Monday, March 30, 2009
Interesting Interview With Brendan Barber in this morning's Times.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article5999243.ece
Friday, March 27, 2009
Unite For Jobs - Press Conference
Unite for Jobs.....
Press Conference
* 10am, Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
* Unite the union offices
* 35 King Street
* London WC2E 8JG
This Tuesday (March 31st) will see the launch of Unite for Jobs, a major drive to secure urgent and strategic assistance for UK manufacturing and a clear plan for defending and creating jobs. The move comes amid mounting concern that government action so far is insufficient to avert chronic and lasting damage to UK manufacturing.
The campaign, led by Unite, will mark the beginning of a sustained initiative, bringing together leading figures in business, politics and academia with the country's biggest union to press the case for a jobs strategy with manufacturing placed firmly at the heart of a national programme to propel the UK out of recession.
Unite for Jobs will be launched at a press conference,10am, Tuesday, March 31st at Unite's King Street offices by an expert panel consisting of
* Tony Woodley, joint general secretary, Unite
* Derek Simpson, joint general secretary, Unite
* Lord Jones of Birmingham, (Digby Jones), former trade minister and ex-CBI chief
* Paul Everitt, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers (invited)
* Professor David Bailey, Director of Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham
* Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham
At the press conference, the speakers will set out their ideas for action to preserve jobs, and in particular to restore the UK's manufacturing sector to the heart of the economy.
The press conference will also see the announcement of a major initiative to mobilise the public for action on jobs.
According to Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite: "The Government acted boldly when it came to rescuing those banks brought to their knees by greed and misdeeds of a few. Working people desperately need to see more of the same spirit when it comes to helping them keep their jobs.
"Every effort must be made to keep the lights on in factories and homes across the country. Government must now grasp the hand of expert help being offered so we work together to take the right road out of recession."
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary added: "Daily, workers are paying the price for this recession with their jobs. Whether it is manufacturing, construction, finance or retail, the job losses are mounting up.
"This is the time to invest in support for existing jobs and to be clear on the strategy for creating new ones. We cannot allow this recession to destroy our skills base and our communities, and we must set out the vision for future success so that employers and workers can have confidence that the dark days of the recession will soon come to an end.
Press Conference
* 10am, Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
* Unite the union offices
* 35 King Street
* London WC2E 8JG
This Tuesday (March 31st) will see the launch of Unite for Jobs, a major drive to secure urgent and strategic assistance for UK manufacturing and a clear plan for defending and creating jobs. The move comes amid mounting concern that government action so far is insufficient to avert chronic and lasting damage to UK manufacturing.
The campaign, led by Unite, will mark the beginning of a sustained initiative, bringing together leading figures in business, politics and academia with the country's biggest union to press the case for a jobs strategy with manufacturing placed firmly at the heart of a national programme to propel the UK out of recession.
Unite for Jobs will be launched at a press conference,10am, Tuesday, March 31st at Unite's King Street offices by an expert panel consisting of
* Tony Woodley, joint general secretary, Unite
* Derek Simpson, joint general secretary, Unite
* Lord Jones of Birmingham, (Digby Jones), former trade minister and ex-CBI chief
* Paul Everitt, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers (invited)
* Professor David Bailey, Director of Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham
* Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham
At the press conference, the speakers will set out their ideas for action to preserve jobs, and in particular to restore the UK's manufacturing sector to the heart of the economy.
The press conference will also see the announcement of a major initiative to mobilise the public for action on jobs.
According to Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite: "The Government acted boldly when it came to rescuing those banks brought to their knees by greed and misdeeds of a few. Working people desperately need to see more of the same spirit when it comes to helping them keep their jobs.
"Every effort must be made to keep the lights on in factories and homes across the country. Government must now grasp the hand of expert help being offered so we work together to take the right road out of recession."
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary added: "Daily, workers are paying the price for this recession with their jobs. Whether it is manufacturing, construction, finance or retail, the job losses are mounting up.
"This is the time to invest in support for existing jobs and to be clear on the strategy for creating new ones. We cannot allow this recession to destroy our skills base and our communities, and we must set out the vision for future success so that employers and workers can have confidence that the dark days of the recession will soon come to an end.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Manufacturing sector pay settlements fall to 1.7%
From Personnel Today
Manufacturing sector pay settlements fall to 1.7%
Pay settlements in the manufacturing sector have dropped to 1.7% according to new data, 0.3% below that agreed for most public sector workers.
As millions of police, teachers and NHS staff got the go ahead to receive pay deals worth 2% or more, pay data for the three months to the end of February in the manufacturing sector, obtained by manufacturers' body the EEF, shows that the average level of pay settlements has fallen 01.% in a month to 1.7%. This is the lowest figure reported since EEF's survey began in 1987.
EEF's head of employment policy, David Yeandle, said: "This further fall in settlement levels and increase in the number of companies either freezing or deferring pay clearly shows the severe impact that the economic downturn is having on manufacturers.
The manufacturing body stepped up its calls for government to help manufacturers retain their skilled workforces by offering financial assistance to those companies having to introduce short-time working.
"The government needs to support the growing number of companies that have introduced short-time working as one way of coping with these difficult times by providing them with some financial assistance."
Last week the EEF launched a campaign 'Manufacturing: Your Future' to help employers deal with the recession.
Manufacturing sector pay settlements fall to 1.7%
Pay settlements in the manufacturing sector have dropped to 1.7% according to new data, 0.3% below that agreed for most public sector workers.
As millions of police, teachers and NHS staff got the go ahead to receive pay deals worth 2% or more, pay data for the three months to the end of February in the manufacturing sector, obtained by manufacturers' body the EEF, shows that the average level of pay settlements has fallen 01.% in a month to 1.7%. This is the lowest figure reported since EEF's survey began in 1987.
EEF's head of employment policy, David Yeandle, said: "This further fall in settlement levels and increase in the number of companies either freezing or deferring pay clearly shows the severe impact that the economic downturn is having on manufacturers.
The manufacturing body stepped up its calls for government to help manufacturers retain their skilled workforces by offering financial assistance to those companies having to introduce short-time working.
"The government needs to support the growing number of companies that have introduced short-time working as one way of coping with these difficult times by providing them with some financial assistance."
