Industrial action at Northwick Park hospital has ended after GMB members accept a pay and conditions deal

 

I am a fairly regular patient at Northwick Park Hospital and always impressed by the undervalued support staff there. Many of them are employed by agencies as services are out-sourced as part of the creeping privatisation of the NHS. Outsourcing means poor wages and conditions and often precarious employment.

One such agency is Medirest, part of the Compass Group). Hundreds of hospital workers - including caterers, ward hosts and porters – have taken a total of five days of strike action in protest against Medirest at London Northwest Healthcare (LNWH) Trust.

The strike will end after workers voted to accept improvements to sick pay, annual leave and a pay increase of up to 25 per cent.

There were angry over disparities in terms between their terms and those of in-house contracted staff, including significantly worse sick leave, annual leave and pay entitlements.

In addition, last year’s NHS pay deal was not paid in full for many outsourced staff.

The new deal includes:

• All staff will be brought up to the London London Living Wage.
• An additional day of annual leave and an additional week of sick pay for Medirest contract staff.
• A one-off equalisation payment of up to £1,655 to address disparities in pay between different members of staff
• The trust to enter into negotiations with the GMB on equalising contractual terms when the contract reaches its end.
• Full recognition of the GMB across the whole of the NHS Trust, enabling the GMB to represent and negotiate on behalf of hundreds of members 

Bhimraj Rai, GMB Representative at Northwick Park, said:

Hundreds of low-paid staff will receive a pay rise of up to 25 per cent and fairer terms and conditions because GMB members have stood together for equal pay and equal terms.

GMB members have spent months negotiating and weeks on the picket line, but we have never accepted that workers should be paid less or receive different treatment for doing the same job.

Medirest has a responsibility to treat all its employees fairly.

We will keep fighting for all our members and keep campaigning for full equal terms.

Hundreds of Medirest members have joined the GMB since the start of this dispute and now, with full recognition, the union is stronger than ever.

A supporter of the strike action had explained the background to the strike before the settlement :

The main issue is a discrepancy between Agenda for Change and Medirest contracts, with the latter on lower rates of pay and much lower annual leave allowance as well as minimal sick leave and no carers leave. Bereavement leave has been reduced and is not allowed for siblings or in-laws.  Additionally they are denied the non-consolidated COVID payment; the reason given is that they are not NHS staff. They work equally and took equal levels of risk during the pandemic.

Agenda for Change staff were given their payments two weeks ago, in an effort to divide the staff and stop them joining the strike. Many of the staff are immigrants and there are multiple allegations of discrimination and unfair treatment, exploitation and bullying. Medirest are alleged to harass staff during sick leave. Despite having sick notes from doctors, they call staff at home to ask when they can return to work and send them to Occupational Health. When they return to work, they are placed on disciplinary measures, leading to dismissal in 3 stages regardless of medical circumstances. Staff are alleged to be bullied and intimidated, including for taking industrial action.

 

 

The mess staff are expected to clear up post-strike mess despite extra staff employed on strike days

 

The strkers  are asking for the same contract as Agenda for Change and also the COVID payments. However ideally they would like the contracts brought in-house so that they are directly employed by the NHS. It should also be noted that during strike days, the hospital are employing double the number of staff for the same work, which is not being done to the correct standards of hygiene e.g. for cleaning and food preparation, which puts patients at risk. The staff are expected to clean up this mess when they return to work after the strike and it is blamed on the strike, when actually twice as many staff have been employed during those days. The staff are working to those higher standards and penalised for any errors.

1 in 14 secondary students have Covid: education unions unite in powerful call for additional safety measures in schools

 

From the Guardian

 

Five education unions have written to the Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, asking him to urgently reconsider the reintroduction of additional safety measures in schools, given the rising rates of Covid infection and absence among school students.

 

The five unions – GMB, NASUWT, NEU, UNISON and UNITE – will also be writing to all local authorities and directors of public health asking them to consider measures in their local areas.

 

The unions have pointed to measures now being readopted in several local authority areas in response to rising cases, including social distancing measures, reintroduction of bubbles, avoidance of large gatherings such as assemblies and meetings, and reintroduction of face coverings in secondary schools.

