NSSN 273: Seasons greetings from the NSSN…#KillTheBill in 2016!
This is the last NSSN e-bulletin of the year…and what a year!
The Tories squeaked into government with only 24% of the electorate but consider it enough of a mandate to push through the biggest attack on union rights for over 30 years as well yet more brutal cuts. As we’ve said, the two are inter-linked – Cameron sees the unions as potentially the biggest barrier to more austerity.
The NSSN has worked with others, such as the militant unions in the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group (TUCG) and will continue to do so next year, when this ‘anti’ Trade Union Bill could become law.
Please come to the protest that the TUCG have organised outside Parliament on the 2nd House of Lords reading of the TU Bill on Monday January 11th. It will be at 6pm at Cromwell Green this time as this is right across from the Lords Chamber.
We believe that unions have shown this year that they can take on the Tories and defeat them. On four separate days, London was brought to a halt by striking tube and bus workers. This bulletin has publicised the many strikes and protests that take place on a weekly basis. We can’t mention them all year but the 100 plus days of strike action taken by PCS members at the National Gallery got a really good deal for workers and the victorious reinstatement of union rep Candy Udwin.
There have been other cases of victimisation with victories for Unison rep Sandy Nicholls at SOAS and Andrew Mootoo, a CWU member in Bridgewater – both beating the sack through unofficial walkouts of their members. We will continue to campaign for sacked CWU members Clive Walder and John Vasey. The imminent victory of the blacklisted workers after years if not decades shows how workers can win.
These cases show what the Trade Union Bill could mean but also that it can be defeated if the unions fight and strike together against it. The election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader on an anti-austerity ticket indicates the mood of defiance that the union can tap. And the incredible struggle of the Junior Doctors showed graphically that it really is the majority of society that is against the Tory attacks.
Season’s greetings to all our supporters and affiliates. Have a good break and recharge your batteries for the fights to come!
CWU
Support the #CWU2 – reinstate Clive Walder & John Vasey!
Clive Walder, a longstanding leading rep in the CWU had an appeal against unfair dismissal rejected by British Telecom on 9 November, confirming his sacking after 38 years of service. Clive is chair of the CWU Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester branch.
Clive worked in a BT call centre and was dismissed after an aggressive customer reported him to management just 33 seconds into a phone call. The decision was made without taking stress into account despite the local CWU branch reporting that 7% of staff at the call centre leave their jobs each month, some walking out mid shift. Management took the decision without consulting any medical advice or taking into account any mitigation.
Clive is a NSSN steering committee member and we will be supporting the campaign protesting the sacking and campaigning for his reinstatement.
Contact Clive to send messages of support and invite him to your union branch, shop stewards committee, trades council etc – [email protected] 07771931185
John Vasey, a CWU postal rep in Wakefield, West Yorkshire has also been sacked on what his work colleagues recognise as stitched up charges. John is waiting for the outcome of his appeal that took place earlier this week. The NSSN calls on all our supporters and affiliates to support John’s campaign for reinstatement and his union the CWU:-
Messages of protest to Jon Millidge, Royal Mail Group HR Director, c/o Tallents House, South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB.
(Copies to Paul Clays, CWU Regional Secretary, 6 Concept Court, Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor, YORK, YO30 4XF – e-mail: [email protected])
Please sign the petition and like Reinstate John Vasey on Facebook
Defend the People’s Post sign the petition here
NSSN / Kill the Bill news
As expected, the Tory Trade Union Bill passed its 3rd reading on November 10th. It now goes to the Lords. But we must keep up the pressure and prepare for resisting it if it becomes law.
