Tuesday, 19 December 2017
Thursday, 14 December 2017
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Book launch: Elinor Ostrom’s Rules for Radicals: Cooperative Alternatives Beyond Markets & States by Derek Wall
Book launch:
Elinor Ostrom’s Rules for Radicals:
Cooperative Alternatives
Beyond Markets & States by Derek Wall
7pm, Friday 1st December
314 New Cross Road
London, SE14 6AF
About the book
Elinor Ostrom was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Economics. Her theorising of the commons has been celebrated as groundbreaking and opening the way for non-capitalist economic alternatives, yet, many radicals know little about her. This book redresses this, revealing the indispensability of her work for green politics, left economics and radical democracy.
Ostrom has often been viewed as a conservative or managerial thinker; but Derek Wall’s analysis of her work reveals a how it is invaluable for developing a left political programme in the twenty-first century. Central to Ostrom’s work was the move ‘beyond panaceas’; transforming institutions to widen participation, promote diversity and favour cooperation over competition. She regularly challenged academia as individualist, narrow and elitist and promoted a radical take on education, based on participation. Her investigations into how we share finite resources has radical implications for the Green movement and her rubric for a functioning collective ownership is highly relevant in order in achieving radical social change.
About Derek Wall
Derek Wall is the author of numerous books including Elinor Ostrom’s Rules for Radicals (Pluto, 2017), Economics After Capitalism (Pluto, 2015), The Rise of the Green Left (Pluto, 2010) and The Sustainable Economics of Elinor Ostrom (Routledge, 2014). He teaches Political Economy at Goldsmiths College, University of London and was International Co-ordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
Motions passed by UCU retired members conference Wednesday 15 November 2017
NB I have omitted some motions that were concerned with internal UCU matters and not included some amendments as I have lost my notes, but my recollection is that these concerned points of detail .
Motion 5 Support for research-active retired members
This meeting notes that:
Motion 1 Railway System
Proposer Northern & Scottish Retired Members Branch
Preamble:
UCU Retired members note with dismay
the effects of this Government’s continued austerity drive, and its support of
the disastrous policy pursued by Southern Rail, of allegedly trying to
modernise its Railway System at the expense of the most vulnerable travellers.
Southern Rail’s abolishment of staff, stations and ticket offices has an
adverse effect on older people and those with disabilities. This means in
practice, that by abolishing train guards they are removing any vestige of
health and safety for the disabled, on both train and platforms. How are the
seriously disabled going to get on and off trains? Who is going to provide the
assistance for getting wheel chairs on and off trains? What about the many
stations that will no longer be staffed? How are the disabled expected to cope
with that situation, or will the train driver be expected to help? Of course
there will be ticket machines. How will the partially sighted cope; the
disabled and older people manage, with this new technology?
Many rail stations have toilets for
handicapped people, where you are required to find someone who can give you the
key, this can be very difficult for some to achieve. Why can’t we have ‘smart’
train tickets, which could be used to enable travellers to access ‘closed’
toilets on trains and stations? We have noted the series of strikes that have
taken place on Southern Railways and fully support the trade Unions involved.
Motion: This
AGM of Retired Members Branches notes that the Conservative Government has made
cuts to the Rail system, which seriously affects all disabled UCU members, and
UCU retired members. We therefore call upon our National Executive Committee to
fully support the National Pensioners Convention, and the Rail Unions in their
efforts to fight against the closure of stations, and the introduction of
driver only trains. The closure of Stations will make it impossible for
disabled UCU members and UCU retired members to travel late at night, and even
during the day when stations are only ticket machine operated. If Southern Rail
win this dispute then all the other train operators will be quick to jump on
the band wagon. We also ask that the NEC raise their concerns within the Labour
Party and the TUC and seek support to ensure a successful outcome to this very
important issue
Motion 2 The Rise in the state Pensions Age
Proposer Northern Retired Members Branch
This AGM of UCU retired members branches notes
with concern the raising of the State Pension Age and supports the campaign
against this by the National Pensioners Convention.
We further note that owing to the rise in
levels of stress and decline in levels of job-satisfaction, many members of UCU
will be forced to stop working, many years before the retirement age officially
designated by USS, TPS and our employers.