 

The unions have warned that without such measures, students’ education and the health of students, their families and school staff will all be damaged unnecessarily.

 

Avril Chambers, GMB National Officer, said: "Yet again we appear to have denial of the facts from this Government. Covid cases among school pupils are growing exponentially and it is clear further mitigation measures are needed immediately. School staff have kept our schools open throughout the pandemic: they deserve to stay safe and our children deserve not to have their education interrupted any more than it already has been. The minister needs to act now."

 

Patrick Roach, General Secretary, NASUWT said: “As cases rise, ministers need to look again at supporting schools with onsite testing into the spring term, rather than relying on home testing, which is less effective. There is an urgent need for the Government to consider reinstating the requirement for pupils to self-isolate if they are in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Proportionate safety measures and appropriate support for schools are essential in breaking the continuing chain of virus transmission.”

 

Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary, National Education Union, said: ‘We are concerned that the Government is standing by while COVID cases surge across schools. It is evident that more needs to be done, and sooner rather than later, to prevent further massive disruption to children’s education, caused either by children contracting covid-19 or covid-related staff absence. The most effective way of keeping children in educatiois to do more now to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools.’

 

Jon Richards, UNISON assistant general secretary, said: “Ministers must do all they can to stop continued disruption to classroom learning as infections rise. To offer pupils and staff greater protection, face masks must return right away, along with school bubbles and other sensible precautions that were ditched. Air filters are also key to limiting the virus spread and ensuring pupils have a more stable academic year.”

 

Jim Kennedy, Unite national officer for education, said: “Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has a great opportunity to reset the safety agenda for schools, following the departure of Gavin Williamson. With winter fast approaching and with Covid still rampant the whole range of measures to keep school children safe needs to be deployed – the rising level of infections in schools demand it.”

 

The full text of the letter is as follows:

 

The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP

Secretary of State for Education

Department for Education

20 Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT 8 October 2021

 

Dear Secretary of State

 

We are writing as unions representing school leaders, teachers and support staff to urge you to give all education settings the guidance and resources they need to keep pupils safely learning for the rest of this term. We began this term hoping for better times and a more normal feel across the education system but, as the weeks have gone by it has become clear that the DfE guidance published on 23 August requires urgent updating.

 

Thresholds in the DfE contingency framework for even seeking advice following cases are set too high; meaning that cases can already be spreading across a school before additional measures are considered.

 

Government data shows that confirmed Covid-19 cases amongst school-aged children surged to 102,000 on 30 September, a 67 per cent rise since 16 September. Over 204,000 pupils were absent from school on 30 September for covid-related reasons. Staff absence is also impacting on education with some children suffering disruption as a result of staff absence, and staff and leaders under enormous strain as a result.

 

It is unclear when the impact of the vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds will begin to be felt and so in the meantime more needs to be done to prevent the spread.

 

Many other countries in Europe that have kept in place proportionate mitigation measures in schools, such as face coverings and quarantine of close contacts whilst rolling out a vaccination programme, and have not experienced the back-to-school surge in cases that we have seen in England.

 

In addition, a growing number of councils are now using the freedoms they have under the Department for Education guidance to bring in additional mitigations in schools. This reflects their responsibilities for public health, and also under health and safety legislation.

 

Staffordshire County Council for example is encouraging all schools to introduce a range of measures including to stop whole-school assemblies and bring back classroom bubbles and face coverings; all close contacts to get a PCR test; and reintroduction of staggered start, finish and lunch times because it is "time to be proactive" about rising cases.

 

Additional mitigations have been recommended in areas including Cambridgeshire, City of Wolverhampton Council, Cumbria County Council and in some London boroughs. For example, in Cumbria, siblings of children diagnosed with Covid should be kept at home until their test comes back negative.

 

These are all important measures that we believe need to be implemented across all schools. Combined with a relentless focus on ventilation, with use of HEPA filters where ventilation cannot be improved in any other way (a focus which will reap benefits far beyond the end of the pandemic) these measures could make a real difference in England.

 

Without a change of direction, we risk damaging the education of thousands of children at some point before Christmas. The health of some children, but particularly that of vulnerable staff, parents or grandparents, could be compromised.

