We can't afford their cuts!

Remember when the Tories and their poodles, the Liberal Democrats, said that there was no need to worry about public sector job losses because the private sector would expand to fill the gap? Well guess what it isn't happening!

The UK numbers look bad but the situation here in Wales is particularly bad. A report by the Institute of Public Policy Research has estimated that another 7,000 jobs will be lost in Wales by the end of this summer. And they can see no prospect of unemployment in Wales falling much from its current level of 9.1% before the summer of 2013.

Add to the effects of unemployment the inevitable effects of regional pay on the Welsh economy, should the Tories succeed with their plans, and it becomes obvious that Wales can't afford the Con-Dems.

Neither can we afford to wait another 3+ years for a Labour government in the desperate hope that it does more for working class people than the last one did. To have that hope is to ignore the messages coming from Miliband, Balls and the rest of the Labour hieraerchy - that they won't reverse many of the Tories' cuts.

TUSC supporters aren't going to wait for what Labour may never deliver; we are trade unionists and anti-cuts campaigners who are fighting Tory cuts and their effects every day in our workplaces and communities. Part of that campaign is to stand candidates in the council elections in May to show that there is an alternative to the cuts that all other parties support to one degree or another. Vote TUSC on May 3 and join the fight against all cuts.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Rich tax dodgers at it again!

Anyone driving in to Swansea from the East, along Fabian Way, can't miss the huge Amazon warehouse. Today Amazon has been named by the Guardian as the latest in a long line of tax dodgers by the Guardian. Despite making £3.3bn of sales in the UK last year and between £7.6bn and £10.3bn over the last 3 years, Amazon UK doesn't pay a penny of UK Corporation Tax because it is registered in Switzerland.

One more example of the £120bn+ that goes uncollected in tax from corporations and the super-rich and more proof that there is enormous wealth in our society and far from being "all in it together" the pwerful and wealthy continue to rake it in at our expense. So why should working class people pay for a crisis that was not of our making? TUSC say no to all cuts. Vote TUSC on May 3rd!

TUSC No cuts! No gravy train!

Wales Online is today carrying a story about Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) Council, Russel Roberts, under the headline "With four jobs and £100,000 is this Wales' highest paid councillor?". As well as his job with RCT, he is the deputy leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, Chairman of South Wales Police Authority, and a non-executive director of Cwm Taf Health Board. Meanwhile, according to the article, workers for RCT Council have seen their terms and conditions cut by up to 40%. Many trade unionists will remember that RCT was amongst the pioneers of the use of the now notorious "188 notices" - 90-day notice to impose changes to terms and conditions under threat of redundancy - which are now being used against council workers all over the country. The City and County of Swansea's own workforce has just seen its 90-day notice expire but funnily enough, the Liberal Democrats and their allies don't seem anxious to impose the worse conditions they identified (a raft of 30+ measures incuding less holidays and reducing or scrapping a range of allowances and bonuses for unsocial hours, etc.) on thousands of council workers just before the council elections - afterwards who knows? Worryingly the fear has been voiced in my UNISON branch, by Labour Party members, that leading Labour representatives on the Council have already had discussions with council officers about implementing similar measures should they win in May.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/04/04/councillor-with-four-publicly-paid-jobs-sees-income-grow-to-100-000-91466-30685211/#.T3vte1yirig

This has become the subject of a blazing row between Labour and Plaid Cymru, with a Plaid candidate accusing Roberts of "his nose firmly in the trough" and Roberts claiming that Plaid Cymru of having "slashed services and axed jobs" in Caerphilly, which they control.

TUSC candidates in Wales will refuse to make any cuts, to the terms and conditions of public sector workers or to the vital services they provide. We can promise as well that we won't be enjoying any perks or taking inflated salaries at the expense of working class tax payers. Vote Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition on May 3rd.

TUSC bulletin

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition sends out a regular e-mail bulletin (you can subscribe from the TUSC websitte http://www.tusc.org.uk/index.php). This week's bulletin gives a flavour of the campaign work TUSC supporters are involved in around the country...

