Obituary: Tim Wallace-Murphy

[BEGINS]

Thursday 04 July 2019, Espéraza, Aude.

Dr. Timothy Wallace-Murphy has passed.

It is with profound sadness that we wish to announce that Dr Tim Wallace-Murphy, 89, has passed away at his home in the South West of France, having been in a ‘slow hurry’ with his battle with COPD. Dying as he put it ‘was not all it cracked up to be’. He was surrounded by loved ones.

A father, an inspiration and a friend to many, his death will be felt not just in Espéraza but around the world. He was born on 13 January 1930 in Galway to Timothy and Mae Murphy, later describing himself as a Franco-Irish Yiddisher boy with both feet firmly stuck in mid-air. After attending the University College Dublin from 1953 - 1958, he obtained a degree in Medicine and later one in Psychology. He then travelled across Europe and Africa for ten years before returning to England and beginning work as a clinical psychologist.

Through his work, Tim met author Trevor Ravenscroft with whom he co-authored his first book Mark of the Beast in 1988. Following this tome, Tim then devoted his life to the writing and research of the Knights Templar, Rex-Deus and pathways of spirituality.

Tim was a dedicated supporter of the restoration and preservation of Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh, Scotland, undertaking excavations and field work with a team of like-minded people, whom would become lifelong friends. From this experience, he produced the book Rosslyn: Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail. It is from this book that Dan Brown used as source material for his own work The Da Vinci Code. Tim found himself subsequently featuring in TV documentaries and began to settle in the South West of France or to Tim, ‘paradise’.

Tim has had a proud career in community work and politics, having served as the Governor of South Devon Technical College, a TUC secretary, town councillor and a volunteer for the Leukaemia Research Fund. Tim dedicated his life in service to others and helping those who were also brought up spiritually confused on to a spiritual pathway.

A service for friends and loved ones will be held to remember Tim at a later date; however as in life and death, funds are limited. If you wish to help with the arrangements financially, please use the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-for-tim-wallacemurphy

Tim left many memories and many will be fondly remembered, such as his remarkable singing ability and razor sharp intellect. When asked shortly before his passing how he was feeling, he commented that “I will feel much better when this bloody thing is all over.” As we grieve, Tim’s humour lasted out to the last.

[ENDS]

EU needs a fair balance between the demands of work and private life

EU needs a fair balance between the demands of work and private life

By Montserrat Mir Roca ETUC Confederal Secretary

When the nuts and bolts of the long-awaited European Pillar of Social Rights are unveiled at the end of April, the European Commission will at the same time set out plans to achieve a better balance between work and private life. This issue affects the lives of millions of Europeans, and has a direct bearing on economic growth and popular support for the EU. Trade unions believe ambitious action is needed.

Let’s look at the economic arguments. The EU has set the target of a 75% employment rate for both women and men by 2020. But – especially in the wake of austerity-based cuts in public services – people cannot take up paid work if there is no-one to look after their children, ageing parents, or sick or disabled family members. And of course, the great majority of carers are women. Without support, many women are forced into part-time, temporary and poor-quality jobs with no opportunity to develop the professional potential and skills Europe so badly needs.

New research by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions estimates the total cost of women’s inactivity in the workforce to be around €370 billion across the EU, or 2.8% of GDP, including loss of tax revenues and payment of benefits. Enabling more women to work by investing in ‘work-life balance’ would be one sure way to boost Europe’s economic recovery.

There is plenty of evidence that in Nordic countries, for example, which offer a more generous and flexible approach to responsibilities outside the workplace, workers suffer less stress and the economy benefits from greater productivity.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) believes a coordinated mix of legislation and non-legislative measures is required now, including paid paternity and parental leave, flexible working arrangements, and universal, affordable child and elderly care with financial support from EU social and structural funds. Creating a better work-life balance would be in the interests not only of workers and their families but also employers and society in general.