 

This is an urgent problem, and we look forward to your swift response. We would also welcome the opportunity for an urgent meeting with you to discuss these matters further.

 Jenny Cooper, Co-Secretary of Brent National Education Union told Wembley Matters:

 We asked Brent Council officers to bring in additional measures in schools that reach the DfE threshold. But they appear to be toeing the government line of minimum disruption to schools so no return to bubbles etc. However we know from our members that in the long term such an approach causes more disruption.

Formidable group of unions and education organisations issue joint statement ahead of PM's statement on wider re-opening of schools

Nine education organisations have joined together to issue a statement on the wider opening of schools and colleges in England. This statement is issued ahead of the Prime Minister’s expected announcement on Monday. The signatories are the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), GMB, National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT, National Education Union (NEU), National Governance Association (NGA), Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA), Unison, and Unite.

 

STATEMENT

 

We are committed to bringing all children and young people back into the classroom as soon as possible. However, it is counterproductive if there is a danger of causing another surge in the virus, and the potential for a further period of lockdown. Wider opening must be safe and sustainable.

 

We therefore urge the Prime Minister to commit to 8 March only if the scientific evidence is absolutely clear that this is safe, and at that point go no further than a phased return of children and young people with sufficient time to assess the impact before moving to the next phase.

 

We are increasingly concerned that the government is minded to order a full return of all pupils on Monday 8 March in England.

 

This would seem a reckless course of action. It could trigger another spike in Covid infections, prolong the disruption of education, and risk throwing away the hard-won progress made in suppressing the virus over the course of the latest lockdown.

 

The science around the role that schools play in the overall rate of transmission is uncertain. Scientists have expressed different views on this point. What we do know is that the full reopening of schools will bring nearly 10 million pupils and staff into circulation in England – close to one fifth of the population. This is not a small easing of lockdown restrictions. It is a massive step.

 

These factors necessitate a cautious approach with wider school and college opening phased over a period of time. This is the approach being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It allows public health experts to assess the impact of the first phase before moving to the next.

 

None of this is intended to stand in the way of the full reopening of schools and colleges. On the contrary. It is intended as a prudent way forward to ensure that once they are fully open, they stay open.

Brent Council found 'no cause for concern' at Bakkavor's Brent premises before conditions hit national headlines

The situation at Bakkavor's factories has hit the national news after the boss was filmed threatening workers who go sick with the sack. In the video he also admits that they 'we can't social distance in there' (the factory).

The firm supplied  Tesco, Sainsbury's Marks and Spencer and Waitrose amongst others.
 
Cllr Anton Georgiou, received this account by Brent Regulatory Services, on March 30th after he had raised concerns from his Alperton residents about the situation at Bakkavor sites in Brent:

A member of my team, visited these premises - Bakkavor (2 sites) this afternoon and confirmed that the business is following GOV.UK COVID-19 guidance. Below is a summary for your information:

“Bakkavor, 40, Cumberland Avenue.

Visit carried out unannounced. Had to sign in at security and besides filling in the usual visitors guest form and additional form specific to Coronavirus. Any visitor, driver or other person wanting to enter the site has to complete this questionnaire. On arriving at the reception I had to complete the full medical questionnaire (as standards for most high-risk food manufacturers) Technical Manager on site, site manager and health and safety manager present for brief outline of unannounced visit and scope of inspection.

I choose the areas that I wanted to enter and spoke to a number of staff, again which I selected, to ensure that employees were interviewed at random and not selected by management. I asked each staff member a number of questions, specific to the complaint that employees were forced to work even when unwell, or had been in self-isolation, or had relatives in their household who had symptoms/diagnosed with COVID-19. None of the employees said they, or any other staff they knew had been forced to work when unwell.

They knew the guidelines of Bakkavor’s COVID-19 procedure broadly and said if unwell, or a member of household would be unwell to report sick and self-isolate. During my visit I found good standards of social distancing wherever possible. In the staff canteen signs were displayed on each table to ‘sit separately and keep social distance’, which seemed to be adhered to.

Bakkavor (Katsouris Fresh Food) 267, Abbeydale Road.

