> >From [log in to unmask]  Fri Oct 26 09:07:57 2001
>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:27:11 +0200
>To: Recipient List Suppressed:;
>From: barrois <[log in to unmask]>
>X-AntiVirus: scanned for viruses by AMaViS 0.2.0-pre6 
>(http://aachalon.de/AMaViS/)
>
>JP Barrois
>Senior Lecturer
>
>Dear Colleagues and Friends,
>
>Working part time in Britain and in France, I am involved in both countries
>in the preparation of an international conference against deregulation and
>privatisation and in defence of labour rights for all to take place in
>February 2002 in Berlin.
>
>This campaign - you will see the appeal below -  has received support from a
>wide range of trade unionists and labour movement activists round the world.
>
>In Britain, Tony Benn former MP has decided to join it.
>As part of this campaign I have been contacted by Helen Peters a colleague 
>working at the university of North London who has drafted a 
>contribution  to support the Berlin Conference to be circulated in the 
>British higher education sector.
>
>I am using my French e mail facilities to draw your attention to both the
>contribution  and the original Berlin appeal with the hope that you will
>agree to endorse them and perhaps, if you can,  to participate in the Berlin
>Conference.
>
>Could you let me know your position?
>
>Yours
>JP Barrois
>
>
>
>Academics,  and university staff  support the Berlin Conference
>
>Appeal
>
>
>
>
>We are lecturers, students and university staff in higher education in the 
>UK who have come to know about the invitation to an 
>International  Conference against deregulation and for Labour Rights 
>for  all to be held in Berlin in
>February 2002 ( see below).
>
>  This conference concerns us because of the need to defend the rights
>  of both students and all those who work in our universities in the
>  present climate of marketisation and de-democratisation which threatens 
> our sector.
>
>  The situation in which  universities are required to  recruit and
>  teach more and more students with no corresponding increase in
>  funding makes conditions intolerable for both students and lecturers.
>
>  Universities are turning towards speculation in property and commercial 
> activities in order to remain solvent with education no longer being the 
> central focus of activities.
>
>
>  Young people are exhorted to take up further study as customers looking 
> for higher earnings and young working class people are both suspicious 
> and reluctant, being cynical about consumer exploitation.
>
>At the same time those who do study have to work long hours in part-time 
>jobs to keep their debts under control, with obvious effects on their studies.
>
>Insecurity and short-termism have become common-place in universities with 
>in many cases, including Oxford University, contract workers outnumbering 
>established staff. These workers have no political rights and no 
>democratic involvement in the running of their institutions.
>
>
>  All this was started  by the former Tory Government. The New Labour
>government lead by Tony Blair, far from reversing these policies has
>  even aggravated the attacks aiming at privatising higher education.
>
>  These developments in the British higher education sector cannot be
>  isolated from the same policies being enforced in other countries.
>
>  These policies have the same origin: the international financial 
> institutions relaye'de by the European Union.
>
>The World Bank is  clearly recommending  deregulation of the public sector 
>of higher education and its transformation into a business like sector in 
>order to reduce public spending.
>
>  In its 1999 report" Market Forces in Education" the World Bank wrote: 
> "The state in most countries is the major financier of education.  And it 
> does not end there.  In most countries the state is also the major 
> provider.  It was not always this way, and in many countries there are 
> other providers : private (for- and non-profit), church, NGO, home.  In 
> other words, there is a market for education."The market in education can 
> lead to important improvements in  quality by encouraging innovation and 
> promoting efficiency "
>
>The WTO is still more explicit in its Background Note by the Secretariat 
>EDUCATION SERVICES : "Available sources emphasize the emergence of 
>innovative institutional arrangements between public and private entities. 
>One commonly cited example is the Western Governors' University, which was 
>founded by 17 governors of Western U.S. States and includes private sector 
>partners such as IBM, AT&T, Cisco, Microsoft, and International Thomson.".
>
>  In Europe these policies of privatisation are relayed by the European 
> Commission and the forced march to the Euro imposing a drastic reduction 
> of public spendings.
>
>  We feel that the Berlin conference is a step in the right direction
>  in the fight for properly funded higher education, decent nationally
>  negotiated salaries and conditions for all those working in
>  universities and the abolition of student fees as part of the
>  organisation of the resistance against deregulation in every sector.
>
>  What is at stake is democracy of which the higher education system
>  but also  public housing, the public transport system, the national
>  health service are founding elements.
