PCS call centre strikers step up pressure on management

A decent morning was had on the picket line at Halifax today. See report on PCS site at :- 

1.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/9592F728-6012-433C-B1E4A89EEE62B766

Special thanks to Andy Lucas for his help. 

Rochdale 2 Southampton 0

Rochdale 2

Thompson 29, O’Grady 41

Southampton 0

“Yes, we can dream,” said Rochdale manager Keith Hill when asked about his side’s promotion chances after this game. And why not, as the reality is the minnows are now sixth in League One and with consecutive home games to follow against Brentford and Carlisle they have a great chance to cement their place in the end of season play offs. A chance to play at Old Trafford in the final is clearly on.

Largely outplayed in the second period the home side showed great discipline in maintaining their shape and backed by a noisy crowd hung on for a just about deserved victory.

For Southampton defeat gives third and fourth placed Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United a chance to snatch second place from the Saints in the battle for an automatic promotion place behind Brighton and Hove Albion, who clinched promotion last night in a thrilling 4-3 victory at home to Dagenham and Redbridge. Gus Poyet’s side have proved themselves the best side in the league and with a new ground almost complete then the Seagulls are clearly on the up.

Southampton opened the match in good style and Owain Fon Williams had to be alert to prevent efforts from Rickie Lambert and Guly Do Prado sneaking into the net. The first clear chance however fell on 25 minutes to Rochdale but Chris O’Grady, put clean through, drove his shot too straight and Kelvin Davis saved with his feet. Four minutes later it was 1-0 when Joe Thompson rose above a flat footed Dan Harding to loop his header from eight yards over Davis and into the net.

Gary Jones maintained the pressure with a fine shot before O’Grady doubled his side’s advantage when his powerful shot squeezed under Davis from the corner of the box. Early in the second period the keeper partly atoned for his mistake with a good save from a Thompson effort before Southampton surged forward.

Lee Barnard shot narrowly wide from 20 yards, substitute Jonathan Forte brought a good save from Williams and from the follow up corner Radhi Jaidi became another to be foiled by the keeper. Dale Stephens headed just over before Dean Hammond, playing a lovely 1-2 with the disappointing Lambert, failed to beat the keeper from just eight yards out. Adam Llana should have done better with an eight-yard header as Rochdale hung on for a famous victory.

No wonder Hill was in a buoyant mood after a game that was played in a great spirit saying: “We have got the momentum. It was a great team performance and there is real belief amongst the players.” One final point the referee Mr Haywood was excellent. 

Fifty years on and have things improved for people of Muslim faith?

The view of a man who might know. Fazalur Rehman Tariq came to Britain in 1961. He’s chairman of the Elland Mosque Association that’s situated equal distance between Halifax and Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. It opened in 1972 to help preserve the culture and identity of the different generations. Active on many fields, including acting as the secretary-general at the Huddersfield Council of Islamic Affairs Charitable Trust, he was vice-chairman of Calderdale Race Relations Council between 1979 and 1989.

How would describe the current political situation?

“I am not politically inclined, and appreciate that everybody has their views, but I am aware of a lack of awareness between people’s on other’s cultures and religions and some elements have used this to exploit the more gullible to create hatred.

Currently people are not reporting increasing levels of racial violence, and I feel this indicates that there is less than there may have been in the past, especially in the 60s and 70s. Attacks are not taking place regularly. Of that I am certain, but there are feelings against coloured people – in the past this might have been against all coloured people but now its largely against Muslim people. It’s a recent phenomena largely based around the 9/11 attacks in the USA, which has seen Muslims given the identity of terrorists. The press and politicians are largely responsible for this identity.

At the same time many Muslims are deeply concerned about what is happening in Afghanistan and Iraq, and also Palestine, and they have been willing to attend demonstrations to show this disapproval. It doesn’t mean they agree with the attacks on America or in London, but they don’t want to see troops from the USA and Britain there. In 2009 Sir Norman Bettison, the Yorkshire Police Chief visited the Mosque, and I spoke about my concerns with him, but he said he had no influence over foreign affairs, which I accept.

“A lack of land at home and a labour shortage brought me here.” 

