Sunday, January 31, 2010

Workers Uniting Group - North East

There is a new Facebook site set up by Workers Uniting Group in the North East

Visit Facebook to register.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Union challenges invitation of British National Party to US conference

Leaders of the largest trade unions in the UK, Ireland, North America and Canada have made a fierce protest against the decision of a large hotel chain to host a conference due to be addressed by the leader of the far right British National Party (BNP) Nick Griffin.

In a letter to the Westin Hotel from the world’s first international union, Workers Uniting which represents three million working people, expresses deep anger about the decision of the management to allow an individual whose views are so offence to many to address a white supremacist conference on its premises.

The Westin Hotel chain has over 160 hotels and resorts worldwide. Workers Uniting, the world’s first global union is a partnership between Unite from the United Kingdom and the United Steelworkers (USW) from the United States and Canada.

In their letter signed by Derek Simpson, Tony Woodley and Leo Gerard they say:
“Workers Uniting is appalled that the Westin would allow an individual whose views are so offensive and abhorrent to many, to hold a public address on its premises.

“You should be aware that a court order was made against the BNP after legal proceedings were issued against them on grounds that their membership requirements discriminated on grounds of, amongst other things, race. In 1996 Griffin received a nine-month prison sentence (suspended for two years) after being found guilty of distributing material likely to incite racial hatred. As well as this, Griffin is reported to have referred to the Holocaust as the 'Holohoax'.”

Derek Simpson, Tony Woodley and Leo Gerard are urging the hotel management to reconsider their decision in order to avoid serious reputational damage to their business.

36 days on the picket line - South African workers need your help now!!

Three thousand members of South Africa's Food and Allied Workers' Union (FAWU) have been on strike since December 22nd at SAB Miller's soft drinks division ABI.

They are demanding better wages and scheduling and an end to the spread of precarious work.

The global union federation, the IUF, has just launched an online campaign to support them.

Workers Uniting Group supporteres are asked to support their struggle.

Please end a message to the company.

http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/campaigns/show_campaign.cgi?c=479

Thanks!

Cadbury Protest

Workers from Cadbury are due to stage a protest as part of a campaign to safeguard jobs in the wake of the planned takeover of the chocolate-maker by US giant Kraft.

Unite said members of the public will join the demonstration in Birmingham in an attempt to stop Kraft changing the 200-year-old company "beyond recognition" after the takeover is completed next week.

The union said Kraft must give assurances that the interests of the workforce will not be swept aside and that the quality of products will be safeguarded.

Cadbury workers will protest close to the Cadbury factory in Bournville and will hold up placards which say "don't sell us out".
Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: "Our members and their friends across the Midlands deserve a voice in this takeover. They are angry that to date they have been forced to look on from the sidelines as the big money players carve up their company.

"Our protest is intended to send a clear message to Cadbury shareholders - don't sell Cadbury out.
"Cheese and chocolate must not be a recipe for disaster for Cadbury. The livelihoods of thousands of workers and the future of a great UK manufacturer will be decided in the next week.

"We urge Cadbury shareholders, who now have the fate of the company in their hands, to think very carefully about Kraft's revised offer and ask themselves is it in the best interests of either business."

BA Dispute: Not enough scabs to fly.

Unite claims BA has trained too few 'scabs' to run flights and the airline could be reduced to operating only a few flights during a cabin crew strike The strike breaking plans have attracted 216 volunteers.

Unite said that a programme to retrain employees as air stewards during industrial action would replace less than 2% of the airline's cabin crew.

The recruitment initiative, which Unite has condemned as a "scab labour" began yesterday as about 12,000 cabin crew started voting on a walkout over staff cuts.

The ballot closes on 22 February, and the earliest possible strike date is 1 March, although Unite has already ruled out an Easter walkout.

Unite are alleging that at least 120 pilots have signed up for scab jobs.

GMB union, which represents 7,000 BA employees, has condemned the attempt to recruit auxiliary crew. Balpa the pilots union said they would remain "neutral"!

BA has told staff with no flying experience they can qualify as cabin crew within three weeks, with pilots able to meet safety standards within five days.

Brendan Barber, is holding separate discussions with BA and Unite officials to kick-start peace talks.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Les Bayliss - Letter to Unite Officers & Staff

The following letter was emailed to all Unite Officers & Staff earlier this week.

To Unite Officers and Staff

Dear Colleague

I want to thank all the officers and staff, who following my initial email, responded with messages of encouragement and support for my decision to stand in the election for the position of Unite General Secretary.

Over the coming months I will set out in detail the policies I intend to put before our membership at the election. You can follow this process on my web site www.les4gs.org or come to one of the many election events that will take place around the country. I will be open and frank with all Officers and Staff about the problems we face and how I intend to address them.

Before this though I want to deal with a very serious problem that has come to my attention over the last couple of weeks of election related bullying.

At the National Industrial Sector Conferences in Brighton in November last year, Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley told delegates of the importance of developing "a tolerant union, in which fear plays no part."

I fully endorse that statement. That's why I am very concerned to be told by a number of officers that they have been put under undue pressure to support a particular candidate.

I understand that officers in some regions of the union have been warned that their careers will come to an abrupt end after the election should they fail to support the candidate preferred by their Regional Secretary or National Officer.

Unite rightly campaigns for the eradication of bullying and intimidation from the modern workplace and so we must not tolerate it in our union. I intend to take steps to ensure that officers and staff are protected from this unacceptable behaviour.

If you feel you are being pressurised or you have been threatened by your line manager to support a particular candidate, please report your concerns in confidence on this

e-mail address, lesbayliss@les4gs.

A strong well, organised union can only flourish by empowering the officers and staff and building on their expertise and experience.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Unite Strike At DSD Contracters

Unite members at DSD Contracting, Bedford, are on striek on Monday's and Fridays.

Unite members are angry the about the proposed changes to the terms and conditions of 15 plumbers and electricians at the housing maintenance division of the council.

The first day of industrial action took place last Friday and a second day is planned for Monday.

Unite's, Rich Gates said: “We are in dispute with DSD Contracting over proposed changes to my members’ terms and conditions.

“The changes are to the job codes their wages are made up from, these changes will leave my members in detriment to their earnings, and secondly changes to their shifts and the introduction of Saturday morning working which my members are totally opposed to.


“One solution is to delay these changes until my members are re-valuated as part of equal pay job evaluation planned for April or May this year, but the council is unwilling to delay both elements of these changes and that is why on Friday we started with a one day strike.”

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Unite's Rachael Maskell warns Church of England on bullying: "The more they try to bury it, the more pain there will be"

Unite National Officer Rachael Maskell has warned the Chucrh of England not to bury the issue of bullying and harrasment of its clergy.

