Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – Universities of London Branch

The IWGB has been informed that this year’s cost of living increase has been delayed, and is now likely to be implemented in the November payroll.

Although the 1% rise has been rejected by a number of unions, the employers are likely to push ahead with implementation anyway.

The payrise when it comes will be backdated to August.

Please do get in touch with any questions (uol@iwgb.org.uk) – we really need to start thinking about NEXT YEAR, and putting together a proper concerted push to secure a significant rise across the whole sector!

As announced on the Intranet today, CoSector CEO Anthony Kemp has resigned with immediate effect. Attaching a document containing various FAQs, Chris Cobb explained that this has essentially put a hold on the CoSector development for now:

“I remain confident about the opportunities to further develop the University’s shared services but will now take some time to reconsider some aspects of the current approach.”

The IWGB has done considerable work since the development of CoSector was first announced:

• We’d endlessly raised questions over CoSector with UoL and Anthony Kemp
• We kept all affected employees informed
• We leafletted against CoSector at Senate House and Stewart House
• We wrote to the Board of Trustees
• We organized the submission of questions to the AGM

and it is likely that our continued pressure has had some influence on these decisions. We can consider this a small victory for the IWGB but of course we must maintain the pressure and continue to campaign. until these plans are abandoned completely.

Our branch secretary Catherine Morrissey has had a reply from the University of London on the issue of facilities management services. Read it in full below – any questions, drop us a line at uol@iwgb.org.uk.

Dear Catherine,

Thank you for your message. The University of London’s current Total Facilities Management contract with Cofely Workplace Ltd will shortly be coming to an end.  The University is seeking to procure the most appropriate service solution across the following areas:

1. Hard Facilities Management and Energy Performance Services
2. Cleaning and Associated Services
3. Front of House Services
4. Grounds Maintenance Services
5. Waste Management Services

Following Board of Trustees approval, tenders have now been invited and are due to be returned at the end of October.  A period of review, evaluation, approval and award will then follow with mobilisation in time for the new services to commence from the end of March 2016.

With best wishes

Kim Frost

Director of Human Resources

University of London

Our new English classes began this week, and it was great to see so many eager students turning up almost on time on a Saturday morning.

Many thanks to our new teacher, Raul Valdivia, who will be teaching a ten-week beginner / lower intermediate course to IWGB members from across London.

If you would like to find out more about the classes, or know anyone who might benefit, please just drop us a line at uol@iwgb.org.uk.

The UoL’s facilities management contractor Cofely, which covers maintenance, portering, cleaning, security and AV across the contract, called in all its staff today to announce that the University had informed them that all these services were being put out to tender.

The Cofely contract had already been extended to cover the tendering period, but apparently a decision is expected in 6 weeks time.

Cofely are bidding to keep all of these contracts BUT other companies have also bid, and there is thus a possibility that these services may be split up among different providers.

The IWGB has written to the University making the case for these services to be brought back in house.

All affected staff will be protected by TUPE legislation, but anyone with any questions should contact us at uol@iwgb.org.uk.

On a lighter note, we have also heard that contract manager Andy Combe, an old friend of the IWGB, is moving on to pastures new. I’m sure he’s as pleased with this development as we are….

Our branch meetings for September will be held at the following times and places:

Friday 25 September, 12.30pm (room S13, Institute of Education)

Friday 25 September, 3.30pm (IWGB Office, 80 Lamb’s Conduit Street)

Saturday 26 September, 2pm (IWGB Office, 80 Lamb’s Conduit Street)

On the agenda will be: CoSector; Programme Beveridge; recruitment at UCL and our new Saturday English classes among other things!

Please attend if you can!

Our branch attended the a right to strike protest last week outside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whose Minister Sajid Javid is the author of the draconian new Trade Union Bill which passed its second reading on Monday night.

The bill, which would apply to unions in England, Wales and Scotland, will

• impose a minimum 50% turnout in strike ballots – with public sector strikes also requiring the backing of at least 40% of those eligible to vote.
• Double the amount of notice unions have to give before a strike can be held – from seven to 14 days
• Allow employers to use agency workers to replace striking staff
• Introduce fines of up to £20,000 on unions if pickets do not wear an official armband
• End the so-called check-off system for collecting union subs direct from a salary

The TUC has called for a day of action to fight the bill – we’ll keep you posted as to developments, but any questions do email uol@iwgb.org.uk.