There have been a number of obituaries in the media reporting the sad death of Bill Speirs, ex STUC General Secretary, who passed away this week. after a long illness.
This obituary by Malcolm Burns in the Morning Star is the best we have read and pays a fulsome tribute to Bill.
Our condolences go to his wife Pat and his family.
Bill Speirs (1952-2009) Trade union leader, socialist, internationalist
Thursday 24 September 2009
by Malcolm Burns
Bill was a leading figure in Scottish and British politics, where his strategic and tactical abilities were put to good use in fighting the neoliberal onslaught of the Tory years and in helping to deliver and secure the Scottish Parliament.
He was also a staunch internationalist who contributed immensely to many of the great causes of our time, especially the victorious campaign against apartheid in South Africa and the continuing fight to win freedom and justice for the Palestinian people.
Bill grew up in Renfrew and was educated at the John Neilston Institute and then at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, where he gained a first-class honours degree in politics.
Everyone who came across Bill, friend and foe, recognised and respected his sharp intellect. Communist Jimmy Milne, who was then STUC general secretary, made a shrewd appointment when hiring the 26-year-old Bill as an assistant secretary in 1978. By that time, Bill had already cut his teeth in student politics and on the Scottish Labour Party left.
In almost three decades at the STUC, Bill rose to become deputy general secretary from 1988 and general secretary from 1998. He was also chairman of the Scottish Labour Party in 1987.
His career spanned the dark Tory years between the defeat of the 1970s Labour government following the failure to deliver devolution and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
That Scotland finally won its parliament is due in no small part to Bill Speirs and his predecessor as STUC general secretary, the redoubtable Campbell Christie.
Trade unions are not political parties, but the STUC has played a remarkable role in Scottish political, economic and social life - not only leading industrial struggles, but raising awareness, building broad alliances and seeking democracy and justice both at home and abroad.
The miners' strike, the struggle for the steel and shipbuilding industries, Caterpillar, the fight against the poll tax, opposing nuclear weapons, defending the NHS, the long campaign for a Scottish parliament - some of those campaigns we won, some we lost. But in every case we made an impact and Scotland still retains much which Thatcher sought to destroy. Bill was in the forefront of every campaign. His creativity and energy were always deployed to try to maximise the interests of working people.
His internationalism was rooted in links of solidarity between working people - with trade unionists in eastern Europe during the cold war, in South Africa and Palestine, Cuba and Chile, in war-torn Bosnia and many more. And he was no tourist. He went to places where people needed STUC solidarity and he sometimes faced danger, even bullets, as a result.
He was to the fore in the massive anti-war protest in February 2003 and also led the Make Poverty History campaign in July 2005, each of which mobilised hundreds of thousands on the streets.
Bill also did important work as a member of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and on bodies such as the Scottish Arts Council and 7:84 theatre company.
He retired in 2006, but despite continuing ill health remained an activist in the Labour Party, Scottish Friends of Palestine and in his local community.
He enjoyed joking that on his birthday, March 8, women all over the world celebrated. He made that joke every year. Of course he too celebrated International Women's Day as a strong supporter of equal rights.
Bill loved music. He had a fine voice and lost no opportunity to sing. He would make up songs in celebration of people and events. His version of Catch A Falling Star, complete with actions, is legendary - and especially his adaptation of the words: "Buy a Morning Star and put it in your pocket, read it every single day ... never let it fade away."
Bill read, supported and contributed to the Morning Star. He took the paper every day, promoted it in his working and social life. He saw it as an essential weapon in the fight for the ideas of socialism.
Scotland has produced plenty of fine socialists, communists and trade unionists. None were finer than Bill Speirs. I'd put him in the company of Mick McGahey and John Maclean. Our mutual friend the late Peter Smith, communist, lecturer and editor of the STUC magazine the Scottish Trade Union Review, used to say: "Billy is an outstanding comrade, outstanding." So he was. The working-class movement throughout the world has lost a great fighter and a true friend.
He is survived by his wife Pat Stuart, herself a leading trade unionist, and a daughter and son from his first marriage.
Friday, September 25, 2009
John Walsh - Young Workers in the Recession: the Organising Challenge
Young Workers in the Recession: the Organising Challenge
Posted on September 24th, 2009 by John Walsh on the Stronger Unions Website
John Walsh is a Unite member, TUC General Council member and Chair of the TUC Young Members Forum
As Chair of the TUC’s Young Members Forum, I’m very happy to be a guest blogger for today on Stronger Unions.
As a young trade union activist, I’m interested to know what the Government is doing for young people facing the worst of times in this current recession?
And, perhaps more importantly from our perspective, how unions are tackling the challenge of organising young workers concentrated in areas where we have little or no union presense?
How do we speak with young workers, wherever they work, in a language that is relevant?
If you have any further suggestions let the TUC know by emailing Matt Dykes, the TUC’s policy officer for Young People at mdykes@tuc.org.uk
But here are a few of my own thoughts on the matter:
It’s a tough world out there for our younger generation today. For too many young people choices are narrowing as unemployment runs rampant, jobs remain concentrated in low skilled, low paying sectors, unpaid volunteering the only route for many into the professions and competition for decent apprenticeships and university places intensifies with supply lagging well behind demand.
The awareness of the long term effects of the recession on young people’s aspirations and working lives has led to journalists, academics and politicians of all stripes to increasingly speak of a “lost generation”, a cliché perhaps but one with an ominous ring of truth about it for those of us out there facing the sharp end of the labour market in our teens and early twenties.
All this poses clear challenges for Government and employers. While it’s heartening to see this Government, unlike previous administrations, committing itself to addressing the needs of young people, it remains to be seen whether the package of support within the ‘Backing Young Britain’ initiative is of sufficient scale to make a significant impact on the problem of endemic youth unemployment. The guarantee of a job or training place for all long term unemployed young people is a bold commitment. Increasing public sector apprenticeships, as seen by the NHS recently, is genuine progress and the Future Jobs Fund shows a clear break from past initiatives with a focus on real job creation. But the Government’s enthusiasm for internships and work experience as a potential solution leaves me cold. Without further guarantees of decent minimum standards, the intern route is always going to be open to exploitation.
What’s more, the Government’s strategy hinges on genuine commitment from employers. Without this, ‘Backing Young Britain’ gets nowhere because the jobs, internships and apprenticeships will fail to materialise. Or at least, will fail to materialise in a way that provides a quality route into sustainable work. The Government needs to find more ways to ensure that employers engage in and contribute to this agenda. Using its considerable purchasing power as a procurer of goods and services from the private sector would seem one way of obliging employers to participate in the Government’s plans.
And, of course, the unions have a key role to play in all this. There are three big challenges for us to meet.
First, we need to continue to campaign and lobby Government to ensure that job creation and work experience initiatives are rewarding and effective, providing sustainable pathways into employment and more good quality apprenticeships are made available to young people. And we need to use our presence in the workplace to monitor the real experiences of young people entering employment through these schemes. That unions have been given an advisory role on the Future Jobs Fund panels is one very welcome example of how we can feed into this.
Second, unions can play a supportive role with young people entering work for the first time, particularly those previously unemployed and excluded young people coming to the workplace through Government initiatives. Developing cohorts of union reps who can play an active role in mentoring and supporting young apprentices, work experience placements and other new entrants not only helps those vulnerable young people but promotes recruitment and organisation, demonstrating the value of union membership to new groups of workers.
Finally, trade unions need to do more to organise and recruit more widely among young workers. Young people make up a sizeable chunk of the workforce with workers aged 16 to 24 making up 14% of the total workforce. Around a third of 16 and 17 year olds and two thirds of 18 to 24 year olds are in employment. They are most likely to be in low paid work and suffer higher levels of bullying and employment rights abuses. And yet union membership among young people is notoriously low with only one in ten of this age group joining a trade union.
There are specific reasons for this: young people are more likely to move jobs so there is high probability that they will leave a union because they move to an employer without union presence and younger workers are overwhelmingly concentrated in sectors where union density is particularly low.
Trade unionists used to complain that young people had become a generation of Thatcher’s children and that they were no longer willing to join trade unions. The reality now is that rather than having a negative image of trade unions, many young people simply have no image of trade unions at all.
But several trade unions are already proving that organising young workers can be successful, with the right kind of targeted work. So what kind of organising and engagement has proved effective?
For unions to really make their mark among young workers there needs to be a greater union presence in those sectors where young people are concentrated. For unions to recruit young members, they need to be in the hotels, restaurants, shops, and call centres where so many young people start their working lives. This, of course, poses a whole set of organising challenges for unions but both Unite and GMB have shown that these kind of workplaces don’t have to be union-free zones and that young people are often willing to join when unions find them.
Schools and colleges are also a good place to start. For a number of years now the TUC has provided teaching materials and volunteer speakers for schools. But delivery has been patchy, with real challenges both in providing speakers who are able to find the time off to participate and in building demand for the service from schools. There’s also scope to develop our teaching materials, providing more up to date and user friendly teaching materials that can be applied to the modern classroom where technology allows for greater use of multi-media approaches. It will be interesting to see how the TUC develops this in coming months and how we can put this work on a more sustainable footing, without over-reliance on volunteer reps to undertake the work.
Engaging with students in the Further and Higher Education sectors potentially offers more immediate organising gains. Large numbers of students are already in work and often concentrated around campuses with student unions offering a range of support services that trade unions can work with.
The TUC and NUS protocol signed in 2006 was a significant development and new strategies emerged as a result. This has included the joint production of information on employment rights and housing for students as well as some pilot organising projects delivered in two TUC regions and currently in Wales.
Engagement with students has often been most effective where unions have been able to link with vocational training relevant to their industries. Equity, NUT and NUJ are examples of how this can prove very effective, particularly when backed up with student structures within the union. UNISON has also established a similar approach with student nurses.
Increasing awareness and recruiting young members is only part of the challenge. We need to develop future activists and make our unions attractive and inclusive for young people. It’s therefore essential that unions develop our younger members and empower them with a voice within their own unions.
16 of the 55 TUC affiliated trade unions have some kind of targeted activity with younger members and most of these have internal structures which help bring young members into the trade union mainstream. Unite, PCS, UNISON and CWU are some of the unions that have seen real growth in activism as a result of establishing young members structures. It stands to reason that young members get active when the union is seen to value them.
The TUC’s Young Members Forum and Conference makes an essential contribution to the work of the TUC, giving young members a platform to make their views known to the TUC and its affiliated unions though the General Council and ensuring that their voice contributes to national TUC policy. It also acts as a forum to bring young activists together from across our unions, an engine room for ideas and change at the heart of our movement.
The TUC’s Organising Academy, and recently launched Activist Academy, are key vehicles for building the skills of our young activists both within the trade union movement but also with students, through our partnership with the NUS. And the Activist Academy offers real potential to motivate new activists.
Finally, it is imperative that we consistently make the case for a better deal for young people. We need to continue to lobby for a National Minimum Wage that does not discriminate against younger workers, for more and better apprenticeships and to tackle the chronic lack of affordable housing for young people.
Ultimately, we need to be seen as the champion of young people in the workplace. And to show that becoming a trade union member is not some relic of a bygone industrial age, but the best way of guaranteeing decency and dignity at work in an age of huge change.
John Walsh
Posted on September 24th, 2009 by John Walsh on the Stronger Unions Website
John Walsh is a Unite member, TUC General Council member and Chair of the TUC Young Members Forum
As Chair of the TUC’s Young Members Forum, I’m very happy to be a guest blogger for today on Stronger Unions.
As a young trade union activist, I’m interested to know what the Government is doing for young people facing the worst of times in this current recession?
And, perhaps more importantly from our perspective, how unions are tackling the challenge of organising young workers concentrated in areas where we have little or no union presense?
How do we speak with young workers, wherever they work, in a language that is relevant?
If you have any further suggestions let the TUC know by emailing Matt Dykes, the TUC’s policy officer for Young People at mdykes@tuc.org.uk
But here are a few of my own thoughts on the matter:
It’s a tough world out there for our younger generation today. For too many young people choices are narrowing as unemployment runs rampant, jobs remain concentrated in low skilled, low paying sectors, unpaid volunteering the only route for many into the professions and competition for decent apprenticeships and university places intensifies with supply lagging well behind demand.
The awareness of the long term effects of the recession on young people’s aspirations and working lives has led to journalists, academics and politicians of all stripes to increasingly speak of a “lost generation”, a cliché perhaps but one with an ominous ring of truth about it for those of us out there facing the sharp end of the labour market in our teens and early twenties.
All this poses clear challenges for Government and employers. While it’s heartening to see this Government, unlike previous administrations, committing itself to addressing the needs of young people, it remains to be seen whether the package of support within the ‘Backing Young Britain’ initiative is of sufficient scale to make a significant impact on the problem of endemic youth unemployment. The guarantee of a job or training place for all long term unemployed young people is a bold commitment. Increasing public sector apprenticeships, as seen by the NHS recently, is genuine progress and the Future Jobs Fund shows a clear break from past initiatives with a focus on real job creation. But the Government’s enthusiasm for internships and work experience as a potential solution leaves me cold. Without further guarantees of decent minimum standards, the intern route is always going to be open to exploitation.
What’s more, the Government’s strategy hinges on genuine commitment from employers. Without this, ‘Backing Young Britain’ gets nowhere because the jobs, internships and apprenticeships will fail to materialise. Or at least, will fail to materialise in a way that provides a quality route into sustainable work. The Government needs to find more ways to ensure that employers engage in and contribute to this agenda. Using its considerable purchasing power as a procurer of goods and services from the private sector would seem one way of obliging employers to participate in the Government’s plans.
And, of course, the unions have a key role to play in all this. There are three big challenges for us to meet.
First, we need to continue to campaign and lobby Government to ensure that job creation and work experience initiatives are rewarding and effective, providing sustainable pathways into employment and more good quality apprenticeships are made available to young people. And we need to use our presence in the workplace to monitor the real experiences of young people entering employment through these schemes. That unions have been given an advisory role on the Future Jobs Fund panels is one very welcome example of how we can feed into this.
Second, unions can play a supportive role with young people entering work for the first time, particularly those previously unemployed and excluded young people coming to the workplace through Government initiatives. Developing cohorts of union reps who can play an active role in mentoring and supporting young apprentices, work experience placements and other new entrants not only helps those vulnerable young people but promotes recruitment and organisation, demonstrating the value of union membership to new groups of workers.
Finally, trade unions need to do more to organise and recruit more widely among young workers. Young people make up a sizeable chunk of the workforce with workers aged 16 to 24 making up 14% of the total workforce. Around a third of 16 and 17 year olds and two thirds of 18 to 24 year olds are in employment. They are most likely to be in low paid work and suffer higher levels of bullying and employment rights abuses. And yet union membership among young people is notoriously low with only one in ten of this age group joining a trade union.
There are specific reasons for this: young people are more likely to move jobs so there is high probability that they will leave a union because they move to an employer without union presence and younger workers are overwhelmingly concentrated in sectors where union density is particularly low.
Trade unionists used to complain that young people had become a generation of Thatcher’s children and that they were no longer willing to join trade unions. The reality now is that rather than having a negative image of trade unions, many young people simply have no image of trade unions at all.
But several trade unions are already proving that organising young workers can be successful, with the right kind of targeted work. So what kind of organising and engagement has proved effective?
For unions to really make their mark among young workers there needs to be a greater union presence in those sectors where young people are concentrated. For unions to recruit young members, they need to be in the hotels, restaurants, shops, and call centres where so many young people start their working lives. This, of course, poses a whole set of organising challenges for unions but both Unite and GMB have shown that these kind of workplaces don’t have to be union-free zones and that young people are often willing to join when unions find them.
Schools and colleges are also a good place to start. For a number of years now the TUC has provided teaching materials and volunteer speakers for schools. But delivery has been patchy, with real challenges both in providing speakers who are able to find the time off to participate and in building demand for the service from schools. There’s also scope to develop our teaching materials, providing more up to date and user friendly teaching materials that can be applied to the modern classroom where technology allows for greater use of multi-media approaches. It will be interesting to see how the TUC develops this in coming months and how we can put this work on a more sustainable footing, without over-reliance on volunteer reps to undertake the work.
