Come to National Shop Stewards Network Conference 2012

Come to National Shop Stewards Network Conference 2012   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Come to the 6th annual NSSN conference!

Weeks after the momentous strike on 30th November 2011 of over two million public sector workers, the right-wing union leaders attempted to derail the pensions struggle by signing the government’s Heads of Agreement.

But the 10th May (M10) strike action has been a crucial reigniting of this protracted struggle.

Up to 400,000 public sector workers in PCS, Unite, UCU, ISU border control union and Nipsa from Northern Ireland took official strike action on M10 against the government’s attacks on public sector pensions.

Already workers have had the first increased contribution taken out of their pay packets. On top of this they face working to 68, 70 for new starters, and then getting a reduced pension.

Added to this are all the many other assaults by the government on workers’ living standards. Household bills are rising while pay is being frozen and workers are being laid off.

National pay deals in the public sector could be scrapped in favour of locally determined pay rates in order to reduce the pay of many workers further.

Services and benefits are being cut, and 90% of the cuts are still to come if the government has its way.

Enough is enough!

The head of steam from M10 has to be maintained to ensure that momentum for the struggle isn’t lost again.

Bob Crow’s call for a 24-hour general strike to take place in the autumn was hugely welcomed at the M10 London strike rally.

This year’s conference of the National Shop Stewards Network comes at a crucial time. The NSSN has been at the heart of many workers’ disputes – large and small – that have taken place in Britain over the last few years, giving support, advice and encouragement.

This sixth annual conference is open to all trade unionists who want to help build the fightback further against the government’s attacks and also to fight to improve working conditions.

Community based anti-cuts activists are also welcome to attend it, to aid discussion and coordination between trade unionists and community based campaigns.

Overall, it is an event at which trade union reps, trade union activists and others can come together to discuss the next vital steps that are needed to build the pensions struggle and other anti-austerity campaigns and action.

Make sure you’re there!

National Shop Stewards Network

6th annual conference

11am-4pm, Saturday 9 June 2012

Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London

Speakers include:

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary

A ‘rank & file’ construction electrician

Kevin Courtney, NUT deputy general secretary

NSSN rally outside Congress House, 11 Sept 2011, photo Paul Mattsson

NSSN rally outside Congress House, 11 Sept 2011, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

.

  • All strike together to defend public sector pensions – like we did on N30! The public sector strike on 30 November against cuts in pay, working conditions and pensions shows what can be done. Workers are prepared to fight for their rights and to defend their hard-won conditions. The government is weak, a united battle can force them to retreat.
  • Defend national pay! The government’s latest plan is for regional pay in the civil service. This will mean workers in the poorest areas being forced to endure a lengthy pay freeze. If the government gets away with this, it will try to force pay cuts on all other workers.
  • Stop the Con-Dem cuts!
  • Defend the NHS!
  • Support the Remploy workers! The government is using spurious arguments to close what could be financially successful factories, where disabled workers can contribute to society and be part of the trade union movement. Hear how these closures are being fought and how you can get involved.
  • Find out how the Sparks beat the Besna attacks! Through a long campaign of action, ultimately getting the trade unions officially involved, the big construction companies’ attacks on pay and conditions were stopped. There are important lessons for every trade union activist to learn from this struggle, which scored a victory in difficult circumstances.
  • Workers fight back in the private sector – Unilever… Stagecoach… oil tanker drivers… MMP… Hear speakers from these disputes and learn from their experiences