tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22854550619682555032024-03-06T20:01:00.737+00:00Workers Uniting Group Latest NewsAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.comBlogger743125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-41991010744004120742010-12-10T19:59:00.002+00:002010-12-10T20:09:54.711+00:00WORKERS UNITING GROUP - STATEMENTFollowing consultation with co-ordinators, activists and supporters it has been agreed that the Workers Uniting Group will be wound up at the end of December. <br /><br />As a progressive left organisation, many of the policies supported by the Workers Uniting Group are the policies of Unite the Union. <br /><br />It is the considered view that the work of the Workers Uniting Group has now ran its course. <br /><br />The members have spoken. Len McCluskey was elected by the membership as the new General Secretary by a considerable majority and he deserves and should receive the support of the whole of the union. <br /><br />Unite faces significant challenges: the fightback against the Con-Dem cuts in the UK and the appalling austerity measures being forced through in Ireland; the need to grow the union through organising and building strong workplace organisation; the need to win back the Labour Party for our members and to win local elections, elections in Scotland and Wales and the General Election and to continue the fight against global capital in the UK and Ireland and with our comrades in Workers Uniting - the USW.<br /><br />To win for our members, to campaign and fightback there is a need now to unify the entire union behind our newly elected General Secretary, Len McCluskey.<br /><br />To this end we will need one progressive organisation to ensure that Unite remains a left union and isn't hijacked by those who would seek to take the union to the right or to the extreme left.<br /><br />A number of comrades have indicated they would intend to support United Left, others have said they will personally support the General Secretary and unite behind him.<br /><br />It is clear that the problems Unite faces cannot be addressed by having opposing left groups with broadly similar policies.<br /><br />Therefore all Workers Uniting Supporters need to unite behind our new General Secretary and build unity for the future and in the best interests of the whole of Unite's membership. <br /><br />The Workers Uniting Group website will closed down in the next few weeks.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-29556043381607488992010-12-08T11:13:00.000+00:002010-12-08T11:14:44.610+00:00Unite up in arms over Bakkavör cutsUnite claims it is incompetence on behalf of international food company Bakkavör which is leading the firm to cut 170 jobs at its factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire.<br /><br />Bakkavör, an Icelandic company, announced this morning that following a consultation period it had decided to make 170 redundancies at its site in Bourne, near Spalding which are “essential in giving our business a future”. However, the firm said that by rearranging shift patterns and transferring some employees to other sites, it had managed to reduce its original reduction estimates from 375.<br /><br />Unite, though, was left furious at the announcement, insisting that only yesterday the company agreed to engage in further discussions to look at cost saving measures to save jobs.<br /><br />In addition, Bakkavör said it had improved its redundancy package and will not now be reducing pay for remaining employees, which Unite contests.<br /><br />"We are particularly angry on behalf of the workforce that management has unilaterally announced the consultation is over when we still have meetings planned to look at alternatives to some of the proposals,” said Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for food and drink.<br /><br />"Moreover, Bakkavör’s statement implies they are making very few changes but nothing could be further from the truth. They have savagely cut earnings by up to £105 per week and they have slashed holiday pay and other premia. Yet management are protected from these cuts; yes there will be some redundancies but managers' pay and conditions remain intact.<br /><br />"Bakkavör ought to be ashamed of themselves."<br /><br />She said “a catalogue of management incompetence over several years” includes failing to allow for foreign exchange fluctuations and ill conceived commissioning of new machinery which is costing the firm money.<br /><br />"They are not in a ‘make or break situation’ but are trying to terrify workers into accepting poverty pay,” she added.<br /><br />Unite has organised a protest against the cuts in Spalding town centre on Friday December 17.<br /><br />Bakkavör employs 20,000 people worldwide including 2,500 in the UK. There will be 700 remaining at the Bourne site, after these cuts, where the company makes salads, sandwiches, soups and sauces.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-61684208945868005732010-12-07T17:27:00.000+00:002010-12-07T17:29:02.585+00:00BA Cabin Crew Resume Talks This Week says Tony WoodleyUnite said it’s close to resuming talks to resolve a 22-month pay and staffing dispute as it prepares for a ballot on strike action in the new year.<br /><br />Negotiations should take place this week under the auspices of Britain’s state-funded Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, said Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of the Unite union, which represents the 11,000 flight attendants.<br /><br />“It’s right and proper that we get together and try and solve what is one of the most difficult disputes for many a year,” Woodley said today in a telephone interview.<br /><br />While British Airways and Unite have reached broad agreement on employment terms, the union wants concessions on the treatment of striking workers, including the immediate restoration of travel benefits suspended until 2013 and binding arbitration on all disciplinary cases related to the dispute.<br /><br />Unite will meanwhile ballot members over further action, with the intention of announcing the result as early as Jan. 14, according to a person familiar with the situation who declined to be identified because the plan hasn’t been made public.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-44055862877626757202010-12-07T17:25:00.001+00:002010-12-07T17:25:52.814+00:00Heinz workers at Wigan factory vote to strike over payUnite members at the Heinz Baked Beans factory in Wigan have voted to go on strike in a row over pay.<br /><br />Unite said its members backed industrial action by 9-1 in protest at a below inflation offer of 3.3%.<br /><br />About 1,200 people are employed at the Greater Manchester factory, which produces beans, soups, pasta meals and baby food.<br /><br />The union said it would hold a mass meeting on Saturday to decide its next move.<br /><br />National officer Jennie Formby said: "This ballot result reflects what our members feel about Heinz's current attitude.<br /><br />"Our members do not want to take strike action but have been left with no choice because they will not allow Heinz management to bully or fool its workforce into accepting its version of a 'fair' pay deal."<br /><br />She added: "Workers at the factory feel completely let down by Heinz management.<br /><br />"They want the opportunity to voice their anger at the way they are being treated and strike action will make the company listen."