Minutes GPTU 7/2/07

 

Apologies. J.Healy, M.Scheiman, R.Phoenix,

 

1. Minutes 29/11/.06 and notes of 10/1/2007
   1. Agreed for accuracy
   2. Matters arising: None
2. Finances:
   1. Cheques

      £20 to M.Scheiman for attending Institute of Employment Rights conference (report attached below).

      £35 to GP for stall at Swansea Conference

      £77 remaining in bank account.

   2. Previous GPTU bank account N.Walsh to contact Ian Wingrove to see if this account existed with a view to accessing any funds for current GPTU.
3. Current campaigns/disputes

   KONP

   PM had leafleted KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC CONFERENCE, Romayne Phoenix had attended it and been asked for a report. Local campaigns in London Had been leafletting (Haringay, Brent Lewisham) GPTU members elsewhere invited to report on any other KONP activities.

   PCS

   PCS had had a nationwide one day strike on 31/1/07, but not much media attention. GPTU expressed its support for the strikers.

   RMT Cleaners

   PM and Romayne Phoenix, (and GPTU banner), had attended a lobby of GLA HQ addressed by Bob Crow who praised GP for being the only party to support this dispute. Other demos etc continuing.

   BA Cabin Staff

   Reported that BA Cabin Staff felt that TGWU negotiated settlement unsatisfactory.

   TGWU Rentokil cleaners

   NL had circulated notice of demo. GPTU expressed its support.

   It was agreed that this note of Current campaigns/disputes should be forwarded to Richard Mallender to inform GPEX

4. Green Left

   Minutes of last meeting now circulated. Was Ecosocialist manifesto a discussion document?

GL/GPTU joint conference meeting agreed D.Wall to speak Welsh TU speaker needed.

GL meetings to alternate between London and unLondon

Possibility of GPTU/GL conference discussed, perhaps at Friends meeting House (Euston)

5. GP Conference

   GPTU agm to be set when second agenda appears.

6. Euro matters; Report back needed from JH.
7. AOB
   1. Cuts to British library funding could threaten job losses.
   2. International Womens Festival in Oxford in march (Sue Tibbles to circulate further details). Highlights include:

      International evening with African Women Students from Ruskin College March %th 6.30 at Ruskin College , Walton St Oxford.

      Palestine Solidarity event addressed by Mayor of Ramalla, Oxford town Hall 9th march.

   3. Workers/ TU museum project being discussed.
   4. NL to write to GPEX requesting reinstatement of ´getting to know you forms´
   5. Notice re GPTU to go into National GP email.
   6. New leaflet design . TS design not right format for page size. Keith Magnum to be asked for design ideas.
   7. V.slow progress on GPTU website
8. Next meetings 7/3/2007 and (after GP conference)4/4/2007 QEH 6.30pm

 

ADDENDUM Report from Marc Scheimann who attended the London launch conference of the Trade Union Freedom Bill Held at UCU Britannia Street London WC1 on 31st January 2007.

 

Attendance approx. 80 delegates

Arrived late due to trying to get medical attention for septic foot blisters, which now have me in hospital.

Speakers missed

Chris Keates NASUWT

Prof. Keith Ewing

Frances O'Grady TUC

Tony Woodley T&G

Billy Hayes CWU

Bob Crow RMT

 

Barry Lovejoy of UCU spoke on how the law dampens down the willingness to strike using the name requirement of the pre-ballot notice which serves no useful information for employers. This set hurdles and ties the union in knots calculating part time staff across various sites likely to take action. The time listed to organise a ballot is given at 7 day but often requires up to 2 months by which time it may be too late for strike action. In 1 case where the pre-notice information was received at the union office at 3:45pm on Friday and faxed out to the employer at 9am Tuesday a judge awarded an injunction on the grounds that the notice was sent out at the unions convenience. The law is never so harsh when judging employers actions. Union demand fairness not favours.

Christine Blowers of NUT spoke about the imbalance of what employers have to provide against the burden sequestration and heavy fines used against unions.

Paul Kenny of GMB failed to turn up because of flu.

Steve Collingham solicitor spoke about Labour taking away the 7 days notice rule matters now worse with the insistence of a postal ballot with rules that make it very easy to get a judge to issue an interim injunction.

Jeremy Dear of NUJ spoke about local newspaper group Trinity Mirror who have over 100 UK titles will when strike action is called bus in staff from other papers which despite being in the same group are legally dealt with as a separate company. This makes a complete nonsense as in the Gate Gourmet strike when workers involved with a strike company cannot take action because they are a separate firm.

Prof. Brian Bercusson talked about how within Europe we deal with disputes with global corporations under collective action of article 28 of the constitution forbids staff being across boarders while maintaining the country of origin workforce conditions.

Under questions & answers I asked as a GpTU group & GMB member how in Luton airport Easyjet were able to bring Polish workers to the UK & still only pay them Polish minimum wages, Brian explained that they are likely to be using the temporary worker loop whole, which he hoped would be closed for good this year.