Brent-wide Cavalcade for Jobs - Saturday November 7th from 10am

 

From Brent Trades Council

BRENT TRADES COUNCIL'S DAY OF ACTION

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7TH 2020

CAVALCADE FOR JOBS 

WE WON'T PAY FOR THE BILLIONAIRES' CRISIS

Assembly 10am Sainsbury's Willesden Green Car Park and drive through Church End, Harlesden, Wembley, Sudbury, Kenton, Edgware, Cricklewood, Kilburn and back to Willesden.

BRING YOUR CAR OR RIDE YOUR BIKE THROUGH BRENT

UNIONS JOIN THE CAVALCADE

BRING YOUR POSTERS

PUBLICISE YOUR DEMANDS

HONK, HONK AND HONK SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR

Take a photo of the convoy as it passes by  it and post a message saying 'WE WON'T PAY FOR THE BILLIONAIRES' CRISIS, WE WILL FIGHTBACK' or make up your own message and post on https://www.facebook.com/brenttuc.org.uk

Share the photos across social media and then send them all to Boris Johnson. 

Share on Twitter using hashtag:
#WEWILLNOTPAYFORTHEBILLIONAIRESCRISIS If you are on Twitter, tweet the photo using the hashtag . Tag our MPs, tag Rishi Sunak, so they all know about the protest.

Barry Gardiner among the speakers at Jobs and Climate Conference on Saturday

Tickets are still available for this important conference in central London. Go to LINK.

Tackling the climate crisis needs workers to build a world fit for the future. Yet the narrative of 'jobs versus environment' is still heard across the political spectrum, derailing the action we urgently need.

This conference, organised by the Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Group, aims to challenge the false choice of good jobs versus the environment. Instead of settling for this, there is both an urgent need for action on climate change and a real opportunity for trade unionists to be at the forefront of campaigning for a transition. One which puts the needs of the planet, decent jobs and social justice at the top of the political agenda.

The conference, for trade unionists and others interested in the issues, will be an opportunity to hear from trade unionists, scientists, environmental activists and others about the issues; and to learn from grassroots action today as well as debating a vision for the future.

Speakers include:

Barry Gardiner - Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade and Shadow Minister for International Climate Change, Chris Baugh - Dep Gen Sec PCS , Sarah Woolley - BFAWU, Caroline Russell - Green Party London Assembly Member, Liz Hutchins - FOE, Professor Joanna Haigh - Grantham Institute, Suzanne Jeffery - Chair CACC, Asad Rehman - Executive Director War on Want, Mika Minio-Paluello - Platform, Wilf Sullivan - Race Equality Officer TUC, Tahir Latif - (Aviation group PCS), Duncan Law - Biofuelwatch, Kim Hunter - Frack Free Scarborough, Tina Louise Rothery - Lancashire Anti-Fracking Nanas, Graham Petersen - Greener Jobs Alliance, Sam Mason - PCS, Allison Roche - UNISON, ACTS Unite, Jonathan Neale - Global Climate Jobs, Dave King - New Lucas Plan Group, Lauren Jones - Sheffield Climate Alliance, Paul Allen - Centre for Alternative Technology, Sarah Pearce, UNISON

Registration: 10am-10.45am, conference start 10.45, conference finish 5pm

Two Plenary Sessions:
1. Jobs versus the Environment, challenging a false choice.
2. Planning for a just transition - a future which doesn't cost the earth

Workshops include:

• Climate Change: What's happening to our climate and why this is an issue
• One Million Climate Jobs: Planning for a national Climate Service
• Climate Refugees: Campaigning within the trade unions
• Just Transition: Challenging the Government's Clean Growth Strategy
• A New Lucas Plan: Popular Planning for Social Need
• Jobs and Climate: Debates in the movement
• Food and agriculture: Planning for a healthy sustainable future
• Women and Climate: In the frontline
• Workplace Environmental Reps: Organising in the workplace
• Energy Democracy: How can trade unions 'resist, reclaim, restructure' the energy system?

Worthwhile jobs with Sufra NW London foodbank

Fancy a worthwhile job for an extremely successful worthwhile project in Brent?

