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Network Journal 2006 Issue 4 Nov/Dec |
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White collar section in focus
Usdaw’s Supervisory Administrative and Technical Association (Sata) will be the subject of an ongoing in-depth review over the next 12 months, General Secretary John Hannett told delegates at the biennial national conference.
Usdaw's Supervisory Administrative and Technical Association (Sata) will be the subject of an ongoing in-depth review over the next 12 months, general secretary John Hannett told delegates at the biennial national conference.
"We have 14,000 Sata members and they are a valuable part of the union," said John. "But we need to look at how Sata fits in and how we broaden our appeal to staff who work as supervisors, line managers and clerical workers."
A wide ranging question and answer session touched on training courses, a higher profile and a clearer identity for Sata.
"I want us to look at all aspects of Sata and how we can increase our membership and influence in the companies we already have good agreements with," said John.
Meanwhile legal officer Kate O'Neill outlined the new regulations on age discrimination which she described as a 'positive force'. "These affect every single one of us young and old, and all of those in-between," she said. "Pay, promotion, training, holidays, sick schemes, harassment and redundancy are all covered. Both indirect and direct age discrimination will be outlawed unless an employer can prove 'objective justification' which means there has to be a reasonable explanation why an age-related issue is present.
"There are clear guidelines on pension arrangements and retirement procedures. Reps will also have to have a close look at their agreements with their employers to ensure none of these are unlawful. For example, service-related benefits may have to be justified.
"However the national minimum wage is expressly exempted from the new regulations," she said.
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