Engaging with students in the Further and Higher Education sectors potentially offers more immediate organising gains. Large numbers of students are already in work and often concentrated around campuses with student unions offering a range of support services that trade unions can work with.
The TUC and NUS protocol signed in 2006 was a significant development and new strategies emerged as a result. This has included the joint production of information on employment rights and housing for students as well as some pilot organising projects delivered in two TUC regions and currently in Wales.
Engagement with students has often been most effective where unions have been able to link with vocational training relevant to their industries. Equity, NUT and NUJ are examples of how this can prove very effective, particularly when backed up with student structures within the union. UNISON has also established a similar approach with student nurses.
Increasing awareness and recruiting young members is only part of the challenge. We need to develop future activists and make our unions attractive and inclusive for young people. It’s therefore essential that unions develop our younger members and empower them with a voice within their own unions.
16 of the 55 TUC affiliated trade unions have some kind of targeted activity with younger members and most of these have internal structures which help bring young members into the trade union mainstream. Unite, PCS, UNISON and CWU are some of the unions that have seen real growth in activism as a result of establishing young members structures. It stands to reason that young members get active when the union is seen to value them.
The TUC’s Young Members Forum and Conference makes an essential contribution to the work of the TUC, giving young members a platform to make their views known to the TUC and its affiliated unions though the General Council and ensuring that their voice contributes to national TUC policy. It also acts as a forum to bring young activists together from across our unions, an engine room for ideas and change at the heart of our movement.
The TUC’s Organising Academy, and recently launched Activist Academy, are key vehicles for building the skills of our young activists both within the trade union movement but also with students, through our partnership with the NUS. And the Activist Academy offers real potential to motivate new activists.
Finally, it is imperative that we consistently make the case for a better deal for young people. We need to continue to lobby for a National Minimum Wage that does not discriminate against younger workers, for more and better apprenticeships and to tackle the chronic lack of affordable housing for young people.
Ultimately, we need to be seen as the champion of young people in the workplace. And to show that becoming a trade union member is not some relic of a bygone industrial age, but the best way of guaranteeing decency and dignity at work in an age of huge change.
John Walsh
Trinty Mirror - Local Bargaining Deals
Industrial action by Unite members at Trinity Mirror newspaper printing sites was averted after FOC's and MOC's were given assurances regarding local bargaining.
Action, short of a strike, was initially scheduled to begin last week after Trinity announced a nationwide pay freeze last year.
However, all sites except for Oldham have agreed terms.
Negotiations at Oldham are expected to concluded this week, although Unite national officer Steve Sibbald said that action could still take place at the Greater Manchester facility.
He added: "This was always more about assurances regarding individual bargaining and each site now has that assurance. We have also had discussions regarding a possible bonus, which we were not expecting. If that does happen Trinity will probably be doing better than most in its sector."
Action, short of a strike, was initially scheduled to begin last week after Trinity announced a nationwide pay freeze last year.
However, all sites except for Oldham have agreed terms.
Negotiations at Oldham are expected to concluded this week, although Unite national officer Steve Sibbald said that action could still take place at the Greater Manchester facility.
He added: "This was always more about assurances regarding individual bargaining and each site now has that assurance. We have also had discussions regarding a possible bonus, which we were not expecting. If that does happen Trinity will probably be doing better than most in its sector."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Labour Party Conference - Fair Tips Guide
Unite launch Brighton Fair Tips Guide ahead of Labour Party Conference
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The Unite Fair Tips Guide shows the restaurants, hotels and pubs across the city that have signed up to the Fair Tips Charter showing their commitment to ensuring that tips and service charges are distributed fairly among staff. Those who have signed up to the campaign display the green fair tips sticker in their window.
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: "Only in those establishments which display the tips green sticker can customers be sure that the tips they leave for waiting staff go directly to them. Unite urge the political elite to ensure they enjoy their time at the conference in establishments which treat waiters and waitresses fairly and give them at least minimum wage with all tips on top."
Tony Woodley, Unite joint general Secretary said: “The Unite Fair Tips guide gives visitors to The Labour Party Conference the choice to dine with tipping confidence while in Brighton. The principles of the Unite Fair Tips Charter ensure that the money customers leave for hard working waiters and waitresses do not go to line the pockets of the bosses.”
Unite will be distributing the Fair Tips Guide to delegates to the Labour Party Conference this weekend. Some 15,000 people will be visiting Brighton during the five day conference.
You can view the Unite Fair Tips guide to Brighton at: www.fairtips.org
The Unite Fair pay Charter states that employers pledge to:
1. Pay all employees at least the minimum wage with 100% of tips added on top as a bonus with no hidden charges.
2. Reach agreement on how tips are shared with those staff directly affected.
3. Make no deductions from tips or salaries to cover breakages, till shortages or customer walk-outs.
4. Make all rules for the distribution of tips and service charges available in writing for staff and customers on request.
.
The Unite Fair Tips Guide shows the restaurants, hotels and pubs across the city that have signed up to the Fair Tips Charter showing their commitment to ensuring that tips and service charges are distributed fairly among staff. Those who have signed up to the campaign display the green fair tips sticker in their window.
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: "Only in those establishments which display the tips green sticker can customers be sure that the tips they leave for waiting staff go directly to them. Unite urge the political elite to ensure they enjoy their time at the conference in establishments which treat waiters and waitresses fairly and give them at least minimum wage with all tips on top."
Tony Woodley, Unite joint general Secretary said: “The Unite Fair Tips guide gives visitors to The Labour Party Conference the choice to dine with tipping confidence while in Brighton. The principles of the Unite Fair Tips Charter ensure that the money customers leave for hard working waiters and waitresses do not go to line the pockets of the bosses.”
Unite will be distributing the Fair Tips Guide to delegates to the Labour Party Conference this weekend. Some 15,000 people will be visiting Brighton during the five day conference.
You can view the Unite Fair Tips guide to Brighton at: www.fairtips.org
The Unite Fair pay Charter states that employers pledge to:
1. Pay all employees at least the minimum wage with 100% of tips added on top as a bonus with no hidden charges.
2. Reach agreement on how tips are shared with those staff directly affected.
3. Make no deductions from tips or salaries to cover breakages, till shortages or customer walk-outs.
4. Make all rules for the distribution of tips and service charges available in writing for staff and customers on request.
Unite rejects Jaguar attempts to make workers pay for management failures
Unite's Dave Osborne has said the announcement by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) of its new plan for the future of the business: "Earlier this year, this company and our union agreed a framework agreement intended to support JLR through this tough economic period. Our members said then that JLR could not be trusted to uphold that agreement. Today this has proven to be true."
While Unite welcomes moves to 'green' the JLR product range, Unite is deeply concerned that an agreement struck with the union barely six months ago will not now be upheld and that the company is seeking to close the final salary pension scheme.
Dave continued: "In April our members agreed to changes to terms and conditions of their employment in order to give the company financial security, but like Oliver Twist they are coming back for more. It appears that the company is making our members pay for their failure to secure government funding.
"We recognise the difficult trading environment for JLR, which is why Unite and its members have done more to help JLR during this recession than we have with any other company. But while the company may say that the business cannot sustain further liabilities, the truth is by far the biggest liability is the company's leadership team.
"Some of the problems the company faces today exist as a result of past management failures. These failures were at the hands of the same team who today want our members to lose their pensions. Well, Unite's members will not be paying for management's incompetence and we will not stand by while those responsible continue to wreck havoc on this business."
Unite and its reps will be meeting as soon as possible to consider the Jaguar proposals in more details.
While Unite welcomes moves to 'green' the JLR product range, Unite is deeply concerned that an agreement struck with the union barely six months ago will not now be upheld and that the company is seeking to close the final salary pension scheme.
Dave continued: "In April our members agreed to changes to terms and conditions of their employment in order to give the company financial security, but like Oliver Twist they are coming back for more. It appears that the company is making our members pay for their failure to secure government funding.
"We recognise the difficult trading environment for JLR, which is why Unite and its members have done more to help JLR during this recession than we have with any other company. But while the company may say that the business cannot sustain further liabilities, the truth is by far the biggest liability is the company's leadership team.
"Some of the problems the company faces today exist as a result of past management failures. These failures were at the hands of the same team who today want our members to lose their pensions. Well, Unite's members will not be paying for management's incompetence and we will not stand by while those responsible continue to wreck havoc on this business."
Unite and its reps will be meeting as soon as possible to consider the Jaguar proposals in more details.
Colombian union Sintratucar receives death threats
From the International Metal Workers Federation.
Columbia: The president of the union at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe has received death threats in the middle of a labour dispute with the company.
Sintratucar is seeking company recognition of the union and demanding that the company protects the lives of union leaders.
Members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de Tubos Caribe (SINTRATUCAR) union at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltd are going through a difficult time. The company has refused to recognize the union and the union president has received death threats.
On August 31 of this year, Jairo del Río, union president, received a letter threatening himself and his family with death. The union said that its president "does not and has never had problems with anyone and the only dispute he has been involved in is the one with the company about the creation of the union and its presentation of a list of demands."
The union is currently involved in a dispute with the transnational company Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltd after presenting a list of demands. The union says that the threats received by Jairo del Río "aim to frighten the workers into halting the fight in support of their just demands and against the disgraceful working conditions to which workers at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe are subjected."
The union is asking union leaders at other Tenaris plants to demand protection of the lives of Sintratucar union activists and to write to Álvaro Uribe, President of Colombia, with the same demand.
The IMF has closely followed the situation of union leaders in Colombia who have been threatened and persecuted and we know that more than 5,000 union leaders have been killed in Colombia during the last 20 years. The IMF therefore offers its solidarity to Sintratucar, in its fight for the freedom of association and its pursuit of the demands made to the company. It condemns the intimidation of the union president and the threats received by him and calls on the Colombian government to ensure the trade union leader's safety.
Columbia: The president of the union at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe has received death threats in the middle of a labour dispute with the company.
Sintratucar is seeking company recognition of the union and demanding that the company protects the lives of union leaders.
Members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de Tubos Caribe (SINTRATUCAR) union at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltd are going through a difficult time. The company has refused to recognize the union and the union president has received death threats.
On August 31 of this year, Jairo del Río, union president, received a letter threatening himself and his family with death. The union said that its president "does not and has never had problems with anyone and the only dispute he has been involved in is the one with the company about the creation of the union and its presentation of a list of demands."
The union is currently involved in a dispute with the transnational company Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltd after presenting a list of demands. The union says that the threats received by Jairo del Río "aim to frighten the workers into halting the fight in support of their just demands and against the disgraceful working conditions to which workers at Tenaris Tubos del Caribe are subjected."
The union is asking union leaders at other Tenaris plants to demand protection of the lives of Sintratucar union activists and to write to Álvaro Uribe, President of Colombia, with the same demand.
The IMF has closely followed the situation of union leaders in Colombia who have been threatened and persecuted and we know that more than 5,000 union leaders have been killed in Colombia during the last 20 years. The IMF therefore offers its solidarity to Sintratucar, in its fight for the freedom of association and its pursuit of the demands made to the company. It condemns the intimidation of the union president and the threats received by him and calls on the Colombian government to ensure the trade union leader's safety.
Support For The Vale Inco Strike
Following yesterday's posting, we need all Workers Uniting Group Supporters send messages of support to the USW members on strike for ten weeks ate Vale Inco in Sudbury, Canada.
This news item came through from the International Metalworkers Federation. Please post on.
Global support to Vale workers in Canada
Canadian Nickel Strikers Receive Support from Labour Leaders from Around the World
CANADA: Some 3,000 people crowded into the Sudbury, Ontario, ice hockey arena on September 19 and enthusiastically greeted global trade union leaders in what was billed as an "International and Community Rally in Support of Sudbury's Strikers".
International union leaders, including IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina, Manfred Warda, general secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), Sharan Burrow, president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Unite AGS Paul Talbot joined others to tell striking miners of the United Steelworkers (USW) that their nine-week strike against Vale has gained worldwide attention, and brought trade union pressure on Vale in all its global operations.
The strike started on 13 July after USW Locals 6500 in Sudbury and Local 6200 in Port Colborne, joined in a common labour contract, gave the world's number two nickel producer a ten-week extension back in May. But instead of reaching agreement, based on Vale's vast profit margins despite the global downturn, managers of nickel entity Vale-Inco pressed ahead with concession-ridden proposals that would deflate the livelihoods of 3,500 workers and their families in Sudbury and in Port Colborne.
Those concessionary proposals, still on the table, include retirement reductions, a two-tiered pension scheme, steep downgrades to a production bonus, and loss of value in cost-of-living adjustments. As well, Vale-Inco is seeking greater flexibility on outsourcing, standing as a serious affront to job security.
On August 1, 450 workers of USW Local 9508 in Voiseys Bay, Labrador, struck. Saturday's rally by the USW was to show strikers - as well as the rest of Canada and the world's mining industry - that global labour will stand together to prevent a prosperous metal-mining house from boosting its profit sheet at the expense of workers.
More coverage on the strike http://www.workersuniting.org/campaigns/support_usw_striking_miners_at.aspx
This news item came through from the International Metalworkers Federation. Please post on.
Global support to Vale workers in Canada
Canadian Nickel Strikers Receive Support from Labour Leaders from Around the World
CANADA: Some 3,000 people crowded into the Sudbury, Ontario, ice hockey arena on September 19 and enthusiastically greeted global trade union leaders in what was billed as an "International and Community Rally in Support of Sudbury's Strikers".
International union leaders, including IMF general secretary Jyrki Raina, Manfred Warda, general secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), Sharan Burrow, president of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Unite AGS Paul Talbot joined others to tell striking miners of the United Steelworkers (USW) that their nine-week strike against Vale has gained worldwide attention, and brought trade union pressure on Vale in all its global operations.
The strike started on 13 July after USW Locals 6500 in Sudbury and Local 6200 in Port Colborne, joined in a common labour contract, gave the world's number two nickel producer a ten-week extension back in May. But instead of reaching agreement, based on Vale's vast profit margins despite the global downturn, managers of nickel entity Vale-Inco pressed ahead with concession-ridden proposals that would deflate the livelihoods of 3,500 workers and their families in Sudbury and in Port Colborne.
Those concessionary proposals, still on the table, include retirement reductions, a two-tiered pension scheme, steep downgrades to a production bonus, and loss of value in cost-of-living adjustments. As well, Vale-Inco is seeking greater flexibility on outsourcing, standing as a serious affront to job security.
On August 1, 450 workers of USW Local 9508 in Voiseys Bay, Labrador, struck. Saturday's rally by the USW was to show strikers - as well as the rest of Canada and the world's mining industry - that global labour will stand together to prevent a prosperous metal-mining house from boosting its profit sheet at the expense of workers.
More coverage on the strike http://www.workersuniting.org/campaigns/support_usw_striking_miners_at.aspx
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Taking the Progressive Left in Unite Into the Regions
REGIONAL WORKERS UNITING GROUP MEETINGS
The Workers Uniting Group is the broad based
left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union
Taking the Progressive Left in Unite Into the Regions
Meetings of Workers Uniting Group Supporters will take place at:
STUC BUILDING,
333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow
G3 6NG
Saturday, 3rd October
10.30am -12.30pm
Hyde Park Working Men’s Club and Institute
Nelson Street, Doncaster
DN4 5AD
Sunday, 11th of October 2009 at 11am
Guest speakers at both meetings will include:
Les Bayliss, Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brian Boyd, Unite National Officer
"The Way Forward For The Left in Unite"
All Unite members welcome.
No bouncers, no mystifying votes or walk-outs are allowed!
Please pass onto other Unite Members!
The Workers Uniting Group is the broad based
left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union
Taking the Progressive Left in Unite Into the Regions
Meetings of Workers Uniting Group Supporters will take place at:
STUC BUILDING,
333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow
G3 6NG
Saturday, 3rd October
10.30am -12.30pm
Hyde Park Working Men’s Club and Institute
Nelson Street, Doncaster
DN4 5AD
Sunday, 11th of October 2009 at 11am
Guest speakers at both meetings will include:
Les Bayliss, Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brian Boyd, Unite National Officer
"The Way Forward For The Left in Unite"
All Unite members welcome.
