Unite stopped a Tory majority government From the Guardian...... In the many inquests into the Labour defeat, the one inside Unite will be specially worthwhile, more than £2m worthwile, roughly the amount the union spent to fund the Labour campaign. Unite will be asking itself whether it got value for money and whether all its own unprecedented hard work, including for the the first time, the serious use of telephone canvassing of its members, had any impact. This weekend the Unite political committee is looking at Unite's summary of the election, and whether the union's activism had any impact. The report admits "we would have liked to have said it was Unite wot won it, but we did not". But it does claim Unite did play a role in preventing a wipe-out, and may even have stopped the Tories winning an overall majority. Unite identified 84 key seats on the basis of its membership concentrations, and the size of the majority being defended. This usually, though not exclusively, meant the Unite membership in the key seats exceeded the majority being defended, an opinion the Labour interim leader Harriet Harman incidentally endorsed at a private meeting with union leaders this week. The results in these 84 seats were Conservative 56, Labour 25, Liberal Democrat 2, and Green 1. The Unite campaign in the key seats, the report says "was based on the successful member-to-member approach pioneered by our sister union the United Steelworkers. In essence, it meant we contacted all our members in the seats we identified as key for Unite and the Labour Party to find out their voting history and intentions and key issues to build a dialogue with them ahead of the General Election. "The means of communication were direct mails, emails and telephone calls through the virtual phone bank set up on the dedicated election website www.Unite4Labour.org "The key seats were identified principally on the basis of comparing the parliamentary majorities being defended by Labour with the Unite membership in each seat." The report claims " The final figure for strong Labour support amongst Unite members in those seats was 60 per cent. We know this figure to be accurate as it is based on the returns from our survey forms and the phone bank information. In the 25 Unite key seats held by Labour the average majority on May 6 was 2,870 compared to 2,974 in 2005. This represents a fall of just over 3 % which compares well with the national swing against Labour. Labour's victory in these seats effectively deprived the Tories of an overall majority. "Of the 56 seats gained by the Tories the Liberal Democrat vote proved to be a significant barrier to Labour winning with that party's vote exceeding the Tory majority over Labour. It was only in three seats, where the Tory majority was less than the Liberal Democrat vote. "Looking more closely at the top 10 key seats the average majority for Labour was 725 compared to an average of 2,903 in 2005. The average Unite membership in those seats was 2,441. Assuming 60 per cent of them voted Labour the 1,464 resulting average Labour vote per seat secured the majority for Labour by a factor of 2:1." All this is self-evidently a pretty rough and not entirely ready analysis, but for those that say unions are now an organisational and political negative for Labour, these figures represent a challenge. The scale of the unon's activity is also impressive. The union claims it sent over 1.9m letters from the union nationally and 2.5m emails. Over 51,800 phone calls were made through the Unite phone bank operation which is an average of over 1,100 calls per key seat. "In the top 10 key seats over 219,000 direct mails were sent out and over 307,000 emails. In the most marginal seat of Hampstead and Kilburn, held by Labour with a majority of 42, over 18,000 direct mails were sent out, 19,000 emails and a contact rate of nearly 50 per cent was achieved on the phone bank to the nearly 1300 Unite members in the seat". Glenda Jackson, let Unite take a bow. In Islington South 1,853 calls were made to Unite members and 1,585 in Poplar. Both seats saw increased Labour majorities. In Birmingham Edgbaston, the seat synonymous with the Labour victory in 1997, and thereafter regarded as crucial to Labour's fortunes, Unite sent out 8 direct mails and 13 emails from October last year representing some 40,000 pieces of communication in total. All this, in turn, may influence the way the union approaches future elections, including the Labour leadership contest. In the past, union executives have tended to pronounce from on high that they support one candidate or another, before unions stuff a recommendation to this effect along with Labour's ballot paper, a recommendation that is then largely ignored. But the Labour general secretary Ray Collins is even challenging the right of union leaderships to do this in the current leadership ballot. This is going down like a lead balloon with the unions, but if Unite high-ups do decide to back someone in the leadership election - and it then puts its phone bank resources behind that candidate - Unite could have some serious influence in the election.

