Reinstate Ian Allinson statement

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 wider Fujitsu dispute.

I've copied the text of the statement below. The statement with signatories is here, along with how to add your support.

Reinstate Ian Allinson - Stop victimisation of union reps

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.

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.

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.

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.

We call on Fujitsu to reinstate Ian Allinson and stop victimising union activists.

We pledge to campaign for Ian’s reinstatement and build support and solidarity for the Fujitsu dispute.


For more information on the campaign and how you can support it, see https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/fujitsu-national-dispute/

To add your name to this statement, please use this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedHBJ59tTfUQznILXU-qHGYntOqhubp-ftuCSmlaC_gZr1Iw/viewform

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My dismissal and the Fujitsu strikes

On 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.

My last day was brightened by a moving show of support as I left:

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.

The fight goes on, including for my reinstatement. I've been protesting outside the site:

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 protest in support of the pickets on Wednesday 24th January. On Friday 26th January there will be a joint strike rally in Manchester city centre with the First Bus and Mears strikers.

There's lots more information, including how you can support our campaign, on the Unite @ Fujitsu web site.

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Solidarity needed - housing, BA, NHS and finance

Four groups of Unite members are currently engaged in pretty serious industrial action at the moment. They deserve our support.

I'd previously posted about the outsourced Manchester housing maintenance workers. They are now escalating their action with four weeks of continuous strike action from Saturday 8 July to Friday 4 August. A letter appealing for support has been issued by Unite's north-west region. You can support the strikers by:

1. Visiting pickets, typically 7:30-10am on strike days, at Hendham Vale, by the junction of Hazelbottom Road and Vale Park Way (map) 
2.  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.
3. Sending a message of support to Colin Pitt via colinpitt65@hotmail.co.uk

Meanwhile cabin crew at BA Mixed Fleet have announced another 14 days of strike action. Like the Mixed Fleet Unite Facebook page for more information, or their web site gives details of how to support them.

In the NHS in London, cleaners, porters and security staff employed by Serco at Barts Health NHS Trust have been striking this week and plan 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 strikers' Facebook group 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.

At the Bank of England maintenance, parlours and security workers will be taking a four day strike from 31 July.

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 pointed out 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 article 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.

cleaners, porters and security staff

cleaners, porters and security staff

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Support Manchester housing maintenance strikers

180 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.

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.

I understand that their low pay is being used as a "benchmark" by other employers to try to hold down wages elsewhere.

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.

A letter appealing for support has been issued by Unite's north-west region. You can support the strikers by:

1. Visiting pickets, typically 7:30-10am on strike days, at Hendham Vale, by the junction of Hazelbottom Road and Vale Park Way (map) 
2.  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.
3. Send a message of support to Colin Pitt via colinpitt65@hotmail.co.uk
4. 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

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Strikes continue at Fujitsu

We had our third strike day today at Fujitsu Manchester, and two more have now been called for Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Check out our Unite @ Fujitsu web site for the latest news - and an "appeal for support" leaflet which includes how you can contribute to our strike fund.

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Strikes called at Fujitsu Manchester

Unite 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.

More details are here. You can also follow and support our campaign via Facebook and Twitter.

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Unite 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 Unite Salford office. The meeting of the elected committee will be at 5:15pm, followed at 6:30pm by the meeting open to all UNITE activists.

Unite Minimum Standards for Greater Manchester

Many workplaces with Unite members have some workers on unacceptably bad terms and conditions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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I'd very much like to go to the Labor Notes conference next year, but the cost would be prohibitive. Me and a young member from the Hotel Workers' branch in London who also wants to go have set up an appeal to raise money to make it possible.

If you follow this blog you'll know that we'll do a detailed report back, so hopefully if we can go it will be useful for many more activists in the UK.

The text of our appeal is below, and if you want to contribute, please click here: gogetfunding.com/uktolabornotes2016

Help Ian Allinson & Nilüfer​ Erdem go to the Labor Notes conference in Chicago

We're union activists from Manchester and London who need your help to go to the Labor Notes conference, which takes place in Chicago 1-3 April 2016.