>
>  These gains cannot be defended or reclaimed without preserving the
>  existence of our unions which the international institutions wish to
>  transform into transmitters of these policies.
>
>  The Berlin Conference is convened to organise the defence of labour
>  rights for all.
>
>  We therefore support the conference and agree to participate in it and 
> call upon all colleagues, staff, academics, students,  in higher 
> education to do likewise as a contribution to the international struggle 
> against deregulation.
>
>We call upon colleagues to contribute on the basis of their own experience 
>and join the higher education preparatory t committee.
>
>
>First endorsers ( pers cap)
>
>Helen Peters Lecturer University of Noth London NATFHE, Ray Bush Institute 
>for Politics and International Studies University of Leeds, Rosa.M Hall 
>University of Leeds, Michael Evans University of Canterbury, NATFHE, Will 
>Patterson. University of Leeds AUT, Martyn Edelsten Health and Tropical 
>Veterinary Medicine Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, Dr. Nat M. Queen 
>University of Birmingham AUT, Malcolm Law University of York, Martin 
>Moloney  London School of Economics,Don Howe Unison shop steward York Br 
>(pers cap), Dr Jim House The University of Leeds -Prof. Lucio Sponza 
>University of Westminster -Allyson Pollock University of Central London- 
>David Shannon University of Wales -J.F. Crocker University of Newcastle- 
>Alan lafferty London Guildhall University - David Bailey University of 
>Birmingham, John Weeks School of Oriental and african Studies London, 
>Janet Shapiro University on North London, Andrew F. Knapp University of 
>reading, H.K. Radice University of Leeds, Deb Cannan Student University of 
>Canterbury, Seb Martineau University of Canterbury, Mahmood Messkoub 
>University of Leeds, Dr. Miguel Martinez Lucio University of Leeds, Angela 
>Hulley University of Leeds , AUT, Stefan Cholewka, University of Leeds, 
>Trevor Scawthorn University of Leeds (MSF Union, in personal Capacity), 
>Prof. John Chartres, University of Leeds,  Choong-Ho Kang University of 
>Leeds Oliver Springate-Baginski, University of Leeds, Shupi Rinomhota 
>University of Leeds, Jill Liddington University of Leeds, Nevill Rice 
>University of Leeds, David Shannon University of Wales, Antonio 
>Martinez-Arboleda University of Leeds,
>
>
>Endorsement Form
>
>I endorse the contribution in support to the Berlin Conference  YES/NO
>I endorse the appeal to the Berlin Conference YES/NO
>I join the higher education preparatory committee YES/NO
>I wish to participate in the Berlin conference YES/NO
>I donate  ........£10.......£20.........£50.......£More
>
>(  Make cheques payable to : ILC ( Berlin)  PO Box 20 420 London SE17 1WU)
>
>
>
>Name:....................................Union/organisation:....................
>
>Address:.......................................................................
>
>PostCode:...................Phone:..............................................
>
>Fax:........................E.mail:.............................................
>
>APPEAL
>TO THE BERLIN CONFERENCE AGAINST DEREGULATION AND FOR LABOUR 
>RIGHTS  FOR  ALL (FEBRUARY 2002)
>
>Landmarks:
>
>An "International conference against deregulation and for labour rights 
>for all" will take place in Berlin, February 22nd to 24th, 2002. On 
>February 21st, an international conference for the defence of working 
>women will take place beforehand.
>
>Who and what founded that initiative?
>
>* February 2000, San Francisco: 560 delegates from 56 countries meet in an 
>Open Workers World Conference (OWC) for the Defence of trade union 
>independence and workers rights. This action will be followed up by a 
>continuation committee in which AFL-CIO activists and leaders participate.
>
>* June 2000, Geneva: The International Liaison Committee for a Workers and 
>Peoples International (ILC) organises a meeting of political and trade 
>union leaders of 32 countries for the defence of ILO conventions, 
>especially ILO Convention 103 protecting maternity rights. They launch an 
>appeal for an international conference against deregulation.
>
>* December 2000, Berlin: German political and trade union leaders ask for 
>this conference to take place in Berlin and set up an organising committee.
>
>* January 2001 : An appeal to the workers of the world is launched in 
>common by:
>- the continuation committee of the OWC and the San Francisco AFL-CIO
>- the ILC, co-ordinated by the French Workers Party,
>- The German organising committee.
>
>How is it being prepared?
>
>* Through the exchange of information on an international scale. An 
>international monthly bulletin is being published in French, English, Spanish.
