"The Green Party Trade Union group opposes all redundancies as currently they punish workers for the criminal folly of capitalist speculators. We are particularly opposed to redundancies in those sectors, such as public transport, where there should actually be more investment and more jobs being created in order to bring about the just transition to a low carbon economy that is needed to combat the ecological and economic crises which we face.

GPTU is therefore saddened to hear that 1000 redundancies on London Underground were announced today (29/1/2009). All redundancies are evil but these are markedly in the wrong sector and at precisely the wrong time. We support all Unions in resisting this retrograde step and trust all elected Green Party representatives in London (Councillors, Greater London Assembly members and our London MEP) will join us in taking this stance.

"Recession combined with globalization and the weakening of Labour laws in Europe, is providing some employers with the incentive and the means to minimize their wage costs and weaken the bargaining power of organised workers. Recently this has taken the form of subcontracting out work to firms employing workers from abroad which is being opposed by industrial action under the slogan "British jobs for British workers"

This is just the sort of situation that could be exploited by the far right and unions and politicians sharing their aims should be pushing for the restoration of nationally binding wage agreements and re-emphasising their anti-racist and internationalist policies.

British unions should follow the example of their French comrades and take united action against the way that workers are being made to pay for a crisis which is not of their making and campaign for a concerted program aimed at constructing an ecologically sound infrastructure for a new economic and social order."

GPTU supports Caroline Lucas (et al) letter on "social dumping" in Europe

"On behalf of the Green Party Trade Union Group I would like to lend our full support to the letter that Caroline Lucas MEP (Green), Glyn Ford MEP (Labour), Stephen Hughes MEP(Labour) are sending to the Guardian today.

It clearly recognises that the current disputes about foreign labour are to do with basic trade union demands for proper agreed working conditions and full union recognition which should be supported on these on grounds and not be handed over for exploitation by right wing political organisations."

1. Second agenda published and available with difficulty on members´ website; to be circulated via GL & GPTU blogs, lists etc
2. Several amendments proposed to economics motion, 1 supportive others hostile. Sean Thompson would be preparing guidance for circulation at conference.
3. The importance of attending the relevant workshops for economics, maternity and migration motions stressed.
4. Organisational motion giving exec power to set subscriptions noted with concern.
5. Draft Heathrow emergency Motion: noted that there were likely to be other emergencies on this topic and compositing with them could be considered

   "The Green Party of England and Wales calls on the government to reverse its decision to build a new runway at Heathrow airport, we call instead for investment in more ecologically friendly forms of transport and other projects such renewable power sources and home insulation that contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. We note that a new Heathrow runway is very likely to contribute to an increase in these emissions, worsen the already bad health profile in the vicinity of Heathrow and possibly spread such problems of other adjacent areas, as well as destroying an existing village community.

   We deplore the decision not to allow a parliamentary vote on the Heathrow runway and support John McDonnell´s protest against this. We also support the campaigns of Non-violent direct action against Heathrow, and air travel expansion in general, organised by such bodies as the Climate Camp and Plane Stupid. The Green Party of England and Wales will continue to support such protests and opposition to air travel expansion in general and to campaign for a just transition to a low carbon economy which creates new forms of employment."

6. Draft British Jobs emergency Motion

   "The Green party recognizes that recession combined with globalization and the weakening of Labour laws in Europe, is providing some employers with the incentive and the means to minimize their wage costs and weaken the bargaining power of organised workers. Recently this has taken the form of subcontracting out work to firms employing workers from abroad which is being opposed by industrial action

   We recognize that the aims of the strikers are for basic trade union demands for proper agreed working conditions and full union recognition.

   We endorse the statement by Caroline Lucas, ( and 2 Labour MEPs), that "…to end "social dumping" in Europe, we must change the law, so that British and other European workers do not have to compete within factories and companies with those forced to work for lower wages and in poorer conditions. Instead of blaming "foreign workers", we should be challenging the rights of multinationals to undercut local pay rates and exploit workers.

   We call on trade unions to re-empahsise their anti-racist and internationalist policies and to follow the example of their French comrades and take united action against the way that workers are being made to pay for a crisis which is not of their making and to campaign for a concerted program aimed at constructing a ecologically sound infrastructure for a new economic and social order."

7. Motion of support for student occupations Re Gaza considered