THE PLAN : " This is an amazing story that needs to be told."

The crowdfunding site is now open for a new film - THE
 PLAN that came from the bottom up - about the inspiring 1970s Lucas Aerospace workers Alternative Plan to shift from arms manufacture to socially useful and environmentally
 sustainable production. 
 https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-plan-community/x/11054043#/

 You can watch the trailer there, see what we need the funds for and also info about this feature length film

 Please support and share it far & wide so the film can be released in October and make a contribution to sowing the seeds for many more such plans. 

Many Thanks   

 “This film will capture a unique moment in our history - highly skilled workers showing how to turn swords into ploughshares. It is a vital lesson for us now, as

 Labour leaders ask questions about common ownership, what we produce and who benefits from the products. We can be inspired by the Lucas workers, by their foresight and imagination. Please support this film, see it, promote it and
 discuss it. If we want to transform society, this is a good
 place to start.” Ken Loach, Director & Political Activist

 "Those who make nuclear submarines can perfectly well make medical equipment, wind farms and tidal barriers for
 alternative sources of energy. People can move from
 destructive to constructive work - hospitals, homes and schools - if there is political will and imagination. We need more of both right now".
 Bruce Kent, Vice President Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 

 " This is an amazing story that needs to be told. Britain still
 ploughs huge amounts of resource - both human and financial - into the arms trade, when we really should be diversifying our economy urgently. I really look forward to seeing this film - and celebrating the Lucas Plan story"
 Caroline Lucas MP, Co-Leader of the Green Party 

Chris Packham warns of 'ecological apocalypse' in Britain

 Chris Packham warns of 'ecological apocalypse' in Britain

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/11/chris-packham-springwatch-warns-of-ecological-apocalypse-britain

Notes Green Seniors’ meeting: Friday 8/6/2018

Notes Green Seniors’ meeting: Friday 8/6/2018

1.   Apologies: Malcolm Bailey, Erwin Schaefer

2.  Minutes Green Seniors’ meeting:  Friday 11/5/2018: Agreed for accuracy

3. Matters arising:

a)Nomination received and accepted for post of G.S Treasurer from Caroline of Hackney GP.

b)Regional/local gs groups. No further news re "Old Greens North@, Maureen to contact Martin Collins via sandmartyn@phonecoop.coop me.

c) Maureen contacted National Pensioners’ Convention re campaigning against proposals to make Pensioners pay NI contributions .no reply as yet.

4) Green Seniors membership list , indication from Head office via GPTU meeting that sub-groups of GP were covered by GP members decisions to join to GP which entailed being contacted re GP activities

5).   GPEW Conference:

GP Autumn Conference 2018, Autumn Conference 2018 - 5-7 October, Bristol City Hall

We are pleased to be able to confirm that Autumn Conference will be held from 5-7 October at Bristol City Hall. Registration will open on 1 July. 

The Agenda deadlines for Autumn Conference 2018 have been set by the Standing Orders Committee (SOC) as follows: 

Date	Agenda Deadline
26 July	Pre-Agenda deadline: Final date for posting of motions and policy papers to the Pre-Agenda forum on the members website here
2 August	First Agenda deadline: Final date for notification of text of motions and policy papers to SOC
16 August	Publication of the First Agenda, and opening of the Prioritisation Ballot
30 August	Final date for posting of amendments to the members’ website.
6 September	Final Agenda deadline: final text of amendments to SOC
20 September	Publication of the Final Agenda (latest) Final date for Late Motions to Conference

a)  Suggestions for fringe: Digital Exclusion: a term used to describe the exclusion of many people by the closure of public facilities eg: Job Centres, banks, post offices, libraries, police stations etc: which was often excused by suggesting that the services offered could now be accessed on line by anyone. This was untrue and also this development entailed many job losses. Possible speaker from PCS (The Public and Commercial Services Union) and or an unemployed workers  group. This proposal was supported by the Green Party Trade Union group. PM to draft application

b)  Meetings Introduction to Green Seniors: PM to draft application

c)  Stall: PM to draft application, Relevant materials needed for stall

6) London Local elections

a) Delayed local by-election in Willesden Green, 3 Green candidates, day of action on Sunday 17 June and other campaigning up to and including polling day Thursday 21^st June, Offers of help much appreciated, please contact
Peter Murry on yrrumuk@googlemail.com

b) Parliamentary by-election in Lewisham, if the Labour candidate was elected a local by-election would follow.

7)Holistic Review submission sent no reply as yet.