We recognise the political difficulties facing the Commission as it contemplates the future of Europe, and we hope that Commissioners have taken our arguments on board. The trade unions are ready to support the Commission if the proposal on work-life balance matches the real needs of men and women trying to achieve this balance. But we fear that workers will find the final proposals disappointing. This could have been a major opportunity to show Europeans that the EU is listening.

Will it work this time?

We have waited almost 25 years for progress on maternity leave. The last attempt to improve maternity provisions was abandoned after the draft legislation had been blocked by the Members States in the European Council for some six years.

The EU should be ensuring better leave provisions and care facilities for both working parents in all Member States. The existing, out-dated EU directives on maternity and parental leave have largely failed to improve gender equality, neither expanding women’s opportunities in the labour market, nor encouraging men to use leave provisions and take a greater share of caring responsibilities. Currently, only 10% of fathers take up their option of one month’s paternity leave. Indeed, arrangements in some Member States tend to reinforce traditional gender roles, offering men a bit of extra time off but no opportunity for sharing responsibilities. Women are left to compensate for inadequate social care, depriving them of careers, equal pay and economic independence. The EU must also bring the minimum standards existing in some countries up closer to the level of Member States that promote a better work-life balance.

We have called for practical measures and policies that would make a real difference to people’s lives. We understand the Commission will propose new legislation, which we welcome in principle, but we are waiting to see what it contains. The ETUC has called, for example, for statutory maternity leave of at least 18 weeks on full pay; breastfeeding facilities; a Paternity Leave Directive guaranteeing at least two weeks, non-transferable paid leave for new fathers, and paid parental leave of at least 24 weeks which should be available until a child reaches the age of eight.

Stop stigmatising parents

Women need stronger protection from dismissal for at least six months after they return to work after maternity leave. A survey carried out among our members revealed that in every country new mothers are being sacked or demoted. In short, when women become parents their pay and promotion chances go down, whereas men’s go up. Carers’ leave should be introduced at EU level, and paid. And flexible working arrangements, while important, need careful regulation, which should be negotiated between trade unions and employers. Expecting parents to telework eight hours a day with a toddler around their feet is expecting miracles.  

Accessible, affordable childcare is key not only to increase women’s participation in the workforce, but also to meeting Europe’s demographic challenge. Member States where childcare is unavailable not only have higher levels of female unemployment, they also have lower birth-rates. And as the population ages, the burden of care for elderly and disabled parents and grandparents is falling more and more onto families – and therefore women. With social care under pressure across Europe, working people must have the flexibility to meet these responsibilities.

In the end, the ETUC’s red line is pay. The EU must require all leave schemes to be covered by adequate pay arrangements. This would go a long way towards reducing the gender pay gap, facilitating women’s re-entry into the labour market and encouraging men to make use of parental and paternity leave. To secure Europe’s future prosperity, Member States need to invest in work-life balance, to the benefit of all.

About Montserrat Mir Roca

Montserrat Mir Roca is Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. Previously, she was a member of the national executive of the CC.OO trade union in Spain.

This article is shared by our friends at Social Europe, with their permission https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/04/eu-needs-fair-work-life-balance/

From Steve Sweeney:

 I was part of the demonstrations in Besiktas last night where people were opposing the outcome of the referendum result. The result cannot be given any credibility and should not be legitimised.

Opposition CHP and HDP have announced they will challenge the outcome of the election.

The people of Turkey have accused president Erdogan of stealing their vote with reports of widespread corruption including 2.5 million contested votes counted as Yes, No votes going missing and AKP/Erdogan supporting AA news agency announcing results before ballot boxes had even left polling stations.

Erdogan would never have accepted defeat in the referendum. This was a long time in the planning. When the HDP election victory meant he could not command the majority needed to force the changes through parliament, he pushed through a law lifting immunity from prosecution for lawmakers and had 13 MPs thrown in jail.

It was only the failed coup last year which saw the ultra-nationalist/fascists of the MHP change their position to support the constitutional changes, however not all MPs or their supporters agreed.

