I am delighted to report that Gordon Thomson, Evening Times journalist and NUJ rep has had his suspension lifted, with no further action being taken.
The SNP Trade Union group is therefore calling off its boycott.
The campaign to fight job cuts and the dumbing down of these publications continues, anyone who supports the valuable Scottish Institution which the Herald newspapers represent must be concerned at the asset stripping style displayed by Newsquest.
messages of support can be sent to http://www.nuj.org/inner.php?docid=1520
31 July 2007
28 July 2007
SNP TUG CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF EVENING TIMES
I attended the SNP Trade Union Group meeting this afternoon at the STUC Building in Glasgow.
Yesterday, we heard that Gordon Thomson, a NUJ representative within the Evening Times had been suspended by Newsquest management. This demonstrates an ugly aspect to the current dispute within Herald newspapers. Only days before, management had notified staff that the NUJ was effectively being De-recognised for pay and collective bargaining purposes.
Gordon Thomson is unquestionably, one of the best journalists in the West of Scotland, and is known for his fairness certainly when covering Industrial Dispute issues.
As a show of support, and having contacted the NUJ for its approval, the SNP Trade Union Group unanimously passed a motion calling for an immediate boycott of the Evening Times, until Gordon is re-instated, and to encourage all SNP Council Groups to lodge motions within their Councils, calling for their Local Authority to immediately withdraw advertising revenue from the Evening Times.
Its time to deal with Newsquest where it hurts most.......their pockets!
Yesterday, we heard that Gordon Thomson, a NUJ representative within the Evening Times had been suspended by Newsquest management. This demonstrates an ugly aspect to the current dispute within Herald newspapers. Only days before, management had notified staff that the NUJ was effectively being De-recognised for pay and collective bargaining purposes.
Gordon Thomson is unquestionably, one of the best journalists in the West of Scotland, and is known for his fairness certainly when covering Industrial Dispute issues.
As a show of support, and having contacted the NUJ for its approval, the SNP Trade Union Group unanimously passed a motion calling for an immediate boycott of the Evening Times, until Gordon is re-instated, and to encourage all SNP Council Groups to lodge motions within their Councils, calling for their Local Authority to immediately withdraw advertising revenue from the Evening Times.
Its time to deal with Newsquest where it hurts most.......their pockets!
27 July 2007
SUSPENSIONS ALL THE RAGE
A few days ago, and amid much publicity, George Galloway was suspended from the House of Commons for 18 days.
I am actually an admirer of Galloway's. Politics needs people like him, controversial, and always willing to speak his mind. He is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining speakers in House of Commons. I listened to his speech protesting about the decision, by the Parliament and Standards Committee. It was classic Galloway. Quite rightly, he lambasted New Labour for not disclosing loans, and for exposing, if that's the right phrase!, donors to them such as Porn Baron, Richard Desmond.
I do however not feel sorry for him in being suspended for 18 days.
The reason for this is the comparison between Galloway, and Councillor John Mason. A couple of months ago, John was suspended for 9 months by Scotland's Local Authorities Standards Committee for the heinous crime of sitting in the Lord Provosts chair in protest at changes to the democratic structure of Glasgow City Council.
The decision to suspend Councillor Mason was so outrageous that even the New Labour administration felt that it went too far.
It would appear that any standards commission wish to make a name for themselves, but more importantly in Local Governments case there is no appeal mechanism, which I believe would counter some of the more extreme verdicts which this body makes on a regular basis.
18 days for an MP against 9 months for a Councillor - To quote Galloway "that's the real double standard!"
23 July 2007
THE WHITEWASH
Well its the only polite description that can be given to the news that the Cash for Honours scandal is not going to trial.
A quite unbelieveable decision given;
(1) The investigation began with a Labour Party donor complaining about being denied a peerage.
(2) Labour Party Treasurer Jack Dromey knew nothing about loans being given to the Party.
(3) That unlike donations, loans do not have to be registered - the heart of the issue in my view.
(4) Blair created 292 peerages when in office.
This issue does however dispense with the nonsense that the SNP cannot be effective at Westminster, as we have led the charge on this issue alongside our Welsh Comrades Plaid Cymru. Unquestionably the SNP/Plaid Group punch way above their weight in the so called "Mother of all Parliaments".
