Notts TU News #17

6 Pages·1998·17.5 MB·English

by  Nottinghamshire Association of Trades Union Councils

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ISSUE 17
l ignored and forgotten, while a soap character elicits
such an hysterical response. I Free or Donation ~
As somebody who knows how difiicult it is to
May/June 1998
get a response from MP’s, Ministers, and or the real
Prime Minister in relation to injustices, and who feels
FREE THE WEATHERFIELD ONE
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very angry about the hypocrisy of all of this, it asks one
Published by the Nottinghamshire Association of Trades Union Councils
question. How do the M25 Three, John Kinsella, Satpal
A catchphrase much used by Brian Conley is “It’s only

Ram and many others feel as they watch events unfold?
a puppet!!”, well in this case I am tempted to say “It’s
So many people are obviously annoyed that an
only a soapll”. A
‘''''' ‘'" __ _ - »-'.-- -..- _ ~_
innocent character, Deidre Rachid, could be sent down .1, .- - -_.- 3 . -_ _. :_ - .‘ _._; _- ,' -i.-_.-.;.3.-.-.j.-.-_.;- .;. _-
But then, perhaps I have got it wrong. Not only ;_ .
_.
when she is so obviously innocent. As if they could not
did the tabloids go overboard with the story, but one
countenance the same happening in real life. Tell that to
MP, Fraser Kemp, is now leading a campaign to Free
the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four, The Maguire
Deidre Rachid. Obviously, the pro Deidre vote within
Family, the Tottenham Three, Bridgewater Four etc.
his constituency will make all the difference come the
Our task is very obvious. To make the
next election.
following reality
Even the Prime Minister, cool Tony Blair, has
added his weight to the campaign to Free the NO JUSTICE
' Weatherfield One, which has left me wondering
NO PEACE
whether Millbank have now issued a briefing to all
:v'\'Y.-‘
MP’s setting out New Labour’s position on the
Jon O’Neill
Weatherfield One.
1 i p g
- _?;;‘.'-‘,1.-;.?-.
The outcry, the media interest,
and even an intervention from the PM
which greeted this one programme
has to be compared with the silence
that the Rough Justice programme on
the M25 Three encountered. Real life
victims of obvious injustice] are
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CONTACTS LIST
NOTTS CBUC
Jon O’Neill PO Box M MUWC
SOLICITORS
2 Beech Avenue Mansfield
A If your union is a member of the union law scheme, you are entitled to
NG18 IEY [phone]
l, a free first meeting to discuss any problem except work related matters.
MANSFIELD & DISTRICT TUC
Contact Terry Oldham on [phone]
(as Notts CATUC) i
FREETI-I CARTWRIGHT HUNT DICKINS
NEWARK TUC -
20 LOW PAVEMENT, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 7EA. TEL. [phone]
Dave Bryant 27 Nicholson St WILLOUGHBY HOUSE.
Newark Notts NG24 1RD i
“if son
NOTTINGHAM TUC V
If you think work has made you ill,
lan Juniper 118 Mansfield Rd ’
you need
Nottingham NG1 3HL ‘

Nottinghamshire Trade
RETFORD & DISTRICT TUC .
Tommy Hirst, ll Broadleigh Court I Union Safety Committee

Ordsall, Retford, Notts DN22 7GP
I We offer FREE testing for Hearing,
STAPLEFORD, BEESTON & ’
We ut the Clause4 in Vi'brati'on Whi‘te Fi‘ngsr Lung
DISTRICT TUC
9 p Function and can offer advice on
I You take the Clause 4 out _ _ '
Mick Worrall 6 Holden Gardens
. . at cl d H alth and
Stapleford NG9 7GX i COlTlp€1'lS 1011 flll'I1S an B
WORKSOP & DISTRICT TUC V You stamp on all our principles Safety information
l and shake the Lefties out A CauuSat2Beech Ave,,u,M,,,,fi,1d 2. Unemployed Workers Centre 8. A Message fi'om Hull
Dave Pressley 15 Thievesdale Lane
A You Snjlile at @\"~‘>1'>/body as (01623) 424"/20 and ask for Tony ~ for Nottingham 9. Dear Jon
Worksop Notts S81 0NG
Trades Union Resources in Notts
you spin around the floor
3. Chickens join Magnet Picket 10/1] . Tuireg Annual School
“Aiming
MUWC 2 Beech Avenue Mansfield A
NG18 IEY [phone] @ That’s what 111,5 all 8.l)OLli.
