The IWGB’s Chair and General Secretary have written a chapter in Sian Lazar’s Where are the Unions?
The chapter deals with the 3 Cosas Campaign at Senate House, and the implications for the wider union movement.
Author: Matt
Manager @sasspace // Research Assistant @ruthfirstpapers // tweets @thethirdestate + @londoncritical
The Guardian’s excellent Aditya Chakrabortty has written about access to legal aid, and spoke to Liliana Almanza, a cleaner at the University of London:
“Almanza has worked as a cleaner at the University of London since 2011 and never kept her conditions from her employer, an outsourcing company called Cofely. Then came a new supervisor, who Almanza felt had it in for her and who piled on extra work. Almanza was sent to the “punishment floor” – actually three floors, normally handled by two people, but she had to do the work on her own and in little time. The extra workload, especially the pushing about of a hoover and a mop, caused her so much pain that she sometimes felt dizzy. Yet when Almanza complained, she says the supervisor either laughed or told her to sign off sick. Despite being required under law, there was no adjustment for her disabilities.”
We’ve got a new campaign going with Postbug – if you want to let the CEO of Deliveroo, Will Shu, know what you think of their employment practices, you can now send them a postcard! They’ve outlined their campaign on their website – https://www.postbug.com/#/details/Deliveroo%252C%2520pay%2520your%2520workers%2520properly%2521/329
IWGB has been in the news a lot recently, with another victory for a cycle courier represented by our Couriers and Logistics branch – here’s a roundup of recent articles (including a radio interview if you don’t feel like reading!):
Jason on the gig economy, on 5 Live Drive: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08j97k4#t=1h49m45s
IWGB in Selftrade news: https://selftrade.co.uk/news/excel-cycle-courier-wins-holiday-pay-case
On bike nerd newsletter Road.cc: http://road.cc/content/news/219747-self-employed-courier-wins-battle-be-recognised-%E2%80%98worker%E2%80%99
HR news site Personnel Today: http://www.personneltoday.com/hr/employment-status-excel-cycle-courier-worker/
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/24/second-cycle-courier-wins-holiday-pay-in-tribunal-ruling-affecting-gig-economy
The BBC, again: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39377500
Trade news site Tradebuddy: http://www.tradebuddy.online/second-cycle-courier-wins-holiday-pay-at-gig-economy-tribunal-business/
The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/03/24/gig-economy-tribunal-rules-excel-courier-must-pay-worker-holiday/
The Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/cycle-courier-wins-holiday-pay-in-gig-economy-tribunal-case-35562709.html
There’s also one in the Sun, but we’ll leave you to find that yourself if you really want to.
Jason has written this opinion piece, on workers’ rights in the gig economy, for the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/22/rights-gig-economy-self-employed-worker
It’s also sparked a surprisingly civil below-the-line debate about the gig economy, which is rare…
BREAKING NEWS!
Yesterday University of London Security contractors Cordant told staff that ALL ANNUAL LEAVE would be cancelled for April and May because of the planned IWGB security guards strike. This included porters, postroom staff, AV – workers who have nothing to do with the strike!
Unsurprisingly, this caused uproar!
Today Cordant have issued a new decree – annual leave will now be authorised for all staff APART FROM SECURITY!
All of this shows two things – they are panicked by the prospect of a strike AND they don’t know what they’re doing!
Meanwhile YES ballot papers are apparently being returned on a daily basis!
Hasta la victoria!
LATEST NEWS:
Inside sources have told us that yesterday Cordant’s senior management team plus lawyers were summoned to a meeting with the University of London, almost certainly to discuss the security officer pay campaign.
The University has clearly been rattled not just by the impending strike, but also by IWGB General Secretary Jason Moyer-Lee’s email threatening legal action against Cordant.
We’ll keep you posted!
Our President, Henry Chango Lopez, visited the LSE cleaners’ strike this morning, organised by United Voices of the World (UVW). They’re running a great programme of events today and tomorrow, which you can find here: https://twitter.com/NCAFC_UK/status/841651440724647936
More info about the reasons for the strike can be found here: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/justiceforlsecleaners/
There’s a nice write-up of yesterday’s Deliveroo protest in Brighton in the Argus:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/15156740.Delivery_riders_hopping_mad_over_low_wages/
Independent Workers Union of Great Britain - Universities of London Branch 