Yes, I came to Britain in 1961. I was seeking work after graduating and with no land to farm I was happy to move, as Britain was very keen to welcome Pakistani’s and Indians to this country, as there was a labour shortage. I believe that without our labour Britain would be a lot worse off than it is now – we worked long hours, in difficult jobs and for low rates of pay. 

People from Jamaica and Africa were also needed, it wasn’t just people from Asia, but we helped build the Britain that people of all colours know now. It can therefore by disturbing when people question why we are here, as if we don’t have a right to be here. That is especially the case when you consider that most Muslim people were born here. It’s true they feel culturally not English, but neither do they feel Pakistani, and that’s something that it should be possible to accommodate.

Are the streets safe?

In Huddersfield and Elland people are safe to go where they want. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some areas of tension, but in many of those areas even someone from the same colour who lives on the next estate might feel unsafe. It’s a territorial thing, not always about colour.

The attack on the taxi-driver Mohammed Parvaiz in Lockwood in July 2005 when he was murdered was terrible. It does show there is racism and it played a part, but it was also in part motivated by a need for revenge – the taxi driver had reported them to the police and they wanted to make him pay for that. If taxi-drivers were finding their jobs really difficult because of racism many would leave or they would organise protests about this.

Where attacks take place I feel from what I know that it’s not organised, but is a spur of the moment thing. But again I am not wanting to belittle the experience for anyone whose been attacked.

After 9/11 and for a year or so afterwards I would regularly, and others would tell you they had the same experience, be taunted with comments saying ‘hello Mr Bin Laden’, I pretended not to hear, it wasn’t worth it.

What’s your view on the BNP and the English Defence League?

I believe both are motivated by racism. The latter have targeted some Mosque’s, which no one could describe as radical, which makes you question whether they are really just about countering ‘radical Islam.’ Both organisations spoil the atmosphere and prevent people from different faiths and backgrounds appreciating each other’s differences.

And on radical Islam?

I have been concerned by possible developments of radical Islam. Whatever is happening in Iraq and elsewhere I say to the younger people that no one in this country is preventing us from worshipping, and that our opposition to the things we don’t agree with must be done peacefully.

As I said earlier I raised this with Sir Norman Bettison when he visited in 2009. Some Muslims have broken the law in their opposition, but that doesn’t mean as some newspapers have suggested, that all Muslims are to blame for the actions of a few.

At the same time I do feel there is a war being waged against Muslims overseas, former USA President George Bush used the word Crusades [*] shortly after the 2001 attacks on America and that indicates a mindset.

Older Muslim people have direct experience of the British Raj. They know it wasn’t pleasant and it was why people wanted Independence. And people know their history, 1757-1949 wasn’t about developing India, it was about exploiting it. And after that ended we know what’s happened in Palestine, how it was occupied and facilitated into the hands of the Jewish people, such that Muslims now live on only 21% of the then available land. These actions impact on people’s consciousness, and people haven’t forgotten them. So to use the word Crusades was a very poor, but deliberate choice

* this crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take awhile."

 President George W. Bush, September 16, 2001

Speaking up on disability - interview with Tim McSharry of the Access Committee for Leeds

Tim McSharry is head of Disability and Diversity for the Access Committee for Leeds [ACL].  It’s an unfunded body run by volunteer advocates that campaigns on behalf of disabled adults, carers and older people. By taking up dozens of cases every year the  ACL highlights issues of crucial importance for disabled people, thus supporting them to access their mandatory rights to vital public services.

Tim first became involved with the ACL in the 1990s, not long after a permanent deterioration in his eyesight led to him becoming registered blind. He won’t thank me for saying this, but he’s a cracking bloke who’s prepared to work with all and sundry whilst being nobodies fool. Determined to show his disgust at the public spending cuts he not only caught the Unite train to London but spent a good half dozen hours walking with thousand of others on the TUC march. 


Just as well therefore this interview was conducted on the way down.

Does disability necessarily entail deprivation and limited employment opportunities?

It shouldn’t, but the reality for a significant number of individuals and families is it does, with unavoidable serious consequences impacting on health, wellbeing and independence.   

So the question is can disabled people who are able to work be helped to find jobs that pay a living wage, with reasonable prospects in supportive and accessible environments?  And for those who as a result of illness, injury or disability are unable to work, are benefit levels and back up advice and care support services sufficient? Again for too many disabled people the answers to these questions are quite simply no.

