Unite Viewpoint

Victory for Workers at Republic Windows & Doors, Chicago.

2008-12-12T16:13:00Z

Over the past few days the labour movement in the USA has been gripped by the unfolding events at a sit -in at company in Chicago, Republic Windows & Doors. The workers, members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America refused to leave the building when they were told that the Bank of America had pulled the plug on the company leaving the staff with no pay, holiday pay, health care or redundancy payments (sounds familiar!). They occupied the factory and recieved national support, including support at a national press conference from President elect Obama. A deal was hammered out between the union, the company and the bank to ensure that the workers recieved their entitlements. This may not seem much but it is being hailed in the USA, as a major victory - and a fightback - with other workers and community groups rallying round the union members who were prepared to stand up for their rights. Google Republic Windows for news items - there is a good report to the background to the dispute in the LA Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-worker-sit-in9-2008dec09,0,7863346.story

Unite secure union recogntion at Kolorcraft, Yorkshire.

2008-12-12T15:59:00Z

Unite has secured recognition at Kolorcraft, one of the leading names in design and production of in-store communication material. After a number of union meetings with Unite members it became clear that there were serious issues in the workplace, such as being forced to work overtime, lack of training and failure of the company to pay annual pay rises. With this recognition agreement union members now have the framework in place to start negotiating with the company on issues that matter to them. Steve Hart, Unite Regional Officer, said: "This is a great result for Unite and the employees at Kolorcraft. There is still work to do in recruiting across the site, but we now have the agreements to ensure union members and future members are protected. "Without the assistance, commitment and doggedness of all our members, the internal pressures that were asserted by management could have led to the demise of the bargaining unit. Our members now have the framework in place to start negotiating with the company on issues that matter to them. We now look forward to working with the company to benefit all concerned." Well done to our members at the company and to Steve Hart in Leeds for doing a great job. A bit of good news amongst the bad news now pouring forth from the print and packaging industry.

ICEM Pulp & Paper Conference Report

2008-12-12T13:30:00Z

ICEM Pulp/Paper Conference in Uruguay Focuses on 2009 Collective Negotiations Some 125 trade union leaders from the pulp and paper sector of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM) have concluded deliberations in Uruguay toward shaping strategies for the sector. In the final session of day two of the 8-10 December conference in Piriápolis yesterday, delegates from 35 countries embarked on a four-point work plan focusing on national collective bargaining schedules in 2009. Delegates received a thorough mapping of the different trade unions representing pulp and paper workers in the sprawling Brazilian pulp and paper sector, as well as those in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Day two also featured a trade union panel that probed the consequences on workers of the current global recession. The theme of the conference is “North Meets South: Global Unity, Global Strength,” and ICEM Pulp and Paper Chairman Jouko Ahonen said networking between trade unions of the North and the burgeoning South – even with project curtailments brought on by the sudden economic collapse – is essential. “This strategic plan is ambitious and we did get commitment that unions in South America, Asia, and the traditional pulp and paper-producing of the North will come together to forge common a programme,” said Ahonen, who serves the ICEM sector as President of Paperiliitto Union of Finland. The work plan, which can be found here, centers on establishment of a global communications and support network for the many national unions that have bargains in 2009. Sector-wide negotiations will occur in the Nordic countries, as well as eastern Canada and several European countries. Major agreements also come due at mills in Australia, the US, and Argentina and union leaders pledged to monitor talks and take global action when requested. The work plan also addresses strategies aimed at renewal talks of Global Framework Agreements with Norske Skog of Norway and SCA of Sweden, which occur in 2009. And in line with the conference’s theme, the plan includes intensive work toward greater harmony and association between trade unions inside Brazil, together with unions in the other Mercosur countries of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. That effort will occur through a proposed project undertaken by Finnish trade unions of the sector and the global solidarity arm SASK, part of Finland’s national labour centre. On Monday, 8 December, delegates heard presentations from Ilkka Hämälä, President and CEO of Metsa-Botniä Oy, and Jeronimo Ruiz, Director of Pulp and Paper for BRACELPA in São Paulo State and also the head of Collective Bargaining for Brazil’s employers’ association. Workers’ representatives queried the industry leaders on the delivered cost of pulp from the South to the North, and on wood supply issues. The conference also heard on day one from Uruguay Industry and Energy Minister Daniel Martinez and Labour and Social Security Minister Eduardo Bonomi. Both spoke on issues related to the country’s developing pulp and forestry sectors, and efforts by the left-leaning government to balance environmental and social standards of common Uruguayans with that agenda. The three-day ICEM forum was preceded by a two-day conference, 6-7 December, on forest certification programmes sponsored by the global union federation, Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI). Delegates to the ICEM conference also stepped out of their sector and passed a resolution moved by Workers Uniting (Unite & USW) supporting American trade unionists of affiliated union United Electrical, Radio, Machine Workers (UE) for its occupation of the shuttered Republic Windows and Doors factory in Chicago. The dispute was successully won by the union - and represents a step forward for the trade union movement in the USA. The resolution specifically commended US President-Elect Barack Obama for his published support of the action. The resolution can be found here. The 20-million-member ICEM, the dominant global union federation representing workers in the pulp, paper, and paper converting sector, represents 467 affiliated trade unions in 132 countries on the global level.