Line Report
p O1 Tony, Tony, Tony to keep
118 Workshop
118 Mansfield Road Nottingham , Oi Tony, Tony, Tony
you safe”
4. Morning Star Dispute 12. The Weatherfield One
NG1 3HL
Telephone and Minicom Oi Tony’ Tony’ Tony
6/7 Health & Safety if Lord Biro
0115) 958 2369 i Rlglli fOOt forwards
Blair Blair Blair
’ Please Note: The views contained within this Newsletter are NOT necessarily those of CATUC NTUN Page 12 NTUN Page 1
(Contd from Page 2)
CHICKENS JOIN MAGNET
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS CENTRE
generation malleable enough to form the vanguard in the
PICKET LINE
‘flexible labour market’(low pay, low expectations) that is
FOR NOTTINGHAM!
the perceived future ofthis country’s workforce. It seems
to me like a very Old Deal when our children are to be
THE MAGNET kitchen workers, sacked in
denied the opportunity for university education by tuition
Anybody remember, not so long ago, John Prescott, government. So what’s been done since that day in May,
August 1996 in a pay dispute and still fighting for
fees and the crippling debts they would have to incur. It’s
former Shadow Secretary of State for Employment getting oh, so heavily laden with irony for the working class, to
re-instatement, last week discovered a new
another Old Deal, albeit devised by the Tories, when
apoplectic on our T.V screens and in our newspapers identify and release for public consumption the real and
weapon in the class struggle - the chicken farm.
16-18 year olds are not entitled to claim benefits. Where
about the latest Tory fiddling of the unemployment utterly damning figures for unemployment in Britain‘?
is the restitution? And there is No Deal at all when 18-25 Their demands had been rebuffed by Magnet
figures‘? From 1980 to 1997 the criteria for calculating the One word answer: nothing. And did we really expect
year olds are soon to be told that they are not worth the Kitchens and its parent company Berisford for 18
number of unemployed was altered almost"30 times to anything as we marched (or were dragged) in our droves
paltry sum of £3.50 per hour, the probable derisoiy figure
months when, last month a small group of
create the illusion that unemployment in Britain was to the polling stations, last May Day that anything would
that the minimum wage will be set at. If we allow this to
never as bad as it was, and still is. be? Derbyshire ex-miners took solidarity action in
happen without a murmur, without putting up a fight.
Here then is a quote from the ‘Red Book’, a 165 Surely it is becoming evident that a low income, defiance of anti-union laws and picketed the home
If we adopt the mentality of keeping up a rear
page document produced by H.M Treasury in support of high unemployment economy suits ‘New’ Labour just as
of Berisford chief executive Alan Bowkett in the
guard action in our own work places, to maintain benefits
the last Budget. “Almost 4.25 million people of working much as it did their predecessors and that massaging the
village of Croxton, St Neots. _
and conditions, we will lose them, and we will deserve to
people in the U.K are without work and wanting a job. unemployment figure statistics is part of a strategy
The Magnet workers also launched a new
lose them. The employed and the unemployed are in the
Moreover the number of inactive people who say they designed to lessen people’s fear of unemployment and
campaign of picketing Magnet retail outlets and
same boat. The unemployed on steerage, the employed on
want a job as a proportion ofthe adult population is higher identification with those that already suffer from the
lobbying the Berisford amiual general meeting.
the decks above, but we’re all heading for the same
than in any other European Union country.” 4.25 million deprivation that it brings. Having abandoned any
iceberg, for women and children first read those that are Mr Bowkett last year awarded himself a pay
that is the unadulterated state of unemployment in this pretensions to the goal of equal distribution of wealth
sailing the ship. rise of £124,000 but until then had refused to discuss
with the deletion of Clause 4, we now seem to have a
country, yet the official statistic is still 1.4 million.
