Tuesday 19 April 2011

Unfair dismissal reforms will leave three million workers without rights

Government plans to extend the qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal from one year to two will affect nearly three million workers, the TUC says today (Tuesday) in its submission to the government’s review of the employment tribunal system.The TUC submission says that while more needs to be done to speed up tribunal claims, the government is seeking to do this by restricting access to justice and pricing low-paid vulnerable workers out of the system.
The TUC firmly opposes plans to introduce fees for those wishing to take their employers to employment tribunals, and says that this will have a disproportionate impact on low paid workers. (Nearly 70 per cent of tribunal claimants have average or below average earnings, and more than a third – 35 per cent – earn less than £15,000, according to the Survey of Employment Tribunal Applicants 2008.)
The TUC cites government data showing that young people, ethnic minorities and female part-time workers will be most affected by plans to remove unfair dismissal rights from staff with less than two years’ service:


· 59.2 per cent of employees aged 24 and under have less than two years’ service,
· 30.1 per cent of ethnic minority employees have less than two years’ service, compared with 24.3 per cent of white employees,
· 32.4 per cent of part-time employees have less than two years’ service, compared with 22 per cent of full-time employees, and
· 500,000 female part-time workers will lose out directly as a result of the 12- month extension to the qualifying period.


Extending the qualifying period for unfair dismissal will simply lead to more discrimination claims, causing extra confusion for employers and staff, and adding to the workload of an already over-stretched tribunal service, the TUC says.
The submission says that cases can be speeded up by giving more resources to the tribunal system, improving the enforcement of multiple pay claims and extending Acas’ pre-claim conciliation service. The TUC is concerned however that the government’s plans could undermine the impartiality and effectiveness of this service.
The TUC supports the imposition of automatic penalties for employers who breach an individual’s employment rights but believes that sanctions should be paid directly to the claimant, rather than to the Treasury.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “While everyone wants to see a quicker and more efficient tribunal system, taking away people’s rights and pricing vulnerable workers out of the system is the worst possible way to achieve this.
“The proposals to restrict protection against unfair dismissal will not only hit young people and female part-time employees the hardest, but will also open the door to more discrimination claims, creating confusion for staff and employers alike.
“There is no credible evidence to show that restricting access to justice actually helps our economy and it’s disappointing that ministers seem so keen to boost bad employment practices.
“If the government is serious about improving the tribunal system it should concentrate much more on encouraging disputes to be resolved before they get to court.”

Monday 18 April 2011

PCS action at Jobcentre Plus call centres


PCS held a one day strike at Jobcentre Plus call centres at five locations across the midlands today (Monday)
The dispute is about working conditions and customer service issues. A picket at Coventry today said, "this dispute is not about pay or holidays, it's about how management treat the staff, and how we have to treat the public. As far as management are concerned we have to met targets - but the targets don't mean anything and can lead to our clients getting a poor service at a time when they already stressed and worried".
Pickets were out in Derby, Nottignham, Lincoln, Telford and Coventry (pictured).

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Northamptonshire activists a step closer to new trades council


Trade union activists in Northamptonshire have moved a step closer to establishing a new trades council for the Corby and Kettering boroughs at a meeting held at the Corby Labour and Trades Union club. Union members from four unions have nominated a shadow executive to pave the way for a formal inaugural Annual General meeting of the new body later this year.
Trades council activity in the boroughs had waned in recent years but fresh activists have reinforced former stalwarts and have generated new ideas to take the work forward.
Alan Weaver, TUC Regional Policy and Campaigns Officer for the midlands said, "With all the current threats to working people, their jobs and services it is just the right time to be forming a new and dynamic trades council. With Northamptonshire County Council slashing jobs and services and the threat of the BNP never far away the trades council will have plenty to get its' teeth into."
Pictured are activists from Unite, GMB, Unison and the NASUWT unions.

Good news for jobseekers but bad news for those in work, says TUC


Commenting on the latest unemployment figures published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said:
“Today’s figures are a welcome relief for those looking for work but our labour market recovery is still far from secure.
“The surprise fall in unemployment is good news for the millions of people looking for work, although the fall in the number of vacancies from last month is a worrying sign.
“The news for those in work is less positive, with earnings growth falling and the gap between wages and inflation rising sharply to 3.5 per cent. The growing earnings gap is piling the pressure on people’s living standards.
“Rising long-term unemployment and youth joblessness close to a million offer a sobering reality check on today’s upbeat figures.

