One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives – and they may well be one of your friends, colleagues or family members. But do you know what to do or say?
Mental health affects all of us – so we can all do something to help break down the stigma that surrounds it and help create a society where mental health problems are not hidden in shame and secrecy.
Support Time to Cahnge and make a difference at http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/home/
About Me
- Linda Roy
- Lifetime commitment to the trade union and labour movement. Been local workplace and national CWU representative and held many other positions in the CWU. TUC accredited tutor and disability champion. Former Labour town councillor and town Mayor.
Thursday 29 April 2010
Wednesday 28 April 2010
CWU Equality Officers Seminar
The CWU Equality Officer’s Seminar takes place next Tuesday 4th May and starts at 10.am with registration. The rest of the day is as follows:
10.30 Linda Roy
10.35 Billy Hayes
10.45 Meet the Advisory Chairs
11.05 Open session
11.20 Joy Drummond Simpson and Miller Legal Updates
11.50 Piara Powar Kick it Out
12.30 Lunch
13.15 Simon Woolley Operation Black Vote
14.0 Linda Stewart TUC
14.30 Dave Ward
15.00 Andy Kerr
15.30 Linda Roy
I'd like to thank all the speakers, our network of Equality Reps and all CWU branches for the work they do promoting our equality agenda.
10.30 Linda Roy
10.35 Billy Hayes
10.45 Meet the Advisory Chairs
11.05 Open session
11.20 Joy Drummond Simpson and Miller Legal Updates
11.50 Piara Powar Kick it Out
12.30 Lunch
13.15 Simon Woolley Operation Black Vote
14.0 Linda Stewart TUC
14.30 Dave Ward
15.00 Andy Kerr
15.30 Linda Roy
I'd like to thank all the speakers, our network of Equality Reps and all CWU branches for the work they do promoting our equality agenda.
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Workers Memorial Day
Tens of thousands of workers have been killed or seriously injured at work. Please spare a thought for them tomorrow which is Workers Memorial Day. A number of events are being held throughout the UK. More details here
Record Equal Pay award against Birmingham City Council
The following is from http://www.journalism.co.uk/66/articles/538440.php
Birmingham City Council facing £600 million payout in equal pay claims
Up to 5,000 women today learned that they have won their claims for equal pay against the Council based on bonus payments which allowed male employees to earn in excess of £50,000 per year.
The women,had submitted claims against their employer in respect of their jobs which included Cleaners, Cooks and Care Assistants and the Employment Tribunal has today announced that the bonus payments made to the men were discriminatory.
Large numbers of men employed as Refuse Collectors, Street Cleaners and Road-Workers had for many years received up to 159% of their basic pay. In 2007, one Refuse Collector alone took home almost £51,000 whereas women on the same grade received less than £12,000.
The Tribunal, having noted that the management of the Council believed Refuse Collection staff deserved special treatment, decided that the payments could not be justified since they had been paid to the men simply for turning up to work and doing their jobs properly. The Tribunal also found that the most senior levels of management were aware, as early as 2000, that there was a problem however chose to do nothing, instead continually pushing the problem to one side like a "disagreeable sprout" on a Christmas dinner plate.
Paul Doran, of Stefan Cross Solicitors Limited, who acted for over 1,200 of the women, said "this is a massive victory for these women who have fought long and hard to have the simple principle of equal pay for work of equal value acknowledged. The fact that Birmingham City Council simply failed to acknowledge that it had a problem should act as a warning to other Local Authorities who continue to deny their female employees their basic rights."
Mr. Doran added that a Grade 4 Care Assistant working 20 hours a week could expect to receive in excess of £100,000.
Source: http://www.journalism.co.uk/66/articles/538440.php
Birmingham City Council facing £600 million payout in equal pay claims
Up to 5,000 women today learned that they have won their claims for equal pay against the Council based on bonus payments which allowed male employees to earn in excess of £50,000 per year.
The women,had submitted claims against their employer in respect of their jobs which included Cleaners, Cooks and Care Assistants and the Employment Tribunal has today announced that the bonus payments made to the men were discriminatory.
Large numbers of men employed as Refuse Collectors, Street Cleaners and Road-Workers had for many years received up to 159% of their basic pay. In 2007, one Refuse Collector alone took home almost £51,000 whereas women on the same grade received less than £12,000.
