E-Bulletin, Issue 15 - April 2008
Welcome from Unite North West Regional Secretary, Laurence
Faircloth
With the May 1st local elections just around the corner
Unite believes it’s really important for our members to vote
Labour.
Labour may not be perfect, but they are the party that will do
most to help working people. As well as introducing the National
Minimum wage which lifted two million people out of poverty pay,
Labour has improved the education our children receive. They have
given an extra £1,000 for each school pupil and invested a further
£9.4bn in primary schools. Young people are now leaving school with
the best ever results.
Labour’s investment in the NHS has trebled since coming to
office, with 35,000 more doctors and 80,000 more nurses - waiting
lists and waiting times are down to their lowest ever, and
thousands of extra lives have been saved.
Locally, Labour councils are working in partnership with the
Labour government to meet the priorities of hard-working families
to create greener spaces. The waste strategy for England will
deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, through waste
reduction, re-use, recycling and sending less biodegradable waste
to landfill.
In England the household recycling rate has increased from 7 per
cent to 32 per cent since 1997. Labour is working in partnership
with local authorities to improve local transport. Funding has
doubled since 1997, and bus subsidy has increased from £1 billion
to £2.5bn.
Labour has helped the elderly and disabled make more of public
transport- over 60s and disabled people now have the right to free
off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
Labour is also helping families and individuals to live greener
lifestyles – by committing to make all new homes zero-carbon by
2016 Labour has put environmental concerns at the heart of the
planning system and the way new homes are built. By 2010 the Labour
government will have delivered 700,000 additional homes, on course
to reach their goal of three million homes by 2020.
The Labour Party is still the only party that represents the
interests of working people. One last reason to get out and vote on
May 1, is that by staying at home you could be helping the racist
BNP win seats!
Unite ex-Preston City Council members secure talks over
pension dispute
Unite members formerly employed by Preston City Council have agreed
to more talks with their employer Jackson Lloyd to try and resolve
their pensions dispute.
Around 100 workers who carry out repairs and maintenance on
ex-council houses transferred from Preston Council to Jackson
Lloyd, a building maintenance firm, on the 1st April. Jackson Lloyd
has been awarded the contract to repair and maintain ex-council
homes which are now managed by Community Gateway Association (CGA)
and have been offered an inferior pension scheme.
At a meeting last week Jackson Lloyd, the CGA and Preston City
Council agreed further talks with the union in a final attempt to
secure a joint settlement to the dispute. Unite says it will
ballot its members on strike action if the company and unions fail
to reach an agreement at the meeting scheduled for 17th April.
Unite Regional Officer, Lawrence Chapple-Gill, said:
“The company has agreed to more talks and we are hopeful
that they will result in a resolution and avoid industrial
action.
“Our members feel very strongly on this matter.
Whilst their accrued pension with Preston City Council will be
frozen, they are unhappy that the new scheme on offer from Jackson
Lloyd going forward is an inferior and inadequate
scheme."
For full Unite press release please click
here.
Unite reaction to Tata purchase of Jaguar
Roger Maddison, Unite National Officer for the automotive industry,
said: "Today's deal is really good news for the UK
automotive industry and the thousands of people who work for Land
Rover Jaguar and its' supply chain.
"Unite has secured written guarantees for all five UK
plants on staffing levels, employee terms and conditions, including
pensions, and sourcing agreements. The sale ensures our members
futures and we look forward to working with Tata."
The Jaguar Land Rover plant at Halewood, Liverpool employs 2,200
permanent employees and 120 employees on temporary Jaguar Land
Rover contracts.
Colombian Delegation Highlights Foreign Office
Embarrassment
A recent visit by Colombian trade unionists to the North West was
given an added focus following comments made by Labour Foreign
Office Minister, Kim Howells.
Mr. Howells was criticised by Unite's Joint General Secretary
Tony Woodley for attacking the trade union backed Justice for
Colombia (JFC), which has campaigned for the past six years on
behalf of victims of oppression in Colombia and against the British
Government's military aid for the Colombian President, Alvaro
Uribe.
