Unite Community Branch’s will be supporting the National Day of Action Against Zero Hours and Helping the bakers Union organise workers in Fast Food Companies. Demonstrations outside McDonalds and Burger King have been called outside their flagship Stores in London and similar protests will be taking place in our region. Watch this space for more info on the demos. Good link here http://www.politics.co.uk
University and College Union (UCU) members at Barnsley College as part of a one day national strike across post 16 Education. The strike is against a derisory pay offer of 0.7%. In the universities, UNISON, UNITE and UCU are on strike, in the colleges just UCU.
UCU members will be picketing the main sites of the college from 7am – 9.15am and then heading through to Sheffield for a regional rally.
Barnsley College UCU has been in the forefront of showing solidarity for other workers who are taking action. In 2013, they have held collections for strikers including those at Mid Yorks Hospitals UNISON and Chesterfield College UCU, Also in 2013, UCU members have supported PCS, CWU, NAPO , UNITE Yorkshire Ambulance and FBU picket lines.
I would ask you to get your union branch/activists to do 2 things in solidarity with this strike:
1. Send a message of support to the UCU branch secretary Lee Short at: lee.short1975@gmail.com
2. Get a delegation to visit the picket line (and in my experience of UCU picket lines some Christmas cake/parkin etc will go down well!) You will be made very welcome.
The UCU branch buys a breakfast for all picketers after the picket and financial donations to the cost of that will be gratefully received. (cheques payable to Barnsley College UCU)
The branch hopes that lots of retired UCU members will come and join the picketline for a while too.
in solidarity,
Dave Gibson
Construction union UCATT have strongly criticised the heavy handed security which occurred today (November 20) during a peaceful protest outside the Merrion Centre in Leeds.
The protesters were demonstrating as part of the TUC Day of Action on blacklisting outside the Merrion Centre where leading blacklisting company Robert McAlpine has an office.
The protesters had obeyed all the instructions to protest outside the building. However trouble occurred when some of the protesters were invited to access the building to visit the offices of the PCS union which is situated inside the Merrion Centre.
Security barred anyone from entering the building and then assaulted several of the protesters. One of the protesters was hospitalised after the confrontation.
Rob Morris, Regional Secretary of UCATT Yorkshire, said: “This was an appalling incident and was totally unnecessary. This was an entirely peaceful and good natured protest and for security to act in this way is reprehensible.”
This article orginally appeared at: http://www.ucatt.org.uk/ucatt-deplores-heavy-handed-security-peaceful-leeds-blacklist-protest
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEPEySKI7rE&feature=youtu.be]
DONCASTER
Saturday 16 November
On Saturday 16 November we will be marching in Doncaster to defend workers’ rights.
Last winter 183 Doncaster-based Unite drivers were sacked by Eddie Stobart Ltd (ESL) following a TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) transfer from Tesco.
Outsourcing and TUPE transfer is bad news for workers in many industries as more and more employers are exploiting the legislation to their advantage – and the disadvantage of our members. The whole point of TUPE is to protect workers when a business changes hands.
At the same time the government is planning to dilute TUPE legislation further. These changes will drive down workers’ terms and conditions and put jobs at risk.
We must stand united and strong to protect workers’ rights and let people know that exploitation through the TUPE process is unacceptable.
We are asking members and activists to meet at Doncaster Rovers football ground, Keepmoat Stadium, Stadium Way, Doncaster DN4 5JW at 11.00 am on Saturday 16 November for a march past the gates of the Tesco depot, returning to the football ground for a rally.
If you can join us in Doncaster – bring your flags and banners – and let’s make a stand against worker exploitation.