Author Archives: Kieran Crowe

Confronting The Rise In Racism 2017

sutuLast year’s conference: Confronting The Rise In Racism saw the birth of a new movement as over 1500 people joined Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Alf Dubs and leading figures from a broad range of campaigns and organisations to pledge to unite against the rise in racism.

Following the election of Donald Trump, threats from the far-right in Europe and a prolonged wave of racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing refugees, 2017’s conference will be a crucial opportunity to come together to discuss strenghtening our movement and taking on the challenges that confront us in 2017.

Speakers already confirmed include:

Kevin Courtney NUT Gen Sec, Dave Ward CWU Gen Sec, Kate Osamor MP Shadow DfID Secretary, Catherine West Labour MP Hornsey and Wood Green, Claude Moraes Labour MEP, Shahrar Ali Green Party Home Affairs spokesperson, Talha Ahmad Muslim Council of Britain Treasurer, Maurice Wren Chief Exec Refugee Council, Moazzem Begg former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Clare Mosesley Care4Calais founder.

Book here.

Charlottesville – a terrible warning – UAF statement

UvA-studentsThe death of Heather Heyer and the assault on anti fascists in Charlottesville at the hands of James Fields is the shocking result of Donald Trumps America.

Trump’s failure to condemn the assault by American fascists, on a day that saw armed militias dominating the town and black people beaten in the streets, is truly shocking.
Weyman Bennett from Unite Against Fascism said: ‘In scenes reminiscent of the most violent days of the civil rights movement the ‘Alt-Right’ took to the streets to ‘make America great again’ by beating demonstrators and expressing their support for White Supremacy’.

Brian Richardson from Unite Against Fascism said: ‘The death of Heather Heyer was a terrorist attack but Trump’s failure to act shows that anything that fails to fit with his Islamophobic and racist agenda is simply ignored’.

Trump’s statements have given confidence to the fascist right in the US. Charlottesville is a terrible warming to anti racists everywhere that we have to stand up against bigotry where ever it raises its head.

More here.

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Stand Up To Trump Protest – No To War, No To Racism

Stand Up To Trump Protest – No To War, No To Racism
Saturday 19 August | 12:00-13:00
US Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
W1A 2LQ London

Organised by: Stand Up To Trump »

RSVP on Facebook »

Stop the War is supporting Stand up to Trump coalition’s protest from 12-1pm this Saturday at the US Embassy. The protest has been called in response to Donald Trump’s threats that he will unleash a nuclear war in North Korea and military action against Venezuela, as well as in reponse to his bigoted and divisive rhetoric which has encouraged far-right extremist violence.

The US and South Korean militaries are due to commence a new set of exercises on August 21st which can only greatly increase tensions and the threat of open conflict. Last year, Britain for the first time sent four RAF Typhoon aircraft to take part in military exercises in the area alongside the US and South Korean military.

Donald Trump and his national security adviser General McMaster have both stated that the “nuclear option” is on the table. Given the destructive potential of the nuclear arsenals on both sides, the ‘nuclear option’ would lead to a terrible war with enormous casualties.

Immediate steps to de-escalate are needed on both sides. The protest will include a demand that Theresa May rules out committing any British armed forces to the Korean Peninsula. Britain should instead apply pressure on the US government to end the ratcheting up of tensions and to pursue a political solution to the crisis.

SERTUC Race Relations Committee: A Tribute to Jayaben Desai – Monday 2 October 2017

Date and time of event: Mon 2 Oct 2017 – 18:00 to 20:30Picket-007

This event is hosted by the SERTUC Race Relations Committee in conjunction with GMB.

As one of the sacked women workers employed by Grunwick, a film-processing firm based in north London, Jayaben Desai fought for better pay, conditions and dignity for workers in 1976 and 1977, on behalf of 137 sacked and poorly paid Asian women. At first she and her fellow workers were not in a trade union, but after a visit to the Trades Union Congress, she and her work mates joined Apex, which is now part of the GMB. Their struggle was supported by Brent Trades Council.

This was the beginning of a legendary battle for trade union rights, it was to become a watershed for British trade unionism and Jayaben Desai was to become an inspiration to a generation of trade unionists, and beyond. Famously, she told her factory manager, “What you are running is not a factory, it is a zoo. But in a zoo there are many types of animals. Some are monkeys who dance on your fingertips. Others are lions who can bite your head off. We are those lions, Mr Manager”. Jayaben Desai, union activist was born 2 April 1933 and died 23 December 2010.

This Black History celebration event will feature Jayaben Desai’s struggle and will allow some prominent modern day trade unionists to describe how she helped to shape their views and working lives. Kamaljeet Jandu will explore lessons for unions from that struggle in meeting the ongoing challenge of ‘organising migrant workers’ today. There will be plenty of time allowed for contributions from the audience.