She says that a bishop is among the 150 clergy and ministers who have sought help Unite from what she describes as a culture of bullying in the established Church.

Most of those who have sought Unite help are in the Church of England but Roman Catholic priests, rabbis and imams have also joined Unite, said Rachael.

Unite has set up a special helpline for priests intimidated by bishops or congregations.

Among the 2,500 members of the faith workers’ branch of Unite are four bishops, including one “very prominent” Church of England bishop and one from the Church in Wales.


Unite was asked recently to help one bishop after he was ordered to return his licence and “go” for reasons that it did not disclose.

Criminality was not alleged, but Unite says that there should be due process rather than a wall of silence.

Rachael said “Church of England bishops are in denial about all sorts of things that go on. Sexual harassment of women clergy is not rare; it is out there".

She compared it to the problem of child abuse in the Roman Catholic church, which was shaken last month by the resignation of four out of five Irish bishops after the Murphy Report into the Dublin archdiocese exposed a cover-up.

“The more they try to bury it, the more pain there will be,” Rachael said. She warned that clergy who dared to raise the issue risked being put on a “black list” that would make it difficult to find work in future.

Last month Unite called for the resignation of two bishops after claiming that a vicar, the Rev Mark Sharpe, had been forced out of his home and job in the Worcester diocese by what the union described as “a culture of neglect and bullying”. His departure with his family came after four years of alleged harassment, during which the family’s pet dog was fatally poisoned, faeces was smeared on his car and his tyres were slashed twice.

Mr Sharpe, 42, has an employment tribunal listed for May when he will claim damages from the Church of England for failing to provide protection from harassment. He is now planning to sue for constructive dismissal as well after he resigned his living due to ill health.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Fujitsu: The Dispute Goes To Parliament

Unite, has announced a further round of six strikes at Fujitsu on 22nd, 29th January and 1st, 5th and 8th February with a further day’s strike on 26th January in Northern Ireland and 27th January at sites in England, Scotland and Wales in a row over jobs, pay and pensions.

There will also be a parliamentary lobby by senior Unite representatives from key Fujitsu sites on Wednesday, 27th January. Unite has also announced that the an Early Day Motion has been tabled by Tony Lloyd MP in support of the Fujitsu workers.

Earlier this week an attempt by Fujitsu to threaten Unite with an injunction to ban the strike action backfired when the company later admitted that it had overlooked the notice of strike action sent to the company on Friday, 15th January.

The strike is over proposals for redundancies in the UK which have now reduced to around 70 people still at risk of compulsory redundancy on 31st January, a pay freeze imposed earlier this year, and plans by the company to close the main final salary pension scheme to future accrual, reducing the total pay package of each affected employee by typically around 20 per cent.

Peter Skyte, Unite national officer for IT and communications, said: “Fujitsu should be focusing on serious negotiations with Unite rather than shooting itself in the foot by spending money on expensive lawyers in a fruitless and ultimately counterproductive attempt to use the law instead of the jaw.

“We still believe that this dispute can only be resolved by Fujitsu sitting down with us to address the issues of jobs, pay and pensions.”

Fujitsu Services continues to make substantial profits, with a £200 million profit before taxation in 2008, while the parent company is cash rich, having raised over $900 million from a share sale. Announcing the latest results on 28 October 2009, the Fujitsu president highlighted that for the first half of the year, the company beat its earnings target despite a very challenging business environment.

Unite Tells Cadbury Shareholders To Reject Kraft Bid

Unite has written to Cadbury's shareholders urging them to reject Kraft's £11.9bn offer for the confectionery firm. Investors have until 2 February to decide whether to accept the 850p cash-and-shares offer on the table from the American food conglomerate, which owns household brands including Philadelphia and Maxwell House.

Announcing the deal on Tuesday, Cadbury chairman Roger Carr conceded there would be job losses and Unite argues that despite Kraft having boosted its original offer by 15%, the deal is "bad news" for workers and shareholders alike. It has also been criticised by legendary investor Warren Buffett, whose investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway is Kraft's biggest investor with a 9.4% stake, as a "bad deal".

"We sincerely hope Cadbury shareholders will look before they leap into the takeover," said Unite national officer Jennie Formby. "Our huge fear is for the many thousands of workers in the UK and Ireland who depend on Cadbury for their livelihoods. They are devastated that the company and its values will change beyond recognition."

The takeover now looks an inevitability after the only possible rival bidder, Hershey, withdrew. Insiders said the decision followed a unanimous vote by Hershey's board of directors late on Wednesday.

To win control Kraft only needs the support of 50% of Cadbury's shareholders, a figure that looks achievable as despite objections from British institutions such as Standard Life, 40% of its shareholders are American funds, which have no objections to owning Kraft stock. Some 20% are short-term investors such as hedge funds who have indicated they will accept 850p.

Unite said it had been inundated with messages from smaller shareholders who were not in favour of the deal. "The City boys and hedge funds, who are only interested in turning a quick profit and care nothing for the people or communities of Cadbury, cannot be allowed carry the day," added Jennie Formby.

Unite is asking Kraft to promise no site closures or erosion of terms and conditions on its watch, said it planned to lobby parliament to press for support from the government and MPs in its fight to protect Cadbury jobs and investment.

Bayliss: Unite Will Not Allow Employers To Break Agreements.

Italian firm CMN is alleged to have undercut UK pay at Staythorpe plant

CMN is a subcontractor paying Italian labourers over £1,000 less on average per week than the agreed rate, reigniting last year's disputes in the engineering contrating sector.


A pay audit revealed that Italian firm CMN, one of the subcontractors employed by engineering firm Alstom to build a power station at Staythorpe in the East Midlands, was defying a national pay deal agreed between Unite and the industry.

Unite has called for CMN's works contract to be terminated after the discrepancies came to light.

Unite's assistant general secretary, Les Bayliss said: "The underpayment of these workers is outrageous. We have demanded that the workers are paid back in full. These revelations are proof that construction workers have genuine concerns which the industry has consistently tried to deny existed. Some workers at Staythorpe were losing out on thousands of pounds in pay that they were rightly owed. Unite will not allow employers to get away with breaking agreements and underpaying its workers, regardless of nationality."

Last year, months of action took place over the use of foreign contractors at Lindsey refinery in Lincolnshire.

The audit, requested by unions, revealed that between April 2009 and December 2009, an average of 17 labourers a month were being paid an average of €1,300 a month less than the agreed rate. Unite fears that other subcontractors also could be ignoring the pay agreement. At peak times, 2,000 workers are employed at the Staythorpe site, many of them by subcontractors and many of them from overseas.