Here goes…

Office Administrator (24 hours/week) £18,000 pro-rata   To deal with the hustle and bustle at Sufra NW London’s offices, we need an extra pair of hands to help out on a part-time basis with general administration from 9:30am to 2:30pm on weekdays. Perfect for a mum or dad with parenting responsibilities. But beware: you need to be organised and thick-skinned to deal some rather impertinent characters! Deadline: 15 September 2017   For more information, click here.   Community Garden & Learning Coordinator (full-time) - £25,000 St. Raphael’s Edible Garden, our new food growing space, is almost built! In preparation for the finale, we’re looking to recruit a Community Garden & Learning Coordinator who will design and deliver a fantastic horticulture programme with lots of new courses, events and activities. The successful candidate will be an experienced gardener/horticulturalist with teaching and project management experience. Deadline: 29 September 2017 For more information, click here. Marketing & Community Fundraising Officer (full-time) - £22,000-£25,000 Keeping the food bank running throughout the year is hard work. And we want to make sure everyone knows about Sufra NW London and is able to support our work in whatever way they can. We’re recruiting a Marketing & Community Fundraising Officer to raise the profile of the charity, oversee a regular schedule of fundraising activities and build new links and partnerships with local organisations, companies and places of worship. Deadline: 29 September 2017 For more information, click here. ESOL Teacher (sessional post) Rate negotiable As part of Sufra NW London’s work in supporting newly-arrived Syrian refugees, we are looking for an experienced, Arabic-speaking ESOL teacher to deliver basic English language skills training for adults. The post will initially commence with a weekly 2-hour class on a weekday evening, with additional hours made available as the programme expands. Deadline: 15 September 2017 (but applications will be considered immediately and an appointment made in advance of the deadline if a suitable candidate is found) For more information, click here.

Greens out in force to support the People's Assembly's 4 demands

There was an excellent Green Party presence at the People's Assembly March Against Austerity today as Greens rallied to support the four demands on Health, Homes, Jobs and Education.

Meeting with London MPs as education funding cuts threaten London boroughs

The government's intention to move to a National Funding Formula for education and an overall freeze on spending despite rising pupil numbers and increased staffing costs means that London boroughs, including Brent, will face funding cuts in the near future.
Camden NUT has organised a meeting at Portcullis House on February 3rd to which they have invoted Tulip Siddiq MP, who also represents three Brent wards. Keir Starmer has already said he will attend and it would be good if Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner also committed themselves to listen to the concerns. Brent could face a cut of 8.6% by 2019-20  and subsequent loss of jobs in schools.

This is the invitation letter:

London schools face unprecedented cuts over the next few years. In the Autumn Statement, George Osborne announced that education funding would be frozen despite a significant increase in student numbers and the introduction of a national funding formula. 

If the plans for a national funding formula advocated by many MPs and the f40 group are enacted this  will mean pupils in London schools will have the spending on their education cut dramatically, as  these changes coincide with other cuts in education spending and schools having to pay higher pension and national insurance contributions. 

These changes will be felt most acutely in the most deprived boroughs; however, funding is at risk in every London borough. 

 Overall funding for London schools could be cut by 13% over the next four years.  Schools have never faced cuts of this size before. Education spending has only been cut twice before in the mid-80s and the mid-90s by 4% and 3% respectively. The scale of these cuts will drag schools back to funding levels last seen in the 1990s.  There is a very effective and influential campaign advocating redistributing funding from London and other metropolitan boroughs largely to the shires as a way for those areas to deal with cuts to the education budget. We believe that we need a similarly effec tive campaign to argue that funding should be protected overall; that a national funding formula should properly recognise the true cost of educating large numbers of children from deprived backgrounds; and that the transition to a national funding formula should not force London schools to make significant cuts. 

We have arranged an initial planning meeting for local stakeholders with London MPs in Room R. Portcullis House at 5:30pm on Wednesday 3^rd February.

This is how the new formula would impact on schools in the London Borough of Brent LINK:

Current Individual School Budget 2015-16 £220,485,342
Current Individual School Budget if F40 revised formula applied £217,958,912
F40 budget adjusted for schools inflation 2-19-20 (Source IFS): £206,611,993
Overall budget reduction: £18,873,349
Spending per pupil 2015-16:  £5,371
Spending per pupil 2019-20:  £4,573 (cut of 8.6%)
Loss of teaching jobs 174 (cut of 7%)
Lost of teaching assistant jobs 349 (cut of 27%)

Other London boroughs are even worse off.
  
 Full documentation here: LINK

People's March for Climate, Justice and Jobs - Sunday

The Green Bloc will assemble for the march on the corner of Park Lane and Deanery Street (near the Dorchester Hotel, W1K 1QA). 11.30am Map here: http://bit.ly/1HcO5b7

We need a budget fit for the future, says Caroline Lucas MP

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, is calling for a budget ‘fit for the future’ as George Osborne prepares to announce his Government’s spending plans tomorrow.
 

