About Me
- Linda Roy
- Lifetime commitment to the trade union and labour movement. Been local workplace and national CWU representative and held many other positions in the CWU. TUC accredited tutor and disability champion. Former Labour town councillor and town Mayor.
Thursday 29 July 2010
Leeds Pride 2010 - A great day out
It's Leeds Pride this Sunday August 1st. The fun starts at mid day in Millenium Square where the parade departs at 3pm. for Briggate where everything happens. See you there. Details here Leeds Pride 2010 - A great day out
Belfast Pride
Belfast's week of Pride celebrations culminate with a parade through the city centre this Saturday July 31st. More here GAY to Z - gay search engine, gay directory and gay guide to the lesbian and gay scene (gay hotels, gay London, gay saunas, gay clubs, gay bars) and more for London, Manchester, Brighton, and all England and the UK
‘BT profits up 17%
BT's profits for the last 3 months are up 17%. No doubt this good fortune will be shared with my members. Read more here. ‘Significant’ reduction in pension deficit cheers BT Business
Should we be able to work on past 65?
The ConDems have issued a consultation document with a view to phasing out the default retirement age of 65 from October 2011. Is this a good idea? Take part in my readers poll. Read article here Compulsory retirement at 65 to be phased out Money guardian.co.uk
Friday 23 July 2010
Stop ConDem cuts to welfare benefits
Please join the campaign to stop the Condems attacking the weak and the vulnerable by cutting Disability Living Allowance and welfare benefits. Care Watch have supplied this statement.
"We ask the Coalition to make a clear statement about the level of welfare benefit support that they intend to offer disabled people and their carers in these very challenging times
Disability Living Allowance was specifically named in the Emergency Budget as a benefit that was being targeted and where substantial savings could be made. Many groups/organisations representing the disabled people and carers are reporting that this has caused an immediate wave of anxiety and concern.
DLA is an essential benefit that was specifically designed to provide financial support towards the extra costs incurred by people living with a disability. DLA payments have enabled hundreds of thousands of disabled people to maintain a degree of independence and quality of life that would have otherwise been lost to them.
Because Middle and Higher rate DLA are both also passport benefits to enable family members to claim Carers Allowance, removing or reducing DLA will not only have an enormous financial impact on disabled people it will also impact on their carers - a double blow which will especially hit hard those families on the poverty line.
It is even more alarming that the Coalition plan a new regime of 'non medical tests ' as happened with Employment Support Allowance.. A 'test' which was designed to throw 1 million people off sickness benefit altogether. It is a 'test' you are planned to fail.
Of course we want the aspiration of work to be open to disabled people and carers but with rising unemployment coupled with cuts to social care support services, realistically how many will find work and how soon? We are concerned that the most severely and enduringly ill people will be subject to threats and sanctions for not finding work and have incomes reduced as a result.
Please forward us the link/copy of your own organisations’ response to the Budget and include a brief statement of support that can be added to our campaign blog."
More here Carer Watch.com / Emergency Budget 2010
"We ask the Coalition to make a clear statement about the level of welfare benefit support that they intend to offer disabled people and their carers in these very challenging times
Disability Living Allowance was specifically named in the Emergency Budget as a benefit that was being targeted and where substantial savings could be made. Many groups/organisations representing the disabled people and carers are reporting that this has caused an immediate wave of anxiety and concern.
DLA is an essential benefit that was specifically designed to provide financial support towards the extra costs incurred by people living with a disability. DLA payments have enabled hundreds of thousands of disabled people to maintain a degree of independence and quality of life that would have otherwise been lost to them.
Because Middle and Higher rate DLA are both also passport benefits to enable family members to claim Carers Allowance, removing or reducing DLA will not only have an enormous financial impact on disabled people it will also impact on their carers - a double blow which will especially hit hard those families on the poverty line.
It is even more alarming that the Coalition plan a new regime of 'non medical tests ' as happened with Employment Support Allowance.. A 'test' which was designed to throw 1 million people off sickness benefit altogether. It is a 'test' you are planned to fail.
Of course we want the aspiration of work to be open to disabled people and carers but with rising unemployment coupled with cuts to social care support services, realistically how many will find work and how soon? We are concerned that the most severely and enduringly ill people will be subject to threats and sanctions for not finding work and have incomes reduced as a result.