Latest Unite GPM Sector e-bulletin - 29 + Unite update

2008-12-12T13:27:00Z

Click on the link for new Unite GPM Sector e-bulletin issue 29 http://newsweaver.co.uk/unite/index000323958.cfm?x=bdQyM1p,bbdnCvmM and also latest update from Unite http://newsweaver.co.uk/unite/index000324709.cfm?x=bdR2Nd4,b4DSkR95

G20 Crisis Summit - A Trade Union Declaration

2008-11-15T19:08:00Z

Worthwhile reading... A Trade Union Statement To the G20 Crisis Summit in Washington - The Washington Declaration. http://casinocrash.org/?p=506

Job losses, Proskills Awards and UTV.

2008-11-14T19:08:00Z

More job losses again this week across the board - in manufacturing, services, finance, everywhere are the recession bites. In the Unite GPM sector besides the big job losses announced in the papermaking sector in Scotland last month we are facing job more losses in commercial print notably this week at Cooper Clegg. Regional officers are reporting that some companies are just going bust because banks will not help them through short term cash flow problems. We have now set up a "recession database" to log job losses, closures. In the GPM sector, regional officers of the union have been sent survey forms to notify us of proposed job losses in the sector in advance and to help us campaign and lobby the government to help those facing unemployment, help families who are being hammered by the recession. Interestingly at the at the Proskills Apprentice Awards this week the word was those companies that do train and invest in their workforces are better placed to survive the recession - and once again it was highligted by the CEO of Proskills the lack of take up of training funds in some sectors of Proskills by employers. Proskills covers Print, Paper, Extractives, Coatings, Quarries, Furniture and Glass. Unite proudly sponsored The Young Achiever of The Year Award - which gets us welcome and positive publicity and it was interesting to talk to a wide range of training professionals, the apprentices and nominees and managers about training. Bernard Rutter the union's Sector Skills Co-ordinator was on hand to present the award. Disappointly the print apprentices nominated failed to win Aprrentice and Advanced Apprentice of the Year Awards, but they did well to win "highly commended" certificates. Maybe next year! Finally the latest Episode of Unite TV is now available at http://www.amicustheunion.org/default.aspx?page=9606

Unite GPM Sector e-bulletin 28 now available

2008-11-12T13:00:00Z

Latest Unite GPM Sector e-bulletin http://newsweaver.co.uk/unite/index000315353.cfm?x=bdGRJf2,bbdnCvmM

Obama - it was the unions what won it.