The delegation from Colombia visited a number of locations on
Merseyside and Manchester including public meetings at the People's
Centre in Liverpool and at the Unison offices in Manchester.
The meetings highlighted the continuing and almost daily
assassination of trade unionists, human rights activists, labour
lawyers and many others in Colombia, usually by right-wing
paramilitaries or the Colombian army.
Through JFC and the Colombian TUC, Unite supports practical
projects helping victims and the recent visit resulted in even more
offers of help. For example, a meeting with our Docks Section in
Liverpool resulted in a proposal for Branches to fund the
construction of a much needed trade union centre in the Port of
Buenaventura and employment lawyers Thompsons and Thornleys have
agreed to give further support to projects training labour lawyers
and helping secure the release of wrongly imprisoned trade union
colleagues.
Further support was agreed when, the following week, Colombian
Student Leader, Numa Paredes, spoke passionately about the plight
of his country at the TUC Young Members' Conference, also held in
Manchester, and attended by several Unite activists from this
region.Laurence Faircloth, Unite Regional Secretary in the North
West, said the presence of Colombian trade unionists at this time
was important. "We need to remind ourselves that workers
acting together to support each other often means them risking
their lives," he said. "That's why Kim Howells was so ill-advised
to appear to back anti-union activities and an anti-union
government. We are looking forward now to developing the practical
proposals to help our Colombian colleagues, who are genuinely in
the front line."
Unite vows to resist compulsory redundancies at Bae Systems
at Brough and Woodford
Unite has expressed shock at the scale of redundancies at Bae
Systems in Brough near Hull and Woodford in South Manchester. The
union has vowed to resist compulsory redundancies.
450 jobs are to be lost at the Brough facility which is the home of
the UK's Fast Jet Trainer Aircraft, Hawk and 134 jobs will be lost
at Woodford the home of Nimrod, the new world class MRA4
aircraft.
Unite national officer Bernie Hamilton said: "Only a
few days ago the Red Arrows had the Hawks on display to celebrate
the RAF's 90th anniversary. Sadly, the future for the skilled
workers that built these state of the art jets is now
uncertain.
"Unite will resist any compulsory redundancies and will be working
with management at both sites to find alternatives including,
re-skilling, transfers to other operations and work packages from
other projects.”
For full details on the press release click
here.
Opening Doors to Learning at Airbags
Airbags International, one of the largest employers in Cheshire,
has opened a new Learning Centre at its Congleton site.
Unite says the company understood the importance of working with
the union to provide learning opportunities for its
employees. The scheme will be run in partnership with Unite
through Unionlearn and Stoke and Macclesfield colleges
On the opening day Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and representatives
from local colleges were on hand to offer advice and information to
employees about available courses. Speakers included Salvadore
Duart, Airbags Managing Director, and Tom Beattie, Head of Lifelong
Learning for Unite. 'Certificates of Achievement’ were presented to
learners who had undertaken training courses as a trial run prior
to the opening of the learning centre.
Among those receiving a certificate was Angela Parkinson, a
Unite member who said: “I was nervous to start
learning again but after the first week I soon settled in and was
back into the swing of things. I was so pleased to pass my
maths National Test and this has given me the confidence to attend
further courses as well as to help my children with their
homework."
Unite say the learning agreement was the culmination of months of
constructive and positive negotiations between all the key
partners.
If you're interested in speaking to the union about setting up a
learning agreement in your workplace contact one of the North West
Lifelong Learning Organisers, Helen Osgood on 07958788653, Javaid
Aslam, Karl Birchall or Geoffery Southern on 0161 798
8976.
Help redundant Rolls-Royce workers find jobs
Unite is seeking support from members across the North West to help
206 workers at Rolls-Royce in Bootle find alternative employment
when production stops at the end of the year.
Some employees will continue to work at the site until that date
but it is expected that the first members being made redundant will
leave in September this year.
Dermott Finn, Unite rep at Rolls-Royce, Bootle said:
“Thanks to all our Unite colleagues who supported us in our
fight to keep the plant open. We may have lost this
particular fight but we can hold our heads up high and say that we
were right to fight for our jobs, the community and our children’s
future.
