unions north issue 24

Northern TUCARC 2010Public services, the economy,equalities...and David Miliband

Learning atWork DayNorthern Region goes all out with52 workplaces participating

AsbestosUpdateCuts and money grabbers, thelatest threats to Asbestos victims

MagnificentSevenPCS make it an amazing 7 matrixaccreditations for learning centres

unionsnorth

Issue : 24

August 2010

The Magazine of the Northern TUC

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It was no surprise that the key themes atthe Northern TUC Annual RegionalConference were the immediate, large scalecuts threatened in the public sector; therecovery from the worst recession ingenerations; and the need to continue tochallenge the far right as the EnglishDefence League prepared to march inNewcastle the week after the conference.

With one in three workers in the northemployed in the public sector and a furtherthirty to forty thousand working in privatesector companies dependent upon publicspending, the promised cuts were of clearand immediate concern to trade unions.Delegates from Unison, GMB, Unite and PCSall lined up to express the strong views oftheir members - that there was no electoralor economic mandate for savage spendingcuts; that cutting spending now could severelyhamper the recovery from recession; and thatthe north stood to suffer from a 'triplewhammy' of the health, education andemployment impact of reducing publicservices.

Trade unions pledged to work together tospeak up for public services and welcomedthe launch of the Public Services Alliancewhich took place on 24th June.

Head of Organisation and Services at theTUC, Paul Nowak, paid tribute to the excellentwork of trade unions in the region preventingthe BNP from gaining any electoral footholdin the region and talked of the strong

campaigning work of the region in defendingpublic services. Paul also reported furtherincreases in trade union density andmembership growth in the region andencouraged trade unions to continue toprioritise workplace organisation.

'A typical recession' was how the recenteconomic crisis was described, with NorthernRegions and manufacturing bearing the brunt.In a region that hadn't recovered from thedecimation of the industrial turmoil of the1980s and early 1990s further private sectorjob losses have been devastating and it wasthe view of delegates that it would take severalyears to recover meaningful employment andeconomic growth.

It was especially disappointing that the newgovernment are cutting support for youngworkers and attacking benefits given thatyoung people are unemployed inunprecedented numbers and the recessionhas led to a significant and steady growth inthe number of long-term unemployed workers.

Issue 24 unionsnorth

03

The 2010 NorthernTUC Annual

Regional Conferenceconfidently tackles

the big issues

Public Services, the economyand equalities dominate theNorthern TUC conference

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04

unionsnorth Issue 24

Dame Carol Black, National Director for Healthand Work for DWP, spoke about the crucialimportance of good quality work for people'shealth and wellbeing. It is not just how people'shealth and safety at work is considered byemployers that is important; poormanagement skills, working time, bullyingand harassment all contribute to people notbeing able to participate in work. Good workis good for health and good health is goodfor work. Carol paid tribute to the pioneeringwork of the TUC, with the Strategic HealthAuthority, in tackling health and wellbeing inthe workplace.

The conference enjoyed a strong debate ontackling the BNP and stepping up to opposethe EDL in Newcastle. The Northern Regioncan be rightly proud that trade unions havebeen at the forefront of campaigns to opposethe BNP and National Front wherever theyhave been active in the region. The successfulstrategy continues to focus a responsewherever the far right are active; to build anti-racism actions in workplaces, and to developsustainable, long-term anti-racism awarenessin the workplace including the highly effectiveAnne Frank Education Trust Exhibition. In themonths ahead it is planned to take thisexhibition into workplaces throughout theregion and train a number of 'guides' to explainthe history to visitors.

Iain Wright MP gave a fantastic endorsementof the work of Union Learning Reps in enablingworkers to participate in learning and skills.Gaining skills in this way has made a dramaticdifference to the life-chances and quality oflife of many workers in the region and Iaincited the example of a woman inNorthumberland who received help from herUnion to address reading and writing skillsgaps and who is now a senior care workerin the County.

On the learning agenda, newly appointedunionlearn Union Development Co-ordinatorBeth Farhat addressed delegates and gave avery accurate picture of the strategic fit ofboth the TUC and affiliated unions. In a year

which has seen a lot of change anddevelopment, she spoke of the forthcomingchallenges, but set them against the positivebackdrop of the fantastic achievements ofthe last 12 months, including reaching thenational target of training 22000 ULRs andintroducing a quarter of a million adults intolearning through the union route. Regionally,we can also boast that over 50% of the adultssupported into learning had no previousqualifications, which clearly demonstratesthe efficacy of ULR activity in reaching themost vulnerable workers.

Future work was also an important focusgoing into the next year with key objectivesof continuing to improve quality of servicewe provide to unions, employers andindividuals, increasing the diversity of adultsundertaking learning and improving their skills,and developing and strengtheningregional/local partnerships. These principles,combined with our collective successful trackrecord on delivery are all imperative as it isvital - now more than ever - to provide strongevidence to demonstrate the valuable andsustained contribution trade unions make toimproving skills, and in turn making a positiveimpact on our economy. Beth’s final messageto delegates was one that underpinned theentire conference – to work hard and to workcollectively in order to transform workers’ lifechances.

