Tenants lobbying Labour's conference in Manchester next week are demanding a programme of direct investment in a new generation of council housing.
And Councils will also be pushed to keep secure tenancies and really-affordable rents, and block evictions.
Labour conference meeting 2 Oct 6pm
Shadow CLG minister Chris Williamson MP will speak alongside Mick Weston, chair of Leeds Tenants Fed, Austin Mitchell MP, Gail Cartmail assistant gen sec UNITE, Neil Vernon UCATT and Eileen Short DCH, on Tue 2nd 6pm - see leaflet here.
March on 20 October
DCH is organising to get tenants and housing workers, alongside councillors, MPs and housing campaigners, on the TUC demonstration 20 October in London A Future that Works.
Trades Unions are calling for a mass council housing investment programme (see page 22, motion 42 Housing here) and new TUC General Secretary-elect Frances O'Grady says 'Now, more than ever, let's defend council housing.'
A big tenant and housing workers turnout will step up pressure on Government, and keep council housing high on the agenda of trade union leaders and politicians.
New DCH newspaper out now
See new paper here and contact info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk, 020 3371 2031 to order copies: £20 for 100/£120 for 1,000.
Dates and events
Lobby Labour conference Manchester from 30 Sept, with DCH fringe meeting Friend Meeting House 6 Mount St M2 5NS 6pm Tue 2nd October.leaflet here.
Leeds conference on Welfare Reform, 13 October 10.30am-1pm, Leeds Civic Hall, organised by Leeds Tenants Federation. See booking form here.
And see Leeds DCH leaflet against Bedroom Tax here.
DCH and the Anti Bedroom Tax Federation welcome Ed Miliband's commitment to abolish the Bedroom Tax. Eileen Short, chair of the Defend Council Housing campaign says:
Government is increasingly isolated on the Bedroom Tax, with opposition and rent arrears growing. Tenants and campaigners want the promise of abolition given teeth locally. Councils must have national support from Labour, to say, as Scottish Labour have, that they will not evict tenants in arrears due to the Bedroom Tax.
Tenants, Councils and other landlords are also demanding that Government refund arrears and costs of this unjust and unworkable attack on tenants and benefits.
We have asked to meet Ed Milliband to discuss this, and we will be at Labour conference to keep up the pressure for investment in a new generation of first class, secure and really-affordable council housing. See latest leaflet here.
DCH meeting at Labour conference - all welcome:
Cut rents not benefits - build the homes we need Tue 24 Sept 6pm @ Brighthelm Centre, North St Brighton BN1 1YD with Paul Kenny GMB Gen Sec, Gail Cartmail Unite asst Gen Sec, Heather Wakefield Unison local Govt, UCATT, Chris Williamson MP, Councillor Liz Wakefield Brighton, Anti Bedroom Tax Federation, Eileen Short DCH
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