WHY NOT A 2 HOUR STOPPAGE TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION STRIKE 20TH SEPT? WORKERS & UNIONISTS MUST SUPPORT EFFORTS TO SAVE THE PLANET! ...
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Sydney, Australia Paper of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Network 50c
Vol.37 No.2 (225) Aug -Sept. 2019
WHY NOT A 2 HOUR STOPPAGE TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION
STRIKE 20TH SEPT? WORKERS & UNIONISTS MUST SUPPORT EFFORTS TO SAVE
THE PLANET! THERE WILL BE NO JOBS ON A DEAD PLANET!
AMAZON WORKERS’ INTERNATIONAL STRIKE P2; NSW RAILWAY
NEWS P3; FAIR GAME PART (1) P5; THE 6 EMOTIONS THE BOSS
USE AGAINST YOU P6; PERCEPTIONS OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS P6;
SYNDEY BUSES NEWS P7; VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS P9;
BRITAIN TODAY P10; FRANCE: YELLOW VESTS P12;
USA: UBER & THE GIG ECONOMY P14; BOOK REVIEW P15;
EDGARD LEUENROTH 1881-1968 P18 BULGARIA P18;
USA: BURGER WORKERS’ STRIKE P20;
2 Rebel Worker
line database that ICE agents use to track Items arrive already packaged from fa-
Rebel Worker is the bi-monthly immigrants they are trying to deport. The cilities further up the supply chain, in-
Paper of the A.S.N. for the propa- New York City rally was held at CEO Jeff cluding fulfilment centres like the one in
gation of anarcho-syndicalism in Bezos’s $80 million mega-penthouse. Minnesota. Workers in delivery centres
Australia. Minneapolis to Chicago sort the packages and load them into
The fulfilment centre in Shakopee, a vans for delivery. These facilities have
Unless otherwise stated, signed proliferated in major urban centres as
Articles do not necessarily represent suburb of Minneapolis, has been the site
of some of the most confrontational and part of the push for one-day and
the position of the A.S.N. as a whole. successful organizing so far. Twice in the same-day delivery.
Any contributions, criticisms, letters past year, Amazon warehouse workers Workers in this Chicago warehouse nor-
or there have walked off the job to protest mally make $15 per hour. As an incentive,
Comments are welcome. management’s ever-increasing productiv- managers had promised to pay $18 per ex-
REBEL WORKER ity goals and discrimination against Mus- tra hour worked on top of a regular
lim workers. shift—but the higher rate applied only for
P.O. BOX 92
Those actions backed by the Awood the extra hour, not the whole shift.
BROADWAY 2007 NSW
Center, a worker center based in Min- Many workers are not scheduled for
E-m ail : V i a o u r w eb s i te enough hours to qualify for the company’s
nesota’s East African community, led to
www.rebelworker.org health insurance.
the first negotiations between Amazon
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: and a U.S. labor organization. Workers The warehouse can get intensely hot, since
AUSTRALIA: $12 a year affiliated with the center have orga- its walls and roof are metal. Amazon pub-
OVERSEAS nized under the slogan “We Are Hu- licized that it was installing air condition-
$25 (Aus.) by Air mans, Not Robots,” and are also ing in its fulfillment centers in 2012 after
$20 (Aus.) by Sea mail campaigning against retaliation and public scrutiny and high-profile incidents,
health and safety problems. but air conditioners have not been installed
Free to Prisoners in other facilities this one.
