Peoples Assembly Against Austerity

On 22nd June this year, there is a People's Assembly to be held at Central Hall Westminster. The theme is against Austerity and the cuts, particularly attacks on benefits, and it is hoped all organisations who are campaigning against cuts will come along and contribute, with comments, suggestions and support in general.

We hope to make this meeting a resounding success with as many people as possible coming along. We welcome students, nurses and service workers, i.e. firemen, postal workers and teachers. The is a great opportunity to speak out and make our voices heard and, more importantly, listened to.

Annual General Meeting Saturday 20th April 2013

To be held at the Somers Town Community Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, Kings Cross NW1 1EE

All are welcome but if you are not affiliated, you will not be able to vote nor propose a motion or resolution nor nominate, you will however, be welcome to raise questions and make suggestions. We welcome ideas and support.

Hope to see you there. The meeting commences at 10.30 with registration at 10.00 a.m.

GLPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PENSIONS TODAY AND TOMORROW

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

HOW ARE PENSIONERS COPING WITH CON-DEM CUTS AND POLICIES?

Come to the GLPA Pensioners and Trade Unionists Conference to find some answers.

On Saturday 3rd November 2012 from 10a.m. to 3.30p.m.
AT SOMERSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE, 150 OSSULSTON STREET, KINGS CROSS NW1 1EE (Click picture for map)

Entrance £3 including Buffet Lunch

Speakers: Dr. John Lister - Health Emergency
Prof. Steve Iliffe - Social Care for the Elderly
Karen Jennings - Asst. Gen. Sec. UNISON
Caroline Pigeon - GLA Assembly Member - Transport

ALL WELCOME

Come along and listen to the experts and voice your opinion

FUEL ALLOWANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS

It is getting a little tiresome to hear from so-called experts on fiscal studies, of their focus on the elderly and their current benefits. It is so unfair that by these public comments they draw the attention of the remainder of the public to those of us unable to work nor even contribute to the large deficit allegedly inherited by the current Government.
Among other spotlights being brought to bear on the pensioners' so-called benefits are the Freedom Pass enjoyed by London Pensioners, Free Bus Travel by other Pensioners across the country, Free Prescriptions, the Free Television Licence and the Winter Fuel Allowance.
It is quite iniquitous that cuts should be aimed at a class of people unable to hit back either financially or through strikes and marches.
The most callous suggestion is that the Winter Fuel Allowance should come into the category of benefits not really needful, an attitude which has been exacerbated by celebrities and other public figures noisily giving away their allowance in a 'noble' gesture to the country because they say they are not really in need of this allowance. This noisy gesture has put in jeopardy this payment which has been given open handedly with no strings or means testing. Instead of making a grandiose show of their altruism, would it not be better for these noble folk to hand their allowance to Age Concern or Age UK quietly without fuss.
Since the Government may consider that one way of economising would be for the Winter Fuel Payment to be means tested or only given to those applying, would it not be a good idea that from the 1st October to the 31st March all central heating in the House of Commons, the House of Lords (which does have an elderly section of the public by virtue of that House's Members' age), all Council Chambers and all Civil Servant Offices, be turned off.
This would surely make a good saving, set a fine example of public responsibility and provide the sitters with a better perception of what it is like to be really cold and unable to do anything about it usually because of enforced immobility either through health or age. Try being old and cold. There's nothing like experience for greater understanding.
Our fiscal experts should remember that this generation of pensioners have put more into the National Pot than any other section of society because having lived longer, their contributions were greater. One of the betrayals was that having been promised a pension which would be linked to wages or prices, whichever was the higher, a previous Conservative Government under Mrs. Thatcher, broke this promise of a link and the following Labour Government were even more treacherous by not reversing the actions of that previous Tory Government. Pensioners have been let down by both parties and talk of taking away or means testing a heating allowance, is no less a betrayal than the breaking of the Link. It is pernicious to suggest that in these hard times the Pensioners have not had inroads made to their quality of life as others have. That so-called quality is already under attack by rising food prices, heavier utility bills and telephone costs. It is now costly to ring Telephone Directories even before one makes a call.
Leave what little we get alone.

