United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:22 Page 6
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united digital top stories
Safer migrant workers goal gets closer
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Gangmaster laws will help migrant construction workers
Timm Sonnenschein / www
Unite was delighted with the findings of a care sectors to give these workers evidence of worker exploitation means the
home affairs select committee report on protection from employers who abuse labour government can no longer ignore the calls to
human trafficking, in May, which has laws. The report gives further weight to extend licensing and put in place a universal,
recommended extending gangmaster Unite’s campaign. transparent process for determining who is
licensing laws to include construction firms. fit to supply labour in this country.”
Unite deputy general secretary Jack
The laws protect migrant workers from Dromey said, “When employers can get In June, Unite MP Jim Sheridan will
abuse and exploitation. Unite has been away with abusing migrant workers to drive introduce a 10 minute rule bill in the
campaigning for the gangmasters’ licensing act down wages it harms workers everywhere. Commons which seeks to extend the
to be extended from food and agriculture gangmasters’ licensing act into construction.
into the construction, hospitality and social “Now it is over to government. The Unite is backing the bill.
Biscuit crunch talks
Unite is now in crisis talks with snack super anger. We believe United Biscuits is not abiding
giant United Biscuits as the firm plans to send by its legal obligations with a shortened
UK jobs abroad. Biscuit workers from the consultation period of 30 days when these
Liverpool site were left stunned when the workers have every right to expect the full
company confirmed, in May, its plans to three months consultation period. This is
offshore jobs to India. utterly unacceptable.
Earlier campaign protest
United’s proposals are expected to affect 110 “But the fight is not over yet. Our priority is to
Unite tips win
UK jobs – 53 from Liverpool. Since the keep people in work and jobs for the future.
offshoring threat Unite has campaigned Unite will do everything in its power, through
vigorously to save these jobs gathering massive the consultation period, to try to save these
Unite won a massive victory in May in its
support from across Merseyside and local MPs. jobs and stop UK jobs being sent
war against restaurants paying staff the
abroad.”
minimum wage out of customers’ tips.
Over 4,000 people across Merseyside have
already signed up to support the campaign.
Following Unite’s Fair tips campaign the
Unite is now involved in talks – although there
government has closed the loophole which
are concerns that the consultation period has
allowed greedy employers to use tips to pay
been shortened.
staff the minimum wage.
Unite regional officer, Debbie
But the government is only recommending a
Brannan, said, “The mood of
voluntary code of practice and Unite is
the workers is one of
worried this will not give consumers the
Is United Biscuits
confidence to know their tip is going as a
scraping the bottom of
the barrel with its
bonus to the staff who deserve it. Unite will
offshore plan?
now continue to campaign for a fully
transparent tipping system where staff
receive 100 per cent of tips.
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