Similar to the above

Visit carried out unannounced. Had to sign in at security and besides filling in the usual visitors guest form and additional form specific to Coronavirus. Any visitor, driver or other person wanting to enter the site has to complete this questionnaire. Met with Technical Manager on and briefly outlined of unannounced visit and scope of inspection.

I choose the areas that I wanted to enter and spoke to a number of staff, again which I selected, to ensure that employees were interviewed at random and not selected by management. I asked each staff member a number of questions, specific to the complaint that employees were forced to work even when unwell, or had been in self-isolation, or had relatives in their household who had symptoms/diagnosed with COVID-19. None of the employees said they, or any other staff they knew had been forced to work when unwell.

Staff were aware of Bakkavor’s COVID-19 procedure broadly and said if unwell, or a member of household would be unwell to report sick and self-isolate. During my visit I found good standards of social distancing wherever possible. In the staff canteen signs were displayed on each table to ‘sit separately and keep social distance’, which seemed to be adhered to.

I did not find any cause for concern at the time of my visit. Senior Enforcement Officer

One of the premises is in London Borough of Ealing and we have alerted them regarding concerns raised here in Brent.

The 'wherever possible' qualification is open to interpretation.

In a statement on its website London GMB said:

GMB has been provided with shocking video footage, from a management briefing at Bakkavor Meals London, where workers were told  "You can't socially distance here"  and managers displayed total disregard to the statement made by the TUC Joint Council, HSE and the CBI which makes clear that Employers ​,who remain open during the current crisis, must guarantee safe working conditions and minimise the risk of workers being exposed to COVID 19.

The statement from the TUC Joint Council, HSE and CBI  warned that employers who do not comply with the latest Public Health England guidance, including by not introducing social distancing measures, face being hit with enforcement notices and potential closure.

During the briefing a Bakkavor manager tells workers they have to "Keep Tesco happy or we won’t have jobs" and he is clearly failing to accept the responsibility Bakkavor should have for its staff. The footage shows Bakkavor's essential workers being told 150 jobs had already been lost and that there could be further losses and "those who didn't bother turning up would be the first to go"

Andre Marques GMB Organiser said:

GMB London is calling for urgent action to be taken to protect the safety of workers at Bakkavor Meals, including the immediate introduction of social distancing and proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The footage seen by GMB, shows a Manager demonstrating how to put on a snood to keep their mouths covered but worryingly this is not proper PPE, as defined by the Personal Protective Equipment Regulation 2002, and also the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. Bakkavor workers were told to wash their snoods at least once a week and dry it on the radiator. This is not acceptable. 

There is absolutely no excuse for any Employer to be putting their staff at such risk and no excuse for not complying with the COVID-19 guidance.
 
GMB will not tolerate any employer bullying and threatening our Members. Bakkavor has displayed, in this video, disregard for process and disrespect for its employees. Bakkavor has now exposed that job losses will potentially be unfair dismissals and GMB will ensure any affected Members will supported and protected.
 
Bakkavor Meals London is a multi-million pound company who provide ready meals to Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S and these essential workers deserve to be treated with respect and provided with a safe working environment and proper PPE.

The GMB is calling for temporary enhanced sick pay during the crisis to ensure employees do not suffer financial hardship if they need to self-isolate.   They are calling for re-organisation of production methods, even if that slows down production, and to ensure social distancing is in place in the canteen, other common areas and exit and entry points.

Low paid migrant workers at Park Royal food manufacturer need your support in upcoming strike ballot

The Cumberland Avenue site

Following their rejection of two pay offers from Bakkavor, a major food manufacturer based in  Park Royal, workers are taking part in an indicative ballot for  future industrial action. It is the first time they have been asked to take strike action.

The mainly Gujerati, Sri Lankan and Goan work force, many of whom are women who have worked at the plants for many years, only earn around the minimum wage. 

Bakkovar is a major employer in the area working from three sites, plus a warehouse  and employ almost 4,000 workers. They make houmous and ready meals for the major supermarkets.

In the tradition of the Grunwick strikers this is an important struggle for  migrant and female workers. The workers are unsure of their next steps and will be encouraged to vote for industrial action if  local trade unionists and activists boost their confidence, telling them,  'You can do this!' Please support them if you can.  

