“”
Within a week of the start of the campaign JLR had taken action to remedy the situation. That’s how effective it can be.
Adrian Jones Unite national officer
“The facilities were an absolute disgrace. It was so bad, weeds and grass were growing out of the cisterns and in the end our members were refusing to use them,” said Adrian.
The combine applied pressure to the drivers’ employers reminding them of their legal obligations and on Jaguar Land Rover through Unite convenors at Solihull. “Within a week of the start of the campaign JLR had taken action to remedy the situation. That’s how effective it can be.”
Noel Coard, chair of the Wincanton national combine and shop steward at the company’s Musgrave depot in Northern Ireland, points to another success story.
Last year Wincanton sought to introduce a new contract for drivers at its Swindon site who work on a Marks & Spencer contract. It would have reduced terms and conditions by 25 per cent.
Through the combine a demonstration was held outside the M&S flagship store at Marble Arch in London on a Saturday and on the following Monday Wincanton asked for talks after which employees accepted a new offer which involved no reduction in terms and conditions.
“That was all down to the work of the combine,” says Noel. It was also an example of putting pressure on a business which is jealous of its reputation, he says.
One issue currently facing the retail 25 uniteWORKS January/February 2013
grocery combine concerns Sainsbury’s which is planning to replace about 20 distribution centres with four. While the company has refused to confirm the strategy, Unite is convinced of its existence and that it will be a serious threat to jobs.
Adrian believes the combine system, which complements Unite’s existing national,
regional and sectoral
structures, could benefit other parts of the union which have to deal with fragmented industries.
“It enables us to be both active and pro- active. It’s not officer-run, it’s officer supported. Essentially it’s a way of giving members autonomy.”
Mark Thomas
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