Please forward us the link/copy of your own organisations’ response to the Budget and include a brief statement of support that can be added to our campaign blog."
More here Carer Watch.com / Emergency Budget 2010
Inequality between rich and poor at its widest ever
If anyone doubted the need for trade unions please read this report which among many other things says that "The last time in the long economic record that inequalities were almost as high was in the lead up to the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s" Read report here http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/23/uk-health-gap-widest-ever
Thursday 22 July 2010
Sto the trafficking of children for sex!
Please follow the link and sign the petition to protest at the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. We can make a difference. ECPAT UK - Protecting Children Everywhere
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Equality Act 2010: What do I need to know?
The Government Equality Office has published a series of guides to the new Equality Act which comes into force in October. You can find them here. Equality Act 2010: What do I need to know?
Friday 16 July 2010
Northern Pride July 2010 - a community LGBT festival for the northeast
Northern Pride takes place in Newcastle tomorrow. This is the north east's premiere event for members of the LGBT community. Please go along and enjoy the day. There's plenty to see and expereince for everyone. More here Northern Pride July 2010 - a community LGBT festival for the northeast
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Reasons to keep Royal Mail in public ownership
This is what happens when you privatise a postal service. Please read this which apppears on the Radio netherlands website.
Below minimum wages
Piecework, wages below the legal minimum; the privatised European postal market is gripped by fierce competition. As a result, thousands of Dutch postmen will lose their jobs. The former state-owned postal company TNT says it has no other options in the face of fierce competition and decreasing numbers of letters and packages. However, critics say the Netherlands has moved much too fast in its enthusiasm to privatise the postal market. The reorganisation had been announced earlier, but it was only at the weekend that postmen received the concrete plans in their letterboxes. All postmen with contracts for more than 25 hours a week will lose their jobs. And forced dismissals are not being ruled out.
Written Off
Postman Gerard van Os, who has been a postman for 37 years, says this means that he and many of his colleagues will never find a job again. “I’m 57 years old. Our company has an ageing work force. The average age is now 52, these older workers won’t stand a chance in the labour market, and there is no alternative. The market is depressed too. Postmen have only limited education. People over 50 already have practically no chance of finding a job and those over 55 have no chance at all; in this society you have been written off”.
Unfair competition
Mr Van Os feels he is a victim of the privatisation of the European postal market. The European Commission believed stronger competition would lead to lower rates and increased efficiency. However, in practice, it has mainly led to lower wages for postmen and unfair competition. It has left TNT’s postmen highly frustrated.
“Because they are working their butts off to keep this company financially sound. The bags are still full of mail. They are working really hard to work as efficiently as possible. And they feel let down by politics. Because they understand full well that you have to reorganise when mail volume goes down, but they cannot understand why politics tolerates unfair competition”.
Below minimum wage
The alleged unfair competition comes from new postal companies which hire only freelancers who are being paid piecework wages, often below the legal minimum. The trade unions have reached agreement with these companies that these jobs must be converted into permanent contracts. However, Socialist Party MP Sharon Gasthuizen says that in practice the newcomers on the postal market simply ignore these agreements. “The unions have been saying for a long time that the agreement with the postal companies lacks teeth, so they sought support from politics. Politics was expected to ensure that the unions could make solid agreements forcing the new postal companies to pay their workers decent wages, but politics has not really been listening”.
Village idiot
The Netherlands was one of the first EU member states to allow new companies to compete on its postal market, but failed to take measures ensuring acceptable wages for postmen. Countries like Germany and Belgium have taken adequate measures in this regard, making the Netherlands look like Europe’s ‘village idiot’. Sharon Gasthuizen resolutely rejects the argument that increased competition from the internet and e-mail inevitably leads to dismissals. Research by the Dutch economic affairs ministry shows that in the past ten years the volume of postal matter has dropped only marginally, from 5.4 billion to 5.1 billion.
Read more at The Dutch are sacking their postmen Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Below minimum wages
Piecework, wages below the legal minimum; the privatised European postal market is gripped by fierce competition. As a result, thousands of Dutch postmen will lose their jobs. The former state-owned postal company TNT says it has no other options in the face of fierce competition and decreasing numbers of letters and packages. However, critics say the Netherlands has moved much too fast in its enthusiasm to privatise the postal market. The reorganisation had been announced earlier, but it was only at the weekend that postmen received the concrete plans in their letterboxes. All postmen with contracts for more than 25 hours a week will lose their jobs. And forced dismissals are not being ruled out.
