Could do better - no rural schools will have been rebuilt by coalition government

Poor rural school report for the Coalition Government

No rural schools will have been rebuilt under the current government when the general election takes place next year. This has prompted criticism that the government’s school-building programme is no more efficient than the one it replaced and is a “poor show”.

In May 2010, the new coalition government moved quickly to scrap Labour’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme. The new education secretary Michael Gove told the Commons that Labour’s programme had been hit by “massive overspends, tragic delays, botched construction projects and needless bureaucracy”.

Some 735 proposed BSF projects were abandoned. They included a number of rural schools such as Sunnydale in Shildon, County Durham, Millom School in Cumbria and Tor View School, Haslingden, Lancashire. 

Two years after scrapping BSF, Gove launched the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), which, like its predecessor, is mainly funded through Private Finance Initiative schemes. Under PSBP 261 schools were listed in the proposed first round of building. It was not till summer last year that construction started on any of the projects. 

In May, Whitmore Park Primary School, Coventry became the first to get a brand new school as part of the scheme. In the North East only one school - Ian Ramsey in Stockton on Tees - will have been rebuilt by the 2015 general election. In Devon the situation is even worse and not one of the ten schools identified for rebuilding will be completed by the time people go to the polls. In most cases the construction companies who have rebuilt a school will continue to profit over the following 25 to 30 years by providing maintenance and lifecycle services. 

One headteacher, who did not wish to be named and whose school is among those currently being rebuilt, said: “When the coalition scrapped the BSF programme and replaced it with PSBP it was on the grounds they would be more efficient and effective. I do not think they can claim that now and many other heads feel the same.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We expect between 10 and 15 of the schools in rural areas to be under construction by spring next year and we are on course to rebuild 29 rural schools by the end of 2017 under our PSBP.”

None of which has impressed Barbara Taylor, secretary of the National Association of Small Schools, who said: “NASS is unaware of any rural schools where rebuilding has started under the Government's priority schools building programme. This is unfortunate as there are a number of outstanding small schools that are continually oversubscribed and unable to expand because of lack of space on the site and/or absence of  funding."

Former airline staff support film exposing dangers of cabin air

Taken from Big Issue in the North magazine dated 3-9 November 2014. Please buy a copy when you see a seller. 

Former airline pilots and cabin crew have pledged their support for a new film that highlights the dangers of contaminated cabin air on planes.

A Dark Reflection is a Fact Not Fiction Films drama starring Georgina Sutcliffe, Rita Ramnani, Marina Sirtis and Nicholas Day. It will be screened at the American Film Market on 7 and 8 November and will be released in the UK in February 2015. Based on a real life story, the film follows an investigative journalist who is drawn into examining flight safety after her air traffic controller boyfriend is suspended from work.

Design flaw

The film has been directed and produced by former British Airways (BA) pilot Tristan Loraine. In 2001, as a member of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), Loraine received a request for help from a colleague who was set to lose his job as a result of an illness he claimed had been caused by exposure to contaminated air.

Thus began a lengthy series of inquiries that led Loraine to become convinced that a fundamental design flaw in jet planes was allowing the air in the cockpit to become contaminated with hazardous organophosphates (OPs), which can cause an illness known as aerotoxin syndrome.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Department for Transport, Health Protection Agency and BALPA have denied that toxic gases pose any danger to airline staff. However, a number of former pilots, cabin crew and passengers have been diagnosed with the syndrome, including onetime BA cabin supervisor Dee Passon. Two years ago, she conducted a survey of airline crew and found that almost a quarter had taken time off work for depression. Cancer rates were also found to be above the national average.

The CAA and Department for Transport have criticised the survey, arguing that it was not conducted in a scientific manner. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats committed themselves to an inquiry into the issue when in opposition, but the idea was dropped when they came to power in 2010.

The Aerotoxic Assocation was formed by retired airline pilot John Hoyte seven years ago.
Phil Galland*, a member of the association, is an experienced pilot from the North West who left his job two years ago after he started to suffer from memory loss.

He said: “My brain does not work and while my family have got used to my condition, it can cause embarrassment in mixed company, when people can just think I am stupid. I have tried to improve my health through exercise but I quickly become exhausted.”