Workers' Memorial Day - Wednesday 28th April 2010 Each year, on April 28th trade unionists and workplace health and safety campaigners all over the world focus on the issue of workers' health and safety. The day is the anniversary of the creation of the US and Canadian occupational safety and health administrations. It has been a global day of action since 1996 when it was taken up by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, and it is now marked every year in more than 100 countries. Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: ”In the UK alone some estimates put deaths from work-related diseases at about 50,000 a year. And if you add over a thousand further deaths from work-related driving and hundreds from accidents, the overall picture for our workers is horrendous. ”Unite is determined those deaths will not go unnoticed and that Workers’ Memorial Day is in the minds of every family in Britain. With our aim of a global union we will continue to campaign for this day to be recognised across the globe, as two million of our fellow workers are killed every year worldwide. ”We do welcome the government’s support, and with an election coming up we want workplace safety and health firmly on the politicians’ agenda. ”Unless a Labour government is returned, we face deregulation, fewer health and safety inspectors, greater self-auditing of health and safety compliance by employers, and employers stopping inspectors entering their premises.”   Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said: ”We want to encourage Unite members to take part in Workers’ Memorial Day activities in their area and for their employers to recognise the day - to remember the dead and fight for the living.   ”Unite members’ many planned activities include organising services of remembrance and the laying of wreaths, holding a minute’s silence, and participating in health and safety workshops, and conferences and rallies. ”This is the first year where Workers’ Memorial Day has official government recognition in the UK, something we have been campaigning for, and which we strongly welcome. ”Published statistics underestimate the true picture. Health and safety would be taken far more seriously if the public were fully aware of the real scale of deaths and injuries. Safety and health standards are far higher within union organised workplaces than those that have no union influence.”   More details and the growing list of events can be found on the TUC website.    Details of events organised by Unite members can be found on Unite's events pages.  Conservative Health & Safety Plans - "Like The X Factor" - Tony Burke The Conservative plans for Health And Safety are "frightening". For industries such as printing, packaging and papermaking, where we have had fatalities and serious injuries, the Conservative proposals are appalling and will put our members at risk. The Tories are proposing to replace proper health and safety laws with "tick box de-regulation" with certain businesses allowed to carry out their own health and safety audits. They propose to allow firms to be able to arrange their own externally audited inspections and if they pass would be able to refuse entry to inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive. They are also proposing a system of where any new regulation must include cuts in old safety laws, to produce a reduction in safety regulations. There is even a proposal to scrap the 10 ‘most hated' regulations nominated by the public. How can we have workers health and safety at work regulated as if it was part of the X Factor? Their policies on health and safety are half-baked and based on half truths and urban myths. Over a quarter of a million people were injured at work last year, sadly for some their families never saw them alive again. We have good health and safety policies in our agreements with major employers and decent companies have nothing to fear from the current health and safety laws. These Conservative policies are designed to cut corners not red tape!

Strikes Shut Down Swedish Papermills - More To Come Warns Union The Swedish Paper Workers Union Svenska Pappers have carried out its threat to call for a total stoppage of work at six Swedish pulp and paper mills. The strikes were called on the morning of April 16th after marathon talks to avert the strike failed. Discussions were held between the union and the employers earlier, this week however 3,000 paper workers at mills in Sweden are on strike and the production at the mills has come to a complete standstill. The mills affected by the strike are Södra Cell Värö; Billerud Skärblacka; Stora Enso Skoghall; Korsnäs Gävle; Iggesund and SCA Munksund. The total costs for the strikes will be high say paper industry experts – estimates are the cost to employers of between 50 and 100 million Kronor per day. Pappers, has also stepped up its action, serving notice of strikes at six more mills, if no collective agreement can be reached between the union and Swedish Forest Industries Federation, the employers’ organization. The six new mills served notice are Smurfit-Kappa Kraftliner Piteå; SCA Obbola; Korsnäs Frövi; Stora Enso Fors; Billerud Gruvön and Södra Cell Mönsterås. These strikes will come into force on April 26th. Pappers has also given notice of strike at Waggeryd Cell pulp mill, as the mill has – according to Pappers – broken the overtime ban, which was implemented by the union on April 12th. The six additional mills employ 2,800 Pappers members. The central issues at stake are pay and ensuring that Swedish paperworkers receive a 2010 salary increase backdated to 1st April, the date of a priod three-year contract expiration; items related to a pension scheme; an adequate increase for the lowest paid workers in the industry; and an assurance on union consultation when temporary workers or labour agencies are used for employment. Pappers union members are being supported by unions worldwide, with messages of support and solidarity being sent from UK Unite paper mill and print chapels; United Steelworkers locals, Workers Uniting, Union Network International, the International Chemical Workers, The International Metal Workers and many print and paper unions from around the world.