This is where the Unemployed Workers’ Centres
Now, I don’t doubt the sincerity of Bro. Prescott’s Labour government with a firm commitment to the the Magnet workers claim, made in 1996, for a three
have a major role to play in building solidarity between
unequal distribution of poverty. For instance, look at the
protestations during the wilderness years, in fact he was percent across the board rise after a three year pay
those in work, those out of work and those that who have
quite inspirational in his condemnation of the Tories. He way young working class people are being attacked.
freeze.
never worked at all. U.W.C.’s create and foster the links
even used to refer occasionally to that holiest of Holy Allegedly, the recipients of a ‘New Deal’ they are being
The picket and the new campaign brought
between the wider labour movement and unemployed
Grails ‘Full Employment’ as a goal; for a future Labour pushed deeper and deeper into poverty to create a new
the management to the negotiating table for the first
workers, campaign against the punitive sanctions
time but after just a few weeks of talking to
imposed upon people whose only ‘crime’ is being out of
representatives of four unions involved, the talks
work and against what seems to be an imminent attempt
to dismantle the Welfare State. Benefits are the wages of broke down. Meanwhile he threatened the pickets
the unemployed in a country that cannot or will not with legal action under the new harassment laws.
Ifyoa want to be heard - speak in
provide jobs for all.
But the GMB general union succeeded in
The City of Nottingham has for some time lacked
buying two acres of land near Mr Bowkett’s £l.5
an Unemployed Workers Centre. With the help of
million Cambridge mansion and has legally
$-&"_€_: Mansfield,,U.W.C. we are in the process ofdeveloping our
established a chicken farm there. GMIB lawyers
“"'-'-""---ill‘
own at the Chase Neighbourhood Centre in St Anns. Our
advised this would avoid prosecution under the
aim will be to organise agitate and educate with jobless in
anti-union laws. It was formally opened last
Nottingham. Not just on behalf of all workers and trade
Tuesday, complete with three chickens and a man in
unionists, because the fight for the preservation of jobs,
a chicken suit. Plenty of Magnet workers and their
for the advancement of wages and working conditions, for
a just and equitable society has it’s front line where supporters attended, carrying placards saying
." _-ff--
collective bargaining is not allowed. Please watch this
“Magnet Kitchens chickens come home to roost”.
space, we will be asking for support in this endeavour
They began leafleting villagers about the dispute
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from all trade unionists in Nottingham in the near future.
and the union has promised to step up the campaign.
Sawewfik $51.-$_sfi".92' -..eri1.%‘.$=tr.‘3:':.’-’_'i fr """"‘
In the meantime for more information contact Chris
Also, under legal rights going back to the
Shannon at the East Nottingham Unemployed
Regional Secretary Regional Convener middle ages, the union says it is entitled to hold a
Workers Centre, Chase‘ Neighbourhood Centre, St
Nick Wright Norman Wilson “pageant” in the village and plans the first this
Anns, Nottingham, NG3 4EZ. Tel: [phone].
Saturday. It will involve a karaoke session featuring
UNISON East Midlands Region 40 years of songs with chicken references.
Chris Shannon .
. 15 Castle Gate, Nottingham NG1 6B'f. Tel: [phone]
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FROM THE MORNING STAR NUJ CHAPEL
The sacking of Morning Star editor John Haylett to dismiss” at its March 14 meeting.
threw the paper into a major crisis as the National “Altematively, by agreement with Mr Haylett, it may be
Union of Journalists chapel took strike action that possible to find an altemative appellate body (such as
stopped the paper for almost six weeks. three independent and impartial persons agreed by both
A The appeal body decision to throw out all charges sides) by way of variation to the contractual disciplinary
against Morning Stareditor John Haylett and to condemn rules.”
the disciplinary procedure approved by the-People’s Press Print union GMPU proposed as chair one of its
Printing Society management committee is a vindication most experienced and respected officials, Alf Parish, now
of the stand taken by the paper’s National Union of retired, who was agreed by both sides. Management and
Journalists chapel. unions each nominated a further representative and the
decision of this three-person body was unanimous.
