tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71675257346219658562023-07-30T22:43:56.504+01:00Ian's UNITE SiteIan Allinson's blog about Unite the Union (the biggest union in UK & Ireland)Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.comBlogger577125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-31846441486613326202022-07-08T17:31:00.002+01:002022-07-08T17:33:18.812+01:00My guide to organising at work is coming soon from Pluto Press<p>I've written a book, <i>Workers Can Win! A Guide to Organising At Work</i>, which Pluto are publishing soon.</p><p>There's lots more information about it on a new website, <a href="https://workers-can-win.info" target="_blank">workers-can-win.info</a>, including Chapter 1 which you can read for free, and details of how to order a copy.</p><p>This is a video some comrades made to promote it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="353" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wRXI-zIfi5s" width="592" youtube-src-id="wRXI-zIfi5s"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I hope you find it useful - if you do, please help get it into the hands of workers who would benefit from it.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Praise for <i>Workers Can Win</i></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImsfvhcqgPxUt0vQScnm3DVgvMA8Ekl7GXDBOp06COafNO5rXw6YwmomrkNHJ68QmFpwqdi6WRC0TJ7-8oGRxBP8ogkyinF3873zwGA5SG9mtOtogDc4gawOxZAS6dk0UX7xjih_1LpogFhL1HjyfqJ1IAynbAaDpKQxrani0LSU4lM73AV2pe0U/s1270/Cover%20art%20screen%20res.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="795" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImsfvhcqgPxUt0vQScnm3DVgvMA8Ekl7GXDBOp06COafNO5rXw6YwmomrkNHJ68QmFpwqdi6WRC0TJ7-8oGRxBP8ogkyinF3873zwGA5SG9mtOtogDc4gawOxZAS6dk0UX7xjih_1LpogFhL1HjyfqJ1IAynbAaDpKQxrani0LSU4lM73AV2pe0U/s320/Cover%20art%20screen%20res.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"<i>Just at the time when workers are mobilising to tackle the economic and climate crises we all face, this invaluable handbook comes along to provide an essential guide to winning."</i></span> John McDonnell MP<span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>A must read for every trade union activist."</i> </span><span>Lyn-Marie O’Hara, Glasgow equal pay striker</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>Workers have needed a practical, positive, accessible guide to organising in Britain for a long time and Ian, using his vast experience in the area has created just that! It will be a valuable resource for union representatives and organisers wanting to grow their branch and union!"</i> </span><span>Sarah Woolley, General Secretary, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>In the age of climate breakdown, militant worker organising is as urgent as ever. Workers and environmentalists share a common enemy in the capitalist class and Allinson gives us all a powerful guide of how to effectively organise for social change from our workplaces. If you’re wondering what you can do in the fight for climate justice then read Workers Can Win!, join your union, and get organising."</i> </span><span>Chris Saltmarsh, co-founder of Labour for a Green New Deal</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and author of Burnt: Fighting for Climate Justice</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>Drawing on years of experience, Unite activist Ian Allinson has written an organizing handbook that will be invaluable for rank and file organizers and trade union professionals alike. Allinson offers timely, concrete analysis and advice that will be an aid to activists across the trade union movement in today’s difficult work environment."</i> </span><span>Kim Moody, a founder of Labor Notes</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the US, author of several books on trade unions and politics and currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Westminster.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>Workplaces are key sites of struggle against the hostile environment for migrants, and so to tackle these injustices against migrants we need strong unions. Workers Can Win is a readable, practical guide for organising at work and building the power we need to fight back against oppression."</i> </span><span>Ida Jarsve, co-founder, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<i>Workers Can Win is a vital resource for anyone serious about taking part in trade union work at any level, and also extremely useful for anyone working for positive change in their community."</i> </span><span>Brendan Montague, editor of The Ecologist</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and member of the National Union of Journalists.</span></span></p></h2><p></p>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-46134380056879192472019-06-20T11:05:00.001+01:002019-06-20T11:05:31.191+01:00Why so quiet?I've been getting a few questions lately, so wanted to post an update.<br />
<br />
As I'm not in a workplace at the moment, I stepped down from the various Unite committees I was on. I'm still active in Unite (though the machine doesn't make this easy!) but am contributing more via <a href="http://www.uniterankandfile.org/" target="_blank">Unite Rank and File</a> rather than posting here - this site is now largely dormant.<br />
<br />
I'm also being asked about the long-anticipated Unite General Secretary election, as few expect McCluskey to manage a full term for the first time. It's noticeable that there are various <a href="http://www.uniterankandfile.org/rules-conference-agenda-is-now-out/" target="_blank">rule changes up for discussion next week</a> which aim to increase or close down democracy. If there is an election any time soon I won't be standing again. I stood as a rank and file candidate. I hope there will be a strong rank and file voice in any election, but given that I'm not currently active in a workplace I don't think that should be me.<br />
<br />
I was also elected President of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TUCManchester/" target="_blank">Manchester TUC</a> earlier this year.<br />
<br />
I've made a<a href="https://youtu.be/Hizma4z4AmA" target="_blank"> video about how workplaces can get involved with the climate strikes</a>, an issue which we should all be getting more involved in, and where Unite should be doing much more - fighting for good climate jobs rather than backing destructive and unsustainable projects while jobs continue to be slaughtered. UCU and BFAWU have already adopted policy backing the climate strikes. The silence from McCluskey and our Executive Council urgently needs to end.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-40161593833571085162018-10-22T16:02:00.000+01:002018-10-22T16:02:12.435+01:00Ian Allinson v Fujitsu Services Limited Employment Tribunal case resolvedIan Allinson had been seeking reinstatement with his former employer, Fujitsu Services Limited. The claims have now been resolved in a manner acceptable to both parties but which include the claimant accepting that he will not be reinstated.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-15993064165487808742018-07-26T18:16:00.000+01:002018-07-26T18:28:09.787+01:00GPM&IT NISC June 2018This is my personal report, not an official one. It omits most of the industrial business, as this is often confidential. Other than that, if you are aware of any errors please let me know.<br />
<br />
This was the first meeting of the new National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC) elected by the Regional Industrial Sector Committees (RISCs) for the 2018-20 term of office.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Steve Garroway was re-elected as chair.</li>
<li>It was agreed that as there were a number of new delegates, the election of deputy chair would be postponed until the next meeting, and for now Charlie Shieber would continue as deputy.</li>
<li>A number of corrections were agreed to the previous minutes</li>
<li>There is now a template for NISC minutes with an action plan as a spreadsheet at the end</li>
<li>Louisa Bull, the National Officer, has been working on a charter setting out where we are as a sector, subsectors, key areas of future work etc. The future work will include a full audit / mapping exercise of the sector, identifying membership density, areas of growth, combines, European Works Councils and experts etc. One of the aims will be to use the <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/work-voice-pay/" target="_blank">Work Voice Pay data</a> to identify projects we want to do and extend collective bargaining, enhance subsectors and combines.</li>
<li>A draft of a booklet on apprenticeships was circulated for comments by 1 July.</li>
<li>The NISC's Organising Strategy Subcommittee was elected: Charlie Shieber, Gareth Lowe, Ronan Turley, Ian Allinson, Steve Garroway, Claire Lees</li>
<li>The joiners and leavers data provided to NISC members had gone from too much detail, not showing trends and changes, to not enough detail to be useful. Louisa explained that things like this were in flux following the GDPR data protection legislation. Louisa will produce a new template and email it out.</li>
<li>There was discussion about the fact that there are 170 different officers covering workplaces in the sector, most of them with only a small piece of GPM&IT in their allocation, and how this prevents focus or expertise. There are examples of different officers covering sites belonging to competing companies right near each other.</li>
<li>The issue of the Labour Party and even parts of Unite using non-unionised printers was discussed yet again. Louisa reported that she had raised it with Jennie Formby, now the Labour Party General Secretary. Louisa will forward to the NISC an email from Jennie confirming the policy on this set by the Labour NEC. Louisa has asked Regional Officers to produce a list of half a dozen small print shops they would happily recommend. It was agreed that this list should include what types of work the printers can do and that it should be circulated to RISC chairs and branch secretaries and Unite Political Officers as well as the NISC.</li>
<li>A team to work on content for the sector's web site and social media profile was elected: Helen Kerr, John Stuttle, Ian Allinson and Jamie Messent. Louisa reported that the web site was being revamped and she ws unable to get it updated. The NISC can still consider what it wants in terms of structure, sector and company pages, toolkits etc ready for when the site is usable again. Unite recommends that all RISC and NISC members have unitetheunion.org email addresses, which can be put up on the web site too.</li>
<li>The Unite briefing on the Gender Pay Gap (GPG) had been sent to all reps. A 5-day course covering this in Eastbourne is coming up, with the deadline soon. Delegates felt this was an important issue to raise, recruit around, and use as leverage to tackle the issue, even when there is no pay bargaining or transparency. A tool is being developed to show the GPG for every employer in the sector. There was also discussion about a successful equal pay case and the need to publicise such wins. Louisa will circulate a template grievance questionnaire for discrimination cases developed after the government scrapped the statutory questionnaire.</li>
<li>One area for potential growth is into the white collar staff and technical workers in workplaces where there is already shopfloor bargaining. In many workplaces the proportion of shopfloor workers is shrinking.</li>
<li>All activists should have received the activist briefing on the new GDPR data protection legislation and the document explaining how to report data breaches. The Executive Council have had training and all branch secretaries and chairs will get training via their regions in the next couple of months. Legal have been invited to do this at the November NISC as well. Some amendments had been made by the EC to the Unite Rulebook in response to GDPR. There was discussion about the fact that some officers and staff are refusing to share information with RISC members on grounds of the GDPR, unless specific consent is obtained each time. I pointed out that the Unite GDPR Guidelines make clear that reps and branch officers can have access to membership information for legitimate union activity and that the officers and staff were breaking rule 18.7 which requires RISC members to be given the identity, constituency and contact details of reps covered by their RISC. A situation where committee members can't even communicate with each other is absurd. <i>Update: this still doesn't seem to have been resolved, with Unite legal advising officers and staff to break union rules on the pretext of GDPR. </i>In the meantime, NISC members agreed to share their contact information with each other, and those absent would be asked to consent to this too. There was a discussion about how to ensure our use of data is GDPR compliant at branch and workplace level, and the risks of communicating or keeping information on employers' systems.<br /><i></i></li>
<li>Barckley Sumner from the Unite Campaigns & Communications department gave a presentation about best practice for media content, producing content, use of photos etc.</li>
<li>Gareth Lowe was elected as editor of the GPM&IT quarterly newsletter which goes to all activists in the sector. Each RISC is asked to elect someone to liaise with him, to help ensure a good mix of content from round the UK and Ireland.</li>
<li>The NISC discussed ideas for content for the next newsletter, for which the deadline is 31 July. The newsletter will be shorter and more industrially focused, with the hope that activists will circulate copies in workplaces. </li>
<li>Work on the idea of piloting the "industrial hub" approach to organising in the corrugated subsector continues. Communication is being improved, and coordination around bargaining. The international union federations (IndustriALL and UNI) can help with research, and AGS Steve Turner has resources for the hubs strategy, which may be helpful as the sector isn't getting resources from the organising department.</li>
<li>Work to update the Stratum membership system records for GPM&IT workplaces to include subsector, national agreements, and which bits of workplaces are covered by agreements continues. Some Regional Officers are working on it, and some RISCs. Some NISC members volunteered to help too. Where possible, government codes for subsectors are being used. Louisa has a short description for each subsector which she will circulate. If the population isn't finished, the spreadsheets will be sent to RISCs to complete.</li>
<li>Louisa had attended 6 of the Regional Industrial Sector Conferences. She hadn't been invited to one (which clashed with another anyway), two were not quorate, and Wales is still not working. Reps from Wales who wanted to be on the RISC and NISC have been invited to the NISC as observers while this is sorted out. Most of the meetings were good in terms of attendance and participation.</li>
<li>Information wasn't cascading from the National Officer through the officers who act as secretaries to the RISCs to all the reps, so Louisa is now sending stuff directly to all officers who cover GPM&IT.</li>
<li>Louisa wants the NISC to produce a sector plan, then RISCs to work from that and identify how they can pick up those areas of work in their region, what actions they can take.</li>
<li>We hope to get NISC minutes finalised quickly so they can get to RISC members in time for the following RISC meetings. Louisa is emailing the RISC officers to ask them to put the NISC minutes onto their agendas.</li>
<li>There was discussion about the latest developments in the ongoing Fujitsu dispute.</li>
<li>The Print Futures award has been widened to include paper and packaging.</li>
<li>Ronan Turley, Steve Garroway and Claire Lees were elected as 2 delegates and a substitute to the Unite Manufacturing Combine.</li>
<li>Delegates were reminded that if they can't attend a NISC meeting, they should ask the RISC to send a substitute.</li>
<li>There was discussion about the push to "paperless meetings" in some organisations (e.g. UNI World Congress) and the fact that not everyone has the facilities or skills to engage effectively without printed material. Unite's policy is that individuals should be provided with printed copies of documents for meetings if they prefer that. For the NISC, documents will be emailed out, with printed copies posted to delegates who request it. Printed copies of the agenda, minutes and anything being debated rather than provided for background information will be provided on the day.</li>
<li>An emergency motion on Gaza for Policy Conference was agreed.</li>
