Tue 20 May
IPO Festival
The Cavern Club, Liverpool
More gig info here
Alun Parry Blog
Thank you - Rhetta Won!
Thanks to everyone who wrote to the University of Salford and signed the petition against their vindictive attempts to claim costs against my mate Rhetta.
An Employment Tribunal unanimously decided against awarding costs against Dr Rhetta Moran so as not to put people off representing themselves at tribunal.
The University's expensive barrister and solicitors were in attendance, along with several senior managers, to argue for up to £10000 in costs from Dr Moran who had represented herself throughout the case.
The tribunal chair said that it was the Employment Tribunal's ethos to ensure individuals felt they could represent themselves at tribunal. The Tribunal decided unanimously that they would not allow costs to be claimed.
Many of you wrote to the Vice Chancellor expressing their concern and dismay. Hundreds more signed a petition asking for the costs to be dropped.
Rhetta Moran and her campaigners are very grateful for the incredible support that has been shown. And so am I. Thanks everyone!!!
9:22 AM | Permalink |
Defend My Mate Rhetta Moran
A friend of mine is in some trouble so I want your help.
When I was targetted by fascists last year she came to my aid. Now she has been targetted by her former employer in what is a key issue for all of us, so I'm asking everyone to help Rhetta out just like she helped me.
Rhetta, an active trade unionist, was removed from her job at the University of Salford. Her supporters believe this happened after the findings of her research project appeared to prove politically uncomfortable.
Rhetta is a specialist in the difficulties experienced by people seeking asylum. Her excellent work has led to this issue being highlighted by BBC TV's Newsnight and in The Observer and The Guardian.
So what's happening with Rhetta?
Well, she represented herself at her Employment Tribunal hearings last year - and now her former employer have taken the vindictive and unusual act of applying for costs against her.
This affects you too. Imagine if any time you felt you'd been sacked unfairly that you felt you couldn't challenge it because the employers might apply for costs if you lost. It is a deterrent to all working people from exercising our rights.
So here's what you can do.
Remember, Rhetta Moran is my mate. She helped me when I was in trouble. Please do the same for her.
If we can get the University of Salford to back off, it will be a victory for all of us, not just Rhetta.
9:32 AM | Permalink |
So Much For Selfishness
If you listened to some commentators, all that motivates humanity is self interest. Anything which acknowledges other motivations other than greed and self promotion are scoffed at as ludicrously naive.
I can't help but feel some pity for people who hold such a cynical world view. It must be horrible to live in a world where you can only view other people as competitors at best, or aggressors at worst.
Thankfully, I don't see the world that way. It might well be easy to find examples of greed, self interest or even horrific aggression, but I find many more examples of the exact opposite - people going out of their way to help somebody even though there is absolutely no benefit to themselves.
Like the person who handed in a friend's mobile phone when it was lost at Parr Street recently. Not just an altruistic act, but an anonymous one too. If we are motivated by greed and self interest, this mobile phone would have been an opportunity for profit. Yet it was handed in - as these things invariably are in such circumstances.
I'm reminded of the goodness in people all the time. A friend of mine hasn't been too well of late. The response when seeking advice from strangers across the internet who will never meet me has been simply overwhelming. For no benefit, and at much cost to their own time, people have been hurling helpful advice at me.
One professional even offered, without prompting, to send me a load of DVD's free of charge - even though selling such DVD's is a core part of her business.
The cynics can propound their theories of self motivation with whatever intellectual might they can muster. Sadly for them, the generosity of ordinary people continues to disprove them daily.
3:25 PM | Permalink |
Payday Playtime Launch Night
Thanks to everybody who came along to the launch night of Payday Playtime at The Casa on Friday. There's always a bit of anxiety associated with organising and launching a brand new night, with mental images of empty rooms inducing moments of panic!
Thankfully it was packed, so thanks for making it packed. Big thanks go to Christina Malley, Stella 66 and Elevaters who all played the night with The Alun Parry Band. For just £2 typical entrance fee, these acts gave performances worth several times that.
Big thanks also go to the Alun Parry Band's bassist Chad Draper, and drummer Howard Northover who stepped in expertly at the very last minute and will now be playing regularly with us.
Yet soundjockey Shaz deserves the biggest mention of the night for holding the night together with skilled driving of the beast of a sound system.
I'm really looking forward to the next night at The Casa already which will be on 27th April. Flyers and posters will be out and about shortly.
10:08 AM | Permalink |
Last posts
- Listen Up At The Merseyside Derby
- Carling Gig: Thank You All
- These little town blues....
- New Lineup For The Alun Parry Band
- Named in Top 10 Liverpool Bands
- A Blue Plaque For A Working Class Hero
- Farewell to 07
- Extended Alun Parry Interview by Sandra Gibson
- Photo Fest: Album Launch - Are You Pictured???
- PhotoFest: Virgin Gig 27th August
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Alun Parry is regarded as Liverpool's most respected radical musician.
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