An estimated £200bn worth of investment in new power stations, power lines and wind farms is needed over the next decade and unions are anxious that British workers benefit, particularly with unemployment rising as a result of the recession.
But the free movement of labour within the European Union has made it easier for employers to undercut British workers by bringing in cheaper foreign labour.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Unite Members Learned Of Job Losses By Video Link

Edwards, the Crawley based vacuum technology company, told 220 workers that the company was to move its manufacturing operations overseas - by video link!

The boss of the company dened it was a cost cutting excecise.

Semiconductor manufacturing will be transferred from its UK site a factory in South Korea, while general vacuum manufacturing, which is used in chemical and pharmaceutical processes, will switch from Burgess Hill to a factory in the Czech Republic.

The company, owned by CCMP Capital Advisors and Unitas, an Asian fund, currently employs about 1,000 people in Sussex and 3,000 globally.

Unite Regional Officer Janet Henney said "Members working at the company were “devastated” after staff learning of the cuts on a video message. This is another example of the UK skilled manufacturing base being decimated for the benefit of a profit-driven private equity company. They have paid little regard to the UK economy, our skills base and least of all to those who have to go home today and tell their families of their loss.”

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Workers Uniting Accuse Crown of Agressive Approach

Workers Uniting (the global union consisting of Unite and the USW) have accused metal packaging giant Crown of "aggressive behaviour" towards its staff.

Workers Uniting has written to Crown Holdings chief executive John Conway to, in their words, "challenge the company's aggressive behaviour towards some of its employees around the world".

News of the letter is the first time the unions have gone public on any dispute with the company in recent months.

Workers Uniting question the company's approach to labour relations in the UK which, they said, has led to "numerous industrial disputes over the last 12 months".

They also accuse the company of a "confrontational approach" to negotiations with workers in its Canadian operations.

The unions claim that the company has already closed a number of plants in the country and threatened to move more work out of Canada if workers do not agree to concessions in their working conditions.

Workers Uniting and have offered to meet with senior Crown management to discuss workers' concerns.

Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary, said that it had "become apparent that there is an increasingly aggressive approach to both Unite and the United Steelworkers Union" from Crown.

USW national director for Canada Ken Neumann accused the company of "trying to pit worker against worker as the company searches for the highest profit and the lowest pay and other standards".

Unite Anger At RAF Kinloss Job Losses

Unite has reacted angrily to an announcement that 108 civilian staff are to lose their jobs at RAF Kinloss. It is the result of the withdrawal of the present Nimrod aircraft in March, a year earlier than planned.

Three hundred workers are employed by contractor Cobham at the base in the Moray town.

Lyn Turner of Unite said: "The loss of over 100 skilled jobs at RAF Kinloss is a hammer blow for the workers affected and to the local economy."

The commanding officer at RAF Kinloss, Group Captain Robbie Noel, had warned in December of the threat of job losses.
Major employer

It followed UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth's announcement about Nimrods being taken out of service early.

900 Bosch Jobs To Move To Hungary

The Welsh assembly government has pledged its full support to 900 Bosch workers who will lose their jobs when the company's south Wales plant closes. The German motor parts company has recommend closure of its Vale of Glamorgan site to its board, transferring work to Hungary in 2011.

Unite's David Lewis said the closure is "devastating". Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said staff would be helped to find new jobs or gain skills.

The factory opened in Miskin in 1991 to make alternator products for cars, with the help of £21m in public grants from the Welsh Development Agency, which was subsequently absorbed into the Welsh Assembly Government.
At its peak it employed some 1,500 people.

However, the company warned the workforce in September last year that jobs were at risk unless demand and sales improved.
Announcing a 90-day consultation in October, it warned that it expected a sales decline to continue, slashed by up to 65% in 2010.

Following the review, management spent Thursday informing the workforce of their decision to move out of Wales.
It said it was facing the worst economic downturn for decades, saying that this had "left its mark on the Bosch Group".
In a statement, the firm said consultations are now being extended until February, as unions and staff attempt to thrash out redundancy terms.

David Lewis said Unite will hold a mass meeting at the plant on today where it will explain how it intends to support its members. David said "Since October last year, Unite has been seeking alternatives to the closure of the site, but the company has not supported our proposals. This is a terrible blow to 900 workers and their families. We will now vigorously campaign for the best possible deal for the workforce. I think everyone is bitterly disappointed that there's not a hope of something being retained," he said.

"The company confirmed that they have a very skilled, a good workforce, but that doesn't take away from the destruction of people's livelihoods and the difficulties for their families.

"So, they are completely and utterly bereft I think of what they can see for the future."

Friday, January 15, 2010

Fujitsu Strike News

For the lastest news on the strikes at Fujitsu visit

http://www.ourunion.org.uk/news/

Messages and fianancial support can also be sent through the website.

7000 Jobs Could Be Lost At Cadbury's

Thousands of jobs could move abroad if Cadburys is bought by US multi-national Kraft, says Unite.

Unite says 7,000 jobs could go if control of the British firm shifted to Illinois in the US and a further 20,000 jobs in the supply chain could be at risk if the hostile bid goes through.

In a briefing to Cadbury investors, the union also warned that the firm would be saddled with a "colossal" £22bn of debt if the merger was passed.

National Officer Jennie Formby said: "If decisions about Cadbury's future are transferred from Britain to Northfield, Illinois, it won't just be workers who lose. It will be Cadbury with its history of much-loved products and much-admired philanthropy, along with UK business, that suffer."

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Vale Inco strike enters seventh month

From the International Metalworkers Federation

The United Steelworkers (USW) filed a bad-faith bargaining complaint against Vale Inco, challenging the company's refusal to engage in genuine, good-faith negotiations to end the six-month strike by 3,500 Canadian workers.

USW officials filed the complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board in Toronto, marking the strike's six-month anniversary which was honoured in Sudbury on January 13 by a rally and parade.

3500 USW members in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Canada have been on strike since July 13th, 2009 after the company would only accept to renew their collective agreement if workers agreed to a drastic reduction in conditions and increased job insecurity. Despite having made US$13.2 billion profit last year, Vale is insisting on creating a two-tiered pension plan, slashing the nickel bonus and seriously damaging seniority rights, while bringing in replacement workers to continue production. USW members at Voisey's Bay joined the strike on August 1.

"The Ontario Labour Relations Act requires that employers and unions make every reasonable effort to reach a collective agreement," said USW lawyer Brian Shell. "At the minimum that means meeting with a union committed to a full exploration of all issues and together endeavoring to find an acceptable way forward."

"Vale Inco's behavior indicates it is not interested in any meaningful negotiations," said John Fera, President of USW Local 6500 in Sudbury. "It is using its massive wealth to try to bring Canadian workers and our communities to their knees."

The strike has gained massive support worldwide in recent months, thanks in part with the help of affiliates from the International Metalworkers' Federation and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions. Vale workers from Canada and Brazil have traveled around the globe sharing their experience with fellow miners and metalworkers at Vale operations and investments events as well as steel mills and smelters that purchase Vale products. Unions have been calling on Vale to return to the bargaining table and reach a Fair Deal NOW.