No bouncers, no mystifying votes or walk-outs are allowed!
Please pass onto other Unite Members!
Workers Uniting Group - Scotland
Scotland Region - Meeting of Workers Uniting Group
Saturday 3rd October
STUC BUILDING, 333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow
G3 6NG
10.30am -12.30pm
Guest Speakers:
Les Bayliss - Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brian Boyd - Unite National Officer
The Workers Uniting Group is a broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union, the UK's and Ireland's largest trade union. Supporters are welcome from both former sections of Unite. The meeting will discuss current issues affecting Unite members.
This is an important meeting. Please pass onto Unite Members!
www.workersunitinggroup.com
Saturday 3rd October
STUC BUILDING, 333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow
G3 6NG
10.30am -12.30pm
Guest Speakers:
Les Bayliss - Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brian Boyd - Unite National Officer
The Workers Uniting Group is a broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union, the UK's and Ireland's largest trade union. Supporters are welcome from both former sections of Unite. The meeting will discuss current issues affecting Unite members.
This is an important meeting. Please pass onto Unite Members!
www.workersunitinggroup.com
New Honduras Blog Site
The Venezuela Solidarity Committee have sent us this email :
We are writing to inform you of a new blog - http://committeeagainsthondurascoup.blogspot.com/ - which is being regularly updated as events unfold there.
Recent posts include:
Violence unleashed on crowds outside the Brazilian Embassy
President Zelaya is Back in Honduras
Coup in Honduras Condemned at TUC Congress
My father has been punished for helping Honduras by Xiomara Zelaya
The Emergency Committee Against the Coup in Honduras involves the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, Cuba Solidarity
Campaign, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Labour Friends of Venezuela, Unite the Union, SERTUC and other bodies of the British Labour movement and Latin American communities.
For more information or to submit articles email notohondurascoup@googlemail.com .
The blog is edited and maintained by Labour Friends of Venezuela on behalf of the Committee.
Sign Up!
We are writing to inform you of a new blog - http://committeeagainsthondurascoup.blogspot.com/ - which is being regularly updated as events unfold there.
Recent posts include:
Violence unleashed on crowds outside the Brazilian Embassy
President Zelaya is Back in Honduras
Coup in Honduras Condemned at TUC Congress
My father has been punished for helping Honduras by Xiomara Zelaya
The Emergency Committee Against the Coup in Honduras involves the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, Cuba Solidarity
Campaign, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Labour Friends of Venezuela, Unite the Union, SERTUC and other bodies of the British Labour movement and Latin American communities.
For more information or to submit articles email notohondurascoup@googlemail.com .
The blog is edited and maintained by Labour Friends of Venezuela on behalf of the Committee.
Sign Up!
Trident debate.
Workers Uniting Group supporters emailed in regard to the question of the Workers Uniting Group's position on Trident and a recent report from the TUC and Unite's opposition to Trident and questions being asked by members in the shipbuilding and aerospace industry.
This letter appeared in the Morning Star on 22nd September from Andrew Murray.
You accurately report my contribution, standing in for Tony Woodley, at the CND fringe meeting at TUC concerning Trident (M Star September 15).
However, it is wrong to suggest that opposition to Trident is the agreed policy of Unite. As I made clear at the meeting, Unite has no policy on the issue, since our first policy conference is not to be held until early next year.
While both former sections of Unite - Amicus and the T&G - had policy on Trident, only this conference will be able to determine an attitude on behalf of Unite as a whole.
In response to questions, I also explained that in the context of the widening debate on Trident replacement, Unite will of course have entirely legitimate concerns about the future of the many thousands of skilled jobs presently dependent on nuclear weapons, as well as about all of the ethical, strategic and spending questions involved.
Andrew Murray
Director of Communications, Unite the union
This letter appeared in the Morning Star on 22nd September from Andrew Murray.
You accurately report my contribution, standing in for Tony Woodley, at the CND fringe meeting at TUC concerning Trident (M Star September 15).
However, it is wrong to suggest that opposition to Trident is the agreed policy of Unite. As I made clear at the meeting, Unite has no policy on the issue, since our first policy conference is not to be held until early next year.
While both former sections of Unite - Amicus and the T&G - had policy on Trident, only this conference will be able to determine an attitude on behalf of Unite as a whole.
In response to questions, I also explained that in the context of the widening debate on Trident replacement, Unite will of course have entirely legitimate concerns about the future of the many thousands of skilled jobs presently dependent on nuclear weapons, as well as about all of the ethical, strategic and spending questions involved.
Andrew Murray
Director of Communications, Unite the union
Support For USW members At Vale Inco - Canada
Workers Uniting Group supporters may be aware that members of the United Steelworkers Union in Canada are currently on strike from Brazilian mining company Vale Inco. These comrades have now been out for over 10 weeks.
Unite also has members employed by Vale Inco based in Acton and Swansea.
Through Workers Uniting, Unite is now part of the campaign to support the Canadian comrades.
You can learn more about the dispute at:
http://www.workersuniting.org/campaigns/support_usw_striking_miners_at.aspx
To demonstrate solidarity with the miners Unite members will be leafleting an event in London (at which a senior Vale representative will be speaking) on Monday 9th November.
We will email more details nearer the time however we can say the event is in the City of London.
Unite also has members employed by Vale Inco based in Acton and Swansea.
Through Workers Uniting, Unite is now part of the campaign to support the Canadian comrades.
You can learn more about the dispute at:
http://www.workersuniting.org/campaigns/support_usw_striking_miners_at.aspx
To demonstrate solidarity with the miners Unite members will be leafleting an event in London (at which a senior Vale representative will be speaking) on Monday 9th November.
We will email more details nearer the time however we can say the event is in the City of London.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Crystal Lee Sutton: Union Fighter
Crystal Lee Sutton has died following a long battle against cancer.
Crystal Lee who? Well, if you recall recall Sally Feild in the iconic picture holding up the handwritten placard with the word "Union" in the film 'Norma Lee" then read on.....
In the 1960s and early 1970s, textile workers in North Carolina inspired workers everywhere with their successful assault on the Southern, non-union fortress, built by JP Stevens.
In 1967, the Steven’s sweatshop empire included 44,000 workers in 85 plants, mostly in the Carolinas. The critical union victory came when 3,000 textile workers at Stevens’ flagship Roanoke Rapids mills won union recognition in 1974.
That union foothold took over ten years of constant struggle. It took concentrated and permanent commitment from the textile workers union, intense grassroots organising by rank and file Stevens workers and boycott solidarity from labour and community activists.
Crystal Lee Sutton, in particular, captured people’s imagination.
Sutton’s outstanding and dramatic role in the victory also inspired a book and the award winning movie, “Norma Rae.”
As a 33-year-old mother of three, who earned $2.65 an hour, Crystal Lee was fired for her union activity. As the movie immortalised, she was fired for challenging a racist ploy by Stevens management.
The company, desperate to prevent unionisation, published a flyer warning the workers that the union would be run by Black people. Crystal Lee made a copy of the flyer, intending to use it against management, and was fired - the moment in the movie when she stands up on her work table holding a handmade sign reading, "UNION!" was a turning point in the organising drive. Despite the company's attempts to frighten white workers away from the union by appealing to racism, the workers voted for the union. For those white textile workers to refuse to side with management against their fellow workers was a tremendous victory.
While the movie changed her name for legal reasons, Sutton really did write union on a piece of cardboard and climb on a table holding it up and turning around the factory slowly. And her fellow workers did shut off their machines in solidarity.
"It is not necessary I be remembered as anything," Crystal Lee said in an interview, "but I would like to be remembered as a woman who deeply cared for the working poor and the poor people of the U.S. and the world.”
Sutton continued that battle throughout her life. Then diagnosed with brain cancer several years ago, she began a battle for her life with her health insurance company. For several critical months the insurance company denied her claim for expensive drugs that could have saved her life. Though they finally gave-in and agreed to pay for the drugs, the cancer had set in and led to her death.
Sutton was quoted in the Burlington (N.C.) Times-News last year saying the insurer's behavior was an example of abuse of the working poor:
"How in the world can it take so long to find out [whether they would cover the medicine or not] when it could be a matter of life or death," she said. "It is almost like, in a way, committing murder."
Crystal Lee who? Well, if you recall recall Sally Feild in the iconic picture holding up the handwritten placard with the word "Union" in the film 'Norma Lee" then read on.....
In the 1960s and early 1970s, textile workers in North Carolina inspired workers everywhere with their successful assault on the Southern, non-union fortress, built by JP Stevens.
In 1967, the Steven’s sweatshop empire included 44,000 workers in 85 plants, mostly in the Carolinas. The critical union victory came when 3,000 textile workers at Stevens’ flagship Roanoke Rapids mills won union recognition in 1974.
That union foothold took over ten years of constant struggle. It took concentrated and permanent commitment from the textile workers union, intense grassroots organising by rank and file Stevens workers and boycott solidarity from labour and community activists.
Crystal Lee Sutton, in particular, captured people’s imagination.
Sutton’s outstanding and dramatic role in the victory also inspired a book and the award winning movie, “Norma Rae.”
As a 33-year-old mother of three, who earned $2.65 an hour, Crystal Lee was fired for her union activity. As the movie immortalised, she was fired for challenging a racist ploy by Stevens management.
The company, desperate to prevent unionisation, published a flyer warning the workers that the union would be run by Black people. Crystal Lee made a copy of the flyer, intending to use it against management, and was fired - the moment in the movie when she stands up on her work table holding a handmade sign reading, "UNION!" was a turning point in the organising drive. Despite the company's attempts to frighten white workers away from the union by appealing to racism, the workers voted for the union. For those white textile workers to refuse to side with management against their fellow workers was a tremendous victory.
While the movie changed her name for legal reasons, Sutton really did write union on a piece of cardboard and climb on a table holding it up and turning around the factory slowly. And her fellow workers did shut off their machines in solidarity.
"It is not necessary I be remembered as anything," Crystal Lee said in an interview, "but I would like to be remembered as a woman who deeply cared for the working poor and the poor people of the U.S. and the world.”
Sutton continued that battle throughout her life. Then diagnosed with brain cancer several years ago, she began a battle for her life with her health insurance company. For several critical months the insurance company denied her claim for expensive drugs that could have saved her life. Though they finally gave-in and agreed to pay for the drugs, the cancer had set in and led to her death.
Sutton was quoted in the Burlington (N.C.) Times-News last year saying the insurer's behavior was an example of abuse of the working poor:
"How in the world can it take so long to find out [whether they would cover the medicine or not] when it could be a matter of life or death," she said. "It is almost like, in a way, committing murder."
Capita Strike - Join The Picket!
Unite members at Capita, Glasgow will strike for two days this week in a dispute over pay.
Staff are angry about a measly 1.5 per cent pay offer.
The industrial action will impact the contracts being managed by Capita out of their Glasgow office, most notably for finance company Pearl.
Unite members will be joined on their picket line by local MPs and MSPs in support of their action.
Staff will strike for on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September at Bothell Street, Glasgow, G2 6UR.
A picket line will be outside the Capita office from: 8am – 5pm.
Unite members are urged to attend the picket!
Staff are angry about a measly 1.5 per cent pay offer.
The industrial action will impact the contracts being managed by Capita out of their Glasgow office, most notably for finance company Pearl.
Unite members will be joined on their picket line by local MPs and MSPs in support of their action.
Staff will strike for on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September at Bothell Street, Glasgow, G2 6UR.
A picket line will be outside the Capita office from: 8am – 5pm.
Unite members are urged to attend the picket!
NW First Bus Third Strike On!
Workers at First Bus, Manchester, begin their third 24-hour strike action tomorrow in a continuing dispute over the companies zero pay offer.
The 833 members of Unite in Wigan, Bolton, and Bury depots took part in two 24-hour stoppages earlier this month and were keen to avert the strike planned for Monday, but the company is still refusing to return to the negotiating table to find a solution to resolve the situation.
Unite is urging First Bus to reconvene talks to avert further strike action and major disruption to commuters in Manchester.
Unite regional industrial organiser, Bobby Morton, said: “We are disappointed that despite repeated efforts by Unite and ACAS the employers are still refusing to get around the table to negotiate a fair and decent offer.
“First Bus is not struggling or failing. It made millions of pounds in profits this year and is taking advantage of the recession to attack workers’ pay.
“We were hopeful that First Bus would play fairly and put a reasonable pay offer on the table in time to call off Monday’s strike action and stop disruption to commuters in Manchester. However, this has not happened and the company is continuing to be mean and greedy. Our members deserve a fair wage and we are determined to see that they get it.
“We are calling on the company to meet us to resolve this dispute and avoid the risk of further disruption on Monday 28th September.”
The 833 members of Unite in Wigan, Bolton, and Bury depots took part in two 24-hour stoppages earlier this month and were keen to avert the strike planned for Monday, but the company is still refusing to return to the negotiating table to find a solution to resolve the situation.
Unite is urging First Bus to reconvene talks to avert further strike action and major disruption to commuters in Manchester.
Unite regional industrial organiser, Bobby Morton, said: “We are disappointed that despite repeated efforts by Unite and ACAS the employers are still refusing to get around the table to negotiate a fair and decent offer.
“First Bus is not struggling or failing. It made millions of pounds in profits this year and is taking advantage of the recession to attack workers’ pay.
“We were hopeful that First Bus would play fairly and put a reasonable pay offer on the table in time to call off Monday’s strike action and stop disruption to commuters in Manchester. However, this has not happened and the company is continuing to be mean and greedy. Our members deserve a fair wage and we are determined to see that they get it.
“We are calling on the company to meet us to resolve this dispute and avoid the risk of further disruption on Monday 28th September.”
Saturday, September 19, 2009
US Union Unite-Here Rejoins AFL-CIO : US Union Row Debated At TUC Fringe
The 250,000 strong US hospitality hotel, restaurant and textile employees union - Unite Here - has rejoined the US union federation the AFL-CIO, four years after it walked out with other US others unions to form a rival coalition - Change To Win.
The return of Unite Here to the main US union federation is a result of internal rows and accusations of raids on Unite Here membership and is a blow to the Change to Win unions lead by SEIU.
In 2004, Unite, the US textile and clothing workers' union, merged with Here, the hotel and restaurant workers' union.
The merger combined the financial power of Unite - which had shrunk to 100,000 members because of the decline of the U.S. textile industry - with the larger membership and growth potential of Here, who organised hospitality, hotel and casino workers.
A year later, the merged union left the AFL-CIO along with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Carpenters (UBC) and the Laborers' International Union (LIUNA). They in turn were later joined by the Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and a new coalition Change To Win was created.
Change to Win's main focus has been organising new members - and placing significant finances and resources in organising - much more than than the AFL-CIO had previously done.
However, Change to Win has now fallen short of its own targets, with limited victories in organising new members.
SEIU has also been accused of raiding Unite Here's membership. In March this year SEIU created "Workers United" as a home for the Unite Here membership. (This organisation has no relationship with the global union created by Unite in the UK and Ireland and the Steelworkers in the USA known as Workers Uniting.)
The SEIU organises food workers, hospitality workers, labourers, janitors and health care workers.
After initial membership increases in the "low wage - high turnover" sectors, its is alledged that SEIU signed up its members to “partnerships” with companies which restricted their rights to operate freely as trade unionists and promising employers an easy ride in return for co-operating with unionisation.
Similar allegations caused rifts in the SEIU's membership in California, with a breakaway union now challenging SEIU. It has also transpired that the Carpenters union has not paid its subscriptions to Change To Win.
At the recent TUC meeting in Liverpool, Debbie Anderson, international officer of Unite Here, told a fringe meeting that the SEIU’s philosophy was to turn the labour movement into a “corporate friendly, top-down body with little or no membership involvement and on a path that has done great damage to the labour movement”.
