No sell out on pensions - Fight until we win!

16 December Today the TUC's Public Sector Liaison Group (PSLG) met for the first time since the magnificent 30 November public sector strike.Disgracefully, Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, argued that all of the trade unions should sign up to the government's latest 'heads of agreement' on pensions, which would then allow Francis Maude to announce before Christmas that the dispute has been settled. This was met with outrage by many of the public sector trade unions present...read more

SUPPORT UNILEVER WORKER'S FIGHT TO DEFEND PENSIONS!

NUT rep Chris Parton was well received by Unilever workers on strike today in Burton-on-Trent when he visited their picket line to pass on a message of support from National Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire.

The Unilever Unite rep knew of the growing reputation of the NSSN and allowed Chris to speak to a group of workers. One of the main things that Chris said was, “I want to stress the importance of uniting both public and private sector workers if we are to win our struggles to defend our pensions.”

Unilever is planning a massive attack on their worker's pensions by closing down its final salary pension scheme that its long-serving staff have worked hard for.

Unite say that, “Shutting down the scheme will wash the retirement plans of 5,000 workers down the drain - one worker has already estimated he will lose a massive £150,000 from his pension pot if he lives for just 15 years after he retires!”

This attack is taking place as Unilever announced an increase in pre tax profits at the beginning of 2011 up to a massive £5.2 billion!

But Unilever worker's fight back along with their trade unions, Unite, Usdaw and GMB has now started with their first ever national strike action. All workers must support their fight!

This government want to divide workers over pensions by pitting public against private sector but all workers' pensions are under attack. We need to build links between public and private sector workers to stop the attacks on all pensions. We need to fight together!

It's vital that the TUC name a date for the next public sector general strike action by the end of January. Already Unison Scotland has voted unanimously for a further day of coordinated action on 25 January.

If Unilever do not back down over their attacks on pensions then Unite, GMB and USDAW who represent Unilever workers could co-ordinate their next strike action with that of public sector workers.

NSSN activists have an important role to play by getting resolutions passed in their union branches and with petitions etc to put pressure on our union leaders to organise further coordinated strike action to include private sector workers where possible.

You can also support Unilever workers as they battle against this attack on pensions by;

• Email your message of support to: unileverhandsoffourpensions@unitetheunion.org

• Send a protest letter to Unilever to stop these pension changes - click here to download a template letter or alternatively click here to email CEO Paul Polman directly

Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire
Public Meeting


"Where Next After N30?"

Monday 12 December - 7.30pm
Sacred Hearts Social Centre
corner of Downey St & Regent Rd
Hanley
ST1 3BY

The historic strike action of N30 was a massive demonstration
of the potential strength of the organised working class in Britain
and shows how the government CAN be forced to back down
over pensions. But it's vital that trade unionists discuss and plan
what the next step is so that we can act quickly to build on N30.

This NSSN Stafforsdhire meeting will provide an opportunity to
do just that.

It is open to all trade unionists whether public or
private sector, other workers and supporters.

We hope you can make it


NSSN Bulletin No. 68
After 30th Nov - 2 million strike!

The day before the strike, with pure arrogance and clear hatred of the working
class, Osborne announced the next tranche of attacks on us. On top of the
300,000 public sector workers who have been sacked over the last year, a
further 400,000 plus are in their sights. Also, after 2 years of pay freeze,
public sector workers will face two years of a maximum 1% pay rise. This is
when inflation is officially over 5%!

But far from scaring people away from action, it pulled more people to the
picket lines and protests with 30 unions officially taking part in a historic
day of industrial action, which also brought out hundreds of thousands onto
the 1000 plus local and regional protests & rallies taking place. Many towns
and cities saw their biggest demonstration ever. To show how the momentum is
growing, on June 30th there was a march of 6,000 in Manchester - yesterday saw
over 30,000 marching there! Nurses in the US held rallies in 6 cities to
support our strike and Bangladeshi Garment workers organized a walk out in
solidarity!