2008-11-08T17:07:00Z

Sorry to paraphrase the Sun from a few years back, but here is something to think about... President-elect Obama's "broad church", appealing to a coalition of working families, women, ethnic minorities, young people, union members and the beleaguered middle classes along with the fallout from the financial crisis is credited with his historic victory. However, data from polling in the US presidential election shows just how big an influence US unions had on the result and turnout. According to AFL-CIO research union voters supported President-elect Obama 67% to 30% over John McCain. In the main battleground states the difference was even more stark, with union members going for Obama 69% to 28% - a massive 41 point margin. While McCain won among voters aged 65 and over, active and retired union members aged 65 and over went for Obama by a 46-point margin. And while McCain won among armed forces veterans, veterans who were union members went for Obama by a 25 point margin. Members of the AFL-CIO and community umbrella organisation, 'Working America' who concentrated on the key marginal states, supported Obama by 67% to 30 % and 60% of union members and 56% of 'Working America' members said the economy was a "top issue". Statistics also show that union members received substantial contact from their unions during the election, with more than 80% receiving union mail, more than 80% receiving union publications, 59% getting live phone calls and 32% getting worksite flyers. In Midwestern states, where unions are at their strongest, and where George W. Bush had previously come close to winning and McCain campaigned hard, union support helped put votes solidly in Obama’s column. Obama won by 13 points in Wisconsin; 16 points in Michigan; 10 points in Minnesota and 11 points in Pennsylvania as well as helping win swing states such as Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan and Florida. According to the AFL-CIO more than 250,000 union volunteers devoted their time and energy to working for an Obama victory and getting out the vote. This included some 10 million door knocks, 70 million phone calls, 27 million worksite flyers and 57 million union mail pieces made the difference in races from the White House to state legislatures. The AFL-CIO says that 75% of union members say Obama’s victory gives him a mandate to make major change and 81% support the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give US unions the right to secure union recognition based on a membership card check. The Employee Free Choice Act, which would require employers to recognise unions once a majority of workers sign cards of support, is being fiercely opposed by big business. The current NLRB system is widely discredited and open to widespread abuse by employers and union busters. The battle over the EFC Act will be an early test of Obama's presidency. Obama strongly endorsed the legislation, saying it was an overdue effort to raise the standard of living for the nation's working class. But business leaders are already stepping up their campaign against the change in legislation, arguing that it would put "new burdens on business". We seem to have heard that somewhere before! US big business also opposes a provision that would allow a mediator to impose a contract settlement in cases where a union and management cannot agree on a deal within 120 days - a provision business leaders say will benefit unions. US union leaders will also push Obama to move quickly to stimulate the US economy by extending unemployment benefits, broadening the food stamp programme, investing in infrastructure, and making grants to state and local governments, which have been hard hit by revenue losses from the economic downturn. They are also looking to broaden the availability of healthcare and eventually increase taxes for top income earners as a way of countering the income inequality that has accelerated in the past decade. Which ever way you look at it, much of President-elect Obama's success was down to the support and sheer hard graft put in by US unions and their members.