Labor Notes Conference:

• Involves thousands of union members, officers, and labor activists who are on the front lines in workplaces and communities, organizing new workers and agitating together. Meet troublemakers from around the country and around the world.
• Comprises more than 100 meetings and workshops include creative organizing tactics, beating apathy, running for local union office, winning contract campaigns, bargaining over technology, understanding the economy, life after “right to work,” and reviving the strike

Why help us?
 
We've already found some of Labor Notes publications useful and think there will be a lot of ideas which can help workers in the UK organise. If your help enables us to go, we will post a detailed report online. If your union body sponsors us we'll do our best to come and give a report in person.

Who are we?

• Ian Allinson is an activist in Manchester, where he's the senior UNITE rep at the IT multinational Fujitsu. In 2009 he led the first national strike in the UK IT industry. Ian served on the union's Executive Council for ten years. Ian is currently on the National Industrial Sector Committee the Graphical, Paper, Media and IT sector. He runs iansunitesite, a blog about union matters. In addition to activism and working full time, Ian is currently doing a part time MA in Industrial Relations at Keele University.
• Nilüfer Erdem is an activist in London, involved in the UNITE Hotel Workers branch. She's active in the Fair Tips campaign and in organising young, migrant and precarious workers. Nilüfer is a member of the London & Eastern region's Young Members' Committee.

What will it cost us?

• Conference tickets will cost $210
• Flights will cost us around £1000
• A shared hotel room will cost us $125 a night, so at least $500 in total

The total is approximately £1500.

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Indesit national strike

This morning drivers and warehouse workers at Indesit depots around the country started their second strike over pay - this time escalating to 48 hours.

The strikers are based at Andover; Barnsley; Chepstow; Gateshead; Grangemouth; Hayes (west London); Mallusk (Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland); Trafford Park (Manchester); Raunds (Northamptonshire); Sharpness (Berkeley, Gloucestershire); Wednesbury (West Midlands); and West Thurrock (Essex). They are responsible for delivering white goods to homes and retailers.

This morning I visited the pickets at Trafford Park, who were already in good numbers and spirits when I arrived at 6am.


They've been offered just 1.5% while directors got rises of up to 30% - of a much higher salary in the first place. The gap between big increases for the fat cats and the crumbs for the rest was a big factor in provoking the strike.

The workers say their pay has been eroded by below inflation "rises" and unreliable or unattainable bonuses for years, while changes such as monthly pay, paperless pay, and weekend working have benefitted bosses but not them.

The workers rely on very long hours and overtime to earn a living. As well as striking they are working to rule which they believe can have a big impact. The long hours are also driven by huge loads, drivers often delivering alone, and imposed changes to warehouse processes which reduce efficiency.

Pickets were discussing the threat of the new Trade Union Bill which would allow bosses to hire agency temps to try to break strikes. As one of the pickets commented, it's not as if strikes are common. This workforce hasn't had a strike in decades, during which their pay and conditions have declined. Now they have had enough.

The current strike continues until 6am on Saturday morning. If there is no deal a further 24 hours of strike action is planned from 6am on Tuesday 1st September.

If you want to give support, the picket is at: Premier Park, Trafford Park Road / Acheson Way, Trafford Park, M17 1GA

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Strikes at Hovis and Kuehne+Nagel

It's a busy week for strikes in Greater Manchester.

This morning I visited the bakers' union (BFAWU) picket lines at Hovis in Wigan.  They are starting their second week of strike action against zero hour contracts and the abuse of agency workers.

There's a report here and a collection sheet here.  The union is talking about balloting the sites in Bradford, Leicester and Belfast next.  On Saturday 14th there will be a solidarity march from the Moon Under the Water in Market Square, Wigan to a public meeting at 2:30pm at Whelley Labour Club with Lisa Nandy MP; Ronnie Draper General Secretary BFAWU; Ameen Hadi  UTR; Neil Turner  Ex Wigan MP; Terry Abbott  Wigan Trades council; Ian Hodson BFAWU National President.

