HEALTH We have invited Tina Benson from NW London Hospitals who wants people's views on the future of emergency services at Central Middlesex Hospital. No reply yet to our invitation. she had invited people to meet her, but was only able to offer times during the working day.
Eighteen months ago, Brent Trades Council and Brent Fightback began campaigning to save our local health services and joined with other campaigning against the swingeing cuts to emergency and other hospital services planned in the document laughingly called Shaping a Healthier Future. Now, better late than never, Brent's Labour Party and the Labour Council appear to be waking up to the threat to local people. Attached are notices of a meeting called by Brent Health Unison on Friday July 5th. Brent Fightback has been invited to provide a speaker. The following week on July 11th, Brent Labour Party Health Group has a public meeting.
Many of us and a number of Labour councillors and would-be candidates were at the London wide demonstration to defend our Health Services on May 18th. One aim of that demonstration was to show the need for a national demonstration for our NHS. Now one has been called. This is from Keep Our NHS Public:
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION CALLED FOR THE NHS!
SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
Tory Party Conference, Manchester
A national demonstration in defence of the NHS has been called on 29 September at the Tory Party Conference. This was confirmed by Unite- see below for their newsflash.And at Unison conference this week, general secretary Dave Prentis called on the TUC to organise a mass rally and lobby on 29 September in defence of the NHS. "And if they don't, then Unison with our sister union Unite will do it ourselves." https://www.
We should feel proud that the May 18 demonstration organised by London campaigns and all of the lobbying has helped get us to this next step forward for a national campaign.
URGENT START PLANNING NOW
Planning needs to start now before the holiday period to make sure that we publicise the demonstration and make transport arrangements.
Watch this space for more information and the next London coordination meeting in w/c 15 July
EDUCATION
Gladstone Park Primary School: Governors are recommending that the school becomes an academy with the CfBT School Trust. There is a meeting for all parents on Tuesday June 25th. The Parents' Action Group with the strong support of Brent NUT continues to campaign against academisation and for the school to be allowed to continue its strong improvement as part of Brent's family of schools.
Copland School, after an adverse OFSTED report, is also under pressure to become and academy. Teachers have already taken one day of well supported strike action and parents have set up a Parents' Action Group to resist this. Copland's building is dilapidated and in urgent need of rebuilding, providing and inadequate and demoralising environment for teaching and learning. Funds promised for essential building work under the Building Schools for the Future scheme were withdrawn. A Copland student even spoke to David Cameron about the need for a decent learning environment. The school also suffered from the alleged financial irregularities of the previous head and his coterie who are accused of siphoning off millions that should have been spent on the students into bonuses for themselves. Academies are at greater risk of those kinds of financial irregularities than maintained schools, so many staff and parents remain unconvinced that becoming an academy is the answer to their problems.
DEMONSTRATION FOR EDUCATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH TEACHERS STRIKING IN NW ENGLAND - SEE POSTER ON THIS BLOG.
POSTAL SERVICES Postal workers have voted overwhelmingly for action against privatisation.
BRENT FIGHTBACK AND BRENT HOUSING ACTION HAVE RESERVED A STALL AT THE GLADSTONBURY FESTIVAL IN GLADSTONE PARK ON SUNDAY JUNE 30th. BHA WILL HAVE SLEEPING BAGS AND (maybe) COMRADES IN PYJAMAS TO SHOW THE HOMLESSNESS RESULTING FROM THIS GOVERNMENT'S HOUSING POLICIES AND BENEFIT CUTS.
FIGHTBACK WILL, WEATHER PERMITTING HAVE WET SPONGES TO THROW AT BRAVE/FOOLHARDY COMRADES IN MINISTERIAL MASKS.
We will of course also have information and campaigning leaflets. If any of you can spare an hour or two (or more) to help, come and find our stall. We plan to set up at about 12 noon and to stay until about 6.00 pm.
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