Workers Uniting Group Latest News

WORKERS UNITING GROUP - STATEMENT

2010-12-10T19:59:00.002Z

Following 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.

As a progressive left organisation, many of the policies supported by the Workers Uniting Group are the policies of Unite the Union.

It is the considered view that the work of the Workers Uniting Group has now ran its course.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It is clear that the problems Unite faces cannot be addressed by having opposing left groups with broadly similar policies.

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.

The Workers Uniting Group website will closed down in the next few weeks.

Unite up in arms over Bakkavör cuts

2010-12-08T11:13:00.000Z

Unite 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.

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.

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.

In addition, Bakkavör said it had improved its redundancy package and will not now be reducing pay for remaining employees, which Unite contests.

"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.

"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.

"Bakkavör ought to be ashamed of themselves."

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.

"They are not in a ‘make or break situation’ but are trying to terrify workers into accepting poverty pay,” she added.

Unite has organised a protest against the cuts in Spalding town centre on Friday December 17.

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.

BA Cabin Crew Resume Talks This Week says Tony Woodley

2010-12-07T17:27:00.000Z

Unite 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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

Heinz workers at Wigan factory vote to strike over pay

2010-12-07T17:25:00.001Z

Unite members at the Heinz Baked Beans factory in Wigan have voted to go on strike in a row over pay.

Unite said its members backed industrial action by 9-1 in protest at a below inflation offer of 3.3%.

About 1,200 people are employed at the Greater Manchester factory, which produces beans, soups, pasta meals and baby food.

The union said it would hold a mass meeting on Saturday to decide its next move.

National officer Jennie Formby said: "This ballot result reflects what our members feel about Heinz's current attitude.

"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."

She added: "Workers at the factory feel completely let down by Heinz management.

"They want the opportunity to voice their anger at the way they are being treated and strike action will make the company listen."

Fred The Shred Gets Off - FSA Bottles It!

2010-12-04T09:06:00.002Z

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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?"

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.

The watchdog's supervisory investigations into other banks that failed during the crisis, such as HBOS and Bradford & Bingley, continue.

RBS said: "RBS is wholly focused on our work to restructure the bank and rebuild value for shareholders. We welcome the

Unite Proposes National Strike In ireland

2010-12-03T07:27:00.001Z

Unite has proposed a national strike to force the Irish Government to change its economic strategy.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yesterday, the head of the implementation body for the Croke Park deal, PJ Fitzpatrick, said he was surprised such a practice could still exist.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Unions call for end to repression of unions in Mexico

2010-12-02T19:03:00.002Z

Mexican 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Juan Linares is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately.

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:

German metalworkers to get 2011 increases early

2010-12-02T18:48:00.002Z

Some 670,000 German metal and electronics workers to get 2011 pay rises early, reports IG Metall.

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.

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.

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.

IG Metall credits the early raises to a strong economic recovery in the country.

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.

LATIN AMERICA 2010 THIS WEEKEND - REGISTER NOW AT WWW.LATINAMERICACONFERENCE.ORG.UK

2010-11-29T15:13:00.001Z

From VSC:

Unite is amongst supporters of the annual Latin America Conference taking place this Saturday (December 4) at Congress House from 9.30am - 5.00pm.

Keynote speakers from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Bolviia, Honduras and Ecuador will address this must-attend event.

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.

Mass movements show the alternative to failed neo-liberalism

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
by Colin Burgon

Friday, November 26th, 2010 - http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2010/11/mass-movements-show-the-alternative-to-failed-neo-liberalism/

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.
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.
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.
In Bolivia, the governing Movement Towards Socialism led by Evo Morales won again in April’s regional elections.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

* 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.uk

Len McCluskey: Government 'wrecking UK'

2010-11-27T17:42:00.000Z

The government has been accused of taking a "wrecking ball" to the country by its cuts in public spending.
Len McCluskey, newly elected leader of the Unite union accused the government of going "far beyond" what was needed to rebalance the economy.

He told a conference in London organised by the Coalition of Resistance: "The anger that is unfurling across our country is not mindless.

"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.

"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."

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.

"We know there is an alternative, based on growth and tax justice, to the vandalism they are hell-bent on pursuing.

"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.

"And if this government ignores our alliance, then they will, deservedly, be run out of office."

Linamar car plant in Swansea closing at end of week

2010-11-26T12:45:00.000Z

Two hundred employees at a car components factory near Swansea have been told it will shut this week, a union says.

North American-based Linamar announced in July it planned to close the plant.

It said the decision followed an "extensive review" which found "no viable future for the operation".

Unite said workers were "devastated" and condemned management of the plant once owned by Ford.

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.

"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.

"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."

The Swansea plant opened in the 1960s and was formerly owned by Ford and Visteon before being acquired by the Linamar Corporation in 2008.

At that time it employed over 350 people.

Unite - Don't Break Britain Campaign To Be Launched

2010-11-25T07:55:00.000Z

Unite’s new leader pledges to mobilise members against misery of a Cameron Christmas

Len McCluskey has warned that thousands of families face a miserable Christmas and painful new year thanks to the coalition government.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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:

“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.”

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.

“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.”

Unite slams government migration cap as harming IT workers

2010-11-23T20:59:00.000Z

Unite 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Businesses could abuse the system by manipulating tax and accommodation allowances to undercut UK resident workers, according to Peter Skyte, Unite national officer.

"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.

Skyte added that the government has also failed to stimulate job opportunities to reduce high unemployment among skilled computer science graduates.

"[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.

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.

“We will be seeking clarity from the government on how the £40,000 minimum will be reviewed," she added.

“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."

Swain called for greater transparency in the current immigration system detailing the pay and conditions of workers entering the UK on intra-company transfers.

“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.

“Worries over immigration centre on low skilled workers being undercut, so capping the flow of highly skilled workers seems a strange policy.”

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”.

Bradford City Council Send 10,000 Redundancy Notices

2010-11-23T20:57:00.001Z

Unite 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.

Unite said that Bradford City Council has put thousands of workers at risk of redundancy under plans to axe a quarter of its workforce.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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."

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.

"It is a very worrying time for our members and for the crucial services they provide," said a spokesman.

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.

BA Ratchet Up Stakes By Suspending Unite Member For Organising Christmas Collection

2010-11-23T20:55:00.002Z

From the Guardian:

"BA crew step nearer strike vote after suspension over Christmas collection

Union's 'dismay and anger' after woman is sent home for collecting money for sacked and suspended colleagues

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
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.

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."

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.

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.

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."

Len McCluskey Elected Next Unite General Secretary

2010-11-21T16:36:00.002Z

Unite Assistant General Secretary Len McCluskey has been elected by Unite members to be the next General Secretary of the union.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11805884

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.

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.

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.

There is a need to unify Unite to defend members across the UK and Ireland and realise the unions full potential.

Tony Woodley - Young Talking "Claptrap"

2010-11-19T21:24:00.002Z

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".

Unite had this statement out by 9.30am and by mid afternoon Young was gone.

"Claptrap shows government out of touch, says Woodley

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:

"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.

"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."

Norwood staff to protest over pay cuts prompted by government austerity

2010-11-17T19:49:00.001Z

A 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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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”.

“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.

“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.”

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.

Norwood also said that if negotiations with local authorities result in better than feared outcomes, it intends to reflect that in salary negotiations.

A final pay settlement is due in January.

Steelworkers Dispute With Sears In Canada

2010-11-17T19:17:00.001Z

Union steps up fight against retail chain

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sears has demanded that working conditions including pensions, health care benefits and holiday entitlements be replaced at management's discretion.

The firm walked away from negotiations on March 23.

Bosses then brought in scabs to take the jobs of the union members who had been locked out.

Sears has even hired security guards to ferry scabs across the picket line at the warehouse.

USW's Ontario director Wayne Fraser said: "Sears has frozen out its own hard-working employees and their families.

"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."

Unite Raises Fears Over Potential Sale Of E.ON's UK Electricity Distribution Business

2010-11-17T19:10:00.001Z

Unite 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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

Legal victory in war against blacklisting

2010-11-16T20:08:00.001Z

Unite has hailed a landmark legal victory today by a member in the fight against blacklisting.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Speaking after the verdict Mr Willis said: "We are beside ourselves with delight.

"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."

Unite assistant general secretary Les Bayliss said: "This is a significant milestone but we believe the law should go further.

"Unite will be campaigning to strengthen the law on blacklisting to ensure employers do not even contemplate blacklisting trade union members."

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.

"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."

BA Cabin Crew - Latest News

2010-11-16T20:06:00.001Z

Unite has said that said the BA management's last offer in the year-long dispute could not be recommended to members.

"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.

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.

The dispute, originally centred on cuts to pay and staffing levels, has brought strikes costing the airline 150 million pounds

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.

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.

But in an apparent turnaround the union spokeswoman said there were now problems in its "totality".

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.

A Message From Les Bayliss

2010-11-15T11:24:00.005Z

The following message has been sent out by Les Bayliss.

"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.

This election has helped focus on the real issues facing Unite members, their families and our union.

The policies I have discussed with thousands of members have set the agenda in the election - and have found widespread support among our members.

With only a few days to go it is worth remembering the policies I have consistently advocated:

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

I will balance the books and ensure we have a union fit for purpose in the world of work in the 21st Century.

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.

Les Bayliss

www.les4gs.org

BA Cabin Crew Latest

2010-11-11T21:06:00.002Z

Unite halts ballot over BA offer

Unite has suspended the ballot of Cabin Crew members.

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.

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.

“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.

Bassa objected to clauses in the deal, including one requiring the union to drop all outstanding legal claims arising from the dispute.

The cabin crew branch will now press for another strike ballot.

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.

Goldman caterer is accused of 'discrimination'

2010-11-11T21:03:00.001Z

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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."

Aramark said in a statement that it had agreed to "further discussions" with Unite "in order to resolve the matter as quickly as possible".

Les4GS - Get The Vote Out!!!

2010-11-10T18:55:00.001Z

The following email was sent out by Les4GS

Dear Supporter

As the ballot for Unite General Secretary moves into its final weeks it is more important than ever to GET THE VOTE OUT!

The past week has shown that we are in a fight for the future of Unite. The dividing lines have been drawn between policies that will take the union forward or policies that will be divisive, hold us back, and will not unify our union.

In less than two weeks I will be asking every supporter and activist to continue to make sure members have returned their ballot papers and voted for LES BAYLISS – a vote for the future.

It is important you remind members of the key policies I have promoted throughout my campaign:

A BETTER UNION – develop a 24-hour/7-day a week contact centre with well trained and experienced Officials and Staff. Disseminate information to all members using modern communications and a regular union magazine.

BETTER JUDGEMENT - support industrial disputes, using strategic planning, campaigning and communications.

BETTER SUPPORT - invest more in training Unite representatives and invest more in informing, educating and advising members.

BETTER JOBS – use every resource available to create better jobs, pay, conditions and security in jobs.

DEFEND LAY MEMBER CONTROL AND THE RULE BOOK
Over the past weeks we have seen proposals by one group in the union to change recently agreed structures in order to control Unite via small, unrepresentative cliques, sitting in committee rooms - telling members what’s best for them.

Thousands of members who have joined Unite expect to have their say and play their part in a modern, campaigning and vibrant union not an organisation based on outdated structures.

To do this, I intend to defend and develop the structure we have built - to give working members and lay reps real control over the union, through our autonomous industrial sectors, our regions and our equalities structures.

WINNING BACK THE LABOUR PARTY
Unite was instrumental in electing Ed Miliband as leader of the Labour Party. My task will be to win back Labour for working people. I will work with the leadership of the Labour Party to ensure that not only do we win a majority the next election, but that we also return Labour MPs committed to the policies and values of Unite.

There is still much to do and every vote counts.

So, GET THE VOTE OUT and remind your members, workmates and family members who are Unite members who have not voted - to vote for the future and VOTE FOR LES BAYLISS.

In Solidarity – thanks for all your support!

Les Bayliss

Pay deal secures car workers' jobs

2010-11-05T18:55:00.001Z

Workers at Jaguar Land Rover have voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal including a two-year pay rise which union leaders said would secure their jobs for a decade, it has been announced.
Unite said 74% of workers at Halewood, Castle Bromwich and Solihull accepted the deal which will see pay increase by 5% this year and by RPI inflation plus 0.5% the following year.
The deal cements the future for around 16,000 workers across the company for at least another decade, according to Unite.
Union official Des Quinn said: "The workforce is over the moon. They can now look forward to the future in the knowledge that their jobs and livelihoods are secure for years to come.
"In these worrying times for workers and their families it is great to have some good news but it is no more than these workers deserve.
"It also shows what can be achieved when a manufacturer works with the union and backs Britain. These are the sort of jobs - highly skilled and secure - which are essential if our country is to grow its way back to economic prosperity.
"Unite and the workers are keen now to continue our work with the company to build upon JLR's proud reputation for making some of the best vehicles in the world."
Unite said it was hopeful that the new deal would lead to the creation of thousands of jobs at the car firm's Midlands and Liverpool sites.

Pay deal secures car workers' jobs

2010-11-05T18:55:00.000Z

Public & Private Sector Job Cuts From Les4GS

2010-11-04T20:44:00.001Z

Dear Supporter

The latest reports from a number of sources, say that over 1.6 million jobs could be lost through the Government’s austerity measures.

Members in both the public and private sectors are at risk of losing their jobs, with all the misery that unemployment brings to them and their families. The overwhelming number of members I have met in the last few weeks want to discuss their futures, the future of their families, as well as the future of Unite.

They are concerned about how the Government cuts will affect them and they want to know how we are going to defend jobs and fight the Government cuts and ensure we win.

We need to build a broad coalition – trade unions, trades councils, Labour Party activists, community groups, parent groups and educationalists – everyone who knows the damage the Con-Dem cuts will cause. This will take some time but this is why I have opposed knee-jerk calls for immediate strikes. Defending our members’ jobs and taking on the Government won’t be delivered unless we have broad support.

We must work towards ensuring that the March 26th 2011 demonstration in London against the cuts is the culmination of the most effective campaign ever launched by the TUC. However, we need to be building campaigns in every community.

I know many of our shop stewards and union reps are already campaigning locally against the cuts and building broad support. As General Secretary, I will ensure Unite supports them wholeheartedly.

I will also continue to campaign on policies that will take our members and Unite forward. These policies are outlined in my ballot statement contained within the ballot paper, on my website www.les4gs.org and in press statements.

Attacks and smears on my record and character will not deter me from speaking out on the issues which I believe are important to the future of our union and our members.

Since the creation of Unite, we have built a democratic structure through debate and consensus. Now we are seeing an attempt by a small group within the union, to dismantle that structure and turn the clock back.

I am proud of my record in helping to create Amicus and Unite through mergers and through democratic lay structures that give members direct control of their sectors and union.

As General Secretary I will defend lay control through our working reps and accountability within the union, through our autonomous sectors, through our regions and our equality structures.

My supporters can be assured I intend to continue to promote the positive and progressive policies I have argued for during the Unite General Secretary election campaign.

I believe we can build a better union, with better support for members and better judgement in our decisions.

Yours fraternally,

Les Bayliss

"A note of support and dismay from a small, but very active, branch of Unite!!!

2010-11-03T08:07:00.002Z

As a Unite member and activist in receipt of Ron Pursey’s recent concerns over comments made by Tony Woodley at the “Protect Public Services Lobby” on 19 October, I too am amazed, concerned and ashamed at what I heard from Tony on 19 October. So much so that, as a previously undecided Unite elector, Tony’s comments have resulted in my determination to vote for Les as General Secretary.

I could not believe what I was hearing from Tony at what was otherwise a very successful and invigorating inter-union Rally and Lobby against the ConDem Cuts. He should not have used his very short speech on the draconian, devastating and destructive actions of our Government, to attack a candidate for Unite’s General Secretary election. As a colleague unionist of another union said to me afterwards, “- – - if that’s united, God help Unite’s members”!!!!!!!

I also attended the TUC Briefing event on 23 October, to raise the profile of my Branch (albeit a little fearful that someone else of influence may say something stupid!) Thankfully, no repeat of such high-profile unacceptable behaviour, just some disturbing inter-union heckling which does not favour well for the required inter-union actions demanded to fight the cuts!!

So I say to Unite’s bosses, “get your act together and get united. Back-stabbing and dirty-laundry in public gives no confidence to members that Unite can take the lead in effective inter-union action required to fight Public Sector Cuts”.

Alan Yelling, Vice Chair of the Probation Managers Association, a Branch of Unite.

NOTE - Used with permission of Mr. Yelling.

A Statement by Workers Uniting Group

2010-11-02T20:36:00.001Z

‘Back to the Future’, Neither United nor Left

The United Left have published their ‘new’ structure for Unite on their website (see below).

All Unite GS candidates say they want to unify Unite, but words are one thing and actions are another. However, you can’t help but think that these ‘new’ proposals are what the Unite GS election is really all about and why the Executive Council Elections, due to take place next year are vitally important.

These ‘new’ proposals and this Workers Uniting Group statement should be a wake up call to all supporters who believe in effective trade unionism and genuine lay democracy.

The Workers Uniting Group was formed, amongst other things, for the defence of the most democratic rulebook ever created in the UK and Irish trade union movement. A rulebook that recognised that in a modern union, the autonomy of the sectors with their ability to create space for specialist occupational groups so that all members were adequately represented, was essential. Sectors where, through elected and accountable working reps, members could represent their own interests with the support and resources of the biggest and most powerful union created for decades.

