“It is very hard to know what the dispute is about. It is said to be about Health and Safety but actaully all Unite’s material [...]]]> To be a good politician, you have to be able to spin well. Frances Maude deserves a medal for the bull he’s just been spouting on the BBC news channel.

“It is very hard to know what the dispute is about. It is said to be about Health and Safety but actaully all Unite’s material suggests it’s about much more than that.”

Frances Maude, 10:57

Earlier in his interview, he stated the dispute was purely about pay.

“Tanker drivers work in an increasingly fragmented and pressurised industry where corners are being cut on safety and training in a bid to squeeze profits and win contracts. Drivers face growing job insecurity as a result of the contract ‘merry-go-round’ and a ‘beat the clock’ culture has flourished with drivers forced to meet ever shorter delivery deadlines.”

“This is not about pay – this is about ensuring that high safety and training standards are maintained, so that our communities are safe. It is about a simple measure, the creation of an industry-wide bargaining forum. It is about bringing fairness and stability back to an essential national industry.”

Unite Website – 11:00

According to BBC News, “London Underground (LU) said the strike was illegal as drivers who were not scheduled to work on [...]]]> I’m glad I cycle around London. I’d hate to think that my hard earned cash, paid in tube fairs to TfL, was being used to apply for an injunction on the loosest grounds ever.

According to BBC News, “London Underground (LU) said the strike was illegal as drivers who were not scheduled to work on 26 December had cast their votes in the strike ballot.”

Now, I may be missing something here, are tube managers really that thick that they would listen to their employment law “experts” on this?

Within seconds I figured that just because someone isn’t scheduled to work on Boxing Day this year, doesn’t mean they won’t be scheduled to work on Boxing Day next year. Ergo they have the right to be balloted.

A piss poor show from TfL wasting money in a Court when they could be around the table trying to sort this sorry mess out.

That isn’t to say I agree with the idea that tube drivers deserve triple pay and a day off in lieu for working Boxing Day…

Would it have made any difference if they were part of a different union?

Quite why, I’m not sure. It’s [...]]]> Michael Gove is the shadow education secretary. He’s been having a go at Labour because it gets money from Unite, the trade union. The British Airways employees who voted to strike, are part of Unite.

Would it have made any difference if they were part of a different union?

Quite why, I’m not sure. It’s not like it’s a shock surprise that trade unions donate money to Labour. It’s not like the Tories would have a chance in a frozen over hell of getting their hands on the money.

It’s a bit hypocritical too. Why is the shadow Education Secretary doing this? Is the shadow Transport Secretary a scaredy cat?

It looks to me like they want to take the heat off Lord Ashcroft. I mean, don’t the Tories have pretty serious questions to answer if their biggest donor for NINE years wasn’t a UK taxpayer, despite promising that he would become one forthwith?

Perhaps the Conservatives could get their own house in order first. Then they can be without sin, and cast the first stone.

Rik Holliday claims he’s [...]]]> The Boston Hyatt has offered to re-employ the sacked housekeeping staff, and it’ll be done via Hospitality Staffing Solutions, a temp agency in the USA. The ‘president’ of HSS, Rik Holliday (fitting name), has been boasting that his staff will be paid $8 per hour, to clean 25 bedrooms per day.

Rik Holliday claims he’s giving these staff  ‘a start on the ‘American Dream”. Previously they were paid to clean 15 bedrooms per day. But because they no longer change sheets daily, they can do 25. That’s a cut from 30 minutes per room to just 17. Unfortunately techniques haven’t changed much, it’s not just about changing the sheets.

The Hyatt chain is known for top class luxury and service. I’m struggling to find the top class service if my housekeeper is struggling to scrub the toilet, clean the coffee maker, dust, vacuum, mop the floor etc with only 17 minutes to spare. Staff are already skipping breaks, going without lunch, and more than 65% are on pain medication.

Rik Holliday was all over the news in the USA claiming a green victory. Changing the sheets less frequently is just the first step on the ladder. The staff are still outsourced, and at risk. Cheap publicity shot? Maybe.

If you want a clean room, with happy housekeeping staff, don’t stay in a Hyatt in Boston.

At Hyatt, we’re committed to making a positive and lasting impact in every community in which we operate.

You expect that you’re dealing with an impeccable brand . Not so with Hyatt.

Some of the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston tricked their housekeeping [...]]]> When your corporate website includes a section on corporate responsibility which begins with:

At Hyatt, we’re committed to making a positive and lasting impact in every community in which we operate.

You expect that you’re dealing with an impeccable brand . Not so with Hyatt.

Some of the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston tricked their housekeeping staff to train ‘holiday replacements’ from an agency, then sacked their own staff.

There have been protests, boycotts and lots of angry responses to the Hyatt’s tactics. The Hyatt’s defence is that they couldn’t afford their staff – bear in mind that housekeeping is the part which makes or breaks a hotel. These sacked staff are key to the success or failure of the hotel and it’s reputation. Some of the staff had been working at the hotel for more than 20 years.

Boston taxi drivers have threatened to boycott the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston. Governor Deval Patrick threatened a Government boycott of the hotel chain. Several hundred union members protested outside a hotel in Boston.

In the UK, londontravelpack.com has removed the Hyatt hotel chain from its London hotel listings section.

Giving money to this hotel chain is supporting their stance that their workers are not important.

Kettle Foods, an american company based in Oregon, USA, employed a UK union-busting company at its Norwich [...]]]> As I mentioned with the Carphone Warehouse taking anti-union measures, and don’t forget that includes the popular Talk Talk brand – free broadband has workforce costs – I’ve came across a few other brands to be wary of.

Kettle Foods, an american company based in Oregon, USA, employed a UK union-busting company at its Norwich UK plant. Kettle Foods, makers of Kettle Chips, denies attempting to dissuade workers from joining the Unite union. It freely admitted receiving advice from the UK subsiduary of The Burke Group – a rather venomous anti-union consultant group. Why one earth anyone would want to work for a company which helps your employer to deny you your rights is beyond me.

Remember, when we buy kettle chips, we’re endorsing that Kettle Foods consults on avoiding dealing with trade unions to give us better conditions at work.

The United States Employee Free Choice Act

President Obama is trying to give Unions a chance in the USA. Membership is low, at 13%, and union-busting is at an all time high. The Employee Free Choice Act was supported by Senator Obama, and it’s still supported by President Obama.

We can help – ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1896, which reads:

UNION RIGHTS IN THE US

15.07.2009

Cruddas, Jon

That this House notes that the US has not yet ratified International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 or 98 on freedom of association and free collective bargaining, and that harassment of workers trying to form trade unions is widespread and leads to 30,000 sackings every year; believes that the Employee Free Choice Act currently before Congress would give US workers the choice about whether to belong to a trade union which can collectively bargain with their employers; and calls on UK companies operating in the US publicly to support the Employee Free Choice Act and on hon. Members’ colleagues in Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act without delay.

Which other companies have employed Union Busting techniques?

Before The Burke Group password-protected their client list, it included:

• Virgin Atlantic
• Amazon
• T-Mobile
• Calor Gas

Spend your money wisely to help your fellow humans to better their lives. Don’t spend it to help large corporations get fatter.