“We now need the help of our comrades once again in our
fight to secure jobs for workers from the site in
Bootle.”
Our members, who are highly skilled engineers, are particularly
able to undertake 'shut down' maintenance at the likes of ICI, now
mostly Ineos, Stanlow etc but if you are aware of any permanent
work they would welcome the opportunity to apply. Please email
details to Debbie.Brannan@unitetheunion.org
or contact Debbie on 01704 546 500.
North West Equality Reps' Project Seminar
Unite North West reps or members, who are interested in becoming an
Equality rep, are invited to attend a one-day seminar at Unite the
Union, Transport House, Merchant Quays, Manchester on 20th May.
To download a leaflet on the seminar click
here or visit . If you are interested in attending please click
here to download a copy of the application form.
Don’t attack the 1967 Abortion Act – defend a woman’s
right to choose
Unite is supporting a lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 7th
May to defend abortion rights and the attack to amend the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to restrict women’s access
to abortion, particularly by lowering the legal limit for abortion
from 24 weeks.
Unite in the North West attended the Abortion Rights
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in London on 5th April to
support the campaign.
Less than two per cent of abortions take place after 20 weeks
but, if successful, this attack would hit women in some of the most
vulnerable situations and encourage further anti-abortion
attacks. Already, further attacks are being lined up
including on the grounds for abortion and to impose biased
‘counselling’ on women seeking an abortion.
An overwhelming 83 per cent of people support a woman’s right to
choose on abortion and as a union we are campaigning both
regionally and nationally to defend women’s rights.
With amendments expected this Spring your involvement in the
campaign can make a difference. Please sign the petition
opposing these attacks, write to your MPs or join the lobby of
Parliament on 7th May. For further information on the
Abortion Right the national pro-choice campaign click
here or visit: http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/
If you are interested in attending the lobby please contact
Karen Viquerat on 01704 546 500 or email Karen.Viquerat@unitetheunion.org.
Safety reps turnout for H&S Conference
Over 200 delegates from across all sectors attended
the North West Health & Safety Conference in Manchester last
month.
Unite’s four Health and Safety Officers, Rob Miguel, Bud
Hudspith, Keir Clayton and Debbie Hutchings led the conference
covering various health and safety topics including Unite’s H&S
Structure, Roles and Rights for Safety Reps, Health Issues, Gender
Sensitive H&S and Environment issues.
Other speakers on the day included Hilda Palmer, Hazards Group,
Leo Beirne, HSE, David Palferman, HSE and Dave Poole, Arrowe Park
Hospital gave a well received talk on their ongoing campaign to
raise awareness of prostate cancer.
Unite Regional Safety rep Craig Neild, said: "Overall a
very useful conference covering a good mix of H&S
subjects. The presentation on prostate cancer was really
beneficial and helped raise awareness amongst the men. It was
also interesting to see how risk assessments are carried out in
other workplaces.”
Presentations from the Conference can be found on the Unite web
site by clicking
here.
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Private equity threat to pensions lifted
Unite’s campaign for legislation to protect pension schemes from
raids by private equity style companies has born fruit. The
government has now agreed to ensure changes in the law are put in
place to stop pension schemes being used for short term profit for
private investors.
Unite officials met with pensions minister, Mike O’Brien
following the takeover of telecom company Telent, by Pension
Corporation to gain control of its’ £3bn pension plan and in
addition, access to the assets of a further pension account worth
£520m.
Peter Skyte, Unite national officer, said: “We pressed
the government to take quick and decisive action to stop raids on
pension schemes by companies seeking to make a fast buck.
Thankfully the government has acted and given the pensions
regulators new powers to stop this type of pensions
injustice.”
Unite welcomes government’s commitment to
skills
Unite has welcomed a statement from Skills Secretary John Denham
urging more businesses to sign up to the government's skills
pledge. The government is targeting its own suppliers to take
up the skills agenda and sign a pledge to carry out education
initiatives with their workers.
