UK Workers' Movements Newswire Archive
Sat7th: BBQ Benefit for Kilburn Unemployed Workers FREE
29-07-2010 16:57
PHILIPPINES: Keeping an eye on Aquino’s commitment to change
28-07-2010 14:59
MANILA - The new administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III begins with an extremely high trust rating of 88 percent – higher than any of the post-dictatorship presidents. This is a measure of people’s belief in the commitment of the Aquino administration to reverse the anti-poor policies implemented during the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.Global wave to stop this deportation!
27-07-2010 19:20
A Bolivian widow and her two British raised children have had their application for residency rejected and are now being threatened with imminent deportation. Let's have a massive global wave of solidarity and stop this deportation! We are asking everyone to sign the petition and then resend this message to all your contacts in London, the rest of the UK and around the world.Full article | 1 addition | 14 comments
Calls for Home Secretary to Ban the EDL from Bradford
27-07-2010 15:42
The Telegraph & Argus, trade unions, Bradford University, political parties, faith leaders, the Chamber of Commerce, dozens of community groups and Bradford Council have all spoken out against the proposed English Defence League demonstration calling for it to be banned.Dedication of Honorary doctorate to the people of Iran
27-07-2010 10:43
Peter Tatchell gave an inspirational speech to students at Sussex University, dedicating his doctorate to the people of Iran struggling against a theocratic regime, fighting for democracy and freedom. He dedicated his doctorate to Mansour Osanloo, the jailed Iranian trade union leader, and Sakineh Ashtiani, who has been sentenced to be stoned to death, along with more than 20 other Iranians.
Iraqi government forcibly closes trade union offices, prohibits union activity
26-07-2010 21:47
Reposted from LibcomBrendan Barber wrote to William Hague 22 July 2010 stating the following story. The story has not appeared in the mainstream media and could be a hoax. It may also be that repression in Iraq has caused the union to be unable to publish news and this may have contributed to news corporations not picking the story up...
UKBA detention capacity @ 26th July 2010
26-07-2010 07:12
Harmondsworth IRC, managed by GEO Group UK, is now back to full capacity after being partially made uninhabitable by frustrated detainees in November 2006.(Formally known as 'Wackenhut Corrections Corporation'. GEO Group has been accused of gross civil rights violations relating to adequate access to food and medical care, especially at its USA Northwest Detention Center, including unlawful interrogations and coercing inmates to sign paperwork they would otherwise not be inclined to. Source 'Wikipedia'. GEO's worldwide operations include the management/ownership of 63 prisons/Immigration Removal Centres and residential treatment facilities with a capacity of 61,500 beds)
As of today there are a total of 3,436 bed spaces, in Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) and Short Term Holding Facilities (STHFs).
A sizable number of prison bed spaces are occupied by persons off the end of criminal sentences (have reached their release date) and continue to be detained as immigration offenders, awaiting deportation or transfer to a detention centre. UKBA no longer release the numbers of those held in prison as immigration offenders.
Eight IRCs and 4 STHFs are owned/managed or managed by private corporations, three IRCs managed by the Prison Service.
Campsfield House IRC GEO Group Bed spaces: 216 male detainees
Harmondsworth IRC GEO Group Bed spaces 615 male detainees
Yarl's Wood IRC Serco Bed spaces 405 Female detainees
Colnbrook IRC Serco Bed spaces 383 male detainees ( STHC 40 beds male/female)
Brook House IRC G4S Bed spaces 426 male detainees
Oakington IRC G4S Bed spaces 408 male detainees
Dungavel House G4S Bed spaces 190 Mixed, male, female
Tinsley House G4S Bed spaces 146 Male Detainees
Dover IRC HM Prison Service Bed spaces 316 male detainees
Haslar IRC HM Prison Service Bed spaces 160 male detainees
Lindholme IRC HM Prison Service Bed spaces 112 male detainees
Manchester STHF G4S Bed spaces 32
Queens Buildings (Heathrow) STHF G4S Bed spaces 15
Harwich STHF Abbey Security Ltd Bed spaces 12
Dover Harbour STHF Dover Harbour Board Bed spaces 20
Addresses/phone/fax/visiting times for all the above can be found here:
http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Resources/addresses.html (Editors note, data has been taken from UKBA/Private management web sites)
Local authorities face devastating cuts and rationalisation
24-07-2010 19:48
A report by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) has warned that local authorities could lose at least a third of central government funding over the life of the current parliament. It warns that the £1.165 billion cuts to local authority grants already announced by Chancellor George Osborne will be small “compared with the tsunami of funding cuts that will hit councils.”Tatchell dedicates his honorary doctorate to Mansoor Osanloo
23-07-2010 09:18
The prominent Iranian labour activist Mansour Osanloo has been serving time in Prison under poor health conditions for a long timeCampaign for Jailed Labour Activists in Iran
22-07-2010 14:38
Human rights activists have begun a campaign to raise awareness about the situation of Mansour Ossanlou, and, by extension, all political prisoners in Iran.Join our campaign at Iran Solidarity.
