Tag: Mike Kane MP

News, Politics

Wythenshawe MP lends his voice to National Living Rage Christmas protest song

living-rage-single-group-dan-jarvis-440x226Wythenshawe MP Mike Kane joined fellow Labour MPs this week to launch a Band Aid-type protest single to draw attention to the  pay cuts for workers this Christmas.

The MPs say the single called “National Living Rage” is aimed at highlighting how some   employers such as Tesco and John Lewis are cutting total pay for employees while increase per-hour pay since the introduction of the National Living Wage earlier this year.

It is claimed the cuts have been made by many British companies around the country, through ending old contracts, with short ‘show’ consultations, and issuing new contracts, with reduced pay packages.

The contract changes include: termination of double time on Sundays, Bank Holidays; elimination of ‘unsocial’ hours payments; ending the inclusion of  lunches in staff contracts; termination of free lunches; pension cuts; abolition of seasonal bonuses; termination of location premiums; abolition of a range of additional allowances; among many other contract changes.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that nearly 9,700 workers from Wythenshawe and Sale East could be affected by the cuts.

Mike Kane said: “We all know the backbone of these companies is their loyal hardworking staff so it is extremely disappointing that some of our most famous and most loved high street companies are choosing to cut the total pay of their older, longstanding staff.

“I am calling on companies like Tesco and John Lewis who employ many people from my constituency to reverse their decision to cut staff pay in this unscrupulous manner at their January 2017 Board Meetings.

“Our campaign song is to make sure everyone knows about the pay cuts in their shops and coffee shops. It is not a charity single, although we are glad that proceeds from any sales of the original record will go the Band Aid Trust. Shopworkers want justice and fair pay, not charity”

A Tesco spokesperson said, “Earlier this year, we announced one of the highest pay and benefits packages in retail for store colleagues, and introduced a simpler and fairer pay structure, including one approach to premium payments.

“As well as an increase in pay which puts our hourly rate well above the Government’s National Living Wage, we remain absolutely committed to rewarding our colleagues with a pay and benefits package they really value, including a pension, colleague discount and 5% turnaround bonus.”

John Lewis were approached for a comment and have not yet responded.

 

News, Politics

Wythenshawe MP blasts government over “Battle of Orgreave” inquiry decision

-xO4l9Z-_400x400Wythenshawe’s Labour MP has called for a government apology to a whistleblowing police officer following a decision this week not to go ahead with a public inquiry into policing at the “Battle of Orgreave” during the miners’ strike in 1984.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said there would be no inquiry into the events of June 18 at the Orgreave Coking Plant near Rotherham, and their aftermath. It was alleged that officers had been ordered to fabricate evidence.

Police charged at pickets who had gathered at the plant. Dozens were injured  and 95 miners were arrested with 55 charged with riot, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment. Nearly a year later their trials collapsed when it emerged that many of the police officers  had their statements dictated to them. Continue reading “Wythenshawe MP blasts government over “Battle of Orgreave” inquiry decision” →

Community News, News, Politics

Wythenshawe MP tackles teacher workload in new role as schools spokesman

-xO4l9Z-_400x400Wythenshawe MP, Mike Kane, has returned to Labour’s front bench team as schools spokesman for the party.

Mr Kane quit his post as shadow international development minister earlier this year amidst a wave of shadow cabinet resignations  which led to a bruising Labour leadership battle between Jeremy Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith.

Following Mr Corbyn’s re-election as leader with an increased mandate from party members, a number of MPs who resigned accepted jobs in a reshuffled shadow cabinet.

Mr Kane, a former primary school teacher, says he is delighted to have been appointed schools spokesman, working alongside fellow Greater Manchester MP and shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner.

And the Wythenshawe MP hit the ground running this week when he tackled the government on the issue of excessive workload for teachers which, according to the Education Policy Institute is causing ill health in the profession.

In a question to Tory minister, Nick Gibb,. Mr Kane said the teaching union, the NAS/UWT  has found that half of teachers have been to see a doctor in the past year due to work-related illness, and one in 10 have been prescribed antidepressants.

He said: “We know that the Minister is on the record as not valuing those of us with the postgraduate certificate in education, but can he not see that the Government’s failure to support teachers is at the heart of the crisis in teachers’ morale?”

Mr Gibb said the government understood the challenges in the teaching profession and are taking action.

The EPI survey found that:

  • Teachers in England are working an average of 48.2 hours a week  with a fifth working more than 60 hours- longer than in most other countries. 
  • Long working hours are hindering teachers’ access to continuing professional development. 
  • Long hours, low starting pay and limited access to professional development create a risk of teacher ‘burn out’, especially in the early stages of careers.

 

News, Politics

Former Manchester policeman speaks out over policing of “Battle of Orgreave”
freeman
Mike Freeman (Channe4 News)

A former Greater Manchester police officer who was working on the day of the infamous “Battle of Orgreave” during the 1984 miners’ strike has spoken out about controversial policing tactics and has supported calls for a public inquiry.

 

Mike Freeman, now a Labour councillor for Sale Moor, was a young PC when officers from Manchester were bussed in to take part in an operation co-ordinated by South Yorkshire Police at the Orgreave coking plant on the outskirts of Sheffield on June 18 1984.

Police charged at pickets who had gathered at the plant. Dozens were injured  and 95 miners were arrested with 55 charged with riot, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment. Nearly a year later their trials collapsed when it emerged that many of the police officers  had their statements dictated to them.

And this week Cllr Freeman revealed in a Channel 4 News report the officers were briefed that  South Yorkshire Police officers would write statements even if they had not arrested the pickets themselves. Cllr Freeman said it ran against all the fundamentals of policing.

Continue reading “Former Manchester policeman speaks out over policing of “Battle of Orgreave”” →

News, Politics

Wythenshawe MP quits shadow cabinet as Labour leader faces no confidence motion

-xO4l9Z-_400x400Wythenshawe Labour MP, Mike Kane has become the latest to quit the shadow cabinet as the bid to force leader Jeremy Corbyn to stand down continues.

Mr Kane broke the news on Twitter last night that he was standing down as shadow international development minister  following a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

 

 

 

 

Mr Corbyn has faced a deluge of resignations from his shadow cabinet following what his critics called a “lacklustre” performance in the EU referendum campaign. He will face a vote of no confidence motion today.

But 10,000 supporters who gathered for a hastily organized rally in Parliament Square last night were promised the Labour leader was “going nowhere”.

Members in Wythenshawe and Sale East voted to support Mr Corbyn in July last year when he stood as a  candidate for the party leadership. He  was elected with 59.5 of the vote, the biggest mandate of any British political leader, in an election campaign which saw an influx of thousands of new members.

Mr Corbyn has been criticised by Labour MPs  for not being forceful enough in arguing for Labour’s official position to remain in the European Union. Mr Corbyn supported remaining to protect jobs and workers rights while expressing reservations about the EU.

And MPs who support the leader said Mr Corbyn’s position chimed with the views of many in working class communities who shared his reservations.

If Mr Corbyn continues to stand firm and defy MPs it is likely that Labour Party members will decide his future in what is expected to be a bitter leadership battle with the prospect of a general election to choose a new government before the end of the year.