Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – Universities of London Branch

IWGB has written to RCM on behalf of members who are deeply concerned about plans by the College, and Tenon FM, to cut cleaners’ hours in half. The text of the letter is below – If you’ve got any questions or concerns, get in touch with Danny.

Dear Professor Lawson

I am writing on behalf of IWGB members who work as cleaners at the RCM and have recently transferred via TUPE to a new cleaning company, Tenon FM.

When Tenon took over the contract, they immediately and illegally started telling workers that their hours would be changed and reduced. It was only following a challenge from the IWGB that they paused this process.

However in the last week these workers have been called in for 1-1 ‘consultations’ and told that the original proposals will now be implemented.

These proposals are unbelievably ridiculous and draconian – each employee’s work will be halved AND their hours will be changed (which is disastrous for many workers as these new hours clash with other jobs).

Tenon claim that these proposals have originated from the RCM, hence we are writing to you directly.

These are employees of long-standing, who have faithfully served the College for more than 5 years in many cases, and who are already underpaid, in that they work unsociable hours for no additional recompense.

The Royal College of Music’s most recent accounts state that it made a surplus of £2.3m – so there is no financial justification whatsoever for these changes, which will reduce the hours and income of these already low-paid vulnerable night workers by 50% and force through a change of hours which will further adversely affect them.

Unless we receive confirmation by Thursday 19 October that these plans are being abandoned, the IWGB will immediately:

• ballot our members for industrial action
• commence a campaign to publicise the Royal College of Music’s Actions via leafletting, protests, social media, press, television and radio (see our website for our previous such campaigns)
• take the appropriate legal action against Tenon and the RCM

Can you also confirm how this decision was taken, whether other workers will be involved, and who else will be affected?

Rest assured – unless this process is halted, the RCM will suffer massive and deserved reputational damage and its treatment of its most vulnerable workers will be brought to the attention of stakeholders, students, staff and potential donors.

Best wishes

Danny Millum

Branch Secretary

University of London IWGB

‘Until Victory’ – Migrant workers’ organising in the meat industry in Italy, 2016/17

An IWW London / AngryWorkers film screening

This new documentary is about the struggle of workers in the meat industry in Modena, Italy, in the winter of 2016/17. The workers are organised in the rank-and-file union SI Cobas. The material was filmed almost exclusively by workers and supporters themselves with their smartphones. It gives an impression of the physical violence and brutality perpetrated against the workers and their dedication to fight for a better life..

We want to use the opportunity of the film screening to discuss lessons for our organising initiative in warehouses and food factories in west London. If you want to find out more about this and/or if you want to get involved – join us for the film here:

Tuesday, 31st of October, 6:30pm

MayDay Rooms

Fleet Street 88

London

EC4Y 1DH

Thank you to all those who completed the poll! The most popular day was… *drum roll*…

Wednesday!!!

We will therefore be moving our branch meetings to the final Wednesday of
every month! The remaining branch meetings for 2017 will take place on the following
dates (put them in your diaries!):

25 October

29 November

20 December

Various brave / stupid members of our branch have volunteered for this year’s TWENTY SIX MILE London Legal Support Trust (LLST) Walk the Thames 2017, which will be taking place on Saturday 28 October.

The LLST raise money for Law Centres and pro bono agencies in and around London – one of which is the IWGB Legal Department!

Our Legal Department helps with a myriad of different issues, from cases of discrimination to unfair dismissal to unpaid wages.

It is absolutely essential to the running of the union and we need to raise funds to ensure that it continues to provide the support that members rely on.

So please sponsor us! Last year we raised over 3K – if we could beat that this year that would be fantastic!

Full details are here – http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=IWGBUnionWTT17&isTeam=true

…and it’s still not too late to join in – just contact joetrapido@iwgb.org.uk if you fancy coming along for all or half of the walk!

El curso comenzará el 28 de octubre y será de 8 semanas, terminando el 16 de diciembre. Las clases se realizarán los sábados de 10am a 12pm en la oficina del sindicato (12-20 Baron St., London N1 9LL, Angel Station).

Al asistir al curso, ustedes realizan un compromiso con el sindicato y con la profesora. Su asistencia es vital para que el curso funcione y siga adelante. Por esto, les pediremos un depósito de 30 libras, que les devolveremos al final del curso en base a su asistencia (pueden faltar máximo 2 clases).

El curso será de máximo 15 personas, por lo que si estás interesado, envía un mensaje de texto o whatsapp a Camila al 07534502504. Camila trabaja en la biblioteca por lo que no puede recibir llamadas.

*El comprometerse a asistir a la clase significa que tienes un lugar reservado para el curso. Por favor toma en cuenta que como lo cupos son limitados es importante que respetes ese compromiso.

Sobre la profesora: Beth Charles es la nueva profesora voluntaria de la Rama University of London de IWGB. Ella tiene mucha experiencia enseñando inglés a distintos niveles y a grupos variados en distintas parte del mundo.

*Este curso es para personas afiliadas a IWGB