The Workers Uniting Group have consistently warned, and will continue to do so, that there were some who wanted to dismantle the most effective political structure in the trade union movement by taking us back in time, with no way “back to the future”. We currently have a structure committed to implementing Unite policy to take back the Labour Party for working people. This political structure recently delivered Ed Miliband as Labour leader, in line with members’ aspirations.

The arduous task of winning a clean expenses regime, one where activists neither gained nor lost at the union’s expense, was part of the struggle for a clean union where working reps represented working people and collectively bargained on their behalf. We warned - and will continue to warn - that the intention to remove Rule 6 was all about the preservation of a ‘vested interest’ lay bureaucracy that made a living off the union and in return would vote the ‘right way’.

These UL ‘new’ proposals are a betrayal of the members’ whose unions created Unite and the hard-won agreements forged in the process. Unite could never have been created on the outdated ‘trade groups’ of the former TGWU. Let it be known that UNIFI, MSF, GPMU all rejected that model and favoured the autonomy of their sectors - which would also attract other merger partners.

We warn members in specialist sectors - don’t sleepwalk into the abolition of your sectoral autonomy to the tune of empty rhetoric.
We fought and won a future EC of working reps that are overwhelmingly elected from the Sectors in order to keep the highest lay democratic body of the union in contact with working members. A body that has such enormous industrial power must be composed of working men and women that have a stake in the workplaces.

We anticipated and predicted that a challenge to genuine lay democracy where working reps represent working people. Now we predict that if these proposals become rules that Unite will at best fail to go forward, fail to organise and at worst could become paralysed by vested interests and become irrelevant to working men and women. The result will be a declining union not a campaigning, vibrant union but a husk – a zombie union.

These proposals are not ‘Left’. They are right-wing reactionary, outdated and dangerous. They have got nothing to do with unity and will engulf the union in out-dated bitter factionalism.

These proposals are a negation of the politics and spirit that built Unite through the rules commission where everyone knew that former practices that were paralysing the unions’ abilities to effectively organise and represent its members had to go. The merger process recognised that we were building Unite, not T&G or Amicus Mark 2.

It is time to recognise we can’t go back two or three decades to an era that has vanished.

We are in the fight of our lives against an ideologically driven Coalition, Neo-liberalism and the power of Global corporations. This fight will not be won by passing resolutions, sitting in committee meetings of structures that don’t match the reality of working life over the next ten years.

Strong workplace organisation and educated workplace reps - serviced by well-trained and motivated Officers - are our future, as well as union structures that deliver for all members, no matter where they work.
Whoever is the next General Secretary, will be duty bound to honour the commitments that our members voted overwhelmingly to endorse. Let it be known that Les Bayliss knows that, he has made that pledge.

Vote for Les Bayliss

Proposals for 2011 Rules Conference changes: from United Left National Coordinating Committee
• Objects of the Union – restore some of the Socialist principles of the former TGWU.

•Strengthened industrial structure, with major industrial groupings such as Health, Manufacturing and Transport as per the Transport Sector document circulated recently, and NISC minutes to be endorsed by the Executive Council.

•Political direction of the union to be brought back under the control of the Executive Council and Regional Committees. The current Regional and National Political Committees could then be re-named Labour Party Liasion Committees to reflect their actual rôle.

•Clearer commitment to lay member control and the rights of lay members – e.g. an Appeal mechanism against victimisation within the union structures.

•Area Activists Committees to be directed towards influencing community politics (e.g. campaigns against hospital closures) – with the emphasis being on setting up broader meetings involving all activists in the given area in the campaigns, and the Committee having an organising rôle rather than just existing for its own sake.

•Executive Council seats for Disabled and LGBT representatives.

•Eligibility to sit on constitutional committees in casualised industries to be reviewed and more practical eligibility criteria put in place (rule 6).

•Regional Committee members to have the right of recall w.r.t. Regional Committee meetings.

•Structures to be developed to allow Unemployed and Retired member to participate fully in appropriate areas of activity within the union.

Unite to take asbestos victims’ fight to supreme court

2010-11-01T10:37:00.001Z

Unite the union has today (Monday 1 November) confirmed it will go to the supreme court to challenge a court of appeal ruling that threatens to deprive thousands of asbestos cancer victims and their families of their rightful compensation.

In a landmark ruling earlier this month the court of appeal decided that in some asbestos cases the employer’s liability insurance is triggered not by the exposure to asbestos in the workplace, but by the development of the fatal cancer, mesothelioma.

Because symptoms of mesothelioma only begin decades after asbestos dust was inhaled the ruling means thousands of British workers who develop the disease could be deprived of compensation.

Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said: “The way the insurers refused to pay out in these cases is a kick in the guts to every family that’s watched a loved one suffer a painful and degrading death from mesothelioma.

“Insurers sold their policies knowing that employers and workers' families would rely on them. Now they’re trying to weasel out of paying based on fancy legal argument and policy small print.

“Unite will put its full weight behind this appeal. We will pursue it because we want to see justice done to innocent victims and their families.”

Ian McFall, head of asbestos policy at trade union law firm Thompsons Solicitors said: "Asbestos victims will welcome the decision by Unite to pursue the appeal to the highest court in the land and the union's principled stance in opposing the insurers' latest legal challenge."

Notes for Editors:

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no cure and around 2,000 people a year are currently diagnosed with the disease in the UK.
For decades the insurance industry accepted that the employers' liability insurer on cover at the time of the asbestos exposure occurred is liable to respond to the mesothelioma claim. A number of insurers seized upon a 2006 Court of Appeal case, [Bolton MBC v Municipal Mutual Insurance Ltd [2006] which ruled that public liability insurance is triggered not by the exposure but by the development of the mesothelioma which occurs decades later. The insurers in the trigger issue test case argue that the same interpretation should be applied in employers' liability mesothelioma claims.
Unite is backing the appeal in Edwards v Excess Insurance Company Ltd, one of six test cases which were the subject of a court of appeal ruling on 8 October 2010
Charles Michael O’Farrell died aged 81 in October 2003 just two months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. His daughter Maureen Edwards is pursuing the claim on behalf of the family following her father’s death. Her claim is backed by Unite the union, of which her father was a member.
Charles was exposed to asbestos while working for Humphreys & Glasgow Limited as a steel erector from 1964 to 1967. During his employment he was based at the Linacre Gas Works in Bootle, Merseyside where he came into contact with asbestos on a daily basis. Before he died he said he was never warned that asbestos was dangerous. The family was awarded £152,000 in compensation against Humphreys & Glasgow Limited by the county Court in 2007. Excess Insurance Company Ltd insured Humphreys & Glasgow at the time Charles worked for the company.

British Airways offer 'probably best available', says union

2010-11-01T08:00:00.000Z

From The Guardian

Cabin crew to vote on British Airways' latest offer with further strike action the only alternative to accepting the deal

Union representatives have told British Airways cabin crew that a peace offer that could end a long-running dispute is "probably the best" deal available, with further walkouts the only option if it is rejected.

About 10,000 crew affiliated with the Unite trade union are preparing to vote on an offer that could finish a year-long row with the airline. Unite's largest cabin crew branch, Bassa, said in an email to members that the only alternative to the deal was strike action. The BA offer sets out a framework for restoring staff travel to the estimated 6,700 crew who took part in 22 days of strike action this year, as well as allowing the Acas conciliation service to mediate disciplinary cases.

The Bassa email states: "This is probably the best that negotiation could produce at the current time. The only other alternative would then be taking industrial action, the outcome of which of course is always unknown." However, the message also raises concerns from members that the offer is similar to one rejected in June.

"Many members could not understand why it has not already been rejected by your reps. The answer is simple: rejection is for you alone to decide," said Bassa.

BA has asked that Unite recommend the offer as a precondition for tabling it. Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, has said that he is "hopeful" that the union will back it. Walsh told the Guardian last week that the communications accompanying the ballot would be keenly watched by the airline. "It will be the communications that they issue in relation to the ballot that will be the test. I am quite pleased with the position that we have negotiated with Unite. It genuinely represents an opportunity to get a fair resolution. It is an opportunity for people to demonstrate that it is time to bring this to an end."

The consultative ballot has not yet opened because Unite is still working through the implications of BA's demand that all legal action related to the dispute must be halted. If the offer is rejected, Unite must hold a further ballot before it can call industrial action.

5% Pay Rise Sought By West Mids Bus Drivers.

2010-10-29T16:11:00.001+01:00

Unite is pressing for a five per cent increase for 3,750 bus drivers across the West Midlands – and improved sickness and pension terms for lower-paid employees.

Unite the union has submitted its 2010 wage claim to Birmingham-based transport giant National Express as the company digests last week’s coalition spending cuts.

The bus company has already warned that the announcement by Chancellor George Osborne that the Bus Service Operators’ Grant will be slashed by 20 per cent from 2012 could jeopardise some routes.

Meanwhile, unions are pressing ahead with the pay claim to improve workplace terms for many drivers, including harmonising conditions for drivers at Pensnett Garage, in Kingswinford, where workers are on inferior rates.

Unite union regional official John Partridge said: “The increase we have put in for for the drivers at National Express is five per cent applicable to the basic rate of pay and all follow-though items, such as holiday pay, overtime rates and so on.

"Secondly, we are seeking an improvement in sick pay for standard rate drivers. There is currently a two-tier system with some drivers on inferior terms and conditions.

"Thirdly, we are looking for an increase in pension provision for standard rate drivers.”

He criticised the current scheme, adding: “It’s a stakeholder scheme for standard rate drivers with not very high company contributions compared to the final salary scheme for long term drivers."

He said Unite was also seeking to bring pay and conditions for drivers at Pensnett into line with other garages.

“Pensnett was taken over from an old garage owned by another company and drivers there have poorer terms and conditions all round.”

He said Unite was seeking a meeting with National Express over the pay claim next month.

Neil Barker, managing director for National Express Bus, said "We have received the claim and will be meeting with the union to formally discuss the detail.

"There are uncertain times ahead for the bus industry given changes proposed under the comprehensive spending review and the claim must be considered in this context.

"The union's claim is particularly surprising at a time when there is such job insecurity and many in the public sector are having their pay frozen."

Increase in air passenger duty tax will hit already stretched working families

2010-10-29T16:07:00.001+01:00

Increase in air passenger duty tax will hit already stretched working families

The government's increase in air passenger duty – due to come into force on Monday - will affect every passenger, pricing some UK families out of having a holiday, increase costs to businesses and put jobs at risk.

Brendan Gold, Unite civil aviation national secretary, said: “This is a retrograde step which will increase the burden on passengers, putting even more jobs at risk.”

Brian Boyd, Unite civil aviation national officer, said: “There are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the UK’s civil aviation industry, many are still under threat as a result of the recession. This is simply not the time to increase taxes, hurting the UK aviation industry and helping our rivals.”

Equal Rights and the Equality Reps Project

2010-10-26T16:04:00.000+01:00

Unite is a vibrant union that is not only diverse within its industrial sectors, but also within its membership as a whole. I believe Unite should be a union that meets the needs of all its members and every new challenge head on.

Now that the ballot for the new General Secretary’s election is open, you have the opportunity to create the union that you deserve.

My vision in equality issues have led me to being heavily involved in the Equality Rep’s Project, focusing on what I believe to be the key to a greater union - education. By informing and encouraging equality reps to become active in the union, I can make sure that employers take the issues of bullying and harassment, flexible working and career prospects for women seriously and ensure that we receive fair pay that can affect us all. [see more on the Equality Reps Project]

The experience I have gained has taught me to respond effectively and practically to the challenges of a modern trade union. The future that I see for Unite is one that prides itself on communication and democracy throughout the union. This election is the greatest opportunity to release Unite’s potential.

In the current climate, everything we do will be seen not only to represent the rights of our members, but the rights of all working people. I believe that my vision will realise Unite’s full potential to make Unite the great union all of our members deserve.

Yours fraternally,

Les Bayliss

Les Bayliss - Building A Better Union

2010-10-26T09:14:00.004+01:00

The Workers Uniting Group Supports Les Bayliss For Unite General Secretary

This week Unite members will receive ballot papers along with an election statement which sets out the the positive policies which Les Bayliss has explained to thousands of Unite members in workplaces across the UK and Ireland - which will build a better union.

Les, a skilled engineer, is aged 57 and has been a union member for over 40 years representing members at all levels in the Union, culminating with his role as Assistant General Secretary.

Among his duties and responsibilities are handling the finances of the union, turning a deficit into a surplus and resolving issues related to the former Amicus pension scheme.

He also has the strategic oversight of the Construction and Building Services Sector including the industry wide apprenticeship programme.

Over the past few months Les has explained the ideas and policies he stands for and which will take Unite forward.

These include a membership support centre which will be available to give members advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Les Bayliss has also set out his policies on strategic campaigning to ensure Unite members can win in the workplace - rather than let employers and the media pick the battleground - whether that it is in the private sector or in the campaign to defend public services.

He has explained that he will expand the unions training and education programme for members, activists and officials and that the investment made by Unite in organising and recruiting new members delivers membership growth and stronger workplaces through the involvement of members and activists.

Communications with members will be improved, with a union magazine and direct electronic communications - and there will be dedicated union officers helping our reps, activists and members.

On equalities Les says all Unite members, irrespective of race, colour, religion, or sexual orientation must have equal opportunity and be treated equally in the workplace and in the union.

Les Bayliss' message to Unite members is: “Together we are strong. Our members face the same difficulties and working together in all sectors and regions we will all gain from unity and solidarity”.

Vote Les Bayliss For General Secretary when you receive your ballot paper - encourage Unite members to vote and Vote For Les Bayliss for a Better Union.

Unite CMA To Ballot On Industrial Action

2010-10-25T08:17:00.001+01:00

Royal Mail faces new strike threat from Unite

Royal Mail is facing industrial unrest on a new front after the Unite union said it would ballot thousands of managers on strike action for the first time since 1979, the year of the winter of discontent.

The threat of industrial action comes as the government prepares on Wednesday to debate in parliament for the first time the controversial postal services bill to privatise Royal Mail.

Unite, which represents about 15,000 Royal Mail managers, said that it would begin balloting members over the company's plans to make 1,500 job cuts in London – a figure that could include compulsory redundancies if there are not enough volunteers.

Royal Mail has been plagued by industrial unrest for years but disputes have been led by the Communications Workers Union (CWU), which represents most of the rest of the company's 160,000 workforce, one of the largest union memberships in the country. Relations have often been tense between members of the two unions, with many managers, represented by Unite, breaking picket lines on strike days called by the CWU.

The CWU is opposing government plans to privatise Royal Mail, mindful that new owners are likely to impose mass redundancies, and the move by Unite could see both unions combining to fight the privatisation plans.

Paul Reuter, national officer for Unite, said: "If Royal Mail are allowed to push ahead with forced redundancies it will keep coming back for more, so Unite intends to stop Royal Mail in its tracks. There have already been 5,000 job cuts over the last five years without any compulsory redundancies. Such a drastic step is not necessary now."

The ballot will take place at the beginning of next month.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We continue talking with Unite and have stressed we will continue doing our utmost to manage any job losses by voluntary means and that we have increased our existing voluntary redundancy package. As they know, these reductions are essential as we continue adapting to our rapidly changing and declining market, where mail volumes have fallen by 13m letters a day in just five years."

Also on Wednesday, the government will announce a substantial three-year funding package for the Post Office, which could be turned into a Co-operative Group-style mutual company once Royal Mail is privatised.

Ministers will outline how much will be provided to modernise and refurbish the 9,000 branches in the Post Office network, many of which are struggling to stay in business.

The new three-year package is much more generous than many executives expected, given the pressure on public finances, and is likely to run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

But despite this, the future of an independent Post Office, currently owned by Royal Mail, remains uncertain. The Post Office relies on Royal Mail for about a third of its revenue.

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) wants the government to force the new owner of Royal Mail to sign a contract lasting at least 10 years, committing it to continue to use the Post Office to provide services and process mail.

But government officials are instead proposing a maximum five-year contract. The NFSP is warning of "serious consequences" for the survival of the network if a longer contract is not secured, and it could try to block the privatisation.

George Thomson, general secretary of the NFSP, said: "There is no point mutualising the Post Office or privatising Royal Mail if it does not have a viable future – and it won't without a long-term agreement with Royal Mail."

This week, the CWU will lobby Labour MPs to add their voice to the campaign against privatisation. But with Conservative and Liberal Democrat backbenchers committed to the plan, it is almost certain to go ahead.

The government has said that Royal Mail staff will receive 10% of the privatised company's shares but has not specified whether it will float the business on the stock market or sell it to a rival such as Deutsche Post or the Dutch group TNT.

UNITE GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION - Vote For Les Bayliss

2010-10-24T14:35:00.002+01:00

The ballot for the General Secretary of Unite opens on October 25th.

The Workers Uniting Group – the Progressive Left Grouping within Unite supports Les Bayliss.

Les Bayliss stood in ten hustings meetings around the country to win the support of the Workers Uniting Group and has campaigned up and down the UK and Ireland seeking support for his policies which are designed to take Unite forward and to become a union that not only represents and supports its members - but wins where it matters the most – in the workplace.

Les Bayliss, who is aged 57 and Assistant General Secretary is offering: a Better Service for Members; Better Judgement; Better Support for members and fighting for Better Jobs.

Throughout the past few months Les Bayliss has met thousands of ordinary members, union reps and activists in all sectors of our union – from manufacturing to transport, from finance workers to shipbuilders, from health service workers to steelworkers - and his message has been well received and endorsed.