Unite deputy general secretary, Graham Goddard said:
"It’s great the Secretary of State is encouraging employers
to adopt a proactive learning agenda. Unite already plays an active
part in encouraging further education both in and outside the
workplace. It is our experience that firms that embrace a learning
agenda benefit hugely in increased productivity and in improved
staff loyalty and morale.”
Vehicle safety body being sized up for
privatisation
Unite is campaigning to oppose plans to privatise the organisation
responsible for ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is currently under
review with a view to ‘out-sourcing’ as many functions as possible.
VOSA oversees the MOT system as well as inspecting heavy goods and
public vehicles. Unite is concerned that if the private sector
takes over the agency’s functions then the pursuit for profits will
take precidence over safety.
Unite regional officer, Jerry Pickford said: “This is
another example of the government’s continuing policy of
privatisation of the public sector. Expensive consultants have been
brought in, not to look at how the agency can be improved, but to
see how it can be handed over to the private sector, more
interested in making profit than ensuring public
safety.”
Northern Rock job losses
Unite has told Northern Rock that it will oppose any plans for
compulsory redundancies at the publicly owned bank. Following the
announcement that the Northern Rock restructuring plans will mean a
reduction in employee numbers, the union is seeking assurances that
the workforce will be reduced through voluntary means only. Graham
Goddard, Unite deputy general secretary said: “News that
staff numbers will be reduced as part of the restructuring plans
for Northern Rock has caused further uncertainty for the workforce.
The employees of the bank have already faced months of insecurity
and anxiety about their future.”
For information on the Unite campaign to safeguard the future of
Northern Rock please visit: www.amicustheunion.com/northernrock
Solidarity with Iranian workers
Unite joined an Amnesty International day of action in March to
support imprisoned Iranian bus driver, Mansour Osanloo.
Mansour is imprisoned because the Iranian authorities claim that
he along with other trade union activists are a "threat to the
national security" although in reality, it is genuine trade union
activities they want to crush. Since the day of action, another
activist from the baker’s union, Mahmoud Salehi, has been
released.
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Unite is very concerned about the oppression faced by trade
unionists in Iran and union members can show support by: signing
the online petition; wearing the campaign badge and joining the
facebook group.
To show your solidarity for Iranian trade unionists please sign
this online petition:
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=339.
For more information on this campaign please visit: http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-14366-f0.cfm
European Court judgement could lead to social unrest Unite
warns
Large construction projects such as the London’s Olympics could
beset with industrial unrest from the fall out of a recent
judgement made by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) giving
foreign firms the right to ignore collective agreements and legally
pay workers below agreed wage levels.
Unite is warning that the ECJ’s decision that a Polish
subcontractor operating in Germany can lawfully pay construction
workers less than half the German construction industry’s agreed
wage could have a devastating affect on the UK building
infrastructure.
Unite is calling for the powers of the ECJ to be curbed to allow
national governments and national courts sovereignty on collective
agreements and collective action.
Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary of Unite trade union,
said: “This decision effectively means that foreign
companies working here in the UK, or in any other EU country, can
flout domestic laws and collective agreements with regard to pay.
This is a recipe for disaster and, if applied here in the UK, will
cause massive industrial unrest and threaten the delivery of major
projects including the Olympics.
“We are calling on the UK government and the European
Parliament to act to ensure that minimum industry standards are
upheld and we want the role of the ECJ, which has greater powers
with regard to these vital issues, to be revisited.”
Taking the sting out of the 10p row
The little known and, therefore, hardly used Working Tax Credit may
take some of the sting out of the removal of the 10p tax rate which
has caused a political uproar. This tax benefit is available to
people who earn less than £18,500 a year and who work a minimum 16
hours a week. It’s important to understand that it applies to those
who don’t have children. That’s why it is different from the better
known Working Families Tax Credit.
The basic benefit is £1,800 a year but there are many other
types of payment depending on your own personal situation. It
really is worth investigating to see if it applies to you.
Full details are online http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm
or by phoning the helpline on 0845 300 3900 or the textphone on
0845 300 3909. Lines are open every day (except Christmas Day,
Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Day) from 8am and 8pm.