Much closer to my own workplace is a Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics depot where I visited UNITE picket lines at dinner time and after work.  The strike affects sites all round the country, and apparently the others were as solidly out as the Manchester one, where nothing went in or out all day.  Pickets continue till 10am tomorrow (Thursday) when an overtime ban and work to rule kicks in.

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Everyone to Manchester on 29 September - Save the NHS, No to Austerity

The Tories are in Manchester for their conference on 29th September.  UNITE, the TUC, other unions and campaigns are organising a national demonstration in defence of the NHS and against austerity.  Everyone should throw themselves into building this - a big demo can boost confidence to take the action we will need to stop the Tories and their Lib Dem props.

The TUC information about the demo is here: www.nhs299.org.

The UNITE information about the demo (including transport details from round the country) is here: www.unitetheunion.org/saveournhs.

UNITE has produced a video explaining some of the issues around the cuts and privatisation of the NHS to encourage people to come on the demo:

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National demo to defend the NHS, 29th September

The Tories and their Lib-Dem props are ripping the NHS to shreds with cuts, reorganisation and privatisation - actions that were in no manifesto and nobody voted for.  Many of those who backed the changes in parliament have links to private healthcare that wants to profit from ill health.

It's a crime that there was no national demo when the Health & Social Care Bill was going through parliament, but the huge local protests around the country show that people are prepared to come out and defend the NHS.

Now UNITE, along with UNISON and GMB are building a national protest to Save the NHS on 29th September in Manchester, when the Tories are holding their conference.

Everyone should be there.  The UNITE web site now has a page where you can sign-up to pledge to join the march on 29th September.  UNITE should be organising trains and coaches from round the country - there is no time to lose.

If you're in a well-organised workplace you should be building a large delegation for the march.  If you're in a less organised workplace, what better opportunity to get people involved - many non-members will support this campaign too.

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Support the Mitie strikers at Manchester airport

Cleaners at Manchester airport have been outsourced to Mitie for the last couple of years, and they haven't been easy years.

The workers say that at the time of the transfer, they were told there would be no redundancies, yet within a month about 10% of the workforce was cut, leaving the survivors with a heavier workload.  Too often, competition for contracts between bidders isn't about a better service, or organising the work better, but simply about delivering the lowest price by driving people to work longer and harder for less.  In this case the cleaners get just £6.95 an hour and have had no pay rises for four years.  At this rate they will soon be on the National Minimum Wage.

But even this isn't enough for Mitie.  They want to cut attendance bonuses and paid breaks, which would leave workers about £96 a month worse off.  They're also chiselling away at other terms - even cutting compassionate leave from 3 days to 1 (could you organise a funeral in a day?) and stopping workers swapping shifts.

On Friday, the Mitie workers went on strike in defence of their paid breaks.

Mitie is a giant company, with lots of subsidiaries, but a quick look at the records for just one of them, Mitie Cleaning & Environmental Services Ltd, gives you a clue as to the scale of the operation, built on the hard work of low-paid workers like those at Manchester Airport.

You can send messages of support to the workers via their UNITE officer, Dave Kennedy.

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Support Steve Acheson, anti-blacklisting campaigner

There are few people who can claim to have done as much as UNITE activist Steve Acheson to expose the illegal blacklisting of workers by employers, particularly in the construction industry.  Many have been blacklisting for trying to ensure a safe working environment for workers in one of the most hazardous industries, or for trade union activity.

Steve has been protesting outside Fiddlers Ferry power station since he was sacked from his job there in December 2008 as a result of being on the blacklist as a "troublemaker".  He's faced every sort of harassment - even having to fight off charges under anti-terrorism legislation to defend his right to protest.

Steve's stand led to the blacklisting Consulting Association being raided by the Information Commissioner over offences against the Data Protection Act.  Its manager, Ian Kerr, gave evidence before a House of Commons inquiry a few months ago.  Kerr promised to give further evidence in private about matters involving the security services, but his sudden and unexpected death prevented him doing so.