Bolstered by the Minneapolis example,
Supporters Subs. $40 pa workers in an Amazon delivery center in Small walkout
Receives copies of RW & ASN Chicago on July 16 took Prime Day action At the Minnesota facility, workers
Pamphlets as published. of their own. They surveyed co-workers to walked off the day shift July 15 to join a
Send to the above. Cheques should be develop demands, and settled on three: air community picket. Workers said manag-
made out to Black Cat Media. conditioning, health insurance, and $18 an ers and police were staked out at the front
hour throughout Prime Week. of the warehouse, keeping track of who
Thirty workers on the night shift was exiting, which had a chilling effect on
packed the shift manager’s office dur- participation.
ing a 2:30 a.m. break to deliver the de-
International Amazon mands. After a lively back and forth,
Organizers had hoped that 100 workers
would walk out. In the end, far fewer
they secured a commitment to meet did. Nonetheless, workers and commu-
Workers’ Strike with the warehouse’s top manager. nity supporters picketed, danced, and
“Our goal today was to get a meeting with rallied until rain and flash flood warn-
the person who has the ability to make the ings ended the action.
By Joe DeManuelle-Hall decisions around the things that we’re de- Several Amazon tech workers from Seat-
Amazon’s biggest shopping days of manding,” said Terry Miller (a pseud- tle flew in to join the rally. They are part of
2019 so far —”Prime Days,” July onym), who participated in the action. a group called Amazon Employees for Cli-
15-16— saw walkouts and protests by “We knew the best-case scenario was mate Justice, which has organized an open
workers in the U.S. and Germany. The meeting with the site manager, and that’s letter signed by 8,000 employees demand-
protests were semi-coordinated, target- what we got.” (Read his firsthand account ing that the company expand its commit-
ing Amazon when its warehouses are of warehouse conditions here.) ment to renewable energy and stop
running at full clip and the company is Co-workers abuzz providing technological support for oil
in the media spotlight. and gas extraction. Dave Kamper contrib-
After the meeting, the delegation re-
In Germany, Amazon workers organizing turned to work and finished out the uted reporting to this article. This article
with the Ver.di union struck over the shift. Workers who hadn’t participated was first published by Labor Notes.
course of two days in an ongoing struggle were buzzing about what had hap- Thanks to Rank & File. Ca Edited
over pay. The union claimed that 2,000 pened.
workers participated across seven facili-
“[Other workers] saw
ties.
that we were able to
A.S.N. APPEAL
Meanwhile in the U.S., a small group of make the company pay
workers walked out at a fulfilment cen- attention to us,” said
tre near Minneapolis. Others in a Chi-
The Anarcho-Syndicalist Network requires suit-
Miller, who sorts pack- able cost effective premises. $750,000 is urgently
cago warehouse marched on their boss ages for delivery. “Peo-
with demands. Workers and commu- sought to buy premises for the proposed Rebel
ple w ere as king m e Worker Anarcho-Syndicalist Network Media
nity supporters marched and rallied at questions, catching up
two warehouses in Portland, Oregon. Centre.
with me after the action.
Simultaneously, immigrant rights organi- It elevated our visibil- Please make out Cheques to Black Cat
zations led protests in eight U.S. cities to ity.” Media & Send to P.O. Box 92 Broadway
denounce Amazon’s collaboration with Delivery centres are 2007 NSW.
the U.S. Immigration and Customs En- the last stop in the Am-
forcement agency. Amazon hosts the on- azon warehouse chain.3 Rebel Worker
N.S.W. RAILWAYS NEWS
up to 300 meters during mining opera-
THE FIGHT FOR The current crisis of populism, politics and
democracy, springs from the same source
tions. Besides that, local rivers will be
drained of 100’s of gigalitres of water. The
OUR LIVES as the environmental crisis. The elites that
control over 90% of the wealth also are the
mine itself is expected to add 128 million
tonnes of CO2 P.A. to the atmosphere,
same ones that have access to the earth’s that’s more than the amount produced by a
Crimson Coconut natural resources, often for free. The profit country with a mid-sized economy, such
motive which drives environmental de- as Vietnam.