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Iain Wright then presented the Union LearningRep Award 2010 to Howard Fawcett of Unison.On the back of their union learning projectHoward and the rest of the team entered theMicrosoft Britain Works ChallengeCompetition, hoping to secure additionallearning resources. As a direct result of thework Howard has led on, the union-led CouncilLearning project has been successful, winningthat competition outright and securing amassive £10 million to be spent on learningopportunities in and around the city - amassive boost for learners across the areaand a massive achievement for union learning.

As always, the Annual Dinner (which bridgesday one and two of the conference) was aroaring success, with over 300 in attendance– one of whom was former Foreign Secretaryand current contender for next Leader of theLabour Party, David Miliband. Mr Milibandmade an after-dinner speech and as well asthanking trade unions for their fantastic workin supporting workers, employers and theeconomy, he echoed many of the otherspeakers who addressed conference over theweekend by speaking of the challenges thatlie ahead for public services and their tradeunions, his own Party and indeed individuals.

One of the highlights of this year's conferencewas when Tom Brennan launched theAsbestos Campaign and Support Group underthe auspices of the TUC. Asbestos remainsthe number one cause of work-related deathsin the UK, with one in ten of those affectedcoming from the Northern Region.

There are currently around 400 asbestoscaused illnesses diagnosed each year,including 200 cases of mesothelioma, andthis number is set to rise year on year for thenext five to ten years. It is a proud achievementthat trade unions in the Northern Region are

ensuring that victims of asbestos illnessesreceive the professional support they need.

The overall message of the conference wasthat there is much to be proud of and confidentabout for trade unions in the Northern Region.The challenge is to raise our campaigningvoices to secure improvements in the qualityof life for working people, and to shout aboutthe strength of our argument. We also needto focus on building trade union workplaceorganisation, so that we can underpin thevalue of our contributions with the case ofour collective strength.

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06


Recognising thededication and

effort, above andbeyond, of our Reps

The UnionLearning

Representativeof the Year

Health andSafety


Terry RodgersWorkplace


Wendy Scott : Unison, Barrow in FurnessPresented by Paul Nowak,TUC Head of Organisation and Service

Paul Nowak presented the Terry

Rodgers Workplace Rep Award 2010 to

Wendy Scott of Unison.

Wendy is from Barrow-in-Furness, a

Unison representative working in the

health service, employed by Cumbria

Foundation Health Trust.

She has a tremendous record in

recruiting and organising workers in

her own trust, other trusts and

privatised provision in the health sector,

she has championed women's rights

and equalities, promoting equal pay

and family friendly policies.

Ian Hill: CommunityPresented by Dame Carol BlackNational Director for Health and Work

Dame Carol Black presented the Health

and Safety Rep Award 2010 to Ian Hill

of Community. Ian has carried out his

health and safety role in the most

difficult circumstances.

Corus, or more precisely, Teesside Cast

Products, has not been far from the

headlines or from the thoughts of trade

unionists and politicians in the region

throughout the last year. As the winner

of this year's health and safety award,

Ian has kept workers in Corus focused

on safety despite the obvious

challenges and situation they have

been experiencing, even introducing

new safety measures in the workplace.

Howard Fawcett : UnisonPresented by Iain WrightMP for Hartlepool

Iain Wright presented the Union

Learning Rep Award 2010 to Howard

Fawcett of Unison.

Howard has led the Learning Styles

project in his workplace, City of

Sunderland local Council, developing

real access to learning, working with

GMB, Unite and UCATT and persuading

his employer to develop learning

centres in the workplace and to equip

them with lap-tops and computers.

This has enabled many additional

workers to access learning and Howard

and the team of ULRs have been paying

particular attention to equality of access

to learning.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Northern TUC AnnualConference Awards

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Seven North EastPCS union-led

projects achievethe matrix award


07

Seven union-led learning projects in theNorth East have achieved a national qualityaward thanks to the joint efforts of the Publicand Commercial Services Union andTUC/unionlearn.

All seven undertook the matrix Standardassessment on the same day, recognisingtheir efforts for delivering information, adviceand guidance for learning at work.

Over 90 Union Learning Representatives(ULRs) attended a PCS ULR conference onWednesday 26 May where Beth Farhat,unionlearn Development Co-ordinatorpresented the matrix awards and re-accreditation certificates to all seven centres.

HMRC Sunderland, Washington and BentonPark View were awarded their first matrixquality standard while HMRC Quorum andPeterlee, the Department for Work andPensions at Tyneview Park and the Identityand Passport Service in Durham were allreaccredited for a further four years.

Each of these centres are part of a unionlearning project at civil service sites in theregion in partnership with the Public andCommercial Services Union (PCS) andTUC/unionlearn. Extra recognition is also dueas they are still the only PCS matrix accreditedcentres in the whole of the country.

