Stop the Trade Union Bill - Stop the Tories causing industrial mayhem

The Government will on Monday (14 September 2015) publish a Parliamentary bill that will attack trade unions ability to defend and representative their members.

This is probably one of the most pointless and even spiteful pieces of anti-trade union legislation ever.

The exact detail has not been released but according to the official government consultation paper it could :-

1. Stop councils from raising revenue by charging to collect union subs from staff wages.

2. Ban strikes even if a majority of workers vote for it (also  undermining the principle of democratic elections in our country)

3. Result in criminal charges for taking part in social media protests on twitter and Facebook.

4. Allowing employers to use US style agency thugs as scab labour to break strikes.

5. Stopping union health and safety reps from being sufficient given time off to prevent accidents, illness and violence at work

Even the professional body for HR in this country, the Chartered Institute for Personal and Development has attacked the bill:-

"Proposals on strike laws are a response to yesterday’s problems, says CIPD  Plans to raise the bar for strike action divert attention from building better, more engaged workforces. The Government’s proposals on strike laws are an outdated response to industrial relations issues currently facing UK employers and could prove counter-productive" If this proposal goes ahead it will indeed prove "counter-productive". If workers' democratic rights to legally strike are not allowed then there will be an explosion of "unofficial" action and protests. If there is a legal strike and scab agencies are allowed to bus in strike breakers then there will be mayhem in the workplace. I hope the Tory MPs who actually have experience of "real" work as opposed to a life of political bag carrying (like too many Labour MPs I may add) will help kick this rotten stupid bill into touch. UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, makes sense when he notes that   “Democracy won’t be enhanced by vindictively raising thresholds but by modernising balloting and allowing workers to vote from their phones and tablets.” Email your MP now to speak against the Bill on Monday https://secure.unionstogether.org.uk/page/speakout/protect-our-voice-at-work

The United Nations 10 Principles of Human Rights ("Nothing to do with us Guv" says Catalyst Housing)

These are "The 10 Principles of Human Rights". It is disgraceful that the senior management and board of British Charities such as Catalyst Housing Association do not believe in basic human rights.

Principal 3 "Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining"

"The UN Global Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The International Labour Organisations Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:

Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Amazon.CON

On the day before the media reported that on-line retailer Amazon was being investigated because it paid no UK Corporation tax on sales of £7 billion I had my own little "run in" with them.

In August last year I bought a Sonic electronic toothbrush from "Amazon" for £65. A few weeks ago it suddenly gave up the ghost and stopped working. Tried to recharge it etc but nothing. Since there is still at least 4 months (arguably 16 months) of the guarantee to go I went on the Amazon web site to find out how to get an exchange or refund.

I then found out that I had actually bought the toothbrush from one of its "third party agents" called "Great Prices". I had to email this agent via Amazon which I did. Amazon then advised me that their email address of Great Prices was not working so my email was not delivered however Great Prices would still see my communication (somehow?). I waited a few days but heard nothing so tried again. Same response, so I contacted Amazon on-line and this reply above came back.

Amazon has completely washed it hands of the matter. They refuse to honour the guarantee of the product that had been sold to me on their site and they are even refusing to give me the contact details of their agent! How on earth am I suppose to try and claim my money back? They have since sent another email refusing to investigate my complaint against them saying this has nothing to do us Gov! I won't accept that excuse.  Amazon has made money out of this sale. If they host such agents and allow them to use their name and payment system they should protect their customers when things go wrong and not  run away and leave them in the lurch.

I will also have to try the manufactor and trading standards.

So do not buy anything from Amazon 3rd Party agents since if they disappear (or whatever) after 90 days then you have no come back. Actually we shouldn't be using Amazon at all.

On one level I suppose I should have known better. Amazon is an virulently anti-trade union employer and organisations that treats its workers badly also treat their customers with contempt as well. Reminds me of my ongoing fun and games with Richard Branson and Virgin media. 

It now appears that Amazon has been cheating British tax payers.  No surprise really.  

I will let you know how I get on with my quest for a refund.

No time to say goodbye to Virgin Media (and the bearded one)

I am finally free of Virgin Media and its anti-trade union bearded one! I think that I have been a customer of the cable company (in its various reincarnations) for about 15 years. You can click on the label "Virgin media" below for the back ground. When I saw that disgusting video Richard Branson put out attacking trade union recognition I felt I had no choice but to leave.

It has been quite a journey. I've been shouted at and threatened by their managers, my phone deliberately cut off, complaints ignored and then finally given 4 minutes notice by email that they were cutting off (again) not only my home telephone but this time my TV and broadband service in breach of my contract and against my express instructions!

They didn't dare charge me the £144 they had threatened, however to be honest that given that the senior management at Virgin are so nasty and malicious that I had half expected them to cut me off again. It's pretty pathetic and vindictive. But this is what you come to expect if you are a Virgin Media customer.

Anyway, I am still continuing the fight and have asked for clarification on their useless responses to date and have even asked to be put back on Virgin (I know, I know...but 4 minutes to get someone else is clearly inadequate) until I can get an alternative provider. We will wait and see.