Their union, the GMB say:

A fight here would send an important signal to all the 

low-waged migrant workers in London! 

Enough of poverty wages!

Show your support and solidarity at these events:

FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 3.15pm - 5.15pm (shift leaves 3.30pm and 5pm)
BAKKAVOR, 40 CUMBERLAND AVENUE, NW10 7RQ

MONDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 2.15pm-5pm
BAKKAVOR, 304-306 ELVEDEN PLACE, NW10 7SY 

WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2019 4.15pm-5.15pm 
BAKKAVOR 269 ABBEYDALE ROAD, HA0 1T

Medirest staff to protest outside Northwick Park Hospital on Thursday 5 September over issues of wages, bullying and over work

Staff working for Medirest at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow are set to protest outside the hospital on Thursday 5^th September from noon to 4pm over poor wages and what they say is overbearing management and heavy workload.

 

Porters, cleaners, ward hostesses and kitchen staff who are employed by the multinational facility management company Medirest say that they have had enough.

A recent meeting organised by GMB heard many workers from the 80 strong crowd tell of how their workloads have increased and that many were being paid the National Minimum Wage £8.21 an hour.

Other concerns over a bullying supervisor were raised following the GMB presenting a petition signed by over half of the staff of 400.

Tahir Bhatti, GMB Regional Organiser said:

Last year we started to speak to the Medirest about increasing the wages from the minimum wage, as well as other issues.

Medirest have a lot of staff paid only the minimum wage, staff who clean up after patients, transport deceased patients and make sure the hospital functions. We feel that there should be respect and fairness for all Medirest workers. 

The union are calling for equal wages and a root and branch investigation into the concerns of the workers. 

Workers will stage a respectable protest outside the main entrance to the hospital.

GMB London Region to protest outside Wembley ASDA tomorrow against imposed contract

News

GMB to hold Asda protests against Contract 6

GMB London Region are holding a number of demonstrations in September across London and the East of England in protest against Contract 6. Asda employees are being faced with the sack if they do not sign the contract which strips away many of their terms and conditions.

Despite having a 63 pence per hour increase on the original contracts, Contract 6 would leave GMB members on other Asda contracts worse off due to changes to paid meal breaks, the loss of hours, changes to the night shift window and a flat rate for bank holiday work.

The flexible contract also means the company has the ability to change the number of staff working days, hours and their department with just 4-week notice.

GMB have undertaken two demonstrations at Asda House, in Leeds, on 1^st May and 14^th August to make the feelings of GMB members clear that they will continue to fight for better pay, terms and conditions.

The GMB will be demonstrating outside Wembley ASDA tomorrow September 5th 9am-4pm

GMB call for Brent Council to bring cleaning services back in-house following report recommendation

Since I published the earlier article (January 8th LINK)reporting that Monday's Brent Cabinet will decide whether to bring back estate cleaning services in-house, the GMB have issued the following press release:

After 10 years of minimum wage and poor terms and conditions under Wettons Cleaning services our hard working members deserve better, says GMB London

GMB have called for the approval of Brent Council’s cleaning services to be brought back in-house at a Council meeting on Monday 14 January.

This is following a report which recommended tenants and leaseholders get more control over the service, by the cleaning of council estates being dealt directly by Brent council.

Wettons Cleaning Services Limited currently clean housing estates across the borough, after being awarded the contract in 2009. They are responsible for the maintenance of the internal and external communal areas of blocks of flats managed by the council.

Krissy O’Hagan, GMB Regional Officer said:

“After 10 years of minimum wage and poor terms and conditions under Wettons Cleaning Services our hard working members deserve better, bringing the service back in-house will correct this pay inequality and improve working conditions.

“Brent Council are committed to bringing services back in house, and GMB ask that this commitment is honoured and they do the right thing!”

GMB support call for an independent report into Paddington Cemetery asbestos issue

Vaughan West, Regional organiser of the GMB union said today:

The GMB are obviously concerned if members of staff and/or the public have been exposed to asbestos and would expect any employer and  especially a public body such as Brent Council to do everything in its power to demonstrate and reassure  its staff and the wider public that their health and safety is the primary concern and issue. 