Last week the EEF launched a campaign 'Manufacturing: Your Future' to help employers deal with the recession.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
First cracks appear in US bosses opposition to Union rights legislation
The US media and a number of websites are carrying news items this weekend that a number of US retail companies are ready to propose a compromise to the President Obama backed Employee Free Choice Act which would give workers a straightforward "card check' on whether they wish to form a union.
The EFCA would also reduce the ability of US companies and the multi-million dollar union busting industry to interfere, bully and dismiss workers who wish to join a union and be represented by a union of their choice.
US media is reporting that companies such as Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organise a union if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.
According to one source: "A powerful coalition of retail business is considering what they once claimed was unthinkable: a compromise on the union-backed labor bill that opponents call “card check". The businesses plan to make a public splash with their alternative plan in the coming week".
The source said Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organize if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.
Another source said “99.9 percent” of opponents will not compromise.
But Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute said: “Calling a proposal which exposes 70% of employees to intimidation instead of 50% a ‘compromise’ is beyond absurd."
A Starbucks official told The Washington Post: “"We have had conversations with like-minded companies and are open to exploring alternative solutions to the legislation as it is currently written.”
Watch this space for the reaction of US unions........
The EFCA would also reduce the ability of US companies and the multi-million dollar union busting industry to interfere, bully and dismiss workers who wish to join a union and be represented by a union of their choice.
US media is reporting that companies such as Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organise a union if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.
According to one source: "A powerful coalition of retail business is considering what they once claimed was unthinkable: a compromise on the union-backed labor bill that opponents call “card check". The businesses plan to make a public splash with their alternative plan in the coming week".
The source said Starbucks, Costco and Whole Food are among the employers considering an approach being called “70-30,” in which workers could organize if 70 percent of them sign union authorisations cards.
Another source said “99.9 percent” of opponents will not compromise.
But Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute said: “Calling a proposal which exposes 70% of employees to intimidation instead of 50% a ‘compromise’ is beyond absurd."
A Starbucks official told The Washington Post: “"We have had conversations with like-minded companies and are open to exploring alternative solutions to the legislation as it is currently written.”
Watch this space for the reaction of US unions........
Friday, March 20, 2009
One week to go to G20 Demo.
For information, transport arrangements etc visit:
http://www.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/put_people_first_march_for_jo/transport_and_contact_informat.aspx
http://www.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/put_people_first_march_for_jo/transport_and_contact_informat.aspx
Thursday, March 19, 2009
CUP - Sign the Petition!
From the Unite Reps at CUP.
Subject: Have you signed the petition yet?
As you know, 160 jobs are under threat at Cambridge University Press. The Unite union and supporters at the Press have been campaigning against the cuts. Part of that has included collecting signatures. We feel the time has come to now hand over those signatures and show the public support that exists for the world's oldest printing Press.
WE WANT TO HAND IN THIS PETITION TO MANAGEMENT AT BOTH THE PRESS AND THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS MPs AND THE PRESS NEXT WEEK. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION BY END OF MONDAY 23RD APRIL.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.petitiononline.com%2F160Jobs%2F
Thanks, and spread the word!
Sara
Cambridge University Press, UNITE union (Publishing)
Subject: Have you signed the petition yet?
As you know, 160 jobs are under threat at Cambridge University Press. The Unite union and supporters at the Press have been campaigning against the cuts. Part of that has included collecting signatures. We feel the time has come to now hand over those signatures and show the public support that exists for the world's oldest printing Press.
WE WANT TO HAND IN THIS PETITION TO MANAGEMENT AT BOTH THE PRESS AND THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS MPs AND THE PRESS NEXT WEEK. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION BY END OF MONDAY 23RD APRIL.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.petitiononline.com%2F160Jobs%2F
Thanks, and spread the word!
Sara
Cambridge University Press, UNITE union (Publishing)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Construction Industry - Firms found breaching national pay agreements agree to correct underpayments
A Polish worker's pay has been brought in line with nationally agreed pay levels, after it emerged the employee was being paid almost £4 an hour below the pre-agreed rate.
Under a national agreement, commonly known as the 'blue book', the standard rate for an advanced craftsman in the engineering and construction sector is £14 an hour. However, according to union Unite, the worker in question claimed that the hourly rate of pay was just £10.01.
Alstom, the company contracted by E.ON to carry out the work, and Remak the company to which Alstom sub-contracted part of the work, have agreed to bring pay for all workers into line and to provide backpay for the underpaid Polish worker.
A spokesman at the firm said: "Workers are now being paid the correct rate and we have made it clear to our subcontractors that we will not tolerate any breaches of national agreements on pay and conditions."
However, Unite is concerned that this not an isolated incident, and that underpaying is a problem throughout the industry.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This is clear evidence that undercutting exists in the industry despite fierce denials to the contrary.
"The employers association turns a blind eye to the rotten practices in this industry. Our members in the construction industry have even been blacklisted when in reality there should be a blacklist for the employers who break the law, exclude UK workers from applying for work and underpay their employees.
Under a national agreement, commonly known as the 'blue book', the standard rate for an advanced craftsman in the engineering and construction sector is £14 an hour. However, according to union Unite, the worker in question claimed that the hourly rate of pay was just £10.01.
Alstom, the company contracted by E.ON to carry out the work, and Remak the company to which Alstom sub-contracted part of the work, have agreed to bring pay for all workers into line and to provide backpay for the underpaid Polish worker.
A spokesman at the firm said: "Workers are now being paid the correct rate and we have made it clear to our subcontractors that we will not tolerate any breaches of national agreements on pay and conditions."
However, Unite is concerned that this not an isolated incident, and that underpaying is a problem throughout the industry.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This is clear evidence that undercutting exists in the industry despite fierce denials to the contrary.
"The employers association turns a blind eye to the rotten practices in this industry. Our members in the construction industry have even been blacklisted when in reality there should be a blacklist for the employers who break the law, exclude UK workers from applying for work and underpay their employees.
Monday, March 16, 2009
CUP Campaign latest news
Public meeting - Save the Jobs!!
The Cambridge & District Trades Council is holding a PUBLIC MEETING this Wednesday about fighting job cuts in the recession - We will fight for every Job!
Speakers from 'Save the jobs at Cambridge University Press' and 'Vion Foods' have been invited.
8pm, Wednedsday 18th March, Bamwell Lounge, University Sports & Social Club, Mill Lane
The Cambridge & District Trades Council is holding a PUBLIC MEETING this Wednesday about fighting job cuts in the recession - We will fight for every Job!
