Community Stronger Together Spring 2014

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Community Issue 26 | Spring 2014

stronger together

DELIVERING FOR MEMBERS


DID YOU KNOW THAT BY BEING A MEMBER YOU HAVE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY OFFERS?

Community Offers is a portfolio containing money-saving discounts, designed to save you time and money in both your personal and professional life. There is no sign-up process, nor any extra charge – you are automatically eligible to access Community Offers by virtue of your membership. Here are just a few of the benefits available:

Car Insurance – Save 15% on your current car insurance renewal premium As a Community member, you can take advantage of significant savings on your car insurance renewal premium without compromising on cover or service. Save 15% on your current insurer’s car insurance renewal premium, including free legal expenses and foreign use*.

■■ For more information or to get a quote, visit www.communityoffers.org.uk or contact Baxters Streetwise on 0845 402 3298 quoting COMP when you call. Lines open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) or 9am-1pm Saturday. If your renewal is not due for 30 days or more, you can create a reminder request with your name, contact details and when your cover will expire. You will be contacted nearer the time, reminding you of the discount. Community regrets that cover for some occupations is unavailable. Please state your occupation at the beginning of the call.

First Call – Roadside assistance

First Call Motor Breakdown, one of the UK’s fastest growing breakdown companies, is offering Community members an annual breakdown policy for an exclusive premium of just £38.25 (inclusive of insurance premium tax)*. ●● Cover for any driver while that person is using the insured vehicle, provided the person has received permission from you first ●● Cars, vans, and motorcycles up to 3.5 tonnes ●● Recovery of a caravan or trailer attached to your vehicle (up to 25 feet) if the vehicle is immobilised ●● 24-hour call-out facilities ●● Average call-out time of 35 minutes ●● Up to one hour free roadside assistance ●● Up to six call-outs a year ●● Wheel changes (providing you have a serviceable spare tyre and wheel and are able to provide a manufacturer’s key to remove any locking wheel nuts). ●● Optional European cover available

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■■ For more information visit www.communityoffers.org.uk or call 0844 99 33 999 quoting CTU. Alternatively, fill in a reminder request for when your motor breakdown cover is due and you will be contacted you nearer the time.

Vehicle Servicing Manager – Save on MOTs and vehicle servicing

Vehicle Servicing Manager uses the UK’s largest network of independent garages to deliver average savings of 30% compared to the prices charged by main dealers and franchised garages on all of your car servicing and repair requirements,. With VSM you can also save 20% on the cost of your next MOT. If you book your vehicle service and MOT together, the MOT discount will increase to 33%. VSM can save you valuable time too – your vehicle can be collected from your home or place of work and delivered back to you washed and vacuumed*. ■■ For more information visit www.communityoffers.org.uk or call 0871 871 9840 quoting PH042. Alternatively, fill in a reminder request for when your MOT and/or service is due and you will be contacted you nearer the time. *Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers and prices subject to change without notice. Insurance is subject to underwriting. Car Insurance – Not available in N.Ireland. Minimum age limit and minimum premium applies. First Call – Vehicles used for business purposes are excluded from the policy. Vehicles with living accommodation are excluded from the policy. Cover commences 48 hours after inception date. Policy administered and underwritten by First Call GB Ltd. VSM – Not available in N.Ireland. Wash, vac and pickup is subject to availability – please check when booking. Community Offers is managed on behalf of Community by Parliament Hill Ltd.


label Thank you for your support

stronger together INSIDE … News

Dear member, This is my first editorial since I took over as General Secretary at the start of the year. Over the past few months I've been visiting all of our regions, meeting members and activists to find out what you want from your union. In that time I met over 300 reps and members and had the opportunity to hear lots of great ideas about how we can improve and change the union. I’ve already started to put in place some of the changes that members have been calling for and you can read more about them in the roadshow report. It's been a busy time as we’ve also had our Political Fund ballot. I want to thank the thousands of you who voted and as you can find out inside, you overwhelmingly support continuing our political activity. With elections on 22 May in both local government and for the European Parliament, Community will be making its political voice heard, with Community members running for office in both elections. In his recent budget the Chancellor tried to claim credit for the fledgling economic recovery. While the growth figures might indicate that things are improving, the question remains, who’s feeling the effects of the recovery? We know that many members are struggling with the cost of living, jobs are still at risk and more of our branches have been pushed into balloting for industrial action because they don’t feel they are getting a fair pay deal. The union is giving its full support to those members who feel they have no choice but to take action. We understand that people are still struggling and that is why we are freezing contributions this year, pending a full review of our contribution rates. We are continuing to improve the benefits and services available to members and this magazine outlines changes to make personal legal services more accessible. I will continue to listen to your views as the union grows and changes. Thank you for your continuing membership and support.

