E-Bulletin Issue 9 - September 2007
Welcome from Unite North West Regional Secretary, Laurence
Faircloth
Thousands of Unite members were out in force for the beginning of
the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth. A new union united,
marched together to send a powerful message to the Government that
our members want a well resourced and managed NHS, affordable
housing and secure jobs and pensions.
During the conference Unite demanded an end to the exploitation of
agency workers and criticised the government for blocking progress
towards equal treatment for temporary and agency workers in the
European Parliament. Unite warned that the discrimination allowed
in law against agency workers is opening up a dangerous divide in
Britain’s workplaces, and risks creating racial tensions between
mainly migrant agency workers and indigenous permanent workers.
The union also called for the restrictions on the union’s
ability to defend its members against the worst excesses of
globalisation to be lifted. Unions need to be able to take
secondary action and the process for balloting needs to be
simplified.
Survey results published before the conference showed that union
members are more likely to vote than the general public and that
the union's campaigning themes - NHS, Housing and Jobs are the most
important issues to them.
If Gordon Brown does call a snap election in the Autumn he will
need the support of Unite's two million members so let's hope he is
listening.
On a personal note could I thank all those
from the North West who participated in ensuring that the
demonstration was a great success.
Lobby to save UK Manufacturing Jobs –
October 17
Unite is holding a rally and lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 17
October to tell MPs that government intervention is needed if the
UK is to maintain and develop its manufacturing industry.
Following years of decline due to under investment, exporting of
jobs and lack of a level playing field compared with other European
countries Unite wants the government to act to protect and support
UK manufacturing.
Laurence Faircloth Unite North West Regional Secretary said:
“We have lost one million manufacturing jobs over the
last ten years which shows that the government’s free market
approach isn’t working. The UK is still the cheapest option for
employers when it comes to shedding jobs. What we need a proactive
government strategy to promote and support UK industry and
manufacturing jobs.”
Unite is urging members to write to their MPs
asking them to sign an Early Day Motion that calls for better
consultation rights for employees before companies make decisions
that affect them and a programme of public procurement which
underpins UK manufacturing.
Come and join the rally and lobby on Wednesday 17th October from 11
am to 4 pm which starts at Westminster Central Hall, Storey Gate,
Westminster, London SW1H 9NH. Click
here or visit
http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=7149#contactyourregionaloffice
for lobby materials and further information.
For information on transport arrangements email Terry.Burns@unitetheunion.org
or call your regional office on 0161 798 8976.
Remploy workers fight for the right to
work
The campaign to stop the closure of Remploy
factories has received some success when Work and Pensions
Secretary, Peter Hain intervened in the dispute and took away the
ability of Remploy management to close sites without prior
agreement from government.
Following a high profile union campaign the
Government said they will provide a £555 million package and will
make efforts to place new public procurement contracts with Remploy
in a bid to keep the factories open. The government have also given
guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies.
Unite has acted with caution to the
government’s offer as the threat of closures have not been entirely
lifted. Paul Finegan Unite Regional Officer said: “This
is a step in the right direction. But what we want is a categorical
assurance that all the Remploy factories will be kept open and
properly supported.”
43 of the 83 Remploy factories have been
targeted for closure including Aintree and Birkenhead in the North
West. Unite, the GMB and Community are in the process of
balloting their members for strike action to try to put pressure on
the government to prevent the closures.
Drive to grow young membership and
young reps
Unite has launched a major new project to get more young people
involved in the union.
The aim of the project is not only to recruit more young members
but to encourage them to become union representatives.
Existing workplace reps and shop stewards have an important role
to play in the success of this project – they can sign up to become
a mentor and nominate a young person to attend a Young Member’s
Weekend event.
Graham Goddard, Deputy General Secretary, said:
“Young members and reps are vital to the future success
of the union. We also need the help of our existing reps to mentor
and support young member reps.”
To find out more about the training events and becoming a mentor
visit www.amicustheunion.org/default.aspx?page=4264
or contact Bridget Clemson at bridget.clemson@unitetheunion.org
or tel 0207 420 8923.
You can also become a member of the Young Members Network by
visiting www.amicustheunion.org/default.aspx?page=4217.
Celebrate and support our NHS – Nov 3 national
demo
Unite members are invited to attend a national
demonstration in support of our health service. NHS Together, the
campaign alliance of all health service unions, is organising a
march through central London and a rally in Trafalgar Square on
November 3 commencing at 11 am, with appearances from celebrities
and headline bands.
The event is a celebration of the NHS ahead of its' 60th
anniversary next year and to demand that, in the spirit of its'
ethos, it remains publicly owned and publicly
accountable.
Transport to the march and rally is being organised through your
regional Unite office. Please try and attend. The message we'll be
sending is that the NHS belongs to everyone and its principles must
be protected. For further info click
here or visit http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=4456.
Unite warns purchasers of former GEC/Marconi company on
pensions
Unite representing the UK workforce of Telent has warned the
Pensions Corporation that it will react vigorously to any attempt
to raid the £520m pensions escrow account set up to protect
existing Telent and former GEC pension scheme members.