TUC fears youth unemployment could hit record high

The TUC fears that the unemployment figures published today (Wednesday) could confirm that youth unemployment is at its highest level since records began and get ever closer to one million.


The TUC will also paying close attention to the latest earnings figures. In January, wages were trailing inflation by 2.9 per cent and with inflation hitting 5.5 per cent in February, the earnings gap could rise to over three percentage points for the first time since June 2010.
The rising earnings gap, combined with tax credit changes and deep spending cuts, is causing real pain in our so-called economic recovery, the TUC warns.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The country could be passing another grim milestone with youth unemployment hitting another record high.
“The government’s decision to scrap the Future Jobs Fund, months before its poorly funded replacement is due to start, has helped drive the rise in the number of young people out of work.
“Scrapping Education Maintenance Allowance and hiking university tuition fees will only further reduce the job chances of young people, and with inflation rising at over twice the level of earnings, things aren’t looking pretty for those in work either.
“From the VAT rise and tax credit changes to growth stunting spending cuts, the Chancellor has a direct hand in rising joblessness and falling household incomes.
“The economic facts are clear – unemployment is up and household debt is set to rise, while growth forecasts are down. The government must change course before it causes even more damage.”

Tuesday 12 April 2011

May Day and Workers Memorial Day

Keep checking the pages for May Day and Workers Memorial Day listings, events at Lincoln and Chesterfield have been added today.......

Job Centre call centre staff name strike date

Andrew Lloyd, PCS Regional Secretary for the Midlands
Thousands of Jobcentre Plus call centre staff will strike on 18 April after bosses refused to improve working conditions and customer service.

In a ballot of the union’s 7,000 members in JCP’s 37 call centres across the country, 70% of those who took part voted for strike action. The turnout was 43%.
Following this strong result, the union agreed not to call any industrial action to allow negotiations to continue. But senior managers have shown little willingness to resolve the dispute.
The action will follow a well-supported two-day strike in January by more than 2,000 workers in JCP’s seven newest contact centres who have been forcibly moved from processing benefit claims to handling enquiries by phone.
The union wants to improve the levels of customer service in call centres; end the target driven culture, particularly by changing the way unrealistic ‘average call times’ are used; and introduce proper flexible working arrangements.
For further information and details of where the midlands call centres are located visit: http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial/tuc-19473-f0.cfm?regional=6

Further information from PCS Regional Secretary, Andrew Lloyd, Tel: 0121 643 4342

Chancellor has a direct hand in Britain’s big income squeeze, says TUC

Commenting on the latest inflation figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that RPI inflation fell to 5.3 per cent in March, TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “The fall in inflation is welcome but the cost of living is still rising at more than twice the level of earnings so workers will struggle to celebrate today’s figures. “The Chancellor has a direct hand in this income squeeze as the VAT rise and budget measures are adding over a percentage point to inflation. “With tax credit cuts also hitting working families and spending cuts stunting growth, people are really suffering in our so-called recovery. “The government must heed the growing economic warning signs and change course before it causes even more damage.”

Using RPI to set student loans will cost graduates up to £5,000 more, says TUC

The government’s refusal to change the interest rate on student loans from the retail prices index (RPI) to the consumer prices index (CPI) – despite already doing so for key benefits, tax thresholds and public sector pensions – will leave graduates thousands of pounds deeper in debt, the TUC warns today (Tuesday).
To see the full press release go to: http://www.tuc.org.uk/

Monday 11 April 2011

CWU Defending jobs in Stoke-on-Trent

Lee Baron
The Communication Workers Union is organising a march and rally to oppose the loss of jobs in the Stoke-on-Trent area.


Lee Baron, CWU Regional Secretary and Chair of the Midlands TUC said, "This demonstration is being organised to defend the 400 threatened jobs at the Royal Mail Customer Service Centre along with other job losses in the public sector. Our campaign is aligned with community campaigns which stand against far right organisations. The far right seek to exploit job losses and service cuts for their own warped political agenda. With 17 openly fascist candidates standing we must ensure that we take the real opportunity these elections provide for trade unionists to stand shoulder to shoulder with communities in opposing job losses and cuts, whilst making the statement that far right political parties are not the answer.


