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, 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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