Arena Summer 2015

48 Pages·2015·6.06 MB·English

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FirstCall Usdaw – the free accident claim helpline – 0800 055 6333
2015
www.usdaw.org.uk SUMMER
SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING:
THINK BEFORE YOU POST!
Young workers win
ADM
with Usdaw’s support
DEBATES AND
DECISIONS
The magazine of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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PUBLISHED BY
USDAW
188 Wilmslow Road,
Manchester M14 6LJ
T.0161 224 2804
F.0161 257 2566
[email protected]
W.www.usdaw.org.uk
HEAD OF MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
UsdawUnion Mike Glover
EDITOR
Peter Rees-Farrell
[email protected]
General secretaryJohn Hannett
REPORTER
Time to reflect on Labour’s defeat Mairead Bradley
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
T Sarah Bailey
he result of the 2015 general election will see five years ADVERTISING & DESIGN
of Conservative government, which does not bode well Century One Publishing
for our members and their families. Alban Row, 27-31 Verulam Road,
St. Albans AL3 4DG
We can expect more cuts to in-work benefits, further
T.01727 893 894
attacks on workers’ rights and more privatisation of the NHS. [email protected]
There is little to suggest in the Tories manifesto that; the housing W.www.centuryonepublishing.uk
crisis will be tackled, wages will recover or fuel bills will fall. It’s
ADVERTISING MANAGER
clear we are in for a tough five years. Jonathan Knight
In the meantime we must look to Labour to regroup and to T.01727 739 193
discuss openly and honestly the best way forward for the Party, [email protected]
especially in light of the SNP’s surge in Scotland. There is no DESIGN & PRODUCTION
quick or easy fix to the problems facing us, so now is not the time Heena Gudka
to rush into any decision on the leadership. PRINT
I’d like to thank all of our activists who helped out with Polestar UK Print
Labour’s election campaign. Of course we’re disappointed but we Paper produced from ecologically
have faced defeats like this before, most notably in 1992. It’s sustainable sources.
worth remembering within five years of that Government
arenais the membership magazine of
winning it had imploded and Labour won power in 1997. It won’t the Union of Shop, Distributive and
be easy but Labour needs its working activists to keep the Party Allied Workers (Usdaw).
rooted in the lives and experiences of the people it seeks to Published quarterly, arenais distributed
represent. So I would urge our activists to stick at it, get active in to Usdaw members.
Labour and local politics and to continue to speak up for the
Copyright:Reproduction in whole or
concerns of our members in local, regional and national forums. part by any means without written
We’ve seen during the last five years the Conservatives are no permission of the publisher is strictly
friends of working people, but it’s our duty as individuals and as forbidden. The publisher accepts no
responsibility for errors, omissions or
an organisation to continue to speak up and fight for justice,
the consequences thereof.
equality and fairness at work.
© arena 2015
John Hannett, General Secretary
Watch reps, officials and MPs
on YouTube.com/UsdawUnion Follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion
Call the helpline 0845 60 60 640 View our extensive photo gallery
Office details on page 47 at: Flickr.com/UsdawUnion
p18
p29
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A roundup of this year’s ADM
Inside this issue
Legal Plus & FirstCall Usdaw
22Winning for youMembers tell their stories on
how FirstCall won their injury cases.
People like you
Workers’ health in focus
18Double ScotchReps Rikki Allen and Stewart
30Asbestos...injuries, hazard labels and
Walker from Scotland on their conference speeches.
medication access all feature.
29Jenette WilliamsOn her plea for more affordable
homes at this year’s Annual Delegate Meeting.
Regulars
Features
04Latest NewsElection disappointment for
10Social mediaThe perils and pitfalls of using Labour, Co-op wage rise and other news.
social media under the spotlight.
40NewRecruit a FriendTwo prizes of £250
20Pension scamsUsdaw issues warning to under each now on offer in our recruitment draw.
55s about fraudsters and your pension.
38Workplace focusHow distribution members are
Letters
supplying the Boots high street chain.
44 Usdaw election resultsThe new executive 42Have Your SaySafety improvements,
council will serve until April 2018. retirements and loyal service rewarded.
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News
Legal blow
Workers lose out as European Court
rejects Usdaw’s appeal for fairness
case at the employment
tribunal that backed the
union’s claim that all staff
should be eligible for
compensation regardless of
the size of the store. However,
the Coalition appealed the
decision and it was referred to
the CJEU.