Legal action

Galland believes his poor health is the result of breathing in fumes coming out of hot engines during walking visual inspections he conducted. He has a legal case in the pipeline led by lawyer Frank Cannon, who is also conducting civil action against BA on behalf of dead pilot Richard Westgate. Before his death in December 2012, Westgate alleged that he had been poisoned by toxic fumes on passenger jets. A study in the Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry later found that he had been badly affected by OPs.

Another former pilot, Leonard Lawrence, quit his job in 2004 after becoming concerned that he could not think clearly enough to fly. Five doctors later declared that he was suffering from the effects of OP poisoning.

Passon, Hoyte, Galland and Lawrence have all praised A Dark Reflection. “It should help ensure passengers and crew know there are contaminated air problems that the airline industry, the aviation authorities, the government and BALPA won’t recognise or deal with,” said Lawrence.

A BALPA spokesperson said: “We do not believe the airlines, NHS, universities, the government or the regulator are engaged in any form of cover-up – the currently available information suggests air crew and passengers are not at additional risk due to chemical exposures in aircraft air.”

* Name has been changed

To find out more about the film go to:- http://www.adarkreflection.com

Unite fights killer fibre

New Unite campaign

Written for UNITELIVE.org  

Banned but not gone: all asbestos can cause cancer is a new Unite campaign. It has been launched because no one is safe from the dangers of asbestos for which there is no safe exposure limit.

Asbestos’ widespread historical use, especially for pipe insulation, cement board and floor coverings, means it remains present in most workplaces and public buildings built or refurbished before 2000.

Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause serious and fatal illnesses including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, which can take between 25 and 50 years to develop, is incurable and up to 2,500 people die from this every year, with the UK epidemic not expected to peak until 2020.

Lengthy campaigning by trade unions has been successful in establishing a regulatory framework that can protect people.

Blue and brown asbestos was outlawed in 1985. The import, sale and use of white asbestos was then banned 14 years later. The 2012 control of asbestos regulations places a duty on factory, school and office owners to manage asbestos by making themselves aware of its presence, preventing exposure and if damaged removing it.

Problems remain because Britain’s safety watchdog, the health and safety executive (HSE), has had its inspection powers and the numbers of inspectors it employs slashed by this current government.

There are real fears of greater cuts to the HSE if the Tories win next year’s election.

Meanwhile a recent HSE survey found only one in five tradespersons, who are likely come into contact with asbestos around 100 times a year, knew that a property built up to 2000 could contain asbestos.

Awareness

This being the case, Unite wants all its members to be aware of the problems of asbestos and to combine to tackle them.

It wants to prevent future illnesses and unnecessary deaths and where this proves impossible we offer a free legal service that is second to none.

Members already exposed to asbestos can complete an online register and over 12,000 have so far done just that.

“We want to ensure that the employer carries out their duties of care,” said John Allott, Unite national officer for construction, “and for this to happen Unite members and workplace reps need to familiarise themselves with asbestos.

“Then find out if it is present. If it is then there are well established policies and practices that Unite has helped many employers adopt. These make workplaces safer by preventing future exposure, which has to be our aim everywhere.

“Members can obtain leaflets and advice from the Unite website, their regional officer and national health and safety advisors. Don’t wait until it is too late, act now.”

Sadly, it is a fact that it will already be too late for at least some Unite members that have been in contact with asbestos.

Where illness does occur contact the union for free expert legal advice from specialists such as Thompsons Solicitors. Members are guaranteed 100 per cent of any compensation.

After developing the incurable cancer mesothelioma, John, who was exposed to asbestos whilst working as an electrician in the 60s and 70s, won substantial compensation.

“I am so grateful to Unite for supporting my claim and to Thompsons for helping me to obtain compensation that will support me and my family financially as we struggle to come to terms with my diagnosis.”

•    If you think you might have an asbestos-related claim you need to enter your details on the Unite asbestos register.

Great War conscientious objectors’ tales dramatised

Written for UNITElive.org on Monday, October 27th, 2014 

The anti-war stand taken by a Huddersfield member of one of Unite’s predecessor unions has been powerfully captured in a dramatic new theatre play.

England arise is the story of the socialist conscientious objectors (COs) of the Great War and the women who supported them.

The five-man play, which is written by Mick Martin and directed by Jude Wright, is touring northern England over the next three weeks. It is based on Cyril Pearce’s book Comrades in conscience – the story of an English community’s opposition to the Great War.

Socialist Arthur Gardiner was a representative of the Dyers’ and Finishers Union on the Trades Council in Huddersfield, a town that had 117 anti-war resisters who refused to be called up when conscription was introduced in 1916.

