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Network Jan Feb 2014 The bimonthly magazine for Usdaw activists|www.usdaw.org.uk|January/February 2014 WORLD CLASS REPS n Activist-in-depth n Black Members’ n Spotlight Day 2014 Paul Young Weekend Workshop March 19 will be the focus Tesco rep from Activists from for the Supporting the North Eastern the black and Parents & Carers division on his Asian campaign union involvement communities page 15 and busy met up in working life Manchester page 19 page 20 GENERAL NETWORK | WWW.USDAW.ORG.UK SECRETARY Fairness battle General secretary John Hannett’s comment sdaw’s fight for justice for former Woolworths and Ethel Austin staff, who missed out on a U protective award because they worked in small stores, faces a further wait after the Appeal Court referred the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), for its view of the legal position. Our members lost out because the interpretation of the law at the time of the job losses considered each store a ‘separate establishment’ and where a store had fewer than 20 staff they were excluded from the protective award payment, which compensates workers who have not been properly consulted prior to losing their job. In both cases the administrators failed to consult. And while Usdaw won compensation for staff in the bigger stores others lost out. In May 2013 Usdaw won a landmark legal case to overturn the ‘one establishment’ ruling only for the Coalition to appeal the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decision. In fact the Government did not even turn up for the EAT hearing and although their appeal was later allowed they were forced to pay the union’s legal costs. Despite all this, Usdaw is determined to see the fight through to the very end. We are confident of our case, which ❞ is morally and logically robust. It makes no sense that workers in stores of fewer than 20 employees were denied compensation, whereas their colleagues in larger stores did qualify for the award. These were mass redundancy It makes no situations where thousands of workers lost their jobs. How sense that can anyone suggest that the redundancies should be treated workers in on a store-by-store basis when the whole company was stores of fewer closing down? than 20 We hope that this referral to the CJEU will ensure that justice can be done for former Woolies and Ethel Austin workers, employees who have now waited more than five years. were denied If you need one example of whose side the Coalition is on compensation when it comes to workers’ rights, you only have to consider this one case to realise the Government is definitely not on your side. ❞ USDAW www.usdaw.org.uk Network is published HEAD OF MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHERS ADVERTISING COMMUNICATIONS bimonthly and distributed to Mike Bartlett, Della Batchelor, David Century One Publishing Ltd Mike Glover Usdaw activists. Fleming, Kim Gregory, Brian Hallam, T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 EDITOR Michael Hogan, Mark Howells, Matt Published by: E [email protected] Peter Rees-Farrell Link, Michael Marker, Bill Miller, Dave ADVERTISING MANAGER Usdaw REPORTER Moss, Martin O’Neill, Helen Pugh, Phil David Murray T 01727 739 182 188 Wilmslow Road Mairead Bradley Scott, Kat Tonks, Stewart Turkington, Manchester M14 6LJ EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Richard Walker, and Alan Williams. E d.murray@centuryone T 0161 224 2804 Sarah Bailey For circulation enquiries contact your publishing.ltd.uk divisional office. Paper is sourced F 0161 257 2566 OTHER CONTRIBUTORS from sustainable forests. © Usdaw 2014 E [email protected] Jo Bird, Ruth Cross, Tony Larkin and Reproduction in whole or part by any means PRINTED BY: Buxton Press without written permission of the publisher is strictly W www.usdaw.org.uk Doug Russell. forbidden. The publisher accepts no responsibility for errors, omissions or the consequences thereof. 02 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 WWW.USDAW.ORG.UK | NETWORK JAN/FEB CONTENTS WINNINGWINNING REPSREPS NATIONAL AWARDS NIGHT CELEBRATION Activists were the stars of the show at the annual Organising Awards Night held at a top Manchester hotel in January. Reps from across the UK competed for the eight national awards for outstanding service to the union. Network was there too . Pages 10–13 ■■■ 04 In the news ■■■ 20 Black Members’ Weekend Workshop The recession continues to hammer the majority of the population Problem solving and representing members was the focus for this who look set to miss out on the so-called recovery. year’s annual get-together, which has acted as a major springboard Meanwhile, Usdaw is keen to offer support to foster carers. for black and Asian activists to get more