I will post soon on how to to cancel your Virgin Media service. There are much better and cheaper providers out there. The real problem I think with Virgin Media is that it acts like a monopoly and that is why it has such a poor service ethos and is so expensive and unresponsive. I have some ideas on this front. So watch this space.

(ps I love this "Time to Say Goodbye" song and like to post it whenever possible)

Virgin Media Rubbish Service Update: Branson Brand did Cut off my Phone line for complaining!

Quick update on the latest old nonsense from probably the most badly run and vindictive private monopoly in the land.

I tried to cancel my subscription on Jan 3rd to Virgin Media following the nasty and despicable
attack by their brand owner and chief private shareholder, Richard Branson, on trade unions.

It ended up with me being shouted and threatened by one of their managers and my telephone line being immediately cut off. I made a complaint which I finally (despite two chase ups) got a response on Tuesday by email. They completely ignored pretty much all my points and told me that my service will be totally disconnected on 3 February and that I would be charged £144.

They also told me to ring a repair helpline to report my phone being out of order. Which I did today with a mobile. After the usual long wait and millions of menus and pressing alphabet keys on your telephone which they did not recognise, I finally got to their faults helpline. They informed me that there was a billing problem and that was why my phone was cut off so they transferred me to customer service. I treid to point out that I didn’t think this was the case since my other services were working normally (for Virgin). The customer services operative was very helpful but she could not explain why I was cut off since my account was up-to-date. Eventually (20 minutes wait) it was agreed they would transfer me back to repairs. Repairs could not understand why I had been cut off by them but said it was some sort of a “mistake”. After another 20 minutes they agreed to restore my telephone service in “2-24 hours”. I am pleased to say that 4 hours later it is now working.

It is quite clear that my phone was cut off maliciously for over 2 weeks purely because I treid to cancel my service and they are now intending to totally disconnect my service (without my agreement) and charge me £144. Needless to say I will continue complaining. Many thanks to everyone who have contacted me to share the awful experiences they have had with Virgin Media and suggestions on what to do next.

Virgin Media Complaint Update: Big Fat Zero

I made a complaint here on 4 January about anti-trade union boss Richard Branson and the treatment that you receive when you try and cancel your Virgin Media Contract. Following which Virgin Media apparently decided to cut off my land line to punish me for daring to make a complaint.  I made a further complaint here but once again, I have had no contact at all with Virgin Media. They are of course ignoring their own complaint procedure. But no surprise there. My phone is still not working.

I've just made a third complaint and have given them 72 hours to respond or I will make a report to the regulator. Not that they are at all bothered about this since the regulator is I understand pretty toothless.

I've had a quick look around Youtube and this clip by the CWU about Virgin Media plans to close its Liverpool office is one of the very few about Branson and Virgin Media that is not so rude as to contravene the Public Order Act. Sign the CWU petition against offshoring jobs here.

Anti-trade union legal parasites touting for trade

I find it incredible that supposedly reputable solicitors are cold calling employers that are facing pension strike action next week, claiming that due to trivial balloting irregularities, they could claim damages against unions and that they can then discipline their staff. 

Now I can understand that if solicitors are contacted by their clients for advice they would have to give the appropriate legal guidance. Every employer knows that due to the anti-trade union laws in this country it makes it possible to challenge perfectly legitimate disputes. 

What we have here are solicitors who claim on their web site to be committed to always acting in a “Socially Responsible Manner” touting for fees. Exploiting procedures to try and discipline (and I assume) sack ordinary workers striking to save their pensions.

Apart from the morals or the ethics of trying to get people sacked for exercising their human right to withdraw their labour, you have to question the judgement of such people who think they can make a quick buck out of other people’s misery. When I look at their list of clients I recognise a number of employers who I know will be shocked at what they are trying to do.  I can only hope that they immediately review whether or not such people are fit and proper to advise them and that they take appropriate action. 

This doesn’t let the Labour Party off the hook either. You can argue the pros and cons of whether there is the right balance in legislation over industrial disputes (and you can guess my view) but what is indefensible and simply wrong is that the last government did little or nothing to stop minor and petty procedural issues being raised to stop legitimate action and to potentially sack people.

Faced with such disgusting behaviour motivated only by fat fees and commissions for already rich and highly paid people is it no wonder that so many young people despise our current political system.  They think that the injustice is such that it legitimises carrying out direct action and occupations.

Ryanair pilots are “Clowns” say….Ryanair

Interesting quote from The Sunday Times today. There is an article alleging that notoriously anti-trade union budget airline Ryanair is putting air safety at risk by restricting the amount of fuel that planes carry.

A spokesperson for the airline is quoted as denying that there are any safety concerns. However, the spokesperson then goes on to describe its own airline pilots who brought up these concerns (anonymously for obvious reasons) as “clowns”!

Check out the International Transport Workers website (and the “Dispatches” video) before you decide to fly with the “irresponsible face of capitalism” in the future. Also Ryanair Campaign site (one very unhappy former customer)

Picture of Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary showing us what he thinks of his staff and customers generally.