REPORT OF NSSN NATIONAL CONFERENCE

National Shop Stewards Network – 28th June 2008

A report by Dave Osborne, who is a Senior Amicus rep at Augusta Westland at Yeovil

Speakers
Dave Chapple opened the meeting by stating that the Shop Stewards Network (SSN) aims to be a politically independent movement open to anyone with a mandate from union members. This can be any form of workplace, or an elected officer of a Branch or Trades Council. I don’t consider myself a militant but I think it is important to support any organisation that could offer support to the members I represent (whether in the workplace, at Branch, or at Trades Council) when they are in dispute with their employers. On that basis I felt obliged to attend the meeting and report back.

Full time union officers attend the SSN by invitation and have no vote. Some are supportive, some less so, and some oppose the group’s existence. Bob Crowe (RMT) is head of the union that sparked the idea of the SSN. He told the meeting that we need a vibrant reps network to combat the excesses of employers and to support workers in the workplace, that is why he called on all unions to support the RMT’s efforts to give English Trades Councils voting rights a the Trades Union Congress.

Onay ‘Kas’ Kasab (Unison) talked about the importance of democracy within the union movement. Kas is one of four reps accused by Unison of campaigning against the leadership because they distributed a leaflet highlighting the number of motions submitted to their policy conference that were ruled out of order (50% this year).

Karen Resissmann (Unison) was a shop steward sacked because of her union activity who wanted to thank the union members who went on strike for 42 days trying to get her reinstated, and to thank those trade unionists from around the country who had sent messages of support that were much appreciated by thos involved in the dispute.

Brian Caton (POA) said he would make no apology for the work his members do and they play an important role in protecting all of us from dangerous criminals. Not everything is rosy in the prison service but they have made headway and their members tell the officers what to do. Brian called for the TUC to campaign harder for trade union freedoms; he will ask the TUC to call for a national strike and urged us all to choose freedom and to be prepared to break bad laws.

The meeting was then opened up for delegates to give their own experiences:

A member from USDAW said that all labour governments that have called for wage restraint go on to lose the next election. Union leaders must realise that ‘partnership’ with employers usually means low wages for members.
A member from the CWU said he’d been sacked allegedly for an article he wrote for the socialist Worker but in reality because he’d been successful in getting a 15% rise for workers in his call entre.
A Unite worker from the voluntary sector spoke about how many members have to bid for workers against the private sector, which results in a direct attack on pay and conditions.
Another Unite member told us how the Chief Executive of Argos got a 58% pay rise and expected workers to accept rises that are less than inflation.
A UCU member from Cardiff said that university lecturers had only achieved parity with teachers as a result of industrial action. If you try you may win, if you don’t try you definitely won’t win.

Workshop – the crisis in political representation

Given that we are in a Lib Dem stronghold and Unite continues to support the Labour Party this seemed the obvious workshop to attend. Speakers said that the policies of the three main parties are as close as were the Tories and the Liberals when Labour was founded, it may therefore be the time to found a new party to represent working people. New Labour is not radical, they are too soft on the rich and the few policies that help working people are designed to deflect our anger rather than deal with real issues:

Immigration and the inadequate facilities for handling it will feed the flames of racism and hand votes to the BNP unless we have a proper political organisation to help working people.
Climate change cannot be fought if we concentrate on appeasing business, capitalism depends on oil and the focus on biofuels is triggering a world wide food crisis.

John Rogers from the Labour Representation Committee said that there are people in the Labour Party that are on our side and we need to use them but even he could not defend the Party’s recent record.

said pointed out that over 90% of pay awards are below RPI but the government still blames pay rises for inflation. Respect was pushed forward as the answer to the problem of political representation but it was built on a compromise. We need the union leaders who have broken with the labour party to form a new party now. (A rally to discuss this issue was due to take place the next day.)

Final plenary

Linda Taafe said that there had been over 200 delegates at the conference and 75 visitors, similar numbers to last year. During the year regional conferences had been held in most areas and have supported most major events in the union movement. It is up to delegates what happens to the movement but it urgently needs finance.

The meeting was opened once again for members to have their voice. The main message coming out was a call to campaign with union leaders if possible or without if necessary.

A speaker from the American Longshoreman’s union then talked about a strike that closed every port on the West Coast in protest at American involvement in the wars in Iraq. As a result they are now under attack from their own government.

Janice Godritch from the PCA then stepped in to replace General Secretary Mark Serowatka who was speaking in the Left field at Glastonbury. Janice started by saying that while much has been said about the situation of public service workers she wanted to stress the importance of the private sector, and especially the fate of agency workers who are increasingly hired as casual labour on a daily basis; individuals often incur significant expenses in getting to sites that may offer work for the day that they cannot get back if they are not chosen on the day.

Unfortunately, so many people had overrun their allotted time during the day that I had to leave before Janice finished. It proved to be a long and tiring day but I’m glad to have made the effort to attend and report back on what I think are some important issues.