The consequence of these developments is that
there will be an increasing gap between the age at which the State Pension
begins and the age at which our members actually cease employment. As a result,
retirees will face increasing levels of financial hardship.
This AGM calls on the NEC to develop policies
and negotiation strategies designed to improve the USS and TPS pension schemes
in order to mitigate the effects of the increase in the State Pension
We note that many other trade unions in the
public sector who have occupational pension schemes, will be similarly affected
who therefore urges the NEC to liaise with our sister unions to achieve aims.
Motion 3 Climate Change, Airport Expansion and Fracking
Proposer London Retired Members Branch
We recognise that the motion on Climate Change passed at this
year's TUC makes progress towards UCU retired members resolution 7.6 of our
2016 annual meeting. However, we regret that there is no mention of opposition
to fracking or airport expansion. We therefore call upon the UCU NEC to
continue to campaign within the trade union movement in support of all the demands
raised in UCU Congress 2017 resolution 17: Climate change, jobs and airport
expansion.
Motion 4 Universal Benefits
Proposer London Retired Members Branch
Conference
believes that the old age (universal benefit) pension should be paid to all
over the age 60 and be equivalent to at least half the average wage or 200
pounds, whichever is the greater. Conference commits to the defence of the
triple-lock. Conference notes that to achieve this will take a number of years
and the first step should be the increase of the present pension by a yearly
increase of RPI + 2%. Conference therefore resolves for UCU to express our view
on the relevant bodies.
Motion 5 Support for research-active retired members
Proposer London Retired
Members Branch
Recognising that many retired members wish to continue with
their research or conduct research for which they did not have time due to
pressures of work while they were employed, calls upon UCU to do all it can to
secure access to facilities such as libraries and email for retired academic
staff. This would also be in the interests of their previous institutions
although many are too stupid to see this.
Motion 7 NHS
Proposer West Midlands
Retired Members Branch
This Retired Members AGM deplore the government's
funding attack on the NHS and the consequent pressure on Trusts to abandon the
NHS founding principles. For example,
Shropshire has declared that the planned reconfiguration of two hospitals is
for the "greatest good for the majority": utilitarianism has replaced
universalism despite Para 14T of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
We deplore the consequent limitations on access and
especially the negative impact on retired people.
We urge retired members' branches to engage in
local campaigning to protect the NHS.
We request UCU head office to set up a national
web-based forum to assist all branches to work on national NHS campaigns using
College and University campuses to promote the importance of a universal health
service.
We call on
the NEC to pay the £500 to affiliate to the Health Campaigns Together pressure
group.
Motion 10 Raising of
the State Pension Age
Proposer Yorkshire
& Humberside Retired Members Branch
This meeting notes that:
• the proposed raising of the State
Pension Age will present financial difficulties for many UCU members retiring
some years before receiving a State Pension
• many workers in all areas of employment,
especially those with inadequate occupational pensions, or no other pension, as
well as those who are willingly or unwillingly unemployed will face the same
difficulties many years before reaching the State Pension age.
• The raising of the State Pension Age
will add to pressures to raise the qualifying age for occupational pensions.
• many workers in precarious employment
are particularly dependent on the state pension because they have little opportunity
to accrue a decent quality occupational pension.
It therefore calls for UCU to support
the NPC campaign against raising the SPA, and to work actively in the TUC to
raise wider awareness of these issues among existing workers, awareness of the
risk of poverty in old age and to develop a campaign with all other unions.
Motion 11 Supporting the NPC Pensioners’ Manifesto
Proposer Yorkshire
& Humberside Retired Members Branch
This meeting calls on UCU to agree to support the NPC Pensioners
Manifesto:
• A state pension set above the official poverty level,
around £200 a week and linked to the triple lock of the higher of earnings,
prices or 2.5%.
• Greater funding for the NHS, an end to privatisation in the
health service and a national social care system funded from general taxation,
free at the point of delivery and without means-testing.
• Maintenance of universal pensioner benefits such as free
bus travel, a £500 winter fuel allowance, free prescriptions and a free TV
licence for the over 75s.
• More homes that are both affordable and suitable for
everyone, whilst recognising the specific barriers to downsizing that older
people face.
• New legal protection for older people from all forms of
elder abuse, to ensure dignity and raise standards of care.