It was clear from the placards, the chants and the conversations this strike
was much more than just about pensions. It was about the service cuts, wage
cuts, the extended hours, the dismantling of the NHS, the price rises, the
Disability cuts, the benefit cuts, the massive youth unemployment, student
fees & the withdrawal of the EMA, the unaffordable housing, it was about the
gleefully and unnecessary demands for workers & the rest of the community to
take the blame for the bankers greed, who have robbed us with the blessing of
the governments, past and present.

Whatever is said, and smeared across the mainstream press, we know, each and
everyone of us who took part in this action, who saw and felt the solidarity
here and abroad, that this action was absolutely necessary and will need to be
escalated until this government backs down. For reports from around the
country see NSSN website. Please use all methods of communicating with each
other (& us) to share information.

So WHAT NEXT?
Over the next two weeks, the TUC general council and its Public Services
Liaison group meets to discuss what next. The NSSN gave out over 40,000
leaflets yesterday demanding that the next strike dates are announced
immediately, & action is escalated. There should be at least another one day
nationally co-ordinated strike across the public sector - a 24 hour public
sector general strike - before the end of January. The TUC should be looking
towards setting out a timetable of action that could escalate the strike to 48
hours and beyond to force the government to back down. We should also look at
practically moving towards a strike by public and private sector as both are
affected – we rise like water together to flood through the dams built by
this government to contain, suppress & profit from us. At the very least, all
disputes in the private sector should be co-ordinated with the next public
sector strike. For example, unions in Unilever have just voted by a massive 85%
for strike action to defend their pensions. Contact your unions & organisations
and also use twitter/FB etc early next week - ‘TUC NAME THE DAYS – STRIKE

TOGETHER, AGAIN!

Internally, in our organizations, it will be important to have meetings with
full and frank discussions on how the strike worked, what we need to be better
prepared for, as PCS have done after the 30th June strike action. It is an
excellent approach to reviewing our processes but also making ourselves
stronger and more united effective for the future.

Discussing and promoting the alternative to the cuts, is also essential.
Arguing against the so-called debt workers are supposed to pay, and discussing
budgets based on the needs of the majority not the greedy, hypocritical
minority.

National Shop Stewards Network - Staffordshire sends ....

An open letter to all trade unionists;

Should there be a march in Stoke-on-Trent on 30th November?

NSSN Staffordshire welcomes the rally being organised outside the Civic Centre in Stoke and has been busy building for it. It was advertised on the NSSN Staffordshire website as early as 26 October. We were probably the first organisation locally to get out leaflets advertising it and have already given out thousands to workers and members of the public across our area.

But we have also discussed the need for a march to the rally to be organised. We have been stressing the importance of having a march and rally for almost two months. See NSSN Staffordshire post below of 28th September.

Now we find that of the seven major cities of the Midlands only Stoke-on-Trent is NOT having a march! See Midlands TUC blog

Even Lincoln with a population of 86,000 is organising one and so is Chesterfield with just a 70,000 population!

NSSN Staffordshire has been contacted by some local union reps and activists over the last few weeks who are not too happy that there won't be a march in our area and we agree with them.

We still firmly believe that the rally on N30 should be built upon by including a march to it and that there is still time to do so. The strike action on N30 of up to 3 million workers will be the most significant strike action in living memory. If we are not going to organise a march for this then when exactly would we do so?

It has been suggested at recent NSSN Staffordshire meetings that a feeder march from Hanley to the rally in Stoke for those who want to march would be the best option. The advantage of this would be that it wouldn't cut across the rally itself but would add significantly to it.

Crucially a march would also allow us to reach more people with our message on the day when those taking strike action will inevitably be castigated by the mass media.

Obviously, if a march was to be organised it would have to be decided quite quickly so we would like as many trade unionists and other workers to let us know what they think asap. You can post a comment below or better still come along to our next NSSN Staffordshire meeting.

It will take place on Monday 21st November at 7.30pm in the Sacred Hearts Social Centre on the corner of Downey St and Regent Rd, Hanley ST1 3BY.

We have invited Jason Hill and Steve Jones (President and Joint Secretary) of North Staffs TUC and other NSTUC delegates to this meeting to discuss what we believe to be the need for, and the possibility of, organising such a march.

Please accept this open invitation to all trade unionists, activists and supporters to come along as well

National Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire

Quote below from the BBC website

"Members of the Unison trade union have voted in favour of striking against the government's plans to change public service pension schemes.