The TUC have announced a week of action February 8-14 against the Trade Union Bill http://heartunions.org/. Watch out for any protests or meetings that week – or organise your own through your Trades Council, union branch, NSSN etc
See videos of John McDonnell, PCS Vice-President John McInally John McInally and NSSN chair Rob Williams speaking at TUCG protest outside Parliament on November 10th
TUCG statement on the Trade Union Bill here
Rob Williams NSSN chair was interviewed live on BBC’s Daily Politics at TUC Congress watch here at about 30 minutes
Report from NSSN North East day of action and public meeting Saturday December 5th: https://www.facebook.com/groups/25779472129/?fref=ts
Early notice – the 10th annual NSSN conference will on Saturday July 2nd 2016 in Conway Hall, London. Please put in your new diaries!!
Yorkshire NSSN Conference: Stop the Union Busters / Organise the Unorganised – Saturday, 27 February 2016 at 10am Cosmopolitan Hotel 2 Lower Briggate, LS1 4AE Leeds https://www.facebook.com/events/514766158692960/
Xmas present!! The last two pink NSSN ‘£10 Now’ t-shirts are available for £8. Both are women’s large sizes. First come first served! Order by emailing [email protected]
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter here
We are delighted to announce that the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers has affiliated to the NSSN
Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet here
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
RMT
Big vote for action in dispute with Serco Caledonian Sleeper (15 Dec) – RMT announces big vote for action in dispute with Serco Caledonian Sleeper. RMT members on the Caledonian Sleeper, in a dispute with new operator Serco, have voted by nine to one for both strike action and action short of a strike, the union confirmed today. Despite numerous between RMT negotiators and senior company management over the last few months progress has not been made on the raft of issues in the dispute which left RMT with no choice other than to proceed to ballot members over the company’s failure to address the number of defects contained within the rolling stock. That ballot has now delivered a resounding vote for action. The result will now be considered by the union’s executive read more
Southern Rail conductors strike ballot (15 Dec) – RMT strike ballot of Southern Rail conductors delivers over 70% vote for strike action. Balloting of conductors on Southern Rail has delivered more than 70% for strike action and an even bigger majority for action short of a strike. The dispute is over a range of issues which have led to a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations read more
Pickets out in force at Alstom Chester (10 Dec) – Pickets out in force at Alstom Chester in Arriva Trains Wales fleet engineers dispute this morning read more
Defend Glen Hart – Tube bosses are threatening to discipline Glen for his trade union activities. The RMT is fighting back read more
BFAWU
BFAWU Press Release On Hovis, Wigan Job Losses – On 25/11/15, Hovis made a company announcement, stating that they are to cease making bread at their Wigan site, with the proposed closure of the thirty sack bread plant. The BFAWU has entered in to a forty-five day consultation period, which began on 26/11/15. The company have put forward a business case which states that the current downturn in the bread market and a long term forecast of ‘no change’ has led to this decision. However, the site will continue to manufacture crumpets and be a distribution point for bread products made at other sites around the country read more. Please send solidarity messages to Hovis Wigan branch – [email protected]
Unite
Unite Fair Tips protest to target ME Hotel’s trendy London Steakhouse (16 Dec) – STK, the trendy American steakhouse in the swanky ME hotel London will find itself in the spotlight this Christmas over its Scrooge like raid on staff tips and unfair practices.
Unite, Britain’s biggest union, will stage two days of protests outside the hotel’s restaurant on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December.