Among the internal policies Les has explained from day one (some of which have found their way into other candidates manifesto’s) include:

A new Unite Membership Support Centre open 24-hour a day.

A new dedicated Branch Support Unit.

Additional resources for member services within all our Regions and Sectors to service our workplace representatives.

An overhaul of Unite’s current regional and central administration to ensure every member gets the help they need when they need it.

A massive increase in resources for education and support for representatives to equip themselves with the tools to do their job for members.

Improve services to members by increasing training and development for Unite officers and staff.

Have a comprehensive review of all union activity to eliminate waste and improve services.

In a statement retiring Unite Joint General Secretary Derek Simpson said: "Unite members are facing a very difficult time right now and it's vital that the leader of Unite is up to the task of protecting members jobs and public services. Ranting and raving from the side lines will only keep Labour in opposition for a generation.

“The cuts announced this week are the tip of a very nasty iceberg but the task of opposing them will be complex. Only one candidate standing in the Unite General Secretary election has in my mind the skills for this difficult job.

“Les Bayliss has the skills and the courage to unite the Labour movement and build support in the general public for an alternative economic strategy to bring the country our of recession without the pain that will be imposed by the Tories on every family in this country.”

Vote Les Bayliss on October 25th.

Encourage Unite members and comrades to vote for Les Bayliss for a Better union!

Protests Against The Cuts

2010-10-24T10:14:00.001+01:00

Thousands protests across the country against Con-Dem cuts

Thousands of people across the UK joined protests today against the budget cuts announced by George Osborne earlier this week. The chancellor announced cuts of over £81 billion which will see savage cuts to public services and the loss of hundreds of thousands of job. It is estimated that over 500,000 public sector jobs could go with teachers, police officers and fire-fighters all amongst those who face redundancy. In London today fire-fighters went on strike against planned cuts to the service with 5000 fire-fighters going on an eight-hour strike in London today.

Demonstrations against the cuts announced by the Con-Dem coalition have been held across the country with thousands marching to protect public sector jobs and the announced cut backs.

The protest in Cambridge consist of a march through the city centre attended by many different unions such as Unite, Unison and also a the Fire-fighters union. While there was a police presence for the march through the city it passed without incident with protestors marching through the city streets - with much support from locals - shouting a wide range of different slogans. The most popular slogan was "they say cut backs we say fight backs" as well as different variations on opposition to job losses.

The march through Cambridge lasted an hour with people travelling from as far afield as Ipswich, Huntington, Peterborough and Leicester to attend with several hundred people participated in the protest. The protest and rally in Cambridge passed peacefully and without incident although two protestors in Bristol were arrested by the police. In Cambridge as the march began many motorists showed their support for the protest by tooting their horns. Many people joined the march as it progressed through the streets of Cambridge. After the march concluded there was a rally at Cambridge Guildhall with ten guest speakers. The guest-speakers were mainly Union representatives - such as Unite and the Teaching Unions - as well as local councillors.

Throughout the rally there we calls for the TUC to announce a UK General Strike and a show of solidarity with protestors in France and also Belgium who have also been vocal in their opposition to the cut backs in their respective countries. Before the march through Cambridge began there were speeches from organisers, a representative from the Fire-Brigade as well as someone who had travelled from France in a demonstration of support for the UK protests.

Tony Woodley - Anti Cuts Tour

2010-10-24T10:12:00.001+01:00

Joint GS Tony Woodley has began a nationwide tour to rally workers, students and pensioners against the Government's "destruction" of jobs and services.

Tony Woodley said the Comprehensive Spending Review constituted the most serious attack on working men and women and those least able to cope of his lifetime.

He warned that unemployment will soar to 4.5 million next year and said that the cuts will lead to £145 billion being taken out of the economy.

He told hundreds of people in Birmingham: "The coalition tore into our public services, hacking into the health, education and council services that hold this country together.

"The sight of George Osborne being congratulated by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, cheered on by Tories and Lib Dem MPs, will have revolted anyone who has a care for the sick and vulnerable in this country, and will terrify people who live beyond the Westminster village.

"As the true extent of these cuts - not the £81 billion Osborne is cowardly hiding behind but actually a colossal £145 billion - is revealed, anger will build.

"It won't be the leafy stockbroker belt that feels this pain, it will be my members trying to raise their families in the communities of the country that this Government has just set about destroying. The coalition has no mandate for the assassination of our services, and for those that voted Lib Dem, this is nothing short of a betrayal."

Mr Woodley said hopes that private firms would create jobs to counter the cuts in public sector employment were a "figment of the Government's imagination", adding that many small and medium sized firms could not persuade banks to lend them any money to expand their business.

"We have to build a coalition of unions, students, pensioners, voluntary groups and others. When the penny drops and people realise that the schools, hospitals and social services they built and paid for through hard graft and taxes are being destroyed by a political elite, rage will boil."

Mr Woodley will visit cities across the country in the next three weeks on his "anti-cuts" tour, ending in Scotland next month.

Shameful way to end 100-year tradition, says Unite.

2010-10-24T10:08:00.001+01:00

Unite has criticised Coca-Cola over the “bad handling” of its announcement to close the Malvern Water bottled plant.

Unite said the shock announcement last week “showed no respect for the loyal workforce”, who still work at the plant in Colwall.

Seventeen workers are set to lose their jobs when the plant closes on Wednesday, November 3.

Coca-Cola has decided to end the production of Malvern Water, blaming competition in the industry.

Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the food and drinks sector, said: “These workers and their families have been disgracefully treated by Coca-Cola Enterprises [CCE]. The company obviously made its mind up long ago about their futures, yet sat on their decision until a good day to bury bad news came along.

“We are really concerned now for these workers and are determined that CCE does right for them in redundancy.

“This is a sad and shameful way to end to a proud 100- year tradition in Malvern.” A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola said: “Understandably, it is a difficult time for our staff and we are working with them to support them in any way we can.

“This has been a tough decision for us to take – we have been part of the Malvern community for more than 23 years – but unfortunately it’s one we had to take given the commercial realties we face.”Two town businesses which stock the world-famous water have expressed their shock at the news but said they would turn to Holywell Spring Water, based in Malvern Wells, which bottles from the Holywell, which has been used since 1558.

Jon Roe, owner of Priors Croft Restaurant and Bar, said: “I’m very very disappointed but it’s very important for me to keep it local so I’m glad there’s a local alternative. From now on Priors Croft will be stocking Holywell water.”

Matthew Cooke, owner of Malvern Hills Hotel, said: “I’m really upset. Malvern Water sells really really well. I have tried stocking other brands in the past but my customers always want Malvern.

“We have a really proud heritage of Malvern water. I will try to keep the alternative as local as possible, so Holywell will be getting a call from me.”

Rhys Humm, company director of Holywell Spring Water, said: “Firstly, I’d like to say that I’m deeply sorry that Malvern Water is closing because it put Malvern, as a town, on the map. But from a company perspective, it’s an opportunity for us and one we will work hard to maximise.

“I’m delighted to hear that businesses will be coming to us.”

Les Bayliss Meets Steelworkers on Teeside

2010-10-23T09:15:00.002+01:00

From The Northern Echo:
UNIONS and management working together to secure the future of mothballed Teesside Cast Products (TCP) have set a precedent for the future, the man bidding to lead Unite the union said.

Les Bayliss, who is standing for general secretary of Britain’s biggest union, met steelworkers on Teesside yesterday ahead of the leadership election, which begins next week.

Unions and Tata Steel, formerly Corus, have been praised for working together to try to secure a new owner, with Thai company Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI), proposing to buy the plant. Mr Bayliss said: “It is how we need to be in the future, we need to work with good employers, but challenge bad ones.

“I have been using my experiences at Corus as a good example of where the union needs to position itself.”

He cited the bitter industrial dispute between British Airways and Unite as an example of how not to carry out industrial relations.

Mr Bayliss said: “As soon as there was an announcement of 12 days of strikes over Christmas we were turned from victims to villians.

“We have to learn from that as we are keen to learn from the positive actions of our members here at Corus.”

Mr Bayliss believes steel workers should march across Teesside again, this time in celebration, if SSI’s purchase of TCP goes ahead.

From Evening Gazette:
Steel union positive after talks with SSIEvening Gazette
DISCUSSIONS were held last night between the Thai company hoping to take over Teesside Cast Products and trade union representatives to further push the deal towards completion.

In August, Thailand’s biggest steel producer, SSI, announced plans to take over the Tata Steel site, after signing a memorandum of understanding with the steel giant.

Last night negotiators and officers from SSI and representatives from trade unions and Tata Steel met at the Thistle Hotel in Middlesbrough for further discussions in the hope a deal may soon be done.

Geoff Waterfield, chairman of the multi-union works committee, said: “Last night was an opportunity for SSI and David Reid, interim managing director, to talk to local officials about any concerns or questions people may have. I have had some really positive feedback from the meeting.”

Yesterday assistant general secretary of union Unite, Les Bayliss, visited TCP along with Terry Pye, Unite’s national officer for the steel industry, who are hopeful the deal between Tata and SSI will soon be completed.

Mr Bayliss said he was on Teesside to “celebrate with members the achievements we have made so far”.

He added the meeting at Middlesbrough’s Thistle Hotel was important because it was the first time “most people will have been around the same table at the same time”.

“It is necessary to build relationships and to gain mutual respect and understanding.

“SSI know that the success of the plant will be based on the workforce. So it is now about how they drive the process forward.

“This is the start of the final chapter.”

Mr Pye added: “We are hoping the deal will be done by Christmas.”

Tony Pearson, 49, site convener for Unite at Teesside Cast Products, who has worked at the plant since 1977, added: “We the workers are now more optimistic than we have been in the past few months.

“Hopefully the deal will be finalised in the next few months.

“It would be great to see the furnace be turned back on.”

With 700 staff currently employed at TCP, a takeover by SSI is set to create a significant number of new jobs and steelmaking re-ignited early next year.

The £320m deal with SSI includes Redcar and South Bank coke ovens, TCP’s power generation facilities and sinter plant, the Redcar blast furnace and the Lackenby steel-making operation - plus a 50/50 joint venture between Corus and SSI on the Redcar wharf.

Last month Win Viriyaprapaikit, president of SSI, described the TCP as the “perfect match”.

He also praised Teesside’s enormous pride and passion for steelmaking - describing it as something he has never felt “anywhere else in the world”.

McDonnell' Bill Fails

2010-10-23T09:08:00.002+01:00

John McDonnell's attempt to change the law to stop employers using legal technicalities to stop strikes has failed to clear the Commons.

McDonnell's Lawful Industrial Action Bill would have allowed strikes even after accidental errors in union balloting.

But the proposal ran out of time and stands little chance of going further.

Mr McDonnell said the measure would have "changed the climate of industrial relations".

The legislation backed by a number of unions aimed to prevent situations like the recent legal wrangling between British Airways and the Unite union.

British Airways was able to go to the High Court and argue Unite's strike ballot was invalid, because it included BA staff who were leaving the company and therefore would not be working for it during any strike.

Mr McDonnell said his Bill would have a "significant impact on restoring basic civil liberties."

But the measure was not supported by the Labour front bencher Nia Griffith who insisted the party was "committed to ensuring... that strikes cannot take place without a properly conducted ballot".

But she agreed the existing law was not working as it had been intended.

"In recent years, employers have successfully challenged ballots - not because there was any doubt about the view of the majority of those balloted but because of minor technical non-compliances, which would have no impact whatsoever on the result of the ballot."

The junior business minister, Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey, said the arguments for Mr McDonnell's Bill seemed to be "a throwback to a previous age".

There was a need to "draw a line under our industrial relations history and turn the page", he said.

The government was anxious to engage with the trade unions.

"We want to hear their considered views and develop a common understanding and approach to the severe problems this country faces," he said.

Mr McDonnell used a parliamentary procedure known as a closure motion in an attempt to stop his Bill being talked out - the practice where opponents of a measure keep talking until time for debate runs out.

MPs voted 87 to 27 in favour of bringing debate to a close, but under Commons rules 100 "yes" votes are needed so discussion continued.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was still making a speech when time for debate ran out at 2.30pm, so the Bill failed to gain a second reading and now stands little chance of making progress due to Commons rules.

Even though it was talked out it is not acceptable that less than 100 Labour MP's were in the House to vote, given that the bill was backed by all the TULO unions.

CSR: Derek Simpson says "It's a massacre".

2010-10-20T20:06:00.000+01:00

Public sector to lose half a million jobs

Chancellor George Osborne confirmed that almost 500,000 public-sector jobs are set to be axed as a result of the spending review yesterday, condemning Britain to "unnecessary wholesale unemployment."

Millionaire Osborne confirmed the Office for Budget Responsibility had estimated 490,000 jobs could go over the four years covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Unison described the cuts as "ideologically driven" and accused the government of failing to consider that there was a fairer alternative.

The union said the 500,000 public-sector job cuts will prove a "false economy" and will cost the private sector a further 425,000 jobs.

Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "This is not a spending review - it's a massacre. It's totally perverse to claim that cutting half a million jobs and razing our public services to the ground is good for this country.

"No matter how often they repeat that their actions are fair, this government is making a political choice to attack the public sector and by doing this now damaging the whole of the economy long into the future."

BAE jobs fears in Woodford after Nimrod axed

2010-10-20T20:01:00.002+01:00

BAE systems workers have been "angered and devastated" by the decision to axe the new Nimrod, Unite has said.

More than 1,000 people are working to build the MRA4 surveillance aircraft at BAE in Woodford, Stockport - its final contract before closing in 2012.

The prime minister announced on Tuesday the Nimrod order was being cancelled.

Staff now fear the site could close 18 months ahead of schedule. BAE said this was premature speculation.

David Cameron told the Commons the replacement Nimrod MRA4 reconnaissance planes project had cost more than £3bn and was more than eight years late.

The contract was signed in 1996 for a total of 21 planes. This number was reduced to 12 and then later, nine. Two aircraft have actually been built and these will not be put into service.

BAE systems employs 500 staff at its Woodford site and a further 500 contractors. More than 300 people are also employed in Chadderton, Oldham, working on service support.

But the announcement has left staff fearing for their immediate future, according to John Fussey, of the Unite Union.

"I'm absolutely devastated and I'm totally angry with this decision really," he said.

"There's not much opportunity at any other BAE sites, so I think we're going to end up as supermarket checkout people."

Asked whether the plant might not close, Mr Fussey said: "We don't know yet. We've got to discuss with the company what happens.

"I've got to hope that BAE Systems actually see the assets on the table and see what the aircraft is capable to do. If they do realise its assets and potential and realise its saleable value with a bit of luck, you never know."

"Given that the project is virtually complete, scrapping the Nimrod MRA4 makes no sense whatsoever,” said Bernie Hamilton, Unite's national officer for Aerospace and Shipbuilding. “Its cancellation will mean the early closure of BAE’s site at Woodford, leading to the loss of the engineering jobs at BAE and on site at RAF Kinloss.”

A BAE Systems spokesman told the BBC any speculation about what might happen was just that - speculation.

The defence giant said it would study the details of the review - as well as the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review - and make a further statement on Thursday.

"Today's announcement gives us the basis on which to adapt our plans," a spokesman said.

Tyneside Safety Glass Ballot On Offer

2010-10-20T19:55:00.001+01:00

Unite members at Tyneside Safety Glass will be balloted on a ‘significantly improved’ pay offer.

And as a result, two weeks of continuous strike action due to have begun on 18 October 2010 has been called off at the Gateshead company, pending consultation and a ballot of Unite members.

Unite assistant general secretary, Tony Burke, said: ”The company has made a significantly improved pay offer and there has also been progress on working conditions. The strike action has been called off.

”Unite strongly recommends the improved offer and the fathers of the chapel (shop stewards) will be briefing members this week on the proposals and then there will be a ballot. The workforce should be congratulated on their firm stance and resolution during this dispute.

Seventy-three Unite members at Tyneside Safety Glass, Team Valley, began their dispute on 20 September 2010, after the company imposed a second year of pay freezes, combined with changes to shift patterns which in some cases could have added ten hours to the working week, taking Unite members up to the maximum 48 hour working week.

Unite to ballot Cabin Crew on offer to settle dispute

2010-10-20T19:52:00.001+01:00

Reuters report: - The union representing cabin crew at British Airways said on Wednesday it would ballot them on an offer to settle a year-long dispute that has brought strikes costing the airline 150 million pounds ($235 million).

Tony Woodley, joint General Secretary of the Unite union, said he had met cabin crew representatives on Tuesday and they had agreed to put the offer to a ballot of members as soon as possible.

"Representatives agreed that it is the best that can be achieved through negotiation in the current climate," Woodley said. "Our members ... will now decide whether this offer meets their requirements."

BA said it thought the offer, the details of which have not been made public, was fair.

"The offer we have made, based on our previous proposals, is very fair and reasonable and represents a genuine solution to the remaining issues in this dispute," a BA spokesman said.

A key sticking point in resolving the dispute, which originally centred on cuts to pay and staffing levels, has been the airline's decision to remove staff travel perks for cabin crew who took part in the strikes.

However, the head of Unite's cabin crew branch BASSA 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.

"It is now up to you. If you vote against the offer, the dispute goes on. If you vote to accept, the dispute is over," BASSA Secretary Duncan Holley said.

Les Bayliss: Aerospace and Shipbuilding Sector Update.

2010-10-20T06:43:00.001+01:00

Les Bayliss visits BAE Systems.
As part of a recent visit to Scotland, Les Bayliss visited BAE Systems. He addressed Unite Shop Stewards Groups from all three Scottish yards. Scotstoun, Govan, and Rosyth.