There was a 78% majority, with 245,358 in favour and 70,253 against on a 29% turnout.


The vote means there is likely to be a huge national strike on 30 November."


Too right there will be a 'huge national strike' on 30 November!




There are now only 26 days to go!



NSSN leaflets are already going out to workplaces building the widest possible support!

You can download the latest leaflet here: http://www.shopstewards.net/PDFs/TheShopSteward_11Nov2011_Final.pdf

You can help by getting these leaflets out to all your members!

The last NSSN Steering Committee agreed to distribute this latest leaflet by email. We intend to do another printed leaflet for Nov 30 itself. But we can use this in the meantime especially with young workers, and others, who may never have been on strike before.

On the attachment a blank space has been left for local details to be added. It is a working document so as rallies and demos are organised they can be inserted. However, the basic details of what has been organised so far locally are printed below. So these details can be copied into the space left on the leaflet before or after you have printed it out.


PUBLIC RALLY

12 NOON - 30th NOVEMBER

KINGSWAY,
(Civic Centre Car Park)

STOKE-ON-TRENT ST4 1JH

Bring your friends, supporters,

flags and banners!

Please do your best to get to our next organising meeting
Monday 7th November - 7.30pm at the Sacred Hearts Social Centre, Downey St (off Regent Rd) ST1 3BY

Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire Bulletin

30th November - Now only 35 days away!

We are now just 35 days way from what is likely to be the biggest single day of coordinated strike acion in British history. Despite their bluster the Con Dem government are weak and worried by this prospect. Their 'strategy' of economic growth providing jobs in the private sector for those lost from our public services are in tatters.

Rally in Support of Strike Action!
Wednesday 30th November
Assemble 12 noon at Kings Hall Car Park, Stoke

At a public meeting organised by North Staffs TUC on 12th October it was agreed to hold a strike rally at 12 noon on 30th November at the Kings Hall Car Park in Stoke. The Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire welcomes this rally and is already busy building support for it.
But we also think that it should include a march to the rally from Hanley to ensure that we reach as many people as possible with our message of why we are taking strike action.

Our next NSSN Staffordshire meeting will take place on Monday 7th November at 7.30pm in the Sacred Hearts Social Centre, Downey Street (off Regent Road) Hanley ST1 3BY

All welcome

At the meeting we will have one main item on the agenda - building support for the strike action among union members and among working class people in general. We want to do all we can to help those unions holding ballots to get the biggest yes vote possible and to build for strike action on the day.

But don't wait until this meeting! We have N30 NSSN leaflets that are already going out across Staffordshire. You can download them here;

http://www.shopstewards.net/PDFs/NSSNOctsmall_2_.pdf

West Midlands NSSN conference

Around 30 trade unionists attended the West Midlands conference of the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) held in Birmingham on Saturday. It marked another positive step forward for the NSSN.

The first session of the day heard introductions from Rob Williams, chair of the Network, and Sian Ruddick chair of the PCS in the Midlands.

Both speakers outlined the current situation, with unions gearing up to take action on 30th November.

A wide ranging discussion followed, with activists from many different unions reporting on the struggles taking place, and the role the NSSN has played in fighting for coordinated action, and what we can do to make 30th November a success.

After the lunch break, the conference split up into two workshop sessions - one on strengthening unions where they already exist, and the other on building unions where there are none.

These were excellent discussions - activists from the shop floor exchanging ideas, experiences and practical advice on organising.

The conference then came back together for the final session - building the NSSN for the battles ahead.

The NSSN has come into its own and is gaining increasing authority in both the public and private sector unions.

This was an excellent conference with activists from the following unions attending: Unite, Unison, CWU, NUT, PCS, RMT, ASLEF, FDA.

A delegation of Unite members from Remploy in Stoke formally thanked the NSSN for the support they have received.

The NSSN looks forward to continuing to support the Remploy workers, as well as all workers in struggle, and helping to build and rebuild union organisation as we fight every attack on terms and conditions, every job loss and every cut thrown at us.

NSSN supporters in the lunch break and after the conference also visited the Occupy Birmingham protest showing solidarity and making links.