Welcome to our new readers – please distribute this bulletin to your e-mail lists

To subscribe e-mail tuscbulletin@yahoo.co.uk

To get involved with TUSC campaigns go here: http://www.tusc.org.uk/support.php

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Bulletin No.36

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Do tanker drivers earn £45,000 as the Government says? No, the claim is rubbish. See Channel Four Fact Checker http://bit.ly/HFCYYS

Bosses earn over £300,000 - workers earn as little as £12,500. That's why Lancashire pension staff are balloting for a strike over pay - http://tinyurl.com/d7lnhvq

TUSC News and Events

Steve Gillan, General Secretary of the POA wholeheartedly supports TUSC

Steve Gillan General Secretary of the POA speaking in a personal capacity on Friday 30 March said," I support the Trade Union and Socialist Candidates in the forthcoming GLA elections. TUSC gives workers in London a viable political option to fight the cuts, redundancies and privatisation in the capital. I would urge all workers in London to put
their cross next to the TUSC list on 3rd May"

Not got an election in your area? Then make a donation to support those who have:http://bit.ly/FPYcNC

Liverpool TUSC mayoral and council election campaign meeting  Wednesday 4th April  7.15pm  The Liverpool pub (upstairs), James Street, Liverpool http://bit.ly/HxaU9T

Camden launch rally for the London TUSC GLA election campaign  Thursday 5th April   7.30pm  Exmouth Public House, Starcross Street, London NW1  Invited speakers:  Alex Gordon, President of RMT union; John Reid, RMT London Transport regional council secretary; Ben Sprung, secretary London region FBU (personal capacity) http://bit.ly/H9aW3P

You can find the full list of the many TUSC London borough campaign meetings here: http://bit.ly/Hc8kV3

Recent TUSC press releases

Galloway victory shows potential for another upset says London Assembly candidate: 30 March 2012   http://bit.ly/H6Vbcw

“With TUSC there’ll be no running away from supporting strikers” Alex Gordon announced at the TUSC London launch rally.  http://bit.ly/HIcK6U TUSC candidates and supporters showed what this means on the March 28 London teachers’ and lecturers’ strike. Strikers included TUSC candidate Martin Powell-Davies, who represents Inner London on the National Union of Teachers executive, and Jenny Sutton, who has recently been elected to the executive of the University and College Lecturers Union.

Tony Mulhearn’s bid for city mayor will shake up Liverpool politics: Liverpool Echo, 29 March 2012  http://bit.ly/H3LLjn

  

From the Unions

RMT demands assurances on existing agreements to allow further talks on tube Olympics reward http://bit.ly/Hrk9D8

UNISON demands pay increase in higher education http://bit.ly/H6QrCN

Traffic wardens take strike action against NSL   http://bit.ly/GRqc9u

FBU insists the Government makes urgent public safety announcement on petrol in the home http://bit.ly/HyLbrA

PCS members in Merseyside walkout over the transfer of about 100 admin staff from local jobcentres to centralised call centres. http://bit.ly/HdXQAm

RMT demands action over public fears of violence on London Transport http://bit.ly/H2GjNI

German Strikers shut down airports - part of public service union Verdi's ongoing campaign for better pay and conditions. http://bit.ly/H89Pz3

UK workers back Spanish strikers http://bit.ly/H7tBR4

RMTv: 'Nationalisation Not Privatisation' Brussels March 28, 2012 See video here: http://bit.ly/HIefSr Protesting EU Transport Privatisation White Paper

Petrol Tanker Drivers:There is a reason for proper health and safety in the petrol tanker industry: Petrol tanker explodes at service station http://shar.es/pMPdp

Infoburst

Irish united left challenges Labour:

“This conference will provide a space for political activists, former Labour members and supporters, trade unionists, working people, campaigners and all those affected by unemployment and austerity to gather together to build a new movement for ordinary people.” http://bit.ly/H6NKTy

School children go hungry as food portions get smaller

According to parents and teachers school meal portions are decreasing in size while the prices increase. Teachers have warned that ‘children are going hungry’ and as a result their ability to learn is affected. It's in the Daily Mail again... http://bit.ly/HE8iCF

University teaching budgets slashed and student places down as government cuts start to bite http://bit.ly/Hqqr8G