Ms Anderson told the meeting that the hostility deployed in campaign tactics to raid Unite-Here members were “astonishing”. She accused SEIU of using funds raised by Unite Here to contact its own members in a negative campaign to persuade them to switch unions. Leaflets were sent to members’ home addresses and cold-calling telephone campaigns were deployed in industrial sectors where SEIU had no members.
One leaflet, sent to Unite Here’s hospitiality sector members, was in the form of a “Do Not Disturb” sign hung on a bedroom door to insinuate that Unite Here was not interested in getting a fair deal for its members.
Other tactics have included smear campaigns, personal home visits, website attacks and the hiring of union-busting consultants alledged Ms. Anderson.
At the TUC meeting Paul Kenny of the GMB said that his union had been approached by SEIU several years ago with an offer of a “blank cheque” to help the union out of its then financial problems. The offer was turned down because the conditions would have given the SEIU the effective right to take over the GMB.
According to reports the UFCW and LIUNA are now in negotiations with new AFL-CIO leader Rich Trumka to follow Unite Here. Trumka has proclaimed his oppostition to the SEIU's growth-at-all-costs and business friendly model. Trumka told the recent AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh that any union who raided an AFL-CIO affiliate "will find 1,000 organisers coming to the rescue of that union.”
The internal divisions in the US union movement may distract attention and resources from influencing the Obama administration. Recently, President Obama sent strong signals to the US union movement that it was not prepared to deal with a split union movement, especially when trying to get through the Employee Free Choice Act.
The return of Unite Here to the main US union federation is a result of internal rows and accusations of raids on Unite Here membership and is a blow to the Change to Win unions lead by SEIU.
In 2004, Unite, the US textile and clothing workers' union, merged with Here, the hotel and restaurant workers' union.
The merger combined the financial power of Unite - which had shrunk to 100,000 members because of the decline of the U.S. textile industry - with the larger membership and growth potential of Here, who organised hospitality, hotel and casino workers.
A year later, the merged union left the AFL-CIO along with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Carpenters (UBC) and the Laborers' International Union (LIUNA). They in turn were later joined by the Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and a new coalition Change To Win was created.
Change to Win's main focus has been organising new members - and placing significant finances and resources in organising - much more than than the AFL-CIO had previously done.
However, Change to Win has now fallen short of its own targets, with limited victories in organising new members.
SEIU has also been accused of raiding Unite Here's membership. In March this year SEIU created "Workers United" as a home for the Unite Here membership. (This organisation has no relationship with the global union created by Unite in the UK and Ireland and the Steelworkers in the USA known as Workers Uniting.)
The SEIU organises food workers, hospitality workers, labourers, janitors and health care workers.
After initial membership increases in the "low wage - high turnover" sectors, its is alledged that SEIU signed up its members to “partnerships” with companies which restricted their rights to operate freely as trade unionists and promising employers an easy ride in return for co-operating with unionisation.
Similar allegations caused rifts in the SEIU's membership in California, with a breakaway union now challenging SEIU. It has also transpired that the Carpenters union has not paid its subscriptions to Change To Win.
At the recent TUC meeting in Liverpool, Debbie Anderson, international officer of Unite Here, told a fringe meeting that the SEIU’s philosophy was to turn the labour movement into a “corporate friendly, top-down body with little or no membership involvement and on a path that has done great damage to the labour movement”.
Ms Anderson told the meeting that the hostility deployed in campaign tactics to raid Unite-Here members were “astonishing”. She accused SEIU of using funds raised by Unite Here to contact its own members in a negative campaign to persuade them to switch unions. Leaflets were sent to members’ home addresses and cold-calling telephone campaigns were deployed in industrial sectors where SEIU had no members.
One leaflet, sent to Unite Here’s hospitiality sector members, was in the form of a “Do Not Disturb” sign hung on a bedroom door to insinuate that Unite Here was not interested in getting a fair deal for its members.
Other tactics have included smear campaigns, personal home visits, website attacks and the hiring of union-busting consultants alledged Ms. Anderson.
At the TUC meeting Paul Kenny of the GMB said that his union had been approached by SEIU several years ago with an offer of a “blank cheque” to help the union out of its then financial problems. The offer was turned down because the conditions would have given the SEIU the effective right to take over the GMB.
According to reports the UFCW and LIUNA are now in negotiations with new AFL-CIO leader Rich Trumka to follow Unite Here. Trumka has proclaimed his oppostition to the SEIU's growth-at-all-costs and business friendly model. Trumka told the recent AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh that any union who raided an AFL-CIO affiliate "will find 1,000 organisers coming to the rescue of that union.”
The internal divisions in the US union movement may distract attention and resources from influencing the Obama administration. Recently, President Obama sent strong signals to the US union movement that it was not prepared to deal with a split union movement, especially when trying to get through the Employee Free Choice Act.
Anglesey Aluminium - Demo
Unite members at an aluminium smelting plant have marched in protest at the closure.
Anglesey Aluminium, on the outskirts of Holyhead, will close at the end of this month, with the loss of 500 jobs.
Joint owners Rio Tinto Group and Kaiser Aluminium said the increasing cost of electricity was forcing it to shut despite being offered a £48m aid offer.
Over 100 people marched from the town hall to the gates of the plant in a rally organised by Unite.
The march was a demonstration of the "anger, frustration and disappointment" felt at the owners rejecting the rescue package, said Unite officer Graham Rogers.
He said: "This is a clear case of a multinational company putting profit before people. "That package was basically what it was going to cost in benefits over the next couple of years or so. "The [UK] government and the Welsh assembly made it quite clear they were looking for a long-term commitment to maintain 350 jobs.
"The] bent over backwards to help the company. The company were not prepared to buy into it."
He added that work prospects for those losing their jobs were "very bleak".
Anglesey Aluminium is the largest employer in North Wales, and the aluminium it produces is shipped all over the world.
It opened in 1970 and is a major electricity user. Its work has been closely tied in to an energy deal with the nuclear power station at Wylfa, 14 miles away.
But the station is due to be decommissioned and there were a series of efforts to secure the aluminium plant's future.
Anglesey Aluminium, on the outskirts of Holyhead, will close at the end of this month, with the loss of 500 jobs.
Joint owners Rio Tinto Group and Kaiser Aluminium said the increasing cost of electricity was forcing it to shut despite being offered a £48m aid offer.
Over 100 people marched from the town hall to the gates of the plant in a rally organised by Unite.
The march was a demonstration of the "anger, frustration and disappointment" felt at the owners rejecting the rescue package, said Unite officer Graham Rogers.
He said: "This is a clear case of a multinational company putting profit before people. "That package was basically what it was going to cost in benefits over the next couple of years or so. "The [UK] government and the Welsh assembly made it quite clear they were looking for a long-term commitment to maintain 350 jobs.
"The] bent over backwards to help the company. The company were not prepared to buy into it."
He added that work prospects for those losing their jobs were "very bleak".
Anglesey Aluminium is the largest employer in North Wales, and the aluminium it produces is shipped all over the world.
It opened in 1970 and is a major electricity user. Its work has been closely tied in to an energy deal with the nuclear power station at Wylfa, 14 miles away.
But the station is due to be decommissioned and there were a series of efforts to secure the aluminium plant's future.
Construction Engineering - Ballot On Agreement
Unite and the GMB have agreed to put an offer to members in an attempt to resolve a long-running row over working conditions.
The dispute among engineering construction workers has already seen a series of unofficial walk-outs this year.
The action was in protest at claims that local workers were being denied the chance to apply for jobs, and that non-UK workers were being exploited.
Unite's assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss said: "Following months of intense negotiations, the union is now in a position to recommend an offer from the employers to thousands of workers in the construction industry.
"If the offer is accepted by the workers there is the opportunity for industrial peace in an industry which has been plagued by unrest, thanks to certain unscrupulous employers."
The dispute among engineering construction workers has already seen a series of unofficial walk-outs this year.
The action was in protest at claims that local workers were being denied the chance to apply for jobs, and that non-UK workers were being exploited.
Unite's assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss said: "Following months of intense negotiations, the union is now in a position to recommend an offer from the employers to thousands of workers in the construction industry.
"If the offer is accepted by the workers there is the opportunity for industrial peace in an industry which has been plagued by unrest, thanks to certain unscrupulous employers."
Friday, September 18, 2009
Report of National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee
This was sent in by a Workers Uniting Group Supporter and they asked could we circulate it on our email list. Happy to oblige!
"At the meeting of the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee,
held at the TUC in London on Thursday 17th September 2009, delegates were
shown a presentation and a video. Both of these can be viewed at the
following web site: www.community-tu.org/saveourpensions By visiting this area you will have access to a ‘Save the Corus Pension Scheme’ petition, the pensions presentation, the ‘real pensions news’ video
and press releases.
Resolution Carried at the Meeting:
“The Steel Committee delegates utterly condemn Corus for its disgraceful
and unnecessary attack on our pension scheme. We call upon all our
constituent unions to take any action necessary to stop this including a
national ballot for industrial action up to and including strike action.”
Following the meeting, the following Press Release was issued.
Unions say national ballot for industrial action at Corus is imminent
Union representatives from across steel giant Corus gathered at the TUC in
London today to discuss the decision by Corus to close the British Steel
Pension Scheme (BSPS) to new entrants.
The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which brings
together all unions within Corus, issued the following statement:
“The meeting was unanimous in its opposition to the move by Corus to close
the pension scheme to new entrants. Representatives and shop stewards will
be taking this powerful message of protest back to their workplaces.
“We want to make it very clear that the unions are united in their
determination to tell our members the truth behind Corus’s decision and to
expose their motivation which is to close the pension scheme completely.
“Members have seen thousands of job losses across Corus, their bonus has
been removed unlawfully and now the company is attacking their pension.
Corus should be fully aware that the unions are saying enough is enough.
“Representatives have called for ballots for industrial action right across
the company, so ultimately our members will decide.”
Paul Reuter National Officer for the Steel Industry Management Association, part of Unite said:
“Unite will work with any business that is facing genuine difficulties due the present financial
crisis. However, Unite will also resist any business that attempts to take
advantage of the economic crisis to drive through unwarranted and unnecessary
detrimental changes to our member’s terms and conditions.”
"At the meeting of the National Trade Union Steel Coordinating Committee,
held at the TUC in London on Thursday 17th September 2009, delegates were
shown a presentation and a video. Both of these can be viewed at the
following web site: www.community-tu.org/saveourpensions By visiting this area you will have access to a ‘Save the Corus Pension Scheme’ petition, the pensions presentation, the ‘real pensions news’ video
and press releases.
Resolution Carried at the Meeting:
“The Steel Committee delegates utterly condemn Corus for its disgraceful
and unnecessary attack on our pension scheme. We call upon all our
constituent unions to take any action necessary to stop this including a
national ballot for industrial action up to and including strike action.”
Following the meeting, the following Press Release was issued.
Unions say national ballot for industrial action at Corus is imminent
Union representatives from across steel giant Corus gathered at the TUC in
London today to discuss the decision by Corus to close the British Steel
Pension Scheme (BSPS) to new entrants.
The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which brings
together all unions within Corus, issued the following statement:
“The meeting was unanimous in its opposition to the move by Corus to close
the pension scheme to new entrants. Representatives and shop stewards will
be taking this powerful message of protest back to their workplaces.
“We want to make it very clear that the unions are united in their
determination to tell our members the truth behind Corus’s decision and to
expose their motivation which is to close the pension scheme completely.
“Members have seen thousands of job losses across Corus, their bonus has
been removed unlawfully and now the company is attacking their pension.
Corus should be fully aware that the unions are saying enough is enough.
“Representatives have called for ballots for industrial action right across
the company, so ultimately our members will decide.”
Paul Reuter National Officer for the Steel Industry Management Association, part of Unite said:
“Unite will work with any business that is facing genuine difficulties due the present financial
crisis. However, Unite will also resist any business that attempts to take
advantage of the economic crisis to drive through unwarranted and unnecessary
detrimental changes to our member’s terms and conditions.”
Workers Uniting Group Meeting - Yorkshire
Notice of Workers Uniting Group Meeting
Yorkshire and Humberside
Sunday 11th of October 2009 at 11am
Hyde Park Working Men’s Club and Institute
Nelson street
Doncaster
DN4 5AD
Guest speakers so far will include:
Les Bayliss Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brain Boyd Unite National officer
Yorkshire and Humberside
Sunday 11th of October 2009 at 11am
Hyde Park Working Men’s Club and Institute
Nelson street
Doncaster
DN4 5AD
Guest speakers so far will include:
Les Bayliss Unite Assistant General Secretary
Brain Boyd Unite National officer
TUC - Middle East Debate
A targeted boycott of Israeli goods originating from illegal settlements has been agreed by the TUC.
Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, described the TUC move as a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at individual union conferences this year because of outrage at Israel's brutal war on Gaza.
Typically the the Israeli embassy rounded on the commitment to a boycott passed at the TUC congress.
However, reiterating the TUC's condemnation of the offensive, Brendan Barber, told delegates that they "have a part to play" in seeing an end to the occupation, a dismantling of the separation wall and the removal of the illegal settlements. We believe that targeted action – aimed at goods from the illegal settlements and at companies involved in the occupation and the wall – is the right way forward. This is not a call for a general boycott of Israeli goods and services, which would hit ordinary Palestinian and Israeli workers but targeted, consumer-led sanctions directed at businesses based in, and sustaining, the illegal settlements."
The press has reported on the behind the scene wrangling with talk of splits in the Unite delegation. However the facts are that the General Council recommended support for the FBU motion with a UCU amendment, to oppose the GMB wrecking amendment, (which was withdrawn) and drafted its own statement with delegates supported. There was no split among the Unite members (as was reported in the media).
The TUC statement condemned both the Israeli January offensive and the rocket attacks on Israeli citizens.
Brendan Barber said: "Both were unacceptable, and both have led to the UN investigation concluding that war crimes may have been committed. The blockade of Gaza, which continues to this day, is intolerable collective punishment."
The statement called on the British government to make appropriate representations to the international community to secure lasting peace through a negotiated settlement based on "justice for the Palestinians and on security for Israel."
The TUC wants an end to arms sales to Israel, which rose to £18.8m last year, up from £7.7m the year before.
Many unions are furious with Israel's TUC equivalent body, Histadrut, for a statement issued in January which backed the attacks in Gaza, which resulted in 1,540 deaths and left 5,000 injured. Brendan Barber said the TUC would continue to press Histadrut to take a firmer line, and to help Israel and Palestinian unions to work together for the prospect of peace of people in their region.
"The situation in the Middle east is Grim," said Brendan. "Our brothers and sisters every day face terrible problems. They need all our support in creating a just and lasting peace. President Obama is now trying to move things forward and we all wish him every success. But we too have a part to play."
Tabling the FBU motion, Mick Shaw, the FBU president, said the general council statement did not go far enough.
"It's not just an issue of a boycott of goods produced in illegal settlements. Firstly, we think that impractical. These goods do not come with a label which says 'these goods are produced on an illegal settlement'. We feel we need to have discussions with Palestinian trade unions, discussions with the PLC [Palestinian Legislative Council], where we can put most pressure on the Israeli government and to target a consumer boycott better."
Speaking after the debate, Shaw said the TUC policy now in place "was an important shift" in reaction to the military action earlier this year.
"We will now try to identify goods and products where the most pressure can be put on the Israeli government to persuade them to change their policies."
Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said it was a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at union conferences this year because of "outrage" at Israel's "brutal war" on Gaza.
The TUC position gives individual unions an opt out following pressure from the University and College Union in a clause which says that "in undertaking these actions each affiliate will operate within its own aims and objectives within the law".
Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, described the TUC move as a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at individual union conferences this year because of outrage at Israel's brutal war on Gaza.
Typically the the Israeli embassy rounded on the commitment to a boycott passed at the TUC congress.