There is an appeal to raise £25,000 to avoid Steve losing his home as a result of the illegal conspiracy to deny him work.

I was priviledged to attend a social event last night which raised over £1000 for Steve, and this is the video of parts of it:





Donations payable to "Fiddlers Ferry Hardship Fund" can be sent via Warrington Trades Union Council, 6 Red Gables, Pepper Street, Warrington, WA4 4SB.

For more information see the Blacklist Blog.

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Today's strikes by PCS (and UNITE!) and how stop cuts and austerity

Today (budget day) the PCS union called 250,000 members in the civil service out on strike in a dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions.  This was a very important step, restarting national industrial action after the massive set-back suffered when a number of unions signed up to shoddy deals on public sector pensions in December 2011 and the rest dithered rather than carrying forward the tremendous action on November 30th 2011 - allowing the government to impose cuts.

Other unions are now talking about rejoining the fray, notably with the NUT and NASUWT teaching unions which have announced joint rolling strikes starting in the north-west on 27th June.

There's an argument raging in the TUC about how to fight cuts and austerity effectively.  Some say we should wait for a Labour government.  Quite aside from the problem that members are losing their jobs and services now, this argument is continually undermined by Labour leaders who fail to promise anything noticeably different even if/when they get in office.  UNITE says it doesn't share this view, and recognises the need for working people to take action now to defend our livelihoods.

Within UNITE there have been some excellent debates since the TUC passed a motion about consulting unions about the practicalities of a general strike.  UNITE's response to the TUC on this has been amongst the better ones.  This was discussed in some detail at last week's UNITE Executive Council and Len McCluskey spoke at length about it when he spoke at an electioneering meeting in Manchester on Monday night.

In the debates within UNITE, most people recognise that large scale coordinated strike action will be needed if members are going to successfully resist cuts and austerity.  But there are big debates about how we can achieve this.  Some argue that we need to focus on "raising the consciousness" of members first.  Others, including myself, have argued that taking action goes hand in hand with building organisation, confidence and consciousness, rather than the action coming afterwards.

The debate is reflected in the current contest for UNITE General Secretary.  Len McCluskey makes excellent general speeches about the need for action, but the current leadership has done little to deliver it in the here and now.  At last week's Executive Council meeting I was the only person to raise the issue of solidarity with the PCS strike.  At Len's campaign meeting on Monday the strike wasn't mentioned at all.  Jerry Hicks' campaign has focussed strongly on the need to close the gap between fine words about action at some unspecified point in the future and deeds in the here and now.

In the context of these important debates, it was great to see over 100 UNITE members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on strike today, deliberately choosing to coordinate their strike with the national PCS action.  On their picket line in Manchester this morning the UNITE members were very clear about the fact that coordinated action had to start somewhere and their desire to see it spread.

When PCS, NUT and NASUWT are planning large scale action, every member of UNITE and other unions has a responsibility to seek every opportunity to coordinate action to maximum effect.

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Jerry Hicks at Unite General Secretary election, Manchester hustings

My Unite branch hosted a hustings for the Unite General Secretary election on Friday.

Len McCluskey didn't respond to the letters from our branch secretary or turn up, but Jerry Hicks did and you can see him speak here:

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McCluskey calls on Labour Council to refuse to implement the attack on services

The Manchester Coalition Against Cuts web site is showing Len McCluskey, UNITE's General Secretary, signing up to a petition calling on the Labour Council to refuse to implement cuts.

While UNITE has had a policy of opposing all cuts since May 2011, which pledges support for councillors who do oppose cuts, the union has, until now, not done much to encourage Labour councillors to act on that policy.  Indeed, the silence has been deafening on the odd occasions when councillors have refused to vote for cuts and have duly been disciplined by Labour.

If this marks a hardening of UNITE's stance it is very welcome.  Would it have happened if the General Secretary election didn't seem increasingly likely to be contested?

