Present: j, Auto, P, Mons, M
Workplace Reports:
Auto: Still crunching, more and more people openly angry at management
Mons: Hopefully meeting with co-workers outside school (inspired by workplace training!), after being made to do invigilating which is shit work, not in our contract and normally you’d be paid more for it but we are paid for TAing instead (a lower rate than invigilating). Hoping to organise joint student-worker meeting in build up to June 30 strike; how can students support the strike? How can we make the strike strong?
M: Found out the union is Prospect, but not joining. It’s Annual Performance Review time. They are making redundancies with a decent voluntary redundancy package. There’s some anger, e.g. a report was taken up by the media, BBC Oxford, and totally distorted which management regarded as a success because it was positive coverage even though really inaccurate.
J: Trying to get onto JSA after being taken off ESA – at the moment still not getting anything. Supposed to apply for loads of jobs, sign up to at least 3 temping agencies, etc.
C: Just got case-work training with UCU, trying to initiate organising around part-time contract workers.
P: Has access to Labour Research Department stuff. Still speaking to maintenance workers regularly, will mention the workplace training and the success of the Office Angels campaign.
Subs/Funds:
- C set up bank account and sent details round. She will re-post details round list.
- Based on conversations with Brighton, Auto suggested 2% of wage. Roughly £5 for unemployed/students, more like £20 for those in work. £3 goes to national. Agreed, but we’ll review in six months and see if it’s necessary. If need be, those who need could choose to not pay, and better off members could pay. Speak to treasurer, but up to individual discretion if people can’t/don’t want to pay so much.
- May will be the first month of subs, but if we are able we could give money for past months as well – up to individuals discretion.
Regular Meetings:
- We should have regular meetings, easier to find out when they are and cheaper to book travel.
- Fixed date, but flexible. Every First and Third Thursday of the month at 7!
Secretary and Treasurer:
- We went over the roles and we know what they are
- Auto is secretary as honeybee is away
- Rotate every six months, to share the work and share the responsibility
Forum:
- We should use this more. As a holding place, it’s easier to use than email.
Contacts:
- Seth got in touch via facebook, from Windsor, not sure whether North London or us would be his closest local. Auto to keep in contact.
Cowley Mini Factory Workers
- 80 agency workers were laid off.
- We could get in touch, leaflet or put up posters about?
- We agreed it’s too late now, but we should still try and make contact just for the sake of being outward looking. Union the only way to get in touch with them? Auto to look up their union, probably Unite.
- M suggests, possibly through anti-cuts alliance, trying to get a pool of contacts so when someone wants to get in touch with a worker in a particular industry they can. Similarly, we should try and get a map of which industries are big in Thames Valley – we know games industry is, around Slough.
New Pamphlets/Black Flag:
- Got 8 of both the new pamphlets, that’ll do for now we can buy/print more if need be. Cost £15
- Black Flag, new one out now – get some? Mons to get 10.
- Auto is writing pamphlet on games industry! Potentially a Thames Valley pamphlet, or go through private sector network.
Social:
- We should hold one, maybe a meal, and get as many SolFedders from outside to come and get to know each other a bit.
- M away from 27th to 3rd; we’ll have it after then. Mons to set up doodle for weekends after then.
Old Music Hall:
- A really useful, free venue. Mons to talk to Dan P about using it again in the future, potentially renting it for worker surgeries type thing down the line.
Cowley Road Carnival:
- Apparently too expensive to shut down the road like normal so it’s going to be in (where?). Stall’s £30 but it’s not really appropriate anyway as it’s just a party/carnival!
Film Request:
- Peter (we think) from Oxford SOS wants to film something to counter views on protest movement/anarchism. He’d have liked to film some of the Office Angels picket, but couldn’t make it. His politics seem from the anti-globalisation movement though, at the liberal end.
- We’d be up for it possibly, but want to know about anonymity, politics, etc.
- Auto to mention it to media collective
- M or Auto to talk to him, ask about possibly get national org involved, and express ‘cautious interest’ and ask about our concerns.
Banner:
- We should get one! Three options: a) elaborate, old-school trade union style beautiful thing, very expensive though. B) have one printed like Liverpool’s, but apparently it catches the wind badly and again costs a fair bit. C) Like London’s, use projector and buy and sew fabric – our preferred option.
- Honeybee has sewing machine
- Mons to ask Dan P about projector in the Old Music Hall
- Can get fabric from Reading, and ask how much it’d be to get it sewed up.
Stickers/Posters:
- J to check out Staples
- Auto can do stuff with this after crunch time, possibly make new design.
Education Conference:
- Thames Valley is hosting, probably Friends Meeting House in Reading.
- Was meant to be September, but October would be better to get more student involvement; P to put to EWN.
- Libertarian Education have been invited.
New Locals:
- Auto can say hi from us and solidarity
Industrial Networks:
- Mons to get j on unwaged network
- M to get in touch with public sector network
- Auto in private but trying to set up games/digital – meeting up with other political games workers from Slough after crunch time
- P, C in EWN.
- Student network: we have a few students: T and possibly 2 I’s. Mons and honeybee next year, but they won’t be in Thames Valley when they’re at uni.
- What would a student network do? Point of contact for interested students. Deal with class issues like landlords, internships, etc. Help bride divide between students and workers. Mons to email other students in Thames Valley and post on forums and mailing list to get other students.
Stall (Banbury):
- P to bring table
- They tend to move people on, but the Bandstand might be all right, won’t get permission.
- J to check out De Montford University to see if anything’s going on there, if not we could use temp work or June 30 strikes as ‘entrance point’ if we need one.
- We’ll set a date next meeting.
Induction:
- Martin emailed Mons and C. Check with C to see is she’s replied, and see when he can do it.
- P to set doodle for not next week but the week after.