Journalists maintained from the outset that the
charges against John were both trumped-up and trivial We would have preferred the management
and should be dropped. We were convinced that the committee itself to clear up the problem which it started
decision to suspend and later sack him could not be or to have reinstated John pending the appellate body’s
decision, which would have made an earlier retum to
justified on such a flimsy evidence. However, we
work possible, but it remained intransigent.
believed that a majority on the management committee
Our view is that this dispute has been a massive
was not prepared to see reason they wanted him out.
own-goal by the PPS management committee, which
We suggested that John be reinstated and that discussions
should draw appropriate conclusions. Morning Star
beheld on any perceived problems, but the management
journalists would not have been taken seriously by the
committee refused. It was determined not to have him
rest of the movement if they had failed to react against
back in the building.
what we saw as a fit-up against John Haylett.
In the face of such intransigence, the chapel gave
When we write of workers’ rights and trade
notice of its intention to respond in the same way that
union or political principles in future, the movement will
countless trade unionists have countered a management
know that we practice what we preach.
that refuses to hear any view other than its own.
Some management committee representatives
have criticised the journalists for going on strike against
TODA YIHA VEN'TGONE TO WORK
a management that is composed of people who are
committed to the labour movement, but such a committee
should operate on the basis of the best industrial relations ROY NO HE IDO
practice. It didn’t.
A 'l' BIUAR
Management gave every impression of having made its
mind up from the start that it wanted John sacked. All
that it lacked was any credible charge to lay against him,
"-7.71." -1"’.
so it presented a dossier of allegations - some going back
-O-fii-‘d—— uni‘?
years - to try to justify the claim that he was guilty of
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gross industrial misconduct.
The appellate body concluded that management
had not carried out the disciplinary procedure that it had
negotiated with the NUJ, but this should not have come
as a surprise, because they had already been told that by
15552 6
the chapel, by the national union and by NUJ standing
counsel John Hendy QC.
Mr Hendy expressed his” legal opinion that the
FaX:l2123672 34 101522510534 I ‘
disciplinary procedure followed was hopelessly flawed
E;mai |;r$|1an|<$@tu¢_Qrg_uk pauliip.co||ins@|incs-tecgroup.org.uk
and that the management committee was “tainted” as a
result of its decision to reject John’s reinstatement and
could not, therefore, sit as an appeal body. He suggested
TOMORROW WE'LL SEE
TRADE UNIONS AND LIFELONG LEARNING
that its only constructive role was to “quash the decision
NTUN Page 5
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ENFQRCEMENT ASBESTOS BACKDOWN
DANGER!
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TRICHLOROETHYLENE
It’s common knowledge that the last govemment set, The Government’s decision to backdown over its
about relaying the laws on health and safety in favour of proposed ban on all asbestos products is a cruel
employers as part of its continual deregulation process. blow to many people. Those who have, or are Trichloroethylene (trike) has been used widely for taken time to look at the number of days taken off
To some extent they were successful, (probably one of _.,_.~.. many years throughout a variety of industries and through ill health for those working on or near the
suffering, as a result ofthis killer, their families and
the few successes they can boast about). ' processes. For instance, in engineering its use has process. If the employer had actually listened to
campaigners have as usual been ignored. The
The Tory Government andNew Labour (spot usually been that of a solvent/degreaser cleaning metal complaints from welders who were overcome by
reasons for this backdown, well experts (I wonder
components. vapours mixing with the heat source. If the employer
the difference) decided they were goingto get tough on
who pays their wages), have demanded more
-v.-\. Trike is a colourless liquid with an odour had listened to all other complaints and acted on them.
those who break the Law. Well corréct me if I am
evidence to show that substitute materials are safer.
resembling chloroform. Vapours have a narcotic effect If the employer had obtained proper information
wrong but isn’t knowingly and willingly exposing an
Secondly pressure including political has come
and vapours when mixed with a heat source decompose including up to date safety data sheets then maybe he
employee to untold dangers which may or have resulted
from asbestos producing countries. If the
to give off amounts of hydrogen chloride or phosgene. would have been aware of the harm actually being
in injury or even death, against the law.
substitutes are not considered to be safer; then what
Although its use has diminished in recent years as safer caused.