The Tribunal, having noted that the management of the Council believed Refuse Collection staff deserved special treatment, decided that the payments could not be justified since they had been paid to the men simply for turning up to work and doing their jobs properly. The Tribunal also found that the most senior levels of management were aware, as early as 2000, that there was a problem however chose to do nothing, instead continually pushing the problem to one side like a "disagreeable sprout" on a Christmas dinner plate.
Paul Doran, of Stefan Cross Solicitors Limited, who acted for over 1,200 of the women, said "this is a massive victory for these women who have fought long and hard to have the simple principle of equal pay for work of equal value acknowledged. The fact that Birmingham City Council simply failed to acknowledge that it had a problem should act as a warning to other Local Authorities who continue to deny their female employees their basic rights."
Mr. Doran added that a Grade 4 Care Assistant working 20 hours a week could expect to receive in excess of £100,000.
Source: http://www.journalism.co.uk/66/articles/538440.php
Brewster's TUC Black Workers Conference report
I'm catching up with correspondence at the momnet so I haven't had time to write a report from last weekends TUC Black Workers conference in Liverpool. Brewster the CWU Equality Bear has had loads of time to do one. You can find it here http://brewsterstravels.blogspot.com/
Gay and Lesbian Humansit Association condemns street pastors plan
I am indebted to Gary Williams for submitting the following article which raises some serious cocnerns.
LONDON, April 24, 2010 – Serious concerns were expressed today by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) in the wake of reports that Westminster City Council’s plans to encourage religious street pastors in the borough, which includes central London’s Soho – virtually a “gay village”.
The ‘Street Pastor’ movement is backed by Christian groups, including evangelist sects bitterly opposed to gay equality, gay adoption and even gay partnerships.
This, GALHA says, raises the question of whether the Council, responsible for the welfare of all residents, should promote this activity.
GALHA went on to say that it desires a society where people whatever their views or sexuality should enjoy equal freedom, dignity and respect without fear of prejudice and the “moral judgement” of the religious.
“Soho is one of the few parts of Britain where LGBT people can be free and open about their sexuality in the way that straight people can take for granted wherever they are,” GALHA chair Adam Knowles said this afternoon
“And even here there have been violent homophobic attacks – including one particularly brutal, public murder just a year ago.
“GALHA believes that people are entitled to express beliefs, even ones that we may find repellent,” he pointed out.
“However, we worry that a local authority will promote and endorse a public role for religious folk whose views on gay people and LGBT rights may be profoundly opposed to their own.
“Inviting street pastors in to the safe haven of Soho needs further consideration and consultation with LGBT groups representing the area.
"We accept that many street pastors are kind, well meaning and do important work – but mustn't forget they come under the banner of a creed often fundamentally hostile to the rights, welfare and dignity of LGBT people.
“While Soho has its problems with alcohol and violence late at night, we must not lightly give up freedom from religiously-inspired homophobia and the freedom to be ourselves,” Mr. Knowles insisted.
“For those that believe in an equal and secular society this is a step in the wrong direction.
“If Westminster City Council chooses to press ahead with this scheme, we urge the gay community to make it clear how they feel,” he concluded.
Source: Ukgaynews.org.uk
LONDON, April 24, 2010 – Serious concerns were expressed today by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) in the wake of reports that Westminster City Council’s plans to encourage religious street pastors in the borough, which includes central London’s Soho – virtually a “gay village”.
The ‘Street Pastor’ movement is backed by Christian groups, including evangelist sects bitterly opposed to gay equality, gay adoption and even gay partnerships.
This, GALHA says, raises the question of whether the Council, responsible for the welfare of all residents, should promote this activity.
GALHA went on to say that it desires a society where people whatever their views or sexuality should enjoy equal freedom, dignity and respect without fear of prejudice and the “moral judgement” of the religious.
“Soho is one of the few parts of Britain where LGBT people can be free and open about their sexuality in the way that straight people can take for granted wherever they are,” GALHA chair Adam Knowles said this afternoon
“And even here there have been violent homophobic attacks – including one particularly brutal, public murder just a year ago.
“GALHA believes that people are entitled to express beliefs, even ones that we may find repellent,” he pointed out.
“However, we worry that a local authority will promote and endorse a public role for religious folk whose views on gay people and LGBT rights may be profoundly opposed to their own.
“Inviting street pastors in to the safe haven of Soho needs further consideration and consultation with LGBT groups representing the area.
"We accept that many street pastors are kind, well meaning and do important work – but mustn't forget they come under the banner of a creed often fundamentally hostile to the rights, welfare and dignity of LGBT people.