<li>Louisa undertook to provide GPM&IT policy conference delegates with a list so they could communicate with each other.</li>
<li>Louisa will circulate a report from an IT delegation to a recent conference in Mumbai.</li>
<li>The NISC needs more women and BAEM members to join it, and there was a discussion about how to achieve this. Louisa will go back to the regions who have not sent a proportionate delegation.</li>
<li>The EC was asking the NISC to remit its motion on allocation of officers to sectors and it was agreed how this would be handled at conference.</li>
<li>The experiment with holding the NISC over one long day had caused problems for a number of shift workers. It was agreed to move back to a meeting split over two days.</li>
<li>Jonathan Hayward from the Unite International Department gave an update
around European Works Councils (EWCs) and UK Information &
Consultation (I&C) bodies. He said the main issue for EWCs at the moment was Brexit, which also has implications for the I&C regulations. The recasting of the EWC directive in 2011 has improved EWC functioning, particularly after Unite did a lot of training for reps and officers. There was still a need to push for more consultation and engagement, EWCs represent an opportunity to hold companies to account, e.g. they had delivered safeguards in the GKN/Melrose takeover battle. The European Commission says that from 29 March 2019 UK employee numbers won't count towards the thresholds for EWCs. Unite is advising reps to push for amendments to agreements now to ensure continued representation post Brexit irrespective of what happens - and has a document with suggested clauses. Employer responses are varying, often based on HQ country.</li>
<li>Jonathan explained that the UK government faces a dilemma over EWCs. They have promised that no employment legislation will be diluted by Brexit, at least in the short term. On the other hand they don't want the ECJ to have jurisdiction, so EWCs operating under UK law wouldn't be fully enforceable, even for EU citizens. Unite has proposed that the UK repeals most of the legislation that allows EWCs to be covered by UK legislation, but retain the right of UK employees to participate in EWCs based elsewhere. This would require some agreement with the EU, and EWCs currently based in the UK would have to move. German and French are best, while Irish is worst. Some EWC agreements have clauses saying it is under the law of the country with most employees, but companies usually want to choose. Sometimes the agreement allows the employer to choose from the top three countries by employer number. An update on all this will go in the sector newsletter, and Louisa will send something to our EWC chairs and NISC members.</li>
<li>Most companies are making contingency plans for various Brexit scenarios, and EWCs should be part of that debate. EWC reps should raise this now - though you don't always get good news. There is a document with questions you can raise.</li>
<li>The Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) made a useful recent <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cac-outcome-oracle-ewc-oracle-corporation-uk-ltd" target="_blank">ruling against Oracle</a> over a failure to consult about a transfer of work. Oracle had held a phone conference with the EWC and then answered some later questions, and claimed that was adequate consultation. The CAC ruled that information and consultation is a process with more than one stage, and that the EWC had been unable to consider the information, discuss it with management and submit an opinion. They also ruled against the blanket confidentiality imposed by Oracle on the grounds that the information might damage the business by upsetting people. Since the wording of the I&C regulations on information and consultation is the same as the EWC regulations, the same arguments can be used there. This is potentially very useful for countering the talking-shop / focus group way of working that some employers favour.</li>
<li>NISC members discussed the idea of trying to incorporate the protections in the EU Social Chapter into collective agreements now, to retain them even if the Tories worsen the legislation.</li>
<li>The Unite materials were (again) criticised
for not addressing the rights of non-UK citizens, many of whom are
members and feel the union hasnt' focussed on them. My own branch had submitted Motion 13 to <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/2018/07/report-unite-policy-conference-2018.html" target="_blank">Policy Conference</a> and another GPM&IT branch had submitted a supportive amendment. Jonathan explained that the International Department had picked
up much of the work around Brexit, but the Equalities department had said they would deal with the issues raised. NISC
members felt Unite needed to be more joined up to avoid such problems. Louisa agreed to write to Simon Dubbins (head of international department) to ask for a European migrant workers to have a focus group or their own committee.</li>
<li>There will be an update on European Works Councils and Information &
Consultation bodies on Friday 5 June.</li>
<li>It was agreed to submit a second Emergency Motion to Policy Conference highlighting the demonstration against Trump on 13 July, the Unity demonstration against the far right on 14 July, and the need to do more to stop the FLA/DFLA using football links to build a racist movement.</li>
<li>We agreed to mobilise for the NHS demonstration on 30 June </li>
<li>The next meeting will be 4-5 October at Moreland Street, London</li>
</ol>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-59082211143959551962018-07-23T16:41:00.000+01:002018-07-23T17:27:00.601+01:00Report: Unite Policy Conference 2018<i>This isn't an official report, but is accurate to the best of my knowledge. If you spot any errors or omissions, please let me know. I have also uploaded the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wz--w-_l1nNV4NX38L7uynIhvLyOJVMP" target="_blank">official "progress of business"</a>.</i><br />
<br />
You can refer to the <a href="http://www.uniterankandfile.org/unite-policy-conference-2018/" target="_blank">conference agenda</a> (the pack of motions prior to compositing (merging motions), emergency motions and most Executive Statements). EC statements on Brexit and Gender Identity are available on the <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigning/events/fifth-unite-policy-conference-2018/" target="_blank">conference page of the Unite web site</a>. <a href="http://unitelive.org/category/unite-policy-conference-2018/" target="_blank">UniteLive</a> carried reports on several debates, though some (including on an <a href="http://unitelive.org/fla/" target="_blank">Emergency Motion I moved</a>) appear to have been well hidden.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxXSCoefGOo/W1WZDx4JHiI/AAAAAAAAsuw/z62kF9uci1wRVpYufVt9tDRgemJ7TfFuACLcBGAs/s1600/20180705_093617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Crowd at conference holding NHS 70 placards" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OxXSCoefGOo/W1WZDx4JHiI/AAAAAAAAsuw/z62kF9uci1wRVpYufVt9tDRgemJ7TfFuACLcBGAs/s400/20180705_093617.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The mood of conference was positive. In particular, the involvement of young members continues to grow. We've had young member <i>observers </i>for several conferences now. It was striking that we appeared to have more young member <i>delegates </i>this time. Certainly they played a more significant part in debates. Many had been involved in or leading campaigns and disputes, and young members significantly influenced debate on several questions, succeeding in getting the top table to respond.<br />
<br />
Less positive was the continuing excessive use of Executive Statements. The Executive Council (EC) can issue statements at any time, for insertion into any debate. Votes on EC statements are taken first, and if one is passed all the motions on the same topics fall. They have a legitimate role - effectively enabling the EC to put forward an alternative motion on a topic where they would otherwise have to oppose motions and leave us with big gaps in policy. But they are now prolific, and rarely used for this purpose, instead enabling fudge and preventing clear debate and decisions. They often help create a mood of unity in conference, but this is illusory if it is unity around a fudge which hinders coherent action in workplaces and communities.<br />
<h4>
Jargon:</h4>
<ul>
<li>M: Motion</li>
<li>ES: Executive Statement</li>
<li>C: Composite (merged motions)</li>
<li>EM: Emergency Motion</li>
<li>Carried: Agreed by conference</li>
<li>Fell: Not voted on by conference, e.g. because it conflicted with an ES or M that had already been passed, or nobody moved it</li>
<li>Withdrawn: the movers agreed to withdraw the motion, which was not debated. In many cases motions are withdrawn in favour of Composites that include most/all of their points.</li>
<li>Remitted: not voted on, but sent to the EC for consideration</li>
<li>Lost: put to a vote and rejected</li>
<li>Substantive: a motion including one or more amendments</li>
<li>A: Amendment</li>
</ul>
See also my <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/p/glossary-jargon-buster.html" target="_blank">Glossary & Jargon Buster</a>. <br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
The Economy</h3>
C6, Industrial Strategy (M 26, 27, 28 & 29) - Carried<br />
M30 UK steel and manufacturing post Brexit - Carried<br />
C7 Public ownership (M31, 33, 34, 35) - Carried<br />
M32 nationalisation - Carried<br />
M36 public ownership - Carried<br />
M40 Change in UK law for companies ceasing trading - Carried<br />
M41 Mergers and acquisitions legislation - unwanted & hostile takeovers - Carried<br />
<b>Speaker: Frances O'Grady, TUC General Secretary</b><br />
C8 Public transport (M37, 38) - Carried<br />
M39 East Cost Rail bailout - Carried<br />
<h3>
Defence Diversification</h3>
ES1 Defence Diversification - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: though this remains a fudge, it represents a step forward for Unite in trying to implement our longstanding commitment to diversification</i><br />
M21 Defence Diversification Strategy - Remitted<br />
M22 Defence Diversification - Fell<br />
M23 Defence Jobs - Fell<br />
M24 Opposition to Trident Nuclear Missile System - Fell<br />
M25 Nuclear disarmament - Fell<br />
<h3>
Political & Labour Party</h3>
M102: Against the Football Lads' Alliance - Withdrawn in favour of EM2<br />
EM2: Opposing Racism, The Football Lads Alliance and the Democratic Football Lads Alliance<br />
<i>Note: this was actually a (rather mangled) Composite of two Emergency Motions and M102. I moved it on behalf of the GPM&IT NISC. </i>The text was:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Conference notes the Football Lads Alliance (FLA) is attempting to organise football supporters in demonstrations against 'extremism'. It is taking legitimate concerns around terrorism and then using Islamophobia to stir up fear, division and racism. It represents a dangerous development on the right of British politics.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Whilst claming to be against racism, within their ranks they seem happy to harbour known and organised racists and fascists many who have previously or still are active in groups such as EDL, BNP and the likes. On one demonstration Diane Abbott MP was picked out as a target by one of their leaders where they disgracefully said "Diane Abbott we are coming for you".</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some from within the FLA marches have abused and threatened anti-racists from Stand Up To Racism campaign (SUTR) who were leafletting their demonstration. The FLA Facebook group moderators tolerate hate speech from their supporters against women; against Muslims; against Black and ethnic minorities.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It would be wrong to identify all those who are attracted to FLA or who have marched with the FLA as racists and Islamophobes, however there is a danger that if the group goes unchallenged that those elements within it who are pushing a racist agenda are able to mobilise a new far right street movement.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This conference notes that:</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1) The racist march of about 15,000 in London on 9 June, was the largest mobilisation of the far right in the UK since the 1930s and the counter-demonstration called by Stand Up To Racism was small.<br />
2) That it followed large racist demonstrations in several cities in previous weeks, which were followed by racist attacks.<br />
3) The rise in mainstream Islamophobia from politicians and the press and the scapegoating of migrants for problems in employment, housing and public services.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Conference resolves to instruct our Executive to:<br />
<ul>
<li> Support, publicise and mobilise attendance at the demonstration called by Stand Up To Racism on Saturday 14 July against the next major far-right mobilisation in London, and any future far-right marches in our towns and cities and that trade unions should provide stewarding instead of relying on the police to keep people safe.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>Educate our members about the rise of Islamophobia and the racism of the FLA and DFLA and other similar groups, and by distributing information to all our branches and members.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>Run a campaign to encourage all football clubs, football fans and supporters' clubs to take a stance against groups such as the FLA and the DFLA and encourage and provide resources to Kick Racism Out of Football and Show Racism the Red Card.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>Redouble our work with all appropriate anti-racist organisations to build strong local organisation capable of opposing racist mobilisations in our communities</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>Write to the TUC to demand it launch a 'jobs, homes not racism' campaign to unite the wider trade union movement and to campaign effectively against the far right. This should include workers taking all legal steps (up to and including strike action) to disrupt all attempts to organise for hte purposes of extending the rhetoric of the FLA and DFLA or any similar organisation. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<i>Note: the importance of it became even clearer on 14 July when RMT and Unite trade unionists were <a href="http://unitelive.org/unite-is-fighting-back-against-those-using-football-to-spread-hatred-and-division/" target="_blank">physically attacked</a> after a demonstration in support of "Tommy Robinson" (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and Donald Trump.</i><br />
<br />
M104 Restore clause 4 in the Labour Party - Lost<br />
M105 Extension fo the franchise - Carried<br />
<h3>
Improving Health & Safety</h3>
C15 Mental Health - a union matter (M76, 77, 78, 79) - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: This was a very moving debate with delegates recounting their own experiences</i><br />
M72+A Workplace health & wellbeing representatives - Carried<br />
M73 Shift working and its impact on our members - Withdrawn<br />
M74 Classifying stress as a reportable occupational disease - Carried<br />
M75 Occupational health in the workplace - Carried<br />
<h3>
Global Solidarity</h3>
M68 Yemen - humanitarian aid and ceasefire - Carried<br />
EM3: Latin America - Carried<br />
M70 Mexico - Carried (Amendment withdrawn)<br />
EM5 Brazil - Carried<br />
EM4 Turkey / Kurds and progressive forces - Carried<br />
M71 Israel / Palestine - Carried<br />
EM6 Gaza - Carried<br />
<i>Note: this was from the GPM&IT NISC</i><br />
<h3>
Brexit</h3>
<a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigning/events/fifth-unite-policy-conference-2018/upc2018---executive-council-statement-on-brexit/" target="_blank">ES2: Brexit</a> - Carried<br />
C1: Brexit and working people (M2, 3, 10 & 11) - Fell<br />
C2 Brexit - a vote on the final deal (M4 & 5) - Fell<br />
C3 The Future of Brexit (M6 & 7) - Fell<br />
C4 Brexit and Free Movement (M12 & 14) - Fell<br />
M8 Brexit - Fell<br />
M9 Leaving the EU - Fell<br />
M13 Workers' rights to move freely and be treated equally - Fell<br />
<i>Comment: I moved M13, from my own branch, and was disappointed that the EC knocked out what was primarily an equalities motion using its Brexit statement, which failed to clearly defend the rights of workers and members who may have travelled or decide to travel. When Unite materials talk about workers' rights under Brexit, the rights of current and future members who aren't UK citizens barely get a mention.</i><br />
