GMB/Deliveroo deal slammed - TSSA NDA shame - 91,000 jobs on the line
9 - 15 May
This week has not put UK trade unions in the best light. The GMB has signed a “partnership agreement” with Deliveroo which has been widely condemned by trade unionists for several reasons, but notably for having been signed behind the backs of riders themselves. The TSSA was also in the news for trying to use an NDA to silence a former staffer that accused a senior official of sexual harassment.
But the week also brought stark reminders of the need for trade unions. The government is threatening to sack 91,000 civil servants, while at the same time refusing to bring in any significant legislation to address the gaps in UK employment law.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There have also been significant victories, including the story of a trade unionist who fought back against victimisation, and won. But first, here’s a video of union activists in Coventry blocking the road to stop trucks from Tom White, the company brought in by the council to undermine the refuse workers’ strike, from doing their rounds.
GIG ECONOMY
Does the GMB deal deliver? The GMB signed a “partnership” agreement with Deliveroo on Thursday, which was immediately praised by Labour MPs and councillors, but as the day went on criticism started to pile on to both the company and the union.
The RMT’s Piccadilly and District West branch said the deal was designed to torpedo the militancy of the riders that have been successfully organising with the IWGB for years, while the IWGB itself issued a long statement highlighting several problems with the deal, including how it blocks its own ongoing attempts to secure statutory recognition.
Eve Livingston, the author of Make Bosses Pay, said the deal amounted to “union-busting”, Callum Cant, a former Deliveroo rider and gig economy researcher said the deal “sold out the workers” and Share Action said that by keeping workers as self-employed it limits their rights.
Vice’s Ruby Lott-Lavigna spoke to a rider who accused the GMB of having no members and “no idea of what paying in a gig economy looks like”.
Other trade unionists pointed out how the TUC fined Community union in 2017 when it signed a deal with ASOS, undermining GMB’s organising efforts - The exact behaviour GMB is being accused of today.
Some also warned that the deal could replicate the problems found in GMB’s other gig economy partnership agreements. The Gig Economy project’s newsletter gave a great summary of the Deliveroo deal and explained how the amount of money Uber makes per ride almost doubled in the year after it signed a partnership agreement with the GMB, meaning workers took home a smaller share of each fare.
Meanwhile, The CWU’s Liam Kennedy said that the deal GMB signed with gig economy employer Hermes/Evri wasn’t shaped by workers and resulted in little actual organising on the ground.
Uber driver murdered: Two men are standing trial over the murder of an Uber driver in Rochdale, the Manchester Evening News reports. The pair beat the man to death after he took them to what they incorrectly thought was the wrong destination.
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
TSSA tries to cover up harassment allegations: The TSSA has enforced an NDA to stop a female former employee, Claire Laylock from repeating allegations of sexual harassment against its General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, the Guardian reports. The judge granted a two-day interim injunction on Claire Laylock, but no injunction was placed on Reel News, which published the allegations on a video. You can find the video with Claire’s account below.
The bald facts: A recent employment tribunal found that calling someone a “bald cunt” is sex reated harassment, and now the media is filled with takes that misunderstand and misinterpret the law. Here’s a legal analysis by law firm Howard Kennedy that accurately explains what went on.
DISPUTES
PCS ballot over 91,000 cuts: PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka has warned that the union is likely to move towards a national ballot in September over government plans to cut 91,000 civil service jobs, the Guardian reports.
Lancs outsourced workers to strike: Porters, caterers and cleaners working for OCS at NHS health sites across Lancashire are being balloted for strike action, and are demanding equal pay and holiday rates as other NHS staff, Unison says.
Northern Ireland teachers: Northern Ireland teaching unions have warned the government that only they can avert possible strike action over pay, Belfast Live reports.
Northern Ireland buses: Translink, Ulsterbus and Metro strikes are back on after workers reject management’s pay offer, Unite says.
Scotrail ballot: Aslef has said it will ballot ScotRail members for possible strike action over pay, The Scotsman reports. ScotRail was brought into public ownership on 1 April.
College fire and rehire: Richmond upon Thames College staff are set to strike for five days over fire and rehire plans, UCU says.
Possible Scottish council strikes: Unite has called on Scottish councils to improve their pay offer or face strikes over the summer, the Herald reports. An indicative ballot by Unison returned an 89.8% vote in favour of strike action.
Rugby bin strike extended: Rugby refuse workers have extended their strike until mid June, the BBC reports.
Rail maintenance at risk: Rail maintenance workers working for Wabtec in Doncaster are voting on strike action over the company’s fire and rehire plans, Unite says.
Digging in: Unite has announced four more weeks of strike action in the ongoing dispute with Caterpillar.
