Midlands TUC Media This blog contains material from the Midlands TUC. Our media releases will appear on this site as well as linking to the Midlands TUC website which hosts our enewsletters and much more.
Thursday 29 March 2012
Monday 26 March 2012
Workers in some cities outside London and the South East could suffer wage cuts of up to 17%
Workers in some cities outside London and the South East could suffer wage cuts of up to 17% under the Government's plans to introduce regional pay rates in the public sector, according to a new study.
Research by jobs website Adzuna.co.uk found that the West Country, the Midlands and the North of England will be hardest hit, especially cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast and Cardiff.
Tens of thousands of staff in government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office and the Department for Transport could see their pay cut by up to GBP5,000 if regional wage rates are brought in, said the report.
Allowances paid to some public sector workers in inner London could also be cut, to come into line with lower private sector payments, according to the research.
Doug Monro, of Adzuna, said: "Workers will always be paid a premium where demand outstrips supply, but the changes could well affect the prosperity of the regions and lead to even more migration into an overcrowded London."
Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said: "This is more evidence of the excruciating impact of local pay on some of the most economically depressed areas of the country.
"The Government should think again before introducing crude cuts that will starve local businesses of much-needed income, and add to the number of boarded-up shops in the high street.
"Public service workers are already suffering from a pay freeze despite the rising cost of basic necessities such as food and fuel. Local pay is expensive to implement and makes no economic sense."
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It won't just be public sector workers outside of London and the South East that lose out if the Government's ill-thought out proposals for local pay go ahead.
"Local economies, already reeling from the impact of thousands of public sector job losses and a lack of consumer spending because of the government-imposed public sector pay freeze, would be dealt a further blow if public servants' pay is held back.
"Setting pay nationally makes sense for the public sector and many large private firms opt for this approach too. They know that negotiating local pay can be incredibly complicated, time-consuming and expensive.
"It's not public sector pay rates that are stopping private companies from taking on staff. The real reason is that with our economy stagnating most businesses don't feel confident enough to invest and take on staff and won't do so until the UK's wider economic prospects improve."
Research by jobs website Adzuna.co.uk found that the West Country, the Midlands and the North of England will be hardest hit, especially cities such as Leeds, Liverpool, Belfast and Cardiff.
Tens of thousands of staff in government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office and the Department for Transport could see their pay cut by up to GBP5,000 if regional wage rates are brought in, said the report.
Allowances paid to some public sector workers in inner London could also be cut, to come into line with lower private sector payments, according to the research.
Doug Monro, of Adzuna, said: "Workers will always be paid a premium where demand outstrips supply, but the changes could well affect the prosperity of the regions and lead to even more migration into an overcrowded London."
Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union, said: "This is more evidence of the excruciating impact of local pay on some of the most economically depressed areas of the country.
"The Government should think again before introducing crude cuts that will starve local businesses of much-needed income, and add to the number of boarded-up shops in the high street.
"Public service workers are already suffering from a pay freeze despite the rising cost of basic necessities such as food and fuel. Local pay is expensive to implement and makes no economic sense."
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It won't just be public sector workers outside of London and the South East that lose out if the Government's ill-thought out proposals for local pay go ahead.
"Local economies, already reeling from the impact of thousands of public sector job losses and a lack of consumer spending because of the government-imposed public sector pay freeze, would be dealt a further blow if public servants' pay is held back.
"Setting pay nationally makes sense for the public sector and many large private firms opt for this approach too. They know that negotiating local pay can be incredibly complicated, time-consuming and expensive.
"It's not public sector pay rates that are stopping private companies from taking on staff. The real reason is that with our economy stagnating most businesses don't feel confident enough to invest and take on staff and won't do so until the UK's wider economic prospects improve."
Thursday 22 March 2012
UCATT to hold Midlands Safety Conference in Derby
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| Ucatt General Secretary Steve Murphy, left, who will be addressing tomorrows conference |
Construction is the most dangerous industry in the UK. In 2010/11 a total of 50 construction workers were killed at work, 6 of those deaths were in the Midlands.
The conference will allow UCATT representatives, to discuss their experiences, identify the training they need to improve their knowledge and work with employers to secure safer workplaces It will also lead to the establishment of a regional health and safety forum.
Speakers at the conference will include: Glenis Willmott MEP, Steve Murphy General Secretary of UCATT, Rob Johnson Regional Secretary of the Midlands TUC, and a representative from Families Against Corporate Killing.
Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “Safety reps are at the frontline of keeping construction workers safe. This conference is about ensuring that they have the appropriate skills to perform that role.”
Cheryl Pidgeon Regional Secretary for UCATT Midlands Region, said: “This conference is a starting point to improve workplace safety throughout the Midlands. If the life of a single construction worker is saved as a result of this conference it will have been more than worthwhile.”
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Midlands TUC Budget Response
‘Budget for the rich by the rich', says TUC Responding to the Budget today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“We needed a Budget that looked to the future and made jobs – particularly for young people – the national priority. Instead we have got a Budget for the rich by the rich.
‘One Minute the Chancellor said he found tax avoidance morally repugnant, the next he rewarded it by cutting income tax for the richest onw per cent – with precious little relief for hard-pressed families on ordinary incomes. Treasury figures show that those on low and middle incomes will do worse than those higher up the income scale
This looks like a Budget made to keep the coalition together rather than one made for the good of the country”
Said Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary
This budget has not delivered for working people in the Midlands. Electrification of the Midlands Mainline is much needed and the Chancellor failed to act and missed a real opportunity to deliver a boost to Midlands infrastructure.
What’s more, the proposals on regionalised pay will hit our region hard.
The cost of reducing public sector pay in the Midlands by just 1% will mean £250million in lost income for over a million workers in the Midlands. This will simply entrench the divide between our region and London and the South east.
Doctors’, nurses’ and teachers’ pay should be set by the job they are doing rather than how wealthy their local area is. Paying someone more to save lives or teach a child in a rich area than a poor one is deeply unfair and makes no sense.
The Chancellor’s rush towards regional pay suggests the government is more interested in picking a fight with public sector workers than boosting regional economies
“We needed a Budget that looked to the future and made jobs – particularly for young people – the national priority. Instead we have got a Budget for the rich by the rich.
‘One Minute the Chancellor said he found tax avoidance morally repugnant, the next he rewarded it by cutting income tax for the richest onw per cent – with precious little relief for hard-pressed families on ordinary incomes. Treasury figures show that those on low and middle incomes will do worse than those higher up the income scale
This looks like a Budget made to keep the coalition together rather than one made for the good of the country”
Said Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary
This budget has not delivered for working people in the Midlands. Electrification of the Midlands Mainline is much needed and the Chancellor failed to act and missed a real opportunity to deliver a boost to Midlands infrastructure.
What’s more, the proposals on regionalised pay will hit our region hard.
The cost of reducing public sector pay in the Midlands by just 1% will mean £250million in lost income for over a million workers in the Midlands. This will simply entrench the divide between our region and London and the South east.
Doctors’, nurses’ and teachers’ pay should be set by the job they are doing rather than how wealthy their local area is. Paying someone more to save lives or teach a child in a rich area than a poor one is deeply unfair and makes no sense.
The Chancellor’s rush towards regional pay suggests the government is more interested in picking a fight with public sector workers than boosting regional economies
RMT members up early campaigning against McNulty cuts
RMT members were up early in Nuneaton to campain against the damaging proposals set out in the McNulty report.
Cuts to staff and services are not the way forward for a public service that is carrying more passengers than ever and paying huge amounts from salaries which have in some instances not increased for years.
McNulty is proposing fare hikes of up to 30%. Can you afford this? Whether you can or cannot you should urge your MP to sign early day motion 2299 urging the government to reject McNulty and deliver affordable railways run in the public interest.
(And yes, we know railway workers get up early - they serve the public, its what they do, and we should be proud of the job they do on our behalf
Thursday 15 March 2012
More cuts to Derbyshire Youth Services
Sir,
Yet again we see the government’s cuts to services hitting those least able to defend or speak for themselves. This time the axe falls on young people and their Youth Services.
This hapless County Council are having to push through ridiculous “savings” at a time when we need more investment in our youth, not less. Youth unemployment is still rising, jobs are scarce, and the very service that seeks to support our future is cut away.
The community and voluntary sector have always provided services for young people and where they are successful they should be rightly applauded and supported. However, community and voluntary organisations are themselves facing enormous financial pressures and can never ensure a comprehensive service that meets the needs of all our young people in all of our communities. Where youth services have been handed entirely to the community and voluntary sector, such as in Northamptonshire, we have seen disastrous results.
