Green MP calls for chance to build a better Europe

A referendum on the UK's membership of the EU is a vital opportunity to create a more democratic and accountable Europe - with a clearer purpose for the future, said the Green MP today.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, has tabled an amendment to the Conservative Backbench motion for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, calling for ‘radical reform of the EU' to increase transparency and give Member States more control over their economies (1).

Speaking ahead of the Commons vote on Monday, Lucas said:

"I support a referendum on our membership of the EU because I am pro-democracy, not because I'm anti-EU - and because I want to see a radical reform of the way Europe operates.

"The EU has the potential to spread peace and make our economies more sustainable, and to promote democracy and human rights, at home and throughout the world.

"But it must urgently change direction, away from an obsessive focus on competition and free trade and towards placing genuine co-operation and environmental sustainability at its heart.

"Thanks to the bureaucratic and remote way which the EU works, many people today are no longer sure what is it for. So the challenge now is to make those institutions more democratic and accountable - and to develop a more compelling vision of the EU's role and purpose.

"A referendum would allow the space for that debate about the future of the Union to occur, and to ensure that the goals of the European project really are in the best interests of EU citizens."

ENDS

Notes

1) Caroline Lucas's full amendment to Mr David Nuttall's proposed Motion (National Referendum on the European Union):

(d) seek to build support for radical reform of the EU, increasing its transparency and accountability, refocusing its objectives on co-operation and environmental sustainability rather than competition and free trade, and enabling member states to exercise greater control over their own economies.

Caroline Lucas MP is available for interviews and comment. Please contact:

Melissa Freeman

Senior Parliamentary Press Officer

Office of Caroline Lucas MP

Tel: 020 7219 0221

Mob: 07590 050565

Email: melissa.freeman@parliament.uk

Website: http://www.carolinelucas.com/

MARCH WITH THE JARROW MARCHERS IN RUGBY ON TUESDAY 25TH OCTOBER

http://jarrowmarch11.com/

The excellent initiative to draw attention to the plight of young people, The Jarrow - London March organised by the Youth Fight For Jobs will be visiting Rugby on the way to London on Tuesday 25th October.

The march has been enthusiastically received by all the communities it has visited and we must do the same in Rugby!

Rugby Green Party members will be meeting the marchers, with our excellent new banner at the Sheaf and Sickle Pub, in Long Lawford and taking part in the march into Rugby at 2pm for the rally at 3pm.

please come along and show support!

TUES OCT 25 1 pm MEET MARCHERS AT SHEAF & SICKLE, LONG LAWFORD

2pm MARCH INTO RUGBY

2pm STALL AT CLOCK TOWER (Yes we need to do both at same time)

3pm RALLY AT CLOCK TOWER

About the Campaign;

Youth Fight for Jobs, a campaigning organisation, is marching from Jarrow to London, starting on 1 October 2011. This is on the 75 anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade, when 200 unemployed workers took a similar route to raise awareness of mass unemployment. Today, as unemployment and youth unemployment soars, the ConDem coalition is axing jobs and services; this new campaign is absolutely vital.

On the Jarrow March we are demanding:

• A massive government scheme to create jobs which are socially useful and apprenticeships which offer guaranteed jobs at the end – both paying at least the minimum wage, with no youth exemptions.
• The immediate reinstatement of EMA payments, expanding them to be available to all 16-19 year olds. Scrap university fees, for free high quality education.
• The immediate re-opening of all youth services that have been closed, including reinstating sacked staff.
• The scrapping of ‘workfare’ schemes – benefits should be based on need not forced slave labour.
• A massive building programme of environmentally sound, cheap social housing.

TUC March and Rally - Manchester for the Alternative - Sunday 2nd Oct

Date: Sunday 2 October
Assemble 12 noon Liverpool Road (off Deansgate)

This year the Conservative Party are having their annual Conference in Manchester and the TUC is organising a march and rally to show opposition to the Coalition Government's disastrous policies of pay freezes, cuts and attacks on public services that are producing rising unemployment, cuts in living standards and stagnation. The march will also show the support for The Alternative. We need jobs, growth and justice for a sustainable future and this event will send that message loud and clear.

Coaches from .......

Stourbridge - Dudley - Wolverhampton ........01384 813875

Sandwell - Walsall ..........07952 647479 or 0121 567 5446

Birmingham ............07904 960442

Coventry Trades Council ........ 07799 340 559

European Conference Against Austerity & Privatisation

Three years ago the world economy stood on a precipice. Collapse was only averted by a vast bank rescue package. In Europe the sum ran to trillions of pounds. This proved to be no answer to the crisis but poured yet more wealth into the pockets of the rich and led to the sovereign debt crisis. Governments throughout Europe and beyond now propose a single solution – draconian austerity measures that threaten the livelihoods of millions of ordinary people. And indeed millions oppose this policy, which will not bring economic recovery but recession. To address this crisis on a basis that meets the real needs of the peoples of Europe, we will be meeting in London on 1 October at the Europe Against Austerity conference to discuss an alternative economic and political strategy.
Jeremy Corbyn MP Lab, Islington North,
Len McCluskey Unite,
Pierre Laurent Party of the European Left,
Sevim Dagdelen Die Linke,
Annick Coupe Solidaires,
Prof Walter Baier Austria,
Elisabeth Gauthier Transform Europe,
Felipe Van Keirsbilck European Joint Social Conference,
Hugo Braun Attac,
Piero Bernocchi Cobas,
Prof Costas Lapavitsas Soas,
Andrew Burgin Coalition of Resistance

DEMOCRACY NOT IN EVIDENCE AT LIB DEMS CONFERENCE AS GREEN ACTIVIST IS JAILED FOR HANGING A BANNER!