General secretary John
Hannett slammed the decision
but vowed to fight on. “Our
Im members are understandably
a
ge heartbroken by this result,” he
©
S said. “Our case is morally and
h
utte logically robust, so this verdict
rsto is a kick in the teeth. But we
ck/S will now turn our attention to
eb seeking a change in the law to
a
stia protect future redundant
n
D workers from suffering the
u
d
a same injustice. The election of
a hostile government makes
this all the more difficult but
than 20 employees should be
vulnerable workers deserve
Usdaw’s fight for justice for compensated for the lack of
better from the legal system.”
former employees of Woolworths consultation by the firms’
and Ethel Austin ended at the administrators.
Court of Justice of the European The six-year legal More news at:
Union (CJEU) in April after it battle began in 2009 www.usdaw.org.uk
rejected the union’s case that and three years later
members in stores with fewer Usdaw won a landmark
04arena

News Labour’s shock loss
Conservatives defy the polls to win a 12-seat majority and leave Labour trailing
‰‰
UKIP’s own ruling body. harder to persuade voters that
Ed Miliband said it there is an alternative to the
was ‘time for someone harsh austerity policies we’ve
else’ to take over and seen for the last five years.
that he was ‘truly sorry’ “I want to reassureour
he did not succeed. members our campaigns
He pledged to: continue, our determination to
“Never give up on improve their rights at work
fighting for the Britain continues and our fight for
Jfoighhnt H oann fnoer tat fhaairse vro Bwrietda itno tI hbaetl ieve in. We have ewqhuoaelviteyr aisn din j ugostviecern cmoenntitn.ues
come back before and this Party “Many thanks too to all of our
The Conservatives won an will come back again,” he added. activists who played their part in
unexpected election victory in Shadow chancellor Ed Balls Labour’s campaign. We face
May, confounding the polls and was among the Labour Party's another tough five yearsbut we
winning an overall majority. big-name casualtiesalong with won’t hesitate to meet those
The Tories surprisingly won election campaign chief Douglas challenges.
330 seats while Labour trailed Alexander and its leader in “I want to see an honest and
on 232. Scotland Jim Murphy. open debate about the Party’s
In Scotland the SNP vote future, and who its leader should
soared winning the Party 56 Determination be, in the coming months.”
seats. In contrast the Lib Dem General secretary John Hannett
support collapsed leaving them vowedto continue the union’s
with only eight seats. The turnout fight to protect jobs, improve
was 66 per cent. wages, and to speak up for
Within hours of the result members on the NHS, housing,
Labour leader Ed Miliband and fuel bills and much more.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg both “This was a hugely
resignedtheir leadership disappointing and unexpected Have your say on
positions triggering an election result,” he said. Labour’s new leader
in both Parties. “But we have to respectthe
The Labour Party leadership
UKIP leader Nigel Farage also electorate’s choice. If anything it
election is now underway and
initially resigned although he shows we have to work even
Usdaw members will only get
withdrew his decision after his
a vote if they sign up as a
resignation was refused by
Labour Party supporter.
It’s free for all members
who pay the political levy.
Simply complete and
return the enclosed form or
sign up online at:
support.labour.org.uk/
Or call Usdaw’s
politics office on 0161
249 2452 to sign up
A(ll-er)x aEdnd Bearl lasl,l Jliomst M thuerpirh sye aantsd Douglas by phone.
UK results (650 seats, not listed Northern Ireland - 18 seats, Speaker - one seat)
Party Seats Gain Loss +/- VOTES
Conservative 330 34 11 +24 11,334,576
Labour 232 22 48 -26 9,347,304
Scottish National Party 56 50 0 +50 1,454,436
Liberal Democrat 8 0 49 -49 2,415,862
UKIP 1 1 0 +1 3,881,099
Green Party 1 0 0 0 1,157,613
Plaid Cymru 3 0 0 +0.9 181,704
UK vote share UK vote share change since 2010
Party % -% +%
CON 36.9 UKIP +9.5
LAB 30.4 SNP +3.1
UKIP 12.6 GRN +2.8
LD 7.9 LAB +1.5
SNP 4.7 CON +0.8
GRN 3.8 -15.2LD
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News
Pay rise boost
Two year deal will see a full-timer’s
pay increase by £1,200 a year
Members at the Co-op Group consistency and better align the of £124m in 2014 compared
will get a pay increase of Co-op to market practices with a loss of £255m in 2012.
between 8.5 - 10 per cent over among major food retailers. It said its food and funerals
the next two years following a National officer John Gorle business had performed
new agreement between Usdaw welcomed the deal: “This ‘robustly’.
and the Co-operative Employers represents a good step forward It is the UK’s fifth-largest
Association. for staff and the increase food retailer with almost 2,800
More than 70 per cent of applies to shop assistants and stores. In the last year, the
Co-op members voted in favour their supervisors in food stores group added 82 convenience
of the new deal. and is worth at least £1,200 per stores and refurbished more
The package includes year extra for a full-time worker.” than 700 stores. It plans to
proposals to simplify existing In April the Co-operative add another 100 outlets this
reward practices, improve Group revealed it made a profit year.