WHEN: Thursday 17 and Friday 18 December at 18:00
WHERE: STK London, ME Hotel, 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA
Shrewsbury 24 ‘establishment cover-up’ needs to be exposed, says Unite (10 Dec) – The 43-year-old cover-up by the ‘establishment’ of the events relating to the Shrewsbury 24 – construction workers put on trial for their trade union activities – needs to be finally exposed, Unite said today read more
Legal & General strike moves closer as staff vote in final industrial ballot (9 Dec) – Staff at Legal & General’s flagship site in Kingswood, Surrey, have moved closer to strike action in the new year with the launch of a final industrial action ballot. This follows September’s consultative ballot, which saw 63 per cent of members vote in support of taking strike action to defend 1,550 jobs. The strike ballot will begin on Friday 11 December and will last until Monday 4 January. The dispute follows L&G’s decision to threaten up to 1,550 jobs by closing the Kingswood site in 2017, citing potential cost savings read more
PCS
Campaigning for fair pay in Scotland (14 Dec) – Following the Scottish budget on Wednesday (16 December) PCS members within the Scottish Government sector are taking their Fair Pay Scotland campaign to the Scottish Parliament. PCS has arranged a parliamentary drop-in between 12.30pm and 2pm so members can discuss with MSPs the impact of Scottish ministers’ pay policy on them. If you would like to join the delegation contact joy Dunn [email protected] read more
FBU
‘Callous’ job cuts force South Yorkshire firefighters into dispute (Dec 15) – Firefighters have lodged a formal trade dispute with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority over plans to cut a quarter of control operators in the region. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has given the fire authority until 6 January 2016 to withdraw the proposed job cuts, as a matter of public safety, before a ballot for industrial action is taken read more
Pension payout for ’18-20 club’ firefighters (11 Dec) – Many firefighters are set to receive thousands of pounds in compensation as the government admits members of the ’18-20 club’ were short changed and missing two years’ worth of pension contributions, following a successful legal challenge by the FBU. The ’18-20 club’ describes a number of members who joined the 1992 Firefighters Pensions Scheme between the ages of 18-20 and ended up paying into the scheme for up to 32 years, only to receive a 30 year pension on retirement. This was because, unlike many other pension plans, the scheme had an accrual cap of 30 years read more
NUM / Orgreave Justice
March on December 19th to mark the closure of Kellingley, the last deep mine in the UK – The march will leave the Town Hall in Knottingley – Hilltop, WF11 9DG at 12.30pm to Kellingley Miners Welfare Club for a rally
Watch the Orgreave Justice video: It’s time for an inquiry here
GMB
Brighton Parking Seven More Strike Days (Dec 10) – GMB Brighton and Hove parking attendants seven more days of strike after talks fail to resolve pay dispute. Not only have members rejected the company’s re-jigged offer they have also decided to increase the number of days on which strike action will take place says GMB read more
Unison
Local government members to be consulted on pay offer (15 Dec) read more
NHS
NHS bursaries demonstration January 9th
Student health workers have called a demonstration in London on Saturday January 9th to protest against over the Tory attack on bursaries – assemble 12noon outside St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7EH https://www.facebook.com/events/440660962797762/. Following the announcement of plans cut to NHS bursaries for student nurses UCU is supporting this petition which has already had over 146,000 signatures https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113491
BMA / Junior Doctors
At the last minute, facing a strike that had already seen over 3,000 operations and 17,500 appointments cancelled, the Tories stepped back from the brink and withdrew the immediate threat of the imposition of new contracts for junior doctors. As a result, the BMA suspended the three days of industrial action on December 1, 8 and 16. Negotiations will now continue but if junior doctors don’t get what they want by January 13th, action can be put back on. The NSSN sends solidarity to the junior doctors and the BMA. We appeal to all our supporters to support any action that they take if needed – strikes, demonstrations or protests. Scandalously, Tory Health Minister Jeremy Hunt had called for striking doctors to be ‘struck off’. Email messages of support to [email protected]
For latest news and protests follow #JuniorContract and #NotFairNotSafe on twitter. Latest updates on BMA website
Defend the Cass
Support the Occupation – Occupy The Cass’ is a collective group of students at London Met exercising our right to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest https://www.facebook.com/occupycasslmu/?fref=ts Sign the petition
NUT