Les stated: "The positive relationship between BAE Systems and Unite is crucial to the continued success of the Company in Scotland and throughout it's other UK operations. The focus is on long term stability of employment, high quality product, and most importantly, a healthy respect for each others points of view.

The Government is already realising that it can't just demand £40 billion worth of cuts without examining exactly what that would mean to ordinary working people. Shipbuilding in Scotland has a wonderful history of struggle but more importantly survival. All three Scottish yards have flourished in recent years and Unite members are amongst the most highly skilled workers within the industry. We want to work with all our partners to ensure everyone involved has a future well beyond the current order book."

The Ballot for Unite GS opens on 25th October make sure you vote for Les !

Unite warning on cuts

2010-10-19T18:49:00.001+01:00

The coalition's threat to slash public spending by between 25 and 40 percent will destroy nearly as many private sector jobs as public sector ones, Unite, the country's largest union will warn at the national demonstration against the cuts today (Tuesday 19 October).

Ahead of tomorrow's comprehensive spending review - set to unveil the heaviest cuts in public investment in generations - Tony Woodley, Unite joint general secretary, will tell the rally of workers that for every four public sector jobs forced by government, three more will follow in the private sector: "The coalition has no brief for the devastation it is about to unleash on this country. Cuts on this scale make no sense. Business knows it needs the public sector to fill the growth gap created by a struggling private sector. And the people of this country, who most need their public services to help them during tough times, did not vote for the dismantling of their schools, hospitals and communities.

"Where is George Osborne's plan B which will see the government grow the economy through investment, implement pain-free taxes on the banks and pursue the real `muggers', the super rich who avoid their tax obligations to this country?

"For every four jobs lost in public services, three more will follow in private industries. This is not a price worth paying.

"Make no mistake, if this government forces through its brutal programme, Britain will not become a stronger economy - it will become a bleaker and more divided country."

Using research produced for the Scottish government (see note below), Unite has found that for every 1,000 public administration jobs cut a further 700 - at least - will follow in the private sector.

Unite also believes the true extent of the cuts will be to take a colossal £145 billion from the economy. This is based on the government's statement in the June budget that it will cut total managed expenditure by 7.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) over six years. This amounts to cuts of £108 billion, but as total managed expenditure also includes debt interest payments, this adds another £36.6 billion over the six years. That means the spending on services, benefits and jobs will be cut in real terms by £145 billion.

Unite has been pressing for the government to abandon a cuts-only policy and focus instead on growing the economy through investment. The union is releasing a briefing paper, Dealing with the deficit - there is a better way, which shows that:

Coalition cuts are ideological, not economic

Germany, France and Japan have all got higher net debt than the UK.
In April 2010, the IMF stated the UK has the lowest government debt as a proportion of GDP in the G7.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs will go

The Treasury predicts the cuts will lead to at least 500,000 public sector jobs losses and between 600,000 and 700,000 private sector jobs in the next four years.
For every four public sector jobs cuts, three more will follow in the private sector.
Unemployment is expected to surge above 10 oer cent in half of our regions by 2015.
Public sector spending cuts could reduce private sector gross output by around £46 billion per annum by 2014/15.
We are not all in this together

The cuts will make the poorest 10 per cent of households will be worse off by £1,514 a year - or 21.7 per cent of household income.
The richest 10 per cent of households will lose just 3.6 per cent of their annual household income.
With 65 per cent of the overall public sector workforce female, women will be hit harder by job cuts and the two year pay freeze (2011 - 2013).
Female unemployment now stands at one million; over 200,000 18-24 year olds have been out of work for over one year.

There is a better way

While the coalition cuts support to families the banks are allowed to defer paying £19 billion in corporation taxes.
Wealthy companies and individuals cost the country £25 billion a year in tax avoidance.
£4.7 billion can be raised by introducing a 50 per cent tax rate on incomes over £100,000.
A tax on the banks, derivative trading and major hedge funds of just 5p for every £1,000 transacted could generate $400 billion globally; in the UK tens of billions of pounds could be generated.
For every £1 billion spent on health, education and social work there is an increase in demand in the economy worth £1.854 billion.
Where is plan B?

The government has no strategy for growing jobs. It has denied a loan to Sheffield Forgemasters, is ending the Future Jobs Fund and scrapping the Regional Development Agencies.
In July 2010, the markets reported that UK deficit had narrowed, reducing government's borrowing requirements and prompting many to ask, why cut so hard and so deeply?

Tony Woodley is to address the TUC-coordinated rally in defence of the public services, which will be held at Westminster Central Hall from 12.30 on Tuesday 19th, before leading Unite members to lobby MPs for their help in resisting the slash in spending. Hundreds of Unite members will be attending the rally from across the UK.

Bernie Hamilton: "Defence review lacks strategy"

2010-10-19T18:44:00.000+01:00

Bernie Hamilton, Unite's national officer for Aerospace and Shipbuilding said: "The government's strategic defence review looks devoid of any strategy whatsoever. These decisions will cost thousands of skilled jobs and have long term consequences for the UK's manufacturing base. This review is about cost cutting and backroom deals between the Tories and the Lib Dems for the sake of the coalition not the country.

"Given that the project is virtually complete, scrapping the Nimrod MRA4 makes no sense whatsoever. Its cancellation will mean the early closure of BAE's site at Woodford, leading to the loss of the engineering jobs at BAE and on site at RAF Kinloss.

"The decision to complete the two aircraft carriers is welcome news, but a carrier that carries no planes is bizarre. Any further reductions to the surface fleet will cause major concerns across the workforces at Portsmouth, Rosyth and Devonport dock yards.

"David Cameron leaves many questions unanswered. We have no details on numbers of joint strike fighters and Typhoon Tranche 3B aircraft which leaves workforces across the UK feeling uncertain about their futures."

Message from Les Bayliss to all Unite Members in the Energy Sector,

2010-10-19T12:45:00.000+01:00

To all Members in the Energy Sector,

The Energy Sector is vital to the UK economy and you play an enormously significant role in providing the energy and resources that so many people take for granted. There are many challenges and opportunities ahead.

If I'm elected general secretary you and your industry will have my full support. That means protecting your terms and conditions by ensuring that Unite remains vigilant in exposing those employers who might use the economy as an excuse to put pressure on your living standards.

As the biggest union in the energy sector, we also have a wider responsibility to support and campaign for the sector itself. There are tough choices ahead and I want to ensure that Unite influences the debate on behalf of its members.

The current dash for gas will not bring a long term secure supply of energy; what is needed is a combination of nuclear, clean coal, gas and renewables. My goal is that Unite members gain full advantage of the challenges presented by the energy demands of a 21st century.

Considering the current plight of manufacturing, this energy expansion brings with it untold opportunities for the UK. There is no doubt that these enormous investments can and must herald the renaissance of engineering industry with the thousands of jobs that this will bring. But it means that you must have access to quality training at work to enable you to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Securing our energy supply must therefore be a fundamental priority as we make the transition to a low carbon economy.

This sector needs strong leadership to support you at work. A leadership that will vigorously campaign to ensure that the energy infrastructure, is fit for purpose. If I am elected general secretary, I pledge to do both.

The election for the new General Secretary of Unite opens on 25th October. It presents the ideal opportunity for you to join me in making Unite the great union our members deserve.

Yours fraternally

Les Bayliss

P.S. Keep up to date with my campaign at www.Les4gs.org

Bassa cabin crew branch considers new peace offer from British Airways

2010-10-18T21:57:00.001+01:00

From Guardian by Dan Milmo
Monday 18 October 2010 18.43 BST

Unite's cabin crew branch says it is considering new peace proposals from British Airways after talks at Acas.

Talks between the Unite trade union and British Airways have produced new proposals that could end a long-running industrial dispute involving the airline's cabin crew workforce.

Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive, and Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, held discussions last week under the auspices of the Acas conciliation service in an attempt to break the deadlock. According to Unite's main cabin crew branch, Bassa, the talks have resulted in the outlines of a new peace offer.

"We do now have details of the offer and also a reasonable understanding of its detail; as you would expect, it contains both good and bad," said Bassa in an email to members. "Some points have legal implications and so require additional legal opinion; we need to secure that as quickly as possible. We must all carefully decide our next step."

Bassa was noncommittal about the offer, adding that it was still considering a "formal response", but said the proposals would be considered by shop stewards and ultimately by members. The email stated: "Any – and all – decisions taken, will be yours."

A British Airways spokesman said: "We don't give a running commentary on the status of the Acas process."

The dispute between Unite and BA erupted last year after the airline reduced crewing levels on flights, following a voluntary redundancy programme. A subsequent strike vote saw Unite, which represents about 10,000 BA cabin crew, call 12 days of strikes last Christmas but the walkouts were blocked in the high court. Further ballots and the failure to reach an agreement saw a total of 22 days of strikes go ahead this year.

The dispute over how to achieve cost cuts in BA's cabin crew budget has been complicated by a row over sanctions imposed on flight attendants who participated in the strikes. Staff who took part in the walkouts have been barred from using BA's discounted fares scheme. BA has offered to reinstate staff travel perks but without the seniority clauses that give long-serving cabin crew priority over junior colleagues. Unite has demanded the scheme be reinstated in full, while BA has warned that the discounted tickets are for employees who "show loyalty" to the airline.

Bassa has threatened to stage walkouts over the Christmas period but BA has insisted it will run 100% of its long-haul services during a strike, including all long-haul and short-haul flights from Gatwick and City airports.

Earlier this month Walsh said warnings of further walkouts had not damaged bookings. "It has failed. Our traffic stats show that people are continuing to fly with us."

He added that Unite risked a public backlash if it considered action over Christmas. "If they were to get a mandate the public reaction would be pretty much the same as it was last Christmas. Our plans are robust and we know that we can operate a full long-haul programme."

BA and Unite dispute is stuck in 70s like Life on Mars, says Bayliss

2010-10-18T21:10:00.000+01:00

From The Guardian, by Tim Webb
Monday 18 October 2010 19.12 BST

Unite leadership candidate Les Bayliss is critical of the way the union has handled its dispute with BA.
The bitter industrial dispute between British Airways and Unite resembles Life on Mars, the BBC drama set in the 1970s, according to Les Bayliss, one of the candidates in the union's leadership election, which begins next week.

In a thinly disguised dig at his leadership rival, Len McCluskey, who has been a vocal supporter of the strike, he told the Guardian that the union lost the year-long dispute a "long time ago". "It [the dispute] has been disastrous," he said. "It has lowered our standing and reputation. We need to make sure it never happens again."

His outspoken criticism of the way Unite leaders have handled the BA dispute will further inflame an election campaign that has exposed the infighting and factionalism that continues to plague Unite.

Bayliss is presenting himself as the moderate candidate in the election to become general secretary of Unite, the UK's largest union. His main rival, McCluskey, is supported by Tony Woodley, one of the union's two current joint general secretaries. Bayliss is backed by Derek Simpson, the other joint general secretary.

Referring to the cult television series – centred around a police officer who is hit by a car in 2006 and wakes to find himself working at the same police station in 1973 – he said the BA dispute demonstrated that the union militancy that characterised the 1970s and 1980s did not work. "We have nothing to show for it [the BA dispute]," he said. "It shows that as an organisation we have got to focus on issues in a different way. It was like looking at an episode of Life on Mars with Willie Walsh on one side and Tony Woodley on the other."

The annual Trades Union Congress conference last month was dominated by disagreement over how best to respond to the impending spending cuts. Bayliss believes that the experiences of the trade union movement under Thatcher – when strikes were defeated and laws introduced to curb unions' power – should provide a salutary lesson to anyone suggesting a re-run today. There are many parallels, he said. "We need to learn the lessons of the past. Although we were supposed to have a lot of power then, we weren't able to win much. People use the argument about the poll tax, but that did not change any government."

He believes militant unionists are intent on an ideological fight with the coalition government. "There will be some [trade unionists] who want to see that [mass industrial action] sooner rather than later. It would be a mistake to go into that without a clear strategy. I'm worried that other candidates could use the union as a vehicle for their political views."

He also believes the government is itching for a fight with the unions and would welcome an outbreak of industrial unrest to distract the country from the impact of spending cuts. "They are saying bring it on, they want a distraction," he said. He also warned that it could result in further restrictions on unions' right to strike, particularly if the likes of Bob Crow, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, instigates further walk-outs in London ahead of the Olympics in 2012. "There is an issue with transport particularly when you get closer to the Olympics. That [further restrictions on unions] may well resonate with the government."

Bayliss believes unions should engage more with employers, citing the example of the steelmaker Corus, which partially mothballed its plant in Teesside before finding a new owner, with the help of unions. "It has been a great result. But it does not get column inches."

Unite, which has 1.5 million members, was formed in 2007 by the merger of the Amicus union and T&G, the old Transport and General Workers' union. But despite the union's name, it is anything but united, and much of the organisation is split between the two old Amicus and T&G factions. The integration of the two unions into one organisation has not been made easier by having the two former general secretaries running Unite together. Woodley was head of the T&G, while Simpson came from Amicus.

To Unite Members in Civil Aviation Sector,

2010-10-18T21:08:00.000+01:00

Unite is the largest trade union within civil aviation. It means that we are at the forefront of all of the major issues affecting the industry. With 70,000 members, our union must provide strong leadership and guidance to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

You have worked with aviation employers throughout these difficult economic times. Many of you have encountered pay freezes, redundancies, pay deferrals, efficiency savings and wholesale business restructuring.

I now want to see employers rewarding our members for the contribution they continually make to the success of this industry. That reward should be job security and increased earnings. I am certain that we can achieve this by working with our civil aviation Reps and Activists and providing them with the right resources and leadership.

You will have read in other emails that I want to support our skilled engineering members who are faced with constant change at their workplaces. I want to make sure that the fantastic work our Reps and Officers have undertaken in organising cabin crew, continues to develop in a positive way. The threat of outsourcing is constant, as are the increasing demands from both management and passengers alike. So I want to provide the very best assistance to be able to deal with these challenges.

The election for the new General Secretary of Unite opens on 25th October. It presents the ideal opportunity for you to join me in making Unite the great union our members deserve.

Yours fraternally

Les Bayliss

STATEMENT from Les Bayliss: Lloyds Group

2010-10-18T21:07:00.000+01:00

Assistant General Secretary, Les Bayliss - a leading candidate in the forthcoming Unite General Secretary election - today issued a statement in support of members at Lloyds Group where staff cuts are expected to be as high as 4,500, following integration from the HBOS acquisition.

Les, while visiting Scotland, took the time to record his frustration and anger at the severity of the cuts stating:

“It is an outrage that banks such as Lloyds, who were saved by ordinary UK taxpayers can within one year turn on those very same people. I refuse to accept that Lloyds Group or any other employer can dismiss thousands of loyal and dedicated employees with impunity. The question has to be asked of the Government, whether it is prepared to stand aside and allow this type of behaviour towards workers to go unchallenged”.

The election for the new General Secretary of Unite opens on 25th October. Les is seeking the support of every member within the Finance Sector.

Yours fraternally

Les Bayliss

Unions Hit Out A Claims of Redundancy Deal

2010-10-09T10:35:00.001+01:00

Unions hit out at Cabinet Office for announcing 'deal' on redundancy scheme

The ConDem Government has been accused of jumping the gun after suggesting that five trade unions had agreed to accept its latest offer on changes to the civil service redundancy scheme.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude announced that the 18-month long negotiations over redundancy terms had concluded after five of the six civil service unions agreed a deal, which specified that the maximum payout should be 21 months' salary. The Government had previously offered a cap of 15 months' pay.

"Throughout this process we have been committed to reaching a negotiated settlement that is affordable and gives protection to lower paid civil servants," Maude said. "These five unions - Prospect, FDA, Prison Officers' Association (POA), Unite and GMB - have made great efforts during the talks to reach an agreement about a sustainable scheme, while securing the best deal for their members.

"There is, of course, one name missing from the list of unions, the PCS (Public and Commercial Services union)," Maude added. "I greatly appreciate the efforts of the five other unions whose constructive proposals have allowed us to reach these new terms. I very much regret that the PCS leadership has not been able to sign up to this provisional agreement at this time."

However, POA general secretary Steve Gillan said he was "absolutely appalled" that Maude has stated that the POA have reached these new terms with four other unions.

"He is misleading Parliament and the general public by his outrageous claims," Gillan said. "The National Executive Committee of the POA is not due to meet until next Tuesday and it will only then be decided on our approach and response."

The POA said it is concerned that any ongoing discussions may have been deliberately "sabotaged" by the Cabinet Office.

Unite also made it clear there was no agreement, saying its officials will be telling its 22,000 members that the offer was the best that could be achieved through negotiation, but the terms would be worse than before.

The PCS, which has already won a High Court challenge to Labour Government plans to overhaul the redundancy scheme, said the new offer is still "unacceptable".

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We remain committed to reaching an agreement, but we will not be bullied into agreeing massive cuts in redundancy terms simply because the Government wants to lay waste to our members' jobs and livelihoods more cheaply. PCS is not just one union out of six. We are the overwhelming voice of civil servants, with twice as many members as the other five unions combined."

The Government intends that the new terms should supersede the current terms following the passing of the interim legislation (Superannuation Bill), which receives its third reading in Parliament on 13 October.