Workers' Memorial Day and TUC Day of Action to defend health and safety - 28 April 2012
In 2012 the TUC is calling on health and safety representatives, trades councils and safety campaigners to make 28th April a day of action to defend health and safety from the attacks on regulation, enforcement, cuts and refusal to tackle the massive toll that health and safety breaches take on workers.  http://bit.ly/weXKFI  

Events

RMT Demonstration ‘Say no to McNulty’  Preston Crown Court - 9.30am - Wednesday 4th April http://bit.ly/H55fXT

Coalition of Resistance ‘Report from delegation to Greece’

Wednesday April 4 18:30 Unite HQ  128 Theobalds Rd, London, WC1X 8TN http://bit.ly/HCoruI

Protest at Circle Health  Thursday 5 April 2012, 12:00pm

Circle Healthcare, Head Office, 32 Wellbeck Street,, London W1G 8EU W1G 8BU. Circle Healthcare is one of the private profit companies making a killing out of the NHS

http://bit.ly/GOSFKV

Climate change—can we save the planet? Saturday 7 April, 1.30pm

Colliton Club, Colliton Park, Dorchester DT1 1XJ  Organised by Dorset Socialists http://bit.ly/e5NOCr

Roma Nation Day Demonstration Sunday April 8, 12pm: Hyde Park Corner, London

International solidarity to defend the Romani communities.   Organised by Traveller Solidarity Network http://bit.ly/H3dn7l

TUSC information
You can find out more about TUSC at: http://www.tusc.org.uk/index.php

To donate to TUSC go here: http://www.tusc.org.uk/donate.php

TUSC aims to bring trade unionists, socialists and anti-cuts campaigners together to stand candidates at elections who are committed to representing working-class interests. Resistance to the cuts is vital, but we also need a political alternative to the policies of cuts and privatisation. TUSC believes that a new working-class party is needed that campaigns for a democratic socialist society run in the interests of the millions not the millionaires.

PLEASE take out a standing order to support TUSC

Datganiad i’r Wasg: her etholiadol TUSC Abertawe

Mae’r Cynghrair Undebwyr Llafur a Sosialwyr (TUSC) yn sefyll yn etholiadau Cyngor Abertawe ar 3 Mai. Rydyn ni’n wrthwynebu pob toriad!

Her TUSC yn etholiadau Cyngor Abertawe

Mae Cynghrair Undebwyr Lllafur a Sosialwyr (TUSC) yn sefyll ymgeiswyr yn Abertawe yn yr etholiadau Cyngor ar 3 Mai ar raglan o wrthwynebu pob toriad, pwy bynnag sy’n eu cyflawni. Mae’n hymgeiswyr yn addo bod yn llais dros undebaeth llafur a sosialaeth yn yr etholiadau fel yr unig blaid sy’n galw ar ein gwleidyddion i wrthod gwneud unrhyw toriad.

Mae llawer o undebwyr llafur a phobl dosbarth gweithiol yn teimlo bod bron dim gwahaniaeth rhwng y pleidiau mawr gan eu bod nhw i gyd yn cefnogi  torri gwasanaethau, preifateiddio, ymddiswyddo gweithwyr, ac ymosod ar ein amodau gwaith. Mae’n nhw’n ymddwyn mwy a mwy fel wahanol adennydd o’r un blaid slebogaidd, wrth undebol a chefnogol o gyfalafiaeth. Gwnaeth 13 blynedd o lywodraeth Lafur (with ohonynt gyda mwyafrif o ddros 100) ddim niwed i ddeddfau wrth undebol Thatcher, gan ein gadael ni gyda beth maw sawl sylwebydd wedi disgrifio fel y cyfreithiau mwyaf rhwystrol yn erbyn undebau llafur yn y Gorllewin.

Mae rhai yn ceisio’n perswadio bod y Blaid Lafur, yma yng Nghymru, yn wahanol er ei bod wedi ei hethol ar yr un raglen. Felly sut ydyn nhw’n esbonio’r ffaith fod dim ond dau Aelod Seneddol o Gymru oedd yn barod i herio’u plaid a phleidleisio dros gynnig John McDonnell yn San Steffan i ailsefydlu’r mynegai chwyddiant dros bensiynau cyhoeddus i RPI yn hytrach na CPI?

