Stronger Togther Summer 2010 by Edition Periodicals

Community Issue 13 | Summer 2010

stronger together

Election special

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Post Office Christmas Club Dear Community member,

Post Office® Christmas Club: Special Member Offer We’re delighted to make available a special offer to all Community members joining the Post Office® Christmas Club for 2010. Join the Christmas Club at your local Post Office® branch and we’ll top up your Christmas Club Card with an extra £2.50 for Christmas 2010. All club members will also receive a booklet of discount and special offer vouchers in the run up to Christmas, making the money you have put aside go ever further. To take advantage of this offer, sign up to the club at your local Post Office® branch. Counter staff will provide you with an application form. On the application form write the following code – COM10 – to the left of the bar code. Once we’ve received your application we’ll top up your account with an extra £2.50. The Post Office® Christmas Club represents a great way to put aside money for Christmas; you can sign up with as little as £2. Top up your card, up to a maximum of £1000 per annum, throughout the year and next Christmas you’ll be able to shop at a great range of top retailers including Argos, Sainsbury’s, Boots, WH Smith, Currys, Top Shop and many, many more. Michael Birchall,Product Manager

The Post Office Christmas Club Card is issued by Bank of Ireland- incorporated in Ireland with limited liability. Registered No. C-1. Head Office, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Authorised by the Irish Financial Regulator and authorised and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Services Authority. Details about the extent of Bank of Ireland’s authorisation and regulation by the Financial Services Authority are available from Bank of Ireland on request. Post Office Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registered No 2154540. Registered office is 148 Old Street, London EC1V 9HQ.

Community Summer 2010

Read our election special and decide for yourself

stronger together INSIDE …

Hello and welcome to the Stronger Together election special While this magazine contains our usual round up of news and events from around your union, it also covers how this election could affect you. I hope that this magazine will help explain how the promises made by each party could affect you; in the workplace and in your wider community. Trade Union members come from all walks of life. As a diverse union, Community members have a range of opinions on every subject including politics, but our unifying belief is in Equality and Social Justice. This is the belief that all people should be treated fairly and equally at work and at home. It is against this standard that your union judges politicians, policies and political parties. Traditionally Community has supported the Labour party as the best voice of working people. While Community has a long history with the Labour party, our relationship is that of a critical friend. There have been occasions in the past 13 years when we have disagreed with the Labour Government and disagreed strongly. When the Labour Government failed to take action to safeguard pensions, your union was forced to go to the European Court of Justice. This was a long running case which resulted in your union winning a £12 billion pension pot for every working person. Yet despite any disagreements over particular policies, Community recognises that the situation for working people today is better than yesterday. Not just in the workplace, but in local schools, on the waiting lists at local hospitals and on the high street – many things that we are beginning to take for granted. I believe that much of this is due to the influence of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The Prime Minister entered politics from the union movement many years ago and has continued that relationship to this day. Gordon was the first new member to join Community when our union was formed in 2004 because he recognised our commitment to social justice and a new style of community unionism. Gordon recently visited our head office to officially open the building and to ask for our support in the coming election. Rather than taking you and your union for granted, the Prime Minister came to our office and spoke to your elected union reps directly and asked for support to continue to reform the NHS, to continue to invest in schools and hospitals and to tackle poverty by guaranteeing a good education and creating quality jobs. This is the key reason that I support Gordon Brown, and this is the reason that I ask you to read our election special and decide for yourself.

News Community officer is Labour candidate; Women’s TUC; Obituaries

A better union for You! New Campaign Mangers and subscription details

Election special Challenge is jobs for Britain, not bonuses for bankers; Threat to Union Learning?

Fair play for Olympic workers Why Community supports the Playfair 2012 campaign

Robin Hood Tax The tiny tax that could raise billions

Brand new member benefits Family motoring services; Accident aftercare; Cheaper MOTs and servicing; Best buy car rental rates

Gordon Brown opens new office Prime Minister officially opens energy-efficient London offices

Cover photo by Mousetrap Media If you have any comments or suggestions for the next edition please contact Duncan Harrod on editor@community-tu.org or on 020 7420 4024 Stronger Together. May 2010. Editor: Duncan Harrod Editorial Office: 67/68 Long Acre, Covent Garden, WC2E 9FA Tel: 020 7420 4000 email: editor@community-tu.org Printed by The College Hill Press www.collegehillpress.co.uk

General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE

Community Summer 2010

news JANINA STRUK

Community women get point across

Community Women’s TUC delegates (in no particular order): Esther Marriott, Tracy Clarke, Rajinder Sagoo, Sue Mather, Carol Hodgson, Helen Elliott, Brenda Clarke, Geraldine Donnelly, Carole Harrison, Maxine Sayers, Janet Bownes

Community officer throws hat in the ring TOM BLENKINSOP, Community’s campaign manager for Region 2, has been chosen as the Labour candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. Anyone who has met Tom knows of his commitment and dedication to the area. Community wishes him the best of luck and urges all our members in the area to come out and speak to Tom.