Tony Burke – Speech at TUC Apprentice Conference – 16 April 2010 First of all, many thanks for the invitation to speak today. The question of apprenticeships along with the future skills needs of our Country is a very important one and very important to our Union, Unite. As a Union with membership in almost every sector the UK economy and particularly in manufacturing, the public services, construction and the service sector, the well being of those sectors depends very much on having a well trained, highly skilled and a highly motivated workforce, where workers are well rewarded and feel they are making a real contribution. Unite has welcomed the Government’s initiative on apprentices, particularly making apprenticeships a mainstream option for 16-18 year olds alongside other training and educational routes. Unite supports the policy that an apprenticeship place is available to all qualified young people by 2013. And we are not just talking about 16-18 year olds, we support the fact that we will need apprenticeships for older workers as well. One of the key issues for Unite however, is that not everybody shares our view about the importance of apprenticeships. For some parents who of course want the very best for their children, an apprenticeship is seen as a second best option to the academic route or a route into the professions. We are concerned that the careers service and some schools don’t always push young people in the direction of apprenticeships – particularly into the manufacturing sector. Unfortunately there is still a view that apprenticeships, particularly in manufacturing, are only on offer to 16 and 17 year olds wearing oversized overalls and working in “old industries”. Of course this isn’t the case. Manufacturing has been transformed and companies are now high tech with a range of skills that can be developed for the future and provide for stable and long term employment. And I would ask the question - What’s wrong being a skilled engineer, an electrician, a printer, a construction worker, an IT technician or working in the service sector? Unite sees apprenticeships as a major option for 16 to 18 year olds, sitting alongside other qualifications and we are ready to play our part in arguing strongly for a robust apprenticeship programme. I just want to quote the words of Sir Alex Ferguson who has been a champion of apprenticeships when he said - recalling his own days as an apprentice in the Glasgow Shipyards - “Apprenticeships were a comprehensive education which taught young people how to be part of a workforce. They in-still the values of excellence and quality in the workplace and served British industry well throughout the years.” Having completed my apprenticeship in the commercial printing industry in the early 1970’s, the skills I learnt enabled me to enjoy a decent standard of living and progress through other print companies and eventually retrain into new skills as technology changed. Of course one of the main problems now for manufacturing is that with job losses and lay-offs the skill base of the Country has been dissipated. We now have a disappearing skills base and if you take an area such as the West Midlands, the looming skills shortage will hamper the country’s recovery - we are convinced of that. I don’t know any employer or employer’s organisation who disagrees with the point that we will face a skills shortage in the near future and that is why we need to re-double our efforts to encourage talented young people to become apprentices in manufacturing and in other sectors. To those young people considering their futures I would say that an apprenticeship will make a difference to your life. We know that skilled workers are likely to stay in well paid employment, in safer jobs and will also have the opportunity to retrain as technology changes. To employers I would say skills are fundamental to helping your business become innovative and prosperous. A highly skilled workforce will bring you new business and greater competitiveness. • For the UK economy apprenticeships are vital – we need to up skill and do it urgently. • We need to match skills and the number of apprentices with the needs of the job market • We need to anticipate skill needs for individuals and for companies and we need to link education with the world of work. • The next few years will give us an opportunity to advance the apprenticeship and skills agenda. • We need confident, creative and innovative apprentices who want to learn new skills. • We need employers to recognise the need to take on more apprentices as an investment for the future and not an on-cost. Sadly, I am dismayed at the number of companies who see a pool of unemployed workers as the solution to their skill needs. We need to re-skill unemployed workers especially those with skills and not use them as a cheap alternative workforce and at the same time we need to replenish skilled workforce with bright young apprentices to ensure success for the future. This is the challenge that we face and I know it is a challenge that we can all rise to. But we need joined up thinking and the support of employers, Unions, educationalists and parents to do this. Thanks for listening.

