Campaigns

United Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws

The Daily Mirror

By Paul Routledge 12/09/2008

A decade ago I campaigned for reform of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

I was appalled to discover that half the fund's annual surplus, often amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds, was stolen by the Treasury.

That's because it is a Tory scheme, forced on the miners as part of Thatcher's revenge for the great strike of 1984.

Labour, I argued, should end this scandal. Ed Balls, now a Cabinet minister but then Chancellor Brown's chief economic adviser, promised to "do something".

But nothing has happened. Since then, a massive £3billion has been siphoned off.

Neither the Government nor British Coal have put a penny into the fund since 1987, while some pit pensioners receive less than £10 a week.

Admittedly, the Government has paid compensation for industrial injuries to many thousands of miners and their widows. But this legalised theft means they are paying for their own compensation.

How crooked can you get? As Yorkshire miner Steve Mace puts it: "Even Dick Turpin had the common decency to wear a mask."

The National Union of Mineworkers is now campaigning for the return of the stolen millions. More power to their arm.

NUM CONFERENCE VOWS TO FIGHT OVER PENSIONS THEFT

20 JULY 2008
The Conference of the National Union of Mineworkers has vowed to take its campaign to stop the government raiding the pension surpluses of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme to a new level./b]

Keith Stanley the NUM Vice-President said since 1987 the government has stolen £3 billion from the Scheme surpluses and contribution holidays accrued under the days of British Coal.

He pointed out that when the industry was privatised a trustee from the breakaway UDM was imposed whose vote enabled the government to raid the scheme.

“They have not put one penny into the Scheme since 1987, only miners have done that, yet the have continued to steel our money and at the same time refused to meet me us simply saying we have a “Fair deal". How can they justify what they do when there are pensioners on less than £10 per week from the Scheme?. He Said

He told delegates attending the Conference in Blackpool that the Union would be launching a massive campaign which would involve lobbying both MPs and the government.

“I see no difference between the government taking money from the MPS and Robert Maxwell’s theft of the Mirror Group Pension Fund.” He added.

Wayne Thomas South Wales Area Secretary in seconding said “This is a fundamental issue with us, it is an absolute scandal what the government are doing with our surpluses”

Referring to the Cannock Chase Retired Members’ Campaign led by Mick Westwood he said “They have been fighting a tremendous campaign and the money taken by the government should be returned to Scheme so that beneficiaries can have a decent pension and our miners can retire at 50.”

Steve Mace from Yorkshire supporting the motion said, “I want to say this to the government. ‘Get your grubby hands out of our pension scheme’ and continued “Even Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask”.

Nottingham Area School

Saturday June 2nd 2007 at the Hucknall John Godber centre, Eric Eaton (Chairman) welcomed everyone to the first Notts afternoon school for many years.

Colin Burgon MP kicked the session off with an exhilarating brief on what is happening in South America and its politics surrounding Venezuela’s leader Hugo Chavez. Barry Johnson spoke next on his findings whilst researching his book on the 1926 strike in Notts and locally in Hucknall.
Ian Lavery national President of the National Union of Mineworkers then spoke on the coal industry and the prospects for coal, it being the energy source of the future. Dave Allsop spoke on Industrial relations and the unions role then, now, and in the future.
Our thanks go to all the people who helped to make the afternoon a great success, supporters, organisers and speakers.
Thankyou.

L-R Colin Burgon MP, Dave Allsop,Eric Eaton (Chairman),Barry Johnson, Ian Lavery (NUM President)

MUSIC PETITION

There is a government move afoot to make it very difficult for musicians to perform live in small venues, or for schools, pubs and charities to raise money for causes through musical events. The proposed new legislation will inhibit the central role music making has in our lives and communities.

If you circulate this to your friends, all each person has to do is go to the government's petitions website below, give your name, email and address - it takes about 30 seconds.

Success could make a vital difference to the nurturing of community music making, and enabling young musicians to find their feet in the performing world.

The live music/licensing e-petition now has over 33,000 signatures. It currently stands at no.5 in the list of petitions on the Number 10 site. - and there are three more months in which people can sign.
But the petition needs to do much better to make an impression on ministers, and to encourage DCMS to implement music-friendly amendments. Please click on this link to sign :-

Music petition

Reclaim Our Rights

Reclaim our rights!
United Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws
39 Chalton Street
London
NW1 1JD
info@unitedcampaign.org.uk


Many of the current anti-trade union laws were introduced by the Conservatives between 1979 and 1995. Tony Blair wrote on 31st March 1997, the changes his Government introduced, "would leave British law the most restrictive on trade unions in the western world." Believe him in this.

These laws must be repealed, or replaced with other laws - not only because they are repressive, but also because they are illegal in themselves - they contravene the UK's international obligations under ILO Conventions, the Social Charter of the Council of Europe and United Nations declarations and covenants.

Labour laws now are worse than they were over 100 years ago. And changes in the world of work - with the fragmentation of organisations and the growth of non-standard work contracts - mean that the situation has continued to deteriorate for working people over the last quarter of a century. The European Green Paper published in November 2006 is a sign that we can expect nothing better, unless we act now.