Contract improvement to replace zero hours
Meanwhile, staff on zero-hour contracts at Co-op we have reached a position where no member of
Funeralcare are to be offered new contracts, staff will have to take a zero-hours contract. The
with guaranteed hours and improved terms and new arrangements mean that the employees will
conditions, following a ground-breaking have the security of income that allows them to
agreement negotiated by Usdaw. properly plan their finances and the company
National Officer John Gorle said: “I am can have the flexibility required in the funeral
delighted that after 18-months of negotiations arrangements business.”
08arena
Capital contribution News
A team of young activists were
centre stage at the national event
Five of Usdaw’s active reps made their mark at
the national TUC Young Workers conference
held in London in March.
Scottish delegate Bethany Stewart, 25,
successfully moved a proposition calling for
greater protection for workers on short-hour
contracts while Eastern division’s Dean
Wilson, 25, was elected vice chair of the TUC’s
national forum for the next year.
StiwmiReni.dc “koIytn wB, wraosaw san ag,t r2 et5ha,et w ecvohenonf wet,ro efrunklcls e of off orc roD tmHhmeL ifinitrtsetd AMHcactrCivrliiessootsdn., .a .A(nlr-dsr h)B Riedit cMhkayan hBymr Sootweonwd,,a S Crttaelvluemn
and active young reps,” he said. “Our For more information
proposition won unanimous support from all the other activists from on the opportunities
for young workers in
across the trade union movement who know exactly how
Usdaw visit:
difficult short hours contracts can be.
“I came away enthused and keen to get more involved www.usdaw.org.uk
with our young workers.”
Pre-paid Funeral Plans
So you leave them with happy
memories, not money worries
It’s only natural that we want to look after our loved
ones. A Funeral Plan can help, protecting you and your
family from rising funeral costs.
For a personalised Plan that’s kept safe
until you need it visit your local funeral
home, call 0800 612 7444 or find us online
at www.co-operativefuneralcare.co.uk
For full details see http:////www.co-operativefuneralcaare.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/.
The Co-operative Funeralcare is a trading name of Funeral Services Limited. Funeral Services Limited, registtered in England and Wales with number 30808R at
registered office 1 Angel Square, Manchester, M600 00AG. VAATT registered 403 3146 04. Part of Co-operativee GGroup Limited.
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(cid:129) SOCIAL MEDIA (cid:129) KNOW YOUR RIGHTS (cid:129) SOCIAL MEDIA (cid:129) KNOW YO
Warning: Don’t
be anti-social!
arenaL toaulkisse t oC uhretaisd a obfo leugt aslo sceiarlv miceesdia…
Think first! Lessons to be learned
Q Q
Members are still Have employees adjusted their behaviour to avoid social
getting into trouble media perils?
with social media, why?
Some people have learned their lesson and adjusted their settings.
Members don’t always Many know not to post offensive material however, it’s clear many
understand social media are still posting potentially career-ending comments.
and the effect it can have on We get many cases where members have been dismissed for
their job and career. Privacy misuse of social media and often there is nothing we can do to help
settings aren’t always fully because we know it would be deemed as a fair dismissal under
understood or as secure as current law.
you might think. There is
nothing to stop a friend
passing your comments on
to others who you may not
Training courses
want to see them. Members
say – that was just for my
friends – but they forget QAre employers doing enough
their friends could be their to educate their workforce?
manager or colleagues and
if these posts are critical of Many do but some don’t. Social media is relatively new
the company or colleagues, but it’s changing at a fast pace. We now have Twitter,
or racist, sexist or Snapchat, Instagram and more. Employers could run
homophobic then they’ll be refresher courses or re-circulate their updated policy to
in trouble. existing staff to remind employees of the dos and
It’s worth remembering don’ts. Obviously new staff should be left in no
we’re all ambassadors for uncertain terms of the company’s social media policy
our company in one way or and the dangers of offensive posts.
another. Employees often sign the policy document but don’t
fully understand it and the implications of it. They
should read it carefully and ask questions if necessary.