Southampton Industrial action update - next group on strike tomorrow

40 UNISON and Unite members employed as Council Enforcement Officers, Parking Equipment Technicians and Cashier Driver / Collectors are the next group to strike in the campaign against pay cuts.  They are on strike for 7 days as from 31 May. 

As all Council Enforcement Officers and Parking Equipment Technicians will be on strike, there will be no parking enforcement in Southampton for the duration of the strike.  There will also be no repair of faulty parking meters or car park entrance barriers.
 

The Parking Operations strike will start the day the Refuse section return to work after a successful 5 day strike.  The Refuse section is to strike again for one day on Saturday 4 June. 

The section would normally work that day in order to catch up on refuse collections not carried out on bank holiday Monday.  The section is also refusing to work overtime and working to rule.
 
The industrial action short of strike across the Council continues and is being well supported.
 
Although the Council has stated that it will join talks with the trade unions and ACAS, no steps have been taken to organise talks.
 
A joint rally to support the UNISON / Unite industrial action is being held on Thursday 2 June at 12.30 p.m. Above Bar Church, central Southampton.  The main speakers are Keith Sonnet, UNISON Deputy General Secretary and Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary.  All UNISON and Unite members are welcome.
 
With the growing industrial action, financial support is crucial.  Other sections are preparing to strike when Parking Operations returns to work. 

The trade unions are paying full take home pay to those on strike, plus hardship payments to members refusing to work overtime. 

We have already received donations from many UNISON branches, but we need more.  Please send donations and messages of support to our Branch office.
 
Southampton is at the forefront of the campaign against the Conservative cuts.  We need your support.
 
Best wishes
 
Mike Tucker
UNISON National Executive Council Member /
Branch Secretary

Tel:  023 8083 2740
e-mail: branchsecretary[at]soton-unison-office.org.uk or
Blackberry e-mail:  m.tucker[at]unison.co.uk
 
Joint UNISON / UNITE Membership Meeting to Organise Industrial Action
12.30 p.m., Thursday 2 June
Above Bar Church
 
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Havering Unison Lobby Wednesday 25 May

Update: Congrats to my Branch Secretary Garry Chick-Mackay for organising a hugely
succesful lobby on Wednesday night,.


As well as unison members from our branch and other unison branches there were
people from our sister unions, including the NUT, GMB and Unite, a Labour
Councillor and Jon Crudas MP, and a hell of a lot of young people!
Its always refreshing to see the next generation standing up for
public services, and their presence made the lobby altogether more vibrant and
entertaining, the young boys on their skateboards and bikes doing stunts with
Unite flags went down well with the 100+ people lobbying the council.


There was also a journalist and photographer from the Romford Recorder there so
lets hope we get some good publicity.

See pics below :)

Have a good bank holiday weekend

Previoius post I along with many other members of my branch will (I hope!) be lobbying Havering Council meeting next Wednesday evening (25th 6pm Romford Town Hall), we have already had a mention of the lobby in the local Romford Recorder and today my Branch Secretary (Garry who is quoted in the article below) posted this link on facebook to maximise turnout for the lobby - so I thought I had better blog it and ask you all to come along!

In a nutshell the council are planning to stop the youth service from being one available to all (universal) to only providing some services and those that they do provide will be targeted.

With youth unemployment on the rise and already a lack of facilities for young people, society cannot afford to neglect the next generation (at 30 I am no longer young as Andrew keeps pointing out .. :p) even more.

http://www.romford-today.co.uk/News.cfm?id=18289&headline=Plans+for+cuts+to+youth+services+%27catastrophic%27