Workers Uniting Group News Updates: Supporting Unite members in struggle: Tunnocks; Tyneside Safety Glass; CT Buses; Coca Cola; Venezeulan Elections

2010-10-08T18:55:00.002+01:00

Unite and Tunnock's reach pay deal
Unite will recommend the new pay offer from Tunnocks. A pay dispute at the Tunnock's bakery in Uddingston could be over after the Unite union accepted an improved offer.
The 360 workers at the plant had staged two one-day strikes after rejecting a previous offer of 2%.
The deadlock looks to have been broken after management and the union returned to the conciliation service, Acas.
Details of the new offer, which is not yet known, will be recommended to Unite members at a meeting on Monday and be followed by a workplace ballot.
Confirming the new offer on pay, Unite regional officer, Derek Ormston said: "The talks at Acas have been very constructive.
"I'm pleased that Tunnock's have finally tabled an offer which we can strongly recommend to our members."
Tunnock's managing director, Boyd Tunnock, said: "After having met with Acas today, we are pleased to have reached an agreement with Unite who are strongly recommending the offer."

CT Buses London
CT Plus tries to break strike today over a derisory pay offer to the lowest paid bus workers in London, has been offering money to workers to break the strike.
Steve Hart, Unite regional secretary, said: "This is provocative and irresponsible. CT Plus' profits come from the public purse. For months Unite has been told that workers in one of London's best performing, yet worst paying bus companies, will not get a penny more. Now, they seem to have found an extra £270 per worker as long as they cross the picket line. This is money that could go a long way towards settling the dispute."
"Our members will not be fooled by these '30 pieces of silver'. They want a properly negotiated and sensible settlement that will bring them towards rates of pay already paid to other London busworkers.”

Tyneside Safety Glass Workers Vote For More Strikes
Unite members at Tyneside Safety Glass in Gateshead have voted for a further two weeks of strike action.
The striking workers will commence another fortnight of strikes on Monday October 18, their union Unite said.
They began their strike on Monday September 20 after the company imposed a second year of pay freezes as well as changes to shift patterns that added 10 hours to the working week in some cases.
Unite regional officer Bill Green said: "Over the past two years our members have been intimidated and bullied.
"The employer has openly informed our shop stewards that it intends to break the union on site. Basic pay is not that far above the national minimum wage and a further year of pay freezes will see their pay fall closer to the minimum wage."
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said members have been magnificent in "standing up to a bullying management and defending our union."

European trade unions plan action at Coca-Cola Enterprises
European trade unions at Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) are planning coordinated action on 27th October against the company's European wide restructuring, which is being pushed through without proper consultation.
On 5th October CCE trade unions met in Brussels to devise a strategy to force CCE to fully engage with its workforces over restructuring, which will include over 400 job cuts.
While CCE is paying lip service to consultation, the European trade unions do not believe that this consultation will be meaningful and fear that CCE will force through the measures with few, if any, concessions or changes to its original plans.
The joint trade unions are demanding as a minimum that there should be meaningful consultations, no forced redundancies and the company should find suitable alternative jobs for those who are displaced.
Coca-Cola workers at a bottling plant in Edmonton, north London took strike action on Wednesday 6 October in a dispute over pay.
The 110 Unite members at the plant voted by a massive eight to one majority to reject the company’s two per cent pay offer.
Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: "The company's refusal to enter into meaningful negotiations to end the strike at Edmonton sends a clear message that CCE wants to dictate rather than negotiate. European unions across CCE are planning coordinated action beginning with demonstrations at the end of October. The unions will not allow CCE to push through changes without the unions being fully involved and they expect a commitment to no forced redundancies."

Unite the Union assistant general secretary on Venezuelan elections
Unite the Union assistant general secretary, Jennie Bremner was invited to visit Venezuela as electoral observer along with Irish trade unionist, Adrian Kane.
Here are her observations on the September 26 legislative elections:
"Seeing the Venezuelan Elections first hand was an incredible experience. The Venezuelan people have a great understanding of the political process and more importantly, their role within that process. Voting is important to them as they fully appreciate the importance of their vote and the impact it will have on the direction of the country they live in.
Watching people queue for hours to vote was humbling such was the importance of the day.
There was intense media interest in the elections and the observers, and it was an honour to be interviewed in order to confirm my election experience which was one of open and transparent elections. People were encouraged to vote and assisted where it was necessary.
I believe here in the UK we have a lot to learn from the Venezuelan system of voting, electronic. The votes are also cast by paper should counts be necessary. A system with checks and balances with fingerprints being taken to confirm the voter. It was an example to us all. "

Message From Les Bayliss for members working in the GPM Sector

2010-10-07T07:47:00.002+01:00

This message was emailed from Les4GS.

To Unite members working in the GPM Sector:

Dear Colleague,

The trade union movement’s core principle is protecting its members.

GPM sector members have fought many industrial battles and I will always support our members in their industrial disputes. My vision for the future of Unite is not a choice between cosy deals and militancy - it’s a choice between winning and failure.

It is vital that Unite's sectors maintain industrial autonomy and receive the support and resources necessary to improve working conditions and pay for our members.

I want to ensure sectors such as the GPM remain strong industrially, supported by experienced officers. I want Chapels and regional officials to have their say in how we plan and win campaigns, as well as in the companies we target.

Reps and officers should play a full part in all our recruitment exercises, as well as the organisation of campaign activities, in order to effectively maintain, strengthen and grow membership.

The investment in training for both members and Unite representatives, is one of the many ways I think Unite could be transformed for the better.

The education of our members, is vital in making sure they have the skills to adapt to changing technology, as well as the education of all Unite representatives to be able to support our members and provide the service they need is, in my view, essential.

The election for the new General Secretary of Unite opens on 25th October. It presents the ideal opportunity for you to join me in making Unite the great union our members deserve.

Yours fraternally

Les Bayliss

P.S. Keep up to date with my campaign at www.Les4gs.org

Surge In Union Members

2010-10-07T06:58:00.000+01:00

Bracknell:

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2079702_unions_surge_in_numbers

Unite general secretary election - Les Bayliss Statement

2010-10-06T19:02:00.002+01:00

Each properly nominated candidate who has accepted nomination is entitled to submit an election address up to a maximum of 600 words. Below is the statement published on the Unite website by Workers Uniting Group Progressive Left Candidate Les Bayliss

Fellow Members:
In two weeks time you will be receiving ballot papers along with an election address in which I will be setting out my request for your support in the election for General Secretary.

All candidates have been given this opportunity by the Executive Council.

Who am I?

Like you I am a member, with over 40 years experience representing our members at all levels in the Union, culminating with my present role as Assistant General Secretary. My current duties and responsibilities include handling the finances of the union, liaising with retired members, and strategic oversight of the Construction and Building Services Sector.

My Views

That Unite is not just the biggest union but also the best union. I see our sector structure as essential for providing a relevant voice to all our members, in an organisation as large and diverse as ours.

I believe that the officers that serve us should not only be well trained and motivated but should be drawn from areas relevant to the members they will be serving. Put simply, construction workers need dedicated officers that understand the construction industry, and finance workers need officers familiar with their sector, and so on throughout the Union.

It is also important that members within each sector have a voice in the selection process of officers, perhaps through the sector committees that are themselves elected.

Union Services

With all its massive resources, Unite should be in a position to provide speedy accurate and professional support to members whenever and wherever it is needed. As General Secretary I will establish a support centre available to give members advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, be it about problems in the workplace or legal matters arising from work. This will ensure the speedy deployment of officers where needed.

Communications

It should not be beyond our ability to provide

a free diary
regular journal dealing with sector specific issues
targeted email bulletins
information, advice and support
and last but not least a Unite membership card.

Support

We all pay our contributions and rightly expect a service in return. We need to know we have the professional support of research, legal and representative help.

Solidarity and Equality

I expect all members, irrespective of race, colour, religion, or sexual orientation, to have equal opportunity and be treated equally. Together we are strong. We all face the same difficulties and together we gain from unity and solidarity.

Politics

Dealing with politics is unavoidable when representing members’ interests. I believe we are better off with a Labour Government, but we need one that delivers for working people.

Please feel free to look up further information or contact me via my web site at:

http://www.les4gs.org/

Les Bayliss

Unite Intervention Delivers Independent Review Of Accident Reporting At Network Rail

2010-10-05T16:44:00.001+01:00

Network Rail has agreed to an independent review of how it reports staff accidents following intervention by Unite. Bob Rixham, Unite's National Officer for railways, exposed the under-reporting of minor accidents amongst workers. The company's chairman, Rick Haythornthwaite, is now inviting the Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) to review the reporting system for so-called "riddor" incidents. Unite health and safety officers will join the RSSB team on the safety culture review. Riddor stands for 'reporting of iinjuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations' which were established by the Health and Safety Executive in 1995. The RSSB is an independent rail industry body dedicated to improving health and safety on the UK's railways. Riddor states all injuries to workers from an accident connected with work that result in them being "unable to do their full range of normal duties for more than three days" must be reported.
Last year seven directors earned £2.36 million in bonuses. Network Rail's safety record is taken into consideration when the remuneration committee awards bonuses. According to Network Rail's annual report 2009/10: "Safety is one of the key discretionary items for assessment for the (remuneration) committee when it comes to consideration of payments under the incentive plan."
Network Rail had also put in place management league tables where managers would have points deducted for riddor incidents. Unite believes the league tables acted as an incentive for managers to under-report accidents. Network Rail has now agreed to end the use of the league tables but is refusing to re-open the issue of bonuses paid to directors.
Bob Rixham said: "Network Rail's chairman is to be congratulated. This is a positive step forward. The operator's credibility has been severely undermined by the under-reporting of accidents. Behind the statistics are real people who have been injured at work. Network Rail now has the opportunity to instigate change to a safer railway for rail workers and in doing so restore its credibility.
"It's still outrageous that senior directors can walk away with huge bonuses when Network Rail wrongly boosted its safety record. Network Rail's chairman must ensure that part of the bonuses paid to directors are recouped and donated to the transport benevolent fund."
New data shown by Bob Rixham to Rick Haythornthwaite in the past fortnight indicated that around 700 riddor incidents are not reported by contractors every year on top of the under-reporting by Network Rail managers.

Workers Uniting Group Meeting - Bristol

2010-10-02T09:43:00.006+01:00

There will be Workers Uniting Group Meeting in Bristol on Monday 4th October at 6.30p.m. at St George Labour Club; 326A Church Road; St George; Bristol; BS5 8AJ

GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE LES BAYLISS - Unite Assistant General Secretary
Workers Uniting Group - Progressive Left Candidate for Unite General Secretary

Come along and hear Les talk about his policies for Unite!

Better Service and Support for members; Better Judgement; Campaiging for Better Jobs; Support and campaigning to save our public services; Ed Miliband's election - what this means for Unite.

All Unite members welcome.

Read more about Les Bayliss' policies, latest press releases and news from the campaign at

www.les4gs.org
www.les4gsnw.co.uk
www.les4gswm.wordpress.com

Fuel tanker strikes ditched, but talks continue - Road Transport.com

2010-10-02T08:48:00.004+01:00

Repost from Road Transport.com

Fuel tanker strikes ditched, but talks continue

Threats of strike action by fuel tanker drivers this month have receded, but a union-led campaign targeted at improving pay and conditions for members has not been abandoned, says Unite.

The trade union tells MT that positive progress has been made between employers and employees. This follows a letter from Unite to fuel sector operators including BP, Shell and Esso, as well as retailers Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda,warning of potential industrial action by some of Britain's 3,000 fuel tanker drivers in response to a "squeezing of their conditions".

A Unite spokesman says: "A week ago a number of tanker drivers had a conference to address the letter we sent out. It was agreed that we need to step up our efforts to get employers and retailers to engage with Unite to address issues of pay, conditions and low morale in the sector.

"There are no strikes planned, but we are cont-inuing with the campaign to work on the problems that tanker drivers face."

He confirms some operators have indicated they will meet with Unite to discuss the dispute, but would not reveal which companies had responded to the letter.

Unite says the increased use of alternative contractors willing to undercut rivals has driven down wages, while tanker driver members have reported a "brutal management style" with "little protection for staff".

Ron Webb, Unite's national officer for logistics said when the letter was sent out: "We have consistently warned the oil employers that their strategy of attacking wages and squeezing more and more out of their drivers, but giving them less and less in return, will backfire."

Wincanton, which runs fuel tankers, would not comment on the dispute because "contract negotiations are a private matter". However, the firm maintains it has a good relationship with its fuel tanker driver employees.

Meanwhile, TransAction founder Mike Presneill tells MT, that in the event of a strike by tanker drivers, the pressure group would urge the industry to support all tanker drivers, given their support for fuel duty protests in previous years.

Unite Demo Rattles NFU

2010-10-02T08:39:00.002+01:00

The National Farmers Union certainly seems rattled by aUnite demo at their fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference over the future of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB). The NFU was accused of having ‘no answers’ to the concerns of farm workers.

Members of the Unite union turned up in numbers at the NFU fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester to protest at the NFU’s support for coalition Government’s plans to scrap the AWB.

They joined former Defra Secretary Hilary Benn, who is fighting the plan, in urging NFU president Peter Kendall to justify the policy.

Afterwards Unite issued a statement saying the NFU had ‘no answers’ to fundamental questions about relations between farmers and their employees once AWB goes.

Ian Waddell, national officer of Unite, which negotiates on behalf of 154,000 agricultural workers, said:

“The Agricultural Wages Board provides a floor of protection for workers and has guaranteed settled industrial relations in farming for the last 76 years. We wanted to know how the NFU saw wages and conditions being maintained and improved if their campaign for abolition was successful. Unfortunately, they could give no answers. “

According to Farmers Guardian NFU leaders seemed shocked at how angry farm workers are over abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board. Their approach seems to be ‘Trust us - we’re nice people’.”

The NFU have accepted Ian Waddell’s invitation for a meeting to discuss these issues. “I do hope that Unite will seek a constructive professional dialogue and not give in to veiled threats of industrial action that have been made by some trade union representatives,” he said.

Coup in Ecaudor is over.

2010-10-01T15:54:00.001+01:00

The military has freed Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa and the attempted coup in Ecaudor against the elected government is over.

Troops loyal to Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa have freed him from the military hospital where he was previously held hostage by right-wing coup police. Five troops were injured during the rescue operation but no soldier was killed.

Thousands of people gathered in Quito in support of the president and against the coup. Once released, Correa addressed a large number of triumphant supporters gathered at the Plaza of Independence in Quito chanting: “El pueblo unido jamás… será vencido!” ("The people united will never be defeated!")

“What loyalty, what support! This will serve as an example for those who want to stop the revolution not through the ballot box but with weapons,” said President Correa.

Additionally, Ecuador’s police commander General Freddy Martinez has now resigned. About 50 people, including Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, were injured on Thursday during clashes between the rebel police and supporters of the Ecuadoran president.

Support for Correa has been strong internationally and regionally, with the Organization of American States making a strong statement and heads of state of members of UNASUR had planned on travelling to Ecuador if necessary. Hugo Chavez, the Venezulean president, described the unrest as “an effort to overthrow President Correa," adding that "together with the people of Latin America and the Caribbean we will be vigilant and standing in solidarity [with Correa] in this historic moment.”

Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk

Tony Woodley on Ed Miliband

2010-10-01T10:11:00.001+01:00

Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "Ed Miliband has addressed head on those concerns which have cost this party five million votes since 1997 – the illegal war in Iraq, insecure jobs, the sense that despite all the good things Labour did to make Britain a fairer place, that the government stopped being on their side.

"People can now begin to understand the character of this man – in our new leader, we have a decent man who understands the problems of ordinary people.

"At long last, we have an acknowledgment that the Iraq war was a stain on the character of our party.

"At long last, we have an acknowledgment of the pain caused to ordinary people by out of control banks and a blind faith in the markets.

"At long last, we have a leader who understands that a sound economy depends on growth, not cuts, and that we need a living wage to help close the wealth gap.

"At long last, there is an acceptance that we elect our governments to work for jobs, to save people’s homes and keep a tighter rein on big business.

"If I was David Cameron I would be starting to get worried. Ed’s message will connect with those lost voters, dismayed by the reheated Thatcherism of the government."

URGENT! Attempted coup against Ecuadorean government

2010-10-01T07:55:00.001+01:00

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY: URGENT! Attempted coup against Ecuadorean government

Initial reports today inform that sections of the Ecuadorean Police are staging street demonstrations, ostensibly for economic demands but in reality trying to subvert the legal order, including through trying to occupy the National Parliament. Additionally, in open revolt against the government, some police officers have taken illegal control over their police stations.

There are also reports that members of the Quito army barracks in the capital city occupied these barracks in open mutiny against the government. In response, President Rafael Correa went to the barracks to talk to the rebels and was attacked by CS gas which exploded near his face. The President is now in the hospital of the Quito Regiment, with minor concussions but well. The armed forces have him under their control in the Quito barracks.

In a clearly orchestrated action of open rebellion, members of the armed forces also took control and closed the Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre airport.

In response to these developments, on live TV through TELESUR at about 18 hrs (GMT) President Rafael Correa said: "It's a coup d'etat, a conspiracy organised by the opposition." President Correa hinted that UNASUR was likely to hold an emergency meeting to defend the democratic order that is under threat in Ecuador and also said that police officers supportive of the revolt were trying to get to his hospital room to attack him. He added that he was standing firm in the defence of the democratic order in Ecuador and there was no way he would capitulate, and that he could only lose his life.

The Foreign Affairs minister has called upon people to march to the hospital to protect the life of the President. Mass demonstrations are now taking place in the whole of Ecuador in support of the legitimate and democratically-elected government of President Correa. People are currently congregating around the Quito barracks hospital to protect the President.