FROM DISMAY TO DELIGHT

THE TIRELESS work of Branch Secretary Steve Boynton has turned around the fortunes of the supported employment factory in Stoke. Refusing to give in, the factory has gone from discussing closure to re-employing staff and struggling to meet demand. The conviction and hard work of Steve and the members have guaranteed a future for the site. A great example of how your union can harness the commitment and dedication of a loyal and hard working workforce to achieve great things.

Community Summer 2010

THE ANNUAL TUC women’s conference discussed issues of relevance to working women across Britain and the world. Speeches by Tracy Clarke on the value of Unionlearn and by Carol Hodgson, a Community betting shop member, on violence in the workplace are available on our website. Community Union was also successful in electing former president Tracy Clarke to the TUC Women’s Committee. This is a great result for Tracy and a wonderful position to speak on behalf of Community’s members.

OBITUARIES Hanbury Williams COMMUNITY IS saddened to hear of the passing of former ISTC President and NEC member Hanbury Williams. Born in 1924, Hanbury was a committed unionist, joining the ISTC in 1956 and serving on the executive for 14 years from 1967. During his time with ISTC Hanbury was awarded the Confederation shield in 1978, a second inscription on the shield in 1982 and his thirty‑year badge in 1986. Hanbury’s last appearance was at the ISTC millennial conference in 2000. At this conference Hanbury, as President in 1974 was invited as a representative of all Presidents from the 70s. A solid and dependable voice for his members, a robust and forceful champion of the union movement and a true and loyal friend, Hanbury truly was a man of Steel.

Margaret Penney COMMUNITY WAS also saddened to hear of the passing of Margaret Penney. Margaret worked in the Sutton Coldfield Office from 1977 until 1995. A tireless champion of Trade Unions and the Labour Party, Margaret was the only member of staff to be awarded the Confederation shield. Margaret is survived by three children and six grandchildren.

PART TIME UP TO £10,969 For part-time members the annual increase of £1.56 is less than a lottery ticket. But winning the Euro Millions is a 1 in 13 million chance. For our members in Betting Shops the level of anti-social behaviour gives a 1 in 10 chance that you may need union representation or personal injury advice.

GRADE 1 £10,970 – £16,454 For Grade 1 members, the £3.12 increase is less than the cost of a whole chicken from a Teesside supermarket, and in this recession Community will make sure only the chicken gets plucked.

GRADE 2 £16,455 – £24,707

Choosing Community won’t give you a shock at the checkout

Building a better union for You! YOUR UNION, Community, has undergone a number of serious structural changes in order to guarantee the highest level of service to our members. As well as making numerous cuts to non-essential services, juggling positions and streamlining our services, Community has continued to improve and innovate. Turn to pages 10 and 11 to see the brand new benefit worth £30 that Community is introducing. These cuts have allowed Community to employ 14 new Campaign Managers across the country. Having joined the experienced Community team, these new employees have energised the union and provide dedicated advice, support and guidance to our members. Community has also met the challenge of the recession. Your union continues to offer best practice representation while keeping increases in-line with inflation. For you, our members, these increases amount to just pennies a day and will allow your union, Community, to continue to provide a first class service. The annual increase for our four main grades and part time grades are set out above.

Grade 2 members will pay an extra £3.64 a year. Skipping one pint a year to keep the full range of Community’s legal benefits is a sound investment.

GRADE 3 £24,708 – £32,907 Grade 3 members will pay an extra £5.20 a year. For just 10p a week members can swap a boiled lolly for access to health and safety training, life long learning and other opportunities.

GRADE 4 £32,908 + Even at the top rate, an annual increase of £6.24 is less than a packet of razor blades, and with one health and safety rep to every 60 members, with Community the only injury you need to worry about is a shaving cut!