"Plans for cuts to youth services 'catastrophic'
Thursday, 19 May 2011

CAMPAIGNERS will call for Havering Council to rethink its cuts to youth services in the borough.
Havering Unison is organising a lobby at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday, May 25, supported by fellow unions Unite, GMB and NUT.
The protest, which was called by Unison and Unite members working in the council's Youth Service, is against what they describe as 'catastrophic' cuts.
Proposals include the closure of youth services at Century Youth House in Romford, and of three schools-based youth work units as well as the ending of project work around teenage pregnancy.
Unison's branch secretary, Garry Chick-Mackay, said: "These cuts are the beginning of the end of youth services being open and available to all young people in Havering.
"Our young people deserve to have social spaces away from school and home, where they can spend time with their peers in a safe environment. They deserve youth clubs organised and run by professional youth workers, trained to deal with wide-ranging needs.
"Young people in Havering and elsewhere are being punished by the Government and by this council for economic and political decisions they had no say in.
"We call on the council to step back from these damaging proposals before it's too late."
Havering Council's cabinet member for children and learning, Paul Rochford, explained that all services were being examined, but that no final decision had been made.
He said: "In the last financial year we had to fund a savings gap of around £20m due to Government spending cuts, and we will need to make further savings this year.
"Because of this, we are reviewing all of our services, making sure that they are focused on where they can do the most good, and fair.
"We are currently carrying out a wide consultation with young people, unions and partners to ensure we continue to meet their needs.
"No final decisions have yet been made and we will be publishing a new financial plan in the summer."
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CWU vote yes to Strike action and call on TUC to call General Strike

London postal workers vote 'Yes' for strike action

Postal workers in London have voted by four to one (79 per cent) in favour of strike action against plans to shut three mail centres and one delivery office in London. The Communication Workers Union is concerned that the closures will lead to compulsory redundancies.

Up to 3,500 Royal Mail staff will take strike action unless reassurances are given over job security and concerns of bullying are addressed.

Martin Walsh, CWU divisional rep, said: "London postal workers have sent a clear message to Royal Mail in this ballot that they will not be bullied or intimidated by the company.

"Royal Mail's closure plans are a clear threat of compulsory redundancy and this is completely unacceptable. In their race to push services to the bottom Royal Mail will eventually provoke a reaction wider than London."

Mark Palfrey, CWU Divisional Rep, said "This result tells Royal Mail in no uncertain terms that they as an employer are completely out of step with their employees.

"We urge Royal Mail to engage with the union to address the real concern of postal workers across the capital."

The ballot closed today (Monday) and of the returned ballot papers 79 per cent voted in favour of strike action with only 21 per cent voting no.

The four workplaces are: Mount Pleasant, Nine Elms (Vauxhall), Rathbone Place and East London.

Also, at CWU conference yesterday,

CWU votes to support a 24hr general strike

CWU delegates have voted unanimously in support of composite motion 1A which calls on "the TUC to coordinate a 24-hour general strike against the cuts and attacks on wages and pensions."

Well done on the CWU - let's hope the TUC heed this call and start organising action against these cuts instead of "candlelight vigils" - we are facing the worst attacks in a generation and need our union and tuc to lead the fightback, not hinder us.

Marshajane
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Southampton strike pics and update

Picture is of the picket line this morning and below the latest bulletin from Mike Tucker unison NEC

Marshajane

"2400 UNISON and Unite members employed by Southampton City Council commenced industrial action today.  110 Refuse workers started a 5 day strike, while all other union members started various forms of industrial action short of strike.
 
There was 100% support for the Refuse strike, with a picket line of 70 people outside the Town Depot from 5.30 a.m.  (For more pictures of the picket line, visit our Branch web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk.)

When the Refuse section returns to work on 31 May, another group of UNISON / Unite members are to strike for 7 days.
 
We are holding a joint UNISON / Unite members rally on Thursday 2 June at 12.30 p.m. in central Southampton.  Speakers include Keith Sonnet, UNISON Deputy General Secretary, and Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary.  Messages of support for this rally would be welcome.
 

Thanks very much to those Branches who have already donated to our strike fund.  Your support is much appreciated.  We still need financial support.  The selective strike action is being funded on the basis of the trade unions paying full take home pay.  We are also making payments to those workers who refuse overtime.  Groups affected by this form of industrial action include street cleaning, who are already on a low wage and survive by working overtime.  Any financial support you can give is appreciated.
 
Southampton is at the forefront of the fight to stop wage cuts.  We have entered into a crucial stage of our dispute.  Any help you can give will help sustain our industrial action.

 
The action short of strike being taken by all UNISON members includes:
 
1.                   Refusing to use your car for Council duties
All Council car users, including those in receipt of essential car allowance, Southampton Car Allowance and casual mileage payments are refusing to use their car for work.  Travel for work is being carried out by:
•     Public transport
•     Taxis paid for by the City Council
•     Walking / bike
Members are refusing to use hire cars or pool cars to travel in the City.
 
2.                   Refusing to work paid overtime
All UNISON members are refusing to work overtime from 23 May.  This includes contractual overtime.
 
