Stand up for Trade Unionists, Defend Council Housing

I really enjoyed my first day on the job as General Secretary of the LSE Students’ Union today! It’s a pretty steep learning curve but I am relishing the challenge.

However, it’s not so cozy for others across the world who need our solidarity and support. Cliched, I know, but it only takes a minute…

Firstly, sign the petition to free Meryem Özsögüt, trade union leader from Turkey, who was jailed way back on my birthday on December 14th 2007 for attending an “illegal” conference. This from Eric Lee at the excellent LabourStart website:

Turkey: Free jailed woman trade union leader

Ms. Meryem Özsögüt, trade union leader and management board member of PSI’s affiliate SES in Turkey (the trade union of public employees in health and social services) was arrested on the morning of 8 January following her participation in a press conference on 14 December 2007 to denounce the killing by the police of activist Kevser Mizrak. Ms Özsögüt’s attendance at the press conference was the result of a fax message received by her trade union, requesting that the union participate in the press conference. PSI understands that at no time before or during this press conference did the police or other authorities issue a warning that such a gathering or activity was viewed as ‘illegal. Several other people who were arrested at or around the same time as Ms Özsögüt, ostensibly for the same reasons, have since been released. However, Ms Özsögüt remains in custody and her trial has now been postponed several times. PSI remains convinced that the arrest of Ms Özsögüt was motivated solely by her activities as a trade union leader. Her continued detention in one of Turkey’s notorious “F-Type”, or small group isolation prisons, is further evidence of the Turkish Government’s hostility to trade unionists and its determination to use whatever means at its disposal to repress the legitimate activities of trade unions in Turkey. A response by the Turkish government to PSI’s letters of protest claims that Ms Özsögüt was arrested in connection with “being a member of a terrorist organisation” and “for making propaganda in favour of the terrorist organisation”. PSI calls on the Turkish government to secure the immediate release of Ms Özsögüt, to take any necessary steps to guarantee her safety and to abide by the international norms ratified by Turkey.

Secondly, this from Defend Council Housing (DCH), asking for help from all those who support the ‘Fourth Option’ – investment to improve existing council housing and build a new generation of first class council housing:

Government’s HRA Subsidy Review

DCH has produced a draft submission to the government’s HRA Subsidy Review and is inviting supporters to take part in a briefing and discussion on July 14 at Parliament (6-8pm, Grimond Room, Portcullis House) or email comments in advance.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper promised the review would “ensure that we have a sustainable, long term system for financing council housing” and “consider evidence about the need to spend on management, maintenance and repairs”. Help hold government to the promise – and make sure there are no unacceptable strings attached!

Circulate the DCH draft submision and encourage tenant, trade union and political groups to make their own submissions or formally inform the review group that you support the DCH arguments (deadline 31 July). Email hrareview@communities.gsi.gov.uk and post submissions to ‘Review of Council Housing Finance Team’, Communities and Local Government, 1/B1, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU and send DCH a copy.

Support amendments to Labour’s policy document

Investment in council housing is top of the agenda amongst Constituency Labour Parties. Three Labour Party conferences have backed the ‘Fourth Option’. Now 22 CLPs have submitted the campaign’s first amendment to the ‘Partnership in Power’ policy consultation – the highest number supporting any one amendment! Lobby unions affiliated to Labour to submit and support the DCH amendments and encourage individual Labour Party members to lobby their regional National Policy Forum representatives.

To get our amendments debated we now need both trade union and regional NPF reps to put them forward (deadline 5 July) and vote for them at the ‘Warwick II’ NPF meeting at the end of July. See page 34/35 in the new DCH pamphlet Dear Gordon 2.

Affiliate/re-affiliate and donate to DCH

Defend Council Housing struggles without proper resources to run the campaign. We desperately need funds to employ a worker and run an office to support local campaign and co-ordinate national initiatives.

Please make sure your organisation affiliates each year to DCH at local, regional and national level; propose a substantial donation; subscribe to mailings and order the DCH pamphlet ‘Dear Gordon 2‘ (£1.50 for bulk orders) for tenants and union reps, councillors and others in your area.