But still the punishment if any, hardly fits the
have all the other countries who have a ban on Working with solvents of this nature without
alternatives are introduced, some companies choose to
crime.
asbestos ,l?eert"ustng? ,Ori‘ceLagain those with the continue with its use. proper protection and safeguards can have devastating
Enforcement of health and; safety law is the
consequences. A proper risk assessment which should
power and money have beeriiaiable, to beat down the Without stringent safeguards to prevent exposure or
responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive
contact with the liquid and vapours persons working include all aspects including PPE information data
opposition. N 7 j
(HSE) and for many employees (usually without trade
with or in the vicinity of this substance are at risk. sheets etc is vital. Complaints of ill effects must be
union support and influence) the HSE is the only form As for politics, well I don’t claim to know
Trike can enter the body through inhalation via taken seriously and a system to eliminate or greatly
of defense. However enforcement has taken a back seat
much about this subj ect or how it all works. It
the lungs absorbtion into the skin. Ingestion, although reduce the risk of exposure to the liquid or its vapours
and the main function of the HSE appears to be that of
seems to me that politics exist solely to screw up
must be in place.
not unknown, would be considered extreme.
advisers and babysitters to employers. I’m all in favour
the lives of working class people in any way it can.
Acute effects may include irritation to the eyes, nose,
of the HSE providing expert advice to employers who
Last year in the UK almost 4000 people died from
throat and respiratory system Better still pressure the employer to consider a safer
wish to implement sound preventative measures and
asbestos related disease, over the next 10 - 20 years
Trike is a powerful anaesthetic and excessive alternative.
actually care about the safety of the workforce. But I
this figure is set to triple. Isn’t that enough deaths
exposure may lead to unconsciousness. Heart failure
draw the line at pampering employers who disregard
to warrant a ban now, or are the powers-that-be
can also occur following excessive exposure. P.S. Did you know that excessive exposure to solvents
the law and the well being of their employees.
going to allow many thousands more to be exposed Chronic effects, absorbtion through the skin will etc can result in hearing damage.
l know of companies where conditions and
to the dangers of asbestos, before coming to a right remove the skins protective barrier leaving it open to
standards of safety are considered to be extremely poor.
infection such as dermatitis/eczema. Accumulation in
decision.
I have first hand experience of at least one of these

the body allows it to pass into the bloodstream. This
companies. Even visits from the HSE following

may result in irreversible damage to the liver and other
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accidents/incidents and numerous complaints have
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vital organs.
resulted in little or no action being taken.
Research over the past few years has shown that
Enough is enough, the Law of Health and CNGATUIATI
brain damage can also occur following exposure to the
Safety and enforcement must be applied rigorously and
substance and its vapours.
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employers responsible for harming their workers
Trike is a suspected carcinogen and should be
should be made to pay not just through insurance but
treated as such.
personally.
A local engineering company uses trike
I am currently in the process of arranging a
constantly, with employees as young as 16 years old
meeting consisting of regional safety/personnel officers
involved in its daily use. The protection provided by the
I
and the HSE. This may give us the opportunity to
employer consisted of the overalls, dust mask and
directly question the HSE on their current policy on
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occasionally rubber or PVC gloves. Although an

enforcement and express other concems we have. This
extraction system was fitted to the trike tank_ this
meeting hopefully will take place within the near future
regularly failed. Drums of trike wereoften punctured
and anyone wishing to raise a question or put forward
as a result of incorrect manual and mechanical handling.
specific complaints should contact Tony Ridgeway,
When questioned on this issue the employers
| E355“!!!-I-r
Trade Union Safety c/o 2 Beech Avenue, Mansfield,
y “His entire adult is ' ~
response was “We’ve always done it this way and
Notts. NG18 IEY. Tel. [phone] Fax. 01623 I iirourrd ta I
nobody’s been harmed”. Well, if I-this employer had
424723. i

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A MESSAGE FROM HULL
Ian Juniper’s article in the last Notts TU News was of should have appeared first in Trade Union News,

interest to me, because up here in Hull, we are done properly, hundreds of extra copies should have
¢
Voluntary Sector, had been changed to the other side of town.
thinking along the same lines. been printed and handed out at all the caravan One of the most enjoyable parts of listening to Arthur
5'
It did and I have been instructed by the Notts Trade Union
Hull Trades Council is possibly at its lowest factories in the area and donations asked for. The Scargill, used to be when he turned on the media hacks present
Ombudsman to apologise profusely for the fact that my
in the hall to indulge in a bout of media-baiting, (one of my
ebb, with meetings sometimes consisting of no more Hull Daily Mail should have had to follow up our
magnifying glass was faulty and failed to detect the said piece
own favourite pastimes, if you know what I mean).