3.                   Only working contractual hours
UNISON members are only working the hours they are paid for (including accumulating hours for flexileave).  All unpaid working time has ceased.  Where set working hours are specified, only those set hours are being worked.  Specified lunch breaks are also being taken.
 
4.                   Working to contract / withholding of "goodwill"
Many UNISON members carry out work beyond what is specified in their contract of employment.  UNISON members are now only carrying out duties that are specified in their contracts.  Duties of another post or duties of a higher level of responsibility (unless in receipt of a honorarium payment) are not being undertaken.  Only duties UNISON members are employed for, and for which they are being paid, are being undertaken.
 
5.                   Not covering for vacant posts
UNISON members are not covering jobs in workplaces that are vacant, or deleted, unless the duties are specified in their own job description / contract.
 
Best wishes
 
Mike Tucker
UNISON National Executive Council Member /
Branch Secretary
UNISON Southampton District Branch
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7NB
mike.tucker[at]southampton.gov.uk
Blackberry e-mail:  m.tucker[at]unison.co.uk
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UNISON and UNITE members in Southampton City Council strike today

As I blogged last week
http://unionfutures.blogspot.com/2011/05/unison-and-unite-members-in-southampton_18.html today UNISON and UNITE members are taking co-ordinated strike action against pay cuts, in April, the City Council issued dismissal notices to all City Council workers in order to enforce pay cuts of up 15%!


Solidarity to those striking today my branch have sent a message of solidarity and a cheque for the strike fund and I encourage others to ask branches to do the same.

Let's hope to see some coverage of this on UNISON's national website as a positive example of unity in taking action to fight off attacks.

E-mail:  M.tucker[AT]unison.co.uk
Mike.Tucker[AT]southampton.gov.uk

There are more details on the Branch web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk

Marshajane
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Question Time

UNISON Branches have until midday on Wednesday 1 June to ask questions on the Annual Report of our National Executive Council, to be presented to National Delegate Conference in Manchester next month. This is our chance to ask questions to which we sometimes struggle to get answers - like how much staff time is devoted to running branches under regional supervision, or how many strike ballots we have organised (and how long has it taken for them to be approved).

This isn't as easy as you might think though. First, you have to email the relevant officer to get a copy of the form, on which you have to submit your question (sending in a hard copy signed by the Branch Secretary). You'll get a written response (by 5pm on Friday 10 June), but then need to submit a further supplementary question (by midday on Wednesday 15 June) in order to have the right to get up at Conference and put your question (anyone would think the NEC weren't keen for us to ask questions!)

This is an important part of holding our leadership to account - we shouldn't miss this opportunity.

UNISON and UNITE members in Southampton City Council to start indefinite industrial action.

Solidarity with Mike Tucker the branch secretary (and lefty NEC member) of the Southampton UNISON branch and the UNISON and UNITE members who will shortly start a programme of Industrial action (See Press release below)

The action will include a 5 day strike in the Refuse section. 

The branch are requesting messages of support and financial support to be sent to

Branch Secretary
UNISON Southampton District Branch
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7NB

e-mail:  M.tucker [AT] unison.co.uk

There are more details on the Branch web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk.

Please send a msg of support and ask your branch to send a donation thanks

Marshajane

Press release:

16 May 2011

Industrial action to start in Southampton City Council on Monday 23 May

2600 UNISON and UNITE members working for Southampton City Council will start indefinite industrial action on Monday 23 May. The industrial action will take two forms. All UNISON / UNITE members will be undertaking action short of strike action. The action being taken will include:

- Refusal to use private cars for Council work - this will include social workers, housing officers, environmental health officers.
- Ban on overtime working.
- Working to set hours. Not working unpaid hours.
- Working to contract / working to rule.
- Not covering for vacant posts.
- Working to strictly comply with Health and Safety regulations.

Union members voted by over 80% to undertake this form of industrial action.

In addition to the action short of strike, groups of UNISON and UNITE members are being called out on strike for extended periods. These groups of workers will receive their normal take home pay funded by a joint UNISON / UNITE hardship fund.

The first section to strike will be refuse collection. Other groups of Council workers will join the strike action later.

When these sections return to work, different groups of union members will be called out on strike. The industrial action is the latest stage in the unions campaign against wage cuts being enforced by the Conservative controlled City Council. In April, the City Council issued dismissal notices to all City Council workers in order to enforce pay cuts of up to 15%.

The trade unions have called on the Government's arbitration service, ACAS, to intervene in the dispute and to organise talks between the two sides. The City Council have not yet agreed to new talks.