However, reiterating the TUC's condemnation of the offensive, Brendan Barber, told delegates that they "have a part to play" in seeing an end to the occupation, a dismantling of the separation wall and the removal of the illegal settlements. We believe that targeted action – aimed at goods from the illegal settlements and at companies involved in the occupation and the wall – is the right way forward. This is not a call for a general boycott of Israeli goods and services, which would hit ordinary Palestinian and Israeli workers but targeted, consumer-led sanctions directed at businesses based in, and sustaining, the illegal settlements."
The press has reported on the behind the scene wrangling with talk of splits in the Unite delegation. However the facts are that the General Council recommended support for the FBU motion with a UCU amendment, to oppose the GMB wrecking amendment, (which was withdrawn) and drafted its own statement with delegates supported. There was no split among the Unite members (as was reported in the media).
The TUC statement condemned both the Israeli January offensive and the rocket attacks on Israeli citizens.
Brendan Barber said: "Both were unacceptable, and both have led to the UN investigation concluding that war crimes may have been committed. The blockade of Gaza, which continues to this day, is intolerable collective punishment."
The statement called on the British government to make appropriate representations to the international community to secure lasting peace through a negotiated settlement based on "justice for the Palestinians and on security for Israel."
The TUC wants an end to arms sales to Israel, which rose to £18.8m last year, up from £7.7m the year before.
Many unions are furious with Israel's TUC equivalent body, Histadrut, for a statement issued in January which backed the attacks in Gaza, which resulted in 1,540 deaths and left 5,000 injured. Brendan Barber said the TUC would continue to press Histadrut to take a firmer line, and to help Israel and Palestinian unions to work together for the prospect of peace of people in their region.
"The situation in the Middle east is Grim," said Brendan. "Our brothers and sisters every day face terrible problems. They need all our support in creating a just and lasting peace. President Obama is now trying to move things forward and we all wish him every success. But we too have a part to play."
Tabling the FBU motion, Mick Shaw, the FBU president, said the general council statement did not go far enough.
"It's not just an issue of a boycott of goods produced in illegal settlements. Firstly, we think that impractical. These goods do not come with a label which says 'these goods are produced on an illegal settlement'. We feel we need to have discussions with Palestinian trade unions, discussions with the PLC [Palestinian Legislative Council], where we can put most pressure on the Israeli government and to target a consumer boycott better."
Speaking after the debate, Shaw said the TUC policy now in place "was an important shift" in reaction to the military action earlier this year.
"We will now try to identify goods and products where the most pressure can be put on the Israeli government to persuade them to change their policies."
Hugh Lanning, chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said it was a "landmark" decision which followed a wave of motions passed at union conferences this year because of "outrage" at Israel's "brutal war" on Gaza.
The TUC position gives individual unions an opt out following pressure from the University and College Union in a clause which says that "in undertaking these actions each affiliate will operate within its own aims and objectives within the law".
TULO Pleural Plaques Campaign Update
The TUC debated an Emergency Motion on Plaques this week, the Emergancy Motion was supported by TULO Chair and Unite Joint GS Tony Woodley.
TULO have emailed to say "The whole union movement is united behind our campaign for justice. This is a really important moment in our campaign - it just goes to show what we can achieve when we work together like this.
Over the past few weeks we've been working on a video which was played to Congress. The video features sufferers of Pleural Plaques - including a man called Alan Clark. Alan sadly died of Mesothelioma shortly after recording his interview - but he wanted his story to be used to help win justice for Pleural Plaques.
Pleural Plaques causes real and genuine concern for victims - and their families. It's a real life ticking timebomb - and the cause of untold worry and concern.
You can watch their stories here - and then please share them with your friends:
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/hope
Now, our march for justice continues. We will not back down from this fight. We stand up for victims of Pleural Plaques wherever we can. This is a call for justice that each of us must answer.
Please support the TULO campaign.
TULO have emailed to say "The whole union movement is united behind our campaign for justice. This is a really important moment in our campaign - it just goes to show what we can achieve when we work together like this.
Over the past few weeks we've been working on a video which was played to Congress. The video features sufferers of Pleural Plaques - including a man called Alan Clark. Alan sadly died of Mesothelioma shortly after recording his interview - but he wanted his story to be used to help win justice for Pleural Plaques.
Pleural Plaques causes real and genuine concern for victims - and their families. It's a real life ticking timebomb - and the cause of untold worry and concern.
You can watch their stories here - and then please share them with your friends:
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/hope
Now, our march for justice continues. We will not back down from this fight. We stand up for victims of Pleural Plaques wherever we can. This is a call for justice that each of us must answer.
Please support the TULO campaign.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Workers Uniting News Update : New CSEU boss; Corus Ballot
Newly CSEU boss vows to campaign for skilled manufacturing jobs
The newly appointed general secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) has vowed to use his term in office to campaign to ensure the government protects and invests in skilled manufacturing jobs.
General Secretary, Hugh Scullion, said: “Recent news that the Tories would scrap major defence contracts and put thousands of highly skilled, well paid jobs at risk should focus minds. Manufacturing employers and workers have to face up to some stark choices in the months running up to the election.
“It is the confederation's aim to ensure that the government invests in manufacturing. We need to come out of recession with a manufacturing base that is growing not shrinking. Manufacturing has taken a back seat for too long, we need the right balance, we need to build a future as well as finance one.”
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions is a umbrella union for manufacturing unions. The union negotiates with employers, signs national agreements, lobbies government and campaigns for manufacturing jobs.
Steel Unions Say national ballot for industrial action at Corus is "imminent".
Union representatives from across steel giant Corus gathered in Londonto discuss the decision by Corus to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to new entrants.
The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which brings together all unions within Corus, issued the following statement:
“The meeting was unanimous in its opposition to the move by Corus to close the pension scheme to new entrants. Representatives and shop stewards will be taking this powerful message of protest back to their workplaces.
“We want to make it very clear that the unions are united in their determination to tell our members the truth behind Corus’ decision and to expose their motivation which is to close the pension scheme completely.
“Members have seen thousands of job losses across Corus, their bonus has been removed and now the company is attacking their pensions. Corus should be fully aware that the unions are saying enough is enough.
“Representatives have called for ballots for industrial action right across the company, so ultimately our members will decide.”
The newly appointed general secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) has vowed to use his term in office to campaign to ensure the government protects and invests in skilled manufacturing jobs.
General Secretary, Hugh Scullion, said: “Recent news that the Tories would scrap major defence contracts and put thousands of highly skilled, well paid jobs at risk should focus minds. Manufacturing employers and workers have to face up to some stark choices in the months running up to the election.
“It is the confederation's aim to ensure that the government invests in manufacturing. We need to come out of recession with a manufacturing base that is growing not shrinking. Manufacturing has taken a back seat for too long, we need the right balance, we need to build a future as well as finance one.”
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions is a umbrella union for manufacturing unions. The union negotiates with employers, signs national agreements, lobbies government and campaigns for manufacturing jobs.
Steel Unions Say national ballot for industrial action at Corus is "imminent".
Union representatives from across steel giant Corus gathered in Londonto discuss the decision by Corus to close the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) to new entrants.
The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee, which brings together all unions within Corus, issued the following statement:
“The meeting was unanimous in its opposition to the move by Corus to close the pension scheme to new entrants. Representatives and shop stewards will be taking this powerful message of protest back to their workplaces.
“We want to make it very clear that the unions are united in their determination to tell our members the truth behind Corus’ decision and to expose their motivation which is to close the pension scheme completely.
“Members have seen thousands of job losses across Corus, their bonus has been removed and now the company is attacking their pensions. Corus should be fully aware that the unions are saying enough is enough.
“Representatives have called for ballots for industrial action right across the company, so ultimately our members will decide.”
The NHS V. Lies! New Workers Uniting Short Film
Here is a brand new Workers Uniting short film exposing the lies being spread in the
USA about the National Health Service (NHS) is now avalible on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIuJDk9uRWs
This film can of course also be viewed on the Workers Uniting website -
www.workersuniting.org
USA about the National Health Service (NHS) is now avalible on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIuJDk9uRWs
This film can of course also be viewed on the Workers Uniting website -
www.workersuniting.org
Obama at the AFL-CIO
According to our correspondent: "This is worth watching - the Americans do it in style!"
Here is Barak Obama addressing the AFL-CIO - Compare this to Gordon Brown's performance at the TUC on Tuesday.
http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0403
Here is Barak Obama addressing the AFL-CIO - Compare this to Gordon Brown's performance at the TUC on Tuesday.
http://www.usw.org/media_center/news_articles?id=0403
Friday, September 11, 2009
NW Bus Strike Update
Unite bus drivers in Greater Manchester staged the first of four 24-hour strikes today.
Friday's services in Wigan, Bolton and Bury are worst affected by the action as over 800 First Group workers took strike action over a pay freeze.
Routes in Trafford, Stockport, Salford and Rochdale were also affected but school and college buses are running.
Unite said the pay freeze was "based on greed".
The next strike is planned for Monday.
A ballot resulted in 95% of union members voting to take part in strike action, Unite said.
Industrial organiser Bobby Morton said: "These workers are already struggling in the recession to support their families, they need support from their employer and this insulting pay offer is simply not acceptable."
Friday's services in Wigan, Bolton and Bury are worst affected by the action as over 800 First Group workers took strike action over a pay freeze.
Routes in Trafford, Stockport, Salford and Rochdale were also affected but school and college buses are running.
Unite said the pay freeze was "based on greed".
The next strike is planned for Monday.
A ballot resulted in 95% of union members voting to take part in strike action, Unite said.
Industrial organiser Bobby Morton said: "These workers are already struggling in the recession to support their families, they need support from their employer and this insulting pay offer is simply not acceptable."
Derek Simpson Says New Labour Is As Dead As Python's ex-Parrot
In a wide ranging interview with the Mirror and the Guardian Derek Simpson gave Gordon Brown a blunt warning - change or go.
He said the party's only hope was ditching New Labour ideals and learning to fight again. And Brown must lead the way or let someone else. Simpson declared: "If Gordon is not prepared to do it he must stand aside. This is no time for mincing words. The party is at best eight months away from a general election. If you want to go down the New Labour route it is suicide.
"People are sick to the back teeth of that approach. Our people are being told to 'f*** off' on doorsteps by people who would historically be Labour supporters.
"New Labour is dead. It's like the parrot in Monty Python. Anybody who is going to take over and lead us down that path is taking us to certain defeat. But if you could convince me there is somebody who could take over and go down the Old Labour route without hesitation I'd share the view that if Gordon is not prepared to do it he should stand aside and let that person do it. That could save the Labour government. The answer is to change the policies of the Labour party and, if necessary, change the people of the Labour party."
Derek said he still did not expect a challenger to step forward. Jon Cruddas, who Unite backed for Labour's deputy leadership, did not have the support to win the top job.
The other contenders would rather let Gordon Brown "take a kicking" at the election and then try to win power in the party.
Derek went onto say the recession showed it was time for the party leadership to ditch its obsession with privatising public services and go back to helping working people.
Jobs and homes should be the top priorities. And the government needed to do more to create high-skilled manufacturing work and not just rely on the retail and service sectors. Simpson said: "We've got McDonald's all over the place and people working in supermarkets and stores.
"I'm looking forward to when they shut a supermarket and open a factory. Not enough's done to protect wealth-creating industry."
He said the union had pleaded with the government to help set up a scheme where factories could put staff on fewer hours instead of making them jobless "but it's like pulling teeth".
On homes, he said £13billion was spent cutting VAT from 17.5% to 15%. "If you had put that into house building you'd have employed construction workers which puts money into the economy. You'd have provided affordable homes. And you'd boost the economy again as once people have houses they look for fridges, cookers and beds."
He said Brown had been caught between loyalty to his old ideas and knowing a new way has to be found, so was always slow and timid. "It's been like trying to ride two horses galloping in different directions with one backside."
But Brown can still win the next election if he starts fighting proudly for jobs and public services. "It will take luck and arguing to get this supertanker turned. We'll have to pull like hell on the wheel but it's not too late.
"Yet to ask people to vote Labour on what's been done is like asking the Light Brigade to charge again and make it the best out of three."
Note: This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! He is an ex-parrot!
He said the party's only hope was ditching New Labour ideals and learning to fight again. And Brown must lead the way or let someone else. Simpson declared: "If Gordon is not prepared to do it he must stand aside. This is no time for mincing words. The party is at best eight months away from a general election. If you want to go down the New Labour route it is suicide.
"People are sick to the back teeth of that approach. Our people are being told to 'f*** off' on doorsteps by people who would historically be Labour supporters.
"New Labour is dead. It's like the parrot in Monty Python. Anybody who is going to take over and lead us down that path is taking us to certain defeat. But if you could convince me there is somebody who could take over and go down the Old Labour route without hesitation I'd share the view that if Gordon is not prepared to do it he should stand aside and let that person do it. That could save the Labour government. The answer is to change the policies of the Labour party and, if necessary, change the people of the Labour party."
Derek said he still did not expect a challenger to step forward. Jon Cruddas, who Unite backed for Labour's deputy leadership, did not have the support to win the top job.
The other contenders would rather let Gordon Brown "take a kicking" at the election and then try to win power in the party.
Derek went onto say the recession showed it was time for the party leadership to ditch its obsession with privatising public services and go back to helping working people.
Jobs and homes should be the top priorities. And the government needed to do more to create high-skilled manufacturing work and not just rely on the retail and service sectors. Simpson said: "We've got McDonald's all over the place and people working in supermarkets and stores.
"I'm looking forward to when they shut a supermarket and open a factory. Not enough's done to protect wealth-creating industry."
He said the union had pleaded with the government to help set up a scheme where factories could put staff on fewer hours instead of making them jobless "but it's like pulling teeth".
On homes, he said £13billion was spent cutting VAT from 17.5% to 15%. "If you had put that into house building you'd have employed construction workers which puts money into the economy. You'd have provided affordable homes. And you'd boost the economy again as once people have houses they look for fridges, cookers and beds."
He said Brown had been caught between loyalty to his old ideas and knowing a new way has to be found, so was always slow and timid. "It's been like trying to ride two horses galloping in different directions with one backside."
But Brown can still win the next election if he starts fighting proudly for jobs and public services. "It will take luck and arguing to get this supertanker turned. We'll have to pull like hell on the wheel but it's not too late.
"Yet to ask people to vote Labour on what's been done is like asking the Light Brigade to charge again and make it the best out of three."
Note: This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! He is an ex-parrot!
Compass Campaign For High Pay Commission
Compass needs your help.
A new YouGov poll shows huge support for Compass's proposed High Pay Commission.
Now we need to help us persuade the government. The case for action is clear, now the Chancellor should act.
Compass have set up a page on their website that makes it quick and easy to write to Alistair Darling (lets help to make his mind up on this one).
Please click here to join in:
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
The opinion poll reveals that 83% of the public agree excessive bonuses and executive pay fuelled excessive risk taking which played a significant role in causing the economic crash; 73% would support the government in imposing a new tax on all bonuses above £10,000 a year and 63% support the establishment of a High Pay Commission.
Compass needs to get the message across to the Chancellor: doing nothing is not an option - help the government see sense on this crucial issue.
Click here to send a message to Alistair Darling:
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
It was thanks to individual donations from supporters like you that enabled us to conduct this crucial polling, now take action and help Compass to use the results to persuade the Chancellor to also take action.
Within 7 days we want at least 1000 people to have sent an email to the Chancellor - working together we can reach our goal!
Send a clear message to the government that we don't want more talk from politicians, we want real action. Demand that action now by calling on the government to establish a High Pay Commission.
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
Thanks for all the fantastic work you do!
Best wishes
Joe Cox
Compass
P.S: Don't forget if you're a Labour member you only have until next Friday 18 September at midday to get your CLP to submit a contemporary issue on High Pay at Labour Conference, for more information go to: http://www.compassonline.org.uk/news/item.asp?n=5337
A new YouGov poll shows huge support for Compass's proposed High Pay Commission.
Now we need to help us persuade the government. The case for action is clear, now the Chancellor should act.
Compass have set up a page on their website that makes it quick and easy to write to Alistair Darling (lets help to make his mind up on this one).