The post-coup purges have seen opposition voices silenced. There is no freedom of the press, academics have been purged, journalists arrested, government workers sacked and everyone has become a suspect

In the south-east whole cities have been flattened with half a million people displaced. Many of those people cannot vote as they have no registered address due to their homes being destroyed and those that can are subject to military checkpoints, although many simply do not have the means to travel to vote.

Independent observers were blocked from entering sensitive areas.

Despite all of this, Erdogan could only muster 51% of the vote. It cannot under any circumstances be described as a free and fair election.

I was stopped by the police at a polling station and they tried to take my phone from me and I have a serious suspicion that my laptop and social media have been hacked and tampered with and my internet access restricted.

But the people of Turkey are not accepting the result. A series of demonstrations spread across many districts in Istanbul last night and I expect will continue today as international bodies say they will assess the allegations of fraud and corruption.

However these same bodies have been responsible for giving Erdogan the free hand he needed to terrorise his own people. Who have offered mild rebukes which he has seen fit to ignore as they refuse to consider any serious response to what elsewhere would be described as war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The pots and pans heard across Istanbul last night stood as a reminder of the spirit of Gezi. It is to these people that the new Turkey belongs and the fight will continue.

We must stand in solidarity with the people of Turkey.

TPP EXCLUSIVE: A film exposing the political, corporate and media excesses is seeking “finishing funds” to complete production.

Three Companies. Three Industrial Disputes. Three Governments. The untold truth behind the headlines. 

The film, Belonging, forensically dissects the intricate links between governments, the world of big business and media moguls. Told from the perspective of those who fought back, it highlights 3 key industrial disputes spanning the last 30 years.  This untold story has its roots in Murdoch’s purchase of the Sunday Times and extends through to the present day:

News International (1986 - 1987):  when Murdoch attacked the print worker union at Wapping, London, and effectively sacked 6,000 people overnight.  What effect did this have on a 15 year old Matt then and now, whose family were impacted, and who found himself at the centre of some of the worst violence.

The Post Office (2007-2009):  An essential service. A strong union, a company wanting to bring the workforce “in-line” to prepare for privatisation. 12 men with over 200 years service, who turned up to work one day to find the riot police waiting, accused, suspended and facing life on the dole. "You stand together when it's a wrong 'un" "That's Solidarity" 

Grangemouth (2013): A local industrial dispute that became national news. A man, Stevie Deans, who had worked for 25 years at Grangemouth Oil Refinery, vilified in the media, the trade union accused of being  “Industrial Terrorists” (Priti Patel MP, Oct 2013 (now Minister for Employment)). A Prime Minister, who accused Stevie Deans for “almost bringing the petrochemical industry to its knees”.  A company that “orchestrated the whole thing”. We speak with Stevie, his daughter and key players in the dispute about the personal impact of a company, government and the media colluding to break the union. Win or lose - is it worth the fight? 

So what of Trade Unionism today?   Are trade unions still relevant?   What does it mean to Belong? 

Independent director/producer, Morag Livingstone is also a best selling author and became a photographer, filmmaker and lecturer, after over 15 years in the oil and telecoms industry. As a member of both BECTU (the UK's media and entertainment trade union) and the Society of Authors, Morag started the film as an exploration of her own belief system, about what it means to belong and be an active trade union member. She now hopes the film will dispel some of the prejudice against trade union members – and show how this perception of them has come about, as well as the reality of the  trade unions in Britain today.

Morag says: “At a time when the trade union and the wider population are under increasing threat from the TU Bill, the Snoopers Charter, and the proposed Human Rights  repeal - the voice of the working person, and the struggles faced  against some bad practices of international businesses, and their link to governments, need to be highlighted more than ever.

You would expect government to remain neutral in these industrial disputes, and support the workforce, but when the union is involved, all reason seems to go – and this film will examine how this has come about.  Win or lose there is often a strength and sense of belonging in those standing together to face injustice. This side of the story, not told by Media Mogul controlled press, is a story that needs to be told. . This is not a film that will tell people how to think, but will ask people to think again.”