Speakers from 'Save the jobs at Cambridge University Press' and 'Vion Foods' have been invited.
8pm, Wednedsday 18th March, Bamwell Lounge, University Sports & Social Club, Mill Lane
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Jobless Total To Top 2 million this week.
Jobless toll set to reach 2 million, likely to reach above 3 million
As the jobless figure in the UK is likely to top 2 million this week, Tony Woodley, Unite's joint secretary-general, said the government was doing too little to combat growing unemployment, particularly in manufacturing. "We are not talking about green shoots of recovery. We are talking about protecting jobs today" he said.
Unemployment has surged to 1.9m in December, and January's figures are likely to show another sharp rise, taking joblessness above the 2m mark for the first time since 1997.
"Reports of companies laying off workers are prevalent, while an increasing number of firms are folding," said Howard Archer, of consultancy Global Insight in the Observer newspaper. He predicts that unemployment will rise for at least another 12 months, eventually peaking above 3m.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits is also expected to show a large jump this week: analysts believe up to 90,000 new job seekers may have joined the register in February, which would make it the worst month for job losses since the depths of the last recession in the early 1990s.
With job losses rising, Unite is now organising a mass demonstration in Birmingham to support British manufacturing and demand the government provide more support.
As the jobless figure in the UK is likely to top 2 million this week, Tony Woodley, Unite's joint secretary-general, said the government was doing too little to combat growing unemployment, particularly in manufacturing. "We are not talking about green shoots of recovery. We are talking about protecting jobs today" he said.
Unemployment has surged to 1.9m in December, and January's figures are likely to show another sharp rise, taking joblessness above the 2m mark for the first time since 1997.
"Reports of companies laying off workers are prevalent, while an increasing number of firms are folding," said Howard Archer, of consultancy Global Insight in the Observer newspaper. He predicts that unemployment will rise for at least another 12 months, eventually peaking above 3m.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits is also expected to show a large jump this week: analysts believe up to 90,000 new job seekers may have joined the register in February, which would make it the worst month for job losses since the depths of the last recession in the early 1990s.
With job losses rising, Unite is now organising a mass demonstration in Birmingham to support British manufacturing and demand the government provide more support.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Solidarity with Del Monte plantation workers
Costa Rica: Solidarity with plantation workers
"Health and wellbeing are for us a priority," proclaims Del Monte, one of the largest fruit producers in the world. Maybe, but this generous "priority" does not extend to the workers at Piňales de Santa Clara SA, a Costa Rican company which provides Del Monte with pineapple. Since March 2008, the trade unionists of the SITAGAH union are constantly harassed. Many of them have been laid off, including employees simply suspected of sympathy towards the union. The workers are standing up for their rights. The SITAGAH and the NGO Peuples Solidaires are calling on unionists throughout the world to show their solidarity with the plantation workers by putting pressure on Del Monte and its supplier.
Visit http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=478
and send a message of protest to the men who like to say NO!
"Health and wellbeing are for us a priority," proclaims Del Monte, one of the largest fruit producers in the world. Maybe, but this generous "priority" does not extend to the workers at Piňales de Santa Clara SA, a Costa Rican company which provides Del Monte with pineapple. Since March 2008, the trade unionists of the SITAGAH union are constantly harassed. Many of them have been laid off, including employees simply suspected of sympathy towards the union. The workers are standing up for their rights. The SITAGAH and the NGO Peuples Solidaires are calling on unionists throughout the world to show their solidarity with the plantation workers by putting pressure on Del Monte and its supplier.
Visit http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=478
and send a message of protest to the men who like to say NO!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Lindsay Hoyle's Bill on Redundancy Pay Clears First Hurdle
Lindsay Hoyle's bill to increase statutory redundancy pay has cleared its first House of Commons hurdle.
Lindsay's bill was backed 149 Labour MPs in a bid to link statutory redundancy pay to average earnings.
But he accused government whips of using "shameful" tactics to block his private member's bill in the Commons.
Minister Pat McFadden said he had sympathy with the bill's aims but said it would be too costly on firms already facing pressures during the recession.
The bill was given a second reading by 85 votes to 17 - although it could be killed off later in its detailed committee stage.
Labour MPs turned out in force to back Mr Hoyle's bill - which has attracted support from 185 MPs across all parties.
Currently employers have to offer a week's pay for each full year's service to people aged 22 to 41 - older workers get a week and a half's pay per year.
But the statutory payment is capped at a maximum of £350 a week for up to 20 years - limiting compulsory payouts to £7,000, or £10,500 for older workers.
Mr Hoyle argued the value of the payout has decreased in value as the cap is linked to inflation - via the retail price index
Opening the debate in the Commons, he said that during the recession the RPI could drop "below zero" and in theory redundancy payouts could decrease.
"That is why this bill is so important, and that would be an absolutely absurd situation for us to be in at this time when people need help," he stressed.
He said the government should be doing everything possible to help people who lose their jobs "through no fault of their own" adding: "It is strange that the top of the tree, the management ... are the ones who get paid off."
Mr Hoyle said ministers had seemed sympathetic to the bill until earlier this week when some "very strange tactics" had been used against it.
He said the Labour whips' office had sent out letters to MPs asking them to speak against the bill. "I find that quite appalling and quite underhand," he said.
But business minister Pat McFadden, who was on his feet for a very long time in trying to talk out the bill accoring to reports from inside the Commons said he was "puzzled" by the accusation and denied any such tactics had been used.
He said it would be a mistake to judge the government's position on helping working people from its response to the bill - which he said was "flawed" and would be too costly for employers, who were already hard hit by the recession.
Raising the cap on redundancy payments could increase costs by about £500m a year, he said.
But he said: "I can assure supporters of the bill that the issues raised are under consideration - although I'm sure you will understand that I cannot today set out what the conclusions are on government discussions about these issues."
As well as Labour backbenchers, the government also faces pressure from the unions on the issue - Unite says it is a "disgrace that UK workers can be so cheap to sack".
The Financial Times reported on Friday that one option ministers were considering was imposing an absolute legal minimum amount - rather than increasing the existing cap.
TULO say that although there is a long way to go, they are pleased that enough MPs turned up to make sure Parliamentary loopholes couldn't be used to "talk out" the Bill.
