All members are invited to attend the next branch meeting, which will take place at 1pm on Friday at SOAS in room B104.

We’ll be discussing the Garden Halls, changes with the BBW contract, the 3 Cosas Campaign and any others issues that you want to bring up.

Everyone is welcome, everyone gets to vote. For more information please email uol@iwgb.org.uk.

IWGB Vice-chair and leading 3 Cosas activist, Sonia Chura, has this week written to Professor Sir Adrian Smith, University of London Vice-Chancellor, to formal request a direct meeting between the outsourced workers and the University:

‘As Vice-Chair of the University of London branch of the IWGB, the largest union among the University’s outsourced workers, I am writing to request a meeting to discuss the issues of holidays, sick pay and pensions…’

Read the full letter here.

Today’s protest was attended by a larger crowd than usual, with the university having stirred up feeling by bringing in the police to ULU yesterday when students were protesting as a part of the 3 Cosas campaign after students had chalked slogans including ‘Sick Pay, Holidays, Pensions Now, support the cleaners struggle’ on pavements and walls, including the a wall plaque commemorating the founding of the Senate House Library. Police entered the ULU cafe and assaulted several students and arrested a young woman who was charged with criminal damage.

ULU vice president, Daniel Cooper, spoke during today’s protest, saying that the action by the university would greatly increase the support for 3 Cosas, and that the point of using chalk was that it caused no damage, being easily wiped off. There were no signs of damage after the plaque was washed.

More photos here.

Police have been accused of using disproportionate force after arresting a student protester inside the University of London Union for chalking on university property.

A statement posted on ULU’s website by president Michael Chessum claimed that officers entered the building on Malet Street and “assaulted a number of student activists” after university staff asked police to intervene.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon as part of a protest for the 3Cosas campaign, fighting for sick pay, holiday and pensions for the University of London’s outsourced workers. Chalk reading ‘sick pay holidays pension now, support the cleaners’ struggle’ appeared on a memorial plaque at Senate House.

See article in The Independent
See article in the Times Higher
See article in Workers’ Liberty

All members are encouraged to attend this Saturday’s branch meeting, which will be taking place at 3pm at SOAS.

Everyone will get an equal say and an equal vote.

Come along and get involved! Any questions – JasonMoyer-Lee@iwgb.org.uk or call 07771783094

The move of Senate House cleaners, other outsourced staff, and their supporters to leave Unison en masse and form a University of London branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), after the annulment of their elections, has sparked heated debate within trade union circles, especially among Unison activists.

Workers’ Liberty have just published an article by our branch secretary on this – read it here.

For the SUMMER OF ACTION week of 8 July (Mon-Fri), the campaign will be providing information and refreshments at the Senate House South Block entrance, from 12h30-17h30. We could use volunteers for an hour or two at a time. Email JasonMoyer-Lee@iwgb.org.uk or Facebook the campaign (https://www.facebook.com/3coca) if you are interested!

Check out this appeal from the cleaners at SOAS to be brought back in house

VIVA SOAS cleaners, VIVA equal rights, VIVA SOAS live a long life, and fair to all employees.

RESPECT, JUSTICE, RIGHTS, EQUALITY, AND DIGNITY

JOIN OUR PROTEST 4TH OF JULY AT 13.00 OUTSIDE SOAS

https://www.facebook.com/events/141158232746196/?ref=ts&fref=ts

We’re looking for a committed and organised volunteer to come and work with the IWGB for two afternoons a week over the next few months. The onus will be on working with our members, many of them Spanish-speaking outsourced workers, to make the union stronger and more sustainable, and helping out with the ongoing 3 Cosas campaign, which is receiving national attention at the moment.

You can find full details here or else email Jason at jasonmoyer-lee@iwgb.org.uk