If that means the commissioning of  an independent report to reassure people then that is a small price to pay.

'Foster carers are already professionals, it's time they were treated as such,' GMB union tells select committee

GMB Foster carers who are members of the GMB union met with MPs today to demand proper recognition for dedicated members who look after vulnerable children.

Rachel Harrison, GMB lead officer on Foster Care, gave evidence to the Fostering Inquiry at a Select Committee.

The delegation of carers also met Labour MPs following the hearing, including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

Disturbing new figures show just 42% of foster carers felt their allowance met the full cost of looking after fostered children.

This compares to 80% in 2014, showing huge cuts in local government funding are badly hurting our foster carers.

GMB foster carers made the following demands:

· Nationwide standards and funding

Foster carers have vastly different experiences across the country - there needs to be a more consistent approach to foster care

· Professional recognition and respect

A lot is expected of foster carers, with increasing demand and fewer local government resources. Only a third (32%) felt that children's social workers treated them as equal.

· A national register of foster carers

This would allow for foster carers to look after children from other areas, cut red tape, remove local barriers, provide greater stability and save on costs of private care.

Figures from the Fostering Network show 49% of foster carers did not have an agreed training plan for the next year and 75% of those who had taken a child from outside their approval range received no additional training or support.

Rachel Harrison, GMB Lead Officer for Foster Carers said:

We're proud to be the union to represent foster carers. 

These people give their all to look after the most vulnerable children in society and it was vital we got across to MPs today the challenges faced by our members and how we can work with others to push for improvements in the foster care system, for the benefit of both the children and carers.

Colleen Callaghan, Foster Carer and GMB member, said:

It was fantastic to see MPs listening to our trade union really represent foster carers and give us the opportunity to tell it like it is - explaining to politicians what's needed to improve foster care in this country, for us and the children we care for. 

It was a welcome opportunity to see how politics can actually relate to us and hopefully change things for the better.

GMB puts employers on notice after Uber victory

Great money? £5.03 an hour after costs and fees.

 From the GMB union

 Similar contracts masquerading as bogus self employment will all be reviewed says GMB

GMB, the union for professional drivers, has won their case against Uber as the London Employment Tribunal has determined that Uber has acted unlawfully by not providing drivers with basic workers’ rights. (see notes to editors for previous press releases)

GMB brought two test cases to the Central London Employment Tribunal on 20 July 2016 and it has decided that Uber drivers are entitled to receive holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks. The Tribunal decision will have major implications for over 30,000 drivers in London and across England and Wales and for workers in other occupations.

GMB found last year that a member working exclusively for Uber received just £5.03 per hour in August after costs and fees were taken into account, significantly below the national minimum wage of £7.20. Lawyers for the drivers also argued that Uber acts unlawfully by frequently deducting sums from drivers’ pay, often without informing the drivers in advance, including when customers make complaints.

Maria Ludkin, GMB Legal Director, said:

This is a monumental victory that will have a hugely positive impact on over 30,000 drivers in London and across England and Wales and for thousands more in other industries where bogus self-employment is rife.

Uber drivers and other directed workers do have legal rights at work. The question for them now is how those rights are enforced in practice. The clear answer is that the workforce must combine into the GMB union to force the company to recognise these rights and to negotiate fair terms and conditions for the drivers.

This loophole that has allowed unscrupulous employers to avoid employment rights, sick pay and minimum wage for their staff and costing the government millions in lost tax revenue will now be closed.

Uber drivers and thousands of others caught in the bogus self-employment trap will now enjoy the same rights as employees. This outcome will be good for passengers too. Properly rewarded drivers are the same side of the coin as drivers who are properly licensed and driving well maintained and insured vehicles.

GMB will be getting on with the business of campaigning and recruiting at Uber to ensure our members’ rights are respected.

GMB will give evidence to the new Taylor review on terms and conditions within the sectors of the economy offering precarious employment. We will make the case that average hours worked over the past 12 weeks should be deemed to be the contracted hours of work for those on zero hours as it already is for maximum hours of work under the Working Time Directive.