than a dozen activists, and activity being carried out story, but not until we had sold it to the nationals and
-and above all for my breach of journalistic ethics in getting
Somewhat poignantly in recent years he still continued to do
by a slack handful. We recently confronted this made a bit of money for ourselves.
my facts wrong. After all, Jon, I AM ONLY HUMAN; and I
this in his set speeches, even when the scribblers were no long
situation head-on and concluded that the key to I foresee a time when Trade Union News and am sorry that I have dragged the good name of Notts Trade
there to hear it. Thereby hangs a tail, as they say. The recent
Union News into the gutter. I can only reassure you that I have
building up Hull Trades Council (and with it, trade your Notts equivalent will be weekly and eventually Reclaim Our Rights Conference in London, unfortunately in
absolutely no intention ofposing for Page 3 by way of apology.
union organisation in the city) lies in two areas - daily publications, supplanting the capitalist papers, my ‘umble opinion, was more about re-affirming his role as
Having doffed my cap to the NEP, so to speak, one
Class Struggler-in-Chief, rather than co-ordinating the
effective solidarity action for workers in disputes and which in comparison, will look old and tired. There
piece of factually incorrect reporting came to my attention,
struggle in general - although the activists there will obviously
improving Trade Union News. are, of course, many obstacles. The writing must be
when it reported the opening of a certain sports shop by the
continue to do business as usual. The real point is how you do
We publish a monthly (copy enclosed) similar good, it must be socialist in character and it must
side ofNottingham’s Council House; (the name of the shop is
the business beyond the portals of temples like Central Hall,
to your own Notts TU News and as Ian so rightly stick with the grassroots. We have a world to gain and obviously corrunercially sensitive and l cannot reveal my
Westminster - where some one would do well to chase the
sources). It alleged that a number of local sporting heroes
says, the potential of such publications is enormous. a fighting, confident, socialist press is a necessary money grabbers out - and what contribution Conferences like
from the local football clubs, were to be there to try to write
this can make to that. Conferences which end up merely
Regarding the Notts Evening Post, the first step.
their names for any young impressionable children who
passing some motion, always assuming that there are enough
situation is exactly the same in Hull and of course in So, all you Notts socialists, take up Ian
dragged their parents along and persuaded them to part with
copies to go round, which there weren’t, just don’t cut it.
every town in the country. I was a journalist with the Juniper’s offer - write the articles which will resonate
their hard-earned cash for over-priced, uncomfortable football
It was interesting what was going on outside the
Hull Daily Mail for seven years and I saw things from with your workmates and neighbours and transform togs, otherwise known as replicas. Imagine my chagrin when
Conference Hall, what with the beggars on the goldpaved
the inside - stories ignored, rewritten, cut down. The your lives. I flounced into the shop, only to be told that the NEP had
streets of London, whilst inside this great citadel of
given out the wrong information. How could I console my
worst aspect of it all was that, very often, an Rob Rooney Christianity, like a great big conscience just across from the
young five year old child (I think he’s five), whose hopes and
Palace of Westminster, staff were throwing in the bin stacks of
important story for working people would be lost
dreams were so cruelly dashed by such blatant media
sandwiches, and good food delegates to the International
amid all the dross, especially when written in a
misrepresentation, by such a criminal inability to get the
Conference on Tremors had left. And, of course, our
A TRIBUTE TO
“balanced” way.
where, what, when, who and God knows what of a simple
Conference delegates were expected to pay exorbitant London
i My message is: ignore the capitalist papers - news story right. How could I as a caring, compassionate,
prices for our quiches and salades.
