Growth of contract DC pensions over trust based schemes is extremely worrying, says TUC

The latest Pension Trends statistics, published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics, show that the number of people saving in a contract based defined contribution (DC) pension scheme through their workplace has overtaken the number saving in a trust based DC scheme this year.

The figures show that 8.8 per cent of the private sector workforce are now in a contract based DC pension - up from 8.6 per cent last year - while 8.7 per cent are now in a trust based scheme, a fall of 0.2 per cent in a year.

Commenting on the figures, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said:

"Few will be surprised at the decline of defined benefit pensions, but the growth of contract DC at the expense of trust based DC should not be over-looked. 

"Of course some contract based schemes offer good value and some trust based schemes are not as well run as they should be, but this trend is extremely worrying.

"In a trust based scheme trustees have a single duty - to look after the interests of all scheme members both active and deferred. A contract based scheme in contrast is normally provided by a company seeking to make a return to its shareholders.

"While market forces can often be relied on to keep costs down, decades of experience show that markets don't function when it comes to pension provision - especially as it is not even the consumer that buys a workplace pension, but their employer.

"With the introduction of auto-enrolment bringing a huge increase in DC pension saving over the next few years, we need to ask hard questions about how we can deliver good governance, low charges and sophisticated investment strategies."

SECRET PLOT TO ROB OUR PENSIONERS OF THEIR HARD EARNED BENEFITS

Stop This Mean Attack On Our Pensioners Now - Daily Express July 11th Page 5.

Commentary by Neil Duncan Jordan, national officer of the National Pensioners Convention.

In recent weeks, Government politician's have been lining up to argue that the country's economy is struggling because there is an army of millionaire pensioners joy riding with their free bus passes. The latest one is Nick Boles MP who has trotted out the same misinformed, half baked case. Lets have a much needed dose of reality. Out of 11 million pensioners, the number of millionaires would barely be enough to fill a fleet of buses. Not only that but does Mr Boles really think that Sir Paul McCartney queued up in his local town hall to fill in his application form for a bus pass? In truth, the economic crisis is being used by some to roll back the gains of the welfare state that older people have secured and worked for over many years.

There is also a totally inaccurate suggestion that pensioners have escaped the austerity measures at the expense of younger generations. In fact there have already been significant detrimental changes to the way  pensions are increased every year, a cut in the winter fuel allowance and reduction in care services. The truth is that both young and old are being hit by the cuts while the rich are still claiming their bonuses.

Evidence

The suggested alternative is to introduce a huge and expensive means-tested bureaucracy that would take away the bus pass, winter fuel allowance and free TV licences from anyone not already on income support of around £7500 a year. How anyone could suggest that a pensioner on little more than this was well off simply beggars belief. Not only that, but all the evidence shows that when services are means-tested, those who need it most are the very ones that do not come forward to make a claim. But the real problem with Mr Boles's argument is that it counts the cost of pensioners without recognising their value. Every year, even after we have paid out for pensions, care and other benefits, older people contribute £40 billion in taxes, voluntary work and unpaid caring.

They are often the glue that holds our communities together, but this is only possible because they are able to get out and about. If the bus pass was withdrawn, the problems of social isolation, loneliness and depression among older people would rise - along with the demand on health and care services. In the long run saving £1 billion on the bus pass would cost considerably more. So while Mr Boles has grabbed a headline, his argument rather missed the point. When the UK finally gets a state pension that is not the fourth from bottom in Europe, and everyone pays their fair share of taxes, then we can start discussing his idea's to the  who should get a bus pass. Until then, let him put his ideas to the older voters.  

In conclusion we Pensioners who are members of the Midlands TUC Network will keep a close eye on developments on our pensions and will be prepared to campaign vigorously to help protect our Benefits and those of future pensioners - Mike McLoughlin  



REPORT OF THE MIDLANDS TUC PENSIONERS NETWORK MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY JUNE 29TH

This Meeting Was The First Regional Network Meeting Chaired By Yvonne Washbourne

Our Newly Elected Chair.  

Attendance at Network Meetings: - This meeting was a relatively poorly attended meeting, in the main due to a clash with other events taking place on the same day. It was noted that over the past couple of years our attendance has been dropping off steadily - in the discussion that followed it was decided that this issue needs to be thoroughly discussed at the next E-C meeting with a view to taking steps to rebuild the Network. It was stated that some of the Unions were helping to curtail involvement of retired members in the Network by insisting that only the Regional Committee's could appoint delegates to the Network (usually a small number), forgetting that the idea behind the setting up of the Network was that any retired member could attend and that it was always the intention to get all union branches with retired members involved in the work of the Network. The E-C to develop its thinking about the best way to relaunch the Network and spell out clearly what its aims and objectives are.

Network Banner: - The Network has now purchased a banner which is quite attractive and will help to raise our profile at public events - the banner made its debut at the recent Chainmakers Rally - the only retired groups banner to be there - The banner will also be going to Tolpuddle in July. there was a view expressed That we have to stop being a talking shop and get out there and organise activity in the region on specific issues affecting pensioners and develop relations with other pensioners groups - as well as developing a working relationships and alliances with people who are still in work.

