We the undersigned call for staff of all grades at the University of London to be given an equal holiday allowance of 30 days, to end the unfair disparity between levels 1-6 staff and levels 7-10 staff. Continue reading
Author: IWGB
Queen Mary University of London post-doc Akshi Singh writes in support of the boycott of Senate House, the administrative centre of the University of London, and calls for solidarity with outsourced workers. “If the people who clean our rooms in our university cannot live with dignity, then our intellectual work is based on exploitation.” Continue reading
We have a vacancy for the position of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Officer! The previous incumbent, David Kalanzi, is now working part-time for the IWGB as a case officer (congrats David) and so we need a volunteer or volunteers to take this on! The only requirement is that you be from a BAME background and be keen to defend the rights and represent the interests of all our BAME members! If you are interested or have any questions then please drop David a line at davidkalanzi@iwgb.co.uk.
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¡Tenemos una vacante para el puesto de Oficial de Minorías Étnicas (BAME officer)! El titular anterior, David Kalanzi, ahora está trabajando a tiempo parcial para el IWGB como caseworker (felicidades a David), por lo que necesitamos un voluntario o voluntarios para asumir este rol. ¡El único requisito es que sea una minoría étnica y esté dispuesto a defender los derechos y representar los intereses de todos nuestros miembros de minorías étnicas! Si está interesado o tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un mensaje a David a davidkalanzi@iwgb.co.uk.
Housmans in Kings Cross, London – one of the longest-running radical bookshops in the country – is holding a sale of more than 1,000 books donated by Richard Gott from his personal library. Continue reading
The IWGB is holding a party on 30 August to raise much need funds to help support its campaign to end the exploitation of, and discrimination against, outsourced workers at the University of London (UoL).
Taking place at Newspeak House, 133 Bethnal Green Road, east London from 7pm-2am, it is set to be a lively, family-friendly affair. There will be music from DJ King Batuka (UoL security officer by day, Afrobeat DJ by night!), Cali Salsa Show with Rita Barberio, Salsa classes, raffle prizes and much more.
At UCL’s Institute of Education (IoE), workplace representative Carvalho and IWGB organiser Laura represented the building’s over thirty outsourced cleaners and porters in a collective grievance hearing that lasted for around three hours.
At issue were excessive increases in workload, unpaid overtime, lack of opportunities for paid overtime, and the absence of privacy and spaces to eat and get changed.
As a result of the hearing, passionately argued by Carvalho and Laura, management has agreed to conduct an investigation into the workload of each cleaner, porter and supervisor at IoE, including possible breaches of health and safety and racial discrimination regulations.
What’s clear is that conditions at IoE – and indeed across UCL – need to change, and fast. This is being achieved by the solidarity and community developing between these workers and the IWGB, leading to increased confidence to take on and hold to account UCL and outsourcing company Sodexo.
Well done to Carvalho and everyone else who worked together on this case! Hasta la Victoria!
Dear Lisa,
I understand that Gary has now left HEE (Health Education England), so I am addressing my response to his email to you – please feel free to forward as necessary.
I don’t want to get into too much detail, but to concentrate on issues where we are in agreement, namely that:
- Had there been no TUPE, UoL HEE staff were due to receive an annual payrise of 1.8% dated from 1 August 2019.
- Because of the TUPE, UoL HEE staff are scheduled to make substantially higher pension contributions from 1 August 2019.
- Post TUPE, UoL HEE staff will be much cheaper to make redundant than their AFC colleagues.
- This burden falls disproportionately upon level 4 staff at the top of their bands as they stand to lose over £4000 pa should they transfer to AFC under the current mapping arrangements.
In order to address these, can you therefore confirm that you will devote some of HEE’s estimated £2.1m annual VAT savings to:
- Guarantee that the 1 August 2019 payrise will be implemented.
- Compensate UoL HEE staff for pension hikes OR adjust their mapping onto AFC scales, either way ensuring no detriment.
- Confirm enhanced redundancy terms for UoL HEE staff to match those of AFC staff.
We would be happy to discuss this in person in the interests of reaching agreement, and look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Danny Millum
Branch Secretary
University of London IWGB
Here she reflects on her time at the union and urges members to keep on fighting, “whether it be as part of a campaign, or an individual employee issue – don’t give up! You are in the right place and have the right support so keep pushing until you are able to assert your rights.” Continue reading
A recent SOAS UNISON branch committee meeting passed a motion to organise a branch-wide walkout in support of the climate strike planned for the 20 September 2019 and to host a meeting with other central London colleges and workplaces to co-ordinate activity on the day.
The climate strike on the 20 September is supported by UK Student Climate Network, Extinction Rebellion, Campaign Against Climate Change and more.
All interested local trade union activists, students and climate activists are welcome to attend this gathering on 18 July, which is provisionally booked to take place in room B202, SOAS (second floor of the Brunei Gallery building opposite the main entrance), 6pm.
It is an opportunity to both update each other on what actions are being planned for the climate strike day, and to attempt to co-ordinate and collaborate as much as possible.
Independent Workers Union of Great Britain - Universities of London Branch 