Isle of Wight strikes: Isle of Wight refuse workers are being balloted for strike action after contractor Amey says it does not plan to negotiate with the GMB over pay, the union says.
Cadent overtime ban: Thousands of workers for gas operator Cadent have started an overtime ban, which the GMB says could result in outages at homes and businesses throughout large parts of England.
WINS
Strike leader wins victimisation claim: A care worker who organised a successful strike at a London nursing home, which resulted in improvements to workers’ pay has now won a trade union victimisation claim, United Voices of the World says.
Gatwick baggage handlers win: Around 300 ground handlers employed by Menzies at Gatwick Airport have secured a 10% pay increase, Unite says.
NEU organiser win: The formal warning against NEU organiser Michael Gavan has been withdrawn and replaced with an informal warning, following a campaign by his colleagues.
Sandwell Leisure win: Sandwell Leisure Trust staff that were “fired and hired” have been put back on the national pay grade for local government, following a series of strikes, the Express and Star reports.
GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
No bill, but another review: The Queen’s Speech last week didn’t include the long-awaited (and long delayed) employment bill. Instead, the government announced *another* review into the “future of work”. Leading employment and union law barrister Lord Hendy QC said the purpose of the review was to “distract from the Queen's Speech which contained no Employment Bill but instead proposes deregulation of EU derived law, including workers' rights”.
The government did extend a ban on exclusivity clauses to low-paid workers, but some wonder if that will change anything on the ground.
Seafarers minimum wage is unworkable: The British Ports Association said they could not enforce the government’s proposed minimum wage legislation for seafarers and the TUC said the plans were unworkable, the Guardian reports.
Minimum wage violations: HMRC identified £16.8m in national minimum wage arrears for more than 155,000 workers in 2020/21, Personnel Today reports. It issued 575 penalties and one person was prosecuted.
Global minimum wage: We need a global minimum wage pegged to decent living standards in each country, argues anthropologist Jason Hickel in an interview with the Guardian.
Seasonal worker support: A Scottish Government funded centre operated by JustRight Scotland that provides free support, information and legal advice to workers on the Seasonal Worker Visa scheme has just been launched, the charity said.
Starmer’s “Too timid”: In an interview with the Mirror, Unite’s Sharon Graham has accused Labour of being “too timid” in helping struggling families and challenging the government over the cost of living crisis.
Treasury’s low-pay hole: A TUC report says insecure low-paid work is costing the Treasury £10 billion a year in lost tax revenue and increased social security payments, iNews reports.
LEGAL
Medical director victimised: The Isle of Man’s former Medical Director was unfairly dismissed after she blew the whistle with regards to her concerns around the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, an employment tribunal has found.
Police sexism ruling: Police Scotland has paid a former female officer almost £1 million, following an employment tribunal ruling that she had been vicitimised after raising concerns about sexism in the force, the BBC reports.
Multi-million payout appeal: Citibank is appealing a £2.7 million age discrimination payout, Law360 reports.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Schools crumbling: Many school buildings in England are in a state of disrepair that make them a “risk to life”, according to Department of Education documents seen by the Observer.
Teenager death: An 18-year old worker died in a construction site in Lincolnshire after health and safety procedures were abandoned, the BBC reports.
Building site death: A 44-year old man has died at a building site in Glasgow, the National reports.
Hand-arm vibration: Lancashire council has been fined more than £60,000 after 15 road workers develop hand-arm vibration syndrome, the BBC reports.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Ongoing: Coventry refuse worker strike
Ongoing until mid-June: Caterpillar strike in Northern Ireland
Every Friday and Saturday until 19 June 2022: London night tube strike
16 May - 15 June: Rugby refuse workers on strike
16, 20, 23, 27, 30 May and 3 June: C2C rail line Alstom engineers strike
17 - 23 May 2022: Translink, Ulsterbus and Metro workers go on strike in Northern Ireland
17 - 19 May, 24 - 26 May: Scottish college lecturers strike
17 May: UK monthly unemployment figures
18 May: Workers in six colleges in the North West go on strike.
18 May: TUC webinar on protecting workers’ mental health.
23 - 24 May: DHL workers on JCB contract go on strike.
23 - 27 May: Richmond upon Thames College staff on strike
24 - 26 May: PCS annual delegate conference
31 May: PSI Webinar “Government Responses to the Care Crisis”
9 June: LLRN online seminar: The future of unions and their role in the gig economy
9 - 10 June, 5 - 6 July: FCA workers on strike
18 June: National Demo on the cost of living
FEEDBACK
Did I miss anything? Email me on theweekinwork [at] gmail [dot] com.