Chair & Vice Chair's recent meeting with the TUC Regional Secretary: - Yvonne and Bob in their meeting with Rob Johnson were able to explore the role of the Network and how it should relate to the TUC, as in the past this relationship has mostly been undeveloped. Considerable progress was made at this meeting - we have for the first time been accepted as an Equality Committee, we will have this new status from January 2013, in the meantime we can continue with the present level of financial support from the TUC. From January all the Regions Equality Committee's will have their financial support capped at £250 - although this figure does exclude postage. This will give us a serious problem as this amount will not cover three meeting per year at the Spot Conference Centre. In future the Regional TUC will write to all its affiliates and Trades Councils and ask for nominations to the Network E-C, there is also the possibility that we will be given in the future an observers seat on the TUC Regional E-C. The meeting concluded that Derby was geographically the best place to hold our regional meetings, the current trade union meeting rooms were not large enough to accomadate us and members were asked to obtain the cost of other meeting rooms in Derby. 

E-C Vacancies:- There are currently two vacancies for Women on the Network Executive Committee, one from the West Midlands and one from the East Midlands, nominations for these positions are now required and should be forwarded to the Secretary (Sheena Gordon).

Getting Organised: - Dick Muskett SERTUC Support Officer gave us an excellent presentation on the need and the way in which Retired members can get organised at the present time. This generated a lively and far reaching discussion, many of the points raised will be discussed in greater detail at the next Executive committee meeting. We also touched on the favourite pastime of the press, which is pensioner bashing, implying that we are in some way responsible for the present financial crisis. It was concluded that we must not allow any splits to develop in the pensioners movement, nor with young people and workers. The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) are planning events for October which are designed to bring all three groups together.

Future Activity: - Our support has been requested for two events in October - firstly our support is required for the Rally which will be held at the Conservative Party Conference to be held in Birmingham on October 7th. It was agreed that we will have to pull all the stops out on this one and really try to mobilise pensioners from right across the region for October 7th. Secondly we have been asked to support the TUC Rally which will be held in London On October 2oth. Considerable debate was generated on the issue of the TUC London Rally - the view was put strongly that many pensioners would be unwilling to travel to London, and that we should seriously consider organising activity on that day in the large population centres e.g. Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Wolverhampton etc. This issue will be further debated by the E-C, who will also make enquiries as to how many buses are being laid on by the trade unions, and what provision if any will be made for retired members to travel on them.

Mike McLoughlin TUC Network. 

DAVID DAVIS MP LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF CIVIL LIBERTIES - WARNS THAT OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY IS UNDER THREAT.

The Government Has Confirmed That It Wants New Powers To Enable It To

 Snoop On All Of Us. 

Our right to privacy is under threat. The Government has confirmed that it wants new powers to snoop on all of us whenever we use the Internet. Soon they will start pushing their plans through Parliament. We can stop these Big Brother plans - if enough MP's feel enough pressure to vote against them. So now is the time to get clued up. We need to work out how to persuade every MP to vote to protect our privacy.

David Davis MP is a senior Conservative, a former Home Secretary and a long time supporter of civil liberties. He is hugely opposed to the Governments plans. He has agreed to hold an online question and answer session with 38 Degrees members. It's an opportunity to hear more about the snooping plan and how we can stop it. The live Internet briefing will take place on Tuesday 12th June at 7pm. You can take part from in front of your computer, all that you need is an Internet connection. Click to reserve your place and get instruction on how to join in: -

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/David-Davis-live-briefing

If we are trying to persuade MP's, where better to get insider knowledge than direct from an MP? And David Davis is not just any MP - he is a prominent Conservative and a former minister. He has been on the receiving end of many 38 Degrees campaigns before. He will be able to tell us what works and how best to respond to Government spin. David Cameron claims that his plans to invade our privacy will make us safer. In reality this is about big brother powers to enable them to spy on all of us, and not just the serious criminals. It's the difference between treating all of us as citizens, and treating us as suspects.

38 Degree members know better than anyone that the Internet can be a force for good. It would be  a disaster if the Government got more powers to spy on it. So let's come together on the Internet next week and prepare to stand up for our privacy online. Click here to reserve your place and get instructions on how to join: -

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/David-Davis-live-briefing

Marie Campbell - 38 Degrees (action@38degrees.org.uk)

PS. 38 Degrees members and David Davis MP probably would not agree about absolutely everything. But 38 Degrees works with politicians of any stripe or party where they agree with our campaign aims. On the question of Internet privacy, David Davis is on our side - so please join in next Tuesday and hear what he has to say.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE BBC BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL BE DECIDING WHO TO APPOINT AS THE NEXT DIRECTOR GENERAL

The Media Have Already Begun To Take Bets On Who The Successful

Candidate Will Be.

Over the next few days, the BBC Board of Trustees could be deciding who to appoint as the next Director General - one of broadcasting's most important jobs. The media have already begun to take bets on who the successful candidate will be. Whilst outspoken politicians have already started point scoring by suggesting that the job should go to a candidate who is party political.

Lord Patten and the rest of the BBC Trustees have the final say on who gets the job. Let's show them that we will not stand for political game playing when it comes to such an important choice. 38 Degrees members have said that one of the most valuable things about the BBC is its independence. Together we can show Lord Patten that we would like him to keep it that way.