See their video at http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/invite/fairplayvideo
Lindsay's bill was backed 149 Labour MPs in a bid to link statutory redundancy pay to average earnings.
But he accused government whips of using "shameful" tactics to block his private member's bill in the Commons.
Minister Pat McFadden said he had sympathy with the bill's aims but said it would be too costly on firms already facing pressures during the recession.
The bill was given a second reading by 85 votes to 17 - although it could be killed off later in its detailed committee stage.
Labour MPs turned out in force to back Mr Hoyle's bill - which has attracted support from 185 MPs across all parties.
Currently employers have to offer a week's pay for each full year's service to people aged 22 to 41 - older workers get a week and a half's pay per year.
But the statutory payment is capped at a maximum of £350 a week for up to 20 years - limiting compulsory payouts to £7,000, or £10,500 for older workers.
Mr Hoyle argued the value of the payout has decreased in value as the cap is linked to inflation - via the retail price index
Opening the debate in the Commons, he said that during the recession the RPI could drop "below zero" and in theory redundancy payouts could decrease.
"That is why this bill is so important, and that would be an absolutely absurd situation for us to be in at this time when people need help," he stressed.
He said the government should be doing everything possible to help people who lose their jobs "through no fault of their own" adding: "It is strange that the top of the tree, the management ... are the ones who get paid off."
Mr Hoyle said ministers had seemed sympathetic to the bill until earlier this week when some "very strange tactics" had been used against it.
He said the Labour whips' office had sent out letters to MPs asking them to speak against the bill. "I find that quite appalling and quite underhand," he said.
But business minister Pat McFadden, who was on his feet for a very long time in trying to talk out the bill accoring to reports from inside the Commons said he was "puzzled" by the accusation and denied any such tactics had been used.
He said it would be a mistake to judge the government's position on helping working people from its response to the bill - which he said was "flawed" and would be too costly for employers, who were already hard hit by the recession.
Raising the cap on redundancy payments could increase costs by about £500m a year, he said.
But he said: "I can assure supporters of the bill that the issues raised are under consideration - although I'm sure you will understand that I cannot today set out what the conclusions are on government discussions about these issues."
As well as Labour backbenchers, the government also faces pressure from the unions on the issue - Unite says it is a "disgrace that UK workers can be so cheap to sack".
The Financial Times reported on Friday that one option ministers were considering was imposing an absolute legal minimum amount - rather than increasing the existing cap.
TULO say that although there is a long way to go, they are pleased that enough MPs turned up to make sure Parliamentary loopholes couldn't be used to "talk out" the Bill.
See their video at http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/invite/fairplayvideo
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Campaign for higher statutory redundancy pay - there is still time to email your MP.
On the eve of a key House of Commons stage of a bill that would boost redundancy pay for three out of every four UK workers, Uk unions are warning the government not to miss the chance to give a helping hand through rough times.
They are concerned that the government looks set to oppose the bill, meaning its chances of making it into law are next to zero.
Unions claim that the drop in value of statutory redundancy pay (SRP) is punishing workers at a time of desperate financial need, and is upholding the UK's status as an EU nation where it is cheap to sack workers.
They want the government to seize the opportunity presented by a private member's bill to stop the rot in redundancy pay, and say that this would show working people that the government is on their side.
The Statutory Redundancy Pay (Amendment) bill, sponsored by Lindsay Hoyle MP and backed by the country's leading unions, has its vital second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday 13th March, 2009). The bill would remove the cap on - and increase the value of - the state basic for redundancy pay to bring it into line with average earnings.
Support for the measure is growing with many backbench Labour MPs joining the unions in arguing that now more than ever, it is vital that the government honours its manifesto and Warwick commitments to working people to increase redundancy pay.
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite and chair of the Trade Union Liaison Organisation (TULO), said: "It is a disgrace that UK workers can be so cheap to sack. One of my members, a skilled worker with 16 years service, was shown the door with only £4,500. How can that be expected to help him to keep a roof over his family's head and food on the table until he's back at work?
"This rot must be stopped. If money can be found to bail out the bankers who created this crisis, then it can be found to help ordinary people who are struggling most.
"Workers will not forgive the government if they fail to grab the clear chance now of helping them through tough times this bill presents."
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, the UK's biggest union, added: "People understand that this is about social justice, about making sure that workers get a fair deal when facing hard times.
"Redundancy pay which is caped at around only half of average weekly earnings is an insult to hard-working people. Action now by government to drag redundancy pay back into line with the real cost of living would be right and popular, it would ensure Labour makes good on an outstanding commitment and with political will, could be in place before the summer.
"Now, more than ever, working people need a helping hand. They expect a Labour government and Labour MPs to be the first to offer it and will be entitled to ask searching questions if they do not."
According to the unions, SRP has drifted so far away from real wages in value that it is now worth around only half of earnings, compared to the 200 per cent it represented when introduced in 1965. The result is that workers are losing out on thousands of pounds at the very time they need it most.
Workers have been contacting the unions to report dramatically low redundancy pay packages, including:
One energy worker with 45 years experience who ,when made redundant soon, will receive SRP equivalent to only two months' wages;
A manufacturing worker made redundant after 17 years who received only £4,500 calculated on SRP;
A construction worker who received £5,775 in SRP but had it been brought into line with earnings would have received £8,448, a difference of £3,073;
A charity worker made redundant after eight years and paid only SRP, denying him thousands of pounds.
Lindsay Hoyle MP was third in the private member's ballot and a Commons motion supporting his bill has been signed by over 130 Labour MPs, making it second only to postal privatisation plans in the list of MPs' concerns.
Lifting redundancy pay was a 2004 Warwick commitment and a 2007 manifesto pledge. Without government backing, however, this bill which would deliver on these commitments, cannot succeed.
The bill is backed by Unite, Aslef, Community, CWU, GMB, TSSA, Ucatt, Usdaw, Unison, TULO and the TUC.
Email your MP at
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/speakout/fairplay
They are concerned that the government looks set to oppose the bill, meaning its chances of making it into law are next to zero.
Unions claim that the drop in value of statutory redundancy pay (SRP) is punishing workers at a time of desperate financial need, and is upholding the UK's status as an EU nation where it is cheap to sack workers.
They want the government to seize the opportunity presented by a private member's bill to stop the rot in redundancy pay, and say that this would show working people that the government is on their side.