HARRY LOACH
we’re always going to be misrepresented, sneered at sensitive kind of soul, make this up to my boy as he stood
Down the road in Trafalgar Square, thousands of
there non-plussed and cheated, lifting an accusing finger in
and anyway, who needs them when we have our own young working class people and others, were on the streets
my direction. Actually, he wasn’t pointing at me but at the ice
campaigning for the legalisation of cannabis, with people
publication? If the journalists at Notts are the same as
Our eldest delegate to Council - cream van in the Square. So I bought him an ice and a Celtic
from Norfolk - inevitably - in the forefront. It was a brilliant
in Hull, we will beat them hands down to the real
t-shirt instead. Ole Cagger seemed happy enough with this,
event - those cats will eventually blow away the Straw man,
Honorary Delegate Brother Harry Loach
stories. We have the contacts and they don’t. They
which was nice. I wonder whether the NEP will refund our
whether the unions get involved or not. To ignore issues
are all middle class college boys and girls from other
- has recently died. In recognition of the bus fare - some hopes.
which are important to masses of people, or to treat them with
Anyway, Jon, I know you’re busy and I don’t want to
towns, who don’t know anyone. They sit in their
condescension, dooms the agenda fetishists and motion
contribution Harry has made to his
keep you away from writing all those funding applications
ofiices all day writing dross (remember the bosses mongers in the labour movement to utter marginalisation. Out
Union (over 50 years as a UCATT (jammy buggerl). Suffice it to say that for the next edition, I
don’t care about content, as long as there’s something of sight, man! Supporting this campaign means striking a
will be highlighting two stories which the local media totally
blow, as you might say, for freedom.
member), and to Nottingham Trades
to wrap around the adverts) and rely on press releases
blanked out with the same old shibboleth, “What’s it got to do
I guess what l’m trying to say is, that Conferences
and people coming to them.
Council, we are dedicating our May Day with Nottingham?” Well I’ll tell you - in the meantime if you
like Reclaim Our Rights shouldn’t be held in places like
Once trade unionists and potential trade
have any stories for the local media, like a pile-up on the
Central Westminster Hall merely to ape the other parties, not
activities to him, and will print a full
unionists realise there is a publication which reflects Mansfield Road, (two dogs going on the same spot - that kind
when thousands of working class youth are on the streets,
appreciation of Harry In the next edition.
of thing), you know where to send them. And if you don’t
their daily lives and stands up for them, the situation even if the Demonstration was called by the Independent
use this article, I shall be going to the Press Complaints
could rapidly change in our favour. He will be sorely missed, but there’s no (Hats off to them, I say), and should be organised in such a
Commission.
way as to facilitate “bottom-up” participation and
A good example of what I mean happened in
doubt that Harry, of all people, would be
Fraternally
organisation, rather than “top-down” leadership. Still I may
Hull last year. A caravan worker was sacked because
the first to urge us to get on with the job. be wrong.
he beat his boss at snooker on a night out. Our local
One thing I was wrong about in the last issue, was
We’ll do our best mate.
UCATT full-timer gave it to the Hull Daily Mail. It Ian Juniper
when I said the Evening Post failed to let people know that the
Notts County Council Leisure Services’ consultation with the 9
NTUN Page 8 NTUN Page 9
li
I
<1.
(Contd. from previous page) H
Subsequently, this wording failed to be incorporated
Indeed, the ILO was an intensely political
into the revised Convention which was then adopted
organisation, having been created at the end of the
ILO: INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ CHAMPION?
by the Conference (on the 19th June), although it did
First World War to “avoid revolution”, through
appear in Recommendation which was also adopted,
promoting greater social justice internationally. Its
but this has far less moral imperative towards its
fundamental work has been concerned with the
actual being put into practice by member
creation of an international labour code.
awareness of its activities within the British trade
10th - 13th July: Ruskin College
Govemments. This issue was particularly
union movement.
significant in the context of the British Airways
This code consists of instruments which are either
TUIREG
dispute and the aggressive tactics of management
legally binding (Conventions) or voluntary
The visiting speakers were: Bill Brett, Vice
(about which the students at the school sent a
(Recommendations), and which lay down minimum
President, ILO Governing Body/General Secretary
The Trade Union International Research and
collective letter to The Grauniad - please see
standards to be achieved in areas which include the
IPMS: Michael Walsh, Head of International
Education Group, was founded in April, 1976
attached).