"We believe Vale is trying to destroy its strongest collective bargaining agreement for the purpose of setting a precedent to weaken other collective bargaining agreements throughout the world, a move the IMF and our global affiliates and partner organizations will not accept, and will fight," wrote Jyrki Raina, IMF general secretary in a solidarity message for the occasion.

"Until Vale changes its practices, the IMF will continue to oppose Vale operations and investment through mobilizing IMF affiliates around the world and we will actively encourage companies and governments to stop doing business with Vale until a resolution is reached," Raina added.

Bayliss Sets Out Stall In Unite GS Election

The following is a letter sent earlier this week to Unite Officials and Staff from Unite AGS Les Bayliss - who is supported by the Progressive Left Workers Uniting Group - which explains why he is standing in the election and outlines some of the policies he intends to persue.

To Unite Officers and Staff

From Les Bayliss

Dear colleagues,
Happy New Year.

I'm writing to seek your support for my campaign to become the first General Secretary of Unite and to explain why I intend to stand - and win - the forthcoming election.

I was chosen to be a candidate by the Workers Uniting Group within Unite following ten regional hustings meetings. The meetings attracted over 600 activists, reps, officers and staff who took part directly in the democratic and open process.

The Workers Uniting Group is a broad and progressive organisation, as broad as the diverse opinions of the membership in Unite. On that basis the focus of my campaign, and my leadership, will be to represent the views of all Unite members regardless of the size of their sector or their place of work.

Our members deserve the best service, one that recognises their specific needs. Many members work in small companies or workplaces sometimes without a union rep or one that is not sufficiently supported to work effectively for members.
This inevitably puts pressure on our Officers and Staff. I intend to redress this failure by developing proactive contact with members, reps and activists, with a dedicated unit that will offer support and advice on dealing with the challenges they are presented with by employers.

Support for officers, staff and workplace reps
I will ensure that we increase the resources that we spend on educating and communicating with our workplace reps, activists and members.
It is vital to provide the resources and training for all Officers and Staff to help support and service members - when they need it and when they expect it. I will ensure that all activities - be that regional, sectoral, administrative, educational, political and industrial will be co-ordinated.

I will ensure that we have an inclusive management structure that involves everyone employed by the union. The union I intend to lead will use all the talents we have in our organisation.
I intend to lead a union that understands its responsibilities to all working people, their families and the wider community. One of our major challenges is connecting with workers whose vision of trade unions is received entirely through the media. Engaging in wild adventurism at workers' expense will not help us win for our existing members nor will it help organise and recruit new members.
All our strategies should be advised by the expertise and experience we have at our disposal not responded to only after the employer, government or media have already attacked us.

Organising
Organising and recruitment is vital to the growth and survival of our union. However, we are currently spending huge financial resources on organising, to operate only one method, designed to suit one section of our union. There is no evidence to show it has been successful to date even within this narrow focus.
I believe our Organising strategies must now be renewed and developed in the industrial sectors and led by the new National Industrial Sector Committees rather than by a centralised department with a "one size fits all plan" limited to a small number of sectors. All officers, at all levels, and our staff and lead activists should play their part, with their views, expertise and experiences listened to and acted upon.

Political influence
I will ensure that we will win the Labour Party back by stepping up our campaign to increase the number of Unite members in Parliament - Unite members who have workplace experience, who know and understand the problems working people and their families face.
Winning power for Labour, delivering a government for working people and having a real influence in the Labour Party depends on Unite's commitment to it.

The International Union
Our international work must now have a strategic industrial dimension. Our general solidarity work across the world is important but Unite represents members in many multi-national corporations and wherever they are they must now be helped to campaign, to organise and to fight for better pay and conditions.

Our only option is to organise workers internationally so we can support our members in multi national companies and protect all our other members from the political power of multi nationals. It's a massive task and it must to be done.

Equality at the heart of the union
I will also ensure that we strengthen our equalities work, making equalities a key industrial issue, at the heart of the union, not just within the confines of our internal structures.

An important choice
The election of the first General Secretary of Unite presents us all with an important choice for our union and for the movement as a whole. Do we cling to the past and the identity of our own sections of Unite, mouthing platitudes of populist extremism? Or do we build a new union that embraces every view and accepts the need for change to meet the challenges of an ever changing political and economic environment?

I look forward to working with you and hearing your views and choices over the coming months.

Yours sincerely

Les Bayliss

Monday, January 11, 2010

Shipbreakers Campaign: Eight more shipbreakers burned to death in Bangladesh

Following on from earlier posts

http://workersunitinggroupnews.blogspot.com/2009/08/six-die-at-shipbreaking-yard-in-india.html

and the campaign on the deaths and exploitation of shipbreakers this report has been sent through to us.

"Eight more workers in Bangladesh were burned to death on December 26th, 2009, when the ship they were dismantling exploded.

The workers had been told that the gas tanks on the Agate oil tanker had been cleaned.

It was a lie. When the workers started to cut into the tank using their blow torches, the sparks set off a massive explosion, engulfing them in flames, which burned out of control for several hours.

Along with the eight workers killed, more than a dozen suffered serious burns.

The Rahim Steel & Shipbreaking Yard reputes to be the largest industrial steel complex in Bangladesh.

In 2009, 25 shipbreakers were killed, while a worker is seriously injured every day.

The workers, some of whom are 14 and 15 years of age, are paid just 22 to 32 cents an hour to do some of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The shipbreaking yards continue to violate with complete impunity even then most rudimentary health and safety standards and labor laws in Bangladesh".

We have a copy of the full report which will be emailed later.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

New BA Ballot Starts January 22nd

The British Airways ballot of cabin crew it will open on 22 January.

The vote over staffing cuts is expected to take around a month to complete and action could start from 1st March.

In a letter to members, the union's aviation officers, National officers Steve Turner and Brian Boyd said they were "determined" to hold a new ballot after a strong vote in favour of industrial action was ruled unlawful by the High Court last month.

"Our ballot will now open on 22nd January following the statutory one week's notice to British Airways," said the Unite officials.
They added that the process had been delayed while the union combed its membership database in a bid to avoid repeating the errors that allowed BA to injunct the previous ballot.

Mrs Justice Cox ruled the poll unlawful because around 900 cabin crew voted despite having applied for voluntary redundancy, which meant they would not be working for the airline at the time of any industrial action. As a result BA was able to overturn a strike vote that had secured a 92% majority on an 80% turnout.
"We are sure that you appreciate the importance of ensuring our data is as accurate as is possible. Despite the decision of the High Court in December we are absolutely committed and determined to ensuring your voice is heard through this ballot," said the officials.