President Correa and his government have won every single democratic election since his election in 2006. The government has expanded democracy and implemented policies to redistribute income to the poor, benefiting millions of people hitherto socially excluded. The country has also had a new constitution overwhelmingly approved at a national referendum, which is deemed to be one of the greenest and most progressive constitutions in the world.

Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk

Don't Forget To Write To Your MP - John McDonnell's Bill

2010-09-30T18:02:00.001+01:00

Support Fairness At Work - Lobby Your MP Now!

The Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill has been introduced in response to the raft of court cases brought against unions whose members had voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

John McDonnell MP has been drawn in the Private Members Bill ballot and is campaigning to repeal part of the anti-trade union laws which make it possible for employers to take trade unions to court to block strike action on minor technicalities.

The current legislation puts a massive burden on trade unions and means trade union ballots are subject to far tighter regulations than general elections.

The Bill will:

Ensure fairer industrial action balloting procedures
Prevent employers exploiting minor technical errors in ballots and notices in order to invalidate the whole ballot
Prevent the courts from overruling a democratic ballot merely on technical grounds.
The Bill is having its Second Reading in Parliament on the 22 October 2010 and in order for this to take place 100 MPs must be present in the Commons. Write to your MP now asking them to make sure they are there!

And please attend the demonstration and rally in support of the Bill on the 13th October 2010

For more information please visit
http://www.unitedcampaign.org.uk/bill.php

Les Bayliss Gives Full Support To Ed Miliband at Workers Uniting Group Meeting at Labour Conference

2010-09-30T17:58:00.003+01:00

“Trade unions are the bedrock of civilised society” – Ed Miliband

Tuesday September 28th

A well attended meeting of the Workers Uniting Group on Septmeber 28th heard Les Bayliss the Progressive Left - Workers Uniting Group candidate for Unite General Secretary welcome Ed Miliband’s election as Labour Party leader. He told the meeting that Unite had been instrumental in getting Ed elected and praised the work of the Unite political department in the campaign.

The result had been remarkable given that Ed had been behind in the polls.

Les said he had been confident that Ed would be elected and that’s why he was able to issue a statement through his website shortly after the leadership ballot result on early Saturday evening.

Les said he fully supported the comments made by Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson on Ed’s election, and on his Leaders speech that afternoon – notably when he said “Trade Unions are the bedrock of a civilised society”, and that the Labour Party must now be the optimist party and play our part in Labour’s new generation and not look back to a bygone era".

Les also welcomed the positive comments from Ed on agency workers, council housing, the Iraq war, and his opposition to the attack on the Palestinian flotilla.

Les also reported on his election campaign so far. He said his policies were being well received by members and activists up and down the country. He was satisfied that he had neared his target for branch and reps nominations in the election process and he was greatly encouraged by the support of comrades who wanted to take Unite forward.

He also explained his deep concern’s about falling Unite membership which had to be arrested quickly if we were to avoid damaging the financial recovery Unite had made. Our organising campaigns and project had to be made to work to replace the members we were losing - and would lose with the proposed cuts in public services which would also knock onto the private sector.

The campaign against the cuts had to be built with support from communities, politicians and other unions. We had to work to ensure that when the fight came we were in a fit state to win the campaign and not be branded as “mindless militants” by the media.

He also discussed the union’s international work explaining the importance of Workers Uniting, the global union in fighting back against multi-nationals.

Les also spoke about recent media coverage notably the coverage of his campaign in the News Of The World. He accepted this was a sensitive issue, but polling had shown that this paper is widely read by Unite members. He also said he would take “no lessons” from others on the Murdoch media – particularly when other officers had been interviewed or had articles and interviews published in Murdoch’s Times, Sunday Times and gave interviews to Sky TV.

In a question and answer session an issue was raised about the 24 contact centre and its effect on branch’s notably in construction where the branch was the point of contact. Les assured the delegates that the contact centre would not replace branch’s but would assist them in their work.

There was also questions raised about union properties, training courses for reps and Ed Miliband’s speech. A discussion took place about Ed’s comment on trade unions and also on his comment on having “no truck with a wave of irresponsible strikes”.

A speaker also said he was concerned that a Unite delegate had been seen by the media to respond by shouting “rubbish”. This, he said sent out the wrong signal to members who should be proud of the work done by Unite in getting Ed Miliband elected.

Les said it was right that we should avoid making “overblown statements” and pointed out that he felt Ed Miliband had gone some distance in reassuring unions he was on our side. Notably on the comment about a catering worker who had to buy her own uniform and felt badly treated with Ed Miliband saying it was right she joined a union.

However Ed had used the words “irresponsible strikes” and it was Les's view that the statement did not rule out support for all strikes and disputes. That was the reason we must build a broad coalition against the cuts and should avoid undermining the goodwill built up.

Closing the debate Les said - This was now the time to build unity within Unite, prepare for the battles ahead and Unite behind our new leader.

Trade union leaders threatened with arrest following strike

2010-09-24T15:16:00.000+01:00

Several union leaders and activists organizing a nationwide strike of garment factory workers in Cambodia are at risk of arrest and legal action.

The five day national strike which involved 200,000 workers was called by a coalition of garment industry unions in protest at a new minimum wage set for the garment and footwear industry.

Last week, the Prime Minister authorized the police and local authorities to begin unspecified legal action against strike leaders. The courts are reported to have warrants ready for the arrest of nine individuals for incitement.

Although the strike was temporarily suspended on 16 September following an offer of further negotiations, it is feared that the threat of legal action remains.

Amnesty International has launched a global campaign which I urge you to support.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=716

BMI to land in high court as Unite's legal action takes-off

2010-09-24T11:13:00.000+01:00

Unite, Britain's biggest union, is taking BMI to the high court for reneging on a pay increase worth up to £6 million which was promised to more than 3,000 staff at the airline.

The action is thought to be one of the first of its kind, with Unite taking BMI to the high court for breach of contract. A three year pay agreement was entered into in 2007 between Unite and BMI, providing pay rises in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The first two pay rises were paid, but due to economic circumstances the union agreed to accept a deferral of the 4.75 per cent pay rise due on April 2009 to 31 March 2010. However, in early 2010 it became clear that the company did not intend to honour the agreement. BMI even claimed that honouring the agreement would result in job cuts.

The previous owner of BMI was paid £320 million by the new owners Lufthansa around the same time as the original agreement was signed. BMI employees have not received any pay increase since 2008. Unite has therefore notified CEO Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer of its intention to pursue high court action to resolve this matter.

Unite's national officer, Brian Boyd, said: "Unite is lodging a high court claim against BMI because the company owes its employees a long overdue pay increase. Staff agreed to defer the increase to help the company during difficult times, they are still waiting for the company to honour its end of the bargain. Staff have not had an increase in earnings since 2008. Lufthansa - which owns BMI - is a huge airline, and employees need reward for their dedication and loyalty. Unite remains available to meet with BMI but we have already made clear what we consider an acceptable solution."

The agreement reached on pay covers all employees at BMI mainline, BMI regional and BMI baby. Unite's lawyers wrote to BMI’s CEO on 8 September notifying the company that they have been instructed by Unite to commence proceedings in the high court.

Plymouth in 'ghost town' warning over Devonport

2010-09-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

Unite has launched a petition to protect the Devonport dockyards ahead of a strategic defence review in October.

The Ministry and Defence is looking at cuts to its budget of between 10% and 20%.

That has raised concern about Devonport, home base of the largest ship in the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean, and Trafalgar Class submarines.

Dave Springbett, of Unite, said: "We want to send a very strong message to the government that Plymouth cannot survive without the dockyard.

"It is not just the people in the dockyards - it is the whole economy of Plymouth.

"Seven thousand jobs are associated with the navy and navy base and a further 7,000 depend on it.

"It creates 10% of Plymouth's income on its own.

"If you take it out of Plymouth, it will almost be a ghost town."

He said a petition, which is available from the union's offices in Longbridge Road, Plymouth, could work.

"Once the people of Plymouth get behind something they really get behind something.

"If you get thousands of signatures it will, along with everything else, have an effect on government."

Jaguar Land Rover - Halewood

2010-09-24T09:58:00.001+01:00

Union vows to convert Halewood agency contracts at Jaguar Land Rover into permanent jobs

Jaguar Land Rover has begun to recruit 1,000 new staff for the launch of its prestige Range Rover Evoque in Merseyside.

But the company revealed most will be temporary contracts working for recruitment agency Manpower.

But union leaders revealed once the “baby Range Rover” reaches full production next year, alongside the Halewood plant’s successful Land Rover Freelander 2 model, they have a deal with management to open talks on converting the temporary posts into permanent Land Rover jobs.

Dave Osborne, national car industry spokesman for Unite said he rated their chances “very probable”.

JLR announced the start of recruitment yesterday, saying a small number of the 1,000 jobs will be engineering or supervisory staff taken on by the company.

A Halewood spokeswoman said the majority will be production line workers recruited by Manpower. She could not reveal the exact number involved or the length of their contracts.

Mr Osborne said: “An agreement was reached between the company and the union in Halewood.

“Part of the agreement was to bring them (staff) in on temporary contracts in the build-up to the launch.

“Once the car is launched – and we are also looking at the market recovering for Freelander as well – we see the opportunity to convert them to permanent JLR employees as being very probable.”

He said the recruitment drive was “welcome news and secures Halewood’s long-term future”.

Ralf Speth, JLR chief executive, said: “The Range Rover Evoque is a significant step in the company’s plan to grow the JLR business.

“It is a truly global car and will be sold in over 160 markets around the world. Around 85% of the models built at Halewood will be exported, making a significant contribution to the UK economy.”

The Evoque was first unveiled as the LRX concept car.

Plant director Michael Straughan added: “Halewood has a reputation for excellent manufacturing quality and is recognised throughout the industry as a centre of excellence for lean manufacturing.

“The Range Rover Evoque has been eagerly anticipated since we first showed the LRX concept in Detroit in 2008, so we are looking forward to welcoming some enthusiastic new recruits to the team to deliver the Range Rover Evoque to the marketplace.”

The Evoque is the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover and will make its public debut next Thursday in Paris.

Strike At Tyneside Safety Glass

2010-09-24T09:57:00.000+01:00

Unite members at Tyneside Safety Glass continued their strike action on Thursday over a pay freeze and changes to working hours.

Unite called the action at the Gateshead firm after the company imposed a pay freeze for the second year running combined with changes to shift patterns.

In some cases, it will add an extra 10 hours to the working week, taking some workers up to the maximum 48-hour working week allowed under the European Working Time Directive.

According to Unite, bosses have told union reps that they intend to break the union on site and, over the past two years, intimidation and bulling by management has lead to staff being informed of shift changes with minimal notice, with no consideration to a work-life balance or family-friendly policies.

Following negotiations with the company Unite regional officer Bill Green said: "We have offered a range of options to the company, but these were all rejected out of hand and even after the intervention of Acas it became clear that this dispute is not just about pay.

"Unite understands the company's personnel manager told our representative 'that the company had beaten the union before and would beat it again.'

"Despite these attempts to frighten and bully our members, their comments have not intimidated them but rallied them together and made them stronger.

"We are dismayed that management have refused to hold meaningful talks to settle the dispute. We hope this strike will send a message to the company that they need to return to negotiations to bring the dispute to an end."

Workers started strike action on Monday and a further seven-day strike is planned from Monday October 4.

Tunnocks Dispute

2010-09-24T09:55:00.000+01:00

Wafers of the world, unite!

Striking workers at iconic Scottish confectioners Tunnock's demonstrated outside its factory gates at the start of a two-day stoppage over pay.

Some 350 members of the Unite union walked out yesterday after rejecting the family-owned company's 2 per cent offer.

The union has also started an indefinite overtime ban and work to rule at the 120-year-old company in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, which employs 550 people.

Strikers claimed the action had brought manufacturing of products such as Caramel Wafers and Snowballs and Tea Cakes to a halt, but Tunnock's refused to comment.

The second strike will follow on Tuesday after the firm's four-day holiday closure.

Tony Devlin, 43, regional industrial organiser for Unite, said: "Things have been going well, with more than 250 people turning up at the start of the strike.

"We had a mass meeting with members on Wednesday after the company offered a 2 per cent rise and decided that the strike would go ahead.

"They are determined to see the strike through and are unhappy with how they have been treated.

"Before we had an offer the company had put up notices internally saying the union had rejected a 2 per cent pay increase. That is fundamentally incorrect.

"Our members have accepted pay offers in the past with austerity in mind, then the directors offered themselves significant dividends straight after." One striker, who asked not to be named, speaking from the rain-soaked picket line, accused company chiefs of lying to staff.

He said: "The turnout has been great so hopefully the company will see how we feel.

"Work has near enough stopped inside. The only ones left are the supervisors.

"The bottom line is that we feel lied to. If they had been up front and offered the pay increase we would have probably accepted it.

"Things are getting harder and it's only going to get worse.

"We all don't want to be standing out here because we're losing money, but we will stay for as long as it takes."

Another worker said: "This has been the build-up of a lot of things but we feel we need to make a stand.

"It's not the same place to work any more.

Row over pay at DPP factory

2010-09-22T20:40:00.001+01:00

Unite engineers employed at Dairy Produce Packers in Coleraine, NI have voted for strike action in what they describe as "a row over pay". The eleven engineers, who are Unite union members at the DPP plant which is part of the Kerry Group, make cheese slices for McDonalds, Burger King, Sainsbury's and Morrison's.

Their union said that they have voted overwhelmingly for the action. Sean Smyth, Regional Industrial Organiser with Unite, said: "The engineers who are critical to production have rejected a company offer of a pay freeze for nine months to be followed by a 3 per cent rise for the next 15 months.

"The engineers have rejected the offer as the company, which has a European wide recognition for its products, is a very profitable concern.

"Once these engineers stop work, the production line will stop. More than 150 production workers will also be balloted to support their colleagues' actions."

Anger over Blindcraft closure

2010-09-22T20:36:00.001+01:00

Edinburgh councillors have been accused of losing their morals and humanity as they prepare to shut down a charity that gives work to the blind and disabled.

Councillors have agreed to start a consultation period that is expected to lead to around 70 staff at Craigmillar-based Blindcraft losing their jobs.

Unite accused them of attacking some of the city's most vulnerable people. Unite regional officer Gillian McKay said: "Edinburgh City Council has lost its morals and humanity. The SNP and Lib Dems have clearly indicated that they are prepared to attack even the most vulnerable members of our society."

Cllr Lesley Hinds, health spokeswoman for the Labour group on the city council, said: "Despite several suggestions by the Labour group over the last three years which could have saved Blindcraft, this Administration have chosen to attack the vulnerable in their dash for cash. They have put pounds before people once again."

20,000 sign Billingsgate petition

2010-09-22T20:35:00.000+01:00

Fish porters fighting to save an historic London market are to hand in a 20,000 name petition in support of their case.
The workers warned that plans to revoke bye-laws governing the running of Billingsgate Market threaten its future and will lead to job losses.

The petition will be handed in to London's Guildhall by the fish porters, who are members of Unite.

Steve Hart, the union's London regional secretary, said: "It is now time for the City of London Corporation to come to their senses and abandon the pointless changes being planned for Billingsgate Market.
"The fish porters have the support of over 20,000 Londoners in their opposition to the fundamental changes being proposed."

Tunnock's Dispute - Supplies of teacakes, snowballs and caramel wafers could be hit.

2010-09-22T20:31:00.002+01:00

Tunnock’s staff are on verge of staging a strike

Unite members are on the verge of staging a 24-hour strike tomorrow in a row over pay at Tunnocks - the world famous producer of Snowball's, caramel wafers and tea cakes.

Unite members will now take part in the walkout, with further industrial action threatened.

Unite members are due to hold a mass meeting today to discuss the dispute amid warnings that an all-out stoppage has not been ruled out.

Workers had earlier rejected a 2% pay rise as inadequate.

Unite regional officer Tony Devlin said: “Our members are furious at management’s audacity to put out conflicting information regarding any offers made. As far as we are concerned no formal offers were made.

“We have continually said that if a sensible offer with no conditions is made, then we shall put that to our members for them to decide.”

Production will be shut down for four days as they are due to be absent on Friday and Monday because of the September weekend holiday.

Latest company accounts show Tunnock’s turnover increased from £31.8million to £35.6m between 2008 and 2009 although pre-tax profits fell £1.35m to £1.05m.

Three months ago workers were treated to a party at the Glasgow Hilton hotel as a thank you for their efforts.

Tunnock’s managing director Boyd Tunnock, 77, paid for the event in June to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the firm.

Sun Chemical to sign national agreement with Unite

2010-09-22T20:30:00.000+01:00

Unite has signed a new company wide collective bargaining agreement with printing ink giant Sun Chemical.
The national agreement, which is the first to have been reached between the ink manufacturer and the union, will cover all current collective bargaining agreements.
It will be signed by seven senior Unite workplace reps, covering all sites in the UK and all grades of staff, along with Sun Chemical’s senior management team.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke said: "I welcome this agreement and the work undertaken by the team to secure it.
"This marks the beginning of a new phase in what I hope will be a long, productive and fruitful relationship. We now look forward to working with Sun Chemicals in the interests of their staff and our members."
Unite regional officer, Louisa Bull added: "This agreement is a real breakthrough for Unite members at Sun Chemical. Our reps, members and the management have shown real vision in reaching this agreement.
"I am pleased that staff working for Sun Chemical now have a modern and progressive union to represent them at work and we offer our congratulations to all concerned."
Sun Chemical said that it worked with Unite closely, but it did not wish to add anything more at this time.