8) AoB

a)Heathrow expansion: statement for GPTU (see https://greentulondon.blogspot.com/2018/06/gptu-statement-third-heathrow-airport.html)

b)Campaign against Climate Change | visit to PNR Anti-fracking camp 9/6/2018

c)  Anti-Racism demo 9/6/2018 (see https://greenseniors.blogspot.com/2018/06/there-were-15.html)

d)One year on: Justice for Grenfell Solidarity March

Join the Fire Brigades Union as we march to Downing Street with Justice4Grenfell on 16 June to demand justice for the victims of the disaster (https://www.fbu.org.uk/news/2018/05/31/one-year-justice-grenfell-solidarity-march)

e)Peoples Vote march (anti-brexit), central London, Caroline Lucas speaking 23/6/2018 (https://www.facebook.com/events/233300890589525/)

f)   Don’t Take The NHS For Granted – Stand Up To The Tories On June 30^th (http://greenleftblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/dont-take-nhs-for-granted-stand-up-to.html)

g)International eco socialist network meeting 7/7 London venue tbc)

h)Lucas Conference working groups : organising an action day in Derby on July 21^st & crowdfunding for ‘The Plan’ full scale film re the original Lucas plan

i)   Greener Jobs Alliance:  latest Greener Jobs Alliance newsletter. We hope you find it a useful update on climate change and work. http://www.greenerjobsalliance.co.uk/?page_id=29

j)   Trump visit?

k) Film Screening and Audience Q&A:

Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story

Monday 2 July 2018, 7-9.30pm

FREE ADMISSION (registration essential) Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS Please Register: lese@tuc.org.uk / 020 7467 1220 

l)   Green Party Leader/deputy leader elections: Should Green Seniors draft a list of questions for candidates?

m)               What is the National Pensioners’ Education & Welfare centre? Linked to NPC?

n) Is age discrimination legal? Ask Alan Wheatley, see also message from Paul Philo link to report on ageism from The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)  Basis for a motion to conference? (link to report on ageism from RSPH. Basis for a motion to conference? https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/older-people/that-age-old-question.html

o)) London GP New members’ meeting 29/6/2018 Marchmont Street Community Centre, 62 Marchmont St, Kings Cross, London WC1N 1AB contact noellynch@lineone.net

p) GP fundraising walk, themed around commemorating the suffragettes 8^th July contact noellynch@lineone.net

Next meeting Friday 10 August  6pm meeting at the Green Room 7 Grand Arcade Tally Ho Corner North Finchley 

Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story

www.tuc.org.uk/london-east-and-south-east/events/tuc-lese-film-screening-director-qa-unsung-hero-jack-jones-story

TUC London, East & South East (LESE)

International Affairs Committee and Pensioners’ Network supported

Film Screening and Audience Q&A:

Unsung Hero: The Jack Jones Story

Monday 2 July 2018, 7-9.30pm

FREE ADMISSION (registration essential)

Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

Please Register: lese@tuc.org.uk / 020 7467 1220 

‘Unsung Hero – The Jack Jones Story’ is a documentary on one of the greatest British figures of the past century –

a man who exercised more power over government economic policy than any other trades union leader in British history.

Jones took on four of the great evils of modern times: poverty, fascism, worker exploitation and pensioner poverty - and took them on with so much conviction that at one point,

the public voted him the most powerful man in Britain. The life of Jack Jones mirrors the story of the 20th century - a man whose like we may never see again.

For your information:

World Premiere!!!

Unsung Hero – The Jack Jones Story

Friday 15 June 2018 7:30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Liverpool L1 9BP

Bromley Green Party at against Racism demo 9/6/2018

There were 15.000 fascists in Whitehall and only 200 Stand Up to Racism campaigners.

The police really protected us and helped us safely to the underground.

At Lewisham Mosque there were some excellent speeches and solidarity, but there was no opposition

Was proud to represent Bromley Green Party.

Ann.

GPTU STATEMENT: A THIRD HEATHROW AIRPORT RUNWAY? A RESPONSE TO FRANCES O’GRADY.

In September 2017 TUC Congress took the historic step of unanimously passing a motion on climate change, noting that it is “..driving unprecedented changes to our environment”.

The motion blamed “..incoherent UK government policy” for “..undermining measures to achieve the UK carbon reduction targets.”.

TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady’s statement of 5^th June 2018 seems to be equally incoherent in calling for an immediate go ahead to building a third Heathrow airport runway. She advocates this because it “will create thousands of high-quality jobs and apprenticeships” and claims this will benefit local communities.

Levels of air pollution, noise pollution and associated diseases are already high around Heathrow. Those who suffer most from this are the workers in the airport, workers in its associated industries, and often their families, if they live nearby. Heathrow expansion will increase pollution and increase the number of people exposed to it.

As well as this, Heathrow expansion is will increase greenhouse gas emissions which are already exceeding UK government reduction targets.

Attempting to insist that the possible new jobs will be ‘high quality’ and paid a living wage, although a justified aim for Trades Unionists, is hardly adequate compensation for the global and local damage that is likely to be caused.

It is sad that Frances O’Grady did not take the opportunity to advocate alternatives such as the 1 million climate jobs proposals of the Campaign Against Climate Change.Thousands of high-quality jobs and apprenticeships could also be created by promoting and developing low carbon technologies and infrastructure. Furthermore, the associated community benefits need not be confined to the relatively affluent South East.

