Community • Better Together

Issue 22 | Autumn 2012

Communitystronger together

Community at the TUC

2 Community Autumn 2012

Dear member,

It is a sign of the hard times working people are facing that we are currently supporting members in a number of industrial disputes. For instance, at Tulip Foods Ltd in Dukinfield, Community’s membership has soared during a dispute over pay and conditions. Local management’s decisions have given the union no option but to ballot everybody on site for strike action.

We continue to back Remploy workers in their struggle to secure their jobs. Our thoughts and support are with those Remploy workers in Bolton who have already seen their factory close following the Government’s shameful withdrawal of funding.

But we also strive to make gains for members by working in partnership with employers. Membership continues to grow at TNT Post where we are in the middle of pay negotiations. We are working closely with steel industry employers to argue for a level playing field for UK steel making and ensure that Government policies don’t just lead to job losses and a bigger impact on the environment as steel is made in countries that aren’t as green as the UK.

We are also working with our sister unions and the Labour Party and took our campaigns to the TUC Congress in Brighton and the Labour Party Conference in Manchester where we secured the movement’s support for, among other things, an active industrial strategy. An industrial strategy is something we marched for on October 20, when hundreds of thousands of people from across the UK called for ‘A Future That Works’. Community will continue to campaign to make that happen for our members.

Yours in Unity.General Secretary

Michael J. Leahy OBE

A Future That Works

stronger together

INSIDE …Labour conference 3In power in our communities

News 4Fresh start at Clarks; New members at Polypipe; Getting ready for electronic learning; Kidderminster carpet campaign; Action over Tulip bonuses; Olympic bonus for Serco staff; New challenge for Paralympic goalie; Community honour for Brendan Barber; Community member aims to win back Redcar for Labour; Betting shop staff are not bouncers

TUC report 8Rebuilding industry the theme for Community delegates

Cheaper energy 10Community looking at ways of providing cheaper energy for members

Young workers 10Why unions are vital for young workers

Why I joined Community … 10Aled Lleision Jones on the unexpected benefits of membership

If you have any comments or suggestions for the next edition please contact the editor on [email protected] or on 020 7420 4000

Stronger Together. Autumn 2012Editorial Office: 67/68 Long Acre, Covent Garden, WC2E 9FATel: 020 7420 4000 email: [email protected] photo: Jess Hurd

Printed by The College Hill Press www.collegehillpress.co.uk

Community Autumn 2012 3

labour conference

COMMUNITY’S DELEGATION was joined at a reception by Labour Party Leader, Ed Miliband MP, who, referring to the Corby by-election due in November, described how the average Corby voter might say that they had lost faith in the current government but had not yet come over to the Labour Party. “You win elections when people think the kind of country you want is the kind of country they want as well,” he said. “The Olympics and Paralympics showed what happens when a country comes together and works together … It showed the instincts of this country are for something different … We are better off as a country when we look after each other not when we leave people on their own,” citing this as an example of Labour values and of Community’s values.

Sean Scorer, NEC member and Tata Steel worker in Scunthorpe, called on the Party to back an active industrial policy to support UK energy-intensive industry. Citing the vacuum created by the absence of government regional industrial policy, Sean described how the industrial community in Scunthorpe was trying to tackle the problem: “In Scunthorpe, working with our Labour MP Nick Dakin, we’re trying to fill that vacuum. We’re building an active industrial policy for the area: addressing the skills shortages, planning to fill the gaps in the renewables supply chain

and identifying the policy changes we need to support our industry. At the moment, we’re getting punished for making steel in the UK.”

At Community’s packed fringe meeting – Reaching out beyond our base: Unions, Labour and the Community – Kezia Dugdale MSP, Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander MP, Movement for Change Chief Executive Kathryn Perera and Callum Munro from Young Labour talked about how organising and campaigning in local communities is the key to winning power for Labour.

Kezia made the case for greater engagement with voters on the doorstep so that the Party can respond to their issues. Callum argued that “we

may be out of power in Westminster but we are not out of power in our communities”, praising Community’s attempts to reach out and work with Young Labour activists through the union’s new Labour Campaign Network (LCN). Kathryn Perera described how trade unionists at their very best are “active citizens” and that the Labour Party needs to return to that way of working, where there is “meaningful participation” and people are helped to “build power in their communities” so that there are “no no-go areas” for Labour, highlighting the example of Community’s work on Sheppey, where the union and the Labour Party have campaigned in the community for more jobs on the island.