Magnificent seven quality awards forNorth East union-led learning projects

Jan Gifford, Regional Learning Services Organiser, PCS Achieving the matrix

award is recognition of

the dedication and quality

service that ULRs give to

their members on behalf

of their trade unionBeth Farhat

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Jan Gifford, Regional Learning ServicesOrganiser, PCS, said, “All of our learningprojects are facilitated by union learningrepresentatives: 150 in total across the regionwho have volunteered for the role and whoare committed to improving skills and wideningthe offer of learning opportunities to staffacross the Civil Service.

“These awards are therefore testament to thehard work and dedication of the 45 unionlearning representatives in the seven centres.

“They have worked tirelessly for the last twelvemonths improving the service to achieve thematrix Standard.”

Beth Farhat, unionlearn DevelopmentCoordinator, said: “Achieving the matrix awardis recognition of the dedication and qualityservice that ULRs give to their members onbehalf of their trade union.”

Angie Peacock, The assessor from thecompany who carried out the matrixassessment, said, “I was really impressedby the enthusiasm and commitment of theUnion Learning Representatives across allthe sites we assessed.”

The PCS is now keen to apply for a matrixExcellence Award on the back of theirmagnificent achievement of seven matrixawards. They hope that the other ULRs in theregion will also strive for the matrix Standard,to recognise their support and commitmentto lifelong learning.

They have worked

tirelessly for the last

twelve months improving

the service to achieve the

matrix Standard

Jan Gifford

HMRC Benton Park View

HMRC Waterview Park

HMRC Peterlee

Identity and Passport Service

HMRC Sunderland Contact Centre

DWP Tyneview Park

HMRC Quorum

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Pleural Plaquescompensationscheme brings

parasites out of thewoodwork

School children fivetimes more at risk

of asbestosrelated illness


09

There are unexpected victims of thegovernment’s current, voracious feast ofspending cuts often hidden from the obviousconsequences of the attack on publicservices.

By stopping the Building Schools for theFuture programme ninety-nine schools in theNorth East and Cumbria have had theirbuilding or refurbishment plans haltedimmediately.

A further, dramatic and key concern is thehealth risks that persist in these unrefurbishedschools. Almost all the schools concernedwere built before 1975, when the use ofasbestos was at its height. It is estimatedthat 86 per cent of the older schools in theregion contain asbestos.

As the schools get older and fall further intodisrepair, the likelihood of exposure grows,

greatly increasing the risk of further victims

of fatal asbestos related illnesses in thisregion; a region that already bears adisproportionate share of asbestos victims.

Asbestos remains the number one killer ofworkers in the UK. In the last 30 years thenumber of school staff diagnosed withmesothelioma, a fatal disease caused onlyby asbestos exposure, has trebled; clearevidence that this is a growing epidemic.There is also really worrying evidence to show

that children who are in schools containing

asbestos are five times as likely as teachersto contract asbestos related illnesses, due tothe extra period of latency from being exposedto asbestos earlier in life.

Refurbishing or rebuilding all of the pre-1975school buildings isn’t just about providing abetter educational environment. It is alsoabout making sure our children can learn ina school that doesn’t put their lives at risk.The government must find a way to rid all of

Cuts and money grabbers,the latest threats toasbestos victims

After a great deal of deliberation thegovernment has finally published theeligibility guidelines for asbestos victimswith pleural plaques to pursuecompensation claims. Pleural plaques, ascarring of the lining of the lung caused byasbestos exposure, is the most commonasbestos related illness.

Just before the General Election the LabourGovernment announced a scheme to makea payment of £5000 to sufferers of pleuralplaques who had “brought but not resolved”a legal claim before the House of Lords ended

the right to compensation in October 2007.

As a result some claims farmers and firmsof solicitors are offering to process claimsfor pleural plaques under the Government'sscheme, but are intending to take a slice ofthe £5000 payment for their own gain.

This is sheer exploitation. The Governmenthave made a commitment to pay a modestlump sum to some workers suffering pleuralplaques with details of who is eligible to makesuch a claim finally being issued. Any claimsfirms or solicitors preying on these claimsby taking a cut are just ripping off victims inthe most despicable and vile way.

The Northern TUC Asbestos Support &Campaign Group is calling for all pleuralplaques sufferers not to be tempted by theseprofiteering companies.

Workers who are suffering from pleural

plaques should, in the first instance, contacttheir trade union, which will facilitate legalservices at no charge to the individual. Peoplecan also contact the Northern TUC AsbestosSupport & Campaign Group, who will providethe right kind of advice and guidance, thatwon't end up costing any money at all.

The Northern TUC Asbestos Support andCampaign Group provides advice andguidance for victims of asbestos poisoningand their families, and has a base at WallsendPeoples Centre.

Maggie and Pat can be contacted atWallsend People's Centre, Frank Street,Wallsend NE28 6RN but are also able tovisit people in their own homes or at anotherconvenient venue.