M1 Brexit and Ireland - Carried<br />
EM1 Brexit and Gibraltar - Carried<br />
<h3>
Pensions & Retirement</h3>
M96 the future of state pension - Carried<br />
M97 How do we improve the quality of life for our ageing population - Carried<br />
M100 Challenging the mass media portrayal of older people - Carried<br />
<b>Speaker: Jeremy Corbyn</b><br />
M98 Fuel Poverty - Carried<br />
M99 Funeral Poverty - Carried<br />
M101 Carers' Allowance - Carried<br />
<h3>
Industrial</h3>
C16 Automation (M80, 81, 82) - Carried<br />
C17 Shorter Working Time (M83, 84) - Carried<br />
M85: 4 day, 28 hour working week - Remitted<br />
C18 Dignity At Work (M88 & 89) - Carried<br />
M86 setting an agenda for excellent apprenticeships - Carried<br />
M87 Future skills - Carried<br />
M90 organising young workers - Carried<br />
M91 worker cooperatives as opposed to workplace closures - Carried<br />
M92 challenging increased workloads - Carried<br />
M93 + A direct labour organisations - Carried<br />
M94 collective bargaining and solidarity action in workplaces, industries and services - Carried<br />
<b>Speaker: Ken Neumann, USW</b><br />
<h3>
Equalities</h3>
C13 sexual harassment and sexual abuse (M60 & 61) - Carried<br />
C14 women's health (M63 & 64) - Carried<br />
M62 menopause at work - Carried<br />
<br />
<i>Speaker: Lauren Townsend, TGI Fridays</i><br />
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<br />
Membership at TGI Fridays<i> </i>has rocketed<i> </i>in response to the (highly profitable) company wanting to take a huge chunk of tips off waiting staff to subsidise low pay for kitchen staff. Members at several restaurants were on strike during the conference. Delegates joined a protest at the Brighton restaurant and engaged in a bit of direct action, with Len McCluskey addressing diners to explain the dispute. For more information see <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllEyesOnTGIs" target="_blank">#AllEyesOnTGIs</a>.<br />
<i></i><br />
<br />
EM8: Irish repeal the 8th - women's choice - Carried<br />
C10: Brexit and equalities (M66 & 67) - Carried<br />
C11 Rights for people with disabilities (M52 & 53) - Carried<br />
M47 improving the face of our union by increasing employee diversity - Carried<br />
M48 union representation at constitutional committees - Remitted<br />
M49 equality impact assessments - Carried<br />
M50 unconscious bias - Carried<br />
M51 black and asian ethnic minroity activity based budgeting - Remitted<br />
M54 asylum seekers - Carried<br />
M55 migrant workers - Remitted (Amendment fell)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigning/events/fifth-unite-policy-conference-2018/upc2018--ec-statement-on-gender-identity/" target="_blank">ES3 Gender identification</a> - Carried<br />
C12 gender identification (M56, 57, 58) - Remitted<br />
M59 Gender recognition act - Withdrawn<br />
<i>Comment: this was a significant debate, which unfortunately I missed due to industrial business. I am told that young members made a key contribution, particularly in criticising the decision of leading figures in Unite signing a <a href="https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/04/unite-len-mccluskey-transgender/" target="_blank">one-sided letter to the Morning Star with notorious transphobes</a>. Len responded with a <a href="https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/my-union-opposes-all-hate-crime-bullying-and-harassment" target="_blank">clarification</a>. Many others signed responses such as <a href="https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/gender-recognition-act-open-letter" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://theclarionmag.org/2018/07/06/a-response-to-the-morning-star-trans-rights-controversy-from-lgbt-trade-unionists/" target="_blank">this from delegates at the TUC LGBT conference</a>. Thankfully, despite the distraction of the letter, Unite now has policy supporting the rights of trans people.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
M65 International Women's Day 2019 - Remitted (with assurances that the EC would act on it)<br />
<h3>
Campaigning against austerity</h3>
C5 Universal Credit (M17, 18, 19, 20) - Carried<br />
<b>Speaker: Sharon Graham - Work Voice Pay</b><br />
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<br />
<i></i>
<h3>
NHS 70th birthday</h3>
Conference marked the 70th birthday of the NHS and recognised the importance of defending and improving it.<br />
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<h3>
Social Action</h3>
C24 NHS (M127, 128, 130) - Carried<br />
C25 - NHS 70th anniversary (M131, 132, 133, 134) - Carried<br />
M126 NHS pay parity - Carried<br />
M129 NHS car parking costs - carried<br />
M155 Health & social care - Carried<br />
C23 Housing (M124 & 125) - Carried<br />
M122 homelessness and rough sleepers - Carried<br />
M123 Grenfell Tower - Carried<br />
M121 Community Rights - Carried<br />
M135 Public scrutiny over public money - Carried<br />
M136 Justice in crisis - Carried<br />
EC report and 2017 accounts - Received by conference<br />
<b>Speakers: John McDonnell and Ann Pettifor</b><br />
ES4 local government funding - Carried<br />
M15 local government cuts - a Unite strategy - Fell<br />
<i>Comment: M15 from the London & Eastern Local Authorities RISC was calling on Labour councils to take a firmer stance against cuts and privatisation than the EC statement</i><br />
M16 tackling the impact of austerity - Carried<br />
<h3>
Rights for workers and their unions</h3>
C19 Trade union freedom (M107, 108, 109) - Carried<br />
M106 Campaign for trade union rights - Carried<br />
M111 banning of subcontracting of work during industrial action - Carried<br />
C20 precarious employment (M112, 113) - Carried<br />
C21 precarious employment (M115, 116) - Carried<br />
M114 Gig economy - Carried<br />
C22 age and the National Living Wage (M119 & 120) - Carried<br />
M110 strengthening TUPE legislation - Carried<br />
M117 Direct Action - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: this is a significant motion to train activists in direct action techniques to support our campaigns</i><br />
M118 amendment to the Equality Act 2010 - Remitted<br />
<h3>
Energy and Environment</h3>
C9 atmospheric pollution (M42, 43) Carried<br />
M44+A clean energy - Carried<br />
M45 Backing of UK coal industry - Carried<br />
EM10 Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon - Carried<br />
EM7 National Grid dispute - USA - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: the US subsidiary of National Grid has <a href="https://www.lockoutatnationalgrid.com/" target="_blank">locked out over 1000 USW members</a></i><br />
<h3>
Union Administration and Membership services</h3>
C26 Union Learning Fund (M142, 143, 145) - Lost<br />
M144 Sustainable learning opportunities for all Unite members - Carried<br />
M153 Paperless meetings - Remitted<br />
<i>Note: this was from the GPM&IT South East RISC</i><br />
M154 environment - Carried<br />
M137 Regional Officer Allocations - Remitted<br />
<i>Comment: this important motion from the GPM&IT NISC aimed to address a situation where sectors are scattered across the allocations of dozens (hundreds in many cases) of Regional Officers. It was remitted after assurances that the issue would be addressed.</i><br />
M140 Servicing our membership - Remitted<br />
M138 Unite branches - access to Unite resources and support - Carried<br />
M139 Helping Unite activists communication with members - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: conference overturned the EC, who were hiding behind bogus GDPR data protection arguments, on this motion, which is vital for effectiveness at workplace and branch level.</i><br />
M147 bank charges for small branches - Withdrawn<br />
M151 administration - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: again conference overturned the EC. The motion was to stop members being moved between branches and regions without branch officers being kept informed.</i><br />
M141 strike funds - Carried<br />
<i>Comment: I moved this motion to help more members benefit from their own strike funds</i><br />
M146 review of Unite carers' policy - Carried<br />
M148 Lack of respect towards the retired members section - Remitted<br />
M149 Protecting Unite's reputation online - Remitted<br />
M150 safeguarding the union's heritage - Carried<br />
M152 lond worker policy - Carried<br />
EM9 Marc Wadsworth - Lost<br />
<h3>
Elections:</h3>
The following were elected as the Standing Orders Committee for the 6th Policy Conference: Stephen Frogatt, Frances Hourihane, Pat Davies, Dave Allen, Martin McMulkin, Siobhan McCready, Sam Webster-Moore, Agnes Hilditch, Lisa Higgins, Barry Hartshorn<br />
<br />
The following were elected as the Appeals Committee for 2018-20: Lorraine Mannion, Jeff Robinson, Jim Kelly, Ian King, Lisa Colquhoun, John Gillespie, Gaynor Worrell, Tracey Blythe, Ivan Monckton, Melanie Sutton<br />
<h3>
Rulebook:</h3>
Though it wasn't discussed at conference, delegates were given copies of an updated <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/about-us/structure/" target="_blank">Unite Rulebook</a>. The changes are a response to the new GDPR Data Protection legislation.<br />
<h3>
Fracking:</h3>
Delegates were provided with copies of a new <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cDbVEu0Vjj60ih53HHFAvWfPC1yQHrfB" target="_blank">Unite Anti-Fracking Toolkit</a>. This should be going on the Unite web site soon. For now I've uploaded a copy myself.<br />
<h3>
Fujitsu:</h3>
As ever, much of the value of attending conference is the informal discussions with other attendees, from which you learn as much as the debates, and can get things done. I spent a fair amount of conference discussing the unresolved dispute at Fujitsu, particularly given that the company sent proposals shortly before conference began. I was dismissed in January (see the <a href="http://tiny.cc/reinstateian" target="_blank">"reinstate Ian Allinson" statement</a>) but am still actively involved in the dispute and, as a victimised worker under Rule 6, was still able to attend conference. Reps in Fujitsu post updates on their web site from time to time: <a href="http://tiny.cc/fujitsudispute">tiny.cc/fujitsudispute</a>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-4453232654226302742018-01-24T21:08:00.000+00:002018-01-24T21:08:05.692+00:00Reinstate Ian Allinson statement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A "Reinstate Ian Allinson - Stop victimisation of union reps" statement has been launched to put pressure on Fujitsu over my dismissal and build solidarity for the <a href="https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/fujitsu-national-dispute/" target="_blank">wider Fujitsu dispute</a>.<br />
<br />
I've copied the text of the statement below. <b>The <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oMEzI44WkooZimIp7GGFCYUpER_kxtIFyCS4ykUxfiw/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">statement with signatories is here</a>, along with how to add your support.</b><br />
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Reinstate Ian Allinson - Stop victimisation of union reps</h3>
On 12 January Fujitsu dismissed Ian Allinson, chair of Unite in Fujitsu UK, under the pretext of redundancy. Ian was part of a tiny fake redundancy pool where the company said all the jobs would go.<br /><br />While Ian was on compassionate leave for a family funeral Fujitsu wrote to tell him he would be dismissed later that week. Fujitsu refused to allow him to work his notice, despite not yet having responded to his application for a job they encouraged him to apply for, breaking previous promises. This is not the first time Fujitsu has tried to victimise Ian, and Ian is not the only rep they have targeted.<br /><br />Unite members at Fujitsu Manchester have voted to take strike action over the victimisation of reps, compulsory redundancies and breaches of redundancy agreements. Fujitsu denies breaking the agreements on the grounds that they are “almost entirely voluntary” - a worrying sign of its future intentions. Fujitsu’s aggressive approach is shown by their threat to withhold bonuses, often worth up to 20% of annual income, from anyone who strikes.<br /><br />Victimisation of any union activist is an attack on the movement as a whole. When the activist is well known the outcome can influence the behaviour of other employers and the confidence of members to be active. We note that around half Fujitsu’s UK business is from the public sector and welcome the commitment that a Labour government would only award public contracts to companies that recognise trade unions, and have “high standards” on issues including workers’ rights. We applaud Unite’s record in defending activists, including the successful use of leverage campaigns as at Honda and Crossrail and expect Unite to leave no stone unturned in this case.<br /><br />We call on Fujitsu to reinstate Ian Allinson and stop victimising union activists.<br /><br />We pledge to campaign for Ian’s reinstatement and build support and solidarity for the Fujitsu dispute.<br />
<br />
<br />
For more information on the campaign and how you can support it, see <a href="https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/fujitsu-national-dispute/" target="_blank">https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/fujitsu-national-dispute/ </a><br /><br />To add your name to this statement, please use this form: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedHBJ59tTfUQznILXU-qHGYntOqhubp-ftuCSmlaC_gZr1Iw/viewform" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedHBJ59tTfUQznILXU-qHGYntOqhubp-ftuCSmlaC_gZr1Iw/viewform </a>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-14294387267665359512018-01-18T11:14:00.003+00:002018-01-18T11:14:57.389+00:00My dismissal and the Fujitsu strikesOn Friday 12 January Fujitsu dismissed me under the guise of redundancy. They had given me the news by letter earlier in the week, when I was on compassionate leave for a family funeral. They didn't even allow me to work my notice despite the fact that I had an outstanding job application they hadn't responded to - for a job they had encouraged me to apply for. My redundancy was a fix to victimise me for my union activity - I was in a tiny fake selection pool where Fujitsu claimed all the jobs were to go, avoiding any scoring.<br />
<br />
My last day was brightened by a moving show of support as I left:<br />
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<br />
I was the fourth member to be dismissed while fighting their redundancy, two more haven't yet been dismissed. Of the six, the majority are black or ethnic minority, the majority are disabled, two are union reps, and one was dismissed without Fujitsu hearing her grievance which included a complaint of sexual harassment linked to her selection.<br />
<br />
The fight goes on, including for my reinstatement. I've been protesting outside the site:<br />
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<br />
<br />
Fujitsu Manchester are on strike 24-26 January, 30 January and 8-14 February over compulsory redundancies, victimisation of reps and breaches of redundancy agreements. There's a particular push to get people to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1746538388743602/" target="_blank">protest in support of the pickets on Wednesday 24th January</a>. On <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/971356579669622/" target="_blank">Friday 26th January there will be a joint strike rally</a> in Manchester city centre with the First Bus and Mears strikers.<br />
<br />
There's lots more information, including how you can support our campaign, on the <a href="https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/fujitsu-national-dispute/" target="_blank">Unite @ Fujitsu web site</a>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-16283110587207474972017-11-19T18:49:00.001+00:002017-11-19T18:49:03.598+00:00Report from Unite GPM&IT national sector conference 2017Last week delegates from each of Unite's industrial sectors met in Brighton for their National Sector Conferences. This report covers the plenary, shared between several sectors, and the conference for my own sector - Graphical, Paper, Media & IT.<br />
<br />
Each day's plenary consisted of an address from Len McCluskey, the General Secretary, the Deputy General Secretary covering the sectors meeting that day, and Sharon Graham, head of Organising & Leverage presenting on automation.<br />
<br />
Len's speech is here:<br />
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After the speeches from the General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary there was an opportunity for delegates to ask questions.<br />