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-34653376985876921442010-12-04T09:06:00.002+00:002010-12-04T09:09:12.903+00:00Fred The Shred Gets Off - FSA Bottles It!The Financial Services Authority is facing criticism for closing its investigation into what went wrong at Royal Bank of Scotland without taking disciplinary action against any of the individuals involved, including the former chief executive Sir Fred "The Shred" Goodwin.<br /><br />Amid questions about why the regulator had appointed external advisers from PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct the 17-month review, Unite accused the City regulator of being unable to "hold the sector to account".<br /><br />Lord Oakeshott, a Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, was also tabling a question to demand a copy of the PwC review be placed in the parliamentary library after the City regulator said rules prevented it from making the report public. "This just won't wash," Oakeshott said.<br /><br />The FSA blamed "bad" decisions rather than dishonesty for the events that led to the £45bn taxpayer bailout of the bank. The review by PwC – whose role as an auditor to a number of banks is being investigated by various regulatory bodies – analysed the events that led to RBS's takeover of the Dutch bank ABN Amro as the credit crunch was beginning in late 2007. PwC also looked at rights issues conducted by the bank in 2008, which are the subject of legal action by some shareholders who are concerned they were misled by the bank.<br /><br />Rob MacGregor, national officer at the Unite union, described the conclusions as an outrage. "By failing to bring any formal charges against the RBS executives they have allowed some of the biggest villains of the financial crisis to go on enjoying their millionaire lifestyles whilst taxpayers experience cuts and staff face an insecure future," MacGregor said.<br /><br />The FSA insisted the review concluded that "bad decisions were not the result of a lack of integrity by any individual and we did not identify any instances of fraud or dishonest activity by RBS senior individuals or a failure of governance on the part of the board".<br /><br />The FSA insisted that PwC had been picked to conduct the review because it was not RBS's auditor. The regulator said it was prevented from publishing the PwC report by section 348 of the Financial Services and Markets Act.<br /><br />Oakeshott said: "You can't refuse to publish the report – redacted, if legally necessary – on the worst train-crash in British company history. How can we learn the lessons if we can't read the evidence?"<br /><br />The FSA warned that if former RBS directors reapplied to work in the City they could find their applications being barred or restricted to certain activities.<br /><br />The watchdog's supervisory investigations into other banks that failed during the crisis, such as HBOS and Bradford & Bingley, continue.<br /><br />RBS said: "RBS is wholly focused on our work to restructure the bank and rebuild value for shareholders. We welcome theAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-75151986079901046542010-12-03T07:27:00.001+00:002010-12-03T07:29:14.917+00:00Unite Proposes National Strike In irelandUnite has proposed a national strike to force the Irish Government to change its economic strategy.<br /><br />It is also urging unions to lead a campaign of civil disobedience which could involve refusal to pay service charges or any new water or property taxes introduced.<br /><br />Irish regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said the union would put proposals for a national strike to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the weeks ahead and would seek support from other unions.<br /><br />He suggested that such action could start with a half-day stoppage “and building on that to the sort of strike action that will affect the incoming government”.<br /><br />He said the country would soon be moving into a phase when political parties would be seeking support to form the next government. He said the key question was how to influence the next administration. He said he was convinced strike action had to be part of such a campaign.<br /><br />“We are absolutely convinced that marching in the streets for the rest of this year and into next year will not achieve the pressure that we need to put on those politicians. We are saying we need to look at the alternative which is taking strike action as part of the protest.”<br /><br />Unite’s proposals for a national strike came as it unveiled plans for a four-year €15 billion investment in the economy under what it called an alternative “people’s budget”. The money would come from current cash assets held by the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Pension Reserve Fund. Among the projects they earmarked for investment are broadband, water and waste networks, a preventive health initiative and education. The plan also includes proposals for an end to regressive tax incentives and calls for tax increases initially on higher earning groups.<br /><br />The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has already signalled that its focus following last Saturday’s march in Dublin will be on a campaign to oppose the Government’s move to cut the minimum wage.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Department of Finance said yesterday while there was no formal scheme to allow civil servants to take a half-day shopping leave at Christmas, it was the custom in some organisations to allow the time off to some restricted grades. It said that this dated back to a time when shop opening hours were limited.<br /><br />Earlier this week a member of staff in the Patents Office circulated an e-mail calling on all civil servants not to avail of this entitlement to Christmas shopping leave.<br /><br />The email said it would be unacceptable in the current climate and would lead to further criticism from the media. The Department of Finance said that it did not know how many staff availed of the Christmas shopping leave.<br /><br />Because it is not a formal arrangement, Christmas shopping leave does not feature in the reforms being proposed by management for the Civil Service under the Croke Park agreement.<br /><br />Yesterday, the head of the implementation body for the Croke Park deal, PJ Fitzpatrick, said he was surprised such a practice could still exist.<br /><br />In a separate move, the union representing lower-paid civil servants said it was not responsible for the row which has seen €20 million of electronic fingerprinting equipment unused for two years.<br /><br />The CPSU said the Attorney General had now backed its legal advice that its members in the Garda National Immigration Bureau were not by law entitled to act as immigration officers.<br /><br />The union said it had been informed by management that the equipment was to be used to track non-EU nationals making multiple applications in EU territories and to track international criminals using a link to Interpol data.<br /><br />It said it had been advised at the time that CPSU members would be required to use data collected from the machine to scan Interpol and Garda lists to check for criminal records.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-53867179240130261632010-12-02T19:03:00.002+00:002010-12-02T19:26:27.375+00:00Unions call for end to repression of unions in MexicoMexican trade unionist Juan Linares still jailed after two years; IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI call for global mobilization in February 2011 demanding an end to government attacks on Mexico's democratic trade unions.