Tata must rule out compulsory redundancies . . . . . . . . . Community at the Women’s TUC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thanks to betting shop debate MPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Determined stand wins rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hundreds of new TNT Post members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community members make it a special Christmas for families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reps from Justice and Custodial Services Section meet at a one-day conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4 4 4 5 5 9 9

Regional roadshows

New General Secretary Roy Rickhuss goes on the road to find out what members want from Community . . . . . 6

Presidents

Outgoing President Robert Mooney reflects on his time in office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Dougie Fairbairn is confirmed as new President . . . . . . . . 7

Legal services

Community leads the way with new user-friendly website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Politics

Vote to keep your rights on 22 May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 ‘Most political’ branch prepares for election battle . . . . . 10 Work Choice programme discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Big vote to keep political fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

If you have any comments or suggestions for the next edition please contact the editor on editor@community-tu.org or on 020 7420 4000 Stronger Together. Spring 2014 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

Roy Rickhuss General Secretary

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news Community: Tata must rule out compulsory redundancies COMMUNITY HAS called for more government support for foundation industries such as steel following the announcement of 123 proposed job losses at Tata Steel’s Orb works in Newport, South Wales. The union is insisting that there should be no compulsory redundancies at the plants. Cogent Power, a subsidiary of Tata Steel that runs the plants, announced in March that 83 directly employed and 40 contractor jobs were set to go. “We will support our members through the consultation process and insist that the company avoids any compulsory redundancies,” said Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss. “The workforce at Orb has done everything asked of it – it’s a fully flexible and multi-skilled operation, so the announcement is a bitter blow.” Mark Spencer, local Community union rep and Secretary of the Orb Joint Works Council, said: “We will be working together with management to Electricity prices minimise the impact for UK steel of the reduction on our producers are members.” almost 40% Pointing out that only a few years ago Orb was higher than one of the few plants those in France operating profitably, Roy and 56% higher said: “Tata Steel is not than those only constrained by a difficult market but also in Germany by the Government’s energy and environmental policies, where it is at a competitive disadvantage when compared to steel producers based in France or Germany. “When you consider the fact that electricity prices for UK steel producers are almost 40% higher than those in France and 56% higher than those in Germany, it’s clear that more needs to be done.” He called for more government action on industrial energy costs, a sectoral strategy for foundation industries, and appropriate compensation “to prevent carbon leakage and to enable Tata Steel and other UK steel companies to compete on a level playing field within Europe. “If the UK economy is going to be rebalanced then we need our foundation industries to survive then thrive. Sadly, the announcement by Tata Steel shows the level of the challenge in front of us.” In his March Budget, the Chancellor finally heeded calls by Community and others and announced measures to reduce industrial energy costs but Roy Rickhuss questioned why the support is not coming in for another two years.

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COMMUNITY AT THE TUC WOMEN’S CONFERENCE Delegates spoke for Community on childcare, in-work benefits, domestic violence, pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. Pictured (l-r): Janice Stenton, Maureen Jennings, Jacquie Thomas, Tracy Barlow, Rachel Hanson, Jan Bownes, Roy Rickhuss, Lesley Ballard, Jacky Riley, Kim Drew, Carole Harrison, Maz Jackson, Beverley Bambrough, Laura Blunt.