<br />
I asked a question about how effective support could be given to sectoral campaigns when Regional Officers work to regional rather than sectoral priorities. Len McCluskey said this shouldn't be an issue and that any problems should be taken up with the National Officer and if necessary the relevant Assistant General Secretary.<br />
<br />
I had concerns about Len's comments about migration, which I took up in the sector conference (see below).<br />
<br />
Sharon's speech is here:<br />
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If you haven't yet heard Sharon present on the likely impact of automation on jobs, you really should watch the video. Every sector and region will be discussing this in more detail over the next few months, to come up with agreed responses. [If you want a feel for the way new technology may affect not only what jobs are available, but the content and management of work, <a href="https://www.viewpointmag.com/2017/09/20/far-seamless-workers-inquiry-deliveroo/" target="_blank">this piece on Deliveroo</a> is well worth a read]. <br />
<br />
Outside the formal business of conference speculation and rumour were widespread about the Certification Officer's likely ruling on the General Secretary election. Most people seem to think the election will have to be run again, that McCluskey won't stand this time, and that there are quite a few senior officers jockeying for position, as well as Coyne hoping he can do better next time. Whatever the result of the legal process, I hope that the Executive Council will ensure a <a href="http://www.ian4unite.org/unite-leadership-rerun/#more-433" target="_blank">better process</a> in any future elections.<br />
<br />
Members were elected to the Standing Orders Committee for the next National Sector Conferences.<br />
<br />
<b>GPM&IT conference</b><br />
<br />
There were discussions of reports from the three different National Officers we've had in recent months, culminating with Louisa Bull who is in post on an ongoing basis. The discussion generated a lot of points which Louisa will follow up with the National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC).<br />
<br />
We had speeches from the UNI and IndustriALL international union federations about building solidarity and organising.<br />
<br />
A speaker from the research department talked about the impact of Brexit on employment and in workplaces and the union response. I raised a concern that the presentation didn't mention the members whose jobs are most threatened - those without UK citizenship, and reported the discussion at our NISC about the need to include this properly in materials. I related this to Len's speech, where he had defended migrants by arguing "they" are just like "us" but talked about the way overseas firms had bought up "our" industry. I argued that workers who don't have UK citizenship <i>are </i>"us", thousands of them are Unite members and deserve proper representation. The researcher made a good point about the importance of having an independent union position in defence of migrant workers, not simply reflecting employers' concerns about their access to workers they can exploit.<br />
<br />
<br />
The following motions were agreed:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">1 Organise and Stimulate
activism in the sector (GPM&IT NISC)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Historically, at least since the creation of Unite and the GPM/IT
Branch Structures, membership levels in certain Branches within the Sector have
fluctuated dramatically. This has not only contributed to member discontent,
but also aided the lack of recruitment campaigns, plus inhibiting the
development of future cadres within our Union. In view of this situation we
call on the Regions to operate a greater transparency in line with the Unions
and GPM/IT policy by:</span></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Publishing
a full list of ALL GPM/IT Branches within each Region, along with graphical details
of size, officers (both Elected and Full Time Officers), also whether Company or
Composite, to all GPM/IT RISCs. This should remove the problem of members placed
into the wrong or inappropriate Branches.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">All
RISC members’ names, Branch, Workplace, circulated to all GPM/IT Branches, M/FOCs
this to facilitate the fact that not all Branches are represented on the RISCs.
This would allow RISC members to be more interactive with the members on the work
carried out on their behalf within the Region, but also to be available to
attend meetings on the Branches, Chapels request.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">All
existing Regional Branches be trawled as to members employment status, company
etc, with members transferred in to either their appropriate Sector Branches,
as in the case of GPM/IT, where there is an anomaly, consultation to take place
with the member, Branch Secretary and RISC Chair. Members would stay in original
Branches where it makes geographical common sense to do so.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">That
all members transferred out to other Branches, the originating Branch Secretary
notified with an explanation why. This should alleviate the fluctuation of membership
as at present.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">All
representation of GPM/IT members, either singular or collectively, by either
FTOs or Lay Companions, notification given to both the Branch and the members
RISC.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">That
all wage, terms and conditions negotiations consultation with the appropriate RISC,
this to alleviate any infringement on National Agreements where they exist.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">This resolution is an attempt to iron out the peaks and troughs
within the GPM/IT Branches membership numbers, also to stimulate our activism
in the Sector, to grow the Union and become more prominent within the Trade
Union, Political and Community movements, not losing sight of the fact that we
truly are a membership led Union.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">2 GPM & IT Strategy for
Growth (East Midlands)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference notes the key statistics for the print Industry from the
most recent BPIF Facts & Figures report 2017.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">In spite of the decline in some traditional print areas the report
demonstrates the significant role the industry still plays in UK manufacturing
and the rapid continued growth of sections such as packaging in the print
industry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">UK printing industry:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">is
the world’s fifth largest producer of printed products</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">has
a turnover of £13.8 billion</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">has
116,000 employees</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">consists
of 8,400 companies</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">has
a gross added value of £5.8 billion</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">made
a P.A. capital investment of £700 million in 2016</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">had
a positive trade balance of £775 million in 2016</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">However despite the growth in the print industry which, is dominated
by big multi-national companies, our union membership has been in steady
decline. Our organising approach needs a coordinated strategy to organise and
recruit the 80,000 people working in print that are not members of our union.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">This conference calls upon the union to support the sector with all
the necessary resources to:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">map
our membership and research the companies in both GPM and IT Sections of the
sector to identify potential campaigns and recruitment opportunities.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">formulate
and support a nationally coordinated organising strategy for the subsectors.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">receive
targeted support and resources from the Organising Department at National and
Regional level to help deliver the organising of the sector.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">3 Development of GPM &
IT Sector (North East, Yorkshire & Humber)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">The GPM & IT Sector is haemorrhaging members despite a number of
medium and large companies being identified as having no members, no reps or
being organised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls upon the
NISC and the union to:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">do a
root and branch trawl of greenfield sites and region to identify firms;</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">to
build the Sector and grow;</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">to
target potential members and organize;</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">to
encourage and train reps in these workplaces.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">4 Organising Strategy
(North West)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference recognises that large sections of the industries in the
GPM&IT sector are ununionised or under-unionised, and that this weakens the
bargaining position of every worker in the sector. Organising is therefore a
high priority if we are to help workers in our sector to build more power to
defend and improve their lives.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference believes that our sector is affected by trends such as
globalisation, automation and artificial intelligence disrupting existing
patterns of employment, and that an accurate understanding of trends in
employment in our sector and mapping of membership and potential membership are
vital to a successful organising strategy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference welcomes the creation of the Work Voice Pay database which
helps us map our sector. We also welcome the decision of the NISC to request
the addition to the database of sector-specific fields to identify subsector
(Chemicals and Print Suppliers; General Print; IT; Newspapers & Magazines;
Packaging; Paper & Card; or Publishing & Media) and the organising
categories approved by the 2015 sector conference, to be identified for each workplace
by the RISC:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Substantial
single workplaces with recognition – “100%”</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Workplaces
in employers with membership but no recognition – “green field”</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Workplaces
in multi-site companies/groups where we have recognition in parts – “extend
horizontally”</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Unionised
workplaces in other industries with ITC outsourced on site to an employer with
>20 employees – “client site”</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">The
rest – “nurture”</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">We urge our NISC, National Officer, research department, RISC
members, workplace reps, branch officers and officers with GPMIT in their
allocations to redouble their efforts to implement the 2015 conference decision
to work on mapping the sector as above so that we build a more accurate,
complete and up to date picture of GPM&IT workplaces.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">In addition to data which can be held in the Work Voice Pay database,
the sector should work to identify, for each workplace, factors including:</span></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Number
of workers by employer (including agency, subcontractors etc)</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Number
of members by employer</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Details
of all reps and branch officers</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Details
of recognition, I&C and EWC agreements</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Unite
branch</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Any
other unions present</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Any
union structures linking Unite at this workplace with other unions or other
workplaces in the same employer.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Communication is at the heart of organising, and is essential to
engage more activists with our sector and involve them in the mapping and
organising, without which we will be unable to stop and reverse the decline in
the GPM&IT sector. We note that RISCs and/or officers have generally failed
to implement the 2015 sector conference decision to "email out a short
bulletin following each meeting to all GPM&IT reps in their sector, with a
copy to the National Officer for consideration of the NISC.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">We therefore resolve that:</span></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Each
NISC meeting should decide, early on its agenda, one or more NISC members
responsible for drafting a GPM&IT sector newsletter which, once approved by
the NISC chair, will be sent to all activists in the sector</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">The
NISC should set up a sector Facebook page for content such as advertising
meetings and events, promoting solidarity with a particular emphasis on our own
sector, and copies of the sector newsletter</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">If
cuts to Unite's Research department mean it is no longer able to provide analysis
of trends in the sector and mapping, the NISC should consider an appeal to
branches in the sector to fund a temporary researcher to ensure this
information is brought up to date</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">The
NISC should re-elect its Organising Strategy Subcommittee which should remain
responsible for developing proposals for organising and servicing each of the
identified organising categories more effectively for consideration by the NISC
and RISCs. These may include recommendations on officer allocation, branch
structure and use of lay companions to allow resources to be focussed on
building power for members to win more.</span></li>
</ol>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">5 Health & Safety in
the Sector (East Midlands)</span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference notes that our industries have their own significant
hazards which our members face on a day to day basis. While some of these are
specific incidents, some are cumulative.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">From origination to press, from press to delivery, the printing
industry poses many specific health and safety hazards to GPM/IT members, from
a range of sources:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">noise</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">exposure
to chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">ink
misting</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">manual
handling</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">repetitive
movement</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">slips,
trips and falls</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">stress</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">vehicular
incidents</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">lower
limb disorders</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">shift
and night work</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">workstation
ergonomics</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">repetitive
strain injury</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">While union organised workplaces are known to be 50% safer and that
is one of the main reasons people join and possibly stay in a union. The Health
and Safety Executive (HSE) has had frequent funding cuts and making the print
industry ‘Low Risk’ Means we will not see proactive HSE inspections in the
GPM/IT sector. Along with previous and current government continuing to water
down and cut regulation that protect us, and with the threat that Brexit brings
to health and safety within our industry it is vital that we do all in our
power to keep and improve workplace safety for our members.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls on the NISC to support and resource:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">setting