<br /><br />Ongoing abuses of trade union rights in Mexico will be highlighted on December 3, the day that marks the two-year anniversary of Juan Linares Montufar's arrest. Linares is a political prisoner, held illegally, without bond since his arrest. The sham charges against him all relate to the transfer of funds from a Trust created by his trade union, the National Union of Mine, Metal and Steel Workers (SNTMMSSRM) to the union. His detention is one part of the campaign of trade union intimidation and repression by the Mexican government.<br /><br />Juan Linares is the President of the Oversight and Justice Council of the SNTMMSSRM, also known as Los Mineros. The sham charges against him relate to a trust created in 1988 as part of negotiations around the sale of a number of state-owned mines to Germán Larrea, the current owner of mining giant Grupo México. As part of the privatisation negotiations, 5 per cent of the shares of the companies were to be placed in a trust for the benefit of the SNTMMSSRM. In a 1990 ruling, the First Commercial Court in Mexico City confirmed that the union was the beneficiary of the trust. Linares was one of three trustees named by the union to administer the trust. <br /><br />Los Mineros fought a 15-year legal and industrial action struggle to make the Larrea companies pay the agreed shares into the Trust. Agreement was reached on October 2, 2004, by which time the 5 per cent share was worth approximately US$55 million. In February 2005 the union decided to terminate the Trust and transfer the money to a bank account of the union.<br /><br />In 2006 the Federal Attorney General filed criminal charges against Linares, SNTMMSSRM General Secretary Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, and other union officials, in federal and state courts. All of the charges are based on a single argument: that the union did not have the right to terminate the trust because the trust existed for the benefit of the workers, not the union. The union officers reply that the transfer of the trust funds was perfectly legal under Mexican law; in addition to being a protected exercise of trade union autonomy under ILO Convention 87. So far, charges filed against Gómez in three state and two federal courts have been dismissed, as have two state charges against Linares. However, a federal charge against Linares is still being litigated, and the courts have denied him bail.<br /><br />Ironically, while the government claims that its prosecution is intended to force the union to pay the Grupo Mexico workers, its charges actually halted the payments. Prior to the filing of the criminal charges, the SNTMMSSRM had already distributed almost $21 million to the workers. But when the government filed charges, it also froze the union's bank accounts, halting the distribution process.<br /><br />Since his arrest, Linares has been held at the Reclusorio Norte prison in Mexico City. He receives regular visits from his family, other Mineros leaders, and international trade union delegations from around the world. To all his visitors, Linares has one message: "I could walk out of this jail tomorrow if I were willing to betray my union. But I will never do that."<br /><br />Juan Linares is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately.<br /><br />This demand is part of a global mobilization that is being planned to coincide with the five-year anniversary of the deadly accident at the Pasta de Conchos coal mine in Coahuila on 19 February 2006. The global days of action, calling for an end to government attacks on Mexico's democratic trade unions, will be led by affiliates of four Global Union Federations: the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), and UNI Global Union. For more information go to:Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-28507890636881639972010-12-02T18:48:00.002+00:002010-12-02T19:02:08.303+00:00German metalworkers to get 2011 increases earlySome 670,000 German metal and electronics workers to get 2011 pay rises early, reports IG Metall.<br /><br />GERMANY: In a sign that the economic crisis has waned, at least in Germany, IG Metall reported that companies employing 20 per cent of some total 3.4 million metal and electronics workers in the country to date have moved the scheduled 2011 wage increase up from April to February. Companies and their Works Councils including Audi AG, Bosch GmbH, Siemens, and Voith, the paper machine and engineering manufacturer, have agreed to pay the scheduled 2.7 per cent increase in February.<br /><br />Several more companies are expected to do the same in the coming weeks. The union said some 670,000 workers are now on schedule to get the raise in February. In collective agreements negotiated in February 2010, IG Metall agreed to a historic job preservation pact in exchange for two lump sum payments of €320 each in 2010 and early 2011.<br /><br />The 2011 percentage increase was scheduled for April 2011, but according to the agreement Works Councils were given the authority to negotiate the 2.7 per cent sum effective two months prior to April 2011, but no later than two months after that date. The 25-month agreement last year also mandates that there will be no operational redundancies before 30 June 2012.<br /><br />IG Metall credits the early raises to a strong economic recovery in the country.<br /><br />Additionally, Siemens, in appreciation to its global workforce of 400,000 for exemplary performance throughout the crisis, announced earlier in November that it would grant a total of US$430 million in a "one-time special bonus." The pay-out, to be made between December and January, will amount to about €1,000 per worker, with German workers getting the bonus in January and the 2.7 per cent increase the next month.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-33299475971634267292010-11-29T15:13:00.001+00:002010-11-29T15:13:59.194+00:00LATIN AMERICA 2010 THIS WEEKEND - REGISTER NOW AT WWW.LATINAMERICACONFERENCE.ORG.UKFrom VSC:<br /><br />Unite is amongst supporters of the annual Latin America Conference taking place this Saturday (December 4) at Congress House from 9.30am - 5.00pm.<br /> <br />Keynote speakers from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolviia, Honduras and Ecuador will address this must-attend event.<br /> <br />Please find below an article by former MP Colin Burgon - Vice-Chair of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign - on why at this time of economic crisis, our solidarity with progressives in Latin America is more important than ever.<br /> <br />Mass movements show the alternative to failed neo-liberalism<br /><br />The recent election in Brazil of Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ Party in the second round of the presidential elections was welcomed by those on the left all over the world<br />by Colin Burgon<br /> <br />Friday, November 26th, 2010 - http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2010/11/mass-movements-show-the-alternative-to-failed-neo-liberalism/<br /> <br />The recent election in Brazil of Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ Party in the second round of the presidential elections was welcomed by those on the left all over the world.<br />Ms Rousseff won by 56 per cent to 44 per cent, with 55,752,483 votes, and will take office on January 1 as the first woman president of the country. Elections to Congress – and state legislatures – also produced welcome outcomes for the PT which, along with coalition allies, increased their representation and for the first time took control of the Senate.