Archived News

 

Unite General Secretary's May Day Message

 

Dear Friends Last month, half a million men, women and children marched through London to call for a rethink. A rethink on the job losses sweeping our communities, to the wage cuts grinding people down. Jobs for the one million young people wasting on the dole. They wanted an arrest to the assault our schools and health care, on the services that over generations we have paid for but are now to be gift-wrapped and placed into private hands. A fairer Britain, where those who can help those in need. And they wanted a government with no mandate from the people to think carefully about its misuse of office. It was not elected to shatter our society - and it will not be forgiven if it accomplishes this mission. The people of this country still want all these things. We want them because these are the values on which civilised societies rest. Predictably, this government thumbed its nose at the biggest ever trade union presence on the streets of the capital. Remote from everyday people, they refuse to accept mounting calls to grow the economy, not cut mercilessly, meven while the experts say this pain is for no economic gain, because they have a different mission - to change Britain radically, and not for the benefit of all. Just look at their plans for the tribunal system that secures justice at work for employees; soon it will be dismantled, a favour for its friends in the CBI. Similarly they are presiding over the mass use of "sack and rehire" where cash-strapped councils do central governments dirty work by forcing tens of thousands of workers into a Hobsons Choice of accept horrific pay cuts - 24 percent in one case - or lose your job. And someday soon they will come for the unions which are often all that stands between a worker and mistreatment. That is why we must grow this union. To protect you and your family we must build, we cannot stand still because this is a fight about our futures. And such is this battle we may have to use our common power in whatever ways we can to defend our rights and achievements. We know that working people want someone in their corner - we know that because of the countless requests for help we are receiving every day. Soon, Unite will roll out a massive, concerted organising drive. This will see us join many more into Unite so that we can defend them - and you - against further attacks. Every Unite officer will be charged with growing this union and strengthening our grassroots. Every branch will make union growth its priority. Every member will be encouraged to remind their fellow workers why this union is their best defence. The expertise and skills of the country's biggest union will be 100 per cent focused on building for our shared futures. Because Unite's strength gives YOU protection. More than any other time in a generation, you need this. So too do your family and friends. If they are not in a union today, do them a favour and make sure they are Unite members by tomorrow. Our strength is your power. With best wishes to you and your family for the May Day holiday. Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary

30/04/2011

 

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey vows to work with students to fight cuts

 

Len McCluskey, elected Unite general secretary in November 2010, said trade unions had to work with students to build a wider anti-cuts campaign.
Link to website article

20/12/2010
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New Branch Officers

 

The new Branch Secretary is David Nissen and the new Membership Secretary is Liz Campbell. For details of how to get in touch with them - see the Contact Branch page.

26/10/2009

 

ACTS Regional Trade Group Report

 

Read Jonathan Cox's report from the Regional Trade Group meeting.

01/05/2009
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Karen Reissmann Campaign Statement

 

Karen Reissmann is a community psychiatric nurse, based at the North Manchester General Hospital, who was sacked for bringing the Manchester Mental Health Trust into disrepute. Her crime - doing her job as a trade unionist and organising opposition to cuts in jobs and services and speaking out about the transfer of NHS services to the voluntary sector.

21/12/2007
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Want To Be A Better Manager ?

 

Many problems in the workplace stem sadly from poor management with many managers receiving little or no training in the range of skills needed to be a good manager. Launched in July 2007, beabettermanager.com has been designed particularly, but not exclusively, for younger managers without formal qualifications. This useful website can help you solve immediate problems, is FREE to use and is available 24/7.

20/12/2007

 

Biennial Delegates Conference 2007 - Reportback

 

Ever wondered what happens at union conferences ? Read this brief report written by members of the branch to find out.

11/09/2007
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T&G and Amicus "Unite" to form the UK's Biggest Union

 

"Unite" - Britain's biggest trade union was recently launched with a "join us to stop exploitation" message to young workers.

14/05/2007
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YMCA Launches National Youth Homelessness Scheme

 

YMCA England has teamed up with UK homelessness charity Centrepoint to deliver a National Youth Homelessness Scheme.

28/03/2007
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TGWU and Amicus Members Vote to Merge

 

T&G and Amicus members have voted to merge to create Britain and Ireland's newest and biggest trade union with around two million members.

13/03/2007
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£88,000 is the Average Salary of a Housing Association Chief Executive

 

A new survey has revealed that the average salary for a housing association chief executive is now £88,000.

08/02/2007
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Union Seeks Protection for Charitable Sector's Supporting People Role

 

Unions fear that private companies will find it easier to undercut charities and deliver poorer quality Supporting People services.

15/12/2006
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Union Executive Backs Merger With Amicus

 

The Transport and General Workers Union Executive today unanimously backed plans to create a new union based on a merger with Amicus.

23/11/2006
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Job Evaluations

 

Loads of useful information about the mysterious and often murky world of job evaluations has just been added to the "Shop Stewards" Resources section.