Quite simply, removal of local authority youth service provision is not the answer. We need quality local authority services to work hand in hand with the community and voluntary sector if we are to support our young people.
Unfortunately at a time of record youth unemployment, sky high tuition fees and the abolition of EMA it appears as though too many policy makers are not thinking about what needs to be done to ensure that our young people are properly supported.
Councils need to listen to their young people and think again.
Yours sincerely
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC
This letter has been sent to Derbyshire newspapers and radio outlets
Incapacity benefit tests are failing disabled people, says TUC
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| Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary |
"These tests have deemed terminally ill patients and people with severe disabilities as 'fit to work', are costing taxpayers a small fortune in successful legal appeals and serve no clear benefit to the very people they are supposed to help.
"The point of a fitness test should be to identify whether someone is really fit to work, not to kick people off benefits whatever the cost."
Further information can be found here:
- The incapacity benefit re-assessment test results, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, are available at http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_ibr/esa_ibr_mar12.pdf
Scrapping unfair dismissal will do nothing to boost the economy, says TUC
Responding to a government call for evidence published today (Thursday) which says that unfair dismissal laws are preventing small companies from taking on staff and could be replaced by "no fault compensated dismissal", Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said:
"Scrapping protection against unfair dismissal, even for people who have given years of loyal service, will do absolutely nothing to boost the economy. If people are constantly in fear of losing their jobs it will lead to even less consumer spending.
"Losing your job is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone, especially when unemployment is so high. Employees should only be dismissed for fair reasons, as set out in current laws. The clue is in the name - unfair dismissal.
"Employers already have powers to make fair dismissals for misconduct or poor performance. Giving bosses the right to act unfairly may go down well on the backbenches, but it will horrify employees.
"But while this proposal does nothing for growth, it does show the kind of economy those close to the Prime Minister want to create - one in which nasty bosses are given full license to undermine those trying to maintain decent standards.
"We are relieved that the government is calling for evidence rather than simply announcing a change in the law. The TUC will provide evidence that there is no causal link between employment regulation and recruitment, and will demonstrate the real injustices that will result from employers being allowed to sack people on a whim and pay them a derisory arbitrary sum in compensation."
"Scrapping protection against unfair dismissal, even for people who have given years of loyal service, will do absolutely nothing to boost the economy. If people are constantly in fear of losing their jobs it will lead to even less consumer spending.
"Losing your job is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone, especially when unemployment is so high. Employees should only be dismissed for fair reasons, as set out in current laws. The clue is in the name - unfair dismissal.
"Employers already have powers to make fair dismissals for misconduct or poor performance. Giving bosses the right to act unfairly may go down well on the backbenches, but it will horrify employees.
"But while this proposal does nothing for growth, it does show the kind of economy those close to the Prime Minister want to create - one in which nasty bosses are given full license to undermine those trying to maintain decent standards.
"We are relieved that the government is calling for evidence rather than simply announcing a change in the law. The TUC will provide evidence that there is no causal link between employment regulation and recruitment, and will demonstrate the real injustices that will result from employers being allowed to sack people on a whim and pay them a derisory arbitrary sum in compensation."
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Mixed picture for unemployment
The latest unumployment figures present a mixed picture for the Midlands as a whole.
- Unemployment in the West Midlands fell by 1,000 in the three months to January
- a total of 241,000 people were unemployed between November 2011 and January 2012.
- Across the West Mids, 9.1% of the population is unemployed - a fall of 0.4%.
- Unemployment in the East Midlands increased by 5,000 in the three months to January
- a total of 187,000 people were unemployed between November 2011 and January 2012.
- Across the region 8.2% of the population is unemployed - a rise of 2.7% over the period
Nationally, the unemployment rate has increased to a near 17-year high after another rise in the jobless total to almost 2.7 million.
Other figures from the ONS showed that public sector employment fell by 37,000 in the final quarter of 2011 to just under six million, while the numbers employed in private firms increased by 45,000 to 23 million.
Youth unemployment increased by 16,000 to reach 1.04 million, a jobless rate of 22.5%.
The unemployment rate is now 8.4%, up by 0.1% from the previous quarter, the highest since the end of 1995.
- Unemployment in the West Midlands fell by 1,000 in the three months to January
- a total of 241,000 people were unemployed between November 2011 and January 2012.
- Across the West Mids, 9.1% of the population is unemployed - a fall of 0.4%.