involved in Usdaw. ■■■ 06 Respect Week ■■■ 22 Recruitment and Organising Encouraging members to report all incidents of abuse and violence Thanks to hard-working reps Usdaw continues to be the fastest was a major theme for this year’s Freedom From Fear Respect growing union in the UK all this despite the difficulties facing the Week as well as asking customers to ‘Keep Your Cool’. sectors the union organises. ■■■ 08 John Hannett interview ■■■ 30 European Union Elections May 2014 General secretary John Hannett reflects on a difficult 2013 and Ahead of the forthcoming May election, leader of the European considers the challenges ahead in 2014 for the union, our members Parliamentary Labour Group MEP Glenis Wilmott asks ‘What Has and our reps. the European Union ever done for you?’. ■■■ 15 Parents & Carers Spotlight Day Helping members with caring responsibilities know their rights and who may have ‘too much on their plate’ is the focus for this year’s Spotlight Day on March 19. Regulars Member services ■■■ 19 Activist-in-depth 14 Find out if Usdaw can save you money Staff news North Eastern division’s Paul Young talks to Network about why he 26 The latest appointments and promotions became a rep and how his life has changed since getting involved at 27 Letters What reps are saying about work and life his Tesco store. 28 Health and safety Keep informed on all the safety issues JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 | 03 NEWS NETWORK | WWW.USDAW.ORG.UK IN BRIEF MAJORITY TO MISS OUT ON RECOVERY Just two per cent of voters say they have already benefitted from the economic recovery and only a further n Inflation rates 18 per cent expect to benefit from the move up and down recovery during 2014, according to a new TUC-commissioned YouGov poll The UK’s inflation rate, as published in early January. measured by the Retail A big majority expect the living Prices Index, which standards crisis to continue in the new includes housing costs, year. rose to 2.7 per cent from Only one in eight (12 per cent) of 2.6 per cent in November. those in work expect their pay to at least While the Consumer Prices keep up with the cost of living, the same Index, which excludes proportion who report that their pay at housing costs, fell to two least kept up with the cost of living services have yet to in real terms - a loss of per cent in December, during 2013. happen, but voters do not £30.30 in the pay packets down from 2.1 per cent the In addition voters do not back the appreciate the scale of the of employees working a month before. Cheaper Coalition’s plans for a permanently cuts to come. 40-hour week, according food explains the slight fall. smaller state with more than half (56 per to research published by However, the latest inflation cent) wanting to see most or all of the n In the last five years UK the TUC as part of its rates are still well ahead of services that have been cut restored as workers have suffered a Britain Needs a Pay Rise average earnings growth the economy grows. huge squeeze on their campaign. More at: running at around 0.8 per The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) incomes, with average www.tuc.org.uk cent at present. says that 60 per cent of cuts in public pay falling by 6.3 per cent www.usdaw.org.uk/news 100 cheers for Bill Usdaw’s longest serving involvement in the trade union member Bill Nicholas, centre, and labour movement entitledA was the guest of honour at a Life Lived Through Bristol’s celebration to mark his 100th Labour Movement– published birthday and 85 years’ by the South West TUC. membership. “Many congratulations to Bill,” The union stalwart is a legend said general secretary John in the South Wales and Western Hannett. “A remarkable man division tracing his involvement who has remained true to his back to 1928 when he joined trade union principles and is an Usdaw’s predecessor union inspiration to all of us. NUDAW. “Bill is hugely respected in the Bill completed his memoirs in division and rightly so. We all 2009 recounting 80 years of wish him well.” 04 | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 WWW.USDAW.ORG.UK | NETWORK NEWS SUPPORT FOR IN BRIEF FOSTER CARERS Members who have decided to men, women, single, married, become foster carers can call lesbian, gay, straight, parents on Usdaw’s support to juggle or have no parenting their work/life balance and help experience. them cope with any workplace The number of children in n Correction: issues. care has increased for the last ADM expenses If you are a foster carer you six years in a row and so there In the November/ have the right to ask for a is a pressing need for more December Network it was change in your working hours foster carers in the UK.
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