Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – Universities of London Branch

The IWGB is continuing to fight for the rights of the most vulnerable workers at the University of London, and has lodged an ET1 claim on behalf of Nuvia Erazo Farias for maternity discrimination and harassment. Nuvia, a pregnant Ecuadorian cleaner at the Garden Halls recently applied for a permanent job in order to avoid redundancy. When she attended the job interview, the infamous Sharon Bracey (Cofely manager and UNISON rep) told Nuvia that she did not want to speak to her about work because of her “condition” and that instead she was going to speak to her about maternity pay and redundancy. Nuvia was then made redundant.

Nuvia appealed the decision and Cofely first tried to schedule the appeal at a time when her rep couldn’t attend, and then said she had no grounds for appeal because Sharon Bracey and another manager contradicted her version of events. When threatened with a tribunal claim Cofely backtracked and offered her a job. This was followed up by UNISON rep Sharon Bracey pressuring Nuvia to sign a document (which Sharon knew to be false), saying that she had accepted the appeal outcome, taking advantage of the fact that Nuvia speaks little English.

Subsequently, Cofely account manager Andy Combe called the claimant into his office and questioned her on her signatures. He also told her she only had two options: accept redundancy or accept the permanent position. The claimant had to state three or four times that she did not want to discuss the matter and that she wanted all communications directed through her trade union rep, before Andy Combe stopped interrogating her.

It appears that the only way to stop this appalling behaviour (this is the second instance of maternity harassment in a a year) at the University of London is through legal action, and the IWGB will continue to support all its members in seeking justice and protecting their dignity at work.

Thanks to everyone who helped out on our London Weighting stall today, which went off really well. Our University of London members have definitely got some way to go before they reach 3 Cosas noise levels, but we had an excellent turnout, gave out loads of leaflets, and got lots more signatures on the all-staff petition – growing all the time.

Please let us know uol@iwgb.org.uk if you haven’t had a chance to sign the petition yet and would like to – or if you’d be up for taking it round your department.

If you’re free this Tuesday lunchtime, and you want to find out more about the campaign for London Weighting at the University of London, then we’ll be holding an information stall outside Stewart House from 12.30 – 1.30.

We’ll be collecting signatures for the petition calling for an immediate upgrade in London Weighting to £4,000, and will have more information about the current situation AND how to keep up the pressure on University management.

Anyway, hope to see you there – any questions do just drop us a line at uol@iwgb.org.uk.

We’ve designed some posters to advertise the London Weighting campaign – see below. It would be great if people were able to print them out and put them up on noticeboards in your own workplaces – hopefully they are a good way of getting across to people the core message – how ridiculous it is that LW is still fixed at 1992 levels!

As ever, just get in touch with any questions – uol@iwgb.org.uk

Poster 1

Poster 2

Poster 3

Poster 4

The University of London IWGB has entered into an arrangement with the solicitors OH Parsons to provide legal support for all branch members.

The firm will take on all any member’s personal injury claim, and have also begun providing free legal advice and case work support at a monthly surgery.

OH Parsons are a leading firm, noted for their work on behalf of union members – you can read more about them here.

All members are welcome to attend the monthly IWGB branch meeting, which will take place from 1pm in room S13, Institute of Education (just on the left as you go in the cafe on the ground floor).

We’ll be discussing the SAS Review, Garden Halls, Living Wage and Beyond Conference and (hopefully) good news on our new office.

Jason and Henry have also been in court (fighting Cofely for representation, not for breaking and entering).

As ever, any member can submit an agenda item (just get onto Catherine on catherinemorrissey@iwgb.org.uk) and will get a vote on everything that we discuss.

Please do make time to come if you can – the union is run in a democratic and open way, but this functions best when all members participate.

Some of our Halls workers will be coming after their shifts, so don’t feel you have to stay for the whole meeting – come for half an hour at any time from 1pm.

See you there!

The University of London IWGB branch is looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of different ways.

We have grown dramatically over the past year that our resources are struggling to meet the financial demands of casework, strikes and other actions. Our funding comes from very low membership dues and donations and we need the help from volunteers to take some of the pressure off our active membership.

We are looking for people who are able to help out as general volunteers, volunteer caseworkers, volunteer organisers, and volunteer interpreters (Polish and Spanish).

Full support will be given, and this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and experienced in union work at the  grassroots level.

Full details of all the positions can be downloaded here, or feel free to contact jasonmoyer-lee@iwgb.org.uk.

Please do forward this on to anyone you think might be interested.

Thanks to the generous help of our many supporters the IWGB is pleased to announce that it has been able to pay Garden Halls workers in full for the 5 days of strike action they took last month.

This unprecedented commitment to ensuring that low-paid members who strike are not left out of pocket is key to ensuring successful action in the future.

There may well be more strikes over the summer – so please keep up your support! Hasta la victoria siempre!