Uber leak exposes extent of illegality - No diplomatic immunity for modern slavery - Sexual harassment “widespread” in parliament
4 July - 10 July 2022
Last week gave us an insight into the extent of impunity among both public officials and private corporations that have the power to shape (or swerve) the rule of law. The revelations of sexual harassment by Chris Pincher MP, which eventually resulted in the announced resignation of the prime minister, have served as a reminder of the widespread harassment of parliamentary staff, and the weak systems in place to discipline government ministers.
Then, just yesterday, an investigation revealed the way in which Uber used its vast resources to influence politicians and hide evidence from law enforcement agencies around the world. Among the findings is the fact that the company met with six UK government ministers who didn’t disclose these encounters as required by transparency regulations.
But in some cases, the arc is bending toward justice. On Wednesday, in the first decision of its kind anywhere in the world, The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled that a Saudi diplomat could not benefit from diplomatic immunity in a modern slavery claim brought by his domestic servant.
Finally, next Saturday I will be speaking about farm work and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on a panel at the Tolpuddle Martyrs festival. If you are around, come and say hi.
GIG ECONOMY
“We’re just fucking illegal”: Uber used a “kill switch” to cut off access to the company’s main data systems when authorities in several countries raided its offices, preventing law enforcement from gathering evidence, a Guardian and ICIJ investigation based on the disclosure of tens of thousands of confidential documents reveals. One of the executives involved in the kill switch protocols now runs Uber Eats.
The so-called “Uber files” reveal how Uber flouted the law, duped police, exploited violence against drivers and secretly lobbied governments across the world. It also found that six UK cabinet ministers met with Uber without disclosing it officially.
As Uber’s former head of global communications said in one of the leaked messages: “Sometimes we have problems because, well, we’re just fucking illegal.”
Further revelations are expected to be released in the coming days in papers and news channels around the world.
MODERN SLAVERY
No diplomatic immunity for modern slavery: The UK Supreme Court has ruled that diplomats do not have diplomatic immunity in cases of modern slavery, the first time a leading court has concluded that these sorts of cases fall within the “commercial activity” exception to diplomatic immunity, Twenty Essex chambers says. The claimant is a domestic worker from the Philippines, who alleges she worked in the London residence of a Saudi diplomat in conditions of modern slavery.
DISPUTES
Stagecoach strikes intensify: After taking an initial day of action last week, Stagecoach Merseyside workers will be taking continuous strike action from 20 July, Unite says. There will also be one-day strikes on 15 July and 18 July.
Arriva workers ballot: Around 1,800 Arriva workers in the North West have returned a 96% vote in favour of industrial action and will start a continuous strike on 20 July, Unite says.
A further 900 Arriva workers in Luton, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Ware and Stevenage will be voting on strike action, after the company offered rises of between four and six percent, Unite says.
Rail strike grows: Govia Thameslink Railway workers will join the national rail dispute, following an 80% vote in favour on a 57.5% turnout, the RMT says.
Rail maintenance shut down: Workers at rail maintenance firm Wabtec will take continuous strike action from 19 July in a dispute over fire and rehire, Unite and RMT say. Wabtec clients include LNER, Siemens, Hitachi, GB Railfreight and Freightliner.
Falmouth Uni strike vote over subsidiary terms: Falmouth University workers are voting to strike over the university’s decision to hire new members of staff through a wholly owned subsidiary company, with worse terms and conditions that ignore national bargaining agreements made between UCU and universities, the union says.
Raab booed: Lord chancellor Domic Raab was booed during his speech at annual judges’ dinner when he says that industrial action by criminal barristers is ‘regrettable’ and ‘disappointing’, legal journalist Catherine Baksi tweets.
Airport strike: Prestwick Airport workers, some of whom earn below the real living wage, are voting on strike action, Unite says.
BA dispute offer: Industrial action is on hold as BA checking-in staff at Heathrow vote on an improved pay offer, Unite says.
Heathrow refuelling strike: Workers employed by refuelling company Aviation Fuel Services at Heathrow will be striking later this month over pay, Unite says.
Ferry workers vote to strike: Workers on Red Funnel’s Isle of Wight ferry route, the majority of whom are on the minimum wage, have voted in favour of strike action, Unite says.
Bosch strike: Workers at Bosch Rexroth Glenrothes will strike following a below inflation pay deal, which will leave them £7000 a year worse off, Unite says.
Vodafone cleaners demand more: Outsourced cleaners working at Vodafone’s HQ have launched a campaign for £12.50 per hour pay and full contractual sick pay, the IWGB says.
Southwark school support staff strike: School support staff in Southwark employed by outsourced provider HATS Group are to strike, GMB says. The workers have not had an increase in their salaries in eight years and are demanding a 20% pay rise.
WINS
Strike wins pay deal: Interface Europe workers in Craigavon have voted to accept a 15.25% pay offer, following one week of strike action, Unite says.
