Resolution of the London UCU Retired Members Branch on the Refugees in Calais

Please find below the Resolution of the London Retired Members Branch on the Refugees in Calais Ian has been good enough to translate it into French and it has been sent to various organisations in France. The French version can be found here... If you have an opportunity to raise the motion, or any part of it, with any other organisation, that would be most useful.   The London Retired UCU rejects the Government’s present racism about refugees. This is a racism that in sealing the borders of Europe is leading to death on a horrific scale as well as the exploitation of those without papers within the UK and across Europe.     We recognise that migration is a product of a global system of inequality, war and persecution. Migrants are not the cause of austerity, the housing crisis, job cuts or education cuts. We deplore the Government’s pathetic offer of 20,000 places over 5 years for all refugees. In particular, we deplore the failure of the British Government to open the doors to the refugees in Calais. We offer solidarity to those in the camps in Calais, agree to support the sending of delegations to anti-racist solidarity events in Calais and in the UK and call on the British government to immediately grant the refugees in Calais the right to reside in the UK. THe refugees currently residing in the UK sovereign bases in Cyprus should also be immediately admitted.     We also condemn the use of anti-terrorism powers by British police and border agency officials to harass volunteers who have taken aid to Calais     Furthermore, we reject any national or local policy which discriminates against refugees living in the UK and demands they receive free healthcare, equal welfare rights and the Government withdraws its present policy of banning refugees from working who have not been given residency. In particular, we demand that the Government boosts the ESOL programme immediately and provides suitable education for retraining adult refugees.

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

GREEN PARTY POLICY ON HOUSING – 10am to 1pm Saturday 5 December, in Camden Town Hall, Euston Road.

GREEN PARTY POLICY ON HOUSING – 10am to 1pm Saturday 5 December, in Camden Town Hall, Euston Road.

Please RSVP for this to Anne Gray amgggg2@yahoo.co.uk so we can ascertain numbers and plan workshops. If you RSVP we will send briefing notes and update on speakers next week. There is no charge though a donation on the day for future venue hire and sandwiches would be much appreciated.

10am registration and intro

10.15 to 11.15 3 main speakers and question/comments:-

Tom Chance – overview of London housing situation and Green Party policy responses

Richard Lee from Just Space – on their challenge to London Plan; problems of targets, densification and forced gentrification, loss of social rent housing

Andrea Carey-Fuller – rent control in private sector

11.15 to 12.15; workshops; participants choose between:-

1) The London Plan and how to fight extension of ‘right to buy’ as well as estate demolitions

2) Rent control in the private sector

3) Housing policies and solutions for singles and non-family groups, including GBLTQ, co-housing, youth in shared housing, supported housing for older people and those with disabilities

12.15-1; report back and wind-up; then lunch

Briefing notes will be sent out to those who RSVP.  We are also hoping to set up a Facebook page shortly - watch this space

Climate Change/ Demo Bahrain Book Launch /Banner Theatre

Climate Change Demo Bahrain Book Launch Banner Theatre

People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs November 29th, branch members meet at 12:30 corner of Oxford Street and Great Cumberland Place, near Marble Arch tube. Around the world, in major cities, people will be working together to make this the biggest, most poignant demonstration yet, and our unified voice will resonate from London across the globe to call for real action on climate change. more details... Book launch: Bahrain's Uprising: Resistance and Repression in The Gulf Drawing on testimonies from those involved, this book provides a voice for the lived experiences of ordinary Bahrainis. Wednesday 25 Nov 6.30pm Bookmarks Bookshop,1 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3QE, Admission £2.00 Payable on door more details... Chicago, The Great Teachers' Strike Banner Theatre tell the story of the Chicago Teachers' fight for public education. Saturday 28th November at 7pm at the Blackheath and Newbridge Working Men's Club, Charlton Road, SE3 7HG. £10/£5. more details... Organised by Greenwich and Bexley TUC

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 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

we really need to do somthing about this.

HOPE not hate | Voter Registration Drive

On 1 December, if the Government gets its way, up to 2 million people will drop off the electoral register - in what will be the single biggest act of disenfranchisement in our history. This is an outrage and HOPE not hate is determined to do…

HOPENOTHATE.ORG.UK

Justice for Walter Rodney

Justice for Walter Rodney We seek your urgent support for our campaign to salvage some justice for this distinguished historian, scholar-activist and author of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. It is crucial to raise the profile of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry into Rodney's assassination as the last chance to secure vital historic records- before its too late, and remind the Guyana government that Rodney's legacy matters, beyond Guyana. Requesting your Prompt Action The new Guyana government continues to efface the work of this Commission of Inquiry into Rodney's assassination by denying the two more weeks it requested to properly complete its work. They seek to frustrate the proper completion of any real inquiry, 35 years on, while more key witnesses die, records disappear, evidence degrades. And we forget. That's why we started this petition. Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link with further information.  We'd also be grateful if you could urgently circulate to colleagues, academics, students and social justice contacts.  Thank you, Anne Braithwaite Justice for Walter Rodney Campaign

Copyright © 2015 UCU London Retired Members Branch, All rights reserved. UCU London Retired Members Branch Committee

UCU London Retired Members Branch: Branch Meeting November 12th and a Book Launch

Branch Meeting November 12th and a Book Launch

Agenda for November 12th Branch Meeting The following items will be on the agenda of next Thursday's branch meeting. Please let me know if there is anything else you wish to add. Report from UCU retired members AGM (inc our motion on housing) London Metropolitan University threat to close the City campus Commitment to the rights of Palestinians SOAS victimisation of Unison branch secretary Greenwich NUT strike Climate March London: 29 November Middle East Solidarity magazine Independent Working Class Education day school Meetings take place in the union office in Carlow Street NW1 7LH, nearest tube Mornington Crescent. Book Launch : Clara Zetkin: Letters and Writings Wednesday 11 Nov 6.30pm Bookmarks, 1 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QE This book presents mainly newly-translated material and academic essay that will help to affirm her place among the leading revolutionary Marxists of the twentieth century. Almost all the contents will be entirely new to English-language readers. Register here...

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 UCU London Retired Members Branch: Branch Meeting November 12th and a Book Launch