We already have substantial support, both financial and non-financial for the film among individuals, trade unions, in particular Unite, the largest trade union in Britain and Ireland, the CWU, FUB, Bectu and the TUC as well as private companies such as Union Insurance.

We are half way there on getting the necessary funding in place, and are seeking backers from Britains centre left, to provide the last £60,000 to finish the film so that we can tell this story behind the headlines.  If we meet our target of £60,000 through external funding, this will allow us to secure general release licensing of archive footage, additional filming, legal checks, and music – plus, in thanks for the support, the film will be released online for free viewing for a set period of time.

There are a number of ways to support:

Pledges can be made to crowdfunding site Indegogo http://igg.me/at/belongingfilm  In return for pledges online of £2 or more everyone will have their name on the credits, the Belonging team and our supporters are offering rewards including mugs, DVDs of the film, posters, tote bags and exclusive pledger’s T-shirts to ‘cinema night’ package – plus “A right Royal night Out,” as well as signed memorabilia and a premier!  We have received amazing support from Mark Benton, Amy Lamé and Leon and June from Gogglebox – all of whom have donated some great perks to help make this film happen!

 If a cheque is preferred, please make cheque payable to:  Livingstone Media Limited, and send to Belonging Film, 126 Havelock Road, SW19 8HB.

 If a potential funder or production house wishes to discuss options re support or funding, then please contact us on contact@belonging4us, or 07880 506497.

Contact:

For more information please contact:
Morag Livingstone T: 07880 506497/020 8542 6956
E: contact@belonging4us.com / morag@livingstone-media.com

Notes to editors

Morag Livingstone, who formally worked in the telecoms and oil industries, is an experienced film maker, writer, documentary photographer and founder of Livingstone Media, a multimedia production house telling the real stories of real people in order to bring about real change. She is the co-author of best selling books Hackney Child (The Sun newspaper’s memoir of the year in 2012) and published in January 2014 by Simon & Schuster and Tainted Love (July 2014).

Morag has an Honours Degree in Business Studies and a Masters in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London University of the Arts, where she is now a lecturer. When not writing, she makes films across continents that bring stories of poverty, low income and young peoples' mental health to life for the development sector.  The main theme being how those in positions of power try to manipulate the truth. Belonging is a natural progression.

Morag, and the team behind her are all passionate about the film. Morag has already donated much of her time to this project, claiming only expenses so far, it has been an exploration of her own belief system as well as wanting to know what it means to “Belong”.

More information about the film is at www.belonging4us.com

EXCLUSIVE: Learn with Unite in Vauxhall

EXCLUSIVE: Learn with Unite in Vauxhall

Tuesday 18th August 2015 saw the opening of the new Unite learning centre at Hooton House Vauxhall Motors, by the Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey. 

The Day began with the General Secretary being greeted by Vauxhall Convenor John Cooper, after a short meeting the General Secretary was given a guided tour of the plant accompanied by Unite Learner Reps Phil Squires and Jay Butler.

The General Secretary engaged with the workforce throughout the tour stopping to talk to the workforce at every available opportunity.

He showed particular interest when he reached the Protected work area assigned to people with reduced capabilities.

During his Visit some members were actually taking their functional skills examinations in the General Assembly Unite learning Centre, supported by tutors from West Cheshire College who the Unite learner reps have built up a very strong working relationship.

 

After this came the time for the General Secretary to try out the new model (it had to be red)

Then came what everyone had gathered for, the cutting of the ribbon to the New Unite learning centre to which the General Secretary duly obliged, While giving a short speech he paid tribute to the hard work the reps had put in to make this happen also praising the appointment of the new 16 – 24 year old production apprentices with guaranteed employment and the importance of education within the workplace giving members the confidence and opportunity to progress, which some have  managed to do since completing their maths and English courses.

To conclude the General Secretary’s visit he met with a group of Vauxhall undergraduates

So Congratulations to everyone at Vauxhalls for all the hard work which went in to make this happen and leading the way with lifelong learning in the workplace.

 - Report by Brian Whitehill