FirstCall Usdaw the free accident claim helpline – 0800 055 6333 SUMMER 2018 KNOW YOUR ADM RIGHTS ON DELEGATES FRAUD DEBATES & DECISIONS FirstCall Members’ WIN £250 stories Recruitment FOCUS ON prize draw STAMMERING JOHN HANNETT RETIREMENT TUC LOOKING BACK YOUNG OVER 14 YEARS WORKERS’ CONFERENCE REPORT The magazine of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers Published by USDAW 188 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6LJ T. 0161 224 2804 E. [email protected] W. www.usdaw.org.uk HEAD OF MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS Mike Glover EDITOR Saiqa Khushnood E. [email protected] REPORTER Sarah Sherborne General Secretary John Hannett EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ADM votes on Usdaw priorities Paula Barke ADVERTISING & DESIGN Century One Publishing Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road, elcome to the Summer edition of arena 2018 St. Albans AL3 4DG which is packed full of news and updates. This T. 01727 893 894 issue covers our Annual Delegate Meeting and E. [email protected] W. www.centuryonepublishing.uk highlights some of the major issues that were discussed such as insecure work and underemployment, Advertising Executive Wselfservice tills understaffi ng crime funding for the Dominic Arnold more housing, rent controls, paternity leave and rights for T. 01727 739 184 E. [email protected] grandparents. Also featured are the ICTU and TUC Young Workers’ Creative design, layout & production conferences. Heena Gudka As well as featuring our regular pages on health and safety and people like you this edition includes a feature on Print stammering and the Equality Act. William Gibbons & Sons Ltd There’s an in-depth Legal Plus feature which looks at the Paper produced from ecologically trauma of catching Weil’s disease, the long road to recovery sustainable sources. and the fi ve ears Usdaw spent fi ghting to make sure our arena is the membership magazine member got the compensation he deserved. of the Union of Shop, Distributive and The know your rights section focuses on fraud. Financial Allied Workers (Usdaw). fraud losses totalled £768.8m in 2016. This section explains Published quarterly, arena is what to look out for, how to protect yourself from phone, text distributed to Usdaw members. and online scams and how to report an incident if you do fall Copyright: Reproduction in whole or part victim to a scam. by any means without written permission This will be my last arena foreword as general secretary of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The but am confi dent that under the leadership of add illis publisher accepts no responsibility for the union will go from strength to strength. I would like to errors, omissions or the consequences thereof. © arena 2018 take this opportunity to thank members, reps and union colleagues for all the support they have given me over the years. John Hannett, General Secretary 02 arena p28 Annual Delegate Meeting in session p20 p22 p26 Inside this issue FirstCall Usdaw 22 Remember you’re a member How Usdaw’s FREE accident claim service helped member Darren Finn. People like you Water at the checkout - your rights 26 Farooq Hussain-Dad The North West rep who is making great strides with support from the union. Know your rights 35 Marie McCallion arena speaks to the young 16 Fraud Don’t be the victim of a scam. Recognise the organising offi cer after attending her fi rst ADM. signs and learn how to put a stop to the criminals. 32 Stammering arena takes a closer look at the causes Features and effects of the neurological condition. 10 John Hannett Celebrating his retirement and looking back at the last 14 years in his role as general secretary. Regulars 20 TUC Young Workers’ Conference Six eager young 36 Member offers Discounts and special offers from activists travel to London for this year’s event. home insurance to family holidays are available. 28 Annual Delegate Meeting Reps and offi cials visited 40 Your health and safety Asbestos, warm weather, Blackpool for the biggest event in the union’s calendar. hay fever and cleaning chemicals all feature. 