NSSN Bulletin
No. 92
25 May
Defend trade union and
employment rights! Stop Beecroft! Come to NSSN Conference!
The
Beercroft Report
If you
need any confirmation to come to the NSSN conference on 9 June
and bring your work colleagues and union activists, to hear and
discuss a fighting strategy to defeat this government and its
friends, then the Beecroft Report’s attacks on workers’ rights
this week should provide that.
Adrian
Beecroft is a ‘venture capitalist’, investing money where he
thinks he can make huge profits. One of the companies he
finances is Wonga, the ‘pay-day loan company’ that charges
extortionate interest to those unfortunate enough to have to
utilise their services.
But he
wants to extend his extreme Thatcherite ideas to the whole of
the workforce. Not content with having some of the most
anti-working class employment legislation in Europe, Beecroft
wants to see the idea of ‘no fault’ redundancy implemented. This
is really ‘no rights’ redundancy. With very little notice, no
consultation and minimal compensation, workers that any boss did
not like could be sacked at a whim. This, of course, could
include trade union workplace reps. What a cheap and nasty way
of getting rid of ‘troublemakers’!
Beecroft
thinks this would create more jobs! The only jobs it might
create are low-wage jobs with bosses acting like dictators! And
he was assisted in the drafting by David Cameron’s former
adviser, Steve Hilton, now departed to Stanford University in
California. So the Tories are up to their necks in it!
This
report was too strong even for the Liberal Democrats. Business
Secretary Vince Cable wants to kick it into the long grass, at
least the most contentious bits. Beecroft said that Cable was a
‘socialist’ for opposing its recommendations! That just shows
how vicious Beecroft is! The Lib Dems have collaborated with the
changes to workers’ rights in the last two years, including the
extension of the period of employment before a worker has full
employment rights from a year to two years.
If the government
tries to implement any of this report, the TUC and individual
trade unions should call conferences as preparation for protests
and even industrial action against it. This should be linked to
the campaign to end all the
trade
union and anti-worker laws. Coming to the NSSN conference will
add to the pressure on the trade union leaders to fight against
this vicious big business government.
RMT slam
the Beecroft report
Beecroft,
who has funded the Tories to the tune of a half a million
pounds, has been set up by Cameron to be his out-rider for
attacking worker’s rights in the same way that McNulty was
tasked with doing a similar number on the railways. He is
reported to be likely to recommend:
-
·A
systematic stripping away of equal rights in the workplace
-
Ripping up the transfer of
undertaking rights (TUPE) that give workers some protection
when their employer changes hands
-
Hammering redundancy
rights and reducing consultation to as little as five days
in “emergency” situations
-
Bending to his buddies in
big business and introducing a “hire and fire” culture in
the name of profit.
RMT
General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“It is no
surprise that a venture capitalist, Tory-funder and Cameron
buddy like Beecroft would recommend taking an axe to every last
shred of protection that workers have from bad bosses. He comes
from an industry that treats people as nothing more than
profit-making serfs who can be chewed up and spat out at will.
“All the
signs are that this government of the rich for the rich is
winding up for an all-out assault on redundancy, equalities and
worker’s transfer rights.
“RMT
works in industries where franchise transfers, takeovers and
company collapses are a way of life. This government, and their
big business allies, are determined to rip away even the
tattered safety net which offers our members some limited
protection. They will have an almighty fight on their hands. “
Workers are taking less time off sick than ever:
http://bit.ly/L6wVhB
2 weeks
to NSSN conference!
Book now at
www.shopstewards.net where this bulletin will be posted.
It is a must
for all workers to come along to the Conference of Saturday June
9th. Please rush in names of delegates now. Let’s
have maximum numbers at this year’s Conference.
The NSSN Conference will elect the Steering
Committee. The Committee of around 20 people meets about 3 or 4
times a year in London, and organises the work of the NSSN
throughout the year.
Election procedure is as follows:
1) Nominations must state your union and
position.
2) Nominations must have a proposer and seconder.
2) Write a couple of sentences about yourself.
3) Send to
[email protected] or
[email protected]
4) Get it in by 12 noon Thursday 7th June.
5) Voting takes place at the NSSN Conference in
the Business section.