‘A challenge to Labour’

Lucas challenged the Labour Party to oppose the proposed ‘benefits caps’ which will reduce the amount of money any family can receive from the welfare state. She said:

“Our welfare state is on the edge of collapse, yet the so-called opposition seem unable to muster the strength to oppose further pernicious cuts to social security spending.

“The cut in the benefit cap will hit people hard. Housing experts are saying that families will be forced out of South East England because they will no longer be able to pay the rent.

“Progressive MPs must come together to oppose the lowering of the welfare cap – and to fight for a welfare state that serves all of us when we need it. There is simply no excuse for Labour supporting this proposal.”

‘A tough new law on Tax dodging’

Lucas is also calling for Osborne to honour his Government’s commitment to cracking down on tax avoidance. She said:

“This budget must include a very clear road map on tackling tax avoidance. Indeed if the Government is serious about recouping the billions of pounds lost through tax avoidance it should urgently introduce a tax dodging bill which enshrines into law a commitment to a global tax system that’s fair for everyone.”

“Decisive action on climate change”

Lucas is calling for ‘decisive’ action on climate change ahead of a global summit in Paris later this year. She said:

“Ministers know that climate change presents a huge threat to our economy and national security - not just to public health and our environment.  Unless George Osborne changes direction and puts the green economy at the heart of this Budget, it’ll be another example of reckless short-term policy making that prioritises the profits of polluters over the public interest in a safe and habitable climate.”

“The Government must get serious about leaving the vast majority of fossil fuels in the ground. It should start by cancelling unaffordable and unsustainable tax-breaks for fracking and other polluting industries. Instead, Government should be investing in a rapid transition to clean, home-grown renewable energy, and the roll-out of energy efficiency measures for homes and business across the UK, thus creating jobs, cutting fuel bills and reducing carbon emissions.”

Jobs for Chalkhill and Metropolitan Housing residents

Chalkhill Jobs is run by Olmec's Solid Foundations project in Brent and funded by Well London and Metropolitan Housing. Our aim is to find sustainable employment for Metropolitan Housing residents living in North West London and for residents of the Chalkhill Estate in Wembley Park.

We provide employment support via appointment and through the Job Seeking Support Service which runs from the Chalkhill Community Centre (near Asda) computer room during the following times:

Mon: 10 – 12
Thu: 10 – 12

If you are a Chalkhill or Metropolitan resident drop in for expert assistance with CV Writing, interview advice, application forms, and job search, or simply to ask for the most up to date list of jobs we're currently recruiting for.

The computer room is also open on a Tuesday between 10am and 4pm for residents to use the facilities for job, education, or house swap purposes.

If you would like us to consider your CV for our live vacancies or want to make an appointment for specific advice please email katie.gerrard@olmec-ec.org.uk

LINK to current vacancies

For a Future That Doesn't Cost the Earth - Conference Saturday

Brent Green Party backs today's public sector strike

A message to all the public sector unions striking today

On behalf of the Green Party of England and Wales, we would like to express our solidarity with you in your struggle for decent, secure work and fair pay and working conditions.

We believe that public sector workers provide excellent and vital service to our country, and that our public services represent a very significant part of the true wealth of this nation.

The public sector in the UK has, for decades, been systematically attacked. Workers are bearing the brunt of this, and are being expected to pay the price for an economic crisis not of their making.

We recognise that going on strike is the option of last resort, and that the decisions to do so have not been taken lightly. We sincerely hope that this co-ordinated action succeeds in defending your jobs, pay, and working conditions.

With very best wishes,

Brent Green Party

Chalkhill Training and Employment Fair next week

Thursday 10^th October 12-4pm

Chalkhill Community Centre

113 Chalkhill Road, HA9 9FX (near Asda)

 Meet all these employers - bring copies of your CV!