Coca Cola Dispute Latest

2010-09-22T20:28:00.000+01:00

Unite has warned Coca-Cola management to return to the negotiating table and resolve a pay dispute, or risk spreading unrest across the company.

The threat came ahead of the latest two-day strike at Coca-Cola Enterprises' bottling plant in Edmonton, north London, which began at 3pm ton 22 September.

Workers, who downed tools for the first time last week, are planning further action on 29 and 30 September, unless the drinks giant - which reported profits of £618 million last year - improves its 2% pay offer.

Jennie Formby, national officer for food and drink at Unite, said: "Coca-Cola is a licence to print money yet the company is determined to hold down its workers' pay. All the workers want is a fair deal and something which helps them make ends meet.

"There was superb support for the strike action last week and our fight will continue until Coca-Cola does the right thing.

"But we are very concerned by the lack of commitment from Coca-Cola Enterprises to settling this dispute - the company should resume talks with us to get this plant working again."

In a statement, Coca-Cola Enterprises said: "We are expecting industrial action to take place at our Edmonton site today. This is disappointing as we remain open to further dialogue with all our employees and the union. We continue to believe this offers the prospect of a constructive outcome, and that the pay offer we have made is fair in the current climate."

Workers Uniting Group - Labour Conference Meeting

2010-09-21T13:47:00.004+01:00

Workers Uniting Group - Labour Party Conference Meeting

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 28th

7pm - 9pm

MECHANICS CENTRE, MANCHESTER
103 Princess St, Manchester, Greater Manchester M16DD

SPEAKER - LES BAYLISS, Unite AGS and Workers Uniting Group - Progressive Left Candidate for Unite General Secretary

Open to all Unite members in the North West and Conference Delegates

Les4GS: Les Bayliss Speech At The TUC on Blacklisting

2010-09-19T12:18:00.005+01:00

Les Bayliss Progressive Left Candidate for Unite General Secretary in his speech on Blacklisting told the TUC in Manchester that bosses of blacklisting companies should face a spell behind bars.

Mr. President, Les Bayliss, Unite - seconding the motion.

12 months ago we welcomed the Labour Government’s belated promise to deal with the disgraceful practice of denying our members work because of their trade union activities. Activities such as fighting for agreed pay and conditions - and safe working practices.

Nowhere is this outrageous practice more prevalent than in the construction sector.

I take no pleasure in saying that the regulations we got lacked the teeth and scope to deal adequately with the problem.

Our comrades in UCATT commissioned a report which showed where the regulations failed - but still the government - a Labour Government - failed to listen.

How can it be right that employers can discriminate against our members, and do so in the knowledge that if found out - the penalty they will pay will be pocket change.

Congress - contrast that some of our members in construction who are deprived from earning a living because they have campaigned for safe working conditions and yet they would receive a pittance in compensation were they able to prove that they had been blacklisted.

Congress – we must never forget the thousands of our members who suffered at the hands of the Economic League, as I did in the 1970s, when I was blacklisted - and Ian Kerr’s Consulting Association.

Kerr received a fine of just £5000 for his activities!!! A measly sum, which shocked the construction industry and health and safety experts.

Yet, companies paid him almost £500,000 to spy on, and discriminate against over 1,500 trade unionists.

Congress - It’s a disgrace - the real penalty for these activities should have been a spell behind bars!! And don’t forget – our members were not eligible to pursue retrospective claims under the Government’s new regulations.

Congress we are calling for changes to the regulations and for new legislation and we know we will have a battle against a government, pressured by the CBI and Institute of Directors to further undermine trade union rights.

So we ask for your support, as we regroup and prepare to fight yet again to outlaw blacklisting.

Lets end discrimination and blacklisting against our members and decent working people.

I second the motion.

Employers Winge On EU Maternity Leave Extension

2010-09-19T09:20:00.001+01:00

EU plans to extend the length of maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay could cost the UK £2.5 billion per year, says the British Chamber of Commerce. The organisation argues that the plans are unaffordable while EU governments deal with budget deficits in the aftermath of the recession.

Currently, UK employers are required to pay pregnant women six weeks' salary at 90% of their average earnings, followed by 33 weeks of statutory maternity pay at £125 per week.

The womens' rights committee voted in favour of extending maternity leave provisions through the Pregnant Workers' Directive earlier this year but the proposals were held up when Conservative MEPS demanded an impact assessment of the costs.

Kieran O'Keefe, head of European affairs at the BCC, said that the proposals were "completely unaffordable" during the current economic climate.

He added: "This Directive should be about setting minimum EU standards for the health and safety of pregnant workers, not adding new payroll costs for overburdened companies and national security systems."

"The Commission's original proposal to extend maternity leave to 18 weeks, but with individual member states allowed to decide the level of pay, is a better, more affordable option."

However, Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said that the proposals would not increase costs to employers as the Government recompenses employers for statutory maternity pay and called for fathers to receive full paid leave also.

She commented: "Many employers already pay women on maternity leave above the statutory minimum because they know it encourages high return rates from mothers.

"If the UK wants to become the most family friendly place in the world, both parents should be supported to take paid leave in the first year of life. We'd like to see a levelling up for men and would endorse EU calls for men to be paid paternity leave at full pay."

The European Parliament will vote on the proposals next month.

Les4GS Message on Aviation

2010-09-17T14:14:00.000+01:00

Civil Aviation Transport

Dear Colleagues

With over 70,000 members in Civil Air Transport, I know how strategically important the Sector is to Unite. Being the largest trade union within Civil Aviation, means that we are at the forefront of all of the major issues affecting the industry. I want to make sure that this union provides the strong leadership and guidance needed by our members, to meet the challenges that lie ahead. I have strong view on how we do this, and I want to share them with you.

1. I want to support our skilled Engineering members faced with constant change at their workplaces, by giving them the opportunity to meet with other engineers from across the Sector. This would be in order to exchange views and establish a progressive forum that is able to influence employers’ thinking politically and industrially, on new ways of working.

2. I want to make sure that the fantastic work of our Reps and Officers, undertaken in organising Cabin Crew over many years, continues to develop in a positive way. We have established Cabin Crew recognition agreements across the vast majority of UK Airlines, improving terms and conditions throughout - but that is not enough. My guarantee is that this union will confront those equality and diversity issues that hinder real progress in employment for many of our Cabin Crew members and stand against any employer who wishes to erode those hard fought gains.

3. I want to ensure that we provide the very best assistance to our Airport infrastructure and Ground handling members, who are under constant threat of outsourcing and increasing demands from management and passengers alike. In addition to this, new technology should play a positive role within civil aviation. It should not assist employers in driving down costs at our members’ expense.

Our members have worked with aviation employers throughout these difficult economic times. They have encountered pay freezes, redundancies, pay deferrals, efficiency savings and wholesale business restructuring. I now want to see aviation employers rewarding our members for the contribution they continually make to the success of this industry. That reward should be job security and increased earnings. I am certain that working with our civil aviation Reps and Activists to provide them with the right resources and leadership, we can achieve this.

Yours fraternally

Les Bayliss

El Correo del Orinoco

2010-09-17T13:25:00.001+01:00

We have been sent the following email by VSC.

You may be interested in the website of the English Edition of 'El Correo del Orinoco' from Venezuela; a weekly newspaper which covers a wide range of issues and topics. The latest issue contains a piece by John Pilger and leads with a story on how social progress is 'Revolutionizing Lives in Venezuela.'

Please circulate this information and resource to others, such as members of your organisations who may be interested in developments in Venezuela.

The current issue can be read and downloaded at http://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/COI-WEB-29.pdf

For future reference, the website link for all issues (including back issues) is www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/english-edition/

Best wishes,

Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
www.venezuelasolidarity.co.uk

Unite welcomes Defence Committee Report

2010-09-17T10:48:00.000+01:00

Unite has welcomed the Commons Defence Committee's report which criticises the government's approach to the strategic defence and security review (SDSR).

The Defence Select Committee has said the ConDems are rushing the strategic defence review and mistakes could be made. Unite believes that the government's SDSR is based on the Treasury's determination to drive through cuts what ever the cost to the country's future security, our armed forces and the need to defend our country.
George Osborne's decision to break convention and force the MOD to pay for the full capital costs for the replacement of the

Trident submarine fleet, will mean devastation to the MOD procurement budget and will leave this nation and our armed forces potentially more poorly equipped than at any time in their history. As the Defence Select Committee said: "it is unclear how a successor to Trident would be paid for". Unite believes that it will be to the cost of every other procurement contract that is currently underway.

Bernie Hamilton, Unite National Officer said: "The strategic defence and security review will leave the Tory's reputation for being strong on defence in tatters. If Liam Fox allows these rushed and ill conceived cuts to take place he will preside over the decimation of thousands of highly skilled jobs, who's professionalism and skills can never be replaced once they are gone. "

Unite GS Election: From The Press Association

2010-09-16T18:26:00.000+01:00

A contender for the head of Britain's biggest trade union has pledged never to call strikes over Christmas if he is elected.
Les Bayliss, who is bidding to be general secretary of Unite, said public sector strikes would only deprive the vulnerable of services they needed and the ones the Tories wanted to cut.

Unions would be doing the job of the "bad guys", said Mr Bayliss, adding: "Strikes will also change the victims, our members, into the villains of the piece. The story will get changed from Government savagery to union militancy. The Tories will hit us with even more restrictive laws and working people will look away in disgust."

Mr Bayliss said the current dispute between Unite and British Airways was a "perfect example" of the point he was making.

"The BA cabin crew had a good case, they were being forced to accept a change in their contracts without agreement by a vicious and greedy employer, and it was unacceptable. But when we announced the 12-day strike over Christmas the public and many of our members were so horrified they immediately lost sympathy for the victims.

"If I am general secretary of Unite there will never be any strikes called over the Christmas holidays. Strikes cost a fortune. I think the unions would be better using these massive resources to win hearts and minds.

"Unite had considerable success talking to members in marginal constituencies in the run-up to the election about the dangerous policies the Tories were planning to introduce. Many of the seats the Tories were targeting remain in Labour hands because of this work."

Mr Bayliss said unions should not repeat the "mistakes" of the 1980s when there were constant battles with the Conservative government.

"Unions face a similar challenge to the one that confronted us under the first Thatcher government. Millions of jobs were lost due to a recession caused by government spending cuts. Unions lost millions of members because of the unemployment and it weakened us.

"We were provoked into battles against the state we could not win, but still we fought because we were proud fighters and we lead with our chins. Inevitably we were cut down, we were restricted by anti-union laws and worst still for us these laws were supported by working people because we had lost the argument."

Unite GS Election - From Tribune

2010-09-16T18:06:00.001+01:00

Two fiercely competitive frontrunners, disputed figures, cries of “bollocks” – the election for the next leader of the Unite union has it all. And reports back from the TUC Congress suggest that rivalry and policy are being doled out in roughly equal measure. Here, behind the News of the World headlines, is what is going on.

Les Bayliss predictably caused a slight sensation on the eve of Congress when a newspaper article appeared quoting him as criticising British Airways cabin crew for their planned 12-day strike over Christmas, saying: “If I am general secretary of Unite there will NEVER be any strikes called over Christmas”, and “Public sector strikes will only deprive the vulnerable of services the Tories want to cut. We’ll be doing the bad guy’s job for him. Strikes will also turn the real victims, our members, into the villains.”

And yes, he did actually say all that.

Not to the News of the World, but in a speech – the full version is on his website.

Bayliss’ argument is that strikes in the 1980s were counter-productive, lost sympathy for unions and encouraged the introduction of laws to curb their power.

Unfortunately for Bayliss, some Unite members assumed that he had given an interview to the NoW. “You’re kidding me!” a senior source said when told of the article, adding: “To use News International as a mouthpiece, whose owner sacked six thousand members in the move to Wapping, is quite a disgrace”.

Fair or not, it’s the impression some have got.

However, the line peddled by the NoW’s David Wooding - “He appealed to the moderate majority to stand up to hardliners hell-bent on leading them over the cliff edge” – is a fair summary of Bayliss’ pitch to Unite members, particularly the skilled professionals that he is targeting.

Many of these are far from dyed-in the-wool lefties; nearly a third of Unite members intend to vote Conservative.

Rival Len McCluskey’s rhetoric is scarcely less colourful. The day after the NoW article, speaking to a plenary Congress session on employment rights, and calling for resistance to the restrictive use of union laws, he said – no, he shouted: “Let me be clear again, especially to anyone in Unite who understands the cuts won’t be stopped by pandering to the Murdoch press. In the words of Henry V, he that hath no stomach for this fight, let him depart.” “Not too over the top, then,” sniggered a Unite official next to me as he spoke.

So, anyway – now that nominations have closed, and the ballot begins next month, who is ahead?

According to McCluskey’s website, it’s him, and according to a Financial Times piece too – except that the piece’s author, Brian Groom, didn’t actually want it published; he thought the figures weren’t solid. McCluskey is claiming over 650 nominations from branches compared to (he says) Bayliss and Jerry Hicks, who are unlikely to get more than 100 nominations apiece. Nominations don’t count as votes, but they do help influence members and allow candidates to receive funding from branches.

Word among McCluskey’s supporters is that he does indeed have well over 600 nominations. Meanwhile, friends of Bayliss dismiss the figures as “bollocks”. They aren’t official – true enough – and they’re two weeks out of date. the complaint goes. Since then, Bayliss has picked up nominations, I am told. I took this rebuttal back to camp McCluskey. “Bollocks”, I was told. Hmm.

Jerry Hicks, however, does agree with McCluskey’s analysis: he is telling supporters that he has won 102 branch nominations, as well as 35 workplaces, and he thinks he is close to Bayliss, ahead of Gail Cartmail and behind McCluskey. Go figure.

Official figures for nominations will be released soon. Watch this space…

Unions must not repeat the mistakes of the 1980s

2010-09-16T18:02:00.003+01:00

From Les4GS Website

Unions must not repeat the mistakes of the 1980s
By Les Bayliss
Progressive Left Candidate For Unite General Secretary

I think to talk of strikes when even public sector workers aren’t ready for them, will be to concede defeat before the battle starts.

People who work for a living face a very tough time under this Tory led coalition. The promised cuts in public services will hammer every working family in the UK. Public sector workers will lose their jobs and the general public will suffer a double whammy of a loss of services and an economic downturn, threatening their jobs and their incomes.

Unions face a similar challenge to the one that confronted us under the first Thatcher government. Millions of jobs were lost due to a recession caused by government spending cuts. Unions lost millions of members because of the unemployment and it weakened us. At the same time the government was determined to attack the welfare state and with it the unions that had fought for its establishment after WW2.

We were provoked into battles against the state we could not win, but still we fought because we were proud fighters and we lead with our chins. Inevitably we were cut down; we were restricted by anti union laws and worse still for us, these laws were supported by working people because we had lost the argument. Tory economic policy was hurting our people, but the popular narrative of the time was all about strikes and the power of the unions. We lost it.

In my view the current Tory government is hell bent on finishing the job Margaret Thatcher started, by critically reducing the role of government in helping everyone of us live safely, securely and in good health and giving us all a fair crack of the whip at education and a good job.

The Tories are using the cover of the credit crunch to make these cuts seem unavoidable. They say we have no choice; we must cut services to back fill the deficit caused by the collapse of the banks. But this isn’t true of course, there is another way. A return to economic growth with higher levels of employment, supported by government spending combined with increased taxation on the wealthiest 10% and the closure of tax loop-holes, would also fill the gap in our expenditure. It’s an argument that is finely balanced, but one I believe will resonate with the voters much more clearly as the cuts start to bite.

Many trade union activists will want to fight the cuts with strikes and demonstrations. It’s understandable, what the Tories intend to do with public services is unfair and cruel and it will hurt working people for generations. But I think to talk of strikes when even public sector workers aren’t ready for them, will be to concede defeat before the battle starts.

Public sector strikes will only deprive the vulnerable of the services they need and the services the Tories want to cut. We’ll be doing the bad guy’s job for him.

Strikes will also change the victims, our members, into the villains of the piece. The story will get changed from government savagery to union militancy. The Tories will hit us with even more restrictive laws and working people will look away in disgust.

We have a perfect example of what I’m saying in my own union. The BA cabin crew had a good case, they were being forced to accept a change in their contracts without agreement by a vicious and greedy employer, and it was unacceptable. But when we announced the twelve-day strike over Christmas the public and many of our members were so horrified they immediately lost sympathy for the victims.

As an aside if I am General Secretary of Unite there will never be any strikes called over the Christmas holidays.

Strikes cost a fortune; I think the unions would be better using these massive resources to win hearts and minds. Unite had considerable success talking to members in marginal constituencies in the run up to the election about the dangerous policies the Tories were planning to introduce. Many of the seats the Tories were targeting remain in Labour hands because of this work.

Transpose this work into every union and back it up with a massive advertising campaign and I believe the argument over public services is ours to win. It’s also ours to lose if we choose to repeat the mistakes of the 1980s.

Unite To Call In All BA Reps

2010-09-11T09:59:00.002+01:00

Unite, is to call a meeting of representatives of all members at the U.K. carrier to discuss the need for a coordinated union response.

The move raises the spectre that other BA workers could take industrial action in support of cabin crew. Unite represents about 25,000 workers at BA, such as baggage handlers, engineers and check-in staff. That figure includes roughly 10,500 cabin crew, who have staged 22 days of strikes in 2010 that have cost BA over GBP150 million.