up a specific GPM/IT National Health & Safety committee to identify hazardous
trends within the industry, both current and the hazards of new technology</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">run
directed safety campaigns for the GPM/IT sector to inform and educate members
of the risks of the trade.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">formulate
and plan on how to raise the profile of Health and Safety within the sector</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">notify
all RISCs of serious incidents that happen nationally in the GPM/IT sector.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">6 Automation Strategy
(London & Eastern)</span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls on the Executive Council to adopt a wide-reaching
strategy in both the industrial and political spheres.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Actions are now required based on the accelerating rate of
technological competence and adoption. We call upon the Executive Council to
promote:</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Campaigns
to bring about fundamental changes to Education Policy. In the short-term learning
to code and having good IT literacy skills should be a basic feature. In the
longer-term emphasis needs to be on creative, analytical and social skills to ensure
humans can engage in continuous learning just as technical skills become obsolete
as they are transferred through machine-learning to automated systems.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Working
time strategies incorporating longer holidays and job sharing. As large-scale technological
unemployment occurs how the remaining work is reallocated to humans is
critical. A demand for a 30 hour week should be adopted now and reviewed as
automation evolves.</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Establishing
job guarantee schemes run by the public sector to allow humans to remain active
and utilise their skills in socially beneficial activities e.g. environment, social
care, health, cultural development</span></li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Changes
to the taxation policy from income to capital. In a future world of work where
most of the work is performed by robots and AI labour will not be a sufficient source
of funding for society’s needs. Taxation must therefore switch to capital and workers
via expanded “ownership” can become individually less reliant on income through
wages.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Clearly, the impact upon humans and the current economic systems by
automation is not a technical task. Genuine and long-lasting safeguards and
opportunities cannot be achieved at the workplace or even industrial sector
level. As important as retraining within the workplace and technology
collective agreements are the sheer scale of the automation impact requires
political priority reconfigurations.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Furthermore, Conference calls upon the EC to direct all the union’s
industrial committee structures to make automation strategy a permanent feature
of their work just as organising, equality, health and safety now are.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">The union must play to its strengths and there is considerable
knowledge already possessed by workers in the UK technology sector – both
within the membership and sympathetic external organisations. The future
ability to successfully prosecute workers struggles and demands by affecting
the means of production will be rooted in technology. In the past we have “got
away” with ignoring the need to organise technology workers in even other well organised
workplaces. In the future that is not an option.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">7 Paperless Meetings
(London & Eastern)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference is concerned by the recent trend towards paperless meetings
both in our own union and the wider trade union movement. As a Graphical &
IT sector we support the use of technology in all meetings but we also want
people to have the choice when it comes to the way in which they interact in
these forums between the use of paper and digital documentation. The trend away
from paper does not only impact our members’ jobs and job security, but it
makes the assumption that everyone is competent and confident to use the new
technology and has access. There are serious concerns that the inequality of
access and the cost implications for home printing have not yet been addressed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Unite is a strong supporter of the "Keep Me Posted"
campaign that makes a strong argument that there should be consumer choice
between paper and digital communication when it comes to how we receive our
bills and bank statements. In a recent survey the campaign found that over 81%
of consumers want the choice and over 56% agree that they would be more likely
to read a paper statement.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">There are always two sides to any argument and we should share the
findings from the "twosides" global campaign group. Twosides promotes
the responsible use of Print and Paper which, when sourced from certified or
sustainably managed forests, is a uniquely powerful and natural communications
medium. Over 75% of pulp delivered to European paper and board mills carries a
Forest Certification that indicates it is from a truly renewable and
sustainable resource.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls on the NISC to pull together the supporting evidence
for the continued use of paper and digital communication.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">A paper should be urgently presented to the Executive Council to
ensure that Unite has a strong policy to continue with both paper and digital
communications in all of our committees, conferences and other activities. The
Executive Council should be asked to use our paper to persuade the TUC and
other affiliates to do the same.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">8 Labour Party Printing (North East, Yorkshire & Humber)</span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls upon the union to ensure the Labour Party and Labour
candidates at all levels (parliamentary, Euro and local/mayoral) to only source
print, publishing and paper from </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Dt00;">bona
fide </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">unionised sources. This
is at a time when the GPM & IT Sector continues to fund and support the
Party. This motion will support our members and families livelihoods rather
than sending work to non-union sources.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">We urge the union and Unite’s members of the Labour NEC to vigorously
ensure this is upheld by the Labour Party.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Et00;">9 European Works Councils
(South East)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Conference calls on the National officer for the sector to arrange
training to be given to officers of the union with responsibility for European
works councils, to enable them to fully carry out their duties as
coordinator/expert on EWCs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">Time for training and other related duties in regards to EWCs should
be granted by their Regional secretary.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">With the uncertainty surrounding post Brexit it is vital this sector
continues to lead the way, in working alongside our European brothers and
sisters, in strengthening our links with sister plants in Europe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: TT15Ct00;">EWCs can be a useful tool for the betterment of our members if we
take ownership of them. Conference believes this is best achieved with well
trained Unite officials attending them as experts .</span></div>
<br />
<br />Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-42680137333370745532017-10-21T13:12:00.000+01:002017-12-16T12:23:23.705+00:00Unite constitutional timetable 2017-2023 (updated)<span style="color: red;">Note: the timetable was changed after this post, which I have updated in red or crossed out.</span><br />
<br />
The detailed timetable of windows for the various meetings for the coming year is below.<br />
<br />
For explanation of jargon and acronyms, see my <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/p/glossary-jargon-buster.html" target="_blank">glossary</a>. For more information on Unite's structures, see my <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/p/unites-structures.html" target="_blank">structures page</a>.<br />
<ul>
<li>20 Nov - 1 Dec 2017 and <span style="color: red;">11-21</span> Dec 2017: Regional Industrial Sector Committees (RISCs), Area Activist Committees (AACs), Regional Equality Committees (REQCs) and Regional Labour Party Liason Committees (RLPLCs)</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">8</span>-19 Jan 2018: National Industrial Sector Committees (NISCs) & National Labour Party Liaison Committee (NLPLC)</li>
<li>22-2<span style="color: red;">6</span> Jan 2018: Regional Committees (RCs)</li>
<li>31 Jan - 2 Feb 2018: <b>Equalities Conferences</b></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">5</span>-9 Feb 2018: National Equalities Committees (NEQCs) including Young & Retired Members</li>
<li>12 Feb - 2 Mar 2018: RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs<strike> (continued)</strike></li>
<li>5-9 Mar 2018: Executive Council (EC)</li>
<li><strike>12-16 Mar 2018: more RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs</strike></li>
<li><span style="color: red;">9</span>-20 Apr 2018: NISCs, NLPLC</li>
<li>23-27 Apr 2018: RCs</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">8</span>-11 May 2018: NEQCs</li>
<li>14 May - 1 Jun 2018: RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs <strike>(continued)</strike></li>
<li>4-8 Jun 2018: EC</li>
<li><strike>11-15 Jun 2018: more RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs</strike></li>
<li>11-2<span style="color: red;">2</span> Jun 2018: NISCs, NLPLC <strike>(note risk of clashing with regional meetings in 11-15 Jun)</strike></li>
<li>2-6 Jul 2018: <b>Unite Policy Conference </b>(Brighton)</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">9-13 July</span> 2018: NEQCs <strike>(continued, note risk of clash with regional meetings)</strike></li>
<li>16-20 Jul 2018: RCs</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">23 Jul - 10</span> Aug 2018: RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs (note risk of clashes with NEQCs in 28-31 Aug) <strike>(continued)</strike></li>
<li>3-7 Sep 2018: EC</li>
<li>9-12 Sep 2018: TUC Congress</li>
<li><strike>10-14 Sep 2018: more RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs (note risk of clash with TUC Congress 10-12)</strike></li>
<li><strike>17-21 Sep 2018: more NEQCs</strike></li>
<li>23-26 Sep 2018: Labour Party Conference</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">8</span>-19 Oct 2018: NISCs, NLPLC</li>
<li>22-26 Oct 2018: RCs</li>
<li><span style="color: red;">5</span>-9 Nov 2018: NEQCs</li>
<li><strike>19-30 Nov 2018: RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs (continued)</strike></li>
<li>3-7 Dec 2018: EC</li>
<li><strike>10-21 Dec 2018: more RISCs, AACs, REQCs, RLPLCs</strike></li>
</ul>
The six-year timetable has also been updated in light of the General Secretary election having been brought forward:<br />
<br />
<b>Current Year - 2017: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Election for General Secretary</li>
<li>Unite Executive Council elections </li>
<li>Young Members National Conference</li>
<li>Retired Members National Conference</li>
<li>Irish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Scottish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Regional Political Conferences – 4th quarter (change due to general election in June)</li>
<li>Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences – 12-15 Nov (Brighton) </li>
</ul>
<b>2018: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Election of Workplace representatives and branch officials 1st January to 31st March</li>
<li>Unite National Equalities Conferences 31st January – 2 February (change due to general election in June 2017)</li>
<li>Unite Policy Conference – 2 – 6 July - Brighton</li>
<li>Regional Industrial Sector Conferences/Regional Equalities Conferences/Area Activists Meetings </li>
<li>First meetings of triennial period Regional Committees/National Industrial Sector Committees/National Equalities Committees - Oct/Nov</li>
</ul>
<b>2019: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Unite National Equalities Conferences – 1st quarter</li>
<li>Rules Conference – June/July</li>
<li>Young Members National Conference</li>
<li>Retired Members National Conference</li>
<li>Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences – 4th quarter</li>
<li>Irish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Scottish Policy Conference</li>
</ul>
<b>2020:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Regional Political Conferences – 1st quarter</li>
<li>Unite Executive Council elections </li>
<li>Policy Conference June/July </li>
</ul>
<b>2021: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Elections for Branch Officers and Work Place Representatives – by end March</li>
<li>Unite National Equalities Conferences – 1st Quarter</li>
<li>Young Members National Conference</li>
<li>Retired Members National Conference</li>
<li>Regional Industrial Sector Conferences/Regional Equalities Conferences/Area Activists Meetings</li>
<li>First meetings of triennial period Regional Committees/National Industrial Sector Committees/National Equalities Committees - Oct/Nov</li>
<li>Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences – 4th quarter</li>
<li>Irish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Scottish Policy Conference</li>
</ul>
<b>2022: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Election of General Secretary required</li>
<li>Unite Policy Conference – June/July</li>
</ul>
<b>2023: </b> <br />
<ul>
<li>Unite Executive Council elections </li>
<li>Regional Political Conferences – 1st quarter</li>
<li>Rules Conference – June/July</li>
<li>National Equalities Conferences</li>
<li>Young Members National Conference</li>
<li>Retired Members National Conference</li>
<li>Irish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Scottish Policy Conference</li>
<li>Unite National Industrial Sector Conferences – 4th quarter</li>
</ul>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-2440097574250327372017-10-09T18:30:00.002+01:002017-10-09T18:30:51.991+01:00Report from GPM&IT NISC October 2017<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Report from
GPM&IT NISC October 2017</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unite’s National Industrial Sector Committees (NISCs) meet
quarterly, bringing together activists from a particular industrial sector,
delegated from Regional Industrial Sector Committees (RISCs). The NISC for the Graphical,
Paper, Media & IT (GPM&IT) sector met on 5-6 October 2017 and this is
my report. My report does not include much of the discussion about workplace
issues, as most NISC members regard this as too sensitive to publish.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Automation</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Organising & Leverage Department has prepared a
detailed report on the potential impact of automation on jobs and a draft template
New Technology Agreement. Sharon Graham, the head of Organising & Leverage,
introduced the discussion. The estimate is that around 35% of current jobs in
the UK and Ireland will go in the next 18 years. Unite has assessed the risk to
each industry and identified 11 Unite sectors, including GPM&IT, at “high
risk”. The forecast is for around 230,000 of the jobs of the 650,000 members
working in those sectors to go.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Automation is nothing new, but new technologies mean this
will affect a wider range of jobs and in new ways compared to previous phases.
Some low-paid jobs would not be affected soon, because it is cheaper to pay
people badly than use technology. In some cases it would be tasks, not whole
jobs that would go, but this would still lead to a reduction in work.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Automation <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should </i>be
a huge positive, enabling us to be more productive and have higher standards of
living while reducing working hours, while also creating some new skilled jobs.