- Unemployment in the East Midlands increased by 5,000 in the three months to January
- a total of 187,000 people were unemployed between November 2011 and January 2012.
- Across the region 8.2% of the population is unemployed - a rise of 2.7% over the period
Nationally, the unemployment rate has increased to a near 17-year high after another rise in the jobless total to almost 2.7 million.
Other figures from the ONS showed that public sector employment fell by 37,000 in the final quarter of 2011 to just under six million, while the numbers employed in private firms increased by 45,000 to 23 million.
Youth unemployment increased by 16,000 to reach 1.04 million, a jobless rate of 22.5%.
The unemployment rate is now 8.4%, up by 0.1% from the previous quarter, the highest since the end of 1995.
Saturday 10 March 2012
NUT Regional Women's Conference
The conference is moving into workshops this afternoon, concentrating on "Keeping up the Chainmakers' tradition, Women in the NUT", Gender and Education - Breaking the Mould. Also there will be a workshop entitled, "Victorian Education - -the coalition version".
Friday 9 March 2012
Women Chainmakers’ Festival returns to Cradley Heath in Sandwell
The festival celebrating an historic strike by women chainmakers’ will return to Sandwell in the summer.
The eighth Women Chainmakers festival will be held in Bearmore Park in Cradley Heath on 9 June.
The venue, Bearmore Mound, is in the heart of the community where the chainmakers’ lived and worked - and fought their successful ten week dispute for a minimum wage for their sector in 1910.
The festival will be jointly organised by the Midlands Region of the TUC and Sandwell Council.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: “We are delighted to bring the Chainmakers back to Cradley Heath.
“This places our joint celebration of Mary Macarthur, who led the strike, back in the heart of the community where the women fought for their rights to a minimum wage.
“It was a great achievement and we are indebted to Sandwell Council for their support in helping us continue to celebrate this important event.
“We are looking to make this festival an integral part of Cradley Heath for the foreseeable future and look forward to a long and successful partnership with the council to make this happen.”
Sandwell Council Leader Councillor Darren Cooper said: “We are very pleased the TUC is again prepared to organise the festival in conjunction with the council.
“This is an event which celebrates our local history and marks one of the most important events to take place anywhere in the country – and it is here on our patch in Cradley Heath.”
The festival has been moved forward to June to coincide with the unveiling of a statue of a woman chainmaker at Mary Macarthur Park in Cradley Heath, organised by the council and the Friends of Mary Macarthur Gardens Group.
Further information:
The festival celebrates the achievements of 800 or so women Chainmakers who fought to establish a minimum wage for their labour. The local employers sought to deny them their rights but were met with forceful opposition, led by Mary Macarthur, who founded the National Federation of Women Workers and later stood for Parliament as a Labour candidate.
Sir,
Closure of North Staffordshire Remploy
The decision to close the North Staffordshire Remploy facility with the loss of 114 jobs – 104 of which are for disabled people – is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Remploy was initially set up in 1946 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, many of them injured servicemen returning from the war.
This week we saw the government sack 1,752 people across the country with the Chesterfield facility included as one of the 36 factories to close. Rather than putting more disabled workers on the dole the government should be using EU procurement rules that allow supported manufacturing jobs for disabled workers. Not enough public bodies were placing orders with Remploy leading to a lack of work in the factories. The government should encourage public sector bodies to award contracts to Remploy for work that will provide a sustainable future for the company and its’ workers.
The government’s action is a disgrace, and should be immediately withdrawn. Urgent plans need to be put forward to fully utilise the capabilities that these sites clearly have. They will not though, because they just don’t care about the damage they are doing.
Yours
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC
Further information:
The 2 links below include a C4 clip where a Remploy worker explains why he is devastated - please watch, please pass on to as many as you can by whatever means.
Please sign and have signed the e petition, Unite and GMB will fight and fight to change this decision.
Any contributions to the " Remploy Fighting Fund" can be send to me @ Unite the Union, Unit 2, Pride Point Drive, Pride Park, Derby DE248BX, all donations will be put to good use.
Remploy closures are "a despicable act" http://t.co/eZiy1wRj
HELP SAVE REMPLOY - Go to www.remployworkers.info and sign the petition
Closure of Leicester Remploy
Sir,
Closure of Leicester Remploy
The decision to close the Leicester Remploy facility with the loss of 23 jobs – 20 of which are for disabled people – is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Remploy was initially set up in 1946 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, many of them injured servicemen returning from the war.