• A Brexit deal that safeguards the payment of pensions,
protects EU care workers and the rights of UK pensioners living abroad.
Motion 12 Discussion of extending the Equality Act 2010
to include single people as a protected group
Proposer Yorkshire & Humberside Retired Members Branch
This meeting notes:
• Under the Equality Act 2010 married
people and people in civil partnerships are protected from discrimination on
grounds of marital status, but single people are not.
• Therefore it is still lawful to treat
single people less favourably than married people and those in civil
partnerships.
• That lack of legal protection can give
scope for expression of negative attitudes towards single people.
• As people become older, they are more
likely to spend a period of their lives as single people as a result of
bereavement.
• That if health and social care services
are organised on the assumption that people have or ought to have a ‘next of
kin’ family member who can look after them in periods of illness and
disability, this disadvantages single people.
• That there are various forms of existing
discrimination against single people, such as single person supplements charged
by holiday firms often for inferior accommodation.
• That the current discussion of
loneliness as a health problem, while valid in itself, could foster negative
stereotypes of the lives of single people, especially if there is a confusion
between ‘loneliness’ and ‘living alone’.
This meeting calls
upon UCU to discuss in its Equality Committee and any other relevant bodies the
case for extension of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 to
include single people, so that they too are protected from discrimination on
grounds of marital status.
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
The People's Assembly Against Austerity: Budget Protest
Chancellor Phillip Hammond will announce the Budget next week and outline the Government's spending priorities for the next year.
We're calling a protest at Downing Street the night before to urge the Government to use the Budget to scrap their plans for Universal Credit, to close tax loopholes and force the tax avoiders to pay their fair share, to end the public sector pay cap with an increase above inflation, and to properly fund our NHS and public services.
Protest: 6pm, Tuesday 21 November, Opposite Downing Street, Whitehall, London
** We're asking everyone to take 10 minutes today and invite your friends on Facebook: click here to invite your friends** Please also Tweet using hashtag #SackTheTories
We're pleased to team up with Health Campaigns Together, Unite Community, Axe The Housing Act and many other campaigns to organise this protest. (If your campaign would like to get involved please get in touch)
It's fair to say that this Government hasn't had the best few weeks. Theresa May's authority is dwindling even in her our party while a growing crisis in the cabinet, based on inappropriate behaviour from ministers, leaves a question mark over whether this Government will survive the next few weeks in office.
But the crisis around the roll out of Universal Credit is growing which will push thousands into poverty, the Paradise Papers revealed the huge extent of Tax Avoidance where the rich are thieving money which should be spent on services, and the head of the NHS last week warned billions of pounds extra is needed if the NHS is to survive this winter.
Come along, bring friends and workmates. Let's make sure this weak Government feels the growing opposition to their damaging austerity measures.
Foodbank Collection
As part of the protest we're collecting food which will be donated to local foodbanks so their shelves are stocked to deal with the fallout from Universal Credit and the continuation of austerity policies in the budget. We will also be using the thousands of pounds that was raised through sales of Captain Ska's track 'Liar Liar' to buy tonnes of food and deliver it to foodbanks across the country. But before it's delivered, we'll be displaying all of it right on the doorstep of Downing Street to show Theresa May and Phillip Hammond the effect their damaging policies are having on ordinary people.
Items that are needed for Foodbanks:
We're pleased to team up with Health Campaigns Together, Unite Community, Axe The Housing Act and many other campaigns to organise this protest. (If your campaign would like to get involved please get in touch)
It's fair to say that this Government hasn't had the best few weeks. Theresa May's authority is dwindling even in her our party while a growing crisis in the cabinet, based on inappropriate behaviour from ministers, leaves a question mark over whether this Government will survive the next few weeks in office.
But the crisis around the roll out of Universal Credit is growing which will push thousands into poverty, the Paradise Papers revealed the huge extent of Tax Avoidance where the rich are thieving money which should be spent on services, and the head of the NHS last week warned billions of pounds extra is needed if the NHS is to survive this winter.
Come along, bring friends and workmates. Let's make sure this weak Government feels the growing opposition to their damaging austerity measures.