Dylen ni ddim anghofio chwaith mai cynghorau Llafur dechreuodd y bolisi o fygwth ymddiswyddo gweithwyr fel ffordd o ddinistrio amodau gwaith cenedlaethol gweithwyr Cyngor, bolisi mae cynghorau ledled y Deyrnas Unedig yn cyflawni trwy’r Rhybuddion 188 drwg-enwog.

Mae’n hyngeiswyr yn cynnwys undebwyr llafur sydd wedi brwydro yn yr un ffordd yn erbyn y lywodraeth Con Dem bresennol a’r lywodraeth Lafur gynt.

“Fel aelod o’r undeb UNSAIN gyda pensiwn lywodraeth leol, rydw wedi mynd ar streic ddwywaith i amdddifyn fy mhensiwn, unwaith o dan y lywodraeth Con Dem bresennol ac unwaith o dan y lywodraeth Lafur gynt. Teimlodd yr un fat hi ddweud y gwir. Mae angen llais wleidyddol arnon ni bydd yn cynrychioli undebwyr llafur sy’n brwydro i amddiffyn gwasanaethau, swyddi ac amodau a thelerau gwaith.”

Ronnie Job, ymgeisydd TUSC dros ward Sgeti

Mae’r lywodraeth Con-Dem yn benderfynol i ddinistrio Remploy sy’n rhoi gwaith gyda chefnogaeth i weithwyr anabl. Mae 36 allan o 54 ffatri Remploy wedi eu clustnodi i gau yn yr haf, gan ymddiswyddo dros 1,700 o weithwyr anabl. Mae gweithwyr Remploy yn brwydro yn erbyn y toriadau creulon, gan ddefnyddio’r profiad o’r brwydr yn 2008 yn erbyn rhaglen y lywodraeth Lafur i gau ffatrïoedd. Mae Les Woodward, yr ymgeisydd TUSC dros Tregwyr, ac yn cynullydd Consortiwm Undeb Llafur Remploy, yn dweud does dim dewis gan undebwyr llafur Remploy ond wrthdystio.

“Gyda swyddi mewn peryg, budd-daliadau yn cael eu cwtogi, a dim posibilrwydd o gael gwaith, does dim dewis i weithwyr Remploy ond i frwydro i amddiffyn eu swyddi a’u ffatrïoedd ac mae’n brwydr bydden ni’n cymryd yn syth at y lywodraeth. Nid yw ffatrïoedd Remploy ar werth nac am gau.”

Les Woodward, ymgeisydd TUSC candidate dros ward Tregwyr

Mae trechiad syfrdanol y Blaid Lafur yn Bradford West yn dangos bod pobl dosbarth gweithiol yn daer am ddewis arall i gonsensws y pleisiau mawr bod y “toriadau yn anghenrheidiol”. Mae unigolion cyfoethog a’r corforraethau mawr yn osgoi talu dros £120bn y flwyddyn felly pam ddyle pobl dosbarth gweithiol talu am argyfwng dydyn ni ddim yn gyfrifol am greu? Dydy toriadau ddim yn anghenrheidiol nac yn anochel; beth bynnag yw canllyniad yr etholiadau bydd cefnogwyr TUSC yn Abertawe yn ddal i adeiladu mudiad yn erbyn yr holl toriadau, gan ddod ag undebwyr llafur a’n cymunedau lleol at ei gilydd i drechu’r toriadau a lywodraeth y cyfoethog dros y cyfoethog.

Pleidleisiwch TUSC ar 3 Mai!

I gael rhagor o wybodaeth:

Cynrychiolydd etholiadol:Alec Thraves 01792 476246            socialistpartywales@btinternet.com

Blog etholiadol TUSC Abertawe:http://tuscswansea.blogspot.co.uk

Press release: Swansea TUSC electoral challenge

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) challenge in Swansea Council Elections

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is to stand candidates in Swansea for the Council elections on May 3^rd on a platform of opposing all cuts, no matter which party is carrying them through. Our candidates are committed to providing a genuine trade unionist and socialist voice in these elections as the only party that demands our politicians refuse to implement all cuts.