GMB puts employers on notice that we are reviewing similar contracts masquerading as bogus self employment, particularly prevalent in the so called ‘gig economy’. This is old fashioned exploitation under newfangled jargon, but the law will force you to pay GMB members what they are rightfully due.

 Nigel Mackay, Leigh Day employment lawyer, said:

We are delighted that the Employment Tribunal has found in favour of our clients.

This judgment acknowledges the central contribution that Uber’s drivers have made to Uber’s success by confirming that its drivers are not self-employed but that they work for Uber as part of the company’s business.

Uber drivers often work very long hours just to earn enough to cover their basic living costs. It is the work carried out by these drivers that has allowed Uber to become the multi-billion-dollar global corporation it is.

We are pleased that the employment tribunal has agreed with our arguments that drivers are entitled to the most basic workers’ rights, including to be paid the National Minimum Wage and to receive paid holiday, which were previously denied to them.

This is a ground-breaking decision. It will impact not just on the thousands of Uber drivers working in this country, but on all workers in the so-called gig economy whose employers wrongly classify them as self-employed and deny them the rights to which they are entitled.

Amrit Wilson to speak on Grunwick 40 at Ealing Town Hall - October 22nd

Saturday October 22nd 12 noon to 4pm at Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, London W5

-->

Black History month brings together a series of events that celebrate the culture, history and achievements of black and ethnic minority communities. We hope to see you at at what promises to be a very special event.

Grunwick - 40 years on: Join Leroy Logan, MBE Former Chief Inspector & Chair of Black Police Association and Amrit Wilson Writer and Activist.

Race invites you to join us in remembering and celebrating Black women who were at the forefront of the Grunwick dispute 40 years ago.The day will consist of an exhibition dedicated to Grunwick, various performing artists with cultural food available, plus much more. Further details will follow but please keep this date free, it’s an event not to be missed.

Organised by GMB Race

Unions hail 'new era of stability' for Sudbury Primary Academy

In a joint statement today the ATL, GMB and NUT in Brent announced that the suspended headteacher of Sudbury Primary Academy has resigned.

The unions had threatened joint strike action if headteacher Uma Pandya returned to the school. LINK

Hank Roberts, an ATL Executive member and Branch secretary, said that a 'punitive Ofsted system' and lack of local authority oversight of academies was leading to an increase in allegations of headteacher bullying.

He said that the abandonment of the government's academisation programme and a more supportive inspection system would greatly improve matters.

The statement said:

All the unions congratulate the staff for standing up for themselves and the pupils. We also thank the new Chair of governors, Ian Phillips, for his professional approach throughout this difficult period and helping to get the school back on track. We look forward to a new era of stability for the school where everyone will be working together to deliver the very best for the children.

Tell ASDA to look after their staff

The GMB union is fighting proposals by Asda to cut staff free hot drinks and remove vending machines.  Asda are said to have seen falling turnover in the face of competition from Lidl andAldi.

The GMB is the only union to have successfully gained recognition in the Walmart international  empire.   They have launched a petition against the changes. This is their statement:

On 13th January 2016 ASDA informed GMB of their proposal to change the canteen offer within stores. This could result in the closure of the breakfast offer, removal of chilled vending machines and removal of free tea, coffee and toast which is available within its smaller stores.

GMB are aware from speaking to members and colleagues that this is an emotive subject and understand how valuable these facilities are to you as hard working, dedicated colleagues within ASDA. 

We are therefore requesting that you sign the petition so that this can be presented both through the consultation process and Andy Clarke CEO to ensure ‘Your Voice’ is heard on this matter.

Please use the social media buttons to share this petition.