Please add you name to the letter to Lord Patten now: -

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/protect-bbc-independence

The BBC is famous all over the world. people rely on its news reporting. Its programmes are enjoyed in countries thousands of miles away from the UK. The new Director General will be in charge of it all. It is vital that the right person ends up in the job - and that means someone who understands that the BBC's independence must never be compromised. We know that 38 Degrees members can influence the BBC's decisions. Two years ago we helped save 6Mmusic by convincing bosses to drop their plans to close the station. And BBC bosses must be glad that we saved the station now - 6Music have just won "UK Radio Station of the Year" at this year's Sony Awards.

Lord Patten knows that the BBC Trustees must protect the BBC from political interference. But he does not know how many of us want him to make sure that this is a top priority when the new Director General is chosen. Write to Lord Patten now - thanks for being involved.

Hannah Lownsbrough - 38 Degrees

(action@38degrees.org.uk) 

UNION LEADERS BEGIN THEIR SECOND MONTH OF HUNGER STRIKE - PLEASE GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT.

Nine Trade Union Leaders, Most Of Them Women, Have Now Been On Hunger

Strike For A Full Month In Algeria. 

They have appealed to the international labour movement for our support and solidarity, and have asked us all to take a moment of our time to send off messages of protest to the Country's president.

To learn more and to send of your message please click the link below: - http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=unionbook Please spread the word to you friends and colleagues and ask them to support.

Eric Lee - UnionBook (mail@unionbook.org)

Visit Union Book at: -

http://www.unionbook.org/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION ETHNIC MINORITY ELDERS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE LEICESTER AFRICAN CARIBBEAN CENTRE ON MAY 30TH 2012

Left To Right: - Dot Gibson NPC General Secretary, Claude James NPC Minority Elders London, Assistant Mayor of Leicester Councillor Manjula Sood, and Ruth Lake Director of Care Services for Leicester. Photo by Mina Rodgers.

This Conference was attended by around 200 delegates from the ethnic Minorities Group of Leicester and was chaired by Claude James from the NPC Elders Minority Group London. In opening the conference Councillor Manjula Sood welcomed all the speakers and delegates and spoke at some length about the Care Policies of the coalition Government and the effects of these cuts on our local communities. One of her core goals was to allow the real life experience of black minority elders to be heard by the policy makers, and in so doing change their experience of old age for the better. When asked a question by Brian Herbertson- why did Leicester City Councillor Mohamed Dawood not respond to the NPC Dignity Code sent to her office for distribution to all care agencies and Care Homes in Leicester? Her response was not very forthcoming.

Ruth Lake - Director of Care Services for Leicester, spoke about her own experiences as a Nurse and about making good quality care a reality for all, but she did not agree that there was a problem because young carers were not receiving proper training in how to care for the elderly. She also stressed that by enabling people to get more out of life is all about helping people to gain access to the things that makes for a decent quality of life. However, she did recognise that the ingredients of a fulfilled old age include experiences that encourage people to remain active and to engage with the wider world - such as recreation, friendships, networks and opportunities to learn as well as having services such as health and social care that caters for basic needs. During question time Ruth was attacked by several delegates about the effects of the cuts on their personal care and public services, she responded by stating that she would look into the issues raised and expressed solidarity with the Ethnic Elders Pensioners.

Dot Gibson: - General secretary of the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) provided the highlight of the Conference with an astonishing speech, which covered the following issues: She outlined to delegates the work of the NPC, how it meets with Government Ministers on a regular basis, closure of care homes, personal budgets, the NPC Dignity Code and the privatisation of the social care services. Today's pensioners are fighting not only for themselves but also for tomorrow's pensioners. All is not well as far as the health of the majority of older people is concerned. Increasing poverty, ill health, practical difficulties in gaining access to the right health and social care, all prevent the possible experience of a normal and decent life in old age.

For many older people managing a personal budget is stressful and in many  cases unmanageable. Owning a budget is meaningless if the market is not equipped to supply services to meet ones needs, She stated that care should be paid for through general taxation and delivered free of charge at the point of use. The prospect of the emerging market in Care Provision as a results of the Government's modernisation programme theoretically offers an opportunity for private and public providers to work together to provide high quality care. However elderly people are still not getting high quality care which they need. We still have a care system which is means-tested and people are having to sell their homes to pay for care.

Dot also expressed her concern about younger and untrained carers who are employed by many Care Agencies to care for the elderly. On top of doing the obvious Care givers, also need to have clear policies on how to accommodate the cultural sensitivities of their clients, on issues to do with body-care, which although not perceived by the service providers as important, may be very important to some of their service users (several examples were given by dot).

Liz Kendall: - Leicester MP - shadow Minister for Health & Care Services, addressed the Conference in the afternoon, but due to her very heavy work schedule, had to leave early. She spoke about her own elderly family member's experience of our health and care services. The shadow Minister stated that she was aware of all the problems facing older people in our society. She also mentioned that she was currently engaged in working on some new Health and Social Care Policies, but for obvious reasons was unable to discuss the issue with the Conference. The Conference ended with with a question and comment session, where the focus of attention was mainly on Carers allowance and families of Ethnic Minority Groups who care for their elderly relatives on a day to day basis, without any social or financial help from the Government.