But this depends on who has the power to decide how automation is used and what
purposes they use it for. Without effective industrial and political
campaigning, it is likely employers will simply try to gain temporary
competitive advantage by displacing workers, contributing to unemployment and
inequality. Workers are the source of profit, and many businesses rely on
workers to buy their products. This approach could create huge social and
economic problems.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Workers need strong organisation to ensure they benefit
rather than lose out due to automation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The intention is to have a debate on this topic across Unite
to produce detailed plans for Unite’s response tailored to every sector and
region by June 2018. The NISC will be holding a one-day workshop to discuss
this in more detail. Leading activists in the sector who aren’t on the NISC are
welcome to join in with this.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Proportional
representation</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unite has produced an excellent consultation paper on
proportional representation in Westminster elections, setting out the pros and
cons of the current system and various possible alternatives. The majority of
the NISC felt that though PR wouldn’t be a magic bullet to improve
participation or accountability, change is needed.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Holiday pay based on
average pay</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since Unite’s legal wins more and more employers are
increasing holiday pay to reflect average pay (i.e. reflecting overtime,
bonuses etc.), but a few have been trying to base this on an average across the
whole year, rather than on the days worked, which would still be underpaying
people. Unite will support members taking legal action over holiday pay if
employers do not resolve it promptly.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mapping the sector</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our </span><a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/2015/11/report-from-unite-sector-conference.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">2015
sector conference</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> had decided we should map our sector. All RISCs have been
asked to go through the GPM&IT employers and workplaces in their region
listed on the </span><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/work-voice-pay/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">Work Voice
Pay database</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">. I showed NISC members how to do this, identifying the
sub-sector and organising category, and provided a spreadsheet to make it
easier.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Work Voice Pay database is gradually being populated
with workplaces, but already covers over 34,000 members in our sector (roughly
80% of the total). I also provided some break-downs of GPM&IT membership by
union recognition, number of sites in employer, number of regions in employer,
and the membership and recognition status in the top 100 employers.</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;">
10528 members work for the top 10 employers, six
of which only have partial recognition</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;">
21107 members work for employers with 100 or
more members</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;">
31501 members work for employers with 20 or more
members</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Motions to sector
conference</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Each Unite sector is having a conference in November. The
NISC submitted two motions to it, one on branch organisation, the other on
simplifying the processes for branches to affiliate to their local Trades
Councils or Labour Parties.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Future meetings</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was agreed to have a speaker on the Gender Pay Gap at the
next NISC meeting. The meetings will take place at the London Moreland Street
office and the dates for 2018 will be:</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;">
4-5 January</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;">
April TBC</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;">
14-15 June</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2;">
4-5 October</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unite Community</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tracey Bent from Camden Community branch gave an update on
the work of Unite Community. Her branch works around three areas:</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;">
Local campaigns</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;">
National campaigns, often taking local actions</div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;">
Supporting industrial campaigns</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We thanked the branch for their support for the Fujitsu
dispute.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">She described some of the work the branch has done to
support various industrial campaigns, where they can often do things that
members in the workplace can’t.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tracey talked about the work they had done to support people
following the Grenfell Tower fire, which had directly affected dozens of
members including three from the Camden Community branch who died. As well as
material and financial support, Unite had offered counselling and financial
support to all those affected.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The NISC is encouraging people to invite Community branches
to speak at our own meetings and to give them financial support. The Community
branches get 7.5% of subs, like all other branches, but when subs are just 50p
a week that doesn’t go far, especially when some members need financial help
even for a bus fare to a meeting.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">NISC members talked about the need to look at rule changes
to allow Community members a bigger voice in the Unite structure.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Brexit</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The union has produced a pamphlet “Brexit: Unite demands
protections for you” for the GPM&IT sector. Some of us questioned how this
had been produced without any input from lay members or the NISC. We raised
concern about the position outlined on freedom of movement, where the pamphlet
advocates restrictions on hiring people from “abroad” – a discriminatory policy
which was not agreed by the Unite Policy Conference, as </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/20/unite-union-general-secretary-election-free-movement"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">I
have explained elsewhere</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">. Worse still, there is barely a mention in the
booklet of the position of EU citizens living in the UK, many of whom are Unite
members. In terms of “protections for you”, the rights of EU citizens are the
most threatened – the pamphlet comes across as if migrant workers are “them”
whereas actually they are part of “us”. Migrants’ rights are workers’ rights.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Research</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The NISC has been pushing for years for an update on the
excellent analysis of the sector produced by the Research Department for the
2013 sector conference, but this has not been produced due to lack of resource.
At the previous NISC meeting Tony Burke had taken an action to follow this up,
but we had received no update. When there were cuts to the Research Department
the General Secretary had promised that this would have no impact on support
for members and activists, and had said people should raise it if there was
such an impact.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">RISCs and NISCs for
2018-2021</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Adrian Weir had produced a <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_MxrfTNAzRNcy1TN2NHV2R1M28" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">proposal</a> for the composition of GPM&IT RISCs and NISCs
for the 2018/2021 term. The NISC will have to decide its response at its
January meeting. In the meantime RISCs are asked to review the proposals and
come back with their comments.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One important change since the last round of elections is
that the rules were changed to ensure that every RISC had a seat for each of
the equality strands, i.e., Women, BAEM, LGBT and Disabled Members. The EC has
updated its </span><a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/about-us/structure/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">guidance
on Rule</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> 11 too. The practical consequences are that Regional Equality
Conferences will take place before the September 2018 Regional Industrial
Sector Conferences, and that each Regional Equality Conference will elect one
delegate to each RISC.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fujitsu Dispute</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There was strong support from the NISC for the campaign in
Fujitsu and the following motion was agreed unanimously:</span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-image: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 450.8pt;" valign="top" width="601"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fujitsu</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This GPM&IT NISC notes that rather than settling the dispute
after 12 days of strike action in Manchester followed by 15 days nationally,
Fujitsu has chosen to escalate the dispute by:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Making an offer, since rejected by 92% of
members, that would have curtailed existing union rights to support members,
communicate and organise</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Breaking the existing Annex 2 facilities
agreement by unreasonably refusing time to communicate with members</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Attempting to victimise a number of Unite reps</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Having terminated the UK Information & Consultation body earlier
in 2017, Fujitsu has blocked agreement on a replacement by demanding that
reps should be unable to communicate effectively with constituents.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unite is now ramping up the campaign in Fujitsu towards a ballot for
further industrial action.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This NISC recognises that the outcome of the dispute will not only
affect the job security and remuneration of hundreds of Unite members, but
shape union organisation within the company and the wider sector for years to
come. This NISC recognises the importance of success for the future of our
sector.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This NISC pledges its full support and resolves:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To publicise the online petition against the
victimisation of Unite reps at Fujitsu: </span><a href="https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fujitsu-victimisations"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fujitsu-victimisations</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To ask branches and chapels to assist the
campaign, including with leafleting of sites, promoting the petition, and
financial contributions</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Updates from the campaign should be circulated
to activists</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Material relating to the Fujitsu campaign
(e.g. the current petition against victimisation) should be promoted via
Unite’s social media and prominently displayed on the union web site at key
times</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To ask for the victimisation petition and
appeal for support to be circulated to all manufacturing sector activists</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To ask the International Department for
assistance with coordination with unions in other countries, particularly
those involved with Fujitsu’s European Works Council</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To ask the Political Department for assistance
in the campaign, given that most of Fujitsu’s UK business is public sector</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To support the request from the Fujitsu
Combine for assistance from the Organising and Leverage Department</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To support higher Dispute Benefit to ensure
members can take sufficient action to secure a speedy and successful
resolution of their dispute</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If necessary resources are not available, to
ask for consideration of temporary or stand-down officer / organiser
resources</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unite Education</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A Unite Education Report 2017 has been produced.
Unfortunately there were insufficient copies so I have not seen it yet.</span></div>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-3706776163677538512017-10-09T18:28:00.002+01:002017-10-09T18:28:25.820+01:00Unite branch electionsUnite has produced a useful <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_MxrfTNAzRNOXRTLUNDSTNSVUU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">leaflet "Getting involved in Unite branches"</a> which sets out their function and the main jobs in the branch.<br />
<br />
<br />
Branches are being asked to elect their branch officers in January - March 2018 to serve for three years from 1 April 2018.<br />
<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/about-us/structure/" target="_blank">structure page on the Unite web site</a> includes branch standards and model standing orders.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-27185787489846317132017-07-12T21:53:00.000+01:002017-07-12T21:53:09.614+01:00Unite Sector Conferences 2017Later this year the National Retired Members and all Unite sectors will hold their conferences in Brighton. Each sector conferences determines a sector's own industrial policies provided that they are not inconsistent with the general policy and objectives of the Union - so they cannot deal with general policy or rules issues.<br />
<br />
The timetable for the conferences is as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sunday 12 Nov: Retired Members. Docks, Rail, Ferries & Waterways</li>
<li>Monday 13 Nov: Civil Air Transport. Passenger Transport. Road Transport Commercial, Logistics & Retail Distribution. Food, Drink & Agriculture. Service Industries. Government, Defence, Prisons & Contractors</li>
<li>Tuesday 14 Nov: Local Authorities. Energy & Utilities. Education. Health. Community, Youth Workers & Not for Profit. Unite Construction, Allied Trades & Technicians. Finance & Legal.</li>
<li>Wednesday 15 Nov: Aerospace & Shipbuilding. Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Process & Textiles. Automotive Industry. Graphical, Paper, Media & Information Technology. Metals (including Foundry). General Engineering, Manufacturing & Servicing.</li>
</ul>
Delegates are normally expected to arrive the day before the conference to register, and delegates normally stay over after the conference to travel home the next day.<br />
<br />
Each Regional Industrial Sector Committee (RISC) and National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC) is entitled to submit two motions to its sector's conference, which must be received by 20 October 2017. Delegates are normally elected from RISCs. Delegates' details must be received by 22 September 2017 (but in some cases this may need to be extended where elections from NISCs are required).<br />
<br />
EC members are entitled to attend their own sector's conference as observers if they are not elected as delegates.<br />
<br />
Sector conferences are only every two years, so don't miss the opportunity to set policy for your industrial sector. Even if you aren't on your RISC or NISC, there is nothing to stop you sending in a motion to your RISC and asking them to consider submitting it to the conference.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-29630695358658345712017-07-06T20:51:00.000+01:002017-07-14T21:02:24.401+01:00Solidarity needed - housing, BA, NHS and financeFour groups of Unite members are currently engaged in pretty serious industrial action at the moment. They deserve our support.<br />
<br />
I'd <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/2017/06/support-manchester-housing-maintenance.html" target="">previously posted</a> about the outsourced <b>Manchester housing maintenance workers</b>. They are now <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/mears-manchester-housing-workers-set-to-begin-all-out-strike-action/" target="_blank">escalating their action</a> with four weeks of continuous strike action from Saturday 8 July to Friday 4 August. A <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_MxrfTNAzRNZGxfNkRRN2hCWEU" target="_blank">letter appealing for support</a> has been issued by Unite's north-west region. You can support the strikers by:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Visiting pickets, typically 7:30-10am on strike days, at Hendham Vale, by the junction of Hazelbottom Road and Vale Park Way (<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Hendham+Vale+Industrial+Park/@53.5084453,-2.2246728,17z/data=%213m1%214b1%214m5%213m4%211s0x487bb051ae91702f:0xba8f16a830d9497f%218m2%213d53.5084453%214d-2.2224841" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">map</a>) </li>
<li> Donating to the strike fund by cheque payable to UCATT UD.393
Manchester 1st Branch, sent to Andy Fisher, Unite, 2 Churchill Way,
Liverpool, L3 8EF, or online to account 46034412 sort code 60-83-01.</li>
<li>Sending a message of support to Colin Pitt via colinpitt65@hotmail.co.uk</li>
</ol>
Meanwhile cabin crew at <b>BA Mixed Fleet</b> have <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/british-airways-cabin-crew-announce-14-more-days-of-strikes/" target="_blank">announced</a> another 14 days of strike action. Like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mixed-Fleet-Unite-1614977865387104/" target="_blank">Mixed Fleet Unite Facebook page</a> for more information, or their <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/mfunite/how-to-support" target="_blank">web site</a> gives details of how to support them.<br />