Big Cat win: Caterpillar workers in Northern Ireland have won a 9% pay rise and a lump sum payment equivalent to 2.6% of salaries earned between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2022, ITV reports. Workers have been on strike since April
Strikes off at Harlow: Harlow refuse workers call off their planned strike action after securing a 9% pay offer, Unison says.
Natwest pay boost: Staff at Natwest earning less than £32,000, around 17,300 employees, will get an additional 4% salary increase, Unite says.
Sweet deal: More than 1000 Cadbury workers have won a two-year pay deal worth up to 17.5%, and a 25% boost in holiday pay, Unite says.
PAY, POLITICS AND POLICY
Sexual harassment in parliament: Sexual harassment is widespread in parliament, according to a Channel 4 investgiation. Half of the 51 parliamentary workers the channel spoke to said a victim of sexual harassment had confided in them, and a quarter said they’d witnessed sexual harassment.
A GMB union rep has said that there is a “massive systemic problem” of abuse of staff in parliament. While the FDA union general secretary Dave Penman says the system for investigating and regulating the conduct of government ministers has always been woefully inadequate. He calls for the new prime minister to quickly implement in full the recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Shareholders vote down living wage: Sainsbury’s shareholders have voted against a resolution for the supermarket to commit to paying the real Living Wage at its annual general meeting, Reuters reports.
GMB calls for 15: GMB is calling on the Low Pay Commission to recommend a minimum wage of £15 an hour, the union says in a tweet. The Low Pay Commission recently finished a consultation, which will inform the recommendations it will make to the government this autumn on the 2023 minimum wage rates.
Metro mayors support strike action: Metro Mayors Jamie Driscoll, Steve Rotheram, Andy Burham, Nik Johnson and Oliver Coppard say in a statement that “no one wants to see strikes” but that they “support the right to take action to protect jobs, safety, pensions, pay and conditions”.
Zahawi says 9% new for teachers, less for others: Nadhim Zahawi, who started the week as education secretary, went on to be chancellor and by the end of the week was putting himself forward to be the next prime minister, has said he still supports giving new teachers a nine per cent pay rise, but other public sector workers will have to settle for less, Huffington Post reports. He is calling for a far smaller 3% increase, an effective pay cut, for existing teachers and leaders, Schools Week reports.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
More than a hundred died at work: 123 people died because of work related injuries between April 2021 and March 2022, according to figures from the Health and Safety Executive. The sectors with the highest number of deaths were construction, and agriculture, forestry and fishing. The total figure is lower than the previous year, but broadly in line with pre-pandemic figures. The figures also show that 2,544 people died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos, in 2020.
Teenage farm death: A teenager has died after being injured while working on a farm in Plymouth, the BBC reports.
Fire services reported to HSE: The Fire Brigades Union has reported two fire and rescue services to the Health and Safety Executive for bringing in a policy that would see firefighters sent into fires with their breathing equipment turned off, the union says.
Worker dies in platform collapse: A company specialised in lifting and handling equipment has been fined £270,000 after a mobile elevating work platform collapsed in 2013, killing a worker, Scaffmag reports.
Roof collapse: Glass company Pilkkington has been fined £80,000 after a worker sustained life-changing injuries when he fell through a roof, the St Helens Star reports.
Nearly one in five deaths at sea could be suicides: 18.3% of deaths at sea are suicides or “possibly” suicides, according to a study from the International Maritime Health Journal.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Ongoing: Coventry refuse workers on strike
Ongoing: Bosch Rexroth Glenrothes strike every Monday and Tuesday and overtime ban every day
11 July: Aslef and TSSA strike ballot results
11 July - 22 July (Not continuous): Criminal Barristers take industrial action
11 July: St Monica Trust workers on strike
11, 28 & 29 July, & 26 & 30 August: CNH Industrial workers on strike in Basildon
11 July: Crown Post Office workers on strike
14 July: Post Office cash and valuables in transit, cash processing and admin staff on strike
14 - 15 July: Southwark school support staff on strike
15 - 19 July: Royal Mail managers work to rule
15 - 17 July: Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival
15 July, 18 July: Merseyside Stagecoach workers on strike
16 - 18 July, 19 July: Budweiser workers on strike
17, 20, 21, 23, 24 July: St George’s Hospital workers on strike
19 July: Wabtec workers start continuous strike action
19 July: UK monthly unemployment figures
20 July: Merseyside Stagecoach workers start all-out strike
19 July: Royal Mail strike ballot result
20 July: Arriva workers in the North West start continuous strike action.
20 - 22 July: Royal Mail managers on strike
21 July - 24 July: Aviation Fuel Services workers on strike in Heathrow
26 July: End of Unison Scotland, Unite and GMB local government strike ballot
29 - 31 July: UK Hazards Conference
22 August: Deadline for Scottish government consultation on the extension of Transparency in Supply Chain legislation for Scottish public bodies
22 – 26 August, 30 August - 2 September, 5 September - 9 September: Richmond upon Thames College workerson strike
FEEDBACK
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