In Conclusion: - The following are the main points arising from the floor during the discussion period:
a) The need to provide proper training for care staff - this a shift in outlook to make the principle of providing culturally sensitive care a core element in the training of carers.
b)  Recruiting highly trained Care staff and looking at the age of Carers. Making ethnic minority career - seekers aware of opportunities available in the caring profession.
c)  Dispelling of stereotypes and Developing an Evidence based Policy. Services must be designed to reflect the diversity of the population.
d)  Health inequalities. The high rate of heart disease and Diabetes among ethnic minority communities, we need to look at how health advice is communicated to elderly people.
e)  Representation of minority elders, involving minority services users in the design of Health and social care programmes.
f)  Easy access to Care Services/aids and equipment, and shaping the care minority elders receive rather than having to put up with whatever services are provided. Statutory providers who failed to make appropriate provision for minorities should be held accountable for their actions and inaction's.

Thank to all the speakers, the NPC Elders London for funding the Conference and all the delegates for attending.
Mina Rodgers - Conference Organiser (East Midlands NPC).

UNITE THE UNION-BELIEVES THAT A STRONG VOLUNTARY SECTOR IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A THRIVING SOCIETY

Sacking Decent Hard Working Disabled Workers And Forcing Them On To

Social Benefits Makes No Sense.

In a shameful move, the Tory Work and Pensions Minister Iain Duncan Smith is trying to shut down 54 British Factories and throw 1,518 hardworking people on to benefits. Even worse, these are Remploy factories - so that the workers that he wants sacked are mostly disabled. Help us keep these British factories open for business and stop this Government putting disabled workers on to the scrap heap.

Hit send now on our message to Iain Duncan Smith, asking him to meet with Remploy workers. IT won't take you more than a minute to do - but it is a minute that could save the jobs of over a thousand disabled people. Shutting down Remploy shows how heartless and arrogant this Government is. In fact Iain Duncan Smith told a Remploy worker to her face that he wanted to make her unemployed so that he could give someone else a "proper job".

This is unjustified and nasty. As a union official I had responsibility for Remploy's workers and I know firsthand that they absolutely do "proper jobs". Remploy is a brilliant testimony to the British manufacturing industry and it provides real work for disabled people in this country - and we should be proud of it. I know too that Remploy is much more than a workplace to its staff. Steve Collins, a worker in the North Staffs factory, told us that his job at Remploy "saved his life", offering him somewhere he can earn a dignified living, after years of bullying in mainstream employment. This is what Remploy means to its workers - and why we cannot just let it be destroyed.

Tell Iain Duncan Smith what you think of his decision to throw 1,518 hard working disabled people onto the scrapheap. Ask him now to save British factories and jobs. Closing down our factories and forcing people onto benefits makes no economic sense at a time when more than two million people in this country are out of work. With the full force of our member's voices, we can put enough pressure on the Government to save Remploy. Thank you for standing up for these workers.

In solidarity, Len McCluskey,

General Secretary,

Unite the Union. 

CAMERON: IS IT NOT TIME FOR YOU TO STOP PROTECTING JEREMY HUNT'S ROLE IN THE MURDOCK BSKYB BID.

We Have Finally Obtained Some Facts About Jeremy Hunt's Role In Murdock's BSkyB Bid - And He Was Not Impartial. 

This week, we have finally got some of the facts about Jeremy Hunt's role in Murdock's BSkyB bid. It's pretty shocking. Just before Hunt took responsibility for the deal, he was sending chummy "congratulations"texts to James Murdock when the plan got agreed in Europe. Hunt was excited to think that the deal was going ahead - and was definitely not impartial. But it seems Hunt does not have to worry about facing any consequences of this behaviour, because David Cameron is doing everything that he can to prevent that from happening. 

Let us show David Cameron that Government Ministers have to face the music when they go too far in cosying up to media moguls. A petition signed by tens of thousands of us will put the pressure on Cameron to step aside and let Hunt be properly investigated. Add your name to the petition here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stop-protecting-hunt

There are hundreds of reasons why Cameron might be protecting Jeremy Hunt. Maybe he is worried that if Hunt goes, the spotlight will focus on him. Maybe he thinks that that there is worse to come. Or maybe Hunt knows where more of the Government's skeletons are, and Cameron is worried that he will reveal them if he is sacked.

Whatever the reason, it has to stop. If huge scandals like this can just be swept under the carpet, nothing will change. We need to put an end to it now and send a clear message that secret dealings between the politicians and media owners are not acceptable. And that should start with Jeremy Hunt. The more of us that sign the petition to David Cameron, the more powerful the message will be, join in and sign up now:

38 Degree members were fast to challenge Hunt's role in the deal. Within days of his role being announced, tens of thousands of us had signed a petition to Government, pointing out that Jeremy Hunt was not impartial. Now we know that we were right. Tell David Cameron to step aside and make sure that Hunt faces up to his actions on the BSkyB deal.

Hannah Lownsbrough - 38 Degrees

THE UK'S CRUELEST CUT - TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GIRLS IN THE UK ARE FORCED TO HAVE THEIR GENITALS CUT.

Girls In The UK Are Often Forced To Have Their Genitals Cut, Often Without The Benefit Of Anaesthesia.

Each year, tens of thousands of girls in the UK are forced to have their genitals cut, often with no anaesthesia. But there has never been a conviction for female genital mutilation here - even though in London alone, police have received 166 complaints in the last four years! Now we have a chance to help. Undercover reporters for the Sunday Times recently caught three medics on film offering to mutilate young girls, massively scaling up the pressure on law enforcement to act. We can use this moment to call on Home Secretary Theresa May for real accountability. She is in charge of every police chief in England and Wales - if she takes the issue up personally, the entire police system could be shaken into action.