Dave Osborne

30 June 2008

REPORT OF MEETING OF NSSN SOUTH WEST, 26TH June 2008

REPORT OF MEETING OF NSSN SOUTH WEST, 26TH June 2008

by GLEN BURROWS

NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY 24TH JULY, 7.30PM. GWRSA STAFF CLUB, BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS STATION

Apologies: Jaz Thomas (FBU)

1 National Conference 28th June
• There will be a 5-minute rule on all contributions, to enable as many contributions from delegates as possible, and lunch-time caucuses for unions attending. 50 volunteers sought for National Steering Committee. If more than 50, or union or regional imbalance, regional groups will be asked afterwards to co-opt, or reduce members. From South West region: D Chapple, G Burrows, G Shorter, A Newman, P Dyer will volunteer for Steering Committee. A Newman pointed out that Morning Star & Socialist Worker are advertising the national conference. There is currently no alternative viable organisation, so we must build with confidence.
• There is a need for fund-raising for the National body. Branches are asked to affiliate at £20 minimum ( leaflet attached, with affiliation form – please ask your branch to affiliate)

2 NSSN – FINANCIAL REPORT
• Treasurer Paul Dyer reported £400 in account – enough to fund leaflet and next
conference/ Paul distibuted Standing Order mandates, asking for individuals to take
out minimum £1 per month( please email me with your address if you’d like a form)

3 SOUTH WEST LEAFLET
• Further amendments agreed. A Newman to arrange printing of 1,500 for distribution at Tolpuddle. D Chapple to enquire about a road-side stall at Tolpuddle

4 COMMUNICATION
• Agreed to remove the SW email group, and develop the web-site. A Newman will keep it up-dated. Please send contributions: strike, workplace reports, meetings, branch news to andyd1961@yahoo.co.uk
• G Burrows to maintain email list and send reports & notices

5 BNP
• A Newman reported on successful Corsham by-election leafletting, organised by FBU. BNP now taking SW seriously and putting up “respectable” candidates. D Chapple reported on Chard leafletting, where BNP got 154 votes. Somerset Association of Trades Councils setting up a Chard Trades Council. Need to keep unions at forefront of local organising against BNP. Unions need to commit pump-priming finds for local campaigning
• Agreed to organise an Autumn conference, either: a) fighting the BNP b) fighting racism & islamophobia. Discussion over which would be the best focus for Conference. ( Comments and ideas for next meeting please, to bristolrail@rmt.org.uk )

6 STRIKE HANDBOOK
• G Burrows is re-writing the Rank & File Handbook (1979) “Organising a Strike”, supplied by A Newman. To be published as an NSSN SW Region Handbook. A draft will be circulated for additions/amendments.The following sections were agreed: INTRODUCTION; BEFORE THE STRIKE; TYPES OF ACTION; ORGANISATION; COMMUNICATION; PICKET-LINE; KEEPING THE MOMENTUM; SCABS; MONEY; THE LAW.

Comments/ideas welcome – bristolrail@rmt.org,uk

 

Swindon TUC Health & Safety Conference

Our second Health & Safety conference was held on February 4th. Last year we had 16 delegates this year 28. Union reps were present from the following unions and workplaces:

• UNISON, AWP NHS Trust
• Unite-Amicus, BMW Swindon pressings
• CWU, British Telecomms
• Unite-TGWU, Comet (Westbury)
• Unite-TGWU, Cooper Tyres (Melksham)
• Unite- Amicus, Honda
• PCS, HMP Erlstoke
• PCS, National Environment Research Council
• UCU, New College
• GMB, Swindon & Marlborough NHS Trust
• UNISON, Swindon Borough Council
• FBU, Swindon Fire Station
• Unite-TGWU, Thamesdown Transport
• Unite-TGWU, Tyco Electronics

Last year we agreed to turn it into an annual event with a view to building it up over a number of years. From this point of view it was a step forward and with the involvement of more unions and workplaces we can build it into a much bigger event.

We had three speakers:

• Ginny Newman, a solicitor with Rowley Ashworth who gave an update on legal issues, with a wide-ranging discussion.
• Julia Brandreth from the Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group, who spoke about the campaign launched after a crane collapse. The campaign has united trades unions, family members affected, and people in the local community.
• Andy Parsons, Swindon Climate Action Network, who spoke about Climate Change and the Workplace. The TUC is calling for the government to give formal recognition to Environmental workplace reps, as with shop stewards, health and safety reps, and union learning reps.

We also had a number of reports from individual workplaces, including BT where the CWU has launched a petition on the Downing Street website seeking a change in the law in relation to ‘Suspension Trauma’ .

In the discussion on practical things we might do together in the coming year, one of the suggestions which was agreed was to organise a meeting with our local MPs on or around Workers Memorial Day (April 28th), to raise with them our concerns over the crisis of the Health & Safety regime, in particular the under-funding of the HSE. We would raise the issue in the media as well. I am trying to arrange that meeting and will let people know in due course the details. We would like a representative cross-union delegation of the main unions to participate in the meeting.

