'Decarbonise now' staff and students tell University of Liverpool

STAFF and students have jointly demanded the University of Liverpool commit to net zero by 2030 as part of a groundbreaking Green New Deal claim. The claim, submitted today (Thursday) during Great Big Green Week, has been drafted jointly by the University of Liverpool branches of University and College Union (UCU), UNITE and UNISON and is supported by the Liverpool Guild of Students. They have also launched a petition for supporters to sign and demand a Green New Deal at the University of Liverpool.

The Green New Deal claim forms the most comprehensive set of bargaining demands that UK trade unions have ever made of their employer in an effort to take action and avert climate catastrophe. This is a new approach to climate change action, with unions and students pushing for collective bargaining to transition the University to a sustainable model that tackles environmental harms and economic insecurity at the same time. The joint unions consider these actions part of a 'just transition,' and necessary for the University to fulfil its commitments as a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The claim calls for:-

► A meaningful reduction in local and global emissions... Including for the University to bring forward its net zero commitment from:- 2035 to 2030.

► Sustainable Employment... The adoption of measures to ensure sustainable employment policies that tackle casualisation and reduce the pay gap, including a commitment to tackling gendered and racialised pay inequalities and a commitment to a 1:6 pay ratio.

► Decolonisation and decarbonisation of the curriculum... A wholesale revision of teaching programmes along the principles of 'decolonising and decarbonising' the curriculum. This means addressing climate change by linking the struggle for climate justice to colonialism (the imposition of Western political and high carbon economic systems on non-Western countries) and exploring how the inequalities driven by our system globally are closely linked to the drivers of climate change.

► A just transition in research... This will entail concrete commitments to: supporting and promoting research that tackles problems of climate change and the ecological crisis; working with staff and the campus trade unions to move the University's research agendas away from with companies that are pursuing growth in unsustainable industrial, economic, social and political practices and processes; ending funding streams that tie the University to companies that are pursuing growth in unsustainable practices and processes.

► Continual improvement of the University's divestment strategy... The Green New Deal framework that preceded this claim is a crucial element of UCU's climate change policy. The union has been building alliances with student organisations and their campaigns, including SOS UK, part of the NUS. The framework calls for a 'Green New Deal for Colleges and Universities' including:- urgent and meaningful changes from institutions to tackle the climate emergency.

The claim, and how UCU brought the climate emergency into its bargaining agenda, was discussed on last month's episode of the Green New Deal Media podcast.  The University of Liverpool has an annual turnover of almost £600m (£598m) higher than Liverpool Football Club.

UCU Liverpool green rep Ben Crawford said:- "The climate crisis is the biggest challenge any of us have faced and we need to fight it now or we will be too late. That is why every trade union at the University of Liverpool alongside its student body the Guild of Students have submitted a groundbreaking claim that aims to push the University to decarbonise now. Education should be a zero carbon sector and by harnessing the collective power of staff, students and local communities the University of Liverpool has the potential to lead the way, which will be no small feat as its annual turnover is almost £600m, bigger than Liverpool F.C's. We hope that the University now works with us to make Liverpool the 1st zero carbon institution in the UK."

Kim Johnson MP for Liverpool Riverside said:- "As a major player in the local economy and employment market, it is vital that the University of Liverpool plays its part in working towards a decarbonised and decolonised future for themselves and the City. That is why I am happy to support the University of Liverpool joint trade unions and the Guild of Students' Green New Deal bargaining claim and trust that the University will embrace this and set a positive precedent for the other Universities in the City."

Paula Barker MP for Liverpool Wavertree said:- "I want to thank the UCU trade union and student bodies for all the work they have undertook in bringing these hugely important matters to the fore. I think many of the climate change targets leading organisations have set themselves are not early ambitious enough and I am pleased to learn that students, educators and our trade unions are working collectively to put pressure on the University. As with any sector of the economy, a just transition is hugely important if we are to achieve favourable outcomes for environment, planet and crucially, working people. Our trade unions must be front and centre of this strategy as they, more than most, understand that addressing climate change can only be achieved through delivering climate justice for working people faced with an unprecedented cost of living crisis. When power is unchecked, it is clear that the moneyed class and the bosses will not tackle the climate crisis with the required urgency because it is not in their economic interests to do so. This is why this joint work is so encouraging and I hope that it is replicated in other sectors of the economy."

Dan Carden MP for Liverpool Walton said:- "Tackling the climate emergency is the defining challenge of our times and demands action at every level. It is great to see staff and students coming together to address questions about how the University can put climate justice at the heart of everything it does."

Liverpool Guild of Students vice president Ella Hatch:- "I'm proud to be backing the Green New Deal, it is the radical policy that the University needs to ensure a transition to a green economy which has students and staff at the centre. The University has taken too long to take action against the climate crisis, the Green New Deal was needed years ago. I hope they take on these recommendations from the students and staff that are the heart of this organisation."

Councillor for Anfield Ward and Deputy Chair of Climate Change and Environment Select Committee Lena Simic said:- "University of Liverpool Joint Trades Union and Guild of Students "Green New Deal" Bargaining Claim is an ambitious and welcome call to the University of Liverpool. The claim is detailed and forward thinking; it outlines the necessary steps needed in the just transition to the zero carbon economy that our City and our Universities must undergo. Furthermore this is about ensuring the workers and Trade Unions with all their skills and expertise are fully consulted and engaged in the process. Mutual agreement on this document could provide a model agreement that all other UK Universities could get behind. This would mean Liverpool leading the way in sustainability and just transition."
 