Roy thanks MPs for betting shop COMMUNITY GENERAL Secretary Roy Rickhuss has written to thank those MPs, all Labour, who spoke up for betting shop workers during a House of Commons debate on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in January. Before the debate Labour leader Ed Miliband pledged that a Labour Government would end single-staffing in betting shops where there were FOBTs. “Our members are clear in their concerns about FOBTs and how single-staffing, inadequate training and ineffective reporting combine to exacerbate both problem gambling and the risk of abuse to staff,” said Roy. “Of course, we have concerns for our members’ jobs and acknowledge that any regulation on FOBTs should be proportionate. But on the evidence available, and from the feedback from our members, we do not believe that inaction is an option, particularly when it comes to single-staffing.” Welcoming the participation of Chris Evans, Labour MP for Islwyn and a former bookmaker, Roy said: “It was good to hear the voice of a betting shop worker in the debate.” The MP, who called for a charter to address single-staffing, said it “was a problem when I worked in a betting shop, and was the cashier and the manager. “That situation put me under stress. I did not have to deal with FOBTs, but such a situation can stop members of staff policing them.”


Determined stand wins a 4.7% rise FOLLOWING THE threat of strike action by members at Hall & Pickles, a steel stockholder in South Wales, the company has not only withdrawn its attempt to worsen pay and conditions but has agreed changes amounting to a 4.7% increase. The company had tried to impose a new contract, that would have meant an end to paid meal breaks, working a late night shift without a premium and basic pay only for holidays. “What really annoyed the workforce was that these changes meant they would be worse off, working on less pay after 12 months,” said Regional Organiser Rob Edwards. After the 20 members voted 100% for a strike and Community said it was going to the Employment Tribunal, as the company had sidestepped the agreed

who spoke up staff in debate

After the debate, Mr Evans said: “I am concerned that the single-staffing of betting shops may prevent workers from dealing properly with anti-social behaviour and problem gambling.” Community has called on the industry to engage with the Union, Government and MPs to improve the safety and

Chris Evans MP: single-staffing of betting shops may prevent workers from dealing properly with anti-social behaviour and problem gambling security of its members. In 2010 the Safe Bet Alliance, which brings together industry and company representatives with Community and other stakeholders including the police, launched a voluntary code of safety and security, but staff safety remains a serious concern.

consultation process by directly inducing the workforce to accept the new contract, management came back to the table. The company agreed to: ●● Restore the old pay rate ●● Restore paid meal breaks ●● Introduce a shift premium of 25% for hours worked from 12 am to 2am ●● Pay the three months’ bonus it had originally offered as inducement to accept worse terms. Rob Edwards praised the members’ determination to see the dispute through to a successful conclusion: “The members stood their ground and as a result the workforce are about £800 a year better off. “It was not action they wanted to take but they were in a no-win situation and they had to do it and now the branch is all the stronger for it.”

Hundreds of new members at TNT Post AS TNT Post expands its operations, Community has been signing up hundreds of new members – and has negotiated inflation-busting pay rises for E2E (end-to-end) delivery and sortation members. “Following the roll-out in Manchester in November when our national team recruited 570 of the 620 new posties taken on by the company, we were back in Manchester in February to sign up those we missed, elect reps and form a new branch for E2E members,” said Bill Lambe, national officer for TNT Post. The union has also set up a new branch for E2E members in London where the company plans to double its workforce to 2,000 this year, starting with the hiring of 400 posties in Camden, Willesden, Colindale and Harrow. It will also create 900 jobs in Liverpool. “The national team will be involved throughout the induction process to recruit and organise these posties,” said Mr Lambe. Community has negotiated a 3% rise in E2E which 85% of members have voted to accept (on an 85% turnout). Members in sortation depots have voted

95% to 5% (on a 90% turnout) to accept a 4% package. A further 66 members joined during the report-backs. Bill Lambe added: “Numerous other issues have been resolved over the past year, such as zero-hour contracts, hourly increases in contracts of employment, overtime rates, agreed training programmes and holiday pay, to name but a few. “We have also agreed paid release of all reps for the union’s education programme for this year in sortation depots and E2E.” ■■ Community has backed the fundraising efforts of a group of TNT Post apprentices (above) at the Warrington depot, who are raising money for local children’s charity JUMP. The union is adding an extra £250.