The signature comes in the wake of bit protests in Manchester against the lastest round of cuts, and councillors starting to consider opposing them for the first time.  A Councillors Against Cuts web site has appeared with increasing numbers pledging to vote against cuts.  This is a development to be encouraged.

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DHL-Howdens workers fight for their jobs

54 UNITE members employed in Widnes by DHL as delivery drivers for Howdens (joinery and kitchens) are fighting for their jobs against plans to close their depot.

Early in January they were given just 30 days warning of the intention to close the depot, threatening all their jobs.  They say "consultation" has been a farce and complain of attempted bullying and intimidation.

The workers believe that the work will be shifted to Yorkshire.  Given that the goods come from Runcorn, this would add costs in time, money and the environment.  The workers believe there is no genuine business case for the closure, but see it as an attack on a well unionised workforce.

An industrial action ballot is underway, but the delays required for compliance with the anti-union laws mean that action could barely have begun by the time the site closes.  This should be a warning to all workers given the government's plans to cut the minimum consultation period for large scale redundancies from 90 days to 45 - a step that would force many workers to defy the law if they are serious about fighting for their jobs.

The UNITE members are not sitting back and waiting though.  When not on shift, they have been busy staging protests.  Today they were at the Howdens Joinery in Manchester, right near my own workplace.  A few of us went to show solidarity and join the protest in our dinner break:

There is nothing more depressing than reading news stories about hundreds of jobs being lost without a fight.  This is usually due to workers lacking confidence and organisation.  Any group of workers fighting to save their jobs deserve everyone's support - if they win it can only raise the confidence of others.

You can find out more about the fight to save the Widnes jobs on Facebook (widnes.drivers) or Twitter (@WidnesDrivers) or Flickr.

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Support the Tesco / Eddie Stobart strikers

The all-out strike by UNITE members against mass sackings at Tesco / Eddie Stobart in Doncaster continues.  The photo below is from a Unite the Resistance meeting in Manchester which decided to organise a solidarity protest outside a store and to invite strikers to visit workplaces in Manchester to raise support.

Send cheques payable to "TGWU 8-9/490 Branch Tesco Contract" to Harriet Eisner, Unite, Sovereign Court, 300 Barrow Road, Sheffield S9 1JQ.

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Report from UNITE NW Regional Committee 24 July 2012 (+Branch Standards)

This was a long meeting, so my report doesn't attempt to cover everything, but to capture some key points, particularly those of interest to members in the IT & Comms sector or the Manchester Area.

Minutes of the previous Regional Committee should be posted here shortly.

There were several discussions about the poor attendance at committees (Regional Industrial Sector Committees or RISCs, Area Activists Committees or AACs and Equality Committees) in the NW region:

1. Of the 34 committees in the NW, only 4 had held a quorate meeting in the last quarter.
2. The Regional Secretary reported that he had contacted all officers who are secretaries of committees (apart from a few on leave he still has to contact), reminded them of their role and given them a pack explaining how to conduct meetings.
3. Delegates who fail to attend meetings three times without submitting valid apologies should be removed from their position and the vacancy filled.  If a rep is having difficulties with release from work, their officer is responsible for taking this up with the employer to secure release.
4. The previous Regional Committee had agreed that discussions should take place with the IT & Comms RISC and the Electrical Engineering Electronics (EEE) RISC and whoever had come up with the proposal to merge them which had gone to the Executive Council without any consultation.  The Regional Secretary had set up a meeting with the officers and one person from each RISC, which I had been unable to attend due to illness.  The Regional Secretary informed today's meeting that the proposal had originated from head office, and the EEE RISC member supported it.  The Regional Secretary explained that the reasoning for the proposal was that neither RISC was functioning properly and had poor attendance.  I explained that the IT & Comms RISC had no view on the proposal yet as it hadn't had any explanation, but questioned whether merging two RISCs would increase participation if the causes lay elsewhere.  The Regional Secretary agreed to reconvene the meeting.
5. As a result of most committees having been inquorate, the chair ruled that most of the remits sent in to the Regional Committee could not be debated.  This included the three from the IT & Comms RISC.
6. One of the motions from IT & Comms was on the opreation of RISCs, so it was particularly ironic that we unable to debate it properly.  The motion argued that all RISCs needed to get regular reports from the officers with industrial responsibility in the sector, to have a breakdown of the numbers of members in the sector by employer and workplace and (in line with rule 18.6) to know the identity, constituency and contact details of the reps covered by the RISC.  The latter two points had been blocked by the region for our RISC.  I managed to raise the points in the motion, but was unable to get a meaningful response from the Regional Secretary who just repeated that he'd given the officers a pack telling them what to do.

