Thursday 13 October 2011

The MPs Are Begining To Take Note

It has been drawn to my attention that John McDonnell MP has started an Early Day Motion in support for our cause.

So far it has collected 9 signatures, Peter Bottomley Con MP, Ronnie Campbell Lab MP, Martin Caton Lab MP, Katy Clark Lab MP, Jeremy Corbyn Lab MP, Jim Dobbin MP, Kelvin Hopkins MP, John Mcdonnell Lab MP and Dennis Skinner MP.

If your MP is not in that list yet then you need to email them and ask them why. The letter at the bottom of this post can be copied and pasted into an email and sent off. As long as you fill in the blanks. It wont take 2 minutes.

What Is An Early Day Motion?

An Early Day Motion (EDM) is a proposal for a debate on a particular subject - to be held on an "early day", i.e. soon.

Once an MP has tabled the motion, it can be signed by other MPs to indicate their support.
But no matter how many MPs sign up to an EDM, there is no guarantee that they will ever be debated in Parliament.
Instead, the modern-day purpose of EDMs is to allow MPs to express their opinion on a subject and to canvass support for their views.
In 2005, Labour backbencher Michael Meacher tabled an EDM which was signed by 412 MPs urging the government to introduce a climate change bill.
This indicated that the government's decision to include such a bill in the 2006 Queen's Speech would be broadly welcomed on all sides of the House.

It is Early Day Motion 2218, Electricians' Pay Dispute and can be viewed HERE

So we need to get as many MPs signed up to this as possible.






Below is a template of a letter for everyone to copy and paste in to their email.
All you have to do is fill in the blanks.
If enough of the 650 MPs raise the issue on our behalf then that's a great start.

You can find who you local MP is here >>>>http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/

Don't forget to add your address, as an MP can not take your email any further if they cant verify if you are in their constituency.



Dear <<insert your local MPs Name>>

RE: CONSTRUCTION SECTOR - ATTACK ON NATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND INDUSTRY SKILLS BY EIGHT MAJOR EMPLOYERS

I write to you as a constituent who is employed within the Construction Sector.

My Union, Unite has recently launched a campaign within Construction to support the retention of skilled workers in the industry.

There are currently eight major employers within my industry who are intent on withdrawing from the following National Agreements:

  • JIB (Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry)
  • SJIB (Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry)
  • JIB-PMES (Joint Industry Board for Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services in England and Wales)
  • SNIJIB (Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board for the Plumbing Industry)
  • HVAC (National Agreement for the Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, Piping and Domestic Engineering Industry)
  • MPA (Major Projects Agreement)
The eight major employers are:

  • Balfour Beatty Engineering Services Limited
  • N G Bailey Building Services
  • Crown House Technologies
  • Gratte Brothers
  • MJN Colston Limited
  • Spie Matthew Hall
  • Shepherd Engineering Services (SES)
  • T.Clarke PLC
These employers are attempting to force skilled craftsmen onto new contracts, with reduced terms and conditions of employment. These contracts are an attempt to de-skill our industry and reduce training requirements with a potential disastrous effect on site/project Health & Safety.

Our skilled craftsmen are currently trained to NVQ level 3 and if these rogue employers are allowed to continue unchecked they will reduce training to NVQ level 2.
These employers are also intent on using unskilled labour to carry out electrical, plumbing and heating & ventilation within projects including schools, power generation (both carbon and nuclear) which we believe will have serious implications for your constituents should their changes go through.
I request that you, as my local MP, raise this matter urgently with the UK Parliament as a matter of priority to demand that these employers tear up their proposals.
I would also request that you ensure that all procurement policies include clear requirements for appropriately skilled craftsmen to carry out this safety critical work, as are already contained within out existing National Agreements.
An EDM has already been set up by John McDonnell MP.  It is EDM 2218, Electricians' Pay Dispute. As a constituent of yours who has now voted for yourself several times, it would be greatly appreciated if you could also place your name to the EDM and also raise the issue with fellow MPs.

Your sincerely,
<<Your Name>>
<<Your Phone Number>>
<<Your Address>> 




 































2 comments:

  1. Hi there,
    At the latest picket this Weds, the SWP spoke in support.Whilst the support of the SWP-WRP etc is appreciated. Respectfully, I think for the right attention needed for this fight against the rogue companies is better not grouped with the rest of the causes supported by us all(pubic sector cuts etc). As this can somewhat dilute what this is about(certainly to the average passerby and the wider public). It needs greater backing/attention from UNITE/Parliment,media. and more of the same action taken already. What do you think?

    PS. The more support the better I know, but the speakers should be sparks/shop stewards/union reps etc?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ps What's the name of that dub track in the video towards the end?...

    ReplyDelete