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E-Bulletin Issue 27, May 2009

The 16th May is quickly approaching. But there is still time to join the “March for Jobs” through Birmingham city centre. 

Thousands of people will be uniting in Birmingham from 11.00 am at Highfield Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15.  The march is about our future and our jobs and that is why it is so important that people join us to send a clear message to the government that we want jobs to be its number one priority.

Sign up now - Unite have even organised free transport to get you there from the North West so bring your friends and family along as well.

March for Jobs - North West Pick Up Points:

Unite Office, Prestwich at 8:30am
Unite Office, Salford at 8:30am
Liverpool City Centre (outside the Empire theatre) at 8:30am
Preston bus station at 8:30am
Crewe bus station at 9am
Birkenhead, Woodside Terminal at 8:30am
Wigan, Wallgate Train station at 8:30am

To book your seat call Alison Jones on 0161 798 8976 or email Alison.Jones@unitetheunion.org.

To see what the Unite for Jobs demands are or for information on the march click here.

Every Vote Counts – European Elections June 4th

A message from Theresa Griffin, Unite Member, European Candidate North West Region

As we know in the North West Europe matters to trades unionists and some of the most important social and workplace laws have come from Europe.

I was delighted to be part of the Unite protest at United Biscuits in Liverpool fighting to retain our members’ jobs.

All the protection we now enjoy like paid holidays, full-time rights for part-time workers and better health and safety provision have not happened by accident.  They are the result of many years of hard work by Labour MEPs, often in the face of fierce opposition from not only the Tories but Lib Dem MEPs too.

To safeguard the progress working people have made and to fight the many more battles that lie ahead, we need a strong Labour presence in the European Parliament after the 4th June.  And I want to be part of that North West Labour Team, putting all the experience I have gained as a Unite member for over 20 years to work on behalf of our region in Europe.

Under the PR voting system, I stand a good chance of getting elected – but only if our members and their families turn out and vote on the 4th June.  If they don’t, there is a real chance the extreme right-wing BNP might get an MEP elected in this region.  That would indeed be a terrible blow to the North West and Britain as a whole.  We simply cannot allow that to happen. The BNP need only between 6.6-8% of the votes cast to take a Labour Seat. If every member of UNITE and UNISON and a member of their family votes Labour in the North West we can stop the BNP and return Labour MEPs and committed trade unionists to the European Parliament. In the 2004 Elections we lost a Labour seat by just 2.500 votes out of 2.100.000 cast.

So please come out and do everything you can to support the North West Labour Euro Team on the 4th June. In this election, every vote counts.

Your union spells out why these elections are so important to you. To download a leaflet please click here.

United Biscuits workers spread their message “Stop our jobs going abroad” in job-cuts protest

Workers at United Biscuits stepped up their bid to save their jobs being offshored to India with a lunch time protest at the Liverpool Binns Road site on Thursday 30th April.

Around 50 workers rallied outside the site wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Stop Our Jobs Going Abroad” and carrying placards in a bid to retain 55 jobs in Liverpool and 170 jobs nationwide.

Unite national officer, Jennie Formby, said: “United Biscuits has made it abundantly clear that the company has no intention of entering into meaningful consultation with us until after a decision has been made, and that will be too late. And of course, United Biscuits’ private equity owners, Blackstone and PAI, have no interest other than in maximising the return on their investment; the loyalty and long service of the workforce means nothing to them.

“Our message to the company is simple - the trade unions in United Biscuits are not prepared to sit back and let decisions be made that can wreck communities, and we will use every weapon available to us to resist the offshoring of these jobs to India.”

Unite member and European Candidate North West, Theresa Griffin passed on a message of support to the workers from Jane Kennedy MP to workers at the protest.

Unite member, Theresa Griffin said: “I was delighted to be able to support the workers at United Biscuits in their fight to secure their jobs, it is crucial that we retain skilled jobs in Liverpool.”

Over 3,000 people across Merseyside have already signed up to support the campaign petition to stop United Biscuits moving Liverpool jobs to India. Support the workers and sign the petition today at: www.unitetheunion.org/northwest.

Join Unite at Pride 2009 in Blackpool – 16th and 17th May

Unite will also be joining in the fun at Blackpool this weekend at Pride 2009 on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May.