An expansion of industrial action to other workers remains distant, however. "That is several jumps down the line," a Unite spokesman said.

A dispute over working practices has escalated as British Airways withdrew staff travel concessions from workers who joined strike action and employed disciplinary procedures to sack and suspend crew members, including many union representatives.

About 80 BA staff have been suspended or sacked relating to the dispute for what Unite said often were trivial reasons. Two union representatives recently were suspended simply for attempting to represent other crew facing disciplinary action, Unite said.

"This is no longer a matter for BA cabin crew alone," Unite Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley said in a statement. "If trade unionism is smashed among cabin crew, then we can be sure these methods will be extended to other groups of unionised BA employees."

Tony Woodley said he was calling an early meeting of representatives of all Unite BA members "to discuss the need for a coordinated and concerted union response."

"While it remains my hope that an agreement can be reached with the company, BA's conduct makes it inevitable that we prepare for other outcomes," he added.

Relations between the two sides remain tense and negotiations have been difficult. They have met on numerous occasions in recent months under the auspices of mediator the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Paul Reuter: Unite to Oppose Mail Privatisation

2010-09-10T13:48:00.000+01:00

Unite's reaction to Government's decision to press ahead with the privatisation of Royal Mail
Paul Reuter, Unite's national officer for Royal Mail said:
"The majority of people in this country do not support the privatisation of Royal Mail. They expect a universal service, a universal tariff and don't want the cost of posting a letter to be at the mercy of the profiteers. Once again the ConDems are riding roughshod over Britain, putting cuts, big business and profits before people.
"Managers at Royal Mail are opposed to privatisation. They are not prepared to see the postal service that they are very proud of disintegrate into a free-for-all for the private sector, which will cherry pick its way to profit. Unite members at the Royal Mail will vigorously campaign to protect the service and their jobs."
Unite the union represents 15,000 managers at Royal Mail.

Interview with Jerry Fernandez, of the global union Workers Uniting

2010-09-09T18:38:00.000+01:00

Unite, of Great Britain and Ireland and the United Steelworkers Union (USW), United States and Canada, decided to join forces within Workers Uniting to be more active against multinationals and better face the multiple relocation threats. Jerry Fernandez, USW international relations director since 1988, is telling us about the strategy of the federation, a transatlantic alliance with nearly 3 million members. (Ref. 100614)

What gave you the will to create Workers Uniting (WU)?
Jerry Fernandez. Let’s do some history. In 1988, we experienced a very long strike in a multinational aluminum group. We sought the owner out and we found out that he was Marc Rich who was, at the time, the biggest metal negotiator in the world, in Geneva. Then, in 1992, there was a 3.5-year strike at a Bridgestone factory belonging to a Japanese group. I realized we were involved with multinationals that were geographically widespread and that, to face this, we had to create a strategic alliance with several unions on several continents. This is where the idea of a transnational metal union federation, able to organize joint campaigns, bargain together and work on everyone’s working conditions, came from.

So, what did you establish?
JF. We signed a first agreement with the German IG-Metall for Europe. Then, we looked for a sophisticated union, full of resources, in Asia, and we chanced on two Australian organizations, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Unions (CFMEU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU). Then, we discussed with activists from the CUT (Central Unica dos Trabalhadores), Brazil’s key trade union, which opens a window into Latin America. Finally, we signed agreements with Los Mineros in Mexico, Amicus in England (now Unite) and representatives from South Africa National Union of Mine Workers. This way, we cover the entire world.

Is this type of agreement enough for you?
JF. No it isn’t. The next step was to find a partner willing to create a federation. We got even closer to Unite, the largest union in the UK and in Ireland with nearly 2 million members. USW is present in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, so with Unite we cover 5 countries. We speak the same language, we have the same view of the labor world, strikes, activism, we come up against the same employers, we know what it’s like when a private company tries to get rid of a union in a factory…. Workers Uniting is the starting point but, in the long run, we would like 3 or 4 more partners.

How does the federation work, in concrete terms?
JF. We have a steering committee with 16 members, 8 from Unite and 8 from USW. There are two co-presidents and a temporary constitution which allows the committee to make decisions. We also said that, after three years, we would organize a congress, in August 2011, to adopt a more permanent constitution and common rules to include other unions. We are notably thinking about our Australian and Brazilian colleagues as well as a couple other organizations. The south African union is our priority because it is the grand father of all African unions.

Do you want to create a new world organization?
JF. No, we don’t want to be an excessive organization. We want to be 5 big unions in strategic places in the world. We want to be able to mobilize quickly, fight quickly and efficiently, without having to overcome major cultural differences.

Are you interested in France?
JF. No, we’re not. France, as many other countries, has unions with very different ideologies. We can’t form an alliance with just one. You have the CFDT, FO and the CGT…. Why form an alliance with one and not the others? Besides, it isn’t easy for us to establish a common program with three different French organizations. The strength of the federation we want to build will depend on the strength of the weakest member. We need consensus, common employers to fight, and unions with activists that want to fight for workers’ rights.

How do you handle the finances?
JF. For the time being, Unite and USW split costs 50/50. we each have 4 people working for WU full time, sometimes up to 10-12 on special projects. We want to set up our headquarters in London, where we established the constitution. What’s more, London is close to Geneva and Brussels, two cities where international organizations meet. During our congress, we will vote a budget, and determine how much unions have to pay to join the federation. We don’t want junior partners, we’re looking for equals.

Have you already organized joint campaigns with Unite?
JF. Our two unions have invested in sophisticated technical resources. We have videoconferences almost every day. We use HD telepresence and we’re face to face, as if we were in the same room. We’ve had meetings on the paper industry, packaging, and the oil industry in the north sea. We recently received a report from a delegation that went to Bangladesh in ship scrap yards, a dreadful industry. We’re interested in everyone’s struggles. For instance, our union supports the 3,500 workers of the Vale Inco Brazilian company in Canada. Unite sent $200,000 to help them. For our part, we send delegations to support British picket lines. We exchange information and documents on the American and British health systems. I can’t attend all meetings, but I know that a group of British activists met with Americans working in the same company in the US. When they saw that their safety regulations were far more developed than in the US, they decided to campaign together so that the US would get in line with the UK.

Interview by Caroline Crosdale, Planet Labor’s correspondent in New York. Words translated from French to English. About the creation of Workers Uniting, please read our dispatch No. 080567.

New Les4GS Website - Now up and running

2010-09-08T08:41:00.004+01:00

There is now a brand new website launched by Les4GS in support of Unite Assistant General Secretary Les Bayliss, who is the Workers Uniting Group Candidate for Unite General Secretary

http://www.les4gs.org

Read more about Les Bayliss' vision for Unite and the policies he has won support and endorsement for across the UK and Ireland from branches, chapels, workplaces,union reps, shop stewards, chapel officers and members across all regions and sectors of Unite.

These are policies that will Build a Better Union; to Grow Unite and to Win For Members

Building a Better Union including a Vision For Branch's and Chapels:
Les says: "As General Secretary I will not interfere with the branch structure against the wishes of Unite members. For historical reasons branches and chapels are also funded in many different ways in Unite. Here I think there is definite scope for change. I have no desire to take money away from branches for the sake of building a massive centralised treasury, as some would have you believe. I want branches and chapels to play a full part in all our recruitment, organising and campaigning activities and I want the funding to match the degree of involvement that each branch or chapel wants to undertake."

A Better Service for our members:
Les says: "Unite members rightly expect and deserve the best service money can buy. I will introduce a 24-hour contact centre to provide members with the help and advice they need when they need it."

Better Judgement in Campaigning and Supporting Members in Industrial Disputes:
Les says: "I will always support our members in their industrial disputes. My vision for the future of Unite isn’t a choice between sweetheart deals and militancy it’s a choice between progress and failure. I want real victories for our members not moral victories or glorious defeats."

Better Support for members:
Les says: "I will invest more in training Unite representatives and invest more in informing and educating and advising members."

Better Jobs and Job Secrurity:
Les says: "Unite’s priority must be to secure and improve our members’ jobs. Better pay and conditions is what Unite members want and that’s what they deserve. We need to fight for every job and that means winning the argument against the Government cuts. As General Secretary I will use every resource available to us to do this".

Vote Les Bayliss for: Better Service! Better Judgement! Better Support! Better Jobs!

http://www.les4gs.org

TUC Talks To Settle BA Dispute?

2010-09-07T08:08:00.003+01:00

Talks could take place during the Trades Union Congress next week to avert further strikes and break the stalemate in the long-running dispute over British Airways cabin crew.

More than 1,000 cabin crew members of the Unite union voted at a Bassa meeting for a ballot on fresh strikes.

Reports suggest that Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, may hold talks with the airline in Manchester, where the TUC’s Congress will be held.

Members of Bassa, Unite’s main cabin crew branch, wore yellow ribbons in support of colleagues who had been sacked or disciplined at their meeting at Kempton Park racecourse near London.

Brendan Gold, a Unite national officer, said: “If it is not resolved we will have another ballot for industrial action, but the emphasis on our side is to try to reach a resolution.” He said Unite was preparing to fight dismissals by taking cases to employment tribunals.

Unite said it had paid out £2.8m in strike pay to more than 6,700 of its 11,000 cabin crew members and given £1,000 interest-free loans to around 50 cabin crew.

Civil Air Transport Reps Statement on Unite General Secretary Election

2010-09-06T06:14:00.003+01:00

Workers Uniting Group have been sent a copy of a statement by Unite reps in the CAT sector for publication on this website.

GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION
Civil Air Transport Sector

September 2010

Recent events within the Civil Air Transport Sector may have given the wrong impression that the sector supports one particular candidate.

We have therefore decided to put the record straight on this by stating our support for the prospective candidate Les Bayliss.

Having listened to Les, we know that he is sincere in how he wants workers within Civil Aviation to be represented. Straight talking, and honest, we share his vision of an organisation that will always support members, but has the courage to ensure real leadership in situations where hard decisions need to be made by and on behalf of those members.

Les has made it clear that he wants to help and encourage members from both former sections to work together to develop our activist structure, and ensure we have a positive influence both industrially and politically. He wants to provide better resources for Activists, and like us he wants to ensure that every Region and every Airport has a voice within Civil Aviation.

Every area of the industry has been affected in some way by the recent difficult economic climate. Ground Handling, Engineering and Maintenance, Cabin Crew, and Passenger Services have all seen job losses and cost cutting.

We know that our members need strong leadership, and genuine support.

We believe that Les Bayliss will provide this and we urge all Unite members within the Civil Aviation to vote for him.

We are just some of the many Reps and Activists who are supporting Les Bayliss for Unite General Secretary.

Join with us today !

Ian Kemp - Senior Convenor - BA Engineering Heathrow.
Tim Fenton - Senior Cabin Crew Rep - Thomas Cook Airlines Manchester.
John Tarrant - Senior Convenor - BAA Maintenance Heathrow.
Gaynor Worrell - Senior Cabin Crew Rep - Virgin Atlantic Heathrow and Gatwick.
Tony Mullet - Senior Convenor - BA Engineering Cardiff.
Alan Roper - Senior Engineering Convenor - Thomas Cook Airlines Gatwick.
Tom McDonald - Senior Rep - John Lennon Airport Liverpool.
Patrice Due- Senior Cabin Crew Rep - Bmi Mainline Heathrow / Glasgow.
Ray Cook - Senior Engineering Convenor - SR Technics Gatwick.
Keith Morgan - Senior Convenor - BA Avionics Wales.
Mike Parker - Senior Cabin Crew Rep - Monarch Airlines
Abigal Jepson - Senior Cabin Crew Rep - Bmi Regional Airlines

Unite anger at BA surveillance of cabin crew

2010-09-05T20:43:00.001+01:00

Unite trade union is considering a new strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew over the airline's alleged anti-union activities. The move comes amid allegations from Unite that BA has subjected at least two crew members to surveillance at their own homes and has prevented shop stewards from representing staff.

Officials are expected to raise the issue at a meeting at London's Kempton Park racecourse where cabin crew will wear yellow ribbons in solidarity with colleagues who have been sacked or suspended since the dispute began.

A dispute over reductions in costs is mired in wrangles over sanctions against staff who joined 22 days of strikes earlier this year, and disciplinary proceedings against flight attendants over alleged misdemeanours during the dispute.

The latest allegation from Unite's main cabin crew branch, Bassa, focuses on BA's security department, called Asset Protection. According to last month's Bassa newsletter, two members facing disciplinary action were followed to their homes. "Two more crew members reported to the police that they had been the subject of an ongoing surveillance at their own homes by BA's shadowy 'Asset Protection' department," the newsletter says, adding that members have seen photographic evidence of this.

Last week, Bassa appealed for cabin crew to volunteer as shop stewards because it has lost key members to sackings or suspensions, including the official in charge of representing staff in disciplinary hearings.

BA declined to comment on the surveillance allegations. A spokesperson said: "Investigations into any allegations are conducted under the company's disciplinary procedures, which are agreed with all our unions, including Unite."

A spokesperson for Unite said: "BA is crossing a line. It is moving on from violating people's rights at work to violating their human rights."

TUC, AFL-CIO, Workers Uniting Back Bangladesh Garment Workers Fight

2010-09-03T06:43:00.001+01:00

In a major act of international solidarity, both the 11.5 million members of AFL-CIO labour federation in the United States and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in United Kingdom have released strong statements of solidarity in support of the Bangladeshi garment workers' demand for a new minimum wage of 35 cents an hour.

If the 3.5 million mostly women garment workers win their wage increase, it will allow them to climb out of misery and at least into poverty, says a release of the National Labour Committee (NLC).

'Wake-Up Wal-Mart', an organisation to press Wal-Mart, the largest garment chain in the world, has also launched a massive e-mail letter-writing campaign-pressing Wal-Mart to support the Bangladeshi workers demand for a 35-cent-an-hour minimum wage equivalent to Tk 5,000 a month.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council last week in a statement said: One of the world's great struggles for social justice is taking place in Bangladesh, where more than 3.5 million, mostly young women garment workers, are demanding a minimum wage of 35 cents an hour, which would allow them to climb out of misery and at least into poverty.

The current minimum wage, which has not been raised since 2006 despite annual inflation rates of 6.5 to 10 per cent, is just 11.5 cents an hour, which is the lowest industrial wage in the world.

"Bangladesh's garment workers are among the hardest working women in the world, and the most exploited. Despite working up to 12 hours a day, often seven days a week, the garment workers and their families are crowded into primitive one-room hovels, forced to live from hand to mouth, barely subsisting on rice and lentils. Dozens of families share one primitive hand water pump where they queue up to bathe, scrub their clothes and wash their dishes."

When it rains, the thatched roofs often leak, leaving the workers and their families no choice but to sit up all night covering themselves with pieces of plastic. The garment workers' children often go hungry and lack basic school supplies.

It does not have to be this way. The United States is the largest single market for Bangladeshi clothing exports, while the United Kingdom and the European Union together account for 57 per cent of Bangladesh's total garment exports. This gives the people of North America and Europe a strong voice to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Bangladesh who sew the clothing we wear. The largest multinational retailers and apparel companies in the world, including, Wal-Mart, Tesco and H&M, are major producers in Bangladesh. There is not one single retailer or apparel company in the world that could not easily afford to pay the very modest 35-cents-an-hour minimum wage the Bangladeshi workers are demanding.

Two weeks back, the minimum wage board announced an increase in the minimum wage to Tk 3000 a month, or 21 cents an hour, to be implemented on November 1, 2010. However, this falls well below workers' compromise demand of Tk 5000, down from their original proposal of Tk 6,200 a month. Still, this modest increase would be a small step forward.

The AFL-CIO stands in complete solidarity with the Bangladeshi garment workers' minimum wage demand of Tk 5000 a month, which amounts to 35 cents an hour, $16.60 a week and $71.94 a month.

"The AFL-CIO will ask our government to work together with the government of Bangladesh to guarantee that Bangladesh's workers have the right to freedom of association, to organise independent unions and to bargain collectively."

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has joined trade unionists and campaigners around the world to demand better terms and conditions for 3.5 million Bangladeshi textile workers, who are striking and demonstrating for, among other things, a higher minimum wage of Tk 5,000, says the release.

The current minimum wage in Bangladesh is Tk 1,662 a month. This leaves textile workers, who are making clothes for sale in the UK, US and around the world, in dire poverty. The USA is the largest single market for Bangladeshi textiles, and the EU as a whole takes a massive 57 per cent of them.

Trade unionists from unions in Britain and the USA - Unite and USW - are supporting the Bangladeshi textile workers through Workers Uniting, and a delegation visited Bangladesh in July. This has now led to statements of support from the AFLCIO (the TUC's equivalent in the USA) and now the TUC as well. Unite vice-chair Steve Davison, who was part of the Workers Uniting delegation, has written about the dispute.

BA: Strike Ballot - "An Option"

2010-09-03T06:36:00.001+01:00

BA cabin crew have warned passengers they may strike over Christmas as talks to end the bitter dispute stall once again. There is a mass meeting of Bassa members on September 6 to decide on future action.

'It would be prudent for the travelling public to take this into account and make alternative arrangements to ensure their holiday travel plans are not wrecked,' said Duncan Holley, branch secretary of BASSA.

'What we are trying to do is give people plenty of notice this time round. We are also trying to put pressure on BA by hitting their bookings during one of the busiest times of the year.'

Bassa members are being suspended and sacked unfairly over allegations of bullying and intimidation during past strikes.More than 80 members have been suspended and 13 sacked after allegations of incidents related to the bitter dispute.