For many trade unionists and working class people now there is very little to chose between the main parties because all support to one degree or another making cuts in our services, privatisation, sacking workers and attacking our terms and conditions. More and more they act like different wings of one, sleazy, anti-trade union, pro-capitalist, party. 13 years of Labour government (8 of them with a majority of over 100) made not a dent on Thatcher’s anti-trade union laws, leaving us with what many commentators have described as the most restrictive anti-trade union legislation in the western world.

Some would have us think that Labour, here in Wales, is a different animal, despite being elected on the same programme. How then do they explain the fact that, when John McDonnell moved a motion in parliament to restore the inflation indexing for public sector pensions from CPI to RPI, only 2 Welsh Labour MPs were prepared to defy their party and vote for it? Neither should it be forgotten that using the threat of redundancy as a weapon to destroy national terms and conditions for council workers, which is now being used by councils across the UK through the issuing of the notorious 188 notices, was pioneered by Labour councils in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Our candidates include trade unionists that have fought the same battles against both the current Tory/Liberal Democrat and the previous Labour government.

“As a UNISON member with a local government pension, I’ve taken strike action twice to defend my pension; once under the present Tory government and once under the previous Labour one. I honestly can’t say that it felt any different. We need a political voice that will genuinely represent trade unionists fighting to protect services, jobs and terms and conditions.”

Ronnie Job, TUSC candidate, Sketty Ward

The Con-Dems are hell-bent on destroying Remploy, which provides supported employment for disabled workers. 36 out of 54 Remploy factories are ear-marked for closure this summer, with over 1,700 disabled workers set to be sacked. Remploy workers are fighting this most callous of cuts, using the experience they gathered in their fight in 2008, against the Labour government’s own factory closure programme. TUSC candidate for Gowerton, Les Woodward, who is the convenor of the Remploy Trade Union Consortium, says that Remploy trade unionists have no choice but to fight.

“With jobs in jeopardy, benefits being cut, and no possibility of employment, Remploy workers have no alternative but to fight as hard as they can to protect their jobs and their factories and it is a fight that we will be taking straight to the Government. Remploy factories are not for sale or closure.”

Les Woodward, TUSC candidate, Gowerton Ward

The stunning defeat for Labour in the Bradford West by-election shows that working class people are desperate for an alternative to the “cuts are necessary” consensus of the main parties. Rich individuals and big corporations avoid paying tax to the tune of over £120bn a year so why should working class people pay for a crisis not of our making? Cuts are not necessary and neither are they inevitable; whatever the outcome of these elections TUSC supporters in Swansea will continue to build a movement against all cuts uniting trade unionists with our communities to defeat these cuts and defeat this government of the rich and for the rich.

Vote Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition on May 3^rd!

For further information:

Election agent:            Alec Thraves   01792 476246             socialistpartywales@btinternet.com

Swansea TUSC election blog:              http://tuscswansea.blogspot.co.uk

Dog must have been Tory! Press release.

PRESS RELEASE 2.4.12

(IMMEDIATE)

 

SWANSEA COUNCIL CANDIDATE HOSPITALISED BY VICIOUS DOG

Les Woodward, the 'Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition' candidate for Gowerton ward was viciously attacked by a dog whilst delivering election leaflets on Sunday morning.

Les had his hand ripped open by the dog (see attached photos) as he posted his election leaflet in Mount Pleasant, Gowerton and has been detained at Morriston hospital for treatment. 

Les works at the Remploy factory in Fforestfach which has been targeted for closure by the ConDem government. Les is the National trade union convener for Remploy workers and is leading the fight to keep all the 54 Remploy factories open.

Les said: -

"I am standing for the 'Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition' because I have always fought against injustice and I firmly believe we should refuse to pay the price for an economic crisis that was caused by billionaire bankers, spivs and speculators. Unlike the other candidates I believe we should refuse to implement all the cuts!

I must admit I expected to be attacked by my political opponents but not by a dog. Hopefully I will be out of hospital soon and back on the campaign trail fighting for a socialist alternative, knocking doors and keeping my hands out of letterboxes"!

 

ENDS

 

Contact details.

Swansea TUSC Election Agent: - Alec Thraves 07890680685

Les Woodward: -

'Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition' candidate for Gowerton ward. 07977436251