Rights and wrongs
It is impossible to understand how Tony and Gordon think Labour will be re-elected if they filibuster a simple piece of legislation supported designed to give some basic employment rights to agency workers. Yet that is just what Jim Fitzpatrick, junior minister and former firefighter’s union rep did tonight.
To make things worse, I spoke last night at a packed meeting in Committee Room 12 of the House of Commons called to discuss the Trade Union Rights and Freedom Bill which the TUC is supporting and which was to be discussed in the House the next day.
Ironically Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union spoke eloquently just before me and explained the impact that current legislation (almost entirely a legacy of Thatcher and Major) and case law had had on his members.
My own modest contribution to the debate can be read here
Just to further boost the morale of those who maintain the country’s public services Gordon has imposed a 1.9% pay freeze.
Does Labour want to lose the next election?
A message from Roger
The UCU general secretary ballot result has now been declared and Sally Hunt has been elected. The union and our members face major and difficult challenges from employers and government in almost every aspect of our working lives. The turnout was just 13.9 per cent which in itself suggests the scale of the challenge the union faces. I wish Sally Hunt very well in meeting those challenges. To meet them successfully will require a clear strategic vision and a determined articulate response which members can have confidence in and ownership of. I will seek to play my part in ensuring that is the case through my continuing role as Head of Equality and Employment Rights Finally I would like to sincerely thank the hundreds of members who sent messages of support and campaigned during the election.
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A trade unionist all his working life. An activist and a proud campaigner, Roger has consistently worked to defend human rights of workers. As the leader of the Equality and Employment Rights team in the newly formed UCU he continues to unite the movement around equality and keep employment rights at the top of the agenda.
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