While the fight for living standards and struction benefits the few and not the
working conditions is still real, urgent, many. Exploitation of nature and workers Why does this matter for workers?
and ongoing, one issue that is confront- in a workplace is of the same dynamic. The
ing all people is about to overshadow elites only care about the wealth than they
any other fight that we’ve been involved can extract, not about the people or nature Because it really will affect us all in
in. That is the fight for survival and the that is left as collateral damage. multiple ways.
prospect of human and life extinction. For example the Adani coal mining project
Everyday we hear and see new scientific in central Queensland will provide few Firstly the uncertain future caused by the
reports that point to the grave danger jobs in reality, yet the multinational com- ecological crisis will without doubt end
that we are all in. pany has almost unlimited access to natu- life as we know it. The cliche “there are no
This summer in Europe heat records have ral resources for a pittance. Australian jobs on a dead planet” really rings true.
been broken across the continent. Temper- Governments are pouring billions of dol- Fighting for better working conditions still
atures of 46 degrees centigrade have been lars into providing infrastructure for the does make sense in such a predicament
experienced in the South of France though. Working conditions also means a
while the Netherlands has recorded plentiful planet for all, not a world with
temperatures over 41 degrees C, an shortages of food, water and scarcity. Eco-
all time record. This heat wave was logical devastation usually means the end
extensive, moving finally to the Arc- of jobs, quality of life and alienation from
tic Circle causing the biggest ice nature itself. Traditional trade unions
melt in human history and destabi- won’t exist if life itself becomes precari-
lising the permafrost that has existed ous, instead we will probably be involved
for thousands of years. in perpetual wars over scarce resources
Just a review of a few recent head- with all the misery that will bring.
lines should have us all waking up Secondly, in the short term, our govern-
and taking notice: ments are not addressing the issues of
the environmental crisis, so we have to
Drought and climate change be actively involved in changing the po-
blamed for the death of centu- litical debate, even if that means chang-
ries-old sandalwood trees ing the political and economic system.
At the moment funds are being diverted
away from our needs and towards the fos-
Europe’s heat wave is about to sil fuel industry. Huge tax concessions al-
bake the Arctic ready exist (or no tax at all) for the miners
and loggers etc who are provided these
Today’s Climate Change Is Worse natural resources for free. They also have
Than Anything Earth Has Experi- infrastructure built for them at public ex-
enced in the Past 2,000 Years pense. This impoverishes us, the workers,
while those creating the crisis are profiting
The world’s largest king penguin col- project which will have negligible benefits at the expense of the environment and our
ony has collapsed, losing nearly 90 per- for the majority of Queenslanders and living standard. The environmental crisis
cent of its population other Australians. This is money that is be- and global warming is a union issue that
ing deferred from hospitals, schools, pen- will take all the work of human solidarity
sions, public transport and all manner of to overcome.
The accelerating climate crisis due to in- public infrastructure that forms part of the
creasing CO2, and other harmful gases in social wage for workers.
the atmosphere, leading to global warming As public transport workers what can
The gigantic mining project (447 square we do?
is but one of the catastrophes that we face. kilometers) will perpetuate climate
Species extinction, war, water scarcity and change by continuing the carbon fuel
river destruction, logging and removal of cycle that pumps greenhouse gases into Public transport is a small part of the green
native vegetation all threaten our survival. the biosphere. At the same time the Adani solution that reduces our dependence on
Carmichael Mine will have unlimited ac- fossil fuels. Working in the industry
But why should this be of concern for cess to one of the largest underground should make us proud that we can be part
unionists and workers? aquifers in the world, the Great Artesian of the solution. However, governments in
Basin. The water table is expected to drop Australia don’t fully appreciate the bene-4 Rebel Worker
fits of public transport so massive expen- way to survive while the poorest are al- Climate Change. See if you can have some
ditures, $10’s billions, continue to be ready on the front lines of climate change effect on persuading your union officials
was t ed o n p ro j ects s u ch a s t he and environmental degradation. For to organise in the workplace and attend
WestConnex Motorway in Sydney or the equality and solidarity alone these are un- this important rally for the future.
North East Link in Melbourne. ion issues.