It was also agreed that I would try to get Rory O’Neill, editor of Hazards magazine, to speak to a Swindon TUC meeting some time in the autumn.

Overall, delegates felt that it had been a useful day. I will shortly be sending out a feedback form for more detailed comments. If you have any ideas for next year’s conference please let me know. It will be on February 2nd 2009. Please put it in your diary.

Delegates were also reminded that Swindon TUC’s website is at the service of the local unions, for health & safety or other trade union information and events. We put the CWU’s petition on the site. If you want anything from your union put on the website, please email STUC at the email address below.

Martin Wicks
Secretary, Swindon TUC

Suspension Trauma Petition

Health & Safety reps from the Gloucester & North Wilts branch of the CWU (covering BT) attended the Health & Safety conference organised by Swindon TUC on February 4th. In the discussion they drew to our attention that the branch has launched a petition on the Downing Street website. It reads:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to amend The Work at Height Regulations 2005 to make it law for explanatory labels to be permanently fixed to all fall arrest lanyards and safety harnesses, so rescuers understand the implications of “Suspension Trauma”.”

They explain that:

“It is possible that an otherwise fit person, saved from falling by a lanyard fall arrest system, can suffer from suspension trauma within 10 – 30 minutes while awaiting rescue. Blood can pool in the legs causing the person to slip in to unconsciousness. Most would be rescuers are not trained in suspension trauma and their normal treatment for someone who has fainted could lead to the patient’s rapid death. Labels should be permanently affixed to all safety harnesses and lanyards explaining that the patient should be treated for a “Crush injury” to prevent re-flow. They must be kept in a sitting position for at least half an hour to avoid a heart attack or severe kidney damage. This simple label could save lives, please sign this petition.”

BT engineers, of course, have to climb polls to work on lines, often working on their own.

Les Glover who originated the petition explains why.

“Suspension trauma really crept into my life in a slow unassuming way. Quite a few years ago we were trained on the use of a new harness at work to replace our old faithful safety belt that we had grown used to when climbing telephone poles.
The new harness was a pain, buckle at the chest, buckle at the waist and buckles on each thigh, then this damn lanyard connected to a ‘D’ ring on the chest. The lanyard was always getting in the way but we had to use it. The training had a very quick 2 minutes on what we had to do if we fell from the pole. The lanyard would break then completely arrest the fall to leave us suspended.

Just get back on to the pole steps we were told, if you cannot, wriggle your toes or keep your legs moving. We treated it as a bit of a joke to be truthful. the seriousness was never put across to us, I would hate to say by design so it must of been by ignorance. After that we just got on and used the new harness and lanyard (well most of us anyway).

A year or so later I heard a news item on the radio during the night when I had trouble sleeping, it concerned some rescue training where someone in a harness was in the process of helping train others to rescue him. He was uninjured and fit but he slipped in to unconsciousness. At the time I thought “Must bring this up at work” but by the time morning came I had slept for a few hours and the memory as gone.

Gone for about 3 years until I was attending a CWU safety reps course at our own union training school, Alvescott. We had just had a guest speaker, a nice guy but not really the best of speakers, he had stepped in at the last moment when the first choice was called away.

After he had left we were having an informal discussion about hazards when the memory of that radio news item came to me so I mentioned it. “Suspension Trauma” someone said and then proceeded to tell us a little more about it and how his branch had been trying to raise the issue with BT for sometime. That prompted me to go to the library after our evening meal and do a bit of googleing, what I learned that night frightened me, the fact that it was so little understood and so deadly when mishandled. Why weren’t we told more about it at work? Why were emergency services relatively ignorant of it.

I decided that this was something I could and should do something about. I had spent quite a time reading the Work at height regulation 2005 and thought that an amendment so an information tag to be fitted to harnesses and lanyards would be a good but simple way of alerting rescuers that special treatment would be required. Hence the birth of the petition.Later I made enquiries with the Great Western Ambulance service and eventually got to talk to one of their trainers, responsible for the training of paramedics, as a result they have now taken suspension trauma into their syllabus.

Change is slow but as long as we make changes for the good it will help those who normally take safety regimes as being over the top, after all when it comes to safety short cuts, the first person you are cheating is yourself.”

Please spend a little time to sign the petition which can be found at:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Suspensiontrauma/

You can read a more detailed explanation of Suspension Trauma at:
http://www.suspensiontrauma.info/

Swindon TUC website

For news from Swindon TUC’s website visit: http://swindontuc.wordpress.com

SOUTH WEST NSSN CONFERENCE

At the end of january we held the first South West regional conference of the National Shop Stewards Network in Bristol. It was quite a success with 35 attending, from a wide spread of unions and people from around the region.

The first session heard a very interesting report from a CWU rep from Bristol, and from Don Wood of the Prison Officers Association.

There were workshops on organising at work, how to run a strike and organising migrant workers.