Please click here to join in:
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
The opinion poll reveals that 83% of the public agree excessive bonuses and executive pay fuelled excessive risk taking which played a significant role in causing the economic crash; 73% would support the government in imposing a new tax on all bonuses above £10,000 a year and 63% support the establishment of a High Pay Commission.
Compass needs to get the message across to the Chancellor: doing nothing is not an option - help the government see sense on this crucial issue.
Click here to send a message to Alistair Darling:
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
It was thanks to individual donations from supporters like you that enabled us to conduct this crucial polling, now take action and help Compass to use the results to persuade the Chancellor to also take action.
Within 7 days we want at least 1000 people to have sent an email to the Chancellor - working together we can reach our goal!
Send a clear message to the government that we don't want more talk from politicians, we want real action. Demand that action now by calling on the government to establish a High Pay Commission.
http://action.compassonline.org.uk/chancellor
Thanks for all the fantastic work you do!
Best wishes
Joe Cox
Compass
P.S: Don't forget if you're a Labour member you only have until next Friday 18 September at midday to get your CLP to submit a contemporary issue on High Pay at Labour Conference, for more information go to: http://www.compassonline.org.uk/news/item.asp?n=5337
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Reaction To Obama's Healthcare Speech
Sent through to Workers Uniting Group by comrades in the USW.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/the-presidents-speech_b_281520.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/the-presidents-speech_b_281520.html
Unite demands pensions justice for Visteon workers.
Unite demands pensions justice for Visteon's former workers
Unite vowed to use all legal means to get pensions justice for the former Visteon workers who lost their jobs when the company went into administration earlier this year.
Speaking following a mass rally of Visteon workers held in London today Unite's joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said:
"Unite stood by Visteon workers in the fight for fair redundancy payments when the company went into administration and the union will not abandon Visteon workers fighting for pensions justice.
"Ford made copper-bottomed promises to the workers before they were transferred to Visteon and we intend to hold them to those promises.
"Unite is calling for an urgent meeting with the Chairman of Ford and has already asked the governments’ pensions regulator to investigate whether there was inappropriate behaviour that sees thousands of workers having to go into the Pensions Protection Fund."
Earlier this year, Visteon UK went into administration with nearly 1000 workers at Basildon, Enfield and Belfast losing their jobs. Following a sustained campaign and sit-ins held by workers a fair redundancy settlement was reached.
Now Unite is fighting for pensions justice for 3000 former workers affected. The governments’ Pension Protection Fund will only cover a proportion of these workers' pensions and Unite believes the taxpayer should not have to pick up the bill when Ford made firm commitments to protect the workers' terms and conditions on transfer to Visteon.
Unite vowed to use all legal means to get pensions justice for the former Visteon workers who lost their jobs when the company went into administration earlier this year.
Speaking following a mass rally of Visteon workers held in London today Unite's joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said:
"Unite stood by Visteon workers in the fight for fair redundancy payments when the company went into administration and the union will not abandon Visteon workers fighting for pensions justice.
"Ford made copper-bottomed promises to the workers before they were transferred to Visteon and we intend to hold them to those promises.
"Unite is calling for an urgent meeting with the Chairman of Ford and has already asked the governments’ pensions regulator to investigate whether there was inappropriate behaviour that sees thousands of workers having to go into the Pensions Protection Fund."
Earlier this year, Visteon UK went into administration with nearly 1000 workers at Basildon, Enfield and Belfast losing their jobs. Following a sustained campaign and sit-ins held by workers a fair redundancy settlement was reached.
Now Unite is fighting for pensions justice for 3000 former workers affected. The governments’ Pension Protection Fund will only cover a proportion of these workers' pensions and Unite believes the taxpayer should not have to pick up the bill when Ford made firm commitments to protect the workers' terms and conditions on transfer to Visteon.
GM deal : "Not The News We Wanted To Hear" - Tony Woodley
Jobs at Vauxhall are now at risk after General Motors' European arm was sold to a consortium that promised to safeguard only German jobs.
The Berlin Government has promised of billions of pounds of sweeteners to the company.
The deal, which will give the Canadian company Magna and Russian bank, Sberbank, a 55% stake in the operation
Although Pat McFadden, the industry minister, sought to provide some reassurance saying that the consortium had promised that neither plant would be shut down he added: "Nobody can guarantee that no job will go."
Tony Woodley stepped up pressure on the Government to protect British jobs. "It is not the news we wanted to hear. The Magna deal will, without a shadow of a doubt, will preserve more German jobs than any others in Europe. If they want British money, it must be to protect British jobs."
But he refused to criticise Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary.
"What he needs to do is what he has been doing over the last couple of months. Any grant aid be on the basis that we have a long term future for the future of a plants and jobs."
The Berlin Government has promised of billions of pounds of sweeteners to the company.
The deal, which will give the Canadian company Magna and Russian bank, Sberbank, a 55% stake in the operation
Although Pat McFadden, the industry minister, sought to provide some reassurance saying that the consortium had promised that neither plant would be shut down he added: "Nobody can guarantee that no job will go."
Tony Woodley stepped up pressure on the Government to protect British jobs. "It is not the news we wanted to hear. The Magna deal will, without a shadow of a doubt, will preserve more German jobs than any others in Europe. If they want British money, it must be to protect British jobs."
But he refused to criticise Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary.
"What he needs to do is what he has been doing over the last couple of months. Any grant aid be on the basis that we have a long term future for the future of a plants and jobs."
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Diageo - Company Reject Taskforce Proposals
Diageo's announcement to reject proposals by the Scottish Government that would safeguard jobs has outraged Unite.
Unite is also furious that Diageo has made the announcement before the conclusion of the 90-day consultation period.
An alternative plan, drawn up by the Taskforce, to keep Diageo jobs in Scotland was submitted for discussion between Diageo and the trade unions. The unions still argue that they have a strong argument to put to Diageo to fight the closure.
Commenting on the decision, Jennie Formby, Unite national officer said: "This is totally unacceptable. Diageo has put out an announcement to dismiss the government-backed business plan half way through the formal consultation period. This is an insult not just to its workforce but to those who are working tirelessly to save these jobs.
"We will not standby and let Diageo press ahead with its plans to throw 900 loyal workers on the scrapheap without a fight. This campaign is not over yet. We still have other issues to present to Diageo which would keep these jobs in Scotland.
"Unite will meet with the workforce very soon to consider the next steps."
Unite will continue its fights to stop Diageo's closure plans and 900 of Scotland's workers being thrown on the scrapheap.
Keep up the pressure - sign the letter to the company at
http://action.unitetheunion.com/savetheirjobs
Unite is also furious that Diageo has made the announcement before the conclusion of the 90-day consultation period.
An alternative plan, drawn up by the Taskforce, to keep Diageo jobs in Scotland was submitted for discussion between Diageo and the trade unions. The unions still argue that they have a strong argument to put to Diageo to fight the closure.
Commenting on the decision, Jennie Formby, Unite national officer said: "This is totally unacceptable. Diageo has put out an announcement to dismiss the government-backed business plan half way through the formal consultation period. This is an insult not just to its workforce but to those who are working tirelessly to save these jobs.
"We will not standby and let Diageo press ahead with its plans to throw 900 loyal workers on the scrapheap without a fight. This campaign is not over yet. We still have other issues to present to Diageo which would keep these jobs in Scotland.
"Unite will meet with the workforce very soon to consider the next steps."
Unite will continue its fights to stop Diageo's closure plans and 900 of Scotland's workers being thrown on the scrapheap.
Keep up the pressure - sign the letter to the company at
http://action.unitetheunion.com/savetheirjobs
IMF: Global union network at Tata Steel established
Global union network at Tata Steel established
IMF Tata World Steel Group Meeting resolves to establish a global network of unions committed to supporting one another in day-to-day union work and collective bargaining.
GLOBAL: Trade unions from Australia, Europe, India met on August 24 to 26 in Singapore to develop a strategy to build a global union network for the world's fifth largest steel company, Tata Steel Group. Senior management from the group, which has operations throughout Asia under its NatSteel banner, operations in Europe under the Tata-Corus Group and its biggest operations in India under the Tata Steel Group, also contributed to the discussions through Mr T.V.Narendran, President and CEO of NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd.
During the meeting participants discussed the situation throughout the company, from the recently announced 2,500 job losses in the United Kingdom, to the planned expansion of operations in India. The outcome from these discussions was to recommend a set of principles that each of the unions present would use to develop international solidarity under the umbrella of the IMF. The principles include a commitment to establish an active global union network that will:
Develop joint strategies,
Facilitate regular and timely exchanges of information about union goals, challenges, strategies and victories,
Facilitate regular and timely exchanges of information about what the Tata Steel Group does in its global operations and how it affects workers,
Strengthen the local national union networks that already exist and create new networks, and
Support each other in collective bargaining processes, particularly in confrontations with the company.
It was also agreed that although Tata Steel Group was an important sector of the company it only represented a small part of the overall Tata Group which covers many different industries. Consequently, it was agreed that a much broader strategy will need to be developed within the overall group involving other relevant Global Union Federations from the outset.Sep 01, 2009 – Anita Gardner
IMF Tata World Steel Group Meeting resolves to establish a global network of unions committed to supporting one another in day-to-day union work and collective bargaining.
GLOBAL: Trade unions from Australia, Europe, India met on August 24 to 26 in Singapore to develop a strategy to build a global union network for the world's fifth largest steel company, Tata Steel Group. Senior management from the group, which has operations throughout Asia under its NatSteel banner, operations in Europe under the Tata-Corus Group and its biggest operations in India under the Tata Steel Group, also contributed to the discussions through Mr T.V.Narendran, President and CEO of NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd.
During the meeting participants discussed the situation throughout the company, from the recently announced 2,500 job losses in the United Kingdom, to the planned expansion of operations in India. The outcome from these discussions was to recommend a set of principles that each of the unions present would use to develop international solidarity under the umbrella of the IMF. The principles include a commitment to establish an active global union network that will:
Develop joint strategies,
Facilitate regular and timely exchanges of information about union goals, challenges, strategies and victories,
Facilitate regular and timely exchanges of information about what the Tata Steel Group does in its global operations and how it affects workers,
Strengthen the local national union networks that already exist and create new networks, and
Support each other in collective bargaining processes, particularly in confrontations with the company.
It was also agreed that although Tata Steel Group was an important sector of the company it only represented a small part of the overall Tata Group which covers many different industries. Consequently, it was agreed that a much broader strategy will need to be developed within the overall group involving other relevant Global Union Federations from the outset.Sep 01, 2009 – Anita Gardner
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Report of Workers Uniting Group – Bristol
6th September, 11.30am
A meeting of supporters from across the UK, of the Progressive Left Workers Uniting Group - including comrades from the former Amicus and TGWU heard Derek Simpson explain the policies that have taken Unite forward since the merger and how these must now be strengthened further and fought for.
Derek said the three pillars on which Unite was founded were:
Organising to build a strong and powerful union at every workplace;
Left progressive policies to win back the Labour Party;
Internationalism - creating a global union capable of challenging and fighting global companies and supporting workers in struggle.
He said that we were now in an important phase in the development of Unite, but the union was still being dogged by tribalism, notably by some members in the TGWU section who wanted to maintain the status quo rather than creating a new union.
He said if this tribalism continued or the main policies went into reverse - faced with the recession and a general election, this would be equivalent to shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic - as the ship steered towards an iceberg.
Explaining the new lay democracy within Unite, Derek said it was based on a strong sectoral model, with lay members able to determine the industrial policies of their own sector.
Over the coming few weeks upto 7,000 lay activists and members will be able to take part in the new structures – Regional Industrial Sector Conferences, Regional Industrial Sector Committees, Equality Committees, Area Activist Committees and National Industrial Sector Conferences.
This was a fantastic chance for the union to develop progressive policies and not spend time trying to maintain vested interests or holding onto old structures.
There then followed a lengthy debate with questions on a wide range of issues. A comrade raised the question the delay in establishing the new democratic structures and the involvement of new and young activists – the delay had turned new activists away.
Derek agreed and said new activists and reps want a modern union one that uses modern technology to communicate and allows them to play a part in the union. They are not interested in such issues as the location of monolithic union offices and the payment of funeral benefits – which had been the subject of debates within the union.
There was a lengthy political discussion on support for the Labour Party. Comrades expressed great disappointment with the Labour Government, however all said we should stay and fight to regain the Party.
A comrade said there was a need to ensure that Unite works in a progressive fashion and welcomed Derek’s comments that this should be a new left-progressive union. Derek reiterated that Unite must become a single, progressive and unified force, not T&G Mark 2 or Amicus Mark 2.
Other comrades said there must be no return to the right wing policies of past as they had experienced in some of the constiuent unions.
A comrade welcomed that the recent Durham Political Meeting but was disappointed that the JGS’s were not available to speak and answer questions.
A comrade referred to the disparity of expenses whilst on union business which was creating problems at workplace and regional level.
Derek responded by saying the union should have fair and reasonable expenses, where members did not gain nor lose financially and it was a matter that needed resolving urgently.
The point was made that members being made redundant should maintain membership and have some contact with the union, which Derek said was already be in place and should be operating
Discussion also took place on the recent Construction Engineering disputes and how building the union, political pressure on the Government and international solidarity with the USW and our French union comrades came to force Total reach an agreement.
Comrades from the aerospace sector reported on the previous days meeting of United Left in Manchester describing the meeting as “shambolic” as they were refused entry even though they been activists and shop stewards for many years and had supported previous left groupings.
They were told as they were not known to the doorkeeper they were - initially - refused entry.
They reported there had been walkouts by one candidate and his supporters. More discussions and information on the Manchester hustings can currrently be found at http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=4605
It was noted that of two of the three declared candidates - one was on the record as stating that Unite should withdraw financial support to constituencies where their MP failed to support Unite policies and another candidate was on the record as saying that the union should leave the Labour Party and form a new party.
On the last point Derek said this had been tried before and these small parties had little support and were on the margins of politics with no influence. He also said, where would withholding support for constituences gain any influence to change the Labour Party? This would play into the hands of those right wing MPs who wanted state funding with unions having no influence at all.
A final report was given on the campaigns Workers Uniting Group were supporting including the campaign to save the steel industry, on manufacturing, the finance sector, Diageo, defending the public sector, campaigning against the coup in Honduras, solidairity with unions in Latin American countries, opposing the attacks on the NHS in the USA and plans for forthcoming regional meetings of Workers Uniting Group.
All those attending agreed with the chair that the meeting had debated serious and important issues, was taking the union forward with a left progressive agenda and had debated them in a comradely and mature manner.
The meeting closed at 2.15pm
A meeting of supporters from across the UK, of the Progressive Left Workers Uniting Group - including comrades from the former Amicus and TGWU heard Derek Simpson explain the policies that have taken Unite forward since the merger and how these must now be strengthened further and fought for.
Derek said the three pillars on which Unite was founded were:
Organising to build a strong and powerful union at every workplace;
Left progressive policies to win back the Labour Party;
Internationalism - creating a global union capable of challenging and fighting global companies and supporting workers in struggle.
He said that we were now in an important phase in the development of Unite, but the union was still being dogged by tribalism, notably by some members in the TGWU section who wanted to maintain the status quo rather than creating a new union.
He said if this tribalism continued or the main policies went into reverse - faced with the recession and a general election, this would be equivalent to shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic - as the ship steered towards an iceberg.
Explaining the new lay democracy within Unite, Derek said it was based on a strong sectoral model, with lay members able to determine the industrial policies of their own sector.
Over the coming few weeks upto 7,000 lay activists and members will be able to take part in the new structures – Regional Industrial Sector Conferences, Regional Industrial Sector Committees, Equality Committees, Area Activist Committees and National Industrial Sector Conferences.
This was a fantastic chance for the union to develop progressive policies and not spend time trying to maintain vested interests or holding onto old structures.
There then followed a lengthy debate with questions on a wide range of issues. A comrade raised the question the delay in establishing the new democratic structures and the involvement of new and young activists – the delay had turned new activists away.