<br />This is the case not only in Brazil but elsewhere in the continent. There has been a steadying of support for the progressive coalition in Argentina.<br />In Bolivia, the governing Movement Towards Socialism led by Evo Morales won again in April’s regional elections.<br />And in Venezuela’s National Assembly elections while – against a backdrop of 12 years in power, worldwide economic recession and emboldened opposition – President Hugo Chávez’ PSUV did not poll as well as in some previous elections, it remained the party with the biggest support and a majority of seats.<br />Indeed, it was with the election of Hugo Chávez in 1998 that the response to neo-liberalism was unleashed, subsequently creating a “pink tide” of governments throughout the region.<br />Around the world, the Washington consensus experiment failed the majority of people and this was especially clear in Latin America, where millions were thrown into poverty.<br />First, the Chávez government, and then others, put forward a different model, combining economic interventionism, control of natural resources and redistribution to improve people’s lives.<br />These changes were deeply resented by the previous ruling elites in those countries and by those forces internationally that support, and benefit from, neo-liberalism.<br />In 2009 and 2010, there have been signs that such forces are fighting back. In particular, the successful military coup against Honduras’ elected President Manuel Zelaya was a stark warning that social progress should not be taken for granted.<br />Forces hostile to the progressive government of Rafael Correa in Ecuador kidnapped and tried to oust (and kill) the president through a “police revolt” in September.<br />However, this time – as in Venezuela in 2002 – the plotters were not successful, with the people going onto the streets to demand the return of their president and sections of the army ensuring his safe release.<br />Although, when elected, Barack Obama professed the need for “a new start” to relations the United States has with Latin America, the actions of the US military indicate no clear break from the policies of the George W Bush years, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in particular hostile to the Chávez government.<br />The danger to progress in the region is therefore very real. The aforementioned coups also need to be seen against the backdrop of a new US militarisation of the region, including the resurrection of the US military Fourth Fleet.<br />In a time of global economic crisis, we should learn from the mass movements in Latin America that there is an alternative to neo-liberalism and develop practical ways of supporting them.<br /> <br />* Colin Burgon is chair of Labour Friends of Venezuela and vice-chair of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign. He is speaking at the Latin America 2010 conference at Congress House on December 4, which Tribune is supporting. For more information and online registration: www.latinamericaconference.org.ukAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-58526457438985871712010-11-27T17:42:00.000+00:002010-11-27T17:43:11.320+00:00Len McCluskey: Government 'wrecking UK'The government has been accused of taking a "wrecking ball" to the country by its cuts in public spending.<br />Len McCluskey, newly elected leader of the Unite union accused the government of going "far beyond" what was needed to rebalance the economy.<br /><br />He told a conference in London organised by the Coalition of Resistance: "The anger that is unfurling across our country is not mindless.<br /><br />"It is the legitimate expression of a people who feel that this government is taking a wrecking ball to our nation, going far beyond what is needed rebalance our books.<br /><br />"They are using a global financial crisis to terrify the citizens of this country into meek acceptance of a raid on our schools, hospitals, services, jobs - the very fundamentals of our communities built up over 60 years of our tax and toil."<br /><br />Len McCluskey said communities would not allow the government to "hurl" the country back to the "wasted years" of unemployment and "destroyed" communities he said were the hallmark of the Thatcher years.<br /><br />"We know there is an alternative, based on growth and tax justice, to the vandalism they are hell-bent on pursuing.<br /><br />"In streets, schools, workplaces, universities and town halls up and down our country we will stand together against the senseless hardship they will unleash. We will not let them break Britain.<br /><br />"And if this government ignores our alliance, then they will, deservedly, be run out of office."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-66336449807500244212010-11-26T12:45:00.000+00:002010-11-26T12:46:09.246+00:00Linamar car plant in Swansea closing at end of weekTwo hundred employees at a car components factory near Swansea have been told it will shut this week, a union says.<br /><br />North American-based Linamar announced in July it planned to close the plant.<br /><br />It said the decision followed an "extensive review" which found "no viable future for the operation".<br /><br />Unite said workers were "devastated" and condemned management of the plant once owned by Ford.<br /><br />Unite National officer Roger Maddison said: "This is a sad time for our members at Linamar, who are devastated as the plant in Swansea closes for business this week.<br /><br />"It beggars belief that Linamar can find millions of pounds to close the plant in Swansea and move work to Mexico, yet it could not find that same money to invest in a highly-skilled and committed workforce.<br /><br />"Our members have paid the ultimate price by being dumped on to the industrial scrap heap just for defending the pay they had fought for over the 40 years the plants has been open."<br /><br />The Swansea plant opened in the 1960s and was formerly owned by Ford and Visteon before being acquired by the Linamar Corporation in 2008.<br /><br />At that time it employed over 350 people.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-16123684440244674562010-11-25T07:55:00.000+00:002010-11-25T07:56:18.040+00:00Unite - Don't Break Britain Campaign To Be LaunchedUnite’s new leader pledges to mobilise members against misery of a Cameron Christmas<br /><br />Len McCluskey has warned that thousands of families face a miserable Christmas and painful new year thanks to the coalition government.<br /><br />Len McCluskey, who earlier today was ratified as the first solo general secretary of Unite by the union’s executive, reiterated his determination to expose the lies behind the coalition government’s justification for its savage assault on the quality of national life.<br /><br />Announcing Unite’s campaign to mobilise its 1.5 million members and their families in defence of their communities – titled Don’t Break Britain – Len McCluskey said: “Working people are under massive attack now. This government is expecting them to pay, through job losses and spending cuts, for the crisis made in the City. Resisting that assault must be priority number one for any trade union leader. What Thatcher tried to do to the unions, the Con-Dems are trying to do to the welfare state – erase it from the nation’s life.