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Congress 2011 Fringe Guide

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Congress 2011 Fringe Guide

The following are the fringe meetings for Congress 2011 in London. (Download PDF version)

Sunday Evening

19.00-22.15 (doors open at 18.30)
PCS, NUT and the TUCG
Unions United for an Alternative
Speakers: Mark Serwotka (PCS), Christine Blower (NUT), Bob Crow (RMT) and Michelle Stanistreet (NUJ), plus Banner Theatre, Josie Long, comedian, and The Beat. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.There will be a bucket collection with proceeds going to the PCS and NUT hardship fund and Disaster Emergency Committee. Venue: Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH

Monday Lunchtime

12.45
Unite
Defending Access to Justice
Speakers include: Shami Chakrabarti, Director, Liberty; Mark Lewis, Solicitor for the family of Milly Dowler; Andy Slaughter MP, shadow justice minister Venue: Rooms 11 and 12, Radisson Kenilworth Hotel, Great Russell Street WC1

12.45-14.00
National Pensioners Convention
Fair Pensions For All
The UK state pension is one of the worst in Europe, public sector workers are being told to pay more, work longer and get less in their pensions and only one in three private sector employees is even a member of an occupational pension scheme. Action is therefore needed to secure better state and occupational pensions for all. Speakers: Christine Blower, General Secretary, NUT; Dot Gibson, General Secretary, NPC and Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS Chair: Frank Cooper, President, NPC Venue: Thompsons Solicitors Conference Room, Sixth Floor, TUC Congress House
Refreshments provided

12.30-14.00
Unions21
The Future for Union Image

Launch of Unions21 viral recruitment video and materials and discussion on the Unions21 publication The Future for Union Image Shadow Treasury Minister and blogger; David Seymour, author Why Join a Union?; Captain SKA, music producer; Luke Crawley, Assistant General Secretary, BECTU; Sue Ferns, Chair, Unions21 Venue: Bedford Suite 4, Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1

13.00-14.00
ACAS
Future of Collective Workplace Relations
Speakers: Sarah Veale, Head, Equality and Employment Rights Department, TUC - the challenges facing trade unions in the years ahead; Peter Harwood, Chief Conciliator, Acas - the implications of social media for workplace/collective relations; Simon Marsh, Chemical Industries Association - the future challenges of working with trade unions from an employer's perspective. Chair: Ed Sweeney, Chair, Acas Venue: Radisson Bloomsbury Street Hotel, 9-13 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QD

Monday Evening

17.30
IER, United Campaign and Unite
Equality, Liberty, Solidarity - Fighting Unfair Cuts, Resisting Unjust Laws
Speakers: Christine Blower, NUT; Bob Crow, RMT and UC; Prof. Keith Ewing, IER; John Hendy QC, IER and UC; Len McCluskey, Unite; Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ; Sarah Veale,TUC. Chair: Carolyn Jones, IER Venue: Friendship Centre, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue,WC2H 8EP

Refreshments provided

17.30
RMT
Slavery - Shame of the Past and a Modern Curse
RMT Anti-Slavery Day Commemorative Event. RMT's Black and Minority Ethnic Members want to share with as many as possible within the trade union family their commemorative anti-slavery event. The evening will comprise speakers and musical entertainment. All welcome. Speakers include: Bob Crow, General Secretary, RMT and others Chair: Alex Gordon, RMT Live entertainment: Catcher Venue: Brunei Theatre, SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
Drinks and buffet provided

17.30
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Building Solidarity with Palestine

Palestinian Ambassador Manuel Hassassian will talk about latest developments, in light of the forthcoming UN debate on Palestine. Talk to members of the latest PSC trade union delegation about their experiences first hand of living under occupation. Members of the PSC executive and staff will show how your union can be more involved in the campaign. Event sponsored by Thompsons. Venue: Thompsons Conference Room, Congress House
Refreshments, including delicious Palestinian food

17.30-18.45
Latin America Solidarity Reception
Defending Progress and Fighting for Justice
Speakers: Esther Armenteros, Cuban Ambassador; Samuel Moncada, Venezuelan Ambassador; Guisell Morales-Echaverry, Charge d'Affaires, Nicaraguan Embassy; Billy Hayes, CWU and JFC chair; Len McCluskey, Unite; Christine Blower, NUT Venue: The Bloomsbury Hotel, Great Russell Street, London,WC1 (next to Congress House)
Refreshments provided, including Havana Club rum cocktails and Colombian beers.

