The IWGB Press Officer, Emiliano Mellino, is putting out a new podcast called Unworkable  – a podcast on the hidden side of work.

You can listen to a teaser below – look out for the podcast’s release on Friday!

https://soundcloud.com/user-390016077/unworkable-teaser-1

IWGB’s Danny Millum has written to UCL to discuss the planned cuts affecting cleaners at UCLU:

Dear Mr Dancy

I am writing on behalf of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) with regard to the planned cuts affecting cleaners at UCLU.

The IWGB completely supports the cleaners’ campaign against these cuts, which are both unjustified in themselves and have been implemented in a fashion contrary to UCLU’s constitution.

Despite previous commitments by UCLU in which it has stated its support for workers’ rights (specifically campaigning for better conditions and pay for cleaners) it appears that:

• the main justification for these cuts are unsubstantiated lower quotes from competing cleaning companies
• when it was discovered that management was planning these cuts the student council of representatives voted that they should not go ahead – but last week overruled by the board of trustees, a body containing unelected members
• at no point has UCLU management cited talks with workers’ union representatives. Instead reference has been made to talks with the company and it seems likely no direct contact between UCLU and CAIWU (the workers’ union) has taken place
• there has been no solid evidence presented to say that UCLU is overcharged by Secura Clean
• no-one seems to have spoken to the workers – who can say for sure if the work they are doing could indeed be squeezed – even the management doesn’t seem to know for sure how these hours can be reduced, beyond anecdotal evidence
• management is thus bringing UCLU into disrepute by breaking UCLU’s fundamental principles of democracy and ethical conduct (see UCLU’s Articles of Association which reads that “The Union is a democratic institution” and that it will “fulfil its objects in a socially and environmentally responsible manner”)
• management in addition has failed to listen to its members (hundreds of whom have signed a petition calling on the cuts to stop)
• furthermore it now appears that UCLU may be breaching its commitments as a London Living Wage employer

The IWGB would like to make it clear that it will be supporting wholeheartedly the cleaners’ campaign to correct these injustices. This may well manifest itself it strikes and demonstrations such as those seen as part of the 3 Cosas Campaign at Senate House – the video here should give you some indication of what is involved.

UCLU helped support and fund the IWGB when we found ourselves homeless shortly after this campaign – it is a sad irony indeed that it should now be on the side of those exploiting the most vulnerable in our society.

UCLU faces a straightforward choice – treat its workers with the dignity and respect that it pays lip service to, or see massive reputational damage and a prolonged and disruptive campaign which can only discredit the organisation itself.

Let’s hope they choose the former – if not, la lucha continua!

Best wishes

Danny

Verso Books have published a new collection of essays by Stefan Collini, on the neoliberalisation of the university, and to promote the book, they invited a number of people to write for their blog. I’ve written a short account of the 3 Cosas campaign, with a little bit about our recent activities – you can find it here alongside articles by Will Davies and Emma Dowling: http://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3149-the-future-of-our-universities-part-1

Como se anunció en la última reunión, la Asamblea General Anual de la rama tendrá lugar el sábado 29 de abril desde las 3 de la tarde hasta las 5 en el Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, Londres WC1B 5DR).

Instamos a todos miembros a asistir a la asamblea, porque hemos tenido otro año ocupado y con éxitos: la rama se ha crecido aún más, y ha hecho una serie de campañas y ha apoyado a miembros en numerosos casos.

Ésta es una oportunidad que viene una vez al año para:

• escuchar reportajes completos sobre las actividades de la rama
• presentarse como candidato a las elecciones para puestos de oficiales
• eligir a nuevos oficiales
• disfrutar de comida y bebidas y conocer a otros miembros

Enviaremos más información antes del día de la Asamblea, pero si uno quiere presentarse como candidato a las elecciones, se puede poner en contacto con Catherine Morrissey (catherinemorrissey@iwgb.co.uk) para conseguir un formulario de propuesta. Se puede simplemente preguntar si quiere más información – ¡siempre tenemos muchas ganas de ver participar a nueva gente!

Los puestos disponibles son:

• Presidente de filial
• Vice-Presidente de filial
• Secretario de filial
• Subsecretario
• Oficial de contratación
• Oficial de educación
• Tesorero
• Segundo tesorero
• Oficial de comunicaciones
• Oficial de campañas
• Síndicos (x2)

As announced at the last branch meeting, the branch AGM will take place on Saturday 29 April between 3pm and 5pm  in the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5DR).

All members are urged to attend – we have had another busy and successful year, with the branch once again growing in size, running a series of campaigns and supporting members in numerous cases.

This is a once-a-year chance to:

• hear full reports of branch activity
• stand for election for officer posts
• elect new officers
• enjoy food and drink and meet fellow branch members

We will send out more information in advance of the day, but if you do wish to stand for election, please contact Catherine Morrissey (catherinemorrissey@iwgb.co.uk) for a nomination form. Please do just ask if you want more information as well – we are always super-keen to get new people involved!

The available positions are:

• Branch Chair
• Vice-Chair
• Branch Secretary
• Assistant Secretary
• Recruitment Officer
• Education Officer
  
• Treasurer
• Second Treasurer
• Communications Officer
  
• Campaigns Officer
• Trustees (x2)

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.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/employment-tribunals-workers-rights#comment-95640944

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