Derek agreed and said new activists and reps want a modern union one that uses modern technology to communicate and allows them to play a part in the union. They are not interested in such issues as the location of monolithic union offices and the payment of funeral benefits – which had been the subject of debates within the union.
There was a lengthy political discussion on support for the Labour Party. Comrades expressed great disappointment with the Labour Government, however all said we should stay and fight to regain the Party.
A comrade said there was a need to ensure that Unite works in a progressive fashion and welcomed Derek’s comments that this should be a new left-progressive union. Derek reiterated that Unite must become a single, progressive and unified force, not T&G Mark 2 or Amicus Mark 2.
Other comrades said there must be no return to the right wing policies of past as they had experienced in some of the constiuent unions.
A comrade welcomed that the recent Durham Political Meeting but was disappointed that the JGS’s were not available to speak and answer questions.
A comrade referred to the disparity of expenses whilst on union business which was creating problems at workplace and regional level.
Derek responded by saying the union should have fair and reasonable expenses, where members did not gain nor lose financially and it was a matter that needed resolving urgently.
The point was made that members being made redundant should maintain membership and have some contact with the union, which Derek said was already be in place and should be operating
Discussion also took place on the recent Construction Engineering disputes and how building the union, political pressure on the Government and international solidarity with the USW and our French union comrades came to force Total reach an agreement.
Comrades from the aerospace sector reported on the previous days meeting of United Left in Manchester describing the meeting as “shambolic” as they were refused entry even though they been activists and shop stewards for many years and had supported previous left groupings.
They were told as they were not known to the doorkeeper they were - initially - refused entry.
They reported there had been walkouts by one candidate and his supporters. More discussions and information on the Manchester hustings can currrently be found at http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=4605
It was noted that of two of the three declared candidates - one was on the record as stating that Unite should withdraw financial support to constituencies where their MP failed to support Unite policies and another candidate was on the record as saying that the union should leave the Labour Party and form a new party.
On the last point Derek said this had been tried before and these small parties had little support and were on the margins of politics with no influence. He also said, where would withholding support for constituences gain any influence to change the Labour Party? This would play into the hands of those right wing MPs who wanted state funding with unions having no influence at all.
A final report was given on the campaigns Workers Uniting Group were supporting including the campaign to save the steel industry, on manufacturing, the finance sector, Diageo, defending the public sector, campaigning against the coup in Honduras, solidairity with unions in Latin American countries, opposing the attacks on the NHS in the USA and plans for forthcoming regional meetings of Workers Uniting Group.
All those attending agreed with the chair that the meeting had debated serious and important issues, was taking the union forward with a left progressive agenda and had debated them in a comradely and mature manner.
The meeting closed at 2.15pm
Carron Energy Newport - Jobs Protest
Unite is set to meet a Newport power plant contractor to demand they honour a commitment to employ local workers.
Les Bayliss, Unite's assistant general secretary said the union will meet Siemens representatives this week
The meeting follows today’s demonstration at Uskmouth, where around 150 people gathered to protest against a perceived lack of Welsh workers involved in the construction of the new power station.
The men were from all over South Wales and waved placards as foreign contractors arrived from 6am on Monday.
When work on the £400 million gas-fired Severn power station started in August 2007, owner Carron Energy said it would create 500 construction jobs. Development director Peter Trussler said then that Carron would use contractors from Wales and keep the project as local as possible.
But work is now in the hands of Danish firm Dong Energy, with German-owned Siemens the contractor.
Les Bayliss said: “Unite is not and never has been opposed to the use of non-UK labour. We are opposed to workers being excluded from applying for work and agreements being broken."
Demonstrator Bob Young, 63, of the Gaer, said: “The site owners said there aren’t enough skilled workers in this area. Well, there were a hundred outside the gates today.”
Walter Pearce, 55, of Duffryn, said: “We need to keep jobs local. I don’t understand why foreign workers are being accommodated when so many people here are out of work?”
Les Bayliss, Unite's assistant general secretary said the union will meet Siemens representatives this week
The meeting follows today’s demonstration at Uskmouth, where around 150 people gathered to protest against a perceived lack of Welsh workers involved in the construction of the new power station.
The men were from all over South Wales and waved placards as foreign contractors arrived from 6am on Monday.
When work on the £400 million gas-fired Severn power station started in August 2007, owner Carron Energy said it would create 500 construction jobs. Development director Peter Trussler said then that Carron would use contractors from Wales and keep the project as local as possible.
But work is now in the hands of Danish firm Dong Energy, with German-owned Siemens the contractor.
Les Bayliss said: “Unite is not and never has been opposed to the use of non-UK labour. We are opposed to workers being excluded from applying for work and agreements being broken."
Demonstrator Bob Young, 63, of the Gaer, said: “The site owners said there aren’t enough skilled workers in this area. Well, there were a hundred outside the gates today.”
Walter Pearce, 55, of Duffryn, said: “We need to keep jobs local. I don’t understand why foreign workers are being accommodated when so many people here are out of work?”
Unite Bausch & Lomb Job Losses
Unite has vowed to fight Livingston contact lens maker Bausch & Lomb's plan to axe 500 jobs after giving workers just one hours notice.
Unite officer Rab Sherry as "another attack on Scottish jobs". Rab said: "We are going to fight this and won't be pulling our punches. The company behaved disgracefully, only giving the union one hour's notice before announcing the closure."
Unite officer Rab Sherry as "another attack on Scottish jobs". Rab said: "We are going to fight this and won't be pulling our punches. The company behaved disgracefully, only giving the union one hour's notice before announcing the closure."
Obma a Labor Day Speech - from USW Comrades
Obama delivers fiery Labor Day speech, promotes public option
Our comrades in the United Steelworkers has sent over this link featuring Obama's speech ahead of his speech on healthcare.
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/obama-delivers-fiery-labor-day-speech-on-health-reform-promotes-public-option/
Our comrades in the United Steelworkers has sent over this link featuring Obama's speech ahead of his speech on healthcare.
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/09/obama-delivers-fiery-labor-day-speech-on-health-reform-promotes-public-option/
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Racist abuse dispute at 2 Sisters.
Racist abuse dispute at Midlands food firm.
The dispute at Midlands food firm 2 Sisters is growing following the alleged racial abuse of a worker at the 2 Sisters Food Group in Bevan Way, Smethwick, where a Unite shop steward was suspended after complaining to management about a worker being abused.
60 workers who staged unofficial action this week were suspended by the firm which is now refusing to hold talks with Unite.
Worker Zohib Javid, 21, has claimed five weeks ago that a security guard had verbally abused him, said the guard had been removed from the site by the firm – but only after the strike action took place.
Mr Javid said staff were furious about management's slowness to act, and were demanding the reinstatement of shop steward Raja Naved who had pressed the racism case with the firm.
Mr Naved was suspended for leaving his post to take up the discrimination issue with the company.
Unite regional officer Joe Clarke, aid the firm refused to meet with him if Mr Naved was going to be there. “I have now registered the issue under the internal disputes procedure and am waiting for a response back.”
The dispute at Midlands food firm 2 Sisters is growing following the alleged racial abuse of a worker at the 2 Sisters Food Group in Bevan Way, Smethwick, where a Unite shop steward was suspended after complaining to management about a worker being abused.
60 workers who staged unofficial action this week were suspended by the firm which is now refusing to hold talks with Unite.
Worker Zohib Javid, 21, has claimed five weeks ago that a security guard had verbally abused him, said the guard had been removed from the site by the firm – but only after the strike action took place.
Mr Javid said staff were furious about management's slowness to act, and were demanding the reinstatement of shop steward Raja Naved who had pressed the racism case with the firm.
Mr Naved was suspended for leaving his post to take up the discrimination issue with the company.
Unite regional officer Joe Clarke, aid the firm refused to meet with him if Mr Naved was going to be there. “I have now registered the issue under the internal disputes procedure and am waiting for a response back.”
NW bus drivers to strike next week
NW bus drivers to strike next week.
Bus drivers in Bolton, Bury and Wigan are set to start a series of 24-hour strikes next Friday (September 11th). Stikes have been planned for Monday, September 14th, and the following two Mondays.
Unite has confirmed that over 800 First Bus workers, the majority of them drivers, will take part in the action, which follows First Group's imposition pay freeze.
As with other pay freezes this is no more than using the current recession to freeze or cut pay. First Bus made an annual profit of £134m.
Talks with cACAS have failed to resolve the dispute but both parties will meet mid week for further talks.
Unite's industrial organiser Bobby Morton said: "This decision to impose a zero per cent pay deal is based on greed. First Group made millions of pounds in profit this year, despite the recession, yet are refusing to play fair by the employees who helped deliver these results. These workers are already struggling in the recession to support their families - they need support from their employer and this insulting pay offer is simply not acceptable. This dispute could be resolved if the company returns to the table with a reasonable pay offer."
The strike action follows a resounding yes vote at the ballot box. Pickets will be out at depots in Bury, Bolton and Wigan.
Bus drivers in Bolton, Bury and Wigan are set to start a series of 24-hour strikes next Friday (September 11th). Stikes have been planned for Monday, September 14th, and the following two Mondays.
Unite has confirmed that over 800 First Bus workers, the majority of them drivers, will take part in the action, which follows First Group's imposition pay freeze.
As with other pay freezes this is no more than using the current recession to freeze or cut pay. First Bus made an annual profit of £134m.
Talks with cACAS have failed to resolve the dispute but both parties will meet mid week for further talks.
Unite's industrial organiser Bobby Morton said: "This decision to impose a zero per cent pay deal is based on greed. First Group made millions of pounds in profit this year, despite the recession, yet are refusing to play fair by the employees who helped deliver these results. These workers are already struggling in the recession to support their families - they need support from their employer and this insulting pay offer is simply not acceptable. This dispute could be resolved if the company returns to the table with a reasonable pay offer."
The strike action follows a resounding yes vote at the ballot box. Pickets will be out at depots in Bury, Bolton and Wigan.
Tribune article - a Response from Rene Lavanchy
This from Rene Lavanchy's blog site.
"Workers Uniting group didn’t like my article in Tribune, and have taken particular offence at my use of the term ‘more right-wing’. They also say they’re not having a hustings meeting. The ‘ more right-wing’ tag wasn’t perfect I admit but then no label ever is and I doubt any label I might use for them would be above criticism. Note that I said ‘more right-wing’ not ‘right wing’. As for the meeting, well, candidates are turning up, so is it a hustings or not? Decide for yourselves."
Answer to Rene :-) Using phrases such as "more right wing" was bound to attract criticism! It was far from "perfect" and untrue!
Workers Uniting Group is a broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union. We are happy for you to use this in any future references.
This weekend's meeting is most definitely not a hustings - there are no "set questions", no votes, no door policy - all Unite members can attend this meeting the details of which were publicly posted on this website.
Workers Uniting Group website can be found at www.workersunitinggroup.com
"Workers Uniting group didn’t like my article in Tribune, and have taken particular offence at my use of the term ‘more right-wing’. They also say they’re not having a hustings meeting. The ‘ more right-wing’ tag wasn’t perfect I admit but then no label ever is and I doubt any label I might use for them would be above criticism. Note that I said ‘more right-wing’ not ‘right wing’. As for the meeting, well, candidates are turning up, so is it a hustings or not? Decide for yourselves."
Answer to Rene :-) Using phrases such as "more right wing" was bound to attract criticism! It was far from "perfect" and untrue!
Workers Uniting Group is a broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union. We are happy for you to use this in any future references.
This weekend's meeting is most definitely not a hustings - there are no "set questions", no votes, no door policy - all Unite members can attend this meeting the details of which were publicly posted on this website.
Workers Uniting Group website can be found at www.workersunitinggroup.com
Friday, September 4, 2009
Tribune article on "GS Election"
The article reproduced below is currently published in Tribune, written by Rene Lavanchy.
Just in case you didn't see it - we thought Workers Uniting Group supporters may want read it and wonder where Tribune gets its information from.
We are not sure what Tribune means by the statement that Workers Uniting Group is "more right wing" (than who?). We would suggest that Tribune and the author visits this website more often examines what is actually happening.
Check the the Statement of Aims and Principles of the Workers Uniting Group (a public document) published on this website, or get better informed by examining the campaigning, support for working people, disputes, strikes and demo's that have been actively promoted and supported by Workers Uniting Group.
Lets name a few: the Construction Enginering disputes at the oil refinaries; Vauxhalls and the car industry; the fight to save Steel industry jobs; currently fights at Diageo, Fujitsu and IBM; the successful March for Jobs in May; the campaign against the European Court of Justice decisions; Visteon, Vestas, Linemar; all of the campaigns against job cuts in the finance sector; campaigns to save manufacturing; Cadbury's; United Biscuits; Manchester Airport; on Public Sector Pay; Pensions; Lindsey Hoyle's redundancy pay bill; the campaign to support the NHS following the attacks in the US media; solidarity with Socialist Latin American countries; support for Palestine; for African unions; opposition to the coup in Honduras; Campaigning on Plueral Plaques, fighting the BNP and fascists; supporting union organising campaigns; wider and democratic involvement of lay members in the structures of Unite; better Equality structures in Unite; supporting workers in struggle wherever they are including India and the Far East as well as frontline support for building a fighting and global union with the USW. More right wing than who?
PS: Workers Uniting Group is not holding a "hustings" of any description on Sunday - it is one of a series of national or regional meetings already held or being planned for supporters to be able to attend and debate the issues currently facing the the labour and trade union movement in this country and across the globe.
Amicus and T&G squaring up in battle for Unite leadership
September 3, 2009 11:59 pm
by René Lavanchy
The contest to become the first single general secretary of Britain’s biggest union goes public this week, with political groups on Unite’s left and right wings holding hustings meetings to select a candidate.
Joint general secretaries Derek Simpson of Amicus and Tony Woodley of the T&G will stand down in December 2010 and January 2012 respectively, following the election of their replacement next year.
The campaign is already showing signs of dividing the union – officially fully merged – along the lines of its two parent bodies, Amicus and the T&G. Two of the union’s assistant general secretaries, Les Bayliss of Amicus and Len McCluskey of the T&G, look set to end up standing against each other.
Mr McCluskey, widely believed to be supported by Tony Woodley, is the most prominent candidate at the hustings organised by the United Left faction in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday), where members are set to vote on a candidate.
Mr Bayliss, who is considering standing as the candidate of the more right-wing Workers Uniting Group, is not thought to have the full support of Derek Simpson. He is currently negotiating with another possible candidate, Paul Reuter, who also stood for Amicus general secretary in the election earlier this year and came last.
Mr Reuter told Tribune: “It’s probably a tad early to declare yet as we’ve got some discussions to go to. Any candidate needs to command broad support.” Workers Uniting is holding its own hustings on Sunday, but is not expected to choose a candidate.
Two candidates from the non-Labour left of the union look set to stand, in a move which may alarm the party leadership. Jerry Hicks, a former union convenor who also ran for Amicus general secretary this year, is running alongside Rob Williams, who was sacked by his employer Linamar earlier this year and reinstated after a union campaign.
Mr Hicks is repeating his call for Labour MPs who vote against union policies, such as public ownership of public services, to lose their union funding. “I absolutely say, only support those who support our policies, so very similar to the RMT union in that regard.”
But Mr Williams, a Socialist Party member, is going further and calling for disaffiliation from the Labour Party. “The link with Labour is an absolute millstone round the neck of the union. It’s got us nowhere”, he said.
“I’m in favour of Unite joining with other unions who are looking to the possibility of forming another party.”
Just in case you didn't see it - we thought Workers Uniting Group supporters may want read it and wonder where Tribune gets its information from.
We are not sure what Tribune means by the statement that Workers Uniting Group is "more right wing" (than who?). We would suggest that Tribune and the author visits this website more often examines what is actually happening.
Check the the Statement of Aims and Principles of the Workers Uniting Group (a public document) published on this website, or get better informed by examining the campaigning, support for working people, disputes, strikes and demo's that have been actively promoted and supported by Workers Uniting Group.