Douglas Alexander talked about the importance of the “hugely powerful and unique” trade union link to the Labour Party and the way it connects the party to “the daily lives of working people”. Douglas went on to talk about his positive experience of working with Community and Movement for Change since he became the first member of the LCN a year ago, saying how it reminded him that “our politics calls us not just to serve a cause but serve to serve a community”. He concluded by urging those present to work with Community as it would remind them of the “finest traditions of the labour movement and how we are called upon to work together to make sure we get a Labour Government back in 2015”.

How we tackle the challenges faced in our workplaces and communities was the prevailing theme of Community’s activity at the recent Labour Party Conference in Manchester

In power in our communities

Joe Mann and Kathryn Perera listen to Callum Munro

Douglas Alexander listens to Kezia Dugdale’s contribution

Ed Miliband speaks at Community’s reception


newsGiant steps for Clarks in StreetA FRESH start has been made for industrial relations at Clarks in Street following a strong, united campaign of industrial action by Community members.

Earlier this year, pay talks at the footwear distribution site in Somerset broke down as the company insisted on imposing new conditions without negotiation.

“Our members were determined to uphold the principle of securing agreement through dialogue and negotiation,” said Deputy General Secretary Joe Mann, who got involved in the dispute as the issue escalated. “They objected to having the pay deal imposed before discus-sions had concluded.”

“The actions of some of the local managers gave us no choice but to ballot our members for industrial action.”

An overwhelming majority voted in favour of taking industrial action. Clarks members decided to start working to rule and this soon started to hit the company hard.

“This was one of the most disci-plined and united industrial action campaigns that I’ve seen in my trade union career,” said Joe. “Thankfully, the company saw sense and eventually got back round the table and resolved the pay dispute.

“I’m pleased to say that we also secured an improved recogni-tion agreement and the company management’s commitment to learn from their mistakes and work more in partnership with the union.

“It’s a great testament to our branch secretary Alan Hooker and his members that we were able to show we are stronger together.”

ELECTRONIC LEARNERSA GROUP of Community Union Learning Reps (ULRs) are geared up to make the most of online resources after successfully completing the Getting Ready for Electronic Learning (GREL) training course, which has enabled them to access, enrol and promote online courses available for reps throughout the TUC.

The course was part of five days of Part 2 ULR training in August which took place at Community’s Regional Office in Bramley, Rotherham. It was delivered

by Debbie Potts, lecturer in trade union education at The Manchester College and a Community member.

During the event learning rep David Vardy was presented with his Level 2 certifi-cate for spreadsheet software, achieved with the support of Communitas Project Officer Pauline Thrower who regularly visits the learning centre at Stelrad Radiators at Mexborough, Rotherham, which is jointly funded by Communitas and Stelrad.

Polyjets campaign wins new membersTHANKS TO a lively and imagin ative recruitment campaign by members at Polypipe, the Doncaster-based plastic piping manufacturer, Community more than doubled its membership at the firm’s Broomhouse Lane site in eight months.

The two branches at Polypipe’s Broomhouse Lane and Neale Road sites set up a recruitment committee, known as the Polyjets, in January.

Since then the Polyjets have been busy running a branch surgery, identi-fying issues that concern the workforce, holding a two-week factory gate campaign, and updating noticeboards to increase the union’s presence.

“The Polyjets were tasked with coming up with a successful recruit-ment campaign that would attract new members at Broomhouse Lane and establish a much stronger and

effective presence on site,” said Region 3 Campaign Manager Andrew McGariggle, who worked hard on estab-lishing a new branch at Broomhouse Lane in 2011.

“With the continued support of fellow Campaign Manager Donna Cibor there is now a fully sustainable, organised branch.”

Donna said: “The commitment and dedication of the Polyjets has been a breath of fresh air, and the whole team are looking forward to watching the Polyjets continue their success and go from strength to strength into 2013 and beyond.

Lawrence Padley, Branch Secretary at Broomhouse Lane, said: “A union is only as strong as its membership, and the more active the membership, the stronger the union. Members and union working as one moves our rights forward.”

