Independent Workers Union of Great Britain – Universities of London Branch

Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting last week! We had around 30 people in attendance, and understandably the main issue was the Garden Halls. We now know that they are due to close next summer, and the meeting voted to urgently put together a list of questions / demands for Balfour Beatty:

1. A meeting with BBW / the UoL, to take place as soon as possible.

2. Exact details as to the timetable for closure.

3. A list of affected employees.

4. A commitment to avoid redundancies at all cost.

5. A commitment to reallocate workers within the University of London where possible

6. Details of the process to be followed in terms of reallocation, and a commitment that this process will be transparent and fair, with decisions being taken at a senior level in consultation with the union.

7. A commitment to prioritise workers in terms of their length of service.

If anyone has anything to add to this, please call 07922810798 or email uol@iwgb.org.uk

The IWGB attended the Camden Council meeting last night where it was decided to proceed with the plans to demolish and rebuild the Garden Halls.

We will be discussing the implications of this for workers at our monthly branch meeting, today, at 1pm in room B104 at SOAS.

Please come if you can.

There have been some rumours that the demolition of the Garden Halls has been confirmed for June 2014, and that only Unison members’ jobs will be protected when that happens.

This is not true.

The IWGB has been talking with BBW and the University and we would like to reassure members that no decision has been made about the demolition of the halls. We will maintain contact with both employers and inform you as soon as anything is known about this.

The IWGB knows that everyone who works at the Garden Halls is worried about what may happen, and it is our top priority to protect people’s jobs. Your job future will not be decided based which union you are a member of! The IWGB is a legally recognised Trade Union and can protect you at work.

Closure date

The University’s Director of Capital Projects, Martin Birchett, confirmed that “The application is due to be heard on 15th August” by Camden Council, which alone has the power to approve or reject the project.

Peter Brench has also confirmed that BBW do not know the decision yet. He said: “I am waiting on formal notification of any closure and its likely date.”

Union membership

It is illegal for any employer to target people for redundancy based on whether or not they are a member of any union, or because of membership of any other group or organisation. If necessary, the IWGB would take the strongest action against any attempt to do so.

However, we are satisfied that this was never BBW’s intention. Peter Brench confirmed that:

“The statement surrounding the protection of UNISON members is not based on any direction or instruction from BBW and is not made in line with any of our policies”.

Our next meeting is on Friday 16^th August, room B104 at 1pm. (Brunei Building, SOAS)
We should know more about the plans by that time and the Garden Halls will be the first item for discussion. Please attend if you can!

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Professor Sir Adrian Smith, has refused the offer of a meeting made to him by IWGB Vice-Chair and leading 3 Cosas Campaign activist Sonia Chura.

Ms Chura in her letter detailed the continuing unequal treatment received by outsourced workers at the University, reminding the VC that ‘the majority of the outsourced workers at the University, currently employed by BBW and Aramark, receive only statutory sick pay and the legal minimum of holidays and pension provision’ and warning him that the University ‘is increasingly being seen as being synonymous with hypocrisy and exploitation’.

In his short response, Sir Adrian stated that ‘it would not be appropriate for us to meet’, and falls back on the claim that the University is engaged in ongoing talks with ‘our recognised union [UNISON] and with the employers of the contract staff’. The outsourced workers say they are completely in the dark regarding these alleged talks, which in any case are meaningless when undertaken with a union that does not represent them.

Ms Chura stressed in a second letter that the important thing is to resolve these issues: ‘all we are asking for are the same sick pay, holiday and pension rights as the rest of the University’s employees, rights which are just as vital for us as they are for you’. Sir Adrian was unable to reply to this himself, instead delegating an employee to provide the University’s stock non-response.

Read the full correspondence here.

All members are invited to attend the next branch meeting, which will take place at 1pm on Friday at SOAS in room B104.

We’ll be discussing the Garden Halls, changes with the BBW contract, the 3 Cosas Campaign and any others issues that you want to bring up.

Everyone is welcome, everyone gets to vote. For more information please email uol@iwgb.org.uk.

IWGB Vice-chair and leading 3 Cosas activist, Sonia Chura, has this week written to Professor Sir Adrian Smith, University of London Vice-Chancellor, to formal request a direct meeting between the outsourced workers and the University:

‘As Vice-Chair of the University of London branch of the IWGB, the largest union among the University’s outsourced workers, I am writing to request a meeting to discuss the issues of holidays, sick pay and pensions…’

Read the full letter here.

Today’s protest was attended by a larger crowd than usual, with the university having stirred up feeling by bringing in the police to ULU yesterday when students were protesting as a part of the 3 Cosas campaign after students had chalked slogans including ‘Sick Pay, Holidays, Pensions Now, support the cleaners struggle’ on pavements and walls, including the a wall plaque commemorating the founding of the Senate House Library. Police entered the ULU cafe and assaulted several students and arrested a young woman who was charged with criminal damage.

ULU vice president, Daniel Cooper, spoke during today’s protest, saying that the action by the university would greatly increase the support for 3 Cosas, and that the point of using chalk was that it caused no damage, being easily wiped off. There were no signs of damage after the plaque was washed.

More photos here.

Police have been accused of using disproportionate force after arresting a student protester inside the University of London Union for chalking on university property.

A statement posted on ULU’s website by president Michael Chessum claimed that officers entered the building on Malet Street and “assaulted a number of student activists” after university staff asked police to intervene.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon as part of a protest for the 3Cosas campaign, fighting for sick pay, holiday and pensions for the University of London’s outsourced workers. Chalk reading ‘sick pay holidays pension now, support the cleaners’ struggle’ appeared on a memorial plaque at Senate House.

See article in The Independent
See article in the Times Higher
See article in Workers’ Liberty

All members are encouraged to attend this Saturday’s branch meeting, which will be taking place at 3pm at SOAS.

Everyone will get an equal say and an equal vote.

Come along and get involved! Any questions – JasonMoyer-Lee@iwgb.org.uk or call 07771783094