The Swedish Paperworkers Union (Svenska Pappers) has begun industrial action at 62 pulp and paper mills over their national collective agreement. The industrial action includes a ban on all overtime and a plant blockade on contract and agency workers from coming into any mill to perform work. If the dispute is not resolved by 16 April, the union will begin selective strikes at six mills: Billerud Skarblacka (a kraft sulphate pulp mill that makes packaging and kraft papers, including flute papers); Holmen Braviken (a mechanical pulp mill that makes newsprint, and printing and writing papers); the Holmen Iggesund mill in Korsnas (a kraft sulphate pulp mill that produces boxbard/cartonboard); Stora Enso’s Skoghall Mill (a kraft, sulphate pulp mill making containerboard, boxboard, and white-top, mottled paperboard; SCA Packaging in Munksund (a kraft sulphate pulp mill making containerboard and kraft linerboard; and Sodra Cell Varo (a pulp mill). The union and Employers’ Industry Association (SFIF) met a three-panel paper industry mediation board but Pappers rejected the offer as it fell short of the union’s wage demands. The offer of a 22 month agreement with a 0.9% increase proposed for 1 June 2010, and 2.1% effective June 1, 2011. The contract expiration was 31 March 2010, and Pappers demands include that a wage increase above Swedish cost-of-living take effect on 1 April 2010. The cost-of-living in Sweden for first quarter 2010 exceeds 1%. Other issues include the retiree pension scheme, and the fact that employers are not willing to adjust upward the salaries of the lowest paid workers and they are also unwilling to give Pappers the same agreements regarding use of short-term contract workers and workers from employment agencies that other employers in other Swedish sectors have given unions. It is believed that the employers’ association considered lockouts on Pappers members at certain paper mills, however public opinion in Sweden is clearly on the side of the union.

Following a meeting between the BPIF Employers Negotiating Panel and Unite on 24th February, Unite were advised by the BPIF that they had been mandated by their Regional Boards not to make a pay offer in regard to the 2010 pay agreement. Unite's Negotiating Panel consisting of full-time officers and lay reps working within the industry, expressed their severe disappointment at this decision and described the BPIF’s position as “short sighted, unjustified and not in the best interests of the printing industry.” Unite’s Negotiating Panel said a recent survey of FOCs/MOCs working under the BPIF National Agreement had shown Unite members had made considerable sacrifices last year in many instances to assist their companies during very difficult times. Unite's panel advised the BPIF that their decision “would put the Partnership at Work Agreement at risk.” Unite agreed with the BPIF that some companies within the industry were reporting a more optimistic outlook for 2010 and that Unite members had contributed to the improvement in outlook within the industry. Unite also pointed out that their survey showed that there were companies within the industry who were taking advantage of the recession to alter Unite members working conditions to the detriment of the National Agreement and cited a number of examples in this regard. Unite advised the BPIF that they will not stand by and watch union members pay and conditions be further eroded. Unite intends to provide further advice and guidance to its members in the in the next few days.

United Digital http://www.thedigitalpublisher.co.uk/unitefeb2010 Unite GPM Sector e-bulletin http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/1hqoto9eaz0mwjja4htsjg?email=true

Over 250 workers have now been laid off and been made redundant by administrators Ernst & Young - who are now running the Bridgewater Paper Company Ltd, in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. A total of 251 out of 300 staff have now lost their jobs. The remaining 49 staff are working at the mill to fullfil orders. Unite has been working locally with the administrators, Andrew Miller, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston and the North West Development Agency to see if it possible to find a buyer. The site produced 220,000 tonnes of paper a year and sold both UK and Canadian produced paper. The parent company AbitibiBowater had been in difficulty for some time. In April 2009, US arm of AbitibiBowater filed for creditor protection after lenders refused a proposed debt restructuring plan. Last year the company announced that it and its US and Canadian subsidiaries had filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code and the Canadian equivalent. During this period we were in discussions with our US and Candian colleagues and we thought that Ellesmere Port would escape the worst. Its another hammer blow for manufacturing, for our members and their families in Ellesmere Port and for the UK paper sector.

