Against victimisation

Defending victimised workers and trade unionists

Paul Holmes re-elected

Kirklees Unison has held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Paul Holmes has been re-elected as branch secretary in an online ballot of all members. The Huddersfield Examiner reports that Unison nationally has supported Holmes in holding the branch secretary position despite him being sacked recently by Kirklees council, as Solidarity has reported . Paul Holmes is appealing against his sacking, and believes it is victimisation due to his trade union activities. Paul Holmes was challenged by Socialist Party member Angie Waller, and the outgoing assistant branch secretary position was also...

Reinstate Paul Holmes!

On 2 February Kirklees council announced the dismissal from employment of the left-wing branch secretary of Kirklees Unison and national union president, Paul Holmes. The decision followed a disciplinary process that has lasted longer than two years. The complaints relate to allegations within the union branch. The employer has no place investigating or taking action about what goes on in a union office. Unions are independent workers’ organisations which should uphold their own rules and procedures. Bosses have no place investigating unions in their workplaces. Unison must demand his...

Louise Lewis victimised again

The National Education Union (NEU) workplace rep at North Huddersfield Trust, Louise Lewis, has been dismissed in an act of blatant anti-union victimisation. Louise was at the centre of a major dispute earlier this year when she was subjected to disciplinary allegations and suspended. Her union insisted that the allegations were an attack on her legitimate work as the school rep, especially her determination to ensure that Covid safety measures were properly followed. NEU members were balloted and voted to take sustained strike action to defend her. After several days on strike and a hearing...

Near victory in Royal Parks dispute

Last week I wrote that one of our members in the Royal Parks dispute was facing victimisation. Until that threat was lifted we couldn’t settle the dispute. The good news is that the threat of dismissal has now been withdrawn, and the member’s probation period has been extended, which is the outcome he was looking for. That means we can move forward with discussion around the employer’s offer. That offer includes the recognition of PCS, significant enhancement of sick pay arrangements, and improvements in many contractual terms. We’ll discuss the offer with members at a meeting on Thursday 18...

Support Facebook cleaners, 15 October

Workers cleaning Facebook’s London offices are protesting outside them weekly about the sacking of their union rep and workloads which are making them unwell. The next protest is 4pm on Friday 15 October at the Facebook office at 10 Brock St, NW1 3FG. The workers’ union CAIWU (Cleaning and Allied Independent Workers’ Union) will be balloting for strikes on issues including the sacking of Guillermo Camacho. They are also calling for Facebook to terminate their contract with Churchill Cleaning and bring them in-house. Cleaners and facilities workers have won or are pushing for insourcing at a...

Facebook victimises workers' rep

Workers cleaning Facebook’s London offices for Churchill Cleaning will protest again on 17 September as part of their fight against workload increases, harassment of workers and victimisation of their union rep. The company has doubled the workload of cleaners at Facebook’s office on Brock Street (in Camden, north west London) and is now trying to implement similar changes at its London HQ down the road in Rathbone Square. It has removed Cleaners and Allied Independent Workers Union (CAIWU) rep Guillermo Camacho, and engaged in severe bullying of another worker, Monica Arribasplata. CAIWU...

Solidarity with Paul Holmes

Around 100 people joined a solidarity rally for Unison Branch Secretary and national President Paul Holmes on Monday 6 September as his disciplinary hearing began. Holmes was suspended by Kirklees Council in November 2019. The council is not holding the hearing at council offices as would be usual, instead paying for a four-star hotel on the outskirts of Huddersfield. Though supported by his local branch, Holmes is not receiving support from the national union. Along with other Kirklees Unison activists, Holmes has also been suspended by Unison, with no hearings yet. It is unclear whether the...

Two Tube strike ballots close 29 June

Tube union RMT has launched two parallel ballots of its driver members across London Underground, both closing on 29 June. One ballot is for action to win reinstatement for Gary Carney, a union rep sacked after allegedly “avoiding” a drugs and alcohol test about which he was not informed. Drivers on Gary’s line, the Central line, were due to strike on 6 May, but strikes were suspended to allow further talks. After London Underground upheld the sacking, the ballot has been widened to include all drivers across the Tube. The other ballot is for action against so-called “grade consolidation” for...

Three wins, two setbacks

The United Learning academy chain has pulled back from dismissing teacher and National Education Union (NEU) activist Kirstie Paton.

A victory at Pimlico Academy

Staff and students at Pimlico Academy in London have already seen a first victory. On 18 May, the day before a National Education Union (NEU) ballot for strike action, closed, head teacher Daniel Smith announced he would leave on 31 May. Student protest and the threat of workers’ action has seen off...

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