2009 July | STRONGER UNIONS

End of an era

I hope that the person who reads this blog won’t mind my posting briefly on behalf of the TUC Organising & Recruitment Team about an internal matter here at Stronger Unions towers – but it wouldn’t be appropriate to allow to go unmentioned the fact that today was Paul Nowak’s final day as TUC National Organiser before taking up his new job as Head of the TUC’s Organisation and Services department.

In the time that he’s lead the Organising & Recruitment Team, Paul has made a huge contribution to the development of work around organising and recruitment here in the UK and the team wishes Paul the very best of luck in his new job.

Posted on July 31st, 2009 by Carl Roper filed under: Union news

StrongerUnions

links for 2009-07-28

Time to deliver a new deal for agency workers!

The TUC is calling for the Government to introduce a fair deal for agency workers when implementing the Temporary Agency Worker Directive in the UK. Agency workers must have the right to equal treatment on pay, including basic pay, bonuses, and redundancy pay, and to equal treatment on holidays and working time.

(tags: agency workers)

Posted on July 28th, 2009 by StrongerUnions filed under: Web links

StrongerUnions

links for 2009-07-27

20,000 take to the street to protest Johnnie Walker plant closure

Fantastic turn-out – lets hope the company listen to sense!

(tags: scotland whiskey johnny walkers unions)

Posted on July 27th, 2009 by StrongerUnions filed under: Web links

Paul Nowak

Calling all academics!

As most readers of this blog will be aware the US trade union movement is in the midst of an ongoing struggle to secure the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The TUC has prepared a briefing for UK trade unionists on what you can do to help. This is vital stuff as the union-busters whose activities EFCA will hopefully help curtail are the same charmers who’ve popped up here in the UK.

As part of our efforts to support US unions the TUC and a number of leading academics have issued a ‘call for support’ and we are hoping to sign up as many UK and UK based academics as possible. John Kelly, Ed Heery, Jane Holgate, Gregor Gall, Kim Moody and John Logan have already signed up – please help us sign up many, many more!

You can read the ‘call for support’ – and how to sign up – here. please pass this message on to any academics you think will want to show their support for the right to organise in the US.

***update*** Over the weekend 75 academics signed up to the ‘call for support’ – lets build on this brilliant support! Please make sure you forward on to anyone you think may wish to sign up!

Posted on July 24th, 2009 by Paul Nowak filed under: Global solidarity, Union organising

Paul Nowak

Despite the problems we can still WIN!

Hat-tip to Ian, who reports on UNITE’s success at securing recognition at Procter & Gamble.

“I’m on cloud nine. It’s given the company the right message and our job is to knuckle down and achieve the morale that’s necessary on the site through proper representation.”

Ken Chapman, UNITE activist

Despite the recession and despite the employer’s strong-arm tactics (as reported here by Tribune), UNITE’s members and activists have stood firm and secured a significant victory. The new agreement only covers 137 workers, but lets hope it has an impact across the whole of P & G’s 7,500-strong UK workforce, and we see subsequent recognition wins over the coming months and years.

Well done to all involved!

Posted on July 24th, 2009 by Paul Nowak filed under: Union campaigns

Owen Tudor

Gambia: we demonstrate again, for press freedom

The TUC, NUJ and Amnesty International were outside the Gambian High Commission again yesterday (21 July), this time to protest about the disappearance of journalist Ebrima Manneh, who vanished after posting material critical of the Government. Last time we were there (3 July), we were protesting about the trial on charges of sedition (basically, criticising the Government again) of the leaders of the Gambian Press Union, the NUJ’s sister organisation.

Jeremy Dear and I flanked Kali Mercier of Amnesty as she hand delivered an album of photos of actions around the world where people held up “Where is Ebrima?” signs, along with a letter from our three organisations. The Gambian High Commission only allowed Kali in to deliver the letter – they said they would investigate Ebrima’s disappearance (but we’re fairly sure they already know where he is…)

Our message was clear. While freedom of association and freedom of speech is denied in the Gambia, we will use our freedoms to protest. The Gambian President can shut up his own people, but we can carry on speaking on their behalf.

Posted on July 22nd, 2009 by Owen Tudor filed under: Global solidarity

Carl Roper

Strategic Organising in Europe

Just on my way back from a meeting at the ETUC where I’ve been representing the TUC in developing a course on strategic organising for union officers and activists from across Europe.

In practice, the training will form the basis of planning and preparation for real organising campaigns across Europe in three companies.

The sessions are a collaborative effort by the ETUC/ETUI, TUC and the European Recruitment Network organised by Jeremy Waddington.

Posted on July 20th, 2009 by Carl Roper filed under: Global solidarity