Subscribe to the Morning Star
Want a more balanced view on what trade unions do? Unite is urging
its members to support the only daily newspaper that provides
extensive coverage of trade union issues. The Morning Star,
published Monday to Saturday, reports on workplace issues from a
trade union perspective. The paper is available from newsagents. If
your local newspaper does not stock it you can ask them to. Try:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
Unite members and their families shouldn’t settle for
less
Did you know that if you have an accident you are entitled to
independent legal advice? As a Unite member you and any member of
your family can obtain this legal advice free from the union.
You may be entitled to compensation, Unite has found that
claimants who do not get independent legal representation and
instead deal direct with insurance companies sometimes get less
than their injury deserves or may get nothing at all. Last year,
Unite won over £125m in compensation for members.
Please promote the union’s legal services to your colleagues - they
are a great recruitment and organising tool. For information on the
Unite legal services please click
here. A legal services leaflet can be downloaded from
this page.
Dates for Diary
Love Music Hate Racism Carnival – the biggest anti
racism event in nearly 30 years!
Sunday 27 April marks the 30 year anniversary of the iconic 1978
Rock Against Racism (RAR) carnival and march and you can be there!
Unite is the main sponsor for the free event which is being held in
East London’s Victoria Park. It promises to be the biggest
anti-racism event in the capital for over 30 years.
There will be a carnival procession of trade unionists and
anti-racist campaigners from Weavers Fields, E1 to the Park
beforehand. Assembly for the march is at 10am and it will set off
at 11am reaching Victoria Park in time for the first live music at
midday.
Contact your regional office to see if it are putting on
transport to the event call Terry Burns on 0161 798 8976. Music
Hate Racism are looking for people to help. For more information on
how you can get involved email lovemusichateracism@hotmail.com
Workers Memorial Day – 28th April
Please make every effort to support Workers Memorial Day by
attending one of the below events:
Chorley – Chorley Branch of Unite are holding a
service at the Unite Workers Memorial Tree in Astley Park, Chorley
on Friday 25th April. The service will commence at 6.00 pm –
meet at the Park gate (Park Road) at 5.50 pm – all welcome.
For further information please contact Steve Turner on
07859369492.
Manchester – a rally will take place at the
Peace Gardens from 11.30am on Monday 28th April - music by Claire
Mooney. Speakers include Families Against Corporate Killers,
Asbestos Victims Supports, Trade Union Safety Reps and Tony Lloyd,
MP for Manchester Central. Refreshments and Escape Theatre
production at the Mechanics Institute, Manchester
afterwards.
Liverpool – An event is being organised on the
South Piazza of Georges Dock Building (corner of Mann Island and
the Strand), Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DD at 12 noon. Speakers
include representatives from the Trade Unions, local solicitors and
Linzi Herbertson from Families Against Corporate Killings
(FACK). For more information please contact Tony McQuade or
Colin Carr on 0151 728 2200.
Oldham – Trades Council will award the Andrew
Herberston Memorial Award on Monday 28th April from 5.30 pm – 6.00
pm at the Memorial Bench in George Square Gardens, adj to Spindles
Shopping Centre to PHASE TWO Microelectronics Campaign in St.
George Gardens and later there will be an informal social event at
Chadderton Reform Club, Chadderton Precinct, Middleton Road 7.30 pm
– 11 pm. For more information please contact Martin Gleeson,
Secretary info@oldhamtuc.org.uk.
Lancashire Quarterly Meeting – 28th
May
Please note the Lancashire Area Quarterly meeting
will be held on Wednesday 28th May 2008. Meetings commence at 7.00
pm at the County Hall, Preston.
Public sector workers lobby Parliament
On 9th June thousands of public sector workers will descend on
Westminster to challenge the government's 2 per cent pay cap.
The TUC public sector pay lobby and rally will continue the
'Speak up for Public Services' theme, this time arguing for 'Fair
Pay for Public Servants' and a rejection of another below inflation
pay award. Event details will be available soon, including
transport arrangements and campaign materials. Keep an eye out on
the TUC and Unite websites.
This bulletin has been produced by Karen Viquerat, if you
have any stories or contributions please email karen.viquerat@unitetheunion.org
or telephone Karen on 01704 546 500.