17.30-19.00
Trade Union Friends of Israel
What Can Trade Unions Do To Aid a Lasting Peace?
Speakers: Michael Dugher MP, Member of Parliament for Barnsley East; Paul Usiskin,The Abraham Fund Initiative; Eric Lee,Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP); Roger Lyons, Former President TUC and Chair of TUFI. Plus other invited speakers Venue: Bloomsbury Tavern, London WC2H 8EG
Refreshments provided

Tuesday Lunchtime

12.45
Unite
Reconnecting Britain
Speakers include: Len McCluskey, Unite gen sec; Owen Jones, author of Chavs: the demonisation of the working class; Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian; Tom Watson MP; Kingsley Abrams, councillor, Brixton Venue: Rooms 11 and 12, Radisson Kenilworth Hotel, Great Russell Street, WC1B

12.30-14.00
Unions 21 with the Fabian Society
Delivering for Young Workers
Publication launch and panel debate, with Tim Horton, Director of Research, Fabian Society; Gerry Doherty, General Secretary,TSSA; Mary Bousted, General Secretary, ATL; Danielle Grufferty, NUS Vice President for Society and Citizenship; Laura Bailey, actress and a founding member of Equity Young Members Committee Venue: Bedford Suite 4, Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1

Tuesday Evening

17.30
Trade Union Coordinating Group
Co-ordinated Action: Industrial and Political - A Strategy to Defeat the Cuts
A TUCG organised meeting to discuss the strategy needed to defeat the cuts. The education unions and PCS have taken the lead in defending their members' pensions and we need to maximize support for coordinated action.The government's attack on pensions is an attack on all workers and is the beginning of the dismantling of the welfare state. All welcome. Speakers include: Matt Wrack, Gen Sec, FBU; Mark Serwotka, Gen Sec, PCS; Bob Crow, Gen Sec, RMT; Christine Blower, Gen Sec, NUT; Sally Hunt, Gen Sec, UCU; Steve Gillan, Gen Sec, POA; John McDonnell MP Chair: Jonathan Ledger, Napo Venue: Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell St., London
Refreshments: drinks and buffet

18.00
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
Unions and the Labour Party - Defending the Link
The meeting will discuss how to increase the role and influence of the unions within the Party and thus help to ensure we have a Labour Government that properly serves our movement. Speakers: Richard Ascough, GMB; Jon Ashworth, MP; Ann Black, (LP NEC); Sam Gurney (LP NPF); Billy Hayes, (CWU); Carol Hayton, (LP NPF); Becky Hodgson, (LP NPF - Youth Rep); Diana Holland, (Unite and Labour Party Treasurer); Kevin Hopkins, MP; Christine Shawcroft, (LPNEC); Liz Snape, UNISON. Chair: Peter Willsman, (Secretary, CLPD) Venue: Plough Pub, Museum Street (opposite the British Museum)

18.00
Campaign for Labour Party Democracy
Unions and the Labour Party - Defending the Link
The meeting will discuss how to increase the role and influence of the unions within the Party and thus help to ensure we have a Labour Government that properly serves our movement.
Speakers: Richard Ascough, GMB; Jon Ashworth, MP; Ann Black, (LP NEC); Sam Gurney (LP NPF); Billy Hayes, (CWU); Carol Hayton, (LP NPF); Becky Hodgson, (LP NPF – Youth Rep); Diana Holland, (Unite and Labour Party Treasurer); Kevin Hopkins, MP; Christine Shawcroft, (LPNEC); Liz Snape, UNISON. Chair: Peter Willsman, (Secretary, CLPD) Venue: Plough Pub, Museum Street (opposite the British Museum)

18.30-19.30
Amnesty International and the University and College Union
Egypt: Empowering Women at Work and in Their Unions
Nawla Darwiche of the New Woman Foundation will speak about women's role in the revolution, and their efforts to organise at work and in their unions, drawing from the Foundations' activism in the agricultural, garment, and health sectors and their work with migrant women. Sally Hunt, UCU, will describe how UK unions can show solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Egypt and Kate Allen, Amnesty UK, will outline the human rights challenges in Egypt, drawing on two recent missions to the country. Venue: Human Rights Centre, Amnesty UK, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC1A 2EA. 25 minutes from Congress House: go by Central Line tube from Tottenham Court Road to Liverpool Street Station.
Refreshments and sandwiches provided

19.00
NUJ, Unite and Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom
The Emperor Has No Clothes - Murdoch's Media Empire from Wapping to Hacking
In the wake of the phone hacking scandal at News International, the NUJ and Unite, together with the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, host a discussion on press regulation, media ownership and the NUJ campaign for a conscience clause. Venue: National Union of Journalists, Headland House, 308 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP. Kings Cross tube
Buffet and wine provided

Wednesday Lunchtime

12.45
Unite
Bombardier - How Government is Failing the 'March of the Makers'
Speakers include: the Bombardier workers; Diana Holland, Unite; Bob Crow, RMT, and others Chair: Dan Milmo, industrial editor, The Guardian
Venue: Rooms 11 and 12, Radisson Kenilworth Hotel, Great Russell St,WC1

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