Socialist Resistance

Stuart Richardson

The one day strike called by the National Union of Teachers (NUT)joined by the Further Education section of University and College Union (UCU) was the first national strike by the NUT since 1985, the year of the great miners’ strike. The intervening period was an era of retreat and defeat for many sections of the trade union movement. The strike, of course, had immediate causes, rising inflation and wage settlements for the previous two years below the rate of inflation. Also the increasingly heavy management pressure on teachers derived from the endless targets imposed on school staff. However the strike would never have been called without a long fight by the NUT left, the Socialist Teachers Alliance (STA) and the smaller Campaign for a Fighting and Democratic Union (CDFU) for more militant policies. For many years the annual NUT Conference held at Easter had passed often with very large majorities resolutions committing the union to industrial action on pay, conditions and performance management but these were regularly ignored by the NUT Executive. The Broad Left (now called Broadly Speaking!!), historically an alliance of Labour Left and Communist teachers, has dominated the NUT Executive for the last two or three decades regularly stifling calls for action.

Three or four years ago the Broadly Speaking divided over issues connected with the views of the ex-General Secretary Doug McEvoy and the balance of power on the NUT Executive became more fluid. The success of the strikes around the London teacher’s allowance indicated a growing militancy in the ranks of the NUT and a new generation of STA supporters were elected onto the Executive. This shift in the balance of power on the NUT Executive meant that in 2007/8 the right wing were not able to block industrial action.

Despite this shift the overwhelming vote of the 2007 NUT Conference for strike action to resist the below inflation pay deal (2.45% 2007/8, 2.3% for the next two years) the manoeuvres on the Executive delayed the strike to the following year.

The 24^th April was a great success but only partial in some areas, over half the schools closed in Birmingham, 90% NUT members on strike in Liverpool and a very solid strike in London and many other areas. But a fair proportion of NUT members did not strike especially in certain rural areas. Despite the partial nature of the strike many impressive rallies were held usually in cooperation with others unions such as UCU, PCS, and the CWU. In Birmingham a particularly impressive rally of 3,000 was held jointly with council unions, UNISON, GMB, UNITE and others who were on strike on the Single Status issue.

At a well attended STA National Coordinating meeting on the 26^th April (two days after the strike) it was agreed unanimously to push for a one day strike in the Summer term although there was vacillation on the part of some in the meeting. The view was that it was essential to maintain the momentum of the pay campaign but there were obviously difficulties given the Summer term is dominated by exams and the prospect of the summer holidays. It would have been ideal if the NUT had joined the local council workers strike on the 16^th/17^th July. A series of NUT Executive meetings in May and June ducked the chance of a summer strike with only a small minority supporting this action.

The Executive was however united on continuing the industrial in the Autumn term balloting for discontinuous action will be starting on Monday 6^th October. The prospects for the national ballot seem good given the accelerating inflation figures, RPI 5% and CPI 4.4% July 2008. Also the ballot is for discontinuous action unlike the previous ballot which was for a one day strike only. So a series of actions can be organised by the NUT without reference to further ballots.

Finally an indication of the hard line the employers will take is the reply form the School Teachers’ Review Body to a claim by the NUT for a reconsideration of the 2.3- 2.45% pay award. In the imposed deal if the inflation is above 3.25% then the award can be re-considered but despite inflation being way above this level the Review Body replied that because the vacancy rate for teachers was low the market (the god for New Labour) does not justify a higher award!!

Bectu and the NUJ are in dispute with the BBC over the outsourcing of the work of the Urdu, Hindi, and Nepali services of the world service to India Pakistan and Nepal. The move, which is designed to save money, is a threat to both job security personal safety and job security.

Journalists from the sections involved hold a picket outside the front of of Bush House every Thursday at 12.45 - and they are looking for support. Respect has already been involved with a message of support to the picket from George Galloway who has also raised an Early Day Motion in the Commons on the issue.

It is an important dispute and solidarity needs to be stepped up. Most of the existing staff are being offered a choice between redundancy or lower-paid short-term jobs in unstable and unsafe locations. If unchallenged now these same principles could be applied across the world service.