<br /><br />“Britain’s first Cameron Christmas is going to be a time of bleak uncertainty for millions of people – not just those who work in the public sector, but anyone in any way dependent on them. Food, fuel and essentials are all rising. VAT will jump in January but wages are frozen. For ordinary people, this is not a ’good recession’, as some Tory peers would have it, but a miserable and frightening time. Only the bankers with their bonuses will be celebrating.<br /><br />“That is why at the start of 2011, Unite will be launching its Don’t Break Britain campaign aimed at uniting everyone fighting to maintain the elements of a fair society and cohesive community life in the face of this onslaught.<br /><br />“We will campaign alongside those who cannot take strike action to save their services – those dependent on benefits, people on NHS waiting lists, school children deprived of sports facilities, pensioners anxious about fuel bills.<br /><br />“Don’t Break Britain will be about our union with its roots in the communities placing itself at the heart of the growing movement of resistance to the cuts.”<br /><br />Len McCluskey added that he believed strike action to defend jobs and services will become more likely as anger deepens over the government’s actions:<br /><br />“Unite will support any of its members that wish to take industrial action to save the one million jobs at threat across the public sector and to protect their pay and conditions. Indeed, I believe such action will likely prove inevitable.”<br /><br />Further, Len reiterated his full support for a new beginning for the Labour party: “I would also like to make clear straight away my full support for the Labour party and for Ed Miliband’s leadership of it. I believe Unite members want and expect Labour to unite behind Ed, not to listen to the Blairite undead trying to drag Labour back to a failed past.<br /><br />“Our duty now is to work might and main to defeat the Tories and Lib Dems at the local elections next May and at the next general election.”Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-34710768800323570842010-11-23T20:59:00.000+00:002010-11-23T21:00:48.739+00:00Unite slams government migration cap as harming IT workersUnite has reacted angrily to the government's decision to exclude intra-company transfers from its migration cap policy announced today, believing that it is already having a detrimental effect on the UK workforce, especially IT staff.<br /><br />The introduction of a salary threshold of £40,000 for intra-company transfers of more than a year will lead to employers manipulating the system by transferring workers from outside the UK for less than a year, Unite said.<br /><br /><br />Employers can claim accommodation allowances of up to 30 per cent of the salary, or 40 per cent if the certificate of sponsorship is under 12 months. Pay and allowances are not taxed if the migrant worker is temporarily transferred for under two years.<br /><br />This subsidy could act as an incentive to undercut domestic pay rates, Unite claimed. A resident worker earning £35,000, for example, could end up paying £10,000 more in tax payments than a similar migrant worker on an intra-company transfer visa.<br /><br />Excluding intra-company transfers from the migration numbers is contrary to advice from the Migration Advisory Committee, which released a report last week highlighting the potential problems.<br /><br />Businesses could abuse the system by manipulating tax and accommodation allowances to undercut UK resident workers, according to Peter Skyte, Unite national officer.<br /><br />"The government has spectacularly squandered the opportunity to deal with misuse and abuse of the intra-company transfer scheme in its migration cap announcement in the face of largely empty threats by big business to withdraw investment from the UK," he said.<br /><br />Skyte added that the government has also failed to stimulate job opportunities to reduce high unemployment among skilled computer science graduates.<br /><br />"[Instead it has] provided employers with greater incentives to source labour from the domestic market as envisaged in its original consultation on the migration cap," he argued.<br /><br />Anne Swain, chief executive of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), welcomed the government's "tightening up" of the rules on intra-company transfers but questioned whether imposing a £40,000 minimum salary limit would be effective.<br /><br />“We will be seeking clarity from the government on how the £40,000 minimum will be reviewed," she added.<br /><br />“About 80 per cent of non-EU IT workers come to the UK on intra-company transfers. The cap won’t significantly reduce that influx."<br /><br />Swain called for greater transparency in the current immigration system detailing the pay and conditions of workers entering the UK on intra-company transfers.<br /><br />“The cap is a blunt tool which could do more damage than good. The vast majority of foreign workers arriving in the UK are EU nationals who won’t be affected by the cap,” she explained.<br /><br />“Worries over immigration centre on low skilled workers being undercut, so capping the flow of highly skilled workers seems a strange policy.”<br /><br />She warned that by imposing an inflexible cap, the government "could be damaging high value sectors of the economy where skills shortages can hinder growth”.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-11226908752073730382010-11-23T20:57:00.001+00:002010-11-23T20:59:00.216+00:00Bradford City Council Send 10,000 Redundancy NoticesUnite officials have expressed fury at the latest threat to thousands of council workers' jobs, warning that Christmas was being "ruined" by the Government's spending cuts.<br /><br />Unite said that Bradford City Council has put thousands of workers at risk of redundancy under plans to axe a quarter of its workforce.<br /><br />Letters have been issued to its entire workforce placing them at risk of redundancy, with the council planning to lose 2,000 jobs, said Unite.<br /><br />The union demanded that the council retracts the notice and plans to hold a meeting with its members to discuss the next steps to oppose the threat to jobs.<br /><br />Regional officer Ray Jones said: "This is a callous and totally unwarranted act by the council. The needless distress caused to at least 10,000 workers so close to Christmas is simply unacceptable and Unite is demanding that the council retracts the letter immediately.<br /><br />"It is bad enough that the council intends to make 2,000 staff redundant but it has gone even further and ruined Christmas for its entire workforce who now don't know whether they have a job in the New Year or not.<br /><br />"While the blame for this attack on public sector workers quite firmly lies at the Government's door, the council's approach has only made matters worse. Unite will meet with its members shortly to discuss the next steps to oppose the council's actions."<br /><br />Unison said several councils in the North West, including Bury, East Cheshire, Cumbria, Sefton and Knowsley had warned of a total of 4,500 job losses as they look to make millions of pounds worth of savings.<br /><br />"It is a very worrying time for our members and for the crucial services they provide," said a spokesman.<br /><br />The GMB union said last week that almost 40,000 jobs had been threatened with the axe at around 30 local authorities in recent weeks.