Background information on the dispute can be found on the UNISON web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk.

UNISON Branch Secretary, Mike Tucker, commented, "The industrial action will demonstrate that the Council only functions because Council workers work unpaid overtime, carry out duties they are not paid for and cover for jobs that have been cut. The selective strike action will mean key sections of the Council will be on strike for extended periods. It is Council workers who keep the City running, not Councillors. The industrial action we hope will bring the Conservative controlled Council back to the negotiating table. Only a negotiated settlement can avoid a summer of strikes and disruption."

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UNISON and UNITE members in Southampton City Council to start indefinite industrial action.

Solidarity with Mike Tucker the branch secretary (and lefty NEC member) of the Southampton UNISON branch and the UNISON and UNITE members who will shortly start a programme of Industrial action (See Press release below)

The action will include a 5 day strike in the Refuse section. 

The branch are requesting messages of support and financial support to be sent to

Branch Secretary
UNISON Southampton District Branch
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7NB

e-mail:  M.tucker [AT] unison.co.uk

There are more details on the Branch web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk.

Please send a msg of support and ask your branch to send a donation thanks

Marshajane

Press release:

16 May 2011

Industrial action to start in Southampton City Council on Monday 23 May

2600 UNISON and UNITE members working for Southampton City Council will start indefinite industrial action on Monday 23 May. The industrial action will take two forms. All UNISON / UNITE members will be undertaking action short of strike action. The action being taken will include:

- Refusal to use private cars for Council work - this will include social workers, housing officers, environmental health officers.
- Ban on overtime working.
- Working to set hours. Not working unpaid hours.
- Working to contract / working to rule.
- Not covering for vacant posts.
- Working to strictly comply with Health and Safety regulations.

Union members voted by over 80% to undertake this form of industrial action.

In addition to the action short of strike, groups of UNISON and UNITE members are being called out on strike for extended periods. These groups of workers will receive their normal take home pay funded by a joint UNISON / UNITE hardship fund.

The first section to strike will be refuse collection. Other groups of Council workers will join the strike action later.

When these sections return to work, different groups of union members will be called out on strike. The industrial action is the latest stage in the unions campaign against wage cuts being enforced by the Conservative controlled City Council. In April, the City Council issued dismissal notices to all City Council workers in order to enforce pay cuts of up to 15%.

The trade unions have called on the Government's arbitration service, ACAS, to intervene in the dispute and to organise talks between the two sides. The City Council have not yet agreed to new talks.

Background information on the dispute can be found on the UNISON web site at www.soton-unison-office.org.uk.

UNISON Branch Secretary, Mike Tucker, commented, "The industrial action will demonstrate that the Council only functions because Council workers work unpaid overtime, carry out duties they are not paid for and cover for jobs that have been cut. The selective strike action will mean key sections of the Council will be on strike for extended periods. It is Council workers who keep the City running, not Councillors. The industrial action we hope will bring the Conservative controlled Council back to the negotiating table. Only a negotiated settlement can avoid a summer of strikes and disruption."

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Cyber criminals target PCS website in run-up to conference

 
 
Well at least we know the elite are scared if they are resorting to cyber
attacks!

Solidatiy with PCS, dont let the bastards grind you (or your website) down!
 
From PCS
ttp://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/C4186B31-AB93-47DC-909FB7E2F4DB6C3F

Cyber criminals are targeting the PCS website as it prepares for one of its most
important annual conferences in its history.
The union has announced today that, as delegates begin to gather in Brighton, it
is facing a sustained and well-organised denial-of-service attack that has
seriously affected access to the site.
The attack started on Wednesday 11 May and has meant the website has at times
struggled to cope with average hourly traffic 1,000 times greater than normal.
The union says its main priority is to fix the problem so that its members and
other visitors can access information about its campaign for the alternative to
the government's cuts and updates from its annual conference which opens on
Wednesday.
Delegates to the conference in Brighton will be asked to back a national strike
ballot over cuts to jobs, pensions and pay, and for the union to "work with
other trade unions to co-ordinate the action for maximum impact".
The DoS attack means the site is being overwhelmed by 'false' traffic from
computers programmed to repeatedly try to access pages. This has had no effect
on the security of data held on sections of the website.
The union continues to work with its web development company Pixl8 to thwart the
attacks and ensure normal service is resumed as soon as possible. In the
meantime it is directing members and site visitors to Facebook and Twitter for
updates.
Alex Skinner, managing director of Pixl8, said "DoS attacks remain a continual
threat to those operating websites. The challenge is putting measures in place
that ensure continual availability of a website while minimising the impact to
legitimate users.
"We have seen an increase in this type of activity in recent months and this
particular attack is one of the largest we have experienced."
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This is a clear attempt to undermine
our union at what is a critical time. Whoever is doing it might succeed in
slowing our website down for a few days but they will not silence our members
who are determined to fight the government's unfair and unnecessary cuts.
"We are doing everything we can to ensure normal service is resumed as soon as
possible and we apologise for any inconvenience caused by this illegal and
unprovoked attack."