A message to Tech City students from your teachers – Why we are going on strike. You may have heard by now that your teachers at Tech City have voted unanimously to strike for a number of days before the Xmas holidays. (Next Tuesday and Wednesday and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the following week.) We are sorry we have to do this – because we want to do our best for you, our students – but we feel we have been given no choice. Our National Union of Teachers representatives have met with the Principal and with Aspirations a number of times to express our concerns and ask for changes to be made at Tech City to address them but got nowhere. So, reluctantly, we feel we have no other way to put pressure on Aspirations to take us seriously but to go on strike. Read more on www.islingtonteachers.org.uk/home Please send message of support to: [email protected]
Urgent action needed on teachers’ pay (7 Dec) – The NUT is calling on the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) to recommend urgent action on teachers’ pay in order to address the growing teacher supply crisis. Almost 1 in 5 teacher training places remain unfilled. This is the third consecutive year that the secondary recruitment target has been missed. Teacher numbers are also declining through the 50,000 leaving the profession. This is the highest number of resignations for a decade. Teachers’ pay has now fallen by around 15% in 5 years on the back of Government pay policy and inflation. This leaves teacher salaries trailing behind other graduate professions. The NUT is calling for all teachers to receive an immediate increase of not less than £2,000 from September 2016 read more
Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
College Pay Indicative Ballot in favour of action (11 Dec) – College lecturers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in pursuit of a fair pay award and a claim for equal pay across the sector read more
Support Striking Teachers in West Dunbartonshire – After an indicative ballot returned an 87.5% support for action the EIS representatives in West Dunbartonshire made this press release. “Teachers in West Dunbartonshire have never taken such independent action. This clearly shows the gravity of the situation which this council is attempting to inflict upon education provision.” https://www.facebook.com/Support-Striking-Teachers-in-West-Dunbartonshire-957204854353272/?fref=ts
NUJ
Five Trinity Mirror chapels vote to strike over digital targets (15 Dec) – Five NUJ Trinity Mirror chapels have voted to take strike action over the company’s plans to introduce individual digital targets for journalists. The company’s “individual digital audience goals” are being trialled at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) and Trinity Mirror had said it intended to introduce them across the group from January. Titles affected by the strike votes include the Daily Post in Wales, Liverpool Echo, Coventry Telegraph, Birmingham Post and Mail and Newcastle Chronicle. The NUJ is expecting the ballot result from the Manchester Evening News next week read more
BECTU
BBC expenses plan update (14 Dec) – Following on from last week’s story regarding the BBC’s review of staff expenses, BECTU has received a high volume of responses from members affected by these proceedings. BECTU has therefore advised the BBC that we need time to consult our reps on the formal response and we intend to discuss this matter further at the BBC Divisional Committee on 20 January 2016. This action will give members the opportunity to ensure they speak to their reps so that their views can be taken into account. We will then be meeting with the NUJ, Unite and the MU with a view to agree a joint unions’ position and counterproposal to be submitted to the BBC by 26 January 2016. The earlier article regarding the BBC’s proposals (mentioned above) can be read here
Other News
Trade Union rep courses at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
We are happy to release the new dates of the rep courses starting in January 2016. Please use the attached documents for yourself or anyone who will be interested in starting a course.
Thank you for your continual support.
Kind regards
Trade Union Education
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
020 8442 3075
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Buy the book ‘Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Union Activists’ Author: Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain. Blacklisted tells the controversial story of the illegal strategies that transnational construction companies used to keep union activists away from work. See the official trailer from ReelNews
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work in 2015 we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Blacklist Support Group update 14th Dec 2015
- High Court blacklisting litigation saw a 2 day hearing on Mon-Tues last week (7-8 Dec), with an additional evening session on Tuesday. As the blacklisting firms have already admitted their guilt to the court, the entire 2 days was taken up with legal argument over the use of expert witnesses for calculating loss of earnings.
John Hendy QC told the court that the estimated total damages for the 600 claimants is in the region of £60-70million, made up of £40m in loss of earnings and £20-30m in general damages (defamation, human rights, hurt to feelings etc..). Lawyers on behalf of blacklisted workers had applied to use the expertise of Dr Victoria Wass from Cardiff Business School, one of the leading labour market economists in the UK who has acted as an expert witness in numerous high profile cases in the past.