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-48486725290924507762010-11-23T20:55:00.002+00:002010-11-23T20:56:33.719+00:00BA Ratchet Up Stakes By Suspending Unite Member For Organising Christmas CollectionFrom the Guardian:<br /><br />"BA crew step nearer strike vote after suspension over Christmas collection<br /><br />Union's 'dismay and anger' after woman is sent home for collecting money for sacked and suspended colleagues<br /><br />Unite has warned that the suspension is likely to worsen its dispute with BA. But the timetable of any strike ballot makes industrial action over Christmas unlikely. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA<br />The Unite trade union has moved closer to calling a strike ballot among British Airways cabin crew after expressing its "dismay and anger" over the suspension of an employee for holding a Christmas collection for sacked and suspended colleagues.<br /><br />Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said the suspension of Andrea Molton would worsen the dispute if she is not reinstated. In a letter to BA's director of people, Tony McCarthy, Woodley said: "I am urging you to intervene to lift Andrea's suspension immediately, failing which the consequences will rest entirely with management."<br /><br />Unite insiders said the suspension increased the likelihood of a strike vote before Christmas. However, Unite must give seven days notice before holding a ballot, which would normally be expected to last a month - meaning that industrial action is likely to miss Christmas.<br /><br />The year-long dispute between BA and Unite is at an impasse after Tony Woodley said last week that he could no longer recommend a BA peace offer amid resistance from Unite's two cabin crew branches. So far the dispute has seen the sacking of 16 staff and the suspension of a further 58 , though a number of those suspended have returned to work. A BA spokesman said "current" suspensions applied to 12 staff.<br /><br />Referring to the Molton case, the spokesman added: "A member of cabin crew has been suspended following an allegation of bullying and harassment. The company's disciplinary process has been in place for many years and was agreed with all of its unions, including Unite. As a responsible company, we would not divulge details of individual cases."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-33095509590013815372010-11-21T16:36:00.002+00:002010-11-21T16:57:03.473+00:00Len McCluskey Elected Next Unite General SecretaryUnite Assistant General Secretary Len McCluskey has been elected by Unite members to be the next General Secretary of the union.<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11805884<br /><br />The Workers Uniting Group supported Les Bayliss in the election. Les Bayliss has expressed his disappointment at the result and has thanked those supporters, members, activists and officials who supported him during the campaign.<br /><br />The membership have spoken and have made a clear decision. The Workers Uniting Group congratulates Len McCluskey on his election and supports the decision of the membership.<br /><br />Unite, like all unions faces major problems - not least the massive cuts in public services by the ConDem Government and on-going attacks on our members through anti-union legislation and the need to win back the Labour Party.<br /><br />There is a need to unify Unite to defend members across the UK and Ireland and realise the unions full potential.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-46098999994206446292010-11-19T21:24:00.002+00:002010-11-19T21:28:14.089+00:00Tony Woodley - Young Talking "Claptrap"Lord Young Government Special advisor was forced to resign today after telling the UK population - we have never had it so good and the we were in a "so-called recession".<br /><br />Unite had this statement out by 9.30am and by mid afternoon Young was gone. <br /><br />"Claptrap shows government out of touch, says Woodley<br /><br />Responding to Lord Young's comments (November 18th) that British people have "never had it so good" during this "so-called recession", Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said:<br /><br />"Lord Young has let the mask slip. His Thatcherite claptrap shows that this county has passed into the hands of an out-of-touch, unaccountable elite. But Lord Young has done the people of this county a favour - now we know exactly what this government thinks of them.<br /><br />"The plain truth is this cabinet of millionaires is out of touch with the rising cost of living, frozen wages and the terror ordinary people have that their jobs will disappear as they're sacrificed to fulfil this government's goal of a low wage, broken state privatised Britain."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-33252715277335113252010-11-17T19:49:00.001+00:002010-11-17T19:50:45.592+00:00Norwood staff to protest over pay cuts prompted by government austerityA number of care staff at Norwood are due to protest today over pay cuts as Unite claims the charity is jumping the gun on local government funding cuts. <br /><br />Some staff from Norwood will meet this afternoon at the Norwood Ravenswood village in Berkshire to demonstrate over pay cuts which Unite the union expects could be as high as 20 per cent. <br /><br />Jamie Major, Unite officer, said that the charity’s plans to implement the cuts in one hit were “simply not acceptable” and would force staff to leave in search for better paid work. The union has also accused the charity of making panic cuts ahead of a predicted drop in local government funding. <br /><br />“Local authority spending has only been cut by 7.1 per cent this year. Even if this 7.1 per cent cost saving were passed on in full by every authority that Norwood receives statutory funding from, it would only be a £950,000 shortfall, and not the £2.7m Norwood has predicted. This does not even take into account the £2bn extra that government has just announced for the social care sector,” he said. <br /><br />“Norwood has admitted that it does not even know the outcome of this year’s funding negotiations with the various local authorities. It is surprising that it intends to make cuts based on the totally unknown figures for next year, the year after that and the year after that. The management is jumping the gun.<br /><br /> <br />“We accept that in the current economic climate savings need to be made. All we are asking for those savings be rational and considered taking each year at a time.”<br /><br />Norwood has responded to today's planned action, with chief executive Norma Brier saying that she understands the concern of employees about the proposed changes but that not acting “would put at risk the future of Norwood and all the people who depend on us for support”. <br /><br />“These proposals are a consequence of national economic events beyond our control, and the subsequent effects upon Norwood of cuts in local authority budgets,” she said. <br /><br />“We deeply regret having to propose reductions in salaries. We have no choice but to bring our historically above average pay rates for frontline staff into line with those of other social care providers.”<br /><br />The charity denied claims that the salary cuts were unfair, and emphasised that even after cuts Norwood salaries will still be higher than many of its main competitors. <br /><br />Norwood also said that if negotiations with local authorities result in better than feared outcomes, it intends to reflect that in salary negotiations. <br /><br />A final pay settlement is due in January.