To get people using public transport the The fact that the elites are perpetuating Unions such as the RTBU and ASU have
fight against privatisation has to be climate change denial and that these “endorsed” the School Strike but so far
won. We should examine the possibility people are the same ones bankrolling have failed to call out their members for
and feasibility of providing public our politicians and suppressing our the Global Climate Strike. This has to
transport for free. Private for-profit ser- working conditions makes these issues change.
vices usually are less efficient despite gov- Union matters. Climate change and en- A list of unions endorsing the School
ernment propaganda that tells us that it is vironmental devastation is a Class issue. Strike can be found here:
necessary to increase efficiencies. It’s the poor that have no say, it’s the
Privatisation is purely geared towards poor that will suffer the consequences of
profits and will often provide the mini- climate change first and foremost. https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/p
mum service. The privatisation of New- In a public transport industry we are in a artners
castle buses, and Sydney’s inner west privileged position compared to other in-
buses and now the Adelaide Trains Metro dustries as we can offer part of the solution Let’s get out and support the students
shows so clearly that services are not run to avert the inevitable catastrophe. We can that have organised this rally on Sep-
for convenience but purely for profit and at only realise the full potential of the indus- tember 20, they have asked for our sup-
great public expense. try we work in if we are prepared to stand port. We have let them down in the past,
So far public transport union officials have u p fo r a fu ture i n th e ind u s t ry. we can’t let them down anymore, they
not been up to the challenge of mounting Privatisation will bring about the destruc- are fighting for their own futures. We
an effect iv e c amp ai gn ag a in st tion of public transport as we know it. all have a world to win.
privatisation. We have to convince them Political activists such as Extinction Re-
that the battle for the future must also in- bellion are blocking traffic to draw at- More info about the Global Strike for
clude, not just a fight against privatisation, tention to the ecological emergency, yet the Climate can be found at:
but it’s reversal. Where our leadership our union leaders fail to grasp the
takes no heed we need to replace them metal. Political allegiances certainly
with people who will listen and act. https://www.facebook.com/StrikeClimat
would be one reason for the inaction on be-
e/
We simply have to get cars off the roads half of unions. The ALP does not have a
and people into public transport. This viable policy at this stage to combat cli-
would of course mean pressure for a
massive investment program in sustain-
mate change. It is the Queensland Labor
Government that have bent over back-
Sydney Trains
able public transport. Public transport wards to accommodate the Ad ani, Cleaners’ News
unions have to change their neutral stance Carmichael Mine project. Meanwhile the
on privatisation and their complacency at Federal ALP, during the last election, also
Sydney Trains are using cleaners for
getting coverage of private employees. In supported the project even though the pub-
Customer Service in time of disruption
general, employees in the public sector of- lic throughout Australia was positively
despite having removed the duties of
ten have far worse working conditions and against it going ahead.
customer service from the designated
wages than public employees. As union members we need to support the ta sks a nd ou tsourc ing c leaning .
As the reality of climate change and envi- Global Climate Strike in September 20th Cleaners are employed on a lower wage
ronmental destruction bite in the very 2019. The School Strike organisers are than Customer Service staff. So Sydney
short time that we have left to act we must calling unions and union members on that Trains can strip back the number of Cus-
convince those in our unions and our lead- day to down tools and join rallies organ- tomer Service staff to the minimum and
ership that the fight for the environment is ised around the world to bring attention to cut costs.
a union issue. The rich will always find a
NSW State Sec. and the NSW Transport
Minister way back in 2018 or much ear-
The ‘Trojan Horse’ of the New Interurban Trains lier. Only direct action, can put a spoke in
the wheels of this Constance/Claassens
express to the dole queue!