>* Contributions from each country, where delegations are being set up by 
>national organising committees.
>* A financing campaign will guarantee the conference's independence from 
>states and official institutions.
>
>We, the signatories of this letter of invitation, are extending an 
>invitation to workers, trade unionists and their organisations, to attend 
>an international conference against deregulation, to be held in Berlin in 
>February 2002.
>
>An Open World Conference in Defence of Trade Union Independence and 
>Democratic Rights was held in February 2000, and was attended by 560 
>delegates from 56 countries. In June 2000, trade unionists and political 
>representatives of the international labour movement from 32 countries 
>meeting in Geneva in defence of the ILO Conventions decided to propose the 
>holding of an international conference against deregulation, and to 
>organise to make it happen. The Follow-up Committee of the Open World 
>Conference, made up of representatives of the international labour 
>movement, including activists and officers of organisations affiliated to 
>the AFL-CIO (United States), has seized on this initiative and has 
>proposed that the conference be held in Europe.
>
>We agree with this proposal.
>
>Around the world, workers are facing an offensive by the international 
>financial institutions, the IMF and the World Bank, the OECD and the 
>European Union, in the name of globalisation and the ìnew economyî. This 
>offensive is aimed at their collective social rights, labour legislation, 
>collective agreements and statutes, and at their social security systems.
>
>This offensive threatens to have serious consequences, each more serious 
>than the last. Every social gain and labour right, won through centuries 
>of struggle, now faces attack in order to reduce labour costs. And this 
>affects the workers independent organisations, both trade union and 
>political. In every country of the world, the workers and their 
>organisations are fighting against these attacks.
>
>This defensive struggle is dramatic in its scope. It ranges from the 
>defence of basic working and living conditions, to the defence of the 
>independence of the organisations of the labour movement. For many workers 
>and for whole peoples, it is a struggle for survival.
>
>The IMF and the World Bank has warned repeatedly that there was an urgent 
>need to deregulate and restrict democratic and labour rights, rights which 
>were gained through struggle and which were extended and defended 
>throughout Germany by the united workers since 1989: the social security 
>system, and the system of collective agreements and labour relations 
>protected in law. Pressure has mounted on the government and trade unions 
>to move in this direction.
>
>This explains why the government is being pushed to impose the ìreformî of 
>the compulsory pensions system, in the face of resistance by the trade 
>unions and the SPD. Under this ìreformî, the level of the state pension 
>would be reduced and a contributory pension would be introduced. This 
>ìreformî breaks with a historic gain of the social State.
>
>We would like to remind you of what Bernd Rissmann, the Vice President of 
>the Berlin-Brandeburg DGB, said at the Berlin demonstration against the 
>policy of radical cuts which, amongst others, threatens the education and 
>training of children and youth. He declared to more than 30,000 parents, 
>teachers and school students: if the politicians are not ready to invest 
>more in education (Ö), they will share responsibility for the stench of 
>right-wing extremism The policy of social destruction, in the name of 
>globalisation, is responsible for the political and social despair which 
>feeds right-wing demagoguery.
>
>The implementation of such a policy by Gerhard Schroeder's government 
>threatens to result in a frontal clash with the broadest layers of the 
>population, the workers, the trade unionists and their organisations, the 
>social democrat activists. Every one of them is saying: we cannot accept 
>the undermining of the state pensions system, which is based on 
>solidarity. We cannot accept the push towards privatising public services 
>and public social infrastructures, or the growing pressure on the autonomy 
>of collective bargaining and national collective agreements. In the course 
>of this movement, there is also a strengthening of the wish to no longer 
>see the trade unions chained to a jobs pact. We know that this resistance 
>against deregulation, which is growing in Germany, is spreading 
>internationally. At the heart of this resistance lies the defence of 
>collective agreements, labour codes, social gains in every country, and, 
>on the international level, the defence of the ILO Conventions. We propose 
>that this latter aspect should form the objective of the international 
>conference against deregulation. The revision of the ILO Conventions is 
>now in fact on the agenda. For example, the revision of the Convention on 
>social systems is due to be debated at the June 2001 session of the ILO.