This is complimented by some of the vitriolic attacks coming from New Labour MP's.
The issue of political donations will not go away, and we can only hope that the Westminster Parliamentary Public Administration Committee will thoroughly investigate this matter.
The next Westminster elections are a glorious chance for the SNP to distinguish ourselves from the other parties in terms of funding and to grow our increasing Parliamentary representation.
A quite unbelieveable decision given;
(1) The investigation began with a Labour Party donor complaining about being denied a peerage.
(2) Labour Party Treasurer Jack Dromey knew nothing about loans being given to the Party.
(3) That unlike donations, loans do not have to be registered - the heart of the issue in my view.
(4) Blair created 292 peerages when in office.
This issue does however dispense with the nonsense that the SNP cannot be effective at Westminster, as we have led the charge on this issue alongside our Welsh Comrades Plaid Cymru. Unquestionably the SNP/Plaid Group punch way above their weight in the so called "Mother of all Parliaments".
This is complimented by some of the vitriolic attacks coming from New Labour MP's.
The issue of political donations will not go away, and we can only hope that the Westminster Parliamentary Public Administration Committee will thoroughly investigate this matter.
The next Westminster elections are a glorious chance for the SNP to distinguish ourselves from the other parties in terms of funding and to grow our increasing Parliamentary representation.
17 July 2007
3 STRIKES
A very busy week last week due to work and other commitments, however, i thought i would use today's blog to highlight 3 main Industrial Disputes that are happening/due to happen shortly.......
STRIKE 1
The Communication Workers Union are today pondering further Industrial Action after having undertaken 2 days of strike action already.
The source of this Dispute as my friend Neil McDonagh quite rightly says is with the Westminster Government and the Post Office management.
The beginning of the Post Offices problems was the decision by New Labour to Implement the EU Directive 2 years Early, allowing European competitors to undercut prices, thus allowing the attack of the universal Postal system.
Another reason was the Westminster Governments stupid decision to take Government Business away from Crown and Sub-Post Offices i.e. State Pensions, T.V.Licensing etc.
This affects the most vulnerable in society who rely on Post Offices. The fact that the Westminster Government is the biggest shareholder makes these decisions defy belief, and the Government should give up profits from the Post Office coffers.
The other issue is the blatant asset stripping Management style led by Alan Crozier and Alan Leighton, only a few years ago the Post Office had 230,000 workers, now down to 130,000 with a proposal to reduce this further to 90,000. In addition cuts to allowances and other conditions have caused the current dispute.
This of course makes the Post Office ripe for privatisation and the Government must now come clean as whether the Post Office remains a Public Service or not. This issue affects all our communities, and deserves to be a major election issue for the next Westminster election.
STRIKE 2.....
As per my previous post on saving the Herald, sister organ the Evening Times has announced "unnecessary compulsory redundancy notices" according to our Friends in the NUJ. NUJ members in the Newsquest chapel have voted overwhelmingly to undertake Industrial Action.
The unnecessary actions of the Evening Times editor are highlighted with an extraordinary decision to block Evening times staff to transfer to other titles, with a view to keeping them employed by the company.
Newsquest are currently seeking budget cuts of £3 million.
SNP MP Pete Wishart revealed only last week that only a technicality is preventing the Competition Commission from re-opening its inquiry into the Newsquest takeover, as the inquiry is now over 3 years old, as it is clear that Newsquests commitments to the Commission have not been kept too. Undoubtedly, this technicality is the ultimate get out of jail free card.
More info on the dispute and the campaign to re-open the commission can be found at http://www.nujglasgow.org.uk/
STRIKE 3...............
600 Social Care Workers in Glasgow will undertake indefinite strike action, due to the Council's approach to its Single Status appeals mechanism. These workers some of whom are facing a potential cut of £5000 a year will begin action next Monday 23/7/07, after over 84% voted yes to undertake the action. In addition to this many Unison activists within Social work are concerned at the increasing number of agency staff being recruited to cover work, with the suggestion that this is being done to bust the strike, a measure that could be legally challengable. This could get ugly very quickly....
This news comes only days after the discovery that the last Executive did not spend £1.5 Billion of its allocated money from the Treasury. Unquestionably some of this money could have been used to fund equal pay within Local Government, the only part of the Public Sector not too receive Government assistance.