The firms argued against the use of Dr. Wass, arguing that the ‘regression analysis’ that she was using was ‘too complicated’ and could not be fully understood by the court (even though virtually every university student in the world is taught regression analysis as a standard statistical tool nowadays). Dr Wass is able to provide a high level of precision in her estimates of loss because she has restricted access to micro data from the Office of National Statistics labour market database. Without an ounce of irony, lawyers for the blacklisting companies, told the court that having access to the ONS personal sensitive information could potentially be a breach of human rights and data protection!
In the end, Lord Supperstone and Master Leslie refused the claimants submission – once again, judges make findings in favour of big business and against the interests of blacklisted workers. This may be a minor setback in a small skirmish but we are still going to win the war.
The next provisional hearing date is 1st February 2016. Full trial is set to start in May 2016 and will last 10 weeks.
Blacklist Support Group would like to publicly thank the various legal teams for all the hard work they have carried out on our behalf over many years – its appreciated. Special mention to Liam Dunne, who as the lead solicitor for Guney Clark & Ryan has been representing us since 2009, who has recently got married: Congratulations!
- John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor was the keynote speaker at a packed Blacklist Support Group parliamentary meeting in Westminster on Monday 7th. McDonnell raised a number of issues during his speech which will have major impact even before the election of a Corbyn government. A few of John McDonnell’s quotes from the meeting:
“Blacklisting was a deliberate attempt to undermine trade unions by victimising a layer of activists they could not buy off”
“Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn and myself put in amendments to legislation on the issue of blacklisting over a period of decades – no government took any notice”
“We are currently drawing up advice for Labour councils over public procurement regarding blacklisting, human rights and environmental issues”
“Company directors who orchestrated blacklisting conspiracy should have been sent to prison. Blacklisting should be made a criminal offence”
“If we can have the Leveson inquiry into celebrities phones being hacked, then why can’t there be a pubic inquiry into blacklisting?”
These remarks could have immense significance for companies involved in blacklisting.
John McDonnell was a founder member of the Blacklist Support Group who has stood with blacklisted workers on picket lines, in parliament and at our meetings ever since. We stand shoulder to shoulder with him against all the attacks from the mainstream media and are proud to call him a comrade.
Also in attendance at the BSG meeting was Sir Bill Morris and speakers including Chris Stephens MP and blacklisted activist Helen Steel.
The BSG parliamentary meeting voted unanimously that the apology given to the women activists by the Met Police should be used as a template for any future apology that blacklisted workers should expect from the blacklisting construction firms and that a representative of the BSG should be present at any ongoing talks where such matters are being discussed.
- Scotland
Another speaker at the BSG parliamentary meeting was Chris Stephens MP for Glasgow South West (SNP trade union coordinator at Westminster). Stephens was questioned by many in the audience over why blacklisting firms were still being awarded public contracts such as Dundee Riverside and ScotRail in Scotland, despite a Scottish government procurement note on the issue. Stephens gave positive assurances that behind the scenes, things were moving in the right direction and asked the audience to wait for a Scottish government announcement very soon.
There have also been massive developments in Scotland over the past few weeks regarding the role of undercover police spying on trade unions and social justice activists. The Pitchford inquiry into undercover policing has a strict remit which only allows investigation into the activities of the political policing units in England and Wales. But following a UNITE the Union, meeting in the Scottish parliament 3 weeks ago, there have been a number of articles in the Scottish press calling for an inquiry into the role of the undercover police in Scotland.
Blacklisted environmental activist Helen Steel was another speaker at the BSG meeting and she told how she was spied on by the undercover police officer John Dines when a member of London Greenpeace during the McLibel trial in the 1980s and how she had visited Scotland with the police spy. Steel also called for the activities of the undercover police in Scotland to be fully investigated by Pitchford.