This follows the announcement made on 25th September of the sale
of Telent, the surviving services entity of the former Marconi
company, to the Guernsey based Pension Corporation.
Telent has 2000 UK employees including a large field force and
major sites at Coventry, London and Chorley (Lancashire).
Peter Skyte, Unite National Officer, said:“We will
vigorously oppose any attempt to raid the pensions of the current
Telent workforce and former employees of GEC and
Marconi.
“The pension scheme belongs to the present and
former workforce and should not be used as a piggy bank to be
raided for short term private gain.”
Unite talk to Rolls Royce about the future of the
site
Unite representatives met management at Rolls Royce on Thursday 6
September to discuss the future of the site in Liverpool.
Unite members at the site in Dunnings Bridge Road, Bootle, which
produces gas turbines, fear for the future of the plant following
the company’s announcement on Wednesday 15 August that it wants to
enter into preliminary consultation and dialogue with the trade
union concerning major issues facing the site.
Unite Regional Officer, Debbie Brannan, said: “We are
concerned about the announcement and the issues facing our members
at Rolls Royce. Unite is in talks with the company and we will be
seeking clarity from the company on the future of the site in
Bootle with the aim of ending uncertainty for our members.
“We expect Rolls Royce to keep Unite informed on all issues
concerning the future of the plant and of our
members.”
Unite and Fujitsu settle dispute
A dispute between Unite and Fujitsu, Manchester over redundancy
rights, union recognition and better pay has been settled.
Unite members at the site voted by 99.6% on an 89.2% turnout to
accept the company’s offer for new agreements covering union
recognition, redundancy and redeployment rights, pay and
benefits.
More than 1000 employees, who work at the Central Park site or
are based at home, can benefit from these new agreements.
Unite North West Regional Secretary, Laurence Faircloth, said:
"Our members are pleased that so many issues have
been successfully resolved to end the dispute. We now hope to build
a much better working relationship with Fujitsu."
Unite commenting on the BAE Systems Saudi jet
deal
Unite National Officer, Bernie Hamilton, said: "This is
excellent news for the aerospace industry and the wider UK economy.
This order will secure the future of two aerospace sites in the
North West of England and the jobs of thousands of highly skilled
workers."
Unite sponsors Manchester Pride
Unite Regional Organiser, Sarah Holden said:
"The region choosing to officially sponsor Pride, with
the slogan of Campaigning for Equality and Diversity at work, was a
fantastic decision, allowing us to reach out to more people within
the LGBT community.
During the weekend, we were surrounded by a sea of
Unite logo's and this along side a research survey on trade union
membership trends amongst the LGBT community and the various pieces
of literature and merchandise that we were giving away meant we had
the biggest profile ever at the event, with over 200,000 watching
the parade and some 30,000 people attending the festival
itself.
It showed the people of Manchester and the LGBT
community that Unite is taking equality seriously and is working to
deliver it at work for our members."
BAE Systems Ltd to pay damages to man injured when he fell
through the floor of a Nimrod aircraft
BAE Systems Ltd is to pay damages to a engineer who broke his ankle
when he fell through a section of the floor that had been taken out
of a Nimrod aircraft but had not been replaced. Unite secured
the compensation via its free legal help scheme with leading
personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.
The member was responsible for the Nimrod, Hawk and ADV aircraft
and was testing a section of a stationary Nimrod aircraft. As
he entered the aircraft, he fell through a section of the floor
that had been taken out and not replaced, and as a result, he broke
his ankle.
The member explained that the severity of the break necessitated
two operations on his ankle – the first to add metalwork and the
second to remove a protruding screw.
Commenting, Laurence Faircloth, Unite the Union regional
secretary, said: “This was a nasty incident for our
member and his case highlights the importance of union
membership. Without support and good legal assistance,
employees who suffer through no fault of their own stand to lose
out.”
The member said the incident “highlights the
importance of being a union member because of the extensive support
received through the legal help scheme when incidents
occur.”
North West Education Dates 2008
Workplace Reps Stage 1
Venue: Manchester
Dates: 15 January – 18 January 2008; 20 May – 23 May 2008; 7
October – 10 October 2008
Duration: 4 Days
Venue: Southport
Dates: 22 April – 25 April 2008; 8 July – 11 July 2008; 9 December
– 12 December 2008
Duration: 4 Days
Workplace Reps Stage 2
Venue: Manchester
Dates: 4 March – 7 March 2008
Duration: 4 Days
Working Safely Risk Assessment
Venue: Southport
Dates: 21 January – 25 January 2008
Duration: 5 Days
Venue: Manchester
Dates: 23 June – 27 June 2008
Duration: 5 Days
Equality and Diversity at Work
Venue: Manchester
Dates: 22 July – 25 July 2008
Duration: 4 Days
Women’s Health and Safety
Venue:
Manchester
Dates: 5 August – 7 August 2008
Duration: 3 Days
For further information please contact Prestwich Office on 0161 798
8976.
This bulletin has been produced by
Karen Viquerat, if you have any stories or contributions please
email karen.viquerat@amicustheunion.org or telephone Karen on 01704
546 500.