Avaaz member Ruth Burnett has created a petition calling on her to start prosecuting the people involved with these assaults and already more than 1200 people have signed! If we reach 20,000 signatures, Avaaz will deliver it directly to Home Secretary May and the head of the Metropolitan Police Force - click below to sign the petition and forward to all your family and friends:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/stop_female_genital_mutilation_in_the_uk/?vl

Female Genital Mutilation is a custom widespread in nearly 30 Middle Eastern and African countries. But FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985 and in 2003 the law was tightened to stop girls being taken abroad for the operation - on so called "FGM holidays".

Still, the practise is widespread here in the UK! When the undercover Times reporter explained to Mohammed Sabih, an alternative medicine practitioner in East London that he represented a Ghanaian couple who wanted to have their two daughters - aged 10 and 13 - circumcised, he said "I can do it here," confirming that he would both remove the clitoris and sew up the vagina. "This is my work. I know what I am doing. I am going to do it. I will tell you how (much) to pay (for one): £750."

Home Secretary Therese May -  who oversees women's issues for David Cameron, and hires and fires the police chiefs all across England and Wales - recently admitted that people would be "shocked" by the number of young girls in Britain subjected to FGM. Now we can push her to take concrete action to end FGM in the UK - Please sign the petition. From Iran to Morocco to South Africa, our community has fought back attacks on women;s fundamental rights. In the world we all want, a women would never be forced to suffer the horror, pain and trauma involved with FGM. Today here in Britain, we have a chance to take a giant step closer to making that world a reality. Let us stand with those women and eliminate this practise from our country.

Emma Ruby-Sacks - Avaaz.org

HOW POLITICS CHANGE! - IN MY VIEW THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE SINCE THE DAYS OF SUNNY JIM CALLAGHAN

For Those Who Think That There Has Been A Change, Not Since James Callaghan Adopted Neo-liberalism in

1978 Whilst In Government. 

For those of you who think that there has been a change in our politics in recent times. Well in my view it has remained the same since the days of Sunny James Callaghan. The first manifestations of the adoption of Neo-liberalism in Government was in 1976 when James Callaghan informed the Labour Party that the game was up.

What is the cause of high unemployment? Quite simply and unequivocally if it is caused by paying ourselves more than the value of what we produce. There are no scapegoats. That is as true in a mixed economy under a Labour Government as it is under capitalism or communism. It is a fact of life which no Government, be it left or right, can alter. We used to think that you could spend your way out of a recession and increase employment by cutting taxes and boosting Government spending. But I tell you in all candour that, that option no longer exists, and in sofar as it did ever exist, it only worked on each occasion since the war by injecting a bigger dose of inflation into the economy, followed by a higher level of unemployment as the next step. Higher inflation followed by higher unemployment.We have just escaped from the highest rate of inflation this country has known; we have not yet escaped from the consequence's: high unemployment. That is the history of the last twenty years.

Callaghan's regretful message soon became Thatcher's triumphant catchphrase, and was later adopted as the mantra of American evangelists for untrammelled global capitalism: there is no alternative. Callaghan's statement also demonstrates that he did not understand Keynes. Spending was not the way out of recession. Investment was the way out.

http://wn.com/david_cameron

Keith C

THE NHS MATTERS - TAKING THREE STEPS FORWARD IN THE CAMPAIGN TO RECLAIM OUR NHS

Reclaiming Our NHS Conference Will Take Place On Saturday June 23rd, 2012,

10.30 AM Friends House, Euston

Road, London NW1. 

Dear NHS Supporter,

I would like to tell you about three things you can get involved with that could help the campaign to protect the NHS.

Keeping track of privatisation.

The Federation is starting the next phase of a project to record the privatisation of NHS services. This project, called NHS unlimited, has already published two reports. First we looked at GP and community health services, and we have now gathered baseline data around outsourced services which we would like to use to prove the extent of privatisation as the Government's current changes take effect. We are aware that others are keen to start work in this area and we hope that we can work together to share information and where possible, to divide the effort. This project is currently supported by UNISON. Please let us know if you want to find out more or get involved, or if you have information about new NHS privatisations in your area.

Campaigning? Researching? Monitoring?

 Who is doing what?

After an intense period of campaigning, there are many more people and organisations starting projects to defend the NHS. We are collecting and publishing information about this work, so that we can all see what is going on and improve collaboration between NHS supporters. So if you have a project, an event or a piece of research that you would like to include in this listing, please let me know (paul@nhscampaign.org). As well as posting it on our web site, we will also circulate it to other relevant networks that we know about. 

Reclaiming the NHS: Saturday 23rd June 2012.

If you haven't already done so, book your ticket now for our major campaign event "Reclaiming Our NHS" in London. Speakers include: -

• Polly Toynbee Guardian columnist and writer
• Clare Gerada Chair of the Royal College of GP's
• David Babb's Executive Director of 38 Degrees
• Frances o'Grady TUC Deputy General Secretary
• John Lister health journalist and Director of Health Emergency
• Jacky Davis BMA council member and Chair of the NHS Consultants Association
• Harry Keen President of the NHS Support Federation.

The event will combine information, presentation from health experts and lively discussion with contributions from some of the most prominent contributor's to the health debate. It will also include workshops to share experiences, information, ideas and talk about ways to campaign to protect a comprehensive NHS. It is crucial that we all get a chance to take part in this event and so our ticket prices are optional depending on your budget. We hope that it will be an informative, constructive and inspiring day, and we very much hope to see you there. Thank you for your support.