The ballot will take place against the backdrop of peace talks between BA executives and Unite officials, held under the auspices of the TUC, the UK trade union body and chaired by general secretary Brendan Barber.

BA's chief executive, Willie Walsh, moved quickly after the High Court ruling to offer talks with Unite and has already offered concessions over changes that were imposed in November.

BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights from between 15 and 16 positions to 14 but has offered assurances on the duties carried out by the cabin service director. However, it remains adamant that there must be multimillion pound cuts in crew costs.

Its negotiating team opened the TUC talks last week with a presentation emphasising that BA cabin crew have a higher average wage than staff at easyJet and Virgin Atlantic. Unite's branch for British Airways cabin crew, Bassa, argues that a better comparison would be with European rivals such as Lufthansa and Air France-KLM.

A BA spokesman said: "Unite's general secretaries [Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson] have said they are approaching the talks in a constructive spirit and are seeking a settlement."

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Teeside Manufacturing Rally Planned

A rally to highlight the plight of Teesside’s manufacturing sector is set to take place next month.

Unions are currently making preparations for the event which they hope will be held in Middlesbrough town centre on Saturday, February 13.

Tees Valley’s steel industry is set to be hit hard with the Teesside Cast Products plant due to be mothballed at the end of the month with the loss of 1,700 direct jobs.

Corus bosses and union leaders are due to come together for the meeting of the newly established taskforce, set up to look at all the options for TCP

The taskforce was set up last month following talks between the National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee and members of the Teesside multi-union committee with senior Corus chiefs - including Kirby Adams, chief executive of Tata Steel Europe.

Meanwhile Teesside’s chemical sector has faces a series of closures announcements including Invista, Dow, Croda and Elementis.

In November chemical bosses revealed a 10-point action plan to ensure the future of the sector at Wilton and its sister sites, with leading industry figures appointed to personally power through the changes.

Planning is under way for the rally - with more details to be finalised next week.

A rally was held in Redcar last summer in support of the closure-threatened TCP plant.

Thousands of people took to the streets in a massive show of support for steel jobs.

Clergy get "wake-up call" over bullying

The bullying of clergy is a major problem in churches across the UK, says Unite National officer Rachael Maskell.

Unite, deals with about 150 cases of clergy bullying each year, has now set up a hotline for those affected. The union says that clergy may be bullied by church superiors on the one hand and by members of their congregations on the other.

The campaign was described as "a wake-up call to those in authority who can make a difference" by Rachael Maskell, National Officer of the Faith Workers' Branch of Unite, which represents around 2,500 priests and ministers.

Rachael said that many clergy work on a basis of implicit trust and that "where that trust breaks, the person is deeply wounded".

The fact that clergy do not have the same legal rights as other employees is likely to come as a surprise to many. Unite believes clergy should have rights such as health and safety at work and freedom from unfair dismissal.

The lack of legal protection means that disciplinary matters may be dealt with in an unprofessional way that would not otherwise be allowed.

"Bishops can treat people shamefully," said the Rev Gerry Barlow, chair of the Faith Workers' Branch, "The most common experience is [that] a priest gets called in for a pastoral chat, to 'see how things are going'. Within half an hour he's telling you he's going to fire you or take your licence away."

The issue of clergy bullying hit the headlines in the autumn, when the Rev Mark Sharpe resigned from his post as a rector in rural Worcestershire. He says he was subjected to a campaign of intimidation by parishioners after tackling the parish's financial problems.

"It started with the tyres getting slashed," he explained, "Ended up with a dog mysteriously dying, the car being smeared with excrement, and broken glass across the driveway".

The Diocese of Worcester has described Sharpe's allegations as "appalling" but declined to comment on the details ahead of a formal hearing.

Speaking at the Trades Union Congress last year, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, described the issue of bullying as "unfinished business for us [the Church of England]", adding "I'm very glad that it's flagged up

More Job Losses Expected at BAE Systems Samlesbury

Almost 100 BAE Systems workers have left the BAE Samlesbury plant as part of massive job cuts — but another 100 redundancies still need to be found.

Around 65 mostly shop floor staff at the site took voluntary redundancy shortly before Christmas after the defence giant last year announced plans to axe 205 jobs.

Bosses said more voluntary applications have now been approved and 30 more staff would leave the firm 'in the next couple of months'.

But that leaves more than 100 positions still to be axed, some of which are not expected to be voluntary.

Neil Sheehan, a Unite union convenor at Samlesbury, said: “This is a long programme of redundancy and it will stretch right out until the end of the year.

“We are in talks and consultation at the moment, and we are hopeful that we can avoid a lot of compulsory redundancies.

“It is all ongoing at the moment and we are just trying to negotiate and reduce the number of people who have to leave.

“There are opportunities for people to take jobs elsewhere.”

Barbour staff on strike

Unite members at the J Barbour & Sons warehouse in Follingsby Park, Washington, Tyneside have walked out over a proposed pay rise.

Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: "Barbour made a £9m profit in 2009, up from £5m the previous year.

"The company is obviously performing well financially, and we don't believe the pay rise is enough."

A spokesman for Barbour said: "Our offer represents a total increase of 3.3 per cent over 12 months, which we believe is a fair one, particularly in the current economic climate."

Friday, January 8, 2010

International Brigade Memorial Opens

This from the Morning Star earlier this week:

"A fitting memorial to heroes

Les Bayliss and Tony Burke, assistant general secretaries of Unite the Union, officiated at the opening ceremony of the International Brigade Memorial Garden at the Marx Memorial Library in London.

Les and Tony unveiled the statue of an International Brigade volunteer, previously on display at the Unite training centre in Quorn, Leicestershire. The statue and garden is a memorial to those print workers who fought in the Spanish civil war and against fascism in the second world war.

Les told those attending the ceremony that both the Marx Memorial Library and the British trade union movement are powerfully linked to the Spanish civil war and the members of the International Brigade.

"The unions and the British left realised the dangers and true nature of fascism long before anyone else", he said.

"By trade, more printers went to fight in Spain than any other. Three of them - George Hardy, Leslie Maughan and Walter Tapsell - who gave their lives for democracy, are honoured in the memorial.

"Many of their comrades in the brigade would soon be soldiers again - in World War II. It is, therefore, highly appropriate that this garden also bears the NATSOPA War Memorial as the struggle against fascism was part of one continuous battle, at home and abroad, which stretched from the attempted fascist coup in Madrid in July 1936 to the fall of Berlin in May 1945.

"It is entirely fitting," Les added, "that Unite Graphical Paper and Media Sector has generously sponsored this garden and chosen to relocate the magnificent bronze statue of an International Brigade fighter within these walls.