Lets name a few: the Construction Enginering disputes at the oil refinaries; Vauxhalls and the car industry; the fight to save Steel industry jobs; currently fights at Diageo, Fujitsu and IBM; the successful March for Jobs in May; the campaign against the European Court of Justice decisions; Visteon, Vestas, Linemar; all of the campaigns against job cuts in the finance sector; campaigns to save manufacturing; Cadbury's; United Biscuits; Manchester Airport; on Public Sector Pay; Pensions; Lindsey Hoyle's redundancy pay bill; the campaign to support the NHS following the attacks in the US media; solidarity with Socialist Latin American countries; support for Palestine; for African unions; opposition to the coup in Honduras; Campaigning on Plueral Plaques, fighting the BNP and fascists; supporting union organising campaigns; wider and democratic involvement of lay members in the structures of Unite; better Equality structures in Unite; supporting workers in struggle wherever they are including India and the Far East as well as frontline support for building a fighting and global union with the USW. More right wing than who?
PS: Workers Uniting Group is not holding a "hustings" of any description on Sunday - it is one of a series of national or regional meetings already held or being planned for supporters to be able to attend and debate the issues currently facing the the labour and trade union movement in this country and across the globe.
Amicus and T&G squaring up in battle for Unite leadership
September 3, 2009 11:59 pm
by René Lavanchy
The contest to become the first single general secretary of Britain’s biggest union goes public this week, with political groups on Unite’s left and right wings holding hustings meetings to select a candidate.
Joint general secretaries Derek Simpson of Amicus and Tony Woodley of the T&G will stand down in December 2010 and January 2012 respectively, following the election of their replacement next year.
The campaign is already showing signs of dividing the union – officially fully merged – along the lines of its two parent bodies, Amicus and the T&G. Two of the union’s assistant general secretaries, Les Bayliss of Amicus and Len McCluskey of the T&G, look set to end up standing against each other.
Mr McCluskey, widely believed to be supported by Tony Woodley, is the most prominent candidate at the hustings organised by the United Left faction in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday), where members are set to vote on a candidate.
Mr Bayliss, who is considering standing as the candidate of the more right-wing Workers Uniting Group, is not thought to have the full support of Derek Simpson. He is currently negotiating with another possible candidate, Paul Reuter, who also stood for Amicus general secretary in the election earlier this year and came last.
Mr Reuter told Tribune: “It’s probably a tad early to declare yet as we’ve got some discussions to go to. Any candidate needs to command broad support.” Workers Uniting is holding its own hustings on Sunday, but is not expected to choose a candidate.
Two candidates from the non-Labour left of the union look set to stand, in a move which may alarm the party leadership. Jerry Hicks, a former union convenor who also ran for Amicus general secretary this year, is running alongside Rob Williams, who was sacked by his employer Linamar earlier this year and reinstated after a union campaign.
Mr Hicks is repeating his call for Labour MPs who vote against union policies, such as public ownership of public services, to lose their union funding. “I absolutely say, only support those who support our policies, so very similar to the RMT union in that regard.”
But Mr Williams, a Socialist Party member, is going further and calling for disaffiliation from the Labour Party. “The link with Labour is an absolute millstone round the neck of the union. It’s got us nowhere”, he said.
“I’m in favour of Unite joining with other unions who are looking to the possibility of forming another party.”
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Message to Birmingham City Council
This has been sent by a comrade who asks can we circulate the message.
Please pass on.
On Saturday 5th of September, football hooligans, far right extremists and Islamophobes will be descending on Birmingham with one simple goal - to whip up fear, religious tension and violence.
You can send a message to Birmingham City Council calling on them to stop the protest.
It will take you less than a minute to send a message - all you need to do is click here:
http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/birmingham
Please pass on.
On Saturday 5th of September, football hooligans, far right extremists and Islamophobes will be descending on Birmingham with one simple goal - to whip up fear, religious tension and violence.
You can send a message to Birmingham City Council calling on them to stop the protest.
It will take you less than a minute to send a message - all you need to do is click here:
http://action.hopenothate.org.uk/birmingham
Reminder - Bristol National Meeting - Sept. 6th
Workers Uniting Group - Bristol Meeting Reminder
The Workers Uniting Group is the broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union
A meeting of Workers Uniting Group Supporters will take place at:
The Railway Club, Clock Tower Yard
Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QH
Sunday, September 6th, 11.30am – 2.00pm
Refreshments Provided
Facing the Future – The Way Forward For Unite
Guest Speaker: Derek Simpson, Unite Joint General Secretary
This is an important meeting notably for members in the South West and Wales which will discuss the key issues facing Unite the Union, Unite members, union structures and the involvement of lay members.
All Unite members welcome - We look forward to seeing you there!
www.workersunitinggroup.com
The Workers Uniting Group is the broad based left-progressive organisation within Unite the Union
A meeting of Workers Uniting Group Supporters will take place at:
The Railway Club, Clock Tower Yard
Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QH
Sunday, September 6th, 11.30am – 2.00pm
Refreshments Provided
Facing the Future – The Way Forward For Unite
Guest Speaker: Derek Simpson, Unite Joint General Secretary
This is an important meeting notably for members in the South West and Wales which will discuss the key issues facing Unite the Union, Unite members, union structures and the involvement of lay members.
All Unite members welcome - We look forward to seeing you there!
www.workersunitinggroup.com
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
AFL-CIO Survey Of Young Workers In USA - "A Lost Decade"
From the AFL-CIO in the USA
A National Survey of Young Workers shows that a third of workers under 35 now live with their parents, are less likely to have health care, economic security and confidence in the future than ten years ago.
Young workers today are significantly less likely to have health care or economic security than they were 10 years ago, and one-third live in their parents’ home, according to a new national survey, Young Workers: A Lost Decade, released by the AFL-CIO at its annual Labor Day briefing today.
Leaders of the 11.5 million-member union federation said they will make an unprecedented effort to reach out to young workers. They also described working people’s overall plans to restore balance to the economy.
“This Labor Day, working people are standing at the edge of a huge wave of change. Almost a year ago to the day, working people rallied behind an Illinois senator in Denver to nominate him for the presidency of the United States,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “And today, amidst economic distress and upheaval, union families are working to finish the job -- we’re leading a massive mobilization for health care reform and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act to create an economy that works for everyone.”
Sweeney noted the Labor Day briefing comes two weeks before a change of leadership at the AFL-CIO; he will step down after almost 14 years as president at the federation’s convention in Pittsburgh September 13 - 17.
AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka and Exec. VP Arlene Holt Baker detailed the AFL-CIO’s plans in the coming months to reach out to young workers and engage all workers to address core economic issues.
“Young workers are facing the worst kind of insecurity -- struggling to find good jobs and hold down debt while trying to grow into adulthood,” said AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka.
“We owe them better. Unless we change it, their economic standards are going to define a new norm—a norm of lower job and living standards. Their future is our country’s future and we must commit to creating an economy that provides a strong economic future for all.”
Trumka, who is so far running unopposed for the AFL-CIO presidency, said he will ask the upcoming convention to approve plans for broad recruitment of young workers, as well as plans for training and leadership of young workers who are currently union members. He also noted unions’ unique role to play in engaging young workers around economic and political issues. Eighteen- to 35-year-olds make up a quarter of current union membership.
The national survey of 1,156 workers, including 602 young workers, conducted by Hart Research Associates in late July, was commissioned by the AFL-CIO and its 3-million member community affiliate Working America. Findings were presented by Tahir Duckett and Jenn Jannon of Working America.
Some of the key findings:
For 31 percent of young workers, Labor Day is not a paid holiday
31 percent of young workers report being uninsured, up from 24 percent 10 years ago, and 79 percent of the uninsured say they don’t have coverage because they can’t afford it or their employer does not offer it.
Amazingly, one in three young workers are currently living at home with their parents.
Only 31 percent say they make enough money to cover their bills and put some money aside—22 percentage points fewer than in 1999—while 24 percent cannot even pay their monthly bills. Fifty-eight percent do not have savings that would cover two months of living expenses.
Only 58 percent receive paid sick days, only 66 percent receive paid vacation and only 41 percent are offered paid family leave.
More than half of young workers earn less than $30,000 and this struggling majority has been the most severely impacted. A third cannot pay their bills and seven in 10 do not have enough saved to cover two months of living expenses. They are just as likely to live with their parents as to live on their own.
37 percent have put off education or professional development because they can’t afford it.
Jobs, health care and education top the economic agenda for young workers.
When asked who is most responsible for the country’s economic woes, close to 50 percent of young workers place the blame on Wall Street and banks or corporate CEOs. And young workers say greed by corporations and CEOs is the factor most to blame for the current financial downturn.
By a 22-point margin, young workers favor expanding public investment over reducing the budget deficit. Young workers rank conservative economic approaches such as reducing taxes, government spending and regulation on business among the five lowest of 16 long-term priorities for Congress and the president.
Thirty-five percent say they voted for the first time in 2008, and nearly three-quarters now keep tabs on government and public affairs, even when there’s not an election going on.
The majority of young workers and nearly 70 percent of first-time voters are confident that Obama will take the country in the right direction.
More than half of young workers say employees are more successful getting problems resolved as a group rather than as individuals, and employees who have a union are better off than employees in similar jobs who do not.
Nate Scherer, a 31 year old Working America member from Columbus, Ohio, who shares a home with his wife and parents, said:
While in college I racked up a lot of credit card debt… there’s no financial responsibility class in high school. After getting married my wife and I decided to move in with my parents in order to pay off our bills. And I don’t think my situation is that unique …
Also at the Labor Day briefing, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Holt Baker detailed a national mobilization around health care and labor law reform currently underway. Union families are working days, nights, and weekends, she said, to ensure that Congress knows that working people consider health care and the labor law reform an urgent national priority. More than 18,000 union members attended 400 town halls in the month of August alone.
Union families have made close to 200,000 phone calls and written over 250,000 letters this year to senators and representatives about health care and workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life. This Labor Day weekend, over 100,000 union members will make a push for health care and the Employee Free Choice Act at celebrations around the country.
www.youngworkers2009.org/com
A National Survey of Young Workers shows that a third of workers under 35 now live with their parents, are less likely to have health care, economic security and confidence in the future than ten years ago.
Young workers today are significantly less likely to have health care or economic security than they were 10 years ago, and one-third live in their parents’ home, according to a new national survey, Young Workers: A Lost Decade, released by the AFL-CIO at its annual Labor Day briefing today.
Leaders of the 11.5 million-member union federation said they will make an unprecedented effort to reach out to young workers. They also described working people’s overall plans to restore balance to the economy.
“This Labor Day, working people are standing at the edge of a huge wave of change. Almost a year ago to the day, working people rallied behind an Illinois senator in Denver to nominate him for the presidency of the United States,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “And today, amidst economic distress and upheaval, union families are working to finish the job -- we’re leading a massive mobilization for health care reform and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act to create an economy that works for everyone.”
Sweeney noted the Labor Day briefing comes two weeks before a change of leadership at the AFL-CIO; he will step down after almost 14 years as president at the federation’s convention in Pittsburgh September 13 - 17.
AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka and Exec. VP Arlene Holt Baker detailed the AFL-CIO’s plans in the coming months to reach out to young workers and engage all workers to address core economic issues.
“Young workers are facing the worst kind of insecurity -- struggling to find good jobs and hold down debt while trying to grow into adulthood,” said AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas. Richard Trumka.
“We owe them better. Unless we change it, their economic standards are going to define a new norm—a norm of lower job and living standards. Their future is our country’s future and we must commit to creating an economy that provides a strong economic future for all.”
Trumka, who is so far running unopposed for the AFL-CIO presidency, said he will ask the upcoming convention to approve plans for broad recruitment of young workers, as well as plans for training and leadership of young workers who are currently union members. He also noted unions’ unique role to play in engaging young workers around economic and political issues. Eighteen- to 35-year-olds make up a quarter of current union membership.
The national survey of 1,156 workers, including 602 young workers, conducted by Hart Research Associates in late July, was commissioned by the AFL-CIO and its 3-million member community affiliate Working America. Findings were presented by Tahir Duckett and Jenn Jannon of Working America.
Some of the key findings:
For 31 percent of young workers, Labor Day is not a paid holiday
31 percent of young workers report being uninsured, up from 24 percent 10 years ago, and 79 percent of the uninsured say they don’t have coverage because they can’t afford it or their employer does not offer it.
Amazingly, one in three young workers are currently living at home with their parents.
Only 31 percent say they make enough money to cover their bills and put some money aside—22 percentage points fewer than in 1999—while 24 percent cannot even pay their monthly bills. Fifty-eight percent do not have savings that would cover two months of living expenses.
Only 58 percent receive paid sick days, only 66 percent receive paid vacation and only 41 percent are offered paid family leave.
More than half of young workers earn less than $30,000 and this struggling majority has been the most severely impacted. A third cannot pay their bills and seven in 10 do not have enough saved to cover two months of living expenses. They are just as likely to live with their parents as to live on their own.
37 percent have put off education or professional development because they can’t afford it.
Jobs, health care and education top the economic agenda for young workers.
When asked who is most responsible for the country’s economic woes, close to 50 percent of young workers place the blame on Wall Street and banks or corporate CEOs. And young workers say greed by corporations and CEOs is the factor most to blame for the current financial downturn.
By a 22-point margin, young workers favor expanding public investment over reducing the budget deficit. Young workers rank conservative economic approaches such as reducing taxes, government spending and regulation on business among the five lowest of 16 long-term priorities for Congress and the president.
Thirty-five percent say they voted for the first time in 2008, and nearly three-quarters now keep tabs on government and public affairs, even when there’s not an election going on.
The majority of young workers and nearly 70 percent of first-time voters are confident that Obama will take the country in the right direction.
More than half of young workers say employees are more successful getting problems resolved as a group rather than as individuals, and employees who have a union are better off than employees in similar jobs who do not.
Nate Scherer, a 31 year old Working America member from Columbus, Ohio, who shares a home with his wife and parents, said:
While in college I racked up a lot of credit card debt… there’s no financial responsibility class in high school. After getting married my wife and I decided to move in with my parents in order to pay off our bills. And I don’t think my situation is that unique …
Also at the Labor Day briefing, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Holt Baker detailed a national mobilization around health care and labor law reform currently underway. Union families are working days, nights, and weekends, she said, to ensure that Congress knows that working people consider health care and the labor law reform an urgent national priority. More than 18,000 union members attended 400 town halls in the month of August alone.
Union families have made close to 200,000 phone calls and written over 250,000 letters this year to senators and representatives about health care and workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life. This Labor Day weekend, over 100,000 union members will make a push for health care and the Employee Free Choice Act at celebrations around the country.
www.youngworkers2009.org/com
USW Women Of Steel Ask Lawmakers To Protect Honduran Women
This from the USW Women Of Steel.
Please pass on.
USW Women of Steel Ask Lawmakers to Protect Honduran Women Brutalized by Coup Regime
Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Women of Steel organization today sought immediate action by the U.S. Department of State to protect Honduran woman who have been brutalized by officials of the coup regime.
The organisation asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to intervene for Honduran women in the resistance who are being threatened by acts of sexual and physical violence.
The Woman of Steel activists also sent copies of the letter to two dozen U.S. Senators and other government officials the organization hopes can end the violence documented by the group Feministas de Honduras en Resistencia.
To view letter: please see: http://assets.usw.org/Releases/wos_to_clinton_honduras-_6_.pdf
Please pass on.
USW Women of Steel Ask Lawmakers to Protect Honduran Women Brutalized by Coup Regime
Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Women of Steel organization today sought immediate action by the U.S. Department of State to protect Honduran woman who have been brutalized by officials of the coup regime.
The organisation asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to intervene for Honduran women in the resistance who are being threatened by acts of sexual and physical violence.
The Woman of Steel activists also sent copies of the letter to two dozen U.S. Senators and other government officials the organization hopes can end the violence documented by the group Feministas de Honduras en Resistencia.
To view letter: please see: http://assets.usw.org/Releases/wos_to_clinton_honduras-_6_.pdf
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