Unite members narrowly accept papermaking agreement The industry-wide papermaking agreement between Unite and the CPI (Confederation of Paper Industries) of a 1% increase in all earnings has been accepted by a 52% majority of Unite members. Peter Ellis, Unite national officer, said: "The closeness of the vote reflects a large degree of dissatisfaction with the level of settlement. However, the fact that we had a majority in favour indicates that our members recognise the below zero RPI and the delicate state of the Paper Manufacturing Industry. I am confident that all conforming companies will be meeting the award in full and that we can look forward to a year of job stability." The Unite/CPI agreement covers 3,000 Unite members working in 18 different companies throughout the UK.

Worker Killed in Accident at International Paper In USA The International Paper manufacturing plant in Lynchburg was temporarily closed Friday after the death of a third-shift worker shortly after midnight. Jerry Wayne Evans, 39, of Forest, died at Lynchburg General Hospital from injuries he received in an accident at the plant. Lynchburg Fire Battalion Chief Greg Wormser said an industrial accident was reported at 12:15 a.m. Friday. Rescue workers arrived at the 3401 Mayflower Drive plant within a few minutes, he said. “From what I understand, somebody was trapped between two forklifts

Amongst all the doom and gloom, job losses, closures etc - not to mention the bad weather, the decision by UPM to invest £17m in a materials recovery plant at its Shotton paper mill in North Wales is more than welcome. Not only are the new jobs which will be created are very welcome, the recycling of "dry" recyclables - plastic bottles, board, newspapers, magazines and metals will give the mill a chance to source high-quality paper from "co-mingled sources". Construction of the site is estimated to be completed by January 2011. Once up and running at full capacity, 160 new jobs will be created. The plant will be able to handle 200,000 tonnes of recyclable material, with 120,000 tonnes will be newspapers and magazines. It is good news for Unite members in Shotton, for the local community and the commitment of the company to innovative and green investment is to be welcomed. Well done also to the Welsh Development Agency who helped with substantial grant!

Les Bayliss and Tony Burke, both assistant general secretaries of Unite the Union, officiated at the opening ceremony of the International Brigade Memorial Garden at the Marx Memorial Library in London. Les and Tony unveiled the statue of an International Brigade volunteer, previously on display at the Unite training centre in Quorn, Leicestershire. The statue and garden is a memorial to those print workers who fought in the Spanish civil war and against fascism in the second world war. Les told those attending the ceremony that both the Marx Memorial Library and the British trade union movement are powerfully linked to the Spanish civil war and the members of the International Brigade. "The unions and the British left realised the dangers and true nature of fascism long before anyone else", he said. "By trade, more printers went to fight in Spain than any other. Three of them - George Hardy, Leslie Maughan and Walter Tapsell - who gave their lives for democracy, are honoured in the memorial. "Many of their comrades in the brigade would soon be soldiers again - in World War II. It is, therefore, highly appropriate that this garden also bears the NATSOPA War Memorial as the struggle against fascism was part of one continuous battle, at home and abroad, which stretched from the attempted fascist coup in Madrid in July 1936 to the fall of Berlin in May 1945. "It is entirely fitting," Les added, "that Unite Graphical Paper and Media Sector has generously sponsored this garden and chosen to relocate the magnificent bronze statue of an International Brigade fighter within these walls. "Bill Alexander, commander of the British battalion and a member of our union, was the president of the library until his death. The brigade veterans left their archives to the library, in perpetuity, in 1975. Now, they are the finest source for the conflict in the British Isles. "Today, Unite honours a powerful anti-fascist tradition, but it also seeks to take these values forward as part of a left project at a time when fascism once again rears its ugly head on our streets. "Unite recalls the sacrifice of the brigaders, their faith in the British working class, in their Spanish comrades, and in their belief in the eventual triumph of political and industrial democracy. We salute those comrades and their ideals." Tony Burke told the gathering that print workers in Unite were delighted that the Marx Memorial Library had agreed to house the archives of the print and paper unions in 2009. "We are as equally pleased that the memorial to those print union members who fought and died fighting fascism in Spain is now housed with the historic collection at Marx House. "We would want Unite members, and trade unionists and printers, to visit the archive and also spend a few moments at the memorial to remember those brave printers who risked and gave their lives as members of the International Brigade and fought against fascism. We will always recall that 'freedom was never held, without a fight, without struggle there can be no victory'!"