Chris Stephens MP told the BSG meeting that he fully supported the call by BSG, Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) for there to be a public inquiry into the activities of undercover police in Scotland.
http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/14126896.Revealed__spying_unit_worked_with_Scottish_police/
http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2015/12/14/activists-demand-lamberts-sacking/
- Shrewsbury Pickets
Previously undisclosed documents have been discovered proving that the former Conservative Prime Minister Ted Heath directly intervened in the Shrewsbury trial by supporting the role of the secret services in a hostile TV documentary be shown the night before the trial. “This is the real conspiracy” as Des warren famously said from the dock on the day he was sent to prison. The Shandow Home Secretary Andy Burnham raised the issue in parliament and demanded the release of all the undisclosed government documents relating to the Shrewsbury Pickets trial. . Great research work by Eileen Turnbull on behalf of the Shrewsbury 24. The government still refuse to publish the papers: 42 years after the miscarriage of justice.
http://www.tradeunionfreedom.co.uk/the-case-of-the-shrewsbury-24-parliament-tv/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35047872?SThisFB
http://www.ucatt.org.uk/national-security-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%98my-arse%E2%80%99
- Carillion
Carillion have dropped their claim for £3500 worth of legal costs against blacklisted engineer Dave Smith – great investigative journalism by Mark Metcalf who knew before we did! Despite an apology to the High Court, Carillion continue to bad mouth Smith on their corporate website viewed by millions globally. Some apology!
http://www.bigissuenorth.com/2015/12/blacklisting-costs-claim/16270
http://employmentwrites.com/index.php/2015/12/12/carillion-drops-blacklisting-costs-claim/
- MUA
Dave Smith report: “It was my honour to represent the Blacklist Support Group at the inaugural conference of the Maritime Union of Australia Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Many BSG supporters will remember Bob Carnegie who toured the UK this summer, who has just been elected as MUA secretary in Queensland and made the very generous offer. The MUA are one of the most leftwing unions, alongside CFMEU and ETU provide the blue collar militancy that Australian unions are famous for worldwide. Activists from the ITF and the rank & file IDC were present and told stories of solidarity, heroism against police racism and internationalism. I spoke about blacklisting, safety and had the privilege to join Brisbane River Ferry workers on protected industrial action. I also met the crew of Fijian seafarers who had been knocked for wages who were occupying a ship who face being deported and a detention centre for standing up for their rights. Solidarity to Bob Carnegie and all the comrades at MUA”
http://www.mua.org.au/educate_agitate_and_organise_inaugural_queensland_conference
- Orgreave
See below video in support of the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign calling for a full public inquiry into the events at Orgreave during the Miners Strike – another disgraceful example of the British state attack on working people prepared to stand p for their rights.
- Glen Hart
RMT rep Glen Hart is being victimised by London Underground Limited – support his fight for union rights
http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/content/defend-glen-hart-demo-clapham-common-station-91215-0800
- Merry Xmas and festive greetings to all our friends and supporters around the world from the Blacklist Support Group.
We are in touching distance of a famous victory for the trade union movement – we could not have achieved it on our own.
Thank You for all your support over the years.
CHRISTMAS ON THE BLACKLIST by Time Served Jib Electrician
I stood up for my rights,
My workmates and my brothers,
On bleak construction sites,
I always shone a light,
For safety, and for others,
All these working men,
Have sisters, have mothers,
No work, my back a knife,
What will I tell the missus,
I’m blacklisted for life,
And not just for Christmas.
Last minute Christmas gift dilemma?