Paul Evans - Director - NHS Campaign

PS. Help us fund the campaign to protect and promote the NHS. We believe that the NHS should provide comphrensive healthcare to all those who need it, regardless of their income. It should be fair and free at the point of use. It has proven itself to work well when properly supported - but it does need public support.

Please Donate Now.

THE QUEENS SPEECH LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE PENSION AGE WILL BE INCREASING TO 68

The Queens Speech Contained Firm Proposals For Increasing The

 State Pension Age

Please sign up for the "68 is too late campaign". We need as many voices as possible in this fight to stop this Government's plans to increase the state pension age. In this years budget a formula for increasing the retirement age was proposed, which could make children born this year work into their late 70's to qualify for a pension. That is why we are saying that "68 is too late"

Watch our short video explaining the case against working longer.

Learn more about the consequences of these changes now and help widen the campaign by sharing the "68 is too late" video with your colleagues, friends and family.

http://www.68istoolate.org.uk/watch-our-video

Best wishes from Beth - The "68 is too late" campaign team, email: - 68istoolate@pcs.org.uk

The "68 is too late" campaign has been launched by the Public and Commercial Services Union, the National Union of Teachers and Unite - with support from the National Union of Students, Prison Officers Association, National Pensioners Convention, Welsh teaching union UCAC, the Educational Institute of Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance.  

A NEW PLAN TO SAVE THE PLANET? THIS WEEKEND WILL THE G8 SUMMIT AGREE A PLAN THAT COULD LITERALLY STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

In Three Days, World Leaders Could

Agree To A Plan That Could

Stop Climate Change.

This weekend, the eight most powerful leaders in the world will meet at the G8 summit and could agree to a plan that could literally stop climate change. It is crazy, but right now, our Governments give nearly$1 trillion a year of our taxpayer money to Big Oil and Coal to destroy our planet. Key leaders, including President Obama who is hosting the G8, have already agreed to stop these polluter payments. Now, if we demand that they act on their word and divert this huge sum into renewable energy, experts say that we could actually save our planet.

It is a simple no-brainer that our leaders have already agreed to. Let us hold their feet to the fire, and push President Obama to lead the world's largest economies to turn these polluting subsidies green. Sign the urgent petition below and forward this message to everyone - a massive campaign now can force them from talk to action: - http://www.avaaz.org/en/a_new_plan_to_save_the_planet/?vl

The only reason that we shovel cash into the coffers of Big Oil is that their lobbyists have a stranglehold on our Governments. But if we demand that our leaders green our tax-money, we will increase total global green investment by 400%, making solar and wind energy cheaper than oil and coal - in the process saving the planet by putting big oil out of business.

We are rapidly reaching a point of no return on climate change and a treaty to prevent catastrophe is years off. Fortunately, momentum behind this new planet saving plan is building. New Zealand, Mexico, and Switzerland are calling for an agreement now, and policy makers from 20 countries including the US, Brazil, and China have just voiced their support. All G8 leaders have publicly committed to ending these dirty subsidies, and right now President Obama is pushing for US legislation to stop them. Our planet is being destroyed at a terrifying rate and this is our best chance to stop it. Now is the time for action , but without massive public support, the powerful polluters could stall the proposal. It is up to us to counter the Lobbyists with extraordinary people power. We have only a little time left to get Obama to lead. Please sign this petition now.

For far to long, progress on a global solution to climate change has been held back by self-interest and the profits of Big Oil, Coal and Gas. But. finally Governments are realising that cutting subsidies will benefit the climate and help balance out the global economy. If we speak up now, together, our movement can force our leaders to action and free the world from the tyranny of fossil fuels.

Iain Keith - Avaaz-org 

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KEEP RIO TINTO OFF THE OLYMPIC PODIUM - END THE LOCKOUT OF IT'S WORKERS NOW

Help Get Rio Tinto Off The Podium - Say No To Rio Tinto's Tarnished Gold.

A few weeks ago I wrote to ask the public to give their support to the United Steelworkers - Canada campaign in support of the locked-out workers at a smelter owned by Rio Tinto in Alma Quebec Canada. Locked-out because they are resisting demands by Rio Tinto that would destroy hundreds of good trade union jobs. Thousands of you responded to that appeal. Today I am writing with an urgent new appeal and a new campaign, but on the same issue. 

Rio Tinto is the official supplier of the metals that are used to make the medals handed out at the Olympics. If we can put pressure on the international Olympic Committee (IOC) to get Rio Tinto's products off the Olympic Podium the 780 workers on the picket line in Alma will be closer to getting back to work. Their families and their community will be closer to getting back to normal. Between 23rd and 25th May the Canadian Olympic Committee is hosting the IOC in Quebec City. The locked out steelworkers will be there. If you are unable to be there beside them, you can still send your them message's of solidarity. Before the 23rd send a message to the Canadian Olympic Committee demanding that they get Rio Tinto off the Olympic Podium.

Please send your message to the Canadian and International Olympic Committee. A copy will go to the locked-out-workers so that they will know that they have your support. It is not often that a global corporation like Rio Tinto is venerable to pressure from union members like you and I. Let us take full advantage of this opportunity. Please pass this message along to all your contacts. Time is short but if the word gets out we have a very real chance of making a difference.