Some of the most important news in the quite duplicitous and an expedient for the
NSW Railways is the new interurban
trains to be introduced next year,
union hierarchy in the elections. As the
Govt. is still wanting to change the guard
SOUTH AUSTRALIA RAIL
originally scheduled for last March role to customer service and undermining PRIVATISATION
2019, due to alleged ‘technical’ reasons. the job’s safe working role on these trains
At the time of the 2018 RTBU elections, and the industrial muscle of the guards. The Privatisation of the SA Train Network
NSW State Secretary Claassens pro- With the ‘facilitation clause’ in EBA
http://www.rtbu.org.au/sa_public_trans-
claimed triumphantly that a deal had 2018, needless to say, this changed role
p o r t _ w o r k e r s _ l a u n c h _ c a m-
been made with the Berejiklian Govt. to would be ‘facilitated’ to the Millenniums
p a i g n _ t o _ k e e p _ o u r _
retain guards on these trains. Subse- and Waratahs. The sell out of the
trains_and_trams_in_public_hands
quently the corporate media reported interurban guards and the ‘charade of
‘vaguely’ on this deal. However, accord- keeping the guard job’ is likely to have Unfortunately this will be similar to the
ing to recent reports from the union hierar- been approved at one of those ‘top secret’ failed campaign of the ACTU during the
chy and the media, this deal appears to be weekly meetings between the RTBU last election. The RTBU don’t know how,5 Rebel Worker
or they don’t want to, run a campaign An article in the Guardian today says Train crews faced with this scenario have
against privatisation. This is a very weak that the train crews in SA are not guar- nothing to lose, they need to walk out now.
statement from the RTBU SA Secretary. It anteed their jobs under the new owner, Such a course of action would not be sup-
promises nothing except a campaign up which someone has suggested to be ported by the union as bus drivers in Syd-
until the next election. By that time the is- SERCO. ney were quick to discover.
sue will be over. And if Labor doesn’t win
you are stuck with the LNP again just like
we are federally.
NEAR RAIL DISASTER flagged her train to stop. As it was appar-
ent another train was coming from Central
ago, two unpopular Inner West track main-
tenance supervisors were apparently
COVER-UP? and heading on the same line. She recalls sacked. Is it connected with the cover-up?
the date as Monday 23rd Easter of this We appeal to our readers for any further in-
According to a passenger on an inward year between 1pm and 3pm. One train had formation on this potentially very serious
train to the City caught at Stanmore to back out. Whilst the NSW Govt. has incident.
Station, in the Newtown area, track outsourced track maintenance and safety
main tenance wo rkers franti cally to avoid law suits. Intriguingly 2-3 months
includes laws that transfer public assets
Fair Game (part 1) (i.e. the Commonwealth belonging to the
people) to private corporations, called
“privatisation” and/or “public/private
partnerships” and selling water rights to
Following on from A Tale of a Cover Up tions Act 1945, allowing the UN to private corporations while denying farm-
(RW Vol.37 No.1(224), a brief a story of implement it’s created laws to override the ers the use of their own dams, claiming that
how inept management have been given Constitution. This was in addition to poli- farmers don’t own the water, the govern-
a virtual free hand to do as they will, in- ticians and government creating laws with- ment does! However, without a referen-
cluding falsifying their timesheets, as out a referendum. For those that ask how dum it’s theft by any other name!
long as they toe the line and regurgitate the UN can tell us what to do, that’s how! Government, the servant of the people has
the “we’re running a business” mantra. The plot thickens, we have international now become their master!
Today your editor asks the rhetorical treaties like the Lima agreement signed
question, is the game fair? And of Government now claims the right to create
in 1 9 7 5 , a del ibe ra te pla n to smaller clones of itself, because it claims to
course, the answer is a resounding NO! deindustrialise Australia amongst oth-
The deeper question then is, how did the not need the permission of the people to do
ers. In effect a deliberate plan to destroy anything and it creates local government
game become so unfair and this is where
it gets a little more interesting. It’s all (councils) and ever-increasing govern-
part of a greater plan, let me explain. ment “autocracies”, like transport, police,
courts, hospitals, environment, human ser-
You see, it all started about 100 years ago, vices, etc, etc. These “autocracies” are ef-
when politicians began implementing new fectively laws onto themselves and
laws without asking the people. This of essentially create their own laws, that are
course was in direct violation of the Con- simply rubber stamped by whatever politi-
stitution, that requires that before a new cian happens to be in office at the time. Po-
law can be created it must first be the will litical parties of course play a role in this as
of the people, confirmed via a referendum. a whole, however the individual politician
The politicians used the turmoil and hard- in most cases is simply the sales person,
ships of the world wars to pass “emer- selling a predetermined agenda, creating
gency” laws like taxation to help fund the the façade of “democracy” and if they have
wars. (did you know that taxation was vol- the sales drive to delude and a capacity for
untary? No? well the politicians and the spin they are well rewarded for their ef-
so-called government know.) These laws forts, as with all sales people.