It is estimated that nationally there was as many as 20,000 COs. This compares to the five million who served in Britain’s armed forces.

Many COs were religious and did not believe in killing people. For firebrand Gardiner his opposition was “based on the theory of class struggle in that the 1914-18 war was merely a fight for foreign markets and not worth giving your life for.”

As Pearce’s book demonstrates lots of local people agreed with Gardiner. These included many women such as Gardiner’s future wife, Sis Timmins.

But once the military service act began operating on February 10, 1916, being a war opponent became a state matter.

There was now a straight choice between fighting or refusing and accepting the alternative of beatings and imprisonment – often in solitary confinement – for the rest of the war. War resisters were brought before local military service tribunals where socialist COs in particular could expect injustice.

Gardiner’s appearance at the Huddersfield Tribunal on March 20, 1916 attracted a crowd of over 300 people. He appealed, ultimately unsuccessfully, to be exempted from all forms of military service because, “For years I have devoted my energies to the economic and moral upliftment of humanity. I am opposed to all forms of militarism as it is detrimental to the welfare of all nations.”

Fellow socialist and good friend, Percy Ellis, took a similar stance. In October 1916 the pair was arrested. Drawing inspiration from the women’s suffrage movement, whereby women had been imprisoned and gone on hunger strike, both men refused to be placed in work centres.

They were sent to jail and placed in solitary dark cell punishment – which is one of the most dramatic parts of the play.

When the war ended both men returned home. Gardiner later became the Labour Party’s second full-time agent and was a local councillor from 1927-1930 and 1933-1967 and also served as mayor in 1941-42.

His son, Don, aged 88, was present at the opening performance of England arise at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield.

Afterwards he said, “It was marvellous seeing my parents portrayed on stage. It is a serious subject but it was great entertainment with some really amusing moments throughout.”

•    Comrades in conscience, costing £15, is available online from the publishers, Francis Boutle.

•    England arise is on in Hull, Leeds, Doncaster, Sunderland, Halifax, Wakefield, Manchester and Rochdale over the next month. For more information click here.

Belfast anti-fascist and trade union murals

Murals

There are so many that Belfast is possibly the world mural capital. For more information visit a great site at www.extramural.activity.com 

Break the Connection with Capitalism was unveiled on Northumberland Street on 20 April 2013. It was erected by Teach na Failte Republican Ex-Prisoners Support Group and Belfast City Council. The board shows Belfast socialists walking at Bodenstown, 1934, as part of the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration. The board states: 

In Memory of the Belfast Men who fought Against Fascism

With the XV International Brigade, Spanish Civil War 1936-39.

For more details see:- 

www.extramuralactivity.com/2013/05/13/break-the-connection-with-capitalism/

Many thanks to Richie Browne, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, for this photograph. 

UNITE IN OUR COMMUNITIES is UNITE’s mural on Northumberland Street, Belfast. 

Unite for jobs. Unemployment and cuts destroy our communities! The board was erected in 2013. 

Many thanks to Richie Browne, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, for this photograph.

The gable wall of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) office in Donegall Street Place, Belfast is adorned with a magnificent mural celebrating the many unions with membership in Ireland, north and south. It states: An Injury to One is an Injury to All. 

Commissioned from Belfast muralists Danny Devanny and Mark Ervine It was unveiled by ICTU President John Douglas in September 2013, the year that marked the 100^th anniversary of the Dublin lock-out that ran from August 1913 to January 1914. 

For more details see: - www.fisherbelfast.wordpress.com/tag/ictu

Directly in front of the mural is a life-size sculpture of celebrated trade unionist Jim Larkin. This was funded by the ICTU and the Langanside Corporation and unveiled on 8 May 2006. The bronze statue was the work of Belfast artist Anto Brennan. It is close to Waring Street, where Larkin led the Belfast dockers’ strike in 1907.

For more information see: - 

www.saoirse32.wordpress.com/2006/05/09/life-size-sculpture-of-jim-larkin-unveiled-in-belfast/

Many thanks to Richie Browne, Unite regional co-ordinating officer, for this photograph.

Royal wish ought not to be granted, say Republicans

With all three major parties committed to public sector cuts the pressure group that campaigns for the monarchy’s abolition wants greater scrutiny of its cost to the British taxpayer.

Republic accuses the royal household of deliberately underestimating its costs but supporters of the royal family argue it represents good value.