"Bill Alexander, commander of the British battalion and a member of our union, was the president of the library until his death. The brigade veterans left their archives to the library, in perpetuity, in 1975. Now, they are the finest source for the conflict in the British Isles.

"Today, Unite honours a powerful anti-fascist tradition, but it also seeks to take these values forward as part of a left project at a time when fascism once again rears its ugly head on our streets.

"Unite recalls the sacrifice of the brigaders, their faith in the British working class, in their Spanish comrades, and in their belief in the eventual triumph of political and industrial democracy. We salute those comrades and their ideals."

Tony Burke told the gathering that print workers in Unite were delighted that the Marx Memorial Library had agreed to house the archives of the print and paper unions in 2009. "We are as equally pleased that the memorial to those print union members who fought and died fighting fascism in Spain is now housed with the historic collection at Marx House.

"We would want Unite members, and trade unionists and printers, to visit the archive and also spend a few moments at the memorial to remember those brave printers who risked and gave their lives as members of the International Brigade and fought against fascism. We will always recall that 'freedom was never held, without a fight, without struggle there can be no victory'!"

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Fujitsu Strike Update!

We have recived this update from Unite@Fujitsu regarding today's strike activity. Workers Uniting Group supporters can help with financial support for the strikes. See the end of this item.

"Congratulations to all the members who struck today, and particularly those who braved arctic conditions to picket and take part in other activities.
Members were buoyed up by the news this week of the company’s first substantive concession on pensions. However inadequate it may be, offering an extra 5% pay to over 3000 employees is another achievement to put alongside the many jobs saved and the extra year’s pension. A good start after only one strike day! If we remain determined we can win a fair settlement on Jobs, Pay and Pensions.
Despite the weather, reports are coming in from pickets in Belfast, Stevenage, Crewe, Solihull, Wakefield and Manchester ). Picketing in Basingstoke and delegation work in Manchester were cancelled today due to the snow.

Fundraising activities have also started in earnest to ensure we can supplement the Dispute Benefit that all striking members will get with Hardship Payments where required.

The strike has again attracted significant media coverage (see Google and LabourStart), with TV cameras and radio interviews supplementing the online and printed media".

Financial Support
Please send donations for UNITE’s national campaign (cheques payable to “Manchester IT Workers Group”) to John Wood, 301 Bolton Road, Bury, BL8 2NZ.
If you use online banking, you can donate to Account Number: 00980539, Sort
Code: 30-91-48, but please send an email to tell them about your donation, to
support@ourunion.org.uk.

Progressive London Conference

Progressive London Conference
Saturday 30 January
10am-5.30pm Registration from 9am
Congress House, Great Russell St
London WC1 (nearest tube Tottenham Court Road)


£10 waged; £6 unwaged

The conference aims build a progressive alliance to stop the advance of right-wing ideas and parties and looks at ways we can work across communities, parties, and campaigns to promote social progress for the capital in 2010.

Speakers include:

Ken Livingstone · Sadiq Khan MP · Speech Debelle · Johann Hari, writer · Jean Lambert MEP - Green Party · Frances O'Grady, Deputy Gen Sec TUC · Jon Cruddas MP · Lembit Opik MP · George Galloway MP · Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for London · Mike Tuffrey AM - Liberal Democrats · Doreen Lawrence · Mehdi Hasan - New Statesman · Richard Gott - writer · Jenny Jones AM - Green Party · Serge Lourie - Lib Dem Leader of LB Richmond Upon Thames · Kate Hudson - Chair, CND · Sam Tarry - Chair, Young Labour · Linda Perks - Regional Secretary, Unison · Nizam Uddin - President of ULU · Noel Hatch - Chair, Compass Youth · Jon Trickett MP · Megan Dobney - Regional Secretary, SERTUC · Len Duvall AM - Labour · Matty Mitford - Director, Boris Keep Your Promise · Steve Hart - Unite Regional Secretary · Professor Avi Shlaim · Professor Tariq Ramadan · Ann Pettifor · Bruce Kent · Neal Lawson - Compass · Kevin Maguire - The Mirror · Daf Adley - NUS LGBT Officer · Karen Stalbow - Shelter · Anas Altikriti - British Muslim Initiative · Claude Moraes MEP · Richard Ascough - GMB Southern Region Secretary · Simon Weller - ASLEF · Edie Friedman - JCORE · Samuel Moncada - Venezuelan Ambassador · Professor Danny Dorling · Eugenie Harvey - Director of 10:10 · Jon McClure - Reverend and the Makers · Diane Abbott MP

Discussions include:

· Investment not cuts
· Why the Tories are not progressive
· Stopping the BNP - no concessions to the far right
· After Copenhagen - turning the tide on climate change
· No to Boris Johnson's fare increases
· Lessons from Latin America
· Young people and the economic crisis
· Gaza one year on
· PR - progress through electoral reform?
· Trident, Afghanistan, Iraq - the cost of war
· One society, many cultures
· Capitalwoman
· Sessions on a progressive agenda for London - affordable housing, transport, culture and many more

For enquiries email: info@progressivelondon.org.uk

www.progressivelondon.org..uk

LRD: Inflation the new factor for 2010

From Labour Research Department

The return to positive inflation is likely to influence pay deals in the months ahead, but as yet it is too early to say whether this will outweigh the effects of recession, continuing job losses, or public sector pay curbs. With fewer existing long-term deals to boost settlement levels this year, newly-negotiated private sector deals will set the trend.

After eight months of negative figures, the Retail Prices Index (RPI) was back in positive territory in November, rising annually by 0.3%, and is expected to rise further: If so, RPI inflation and the pay settlement trends will converge. Over the three months up-to and including November, settlements stuck to the established pattern with a mid-point of 2%, 1.5% in the private sector. The public sector was up slightly (2.6%) and manufacturing down slightly (1.2%) with services broadly steady on 2.4% (Workplace Report, December 2009).

As in earlier months, if existing long-term deals (negotiated in most cases before the recession took hold) are taken out of the picture the overall mid-point increase on lowest basic rates was lower, at 1.2%. Pay freezes accounted for three out of ten of these new settlements and a fifth of all settlements (including existing deals), also consistent with the established pattern.

With few settlements recorded for December and little information yet in on January deals, it is too early to say confidently what will happen in the New Year. Where a specific value for pay rises in 2010 had already been agreed the figures suggest a median of around 2.5% (Workplace Report, October 2009). But with fewer existing long-tem deals in place for 2010, much will depend on how negotiators react to rising RPI inflation.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Unite and BA Open Talks Chaired by TUC

British Airways will hold peace talks with Unite tomorrow in a bid to avert crippling strike action by cabin crew.
Unite is close to serving BA notice that it will hold a strike ballot over staffing cuts, leaving open the prospect of a walkout as soon as next month.
However, the union's joint general secretaries, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, said they were "delighted" to be holding talks that will be hosted by the TUC.
The talks will be chaired by the TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber.
"We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation, rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC," said Unite.
It is understood that shortly before Christmas the BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, sent a letter to Woodley and Simpson seeking talks in the wake of securing a high court injunction that blocked a 12-day walkout by cabin crew.
A meeting between Walsh, Woodley and Simpson on Monday appears to have convinced the Unite leadership that BA is willing to negotiate.
BA said: "We are pleased that this new round of talks will now proceed under the auspices of the TUC."

