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 July 2010
Leeds Pride 2010 - A great day out
It's Leeds Pride this Sunday August 1st. The fun starts at mid day in Millenium Square where the parade departs at 3pm. for Briggate where everything happens. See you there. Details here Leeds Pride 2010 - A great day out
Belfast Pride
Belfast's week of Pride celebrations culminate with a parade through the city centre this Saturday July 31st. More here GAY to Z - gay search engine, gay directory and gay guide to the lesbian and gay scene (gay hotels, gay London, gay saunas, gay clubs, gay bars) and more for London, Manchester, Brighton, and all England and the UK
‘BT profits up 17%
BT's profits for the last 3 months are up 17%. No doubt this good fortune will be shared with my members. Read more here. ‘Significant’ reduction in pension deficit cheers BT Business
Should we be able to work on past 65?
The ConDems have issued a consultation document with a view to phasing out the default retirement age of 65 from October 2011. Is this a good idea? Take part in my readers poll. Read article here Compulsory retirement at 65 to be phased out Money guardian.co.uk
Friday, 23 July 2010
Stop ConDem cuts to welfare benefits
Please join the campaign to stop the Condems attacking the weak and the vulnerable by cutting Disability Living Allowance and welfare benefits. Care Watch have supplied this statement.
"We ask the Coalition to make a clear statement about the level of welfare benefit support that they intend to offer disabled people and their carers in these very challenging times
Disability Living Allowance was specifically named in the Emergency Budget as a benefit that was being targeted and where substantial savings could be made. Many groups/organisations representing the disabled people and carers are reporting that this has caused an immediate wave of anxiety and concern.
DLA is an essential benefit that was specifically designed to provide financial support towards the extra costs incurred by people living with a disability. DLA payments have enabled hundreds of thousands of disabled people to maintain a degree of independence and quality of life that would have otherwise been lost to them.
Because Middle and Higher rate DLA are both also passport benefits to enable family members to claim Carers Allowance, removing or reducing DLA will not only have an enormous financial impact on disabled people it will also impact on their carers - a double blow which will especially hit hard those families on the poverty line.
It is even more alarming that the Coalition plan a new regime of 'non medical tests ' as happened with Employment Support Allowance.. A 'test' which was designed to throw 1 million people off sickness benefit altogether. It is a 'test' you are planned to fail.
Of course we want the aspiration of work to be open to disabled people and carers but with rising unemployment coupled with cuts to social care support services, realistically how many will find work and how soon? We are concerned that the most severely and enduringly ill people will be subject to threats and sanctions for not finding work and have incomes reduced as a result.
Please forward us the link/copy of your own organisations’ response to the Budget and include a brief statement of support that can be added to our campaign blog."
More here Carer Watch.com / Emergency Budget 2010
"We ask the Coalition to make a clear statement about the level of welfare benefit support that they intend to offer disabled people and their carers in these very challenging times
Disability Living Allowance was specifically named in the Emergency Budget as a benefit that was being targeted and where substantial savings could be made. Many groups/organisations representing the disabled people and carers are reporting that this has caused an immediate wave of anxiety and concern.
DLA is an essential benefit that was specifically designed to provide financial support towards the extra costs incurred by people living with a disability. DLA payments have enabled hundreds of thousands of disabled people to maintain a degree of independence and quality of life that would have otherwise been lost to them.
Because Middle and Higher rate DLA are both also passport benefits to enable family members to claim Carers Allowance, removing or reducing DLA will not only have an enormous financial impact on disabled people it will also impact on their carers - a double blow which will especially hit hard those families on the poverty line.
It is even more alarming that the Coalition plan a new regime of 'non medical tests ' as happened with Employment Support Allowance.. A 'test' which was designed to throw 1 million people off sickness benefit altogether. It is a 'test' you are planned to fail.
Of course we want the aspiration of work to be open to disabled people and carers but with rising unemployment coupled with cuts to social care support services, realistically how many will find work and how soon? We are concerned that the most severely and enduringly ill people will be subject to threats and sanctions for not finding work and have incomes reduced as a result.
Please forward us the link/copy of your own organisations’ response to the Budget and include a brief statement of support that can be added to our campaign blog."
More here Carer Watch.com / Emergency Budget 2010
Inequality between rich and poor at its widest ever
If anyone doubted the need for trade unions please read this report which among many other things says that "The last time in the long economic record that inequalities were almost as high was in the lead up to the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s" Read report here http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/23/uk-health-gap-widest-ever
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Sto the trafficking of children for sex!
Please follow the link and sign the petition to protest at the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. We can make a difference. ECPAT UK - Protecting Children Everywhere
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