Turn up if you can on the picket each Thursday, send messages of support, or find out more information at: www.nuj.org.uk

Cleaners have been on strike since Tuesday evening after Transport for London failed to grant any concessions during the cleaners’ one day strike last week.  London Underground cleaners - the majority of whom are women and people from ethnic minorities - have to struggle with low wages, no pension schemes or proper sick pay, contracts which offer as little as 12 days annual leave and the indignities of on-the-spot third party sackings.

Activists from Feminist Fightback planned actions and demonstrations to cause chaos in order to highlight the crucial role that London Underground cleaners - the majority of whom are women and migrant workers - play in keeping the underground running.

The group piled bin bags full of rubbish in front of the headquarters of the London Underground, chanting, "Poverty Pay - no way" and "Transport for London - clean up your act!" until they were moved on by the police.

Clara Osagiede, RMT Cleaner’s Grade Secretary explains the situations cleaners have to deal with:

‘We have a member whose normal shift is 11pm-5am, he was thirsty on his shift, and so went to the kitchens to get some water. A representative of his contracting firms accosted him, asked what he was doing there, demanded his pass and then put it in his pocket and ordered him to get out. With no further explanation, the man was fired the next day.’

‘Sexual harassment of female cleaners by their managers is rife. Because their immigration status is uncertain they are unable to complain or they will face being sacked. Many of these women get very depressed.’

Laura Schwartz, member of NUS women’s committee and Feminist Fightback activist, states: ‘Keeping the underground clean is an essential task. As feminists we want to highlight the extent to which what is traditionally seen as ‘women’s work’ is so undervalued and are willing to take direct action to do so. Cleaning is vital work and women workers deserve fair pay and decent conditions.’

Last Friday the group invaded London Underground Headquarters. Armed with feather dusters, brooms and mops, they set about helping Transport for London ‘clean up their act’ until they were forcibly removed. Activists are targeting Transport for London to ensure that they do not pass the buck and instead take responsibility for the working conditions of the underground cleaners.

More on the story here.

The Colombia Solidarity Campaign is asking supporters and trade unionists to act in defence of Colombian miners facing death threats.

We reprint  Amnesty International’s Urgent Action below and encourage you to act on it immediately.

The small miners’ federation FEDEAGROMISBOL has been targeted with death threats. Its president Teófilo Manuel Acuña Ribón was one of the recipients. Teófilo has been in the UK this week in a visit organised by the Colombia Solidarity Campaign.

Teófilo’s visit has coincided with the AGM of the mining corporation Anglo American in London. A short statement was read out on Teófilo’s behalf to the shareholders, explaining the grave human rights situation in his home region of Sur de Bolivar.

Anglo American are 17% shareholders in AngloGold Ashanti, whose presence in this region is rejected by the Federation. Teófilo’s work, in exposing the negative impacts of British mining activity, has put him in great danger. He is seeking protection measures for when he returns in the coming days and the solidarity he receives this week could prove critical.

Colombia Solidarity Campaign

19 April

——————————————————————————————-

Fear for safety/ Death threats
COLOMBIA
Members of the Magdelena Medio Peace and Development Programme ‘Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio’ Members of the human rights organization, Corporación SEMBRAR
Members of the trade union organization, The Agro- mining Federation of the South of Bolívar department, FEDEAGROMISBOL (La Federación Agrominera del Sur de Bolívar) Catholic priests working in the municipalities of Tiquisio, Arenal and Regidor, department of Bolívar.