18/10/2006

 

Metropolitan Seeks Partner for Marriage

 

Metropolitan Housing Partnership is scouting around for another housing association to merge with.

14/09/2006
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Planned Holiday Increase Will Benefit Two Million Employees

 

Plans to increase holiday leave for around two million full time employees next year will bring huge benefits to workers and employers alike.

14/09/2006
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English Churches and TGWU Issue Joint Statement

 

English Churches Housing Group (ECHG) and the TGWU confirmed that there will now be talks over the restructuring.

18/07/2006
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English Churches Management Under Fire Over Job Losses

 

The TGWU has said that it will defend as many members as possible from job losses at English Churches Housing Group (ECHG).

20/06/2006
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GreenWorks 2006 Conference

 

A half-day conference aimed at workplace representatives.

24/05/2006
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London Cleaners Demand A Living Wage

 

Angry cleaners stage a noisy demonstration in the heart of the City of London.

08/03/2006
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Out Of The Box

 

Forty years ago the television broadcast of Cathy Come Home astonished the nation, put homelessness on the map and helped launch Shelter.

21/02/2006
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Council Workers Walk Out

 

Staff at Tower Hamlets council recently began two days of strike action after a housing campaigner lost her job at the local authority.

20/12/2005
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120,000 Children Will Be Homeless Over Xmas

 

A record 127,992 children in England will wake up homeless on Christmas Day, according to new government figures highlighted today by housing charity Shelter.

20/12/2005
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Waverley Tenants Say No

 

Tenants of Waverley council, Surrey, voted to keep the council as their landlord, despite being told that the only way that repairs would be made to their homes was to back their transfer to a new housing association.

20/12/2005
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Letter to Gordon Brown from Defend Council Housing

 

This is recent letter from Defend Council Housing (DCH) about the "Fourth Option" - funding for council housing.

13/12/2005
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Fifty Years to Plug Ethnic Minority Employment Gap ?

 

A recently published TUC report highlights the gap between ethnic minority and white workers.

13/09/2005
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Gate Gourmet Workers

 

Support the sacked Gate Gourmet workers and get the facts about the dispute.

23/08/2005
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T&G Conference Highlights

 

This is a brief outline of conference business over the course of the week in Blackpool.

16/08/2005
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Cleaners Dish The Dirt on Parliament's Nastiest Job

T&G members revealed some of the dirtier secrets of Parliament yesterday as they staged a 24-hour strike for higher pay and better working conditions.


 

21/07/2005
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PM's Constituents Reject Stock Transfer

 

Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituents have voted against plans to switch the local authority's homes to a housing association.

21/07/2005
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Fighting for Longbridge

 

The T&G is fighting to save jobs and car manufacturing at the MG Rover car plant in Longbridge, Birmingham.

13/04/2005
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Labour Still Fails Means Testing

 

Anti-poverty campaigners continue to push for an end to means testing.

12/04/2005
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T&G Wins Millions of Pounds of Compensation for its Members

 

More than £72 million was won in compensation last year for members of the TGWU.

31/03/2005
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Research Shows Dramatic Shift in Identity of London's Homeless

 

A report by the Pan-London Providers Group, based on research by Sheffield University's Homeless Programme Team, has found that the profile of the typical homeless person has changed dramatically over the past 10 years.

25/02/2005
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T&G Starts Talks On Creating Super Union

 

Talks on the creation of a new trade union based on a merger of the Transport and General Workers Union, Amicus and the GMB were agreed on Wednesday.

04/02/2005
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MPs Push To Make Worker Safety A Boardroom Priority

 

Senior Labour backbenchers and former ministers are backing a private member's bill which would see company directors held to account for negligent health and safety practices.

09/12/2004
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Celebrate International Migrants Day

 

International Migrants Day is being celebrated on 18th December and you are invited to join in.

01/12/2004
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Trust Offers Bulletproof Vests to Housing Officers

 

London and Quadrant (L&Q) Housing Trust is thought to be the first RSL to offer bulletproof vests to it's housing officers.

29/11/2004
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Save Boddingtons Brewery

 

The famous Boddingtons Brewery in Manchester is facing closure with the loss of 50 jobs.

25/11/2004
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Call For "Wide and Open" Debate On Race Issues

 

Ted Cantle, Chair of the Community Cohesion Panel, has urged the government to generate a widespread and open debate about identity, shared values, and citizenship.

16/08/2004
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£38 billion for Sustainable Communities

 

The ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) have been given £38 billion pounds to spend over the next 5 years, as part of the Chancellor's recent Spending Review.

11/08/2004
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FirstGroup Bus Strike Victory

 

The strike at FirstGroup in South Yorkshire has now been settled.

11/08/2004
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First National Dock Strike for 14 Years ?

 

Associated British Ports (ABP) faces the propsect of a national docks strike for the first time since the end of the National Dock Labour Scheme.

10/08/2004
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Boss Urged To Step In At Strike Hit FirstGroup

 

The chief executive of FirstGroup transport company has been asked to intervene in a long running strike in it's bus division.