PCS: Reports of PCS conference
are here:
http://bit.ly/KoNmSW
Conference voted to continue
the pensions’ dispute. There were 40 delegates at the NSSN
fringe meeting at the conference.
PENSIONS
CAMPAIGN UPDATES
GMB NHS MEMBERS OVERWHELMING
96.5% VOTE TO REJECT PROPOSALS ON CHANGES TO NHS PENSIONS
SCHEME
http://bit.ly/KoNt13
This means the ‘deal’ has now
been rejected by health workers in Unite, Unison and the GMB
June 16 -
NUT Local Associations for National Action on Pensions -http://classroomteachers.blogspot.co.uk/
Housing staff face massive
pension hikes
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/ihstory.aspx?storycode=6521981
UNIONS
Unite
Construction unions accuse
employers of treating workers with contempt
25 May 2012
http://bit.ly/JQqTAN
Unite launches compliance
campaign in mechanical and electrical contracting sector 23 May
2012
http://bit.ly/JBXcV1
Unite in fight to save up to
1,600 UK jobs at Hewlett-Packard 24 May
2012
http://bit.ly/MNbGkt
GMB
West Wiltshire Bin Strike:
This
strike action by these GMB members is a last resort because
FOCSA having unilaterally imposed these cuts hasn't been willing
to put enough on the table to allow us to come to terms with
them
http://bit.ly/Ks0MfP Stop Press:
This strike was called off at the last minute after members
narrowly accepted a new offer.
Stansted Airport ground staff
strike back on!
GMB members vote to strike over new rosters being
forcibly introduced by management.
http://bit.ly/KGWhMv
Day of holiday in lieu says
GMB: GMB is
calling on Marks & Spencer, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Ledwood
Mechanical Engineering at Port Talbot steel works, Fishers
Services in Cupar in Fife, Grand Lodge of Scotland care home in
Quarriers in Renfrewshire, Brighton and Sussex University
Hospital NHS Trust, Four Seasons Healthcare Trust, Western Isles
Council and Morgan Marine in Ammanford in South Wales to
reconsider their policy not to give their staff an additional
day of paid holiday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
http://bit.ly/Lzyxhj
Cheshire council workers go
strike on
may 12 &13 over imposed cuts in pay and conditions: The cuts
affect many employees who work in front line services some of
whom stand to lose up to 15% of their pay says GMB
http://bit.ly/JpV12Z
UCU - University and College
Union
Staff to strike at
Chesterfield College
Members of UCU at Chesterfield
College will take strike action on Tuesday (29 May) after the
college was today accused of 'ambushing' staff with a two-year
pay freeze.
http://t.co/UH7SzPXk
Staff vote to strike at
Sunderland College in row over £10,000 pay cuts:
http://bit.ly/LcLz4c
RMT
Streamline
MARITIME UNION RMT today
slammed the Chamber of Shipping after it emerged that they have
leapt to the defence of Streamline who are operating the Daroja
under a Cypriot flag on the Aberdeen-Kirkwall route with a mixed
overseas crew in what the union believes is an attempt to dodge
work permit regulations.
RMT and Nautilus raised the
issue yesterday in a joint letter to ministers.
Instead of supporting the
right to work of British seafarers on the dole, the Chamber of
Shipping has instead leapt to the defence of Streamline, saying:
“The chamber considers that
Europe’s open coastlines policy remains in the wider interests
of UK shipping and the UK economy generally”
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow
said:
“It is a scandal that instead
of supporting the union campaign to defend British seafarers’
rights and employment opportunities our own Chamber of Shipping
have leapt in to support the dubious employment practices off
Scottish shores that we are demanding be subject to a full
investigation.
“The Chamber of Shipping is
supposed to support our industry not line up with those who seek
to bend the rules and who use every opportunity to exploit
foreign workers at the expense of British jobs.”
Maritime union RMT today
joined forces with sister union Nautilus to demand that Home
Secretary Theresa May take urgent action to clampdown on work
permit abuses by ship owners that are denying British workers
jobs while exploiting foreign crew.