The TUC should be living up to its aim “to make the working world a better place for everyone”, not advocating retrograde proposals such as Heathrow expansion.

ENDS

CONTACT: P.MURRY, LONDON GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION LIAISON OFFICER PP : THE GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION GROUP.

EMAIL : YRRUMUK@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TEL.07736525187

One year on: Justice for Grenfell Solidarity March

One year on: Justice for Grenfell Solidarity March June 29th Branch Meeting - President of the Grenada TUC will be our guest One year on: Justice for Grenfell Solidarity March Join the Fire Brigades Union as we march to Downing Street with Justice4Grenfell on 16 June to demand justice for the victims of the disaster. One year ago 72 people died and 70 were injured in the worst fire in the UK for decades. Since then there has been a trail of broken promises from the government. • 50% of survivors and displaced families are still in emergency accommodation • A Public Inquiry that a year on has only just begun, so we are no closer to the truth • 300 tower blocks across the country covered in dangerous cladding used on Grenfell Tower. Building & fire safety regulations still not fit for purpose We need to show the government that our campaign will not stop until justice is delivered for every victim of Grenfell Tower. WHEN: SATURDAY, JUNE 16 AT 12 PM - 4 PM WHERE: DOWNING STREET, LONDON more details...

Don’t Take The NHS For Granted – Stand Up To The Tories On June 30th

Shelly Asquith

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Low paid workers, pushed to the brink. Specialist services, cut back or closed. Bed numbers are down. Surgeries are cancelled, and patients left in limbo – or for dead. There is no sign of change from the Tories. Jeremy Hunt wears his NHS lapel pin almost as if to mock the nurses, doctors and patients being failed by his policies.
Whole departments are being sold off, piece by piece, to private providers. As Corbyn has said before, we must oppose any move to create “an NHS where they feel for your purse before they feel for your pulse”. The prospect of a US-style healthcare system run in the interests of businesses is very real.
This government’s ideological drive to privatise our health service puts the very basis on which it was formed under threat. As someone currently in and out of hospital every week, I can truly appreciate our free and public health service, but also feel the incredible strain it is under. Despite the fantastic work of our doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, the conditions they are working in – and the budgets they are working with – are simply not up to scratch.
The student NHS bursary is gone: despite committing 2,300 hours on placement, student nurses, midwives and other trainees are shouldering a huge debt to work for free. Is it any wonder the number of applications has fallen so sharply? Despite the Prime Minister’s pledge to prioritise the issue at the start of her term, mental health budgets have been slashed.
People are literally dying as a result of this government’s neglect of our NHS, and every day it becomes more and more essential that we take action at every opportunity to show our support for a public health system, and an end to its stealth privatisation.
It is easy to take the NHS for granted – it can feel as though it has always been here. That’s why we must remind ourselves that the NHS is a triumph of modern history, and it is only through our collective strength that it will survive.

This June marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the NHS. A platinum anniversary! The People’s Assembly Against Austerity has announced that we will be mobilising a march for our NHS on June 30th.
The People’s Assembly has mobilised some of the biggest demonstrations this country has seen, including last year’s march for the NHS – the largest in its history. The PAAA’s actions have acted as a springboard and rallying point for local protests and national strikes, too. Local groups have played a key role in mobilising at a grassroots level, such as during the junior doctors’ strike. When Bristol’s NHS Children’s Services were at risk of being sold to Richard Branson’s Virgin, local activists and trade unions came together to oppose the move. More recently, the campaign against the closure of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary saw similarly inspiring local resistance.
National mobilisations provide an opportunity for local struggles to link up and show this government that, while their cuts may be designed to carve up our health service, they will not divide our movement. This time, on June 30th, we hope to bring together thousands of NHS workers, patients, activists, trade unionists and their families to show the mass support for a free and public NHS, and our opposition to the crisis in care and cuts to services currently facing this country.
The People’s Assembly is working jointly with Health Campaigns Together, a coalition of grassroots organisations working to defend our NHS. It includes Keep Our NHS Public, the Socialist Health Association, Momentum NHS, Unite, GMB and Unison.
We will be assembling in Whitehall and marching to a site where we will hear from speeches and bands. This is a chance to actually celebrate our NHS, its fantastic achievements and the staff who work within it, as well as protest the devastation it is now facing under this Conservative government. We will show our support for a free, universal and publicly owned National Health Service.
See you there, for #OurNHS.
Shelly Asquith is a Labour member in Cities of London and Westminster and a member of the People’s Assembly Against Austerity national committee.
@ShellyAsquith
The People’s Assembly Against Austerity will also be mobilising for the TUC national demonstration on the 12th May, and is hosting its national conference in London on 2nd June.
This piece was commissioned by guest editor Diane Abbott.