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regional roadshows

Roy Rickhuss answers questions at a roadshow

Community roadshows changes happen for our IN JANUARY and February Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss embarked on a roadshow tour of all the union’s regions. More than 300 people participated in events in London, Hamilton, Cardiff, Middlesbrough, Earls Barton, Kidderminster, Scunthorpe and Warrington. Over 130 questions were asked (and answered!). The breadth of Community’s membership was represented at every meeting. “I want to express my thanks again to all those who attended the roadshows,” said Roy. “Due to their success, we will certainly organise a similar series of events in 2015, when I hope even more branch officials and members will be able to participate. “In particular I was struck by the strength of feeling about how reps and activists wanted more resources and autonomy in their regions and that is something I recognise. “We can’t do everything from the centre of the union. I hope we have begun to change that and that this will become more apparent in the coming months.” Other themes raised at the meetings included a desire for more effective communication from the union; that the union should reflect the diversity of its membership;

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‘I was struck by the strength of feeling about how reps and activists wanted more resources and autonomy in their regions and that is something I recognise. We can’t do everything from the centre’

a more consistent service level from the Member Service Centre; support and development for new sectors of the union; and the need to maintain and enhance the union’s political activity.

Contributions frozen

Many reps expressed concerns about a potential contributions increase. This year, Community is freezing contributions but also setting up a working group to examine the whole contributions structure. This will be headed up by Assistant General Secretary John Paul McHugh and the group will consult widely with members and activists and report back to November’s NEC.

Communications, Education, Equalities

At every roadshow, reps made their feelings clear about particular areas that required more focus: communications, education and equalities. From March 3, Matt Ball, Community’s Head of Research, took up the role of Communications Director. Beverley Bambrough has been seconded from Campaign Manager in Region 6 to be the union’s new Education and Equalities Director. Both Directors will continue to consult with reps as they seek to address the


president ‘You realise the importance of these workplaces – not only to our members but to whole communities’ Robert Mooney, Community President in 2013, reflects on his year in office

make regions concerns expressed during the regional roadshows. In addition, to further improve our education and equalities agenda, the NEC has agreed to establish an Education and Equalities Sub Committee, where your NEC representatives will be able to help shape our work in this area more closely.

Resourcing our regions

Community’s Industrial Director Rob Johnston presented a proposed restructuring to the NEC, which would put more resources into the regions. New lead organiser roles will be introduced to support existing regional staff and an apprenticeship role will be created in each of our offices to provide opportunities to young people in the communities we represent. The proposals were endorsed by NEC members and are now being implemented. The NEC also endorsed a proposal to set aside some of the union’s benevolent fund money for each region to determine its own donations to local causes, community campaigns or fundraising activity. The new General Secretary and his team will continue to listen carefully to branch officials and activists.

It was a great privilege to be President of Community over the past year. There were so many highlights, too numerous to mention. But the Biennial Delegate Conference in July was special, and I was delighted to see so many young people making some exceptional contributions. I also enjoyed visiting the regions and meeting our members. It was very inspiring to see the amount of different skills that our members have throughout all the sectors we represent. You quickly realise the importance of these workplaces, not only to our members but to whole communities. You also realise the importance of the work that reps and full-time officers do to ensure that not only do our members have decent pay and conditions, but that these workplaces are protected and kept open for the next generation. The visits gave me an insight into how hard Community’s staff work, in particular the regional administrators. I would like to thank them all for the hard work they put into arranging the regional visits. I would like to thank all Community members and staff – and in particular the NEC, Keith Kendall, the union’s Events and Administration Manager, and my vice-president for the year, Dougie Fairbairn – for helping to make my year as President so special.

Robert Mooney on a presidential visit to Tata Steel in Corby I would also like to wish Dougie all the best for his year as President – I know you will do a great job, Dougie. The last year has been a year that I will never forget. Thank you all for giving me this opportunity.

NEW PRESIDENT Dougie Fairbairn was confirmed as the new President of Community at the National Executive Council’s meeting in February. Dougie is a branch secretary at Tata Steel Tubes and has been an NEC member for eight years. Proud to hail from Corby, he is a leading member of the town’s Grampian Tartan Army and rarely misses a Scotland football match.