The demand is based on the
super exploitation by Streamline who operate the Cyprus flagged
Daroja on the Aberdeen Kirkwall route with a wholly foreign crew
while many local seafarers are unable to find work. The unions
argue that the company are failing to comply with work permit
regulations in British waters.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow
said
'The abuse of the work permit
system in the names of profit and exploitation while denying
British seafarers jobs is a scandal and its time for the
government to stop spouting hot air and to start taking decisive
action."
Tyne and Wear Metro
RMT confirmed a 100% vote for
strike action in a dispute over the pay and conditions of
Churchill’s cleaners on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The result follows massive
"yes" votes for action by DB Regio staff over pay and by the
Metro Churchill cleaners over the victimisation and sacking of a
colleague.
Despite extensive talks and
pressure from the union, Churchill, following discussions with
their client DB Regio, has decided to offer no increase in basic
pay whatsoever and only a minimal and conditional increase in
conditions of service.
The union has totally rejected
the insulting non-offer to RMT members, many of whom are working
for minimum wage, on this essential part of the North East’s
transport network.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow
said:
“In the face of the insulting
zero pay offer from the company we have had no option but to
ballot for action in the battle to eliminate poverty pay and to
improve our member’s standard of living. Our members have now
voted 100% to strike in a magnificent show of unity and
determination.
“This fight is about securing
pay justice for the cleaners on Tyne and Wear Metro it's as
simple as that.
“RMT remains available for
talks and we are geared up to make the battle to stamp out
poverty pay in the North East a cornerstone of our national
campaign for pay justice for cleaners.”
NHS
From Terry Pearce Chair -
Defend Our Community Services:
We have won a partial victory
in our fight to keep Heatherwood Hospital open; whilst there are
more questions than answers, by mobilising public opinion we
have forced the local NHS bosses to rethink their plan to close
the hospital. 12 months ago it was planned to close the hospital
and sell off the land; with 20,000 names on our petition and
following a series of marches, meetings and lobbies, etc, we
have won round 1. The fight continues to ensure we have an NHS
hospital on the site, no PFI, no privatisation/part
privatisation, etc.
DIARY
26 May
How Do We Break Workfare?
National Conference
11:00am until 5:00pm The
Railway Club (just off Dyke Road), Brighton
Invitation to campaigns, trade
unions, voluntary groups & all who oppose workfare!
28 May – Day of action on McNulty Report
– for details
http://bit.ly/JynF0V
31 May
-
Rail unions
and trades councils are holding the following public meetings
opposing the Government’s proposed cuts to jobs and services in
the rail industry
Andover
7.30pm – Andover Guild Hall, High Street, Andover
Battersea &
Wandsworth 6.30pm – The Bread & Roses, 68 Clapham Street
Barnstaple
7.00pm – Castle Centre, Barnstaple, EX31 1DR
Blackburn
7.30pm – Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall Street, BB2 1AG
Bristol
7.00pm – Council House, College Green, Bristol
Cardiff
7.00pm – Unite Offices, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SD
Liverpool
7.00pm – Unite Offices, Jack Jones House, 2 Churchill Way,
Liverpool, L3 8EF
Southend
7.30pm – Southend Central Library, Victoria Avenue, SS2 6EX
01June-
Protest outside Hospitality & Tourism Summit:
Called by hotel workers’
branch of Unite in support of London Living Wage,
InterContinental London Hotel, Park Lane
INTERNATIONAL
John Carlos, one of the most
inspirational of all Olympians, has arrived in the United
Kingdom for a rare speaking tour.
The American sprinter who in
1968 participated with teammate Tommie Smith in the black-gloved
salute on the Olympic winners' podium at Mexico City that has
become one of the most iconic moments in sporting history – will
appear in conversation at a number of venues with the journalist
Dave Zirin. Zirin recently co-authored a biography of the
runner, The John Carlos Story. Dates for the tour are as
follows:
Friday May 25 – FACT,
Liverpool
Sunday May 27 – Bongo Club,
Edinburgh
Tuesday May 29 – Picture
House, Stratford East
Wednesday May 30 – Gate
Cinema, Notting Hill (9pm GMT)
All events start at 6.30pm,
except the last, which starts at 9pm.
Spain: Miners’ protests
http://on.msnbc.com/JrPOtS
Quebec: Mass student strike
passes 100th day
http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/5768