Other points covered included:

1. The Finance & General Purposes Committee (F&GP) had discussed the request from the Manchester Area Activists Committee to identify a lead officer for Greater Manchester who could be a focal point for dealing with the press, trades councils, campaigns etc and ensure UNITE has a profile in the area.  This was rejected on the spurious grounds that this wasn't a position in the UNITE job structure (nobody had ever suggested this was a "job").  In the debate it appeared that there was a consensus that this should be part of the responsibility of the officer who acts as the secretary to the Area Activists Committee, but the chair succeeded in closing the debate with only the conclusion that the debate would continue.
2. A remit was agreed during the meeting to be sent to the Executive Council stressing the urgency of concluding the investigation into the "agreement otherwise" that had impacted on one of blacklisted electrician Steve Acheson's legal claims.
3. Remploy struck last week and are on strike again on Thursday.
4. There was a brief discussion about the Draft "Branch Standards" document which I've reproduced at the bottom of this post.  The general consensus was that it was too prescriptive (e.g. "must" in places where encouragement was more appropriate) and duplicated points already in the rulebook or the existing paperwork on branch finances.  Regional Committee members were urged to circulate it to their constituents and get feed back in to regional Executive Council members.
5. A spin-off of the discussion on branch standards was the information that the regional offices can do mailshots to branch members on behalf of branches.  While branches are charged for this, it is likely to be cheaper (and easier) than doing it yourselves because UNITE pays less for franking mail than normal stamp prices.
6. A remit from the Regional Political Committee backing a lobby of the Labour Party conference over the NHS (NHS Act, reversing privatisation, PFI, internal market, fund through taxing the rich) was agreed, though clarification is required as to where the financial contribution would go.  The lobby is being planned by the Liason Committee to Save the NHS.
7. A remit was agreed calling for an investigation and action in response to UNITE giving legal services to a member outside the process and without the reps and officers being informed.
8. It looks likely that the Salford office will now be refurbished and the previous plans to relocate to a smaller officer nearby abandoned due to cost.  The refurb should improve meeting facilities.  The Regional Secretary hopes to finalise the plans next week.
9. There was a discussion on 20th October national TUC demonstration.  So far UNITE has reserved three trains (Preston, Manchester, Liverpool).  The Manchester one has 11 carriages so a greater capacity than each of the trains for 26 March.  Provisional enquiries are also being made about reserving seats on scheduled trains.  UNITE will be providing free transport for members - there was some debate about whether this will extend to friends & family as on 26 March.  I argued that we should mobilise the maximum numbers (including friends and family), would need coaches as well as trains, and should give priority to disabled people on the trains where that was appropriate.  The Regional Secretary confirmed that coaches can be organised where appropriate.  Some branches and large workplaces are already organising their own transport in addition.  We were informed that materials to build for the demo are now available from UNITE offices.
10. I raised the fact that the F&GP had decided to cancel the open meeting to build for 20th October organised by the Manchester Area Activists Committee.  The F&GP minutes say the meeting "to include all trade unionists and community campaigners across Greater Manchester" is to be replaced by a "Unite open meeting".  The officer who runs the Area Activists Committee had been told it was cancelled because all coordination should be done on a regional basis and the chair told the meeting it was because of confusion on the date.  I informed the Regional Committee that the County Association of TUCs had organised a replacement meeting and suggested it was regrettable that UNITE had given up the leading role it had had in this and that blocking activity didn't encourage participation.
11. The Regional Secretary reported that branch secretaries were now receiving proper reports of which members were to be taken out of their branches before it happened.  Any appeals were being considered by the F&GP.  Where workplaces wanted a workplace branch, appeals against this would not be successful, as this is in line with rule.  The Regional Committee endorsed the report.  Any branch not happy with the response from the region over branch reorganisation can appeal to the Executive Council.
12. Though it was ruled out of order, I did manage to raise the content of the motion from the IT & Comms RISC on "branch organisation and officer allocation".  This proposed that any remaining general composite (i.e. not workplace, company or industry) branches should cover a geographical area no larger than that covered by an Area Activists Committee as this wasted officer time travelling without having any industrial logic.  The Regional Secretary denied that the problem existed but did promise to look into the example given.
13. I also managed to raise some of the issues from a remit about communication within the region.  From the discussion it appears that many reps in other sectors are receiving communication about disputes and campaigns in the region.  I was astonished to hear that it is the responsibility of each RISC officer to maintain their own email database and forward such communications on to all the reps in their sector.  If this is indeed the approach to communication, rather than using the union's membership database, I am surprised it works as well as it apparently does.  When I've seen such "cascade" approaches to communication at work, they have always been extremely unreliable due to people being off work, forgetting, having out of date lists etc.
14. Under the Political report there were questions about the Political Committee minutes which said that the committee had sought clarification of what involvement UNITE had in supporting Lucy Powell for Tony Lloyd's Manchester Central seat, but that the Political Director had advised the Regional Political Officer to leave the question alone.  The question had arisen because mailings supporting Lucy had gone out with the UNITE logo even though UNITE didn't officially back any candidate.  It was agreed to investigate this.
15. The Regional Education Organiser has produced a guide for branch officers and the Regional Secretary confirmed that this would be sent out in the next couple of days.  It will also be sent nationally so that it can be adapted and used in other regions.  The region can put on training courses on request, tailored in terms of content, location etc and at very short notice. 
16. Under the equality report, it was highlighted that the dates for the Regional Equality Conferences will need to change as they were set before the "windows" were set and will clash with RISC meetings.  UNITE is keen to have more volunteers to help with stalls at the various Pride events in the region.
17. There was a discussion about the threat from various fascist groups who have attacked the UNITE office in Liverpool as well as marches and pickets.  Delegates were urged to ensure there is a big turnout when we mobilise to oppose the BNP, EDL etc bullies.