The 30th year rule has turned up this interesting historical artifact. Lifted from Press Gazette but covered extensively in the media. Eric Moonman was, as the article says, the NGA's sole sponsored MP and his intervention would almost certainly have been prompted by the union's senior officers, Joe Wade and Les Dixon. The Times dispute was in fact a "lock out" after the Thomson Organisation suspended publication of its Times titles (Times, Sunday Times, Supplements). The dispute was about the use of new technology and working practices. It lasted ten months and a deal was struck between the NGA and Thomson's for the return to work and the use of new technology (photo-composition). The history of the dispute can be found in a book called The Times Newspapers Strike, Great Britain, 1978-1979 and in Professor John Gennard's history of the NGA. 30 December 2009 Left-wing veteran Tony Benn sparked Government horror when he took it upon himself to suggest that the BBC could buy The Times newspaper. Printing of The Times was suspended for nearly a year from November 1978, leading to fears that it may not survive. Benn went off-piste by publicly suggesting that the Corporation could take over without warning fellow Cabinet members about his plans. The row was set out in documents made public today by the National Archives under the 30-year rule. Benn published a paper in February 1979 which he released at a meeting with union leaders detailing his proposal. It said: "This paper argues that there is a case, on grounds of public policy, for the BBC to acquire and operate The Times to resolve the present crisis." The unions were in deadlock with management over the introduction of more modern printing equipment. Benn's paper continued: "The Times may not survive, and Britain would be deprived of two great newspapers which have become national institutions at home and world-wide. "At some stage in this protracted struggle alternative solutions would come forward and some might involve a change of ownership, possibly - as with the Observer - by the emergence of a would-be purchaser from abroad. "It would therefore be prudent to consider a means by which the Times could be saved on a basis that preserves its essential national character." He argued that the BBC and The Times were "national institutions" and that by buying the newspaper the broadcaster would acquire printing presses which could be used to launch new publications. But the reaction to the grand plan was less than warm from Eric Moonman, the sponsored MP for trade union the National Graphical Association. The following month he wrote to Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Michael Cocks accusing Benn of interfering. Moonman said: "This really is meddling, and he is creating false hopes by introducing the takeover factor, BBC-style or not. "What is needed is an end to the present stalemate, and Albert Booth (employment secretary) is rightly involved because that is his job, but in no way is it the concern of the Secretary of State for Energy. It would be most helpful if he could be told to respect the situation of those most closely concerned by keeping quiet." A Downing Street note following Mr Benn's announcement showed that he had been told "not to do or say anything further about The Times until further notice". A hand-written note at the top adds: "The Prime Minister asked that Mr Benn be told that if he wishes to put a paper to his colleagues he should do so through the usual committee." Benn had tried to consult Booth about the plan, but the employment secretary had failed to return his telephone call, the file shows. It also details his claim that the timing of a Government meeting was deliberately changed so he could not attend and raise the issue of gas workers' pay. But even Benn's private secretary put the knife in. A note on a Downing Street memo said: "For your private information, Mr Benn's private secretary has no doubt that the Cabinet Office acted in good faith, and that Mr Benn has blown this up as part of his 'conspiracy theory'."

