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This month we are concentrating on an important issue - a Bill to protect agency and temporary workers.
In this edition, we have an article from Tony Dubbins asking for your help in gaining support for a Bill to provide equal protection for agency and temporary workers.
There is also information from the London Fabians, Unions21 & Compass on some events that they are running which you may wish to attend.
We hope you find this Newsletter informative and useful and we remind you that you can view other articles and documents on our website unionstogether.org.uk.
Regards,
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Our movement has an important opportunity to act to protect some of our most vulnerable workers. On March 2nd, Paul Farrelly MP will submit a Private Member's Bill to the House of Commons. The subject of this Bill will be protection for temporary and agency workers, which has long been an area where employment protection is weak.
For many, agency working means discrimination in the workplace and:
• poorer pay
• denial of sick, holiday and overtime pay
• an easy ride for unscrupulous employers.
A key part of the 2004 Warwick Agreement was the pledge by Labour to act to protect agency and temporary workers - either by supporting a European Directive on Agency & Temporary Workers or, if the EU could not reach agreement, to introduce protection within British law.
Since 2004, the discussions at a European level have proven to be difficult, and it is the view of the ETUC and a number of Labour MEPs that the chances of a Directive being agreed upon are highly unlikely.
The Private Member's Bill being brought by Paul Farrelly MP is a reflection of the latest draft of the Directive, and its becoming law would meet the commitment made in the Warwick negotiations. As a result, the National TULO Committee has decided to provide strong support for the Bill and to actively campaign in support of it.
The Bill is due to be presented to the House of Commons on the Friday 2nd March.
That date will be absolutely crucial for the progression of this Bill, as it will require the positive votes of at least 100 MPs if it is to move forward to the committee stage of the Parliamentary process. This could present some difficulties, as Friday is traditionally a day that MPs spend in their constituencies. If the Bill does not receive the 100 votes that it needs, then it will fall and we will have missed this important opportunity to both deliver on a key part of the Warwick agreement and provide protection for some of our most vulnerable workers.
TULO is asking for your support at this important time. We are asking you to do one simple thing:
Click here and take 2 minutes to send an email to Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Minister at the Department for Trade and Industry, asking him to offer the government's support to the Bill.
If you have a Labour MP, you might also want to think about making contact with them to ask them to be present in Westminster on March 2nd to vote for the Bill.
It is my belief that it is only through the wide support of Party and union activists across the country that we will be able to ensure the progress of the Bill. I hope that you will take just a few minutes to play your part in winning protection for Agency & Temporary Workers.
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Alan Milburn MP will be discussing the Labour Party post Blair with Questions & Answers
The event on Tuesday starts at 7.30pm at the City University Club on 50 Cornhill. The Club will be open from 7pm. Please feel free to join us after 7.30pm if you are running late. The Club's website is cityuniversityclub.co.uk. The Club is in the same building as the Counting House pub.
Click here for the Streetmap link.
Our events are free to all Fabian Society and Labour Party members. You can contact the London City Fabians at chair@cityfabians.com or visit their website cityfabians.com.
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Changing Unions in a Changing World Unions 21 Conference 2007
9.30-13.30, Saturday 10th March, Congress House, London
David Miliband MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, will be the keynote speaker at Unions 21's annual conference. Other speakers include: Frances O'Grady (TUC Deputy General Secretary), Chris Keates (NASUWT General Secretary), Tony Dubbins (Amicus Deputy General Secretary) and Debbie Coulter (GMB Deputy General Secretary).
Tickets cost £15 for individuals or £30 if your organisation is paying (for
NUS click here . Download the booking form here and get your ticket!
ForeFront: All the latest trade union news and comment. Winter 2007 edition available to download here.
Union Modernisation Fund Seminar: Unions 21 in partnership with the TUC and the Union Ideas Network held a seminar on the Union Modernisation Fund. Speakers included: Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Frances O'Grady (TUC), Diana Holland (T&G), David Yeandle (EEF), John Lloyd (Community/Unions 21) Read the report here.
The Problem of Intimacy: Trade Unions and Labour Governments: This seminar looked at the changing relationships between the trade union movement and post-war Labour governments. Speakers: Nina Fishman (University of Westminster), Geoffrey Goodman (former Daily Mirror industrial editor), John Cole (former BBC political editor), Chair: Hywel Francis MP
Download Nina Fishman's paper here.
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To attend any of these excellent Compass debates please email office@compassonline.org.uk. Or call us on 020 7463 0633. For the latest news and view from the democratic left visit our daily updated website at compassonline.org.uk.
compassonline.org
1. The New Politics of Well-Being - are we suffering from Affluenza?
6pm Wednesday 21 February 2007, CR12 House of Commons
Speakers: James Purnell MP; Lord Layard; Oliver James; Sue Palmer; Neal Lawson; Derek Draper (chair)
2. Time to rethink Trident?
7pm Tuesday 27 February 2007, CR14 House of Commons
Speakers: Jon Trickett MP; John Sauben, Executive Director, Greenpeace Europe; Bianca Jagger, UN
Goodwill Ambassador (tbc); Baroness Helena Kennedy QC (chair) (tbc)
3. Denied entry? Can we build a more progressive consensus on immigration?
6pm Tuesday 6 March 2007, The Great Hall, The RSA, Strand
Speakers: Sukhvinder Stubbs, Barrow Cadbury Trust; Jon Cruddas MP; Barbara Roche; John Denham MP; Prof Nigel Harris; Evrard Oule, T&G
This event is held in partnership with The Barrow Cadbury Trust; Migrants' Rights Network and RSA
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