This week we saw the government sack 1,752 people across the country with the Leicester facility included as one of the 36 factories to close. Rather than putting more disabled workers on the dole the government should be using EU procurement rules that allow supported manufacturing jobs for disabled workers. Not enough public bodies were placing orders with Remploy leading to a lack of work in the factories. The government should encourage public sector bodies to award contracts to Remploy for work that will provide a sustainable future for the company and its’ workers.
The government’s action is a disgrace, and should be immediately withdrawn. Urgent plans need to be put forward to fully utilise the capabilities that these sites clearly have. They will not though, because they just don’t care about the damage they are doing.
Yours
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC
Further information:
The 2 links below include a C4 clip where a Remploy worker explains why he is devastated - please watch, please pass on to as many as you can by whatever means.
Please sign and have signed the e petition, Unite and GMB will fight and fight to change this decision.
Any contributions to the " Remploy Fighting Fund" can be send to me @ Unite the Union, Unit 2, Pride Point Drive, Pride Park, Derby DE248BX, all donations will be put to good use.
Remploy closures are "a despicable act" http://t.co/eZiy1wRj
HELP SAVE REMPLOY - Go to www.remployworkers.info and sign the petition
Closure of Chesterfield Remploy
Sir,
Closure of Chesterfield Remploy
The decision to close the Chesterfield Remploy facility with the loss of 64 jobs – 54 of which are for disabled people – is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Remploy was initially set up in 1946 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, many of them injured servicemen returning from the war.
This week we saw the government sack 1,752 people across the country with the Chesterfield facility included as one of the 36 factories to close. Rather than putting more disabled workers on the dole the government should be using EU procurement rules that allow supported manufacturing jobs for disabled workers. Not enough public bodies were placing orders with Remploy leading to a lack of work in the factories. The government should encourage public sector bodies to award contracts to Remploy for work that will provide a sustainable future for the company and its’ workers.
The government’s action is a disgrace, and should be immediately withdrawn. Urgent plans need to be put forward to fully utilise the capabilities that these sites clearly have. They will not though, because they just don’t care about the damage they are doing.
Yours
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC
Further information:
The 2 links below include a C4 clip where a Remploy worker explains why he is devastated - please watch, please pass on to as many as you can by whatever means.
Please sign and have signed the e petition, Unite and GMB will fight and fight to change this decision.
Any contributions to the " Remploy Fighting Fund" can be send to me @ Unite the Union, Unit 2, Pride Point Drive, Pride Park, Derby DE248BX, all donations will be put to good use.
Remploy closures are "a despicable act" http://t.co/eZiy1wRj
HELP SAVE REMPLOY - Go to www.remployworkers.info and sign the petition
Closure of North Staffordshire Remploy
Sir,
Closure of North Staffordshire Remploy
The decision to close the North Staffordshire Remploy facility with the loss of 114 jobs – 104 of which are for disabled people – is an attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Remploy was initially set up in 1946 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities, many of them injured servicemen returning from the war.
This week we saw the government sack 1,752 people across the country with the Chesterfield facility included as one of the 36 factories to close. Rather than putting more disabled workers on the dole the government should be using EU procurement rules that allow supported manufacturing jobs for disabled workers. Not enough public bodies were placing orders with Remploy leading to a lack of work in the factories. The government should encourage public sector bodies to award contracts to Remploy for work that will provide a sustainable future for the company and its’ workers.
The government’s action is a disgrace, and should be immediately withdrawn. Urgent plans need to be put forward to fully utilise the capabilities that these sites clearly have. They will not though, because they just don’t care about the damage they are doing.
Yours
Rob Johnston
Regional Secretary
Midlands TUC
Further information:
The 2 links below include a C4 clip where a Remploy worker explains why he is devastated - please watch, please pass on to as many as you can by whatever means.
Please sign and have signed the e petition, Unite and GMB will fight and fight to change this decision.
Any contributions to the " Remploy Fighting Fund" can be send to me @ Unite the Union, Unit 2, Pride Point Drive, Pride Park, Derby DE248BX, all donations will be put to good use.
Remploy closures are "a despicable act" http://t.co/eZiy1wRj
HELP SAVE REMPLOY - Go to www.remployworkers.info and sign the petition
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