Dougie Fairbairn presides at conference

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legal services

Community leading the way Having access to personal legal services, such as personal injury, conveyancing, will writing or family law support, is just one of the many benefits of Community membership. But recent changes in the law have affected the way these personal legal services can be delivered by unions. Community, as a responsive union, is leading the way in reacting to the changing legal world and the needs of members. We have moved to improve how you can access personal legal services. We have also forged a partnership with a new panel of solicitors. Lime Personal Injury, Trinity Law Partnership and Watkins & Gunn will cover England and Wales and Lawford Kidd will cover Scotland. Members in Northern Ireland can continue to access personal legal services through the Member Service Centre. Community has also simplified the way members and their families can access our panel of solicitors. By visiting the user-friendly Union Lawyers website (www.unionlawyers.co.uk) or by calling Union Lawyers free on 0800 077 8841 you will be signposted to the recommended solicitors covering your area, which will enable you to get the personal legal support you need. Union Lawyers will also tell you how you can get in touch with Community’s recommended solicitors and will provide you with a unique reference number to quote when you contact them. Once instructed our solicitors will endeavour to obtain the best possible outcome for you. Members can continue to access any employment law support or free legal advice on issues such as neighbour disputes or consumer rights through our Member Service Centre “I would like to welcome on board our new legal services providers,” said Roy Rickhuss. “I am confident Community will continue to provide excellent personal legal services for our members. We are committed to ensuring that our members have access to, and benefit from a full range of legal services. Through Union Lawyers, Community has made it easier for members and their families to access these services.” So remember, if you need to access personal legal services then first visit Union Lawyers online at www.unionlawyers.co.uk or telephone free on 0800 077 8841 to be given details of Community’s recommended solicitors for your area.

For personal legal services visit Union Lawyers online at www.unionlawyers.co.uk or telephone free on 0800 077 8841 8 Community  Spring 2014


Community members and NSPCC made it a special Christmas for 70 families

news

THANKS TO donations from Community members and their workplaces, the union’s Region 1, which covers Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man, was able to work with the children’s charity NSPCC to help more than 70 families and over 130 individuals in Scotland have a Christmas that was “just that little bit special”. “Where possible we purchased individualised gifts,” said Kathleen Hunter, Community Campaign Administrator in the region. “For instance for a 16-year-old girl who had never had her hair cut professionally, for a boy who had never owned a new bike and for a girl who wanted new clothes instead of second-hand. “We would like to thank all our members and workplaces who supported this cause, in particular Tata Steel Dalzell/Clydebridge, RSBi, Glenmuir Knitwear, Border Biscuits, Tesco Stores, and our local MP, Frank Roy (Labour Motherwell and Wishaw) who made this such a great success for children and their families.” The appeal was launched after Community’s Benevolent Fund donated £2,000 to the NSPCC at the suggestion of a branch in the region.

Reps from Community’s Justice and Custodial Services Section were getting educated and getting organised at a recent one-day conference at the union’s Training and Education Centre, The Grange in Northamptonshire. It was an opportunity to learn more about Community, meet reps from other workplaces and plan campaigns to recruit more members to the union.

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politics

Vote to keep your rights ELECTIONS TO the European Parliament take place on 22 May so there will be a lot of talk about Europe in the next few weeks. But what the Tories and UKIP will not be talking about is how renegotiating our place in Europe or pulling out of Europe would put Community members’ rights at work at risk. Already 95 Tory MPs are calling for the UK to have an opt-out for every single piece of European law. They want to “lift EU burdens on business” and “disapply the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights”. But, when they talk about negotiating in Europe to cut red tape and bring powers back to the UK, what do they really mean?

YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK ARE NOT ‘RED TAPE’ REMEMBER TO VOTE ON 22 MAY

“Four weeks paid annual leave, rights for mums at work, the requirement that your employer protects your health and safety –- these rules aren’t red tape, they make sure there is fairness at work,” says Rory Palmer, Community member and Labour candidate for the European Parliament in the East Midlands. “All these rights and more could be at risk if Cameron or Farage get their way.” Prime Minister David Cameron is going to try to negotiate a “new settlement” in Europe – and he has made it clear that he wants to scrap the Europe-wide guarantees of minimum rights at work. “Countless times Labour MEPs have voted to defend people’s rights at work,” says Catherine Stihler,

Union’s ‘most political’ branch in election battle ELECTIONS FOR the European Parliament are not the only ones taking place on 22 May. Thousands of council seats across the country are up for election on the same day. One group of Community members is particularly focused on the forthcoming election – there are six councillors among the members of Community’s Wolverhampton Craft Community branch. They and countless other Community members are standing for Labour in the local elections. Along with the six current councillors, recently retired National Operations