06/08/2004
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Colombian Trade Unionists Appeal for International Support

 

Senior Colombian trade unionists face sackings and death threats. Read the attached for more information and what you can do to help.

20/07/2004
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Steep Increase in Overcrowding in London

 

The level of overcrowding in London has increased by 50% over 10 years, according to new data compiled by the ALG.

22/04/2004
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Union Members Want A Political Voice

 

T&G Members vote to keep the Political Fund.

13/04/2004
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Are Unions In Decline ?

 

Read this article - and see what you think ?

31/03/2004
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Peabody Trust's Repairs And Maintenance Service In Trouble

 

The Peabody Trust has been forced to rethink its repairs and maintenance system.

26/02/2004
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Supporting People Funds To Be Frozen

 

The recently launched Supporting People funding programme, is already facing an expenditure reduction.

23/02/2004
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RSI Awareness Week 2004

 

The RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Association is launching the first RSI Awareness Week in the UK, running from 23 - 29 February 2004.

11/02/2004
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Social landlord faces government supervision

 

Places for People, Britain's largest housing association, faces trouble in it's boardroom.

15/09/2003
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Whose Poverty Is It Anyway ?

 

Anti-Poverty Seminar. Friday 17 October 2003. Organised by ATD Fourth World.

04/09/2003
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Housing boss 'tops public sector pay league'

 

David Bennett of Sanctuary HA has become what is thought to be Britain's highest paid public service chief executive.

02/09/2003
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T&G Conference Report

 

Jackie Seymour, who works for Merton Action for Single Homeless (MASH) was the branch's delegate to the union's recent Biennial Delegates Conference (BDC) in Brighton. Click "more" to see what she thought of it.

29/08/2003
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Westminster Council gives "tough love" to rough sleepers

Westminster Council's plans to get rough sleepers off the streets has been criticised by a number of homeless charities.


 

06/08/2003
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Mayor's London Plan Approved

 

Ken Livingstone's plan to get more affordable housing built in the capital, was recently backed by government appointed planners.

30/07/2003
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Tony Woodley elected as new General Secretary

 

Members have overwhelmingly elected Tony Woodley as the new General Secretary of the union. He will be taking over from Sir Bill Morris. The votes were as follows: Tony Woodley 66,958, Jack Dromey 45,136, Barry Camfield 28,346, Jimmy Elsby 13,336. The turnout was 20.9% of the membership.

28/07/2003

 

Government claims £1.5 billion boost for council housing

 

However, council housing campaigners are concerned that this is another step towards privatisation, as this will involve council's who are desperate to get their hands on the extra funding, separating off the housing management element of their housing departments into a new body called an ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation).

28/07/2003
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Keep Our Picket Line Going

 

We are currently in dispute with our employer (DAF Electrical). We are skilled electricians and members of the TGWU. The reasons for our actions are: 1.) The employer refuses to consult with our union official over redundancies of our site reps and electricians. 2.) Our employer's use of unskilled workers to carry out electrical work for as little as half the skilled rate, despite skilled electricians being the cheapest in Europe. This use of unskilled workers is indicative of our industry. We call on our fellow trade uion members to support our picket financially and eradicate the contravening of health & safety and our national agreement. PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY. We must win this struggle for ALL of our jobs throughout the industry. Cheques payable to: A. JONES (Treasurer), c/o A. Acheson, 13 Thompson Close, Dane Bank, Denton, Manchester, M34 2PQ. Fighting Fund Tel No: 07813 456831

25/07/2003

 

Housing transfers "costing taxpayers billions"

 

The influential Public Accounts Committee, have said that the government's policy of transferring council homes to housing associations, is costing taxpayers billions of pounds and is delivering questionable benefits.

25/07/2003
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Go Bananas at Notting Hill Carnival !

 

Volunteers are urgently needed to support Caribbean and Fairtrade bananas at Europe's biggest street festival.

21/07/2003
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EUROPEAN HEALTH & SAFETY WEEK

 

This year's European Health & Safety Week is 14th-18th October. The theme for 2002 is Stress at Work.

16/09/2002
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Social Housing In Decline ?

 

The national housing survey revealed households in social housing - both with councils and RSL's - fell by 136,000 from 4.22 million to just 4.084 million in the past year, the steepest decline since 1997. (Regeneration & Renewal Magazine)

29/08/2002

 

Voluntary Sector Set To Strike ?

 

Charities could face the unheard of prospect of strike action this Autumn as a local government pay dispute threatens to spill over into the voluntary sector. The T&G says it will launch industrial action against any voluntary organisation providing contracted out services for a local council that does not match a recent pay deal for directly employed council staff. The deal secured an 11 per cent rise over 2 years for lowest paid council staff and a £5 an hour minimum wage. It will increase the overall pay bill by 7.83%. T&G members have until 20th September to vote on the proposed deal. If it is accepted, the union says it will turn its attention to private-sector contractors, HA's and voluntary sector employers. (Third Sector Magazine)

29/08/2002

 

 

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