never got repealed and over time people
accepted them as simply a necessary evil or The heads of these government “autoc-
something that was always there because racies”, however are a different breed.
that’s how it all works, right! Wrong! The These are the professional suck-ups, the
constitution requires that any changes to industries, jobs and of course your stan- deceitful yes men and now women. The
how the country is run must be put to a ref- dard of living, without a referendum and ones who will swallow and regurgitate
erendum for a vote by the people. This was all for some alleged utopian greater good! anything, back stab and betray anyone
never done and because no one chal- The creation of the Australia Act 1986 ef- and anything to get up the next rung of
lenged the politicians and the govern- fectively put an overlay of sorts on the le- the ladder. These are the ones who play
ment, they simply continued to create gitimate Constitution, by ignoring it and the long game of “debasement” to get to
more and more new laws and with each your constitutional rights in the process, the top and are predominantly concerned
new law they gradually transferred again illegally, without a referendum. with expanding their power and therefore
more and more power from the “people” To put it simply. We now have a situation their capacity to gorge themselves from the
to the government. Politicians and Gov- where parliament can create any law it public trough. These are the types who tell
ernments then began to sign international likes, when ever it likes and for what ever you they are running a business by spend-
treaties and signing the “people” into purpose it likes without going to a referen- ing bigger and bigger amounts of your
membership of the United Nations with the dum. Laws that “override” Common law money. These are the swap creatures of the
enactment of the Charter of the United Na- and individual Common law rights. These “deep state”, (yes, we have them here too)6 Rebel Worker
the permanent heads of government “au- people by way of a referendum, as men- Look out for “Fair Game” part 2, in the
tocracies” no matter who gets “voted” into tioned earlier. These created laws are used next edition, where your editor explains
parliament. These glorified, pretentious as precedent by government “autocracies” how the union movement has been
and arrogant suck-up don’t like their ac- and their management to presume to have co-opted to complete the betrayal of the
tions questioned or to be held to account “management prerogative”. By claiming people and the worker. We might even
and so claim to have “management prerog- “management prerogative”, management give you a hint at a solution!
ative”, in other wards the ability to do as are effectively empowering themselves to Regards,
they wish. This of course is not the case interpret and apply law based on their sub-
since their authority is delegated by parlia- jective view and even apply the same laws
ment and parliament’s authority is dele- subjectively to different individuals. This
gated by the people. At least that’s the way includes exempting themselves from the
it was meant to work before the creation of same laws they would use against others!
all those laws, without the authority of the The game is not fair!
The 6 Emotions the boss uses against you!
terest at heart! Many of us doubt the
hard-fought struggles of the past, doubt
that in times gone by our workplace rights
pay and conditions were won by workers
What can destroy our workplace given to you by the boss they always had to paying the ultimate price, their life. We
rights, pay and condition, our lives? The concede these rights to workers who had doubt that the boss could be so cruel, doubt
emotions lurking inside us, the ones the the courage to overcome their indiffer- that the government would allow and even
boss relies on to intimidate and bully you ence. support violent action against workers,
into accepting less then you’re entitled to, 3. Indecision doubt the possibility that workers died
we’ve got to conquer these emotions be- fighting for workplace right, pay and con-
Indecision allows the boss to steal our ditions we have today. Worst of all, we
fore the boss uses them to destroy us. Here opportunity. The boss will steal our
they are: doubt ourselves. Doubt will empty both
chances for a better workplace, better pay our bank accounts and our hearts. Doubt is