Ten years ago I was delivering some training to the Regional Co-ordination Unit for Government Offices down in London. From our charities prospective we were highlighting the fact that it’s a massive cost to society when people are out of work. That’s the case whether someone’s disabled or non disabled.

The figures show that levels of unemployment amongst disabled people are higher than average, and I have listened to many who can’t find work express the view that it’s because employers don’t truly examine their talents before “giving” a post to a non-disabled person. In large part I feel this is because there remains a lot of ignorance amongst employers about the assistance disabled people may or may not require at work, or a reliance on some outdated myths and stereotypes.  Indeed the evidence suggests that disabled people have just as good or better record in relation to timekeeping and absence when compared to their non-disabled colleagues.

Access to Work, whereby employers get assistance to help with work related adjustments when employing a disabled person, like support with transport, equipment and adaptation costs at workplaces, is clearly a good scheme. It’s one that needs expanding. But its benefits will only be felt if there is an integrated approach. So whilst the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 [now replaced by the Equality Act 2010, except in Northern Ireland where it remains in place - ed] required service providers and employers to take steps to remove barriers, that blocked disabled people’s participation, it often took a lengthy battle, usually legally, to try and ensure this was the case. [For more on this see below]

In terms of benefit levels whilst they are not generous what’s often much more of a problem is ensuring those who are entitled to a particular benefit actually get them. For example when you look at the Independent Living fund - that delivers financial support to disabled people - or the former Incapacity Benefit - that became Employment and Support Allowance three years ago - then there are people who were able to fulfil the criteria to allow them to live independently.

Unfortunately because of the complexity of the system there are also many people who fall at the first hurdle and are not able to access the benefits. The benefits were there but there was an inherent complexity within the system that everybody agreed needed to be addressed.

So is it a good thing that the coalition government through Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has taken up the challenge of making Welfare Reforms?

One of the saddest things is there was a real opportunity to work in partnership with disability organisations, both nationally and locally, to design a holistic system that would truly be built around improving life chances through greater participation and inclusion of disabled people at every conceivable level across society. 

We need to be developing meaningful opportunities for training and employment, and taking positive action to formally recognise the many advantages and values of enabling disabled people to carry out voluntary work without fear of having benefits withdrawn because of an ignorant and abstract idea that voluntary work directly equates to employed work. 

Voluntary work enables a person to develop skills, awareness and confidence that may allow them to move into paid employment. But, blanket polices discriminate. For some individuals living with ill health, injury, disability or chronic 24/7 pain, or care needs that can vary hourly, including many people living with hidden disabilities or mental health related care needs then opening up access to supported levels of long term voluntary work can provide real cost savings to the public purse by helping to maintain family and social networks. All of which often results in the need for less costly interventions through Health and Social Care services, adaptations or housing, or the Criminal Justice System.

Sadly, these opportunities appear to have been missed under the heading of it’s too expensive and we must get rid of it. The clear move towards a universal benefit would be good if it wasn’t being done so quickly and without any meaningful consultation having taken place. I don’t feel there’s been any real mandate on this and at the ACL what’s coming through is that they are creating so much fear when they are talking of dismantling the independent living fund, the incapacity benefit and the disability living allowance by combining it into one. There are so many anomalies for individuals that haven’t been taken into account. For some individuals it’s going to be a truly destructive.

Are the proposed cuts packages having any impact on disabled people?

At the moment its still a case of wait and see - although I would add that we are starting to increasingly hear about funded projects that assist disabled people being cut - but what’s definitely changed is the climate.  The language that has been employed is giving some people the impression that many disabled people are not in fact disabled. That they are ‘kidding’ in order to claim a particular benefit.

I fear that people who are disabled or on benefits are being stigmatised and this is leading to some people who are frustrated by their own lack of life chances taking it out on disabled people.

I can speak from personal experience on this as the other week I was going through Leeds Station when two youngsters targeted me for some abuse by suggesting I didn’t need my long cane that aids me to get around safely in areas I`m familiar with. In their words “he’s only kidding, he can see, he’s doing that to be able to claim some money, go on take the stick of him” It was frightening and I suspect that for some other person in the same situation it might be enough to make them think about not going out. In my case it won’t, and whilst I can`t say for certain that its been recent media coverage that got those youngsters to talk such rubbish I feel it seems to be increasingly the case as I’ve also heard other disabled people suggest they’ve subjected to similar comments. 