Oppose the plans to close the Royal Mail Customer Service Centre
Stand up for local jobs
Stand together with our communities
Saturday 30th April 2011. March assembles from 1pm at Cannon Street, Hanley, ST1 4EB

Speakers for the Rally: Christine Blower, General Secretary NUT: Billy Hayes General Secretary, CWU. Other speakers from Community Groups, Anti Fascist Organisations and Trade Unions.

Come and join us and march for an alternative!

Friday 8 April 2011

Union Friday hits the streets of Stoke-on-Trent

Today is Union Friday when trade unionists across the midlands are hitting the streets to campaign against the BNP in the forthcoming local elections. With the BNP fielding ten candidates in Stoke-on-Trent this has become one of the main focal points for anti fascist campaigning.
Cheryl Pidgeon, pictured here with our youngest campaigner today, said, "The elections in Stoke-on-Trent have taken on a new urgency with the change in the electoral system  - this gives us the opportunity to banish the BNP from Stoke completely for four years. As trade unionists we should take every opportunity to combat a party that is diametrically opposed to our values of equality, fairness and social cohesion. Stoke-on-Trent will be a better place without the BNP in the Council Chamber."
Cheryl continued, "Children like this young man should be growing up in a world without discrimination and hate and it is incumbent on us to do our very best to deliver a hate free world for our children."
Teams of campaigners have leafleted the railway and bus stations in Stoke and news is just in that in Birmingham teams are covering New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill stations. Unison, which has coordinated the action in Birmingham have said that teams will be leafleting throughout the day to catch both shoppers and commuters.

Thursday 7 April 2011

The Hardest Hit – Defending Disabled People's Futures


UKDPC - United Kingdom's Disabled People's CouncilThe UK Disabled People's Council have launched  The Hardest Hit campaign – for details visit www.ukdpc.net  . Please promote amongst your network and ask them to do the same.
To register your place on 11 May, please go to http://tinyurl.com/69g643x
Join us for a march, lobby of Parliament and rally on 11 May.

The March
Thousands of disabled people as well as family and friends will be marching to express solidarity and anger at the cuts threatening our benefits, services, jobs and rights.

The march will take us past the Houses of Parliament and we will make sure that MPs and Peers hear our collective voice and understand our message.

The Lobby After the march many of us will be lobbying our MPs as the Welfare Reform Bill reaches a critical stage in the House of Commons.
We will be sharing our stories, making sure that Parliamentarians understand the combined impact of the cuts on our lives and futures.
Crucially, we will be challenging MPs to vote against policies that will push us further into poverty and isolation.


The Rally
On the afternoon of the march we will meet in Methodist Central Hall to hear from disabled people about the deep unfairness of the cuts for their lives and futures.
We will also listen to politicians from the main political parties to find out how they plan to uphold the rights, equality and participation of disabled people as promised in the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Where and When
We will gather for the march from 11.30 on the Embankment by Horseguards Avenue.
It will start at 12.30 and take in Victoria Embankment, Bridge Street, Parliament Square, Millbank and finish in Dean Stanley Street at around 13.30.
We expect the lobby to take place in Westminster Hall and to run between 14.30 and 17.30. Everyone hoping to see their MP during the afternoon is encouraged to write in advance to get an appointment.
The rally will take place in Methodist Central Hall (close to the Houses of Parliament) with speeches between 15.00 and 15.30.
What do you need to do?

•Come along on 11 May and bring your family and friends! We hope for at least 10,000 people on the march.
•Register by clicking on register here to let us know that you’re coming and what access needs you have.
•If you’re planning to lobby your MP, write to request a meeting. You’re much more likely to get to see them if you do.
•If you want to come to the rally, book a place and register here. Space is limited!

Wednesday 6 April 2011

New listings for May Day and Workers Memorial Day

We have two new listings for May Day and Workers Memorial Day events, click on the tabs above for deatils of  Coventry and Corby events.