<br />
In the <b>NHS in London</b>, cleaners, porters and security staff employed by <b>Serco at Barts Health NHS Trust</b> have been striking this week and <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/workers-across-four-london-hospitals-to-take-strike-action-in-battle-against-low-pay/" target="_blank">plan</a> a further seven day strike from Tuesday 11 July followed by a 14 day strike from 25 July. The action covers Whipps Cross University Hospital, Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Mile End Hospital. Messages of support can be sent via Unite branch secretary Len Hockey (leonardhockey789@hotmail.co.uk). Photos and videos on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1695656370737869/?active_tab=discussion" target="_blank">strikers' Facebook group</a> show an impressive level of participation - and that migrant workers are at the heart of fighting low pay rather than being the cause of it. Cheques payable to “Barts NHS Health Branch” can be sent to Willie Howard, Unite the Union, 33-37 Moreland St, EC1V 8BB or you can donate online to account 20344885 Sort code 60-83-01.<br />
<br />
At the <b>Bank of England</b> maintenance, parlours and security workers will be taking a <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/bank-of-england-staff-to-strike-for-first-time-in-50-years/" target="_blank">four day strike</a> from 31 July.<br />
<br />
Two things stand out from this cluster of strikes. Firstly, all are about pay - reflecting workers losing patience after years when wages were held down and prices are rising. Why should we wait to make Labour's manifesto pledge of a £10 an hour minimum wage a reality? Secondly, all are sustained action to try to win, not token or "protest" action for odd days. Nearly two years ago I <a href="https://rs21.org.uk/2015/09/06/civil-rights-and-the-trade-union-bill/" target="_blank">pointed out</a> that the Trade Union Act "strengthens the case for intensive action rather than relying on the disruption of odd hours or days of action". In an <a href="https://theconversation.com/bank-of-england-strike-threat-signals-failures-in-plan-to-dent-union-power-80484" target="_blank">article</a> yesterday Gregor Gall argues that the "predominant strategy of one-day strikes, (or a series of one-day strikes) is coming to an end". If this is the case it is not before time - token strikes have acted more as a way of letting of steam than a serious attempt to win.<br />
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
cleaners, porters and security staff</div>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
cleaners, porters and security staff</div>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-80993394858155822862017-06-23T18:20:00.000+01:002017-06-23T18:20:53.731+01:00Support Manchester housing maintenance strikers180 Unite members employed by Manchester Working Limited / Mears, who carry out vital maintenance in the city, have been been in dispute for five weeks and are currently striking on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Today they held an impressive protest outside the Northwards Housing office in Blackley.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYpad9oHryI/WU1IX9dx7hI/AAAAAAAAY9w/pSeErhEHLzo-JPZ5rVwZPx6S1QwU7fL6ACLcBGAs/s1600/20170623_101444_Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="1600" height="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYpad9oHryI/WU1IX9dx7hI/AAAAAAAAY9w/pSeErhEHLzo-JPZ5rVwZPx6S1QwU7fL6ACLcBGAs/s640/20170623_101444_Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The workers are paid appallingly for skilled and often safety-critical work. Manchester City Council has a substantial stake in Manchester Working Limited, and it is particularly disgraceful after Grenfell Tower that Manchester residents are still facing attempts to do maintenance on the cheap. Strikers have already protested at Manchester town hall.<br />
<br />
I understand that their low pay is being used as a "benchmark" by other employers to try to hold down wages elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Strikers are discussing escalating the action to every day, but under the Tory Trade Union Act Unite would have to give two weeks' notice to the employer. They need more financial support to sustain and escalate the action.<br />
<br />
A <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_MxrfTNAzRNZGxfNkRRN2hCWEU" target="_blank">letter appealing for support</a> has been issued by Unite's north-west region. You can support the strikers by:<br />
<ol>
<li>Visiting pickets, typically 7:30-10am on strike days, at Hendham Vale, by the junction of Hazelbottom Road and Vale Park Way (<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Hendham+Vale+Industrial+Park/@53.5084453,-2.2246728,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x487bb051ae91702f:0xba8f16a830d9497f!8m2!3d53.5084453!4d-2.2224841" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">map</a>) </li>
<li> Donate to the strike fund by cheque payable to UCATT UD.393 Manchester 1st Branch, sent to Andy Fisher, Unite, 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool, L3 8EF, or online to account 46034412 sort code 60-83-01.</li>
<li>Send a message of support to Colin Pitt via colinpitt65@hotmail.co.uk</li>
<li>Join a protest on Thursday 29 June from 9am at Manchester Central Convention Complex (GMEX), where Mears will be meeting from 11am with other employers in their industry</li>
</ol>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-89727504432108258302016-12-17T21:56:00.002+00:002016-12-17T21:56:22.528+00:00ian4unite web site launched: Elect Ian Allinson as Unite General SecretaryThis General Secretary election shouldn't even be happening. Like a million other Unite members it came as a surprise to me and until it was announced I had no plans to stand. The election timetable makes it as hard as possible for any challenger - it is an abuse of power.<br />
<br />
Yet since Thursday night when I announced I was standing the response has been amazing, with offers of help and support from all over the union including people I've never met. This is enabling the campaign to get up and running fast. We already have:<br />
<ul>
<li>A new web site: <a href="http://www.ian4unite.org/">www.ian4unite.org</a>. I'll be using that rather than this blog for the campaign, so please follow it.</li>
<li>A new Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ian4unite/">https://www.facebook.com/ian4unite/</a></li>
<li>A new Twitter account: <a href="https://twitter.com/ian4unite" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/ian4unite </a></li>
<li>A way for you to <a href="https://donorbox.org/ian4unite" target="_blank">donate to the campaign</a></li>
<li>A <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JJiHRzsxwhwKLT9e5Xh7Mbw-9GuvCzS2qF9yTrFLGTs/viewform?edit_requested=true" target="_blank">form</a> for you to leave details if you want to support me</li>
<li>Some funky new graphics</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLyStbws6mc/WFWzYT1j7sI/AAAAAAAAXMo/9vskddpqGsUMJ07gDigRMksjkc6wqr_5gCLcB/s1600/Banner%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fLyStbws6mc/WFWzYT1j7sI/AAAAAAAAXMo/9vskddpqGsUMJ07gDigRMksjkc6wqr_5gCLcB/s400/Banner%2B2.png" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While "more the same" McCluskey has the backing of most of the union machine, and "turn the clock back" Coyne has the backing of many of members' enemies in big business, the media and Westminster, I'm a workplace activist with no resources beyond my own and what supporters can offer. So if you can offer anything to support the campaign, please do get in touch - see the new <a href="http://ian4unite.org/">ian4unite.org</a> web site for more information.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-66042527299668294242016-12-17T09:20:00.001+00:002016-12-17T09:20:51.857+00:00McCluskey in disarray on free movement of workersWhen I <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/2016/12/ian-allinson-to-stand-against-mccluskey.html" target="_blank">launched the campaign for General Secretary of Unite</a> on Thursday evening, Len McCluskey's backsliding on free movement of labour was one of the issues I raised. Little did I know how the issue would explode yesterday, with McCluskey and his supporters in full denial mode.<br />
<br />
This is not a new issue. Even before the Brexit referendum, McCluskey <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/20/brexit-cheap-labour-britain-wages-eu-trade-unions" target="_blank">described</a> EU migration as a gigantic experiment at the expense of ordinary workers. At the Unite Policy Conference shortly after the referendum, I moved an emergency motion from my industrial sector which defended free movement. McCluskey and the Executive Council opposed this in favour of a woolly executive statement that called for a "debate" on free movement.<br />
<br />
Since then McCluskey has set out his position in various places, including a <a href="http://labourlist.org/2016/11/len-mccluskey-workers-need-safeguards-and-strong-unions-to-make-migration-work/" target="_blank">speech</a> for the think tank CLASS.<br />
<br />
Contrary to some of the exaggerated reporting, McCluskey isn't directly calling for an end to workers' right to move freely, though it is telling that his reasons for doing so are not principled ones - his speech describes pulling up the drawbridge as impractical, worries that it would alienate some Labour voters, and sees free movement as the "price" for access to the EU single market. This last point implies that instead of workers' freedom to travel and work being vital, they are a necessary evil, whereas the free market is a desireable goal. In reality it is free market neoliberalism, not free movement of workers, which has been destroying our lives in recent decades.<br />
<br />
McCluskey tries to fudge the argument further by talking about "safeguards" rather than "controls". He says "<i>My proposal is that any employer wishing to recruit labour abroad can
only do so if they are either covered by a proper trade union agreement,
or by sectoral collective bargaining</i>". Stripped of spin, what this really means is that he wants some workers (Currently abroad? Born abroad? Abroad before last month?) to be banned from applying for jobs in most of the UK economy, because we don't have union agreements covering most jobs - particularly in some industries where many migrant workers are forced to work.<br />
<br />
McCluskey's fudge gives far too much ground to the discredited "British Jobs For British Workers" argument. The working class, and Unite members, are from all over the world. We can't build and maintain unity, and the strength to extend collective bargaining and defend our jobs and pay, if we fudge this question. McCluskey's comments are reminiscent of some elements of a previous generation of trade unionists who sought to exclude women from some jobs because of of a fear "they" would push down "our" wages. Of course McCluskey isn't this crude - he is an anti-racist. But we need clear leadership from the top of our union, not fudging that concedes ground to those who are nationalists and racists.<br />
<br />
Unite members are already successfully grappling with these issues at workplace level. A few years ago the construction industry say disputes with people carrying "British Jobs For British Workers" placards, a slogan promoted by Gordon Brown and Derek Simpson - and which stoked divisive racism and nationalism. Earlier this year Unite members at Fawley oil refinery won an important dispute which secured equal pay for migrant workers. Solidarity beat scapegoating and division. This is the right approach.<br />
<br />
I'm pleased that McCluskey and his supporters are now seeking to distance themselves from calls for restrictions on free movement. Part of the purpose of standing was to force key issues onto the agenda and avoid the election being reduced to a debate between "more of the same" McCluskey and "turn the clock back" Coyne.<br />
<br />
<b>I am calling on Len McCluskey to put an end to the fudge and come out clearly for free movement of workers, and against any rules that treat workers differently based on their nationality.</b><br />
<br />
Members need Unite to be a strong and successful union, and this is only possible if it includes all workers, rather than reflecting a mythical white British male working class of the past.<br />
<br />
<b>If you would like to support the campaign</b> to elect Ian Allinson as Unite General Secretary, please <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JJiHRzsxwhwKLT9e5Xh7Mbw-9GuvCzS2qF9yTrFLGTs/edit" target="_blank">leave your details here</a>, email <a href="mailto:ian4unite@gmail.com">ian4unite@gmail.com</a>, like and share the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ian4unite/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, or <a href="https://donorbox.org/ian4unite" target="_blank">donate here</a>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-46699402176303822682016-12-15T21:05:00.000+00:002016-12-16T06:55:24.818+00:00Ian Allinson to stand against McCluskey and Coyne for Unite General Secretary<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have decided to seek nominations for the General Secretary
election. It is essential that this election does not become a battle between
Len McCluskey, offering more of the same, and Gerard Coyne, offering to turn
the clock back to the bad old days when our union backed New Labour even while
they attacked our own members – and saw membership decline. If members want to see a Corbyn government, Unite needs to shift the debate by fighting in workplaces and communities now, rather than relying so heavily on internal battles within Labour. This is the second time that
Len McCluskey has foisted a premature election on us based on a false premise.
Many activists recognise the election timetable as an undemocratic manoeuvre
which minimises members’ voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been a workplace activist for 25 years at Fujitsu, building
up the union in a largely unorganised industry. I led the first national strike
in my industry in 2009-10. For ten years I served on the union’s executive
before stepping down in 2014. I’m chair of Unite’s UK combine in Fujitsu, where
my own workplace is currently in dispute and taking strike action over pay,
pensions and job security. Nationally we’re fighting against job cuts from
automation and offshoring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Members have fought off attempts to victimise me and other
reps. Unlike the two establishment candidates, I’m in the workplace, at the
sharp end like the thousands of other reps and activists who make Unite the
fighting union it is today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite some progress during Len McCluskey’s time as General
Secretary, our union is still falling far short of an adequate response to the
onslaught members are facing from government, local authorities and employers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been too many missed opportunities. Why was there
no call for action or even a national demonstration in defence of the NHS when
the Junior Doctors had the government on the ropes? Why was the momentum over
public sector pensions frittered away? Why did we waste the opportunity around
the London Olympics to smash the illegal blacklist? Why did we not call
effective action when New Labour and employers attacked us at Grangemouth, or
call for nationalisation which could have put huge pressure on both the SNP and
Westminster governments? Why was our response to the Trade Union Act so
pitiful?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The attacks on workers’ right to organise and strike are
part of a wider assault on civil rights. The Tories want to scrap the Human
Rights Act and leave the European Convention of Human Rights. Prevent means snooping,
harassment and censorship for Muslims. We’ve had an international wave of anger
against police violence, racism and deaths in custody. WikiLeaks exposed the
level of state surveillance, while the role of undercover cops spying on
peaceful protesters is gradually being exposed. CCTV is everywhere, and now we
have the snoopers’ charter (RIPA). Migrants (and anyone suspected of being a
migrant) face increased harassment, abuse, incarceration and deportation.
Corporate secrecy blocks our rights to information about government actions and
spending. Kettling, arrests and bail conditions restrict our right to protest.
The Terrorism Act, which would have criminalised support for everyone from
Gandhi and Mandela to the International Brigades, remains on the statute books.
The state helps employers to blacklist workers. Tribunal fees and legal aid cuts
restrict access to justice. We need to get off the back foot - Unite should be
working with the campaigns around all these issues to organise conferences
around the country and launch a positive movement for civil rights. Members
need to support and learn from campaigns involving civil disobedience. If the
government is putting effective trade unionism outside the law we need to
educate and train ourselves how to respond – defying the Act requires action,
not just slogans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Few in Unite would agree with the Tory “partnership” ideology
that “we are all in it together”, but Unite’s leadership has been going along
with it in practice. It’s natural that employers will lobby for vanity projects
from which they hope to make fat profits, such as Trident, Hinkley Point, HS2
and Heathrow expansion. The strategy of trying to save jobs by lobbying for our
employers’ business plans has failed miserably. A million Unite members, and
millions who should be members, are facing cuts to pay for these extravagancies
when we should be seeing investment in public services and in the wide range of
jobs that would improve our lives and tackle climate change. It is our own
employers cutting jobs or moving them offshore and we need to fight to defend
them. We’ve seen a similar problem with Unite’s “Brexit on out Terms” document
- defending workers’ rights only merits a brief mention towards the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following the Brexit vote Len McCluskey’s backsliding on
free movement of workers is not good enough. Workers have sometimes responded
to setbacks or defeats by claiming some privileged access to jobs, housing etc.
