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.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Goldman caterer is accused of 'discrimination'
Unite has called on Goldman Sachs to intervene in a furious row with its caterers over allegations of racism. The union had planned to picket the investment bank's Fleet Street headquarters and leaflet its highly paid staff over the row, involving the sacking of a long-time worker for Aramark, which handles catering at the bank's plush art deco offices.
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".
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".
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Les4GS - Get The Vote Out!!!
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
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
Friday, November 5, 2010
Pay deal secures car workers' jobs
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.
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
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.
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.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Public & Private Sector Job Cuts From Les4GS
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
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
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
"A note of support and dismay from a small, but very active, branch of Unite!!!
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Statement by Workers Uniting Group
‘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.
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.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Unite to take asbestos victims’ fight to supreme court
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.
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
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.
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.
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