Monday, 15 June 2009

Emergency Rally called for 4.30pm

Speakers to be confirmed.

All media welcome

SOAS steps

4.30pm.

Many staff will also be there.

Sign the online petition at http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/28557.html
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5 comments:

  1. Julia15 June 2009 at 06:06

    SOAS occupation video: This is what democracy looks like

    Raw footage from this morning's Occupation of the Directorate - including a "frank exchange" with the Director:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9WoqaqLXuk

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unite Camden15 June 2009 at 06:39

    The following was sent by UniteCamden to trade union and campaign activists in Camden:

    DONT LET OVERSEAS WORKERS BE PUNISHED FOR FIGHTING FOR A LIVING WAGE SUPPORT THE OCCUPATION TO FREE THE SOAS CLEANERS
    Protest tonight 4.30pm at SOAS Thornhaugh St, Russell Sq WC1

    SOAS cleaners have led the way in winning a London living wage in a number of Central London workplaces. Their company ISS and the SOAS college management are now intent on punishing them for their success. SOAS have already sacked Stalin Bermudez, the Unison branch chair.

    At 6.30am on Friday 12 June, without any advance warning SOAS cleaning
    staff were called to an emergency 'Staff Meeting', were confined in a room
    and then confronted by a team of 40 immigration officers who had been hiding
    under staged seating. Nine cleaners, mostly members of Unison, were arrested and sent to detention centres and are under threat of immediate deportation.

    SOAS students and supporters have now occupied the college following on from a rally called by Unison and the UCU this morning who are calling for a further protest this evening from 4.30pm on SOAS steps,.

    Messages of support for the occupation at SOAS should go to freesoascleaners@gmail.com and messages of protest should go to SOAS management c/o college director Paul Webley pw2@soas.ac.uk To stay up to date, to see demands, press release etc etc check out:
    http://freesoascleaners.blogspot.com/

    Other local fight back news....

    SUPPORT THE POST STRIKE IN LONDON FRIDAY 19 JUNE
    10,000 post workers are due to strike at over 100 delivery offices in London on Friday against job cuts and other attacks from Royal Mail. This follows the overwhelming vote for strike action in virtually every office. (Rathbone Place and Mount Pleasant will not be out because of a legal challenge)

    Picket lines will start from 5.30am so get there when you can to any of the following:
    Barnby St NW1, Hampstead NW3, Kentish Town NW5, Highgate, Golders Green, St Johns Wood, Victoria

    STOP THE PRIVATISATION OF CAMDEN DOCTORS
    Lobby the Council's Health Scrutiny meeting Thursday 18 June 6pm Camden Town Hall, Judd St NW1
    120 people packed into the meeting in Regents Park Estate last week to launch the campaign against the latest threat to privatise Camden's GPs which will be debated at the councils Health Scrutiny meeting on Thursday.

    STOP HOUSING SELL OFFS
    Lobby Camden's Executive Wednesday June 24 6.30pm Camden Town Hall, Judd St, WC1 To demand no to market renting and a moratorium on the sell-offs.

    DEMONSTRATE TO STOP THE CUTS AT KINGS COLLEGE
    Lobby College Council Meeting Tuesday 30 June 4pm The Quad, Kings College, The Strand, W1
    Support the campaign against cuts in jobs and education. Sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/openR209

    ReplyDelete
  3. twp7715 June 2009 at 07:58

    Message of support from John Mcdonnell MP

    “I seek urgent clarification at the well-being of all the individuals who were taken away on 12th June 2009 and am appalled at reports than one of these individuals was over six months pregnant. This is no way to treat human beings in a civilized society.



    It is a disgrace that migrant workers are able to work in this country for years on poverty wages but as soon as they begin organising for their rights they face this brutal treatment. The events at SOAS over the last few days completely expose the hypocrisy at the heart of this country’s immigration laws and is another unfortunate example of employers using immigration status as a mean of attacking workers fighting for their rights and breaking union organising;



    I wholeheartedly support the SOAS London Living Wage that unites workers and students of all backgrounds. We need to send a clear message out to employers that the labour movement stands in solidarity with all workers whatever their nationality.

    I will be tabling an EDM later today.”

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous15 June 2009 at 08:12

    excellent, keep up the pressure.

    ReplyDelete
  5. twp7715 June 2009 at 08:14

    Emergency Statement tabled to UNISON Conference which is currently taking place in Brighton, Camden UNISON Branch Committee has passed and is submitting the following motion:

    Conference notes:

    * A raid by immigration officers from the UK Borders Agency at SOAS early Friday morning, 12th of June, resulting in 9 cleaners including UNISON members employed by the private contractors ISS being taken into custody.

    * Since then, 5 of these migrant workers have been deported while 3 others were being held at the Yarlswood Immigration Removal Centre.

    * SOAS UNISON has been at the forefront of an increasingly successful campaign to secure the London Living Wage for cleaners and other ancillary workers at University of London Colleges.

    * The branch staged a well supported strike on the 28th of May in defence of branch chair Jose Stalin Bermudez, who had been summarily sacked by SOAS management after playing a leading part in the Living Wage Campaign and in recruiting workers to UNISON.

    *SOAS students and supporters have been in occupation of the SOAS directorate offices to express their outrage at the raids and the subsequent detentions and deportations.

    Conference Believes:

    * The 12th of June raid was an attempt to frighten and intimidate migrant workers, and as such is a threat both to union organisation and to the London Living Wage Campaign.

    * In line with existing policy our union has a responsibility to defend migrant workers, regardless of country of origin or immigration status.

    Conference Resolves:

    * To write letters of protest to the employer ISS and SOAS College authorities.

    * Write to the Home Secretary expressing opposition to workplace immigration raids.

    * Send a message of support to SOAS students in their occupation.

    * Fully support the SOAS Branch in their campaign for the release of those workers still detained and against any further workplace raids as well as for the reinstatement of Branch Chair Jose Stalin Bermudez.

    ReplyDelete

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