Unite research shows drop in HSE injury investigation levels

2008-11-07T11:39:00Z

New research published by Unite, shows investigation levels into major injuries to workers have declined by 43 per cent between 2001/2 and 2006/7. In 2006/7, the last year when statistics are available, only 10.5 per cent of major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were investigated. The research, undertaken by the Centre for Corporate Accountability for Unite, also shows that in the same five year period there has been a 69 per cent reduction in the number of worker 'over-three day' injuries investigated, a 31 per cent decline in the number of 'dangerous occurrences' investigated, and a 68 per cent decline in the number of members of the public injuries investigated. The issue of investigation levels - the central concern of the report - is crucial, because unless the HSE investigates an incident, it cannot know whether the injury or dangerous occurrence was caused by a health and safety failure. Therefore, a decision not to investigate can result in failures both in relation to prevention and in securing criminal accountability. Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary, said: "This report highlights the need for the government to address the problem accordingly and admit that the HSE needs more money, more resources, and more inspectors. We believe the most fundamental right for workers is that they return home from work to their families, healthy and safe. "The significant reductions in the level of investigations and prosecutions together with less HSE inspectors, goes to the heart of the question of levels of adequate HSE resources. "Unite activists are bearing the strain caused by such low levels of operating inspectors, and they are continually expected to police their own workplaces. However, they are doing a great job, reducing accident rates by half compared to non-unionised workplaces. Unite will continue the campaign to secure new and improved legal rights for safety reps." The research shows that there were significant variations in investigation levels between sectors. In 2006/7 the level of investigation ranged from 24.5 per cent in the agricultural sector to 5.3 per cent in the services sector. In the construction sector, the sector with the most number of reported deaths, only 14.1 per cent of major injuries were investigated, a reduction from 20 per cent six years earlier There was also significant variation in different regions. In 2006/7, the level of investigation ranged from 14 per cent in Scotland to 5.3 per cent in London. A full copy of the Unite report can be downloaded from the Unite website, visit: http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=9530 Employers and others have an obligation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences 1995 (RIDDOR 95) to report certain kinds of injuries and incidents either to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or to local authorities. The analysis in the Unite report only relates to those incidents reported to the HSE - that is to say injuries and dangerous occurrences relating to the construction, manufacturing, agricultural, energy and mining sectors - as well as a certain segment of service sector injuries. The injuries reported to the HSE in fact only represent a proportion of the total number of injuries that actually take place. The HSE acknowledge that 'non-fatal injuries are substantially under-reported,' estimating that 'just under half of all such injuries to employees are actually reported, with the self-employed reporting a much smaller proportion'. The most recent research suggests that 41 per cent of major injuries and 25 per cent of over three day injuries are reported. There is no data on the level of under-reporting of dangerous occurrences and injuries to members of the public. Both are likely to be significantly under-reported, for details visit: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr528.pdf This under-reporting needs to be kept in mind since it means that the percentage of actual major injuries investigated is around 40 per cent of the level set out in this report (so, rather than 10.5 per cent of major injuries to workers being investigated, only about 4 per cent are actually investigated) and the level of over-three day injuries is 25 per cent of the level set out in this report (so rather than 2 per cent, it would be about 0.5 per cent).

Tony Dubbins - "Giant of the trade union movement retires"