BT (apprentices)                                                RST Security

Microsoft (work experience)                             Blue Arrow (Drivers)

Eleada Care (Healthcare)                                 Delaware (Hospitality)

Willis Property Service                                      Premier Events (Stewards)

Ernst & Young (Apprentices)                             KOTUKU (environmental)

Victoria's Care Home (care, beauty, bistro)

Holts Academy (Apprentices jewellery making)

Conway Aecom (Apprentices, highways)

Plus these training organisations, some leading to specific vacancies:

Sarina Russo                                            

Spear                                                    

Learn Direct                                             

Burleigh College

Catalyst Housing

Qstep

Free2learn  (Retail, fork lift, beauty etc)

Katherine & Kings College (Hospitality

The Teaching & Learning Group (Care Homes)

Acton Training Centre (Apprentices)

Call for devolved powers to tackle London's 7,000 vacant shops

The capital has almost 7,000 vacant shops, costing the London economy £350 million in lost trade and earnings, a new study has revealed.

Streets Ahead, produced by London Councils, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities, looks at the capital’s high streets and makes a range of recommendations to improve the local economy.
The study calls for the government to grant councils more powers to curb betting shops, payday lenders and fried food outlets, which can damage high streets. It shows that devolving more powers to councils would help stimulate growth and new jobs.

Dianna Neal, Head of Economy, Culture and Tourism at London Councils said: 

 “The study’s findings highlight the need for the radical devolution of power and resources to councils to help businesses adapt to a changed consumer environment.

“The government could halt further decline by devolving powers to councils to support high streets, such as the ability to stop the damaging spread of betting shops, payday lenders and fried food outlets.”
Boroughs currently do not have the power to control retail outlets which can deter visitors and also have damaging wider social effects, adding to obesity, gambling addiction and serious debt. Recent changes have also made it easier to turn offices into residential units, also undermining growth and local decision making.
The study features a number of innovative case studies as to how boroughs are supporting their local high streets. For example:

 -          The London Borough of Harrow’s Inward Investment Strategy team has worked with banks and property agents to develop investment guides to its local district centres, highlighting local demographics and available properties. The average vacancy rate for retail frontages in town centres across the borough has fallen for the second year running from a high of 7.5 per cent in 2009/10 to 6.5 per cent in 2011/12.
-          The London Borough of Sutton developed a ‘meanwhile lease’ for previously vacant units. This provides an industry standard legal instrument to minimise administrative and legal costs for both landlords and tenants and to enable temporary occupation to take place without the need for lengthy legal procedures, encouraging new enterprises and bringing innovation and creativity back to the high street.

Dianna Neal added: 

 “Councils are already innovating, but giving boroughs additional  powers and resources would go a long way in really creating the conditions for high streets to succeed – creating much-needed jobs.”

Calling Brent Youth: All I want for Christmas is a Future that works

 A one-day rally and workshop for 16-27 year olds on Youth Unemployment, Education, Apprenticeships and a welfare system that works.

Tell your story on youth unemployment and find your voice in our activism workshops.

Organised by Brent Youth and SERTUC Young Members Network

CONTACT: David Braniff on 020 7467 1283 or email LondonYouth@TUC.org.uk

 Saturday December 8th, 11am-4pm
 Harlesden Methodists Church,

25 High Street, Harlesden, NW10 4NE London, United Kingdom

View Map · Get Directions

Why Greens will be marching for 'A Future that Works' on October 20th

This article by Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales


The march for "a future that works" organised by the trade union movement on October 20th is vital to the movement against austerity.

We need to be looking to a new economic model rather than these tired, heartless false economies that hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

We should be investing in the future, creating jobs and stabilising the economy. Instead we see more of the same privatisation, casualisation and demonisation of the poor, disabled and public sector workers.

Deficit in thinking

Even in the government's own terms massive cuts to public services made no sense - and the fact that government borrowing is at a record high only underlines how economically illiterate this "deficit reduction" project has been.

Instead of hitting the target of a 4.6% reduction in the deficit in fact the deficit has grown by 22% between April and August.

You cannot put an economy back on its feet by throwing people out of work and undermining the public services that keep society ticking.

If the Coalition government was serious about tackling the gap between government spending and income it would be ruthlessly tackling tax avoidance on the part of the rich and large corporations. It would cut spending on nuclear weapons and unnescesary road building - but these cuts are ideologically motivated and are really about the privatisation and carving up of public services, we cannot allow that to happen.

Marching makes a difference
I firmly believe we need to help build a movement for a more sustainable economic system. A movement that reins in the banking and financial sector while investing in the real economy, giving us a solid foundation with which to face the critical challenges of the twenty first century.

We shouldn't simply go back to Labour's 2006 spending priorities - their love affair with the casino capitalism of international finance and growth for its own sake helped bring us to this point. We should though build alliances across the trade union movement, political organisations and campaign groups to take this government head on.

I'll be marching on October 20th, I hope you'll join me.