If you are not currently a member and wish to be protected join online at www.gmb.org.uk/join

The petition can be found HERE

These are two views that can be found on the GMB petition website:

Over the 9 years I have worked for Asda I have seen a decline in the company looking after the colleagues I agree times change and cost go up but you need to keep your workforce happy to keep your customers happy and removing colleague canteens is the wrong way to go this is an engine room for colleagues to reboot themselves and chat and get rid of stress eat and drink breakfast is the start of the day our store has a cafe downstairs bacon butties and more are a £1 that's great but can you imagine ten to twenty colleagues queuing up for their breakfast and wasting their break time of 15-20 mins so then making them late going back onto the shop floor and such could also lead to disciplinaries come on there must be costs you can cut elsewhere keep the troops happy mr Clark

I do not work for Asda, but do shop there but may have to start shopping elsewhere if this is the sort of company my shopping spends supports. This is so wrong on so many levels. A good company would look after their workforce and make sure they have hot drinks and food available. Its the staff that makes the company, So come on Asda treat your wonderful staff better.

It is advisable not to engage Asda staff in conversation about the issue as this could result in disciplinary action against them but if you sign the petition they will know they have public support. 

Strike threat at Sudbury Primary School

Staff at Sudbury Primary School in Brent passed a vote of no confidence in the headteacher and governance of the school by 43 votes to 3 last night. The headteacher is currently suspended, which is deemed a 'neutral act', while allegations are investigated.

Staff from NASUWT, ATL, GMB and NUT approved the following resolution after a lengthy discussion about events at the school:

This meeting expresses no confidence in the headteacher and governance of Sudbury Primary and calls for the immediate removal of the headteacher from her post.

If this demand is not agreed we call on our unions to ballot us for sustained strike action.

Union sources said that they were concerned that an attempt is being made to undermine the independent investigation report that led to the suspension of the headteacher and the sequence of events that should flow from the report.

Sudbury Primary is the only Brent primary school to voluntarily convert to academy status. It became an Academy in September 2012. Academy status means that the local education authority has limited intervention powers.

Staff unions are currently challenging moves by Oakington Manor and Furness Primary schools to convert to academy status.

NW London GMB backs TTIP fight ahead of Saturday's Day of Action

The campaign organisation 38 Degrees LINK is holding a Day of Action on TTIP (Transatlantic  Trade and Investment Partnership) on Saturday August 30th. (More information below) There is more about TTIP and video of a public meeting on the issue on the excellent Haringey Green party website. LINK

Here in North West London the GMB has called for a campaign of opposition in a motion passed last month:

This North West London GMB branch notes with alarm that an EU/US Transatlantic trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is being negotiated by the EU Commission on behalf of the EU member states  - and due to be partly completed by December 2014.

TTIP, if signed, will give multinational companies the right to sue governments over regulations that the companies object to - under 'investtor-state-dispute-settlement' (ISDS) rules - outside and above the courts and parliaments of the EU member states.

TTIP focuses on removing the regulations covering labour laws, food contents, environment standards and protections, working conditions and state-provided health and education services.

The TTIP negotiations, secret up to now, are a direct threat to existing standards and Trade Union collective bargaining. They signify privatisation on a massive scale and threaten the most essential rights won by the working class after generations of struggles.

This North West London GMB branch calls on the GMB leadership to help animate a national campaign of opposition to TTIP and stimulate all GMB affiliated Labour Party branches and Trades Councils to do the same.

This GMB branch resolves to send this resolution to all its own affiliated Trades Council and Labour Parties.

The 38 Degrees website has published useful downloadable campaign materials. This is from their blog:

If you’ve volunteered to get the word out on TTIP (the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) during the 38 Degrees day of action on Saturday 30th August, you’re not alone – and here are all the important materials you’ll need.

Thousands of 38 Degrees members will be handing out leaflets, getting petition signatures and making sure people know about this terrible trade deal between the EU and the US. There are over 200 events happening across the UK and there’s still time to get involved.

Here are copies of the leaflets, posters, stickers and badges you can hand out on the day. Everyone who has signed up to volunteer will also get a pack of these in the post late next week. There will be 100 leaflets plus a poster, badge, sticker and petition in each posted pack.

To download copies of these online, please click the links below:

A5 leaflet

A3 poster

Badge

Bumper sticker

Petition

Feel free to print out or photocopy any of these. There is also a Welsh language flyer coming soon. If you want any extra materials posted to you, please just drop the staff team an email.

If you can’t download the PDF versions of the materials below, here are JPEG copies:

A5 flyer front
A5 flyer back
A3 poster
Badge
Bumper Sticker
Petition front
Petition back