2008-10-31T07:21:00Z

Tony Dubbins former leader of the GPMU and Deputy General Secretary of Unite retires on 31st October. Tony Dubbins has been a dominant figure in the Trade Union movement for over two generations. Tony's stature has been built not simply by his reputation as a negotiator, but by his leadership during some of the crucial moments in modern trade union history, when he demonstrated the best attributes of strength, unity and solidarity. Tony first became a full time union official in the National Graphical Association in the Chiltern & Thames Valley branch, before becoming the NGA’s Assistant General Secretary in the late 1970s. Tony succeeded Joe Wade as General Secretary of the NGA in 1984 and so has been a General Secretary for 24 years. The early 1980's saw the start of the Thatcher attacks on the unions, and the print workers bore the brunt of these, with Tony at the forefront of the fight back. In the Eddie Shah/Stockport Messenger dispute in Warrington, the new Tory laws were used for the first time against trade unions. During this dispute the NGA faced sequestration of its assets in defence of its members and he also lead the fight against Rupert Murdoch at Wapping. Tony led those battles and it is an irony that last month Wapping closed for the last time: Tony Dubbins has outlived it! He was also hugely supportive of other unions. During the 1984-85 miners strike, the NGA, and Tony in particular, gave crucial assistance, a fact still acknowledged today by our brothers and sisters in the NUM. In a precursor to later merger strategies, Tony brought together many of the smaller printing craft unions and then merged with SOGAT in 1990 to form one union for the graphical and paper trades. He won the subsequent election against Brenda Dean to become the first - and only - General Secretary of the GPMU. He was President of the TUC in 1997 and is the longest serving member of the General Council and TUC Executive Committee, so much that if he didn't retire soon it would be his turn for President again! His experiences in the print industry in the 1980's made him an expert on employment laws and at the TUC it became a tradition that Tony would always move the main motion, on employment rights. He was also, a member of the ACAS Council as well as being the TUC's lead spokesperson on Training. Tony promoted international trade unionism too. He was President of Uni Europa Graphical, a member of the European TUC Executive and helped build the International Graphical Federation to strengthen ties with sister unions throughout the world, but in particular in Scandinavia, Germany, Africa and North America. He was instrumental in ensuring the union had a base in Brussels during the 1990s to lobby the European parliament and influence EU legislation and he developed a strong political base for the union in Westminster, developing a group of Labour MP's that ensured the union "punched above its weight". He was a major figure within the printing industry, leading national pay campaigns in the late 1970s and in the early 1990s with the BPIF. He was the union's lead negotiator for many years with the British Printing Industries Federation, the Scottish Print Industries Federation and his support for improving print workers pay and conditions is legendary. He always listened to the views of members no matter where they worked, recognising that the bulk of the print unions' members worked in small and medium sized companies. In addition he promoted the printing industry in particular, with his support for better learning & skills for members, the importance of unions maintaining an influences at all levels in the industry and was instrumental in setting up Vision In Print and the modernised national agreements. Tony recognised that technological developments would effect print union members, and he worked tirelessly to reach new technology agreements with newspaper employers and other unions in particular - and following the election of a Labour Government in 1997, he worked to re-establish union recognition in the newspaper industry. Following the GPMU's merger with Amicus in 2004 as Deputy General Secretary of the union he led the unions' political work through TULO, and building on the success of the Big 4 he held the trade unions together at Warwick prior to the 2005 General Election. He has been harrying the government ever since on delivery, and has been leading again on Warwick 2. When Unite agreed to run a candidate in Labour's Deputy Leader election, it was Tony who came up with the name of Jon Cruddas and tirelessly promoted him across the unions and the party, almost securing victory but seeing off three cabinet ministers in the process. Tony is a person to whom you always look to first for advice. He is a strategic thinker and negotiator as well as being a giant of the trade union movement, not only in the UK, but in Europe and the world. He provided leadership from the front - in the toughest of times. He has been a good friend to all our officers and members - a true comrade and an inspirational leader, and his retirement will leave a huge hole in our union and sister unions throughout the world. Tony is also a keen West Ham supporter! On behalf of all Unite members, officers and staff, print workers and the trade union movement we pay tribute to Tony Dubbins, we recognise with gratitude his achievements, wish him a long and happy retirement.

Yet Another Bad Week For The Papermaking Sector

2008-10-24T18:17:00Z

Following on from the announcement of the potential closure of Cutris Fine Paper, global papermaker, International Paper had announced to their workforce that the IP Aberdeen site is "at risk" and has started 90 days consultation of possible closure. They have also declared job losses in the USA in paper and box making sites our comrades in Workers Uniting (USW) have advised us. The news came out of the blue and Unite members and their families were shocked at the news. This is bleak news for the UK's paper industry, for manufacturing in Scotland and in the UK in general. Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond, in whose constiuency the plant sits has visited the site and pledged his support to see if a buyer can be found. Unite reps at the site are understandably bewildered at the news. These are 400 skilled jobs that are at risk and Unite is pledging we will do all we can to try to reverse the decision, to save jobs and support our members and their families. In a statement to the local press yestrday evening I said: it was “understandable” that people may be thinking about looking for other work, but insisted all hope was not lost. “I can understand how people would consider vacancies in their local area, but clearly there’s no deal done yet on either a rescue package or a redundancy package,” he added. “Our policy is to try to save the mill and create jobs at the Inverurie site.” IP are saying that there are many factors which had contributed to the mill’s demise, including soaring energy, fuel and raw material prices. Energy costs for the firm have trebled in the past 12 months. Transport costs have risen by a quarter. Some costs for raw materials have increased by up to 100%.

Vote For LabourStart Labour Photo of The Year.

