An Informed View

An Informed View

Just to set the record straight around the below article from the employers mouthpiece Construction Enquirer, there was no agreement on this deal.

The negotiating team only agreed to bring the offer back to the shop stewards committee for their thoughts and opinions on what was on the table. This is the way our union operates now with full transparency and full lay member involvement. It's not back in the days where sweetheart deals were struck between bent union officials and the employers! The unanimous feeling from the committee was that this was another attempt at de-skilling the industry. What we want is direct employment for those currently working in the industry whom at the moment are forced into working through parasite agencies and dodgy payroll and umbrella companies. 

This is down the employers continuous breach of rule 17 of the JIB rule book on the use of agency labour which is supposed to be used as a top up to direct labour and should never outnumber those directly employed by a company, but as we know there are construction jobs up and down the country where agency labour is on from day one and is the norm, where it should be that direct employment is the norm and agency labour is used to a minimum. We need all guys forced to work for agencies through no fault of their own, taken onto direct employment and the people who can deliver this are the employers! Instead of bringing in new people industry directly employed, how about directly employing the skilled people currently working in the industry? A list of the reasons for rejection are set out in the supplementary letter that was sent out with the ballot papers.

We want proper apprenticeships for school leavers and young people, especially when youth unemployment is at an all time high. If there are issues with government funding for apprenticeships, then the employers should be working with Unite and the rank & file to pressure the UK governments into making funding available for proper skilled construction apprenticeships.

Quite clearly the employers are worried about unrest across their sites, but they have a long way to go to win the trust of a workforce that is constantly undervalued, was attacked through BESNA and has been blacklisted for decades! Time for them to cut the crap and take us seriously, and if it takes industrial action, official or unofficial and civil disobedience to once again make them understand? Then so be it!

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/07/08/me-contractors-blast-activists-over-5-pay-rise-rejection/#share-absolute-div

Unrest builds as Ballot papers land

Unrest builds as ballot papers land

Unrest is starting to creep in on construction sites, as ballot papers start landing on the doormats of thousands of Electricians across the UK.

There has been a blatant attempt by the ECA to de-skill the electrical industry and finally rid itself of what little skilled workforce it still has. We are getting used to hearing the headlines of 'Skills Shortages in Construction', so the obviously answer to the ECA is to de-skill the industry even further. 

Forget about proper apprenticeships for school leavers and training up the next generation of Electricians. Forget about direct employment and making the industry attractive to young people. 

The ECA want to do away with all of that and fill the Electrical Industry with part qualified labourers.

This has really hit a nerve on sites across the UK and talk of unofficial wildcat strikes has been mentioned on several major projects including refineries, power stations, Crossrail to name a few. Unite are working hard in the background updating members details and planning for full industrial action. The construction Rank & File have actions and plans in place ready to go.

Calling all JIB Electricians

Employers continue their de-skilling agenda

Are the ECA really this stupid? Wildcat strikes, 

official action and Rank & File action?

When you ballot paper arrives tick the right box

REJECT REJECT REJECT

These are the reasons for rejection given by the Unite committee that originally rejected the offer.

The committee is made up of Electricians from all corners of the UK

There are only two criteria for receiving a ballot paper

1. Hold a current JIB card

2. Be a member of Unite the Union

If you can say yes to both of the above and do not receive a ballot paper by Friday 11th July then please phone Bernard McAulays office 01132 364830 and request one is sent out ASAP

Calling ALL JIB Electricians

Calling ALL JIB Electricians

If you hold a JIB card and are a Union member then next week a very important letter will be

falling on your doormat and it’s imperative that you take the time to read, understand and return it immediately.

The ECA have made their final offer for the 2015/2016 JIB wage negotiations and the Unions lay activists and representatives met on 4^th June in Leeds to hear and discuss it. It was heavily rejected by the group, but as it was the final offer, a decision has been made by Unite to send it out to the membership in the form of a consultative ballot. 

The ballot is open to ALL JIB card holders. It does not matter if you are direct, agency, self employed or even left the industry. YOUR opinion is wanted and it is vitally important we knock back this fresh attack on OUR trade

Blacklist Support Group Update - June

Blacklist Support Group Update - June

1. George Tapp - NOT GUILTY VERDICT 

Michael Collins the driver who drove through a blacklisting protest outside the Manchester City Training ground fracturing both knee caps of ex-Salford Labour councillor George Tapp has been found not guilty in Manchester Crown Court 

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-4ad6-Jury-shown-George-Tapp-injury-footage#.U6KWNyxOW70

2. High Court halts firms insulting compensation scheme

The firms insulting compensation scheme that would see the vast majority of blacklisted workers