The Statutory Redundancy Pay (Amendment) bill, sponsored by Lindsay Hoyle MP and backed by the country's leading unions, has its vital second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday 13th March, 2009). The bill would remove the cap on - and increase the value of - the state basic for redundancy pay to bring it into line with average earnings.
Support for the measure is growing with many backbench Labour MPs joining the unions in arguing that now more than ever, it is vital that the government honours its manifesto and Warwick commitments to working people to increase redundancy pay.
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite and chair of the Trade Union Liaison Organisation (TULO), said: "It is a disgrace that UK workers can be so cheap to sack. One of my members, a skilled worker with 16 years service, was shown the door with only £4,500. How can that be expected to help him to keep a roof over his family's head and food on the table until he's back at work?
"This rot must be stopped. If money can be found to bail out the bankers who created this crisis, then it can be found to help ordinary people who are struggling most.
"Workers will not forgive the government if they fail to grab the clear chance now of helping them through tough times this bill presents."
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, the UK's biggest union, added: "People understand that this is about social justice, about making sure that workers get a fair deal when facing hard times.
"Redundancy pay which is caped at around only half of average weekly earnings is an insult to hard-working people. Action now by government to drag redundancy pay back into line with the real cost of living would be right and popular, it would ensure Labour makes good on an outstanding commitment and with political will, could be in place before the summer.
"Now, more than ever, working people need a helping hand. They expect a Labour government and Labour MPs to be the first to offer it and will be entitled to ask searching questions if they do not."
According to the unions, SRP has drifted so far away from real wages in value that it is now worth around only half of earnings, compared to the 200 per cent it represented when introduced in 1965. The result is that workers are losing out on thousands of pounds at the very time they need it most.
Workers have been contacting the unions to report dramatically low redundancy pay packages, including:
One energy worker with 45 years experience who ,when made redundant soon, will receive SRP equivalent to only two months' wages;
A manufacturing worker made redundant after 17 years who received only £4,500 calculated on SRP;
A construction worker who received £5,775 in SRP but had it been brought into line with earnings would have received £8,448, a difference of £3,073;
A charity worker made redundant after eight years and paid only SRP, denying him thousands of pounds.
Lindsay Hoyle MP was third in the private member's ballot and a Commons motion supporting his bill has been signed by over 130 Labour MPs, making it second only to postal privatisation plans in the list of MPs' concerns.
Lifting redundancy pay was a 2004 Warwick commitment and a 2007 manifesto pledge. Without government backing, however, this bill which would deliver on these commitments, cannot succeed.
The bill is backed by Unite, Aslef, Community, CWU, GMB, TSSA, Ucatt, Usdaw, Unison, TULO and the TUC.
Email your MP at
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/speakout/fairplay
Campaign against blacklisting - update
Union leaders are demanding the Olympic 2012 site is purged of all blacklists held on construction workers.
A host of contractors working on the games were among 40 firms exposed last week by the Information Commissioner's Office as members of the Consulting Association which held sensitive data on 3,213 workers.
Olympic Stadium builder Sir Robert McAlpine is believed to have spent nearly £30,000 last year alone on information to vet potential employees.
Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson is calling for an immediate probe into all Olympic contractors caught up in the Consulting Association scandal.
He said: "On the basis that many of the employers concerned will be winning billions of pounds worth of public and private sector work, the government should announce an immediate investigation into the practices that exist in the industry."
The Consulting Association was run from the West Midlands by Ian Kerr. The company has been in operation for 15 years with contractors taking out a £3,000 a year subscription and paying £2.20 a time for details on each individual held on its database.
Kerr is now facing prosecution under the Data Protection Act and the fall-out from the scandal is creating waves across the industry.
Workers who have been blacklisted are set to launch legal action against contractors who denied them work.
Protection from future blacklisting is also expected to boost the number of workers protesting against the increased use of foreign workers in the industry.
Derek Simpson said: "So far this year we have seen waves of unofficial action because of employer practices aimed at excluding UK based labour from even applying for work on certain construction sites. Now we have undeniable evidence that employers are using covert information to blacklist workers for legitimate trade union activities."
A source close to Laing O'Rourke said: "It's a bit embarrasing to be named but we are purely on the list because two firms we took over - Laing and Crown House - were signed up to this.
"It was an admin error that it was never cancelled and we have never sought information on potential employees through groups like this"
From the Contract Journal.
A host of contractors working on the games were among 40 firms exposed last week by the Information Commissioner's Office as members of the Consulting Association which held sensitive data on 3,213 workers.
Olympic Stadium builder Sir Robert McAlpine is believed to have spent nearly £30,000 last year alone on information to vet potential employees.
Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson is calling for an immediate probe into all Olympic contractors caught up in the Consulting Association scandal.
He said: "On the basis that many of the employers concerned will be winning billions of pounds worth of public and private sector work, the government should announce an immediate investigation into the practices that exist in the industry."
The Consulting Association was run from the West Midlands by Ian Kerr. The company has been in operation for 15 years with contractors taking out a £3,000 a year subscription and paying £2.20 a time for details on each individual held on its database.
Kerr is now facing prosecution under the Data Protection Act and the fall-out from the scandal is creating waves across the industry.
Workers who have been blacklisted are set to launch legal action against contractors who denied them work.
Protection from future blacklisting is also expected to boost the number of workers protesting against the increased use of foreign workers in the industry.
Derek Simpson said: "So far this year we have seen waves of unofficial action because of employer practices aimed at excluding UK based labour from even applying for work on certain construction sites. Now we have undeniable evidence that employers are using covert information to blacklist workers for legitimate trade union activities."
A source close to Laing O'Rourke said: "It's a bit embarrasing to be named but we are purely on the list because two firms we took over - Laing and Crown House - were signed up to this.
"It was an admin error that it was never cancelled and we have never sought information on potential employees through groups like this"
From the Contract Journal.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Facebook Campaign to Save Waterford Crystal - Ireland
Sign up please!
To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=110003560463&mid=1f5a8cG2d8c85d5G1452900G6
To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=110003560463&mid=1f5a8cG2d8c85d5G1452900G6
Supreme Court briefs filed in support of Miami Five
Supreme Court briefs filed in support of Cuban Five
From the People's Weekly World Newspaper
Twelve friend of the court briefs (amicus curiae) were filed with the U.S. Supreme Court March 6 in support of the position for the Court to review the case of the Cuban Five. This is the largest number of amicus briefs ever to have urged Supreme Court to review a criminal conviction.