In Solidarity

Derek Blackadder

Labour Start Canada, visit our web site: -

http://www.labourstart.org Mailing Address: - Labour Start,

4 Alexandra Park Road, London, N10 2AA  

A PUBLIC CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 23RD FOR NHS SUPPORTERS IN LONDON

This Conference Will Focus On The Most Controversial Health And Social Care

Act In The History Of The NHS.

The Health and Social Care Act is their most controversial change in NHS history and will affect us all. Soon our NHS may not be able to deliver the health care that we have come to expect and to rely on. Many people are worried and want to find out what is happening and what they can do about it. Reclaiming our NHS is a conference that will provide insight about the impact of the act and what people can do to campaign and protect the core principles of the NHS, locally and nationally.

• Listen to health experts explain the latest news about the Government's NHS changes.
• Find out how the changes will affect you and your family.
• Join NHS supporters from across the country to discuss how we can work together to secure the local services that we need to protect our NHS.

Speakers will include: -

• Clare Gerards - Chair of the Royal College of GP's
• David Babbs - Executive Director of 38 Degrees
• John Lister - health journalist and Director of Health Emergency
• Frances O'Grady -  TUC Deputy General Secretary
• Jackie Davis BMA - council member and chair of the NHS Consultant Association
• Harry Kean - President of the NHS Support Federation

The Event will combine information, presentations from health experts and lively debate on the impact of the health and social care act. It will also include discussion workshops to share experiences, information and talk about campaign strategy. The conference will conclude with a question time style debate about the future of the NHS.

The event will take place on Saturday June 23rd from 10.30 AM at the Friends Meeting House, Near Euston Station in London. Most of the details given have been confirmed, to be up dated or to apply to attend this conference please contact: 

Paul Evans Director, NHS Support Federation, Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4HA 

GAS & ELECTRICITY PRICES - SOME GOOD NEWS 200,000 HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE OFFERED AN AVERAGE SAVING OF UP TO £123 A YEAR

We have Just Received The Results Of Our People Powered Bid To Get Cheaper

Gas and Electricity Prices.

Some good news. We have just got the results of our people-powered bid to get cheaper gas and electricity prices. The Co-op has come forward with the cheapest offer.It now looks as though those of us taking part could save a grand total of £25 million. 200,000 households will be offered an average saving of £123 per year. This proves that our plan to use our shared buying power to drive a harder bargain can work. But it is also great news that Co-operative Energy - a newer, smaller and more ethical supplier - managed to offer the cheapest deal. 

The Co-op offered us a better deal than giants like British Gas. Maybe that has got something to do with their business model - they do not pay their bosses whopping bonuses, and they are much keener on green energy. When thousands of us switch over, we will be sending a signal to the huge, profit-hungry companies: gas and electricity customers are taking their power back. This all started last autumn, when 38 Degrees members first voted to challenge spiralling gas and electricity bills. Thousands of us discussed what we should do. Together we came up with the idea of using our power as customers to try and get a cheaper deal. We the teamed up with consumer experts "Which" and "The Big Switch" was born. 

Since then we have worked together to build up momentum. We have signed petitions. We have forwarded emails to our friends. We wrote to MP's and local papers. Many thousands of us signed up to take part and switch supplier. It now looks as though all this hard work has paid off. This a great step forward - and a real challenge to the power of the Gas and electricity giants. But let us hope that this is just the start. This about more than some of us saving money - it's about making sure that everyone can afford to heat their homes. For now the weather might be getting (at least a bit) warmer. But there is still a risk that too many families will struggle to keep warm next winter.

So the next time that someone tries to tell us that there is nothing that we can do about gas and electricity prices, we have now got a very convincing answer! We know that by working together in the last few months we have saved Great Britain energy customers up to £25 million. We also know that if we keep working together, we can achieve much more in the future. Read more articles on what we have done together here: -

http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/gas-and-electricity-rip-off/

Becky Jarvis - 38 Degrees

JEREMY HUNT DESERVES TO BE FIRED BECAUSE HE SCHEMED WITH THE MURDOCKS TO HELP THEM WIN THE BSKYB DEAL

Jeremy Hunt Set Up A Secret Back Channel To Feed Information To News Corp. 

On April 24th explosive emails were released that show that Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt schemed with the Murdoch's to help them win the BSkyB deal. This is an outrageous breach of his public duties, but if we raise our voice now we can get him fired. Instead of properly scrutinising this deal, the emails show that Hunt set up a secret back channel to feed information to News Corp. One of the emails revealed that Hunt thought that it was crucial to weaken Avaaz's campaign. We had them running scared! Now, let us use our power to get David Cameron to remove Jeremy Hunt.

This is the top story across the country right now, and Avaaz is the best placed community to finally put an end to this crooked collusion between the Government and the Murdock Mafia. Sign the urgent petition to remove Hunt and send this message to everyone.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/fire.jeromy.hunt.2/?yl

Hunt was supposed to judge the BSkyB takeover in an independent, quasi-judicial manner. However hundreds of pages of internal News Corp emails and texts just released by the Leveson enquiry show regular correspondence between News Corp and Hunt's office. The emails show that Hunt shared" News Corps objectives" and sent confidential drafts of key statements to News Corp before making them public - a move News Corp itself say's was "absolutely illegal".