A statement by Bassa, a cabin crew branch of Unite, said that Walsh had offered concessions to the trade union. Bassa said on its website that the staff reductions had to be reversed but admitted that it would consider the new BA proposals. It said: "We shall remain open to consider the company's proposals. At the time of writing, the company has offered some concessionary ideas, which are under consideration."
BA's proposal centres on the role of the cabin service director, the highest-ranking cabin crew member on a flight. Staff cuts had forced CSDs to join general flight duties but it is understood that Walsh has offered to make the post a fully supervisory role again.
Under changes imposed in November, BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights from between 15 and 16 positions to 14.

Cabin crew have claimed that the changes have lowered service standards, but their biggest concern is the fact that BA imposed the changes unilaterally. A high court hearing scheduled for 1 February will determine whether the staff cuts can be repealed.

Fujitsu Strike Dates - Give Them Your Support!

The next round of strikes at IT giant Fujitsu are as follows:

Thursday 7th January
Friday 8th January
Monday 11th January
Thursday 14th January
Friday 15th January

The strike on 18th December concentrated on launching the industrial action and using the “Scrooge” protest in London to put our campaign in the media spotlight.

The next three days of strikes will focus on:
Highlighting discrimination in redundancy selection
Highlighting Fujitsu’s unfair pay system
Local activities including raising support and funds for our dispute
Local members’ meetings around the country to discuss how the campaign is going and next steps.

There will be pickets out and union meetings on these dates at various locations.

Workers Uniting Group supporters can show their support by attending the picket lines (we can supply information via email as to the the locations and activities) or by emailing messages of support to amicustheunion@uk.fujitsu.com

Unite Member Serving In Afghanistan Wins Job Back

A Territorial Army members made redundant as he completed a 12-month tour of duty in Afghanistan has won his job back using laws to protect reservists.

Unite member Simon Sunderland, 37, was laid off as a production worker with diesel engine manufacturer Cummins, days after serving on the front line.

He was one of 440 workers laid off at the US-owned company's plant in Darlington, Durham, as a result of the economic downturn. Mr Sunderland, a father of four, was due to spend time on leave with his family before resuming his job when Cummins informed him he was no longer needed.

He took his case to an employment reinstatement committee claiming his dismissal was a breach of the 1985 Reserve Forces Act designed to protect part-time soldiers.

The panel found in his favour and he has been reinstated to his job on the shop floor.

The Reserve Forces (Safeguarding Employment Act) 1985 states that employers, where reasonable and practicable, should reinstate people on terms not less favourable than had they not served.

After the hearing in Newcastle, Mr Sunderland said: "I was an easy target because I had been away. I have two medals for tours of duty, they are not for going to the shops. I don't think the military get the respect they deserve and I don't think the TA and reserve forces get the respect they deserve either."

His case was backed by Unite which said that the company's behaviour had been "morally incomprehensible and legally questionable".

Unite Regional Officer Mike Routledge, ofsaid: "Now it has been proved that it was legally wrong. It is vitally important we support those putting their lives on the line. The least we can do is make sure they have a job waiting for them when they come back."

Cummins said it had sought legal advice and consulted the Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers group before making Mr Sunderland redundant.

A spokesman said: "Cummins accepts the decision and we have welcomed Simon back. Cummins has been a supporter of Britain's Volunteer Reserve Forces, employing reservists for many years.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Scots legal reforms 'will block access to justice' says Unite

Plans which would allow banks and supermarkets to invest in legal practices will block access to justice, Unite has warned.

The Scottish government's planned Legal Services Bill would allow lawyers to set up practice with non-legal firms.

Unite said the proposals could lead to a system where legal services were provided on the basis of profit. Scottish ministers said the legislation will help Scotland's legal profession compete internationally. The concerns from Unite came as the Scottish Parliament justice committee continued its scrutiny of the bill.

In a submission to the committee, Unite said it would strongly oppose any plans which would affect the ability of working people and their families in Scotland to access legal services, which are mainly provided by solicitors and advocates.

"The provisions of the Legal Services Bill will create an open-door for third parties with only profit on their agenda to influence, shape and dominate our justice system," claimed Unite, the UK's biggest union.

Similar plans in England have been branded "Tesco law" - but Scottish ministers said this would not be the case in Scotland.
Consumer Focus Scotland, which is also giving evidence to the justice committee, welcomed the bill, saying there was a need to open up competition for legal services.

The legislation has also proposed a new regulatory framework for the legal profession.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Bullying 'rife' in Clergy says Unite.

Workplace bullying of the clergy has become "rife", according to Unite which says priests are being picked on by bishops and parishioners.

Unite has set up a hotline where the clergy can report abuse, and says it deals with up to 150 cases a year.

"Bishops have got a lot nastier", says the Reverend Gerry Barlow, chair of the faith workers sector of Unite.

Unite says the bullying frequently comes from superiors within the church who may be under financial pressure.

"A bullying case can go on for a long time", says Terry Young, a former minister who runs the helpline. "They're picked on for everything they do wrong, so in the end the person runs around terrified. You see these people unsupported, driven into depression and a nervous breakdown."

Mr Barlow said: "Bishops can treat people shamefully. The most common experience is a priest gets called in for a pastoral chat, to 'see how things are going', within half an hour he's telling you he's going to fire you or take your licence away".

Parishioners can also carry out the bullying, according to Unite, citing the case of a priest in rural Worcestershire who claims he was driven out by a campaign of hate.

The Reverend Mark Sharpe resigned in October as rector of Teme Valley South saying he was picked on by members of his community after he tried to tackle financial problems within the parish.

"It started with the tyres getting slashed, ended up with a dog mysteriously dying, the car being smeared with excrement, and broken glass across driveway. There was intimidation people swearing at you. A month ago I had the lights pulled off the car," Mr Sharpe said.

The Bishop of Worcester has refuted claims by Mr Sharpe that his parish was "toxic" calling the allegations "dreadful". The Diocese declined to comment further, pending a hearing to consider the allegations later this year.

When Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams was asked about the issue of bullying at a recent TUC conference, he admitted there was a problem. "The question of bullying, I'm glad you raise it because I think that's unfinished business for us and I'm very glad that it's flagged up," he said.