“While Soho has its problems with alcohol and violence late at night, we must not lightly give up freedom from religiously-inspired homophobia and the freedom to be ourselves,” Mr. Knowles insisted.
“For those that believe in an equal and secular society this is a step in the wrong direction.
“If Westminster City Council chooses to press ahead with this scheme, we urge the gay community to make it clear how they feel,” he concluded.
Source: Ukgaynews.org.uk
Thursday 22 April 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010
The rich get richer!
Goldman Sachs has announced that there will be a £3.6billion pay and bonus pool for its bankers. That's not for a years work but for three months "work". The Daily Mail reports that 33,100 staff worldwide are on course to receive an annual pay package of around £430,000, a 33 per cent rise on last year. Many will get tens of millions, including some of the 5,500 employees in London. Why is it that the spivs who caused the bigest economic recession ever are still allowed to get away with this? Why aren't any of the main political parties proposing taking banks into public ownership?
Read more here.
Read more here.
Monday 19 April 2010
Use Your Vote. Stop the BNP!
You may be thinking that there is no point in voting. Think again. The British National Party (BNP) may be standing candidates in your area. Your vote can help stop them getting elected.
REGISTER TO VOTE BY TUESDAY 20 APRIL
USE YOUR VOTE ON THURSDAY 6 MAY
7 reasons to STOP the BNP
1. The BNP is a fascist organisation
“Honestly now, would you prefer your kid growing up in Oldham and Burnley or 1930s Germany? It would be better for your child to grow up there.”
(Mark Collett, former leading member of BNP, Dispatches, Channel Four, 2002)
2. The BNP is connected to terrorism
BNP member Terence Gavan was sentenced to 11 years earlier this year for building up a huge cache of bombs and weapons at his home.
3. The BNP is racist
“Every one down there knows he was notorious for taxing kids for their dinner money and he was a drug dealer.”
(Nick Griffin, BNP leader and PPC Barking (east London), on Stephen Lawrence, secretly filmed by the BBC in 2004)
4. The BNP is Islamophobic
“...this wicked, vicious faith”
(Nick Griffin on Islam, secretly filmed by the BBC in 2004)
5. The BNP is anti-Semitic and denies the Holocaust
“I am well aware that orthodox opinion is that six million Jews were gassed and cremated or turned into soap and lampshades. Orthodox opinion also once held that the earth is flat... I have concluded that the ‘extermination’ tale is a mixture of Allied wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lie, and latter (day) witch hysteria.”
(Nick Griffin, from the the 1998 trial when Griffin was convicted for distributing material likely to incite racial hatred)
6. The BNP is sexist
“Rape is simply sex. Women enjoy sex, so rape cannot be such a terrible physical ordeal... (it) is like suggesting force feeding a woman chocolate cake is a heinous offence.”
(Nick Eriksen, BNP London organiser)
7. The BNP is homophobic
“The TV footage of dozens of gay demonstrators flaunting their perversions in front of the world’s journalists showed just why so many ordinary people find these creatures so repulsive.”
(Nick Griffin, on gay people, after the 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho that killed three people)
HELP STOP THE BNP!
Click here.
REGISTER TO VOTE BY TUESDAY 20 APRIL
USE YOUR VOTE ON THURSDAY 6 MAY
7 reasons to STOP the BNP
1. The BNP is a fascist organisation
“Honestly now, would you prefer your kid growing up in Oldham and Burnley or 1930s Germany? It would be better for your child to grow up there.”
(Mark Collett, former leading member of BNP, Dispatches, Channel Four, 2002)
2. The BNP is connected to terrorism
BNP member Terence Gavan was sentenced to 11 years earlier this year for building up a huge cache of bombs and weapons at his home.
3. The BNP is racist
“Every one down there knows he was notorious for taxing kids for their dinner money and he was a drug dealer.”
(Nick Griffin, BNP leader and PPC Barking (east London), on Stephen Lawrence, secretly filmed by the BBC in 2004)
4. The BNP is Islamophobic
“...this wicked, vicious faith”
(Nick Griffin on Islam, secretly filmed by the BBC in 2004)
5. The BNP is anti-Semitic and denies the Holocaust
“I am well aware that orthodox opinion is that six million Jews were gassed and cremated or turned into soap and lampshades. Orthodox opinion also once held that the earth is flat... I have concluded that the ‘extermination’ tale is a mixture of Allied wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lie, and latter (day) witch hysteria.”