As an aside quite a lot of progress appears to have been made on tackling hate crime against disabled people?

Yes I think that’s true and some of the work undertaken, especially by Stephen Brookes, has been almost Herculean. Within the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service there is more awareness of hate crime against disabled people as following the Fiona Pilkington and Jessica Hardwick case’s attention was rightly drawn to the issue. But it still takes the likes of Stephen, Anne Novis, Katharine Quarmby, Paul Iganski and many other very dedicated individuals to keep this on the political agenda.

Locally we’ve worked with West Yorkshire Police [WYP] to increase the numbers of places where people can make reports and obtain support.  Rebecca Collins from WYP has been really outstanding in supporting this new initiative to increase the number of reporting centres that are genuinely accessible and placed at the heart of local communities. It’s that kind of developing partnership between WYP and Leeds City Council that have made these changes possible.

Can you comment on the impact of the DDA 1995?

It was good the act was passed, but it’s still been a matter of fighting for the resources to make it effective. As way of an example, ACL is currently assisting a family with a disabled child with autism and there are multiple challenges trying to get the services that child needs.

The families’ aim is naturally to get the best possible outcomes for their child such as opportunities to develop their skills, independence and to achieve their real potential without systemic ineptitude or discrimination getting in the way, basic principles that are about valuing and protecting the human rights of all children.

The child was not receiving the consistent one-to-one support they needed within the educational system and as a result the child was being excluded and not being able to access other services. The parents therefore had to fight for the right to educate their child at home, resulting in two separate challenges, one involving the education system and the other in relation to adapting their home through a Disabled Facilities Grant [for more on this see February 3^rd 2011 article at http://writemark.blogspot.com/2011/02/disabled-facilities-grants.html

There is no doubt that taking on any bureaucratic system means there is usually a real struggle involved and because of the length of time it takes to understand the policy, process and pick up the expertise needed, very often it leads to people giving up, or accepting a compromise that doesn’t work and leads to additional costs to the public purse further down the line.

Happily, there are many examples across the country where people did take on the system, sometimes with the support of skilled advocates, who ended up securing the educational services and care package that their children needed. But, sadly, there are others, lots more, where other families and children with just as strong a case did not get the help they needed.

In terms of access and equality the DDA has put disability on the agenda but, as with the new single Equality Act, it has not resolved many of the fundamental social, environmental and attitudinal barriers that appear as prevalent now as they ever did, based on our casework.

In conclusion therefore I’d say that those who shout the loudest get what everyone should get. It must be acknowledged there are many great examples where public services have provided an outstanding service in meeting the needs of disabled children, adults and older people, but the system if it was working efficiently wouldn’t need people to be shouting, as it would be working openly and efficiently with processes designed to respond to diverse individual needs, not the other way round which leaves too many individuals and families falling through the gaps, unable to mount any real challenge. 

Personal budgets were introduced by the last government - what’s your view on the impact they’ve had?

For some people they’ve been very positive and it has the potential to increase choices for a lot of people. There’s certainly nothing wrong with the focus on giving people more choice but I feel the evidence is that people from more middle class backgrounds have done better especially as their educational skills help in navigating the process and providing the evidence base that is needed that helps to challenge the system to meet all aspects of their needs. 

The downside of this policy is that many community bases centres have been cut and the loss of some of these services may have unintended consequences in relation to safeguarding duties.

We know that in many cases its only because people use centres that alleged incidents of abuse by their families, friends or carers is picked up on. As they close that’s clearly going to be less likely and the big worry is that when that contact is lost, unseen or unrecognised abuse that is going on will be missed.

In truth, with an increased move towards personalisation of social care budgets, many centres that currently provide excellent specialist care, support and social engagement and also provide a safety net around safeguarding will undoubtedly have to face some hard decisions.  This in years to come will have serious implications in relation to safeguarding policy and practice for all Local Authorities, the NHS, Criminal Justice System and Third Sector organisations.

How devastating a blow would it have been for disabled people living in care homes to have lost their mobility payments? And are you confident that the Government’s climbdown on this issue to 2013 can be made permanent?