UNISON UNITED LEFT AGM - May 14th

UNISON UNITED LEFT AGM 2011
Saturday 14 May
12.30– 4.30
ULU
Malet Street
London WC1


After 26 March– strike together to stop the Tories
Speakers from NUT,Unite
Discussions
Pensions
Resisting the Cuts
Save our NHS
Fighting Privatisation
Unison Conference
Union Democracy
Current Disputes

As well as the discussion above we will be holding the annual elections for:
Chair
Secretary
Convenor
Treasurer
Communications Officer
Labour Link,
Membership Secretary
Service Group Liaison
SOG Officers
Nominations, motions and other items of business should be sent to:
c.bedale[at]btinternet.com unisonunitedleft[at]gmail.com

Support the RMT strikes

Letter to trade unionists: Support our campaign against victimisations

To: all trade union branches and supporters of trade unionism in and around London

On 16 May, RMT Tube drivers will begin strike action to demand the reinstatement of sacked union reps Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas.

London Underground sacked Eamonn for following an instruction which turned out to be wrong, despite not sacking other drivers who made similar - or even worse - errors. LU sacked Arwyn following accusations from strike-breakers during last year's strikes against station job cuts. In both cases, Employment Tribunals have awarded 'interim relief', ruling that London Underground sacked them unlawfully, unfairly and because of their trade union activities. Despite this, and despite campaigning and lobbying, London Underground is still refusing to reinstate them, so RMT has had to call strikes.

London Underground's actions are an attack by a publicly-owned employer not just on RMT but on all trade unions and on trade unionism in general. If London Underground gets away with this, then all trade unionists will be more vulnerable; if we can win reinstatement for Eamonn and Arwyn, then all trade unionists will be stronger.

Please support our strikes and our campaign. There are many ways in which you can help - send us a message of support; invite us to speak at your next meeting; visit our picket lines; and more.

Please offer your support by emailing me j.booth@rmt.org.uk

You can read more information about this issue and our campaign here: http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/defendreps

Thank you.

Yours in solidarity
Janine Booth
RMT Council of Executives
London Transport Region representative

 
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Why I will vote Yes tomorrow

As I have been faced with the choice at the referendum I would not have chosen to have now, I will be voting yes because I believe AV is more democratic then the current system. I am not in favour of voting on the basis of who benefits and who does not, nor should people vote on the basis of which party will be most damaged by which result.

First let me advocate what I am for and what I am against in terms of voting reform. I am in favour of having constituencies and those consistencies being as small as possible and representative is accountable to the local people. This also means the local parties usually have a substantial say on who the candidates are and they are far more accountable then say a list system or mega constituencies with multiple representatives. AV does not change the constituency make up or the way we will select candidates, the changes to the number of MP’s is not part of this vote.

I am also for the right of recall, we should be able to make any representative have to face the electorate again, and this should occur if say 20% /25% of electorate asked for it.

I do not agree with people who tell me I should vote No because it not in the interest of the Labour Party. I hope those who have progressive politics in the Labour Party don’t only vote for things in their interest if that was so then would some members on the left would be against the higher rates of tax, as that may not be in their interest. Men may not have (in the end) voted for women to get the vote if the decision was on the basis of what was in their interest. I am member of the Labour Party currently because I think that the right place to express my politics, I have been a member for 25 years, but I am not a member out of principle, things can change parties can change over time or even overnight.

So don’t vote NO because its in the interest of the Labour Party at the current moment in time, only vote basis of do you think the system is more democratic or not. I think AV is slightly more democratic it’s not a massive change it’s unlikely to have made any major difference to any election result since WW2.

I will vote Yes tomorrow for a slightly more democratic system.
I am not even going to deal with those who say the system is too complicated as they are just patronising and disingenuous.