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-26307040904609286102010-11-17T19:17:00.001+00:002010-11-17T19:17:39.100+00:00Steelworkers Dispute With Sears In CanadaUnion steps up fight against retail chain<br /><br />US union United Steelworkers (USW) is ramping up a campaign in support of its members who have been locked out by shopping and warehousing giant Sears.<br /><br />Some 500 members of the USW who work at the company's warehouse in Vaughan, in Canada's Ontario province, have been locked out since April 1.<br /><br />In the run-up to Christmas the union is running a Don't Shop At Sears campaign with leafleting at shops across the country, phone messages and radio advertising.<br /><br />The USW intends to hit the company's key markets and extend the boycott to include Sears Vacations and the Sears Card, which charges an exorbitant 29.9 per cent interest rate.<br /><br />Prior to the biggest shopping day of the year - November 26 is known in the US as "Black Friday" - the union will send an automated "Don't Shop At Sears" phone message to the households of its members and their families.<br /><br />Sears has demanded that working conditions including pensions, health care benefits and holiday entitlements be replaced at management's discretion.<br /><br />The firm walked away from negotiations on March 23.<br /><br />Bosses then brought in scabs to take the jobs of the union members who had been locked out.<br /><br />Sears has even hired security guards to ferry scabs across the picket line at the warehouse.<br /><br />USW's Ontario director Wayne Fraser said: "Sears has frozen out its own hard-working employees and their families.<br /><br />"We've had great feedback about our publicity campaign and now we're going to ramp it up. Consumers deserve to know what is going on so they can choose where to shop - and where not to."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-83797509940487344052010-11-17T19:10:00.001+00:002010-11-17T19:10:34.838+00:00Unite Raises Fears Over Potential Sale Of E.ON's UK Electricity Distribution BusinessUnite fears that E.ON is planning to sell its UK electricity distribution business, leaving 1,000 workers and the second largest distribution network in the UK exposed to potential buyers, who may put profits before people, pensions and the national interest. <br /><br />E.ON intends to divest some of its UK assets to reduce its levels of debt. Unite believes the distribution business is the most likely asset to be divested. The union is demanding to have oversight over any potential bidders to ensure the business is not sold to a bad purchaser, putting the network, jobs and pensions at risk.<br /><br /><br />Dougie Rooney, Unite National Officer for energy said: "We believe there is a strong likelihood that E.ON will sell its UK electricity distribution business leaving the network, jobs and pensions exposed to potential buyers seeking to put short term profits first.<br /><br />"The UK's second largest electricity distribution network is too important to be sold to the wrong bidder. Unite is demanding oversight of any bids should E.ON decide to sell the business. We also believe the UK government should take an active interest in the event of a sale, for the sake of the nation's energy needs."<br /><br />EDF recently sold its UK distribution business, the UK's biggest, to Hong Kong based infrastructure fund, Cheung Kong Investments (CKI). Unite believes CKI's bid represented the best offer, but the union had concerns over the other bidders.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-35363719218406014732010-11-16T20:08:00.001+00:002010-11-16T20:10:07.855+00:00Legal victory in war against blacklistingUnite has hailed a landmark legal victory today by a member in the fight against blacklisting.<br /><br />An employment tribunal sitting last week at Ashford, Kent, found that major construction contractor CB&I was guilty of blacklisting Phil Willis due to his union activism.<br /><br />The case is directly linked to the seizure in 2009 by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) of a blacklist run by the Consulting Association.<br /><br />The list was subscribed to by over 40 construction firms and details of over 3,000 workers were held on the database, which the firms used to weed out union activists.<br /><br />Mr Willis submitted an application to CB&I for work as a steel erector on the Isle of Grain project in 2007. Although his application was acknowledged, he was not contacted again.<br /><br />Following the raid by the ICO Mr Willis obtained a copy of his blacklist file which contained information about his trade union activity. He brought his case under section 137 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.<br /><br />Speaking after the verdict Mr Willis said: "We are beside ourselves with delight.<br /><br />"The judgement was absolutely damning against CB&I, so much so that it reduced us to tears. It was such a great victory for us and for all those who will eventually follow in our footsteps."<br /><br />Unite assistant general secretary Les Bayliss said: "This is a significant milestone but we believe the law should go further.<br /><br />"Unite will be campaigning to strengthen the law on blacklisting to ensure employers do not even contemplate blacklisting trade union members."<br /><br />Unite's national officer for construction Tom Hardacre said: "It is the first successful case against a major construction company but it will not be the last. The union is currently providing legal support to a number of workers who believe they have been blacklisted.<br /><br />"Too many construction workers have suffered victimisation at the hands of unscrupulous employers. Unite intends to use the full force of the law to hold firms to account for systematically ruining people's livelihoods just because a few brave men were prepared to stand up for the rights of their fellow work colleagues."Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-56486821129075854132010-11-16T20:06:00.001+00:002010-11-16T20:07:57.129+00:00BA Cabin Crew - Latest NewsUnite has said that said the BA management's last offer in the year-long dispute could not be recommended to members.<br /><br />"I am therefore contacting the company with a view to reopening discussions to seek to achieve a recommendable settlement to be put to cabin crew," Tony Woodley, Unite's joint-general secretary, said.<br /><br />A planned ballot of staff on the offer was suspended last week because a number of cabin crew representatives felt they could not recommend it, a union spokeswoman said.<br /><br />The dispute, originally centred on cuts to pay and staffing levels, has brought strikes costing the airline 150 million pounds <br /><br />BA had last month described the offer, which had been based on previous proposals, the details of which have not been made public, as fair.<br /><br />The head of Unite's cabin crew branch BASSA had told members in an email that BA had made enough changes to an earlier offer to warrant a ballot to see if it was acceptable.<br /><br />But in an apparent turnaround the union spokeswoman said there were now problems in its "totality".<br /><br /><br /><br />A key sticking point in resolving the dispute has been the airline's decision to remove staff travel perks for cabin crew who took part in the strikes.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-8775213810236550502010-11-15T11:24:00.005+00:002010-11-15T11:42:18.153+00:00A Message From Les BaylissThe following message has been sent out by Les Bayliss.