Ten Nobel laureates signed the briefs, Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchu, Jose Saramago, Wole Soyinka, Zhores Alferov, Nadine Gordimer, Gunter Grass, Dario Fo and Mairead Maguire, as well as the Mexican Senate, the National Assembly of Panama, and Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland (1992-97).
In addition were hundreds of world legislators, including:
• 75 members of the European Parliament, including two former presidents and three current vice presidents of this legislature;
• 85 Mexican deputies;
• 87 members of the United Kingdom House of Commons;
• 9 senators and 33 deputies of the Irish Parliament;
• 11 members of the Parliament of Scotland;
• 17 senators and 138 deputies of Brazilian National Congress;
• 4 senators and 8 deputies of the National Congress of Chile;
• 4 representatives, a senator and a former senator of the Belgian Federal Parliament;
• 7 members of the German Parliament (Bundestag);
• 2 members and 2 former members of the House of Councilors and 5 members and an ex member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan.
Other amicus briefs were presented in the name of numerous legal and human rights associations of different countries, international personalities and legal and academic organizations in the United States, including: The Center for International Policy, Council of Hemispheric Affairs, Civil Rights Clinic at Howard University School of Law, Cuban-American Scholars, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Jury Project, The National Lawyers Guild and the National Conference of Black Lawyers, the William C. Velasquez Institute and the Mexican-American Political Association.
The United Nations Human Rights Commission has condemned the Miami trial of the Cuban agents, marking the first and only time in history that that body has condemned a U.S. judicial proceeding. Citing a “climate of bias and prejudice” in Miami, the Commission’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions concluded that the “trial did not take place in the climate of objectivity and impartiality that is required to conform to the standards of a fair trial.”
Several of the amicus briefs filed by U.S. organizations also ask the Supreme Court to review the prosecution’s striking African Americans from the jury. The prosecutor used seven of nine “peremptory challenges” (where no explanation need be given to strike a juror) to strike black jurors. The Court of Appeals ruled that no inquiry need be made into the prosecutor’s motives because three other black jurors, a minority on the 12-person jury, were seated. The briefs maintain that this allows prosecutors to mask their manipulation of the racial make-up of a jury.
The U.S. government’s brief in opposition is presently due April 6. The Court is likely to decide whether to grant review before its summer recess in June.
The amicus briefs, along with a complete list of the amici, are posted at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/amicus-briefs-filed-in-the-cuban-five-case
From the People's Weekly World Newspaper
Twelve friend of the court briefs (amicus curiae) were filed with the U.S. Supreme Court March 6 in support of the position for the Court to review the case of the Cuban Five. This is the largest number of amicus briefs ever to have urged Supreme Court to review a criminal conviction.
Ten Nobel laureates signed the briefs, Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchu, Jose Saramago, Wole Soyinka, Zhores Alferov, Nadine Gordimer, Gunter Grass, Dario Fo and Mairead Maguire, as well as the Mexican Senate, the National Assembly of Panama, and Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland (1992-97).
In addition were hundreds of world legislators, including:
• 75 members of the European Parliament, including two former presidents and three current vice presidents of this legislature;
• 85 Mexican deputies;
• 87 members of the United Kingdom House of Commons;
• 9 senators and 33 deputies of the Irish Parliament;
• 11 members of the Parliament of Scotland;
• 17 senators and 138 deputies of Brazilian National Congress;
• 4 senators and 8 deputies of the National Congress of Chile;
• 4 representatives, a senator and a former senator of the Belgian Federal Parliament;
• 7 members of the German Parliament (Bundestag);
• 2 members and 2 former members of the House of Councilors and 5 members and an ex member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan.
Other amicus briefs were presented in the name of numerous legal and human rights associations of different countries, international personalities and legal and academic organizations in the United States, including: The Center for International Policy, Council of Hemispheric Affairs, Civil Rights Clinic at Howard University School of Law, Cuban-American Scholars, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Jury Project, The National Lawyers Guild and the National Conference of Black Lawyers, the William C. Velasquez Institute and the Mexican-American Political Association.
The United Nations Human Rights Commission has condemned the Miami trial of the Cuban agents, marking the first and only time in history that that body has condemned a U.S. judicial proceeding. Citing a “climate of bias and prejudice” in Miami, the Commission’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions concluded that the “trial did not take place in the climate of objectivity and impartiality that is required to conform to the standards of a fair trial.”
Several of the amicus briefs filed by U.S. organizations also ask the Supreme Court to review the prosecution’s striking African Americans from the jury. The prosecutor used seven of nine “peremptory challenges” (where no explanation need be given to strike a juror) to strike black jurors. The Court of Appeals ruled that no inquiry need be made into the prosecutor’s motives because three other black jurors, a minority on the 12-person jury, were seated. The briefs maintain that this allows prosecutors to mask their manipulation of the racial make-up of a jury.
The U.S. government’s brief in opposition is presently due April 6. The Court is likely to decide whether to grant review before its summer recess in June.
The amicus briefs, along with a complete list of the amici, are posted at http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/amicus-briefs-filed-in-the-cuban-five-case
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
JGS election - Full Independent Scrutineers Report
Just in case WUG supporters didn't see the full report from the Independent Scruitineers it has now been published on the Unite (TGWU) website.
Unite (Amicus Section) election of joint general secretary - Independent Scrutineers report
http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=94754&int1stParentNodeID=42438&int2ndParentNodeID=89396&Action=Display
Unite (Amicus Section) election of joint general secretary - Independent Scrutineers report
http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=94754&int1stParentNodeID=42438&int2ndParentNodeID=89396&Action=Display
CUP Campaign latest news
A delegation from the Cambridge University Press (CUP) workforce threatened with redundancy is putting their case directly to the Syndicate - CUP’s governing body - on Friday, 13th March.
More than 150 jobs at CUP are under threat, despite the world-famous institution making a profit. Alarm at the job losses has been expressed by Cambridge City Council.
The delegation from CUP’s threatened printing division and the publishing education group will address the syndicate in Cambridge.
Unite national officer, Ann Field, said: "The delegation will be making the case that CUP is still a profitable organisation with a hard-working and dedicated work force - and that jobs should not be axed unnecessarily during a recession.