Almost quarter of a million parents with young children in the North West are struggling financially

NEW poll reveals almost quarter of a million parents with young children in the North West are struggling financially or with their mental health, as almost 1 in 3 struggle to get professional support; UNICEF UK Across Britain over 2 million families with children under 5 are struggling financially or with their mental health, the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) has today (18th October) warned as it encourages the new Prime Minister to support the nation's parents and carers and put the needs of young children at the heart of decision making.

The charity's new report:- 'Early Moments Matter' is a stark snapshot of families struggling to get professional support for themselves and their children as they recover from the Covid19 Pandemic, battle increases in the costs of basic essentials and grapple with expensive childcare costs.

The report, which includes new polling from YouGov, reveals that 1 in 3 parents; over 1 million families; across Britain are struggling to get any professional support, with 37% struggling to get help when their child is unwell. The charity warns that the 1st years of a child's life are critical, and the lack of basic support is putting children's immediate and long term wellbeing and development at risk.

The report highlights how basic support services like health visiting, mental health support, affordable early education and childcare should be available for everyone regardless of where they live, but instead gaps in availability means families across the country are missing out. UNICEF UK warns that waiting lists are long, provision is patchy and, in some areas, not there at all. This lack of support is having a damaging effect on children's healthy development and parents' mental health.

"Where you're going in life shouldn't be determined by where you live and the support and services your parents and carers are able to access in that location when you are a young child. Up and down the country, we're hearing how the rise in the cost of living, expensive childcare, a lack of mental health support and a scarcity of basic, local support services, are affecting children's life chances and pushing families to breaking point. We need to act now to support families and protect children's futures" warns UNICEF UK's Chief Executive, Jon Sparkes OBE

In a nationally representative survey parents of 0 to 4 year olds said the key issues were:-

► Mental health:- almost 60% of parents have struggled with their mental health; as cost of living increases and stretched services leave them without support, with parents on lower incomes most likely to struggle with their mental health. Over 3 in 4 of those struggling to access support for their children feel frustrated, with more than 40% feeling angry or anxious and over a 3rd feeling abandoned.

► Cost of living:- Parents and carers are forced to make impossible choices, with just under a quarter of a million choosing between eating a meal and paying for childcare. For those already struggling financially, just under half of all parents and carers have cut back on their electricity and gas usage with 1 in 10 unable to heat their homes. In a snapshot of struggling families, the polling also showed parents struggle with making appointments and receiving health visits.

► Making appointments:- When polled, over 1.3 million parents; more than a 3rd of parents; have struggled to see a healthcare professional when their very young child was unwell. Among those struggling to access support, over 70% have faced long waits for appointments and almost 30% have been promised follow up appointments that didn't materialise.

► Receiving health visits:- 1 in 10 parents; just under half a million; reported not receiving any of their minimum health visits, while half say they received some of what they are entitled to. Nearly 1 in 5 parents in London; more than 93,000 reported not receiving a single health visit since their child was born. Parents and carers in low income households are worst affected, with 18% of those earning under £10k not receiving any health visits.

The research shows some clear Regional disparities when it comes to the experiences of UK parents and carers, with YouGov data revealing the hardest place to access support is the South East (39%) and East of England (36%). As well as the Regional disparities, UNICEF UK's data finds that these challenges are often felt worst by families on lower income brackets.

Sparkes added:- "We know that services are stretched, and parents and carers are doing their best with the resources they have. But the fact is that, for many babies, toddlers and their families, essential support services are in limited supply. While there are a range of sources setting out what services should be available for every baby and toddler in England, there is no central overview of where this core support does and doesn't exist, no easily accessible information for parents and carers about what they are entitled to, or a plan for filling the gaps. Efforts to address these challenges, through initiatives like the Start for Life offer, Levelling Up Vision and Plan for Patients are a start, but we need to go further. The solution is for leaders to make a guaranteed and lasting commitment to children's early years, supporting parents and carers, and putting the needs of babies and toddlers at the heart of their decision making."

UNICEF UK state that decades of under investment in early childhood services mean that today babies, toddlers and families are not getting the support they need across a range of vital services. The needs of babies, young children and their families are also overlooked in national policy responses that affect their lives. The children's charity is calling for a re-think in baby and toddler services and improved support for our youngest citizens and their families by introducing a 'National Baby and Toddler Guarantee,' which would set out the basic services that every young child in the UK is entitled to; whoever they are and wherever they are born. This would mean that families know what support is there for their baby's health, well being, and early education, right from the start. According to UNICEF UK, the UK Government can do this by:-

► Committing to making The National Baby and Toddler Guarantee a reality for every young child across the country that covers health visiting, maternity services, mental health support and early education and childcare.

► Making early childhood a national priority for the Government with Cabinet-level leadership to drive the delivery of The National Baby and Toddler Guarantee across the country, which ensures coherence between Government departments and fills the gap in policy making.

► Delivering a cross-Government early childhood strategy, which builds on the vision and commitments in Start for Life, and responds to the challenges of workforce, funding, and governance with joint outcomes for early childhood development and that sits across Government departments.

Committing to tracking and monitoring progress towards delivery of The Guarantee for every young child across England.

Sparkes continued:- "Every child has the right to a happy, healthy childhood. We know that the experiences in the 1st few years of a child's life will shape their life chances; how long and healthy their life will be, whether they will make friends and develop relationships, even how much money they will earn. While measures have been announced to tackle GP waiting times and support for energy bills, targeted support for families and children must be at the heart of the UK Government's response. We have a community of capable, passionate professionals and a nation of dedicated parents and carers; they need the right support to ensure the nation's youngest citizens can flourish."

UNICEF UK's Early Moments Matter campaign that has recently been launched. Sign up to UNICEF UK's petition calling on the UK Government to introduce a National Baby and Toddler Guarantee here.