Community Summer 2010

election special

Your Union and the Labour Party OVER THE years I have had the honour of representing your interests as a Community Union delegate to Labour Party conference. I want to assure you that while your union does have a close relationship with the Labour Party, this does not mean that we have offered blind support over the years. I have seen many occasions where your union and the Labour party have disagreed. Over the past 13 years, Community has worked with the government where possible and against the government when necessary to represent your interests In fact, we took this Labour government to the European Court of Justice to win a £12 billion fund to protect the pensions of every working man and woman in Britain when we felt that the needs of our members were being ignored. I realise that the Labour Government has become unpopular over the years. It is easy to forget the changes that have occurred, the cuts to NHS waiting times, the improvements in schools and support for children and the elderly. But for many people, there is little difference between the political parties and a change is as good as a rest. This attitude could be a disaster, as this election offers a clear choice between the parties. The priorities are clear. Labour will invest in jobs, schools and hospitals, while the Conservatives will cut services for the poor, privatise services for the middle class and cut taxes for the rich. The current economic situation requires a steady hand and firm leadership to meet the challenges left by the recession. Gordon Brown

Pat Donnelly, Community NEC member for Scotland, says the challenge now is to ensure that a recovery brings jobs to Britain, not bonuses to bankers

Yes, Britain is in debt. But this debt can be paid off over time by growing the economy and creating jobs, while the alternative, mass redundancies and growing unemployment would be a far greater burden 6

Community Summer 2010

has prevented the recession from becoming a depression, and the queues in front of job centres from becoming queues in front of soup kitchens. While there is no doubt that we need more action against the bankers, and Community fully supports the Robin Hood tax on financial speculation, the fact that Britain has begun to recover from such an enormous threat has been due to the steely resolve of this government and this Prime Minister. The global recession has had local consequences, where the decisions made in the City or on Wall Street have led to mass redundancies on Teesside or in Wales. The challenge now is to ensure that a recovery brings jobs to Britain, not bonuses to bankers. There is a clear choice between a Labour Party which has and will continue to invest in manufacturing, services and job creation and a Conservative Party that believes a growing economy means lower taxes, lower wages and privatised services. Yes, Britain is in debt. But this debt can be paid off over time by growing the economy and creating jobs, while the alternative, mass redundancies and growing unemployment would be a far greater burden. I want to know that my children and grandchildren will be able to find good, honest jobs that will support them and their families whether or not they decide to go to university. Manual work is not and should not be a source of shame, yet the Conservatives seem to think that Britain is a nation of middle mangers, clerks and accountants. Building a strong manufacturing sector is vital, not just for the single industry towns, but for the whole economy. But at this crucial time, Britain faces an election and a Conservative party that will seek to kick the crutches out from under the British economy. This may benefit the bankers in Canary Wharf or the millionaires in Belize, but for working people we would see another round of redundancies, more shops closing on the high street and more families sinking into poverty. Your Union will continue to support the Labour Party as the best hope for working families, but this support will mean nothing without your vote. Your vote can make a difference. Your choice will decide between continued investments in Britain or David Cameron’s cuts.

Threat to Union Learning? WHEN 1,500 people lost their jobs at Corus plants in Rotherham, Communitas, our training and learning arm, developed a course to help them cope with redundancy. The Forging Ahead programme, funded by the Yorkshire and the Humber Learning and Skills Council, is being delivered at the Community offices in Rotherham. According to Emma Wallis, Forging Ahead Project Manager, this achievement cannot be overstated: “It’s taken an awful lot of guts for some of the participants to walk through our doors, but they’ve taken the first steps towards a new life after Corus. “A number of participants have now gained alternative employment and more than 50% have been able to undertake further training because we work in partnership with the Redundancy Service.” Over the years, thousands of Community members have been helped to gain new skills and qualifications through similar projects run by Communitas and its predecessors. Members will also have seen articles about Community launching learning agreements with employers. This activity has been carried out with support from Union Learning Funds in England, Scotland and Wales. In recent weeks Union Learning Funds have been the target of attacks by Tory politicians. They have described the funds as a form of ‘money-laundering’. Union Learning schemes and the Union Modernisation Fund help trade unions and employers to prepare for the economic

Participants on a Communitas course

upheavals that we have seen in the past 18 months. When Tories call it a moneylaundering fund, the end result will be less support for working people and for many of their employers who have also benefited from union learning schemes. “Upskilling people in their jobs is good for their employer and transformative for the employee,” says General Secretary Michael Leahy who is a member of the UnionLearn board. “For those on the brink of redundancy, having established qualifications in everything from basic literacy and numeracy to foundation degrees, makes the change less risky. “Knowing the skillset of those leaving the workplace means unions are well placed to take a leading role in returning people to work, meeting any skills gaps and lifting people’s horizons. No longer do working people leave work with no hope and no prospects – UnionLearn and a Labour government have changed all that.” At this election, check the facts. See which party has supported you and your local community.