Back row (l to r): ULRs Stephen Causebrook (Tube City IMS), Mark Kaye (Communitas), Tracy Barlow (Courtaulds), Barrie Corker (Stelrad), Stephen Evans (Stelrad), Russ Booth (Beamlight Automotive). Front row (l to r): Elaine Senior (Remploy), David Vardy (Stelrad), Dan Shaw (Stelrad)


news

‘Save our Bacon’ say Tulip workersWORKERS AT the Tulip Fresh Meats plant at Dukinfield, Cheshire, have taken part in one-day strikes and an overtime ban following a unanimous vote in favour of action in a long-running dispute over bonus payments.

Last-minute talks on 28 August failed to produce an improved offer from the company on changes to the bonus scheme which the staff unanimously rejected earlier this year.

In some cases the company’s scheme would mean pay cuts of up to £3,000 a year. Bonus rates at Tulip have remained unchanged for the past eight years and many workers are now struggling to make ends meet.

Community Campaign Manger Chris Ambrose said: “The 100% support our

members have shown for both strike action and an overtime ban sends a clear message to the company that they are determined to get a fairer bonus scheme.

“It’s still not too late for the company to get back round the table and resolve this dispute.”

Tulip Fresh Meats are major suppliers of food products to the retail and food service markets in the UK, including major supermar-kets like Tesco.

As we went to press the union was balloting the entire growing membership at Tulip Foods as company bosses continue to ignore the strength of feeling over poor pay and conditions and workers’ appeal to the union to “save our bacon”.

REMPLOY STRUGGLE FOR JOBS CONTINUESCOMMUNITY MEMBERS continue to campaign for their jobs after the Tory-led government pulled the funding from the organisation.

Sadly, the Remploy Electronics factory in Bolton could not be saved and closed its doors on 16 August, putting 48 people out of work.

Bill Hardman, Community rep at the site, told The Bolton News, “The mood in Bolton is sad and people feel washed-out. Our people think it’s a real shame the factory is closing. It should have been restructured and saved.”

Community continues to seek sustainable solutions for the Remploy factories in Leven, Cowdenbeath and Dundee, where we have members, and is still pushing for a future for all our disabled members’ workplaces after the Sayce Review wrongly concluded that disabled people did not want the option to work in supported employment.

Carpet campaign calls for level playing fieldREPRESENTATIVES FROM Community and Kidderminster carpet maker Brintons met Business Minister Mark Prisk recently to call for a level playing field for UK carpet making.

Brintons wants to install innovative weaving technology – known as 651 – in its Kidderminster plant which could mean 80 new jobs and create £20m-worth of exports. But the owners, US private equity group Carlyle which bought Brintons last year, has said it might invest in its Portuguese factory because Portugal offers better financial incentives than the UK.

Community National Operations Officer Terry Pye, Political Officer Paul Talbot and Community Rep at Brintons Alan Woodbine, Brintons managing director Don Coates, Kidderminster MP Mark Garnier, and Andrew Strawbridge of the Carpet Federation called on the minister to provide additional support for the Kidderminster plant.

They said the Portuguese Development Agency would meet around 40% the cost of the investment, compared to around only 10% in the UK.

They warned that moving looms out of

Kidderminster would damage the viability of the factory, directly affecting the jobs of the 350 people employed there, and would also have a knock-on effect on the town and local area.

Alan Woodbine, on behalf of Community, emphasised that the workforce is committed to ensuring the success of the Kidderminster plant and that the government should ensure a level playing field with the Portuguese.

The minister acknowledged the arguments but gave no specific commitments, other than referring to what might be currently available in skills training and under existing regional assistance programmes.

Community National Operations Officer Terry Pye said: “Community is fully committed to keeping up the campaign for Kidderminster carpet-making and we will look at some fresh political initiatives when Parliament resumes in the autumn. But the more members we have the more effective we can be.”

Community has convened a meeting of representatives from all Kidderminster manu-facturers, both union and management, who are meeting with Mark Garnier MP in October.


news

Community wins Olympic bonus for ‘Boris bike’ workersALL 220 workers at Serco’s Barclays Cycle Hire company in London received a £500 Olympic bonus and improved overtime payments in recognition of their increased workload during the Games.

The deal was negotiated by Community at the company, which operates the capital’s cycle hire scheme which has been dubbed “Boris bikes”.