Written Off
Postman Gerard van Os, who has been a postman for 37 years, says this means that he and many of his colleagues will never find a job again. “I’m 57 years old. Our company has an ageing work force. The average age is now 52, these older workers won’t stand a chance in the labour market, and there is no alternative. The market is depressed too. Postmen have only limited education. People over 50 already have practically no chance of finding a job and those over 55 have no chance at all; in this society you have been written off”.
Unfair competition
Mr Van Os feels he is a victim of the privatisation of the European postal market. The European Commission believed stronger competition would lead to lower rates and increased efficiency. However, in practice, it has mainly led to lower wages for postmen and unfair competition. It has left TNT’s postmen highly frustrated.
“Because they are working their butts off to keep this company financially sound. The bags are still full of mail. They are working really hard to work as efficiently as possible. And they feel let down by politics. Because they understand full well that you have to reorganise when mail volume goes down, but they cannot understand why politics tolerates unfair competition”.
Below minimum wage
The alleged unfair competition comes from new postal companies which hire only freelancers who are being paid piecework wages, often below the legal minimum. The trade unions have reached agreement with these companies that these jobs must be converted into permanent contracts. However, Socialist Party MP Sharon Gasthuizen says that in practice the newcomers on the postal market simply ignore these agreements. “The unions have been saying for a long time that the agreement with the postal companies lacks teeth, so they sought support from politics. Politics was expected to ensure that the unions could make solid agreements forcing the new postal companies to pay their workers decent wages, but politics has not really been listening”.
Village idiot
The Netherlands was one of the first EU member states to allow new companies to compete on its postal market, but failed to take measures ensuring acceptable wages for postmen. Countries like Germany and Belgium have taken adequate measures in this regard, making the Netherlands look like Europe’s ‘village idiot’. Sharon Gasthuizen resolutely rejects the argument that increased competition from the internet and e-mail inevitably leads to dismissals. Research by the Dutch economic affairs ministry shows that in the past ten years the volume of postal matter has dropped only marginally, from 5.4 billion to 5.1 billion.
Read more at The Dutch are sacking their postmen Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Monday 12 July 2010
Royal Mail is ripe for public ownership
There's an interesting article in the Guardian about the alternatives for Royal Mail's future. Read more here
Royal Mail is ripe for public ownership Donnacha DeLong Comment is free guardian.co.uk
Royal Mail is ripe for public ownership Donnacha DeLong Comment is free guardian.co.uk
Saturday 10 July 2010
Brilliant Day in Durham
Spent today at Durham Miners Gala. It was absolutely brilliant. Tnes of thousands of people, many banners, speakers, entertainment and the CWU had the best stall there. Thanks to Lyn Browne, Carl, Eric Parker - and dad, Dot Burnett, Alex - CWHA, Kath and evryone who put up the stall and made the public aware of the fight to keep Royal Mail in public ownership. I'll let the pictures do the talking.
Friday 9 July 2010
New BT Pay Offer
9th July 2010
The Communication Workers Union can announce today (Friday) that it has reached a three year pay deal with BT worth 9.3 per cent for staff represented by the union.
Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Following a very difficult set of negotiations and the first national ballot for strike action in BT since 1987 we're delighted to have resolved this pay dispute through talks. "This is a fantastic deal for our members providing a fair rise in their basic pay this year and for the following two years. This deal is among the highest pay settlements in the country this year recognising the contribution of staff and BT's success over the last year.
"Although our ballot for strike action was ultimately withdrawn, we believe it played a major part in getting BT back to the negotiating table with a significantly improved pay offer." The deal is as follows:
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, backdated to 1 January 2010, for all employees in post at the point of implementation which we expect to be August 2010.
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, from 1 January 2011.
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, from 1 January 2012. For this part of the review only should the November 2011 RPI (published in December 2011) be above 3.2% or below 2.5% then both sides agree to meet and to discuss the impact of this and seek to agree an optimum position. Both parties agree to enter into these discussions to seek to ensure that the impact of a volatile RPI is mitigated, both for the business and employees.
The offer is fully consolidated and pensionable and it provides a 9.3% increase to basic pay over three years.