Protest at the Tory Party Conference in Birmingham
22-07-2010 13:25
Important notice for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) who have been refus
22-07-2010 09:19
You can now ask UKBA for your case to be reviewed in light of the judgement of the Supreme Court in HJ (Iran) & HJ (Cameroon).[ HJ (Iran) & HJ (Cameroon) may also be beneficial to religious minorities who have been refused asylum on the grounds that they could relocate. You will need to check with a reliable solicitor/case worker. ]
Asylum Seekers [ HJ (Iran) & HJ (Cameroon) ]
House of Lords / 21 July 2010 : Column WA216
http://tinyurl.com/Column-WA215 Lord Avebury to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will issue an asylum policy instruction following the judgment of the Supreme Court in HJ (Iran) (FC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and HJ (Cameroon) (FC) v Secretary of State for the Home Department; and whether they will review decisions by the UK Border Agency which may be incompatible with that judgment.[HL1207]
Baroness Neville-Jones: Asylum decision-makers were instructed to apply the new test contained in the judgment immediately after the judgment was published. They have also been asked to review, in the light of the new test, cases in which a decision has already been made but in which appeal rights have not yet been exhausted.
There will not be an automatic review of cases where appeal rights have been exhausted but individuals are able to ask for their case to be reviewed in light of the new judgment.
An asylum policy instruction will be published within the next few months. This will reflect the judgment and we will develop better training to promote understanding of sexual orientation and identity issues in order to help decision-makers to decide on the basis of the best available information and knowledge.
Summery of the Judgement can be accessed below:
http://www.freemovement.org.uk/Media-2/HJIranandHTCameroon.html
West Midlands IWW Benefit Gig This Friday 23rd July
21-07-2010 14:03
Food available
Freemovement - Say No to Removals/Deportations
21-07-2010 12:03
Important Information for Refugees granted leave to remain for 5 years in 2005From 30 August 2010, those granted refugee leave or humanitarian protection in 2005 for 5 years will start to come to the end of their 5 years leave.
They will need as a matter of urgency to renew their application for indefinite leave to remain.
Someone who does not do so before his/her 5 years leave expires may suffer several problems - including losing any entitlement to work or receive benefits, or that any application for indefinite leave to remain is dealt with more restrictively, could also lead to their status being revoked and removal from the UK.
The UK Border Agency has published information about making applications for indefinite leave to remain for these people. See:
Refugees and those with humanitarian protection - route to settlement
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/asylum/outcomes/successfulapplications/leavetoremain/ Plus
For information on how to apply for indefinite leave to remain before your leave expires, you should go to:
Completing application form SET (Protection Route)
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/settlement/applicationtypes/completing_set_protection_route/ Vestas - Magic Roundabout Re-occupied on 1st Anniversary
20-07-2010 21:54
Vestas - Magic Roundabout Re-occupied on 1st Anniversary of the Workers Occuaption.At around 4pm this afternoon, one year on from the beginning of the Vestas occupation,
15 ex-Vestas workers and campaign supporters re-occupied the 'Magic Roundabout' next to the Vestas factory. The roundabout was the home of the support campaign for over 4 months last year in solidarity with the 600 workers who lost their jobs when the wind turbine factory closed it's doors last August.
Petition: Stop the deportation of this family
19-07-2010 01:27
As the Home Office sinks to knew depths of cruelty, threatening a Bolivian widow and her two British raised children with deportation, we ask all who read this to show your solidarity and sign the petition against their removal.Gaza to Venezuela - Reports from the frontline.
12-07-2010 17:54
Come and hear activists recently returned from the Gaza Flotilla and Latin America.Brook House IRC - Fundamentally Unsafe - G4S condemned again
12-07-2010 05:26
[ G4s Not Fit for Purpose: This is the second report in seven days by Anne Owers HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) severely critical of G4S managed establishments. Report on an announced inspection of HMP Wolds (disappointing decline) was published on Tuesday 6th July, copy available here . . . . HMCIP previous reports of G4s managed IRCS, Tinsley House report July 2009 severely critical, Oakington report June 2008, severely critical. Inspectors have made 190 recommendations for Brook House, all following text , extracted from inspectorate report/press release. ]