Torygraph and Tax Avoiders Alliance “twaddle” about unions

What a lot of old twaddle from the Torygraph and the Tax Avoiders’ Alliance about “millions” being (so called) wasted on time off for trade union stewards and safety reps to represent their members.

So every time a rep goes to a meeting with a member or sits down with management to sort out local problems - this is somehow “fund (ing) the activities of the union barons”? How silly.

So what exactly are these “Big Society” Tories clones proposing should happen instead?

a. Workers facing discipline or sickness hearings should be banned from having trade union colleague representing them?
b. safety reps should not be allowed to carry out workplace inspections or investigate accidents ?
c. organisations should not consult elected staff representatives on pay, proposed redundancies or changes to terms and conditions?

This is all politically motivated stuff and nonsense and I suppose in one way we should expect such “tic for tat” attacks on the unions due to our support for Labour. Frankly, I would have thought that they could have come out with something just a little more intelligent to have a go at us.

If you are thinking about efficiency I would suggest the Tories and their allies look into the number of HR personnel in large organisations (and wages paid to the HR directors!) compared to the facility time offered to trade union reps?

The only really sensible quote in the Torygraph article is from UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis about the role of union reps "Far from causing industrial strife, paid facility time has contributed to the lowest levels of strikes on record. In short – trade union facility time makes good business sense."

The TUC blog “Stronger unions” reports on the Tax Avoiders that “The voice of employers is also absent from the report – quite odd given that I assume that the TPA would regard itself as a friend of employers. Is this because only last year the CBI joined with the TUC and BIS to publish a report – Reps in Action – on the role of union reps and stated that it;

“Believes that modern [union] representatives have a lot to give their fellow employees and to the organisations that employ them”

The Ultra right wing “teenage scribblers” of the Torygraph and the Tax Avoiders' Alliance have (self evidently) no idea whatsoever of industrial relations in the real world.

UNISONactive and Socialist Unity have sensible posts on this as well. Caption from here

"What is it about this obsession with Leaders?"

Good post by Ian

"I reckon the left groups are the worst here.

How often do you hear left groups supporting this candidate for leader or that while at the same time championing rank and file power or lay member democracy?...."

(I suppose I should ask you to ignore for the moment that most of my recent posts have been about "leadership elections" :)

2nd ballot paper: Co-operative Party vote for London Mayor

 This morning I received my 2nd ballot paper.  This was was from the the Co-operative Party (London region) which is affiliated to London Labour Party.  Therefore I can vote again on who should be the Labour candidate for London Mayor 2012.

I voted (on-line) for Ken.  See why here. 

In the preamble I noticed you had to tick a box:-

"To ensure your vote is counted in this election, all members of affiliated organisations eligible to vote are required to agree the following pledge:

"I support the policies and principles of the Labour Party, and am not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it and pay a political subscription to the body that issued this website."

Which I haven't noticed in previous elections. I assume if you want to vote you must support this.

Shape Newham's Future: Sunday 5 Sept 7-8.30pm

Friday Picture: Cameron's lovely "basin of gravy"

hat tip thingy Political Scrapbook via Rupa.  As translated here.

Ed Miliband: Message to Unison members

On board the Livingstone Battle Bus against Boris & CONDEM Cuts

Early yesterday morning I was with London UNISON convener, Gloria Hanson, at Euston to join other trade unionists who were helping London Labour Mayor Candidate, Ken Livingtone, launch his Boris and CONDEM anti-cuts campaign.  We went on a open air double decker bus to the Beormund Community Centre in Bermondsey, which itself is facing a Government £40k cut in its budget putting its existence in doubt. With us amongst others was Steve Hart, the Unite Regional Secretary, Paul Hayes the London GMB regional secretary, David Lammy MP and of course - Ken. 

Before we set off Ken got a good reception from passing commuters who shouted support and gave him the "thumbs up" sign and in return they received the famous grin.  Ken is of course notoriously a bit of a "Marmite" character, but ordinary Londoners seemed to be genuinely pleased to see him and offer support.

The bus driver was unsure of the best route to Bermondsey, so the Unite union Black taxi reps present offerred to help.  This could have been a "tricky" situation (taxi drivers telling bus drivers "what to do") but it seemed to work well (all comrades together!).  Perhaps also we were lucky there were no low bridges on route either? :)

The immediate Boris/CONDEM cuts already announced and the prospect of even much, much more are the defining issue facing Londoners.  We need the candidate who is best able to inspire and protect ordinary Londoners and then defeat in 2012 the ideological "slash and burners" who will be doing their level best to destroy our London.

In this particular battle - nothing else matters.

UPDATE: check out Mary Honeyball MEP top post here on her support for Ken.

Blair and Brown...Jon of the Rogers and Young Nick

 (this is an internal London UNISON thingy - enjoy or ignore) -  ..."The interesting thing is that the press have reacted to the story about the rift between Brown and Blair as it was something new.

Everyone knew they couldn't stand each other and they did not have a love hate relationship like the one myself and Jon of the Rogers had. In our case (and yes am bringing this back to me, me, me..) we had a clear division of labour and we worked well together.

I managed the branch on a day to day basis and Jon dealt with the 'revolution' so the lines of division were very clear and obvious and it worked well. We ended up disagreeing because I believed that a branch with 2,300 members had to be managed and some discipline was needed and he wanted a more liberal approach and a free for all, so at the end I left to allow him to do it his way and I wish him the best of luck..."

hat-tip Nick Venedi's blog

1st Labour Leadership and London Mayor Ballot Paper's

This evening I came home from work to find my first ballot papers for the national Labour Leadership and London Mayor.  Since I am a member of UNISON Labour Link and other affiliated Socialist societies I expect to receive others in the next few days.

I will actually vote "on-line" to save the Party money.

(I am not entirely sure whether these particular ballot papers are due to my Party membership or that of the Association of Labour Councillors?)

I am voting for Ed Miliband and Ken Livingstone.

I think Ed is the best candidate for the Labour Leadership since he recognises that the Party does need to change and evolve.  He supports a significant shift (in my view) in Party thinking. 

He believes that there is a positive role to be played by the state in the economy such as protection for agency workers, a real living wage and progressive taxation to really tackle the destructive inequity of income inequality. He is a traditional Labour Party social democratic socialist who is motivated by social justice not outdated factional politics who will attract our core vote while not scaring off the middle class horses.

The fact that Ed has been attacked by the left and the right (you know who I mean) has confirmed to me he is the best choice.

I will post on Ken and the reasons I support him for London Mayor tomorrow.

Cradley Women Chainmakers' Festival

From this week's TUC UNIONREP's e-newsletter "The festival to be held on 18 September commemorates the 100th anniversary of the fight of the Cradley Heath Women Chainmakers, who in 1910 went on strike for 10 weeks and were successful in winning the first ever minimum wage. The TUC-organised event will celebrate the importance of Trade Union History and women at work.

The event will be held at the Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 4SQ. Speakers include TUC Deputy general Secretary Frances O'Grady and Tony Benn".

Check out the Wolvestuc website for further details.