Unite will be handing out leaflets and Unite goodies from its information stand on Saturday.  Representatives will also be hand to explain the benefits of joining Unite and to speak to existing members about the LGBT network and becoming active within the union’s equalities structure.

The event continues on Sunday with the parade. Unite reps will be on board an open top bus and take part in the parade to promote Unite.  If you would like to volunteer for the parade on Sunday 17th please contact Graham Cain on 0161 798 8976 or email Graham.Cain@unitetheunion.org.

Unite comment on Salford Cabbies Go-Slow Protest

Unite Regional Organiser, David Evans, commenting on the go –slow held on Wednesday 29th April by Salford cabbies over council’s plans to increase the number of black cabs, said:

"We are trying to be amicable but are disappointed that the council is not prepared to move from an entrenched position. All we are simply asking for is an independent survey to be carried out to enable us to judge the level of demand. Our members are already finding it hard to make a living and feel their livelihoods are under threat if Salford council press on with plans to increase the number of black cabs.

“We will sit back down with the council once this information has been gathered.

“The go-slow tonight by our members will continue.  However, drivers will now start at Church Street, Eccles across to Salford Precinct where a meeting will take place with senior council members.”

Fiat swoop for GM “giveaway” extremely concerning, say Unite

The proposal from Italian car manufacturer Fiat to buy GM Europe, as well as US car maker Chrysler, is extremely concerning, says Unite joint general secretary. GM is seeking to offload its European operations, including its UK plants, as a result of the dire financial circumstances the company’s US business finds itself in.

Tony Woodley said: “These proposals are not so much a sale as a giveaway.  Fiat has struggled for years to get back into profit and now they want to swallow two elephants – GM Europe and Chrysler - simultaneously. 

“Inevitably, plants will be reduced across the EU if this takeover goes ahead, and there are real questions over what this will mean for UK plants where Fiat already owns similar operations.  Quite frankly this move sends shivers down my spine.

“In a perfect world GM Europe should stay part of the global GM family.  But if that is not to be the case then my preferred solution is that our government, in conjunction with the German and Spanish governments, takes some ownership in the firm which would stabilise the industry generally and this company specifically. 

“If our government is serious about manufacturing, as I believe it is, and serious about ensuring manufacturing will be key to seeing this country out of the recession, then I urge them to do the sensible thing and act to protect our plants.”

Unite represents workers at UK Vauxhall factories which include the Ellesmere Port plant in the North West.

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2009 – Remember the Dead: Fight for the Living

There was a great turn out for IWMD across the North West including events at Chorley, Preston, Liverpool and Manchester. To view pictures from the Preston event click here.

Both Unite and Hazards welcomed the Government’s announcement on 28th April that they are looking at officially recognising Workers Memorial Day, to commemorate the thousands of people who have been killed, seriously injured or made ill through work.  It would also provide an annual focal point for the importance of healthy and safe workplaces.To read the government press release click here.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell has confirmed that a consultation will look at how the Day could be officially recognised in the UK. Also on 28th April Gordon Brown issued a message of support to mark Workers’ Memorial Day.  To read the PM’s message or if H&S reps want to put on their notice boards please click here.

For a copy of the Hazards Campaign Press release please click here.

We will soon be starting organising for next year’s events. For more information on organising your own event or helping with an organised event please contact Hilda Palmer, Hazards at mail@gmhazards.org.uk or call Hilda on 0161 636 7557 

Unite reaction to tips announcement by government

Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: “The government are to be congratulated for doing the right thing by low-waged waiting staff and moving to close the loophole which has allowed greedy employers to use tips to pay staff the minimum wage.

"Hard-working waiting staff will be delighted to learn that bad employers can no-longer line their pockets with the money that customers intended to go to workers. This is a triumph for the poorly paid in restaurants, bars and hotels across the country, and for Unite’s campaign on behalf of all hospitality staff.     

“However, there remains a need for a fully transparent tipping system where 100% of tips go to staff. Unite is unconvinced that the voluntary code of practice announced today will give consumers the clarity they need to be confident that any money they leave will go to the employees who deserve it.
 
"Workers will be waiting for the hospitality industry to demonstrate they will now sign up to the fair tips system that their customers and staff have demanded. Our experience of the hospitality industry does not inspire confidence in their ability to self regulate on tips and services charges.”