protection of such basic human rights as freedom of
Department, TUC; Peter Brannen, Director, ILO,
and is based at Ruskin College, Oxford. It is
association, the abolition of forced labour and the
London; Sian Morgan, International Division, Dept
concerned with promoting International
Indeed, while some people at the school were
elimination of discrimination in employment as well
of Education and Employment; Bob Kylo, ILO’s
Solidarity and Development Issues in the UK
prepared to give the new - or rather, New -
as in a large number of more technical aspects of the
Bureau for Workers’ Activities.
and other European Trade Unions, and building
Government a chance, others saw in its stated
regulation of the world of work. To date 181
links between them through projects and
committment to “flexible Labour Markets” potential
Conventions have been adopted, together with 187
workshops on international issues. Its Overseas
Summary of the Main Issues
conflict with its ostensible committment to ILO.
recommendations, and the number of Ratifications
Programme aims to develop Trade Union Work
Indeed, there was a perception that the Blair
by the 171 member states is over 6,100.
of a development nature in co-operation with
Government ‘liked what they’d inherited’ as far as
The ILO had little profile in the British Trade Union
Trade Unions in the South.
the existing industrial relations situation was
movement until the issue of GCHQ became acute in The fundamental ILO Convention is No 87 (1948)
(‘Walton Street, Oxford, OX1 2 HE. Tel: (01865)
concerned and envisaged little change being
1984 - until then the latter had not been a great which establishes the rights of Freedom of
54599/56564 FAX: [phone]).
forthcoming. But after all’s said and done; ‘They
“customer” of the ILO in terms of complaints that Association - this establishes the right of all workers
told you so’.
basic labour standards were being contravened. and employers to form and join organisations of
INTERNATIONAL
their own choosing without prior authorisation. It
Viewed from the narrow perspective of British
The circumstances of the vote described above
lays down a series of guarantees for the free
preoccupations, there was a real lack of awareness
LABOUR ORGANISATION
pointed up that the ILO operated by “consensus”
functioning of organisations without interference by
of the ILO’s intemational work, which was
and that if Conventions were drafted too strongly,
(ILO) the public authorities. I
apparently greatly respected in developing countries
they would not be ratified by member Governments.
where it was often seen as a life-line in the struggle
Yet the ILO was “the best we’ve got” (Brett).
for basic human rights, being able to draw attention New Labour - Newspeak
The International Labour Organisation is the
to the fact that they were being abused. However,
United Nations agency which deals with From the neo-liberal school of economics, and the
its lack of a direct enforcement capability was
Brett said that while Portillo wanted to get Britain
employment and labour market issues and drive towards deregulation, the ILO is now obsolete
perceived by activists at the School as a debilitating
out of the ILO, the UK Government was now
whose mission is to improve standards and with no need to continue standard setting. A
defect of its structure.
committed to fulfilling its obligations. However, it
conditions of work and to encourage productive programme of updating and modernising was now
However, the fact is that the ILO is unique among
was reported by Bob Kylo of the ILO Bureau for
employment throughout the world. taking place to make standards more ‘relevant’ - a
UN agencies in having a tripartite structure:
Workers’ Activities that when Convention number
(London Office: Millbank Tower, 21-24 process of weakening in the guise of modernisation.
governments, employers, and trade unions all
96 on Fee Charging Employment Agencies (1949)
Millbank, London, SWIP 4QP. TEL: [phone]
participated in its work and in its decision-making
was recently being revised in June, 1997 prior to this
6401 FAX: [phone]) Govemments were also criticised by employers for
processes. This inevitably meant that it was a
year’s ILO Conference, a proposal that Employment
ratifying measures in Geneva which they had no
cockpit of international politicking - and since
Agencies should not make workers available to a
The School looked at the history, role and intention of implementing in their own domestic
1990, there had been some very bizarre
user enterprise to replace workers of that same
organisation of the ILO, and particularly focused on parliaments. p
combinations of goverrunents opposing ILO
enterprise who are on strike, was voted against by a
the way it has adapted to the challenges of the
initiatives. This extended to the election of its
DTI official in the relevant Technical Committee on
modem globalised market economy. This focus (Of which more in Part II)
officers, which Bill Brett elaborated on at some
behalf of the British Government.
revealed both strengths and weaknesses in the
length, he eventually having “emerged” as the Vice
Ian Juniper - July, 1997
Organisation, but certainly revealed an acute lack of
President of the ILO Governing Body.

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