>
>This is why we are calling for the preparation of an international 
>Conference Against Deregulation, which will serve as the basis for an 
>international counter-attack by the workers. We propose to make a public 
>indictment of the anti-social, anti-democratic, anti-worker and anti-trade 
>union policy of globalisation, which, far too often, belittles the workers 
>and their families and threatens their very existence. We propose that, in 
>every country, and taking into account the different conditions, research 
>be carried out by the workers into the forms and mechanisms of the policy 
>of deregulation and its implementation in different sectors. This research 
>and contributions from every country will be collected into a Black Book 
>of deregulation.
>
>The aim of the Conference is to expose the destructive policy of 
>deregulation and its causes. The task of the Conference will also be to 
>discuss in order to determine how we can act together against the policy 
>of deregulation, which initiatives we can take and which campaigns we can 
>organise. Proposals in this vein should be made as part of the preparation 
>of the Conference.
>
>Our Conference is addressed to all workers of the whole world and their 
>organisations. It does not intend to compete with existing national and 
>international organisations. It does not intend to compete with any other 
>initiative. In keeping with the spirit of the San Francisco Open World 
>Conference, it is open to all currents of the democratic and labour 
>movement which regard resistance to deregulation as a basic necessity for 
>the future of the workers and the whole of humanity.
>
>This is why the signatories of this appeal hereby decide to constitute an 
>Organising Committee for this Conference. All of us who wish to work 
>together towards this goal invite you to take part. We propose to the 
>Follow-up Committee of the San Francisco Open World Conference that we 
>form together the International Preparatory Committee of the International 
>Conference Against Deregulation.                   Berlin, 27 November 2000
>
>First endorsers
>Berlin Conference organising Committee :
>Michael ALTMANN, trade union representative  ÖTV Frankfurt, SPD, executive 
>member AfA, South-Hessen (Land); Lothar ANDRES, official executive ÖTV, 
>Berlin; Manfred BIRKHAHN, President of the trade union HBV, Berlin 
>Bran-deburg (two Länders); Carla BOULBOULE, former member of parliament 
>for NRW, GEW; Rainer DÖRING, works council member, TU reps Chair ÖTV 
>(Berlin urban traffic); Udo EISNER, IGM, former SPD local delegate; Elke 
>FALK, works council member ÖTV, Berlin hospital; Heinke FÖRST, executive 
>member of a SPD constituency in Berlin; Karlheinz GERHOLD, full-time 
>official ÔTV, Berlin, SPD, President of AfA, Halle; Volker GERNHARDT, 
>works council President, Berlin hospital; Eberhard HENZE, works council 
>member, Berlin local government, ÖTV, TU reps Chair ÖTV; Karin HOFFMANN, 
>ÖTV, SPD; Markus HOFMANN, works council executive member, ÖTV, Employers 
>Insurance Dept; Gotthard KRUPP-BOULBOULLE,  ÖTV, executive member of a SPD 
>constituency in Berlin; Wolfgang MAHNKE, ÖTV, SPD; Rainer MATTHES, former 
>member of parliament, Brandeburg Land; Jörgen MÜLLER, SPD, executive 
>member, Berlin Land; Henrik SCHENKER, full-time official  ÖTV Berlin, TU 
>reps Chair for the social institutions of Berlin (creches, hospitals, 
>etc.); Gerlinde SCHERMER, former SPD member of parliament, Berlin Land; 
>Petra SCHMITZ, works council Presi-dent and TU reps Vice-Chair for the 
>social institutions of Berlin; Volkmar SCHÖNE, works council 
>Vice-President, Berlin local government, ÖTV, President of AfA-SPD, Berlin 
>constituency; Klaus SCHÐLLER, full-timer DGB Jena, President of AfA-SPD, 
>Thuringia (Land); Roswitha WEIDNER, Regional Womens Council ÖTV, Berlin; 
>Hans WEIGT, DPG; Axel ZUTZ, executive member of a SPD constituency in 
>Berlin, ÖTV
>
>San Francisco Conference follow up Committee :
>Jack HENNING, Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus, California Labor Federation 
>(AFL-CIO) (San Francisco, California); Walter JOHNSON, Executive 
>Secretary-Treasurer, San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO) (San Francisco, 
>California); Baldemar VELASQUEZ, President, Farm Labor Organizing 
>Committee (FLOC/AFL-CIO) (Toledo, Ohio); Mya SHONE, Office Professional 
>Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 3 and Co-Coordinator of the 
>Open World Conference (OWC) (San Francisco, California); Ed ROSARIO, 
>President, San Francisco Chapter, LCLAA, Co-Coordinator of OWC and 
>Coordinator of Western Hemisphere Workers Conference (San Francisco, 
>California); Daniel GLUCKSTEIN, Coordinator of International Liaison 
>Committee for a Workers International (ILC) (France); Patrick HEBERT, 
>General Secretary, CGT-FO Loire-Atlantique (France); Frank MARTIN DEL 
>CAMPO, National Executive Board member, Labor Council for Latin American 
>Advancement (LCLAA) (San Francisco, California); Nancy WOHLFORTH, 
>Secretary-Treasurer, OPEIU Local 3 (AFL-CIO) (San Francisco, California); 
>Alan BENJAMIN, OPEIU Local 3, San Francisco LCLAA and Assistant 
>Coordinator of Western Hemisphere Workers Conference(San Francisco, 
>California).