‘Unions are well placed to take a leading role in returning people to work, meeting skills gaps and lifting horizons. No longer do working people leave work with no hope and no prospects – UnionLearn and a Labour government have changed all that’ Community Summer 2010

Playfair 2012 What is Playfair 2012 and why do we need it?

Let’s raise the bar on workers’ rights

IMAGINE … your working day starts at 6.45am and finishes about 10.30pm or maybe even as late as 2am. You have to work about four hours overtime Monday to Saturday and sometimes all day Sunday too. At the end of the month your pay is around £97 – below the legal minimum you should have been paid and nowhere near a living wage. You don’t have an employment Find out more at www.playfair2012.org contract, so if there’s a dispute at ■■ Sign up for e-alerts to get the latest news, work, you can’t even prove you is the bitter truth of the Olympic actions and events are employed there. Women have dream. As brands seek to increase ■■ Take the latest campaign action and promote no right to maternity leave. sales in the economic crisis, they it to others There is no trade union to cut prices, putting suppliers under ■■ Share information about Playfair 2012 across protect your workplace rights … greater pressure to cut production Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Unionbook costs. This might mean outsourcing ■■ Show the short Playfair 2012 film (available Outsourcing production to households where on the website) at your branch meeting and It’s not a pleasant prospect. But cheap labour and child labour are encourage members to take action. that is the reality that Playfair evident. 2008 researchers found at Lekit In Bangladesh, workers can Stationery Company, China, which was making be forced to work a 12 to 16-hour-day for a Olympic-branded goods for Beijing 2008. A child works on a minimum wage that is just one sixth of the For hundreds of thousands of workers, this sport jacket living wage. In China, seven-day working weeks are becoming common. In these countries, work guarantees that the poor remain stuck in the poverty trap.

GET INVOLVED IN PLAYFAIR 2012!

PLAYFAIR 2012

London Games PLAYFAIR 2012 is an international campaign that began in the run up to the Athens 2004 Olympics and continued with Beijing 2008. The UK Playfair 2012 campaign is coordinated by the TUC and Labour Behind the Label. Playfair 2012 is calling on the organisers of the London Games, the sportswear industry and the International Olympic Committee to raise the bar on workers’ rights. The campaign wants them to ensure that the rights of workers making sportswear and Olympic-branded goods are respected and meet internationally recognised standards.

Community Summer 2010

Robin Hood Tax A tiny tax on the movement of money could raise billions THE ROBIN Hood Tax is a tiny tax on banks, hedge funds and the other finance institutions that caused the recession. This tax would raise billions to tackle poverty and climate change, at home and abroad. Few people are in favour of new taxes. But the Robin Hood tax is different. Not because it targets the robber barons who have profited through our misery during the recession, but because it targets the money itself. The Robin Hood tax is a tax on the deals, trades, derivatives and exchanges that produce no goods or services. This is a tax that only affects the traders and bankers that make money by moving money. Only the profits that come from the money markets would be touched, not the companies running factories, not the workers in those factories and not the man on the street. This tax could raise hundreds of billions of pounds every year. Money that could be used to prevent the savage cuts in public services that are coming, money that could be used to build a green economy, money that could be used to tackle poverty and meet the target and end child poverty by 2020. Community is proud to be a part of this push to build a fairer tax system. That’s why we

Community backs Robin Hood tax! Will you sign up? are inviting you to take part too. This election campaign is the time to talk about the Robin Hood tax. Tell your friends and family. When you hear a knock at the door, ask your local candidate where they stand. By making the Robin Hood tax an issue, we can make a difference.

In a launch video for the campaign, actor Bill Nighy plays a banker who says that a tiny tax on financial transactions is a “sweet little idea”. Forced to admit that bankers would only pay 0.05% but that it would raise billions of pounds for poor people, he finally concedes it might not be such a bad idea after all … See the video at http:// robinhoodtax.org.uk/

Become a volunteer regional representative OVER THE years Community has supported its members with a wealth of advice and training. Union reps are the bedrock of the union movement making a real difference to the working environment and the lives of their members. Supporting one another is a key principle of the trade union movement and we need to draw on this skills base to support and strengthen our current membership.