(Nick Griffin, from the the 1998 trial when Griffin was convicted for distributing material likely to incite racial hatred)
6. The BNP is sexist
“Rape is simply sex. Women enjoy sex, so rape cannot be such a terrible physical ordeal... (it) is like suggesting force feeding a woman chocolate cake is a heinous offence.”
(Nick Eriksen, BNP London organiser)
7. The BNP is homophobic
“The TV footage of dozens of gay demonstrators flaunting their perversions in front of the world’s journalists showed just why so many ordinary people find these creatures so repulsive.”
(Nick Griffin, on gay people, after the 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho that killed three people)
HELP STOP THE BNP!
Click here.
Love Music Hate Racism event in Bristol
BLACKOUT JA – Reggae and Roots
K.NERS – Uk hip-hop
BASHEMA – Singer/songwriter
DJ Bunjy – Hip Hop/Reggae/Drum & Bass
and WORLD BEATZ DJ’s
It’s hosted by the Communcation Workers Union, with support from Unite Against Fascism, Hope Not Hate and the PCS trade union.
Unfortuantely I am unable to attend as I am leading the CWU delegation at the TUC Black Workers Conference in Liverpool this weekend. I would like to record my apologies and also the Union's appreciation to the CWU in Bristol and all involved in the organisation of this event. The racists will not win!
Venue - The Croft, 117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RW. Doors: 8pm till late.
Tickets - £3 on the door.
Friday 16 April 2010
Time to Change
________________________________________
Time to Change
On Tuesday, 13th April, I was one of over 150 people invited to a breakfast reception at the Emirates S tadium hosted by “Time to Change” which is a partnership of Mind, Rethink and the Institute of Psychiatry. The organisation is governed by a Joint Management Group with a representative from each of the partners behind the programme as well as Sue Baker , the Director of Time to Change , who hosted the event.
As well as challenging discrimination , Time to Change takes a whole-population, wellbeing approach that embraces the link between mental and physical health for everyone. With 1 in 4 people affected by mental health problems the work of this organisation is clearly invaluable. It is funded by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £4m from Comic Relief.
In the first year of this project the focus was mainly on campaigning, carrying out research and asking people to realise that stigma and discrimination happen and that the issue is relevant to all of us.
TV ads were run and adverts were placed in papers, on the London underground, in pubs and on-line. The campaign featured celebrities alongside everyday people with mental health issues and busted some of the common myths about mental health problems. On-line films have been made to tackle the powerful stereotype that links mental health problems with violence head on. Road shows have been carried out in 12 locations around England to spread the word about Time to Change and get everyone involved. As a result of their work this last year, they have got mental health into the public consciousness and have got people to start thinking about its relevance.
Since October 2007 their community projects have worked with 28,363 people both with and without experience of mental health problems. Early evaluation has shown that involvement with the project has had a significant impact on the wellbeing of participants after just three months of involvement. Over the last year and a half a number of events and projects have taken place.
GET MOVING EVENTS.
These events were held to bring people with and without mental health problems together using fun physical activity events as a basis for social contact. This involved direct contact between people who have experienced mental health problems and people who have not and is shown to have a significant positive impact on stigma and discrimination. Activities included gardening, dancing, walking, football, softball, conservation, running, swimming and space hopper racing. These were tools for bringing people together in a fun way and breaking the ice to get people talking about mental health.
EDUCATION NOT DISCRIMINATION
The Education Not Discrimination (END) project provides anti-stigma training to professional groups who have a significant impact on the lives of people with mental health problems. As with other elements of Time to Change, it’s based on the theory that social contact is one of the most powerful ways of challenging stigma.
Evaluation has shown that student teachers taking part in END training have seen a significant positive change in their knowledge and attitudes as a result, as well as in the way in which they intend to behave towards people with mental health problems.
OPEN UP
Open Up is led by people with lived experience of mental health issues. They support people to challenge mental health discrimination at grassroots level. The project provided training, networking and mentoring opportunities where people can share skills and resources and develop their ideas, giving them the tools and the confidence they need to challenge discrimination for themselves.
MIND OUT
Mind Out, Bournemouth supports people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community with mental health problems. As one of its 2008-2009 Initiatives, OpenUP supported a group of people with experience of mental health problems from MindOut to produce a play about the combination of mental health discrimination and discrimination against people from the LGBT community. The group have been performing the play to local service providers and employers to help change attitudes.
