Sunday 19 October 2014

Frank Morris for EC

The Rank & File back Frank Morris for EC
In the summer, John Sheridan resigned from his position on the Unite Executive Committee due to ill health. We would like wish John all the best for the future and thank him for all of his support.

This has therefore triggered a By-Election and one of our very own, Frank Morris, has decided that he would like to stand for the position.
He has received the FULL backing of the Rank & File and also the United Left.

It is vitally important that ALL Unite members get to their next branch meeting to vote for Frank and make sure that there is proper Rank and File representation on Unites top table.
 Frank is a Blacklisted Electrician and you may recognise him from the Crossrail Dispute.


Nominations Period                                                                            20th October - 24th November
Last date for receipt of Nominations                                                Noon 28th November
Last date for Acceptance and Receipt of Election Address            Noon 3rd December
Voting Period                                                                                       5th January - Noon 30th January
Count Verification                                                                               PM 30th January



JIB/SJIB wage rise accepted



JIB/SJIB Wage Rise Accepted

The count of the  consultative ballot for the JIB/SJIB wage rise was held on Friday (17th Oct). The results were as follows

Accept - 79.1% 
Reject  - 20.6% 
Spolit   -   0.3%

A huge swing in the opposite direction after the 91% rejection for the previous offer, which had the 'Entrant Grade' attached.



This is a disappointing result to many as we feel that a far greater increase could have been gained with the right leadership.

Thursday 9 October 2014

Umbrella Companies in Construction

Use of Umbrella Companies 
in Construction
Written by DangerMouse





Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you will know all too well about the new scourge in our industry, that is the use of umbrella companies by the majority of employment
agencies since April 6th this year.

This has come about due to the government making changes to the tax system in this years Finance Bill to try and eradicate the practise of 'false self employment' by agencies abusing the CIS system (that was designed only for genuinely self-employed people) and to try and bring workers back into direct employment, with the better terms and conditions and security that go with it.

It was, on the surface, what looked like a noble effort that would put an end to the 'hire and fire' mentality that the our greedy masters have enjoyed for years, not to mention the extra (estimated) half a billion pounds the Inland Revenue loses each year in unpaid employers National Insurance that the firms directors have been bankrolling their latest yachts with. It sounded like a win-win situation, so what went wrong?

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Blacklist Support Group Update



Blacklist Support Group Update
7th October 2014



1. Another death in the building industry
Our thoughts are with the family of yet another construction worker killed at work as the carnage in the industry continues. This time on a Laing O'Rourke site in Heathrow. 



2. Protest at High Court
Blacklist campaigners were outside the High Court on 26th September 

Sunday 5 October 2014

National Construction Rank & File Meeting - Newcastle

National 

Construction Rank & File Meeting


Construction workers from across the UK will be making their way to the Newcastle, as the National Rank & File meeting arrives in the North East for the first time.

Come and have your say and find out what is happening in OUR industry. Including the JIB pay negotiations, blacklisting and the Umbrella pay Scam.



Saturday 15th November 2014

Newcastle Labour Club
11 Leazes Park Road,
Newcastle,
NE1 4PF


1PM - 4PM