The Members Representation and Support Network is as an exciting new initiative which will support our members in unrecognised workplaces and free up our officers’ time for recruitment and organising. Specialist training will be provided to enable volunteer reps to provide a professional service accompanying and representing members at grievance and disciplinary hearings.

If you are interested in volunteering for these roles and would like an application pack or would like further information, please contact either of our Members’ Representation and Support Officers: Mark Jones 01562 749183; 07743 831440; mjones@community-tu.org Oliver Stockley 01562 749181; 07834 745816; ostockley@community-tu.org

Community Summer 2010

benefits for members

D N A R B ’S Y IT N U M M O C R O F R E REGIST Family motoring services and accident aftercare scheme THE COMPLETE SERVICE AVAILABLE TO YOU 24/7 Every accident is unwelcome. We know that sorting out the claim details and making the initial report can be stressful and that is before you have even thought about repairing the damage to your vehicle. That is why we are here to take those worries away.

FOR ANY ACCIDENTS IN THE UK If you were not at fault for the accident just make one call. The scheme takes care of: ■■ The recovery of your damaged vehicle to an approved accident repair centre and the full management of the repairs. ■■ The provision of a replacement vehicle on a like-for-like basis for prestige marques and on a category-equivalent basis for mainstream brands and light commercial vehicles. Replacement child seats will be fitted in your vehicle.

■■ Liaising with your insurance company and the other driver. ■■ Your personal injury claim handled by a Community solicitor if you have been injured. ■■ Arranging for the recovery of your uninsured losses – including your policy excess, hire charges, loss of earnings and out of pocket expenses. Even if you were at fault for the accident: ■■ If required you will be helped with the recovery process in the event of an accident which renders your vehicle undriveable. ■■ Arrangements will be made to take details of the accident and liaise with your insurance company or broker as required.

MEMBERSHIP COVER ALL your family’s vehicle – ANY type of car, be it mainstream or prestige, and/or van you own and use can be repaired and replaced. AND membership covers ALL the members of your family, not only as drivers but passengers as well.

29 42 9 87 44 08 e lin n o r o e n o Register FREE by ph 10

Community Summer 2010

NEW MEMBER BENEFIT

in association with

As a member you can:

SAVE MONEY The comprehensive and easily accessed accident aftercare service is completely free and gives you everything you are likely to need in the event of an accident. You may be able to save yourself the cost of your insurer’s version of this product because you don’t need it any more. Similar schemes which may be available to you may cost upwards of £30 a year.

By simply clicking on ‘Member Discounts’ on the website you can:

ENJOY CHEAPER VEHICLE SERVICING AND MOTs Members are entitled to a 20% discount on already competitive rates for vehicle servicing and MOTs at over 750 garages nationwide, plus a 12-month guarantee on all parts and labour.

ENJOY CHEAPER TYRES Members are entitled to a 10% discount on already competitive rates for tyres of every type nationwide.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ‘BEST-BUY’ RATES FROM ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP CAR AND VAN RENTAL SPECIALISTS The scheme has a working partnership for your benefit with Budget to bring you the best rates on vehicle hire in the UK and 127 other countries around the world. Keeping a close eye on rental prices in over 3,400 towns and cities around the world, Budget seek to ensure they provide you with the most competitive rate available to you wherever you are.

www.community.one1one.co.uk Community Summer 2010

ident Keith Davies, At the opening: (l-r) Pres own, General Prime Minister Gordon Br y OBE and Deputy Secretary Michael J. Leah ann MBE general Secretary Joe M

PRIME MINISTER OFFICIALLY OPENS NEW COMMUNITY OFFICE IN COVENT GARDEN GORDON BROWN praised the work of Community as a modern 21st century union and asked for the support of the union and its members throughout the election campaign. Not only is the new office central and modern but it is part of Communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s push on Green issues. The office has been awarded the second highest energy efficiency rating and the carpets are made from recycled plastic bottles. In addition, 95% of Communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fleet of cars are hybrid electric. Community is showing that environmentalism can work with business, not against it.

SIGN THE PETITION Visit http://robinhoodtax.org.uk And make a difference

Campaign Manager Ryan g Slaughter at the openin