DRAFT DISCUSSION DOCUMENT

BRANCH STANDARDS – 10 POINT PLAN

To qualify for branch administration funds to be remitted from the union (10 per cent of membership income less deductions for the central strike fund and to cover for employer check-off charges where applied) Unite branches must satisfy the following criteria:

1.     The branch must meet all rule book requirements regarding regularity of meetings (which should be properly notified to all members) and the election of branch officers.

2.    Proper financial records must be maintained, and accounts returned quarterly to the Regional office of the union.

3.    Membership records must be maintained up to date via the branch secretaries’ portal.

4.    Communications must be regularly issued to the membership in the branch.

5.    The branch must commit to the campaign for 100 per cent union membership in the workplace(s) which it covers, and must assist in developing union organisation on “Greenfield” sites where and when appropriate.

6.    The branch must provide representation for its members with the employer up to the level of final appeal, unless specific agreements provide otherwise.

7.    The branch must participate in general Unite campaigns and mobilisations.

8.    The branch must play a part in the broader labour movement locally, including affiliating to the local Trades Council where there is one and to the local Constituency Labour Party (in Britain) where possible in line with Party rules.

9.    The branch should support the local Unite organisations for community members and retired members.

10. The Branch should promote equal opportunities and tolerance inside and outside the workplace.

This discussion document is to be discussed at the Executive Council meeting in September 2012.

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