Following UNITE’s request for union recognition at MAN23, the company has agreed this in principle and set up meetings this week and next to progress it:
“I can confirm that, in principle, the company is prepared to offer Unite recognition at our location known as MAN23. We outlined at this meeting some issues that would need to be resolved before an agreement could be finalised and agreed that we would hold further meetings when Terry Thompson and Maurice Edwards had returned from holiday. These meetings have now been arranged for 20th and 25th January and formal invitations have been sent to you.”
UNITE’s preference would be to incorporate MAN23 staff into an expanded Manchester bargaining unit, rather than negotiating a new and separate agreement. As this would modify the existing Manchester Recognition Agreement, the new arrangements would need to be approved by both a majority of members at MAN23 and a majority of members in the existing Manchester bargaining unit (who will discuss the matter at their EGM at 2pm on Wednesday 2nd February).
The union will keep you updated as negotiations progress.
There will be a lunchtime Members’ Meeting for all UNITE members in all the Warrington sites:
Wednesday 2nd FebruaryTwo sessions: 12-1pm or 1-2pm
WAR08 Meeting Room C
The draft agenda is currently:
Please do your best to attend the meeting and encourage other members to attend. If you have any other items for the agenda, please let your reps know as soon as possible.
Note: Your reps did try and book a room in WAR13 for the meeting this time, to move the meetings around, but were unable to get a suitable room, so it's in WAR08 again.
As the meeting will deal with the Executive Council nominations, that agenda item will be for WAR08 members only and we are including the formal notification below:
Date: 19th January 2011
To all members of the Fujitsu WAR08 workplace
In accordance with rule it is necessary to hold a ballot to elect the Unite Executive Council which will hold office for the electoral period 1st May 2011 – 30th April 2014. In accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 Electoral Reform Services; have been appointed to act as Independent Scrutineer for this ballot. They can be contacted at the following address: The Independent Scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services, Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW. Prospective candidates must be a member of the electoral constituency they wish to represent (see list below), and they must be an accountable representative of workers in accordance with Rule 6.
Under the ballot rules our branch/workplace is required to hold a meeting during the period 10 January to 7 February 2011 in order to determine our nomination(s) for Unite Executive Council Representatives. This meeting will take place on: Wednesday 2nd February at 12:00 and 13:00 in Meeting Room C, WAR08, Fujitsu, Temple Court, Risley, Warrington, WA3 6GD. |
Almost every day brings fresh news of the impact of the cuts on our public services, on the welfare state and on jobs across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Meanwhile high inflation (RPI inflation is now 5.1%) is eating into our living standards.
We are being asked to pay for a crisis triggered by the irresponsible greed of a few top bankers. But even given the economic mess, the cuts are still not necessary (see below for more information).
The councils in Greater Manchester are being hit by much greater than average cuts in central government funding over the next two years. For example, Manchester faces a cut of £110m (21%), far higher than the (bad enough!) national average of 15.2%.
UNITE is part of a broad coalition fighting to protect our livelihoods and services from the impact of the cuts. To be successful, this needs to be a powerful movement involving many people.
What you could do:
You can find out more about UNITE’s campaign against the cuts here: www.dontbreakbritain.org
Background information
The deficit is not as huge or disastrous as it has been presented
Ministers (and some of the press) throw around scary numbers about the deficit. But they are being used to frighten people, not to explain the problem. Here are some facts:
There are fairer ways to reduce a deficit.
People Power can change things.
Will demonstrating make a difference? Yes it will. On a grand scale we have seen the people of Egypt challenge a military dictator and win. But on a much smaller scale every week in Britain union members make a difference to their terms and conditions by mobilising collective people power within the specific company or section or area.
Many key aspects of government policy were in neither manifesto of the coalition parties. Many have nothing to do with cutting the deficit. The £3bn cost of handing most of the NHS budget over to the private sector via GPs is a good example of both.
There is ALWAYS more than one way to do anything. Governments can and do change their minds. Employers can and do change their minds.
If the union has a meeting in your workplace on an issue and no-one turns up, then the company concerned will assume that no-one cares about the issue and will not listen to the union about it. If however everyone concerned turns up then the company concerned knows that it has to listen to the union.
So view the March 26th demonstration as a mass meeting called by the TUC. It is seeking to negotiate with the Government and persuade it to change course. If no-one turns up (very unlikely) nothing will happen. If tens of millions turn up (also unlikely) the Government will find a way to completely change course. It is up to you how this demonstration turns out.
Think about the future. The changes proposed by the coalition are not the end of the assault on public services. They are the beginning. There is no guarantee that tuition fees will not be increased again or of no future changes to the NHS.
In the future will your children or grandchildren be able to afford to go to university? Will there be a free health service for them to use?
The answer to both those questions depends upon whether you support this campaign. One Saturday is not a lot to give up for the future of our country.
The welfare state was the reward won by the generation who fought World War 2. It is up to us to defend their heritage.