Unite says priests are vulnerable, because they are classed as self-employed office holders, which means they are exempt from the protection offered by employment law. This means they cannot claim unfair dismissal, or seek protection under health and safety laws.

Unite is lobbying for the government to change the law to give priests greater protection.

Unite's Doug Rooney Seeks "Copper bottomed guarantee" on nuclear jobs

Unite is pressing the government to extract guarantees on British jobs from the Westinghouse-led consortium, which wants to build more than £10bn of new nuclear reactors in Britain.

A joint delegation from Westinghouse and Shaw Group, the controversial US group recently appointed as lead contractor for the work, will fly to London next month to meet ministers from Lord Mandelson's business department and Ed Miliband's energy department.

The companies have promised that "up to 80%" of the contracts to supply reactor components will go to British companies.

But Unite National Officer and TUC president Dougie Rooney, said that the ministers should hold the companies, which require government approval to build the reactors, to their promise on British jobs.

"It's one thing to say it, it's another thing delivering on that promise," he said. "My concern is that given what has happened in the past and that Westinghouse and Shaw are sitting on a global monopoly to build that type of reactor, we have to have copper-bottomed guarantees about that being realised."

Shaw is best known in the UK as one of the main contractors to build Total's controversial Lindsey refinery and made 51 workers there redundant this year, which led to a series of wildcat walk-outs around the country over the use of foreign labour. There is the potential for 10,000 British manufacturing jobs to be created through the nuclear building programme.
Westinghouse announced that it had appointed Shaw to lead its new build programme in the UK on Christmas Eve. Shaw is partnered by British construction firm Laing O'Rourke, which Westinghouse said is consistent with its "buy where we build" approach to business.

Cameron's Promise On NHS Is "Two Faced" - Unite

Cameron’s promise on NHS is ‘two-faced’ says Unite

David Cameron’s pledge that the NHS will be his ‘number one priority’ is ‘two-faced’, Unite, the largest union in the country, has said. Unite assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail, said: ”The Tory party faces two-ways on the NHS.

”David Cameron offers warm words and policies for the NHS, but the chilling truth is that the highly influential Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan would like to dismantle the health service for the benefit of private healthcare companies.

“Daniel Hannan has made a career touring American TV studios telling audiences that he wouldn’t wish the NHS on anybody. He even said that the NHS was ‘a 60 year old mistake’, which is an affront to the hard working staff and the thousands of people who would not be alive today, but for the NHS.

”The chances of the NHS flourishing as a universal service free at the point of delivery for all those in need under the Tories is as remote as a heatwave in the next few days.

“30 years ago Margaret Thatcher also promised that the NHS was safe in her hands and what followed was a massive starvation of funds that was only reversed when the Labour government came to power in 1997

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Boris' Bad Fair Day

Bad Fare Day - If you live or work in London - you can help!

London mayor Boris Johnson has hit the travelling public in London with the biggest ever fare increase in real terms in Transport for London's history.

Some fares are increasing by 20%.

Unite is organising to leaflet at key transport hubs across London on 4th January.

Leaflet can be seen here: http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=5038

Help is needed to give out the leaflets at transport hubs on 4th January 2010.

If you can help please email info@progressivelondon.org.uk letting them know your local work or home area and the approximate time you can leaflet and they will send you the details of a station close where you can pick up and distribute the leaflets.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Guardian article - Unite's Doug Rooney says: "People want security and steady earnings"

According to the January 1st Guardian 2010 will be a "Year of industrial unrest"

Unite National Officer for the energy industry (and this years TUC President) has warned that jobs, training and opportunities are the key priorities for working people.

Guardian article:

Britain is ushering in the new year with the threat of widespread unrest as civil servants, tube drivers and rail workers are poised to ballot on strike action.
After a year of factory occupations, indefinite walkouts, postal misery and the debacle of the strike ballot by 12,000 British Airways cabin crew, there is a sense of heightening industrial militancy.
Now, relations between unions and management look likely to be further tested. The Public and Commercial Services union is set to ballot its 270,000 members this month, threatening disruption at jobcentres, revenue and customs, immigration, the coastguard and other bodies in a dispute over redundancy terms.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers is threatening to ballot 10,000 London Underground workers over pay. It is also locked in dispute with Network Rail over the future of 1,500 track maintenance jobs. The union has ordered a ballot in the new year for industrial action over compulsory redundancies. General secretary Bob Crow said job cuts were "a reckless gamble with rail safety which would create the perfect conditions for another Hatfield, Paddington, Potters Bar or Grayrigg disaster."
Meanwhile, 121,000 postal workers, who called off Christmas walkouts but whose strike mandate remains live, are continuing talks with Royal Mail over modernisation plans. As the year progresses, however, experts predict it will be the public sector that bears the jobs brunt.
"We ain't seen nothing yet in terms of the depth of public spending savings that need to be achieved," said John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI. "I think the period of maximum pain, in terms of public spending reduction, is still some way off. If there was a change in government, then changes in public spending are not going to happen immediately. And the current government is clearly nailing its flag to the mast of not cutting in a way that would put recovery at risk.
So the moment of maximum peril probably isn't 2010. It is rather more 2011. I think we'll see the biggest challenges with industrial relations at the point when public sector jobs are challenged."
He said there were differences between private sector culture, where many workplaces were not unionised and there was cooperative spirit over short-time working and pay freezes, and the public sector where "the response to a challenge tends to become adversarial".
Winter of Discontent comparisons, likening the wave of militancy to that of the late 70s and early 80s, are not an approriate analogy, according to Ed Sweeney, chairman of the conciliation service Acas.
Union membership stands at about 7m, half that of the 1980s, though three-fifths of public sector jobs are unionised. Manufacturing has declined, and with it union muscle. Indeed, Acas saw a small decrease last year in the number of disputes.
But the size of disputes and the numbers involved, has increased. Acas sees the public sector as the likely flashpoint. "We are getting ready for … potential for job losses, pay freezes and the impact that has on the temperature of employer/employee relations," said Sweeney.
Last year, wildcat strikes on construction and industrial sites were sparked by the hiring of foreign labour at the Lindsey oil refinery. In October workers rejected an offer from employers which they said did not stop them being undercut by cheaper – and often more skilled – foreign workers.
Dougie Rooney, energy national officer for the union Unite, said: "The problem of foreign labour has not been completely sorted. It's all about jobs, training and opportunities. Pay comes second. People want security and steady earnings."
With some £200bn of investment required to build energy infrastructure such as nuclear reactors and wind farms by 2020, the issue of foreign labour is unlikely to go away. In the pre-budget report this month, the Government announced more funding for training and internships, particularly for hi-tech manufacturers. But Rooney said that more needed to be done, and soon, to make sure that British workers have the right skills to benefit from new infrastructure projects