The proposed loss of disability living allowance for people in care homes goes back to the heart of the problem, that’s it been done piecemeal with no serious consideration of the impact of the changes. Yet that benefit is critical in allowing people to get out and maintain some level of independence, dignity and social engagement. 

But don’t care homes have lots of things going on in them?

Some do, but even if they all did that’s not the point. The DLA enables people with different needs to be able to do things that they enjoy and are socially rewarding. It shouldn’t be the case that people have to give up all forms of independence just because they need residential care - it should still be the case that people can be able to engage with family and friends outside the home. And in the long run that’s also cost effective because isolating people will hit their physical and mental health which again is likely to result in even more hospital admissions and additional NHS or Social Care involvement.

What are your views on the proposed reforms in the education and health support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities?

Again its an opportunity missed, we’d love to see how the impact assessment has been carried out and importantly who was involved. Where’s the evidence that suggests this needs to happen in the timescale they are suggesting?

Another opportunity missed is that the harmonising of the various equality acts combined with recent Government moves has ‘watered down’ the duty on Public Bodies to carry out a meaningful Equality Impact Assessments (EIA`s). Its been changed from a duty to a choice and clearly at this current time of 25% budget cuts that’s going to not be a choice. Yet we know that if EIA`s are carried out in partnership with experts across the diversity field then the ultimate result is about meeting the needs of society that we live in - rather than just the budget.

With a new building it will mean planners and architect are less likely to take a fully social inclusive approach around how their plans will impact on the equality, participation and opportunities of disabled people.  And whilst there may be small additional costs associated with the EIA process and improving facilities and environments, by leaving this key element to choice, its again very likely that additional costs will be picked up by public bodies further down the line when challenged under reasonable adjustments and other elements of the Equality Act.

In Leeds we have examples of how ultimately this will add to the costs on the public purse. We have hundreds of unoccupied expensive flats that could have been used to house disabled people forced who are currently living in unsuitable older accommodation. Trouble is when building them no one even considered making them suitable for everyone, or using local planning conditions to ensure at least a percentage of flats were designed and built to Lifetime Homes Standards.  Quite simply, money was not spent ensuring people with disabilities could use them.

In Leeds I am heartened by the fact that the council does appear to be wholly committed to including disabled people within key decisions and in regards to planning applications we are working with councillors and council officers to ensure only certain standards get through the planning process.  We are lucky to have Councillors such as Keith Wakefield, Peter Gruen, Lucinda Yeadon and many others both at an Executive and Corporate level who are accessible and ready to engage with disabled people and other diverse communities at this time of far reaching Government spending cuts to local authorities across England.

Why are you travelling down to the TUC demo in London?

As a representative and Trustee of ACL and because it’s the only way we can express our fears at what’s happening. We are starting to see how the cuts are going to impact on disability organisations and the lives of disabled people and primary carers. Some very effective highly active voluntary organisations within West Yorkshire and nationally are not only seriously worried about their funding but whether they have a future. They are seeing their core funding being cut in some cases by 75%, thus making them unsustainable. Without these organisations where is the voice for disabled people? 

We believe that the Government doesn’t have a mandate for their actions. Consequently Cameron and the other ministers should revisit the cuts package.

What’s your view on measures to give a bigger role to social enterprise, charities and cooperatives in the running of public services?

In the 80s and 90s under the last Conservative government it was said there was no such thing as society. It has gone from none to Big Society.

Ultimately when we talk about the Big Society it’s already self evident in the many volunteers and local self help groups active across all communities. We have volunteers who work very closely with local authorities and other public bodies. The approach should have been about greater partnerships rather than taking funding away from public bodies under the guise of it going to the third sector or public charities to take up these services,

It’s also an absolute mismatch. Look at the safeguarding issues, local authorities and the NHS are much better placed to oversee, deliver and commission services than organisations that may, or may not be for profit. 

The Big Society slogan disguises the decimation of many public services that older people, amongst others, rely on. And I am not sure it will save money in the long run either. The critical need for a comprehensive EIA is essential if only to identify the false economies within such austere and regressive polices, its very likely the hidden costs to the NHS, Local Authorities, Criminal Justice System and other agencies, will far out weight the upfront savings outlined in the comprehensive spending review.