The key features of the package are

a £500 bonus for all staff covering the period of the Games from 21 July to 10 September and enhanced overtime payments of time and a half for Saturday working and double time for Sundays.

Terry Pye, National Officer of Community, said: “It was a fair offer that all staff at the company benefitted from. The agreement was achieved entirely by negotiation and without the need to resort to threats of industrial action.”

TEAM GB GOALIE CRAIG LOOKS TO NEW CHALLENGEAFTER THE excitement of playing in the Paralympics, Team GB’s goalkeeper and Community member Craig Connell is getting ready to turn out for Scotland in Barcelona next year.

“Playing in-front of 16,000 people for me was amazing. At times I would just look around and think

‘Wow’,” Craig (left), who works at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries in Glasgow, told the Clydebank Post.

“I loved it and although I never played my best, it is something I will always remember.

“I will take a break now and after the new year come back and train for the Intercontinental Cup where I will play for Scotland. The Scotland cerebral palsy side has a new manager too and I am looking forward to representing my country.

“I will work hard and I am looking forward to playing on grass again as the surface at the Paralympics was difficult for us to play on as we were not used to it.”

Despite beating the USA in the men’s seven-a-side football event, Team GB unfortunately went out after losing to Brazil, Ukraine and Argentina.

As well as being selected for Team GB at the Paralympics, Craig, who has cerebral palsy which affects his left side, has played for Scotland for six years and won the goalkeeper of the tournament award at the 2010 European championships.

Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries where Craig works has grown from a facility for the visually impaired to a supported employment workplace with 260 skilled and experi-enced people with disabilities who design and manufacture furniture.

COMMUNITY HONOURS BARBER: President Sue Mather (right) presented Brendan Barber, who retires as TUC General Secretary at the end of the year, with a framed replica Everton shirt signed by manager David Moyes. Barber has been a lifelong Evertonian. Brendan will be succeeded by Frances O’Grady, who will be the first woman to lead the UK Trades Union Congress. Michael Leahy (centre)commented that Brendan would be leaving the movement in ‘capable hands’ and congratulated Frances on her achievement.


news

We’re bookies, not bouncers, bet shop staff tell MPsA PROPOSAL by MPs to increase the number of gambling machines allowed in betting shops will lead to an increase in violence and abuse suffered by staff, Community has warned.

A report by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on gambling, published in July, proposed increasing the current limit of four fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) per shop.

Community argues that there is a direct connection

between FOBTs – casino-style machines that allow punters to bet more than £15,000 an hour – and violence and abuse of staff. Increasing the number would only make matters worse. There are already about 32,000 FOBTs in UK betting shops.

The union also points out that the spread of single-staffed betting shops makes it harder for staff to manage effectively the use of FOBTs and the behaviour of some customers.

Community Campaign Manager Ryan Slaughter said: “Our members want to be bookies not bouncers.

“Betting shop workers up and down the country will look upon this report with dismay and outrage because they experience physical and verbal violence on a daily basis due to the presence of FOBTs.

“It is even more shocking that the committee has backed calls from industry companies for more FOBTs in shops when the same

companies openly stop workers from reporting violent FOBT-related incidents to the police.

Members of the union often complain about the problems caused by FOBTs. Community is analysing the results of a survey of betting shop workers on violence and abuse.

The union has also made freedom of information requests to all police author-ities to establish the levels of crime or under-reporting of incidents in betting shops.

Community member aims to win back Redcar“I AM determined to help win Redcar back for Labour,” said Community-backed Anna Turley, who has been selected as Labour and Co-operative candidate for the seat which the Lib Dems won with a majority of 5,214 in 2010.

“I am so proud to have been selected by Labour Party members here in Redcar. We have a lot of work to do,” said Ms Turley. “Redcar is a proud and passionate place.

“The recent relighting of the blast furnace is a symbol of people who

never give up the fight.”Ms Turley has launched a National

League of the Blind and Disabled petition in Redcar urging the Tory/Lib Dem government “to rethink cuts that hit disabled people the hardest”.

An active member of Community who lives in Redcar, she said: “Disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people, and disabled workers on average receive lower wages than non-disabled workers.”

She had spoken to Community

members from Teesside at Ayresome Industries, which employs a majority of disabled people, to hear about the challenges they are facing.

Craig Harvey, Community rep at Ayresome Industries, said: “We are really pleased that Anna and the NLBD have taken up this campaign on behalf of Community Union members.

