The IWGB, has entered into dispute with the employers, BBW.  We are asking them to resolve the following issues:

• a recognition agreement
• the 3 Cosas demands for equal sick pay, holidays and pensions
• a guarantee of the continued employment of those workers at the Garden Halls of residence affected by planned changes.

The IWGB General Secretary Chris Ford has written formally to BBW management. As soon as we have a response, we will be in touch to organise a meeting of all members to discuss the next steps in the dispute, including possible strike action.

Any questions, please contact branch secretary Jason Moyer-Lee at jasonmoyer-lee@iwgb.org.uk.

Our first English lessons started this week, with a great turnout of, as you can see, rapt and attentive students.

The classes are completely free for IWGB members, and offer a great opportunity to improve your English alongside your colleagues in a friendly atmosphere.

There will also be opportunites for informal conversation sessions with English speaking volunteers outside the classes.

Please get in touch with our Education Officer Catherine (catherinemorrissey@iwgb.org.uk) with any questions or suggestions.

Our next monthly branch meeting will be on Friday, at 1pm at ULU on the 3rd floor.

As well as normal branch business, there will be an update on the Garden Halls situation.

We have been talking with BBW contract manager Peter Brench about how we can safeguard jobs for workers in the Garden Halls

ULU President Michael Chessum has agreed to take your demands to the University when he meets with them on Thursday 12 September

All these developments will be discussed in the branch meeting, so please come along.

Any questions, just email uol@iwgb.org.uk or call Henry on 07922810798

Many John Lewis workers have called for justice for the cleaners who earn poverty wages. Raph Ashley, an IWGB union rep at the Stratford store, gave an interview to The Guardian – John Lewis then targeted him and sacked him.

His appeal is on THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER — join the protest to demand Raph is reinstated and for the Living Wage.

Protest 4pm, John Lewis Head Office, Partnership House, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1BX.

Next to Victoria Station.

Over 30 IWGB members affected by the proposed closure of the Garden Halls have signed a petition calling on BBW to take immediate practical steps to prevent redundancies and reallocate workers. The petition has been submitted to company bosses today – as soon as we have a response we will let you know.

Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting last week! We had around 30 people in attendance, and understandably the main issue was the Garden Halls. We now know that they are due to close next summer, and the meeting voted to urgently put together a list of questions / demands for Balfour Beatty:

1. A meeting with BBW / the UoL, to take place as soon as possible.

2. Exact details as to the timetable for closure.

3. A list of affected employees.

4. A commitment to avoid redundancies at all cost.

5. A commitment to reallocate workers within the University of London where possible

6. Details of the process to be followed in terms of reallocation, and a commitment that this process will be transparent and fair, with decisions being taken at a senior level in consultation with the union.

7. A commitment to prioritise workers in terms of their length of service.

If anyone has anything to add to this, please call 07922810798 or email uol@iwgb.org.uk

The IWGB attended the Camden Council meeting last night where it was decided to proceed with the plans to demolish and rebuild the Garden Halls.

We will be discussing the implications of this for workers at our monthly branch meeting, today, at 1pm in room B104 at SOAS.

Please come if you can.

There have been some rumours that the demolition of the Garden Halls has been confirmed for June 2014, and that only Unison members’ jobs will be protected when that happens.

This is not true.

The IWGB has been talking with BBW and the University and we would like to reassure members that no decision has been made about the demolition of the halls. We will maintain contact with both employers and inform you as soon as anything is known about this.

The IWGB knows that everyone who works at the Garden Halls is worried about what may happen, and it is our top priority to protect people’s jobs. Your job future will not be decided based which union you are a member of! The IWGB is a legally recognised Trade Union and can protect you at work.

Closure date

The University’s Director of Capital Projects, Martin Birchett, confirmed that “The application is due to be heard on 15th August” by Camden Council, which alone has the power to approve or reject the project.

Peter Brench has also confirmed that BBW do not know the decision yet. He said: “I am waiting on formal notification of any closure and its likely date.”

Union membership

It is illegal for any employer to target people for redundancy based on whether or not they are a member of any union, or because of membership of any other group or organisation. If necessary, the IWGB would take the strongest action against any attempt to do so.

However, we are satisfied that this was never BBW’s intention. Peter Brench confirmed that:

“The statement surrounding the protection of UNISON members is not based on any direction or instruction from BBW and is not made in line with any of our policies”.

Our next meeting is on Friday 16^th August, room B104 at 1pm. (Brunei Building, SOAS)
We should know more about the plans by that time and the Garden Halls will be the first item for discussion. Please attend if you can!

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Professor Sir Adrian Smith, has refused the offer of a meeting made to him by IWGB Vice-Chair and leading 3 Cosas Campaign activist Sonia Chura.

Ms Chura in her letter detailed the continuing unequal treatment received by outsourced workers at the University, reminding the VC that ‘the majority of the outsourced workers at the University, currently employed by BBW and Aramark, receive only statutory sick pay and the legal minimum of holidays and pension provision’ and warning him that the University ‘is increasingly being seen as being synonymous with hypocrisy and exploitation’.

In his short response, Sir Adrian stated that ‘it would not be appropriate for us to meet’, and falls back on the claim that the University is engaged in ongoing talks with ‘our recognised union [UNISON] and with the employers of the contract staff’. The outsourced workers say they are completely in the dark regarding these alleged talks, which in any case are meaningless when undertaken with a union that does not represent them.

Ms Chura stressed in a second letter that the important thing is to resolve these issues: ‘all we are asking for are the same sick pay, holiday and pension rights as the rest of the University’s employees, rights which are just as vital for us as they are for you’. Sir Adrian was unable to reply to this himself, instead delegating an employee to provide the University’s stock non-response.

Read the full correspondence here.