For example cuts are going to hit social care services and when people don’t receive such services to maintain their health and social well being then where are the safety nets that are going to pick up on this? It’s going to be the NHS and in particular the emergency admissions and long term services that are both very expensive.

There’s also going to be increased levels of anti-social behaviour and crime, which the criminal justice system will pick up leading inevitably I feel to the re-introduction of services such as the Youth Offending Teams, and the re-employing of Police Officers and back up staff currently being redundant.

Within West Yorkshire the Neighbourhood Policing Teams have achieved outstanding results at a community level over recent years and if we consider the impact of losing elements of these teams its more than likely these will have a disproportionate impact on many older and disabled people, disabled children and their families. 

The TUC march was an incredible demonstration of how people from all communities and diverse backgrounds came together to express their real concern and opposition to this policy, and when considering the fact that there are potentially so many hidden costs that belie these cuts, I can only hope that someone senior within Government reconsiders the options - after all it happened with selling off the forests?

And last but not least, I owe my very sincerest thanks to Unite for getting me down to London and to Mark, Wayland and especially John for patiently and expertly guiding me round the march in complete safely. (And for a truly fantastic bag of chips)

Sunderland 2 WBA 3

Sunderland 2

Shorey [own goal] 10, Bardsley 31

WBA 3

Odemwingie 29, Mulumbu 54, Scharner 72

Three deserved points for a resurgent WBA side saw them leapfrog a disinterested Sunderland team who despite lying six points above the relegation zone are far from safe. In fact defeat in next weekends away game at Birmingham and the home game that follows against Wigan Athletic may well force the Wearsiders to gamble by sacking manager Steve Bruce and bringing in Sam Allardyce or Martin O’Neill to try and stave off the drop.

The home side have taken just one point from 24 and have won just one of their last eight home games. Performances suggest another victory this season cannot be guaranteed.

Roy Hodgson’s team could even afford the luxury of gifting Sunderland an early lead, Nicky Shorey’s attempted headed clearance, from an Asamoah Gyan cross, flashing into his own net.  The Baggies were level when Jonas Olsson neatly headed down Chris Brunt’s cross and Peter Odemwingie showed greater determination than his marker Anton Ferdinand to sweep the loose ball home.

Sunderland took a 2-1 lead into the break with their only effort on goal in the game, Phil Bardsley hitting an unstoppable thirty-yard drive after Kieran Richardson had touched the ball to him from a free kick.

The second period was virtually all West Brom and when Odemwingie took advantage of Ferdinand’s inability to stay tight the Nigerian striker found Youssouf Mulumbu whose shot took a slight deflection off Michael Turner before squeezing beyond the despairing dive of Simon Mignolet. The Sunderland keeper than made a fine save from an Olsson header but had no chance on 72 minutes, WBA carving Sunderland apart before Odemwingie pulled the ball back for Paul Scharner to finish.

Only once did Sunderland look like they might grab a draw, but Danny Welbeck failed to hit the target in added time leaving the victorious side to take the deserved applause of their 3,000 followers at the end. 

Tetley's - a bitter brew

The owners of Tetley Tea have defended themselves against accusations of brutal mistreatment of employees at the Nowera Nuddy tea estate in north western Bengal, India.

It comes after a contingent of workers, all members of the Progressive Tea Workers Union [PWTU], journeyed 400 miles from their plantation to participate in a protest outside the headquarters of Tata Global Beverages [TGB] in Kolkata.

Says it all - thanks to IUF for allowing this to be reproduced here 

Handing in a letter to the company controlled by the Tata Group that owns Tetley Tea protestors asked for TGB to “instruct the management of Amalgamated Plantations [AP] to engage in genuine negotiations.” Amongst those present were dismissed workers Sudhir Xaixo and Kishor Toppo, father of the eight month pregnant tea plucker Mrs Arti Oraon whose treatment is at the heart of the conflict.

This started on August 10^th 2009 after workers were angered by what they perceived as the denial of maternity leave after Mrs Oraon collapsed in the field and was taken to hospital on the back of a tractor. Under Indian law leave commences six weeks prior to the expected delivery date.