2008-10-19T17:20:00Z

LabourStart, one of the best sites on the web providing daily news updates on the trade union and labour movement from around the world is running its Labour Photo Of The Year competition. To take part and vote check out: http://www.labourstart.org/lpoty/

Fatality at St. Ives Peterborough

2008-10-11T09:18:00Z

Like many in the printing industry I was shocked to learn of the death of Unite member, Ian Ebbs, aged 43, a manitainance engineer at St. Ives' plant at Peterborough, who was fataly injured at work last week. As yet we do not know the details of the circumstances of Ian's death and obviously we cannot comment until our Health & Safety specialists have visited the plant and met with our FOCs and the company. Unite regional officers have been sent a brief update on the situation from Bud Hudspith. We hope to issue advice to members working on similar presses next week. Our condolences, prayers and support goes out to Ian's family at this most difficult time.

Roll On The Day Of Reckoning....

2008-10-11T09:12:00Z

Watching TV is difficult when you are on holiday! Last week in sunny Cyprus I could only snatch chances to watch the BBC world news or Sky News either in the morning or early evening to catch up with the unfolding global financial crisis as bank by bank went into freefall and had to be rescued. There have been countless pundits expressing their views on what it all means and where will it lead us – the best so far has been Paul Mason and Michael Crick on Newsnight notably last night. (Friday). Mason’s BBC blog is a mine of information and updated daily at present. Derek Simpson, joint GS of Unite, welcomed Gordon Brown’s intervention but warned that” "The union is demanding that this financial support is tied to clear commitments to secure vital jobs in the financial services sector. The Government finance must serve to make the industry more transparent and accountable." Derek went onto say it was not acceptable for the Government to continue to capitalise the rewards in the finance industry and said measures should be extended to include undertakings by the banks of no job losses, no repossessions of homes and no rewards for "failure". He added: "It is imperative that the financial measures announced today mark the turning point in the world of banking and finance. Workers in the financial services industry are not the culprits of the credit crunch and we are not prepared to allow them to become the victims." Dead right. I think Gordon Brown has done as much as possible to “steady the ship” but to little avail at present – and like many – I wonder when “the day of reckoning” will come (if at all!) for the people who got us here. I don’t think many people believe or are fooled either by the Cameron/Osbourne line of the “no big bonuses anymore” and “heads must roll” sound bites. Their mates in the City know that this is all bluster. Also Osbourne using the phrase ‘Casino Capitalism’ was interesting – it was a phrase used earlier this year in the Morning Star (and I think by myself in Print Week) when the debate was raging about Private Equity. Don’t recall him using the phrase back then or calling for an end to big bonuses! The big worry is the effect on jobs, on our members and their families. In manufacturing and in print and media there is no doubt that there will be an effect in investment and on companies seeking loans for new kit or to tide them over the current crisis. Pagination in magazines is already dropping as publishers cut back on adverts, direct mail and new launches. Some companies who have been in difficulty some time before the current crisis could possibly go under – it was sad for me to learn yesterday of the situation at a company I know well, Buckley & Blands in Stockport (now called TPS) – it has been there forever! Everyone seems to agree that much tighter regulation is essential and is going to happen – it can’t come quick enough for me. And yet the TV is still has pundits and City based Hooray Henry’s saying that the market cannot be regulated and what is needed is a “light touch”. Over the last few weeks we have all learned a lot about what has been going on and where a "light touch" has got us - short selling: toxic debt; self cert mortgages; buy to let mortgages: bets made on falling shares that have sunk decent companies, share swops and other get rich quick schemes which appear to be nothing but pyramid selling, run by people who have already costs thousands of working families their jobs through sheer greed and an unregulated market. Nye Bevan’s phrase of “organized spivery” springs to mind. Many of these schemes would not be out of place on BBC 3’s The Real Hustle! Roll on the day of reckoning in both the UK and the USA.

New website to campaign against recent ECJ Rulings

2008-10-09T15:31:00Z

A new website has been launched, assembled and supported by Unite which gives details of the recent ECJ rulings, news items, comment, a discussion forum all related to the ECJ rulings on Laval, Viking, Rüffert and Luxembourg. And you can sign the on-line petition. Should 1 million signatures be gathered, then the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament, will pass it on to the European Commission, so that proper action is taken. So, please send the link to your colleagues and encourage them to sign the petition or post the url on your networking, websites and blogsites! http://www.amicustheunion.org/lavalvikingruffert/default.aspx