Officer, Terry Pye is also now a member of the branch and he too is running for election in the Wolverhampton Merry Hill ward. The branch’s claim to be the union’s most political is backed up by the fact that Pat McFadden MP is a regular guest at its meetings and another branch member is Daniel Warren, the chair of Wolverhampton Labour Students. ■■ Is your branch more political? Are you a councillor or council candidate? Let us know by emailing lcn@community-tu.org

The NLBD National Committee at their meeting in March

Work Choice: Politically minded: (l-r) Cllr Clement Baugh, Pat McFadden MP, Cllr Paula Brookfield, Cllr Ian Brookfield, Cllr Craig Collingswood, Cllr Julie Hodgkiss, Cllr Martin Waite, Daniel Warren

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THE FUTURE of the government’s Work Choice programme was among the issues discussed at the recent National League of the Blind and Disabled (NLBD) National Committee. Work Choice provides targeted support to help disabled people find and maintain employment. Many Community members receive Work Choice funding, predominantly to help their employment in supported businesses, which specialise in providing jobs for disabled people. The NLBD, a section of Community, is concerned about the potential impact on supported employment businesses


at work Labour MEP for Scotland. “The Tories and UKIP are determined to weaken the protections that stop the UK racing to the bottom and make sure people are treated fairly at work.” This is why the elections on 22 May are important because they are an opportunity to elect people who can make sure your rights at work remain protected. “These elections are being fought over the future of our rights,” says Judith Kirton Darling, a Community member in the North East, who is standing for Labour in May. “We have hundreds of rights at work that could be at risk. Cameron, Farage and the rest can’t be allowed to get rid of them.”

u o Y d i a s OVERWHELMING VOTE TO MAINTAIN POLITICAL VOICE

your choice? when the Work Choice programme comes to an end in 2015. Community will be raising the issue at the forthcoming TUC Disabled Workers Conference and with our MPs, but the union also wants to hear from members about what you think should be the future of Work Choice. ●● Should it be replaced or improved and how would it affect you if Work Choice ended? ●● How should we campaign for sustainable jobs for disabled people? You can email your views to editor@community-tu.org

THANK YOU to all the members who took part in our Political Fund Ballot. The YES vote was an overwhelming 94%, demonstrating yet again that Community’s members want to continue to have a campaigning fund and a political voice. “This was a really important ballot in terms of making sure we could continue to campaign on the issues that matter to you most in your workplace or in your community,” said General Secretary Roy Rickhuss. “Thousands of you have made your voices heard loud and clear that our political work must continue. “We know these are difficult times for members and we need to let the politicians know about your hopes and your fears. “With so many of you voting YES, we can refocus our efforts towards our political campaigning and getting your voice heard in the corridors of power in Westminster, Brussels, Holyrood or Cardiff Bay.’ “Just recently, we’ve shown what we can achieve through our political campaigning, when the Chancellor

heeded our calls and announced more support to reduce industrial energy costs in the Budget, thus helping to protect jobs in the steel industry. “Without the political fund we wouldn’t have been able to put political pressure on the government to change their policy.”

TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992 A resolution approving the furtherance of political objects within the meaning of the above Act as an object of the Union has been adopted by a ballot under the Act. Any payments in the furtherance of any of those objects will be made out of a separate fund, the Political Fund of the union, but every member of the union has a right to be exempt from contributing to that fund. A form of exemption notice can be obtained by, or on behalf of, any member either by application at, or by post from, the head office or any regional office of the Union or from the Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations, 22nd Floor, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, London NW1 3JJ. This form, when filled in, or a written request in a form to the like effect, should be handed into or sent to the Membership Department.

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SAVE THE COST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP Visit our website to start saving

www.community-tu.org

£4,500 STUDENT BENEFIT FOR YOU OR YOUR KIDS APPLY NOW NEW HIGHER EDUCATION BENEFIT BURSARY ■■ Benefit will provide up to 20 members or their children with a bursary of either £1,500, £3,000 or £4,500 ■■ Support provided for first year at university or higher education college ■■ Specific costs reimbursed such as rent, tuition fees, and equipment purchase ■■ Open to members returning to education or to children entering higher education

Apply by 30 April 2014 For full details and terms visit www.community-tu.org or call 0800 389 6332 or ask your branch secretary


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