WE'RE NO FOOLS

Jeremy Corbyn MP

ANOTHER WAY IS POSSIBLE
1st April 2011 is the date and if you want to know more come and join us at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. at 2.30 p.m. until 5.30 p.m.
Jeremy Corbyn MP, John Cryer MP, Bob Crow (RMT) Mark Serwotka (PCS) A member of UK Uncut, are speakers and should make this meeting one of particular interest to the older generation.
Here is our chance to put questions, suggest solutions and responses to the recent events not only on the Home Front but also on an International level for, as we know, what happens out there also affects us here in the UK.
This is part of the continuing fight-back against this Con-Dem government in which we as pensioners, must play our part.
We need pensioners, retired trade union members, trade union branches and trades councils' representatives to come along and ensure our success.
As the year progresses and this government pursues its unscrupulous policies of cuts and punitive measures against the vulnerable and needy, we shall find that gatherings of this sort are invaluable weapons to secure some form of security for us all.

Pensioners Conference - 6th November 2010

Now more than ever we must make our anxieties known and shared with the Trades Unions. This is the annual event held at Somers Town Community Centre when we can speak, offer advice to those Union members not yet pensioners and urge them to use their powers to protect the elderly and disabled.

We have a number of speakers and hope to have our old friends from the Unions speak to us.

Our future is not so certain now we have a Government determined to make drastic cuts and so this is a good time to remind you all that the PENSION must NEVER be referred to as a benefit. It is a right and an entitlement which cannot be treated by tinkering and reducing, or worse, means testing. As such right, it can never be lumped together with other benefits making it vulnerable to the callous cuts now contemplated for other benefits.

Benefits may be subject to these cuts but the Pension should be immune to any tricks the Government wishes to perform with it. Make sure you correct anyone who refers to our Pension as a benefit. IT IS NOT.

Jack Jones

Today is a very sad one for Pensioners nationwide. Last night, 21st April, this genuine and honest man passed away to what we hope will be a peaceful rest.

Jack Jones was a prime mover in the Pensioner movement and played a major role in the inception of the National Pensioners Convention. We are proud to say that Jack was a patron of this Association, the Greater London Pensioners Association.

His life was a dedication to the working man but more than this it was a dedication interwoven with compassion and decency and these qualities manifested, notably when taking up the issues and plight of Britain's pensioners.

He never stinted to use his voice and reputation on our behalf, although, like many great men, his innate honesty and uprightness often worked against him.

We understand he refused entry to the House of Lords because he wanted to keep his feet on the ground. He nevertheless maintained his goodwill and efforts and even though old age was making it more and more difficult, he still attended our rallies and marches when his failing health allowed. He supported us, he inspired us, he was a living example of what a public figure should be

So we thank this cheerful man who was our figurehead at all times. In the words of the song, which were his perennial wave of goodbye to us whenever we met, he kept right on to the end of the road.

We are sure there will be a light waiting for you. Farewell, Jack.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2009

This is scheduled for Saturday 18th April at Somers Town Community Centre 150 Ossulston Street, Kings Cross, London NW1 1EE commencing at 10.30 a.m. with registration at 10.00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Nominations and Motions no later than 7th April please.

This is the most important meeting of the year so try and make it if you can.

Keep the Post Public

Do you want the Royal Mail privatised?

If not, sign our petition organised by:

  

   CWU London District Council 

   34/41 Dallington Street 

   London EC1V OBB

Find out more and sign the petition online  at http://post.cwu.org/page/s/notforsale.

It may be April Fools but we're No Fools

The British Pensioners Trade Unions Association Action Day has been organised for April lst  under the banner of:

      "WE'RE NO FOOLS!"

Let the GLPA know what action your organisation is taking by use of our contacts on the right or by making a comment here.

THE RALLY

Many of you will have come to and supported our Rally. Many of us feel that we could have been treated a lot better by the police and authorities.

The march was banned and the Green in Parliament Square was barricaded off effectively keeping pensioners from meeting and speaking publicly.

However, we had some good speakers inside the Methodist Central Hall and inside Westminster Hall met several MP's who did at least have the good grace to come and meet us. So our thanks for all of you for coming along on a cold but bright day and rallying to our flag. We will keep you posted as to our next action.