and sought to exclude others – often on the basis of gender, race or
nationality. Sometimes this works for some people for a short time, which is
why this response can seem tempting. But it is misguided. Our ability to secure
decent jobs and housing depends on our unity. As soon as workers slip into
trying to protect their interests at the expense of other workers, that unity
is undermined and we all lose out. You can’t argue to end free movement of
labour without accepting that migration is a problem, and you can’t see
migration as a problem and consistently build a united workforce – including
the many migrants who live and work here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Jeremy Corbyn put it:</div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It isn’t migrants that drive down wages, it’s exploitative employers
and the politicians who deregulate the labour market and rip up trade union
rights. It isn’t migrants who put a strain on our NHS, it only keeps going
because of the migrant nurses and doctors who come here filling the gaps left
by politicians who have failed to invest in training. It isn’t migrants that
have caused a housing crisis; it’s a Tory government that has failed to build
homes</i>”.</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rather than giving ground to the nationalists and racists,
we should take inspiration from the Unite members at Fawley oil refinery who
fought and won equal pay for workers irrespective of their country of origin or
employment status. They built unity, rather than sowing division.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The arguments around migration are a good example of how
equality, along with young members’ work, has to be made more central to
Unite’s industrial agenda. The huge gender pay gap is a symptom of employment
and pay practices which are unfair for all members, where managers have too
much discretion to exercise their power and prejudices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When he announced he was standing, Gerard Coyne accused Len
McCluskey of "playing Westminster power games". In reality, Coyne is
playing the biggest Westminster power game of all. He is backed by the Labour
right who want to turn the clock back to the days when Labour leaders never
backed members in a fight, supported anti-union laws, let PFI rip through our
services, imposed cuts while spending billions on illegal wars. The discredited
Ed Balls has already supported Coyne. McCluskey is right to have finally come
behind Corbyn. But backing Corbyn through the Labour Party structures is not
enough. Corbyn faces massive opposition from the establishment. His best chance
of success is if there is a real movement of resistance to Tory policies at
grass roots level. “Wait for Jeremy” is not good enough when our rights, jobs
and services are under attack every day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across our union there are activists and members who are
doing their best to organise members to fight back. When they are doing so it
should feel like you have a million members behind you. But communication in
the union is poor, most activists feel isolated, and it is much too hard to
access the support you need. The branch reorganisation was too top-down and has
left too many members without access to a functioning branch. As a workplace
activist of 25 years in a difficult environment, I understand those
frustrations. My campaign will help link up those on the front-line who want to
build a more effective union. Our organising strategy has been a real step
forward, but it is too disconnected from the membership.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Increasing the participation and power of workers must be
Unite’s number one priority. That cannot be done without a real commitment to
democracy at every level of our union. I favour the election of officers, where
members get to choose who represents us and whose salaries we pay, whereas
McCluskey and Coyne want to tell members who will represent us. If elected, I
wouldn’t take the current six-figure salary for General Secretary, I would stay
on my current wage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some will doubtless argue that by seeking nomination I am
risking the union sliding backwards under Gerard Coyne. Unite members are
better than that. In recent General Secretary elections the right wing
candidates haven’t even made second place.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Standing as a workplace activist against two senior
officials would always be an uphill task. When the election process is so
skewed in favour of the incumbent it is doubly so. But ultimately members will
not be silenced – it is after all <u>our</u> union. Whatever the result, this
campaign will force key issues onto the agenda and bring together those within
Unite who want something better than more of the same. And after the last 18
months nobody should rule out the underdog.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Members don’t want the clock turning back with Coyne, but
neither can we keep waiting for effective resistance from McCluskey. I don’t
have the resources of the establishment candidates. If you want to see a grass
roots socialist challenge then don’t just sit back and wait. It is always
member activity that produces change, and this election is no different. Please
get involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you want to get involved in the campaign, or want materials
or a speaker for a workplace or branch nomination meeting, please <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JJiHRzsxwhwKLT9e5Xh7Mbw-9GuvCzS2qF9yTrFLGTs/edit">enter
your details here</a>. You can also email <a href="mailto:ian4unite@gmail.com">ian4unite@gmail.com</a>
and donate towards the cost of the campaign via <a href="https://donorbox.org/ian4unite">https://donorbox.org/ian4unite</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have run a blog about Unite for a number of years: <a href="http://www.iansunitesite.org.uk/">www.iansunitesite.org.uk</a><u><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"></span></u></div>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-23137099735200671232016-12-09T19:22:00.001+00:002016-12-09T19:22:20.798+00:00Latest anti-union lawsThe government has published new draft documents relating to the Trade Union Act 2016. These include:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/575406/Draft_Code_of_Practice_on_industrial_action_ballots_and_notice_to_employers.pdf" target="_blank">Draft Code of Practice</a> on industrial action ballots and notice to employers (which includes the new ballot thresholds)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/575379/Draft_Code_of_Practice_on_Picketing.pdf" target="_blank">Draft Code of Practice</a> on picketing</li>
</ul>
These are expected to become law on 1 March 2017.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-57715411688321419192016-12-06T21:56:00.001+00:002016-12-06T21:56:04.759+00:00Snap General Secretary election calledOnce again Len McCluskey has decided to force a snap General Secretary election, in which he intends to stand for re-election. The <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-confirms-the-timetable-for-the-general-secretary-election-in-2017/" target="_blank">announcement is here</a> and the <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/about-us/structure/2017-general-secretary-election/" target="_blank">official Unite information is here</a>.<br />
<br />
Calling the election now, a year early, with nominations 16 January - 17 February 2017, is clearly intended to slant the election even further in favour of the incumbent.<br />
<br />
Many will remember that when Len re-stood early last time, he said he wouldn't standing again. Last time there was much criticism of the cost of the unnecessary election. This time the cost is being used to justify bringing the election forward to coincide with the Executive Council elections.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-43830021915874365582016-11-08T19:47:00.001+00:002016-11-08T19:47:51.998+00:00Strikes continue at FujitsuWe had our third strike day today at Fujitsu Manchester, and two more have now been called for Wednesday and Thursday next week.<br />
<br />
Check out our <a href="https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Unite @ Fujitsu web site</a> for the latest news - and an "appeal for support" leaflet which includes how you can contribute to our strike fund.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-78935369780164532302016-10-30T11:06:00.000+00:002016-10-30T11:06:38.421+00:00Unite Executive Council ElectionsThe union is gearing up for elections to its Executive Council (EC), which is effectively the ruling body of the union between policy and rules conferences.<br />
<br />
The Unite web site has a <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/growing-our-union/about-us/structure/2017-executive-council-election/" target="_blank">page about the forthcoming elections</a>. This includes a helpful new booklet <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/uploaded/documents/Job%207507%20EC%20boklet%2010-2016%20-%20EC%20Roles%20and%20Responsibilities11-28823.pdf" target="_blank">Your Union is Run By You</a>. The main points from the timeline are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Members seeking nomination must submit campaign statements by Friday 25 November</li>
<li>Nominations from branches and workplaces must be made 16 January - 17 February</li>
<li>Voting will be 27 March - 19 April, with the result declared on 28 April</li>
<li>New EC takes office 1 May 2017 for a three-year term</li>
</ul>
The numbers of seats have been revised ready for the election, to reflect the paying membership. The numbers in brackets indicate designated seats to ensure that representation is at least proportionate to the membership. The first number in brackets is the minimum number of women, the second number in brackets is the minimum number of Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority (BAME) members.<br />
<br />
Total 71 (19) (7) broken down as: <br />
<br />
Regions 24 (10) (2):<br />
<ul>
<li>East Midlands 2 (1)</li>
<li>Ireland 2 (1)</li>
<li>London & Eastern 4 (1) (1)</li>
<li>North East, Yorkshire & Humber 2 (1)</li>
<li>North West 3 (1)</li>
<li>Scotland 2 (1)</li>
<li>South East 2 (1)</li>
<li>Wales 2 (1)</li>
<li>West Midlands 3 (1) (1)</li>
</ul>
National Equality Seats 5 (1) (1)<br />
<ul>
<li>Women 1 (1)</li>
<li>BAEM 1 (-) (1)</li>
<li>LGBT (1)</li>
<li>Disabled (1)</li>
<li>Youth (1) </li>
</ul>
Industrial Sector Seats 42 (7) (3)<br />
<ul>
<li>Aerospace & Shipbuilding 2</li>
<li>Automotive Industries 3 (-) (1)</li>
<li>Civil Air Transport 3 (1) (1)</li>
<li>Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Process & Textiles 1</li>
<li>Community, Youth Workers and Not for Profit 1</li>
<li>Construction (Unite) *</li>
<li>Construction (UCATT) *</li>
<li>Docks, Rail, Ferries and Waterways 1</li>
<li>Education 1</li>
<li>Energy and Utilities 1</li>
<li>Food, Drink and Agriculture 3 (1) (1)</li>
<li>Finance and Legal 3 (2)</li>
<li>General Engineering, Manufacturing and Servicing 2</li>
<li>Government, Defence, Prisons and Contractors 1</li>
<li>Graphical, Paper, Media and Information Technology 1</li>
<li>Health 3 (2)</li>
<li>Local Authorities 2 (1)</li>
<li>Metals (including Foundry) 1</li>
<li>Passenger Transport 2 (-) (1)</li>
<li>Road Transport Commercial, Logistics and Retail Distribution 2</li>
<li>Service Industries 1</li>
</ul>
* The construction seats are dependent on the transfer of engagements from UCATT to Unite going ahead and discussions. The 4 UCATT seats would be taken by members of their existing executive.<br />
<br />
Observers 2<br />
<ul>
<li>Retired Members 1</li>
<li>Gibraltar 1</li>
</ul>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-88066598840666099042016-10-25T22:26:00.000+01:002016-10-25T22:26:21.317+01:00Strikes called at Fujitsu ManchesterUnite has now issued the call for industrial action - action short of strike and the first three strike days, as part of our dispute over pay, pensions and job security. The first action starts on Monday, with the first strike on Tuesday 1st November.<br />
<br />
More details are <a href="http://www.ourunion.org.uk/news/archives/2016_10.htm#001984" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also follow and support our campaign via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/uniteatfujitsu/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/UniteFujitsu" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-58915204033777552262016-10-01T09:43:00.000+01:002016-10-01T09:43:26.344+01:00Unite ballots Fujitsu Manchester over Pay, Pensions and Job SecurityUnite's industrial action ballot of members in my own workplace has now opened.<br />
<br />
There's an <a href="http://www.ourunion.org.uk/news/archives/2016_09.htm#001979" target="_blank">appeal for support leaflet</a>, and you can also follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/uniteatfujitsu" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/UniteFujitsu" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-20395419545868289382016-09-13T20:43:00.000+01:002016-09-13T20:43:25.942+01:00Unite Minimum Standards for Greater Manchester?The next meeting of Unite's Area Activists Committee for Greater Manchester will be discussing the motion below. It is taking place on Tuesday 6th December at the <a href="http://www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/listofregions/northwest/contactus/#Salford" target="_blank">Unite Salford office</a>. The meeting of the elected committee will be at 5:15pm, followed at 6:30pm by the meeting open to all UNITE activists.<br />
<br />
<b>Unite Minimum Standards for Greater Manchester</b><br /><br />Many workplaces with Unite members have some workers on unacceptably bad terms and conditions.<br /><br />The Manchester Area Activists Committee resolves to directly or indirectly initiate a campaign for Unite Minimum Standards for Greater Manchester. Such standards might include being an accredited Living Wage employer, no use of zero hours contracts etc.<br /><br />Central to the campaign will be a fund to which branches are encouraged to contribute. Where Unite members in a workplace contribute regularly to the fund through a levy, they are entitled to apply to use the fund to supplement Unite Dispute Benefit in pursuit of the Unite Minimum Standards for Greater Manchester.<br /><br />Criteria would be established to select workplaces to strike in pursuit of the standards. These might include the employer's ability to pay, members' power, profile, cost etc.<br /><br />As a first step a meeting will be organised with activists from Greater Manchester, activists involved in previous campaigns based around levies (drive for 35, RR, GKN) and appropriate officers, organisers and staff. This meeting will be tasked with coming back to the next Area Activists Committee with more detailed proposals.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167525734621965856.post-4559279233822826262016-08-22T16:59:00.001+01:002016-08-22T16:59:43.385+01:00An attempt to split the United LeftThe United Left is the dominant faction within UNITE, including both
General Secretary Len McCluskey and a majority of the union's Executive
Council. It appears from the letter below that there is an attempt to
split the United Left in Scotland, a move that would have significance
across the union as a whole. Given that people are naturally reluctant
to split such successful groupings, any such split is likely to be over
an important issue, but the letter doesn't say what that is.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">United Left Scotland members</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">It has been brought to the
attention of the United Left Scotland committee that someone or a group have
called a meeting for the 27th August at Renfield St Stephens Centre, Bath St.,
Glasgow, claiming to be United Left Scotland. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Please be aware that the group
calling themselves United Left Scotland 2016 are bogus and do not represent the
views of the one and only United Left Scotland and the Co-ordinator's Committee
that was democratically elected at our AGM in June. We have alerted the chair
of the national United left and, whilst there are no names attached to the
United left Scotland 2016 email, we are attempting to identify the source and
urge them to stop going ahead with this divisive approach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Three members of our
Co-ordinator's Committee attended a meeting of The National Co-ordinator's
Committee on the 23rd July in Manchester where the ULS AGM was recognised and
the decisions taken, endorsed, unequivocally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">This attempt to create a split
using the United Left Scotland name is both outrageous and insulting, and one
in which members, who wish to concentrate on our political and industrial
priorities, for our union, in a unified and dignified manner, should ignore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Meanwhile on a more positive note,
the committee have met twice since the AGM and as agreed at the AGM have made
progress in arranging a post EU event in partnership with a number of other
like minded organisations. The flyer for this event will be circulated in next
few days please hold date of 17th September.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">We have also set up a United Left
Scotland Facebook Group and encourage you to join this Facebook group. Insert
link.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018209651567029/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018209651567029/</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">In solidarity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Jim Harte</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Chair, United Left Scotland</span></div>
</blockquote>
Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457846826410465352noreply@blogger.com0