27 ICTU Conference Mental health, sexual harassment 44 Prize draw Two prizes of £250 are up for grabs if and the future of retail were top subjects discussed. you sign up a friend, family or colleague to Usdaw. arena 03 News Sainsbury’s and Asda deal shocks staff Retail companies to join forces in a proposed multi-billion pound merger In April Sainsbury’s and Asda Authority may require stores to announcement has come as – the second and third largest be sold off before it agrees to a shock to staff and puts supermarkets in the UK – give the deal the go-ahead. them in a period of great announced that they plan to The move is understood to uncertainty. merge in £10bn plus deal. be in response to the radically “We are seeking urgent The deal would see the changing retail landscape, meetings with both retailers merged company taking over pressure from online retailers to establish the details and to 30 per cent of the market and such as Amazon and the ensure that the voice of both overtaking Tesco to become discounters Aldi and Lidl. the retail and distribution staff the UK’s largest supermarket. Both Sainsbury’s and Asda is heard. We will be seeking Sainsbury’s and Asda will say that the merger will lead urgent clarification on the keep their own brands however to in-store prices dropping by future of our members and the merged company will be an average of 10 per cent on guarantees for their jobs. known as Sainsbury’s plc. products customers regularly “In the meantime, Usdaw There are no plans to buy. This could trigger a price is providing the advice, close stores however to avoid war. representation and support over-representation in certain General secretary that our members require at areas the Competition Markets John Hannett said: “This this difficult time.” ImagesJohn© David Photography Shutterstock.com / 04 arena General Data Protection Regulations New guidelines for processing and holding personal data are now in force After a two-year transition services and benefits in a company to fulfil its legal period the General Data accordance with the obligations. Protection Regulations (GDPR) union’s Rule Book ■ Individuals also have came into force in May 2018. and to perform the right to request The aim of the regulations is its obligations access to personal to protect all EU citizens from under data. privacy data breaches. statute or ■ The right to It applies to all companies contract. update, amend processing and holding the This and erase personal data of individuals involves the personal data. residing in the EU, regardless processing ■ And the right to of the company’s location. of data withdraw consent To comply with the under for the sharing of obligations under GDPR the current data personal data. unions will have to: protection legislation. ■ Usdaw’s privacy statement ■ Process personal data as ■ Personal data can only can be found on the part of legitimate activities be stored for the period website at: in providing trade union necessary under law to enable www.usdaw.org.uk ImagesJohn© David Photography Shutterstock.com / arena 05 News Lidl oppose union recognition Usdaw continues its campaign to fight for the rights of Lidl workers Usdaw has a long-running campaign for recognition in Lidl. However, the company has refused to hold initial talks with Usdaw to discuss recognition for staff. General secretary elect Paddy Lillis said: “It is very disappointing the company has chosen not to formally recognise trade unions. The staff are keen to talk to us, but often not within sight of the distribution centre where they can be seen by managers. Our from speaking to Usdaw. “We urge the company to campaigners are being moved “Good industrial relations end their continued opposition away from the distribution are important for business and to trade unions and meet centres by management and that requires the staff having a with Usdaw to talk about they are subtly doing everything voice, through an independent recognising us as the trade possible to discourage staff trade union. union for Lidl staff.” USDAW MEMBER BENEFIT LOGIN: USDAW CORSA ENERGY 1.4i 0% APR £142 PER MONTH INCLUDES YOUR ASSOCIATE PARTNERS SAVING £4,750 25 £5,265 Deposit Month Optional Term Final Payment BRITISH BRAND SINCE 1903 To find out more visit: www.vauxhallpartners.co.uk/usdaw Partners Call 0344 875 2448 or visit your local Vauxhall Retailer. MORE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Corsa Energy 1.4i (75PS) 3-dr (a/c) in Lava Red: Urban: 41.5 (6.8), Extra-urban: 65.7 (4.3), # Combined: 54.3 (5.2). CO2 emissions: 120g/km. Offer subject to availability at participating and qualifying Retailers only. Personal Contract Purchase. Finance subject to status, Ts&Cs apply. Applicants must be 18+. Finance by Vauxhall Finance, CF15 7YT. 25 month term. Monthly payment has been calculated using a price which includes Vauxhall and/or Retailer contribution and an Associate Partners saving. At the end of the agreement there are three options: i) Retain: Pay the optional final payment to own the vehicle, ii) Return the vehicle, or iii) Replace: Part Exchange the vehicle where equity is available. On the road prices include number plates, delivery, Vehicle Excise Duty, first registration fee and VAT. Offers may not apply to all Retailer stocks. UK-supplied vehicles only. Offer applies to Vauxhall Partners only. Offer available on vehicles ordered and registered between 3 April and 2 July 2018. For Partners Terms and Conditions go to www.vauxhallpartners.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.