All these events demonstrate in my view why we need new, and fairer laws to protect workers. The UK currently has the least protection than any other worker in Western Europe.
Finally am I alone in thinking that New Labours obsession with letting the market decide events is what is leading to its ultimate downfall?
STRIKE 1
The Communication Workers Union are today pondering further Industrial Action after having undertaken 2 days of strike action already.
The source of this Dispute as my friend Neil McDonagh quite rightly says is with the Westminster Government and the Post Office management.
The beginning of the Post Offices problems was the decision by New Labour to Implement the EU Directive 2 years Early, allowing European competitors to undercut prices, thus allowing the attack of the universal Postal system.
Another reason was the Westminster Governments stupid decision to take Government Business away from Crown and Sub-Post Offices i.e. State Pensions, T.V.Licensing etc.
This affects the most vulnerable in society who rely on Post Offices. The fact that the Westminster Government is the biggest shareholder makes these decisions defy belief, and the Government should give up profits from the Post Office coffers.
The other issue is the blatant asset stripping Management style led by Alan Crozier and Alan Leighton, only a few years ago the Post Office had 230,000 workers, now down to 130,000 with a proposal to reduce this further to 90,000. In addition cuts to allowances and other conditions have caused the current dispute.
This of course makes the Post Office ripe for privatisation and the Government must now come clean as whether the Post Office remains a Public Service or not. This issue affects all our communities, and deserves to be a major election issue for the next Westminster election.
STRIKE 2.....
As per my previous post on saving the Herald, sister organ the Evening Times has announced "unnecessary compulsory redundancy notices" according to our Friends in the NUJ. NUJ members in the Newsquest chapel have voted overwhelmingly to undertake Industrial Action.
The unnecessary actions of the Evening Times editor are highlighted with an extraordinary decision to block Evening times staff to transfer to other titles, with a view to keeping them employed by the company.
Newsquest are currently seeking budget cuts of £3 million.
SNP MP Pete Wishart revealed only last week that only a technicality is preventing the Competition Commission from re-opening its inquiry into the Newsquest takeover, as the inquiry is now over 3 years old, as it is clear that Newsquests commitments to the Commission have not been kept too. Undoubtedly, this technicality is the ultimate get out of jail free card.
More info on the dispute and the campaign to re-open the commission can be found at http://www.nujglasgow.org.uk/
STRIKE 3...............
600 Social Care Workers in Glasgow will undertake indefinite strike action, due to the Council's approach to its Single Status appeals mechanism. These workers some of whom are facing a potential cut of £5000 a year will begin action next Monday 23/7/07, after over 84% voted yes to undertake the action. In addition to this many Unison activists within Social work are concerned at the increasing number of agency staff being recruited to cover work, with the suggestion that this is being done to bust the strike, a measure that could be legally challengable. This could get ugly very quickly....
This news comes only days after the discovery that the last Executive did not spend £1.5 Billion of its allocated money from the Treasury. Unquestionably some of this money could have been used to fund equal pay within Local Government, the only part of the Public Sector not too receive Government assistance.
All these events demonstrate in my view why we need new, and fairer laws to protect workers. The UK currently has the least protection than any other worker in Western Europe.
Finally am I alone in thinking that New Labours obsession with letting the market decide events is what is leading to its ultimate downfall?
07 July 2007
PLAID SET FOR GOVERNMENT
Today our Welsh comrades meet for their National Council to decide whether to go into coalition with Labour, and sign up to the One Wales document, as recommended by the NEC or join a "rainbow" coalition with the Tories and Lib Dems.
Some of you will know that i have been supporting and advising the so called rebels who a few weeks ago were against the rainbow, as they felt discussions with Labour had been suspended too early.
Leanne Wood, Helen Mary Jones, Bethan Jenkins and Nerys Evans were right to go public and ask that the rainbow be rejected. Skillful negotiation has resulted in a better deal with Labour and the prospect of Wales having a real Parliament, which i believe will be a giant step forward in Plaid's quest for Independence. An early referendum was not on the table going into government with the Tories and Lib Dems.
Going into a coalition with the Tories would have had disastrous consequences for a party of the left. An electoral disaster similar to the SNP's result in 1979 has been avoided.
Having civic nationalists in government in Wales and Scotland can only see both our nations prosper and move forward to Independence.
Good luck Plaid.
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