“Disabled people in Redcar deserve an MP who will stand up for them, not a Lib Dem one who agrees with cuts and welfare changes that hit them the hardest.”

Anna Turley with the Redcar steel works in the back ground and (above) visiting Ayresome Industries


TOM BUTLER (right) made a plea for the govern ment to support Thamesteel workers who are now out of a job.

Moving a motion, which was carried, calling for the government to develop an active industrial policy to create jobs and growth, he said: “Save our Steel. I don’t know what it means to you, but I’ll tell you what it means to me. “It means 400 jobs at Thamesteel on the Isle of Sheppey. It means people being given just two hours’ notice that they’re

unemployed.”He pointed out that it

wasn’t “the blue and yellow Tories” that had saved steel on Teeside, it was a union-led campaign, the local community and a Thai company, SSI.

“Thamesteel workers have got steel in our blood, but all we get from this government are warm words and cold comfort,” he told Congress. “British manufacturing is suffering from this depression made

in Downing Street.” Calling for the British

government to support its industry in the way France and Germany support theirs, he said: “I care about the young kids on Sheppey with no hope of a job on the horizon.

“And I care about my colleagues from Thamesteel in their forties and fifties, who are worried they’ll never work again.

“These are people’s lives we are talking about. Please help save our steel.”

TUC report

COMMUNITY DELEGATE Lew Schaffer moved a successful composite motion criticising the UK government for failing to use public procurement to create jobs, boost economic growth and support the community

“I want High Speed 2 rails to be made in Scunthorpe. I want to see wind turbines end-to-end manufactured in the UK. And I want to see more sustainable supported employment for disabled people,” he declared.

“Each year public procurement spending exceeds £80bn. When UK industries and businesses are suffering, this money ought to be used to give them some much needed support. But the coalition don’t have the vision or the political will to make the most of procurement to help.”

Lew said it was “a disgrace” that the Scottish government had decided to use steel from China, Poland and Spain for the Forth

Rebuilding industry

Rebuilding Britain’s industry was a key theme to Community’s contributions to the TUC conference in Brighton in September. They included proposing two motions and a question from union’s President Sue Mather for shadow chancellor Ed Balls

replacement crossing.“Ninety per cent of the original Forth Road

Bridge was made with British steel. Guess how much British made steel will be in the new bridge?” he asked. “Not one tonne.”

Dalzell steelworks just 40 miles down the road from the Forth could have supplied some of the plate for the bridge, while Scunthorpe steel could have been rolled for such a major construction project.

He called for governments and councils to make more use of Article 19, which allows public bodies to favour businesses that employ a majority of disabled people. This would create far more opportunities for supported employment businesses.

The Labour-led Welsh Government’s emphasis on community benefit clauses, which meant more jobs for local people, was a positive example of procurement.

Lew Schaffer: Coalition does not have the vision or the political will to make the most of procurement

‘These are people’s lives we are talking about’


COMMUNITY’S PAUL Warren spoke on a wide-ranging composite motion on pensions that included a call for the TUC General Council to campaign for an independent commission to look at retirement ages and consider the impact of occupation effects such as shiftworking on longevity.

“There’s mounting evidence that shiftworkers live shorter lives,” he told Congress. “They are more than 40% more likely to suffer a heart attack, and they are also dispro-portionately likely to suffer from depression, sleeping disorders and family breakdown.

“It’s scandalous that the Tory-led government

are already fast-tracking the increase in the retirement age.

“But for too many shift workers, this change is likely to mean that they will have very little or no retirement before they can access their state pension, or may never access it at all. Retirement ages must take into account the impact of a person’s line of work on their longevity.”

He said it was an issue that spans the public and private sector, from steel-workers doing shifts in coke ovens on Teesside to nurses in hospitals. “George Osborne wants us to all work until we drop,” said Paul. “For shift workers, we’re more likely to drop quicker than others.”

SPEAKING IN support of a composite motion on improving union organisation in the private sector, Community’s John Edgar said: “For every one of me or my colleagues at Tata Steel Tubes in Corby, there are six workers in the private sector with no union.

“We’re fortunate, we’re still highly organised in the steel industry across the UK. But sadly that level of private sector organisa-tion and union strength is becoming increasingly rare.”

