Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – Universities of London Branch

Outsourced university workers represented by Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) can feel more visible and dignified as labour activists. Workers who get involved in campaigning for fairer conditions can develop a network of support across campus, and feel a sense of solidarity with migrants from other cultures, often superseding linguistic barriers. This report explores the achievements, limitations and social impacts of IWGB, as well as the community on campus that IWGB activists create.

The research for this report was carried out in 2014, and includes interviews with a number of IWGB cleaners and porters, as well as interviews with university representatives and the leader of a political party.

You can get in touch with the author, Rosa Elswood, if you would like to learn more about this research.

Read the full report here.

Sorry for the short notice – as lots of people are already away for the holidays / are going to be busy having fun, we’ve decided to postpone this Friday’s branch meeting until next month.

The next meetings will be 23 / 24 Jan, and nominations for vice-chair are welcome at any point up until then.

Please do also read our member’s piece on Syria (https://iwgb-universityoflondon.org/2015/12/15/proposed-motion-to-oppose-syria-bombings/) and get back to us with any comments (uol@iwgb.org.uk).

Have a great break, see you next year!

Our final branch meeting of 2015 will take place at the following dates and times:

Friday 18 December, 12.30 – 1.30 room S13, Institute of Education
Saturday 19 December, 1pm, IWGB office

We will be electing a new Vice-Chair, as our former VC Maritza is now Chair.

Anyone who fancies standing should get in touch with Catherine (catherine.morrissey@london.ac.uk) for further information, or you can be nominated in the meeting itself.

We’d like to let you all know about our new link with the crowdfunding organisation Crowdjustice, which we’re using to help fund some of our Tribunal cases.

It works very much like other fundraising sites but is aimed at promoting access to justice for those who can’t afford legal fees.

Our first case is that of Norbey Urreste, a cleaner who is taking his former employer to an employment tribunal for constructive dismissal.

While working for the company Norbey suffered from non-payment of overtime and sick pay, arbitrarily reduced working hours and threats and abuse from his employer.

Norbey’s crowdfunding site is now live and the clock is ticking! We only have one month to raise a minimum of £500 or we get nothing.  We are aiming to raise £2400!

Please go to https://www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/norbey/ and donate what you can!

And please spread the word to all friends and colleagues and help us fight for justice for Norbey!

UPDATE! Norbey’s claim has been settled out of court without admission of liability.