As well as outlining the work of Time for Change , Sue Baker told us that :
18,000 + people have signed up to receive updates.
1 in 6 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion supporting the aims of Time to Change.
27,000 people have taken part in Get Moving events.
24,500+ have joined them on Face Book at www.facebook.com/timetochange
34 million people have seen their campaign.
At the end of the presentation people were asked to pledge their help to help end mental health prejudice.
My pledge was to inform our members about Time to Change and to give whatever support I could to the organisation.
Linda Roy
National Equality Officer
Time to Change
On Tuesday, 13th April, I was one of over 150 people invited to a breakfast reception at the Emirates S tadium hosted by “Time to Change” which is a partnership of Mind, Rethink and the Institute of Psychiatry. The organisation is governed by a Joint Management Group with a representative from each of the partners behind the programme as well as Sue Baker , the Director of Time to Change , who hosted the event.
As well as challenging discrimination , Time to Change takes a whole-population, wellbeing approach that embraces the link between mental and physical health for everyone. With 1 in 4 people affected by mental health problems the work of this organisation is clearly invaluable. It is funded by £16 million from the Big Lottery Fund and £4m from Comic Relief.
In the first year of this project the focus was mainly on campaigning, carrying out research and asking people to realise that stigma and discrimination happen and that the issue is relevant to all of us.
TV ads were run and adverts were placed in papers, on the London underground, in pubs and on-line. The campaign featured celebrities alongside everyday people with mental health issues and busted some of the common myths about mental health problems. On-line films have been made to tackle the powerful stereotype that links mental health problems with violence head on. Road shows have been carried out in 12 locations around England to spread the word about Time to Change and get everyone involved. As a result of their work this last year, they have got mental health into the public consciousness and have got people to start thinking about its relevance.
Since October 2007 their community projects have worked with 28,363 people both with and without experience of mental health problems. Early evaluation has shown that involvement with the project has had a significant impact on the wellbeing of participants after just three months of involvement. Over the last year and a half a number of events and projects have taken place.
GET MOVING EVENTS.
These events were held to bring people with and without mental health problems together using fun physical activity events as a basis for social contact. This involved direct contact between people who have experienced mental health problems and people who have not and is shown to have a significant positive impact on stigma and discrimination. Activities included gardening, dancing, walking, football, softball, conservation, running, swimming and space hopper racing. These were tools for bringing people together in a fun way and breaking the ice to get people talking about mental health.
EDUCATION NOT DISCRIMINATION
The Education Not Discrimination (END) project provides anti-stigma training to professional groups who have a significant impact on the lives of people with mental health problems. As with other elements of Time to Change, it’s based on the theory that social contact is one of the most powerful ways of challenging stigma.
Evaluation has shown that student teachers taking part in END training have seen a significant positive change in their knowledge and attitudes as a result, as well as in the way in which they intend to behave towards people with mental health problems.
OPEN UP
Open Up is led by people with lived experience of mental health issues. They support people to challenge mental health discrimination at grassroots level. The project provided training, networking and mentoring opportunities where people can share skills and resources and develop their ideas, giving them the tools and the confidence they need to challenge discrimination for themselves.
MIND OUT
Mind Out, Bournemouth supports people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community with mental health problems. As one of its 2008-2009 Initiatives, OpenUP supported a group of people with experience of mental health problems from MindOut to produce a play about the combination of mental health discrimination and discrimination against people from the LGBT community. The group have been performing the play to local service providers and employers to help change attitudes.
As well as outlining the work of Time for Change , Sue Baker told us that :
18,000 + people have signed up to receive updates.
1 in 6 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion supporting the aims of Time to Change.
27,000 people have taken part in Get Moving events.
24,500+ have joined them on Face Book at www.facebook.com/timetochange
34 million people have seen their campaign.
At the end of the presentation people were asked to pledge their help to help end mental health prejudice.
My pledge was to inform our members about Time to Change and to give whatever support I could to the organisation.
Linda Roy
National Equality Officer
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Tweet me!
Thanks to John Irwin the CWU Equality Department is now on Twitter. Start tweeting on all things equality related at www.twitter.com/cwuEQUALITY
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Equality Act passed
It's got 210 clauses and 28 schedules. It was first introduced in 2005? The Equality Act 2010 passed its final stages last night and has been sent for Royal Assent. It is expected to come into force in October 2010. The Act does not give us everything we asked for - such as statutory rights for workplace equality reps - but it is a step forward. For a summary of the Act click here.
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