Youth Brass 2000 band shine at Corby Workers Memorial Day

The GMB sponsored Youth Brass 2000 band stole the show at today's Corby Workers Memorial Day. The band performed a number of songs before the speakers at Corby's Cube. Speakers included Andy Sawford MP and former Unison senior regional officer Peter Weston. A minutes silence was held for all workers who had lost their lives at work, with special mention for the Bangladeshi textile workers so cruelly killed by the collapse of their factory just a few days before.

Chesterfield Workers Memorial Day in pictures

The Chesterfield Workers Memorial Day was organised by DAST and the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre in Rykneld Square, Chesterfield, in the shadow of the twisted spire. Speakers this year were Cheryl Pidgeon, Ucatt regional secretary and Dan Shearer from the GMB. The commemoration was hosted by Chesterfield TUC President, James Eades.

Corby WMD gets huge turnout

Corby's annual Workers Memorial Day had over 100 people turn up to remember the dead and fight for the living. Moving speaker from the Mesothelioma Trust.

Cheryl Pidgeon, Ucatt, speaking at Chesterfield

Next speaker up is Cheryl Pidgeon, Ucatt regional secretary talking about changes in the law affecting workers safety. And the HSE is facing drastic cuts meaning safety enforcement is getting worse when it should be getting better.

Chesterfield Workers Memorial Day

GMB speaker at Chesterfield today talking about threats to UK workers. Health and safety is good for business, not a burden.

TUC rejects Policy Exchange call for wholesale privatisation of public services

 

Commenting on the Better public services: A roadmap for revolution report published today (Tuesday) by the Policy Exchange, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady (above) said:
“This report is no more than a call for the wholesale privatisation of all public services. But the British people do not want US-style profit-making introduced into services like the NHS.
”The truth is that union members – particularly in the emergency services – are always reluctant to take strike action and only do so when no other way of resolving a dispute is available. Even then it is only after a proper ballot and with emergency cover plans in place.
“The British public will see through this smear on public service workers from a right-wing think tank that refuses to reveal who funds it.”     

Union Learning Rep 2 course starts Birmingham 30th April

 

Are you interested in our forthcoming TUC Stage 2 course for Union Learning Representatives? It is due to start in Birmingham on 30 April and continue for the next 4 Tuesdays.

It follows on from TUC ULR Stage 1 and allows reps to complete the qualification NOCN Level 2 Certificate for Trade Union Learning Representatives. That’s the single ULR-only qualification in the world, not just the UK!

Course members will be supported in carrying out a learning needs analysis – which you may have begun on Stage 1 ULR; and find out about working with providers and partners to set up workplace learning projects. You will also be encouraged and helped to set up meetings with managers to get employer support for helping your members learn new skills and competencies.

While doing this you will of course be equipping yourself to go on to further study and new opportunities.

If you are interested please contact Louise Power at tucedmidlands@tuc.org.uk

online briefing - facility time

Paid time off for union reps in the public sector has been under a sustained political attack for the last 18 months.　

This has led to recommendations from a recent Cabinet Office review that the budget for paid time off in the Civil Service should be cut by more than 50 percent and that time off for trade union activities should always be unpaid. This review also recommended restrictions on the number of reps on 100 percent paid release. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been encouraging Local Authorities to adopt a similar hard-line approach.

To support union reps in the defence of existing facility time arrangements the TUC have produced a new on-line briefing module. The module provides information on the legal position of reps in respect of paid time off, helps reps to argue effectively against attacks on facility time and update current agreements. The materials will be of use to both public and private sector union reps.

The new resources can be accessed at the link below (users are required to complete a short registration.

As colleagues will be aware, paid time off for union reps in the public sector has been under a sustained political attack for the last 18 months.　

This has led to recommendations from a recent Cabinet Office review that the budget for paid time off in the Civil Service should be cut by more than 50 percent and that time off for trade union activities (attending internal union meetings and conferences etc.) should always be unpaid.　 This review also recommended restrictions on the number of reps on 100 percent paid release.　 Not to be outdone, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been encouraging Local Authorities to adopt a similar hard-line approach.

To support union reps in the defence of existing facility time arrangements we have produced a new on-line briefing module.　 The module provides information on the legal position of reps in respect of paid time off, helps reps to argue effectively against attacks on facility time and update current agreements. The materials will be of use to both public and private sector union reps.

The new resources can be accessed at the link below and users are required to complete a short registration.