There is a protest on Monday from 3pm outside Birmingham Magistrates Court in support of Edd Bauer who used to be involved in Birmingham University Young Greens and is now a sabbatical officer of the Student Union.

Edd is in prison for the crime of hanging a banner that could be seen by motorists on Broad St just before the start of the Lib Dem Conference. The crime is said to be a "road traffic offence" but the prosecution said his act was not dangerous. He was denied bail as he has a previous offence of sitting down on the floor in Fortnum and Mason. Being denied bail is thought to be unprecedented. The 2 others with Edd at the time were granted bail but banned from Birmingham city centre for over a month.

At 3pm on Monday he will see his next bail hearing at Bham Magistrates Court. Anyway wishing to protest in solidarity, meet in front of the magistrates Court on Corporation St at 3pm.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159569750798811

http://brightgreenscotland.org/index.php/2011/09/solidarity-demo-for-imprisoned-activist-edd-bauer/

SICK TORIES ATTACK THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN!

RUGBY GREENS MARCH ON THE LIBS DEMS CONFERENCE

Still waiting for a response from local Lib Dem loyalists

Letter printed in Rugby Advertiser 15th Sept 2011

It’s not so long ago that local Lib Dem Councillors and their national party would have been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with people fighting to defend the NHS, including opposing ward closures and any ideological attempt to privatise the NHS - which will be a very serious threat to small hospitals like St Cross.

Liberal Democrats would have also opposed, going to war, Incineration - instead of recycling ‘waste’ and tyres, nuclear power, weakening of community planning rights to defend the green belt and would have demanded action to create green jobs for the future and action on climate change.

Its doubtful, if they would have gone along with plans or even proposed scraping (as they do) subsided coach travel for the elderly or disabled and would have flinched at anything that may result in 80,000 families losing their homes because of housing benefit cuts.

Safeguarding the community through proper policing levels would have been something the Lib Dems would have been standing up for, and saying no to cuts to the youth services would have been a top priority.

They would have been calling for action in tacking inequalities in wealth, including curbing tax evasion and they would have been critical of the obscene Banker’s bonuses and would have opposed any idea of a tax cut for the top 1% in this country.

But then again this is before Nick Clegg got the trappings of power.

The actions being taken by Clegg & Co are clearly more ideological in context then any attempt to deal with the budget deficit – just look at the list above.

So what needs to be done?

Rugby Green Party members will be protesting at the TUC march, along with thousands of people at the Lib Dem Conference in Birmingham this Sunday (18^th September) and we would ask those Liberal Democrat Councillors and members (and anyone else) who really care about social, economic and environmental justice to join us.

Regards

Roy Sandison - Rugby Green Party Spokesperson.

Caroline Lucas (MP OF THE YEAR WINNER) excellent speech to Green Party Conference

Caroline Lucas | Caroline named 'MP of the Year' in Public Life awards

www.carolinelucas.com

Thetitle was awarded to the Brighton Pavilion MP, who is also leader ofthe Green Party of England and Wales, for proving to be ‘the mosteffective woman in the House of Commons who has shown outstandingachievement during the parliamentary year'.

Will it kick off between Pawsey and Wright? As boundary changes means Rugby merges with Southam from 2013

The Boundary Commission report has created a new parliamentary seat of Rugby & Southam from 2013

The new seat will include wards south from Brownsover North extending to Southam, including Harbury and Fenny Compton.

Warwickshire will see a reduction of 6 seats to 5 and could well create serious friction amongst Tory MP's with Mark Pawsey and Jeremy Wright possibly fighting over the same seat as they both lose significant parts of the Rugby & Bulkington seats to Nuneaton (North rural Rugby) and the whole of the current Kenilworth & Southam seat to Solihull and Rugby respectively.

In other news, Caroline Lucas gets a boost in Brighton, where her seat of Brighton Pavilion is being condensed into a stronger Green seat - reflected in the seat now containing 20 Green Councillors out of 22.

A cruel French IT company paid £100m per year of your money to attack the sick and disabled by the Tories and Lib Dems expenses scandal MP's

Green Party calls for the removal of ATOS from benefits assessments

10 SEPTEMBER 2011

Green Party members yesterday voted to pass an emergency motion calling on the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to stop using IT firm ATOS as its assessor of benefit claimants.

Concerns have been raised over the company's suitability to conduct assessments, ranging from the lack of disabled access at their assessment centres to the shocking fact that 40% of their decisions have been found to be wrong on appeal [1].

Jillian Creasy, Green councillor for Sheffield Central who also works as a GP, said:

"ATOS's computer-led assessment is far too blunt an instrument to assess a benefit that is vital for so many. For example, the box-ticking exercise is close to useless for assessing a condition such as autism. Not only that, but the number of decisions that have been reversed means that an awful lot of taxpayers' money has been wasted.

"Disabled people should be afforded the dignity they deserve throughout any assessment process, and should not be presumed guilty or treated like they're avoiding work. ATOS has no place in such a sensitive area, and we urge the government to sever all ties with the company."

===
Notes

1.http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2011/jul/25/disability-benefits-atos-government-hiding

2. The full text of the emergency motion follows:

Conference expresses deep concern at the use of ATOS to assess incapacity benefit receivers for their ability to return to work. As evidence continues to mount that the work capability assessments are being used politically to remove Employment and Support Allowance payments, with 12 doctors referred to the General Medical Council in August, Conference calls on the party leadership to demand that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions removes ATOS as its assessor of benefit claimants