>
>First endorsers in Britain
>
>Tony Benn, MP - Andy Gillchrist General Secretary FBU- Mike Lawson 
>President FBU-  Bakers Union BFAWU- Gary Jones, NEC, Communication Workers 
>Union (pers cap) - Stefan Cholewka , editor The Link , Ben Rickman 
>Secretary Brent TUC - A Tsiricos, President Luton Trade Union Council ( 
>Pers Cap)- Steve Metcalfe Chair RMT 0854 Br, President Lancaster TUC Tony 
>Staunton. Chairperson, Plymouth UNISON; Secretary, Plymouth & District TUC 
>- Roland Biosah PCS Nec, TUC Race Relations Committee (pers cap)- Mike 
>Shotton Secretary, University College Worcester Association of  University 
>Teachers (pers cap)- Seb Martineau President Canterbury University 
>NUS-Peter Walker trade unionist University of Bath - Don Howe Unison shop 
>steward York Br (pers cap) - Shaun O'Neil FBU Secretary, Rochdale - Steve 
>Donnelly AEEU Delco Electronics Liverpoool (pers cap)-Martha Osamor TUC 
>Race Relations Committee (pers cap)- Helen Peters trade unionist 
>University of North London - Glen Watson RMT London, TUC Race Relations 
>Committee (pers cap)-Explo Nani Koffi ALISC  -  Mark Holinrake Rochdale 
>CLP  -  Keith Cross London Co-op Party - Gareth Nash, Brecon & Radnor CLP 
>- Nick Phillips UNISON southwark , Richie Wanless, Zak Newton LINK 
>Editorial Board- Robin Rankin, Rochdale CLP- Janet  Shapiro, NATFHE North 
>London University (pers cap)- Ray Shapiro, retired government 
>statistician-Ray Bush University of Leeds- Rosa.M Hall. University of 
>Leeds-Dr. Nat M. Queen University of Birmingham AUT (pers cap), Martyn 
>Edelsten,Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine Easter Bush-Will 
>Patterson.Universit of Leeds.AUT.University of Leeds (pers cap)- Michael R 
>Evans Canterbury Christ Church University -Malcolm Law University of York- 
>Martin Moloney.London School of Economics- Dr Jim House The University of 
>Leeds -Prof. Lucio Sponza University of Westminster -Allyson Pollock 
>University of Central London -David Shannon University of Wales -Mike 
>Arnott Secretary, Dundee Trades Union Council- Knowsley UNISON - J F 
>Crocker University of Newcastle-Alan lafferty London Guildhall University- 
>David Bailey University of Birmingham-John Weeks School of Oriental and 
>aArican Studies London- Dexter Whitfield Centre for Public Services 
>Sheffield, Andrew F. Knapp University of Reading- Apolo Santana, H.K. 
>Radice University of Leeds, Mahmood Messkoub University of Leeds, Dr. 
>Miguel Martinez Lucio University of Leeds, Trevor Scawthorn University of 
>Leeds (MSF Union, in personal Capacity), Prof. John Chartres, University 
>of Leeds,  Choong-Ho Kang University of Leeds Oliver Springate-Baginski, 
>University of Leeds, Shupi Rinomhota University of Leeds, Jill Liddington 
>University of Leeds, Nevill Rice University of Leeds, David Shannon 
>University of Wales, Antonio Martinez-Arboleda University of Leeds,
>

******************************************************
Please think before you press the 'Reply' button!   Note that if you press
the 'Reply' button your message will go the individual who posted this message
not to the list.  With many mailers you will have a 'Reply-to-All' button that
will send automatically to the list address of <[log in to unmask]>.  The
Radstats list is set up for public discussion so please be generous with your
thoughts and share them us all.
*******************************************************