GPTU Meeting: Wednesday 5/10/2010 MINUTES

Present:Andy Hewett (AH chairing), Ken Burgess (KB), John Carver (JC), Tom Chance, Farid Bakht, Zain Sardar, Peter Murry (minutes)

Apologies: Teresa Delaney (TD), Sue Tibbles, Joseph Healy (JH), Romayne Phoenix

1. Minutes of previous meeting: Agreed for Accuracy. Thanks to Jonathan Essex for minutes.
2. matters arising.
   1. There had not been an FBU speaker at the London federation of Green Parties´ AGM
   2. Link to Housmans still needed setting up
3. Conference report (GPEW Conference Autumn 2010)
   1. A fuller report is now available on the GP members´ site (Jo Steranka is now SOC convenor)
   2. GPTU Fringe well attended with speaker from West Mid´s Unison.
   3. Anti-cuts email list now established contact Andy Hewett to join londoncalling@yahoo.co.uk
   4. GPTU List now reported as 162 (NL)
   5. GPTU Stall successful.
   6. Anti cuts motion passed with amendment so that fighting cuts is now "A main priority", not "THE main priority"
   7. Clash of dates with TUC conference had prevented some members´ attendance steps to avoid this should be taken.
   8. There had been a PCS stall. Mote TU stalls should be encouraged.
4. Officer/ Regional reports including London AGM
   1. Treasurer´s report is that there is still £148 in the bank. Had a donation to Coalition of resistance been paid? (it did not appear to have been agreed).
   2. Young Greens Brown (?) Review likely to recommend HE Tuition fee rise, NUS & UCU demo (´Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts´ on Wednesday 10 November 2010, in central London. Leaflets and placards needed) Contact campaigns and education spokesperson (Rachel Fryer?)
   3. London AGM: P.Murry elected as GPRC london rep, could seek to represent GPTU
5. Coalition of Resistance and anti-cuts campaigns
   1. Reports back from various London Campaigns (Brent, Barnet, Southwark, Lambeth)
   2. More news of nationwide campaigns needed, pleases send news for Blogs and lists etc.
   3. NO TO CUTS! On 20th October the government announces its vicious spending cuts. Join our march and show them what you think!

      LONDON TRADE UNIONS CALL ON EVERYONE TO JOIN THE MARCH & RALLY

      Get your workmates and families, union branches and trades councils, youth and community campaigns to come along :

      Marches are converging at Downing Street on 20 October Student March to Downing street:

      Assemble 4pm outside ULU, Malet Street Camden Trades Council March to Downing Street: Assemble 5.00pm at Lincoln´s Inn Fields

      Marches will join the Coalition of Resistance Rally at Downing Street: Assemble 6pm

6. Industrial action: recent and forthcoming activity;
   1. John McDonnell EDM Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Private Member´s Bill, Lobby of Parliament: Wednesday 13 October 2010. Assemble 12.30, opposite the House of Commons.
   2. Statements in support of FBU, RMT, J, Hicks needed
7. . Campaign Against Climate Change
   1. Pamphlet launch: The Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group is launching a new, enhanced edition of its pamphlet ´One Million Climate Jobs Now!´ at a meeting in Committee Room 10 at the House of Commons next THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER, from 6.00 to 8.00pm. We hope you can come to the meeting to hear the speakers, who include John McDonnell MP, Caroline Lucas MP, and Chris Baugh from the PCS union.
   2. Meeting: at Willesden library: Brent ccc meeting ´Get Real about Climate Change!´Date/time: Tuesday 23 November 7.30 to 9.00pm (please arrive about 7.15)

      Location: Space 1, Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, Willesden, London, NW10 2SF. Nearest tube: Willesden Green Contact: Ken Montague 020 8452 2966, Mobile 07961 669 650

      Jonathan Neal: Campaign Against Climate Change

      Derek Wall: Green Party

      Nick Grant:National Executive, National Union of Teachers (pc)

      Ann Hunter: Brent LibDem Councillor

      Chair: Steffi Gray: Brent Friends of the Earth

   3. : Zero Carbon by 2030: Action for the Climate Emergency: 30 Oct 2010, 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm Climate Forum 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm Climate Concert

      Friends House, Euston, London: Saturday 30th October

      Speakers to include John McDonnell MP (Lab, Hayes and Harlington), Caroline Lucas MP (leader Green Party, Brighton Pavillion), Maria Souviron (Bolivian Ambassador), Alexis Rowell (Cutting the Carbon, Camden CAN), Andrew Simms (New Economics Foundation), George Marshall (founder, COIN), Ben Brangwyn (Transition Towns), Vicki Hird (FoE Real Food Campaign), John Stewart (HACAN, AirportWatch), Stephen Murphy (Zero Carbon Britain Team), Chris Baugh (Asst Gen Sec PCS - Public and Commercial Services Union) and more to be announced.

   4. National Climate March 2010 Start: 04 Dec 2010, 12:00 am : Central London

      March on Parliament for a Zero Carbon Britain: Saturday December 4th

      Part of a Global Day of Action on climate on the Saturday midway through the UN Climate Talks in Cancun, Mexico.

8. Website more feedback & suggestions invited.
9. Next meeting 27/10/10 RFH.