Veteran and ex-prisoner of war, 96 year-old Robbie Clark, could be forced out of his home

Veteran and ex-prisoner of war, 96 year-old Robbie Clark, could be forced out of his home. Brent Council are refusing to cover the full costs of the care he needs, unless he agrees to go into a residential home. [1] David, a 38 Degrees member, has started a petition to save Robbie from eviction. Over 55,000 of us have already signed. If enough of us put our names to it, we could shame the council into backing down. Let’s show the council that we won’t stand by while the elderly bear the brunt of government cuts. If you think that Robbie should be able to stay in his home, sign the petition: SIGN THE PETITION Here’s what David says: “One of Britain’s oldest surviving prisoners of war faces being forced into a care home against his will after Brent Council refused to pay for his home help. His family said they fear being in a care home would kill him.” Click here to sign his petition now: SIGN THE PETITION 38 Degrees members said that social care for older or disabled people should be one of our top campaigning issues this election. [2] Any of us could need help at some point in our lives - so together, we’re campaigning to make sure everyone gets the care they need, when they need it the most. If you disagree with David's campaign, or there's another issue close to your heart, you can start your own campaign here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/visit-cby Thanks for being involved, Elizabeth, Ali, Laura and the 38 Degrees team NOTES: [1] The Express: EXCLUSIVE: War hero, 96, faces being forced out of his home due to care cash scandal: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/559072/Robbie-Clark-forced-care-home-Labour-council-cash-scandal [2] You can see the election survey results in the 38 Degrees election plan here: http://election-plan.38degrees.org.uk/

UCU London Retired Members Branch: April Calender

April Calender Branch AGM - April 30th 2-4pm Meetings take place in the union office in Carlow Street NW1 7LH, nearest tube Mornington Crescent. Walk in Epping Forest, Monday 20 April 2015 Meet at Chingford station to start at 12.00 noon. more details... Members' Publications A reminder that we agreed to publicise any publications, talks, etc by branch members that you think my be of interest to others. Let the secretary know (s.cushion23@gmail.com) and it will be included in the next circular. This month, we have a book launch: Breaking the Silence by Merilyn Moos 23 April 2015 18:00 at  London Met in Holloway Road - it is free but you will need to register here... more details of the book here... and a photo exhibition by Dave Binns - Colours of Music 1st April, 4.00pm (open till8.00pm) and 2nd, 3rd and 4th April, noon till 6.00pm at 10 Balmes Road, N1 more details from here... Egypt Solidarity Article: Meet Sisi’s British backers read it here... Bahrain Update State Violence in Manama: Four Years On Download it from here...

Cities are designed for a mythical average person – super-mobile, without dependants or disabilities but with a cast-iron bladder.

"Cities are designed for a mythical average person – super-mobile, without dependants or disabilities but with a cast-iron bladder. This person is more likely to be young than old. And yet by 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities and, in high-income societies, a quarter of them will be over the age of 60."

see Guardian article by Anne Karpf at  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/15/age-friendly-cities-design-future

 She reckons Manchester and Lyons are exemplary in terms of 'elder friendly' design, is this true?

Disabled People Against Cuts manifesto for GE2015

DPAC manifesto for GE2015

Extract from Disabled People Against Cuts website

The UNCRPD [United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities] and our human and civil rights must be fully implemented, promoted and enforced.

Disabled people are affected by the cuts 9 times more than everybody else. The most severely disabled people are affected by the cuts 19 times more than everybody else. This discrimination against disabled people must end.

Disabled people are affected by the cuts 9 times more than everybody else. The most severely disabled people are affected by the cuts 19 times more than everybody else. This discrimination against disabled people must end.

Manifesto Pledges we are seeking from Parties

 .....

Welfare Support :  

There must be a publicly run welfare system and an end to paying private firms massive amounts of public money to carry out disability assessments badly. Instead that money should be invested into providing decent, liveable benefit levels.

An end to the Work Capability Assessment which is too flawed to amend.

An immediate end to benefit sanctions which have led to deaths and increasing poverty. Ensure that there is no conditionality of JSA or ESA WRAG on seeking treatments and no linkage with treatment and receipt of benefits.

Engagement with any back to work services must be optional for all claimants.

An end to replacing Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payments which even now is in complete chaos.

A total rethink on any move to Universal Credit and instead serious consideration to be given working with disabled people and DPOs to a move to a single system of welfare support based on the concept of a disabled person’s citizens income.

Policy recognition that there will always be disabled people who are unable or too ill to work. These individuals must be supported by a publically funded system....

More at
http://dpac.uk.net/2015/03/manifesto-asks/

acknowledgements to Alan Wheatley

***Join us on the 18th March at 6pm, outside Downing St, and don't forget to bring your pots and pans!***

Dear Friend This Budget Day, we are co-ordinating a national day of action across the country, calling for pots and pans protests to take place in every town and city. Here in London, we will be clamouring outside the door of Downing Street with a firm message: End Austerity Now! ***Join us on the 18th March at 6pm, outside Downing St, and don't forget to bring your pots and pans!*** What's all this noise about? In Britain, we face a crisis that has seen living standards fall further and for longer than any time since the 19th Century. We cannot and must not let this continue. Pots and pans are a form of street theatre with deep roots in this country and across the world. For many years, people have taken to the streets to raise merry mayhem when prices rise, wages fall, or governments disappoint. Our empty pots will symbolise the food and fuel poverty that has led to food banks and a winter fuel crisis. Let's make our message clear, and our voices heard. Let's make 2015 the year we break austerity! Please do attend with your pots and pans, and invite your friends. Further details on the facebook event page The People's Assembly Against Austerity http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/

Wednesday 25th at 6pm. Demonstration and march from City Lit to Downing Street View this email in your browser

24% FUNDING CUT for ADULT EDUCATION Wednesday 25th at 6pm Demonstration and march from City Lit to Downing Street to hand in a Letter to David Cameron, calling on the government to reverse the cuts. This letter will be turned into a giant postcard to hand in. The Retired Members branch banner will be on the demonstration - join us Travelling to City Lit... Download the flyer: Don’t let them destroy life long learning... 1m adult places have already been lost since 2010 and now 400,000 more could go in 2015/16. Since 2009/10 109 lecturers jobs have already been lost from every college on average; the AoC say by 2020 there will be effectively no adult education left. UCU Head Office have called the decision an ‘act of wilful vandalism’ .This will decimate further education provision across England and put thousands of FE jobs at risk. The decision is a major offensive by the government and we need every branch to help build the campaign against the funding cuts. A petition to save FE has already been launched and has received over 10,000 signatories since Friday. The petition is supported by all the FE unions, the AOC and the 157 group please sign it today and then circulate to everyone you know.

Copyright © 2015 UCU London Retired Members Branch, All rights reserved. UCU London Retired Members Branch - members and supporters Our mailing address is: UCU London Retired Members Branch 53 Fladgate Road Leytonstone, London E11 1LX United Kingdom

Jonathan Neale of the Campaign Against Climate Change speaks at the London UCU retired members'meeting 26/2/2015

http://youtu.be/3LXIlUPNk0A

Jonathan Neale of the Campaign Against Climate Change speaks at the London UCU retired members'meeting 26/2/2015 on the politics of climate change, the CCC pamphlet "1 Million Climate Jobs" (available from http://www.campaigncc.org/greenjobs ) and the Climate Change march on March 7 2015, see http://www.campaigncc.org/TimetoAct

http://youtu.be/gUy3EHtwl6M  Questions and discussion with Jonathan Neale