"In recent years, staff have lost their final salary pension scheme; experienced a three-year wage freeze; and its print members had increased productivity by 80 per cent."
Unite highlights poor control by the university over management decisions in two parts of the institution (CUP and Cambridge Assessment), which resulted in the loss of the five-year £50 million Cambridge Assessment contract, which now threatens to end 425 years of continuous CUP printing in the city.
Unite said that if the CUP and university had ensured that adequate measures were taken, including a one-off £300,000 investment at Duxford, near Cambridge, it would have met the ‘secure environment’ demand of Cambridge Assessment, which is Europe's largest assessment agency incorporating three major exam boards.
More than 150 jobs at CUP are under threat, despite the world-famous institution making a profit. Alarm at the job losses has been expressed by Cambridge City Council.
The delegation from CUP’s threatened printing division and the publishing education group will address the syndicate in Cambridge.
Unite national officer, Ann Field, said: "The delegation will be making the case that CUP is still a profitable organisation with a hard-working and dedicated work force - and that jobs should not be axed unnecessarily during a recession.
"In recent years, staff have lost their final salary pension scheme; experienced a three-year wage freeze; and its print members had increased productivity by 80 per cent."
Unite highlights poor control by the university over management decisions in two parts of the institution (CUP and Cambridge Assessment), which resulted in the loss of the five-year £50 million Cambridge Assessment contract, which now threatens to end 425 years of continuous CUP printing in the city.
Unite said that if the CUP and university had ensured that adequate measures were taken, including a one-off £300,000 investment at Duxford, near Cambridge, it would have met the ‘secure environment’ demand of Cambridge Assessment, which is Europe's largest assessment agency incorporating three major exam boards.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Derek Simpson Re-elected
Derek Simpson has been re-elected as joint leader of Unite, the UK's biggest trade union.
Full ballot result is as follows: (but not from the ERS)
Derek Simpson 60,048 (37.8%)
Jerry Hicks 39,307 (24.84%)
Kevin Coyne 30,603 (19.34%)
Paul Reuter 28,283 (17.87%)
Spoilt papers 1,031
Votes cast 15,8241
Given this was an election which was forced on Unite, and the wide ranging personal attacks on Derek Simpson and Unite by News International and other newspapers - aided and abbetted by people inside Unite and outside of the union's employment, this victory is a remarkable result.
It fully vindicates the policies of campaigning and fighting back for Unite members which were advocated and lead by Derek Simpson before and during the election.
Congratulations Derek!
Full ballot result is as follows: (but not from the ERS)
Derek Simpson 60,048 (37.8%)
Jerry Hicks 39,307 (24.84%)
Kevin Coyne 30,603 (19.34%)
Paul Reuter 28,283 (17.87%)
Spoilt papers 1,031
Votes cast 15,8241
Given this was an election which was forced on Unite, and the wide ranging personal attacks on Derek Simpson and Unite by News International and other newspapers - aided and abbetted by people inside Unite and outside of the union's employment, this victory is a remarkable result.
It fully vindicates the policies of campaigning and fighting back for Unite members which were advocated and lead by Derek Simpson before and during the election.
Congratulations Derek!
Chavez has seized land belonging to Irish packaging tycoon.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has seized land belonging to Irish packaging tycoon Michael Smurfit. His government announced it had taken control of 3,700 acres owned by the multi national Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa Group.
Chavez said he was making the move because the land was being used to grow eucalyptus, a cardboard component, instead of food in violation of Venezuelan law.
This is second high-profile nationalisation in as many days. Earlier this week Chavez ordered the takeover of a Venezuelan unit of US agriculture giant Cargill.
Speaking of his latest move against Smurfit Kappa on state TV, he said: "We are going to use all the eucalyptus wood sensibly and harvest other things there, beans, corn, sorghum, cassava and yam."
Public works minister Diosdado Cabello added: "The multinational Smurfit harvests a specific type of wood. It absorbs almost all the water in the subsoil and the only beneficiaries of the harvest are the owners of the company."
Chavez launched a nationwide land reform after taking office in 1999 and the Nationality Assembly passed a law two years later giving the state power to seized underused farmland.
Michael Smurfit joined the cardboard company started by father Jefferson in the 1950s and turned it into a world leader.
He is estimated to be worth more than £400 million and has been honoured by the government of Venezuela for his charitable work.
The businessman, knighted by the Queen in 2005 for his contributions to employment in the UK and his charitable donations, holds dual Irish and British citizenship.
The Smurfit Kappa Group was formed four years ago following the merger of the Jefferson Smurfit Group, the company Michael Smurfit inherited from his father, with Kappa Packaging BV.
It employs 42,000 employees in 33 countries on five continents and the parent company's headquarters are in Dublin.
Chavez said he was making the move because the land was being used to grow eucalyptus, a cardboard component, instead of food in violation of Venezuelan law.
This is second high-profile nationalisation in as many days. Earlier this week Chavez ordered the takeover of a Venezuelan unit of US agriculture giant Cargill.
Speaking of his latest move against Smurfit Kappa on state TV, he said: "We are going to use all the eucalyptus wood sensibly and harvest other things there, beans, corn, sorghum, cassava and yam."
Public works minister Diosdado Cabello added: "The multinational Smurfit harvests a specific type of wood. It absorbs almost all the water in the subsoil and the only beneficiaries of the harvest are the owners of the company."
Chavez launched a nationwide land reform after taking office in 1999 and the Nationality Assembly passed a law two years later giving the state power to seized underused farmland.
Michael Smurfit joined the cardboard company started by father Jefferson in the 1950s and turned it into a world leader.
He is estimated to be worth more than £400 million and has been honoured by the government of Venezuela for his charitable work.
The businessman, knighted by the Queen in 2005 for his contributions to employment in the UK and his charitable donations, holds dual Irish and British citizenship.
The Smurfit Kappa Group was formed four years ago following the merger of the Jefferson Smurfit Group, the company Michael Smurfit inherited from his father, with Kappa Packaging BV.
It employs 42,000 employees in 33 countries on five continents and the parent company's headquarters are in Dublin.
Unite Demands End To Blacklisting
In the light of this weeks revalations that Blacklisting in the Contruction Industry is alive and kicking, Unite has called on the Government to act immediately.
Unite, is urging the government to bring in regulations to deal with blacklisting. The union claims there is already a law in place but it has not been introduced because BERR had claimed there was no evidence that blacklisting was taking place.