To contact them call: 0191 2007198 oremail: [email protected]

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10 unionsnorth issue 24

Learning at Work Day

Northern region goes all out on Learning at Work Day, with52 workplaces participating across the North East and Cumbria

Learning at Work Daybuilding on workplace learning

The aim of the day is to draw attention

to the importance of workplace learning

and skills. Each year, thousands of

organisations take part in Learning at

Work day and hold fun and business-

related learning activities to help their

staff learn new skills.

Getting involved in the biggest

celebration of workplace learning

allows people to discover new skills,

build new partnerships and help reach

business goals, all at the same time.

Learning at Work Day has been run by

the Campaign for Learning since 1999

as part of Adult Learners’ Week. The

Campaign for Learning, and all of its

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11unionsnorth issue 24

Workplaces in the Northern Region were...Barrow Fire Station: FBU

Barrow Railway Station

Big Lottery Fund: Unite

BT Call Centre Newcastle: CWU

BT Call Centre Sunderland: CWU

Carlisle City Council: Unison

City of Sunderland Council: CWU

Copeland Borough Council: GMB

DHL/ARGOS: Usdaw

Durham County Council: GMB/Unison

East Coast Trains Newcastle: Aslef

EDF Sunderland: Unison

Electrolux Distriparts: Unite

Fabrick Housing Group: Unison

Gentoo: Unite

Go North East Stanley: Unite

Go North East Sunderland: Unite

HMP Acklington & Castington: POA

Housing Hartlepool: Unison

Imperial Tankers: Unite

Innovia Film: GMB

Peterlee Job Centre: PCS

KP Foods: GMB

Mears: Unite

Millom School and Network Centre:NASUWT

Newcastle City Council: Unison

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: Unison

Parcelforce Team Valley: CWU

Pirelli Tyres: Unite

QE Hospital Gateshead: Unison

Regional PCS bid: Six workplaces

Sealy UK: GMB

South Lakeland District Council:

Unison

South Tyneside College: UCU

South Tyneside Homes: GMB

South Tynneside MBC: GMB

Tetley: GMB

TEWV NHS Trust: Unison

Tristar Homes: Unison

Warburtons Newburn: BFAWU

Warburtons Stockton: BFAWU

partners – including unionlearn -

believe it is more important than ever

that workplaces and individuals

maintain and develop their skills levels

in order to adapt and thrive in the

economic downturn.

This year’s theme was Creating

Connections, which was about

highlighting the links between different

types of learning, such as informal and

formal learning, the benefits of bringing

people together to learn from each

other, the strength of partnerships and

the role of learning in organisational

success.

Once again, to demonstrate our support

for Learning at Work Day and workplace

learning in general, unionlearn helped

to support events throughout the

country.

The Northern Region managed to

support a whopping 52 projects/events

across the region resourced with

£30,000; both additional activity for

existing projects and specific LAWD

union-led activity for new workplaces.

As usual, the range of workplaces and

activities were as diverse as they come,

from bike maintenance and

orienteering with the Barrow FBU, Salsa

dancing, healthy eating and digital

photography at KP in Billingham,

watercolour painting and crafts at

Newcastle Hospitals to joinery and

plastering at South Tyneside Homes –

to name but a very few!

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12 unionsnorth issue 24

Lifelong Learning

Learning Agreement - South Tyneside Homes

Lifelong learning comes home

On Thursday 4th March, Chief Executive,

Isobel Riley signed the agreement that

will see lifelong learning opportunities

being promoted to every member of

staff in the organisation.

The agreement was signed in

conjunction with representatives from

four recognised Trade Unions: GMB,

Unite, UCATT and Unison.

Recognised Union Learning

Representatives will help develop

awareness of learning opportunities

and work with managers to identify the

learning needs of staff. They will also

create mutually beneficial partnerships

with training providers and colleges to

deliver the learning programmes.

Also under the agreement a joint

Union/Employer Learning Partnership

Committee will be established.

They will meet every 3 months and be

responsible for introducing,

implementing and monitoring learning

initiatives.

“As an organisation we are committedto helping our staff to develop andgrow. By signing this learningagreement we will be able to providethem with the best opportunity todo this.”Isobel Riley:

Chief Executive, South Tyneside Homes

“The GMB union is a progressiveorganisation that seeks to work withemployers for the common good andmutual benefit. Nothing can be moresatisfying therefore than signing apartnership learning agreement withSouth Tyneside Homes - whichprovides an opportunity foremployees to access training thatcan enhance their career prospectsand provide the employer with amore highly motivated, skilledworkforce.”

Tom Brennan: Regional Secretary, GMB

“Being part of and actually leadingthis project gives me a great senseof pride and satisfaction as I havebeen able to offer a truly worthwhilecontribution to the GMB membersthat I represent.

“It also allows me the opportunityto promote the positive benefits ofbecoming a GMB member to anyonewho believes that unions are onlythere when things go wrong.”

Andrew McIntosh: GMB Senior Steward

TU Learning Project Lead ULR STH

"Working with the Trade Unions onthis project has allowed key learningand development opportunities tobe promoted on a much wider basisthan ever before. Ensuring that allopportunities for staff to develophave been effectively communicatedby the ULRs allows our staff greateraccess to the skills and knowledgeneeded to enrich their role andimprove the services to our tenants."

Anthony O’Hara: OD Advisor STH

Staff at South TynesideHomes are set to benefitfrom the signing of a newLearning Agreement.

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13unionsnorth issue 24

Five years ago Bernie heard about the

Learning for All Fund “Together” project

which was a partnership between

Hartlepool Council, Housing Hartlepool

and the joint Trade Unions.

He embarked on Skills for Life courses

to “ brush up on my literacy and

numeracy” and then went on to obtain

an IT qualification. These were the first

and only academic qualifications he

had ever obtained.

Bernie says that he was ‘bitten by the

learning bug’ and had been so inspired

by the team of ULRs working on the

learning project that he wanted to

become a ULR.

Soon after his initial ULR training Bernie

began signposting other colleagues

into learning and during one browsing

session looking for courses for

colleagues, he came across a Glass

Staining course which interested him.

Housing Hartlepool agreed to fund the

course and Bernie passed with flying

colours; his first piece of work shows

an old sailing ship on a background of

beautifully stained glass. The work, very

appropriately, has been finished in time

for the Tall Ships race which comes to

Hartlepool later this year.

UCATT - Housing Hartlepool

Setting a course for learning?Bernie Kelly is 51 years ofage, works for HousingHartlepool and is amember of UCATT.

“This learning agreement seeks toformalise the partnership workingon the learning agenda with theemployer. It also promotes the roleof the ULR, encouraging andsupporting those employees whowish to engage in learning.”

Tina Roche: Assistant Branch Secretary

Unison

“The training agenda is in place toencourage employees to gain greaterexperience and indeed greaterconfidence and having listened tothose who have embarked on suchtraining, through the excellent

agreements that have been put inplace, that has certainly beenachieved.

“UCATT are delighted to be party tothe South Tyneside Homesagreement and I know those peopledriving that agreement have thecommitment to develop and enhancethe skills of our members. UCATT isincreasingly playing a key role inpromoting and expanding trainingand skills in the workplace andalongside South Tyneside homes Iam confident that will continue.”

John Scott: Regional Secretary UCATT

“The success of this project clearlydemonstrates the value of employersworking together with trade unionsto support learners in the workplace.

“The signing of this LearningAgreement represents a clearstatement of intent by all parties tocontinue working together to investin skills which are beneficial bothat work and at home.

“On behalf of Unite the Union, I amhappy to make that commitment.”

Martin Wright:

Senior Learning Organiser Unite the union

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14


TUC and Playfairteam up to help

make 2012 Olympicsa fairness medal

winner

There is understandable excitement andgreat anticipation at the prospect of theOlympics coming to these shores in 2012.Unfortunately, for the hundreds of thousandsof workers employed in the global supplychains that produce kits for the Olympicteams or Olympics branded souvenirs, thepicture may not be quite so rosy.

In the lead up to the Beijing Olympics, Playfair2008 research revealed child labour, excessiveworking hours, routine underpayment ofwages and blatant disregard for Chinese labourlaws. We know that in sweatshops acrossAsia, it is not uncommon for workers to starttheir working day at 6.45am and end at10.30pm. In Bangladesh, the minimum wageis 1,622 Taka - a sixth of what a worker needsto be able to feed, clothe and house his orher family. Shockingly, for each garmentproduced, only 0.5-3% of the selling pricegoes to the worker that actually produced it.

Many of these supply chain companies arevehemently anti-union, using ‘union busting’tactics to discriminate against workers whochoose to form or join a union. These workersare more often than not seen as disposable,companies laying them off at will when workis completed and taking them back on duringpeak periods.

This is the hidden underbelly of the glitz andglamour that goes with great sporting eventslike the Olympic Games and it is the reasonwhy the TUC have joined with ‘Labour Behindthe Label’ and a raft of trade unions and non-governmental organisations to launch thePlayfair 2012 Campaign. Playfair 2012 is

calling on the organisers of the London games,the sportswear industry and the InternationalOlympic Committee to raise the bar onworkers’ rights - ensuring that the rights ofworkers making sportswear and Olympic-branded goods are respected and in line withstandards set out in International LabourOrganisation (ILO) Conventions and in the UNUniversal Declaration of Human Rights.

Specifically, the campaign is asking for:

A Living Wage

The freedom to join a union

No forced overtime

Job security

In Newcastle, a range of organisations,including PCS, Unison and Labour Behind theLabel, were determined to give the campaignsome local impetus and, on the 10th of June,they organised a meeting at the TUC Officesto mark the launch of the campaign in theregion. Chair Kenny Bell, opened the meetingby introducing Ashling Seely, from theInternational Textile, Garment and LeatherWorkers Federation (ITGLWF), who spokeabout the discrepancies between the OlympicCharter and the real conditions that workersare forced to endure, as well as the exampleof the Clean Clothes Campaign in challengingsome of these injustices.

The meeting was then privileged to hear fromLilas Mahmudah, NEC member from SerikatPekerja Nasional (Textile and Garment TradeUnion, Indonesia) who explained how thecriminalisation of trade union activities hadgrown in Indonesian supply chains, creating

a climate of fear. She pointed out that behindthe glamour of sports events such as theOlympics, lay the blood and sweat of workersdenied fundamental human rights and decencyin their working lives.

The speeches were rounded off by SharonSukhram, Playfair 2012 co-ordinator from theTUC, who drew the links between decentwork and the freedom to organise, as well assetting out the demands the campaign wasmaking of the London 2012 organisers.

The meeting ended with a resolve from theactivists gathered to take the campaignforward in the region and a further meetingwas arranged to explore how we would dothat practically. The meeting also discussedbriefly some of the actions and tactics thatmight be used to raise the profile of thecampaign in the North East and Cumbria. Itwas agreed that we would try to organisecampaigning around the Days of Actionplanned by the national campaign as well asto keep in touch with negotiations in Indonesiathrough Lilas. In the meantime, there are anumber of ways that you personally cansupport the Playfair campaign:

Visit: www.playfair2012.com and signup for e-alerts to get the latest news,actions and events.

Post information about the campaignon social networking sites such as Facebook, UnionBook and Twitter.

Promote Playfair 2012 in your union magazines, blogs or publications.

Show the campaign film (available onthe website) at your branch meeting and encourage members to take action.

Get your union to pass a motion to support Playfair 2012.

We would welcome the support andinvolvement of trade unionists and otheractivists in the Playfair 2012 campaignregionally.

Playfair for the2012 Olympics

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The role of tradeunions in shaping

and defendingthe quality of life

of workers


15

If the trade union movement didn’t exist in2010, we would have to invent it. Now morethan ever trade unions are playing animportant role in shaping quality of life anddefending the interests of working people.

In workplaces across the North East, unionreps are ensuring legislation is being honoured,skills and learning opportunities improved,carbon emissions reduced and the health andwellbeing of workforces enhanced on a dailybasis.

By working closely with our affiliate unions,the Northern TUC is also able to feed theinsight of tens of thousands of working peopleinto different decision-making bodies at aregional, national and European level. That iswhy I am delighted to be joining the NorthernTUC. Having been a trade unionist throughoutmy working life I know the important differenceunions make.

For several years I worked in the voluntaryand community sector in regenerating areasof Tyneside scarred by the loss of shipbuildingand coalmining. I’ve also promotedcommunity projects providing innovative newsocial solutions and helped community-basedorganisations have their say. More recentlyin the private sector I’ve designed campaignsthat have changed attitudes, improved lifechances and created jobs. All theseexperiences should contribute to this new roleat this important time.

In recent years there has been a substantialgrowth of opportunities for organisations witha stake in society to influence decision-makingin sustainable economic development. Wedeserve to be at the table.

My role will be to ensure that the trade unionperspectives are represented in workinggroups as diverse as leisure and tourism inthe North East, tackling child poverty acrossEurope and in raising awareness of new healthinitiatives such as union-led support forvictims of asbestos.

The threat of catastrophic public spendingcuts is the dominating issue facing manytrade unionists in the North East. 1 in 3 jobsin our region are in the public sector. Defendingpublic services and investment is central to

achieving both social and economic progress.The Northern TUC will be building the broadestpossible coalitions to demonstrate that thereis an alternative to taking public sector wagesout of the economy and leaving us all to paya high social price for the loss of importantservices.

We are in a strong position to make our voiceheard. Latest studies show that trade unionmembership has increased in the Northernregion by nearly 5,000 over the last twelvemonths taking the overall number up to362,000.

This is a considerable achievement fromaffiliate unions working in difficult economiccircumstances. It reflects the confidence andtrust workers are investing in the unionmovement in our region.

We will all work tirelessly together to repaythem. With our partners we have a positivevision for the North East’s future and plentyto defend. I look forward to working closelywith you in the months ahead as we presentour experiences and arguments in new andimaginative ways.

Neil Foster: Policy and Campaigns OfficerTelephone: 0191 227 5554 or

Email [email protected]

Policyand

Campaigns

The Northern TUC would like tooffer a very warm welcome toour new Policy and Campaigns

Officer, Neil Foster

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16


Carlisle seminarseeks to develop

strategies totackle workplace

discrimination

Looking at the labour market picture inCumbria shows a significant challenge inachieving equality in the County, especiallyfor women, BME workers and people withdisabilities.

The evidence shows that work is highly genderstereotyped, disabled workers are significantlymore likely to be long-term unemployed, oremployed in a limited range of jobs, someethnic minority groups are more likely to beunemployed or in low wage jobsand men have disproportionateaccess to full time jobs, whichis mirrored by the proportion ofwomenin part-time jobs, manyof which are low paid.

A trade union seminar in Carlislesought to develop trade unionstrategies for tacklingdiscrimination at work, with aparticular focus around enablingtrade union representatives tosupport workers with mentalhealth problems.

John Halligan and Tom Ross leda discussion on ‘MindfulEmployer’, an initiative thatencourages employers to

provide the right kind of support to workerswho develop mental health problems. One infive workers will develop mental healthproblems and almost half of all incapacitybenefit claimants have mental healthproblems.

The key principles behind Mindful Employerare that it is by employers for employers andencourages good practices not “greatpromises”.

Mindful Employer provides easily accessibleinformation and resources and links tosupporting agencies such as “SHIFT” the linemanager’s toolkit, Mental Health First Aidtraining, access to job retention services,local employer networks and last but not least,practical, hands-on support.

The estimated cost of mental ill health to UKemployers is in the region of £8.4billion injust absence alone.

This figure is shadowed interms of the cost ofpresenteeism, employeesbeing at work who are unfit,which is estimated to bearound £15.1 billion. Inaddition to this, the cost ofreplacing staff that leave theirjob due to mental healthproblems is around£2.4billion.

So by signing up to MindfulEmployer, businesses showemployees that they care;that they recogniseunderstanding mental illhealth issues helps retaintalented and valued staff (the

Equalities in mind in Cumbria

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17

cost of retaining staff <£2500, the cost ofrecruiting staff > £5000); helps towardscomplying with legislation and enhancesbusiness delivery and service to customers.

Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached tomental health, informed by a lack ofunderstanding and awareness about mentalhealth issues and leading to a significant lackof support in this area.

There is a challenge for trade unions toincrease awareness among trade union repsabout mental health and its impact, create anenvironment where it’s okay to talk aboutmental health problems and to develop goodpractice in supporting workers with employersand other partners.

For more about Mindful Employer go to:www.mindfulemployer.net

Developing good practice among employerswas the theme of the discussion led by JohnRaine of Equality North East. Despite morethan a generation of legislation there had beeninsufficient progress in tackling inequality. Itwas essential that employers bought intoimprovements in tackling inequality andpromoting diversity.

The new Equality Bill (currently going throughParliament) will encourage employers in theprivate sector to demonstrate how theycontribute to equality through public sectorprocurement requirements. The public sectorspends £220bn in the private sector and thereis a role for public sector unions in influencingprocurement policy and practice so that itinduces better practice by employers.

The ‘Equality Standard’ has been developedby Equality NE as a way of enabling employersto improve in this area and also to be able todemonstrate their performance in supportingequality and promoting diversity.

For more related information pleasesee the links at the end of this article.

Finally, Peter Purton from the TUC, spokeabout the particular position of workers withdisabilities and the role of trade unions insupporting fair treatment at work. There arecurrently around 10m disabled people in theUK, 5.8m of those are in the workplace. Thegovernment have committed to endingdiscrimination of disabled workers by 2025,measured by equalising the employment ratewith everyone else. There has been someimprovement, but they are a considerable

distance short of achieving their target, plusthe ongoing job cuts from the recession willimpact on disabled workers more, especiallypublic sector cuts.

A key factor in this unequal position is clearlydiscrimination by employers. One of the keybenefits of the Equality Bill will be the outlawingof pre-employment questions regardingdisability.

Trade unions have a key role in sharing goodpractice regarding the duty to promote equalityand diversity, including promoting creativeusage of the right for reasonable adjustmentsto be made and for ‘Access to Work’ fundingbeing used to both enable workers to gainemployment and to stay in work, includingsecuring better employment as a means tostaying in work.

Useful links to related informationThe Equality Bill 2009 - Easy read notes.www.equalities.gov.uk/PDF/EasyReadEqualityBillnotes%20Low%20Res%20Web%20Acc.pdfThe Equality Bill: Making it work - GEO Policy Statementwww.equalities.gov.uk/PDFpdf/psdrespGEOMakingitWorkacc.pdfMake Equality Count - OGC procurement paperwww.ogc.gov.uk/documents/EqualityBrochure.pdfAccelerating the SME economic engine (relevant to all)www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Acceleratingthe SMEEconomicEngine.pdfOther useful resources are available from the Equality and Human Rights Commissionwww.equalityhumanrights.com and from Equalities North East www.equality-ne.co.uk

The trade union guide, Disability and Work, is available free from the TUC via TUCpublications or downloaded at: www.tuc.org.uk

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Go North East’sdedicated

Learning Centreopens inStanley

North EastBus Staff take the learning route

Staff working for Go North East’s Stanleydepot will have even more opportunities todevelop their skills with the opening of adedicated learning centre right in the heartof their workplace on Thursday May 20.

The event, to coincide with Learning at WorkDay, was also celebrated by the signing of aLearning Agreement by Davey Hall, RegionalSecretary of Unite the Union and Peter Huntley,the company Managing Director.

The classroom offers space for colleaguesto meet in their own time to share skills andhobbies with others as well as providing acentre for more formal studies for staff takingNVQs, numeracy, literacy and IT qualifications.

Formerly used as a storage facility and office,the space has been totally refurbished andfitted with computers and teaching facilitiesto accommodate up to six employees at once.Funding for the project has been providedjointly by unionlearn (through the highlysuccessful Learning for All Fund), Go NorthEast and Unite.

As well as providing a convenient base forlearning, staff taking advantage of the newfacilities will also have the opportunity to besupported by a depot-based, Union LearningRepresentative who can help them make themost of both formal and informal learningopportunities.

Go North East employs over 2000 staffthroughout the region and the learning centreat the Stanley depot is hoped to be the firstof a number of similar centres around theregion enabling a network of Union LearningRepresentatives to provide support to learners.

Managing Director of Go North East, PeterHuntley said, “As one of the region’s biggestemployers, we have always supported andencouraged our staff to take full advantageof any educational opportunities on offer,including providing paid study time for thosetaking NVQs. However, working with Unitewe are now able to provide an even greater

asset to staff development where learningopportunities are literally on the doorstep.”

Beth Farhat, unionlearn Union DevelopmentCoordinator said, “The opening of the learningcentre is a real demonstration of thepartnership approach that has evolvedbetween Unite the Union and Go North East.It was apparent at the centre opening justhow important learning is for staff, theemployer and the union. I wish them everysuccess in this joint venture.”

Jim Mowatt, Director of Education with Uniteadded, “The cooperative approach betweenUnite the Union and Go North East is to engageemployees in lifelong and work based learningopportunities that will help meet the demandsand challenges of our changing environment.

“We hope everyone will take advantage ofthe excellent opportunities that are being madeavailable to the staff at Go North East andwork with our Union Learning Representativesto support everyone in taking up theseopportunities. We all have a role to play inour personal and professional developmentwhere nobody misses the bus.”

Although the Learning Centre is based inStanley depot, where around 170 staff willhave direct access to the facilities, it will beopen to all staff across the company.

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Northern TUCCommercial Union House5th Floor, 39 Pilgrim Street,Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QE

Telephone 0191 232 3175or email [email protected]

eventsFor more information

on events or issuesplease contact the

Northern TUC


www.unionlearn.org.uk/northern • www.tuc.org.uk/northern

Copyright in this publication is held by the TUC unless otherwise stated. For further copies of this item contact Northern TUC on 0191 232 3175 or via [email protected]. This text may also be made available, on request, in accessible formats such as braille, audio tape and large print, at no extra cost.

Contacts:Kevin RowanNorthern TUC Regional [email protected]

Ian WestRegional Education [email protected]

Beth FarhatUnion Development [email protected]

Dave StorrieRegional Development [email protected]

Linda HughesRegional Development [email protected]

Jo Gonzalez-ChamberlainDevelopment Worker,Learning for All [email protected]

Julia Watsonu-net Performance and Support [email protected]

Tom RossPolicy Project [email protected]

Melanie LowdenSecretary/Office [email protected]

Ben SellersVulnerable Workers Project [email protected]

Anne AitkenheadUnionlearn Project [email protected]

David NicholsonProject [email protected]

Pat WinterProject [email protected]

Julie RobinsonHigher Level Skills Project [email protected]

Mike TanseyProject [email protected]

Joe McGuiganProject [email protected]

Ken GylesSkills (Recession & Recovery)Development [email protected]

Graeme RushtonProject Worker, [email protected]

Susanne NicholMarketing and [email protected]

September 2010 Calendar

Education Learning & Skills ForumSunderland Civic Centre01

Fit Note SeminarAssembly Rooms02

Executive Committee07

Women’s Group11

TUC CongressManchester. 13-16 September13

European TUC Day of Action onPublic Services29

October 2010 Calendar

Regional Council16

Festival of Learning18-31 October18

Comprehensive Spending ReviewTeam Away Day20

European Health and Safety Week25-29 October25

Executive Committee23

November 2010 Calendar

Wendy in pole positionWendy Calder was honoured at the NorthEast learndirect Achievement Awards forher success in developing her maths andEnglish skills.

Wendy, who suffers from a hearingimpairment, is proficient in IT as a computerdesign operator, but accessed the learndirectcourses through her involvement with theFBU learning project at their HQ in Morpeth.

Now with Level 2 maths and Englishqualifications, Wendy feels more confident,especially if she were to see an opportunityfor promotion. She was presented with theunionlearn Award, which recognises learnerswho have come through the trade union routeto improving their skills via learndirect.

Ms Calder said, “I have studied hard andnever given up. My maths and Englishqualifications have helped me a lot and I amnow progressing onto a photography course.This award is the icing on the cake. I’m sosurprised to have won.”

Wendy will also go on to represent the NorthEast in the national judging stage later thisyear.

For more information about how your projector workplace could benefit from learndirectplease contact Julia Watson:[email protected]

unions north issue 24

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