It was vital for unions to overcome challenges such as hostile employers, a high turnover of labour and workplaces that have never had a union and do not know what unions do.

“We need to find more ways to reach out to private sector workers and to demonstrate the power of collective bargaining. And we also need to educate more employers about the value of trade unions.”

His employer provided facility time and understood the contribution the union made to the workplace – on health and safety, produc-tivity and employment and industrial relations.

Other constructive employers saw unions as an integral part of a successful company.

But he stressed: “We should be making the case together to other employers.

“Let’s get the message out there to the millions.”

IN A Q&A session Community President Sue Mather (right) asked shadow chancellor Ed Balls: “Would a future Labour government back a British investment bank to secure the future of UK industry, and where do you think the Tory-led government has got it wrong in its support for manufacturing?”

Mr Balls replied: “We need a strategic industrial strategy and that is what we are working on. An industrial strategy does not mean scrapping capital allowances for investment. It doesn’t mean getting rid of the regional development agencies.”

He cited how the Chinese prime minister wanted to congratulate the regional development agency on brokering a deal between the car plant

and his government when he visited to open a new line making MG cars.

However, the owners didn’t know how to explain to him that the new govern ment had decided to abolish regional development agencies.

“Vince Cable is talking about a business bank. But he is not saying what it will be, how it will be funded, when it will happen. We’ve said really clearly that we want a proper business

investment bank,” said Mr Balls.Labour was looking at how it

could be set up and it would “fill that funding gap for small businesses and get our economy moving”.

Predicting that Vince Cable’s latest plan would be “a damp squib’ he added: “It’s the sixteenth time he’s announced a new industrial strategy in the last year and a half. I think that says it all.”

Labour working on industrial strategy

Millions need to hear the union message

Shiftwork – an issue for workers in all sectors

PICTU

RES: JESS HU

RD/REPO

RTDIG

ITAL.C

O.U

K


energy

Rae Cahill, a young member of Community’s Labour Campaign Network, spoke at the TUC Congress launch of a Unions 21 pamphlet on young workers

THE PAMPHLET confirms what we had already feared – unemployment at an early age is negatively affecting young people for the rest of their lives and the continuing prevalence of precarious work is hurting young people hard.

It’s shocking when you hear stats like one third of young people in temporary employment are there because they can’t find permanent work. The reality of that statistic is far too close to home. I’m fortunate enough to be in permanent employment, but many of my friends leaving school, college or university that have managed to find employment

are in temporary positions. This leaves their futures uncertain.

A major concern I share with the union is when, in hard times, employers start cutting training costs and cutting back on apprenticeships. One of the key questions posed by Unions 21 was “Are we wasting time waiting for government policy to solve the problem”? Yes, because this Tory-led government has little interest in solving youth unemployment.

This is clear from the huge error they made when scrapping Labour’s Future Jobs Fund. The Youth Contract is a poor imitation. For fellow Scots, the SNP’s Youth Unemployment Strategy is another pathetic reproduction.

Both replications have potential to exploit free youth labour and this makes me extremely worried. Thankfully,

STRONGER TOGETHER FOR CHEAPER ENERGYCOMMUNITY RECENTLY sponsored an energy summit in Dundee that looked at options for local communities or organisations to join together and negotiate cheaper gas and electricity bills.

Community member and MSP for North East Scotland, Jenny Marra, hailed the Dundee Energy Summit as a success in its aim to take forward a collective purchasing scheme for Dundee.

Now, working with the Labour Party, Community is examining how the union could introduce a collective purchasing scheme for Community members.

Collective purchasing already saves Belgian and Dutch energy consumers up to 30% off their energy costs by pooling consumers together to bargain for cheaper fuel bills.

In Dundee, presentations were given by Ichoosr, the company that administrate the scheme in Belgium, whose representative had flown across for the meeting, and by Which?, the Consumers’ Association magazine and website, which recently ran a collective purchasing scheme across Britain.

Jenny Marra MSP said: “It was good to have Community’s support for our summit, which was a great step forward in our vision for Dundee to become the first city in the UK to buy our energy together and get savings for our citizens.

“Everyone at the meeting was positive and constructive about putting a scheme together.

“I am determined that we should make this happen for Dundee but it would be great to see my own union, Community, work with the Labour Party and be at the forefront of collective purchasing in the UK. What better way to show we are stronger together than negotiating for cheaper energy for the union’s members?”