Positive legislation in the field of industrial relations is required - laws which will protect trade unions from legal attacks, allow them to operate democratically and protect their members; laws which restore and extend collective bargaining, give each worker the right to strike and be represented by a union, protect workers against exploitation and provide the basis for a fairer and more just society.

Latest news: Rally 1 March 2007 & Support for EDM 532
That's why the United Campaign has been working to support the call for a Trade Union Freedom Bill endorsed without dissent by TUC in 2005 and 2006 and Labour Party policy.

The Bill now exists as a detailed draft supported by the TUC and prepared with a lot of help from the United Campaign National Secretary, John Hendy QC. It was laid before Parliament and at second reading on 2 March 2007 the details will be published before Parliament. The United Campaign is organising a Rally for 1 March between 7pm and 9pm in the Commons to promote the Trade Union Rights and Freedoms Bill as it is known. We have a great line up of speakers including MPs and General Secretaries; for more details go to the events page.

To see the Bill follow this TUC link: http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/index.cfm?mins=560

In the last session of Parliament there was an early day motion 1170 that had the support of 187 MPs at the time that it was withdrawn in accordance with the Commons Rules. But it has not gone away. It was brought back for the latest session (and reprinted in full below). So far 70 MPs have signed. If your MP has not signed, lobby him or her to do so. You can check to see if your MP is on the list by going to: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32194&SESSION=885

EDM 532 TRADE UNION FREEDOM BILL CAMPAIGN 18.12.2006

McDonnell, John
That this House recognises that free and independent trade unions are a force for good in UK society around the world and are vital to democracy; welcomes the positive role modern unions play in providing protection for working people and winning fairness at work; notes the 1906 Trades Disputes Act granted unions the legal freedom to take industrial action; regrets that successive anti-union legislation has meant that trade union rights are now weaker than those introduced by the 1906 Trades Disputes Act; therefore welcomes and supports the TUC campaign for a Trade Union Freedom Bill whose principles include better protection for workers, such as those sacked by Gate Gourmet in 2005, the simplification of ballot procedures and to allow limited supportive action, following a ballot, in specific circumstances; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward legislation to address these proposals.

Printer Fund

January 2nd 2007

The Association is asking the wider trade union movement, supporters , comrades and friends for donations towards our printer fund, this will enable us to print our members information journal,’ The Ex Miner'' in house, with a growing membership the production costs to keep in touch also rises, so our own printer will significantly cut down on the costs involved, which is a drain on our recourses, any amount is much appreciated.
To date we are nearly half way to achieving our total. A very big thanks to all those who have given generously so far
Please send cheques to the office, and make payable to Notts NUM Ex & Retired Miners Association.

Thank you in anticipation
..............................................

Speakers Evening

Friday 17 November 2006

L- R Partner of Deputy head of Notts County Council, Deputy head of Notts County Council, Chairman Eric Eaton, Davey Guy President of the Durham Miners Association, Alan Meale MP, Henry Richardson Ex General Sec of the Notts NUM.

The speakers evening started with compare and Chairman of the Association Eric Eaton, outlining the aims and ambitions of the association. Introducing Henry Richardson ex NUM general secretary of the Nottinghamshire area, he told of his memories of the Cresswell colliery disaster.

The other speakers were Alan Meale MP, who gave a comprehensive report on the situation in parliament and the situation in the labour party, Alan said ''we are ready for any election when it comes''. Rodney Bickerstaff mixed humour with politics, with a call for an increase in pension payments to every state pensioner.
Davey Guy president of the Durham Miners Association, spoke of the Gala which attracted 80,000 comrades this year, and he outlined how the Durham Association was set up, and has since gone from strength to strength over the years and now has a massive membership.
The night was a very enjoyable occasion and it was good to see faces from the time when collieries were plentyfull in the area, Yorkshire area was represented with the presence of Chris Skidmore,ex Rossington Branch who ended the night with a sing along with the Ollerton and Bilsthorpe all male choir.

Saturday 28th October Mansfield

Seminar with Karen Coupland MPS Secretary



Keith Stanley and Eric Eaton opened the seminar on behalf of the Nottinghamshire area NUM and the Notts NUM Ex & Retired Miners Association.

Karen then explained how the scheme functions, it’s constitution, rules, trustees, the enforceable guarantee deed, valuations and what standstill means, and the current position, Keith Stanley said we would arrange future meetings to discuss the Scheme.

Those in attendance were then invited to ask questions, which went into overtime.

The presentation/seminar was very informative to those present and we hope helped clear up some myths, as well as answering the questions in depth.



Nottinghamshire Area NUM and the Notts NUM Ex & Retired Miners Association, thanks Karen Coupland for giving up her Saturday morning to address our members, and it is hoped to invite Karen back in the coming months, to have a follow up and update session.

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Early Day Motions to keep an Eye on

Trade Union Freedom Bill Campaign

Future of Coal

Chavez wins election

Venezuela (Colin Burgon MP)

NHS

Mis Selling of Land for Building.

Battle of Cable Street

Freedom of Information

Miners Memorial Day

School Playing Fields

Nuclear Weapons

The Secretary
Nottinghamshire NUM
Ex & Retired Miners Association
c/o 42 St John Street, Mansfield,Notts,NG18 1QJ
Telephone: 01623 621 611