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.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Paul Reuter: Unite to Oppose Mail Privatisation
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.
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.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Interview with Jerry Fernandez, of the global union Workers Uniting
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
New Les4GS Website - Now up and running
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
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
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
TUC Talks To Settle BA Dispute?
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.
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.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Civil Air Transport Reps Statement on Unite General Secretary Election
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
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
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Unite anger at BA surveillance of cabin crew
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."
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."
Friday, September 3, 2010
TUC, AFL-CIO, Workers Uniting Back Bangladesh Garment Workers Fight
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.
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"
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.
'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.
RBS Job Losses - Horror Story
Royal Bank of Scotland, which is more than 80% government-owned, is planning to cut a further 3,500 jobs from its technical and back office division in the UK.
About a third of the job losses are as a result of RBS selling 318 of its branches to Santander, reducing its number of customers and transactions.
Unite has described the jobs losses as a "horror story". An estimated 27,000 job losses have been announced since RBS unveiled its restructuring plan early in 2009.
It is understood that 30,000 jobs will eventually go.
"The scale of the cuts announced today beggars belief and staff across the country today will be left reeling from this news," said Rob MacGregor, Unite's national officer.
He said the cuts would be a "bitter pill for staff to swallow".
The jobs being cut include some 1,000 in IT support and 2,500 in support services to its other businesses.
The bank has told staff that up to 12 offices could close in England, with some jobs added in Greenock and Edinburgh.
The centres set for closure or downsizing in 2011 are Leeds, Bolton, Enfield and Harrogate.
The following year, Norwich, Bradford, Telford, Plymouth, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol and Borehamwood have been earmarked.
The Leicester, Southampton and Nottingham centres are under review.
Five hundred of the jobs will be relocated to offshore centres such as those in the Far East and India.
RBS reported a loss of £24.1bn for 2008, the largest annual loss in UK corporate history.
However, it has since returned to profit. In the first half of 2010 it made £1.14bn
About a third of the job losses are as a result of RBS selling 318 of its branches to Santander, reducing its number of customers and transactions.
Unite has described the jobs losses as a "horror story". An estimated 27,000 job losses have been announced since RBS unveiled its restructuring plan early in 2009.
It is understood that 30,000 jobs will eventually go.
"The scale of the cuts announced today beggars belief and staff across the country today will be left reeling from this news," said Rob MacGregor, Unite's national officer.
He said the cuts would be a "bitter pill for staff to swallow".
The jobs being cut include some 1,000 in IT support and 2,500 in support services to its other businesses.
The bank has told staff that up to 12 offices could close in England, with some jobs added in Greenock and Edinburgh.
The centres set for closure or downsizing in 2011 are Leeds, Bolton, Enfield and Harrogate.
The following year, Norwich, Bradford, Telford, Plymouth, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Bristol and Borehamwood have been earmarked.
The Leicester, Southampton and Nottingham centres are under review.
Five hundred of the jobs will be relocated to offshore centres such as those in the Far East and India.
RBS reported a loss of £24.1bn for 2008, the largest annual loss in UK corporate history.
However, it has since returned to profit. In the first half of 2010 it made £1.14bn
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