Dear Friends,

We’re writing to say a huge thank you for all your support in our fight to #RescueSuffolkFire.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service know that the cuts they’ve enforced are putting firefighters’ and residents’ lives at risk. They’ve allowed dangerous practices like riding only three firefighters on a fire engine to go ahead – not enough to make rescues. Suffolk has seen the largest percentage cut of firefighters and residents have the longest waiting times for a fire engine in the Eastern region.

We’ve warned Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service that firefighters are already struggling to protect the public. We’ve told them that the cuts have gone too far. Yet they still aren’t listening to us.

We won’t stand idly by while Suffolk firefighters’ and residents’ lives are put at risk. So we have no choice but to protest.

Will you join us and stand up to the people who are willing to gamble firefighters’ and residents’ lives?

When: Thursday 12 September, 1pm
Where: Endeavour House, Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX
RSVP: Let us know you’re attending via Eventbrite

This issue means a lot to us and we really appreciate your support. Can you go one step further and share this event with your friends and family?

https://rescue-suffolk-fire-rally.eventbrite.co.uk

Posting something on Facebook and Twitter will only take a second, but will mean hundreds of people see the protest and can join our fight.

Thank you for standing with us and we hope to see you at the protest.

Fire Brigades Union

Today’s Dispute Daily featuring DGSP Terry Pullinger

LESE/SERTUC PENSIONERS SEMINAR HELD AT THE TUC CONGRESS HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY THE 3RD SEPTEMBER 2019.

This seminar was organised some time ago with the four main themes being Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Pensions Scheme.

Report on Barriers to Belonging.

Campaign to End Loneliness.

Save the free TV license for older people.

Terry Pullinger the CWU Deputy General Secretary gave a very interesting and detailed presentation on the reasons and the need for Unions to be involved more and more with employee/employer pension schemes if our younger generations are not to be left poorer when they retire than many of trade union members of an older generation.  He quoted our schemes and the success the CWU have been having taking into account the historical problem otherpension funds have experienced over the years.

The contribution on Barriers to Belonging was a co-partnership between the Red Cross and the Co-Op surveying and exploring loneliness among people from BAME backgrounds. It was a very lengthy presentation covering the research concluding in their recommendations. In order to gain a better insight to this, I would suggest the enclosed presentation paper be given to our BAME representative where I hope they would enjoy it and also make useful reading for them.

The next presentation was made by delegates from Campaign to End Loneliness, Independent Age and AGE UK.  All gave insights to loneliness and how each organisation went about looking at loneliness in subjective and objective ways.

For example the AGE UK delegate said they spent time out and about speaking to older people in pubs, parks, bookmakers and asking them directly about loneliness, are they lonely, do they feel lonely.  Other speakers spoke on how they see the campaign to end loneliness going forward, how the older and younger generations interact with each other on this issue.

We then turned to the on going issue with the proposed loss of the free TV licences next June to the over 75s, unless you are on pension credit benefits.  It is now becoming such an important because the arguments are moving in the direction of, ‘lose this fight and we will lose the fight to defend all our hard fought for pensioner benefits’.  This, should there be another general election coming soon be the benchmark for pensioners to make their voices heard.  

As well as all the noted guest speakers, there was a great deal of input from the delegates on the floor, all of which the guest speakers did their best to respond to.  All in all, the seminar was a great success, and the LESE/SERTUC pensioners committee should be congratulated on organising the event.

Mick Goldsmith

REGIONAL RETIRED MEMBERS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE NUJ CENTER LONDON ON THE 2ND SEPTEMBER 2019.

I attended the meeting in my capacity as the Regional Chair. 

I opened the meeting by dedicating the meeting to the memory of Graham Potter a long standing member of the committee who recently passed away.

I also recorded my thanks to Baz Price of the Central Counties and Thames Valley Branch who attended Pat Friskey’s funeral on behalf of the Regional Committee in the absence of Steve Taylor and Mick Goldsmith who were attending the NPC Parliament in Blackpool.

Steve Taylor reported on the upcoming Regional Meeting to be held on the 6th of September where more information on re-design on the new structure for the Eastern Region would be put forward, this would include the Selection/Election of the lead RMs Secretary.  Steve indicated he had put hisname forward for this position, he would report back via email to the delegates on this and other issues relating to the new structure.

When asked about the new National Retired Members Committee, which replaced the old RMAC, Tom Cooper our delegated NEC representative informed us that they were yet to meet.

With regard to Branch reports, these were made via any contributions made by delegates on the agenda items we debated.

On the NPC, the Secretary reported on the recent NPC Parliament in Blackpool where Dave Ward our GC was a guest speaker.  The main theme of the Parliament was the campaign to retain free TV licences for the over 75’s, which included parliamentary campaigns in London, and a rally at the BBC Media Center in Manchester which took place at the conclusion of the NPC Parliament.

Steve Taylor reported on the latest developments with LESE/SERTUC  pensioners section, with the Loneliness/Pensions/TV License seminar taking place on the 3rd of September at Congress House, with one of the guest speakers being Terry Pullinger who would be speaking on defined and defined pensions.

Eastern No6, being their first meeting were keen to gather information on the new constitution with regard to placing motions to the RMs Annual Conference, either through the Regional Committee or via Branches. 

Steve Taylor confirmed that the Retired Members Annual Conference will be held in Birmingham on the 23rd of October 2019.

I closed the meeting by thanking Tom Cooper for his attendance, also the members of Eastern No6 making their first attendance at our meetings.

The final meeting of the committee will be held on Monday the 2nd of December 2019.

Mick Goldsmith

Hi everyone. We have just published a critical video. We obtained footage of an investigation into the practises of Rico Back’s GLS. We have translated and subtitled the video.

The content completely exposes GLS. It is absolutely critical that every member gets to see this. Please share on Facebook, whatsapp and email but critically we want this played in workplaces via any means possible.

This is the future if we do not win this dispute.

#WeRiseAgain

https://www.facebook.com/981299138616232/posts/2469626446450153?sfns=mo

Dispute Daily

Day 9 of Dispute Daily has landed

Today Luke Elgar tells us why as a young member its important to vote YES.

#WeRiseAgain

#WeRiseAgain