Foodbank Collection
As part of the protest we're collecting food which will be donated to local foodbanks so their shelves are stocked to deal with the fallout from Universal Credit and the continuation of austerity policies in the budget. We will also be using the thousands of pounds that was raised through sales of Captain Ska's track 'Liar Liar' to buy tonnes of food and deliver it to foodbanks across the country. But before it's delivered, we'll be displaying all of it right on the doorstep of Downing Street to show Theresa May and Phillip Hammond the effect their damaging policies are having on ordinary people.
Items that are needed for Foodbanks:
- Tinned meat
- Tinned fish
- Tinned veg
- Tinned fruit
- Pasta sauces
- Instant coffee
- Milk (UHT or powdered)
- Fruit juice (long life)
- Tinned pudding
- Jam / preserves
- Instant mashed potato
- Male and female toiletries
Green Seniors’ meeting: Wednesday 6/12/2017
PLEASE SUGGEST ANY ADDITIONS OR AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Green Seniors’ meeting: Wednesday 6/12/2017 6pm meeting at the Green Room 7 Grand Arcade Tally Ho Corner North Finchley
1. Apologies and alterations to agenda
2. Notes: Green Seniors
3. . Leaflet for new members and design offer from cp
5. Ucu Retired Members’ conference 15/11/2017
7. GPEW Conference: Stall, Fringe, Meeting,
8. AoB
GREEN SENIORS:GP CONFERENCE Autumn 2017
SUMMARY OF POINTS RAISED AT GS MEETING 9/10/2017
· IT: problems with services only being accessible via IT, not everyone has access/ is able to use
· IT: also a potentially liberating tool for Seniors, computer courses needed
· Segregation of Seniors from others in the community
· Social isolation of Seniors
· Managerialism taking over the way society interacts with Seniors
· Vulnerability to scammers and crinminals, especially of isolated Seniors
· Voluntary Euthanasia?
· Commercial /capitalist exploitation of the growing senior market esp in pharmaceuticals , IT, mobility aids, transport ,entertainment. Including side lining of natural remedies
· Landslides due to deforestation of hillsides.
Notes Green Seniors Friday 21 July .6.00
2. Notes Green Seniors
3. Matters Arising
a) May meeting postponed due to General election.
b) Nominations still open for post of Green Seniors Treasurer.
c) No progress with crowdfunder, might not be with it if the only expense was conference leaflets. Donations invited.
d) Pedestrians Association Aka Living Streetshttps://www.
e) Museum charges now raised to prohibitive levels for many seniors.
f) Lucas conference working groups: (on Arms Conversion, Localisation, Robotics and Just Transition) continue next meetings 24/7/2017. PM to attend.
g) GPEW Spring Conference, a successful eent combined with world and European Greens, some contacts made.
4. General election:
a) Rumours of November/December election
b) Ongoing Brexit problems
c) Disappointing GP performance but actually got 2nd highest GP total vote.
5. Gp autumn conference 7/10 october, Harrogate:
a) Stall:PM to book
b) Meeting: PM to book, and facilitate, volunteers to help needed.
c) Motions: Alan Borgars proposing motion on fire proofing, Peter Allen proposing motion on prioritising NHS campaigning. See GP members’ site
6. Future activities and events/Aob
a) National Pensioners’ Convention: The Message – quarterly newspaper 20p/free to affiliated groups and other publications available from: http://npcuk.org/
b) National Pensioners’ Convention aims now posted at https://greenseniors.
Could be used as a template for Green Seniors.
c) Which MP’s to contact on pensioners issues
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (2017–present)
|
2016–present
|
Source Wikipedia 21/7/2017
e) Maureen Childs to organise debate of Elders’ issues at Toynbee Hall
f) Toynbee Hall research into needs of Elders in Tower Hamlets, Maureen Childs has contacted researcher Natasha Munoz and will further contact to ascertain how many Senior Centres have closed in Tower Hamlets.
g) Seniors reported to be entitled to double length GP appointments.
h) GP appointments.being replaced by skype and/or internet in some areas(?)
i) Sheltered housing: reductions in workers, leading to reduction in residents’ access to facilities.
j) MC and PM had attended Tower Hamlets and Brent air pollution meetings.
k) Age Action Alliance MC
l) Ransackers, problems in using Uni facilities
7.Date of next meeting: 22/9/2017 6pm meeting at the Green Room 7 Grand Arcade Tally Ho Corner North Finchley
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