But with AP management alleging Mrs Oraon still had a couple of weeks to work on grounds that the baby wasn’t due to mid-October up to 500 mainly female workers left their work stations in protest. Previous perceived maternity leave injustices were raised and the dismissal of AP’s medical officer was demanded.

With the company claiming the medical officer had been badly attacked it declared a lock out of two weeks, called in the police and after holding an internal enquiry, that refused to take statements from those locked out , suspended eight workers. When workers refused to return unless their colleagues suspension was lifted another lock out of almost three months was imposed. During which time no wages were paid and arrest warrants were issued for 12 workers. With charges against them including grievous bodily harm, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and unlawful confinement there remains the possibility of seven years in jail.

With the Tata Group sharing its Kolkata offices and holding a 49.98% stake in AP, workers and their growing international band of supporters, have called on the company behind the world’s number 2 Tea brand, to intervene to resolve the dispute. A UK spokesperson for Tata said AP management had reassured them that “the medical treatment and maternity policy meets and exceeds all statutory requirements”, but also said that “in light of the fact that AP is independently operated and managed” enquires should be directed to them. Attempts to do so failed to bring a response.

The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association is supporting the Nowera workers and for more details see http://www.iuf.org/

To send a solidarity message, click here.

School children get union safety support

Seven thousand Yorkshire school children each year are getting to hear about trade unions for the first time courtesy of a grant from Unite to a community project specialising in health and safety advice.

Keighley Worksafe is a registered charity providing occupational health and safety training and support to voluntary and community groups. It has also, since 1992, won over a million pounds compensation for West Yorkshire workers injured or disabled by work, including mill workers left deaf by workplace noise.

Most young people leave school with little knowledge of trade unions 

Six years ago the project began working in local schools. As news of its work spread, schools from right across Yorkshire began to invite co-ordinator Dave Towers, a Unite member, to organise sessions for their pupils.

Saint Pius X Catholic High School sits smack bang in the middle of Wath-on-Dearne, near Rotherham. This is a working class community still struggling to come to terms with the pit closures imposed by the Tories in the 80s and 90s. Fifty years old last May the school specialises in humanities.

Lynn Kelly co-ordinates the Personal and Social Education [PSE] programme of teaching and learning that promotes pupil’s personal and social development and their health and well-being. With year 10 [14-15 year olds] students going out on three-week work placements in May each year Lynn has been glad to invite Towers to spend an hour with her classes in the preceding weeks.

“It’s exactly what’s needed. The quality of the talk and the materials employed are very good. 2011 is the fifth year Worksafe have visited and I’d recommend them to any school ” said Lynn Kelly as forty pupils filed in to the school hall to begin watching an introductory video on ‘Eve’s first day’ of work highlighting office hazards.

A relaxed Towers tells the youngsters that when people go to work they should come home roughly in the same condition. That being tired is not surprising but having bits of your body missing or being badly injured is unacceptable. Unite he says “are a trade union who have helped by paying for the leaflets outlining health and safety rights at work that will go in your work experience file. Injuries are higher in non-unionised workplaces.” It’s simple and direct, but seems to be hitting the spot as his audience listens intently. 

A second lively video quickly follows, and the case of 23 year-old Steven Allen from Keighley, killed on a building site in 2007, is used to illustrate what can happen when procedures at work are unsafe.

Statue to commemorate the deaths of 183 children who were crushed to
death as a result of a bolted exit at Victoria Hall, Sunderland on June 16th 1883.

“I am glad we have had the session as it has made me aware that there are dangers at work” said Tom Blessed and “as a result I would feel a bit more confident about speaking up if I felt something was unsafe or dangerous,” said Josh Walker. Kathryn Mundy had not previously heard about trade unions but now grasped “they protect you at work.” 

“We introduce trade unions subtly and it is very likely that it will be the only time during their school lives that the youngsters get to meet someone who can clearly be identified as a trade unionist.

The £7,000 we receive from the Unite Yorkshire and Humberside regional committee is a vital resource as apart from funding from Airedale NHS to deliver this accidental injury prevention work in local schools to pay my wages we have very few funds,” said Dave Towers.

Needed

Unite representatives interested in being trained to run sessions in schools in the Halifax area. Telephone Dave on 07891 878261 or email – uniteinschools@hotmail.co.uk