Guest Speakers include:

Betty Joseph, Chair, SERTUC Race Relations Committee and NUT

Megan Dobney, SERTUC Regional Secretary

Tim Roache , General Secretary, GMB

Kamaljeet Jandu,  National Equality Officer, GMB

Taranjit Chana, GMB London Region 

Margaret Greer, National Officer, Race equality, UNISON

Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary, UNITE 

*** Monday 2 October 2017 – Event Programme***

Please support and encourage others to attend this event – THANK YOU.

* * BHM Exhibition (Marble Hall), TUC Congress House – FREE ADMISSION

Start date: Friday 29 September 2017 / closing date: Friday 13 October 2017

Information about the venue:

Congress House is a fully accessible building. 

Contact for further information:

There is no charge for attending this event.

PLEASE REGISTER

Queries: sertuc@tuc.org.uk or 020 7467 1220

UNISON in ANOTHER Court of Appeal victory over employers who fail to consult unions

UNISON has won a landmark court victory today (Friday) that makes it much harder for employers to ignore staff when making major changes in the workplace.

The Court of Appeal ruling means that for the first time employers will be obliged to consult with unions around any workplace issues that affect their members.

Until now, unions only had the right to be consulted where the law required this, for example in TUPE regulations where employees transfer from one employer to another, and in redundancy cases.

The ruling means employers will also have to involve unions in issues such as those around working hours and holiday pay.

It will benefit thousands of employees whose rights at work are under threat and means that employers will face greater scrutiny over their treatment of staff, says UNISON.

The victory came about after the union took up a case involving parks police who were made redundant by the London Borough of Wandsworth.

The Court of Appeal ruled that UNISON had the right to be consulted by Wandsworth over the job losses.

More on UNISON website.

Unite Against Fascism: THE BATTLE OF LEWISHAM 1977 – 40 YEARS ON

darcushowe77Forty years ago this August, thousands of anti fascists and locals from South East London stopped the fascists of the National Front from marching.  The National Front hoped that by demonstrating in Lewisham – an area with a high proportion of Afro Caribbeans – they would further intimidate minorities. The fascists, however, were to receive a rude awakening. The victory was critical in beating back the rise in racism and fascism. Saturday 13th August, 1977 helped set back the fascists for a generation.

The far right had become, pre Lewisham, mainstream in the media, in political life and often, in popular culture. In 1977, the National Front received over 100,000 votes in London elections.

The historic day in Lewisham, itself, saw trades unionists, socialists, Labour Party members, and crucially, many people from Lewisham itself, come together to say enough is enough.

Up to 10,000 people joined in to oppose the NF. All the fascists possible routes were continually blocked, NF banners were burned, and Bob Marley was played. The counter demo became a great example of black and white unity.

Nazi organizations such as the NF, believed that they could build a mass movement based upon racial prejudices and racist violence. They were wrong, and they were defeated.

Ted Parker who took part in the battle, mentions, “Thereafter the NF never again posed a serious political threat. Lewisham led directly to the formation of the Anti Nazi League (ANL) which, together with Rock Against Racism (RAR), and nowadays Love Music Hate Racism mobilised hundreds of thousands in collective expressions of solidarity between those of differing cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Organised racism was marginalised for the next quarter of a century”

Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Against Racism will be part of organising;

Eyewitness accounts and archive footage, including,

– How we defeated the Nazi National Front & built the Anti Nazi League

– The fight against the fascists today

Weekend events on Saturday 12th August/Sunday 13th August; in Lewisham.

Details and Facebook event pages here, https://www.facebook.com/UAFpage/photos/gm.133868667158866/10154541652065814/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/LMHRNational/photos/gm.1934749313408164/1901761653421730/?type=3&theater

To Transport for London: Keep Uber’s drivers and passengers safe

Sign petition here.

Last year GMB won a landmark employment tribunal against Uber, which ruled that its drivers were not self-employed contractors but employed workers – and were therefore entitled to the national minimum wage, sickness and holiday pay.

This important case has major implications for more than 30,000 drivers across England and Wales. Many of our drivers are working long hours for less than national minimum wage in order to try and make ends meet. Drivers working excessive hours is bad for drivers, bad for passengers and bad for Londoners.

Uber refuses to accept they’re an employer and has appealed. That means they still refuse to pay their drivers a living wage, give paid rest breaks or abide by laws that limit the number of hours they work. It’s wrong for Uber not to live up to its responsibilities, and none of us wants worn-out drivers on our roads.

Transport for London (TfL) is in charge of renewing Uber’s 5 year license to operate in London, and they’re going to make a decision on it this summer. Today, GMB, the union for Uber drivers, has called on TfL not to renew the license unless Uber guarantee safe working practices and basic employment rights.

Together we can remind TfL of their obligations to all Londoners and not just to Uber’s powerful lobbyists. Sign the petition to tell TfL to keep Uber drivers and passengers safe.

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