Why I joined Community …Aled Lleision Jones, Port Talbot Managers branchAFTER FINISHING my university course in 2008, my first taste both of industry and real full-time employment was with Tata Steel at Port Talbot (then Corus).

This was a very exciting time for me and, as a functional trainee in an ever-changing environment, an equally scary one. With many uncertainties around my future career, it was at this time I was introduced to the union.

At first I was intrigued by all the benefits Community offered to members. However, since joining, it is the unexpected benefits which have struck me the most:

q many different new friends and contacts;

q exposure to meetings and influen-tial individuals I would not have previously had the opportunity to meet;

q greater confidence and security around job decisions; and

q support from my local reps regarding personal and professional feedback. This is for me what unions are all

about – not necessarily the palpable short-term benefits, but the less obvious longer-term, ongoing support provided to members.

More recently, I have been invited to training courses as part of the union. These have only strengthened my

Why unions are vital for young workers today

Bart Stevens from Ichoosr, Jenny Marra MSP and Community NEC member Pat Donnelly


The 2013 Community diary will soon be available to members. This year’s diary includes an updated section on ‘Your rights at work’ as well as all the usual helpful information.

The diary will not be sent out automati-cally to members this year.

If you wish to receive a free copy then you should telephone the diary order line on 020 7420 4004 after 15 October or email [email protected] with your full name, first line of address, postcode and Community union membership number. A diary will then be posted to your home address.

young workers

creative Labour-led local authori-ties are taking their own action to tackle the youth employment crisis. Glasgow City Council has pledged to provide 2,000 appren-ticeships as part of the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Trade unions can also play their part. One way unions can help young workers is to encourage them to join trade unions! Young people need the benefits of joining a union explained to them. If a union isn’t offering much for young people, don’t expect a new generation of young workers to be queuing round the block to join.

It’s great how Community supports young workers with a specific membership rate for the duration of apprenticeships, an easy-to-reach freephone service centre and community branches, recognising that young workers are more likely to move from

job-to-job particularly at the start of their working life.

My route into Community has been through the Labour Campaign Network that includes a specific rate for Young Labour members: Community under-stands that young people’s first involvement with the labour movement is increasingly through other organisations.

I’m pleased Community wants to identify the union activists of the future and is committing resources to training young activists. Unions are vital to supporting young workers in the face of a government that is more about announcements than action. Young people are facing a crisis but at least Community and Labour are trying to produce solutions.

■ You can download the Unions 21 paper Young Workers and the Crisis: Hit Hardest, Scarred Longest by Dr Melanie Simms from www.unions21.org.uk

positive experiences so far and have allowed me to meet with some excellent and interesting members from across the country.

Going forward, I hope to continue my role with Community and, if possible, actively seek opportunities to become involved further in a bid to offer the same positive experience to newer

and younger members of our union. ■ If you are interested in getting

involved in accessing education opportunities please contact your Branch Secretary and/or your Campaign Manager.

■ Tell us why you joined Community email [email protected] with the subject ‘Why I joined’

Rae Cahill at the Unions 21 event in Brighton

Aled, third from left, with fellow members at a recent Community school

Why unions are vital for young workers today

STEFAN

O C

AG

NO

NI

mailto:[email protected]




DRIVER CARE PLUSCommunity’s latest member benefit

Calling all LGV drivers Get covered with Driver Care Plus

q Just 90p per week q £10,000 cover for permanent loss of licence*

q Legal support for road traffic offences*What is it?Cover for permanent loss of licence due to accidental injury, disability, illness, poor eyesight or assault for licensed LGV drivers who are members of Community Trade Union:

q £10,000.00 cover in the event of licence being revoked and the member being permanently disqualified from holding a

licence as a direct result of injury, illness or disability;* q Legal support – advice and representation against

prosecution for Road Traffic Offences whilst driving an official vehicle on duty.*

How do I get it?Ask your local Community rep, go to our website and download the form or call the Membership Department on 0800 389 6332. At just 90p per week or £3.90 per month

it represents great value for peace of mind. Payment can be taken with your member contribution by check-off for TNT Post members or by direct debit for any other members.

*Subject to terms and conditions – ask your local Community rep for details or visit our website

Documents

Community • Better Together