Unite's joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: We now have irrefutable evidence that blacklisting exists. The government should act immediately to bring in regulations to deal with blacklisting. It was not done earlier because BERR claimed there was no evidence it was going on. Unite demanded legislation more than five years ago, but the government resisted following lobbying by the CBI and EEF."
The regulations would make it a criminal offence to compile lists which contain details of members of trade unions or persons who have taken part in the activities of trade unions, with a view to being used by employers or employment agencies for the purposes of discrimination, in relation to recruitment or in relation to the treatment of workers.
Unite will now be alerting its activists of possible claims under Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 S137.
Possible claims may be taken against employers based on the refusal of employment on grounds related to trade union membership if the individuals can evidence that they were refused work by companies on the list, and were listed as trade union activists on the list.
Unite, is urging the government to bring in regulations to deal with blacklisting. The union claims there is already a law in place but it has not been introduced because BERR had claimed there was no evidence that blacklisting was taking place.
Unite's joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: We now have irrefutable evidence that blacklisting exists. The government should act immediately to bring in regulations to deal with blacklisting. It was not done earlier because BERR claimed there was no evidence it was going on. Unite demanded legislation more than five years ago, but the government resisted following lobbying by the CBI and EEF."
The regulations would make it a criminal offence to compile lists which contain details of members of trade unions or persons who have taken part in the activities of trade unions, with a view to being used by employers or employment agencies for the purposes of discrimination, in relation to recruitment or in relation to the treatment of workers.
Unite will now be alerting its activists of possible claims under Trade Union & Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 S137.
Possible claims may be taken against employers based on the refusal of employment on grounds related to trade union membership if the individuals can evidence that they were refused work by companies on the list, and were listed as trade union activists on the list.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
German Apprentices Take To The Streets
German apprentices in the IG Mettal Union are fighting to retain their jobs rather than be laid off once they have completed their training.
http://www.strongerunions.org/2009/03/german-apprentices-fight-for-permanent-employment/
http://www.strongerunions.org/2009/03/german-apprentices-fight-for-permanent-employment/
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Chicago Sit In Company To Re-Open
From the New York Times
United Electrical Workers say company to rehire all the laid-off workers at their former rate of pay.
The 250 workers who staged a December sit-in at a Chicago window factory to protest losing their jobs were celebrating Thursday, after another window manufacturer announced plans to reopen the plant and start hiring back the displaced workers within months.
The sale of what had been Republic Windows and Doors to a California company, Serious Materials, for $1.45 million, was completed in bankruptcy court this week, with company officials promising United Electrical Workers Local 1110 to rehire all the laid-off workers at their former rate of pay.
''We see this opportunity to expand our operations in direct relation to the stimulus package, which includes the greening of federal buildings and the weatherization assistance program,'' said Sandra Vaughan, the chief marketing officer for Serious Materials, which also manufactures energy-efficient windows and building products in Boulder, Colo., and Vandergrift, Pa.
Ms. Vaughan said it could take months to get the company's equipment up and running in Chicago, but to former Republic Windows workers like Armando Robles, a father of five who lost his health insurance in January, the prospect of the factory's reopening was ''a dream come true.''
''They are promising to hire all of us back sooner or later, but they will start with a small crew,'' said Mr. Robles, 39, who had been a maintenance technician. ''Having another company reopen the factory was always our hope when we occupied the factory in December.''
Serious Materials' acquisition of the 125,000-square-foot warehouse that housed Republic Windows comes just days after Republic Windows' former owner, Rich Gillman, ceased operations at his new window plant in Red Oak, Iowa. Mr. Gillman opened that factory late last year as a nonunion plant, after abruptly shuttering the one in Chicago.
''We are sad that the inability to make the company succeed represents a loss for more than 100 workers and their families, and investors who held great hope for this enterprise,'' Mr. Gillman said in a statement.
Melvin Maclin, 55, a former technician at Republic Windows, said his bitter emotions of the last few months turned to joy this week, after learning that he could soon be back at work, cutting designs into glass windows at the Chicago plant.
''When I got the phone call, I woke up my wife, and we did a little victory dance,'' Mr. Maclin said. ''This is not only a victory for the Republic workers, but for laborers and unions everywhere.''
United Electrical Workers say company to rehire all the laid-off workers at their former rate of pay.
The 250 workers who staged a December sit-in at a Chicago window factory to protest losing their jobs were celebrating Thursday, after another window manufacturer announced plans to reopen the plant and start hiring back the displaced workers within months.
The sale of what had been Republic Windows and Doors to a California company, Serious Materials, for $1.45 million, was completed in bankruptcy court this week, with company officials promising United Electrical Workers Local 1110 to rehire all the laid-off workers at their former rate of pay.
''We see this opportunity to expand our operations in direct relation to the stimulus package, which includes the greening of federal buildings and the weatherization assistance program,'' said Sandra Vaughan, the chief marketing officer for Serious Materials, which also manufactures energy-efficient windows and building products in Boulder, Colo., and Vandergrift, Pa.
Ms. Vaughan said it could take months to get the company's equipment up and running in Chicago, but to former Republic Windows workers like Armando Robles, a father of five who lost his health insurance in January, the prospect of the factory's reopening was ''a dream come true.''
''They are promising to hire all of us back sooner or later, but they will start with a small crew,'' said Mr. Robles, 39, who had been a maintenance technician. ''Having another company reopen the factory was always our hope when we occupied the factory in December.''
Serious Materials' acquisition of the 125,000-square-foot warehouse that housed Republic Windows comes just days after Republic Windows' former owner, Rich Gillman, ceased operations at his new window plant in Red Oak, Iowa. Mr. Gillman opened that factory late last year as a nonunion plant, after abruptly shuttering the one in Chicago.
''We are sad that the inability to make the company succeed represents a loss for more than 100 workers and their families, and investors who held great hope for this enterprise,'' Mr. Gillman said in a statement.
Melvin Maclin, 55, a former technician at Republic Windows, said his bitter emotions of the last few months turned to joy this week, after learning that he could soon be back at work, cutting designs into glass windows at the Chicago plant.
''When I got the phone call, I woke up my wife, and we did a little victory dance,'' Mr. Maclin said. ''This is not only a victory for the Republic workers, but for laborers and unions everywhere.''
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