Annual Report for 2014

Southend Trades Union Council

Registered with the TUC 

Secretary’s Report for year ended 31^st December 2014

Introduction

During last year, we convened 11 general meetings of the Southend TUC with an average attendance of 5 delegates.

We received affiliation fees for 2014 from 11 branches of the following Unions:

CWU, NUT, PCS, RMT, UNISON, UNITE

In addition, we maintained our affiliations to the Essex Association of Trades Councils (CATC) and the National Pensioners Convention (NPC).

A special thank you is due to Des and Rachel Heemskerk, for the use of their home for our meetings throughout the year.

Work of the Year

(a) Jobs, Growth and a New Economy

In the run up to the TUC’s national March and Rally on Saturday 18^th October, we held a successful street stall in Southend town centre on Saturday 4^th October. We prepared and distributed a leaflet which advertised the national march and rally, and the coach from Southend organised by UNISON. There were expressions of interest from 14 people. On 18^th October, 30 people travelled to London from Southend on the UNISON coach.

(b) Good Services and Decent Welfare

Throughout 2014, we have supported the industrial action taken by colleagues in the Public Sector to defend jobs and services. We expressed our solidarity with: members of the PCS who took industrial action in June; and to the health unions and PCS, who took co-ordinated strike action in October.

We have also supported the FBU in their current dispute over pensions. A donation was made to their hardship fund, for which the cheque was presented at the Southend Fire Station picket line on 6^th December.

(c) Strong Unions

At this year’s Leigh Folk Festival, we held a stall on both the Saturday and Sunday event. The Trades Unions are now recognised as the major sponsors of the annual festival, and our involvement is welcomed by the Organising Committee.

For the fourth successive year, we have organised a mini-bus to the Burston March and rally. This year’s event commemorated the 100^th anniversary of the setting up of the strike school by Annie and Tom Higdon.

Summary

2014 has been another successful year, in which the Southend TUC has been able, by campaigning activities, to raise its profile both within the trade union movement locally and the community in which our members live and work.

Ian Pope
Secretary

 

London’s bus workers to strike

Bus workers to strike over ‘unfair’ pay disparities 

 London’s 18 bus operators were accused of ‘burying their head in the sand’ over ‘glaringly unfair’ pay disparities as Britain’s largest union, Unite announced that up to 27,000 bus workers would be taking part in a London wide bus strike on Tuesday 13 January. 

The 24 hour stoppage follows the continued refusal by London’s bus 18 operators to enter into talks about a single London wide agreement covering bus workers’ pay, terms and conditions. 

In contrast to tube drivers, there isn’t one collective pay deal for bus drivers in the capital, whose pay is negotiated on a company by company basis leading to pay inequality and disparities.

There are over 80 different pay rates covering London’s bus drivers, doing the same job, even driving the same route but for different rates of pay.

A refusal by the bus operators to address the issue has led to pay gaps of over £3 an hour for new starters opening up, with pay varying from £9.30 to £12.34 an hour depending on the company.

Commenting, Wayne King London regional officer for Unite said: “Passengers pay one fare to travel on London’s iconic red buses, yet there are over 80 different pay rates covering bus workers, many doing the same job or driving the same route but for different rates of pay.

“Strike action is not a step our members take lightly, but bus workers who keep London moving 24 hours a day, seven days a week, have had enough of pay inequality and unfair pay disparities.

“The blame for the disruption that strike action will cause sits squarely with London’s bus companies. They have repeatedly ignored our offers for collective talks and need to get their heads out of the sand and start negotiating meaningfully about ending pay inequality on London’s buses.”