<br /><br />"As the ballot for the leadership of Unite closes this week, Friday 19th, I am taking an opportunity to thank all of my supporters across the union for their encouragement, assistance and steadfast support over the past months.<br /><br />This election has helped focus on the real issues facing Unite members, their families and our union.<br /><br />The policies I have discussed with thousands of members have set the agenda in the election - and have found widespread support among our members.<br /><br />With only a few days to go it is worth remembering the policies I have consistently advocated:<br /><br />Better Support For Members: The policy of establishing a 24-hour, 7-day a week contact centre to help members when they need it has found universal approval – so much so that one candidate, belatedly and without planning and knowledge, latched on to it and now includes it as one of his policies.<br /><br />Campaign Against The Cuts: I have argued from day one about building a massive campaign to oppose and fight the Con-Dem cuts, working with community groups and supporters and not muscling in on their campaigns or proposing knee jerk calls for strikes that won’t deliver. We have to "box clever" and build the widest support possible for the biggest demonstration the country has seen on March 26th 2011, to defend our members from the disaster we face.<br /><br />Industrial support for members: I intend to ensure we win disputes with employers by strategic planning and not letting employers and the media pick our disputes. I have described the leadership of the BA Cabin Crew Dispute as “disastrous”. I have been attacked and smeared for doing so, with sideswipes that I don’t have the industrial experience to negotiate with employers such as Willie Walsh. So where are we now? Despite Unite recommending the latest BA deal (as the “best available”) and ballot our members – the ballot is now halted - we are up a blind alley with no reverse gear. (See http://uniteba.com/LATESTNEWSUPDATES.html).<br /><br />Reclaim the Labour Party: I was the first candidate to publically welcome Ed Miliband’s election as Labour Party leader and recognise the part Unite played in his election. I have indicated that I will work with the Labour leadership to win the Party back for ordinary working people. I will do this by ensuring that we get Labour candidates and MPs who support and campaign for Unite policies.<br /><br />Lay Member Control: I will ensure that the control of Unite stays in the hands of our members through elected reps at all levels and that the union remains based on branches, workplaces, chapels, sectors, regions and equality structures – NOT small cliques of people who represent only themselves and who are unaccountable.<br /><br />I intend to unify our union; leading from the front, listening to members and our reps. I will introduce strategic planning, modern communications and policies that will grow the union as well as providing better training and education for reps<br /><br />I will balance the books and ensure we have a union fit for purpose in the world of work in the 21st Century.<br /><br />In these last few days if you have not already voted, or know Unite members who have not cast their vote – think of the future – Vote for Les Bayliss.<br /><br />Les Bayliss<br /><br />www.les4gs.orgAdministratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-76093621423650306622010-11-11T21:06:00.002+00:002010-11-11T21:09:07.345+00:00BA Cabin Crew LatestUnite halts ballot over BA offer<br /><br />Unite has suspended the ballot of Cabin Crew members.<br /><br />The union had been due to ask 11,000 cabin crew members to vote on whether they wanted to accept the proposed deal, but the Bassa Branch of Unite decided earlier this week it could not support recommending the offer.<br /><br />Tony Woodley, Unite’s joint general secretary, said any sense that the offer was being presented to cabin crew over the heads of “unwilling representatives” would be damaging to the union.<br /><br />“Under these circumstances I have suspended the ballot on the offer and will meet with all our cabin crew representatives as a matter of urgency to consider the next steps,” he said.<br /><br />Bassa objected to clauses in the deal, including one requiring the union to drop all outstanding legal claims arising from the dispute.<br /><br />The cabin crew branch will now press for another strike ballot.<br /><br />One option is to put the offer to members without recommendation in a consultative ballot, and if it is rejected then hold a strike ballot.Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2285455061968255503.post-52490397395708561352010-11-11T21:03:00.001+00:002010-11-11T21:05:04.573+00:00Goldman caterer is accused of 'discrimination'Unite has called on Goldman Sachs to intervene in a furious row with its caterers over allegations of racism. The union had planned to picket the investment bank's Fleet Street headquarters and leaflet its highly paid staff over the row, involving the sacking of a long-time worker for Aramark, which handles catering at the bank's plush art deco offices.<br /><br />The protest was postponed after Aramark agreed to send a director to discuss the matter with the union. But a Unite spokeswoman said that this did not mean that it had been called off. Goldman declined to comment while the discussions were taking place.<br /><br />However, Unite officer Dave Turnbull said prior to the talks: "Unite is calling on Goldman Sachs to investigate what we believe to be an act of victimisation in retaliation for our member speaking out about potential ongoing discrimination against black and ethnic minority workers since Aramark took over the Goldman Sachs Contract in September 2008.<br /><br />"Goldman Sachs must intervene as their contractor has failed to apply the standards it sets for its own employees in terms of equality and diversity. Goldman Sachs must conduct its own investigation into this potential act of unlawful victimisation on its premises, as well as into the overall running of the catering contract."<br /><br />The spectre of Goldman being dragged into such a dispute will come as an embarrassment to a global organisation that has made great play about its diversity programmes.<br /><br />Unite yesterday released the results of racial discrimination questionnaires submitted by several Unite members at the bank which it claimed raised "serious concerns" about potential discrimination by Aramark. Issues highlighted included: a number of black workers having been made redundant since Aramark took over the contract and subsequently told that no alternative positions were available to them when the total number of workers employed in the unit increased by from 194 to 219. Unite said that during the same period the total number of ethnic minority workers decreased from 94 to 88 while the number of white workers has increased from 100 to 131.<br /><br />The union added that since taking over the contract Aramark "have engaged 52 new starters from ethnic minority backgrounds and 138 white workers. To maintain the balance of diversity prevalent when they took over the contract, the proportion of new starters should have been 91 ethnic minority workers to 99 white workers. And of 32 managerial positions in the unit, 29 are held by white employees and only 3 by ethnic minority staff."<br /><br />Aramark said in a statement that it had agreed to "further discussions" with Unite "in order to resolve the matter as quickly as possible".Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099423577295386131noreply@blogger.com0