“Blacklisted” by Phil Chamberlain & Dave Smith published by New Internationalist
Introduction by John McDonnell MP shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
“Blacklisted book is an ideal present for activists: it’s much better than one of Dave’s speeches” – John McDonnell MP (genuine quote)
Blacklisted book http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
International (also see Labourstart)
Solidarity action needed for Nestle workers in Pakistan
The Nestle management has forcibly locked out the 800 low paid contract workers into the factory since September 2015 (Management instructed the gate security to stop the workers entering the factory – none of the workers are notified of termination of their contract prior to this). These low paid, poor workers and their families are facing hunger and starvation because of forced sackings. They waged a protest outside the factory gates for 48 days. They were broken off with the help of police. Now the Management is witch-hunting Union (Employees’ union Nestle Kabirwala factory) leaders and other key union activists with the help of Police. FIR (First information report) is filed at the police station against 89 key union activists. The President of the union, Muhammad Hussain Bhatti, is already behind bars for more than one month. He and others also face draconian “anti-terrorism laws”.
The Nestle management signed an agreement with the union in 2012 in which it was agreed that the management would regularise the services of 588 contract workers and that they would get all benefits provided for under the labour laws. Now, the management is violating the agreement and trying to replace the contract labour in violation of this agreement.
Nestle workers action committee is demanding
- All contract workers should be regularised.
- Management should lift the ban on workers entry into the factory, and allow them to return to work.
- Withdraw all baseless false cases and accusations against union leaders, union activists and workers.
- Nestle management should implement fully the agreement signed by the management and union.
Please send solidarity messages to Nestle workers action committee and to Pakistan national trade union federation
Email of Leader of Nestle workers action committee: [email protected]
Pakistan National Trade Union Federation: [email protected]
Please send you condemnations to
Nestle head office in Switzerland:
GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS
Nestlé S.A. Avenue Nestlé 55, 1800 Vevey, Switzerland
General enquiries +41 21 924 1111
Media +41 21 924 2200
Nestle management in Pakistan: [email protected]
Please also include Emails to the management in your country: You can find those details here http://www.nestle.com/aboutus/globalpresence
Please organise pickets of Nestle offices or plants if you can. Also please contact trade unions and other labour organisations to send protest and solidarity messages and ask them to take whatever the actions they can regarding this.
Event to launch book of newly translated poetry by renowned political prisoner in Kazakhstan
Wednesday 16th December marks the fourth anniversary of the tragic events of Zhanaozen in Western Kazakhstan. State forces attacked and killed over 70 unarmed civilians – striking oil-workers, family members and supporters. The Nazarbayev government (with whom the British government has close relations) to this day hides the truth about this atrocity and their own direct role in ordering it. The same regime locks up outspoken critics and activists – sometimes for decades.
Aron Atabek is a world-renowned poet and writer languishing in one of Nazarbayev’s prisons on trumped up charges after facing down bull-dozers in 2006 during mass protests to save people’s homes. He has often been held in solitary confinement and deprived of family visits and even pencils and paper. If campaigning to get all charges dropped are not successful, he has another ten years of sentence to serve…until he reaches the age of 72!
In this context Campaign Kazakhstan is holding the launch of a book of poems by Aron Atabek available for the first time in English thanks to Alfia Nakipbekova and Niall McDevitt. Its title – and that of one of the most powerful poems in it – is: RE-ZONA-NZE. We invite you to come along to our book launch next Wednesday. There will be one or two readings of Aron’s poems, a performance of a piece for cello and guitar by Alfia Nakipbekova and James Hesford dedicated to Aron and discussion about how to step up the campaign for his immediate release.
Wednesday, 16 December at 7pm – 128 Theobalds Rd, London WC1X 8TN. Headquarters of Unite the Union Contact phone numbers: 07939923897 and 07907508247
If you are unable to send anyone to this launch, you can obtain copies by writing to [email protected]
China: police crackdown on labour rights activists read more
Iran: Detained teacher unionist on hunger strike read more
Diary (see & use false economy)
2015
December
2016
February
27 Yorkshire NSSN Conference: Stop the Union Busters / Organise the Unorganised – 10am Cosmopolitan Hotel 2 Lower Briggate, LS1 4AE Leeds https://www.facebook.com/events/514766158692960/
July
2 10th annual NSSN conference in Conway Hall, London
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