On 10 April, an e-mailed death threat signed by the paramilitary group ‘Black Eagles’ (Aguilas Negras) was received by those mentioned above. They were informed that they were considered to be military targets and so would be killed.
The death threat stated that their names are on a list of undesirables who must be eliminated, “su nombre esta (sic.) en la lista de personas no deseadas …que deben ser eliminados”. It accuses those under threat of being guerrilla auxiliaries or guerrilla members and informs them that the aforementioned organizations and their members have been kept under surveillance in the municipalities of Tiquisio, Arenal, La Gloria and Regidor in the department of Bolívar as well as in Aguachica in the department of Cesar.
The e-mail continues by saying “Going down the list, you will be killed one by one for each criminal act that you organize against the ‘democratic security’ in these towns”, (Por cada acto delincuencial en contra de la seguridad democratica (sic.) que ustedes organicen dentro de estos pueblos, serán exterminados uno a uno por orden de lista). It concludes by saying “We won’t hesitate to kill you; start getting your loved ones ready so that they can bury you, (No vamos en vacilar en asesinarlos y vallan preparando a sus allegados para que empiecen a enterrarlos).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The ‘Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio’ promotes economic, social, cultural and institutional development in the region, focusing on vulnerable and displaced communities. Corporación SEMBRAR is a human rights organization which in recent years has been monitoring the human rights situation in the region and which has repeatedly denounced human rights abuses.
FEDEAGROMISBOL is an organization which represents peasant farmers and the interests of artisanal gold miners in the South of Bolívar department. It has campaigned against the arrival of multinational gold mining companies in the area and in recent years, its members have regularly been threatened and labelled as subversive. On 19 September 2006, Alejandro Uribe, a FEDEAGROMISBOL leader was killed by members of the Batallón Nueva Granada of the Colombian army. He was presented by the security forces as a guerrilla killed in combat.
Human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations have often been labelled as guerrilla collaborators or supporters by government officials, as well as by the security forces and paramilitaries. Such accusations have often been followed by threats or attacks against human rights activists. The conflict provides a useful cover for those seeking to expand and protect economic interests and human rights violations are often committed in areas of economic interest.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

-expressing concern for the safety of members of FEDEAGROMISBOL, SEMBRAR, the ‘Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio’ and Catholic priests working in the municipalities of Tiquisio, Arenal and Regidor in the department of Bolivar.

-urging the authorities to ensure that all measures deemed appropriate by the individuals and organizations named in the threat received on 10 April, are taken to guarantee their safety;

-calling for full and impartial investigations into the death threat received on 10 April, the results of which should be made public and those responsible brought to justice;

-calling for decisive action to confront and dismantle paramilitary groups and investigate and break their links with the security forces, in line with repeated UN recommendations;

- calling on the authorities to produce policy and plans, in conjunction with human rights defenders, to guarantee their safety according to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Institutions to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and to make these plans public.

——————————————————————————————-

Colombia Solidarity Campaign adds

Example message in Spanish:

Estimado Autoridad,

Escribo expresar mi preoccupación por la seguridad de los miembros de las organizaciones SEMBRAR, FEDEAGROMISBOL y la Programa de Desarrollo y Paz  Magdelena Medio y los sacerdotes que estan trabajando en los municipios de Tiquisio, Arenal y Regidor en el departamento de Bolivar.

Solicito que se tomen medidas a guarantizar la seguridad de ellos que recibieron las amenazas del 10 Abril.

Llamo por una investigación completa y imparcial a las amenazas y que los resultados sean disponible publicamente y los que tengan responsibilidad sean castigado.

Por favor tome accion a confrontar a los grupos paramilitares y investique sus conneciones y sus vinculos con las fuerzas de seguridad - en acuerdo con recommendaciones hecho por las Naciones Unidas repetidamente.

También le solicito a producir planes y políticas, conjunto con defensores de DDHH a guarantizar su seguridad en acuerdo con los principios de la Declaracion de las Naciones Unidos en los Derechos y Responsibildades de Individuos, Grupos y Instituciones a Promover y Proteger los Derechos Humanos y Libertades Fundamentales Reconocidos Universalmente, y que sean públicos.

Sinceramente

Please send by E-MAIL to:

The Colombian Embassy in UK Email: mail@colombianembassy.co.uk  for attention of Mr A. Garcia.

Climate change is a working class issue. Try to get this resolution through your union branch. Amend it as appropriate.

This Association notes:
1) The contradiction between the Government’s stated aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and its practice of expanding roads and airports.

2) The devastating impact a proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport would have on local communities as a consequence of raised air and noise pollution, and on the world’s climate as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases.

This Association therefore demands that the UK government immediately abandons all plans to build a third runway at Heathrow airport.

This Association also agrees to:

1) Send a delegation and banner to the National Demonstration against the third runway at Heathrow at 12 noon on Saturday 31^st May 2008. (Assemble at Hatton Cross Tube Station.)

2) Affiliate to the Campaign against Climate Change (Affiliation fees: National Unions £250 per annum; Districts and Regions £100 per annum; local branches £25 per annum), and help its work with a further donation of £… (cheques payable to Campaign against Climate Change should be sent to Campaign against Climate Change , Top Floor, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX)