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Network Journal 2008 Issue 3 May/June |
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Campaigns – Parents and Carers
Companies
Conferences
Editorial
Equality
Health and Safety
Legal Services
Letters
Lifelong Learning
Member services
News In Brief
People and Events
Recruitment and Organising
Union Benefits
Campaigns – Parents and Carers
Spotlight Day: June 11 2008
Being a carer is like playing snakes and ladders – full of ups and downs – that was the message for Usdaw’s special spotlight day which attracted support from more than 60 MPs.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Victory for working parents
More than 4.5 million parents will benefit after the Government announced it was extending the right to request flexible working.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Companies
Buyer found for retailer
The future of 2,500 jobs at Merseyside retailer Ethel Austin have been saved after the company was bought out of administration in May by Elaine Gray.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Company news
The news in brief.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Dairy Crest in view
Dairy Crest can trace its history back to 1933 and the Milk Marketing Board, since then the milk industry has gone through significant changes but Usdaw reps are still active.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Conferences
ADM 2008: Activists take centre stage at conference
The union’s ambitious investment plans for its groundbreaking Academy and its commitment to delivering an improving service to its members received a massive boost when delegates voted overwhelmingly to increase subscription rates.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Criminal justice
Usdaw can now add the home secretary to its list of top level support in Government after Jacqui Smith MP gave her backing to the union’s Freedom From Fear campaign.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Disability
Delegates united behind the executive council statement on Disability at Work – Tackling Discrimination, Organising in the Workplace which formed part of the debate on disability.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: News in brief
Conference news in brief.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Pledge to skills
Delegates were keen to promote the Government-backed Skills Pledge, an initiative which aims to encourage more employers to improve the expertise of its workforce.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Rights at work
The Government should introduce a more co-ordinated system to enforce the protection for employees from exploitative employers, Gail Marchant (Fallowfield) told conference.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Speaking up for equality at work
Usdaw reps are determined to put equal pay and equality issues at the top of their agenda following a lively and energetic debate at conference.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Spotlight on NHS
One of the biggest and most wide-ranging debates at ADM was on the national health service with 12 propositions on the final agenda paper covering everything from abortion to TVs in hospitals.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: The environment
Delegates were keen to show off their green credentials during the environment debate.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
ADM 2008: Too many trading hours
The UK’s retail free-for-all came under fire during the debate on trading hours as a number of branches called for the convenience sector to be brought under tighter control.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
History makers!
Usdaw held its first conference exclusively for warehouse and distribution members in late June.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
TUC Disability Conference 2008
Hundreds of disabled trade union activists from across the UK made their way to Congress House last month for the TUC’s annual Disability Conference.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Editorial
United we are strong
There’s no doubting that the economic downturn is putting our members under increasing pressure and with rising oil, food and utility prices everyone is feeling the squeeze.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Equality
Health and Safety
Executive and Commission merge
The Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) merged in April to form a single national regulatory body under the existing HSE title.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
FLT driver guilty of negligence
A forklift truck driver from Hertfordshire has been prosecuted by the HSE for breaching health and safety legislation.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Funds shortage
There is widespread concern that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is inadequately funded, undermining its ability to carry out its work, MPs have warned ministers.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Guidance on working in high temperatures
There is currently no maximum working temperature but legislation is in place to ensure your employer maintains a reasonable temperature in your workplace.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
New standards set for H&S enforcement
New standards for health and safety enforcers, including the Local Authority inspectors who cover most Usdaw member workplaces, were issued in April by the HSE.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Safety always first for Richard
Looking after the health and safety needs of more than 400 staff is a big responsibility but Richard Groves is relishing the challenge.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Savage attack
A dog owner has been jailed for nine months after his two dogs savaged a postman.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Support for vulnerable workers
Two million workers in Britain are trapped in low-paid and insecure work where mistreatment is the norm, a new report has said.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
UK opt-out stays
Britain has been allowed to keep the opt-out from the 48 hour maximum working week, following EU discussions.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
£3 Fine for life
NW Aerosols were fined only £3 at Liverpool Crown Court in June after an explosion at their factory in 2005 killed Christopher Knoop and severely injured three other workers.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Legal Services
Letters
30 Years’ membership
Sarah Hughes, area organiser, Redditch office
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Active-east
Norrie Slater, divisional officer, Eastern division
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
GS visits Northampton’s reps
Darren Matthews, area organiser, Redditch office
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Grade A celebrations
Terry Gilder, branch secretary, Cardiff Central A051
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
National issue for delivery drivers
Mark Baker, Sainsbury’s Yorkshire F173
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
New branch contact
Derek Laverty, branch secretary Chelmsford and Harlow No.1 C035
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Scope charity challenge
Julie Burley, Scope Press Office
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Susan’s ADM
Susan Walters, Northern Morrisons Sata F026
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Union landmark for Tony
Yvonne Caldwell, Branch Secretary, Teesside PT F047
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Lifelong Learning
Boots plan ahead
Lifelong learning is providing staff at Boots distribution sites with the chance to acquire new skills prior to 18 of the depots closing – Network takes a closer look.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
National learners week
Adult Learners Week saw Usdaw sign new learning agreements with Kellogg’s and First Milk, both based in Wrexham.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
New Asda deal
Hundreds of retail members in Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to improve their skills thanks to the signing of a new learning agreement with Asda.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Tesco staff on course
Tesco Old Swan in Liverpool is the latest Tesco store to buy into the Check Out Learning initiative.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Member services
News In Brief
People and Events
Election schedule for general secretary
The executive council at their May meeting, in accordance with Rule 11, section 1, and the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, agreed that arrangements be made for the election of the general secretary in accordance with the timetable.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Lord Blease
A former Usdaw divisional councillor who went on to spend 30 years in the House of Lords has died aged 93.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Organising Awards 2008
Activists and reps are reminded that nominations for the 2008 Organising Awards are now being sought.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Reps getting it together
Divisional get-togethers are allowing reps from a number of stores to meet up, discuss common problems and share ideas. Network catches up with events in the North East.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Recruitment and Organising
Academy intake 2008
Usdaw’s Organising Academy opened its doors in May to 26 new recruits keen to make their mark in hundreds of workplaces across the UK over the next six months.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Academy2
Academy2 will give fifteen of the union’s most experienced reps a golden opportunity to develop further.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Activist in depth
Network meets up with one of Usdaw’s 10,500-strong army of reps and finds out what life is like at the sharp end. Midlands division’s Stephen Francis answers our questions.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Ann and Mo branch out
Putting a lot into the union brings its own rewards as stand-down reps Ann Poole and Mo Shanks have discovered.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Double for Dorothy
Part-time checkout operator Dorothy Fletcher never misses an induction which explains why she has more than doubled membership in her store over the last year.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Membership
Week ended 21 June 2008.
16 July 2008 [Full Story]
Union Benefits
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