Last night's C4 News December 22nd, carried a lenghty feature on the practice by adminitrators such as Ernst & Young failing to consult as required under law when they deal with job losses. There is nothing new about this - its been happenning for years, but its a pity that it took a TV news programme and a Tory MP to highlight the problem. The case cited was at IT company Nortel, who have suffered on-going job losses while their senior directors have enjoyed nice fat bonuses. The programme re-played mobile phone recordings of an Ernst & Young employee admitting to redundant workers that they were breaking the law in not allowing for the proper consultation period. Shame faced E&Y admitted that they would not consult as required under law with "representatives of the employees" under the law, using the "loophole" that they had to act fast to "restructure the business" and said E&Y staff's responses were taken out of context! Indeed they were shouted down. Poor lambs! But that said they would continue to follow this practice. C4 News also produced a recent letter from the Government Minister warning adminstrators they were watching what was going on. As said, the problem is this is nothing new. Administrators such as E&Y and others have nothing to lose. They are dealing with other peoples money. Ours! When a case goes to an ET for failure to consult, taken either by a union or former employees, my experience is that administrators rarely even bother to turn up - even when the award would be significant, running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Experience is that the ET will award in the employees favour for failure to consult and the money owed is paid by the State. But workers who lose their jobs are at the back of the queue. The Government were warned about this practice previously the GPMU, many years ago. We sited cases where big companies put sites into adminsitration, handed the lot over and our members were called into see the administrators and sacked oat a minutes notice. In one instance members were divided into groups, put in rooms and told those in one room didn't have a job, those that were in another could stay. Those sacked were told to clear their lockers and leave the premesis. They were handed a letter telling them what they would happen next. People were in tears and anger overflowed into the car park. The result was a near riot with one of our full time officers going toe to toe with a nasty peice of work - an employee of the adminstrator. Local MPs were "outraged" and the matter was raised with the Government by them and ourselves - we were told the whole thing was under review and a stiff letter was sent to the organisation who represent practicioners. Seems little hs changed. A couple of years back one of the administrators with whom we have, sadly, regular dealings asked me to speak at a seminar for employees. On that occasion I got a good hearing and an agreement struck that where the union was present they would quickly contact our officials, arrange a meeting and would be helpful as possible. We stay in touch! Sadly it wasn't E&Y! Despite the words from Ms. May on C4 I doubt if the Tories would do anything about this as well. The administartors still get their fee - from other people's money! With many companies going under almost overnight over the past year, there was bound to be an increase in cases where there was a failure to consult. But the figures speak for themselves: The Tribunals Service has shown that wider complaints about employers failing to consult have risen 250 per cent from 4,480 in 2007/8 to 11,371 this year. Below id the C4 news report. Redundant employees complain about consultation By Channel 4 News As redundancies rise, Channel 4 News has discovered the number of employment tribunals citing a lack of consultation has grown. Employers have a legal obligation to consult with their employees before making them redundant but administrators insist the law backs business that need to take swift action without consulting staff. We have spoken to former employees at the Nortel telecommunications company, who were made redundant earlier this year. They claim joint administrators from Ernst & Young ignored the law on consultation. Nortel went into administration in January and two months later, more than 200 staff in Belfast and Maidenhead were told they were being made redundant without a consultation period. In response, the administrators say they acted lawfully. They said they acted "in accordance with their duties in a way that is entirely usual when a company is in administration". The law requires businesses to consult with the affected employees, then avoid, reduce and mitigate the impact of redundancies. Ernst & Young insist they did not have time to consult with the employees because Nortel was facing serious financial difficulties. In a statement, they wrote: "No consultation took place as it was not reasonably practicable to do so; employment legislation recognises that there are situations in which swift action needs to be taken." Employers can claim an exemption from consulting with their employees in situations that are sudden or unexpected. Maidenhead MP Theresa May, the shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, attended a meeting with Ernst & Young along some of the redundant employees. She said: "What was of most conern in our discussion with Ernst & Young was a clear indication that they would be very happy to use this strategy again in the future. "They showed no remorse about having used this approach and I feel the employees have been treated extremely badly."

Can be found at http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/1adtmkfcgsbmwjja4htsjg?email=true