CWU will hold a consultative ballot of members recommending that they endorse the deal in the coming weeks.
The Communication Workers Union can announce today (Friday) that it has reached a three year pay deal with BT worth 9.3 per cent for staff represented by the union.
Andy Kerr, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "Following a very difficult set of negotiations and the first national ballot for strike action in BT since 1987 we're delighted to have resolved this pay dispute through talks. "This is a fantastic deal for our members providing a fair rise in their basic pay this year and for the following two years. This deal is among the highest pay settlements in the country this year recognising the contribution of staff and BT's success over the last year.
"Although our ballot for strike action was ultimately withdrawn, we believe it played a major part in getting BT back to the negotiating table with a significantly improved pay offer." The deal is as follows:
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, backdated to 1 January 2010, for all employees in post at the point of implementation which we expect to be August 2010.
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, from 1 January 2011.
· A 3% consolidated and fully pensionable increase to base pay which will flow through to pay-related allowances, including the pay and pension supplement, from 1 January 2012. For this part of the review only should the November 2011 RPI (published in December 2011) be above 3.2% or below 2.5% then both sides agree to meet and to discuss the impact of this and seek to agree an optimum position. Both parties agree to enter into these discussions to seek to ensure that the impact of a volatile RPI is mitigated, both for the business and employees.
The offer is fully consolidated and pensionable and it provides a 9.3% increase to basic pay over three years.
CWU will hold a consultative ballot of members recommending that they endorse the deal in the coming weeks.
International Day Against Stoning
Sunday July 11th marks International Day Against Stoning. There will be a protest at the Iranian Embassy. Read about this barbaric practice and find out more here
Thursday 8 July 2010
Get Frank to Number 1!
Borunemouth Pride
It's Bourneouth Pride this weekend. There's a whole series of events planned so please go along and enjoy the fun and games. Find out more here http://www.bournefree.co.uk/
Coping with members who have cancer
TUC Education and Macmillan Cancer Support have published a workbook to provide information, guidance and support for union reps who may have members who have been diagnosed with cancer or who are or become carers for someone with cancer. It's ecellent and can be found at http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/files/publications/documents/184.pdf
There is also a clip of a radio interview on this topic here
There is also a clip of a radio interview on this topic here
Wednesday 7 July 2010
New Equality Act to be implemented from October
The Government has announced that the introduction of the new Single Equality Act will commence on schedule this October. Read more here Government Equalities Office simplifies legislation for business
Tuesday 6 July 2010
Tribunal statistics published
The annual report of the Employment Tribunals Service has been published. It shows that there was:
• A 56% increase from 2008/09 in the number of claims accepted by Employment Tribunals, which were at their highest ever level. This is mainly attributable to multiple claims.
• A 14% increase in the number of single claims accepted by Employment Tribunals.
• A 17% increase in the number of tribunal claims associated with unfair dismissal, breach of contract and redundancy. This is likely to be caused by the economic recession.
• A 22% increase in the number of disposals by Employment Tribunals. This did not keep pace with receipts with the result that more than 400,000 claims remained outstanding.
• A significant drop in the number of Employment Tribunal claims in which the first hearing took place within 26 weeks of the claim being received. It fell from 74% to just 65%.
The full report can be read here http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/Tribunals/Documents/Publications/TS_AnnualStatisticsReport0910.pdf
• A 56% increase from 2008/09 in the number of claims accepted by Employment Tribunals, which were at their highest ever level. This is mainly attributable to multiple claims.
• A 14% increase in the number of single claims accepted by Employment Tribunals.
• A 17% increase in the number of tribunal claims associated with unfair dismissal, breach of contract and redundancy. This is likely to be caused by the economic recession.
• A 22% increase in the number of disposals by Employment Tribunals. This did not keep pace with receipts with the result that more than 400,000 claims remained outstanding.
• A significant drop in the number of Employment Tribunal claims in which the first hearing took place within 26 weeks of the claim being received. It fell from 74% to just 65%.
The full report can be read here http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/Tribunals/Documents/Publications/TS_AnnualStatisticsReport0910.pdf
Why BT Ballot was pulled
Dear Colleague
There have been a number of questions about why the pay ballot was withdrawn, and why we have not released the ballot result.
