Greens contest Highgate By-election in Neighbouring Camden

Camden Green Party is contesting the Highgate by-election on 15 September 2011. We have a strong chance and already a track record of doing what it takes (convincing the voters), as in the memorable by-election win of 1 May 2008 (Highgate: Green, Alex Goodman).

This time the Greens are standing Alexis Rowell, who was last seen in Brent chairing the excellent Friends of the Earth hustings for Brent Central candidates in 2010.

Picture: Campaign coordinator Natalie Bennett, earlier in the week, over team talk before the final push.

Final Result:

•Anthony Denyer, Conservatives: 593
•Martin Hay, Liberal Democrats: 111
•Sally Gimson, Labour Party: 1,178
•Alexis Rowell Green Party: 947
Turnout: 34.26%
Commiserations to Team Green. We will be back for more!

London Living Wage: Bloomsbury Fightback

Campaign for low paid workers in university sector to get London Living Wage.

Entrance to Senate House, University of London.

Volunteer Jason prepares for musical rendition.

On 14 September 2011, Bloomsbury Fightback organised a successful day of action in support of the right of low paid workers of the University of London to get at least £8.30 (London Living Wage). Senate House cleaners currently receive just £6.15 per hour.

Key demands include:
1. Immediate implementation of the LLW of £8.30 backdated to 1 Sept 2011.
2. Immediate implementation of sick pay for outsourced wokers on the same terms as enjoyed by other University of London employees.
3. Commitment to implement LLW upgrades on an annual basis.

In a statement the University of London has said:
1. The LLW is an hourly rate of pay, currently £8.30, set independently each year by the Greater London Assembly.
2. All our directly employed staff are already paid above the LLW and also have access to a wide range of benefits which compare well with other London employers.
3. All contract staff, such as cleaners, porters and security, are employees of Balfour Beatty Workplace (BBW) and will receive the LLW by July 2012.
4. The University is working closely with BBW over implementation, which has already been brought forward by a year as a sign of our commitment.
5. We are fully committed to introducing LLW by July 2012, but to commit to doing so earlier would mean failing to address the significant implications for responsible financial and staff management.

Please sign Street Cleaning Petition

Brent: Street cleaning

Facts
From 2 October 2011, Brent Council plans to cut the street cleaning service:
• Most residential streets to be cleaned once a week instead of twice a week and not long ago it was three times a week
• Reduced service on other streets including limits on weekend work
• End of the seasonal leaf collection ie no separate clear up of leaves for composting and to protect pedestrians
• 20 street cleaning posts to go

Implications
• More people having falls on wet and rotting leaves + rubbish not frequently cleared up
• Elderly people, those with disabilities and children most vulnerable to injury (or death) from falls needing costly health and social care
• More compensation claims against the council for not properly maintaining the streets (health and safety issues)
• Dirty, messy, shabby, neglected looking streets, reducing the attractiveness of the environment and quality of life – loss of pride in the local area
• A Dirtier Olympic Borough
• More foxes, rats and other vermin in the borough
• More people (street cleaners) unemployed

What to do?
Sign the e-petition on Brent Council website (www.brent.gov.uk/epetitions) which runs until 23 September, calling for a reversal of the decision to cut the street sweeping services.

We the undersigned petition the council to reverse the decision to cut street sweeping services and to retain the employment of properly trained street sweepers.
(Started by Martin Francis – Brent Fightback)

Complain to your local councillor – names, contact details from Brent Council, website or Tel: 020 8937 1200, or from libraries

Get involved with Brent Fightback - brentunited@gmail.com

Asda Wembley Has To Stop Its Lorries from Endangering Pedestrians

In October 2010, I summarised Brent Green Party's success in getting Asda to recognise the urgent need for pedestrian safety when organising its lorry deliveries. In April 2009, after two years of campaigning and a public apology, we thought case closed - epitomised in the physical evidence of signage on the redesigned access area (pictured above). Alas, though less frequent, infractions still happen. On 2 Nov 2010, I got the following reassurance from Head office:

"I have now forwarded your pictures to the stores management team as well as our store development team. They will be able to look at ways of minimising any pedestrian danger when passing between the vehicles on the road. Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention." (2 Nov 2010)

Unfortunately, here is evidence of further infractions from last night (2 Sept 2011):

I spoke to these pedestrians last night (at 10pm) and they acknowledged that they had just been forced into the main road by this lorry jutting out and blocking the drop kerb crossing, and endangered in the process. How can Asda consistently get away with road safety violations that your common-or-garden motorist would have been booked for, if not towed away, many a time?These are double yellow, no-loading, no-stopping kerb markings, operational all hours. To make matters worse, there was no driver visible in the cabin. I have written again to Asda.

London Living Wage Campaign and Brent Council

The Greens have actively campaigned on the right of workers to a living wage across London. The London living wage is currently £8.30 per hour. On Friday 2 September, I heard from fellow workers in the University of London, Bloomsbury. Pictured: Fadili, Robinson, Samba and Paolo.

Closer to home, Brent Council also has not made this commitment to its employees and subcontracted workers. Yet the local Labour group campaigned ahead of last year's elections that if they gained control of Brent Council they would: "Conduct an audit of Council contractors to examine how many people indirectly employed by the Council are earning the London Living Wage." And? Instead we see jobs being axed in order to support a financially impossible £100m Civic Centre project that nobody wants or needs.