Buckingham Palace’s 2013 accounts reveal that the royal household’s sovereign grant was £35.7 million, a £2 million rise on the previous figure.

“What a bargain! How the Royal Family costs you just 56p a year,” declared the Daily Express.

But Graham Smith, Republic’s chief executive, claimed: “That is a fraction of the real amount, as
once hidden costs are included the real figure is just £600,000 shy of £300 million.”

According to the organisation the massive difference in figures is because security costs, the provision of grace and favour apartments to members of the royal family, royal visit costs
to council taxpayers and lost profits from the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall are not included. Republic estimates these at £102 million,£30 million, £21.5 million and £90 million respectively.

However, Ian Roberts, vice-chairman of the British Monarchist League, accused Republic of “cooking the books in order to gain some publicity for its campaign, one that has consistently failed to garner public support from the British public as a whole”.

‘Reasonable costs’

He said: “The sovereign grant has abolished annuities to all but Prince Philip (pictured), and the Duchy of Cornwall largely funds the Prince of Wales. Spending has been cut heavily with minor royals having to rely on their own employment. The Crown Estate also earned the Treasury £211 million in 2007-08. ”

This is disputed by Republic as the Crown Estate is not the private property of the monarch.

Smith said total costs of £7 million would be more appropriate – “closer to what it costs, for example, Spain for their monarchy” – and allow the recruitment of either 14,000 newly qualified teachers or nurses.

Residents compile own report on wood dust emissions

Taken from the current edition of the Big Issue in the North magazine, please buy a copy when you see a seller. 

In a bid for tougher regulations, residents who fear wood dust emissions are harming their health have released a report condemning waste wood and recycling plants sited near them.

It has been published after residents in a number of communities hosting wood plants complained of respiratory problems.

Wood dust is classed as a carcinogen and regulations permit a lower concentration of it in the air than other damaging particles. But the Environment Agency classifies wood plants as no more than a “nuisance” to residents, not a health risk.

Campaigners fear residents have lower standards of protection from the health threats of wood dust than employees.

The report, No Proof of No Harm: a Citizen Science Investigation (CSI) assesses five affected communities: Avonmouth Docks, Mossley and Horwich in Greater Manchester, Shoreham, Frodsham in Cheshire and Kirkby in Merseyside.

It investigates the impact of the wood dust on the communities, analyses Environment Agency (EA) studies and reveals the results of independent dust exposure tests.

The report criticises an EA study in Mossley in winter 2011-12 for failing to test for a range of hazardous substances including arsenic and lead, being undertaken in cold and wet months, and for locating equipment that cannot effectively monitor smaller particles away from the prevailing wind. There are similar criticisms of studies, including those by local authorities, at other locations.

Inspired by American environmentalist Erin Brockovich’s successful fight against energy corporation PG&E over water contamination, CSI claims there is a “lack of adequate enforcement by industry regulations to mitigate waste wood emissions in communities... where fine dust particles hazardous to health can stay suspended for a considerable time, particularly overnight”.

The report wants health authorities to provide peer-reviewed evidence for their claims that health issues reported by communities are not connected to wood emissions.

It concludes that regulations for waste wood processing are “out of date, arbitrary and without medical rationale”, adding: “Without full chemical analysis and quantification of emissions there is No Proof of No Harm.” The groups involved are seeking a public inquiry,  funding for more research, and for the government to amend legislation classifying wood dust only as a nuisance to residents.

Hilda Palmer from the Manchester Hazards Centre, which supported the report along with scientists, said: “CSI shows the authorities where they are going wrong and should spur them on to carry out a proper scientific investigation, which learns from the research they have done, not the unscientific blind-eye approaches they are currently conducting.

“Sadly, we don’t have safe environmental standards. Legal limits can still make people ill. If people – workers or communities – are reporting ill health, then the authorities should discover why. And if it is related to a local source then sort it out. Why is dust containing carcinogens and allergens escaping from a workplace and contaminating people’s homes and the environment?”

An EA spokesperson said: “There are standards set by the government to ensure the quality of air we breathe is acceptable. We use our regulatory powers to ensure the dust from installations we regulate does not cause these standards to be breached.”

Jill Meara, deputy director of government body Public Health England’s centre for chemicals, said: “The main health problems associated with wood dust are linked to long- term occupational exposure in workplaces resulting in skin disorders, nasal obstruction, asthma and a rare type of nasal cancer.”