In response to the first question, BT challenged some of the information provided by the union in our Notice of Ballot as being insufficient in meeting the requirements of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
The CWU provided BT with the best information we had available to us and we remain convinced that it was adequate for the purposes required in law. However, the legal advice we received indicated that if BT served an injunction against the ballot, we would be unlikely to succeed in court because of the restrictive nature of the legislation. Rather than enter into a lengthy and expensive litigation process that is not in our favour, the union has taken the decision to make preparations for a fresh Notice of ballot. However, we have also taken the decision that before another Notice is served, we will meet with BT negotiators to see if a resolution to the pay dispute is possible.
A ballot result has not been released because the ballot was cancelled before it closed and therefore the appointed independent scrutineer will not be issuing a ballot result.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Kerr
Deputy General Secretary (TFS)
There have been a number of questions about why the pay ballot was withdrawn, and why we have not released the ballot result.
In response to the first question, BT challenged some of the information provided by the union in our Notice of Ballot as being insufficient in meeting the requirements of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
The CWU provided BT with the best information we had available to us and we remain convinced that it was adequate for the purposes required in law. However, the legal advice we received indicated that if BT served an injunction against the ballot, we would be unlikely to succeed in court because of the restrictive nature of the legislation. Rather than enter into a lengthy and expensive litigation process that is not in our favour, the union has taken the decision to make preparations for a fresh Notice of ballot. However, we have also taken the decision that before another Notice is served, we will meet with BT negotiators to see if a resolution to the pay dispute is possible.
A ballot result has not been released because the ballot was cancelled before it closed and therefore the appointed independent scrutineer will not be issuing a ballot result.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Kerr
Deputy General Secretary (TFS)
BT Ballot pulled
Dear Colleague
Since the union served formal Notice to BT on 10th June of our intention to ballot for strike action, BT has made a number of legal challenges to the Notice of ballot.
The CWU has sought the advice of our legal representatives following receipt of the first legal challenge, and we have responded to each of the company’s letters vigorously defending the union’s position.
Towards the end of last week we sought further legal advice which was received this morning, and which makes clear that the legal position is not in the union’s favour. As a result of this advice, we have taken the decision to withdraw the ballot rather than take the union through a lengthy and expensive process of litigation which is clearly against us.
The ballot has been cancelled with immediate effect and the appointed independent scrutineer will therefore not be issuing a ballot result.
Since notifying BT today of our decision to withdraw the ballot, the company have been in correspondence with us asking us to enter urgent discussions with a view to resolving the current pay dispute.
The union’s executive considered this today and it has been agreed that we will meet with BT urgently.
I can confirm that we will be taking the necessary steps to ensure that we have the required information to comply with the legal process so that we can issue a fresh Notice of Ballot as soon as possible. However, in the meantime as stated above we will be speaking to BT to see if a resolution to the dispute can be achieved.
I would like to thank members for voting in the CWU’s ballot, and for your continued support as we strive for a fair and affordable pay settlement in the BT Pay Review this year.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Kerr
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)
.
Since the union served formal Notice to BT on 10th June of our intention to ballot for strike action, BT has made a number of legal challenges to the Notice of ballot.
The CWU has sought the advice of our legal representatives following receipt of the first legal challenge, and we have responded to each of the company’s letters vigorously defending the union’s position.
Towards the end of last week we sought further legal advice which was received this morning, and which makes clear that the legal position is not in the union’s favour. As a result of this advice, we have taken the decision to withdraw the ballot rather than take the union through a lengthy and expensive process of litigation which is clearly against us.
The ballot has been cancelled with immediate effect and the appointed independent scrutineer will therefore not be issuing a ballot result.
Since notifying BT today of our decision to withdraw the ballot, the company have been in correspondence with us asking us to enter urgent discussions with a view to resolving the current pay dispute.
The union’s executive considered this today and it has been agreed that we will meet with BT urgently.
I can confirm that we will be taking the necessary steps to ensure that we have the required information to comply with the legal process so that we can issue a fresh Notice of Ballot as soon as possible. However, in the meantime as stated above we will be speaking to BT to see if a resolution to the dispute can be achieved.
I would like to thank members for voting in the CWU’s ballot, and for your continued support as we strive for a fair and affordable pay settlement in the BT Pay Review this year.
Yours sincerely,
Andy Kerr
Deputy General Secretary (T&FS)
.
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