Despite this clear conflict of interest and lack of professionalism, Downing Street is digging in and insists that Hunt still has the Prime Ministers full confidence. But Cameron knows that he faces a vital decision for the credibility of his Government and our massive public outcry will force him to get rid of Hunt, and to reveal the full details of all his interaction with the Murdoch's and their staff. Hunt has shown that he is not fit for his role and cannot be trusted. He thinks this is business as usual and it is up to us to prove him wrong. Join the urgent call. Click the link and forward to all your friends. Together, we helped scrap the Murdoch Mafia's bid for BSkyB last summer. Now we have a chance to clean up the dirty politics that nearly allowed it to sail through.

Emma Ruby Sachs - Avaaz.org

NHS; THE 38 DEGREES SPONSERED EVENT TO COUNTER THE PRESENTATION MADE TO GP'S BY HEALTHCARE COMPANIES CAPITA & UNITED HEALTHCARE ON APRIL 24TH

More Than 22,000 38 Degrees Members Sponsored This Very Important Event -

Many Thanks To All Members

For Their Support. 

My Name is Dr Louise Irvine, I have been a GP for 27 years, and a 38 Degrees member for the last two. On Tuesday night, I spoke at our patient-sponsored event with some of the senior GP's who have been put in charge of deciding the future of local health services. Together, more than 22,000 38 Degrees members sponsored the event. Thank you so much for being part of it. It was really quite something. And not just because plenty of senior GP's turned up, despite already having spent all day being schmoozed by private healthcare companies.

The Event on Tuesday night helped convince me that although we did not manage to stop Lansley getting the NHS changes through Parliament, there is still a lot that we can do to protect our NHS. Those "RIP NHS" headlines were premature. I think that the NHS is now like someone with a chronic illness: if we do not look after it, bits might start falling off. But right now, the NHS is a living body, and one that we are all part off.

I heard senior GP's say how glad they were that 38 Degree members want to continue to campaign to protect the NHS. They responded positively to 38 Degrees members campaign ideas, and many said that they were willing to work with us. I heard speaker after speaker say it has never been more important for citizens to get involved and make themselves heard than now. We know that we can make a difference. Now we need to decide together what our priorities are. The 38 Degrees office team have just launched a poll to give all of us members a say. I have just voted on my favourite ideas - can you take a couple of minutes to do the same?

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-poll-april

I am lucky. As a GP I see every day how important the NHS is and the difference it can make to people's lives. So I have never doubted that the best future for our health service is a people powered one. Being involved with the 38 Degrees campaign to save the NHS showed me how many of us know that our health service is precious and worth protecting. Like most of us, when the Government pushed ahead with its plans and ignored our concerns, I felt sad and worried. But the response from 38 Degrees members since the law was passed has been incredible. Ideas have poured in for ways to continue to support the NHS. The office team have worked through these ideas, and asked NHS experts for their advice on what could work. Now we have a chance to decide which ones to prioritise in the weeks and months ahead. 

Like you, I have donated, signed petitions, and emailed my MP. I saw the effect of our huge billboard campaign and the thousands of letters and emails that we sent to MP's and the members of the House of Lords. I know that we are at our most powerful when we get together to set priorities, plan, and make things happen. So please get involved in setting the 38 Degrees priorities for the next stage of the campaign - vote now. Many thanks for being involved.

Dr Louise Irvine

TWO BIG PRIVATE HEALTHCARE COMPANIES ARE PLOTTING TO RIG THE FUTURE OF OUR NHS

NHS: A Message From The Sponsors - We Can Use People Power To Level

The Playing Field.

It's just been revealed that two big private healthcare companies are plotting to rig the future of our NHS. On Tuesday, Capita and United Healthcare are planning to schmooze leading GP's at a conference in London - the GP's now in charge of deciding the future of local health services. The big companies have got the money to gain influence and access. But together, we can use people power to level the playing field - and invite doctors to our own patient-sponsored event down the road, just after their conference finishes.

Capita and United Healthcare hope that the GP's will stick around for free drinks on them. Instead we can tempt them over to a very different kind of event! They will have the opportunity to hear from experts explaining the role that patients can play in helping to protect our NHS - and why they need to listen to us, not just big business. Can you chip in a £1 to become an event sponsor? We will put up the names of all the sponsors as the GP's arrive at the event. The contrast with the big money corporate sponsorship over the road could not be clearer. And the GP's will see just how many of us are ready to keep up the pressure to safeguard our NHS service.

Are you in? Click here now to donate a £1 and add your name to the list of sponsors. 24252 members are sponsoring the event so far.

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/GP-event-donate

Tuesday's event is a prime opportunity to start a new conversation with GP leaders. Lansley's NHS changes mean crucial decisions about the future of our NHS are now in these GP's hands. We can show them that 38 Degrees members will be watching their decisions carefully - and that we plan to do all that we can to protect our NHS.

 We do not have a lot of time to pull this together. But that is the power of our movement. 38 Degree members can move quickly when we get a chance like this to stand up for our NHS. Already we have got a venue, and a panel of healthcare professionals and experts lined up to speak. Zoe Williams, a Guardian columnist who has written about our NHS campaign has agreed to chair. Now it just needs you to make it happen.

A few ago 38 Degrees members voted overwhelmingly to carry on campaigning to save our NHS. This is our chance to get Down to business. Please help show the GP's that the future of the NHS does not have to be all about private companies and big money sponsorship - chip in you your £1 now. Thanks very much for making this happen.

David Babbs - 38 Degrees