Families could lose over £2,500 in tax credit cuts from today

TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber
With tax credit changes that could leave families thousands of pounds out of pocket taking effect from today (Wednesday), the TUC has launched a tax credit calculator to help parents find out how they will be affected. The tax credit calculator – available at www.touchstoneblog.org.uk and on parenting forum mumsnet – allows working parents currently in receipt of tax credits to add their household details, such as income level and number of children, and then estimate how they will be affected by the tax changes taking place from today and from April next year.
Many parents will not have spotted the impact of the technical changes to working tax credits announced in last year’s Emergency budget – particularly as George Osborne made no reference to them in last month’s budget – and could be in for a shock when they realise how much they stand to lose from today, says the TUC.
For example, a dual earner family with incomes of £25,000 and £15,000, two children (a baby and a toddler), paying £400 a week in childcare for 45 weeks of the year, could lose around £2,600 a year by April 2012, according to the TUC tax credit calculator.
The tax credit changes featured in the calculator include:
· above inflation increases in child tax credits for this year and next
· a freeze in the basic element of working tax credit for three years (from April 2011)
· a freeze in the 30 hour element of working tax credit for three years (from April 2011)
· a reduction in the amount of eligible childcare costs met by working tax credit from 80 per cent to 70 per cent (from April 2011)
· a reduction in the second income threshold to £40,000 (from April 2011)
· a reversal of the plan to introduce a toddler tax credit (from April 2012), and
· a reduction in line with earnings (tapering) of the family element immediately after child element (from April 2012).
The tax credit changes come on top of changes to the way in which many benefits are uprated each year (from the RPI measure of inflation to CPI), which will further reduce the real value of tax credits and benefits.
The combination of tax credit cuts, the rise in VAT, the three year freeze in child benefit rates (as well as the cut for households with a higher rate taxpayer) and deep spending cuts could result in working families being hit hardest by the cuts, warns the TUC.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “With wages failing to keep up with the cost of living and the VAT rise biting into household budgets, these tax credit cuts could not have come at a worse time for families.
“Working families are bearing the brunt of government austerity measures, from cuts to vital public services such as sure start centres, libraries and youth clubs, to the freezing, cutting and scrapping of tax credits that are hitting household incomes.
“The government must do more to help hard pressed families by protecting the public services they rely on and ensuring that a greater share of the tax burden is placed on the banks that helped create the deficit, rather than the working families who are being made to pay for it.”
Founder and CEO of Mumsnet Justine Roberts said: “Many Mumsnetters are making changes to their family budgets as they find their wages aren’t going as far as they used to and tax credit changes are leaving them worse off.
“This calculator can help parents see what changes will affect them and help them plan to try to reduce the impact.”

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Internships must not undermine paid jobs, says TUC

Cheryl Pidgeon
Commenting on the government announcement today (Tuesday) that its forthcoming social mobility strategy will address the growing use of internships, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said: “There is a real danger that the spread of unpaid internships is undermining paid employment. “At the very least, the government must make sure that interns receive the national minimum wage, a bargain price to pay for the bright and able young people who are now taking up internships.”

Monday 4 April 2011

Corby and Kettering establishing a new trades union council

Union branches in the Corby and Kettering areas are looking to re-establish a trades council presence in their areas. There will be a meeting discuss this at the Corby Labour and Trades Union Club, Stuart Street, Corby on Tuesday 12th April, commencing at 7.30 p.m. While many union branches in the area have already been involved in early discussions it is likely that not all have been able to attend meetings so far. So, if your branch is interested in being part of the trades council for this area contact natalie@bigaboutmusic.org for delegate and office nomination forms.

Tolpuddle Festival 2011

The Tolpuddle Festival, organised by our colleagues in the South West TUC, has just launched the festival programme for this year's event. Click on the link for details: http://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/index.php?page=2010-festival

And check out the geat logo!                  

Derby Peoples' History events

Colleagues in the Derby area may wish to know about two Derby Peoples' History meetings coming up.

Alice Wheeldon: poisoner or patriot and suffragette?
Sat 16th April, 2pm, Derby Studio Theatre, with Sustained Magic Theatre.
The Silk Mill Lockout: strike, lockout or revolution?
Sat 30th April, Brewery Tap pub, 1, Derwent Street, from 2.00 p.m., following the Silk Mill march and rally.
For more information on both these events contact Keith Venables: venablesk@yahoo.co.uk

Friday 1 April 2011

New video from False Economy - Cuts are not the Cure

This is a super video outlining what the government is doing, and what really needs to happen.



Cuts Are Not The Cure from Unionfilms on Vimeo.