 

 

www.tuceducation.org.uk/facilitytime

 www.tuceducation.org.uk/facilitytime

Government is wrong to abolish Agricultural Wages Board, says TUC

TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady

The TUC has today (Wednesday) slammed Ministers for refusing to discuss proposals to save the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) during the final debate on the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill last night.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This Bill is a direct attack on agricultural workers and has been sped through the House without any proper debate on its likely impact.

'The government's own figures show that getting rid of the AWB could see wages in the agricultural industry fall by £13 million, with many farm workers and their families strongly relying upon it to stay above the breadline.

'We are also worried that removing the minimum sick pay entitlements set by the board will mean that farm workers will return from illness before they are properly fit. Agriculture accounts for a quarter of all workplace deaths with 41 people killed last year alone.'

The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for England and Wales brings together employers and unions to set wages and conditions for 150,000 agricultural employees.

Our new eNewsletter - Midlands News 41 - has just been published on our website and you can view it here:
The new issue looks at the constantly increasing board room pay, has news about the Women Chainmakers Festival, a report from our TUC Pensioners Forum and much more.

 

Chesterfield Workers’ Memorial Day

Remember the Dead - Fight for the Living Friday 26th April 2013 from 11.00am Rykneld Square, Chesterfield

The Government says Health and Safety is a Burden on Business

The Real Burden is on Families

• In the last 2 years, 99 Construction Workers have been killed at work.

• 120 victims from the East Midlands died of Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer) in 2012

On Workers’ Memorial Day we ‘Remember’ those who have been needlessly killed, injured, or made ill by their work. Also, perhaps more importantly, it is about using this human tragedy to strengthen the campaign for a safer and healthier workplace.

Throughout the UK, hundreds of workers die in preventable workplace “accidents” and thousands die from occupational diseases every year. On this day we remember these workers and their families. But also fight for change.

The UK Government is making Health and Safety a scapegoat for lack of growth in the economy. However, the truth is that the government attacks and spending cuts will put even more lives at risk. It is, therefore, important that Workers’ Memorial Day is used to ensure that Health and Safety is a priority in the workplace as no one should be put at unnecessary risk at work.

 

Speakers

• Dan Shears - Lead Health and Safety Officer - GMB

• Cheryl Pidgeon - Regional Secretary - UCATT

“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” - a display to highlight the human cost of the Government’s attacks on health and safety.

For more information contact:

TRUST on 01246 380415

Corby Workers Memorial Day

The Corby Steel workers statue, outside the Corby Cube.

Our friends at the GMB Northants Community Branch are organising the annual Workers Memorial Day commemoration on Saturday 27th April at the Steelworkers Statue outside The Cube, Corby, 11: a.m. start, followed by a light buffet. This year there will be a youth band to entertain, all welcome.

Remember the Dead - Fight for the Living

Top pay rises continue apace while real wages fall for ordinary families, says TUC

TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady

Commenting on a report published today (Wednesday) by the Chartered Institute of Management which says that UK chief executives saw a 15.8 per cent increase in their salaries in the past year – mostly made up of bonuses, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Ordinary people are suffering the biggest squeeze on their incomes in almost a century, but families’ financial pain is not being shared by their top bosses who have huge bonuses to cushion them against any drop in their living standards.

“While real wages continue to fall for working people, the cosy pay clubs setting salary and bonus payouts for top executives are awarding payouts that bear little relation to company performance and that only serve to widen the gap between the richest and the poorest in the UK.

“With the AGM season almost upon us, our new share owner group aims to inject a long overdue dose of reality into British boardrooms and will use the power of our pension funds to encourage a new and more responsible corporate Britain.”

Last month the TUC and its two largest affiliated unions, Unite and UNISON launched Trade Union Share Owners – a new group which aims to put union values at the heart of the world of corporate governance, with a new approach to the way in which their investments are voted on at company AGMs. From now on at any AGM of a FTSE350 company where either the TUC staff pension fund or those of its two biggest unions hold shares, the group will work with shareholder advisory group PIRC to ensure that their funds take a common voting position in accordance with a new set of policy guidelines drawn up by the TUC http://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-22042-f0.cfm

Midlands News 40 published today

We have just published our new eNewsletter on the TUC website. You can view the eNewsletter  here

In this issue we have the views of our Regional Secretary, Rob Johnston, on changes to the welfare system; a report from the Action for Rail campaign in Derby; an update on PCS members taking industrial action; and a report from the Disabled Members forum.