1. Fear and better conditions at every opportunity an enemy.
We are not born with courage, but nei- and our indecision gives them this oppor-
5. Worry
ther are we born with fear. Maybe some
of our fears are brought on by our own We’ve all got to worry a little, but we
experiences, by what someone has told can’t let it conquer us. Instead, let it
us, by what we’ve read and heard alarm us. Worry can be useful. If the
about. Some fears are valid, like going boss suddenly announces that a major
alone for “just a quick chat” with the boss! change is coming, we’ve got to worry.
A bad move and you feel fear for good rea- But we can’t let the boss loose like a mad
son, your fear is trying to warn you of dan- dog that drives us into a small corner.
ger. You know it’s not just an innocent Here’s what we’ve got to do: Drive the
chat! But once we learn to always insist on boss into a small corner. Whatever is out to
our right to a support person, that flips the get us, we’ve got to get it. Whatever is
situation, the boss now feels the fear be- pushing on us, we’ve got to push back.
cause they’re now on the spot of having to 6. Timidity
justify their actions. We don’t need to live Over-caution is the timid approach.
in fear of it. Timidity is not a virtue (unlike humil-
2. Indifference ity); in fact, it can and is used to our det-
What a tragic disease indifference is. riment, by the boss. If we let it go, it’ll be
Some will say, “It doesn’t affect me why used to conquer us. If we’re timid, we
should I get involved. I’ll just drift won’t get better workplace rights, pay and
along.” But here’s one problem with c o n d it i on s . We’v e g o t to av o id
drifting: We can’t drift our way to over-caution.
tunity. We have to purge this enemy.
better workplace right, pay and condi- So, we must battle with the boss, battle
tions. The boss relies on your indifference 4. Doubt with fears, build our courage to fight for
when they incrementally encroach on Sure, there’s room for healthy skepticism. what’s rightfully and lawfully ours,
your workplace right, pay and conditions. We can’t believe that the boss is all bad or what’s keeping us from a secure and safe
Don’t be indifferent to these allegedly that all bosses are all bad. But we also workplace. We have to be courageous in
“minor changes”. Your rights were never can’t let doubt take over and delude us our pursuit of the things that matter."
into thinking that the boss has our best in-
follow their request as it is a “reasonable
direction”, however, you direct them to the
The Perception Of Workers Rights relevant clause in the Enterprise Agree-
ment which clearly shows that their re-
quest is in fact “unreasonable” as it
Most workers feel that their rights are real world. Say, your manager asked you breaches your workplace rights. Let’s say,
protected by certain instruments such to do something that breached your condi- that for now, management have decided
as a Workplace Policy, an Enterprise tions under your Enterprise Agreement, so that they would let this episode slide.
Agreement, an Award, or even the basic you politely decline the request. Your
law. But let’s see how this plays out in the manager then tells you that you have to7 Rebel Worker
A couple of weeks later, they again ask for support as the matter is simple and amount of compensation you could re-
you to follow a “reasonable direction”, clear cut and you know your rights. They, ceive, as opposed to a 6 month cap for an
which in fact is another breach of your on the other hand, have a team of lawyers “Unfair Dismissal” claim. You decide that
workplace rights, so once again you point on their side and apart from your manager, justice must be served, truth is on your side
out to your manager that their request is your manager’s manager also decides to so justice will prevail!
again “unreasonable” and again, politely show up, all with the intent to intimidate You start legal proceedings, what
decline their request and refer them to the you. But you hold strong, you present your should have taken several months is
appropriate clause in your Enterprise case, you respond to their false accusa- now into its second year and no end in
Agreement. This time, your manager says tions against you and you expose their lies. sight until well into the third year. In the
that your interpretation of the Enterprise Everything is going your way. The hearing meantime, your legal fees are piling up,
Agreement is incorrect and insists that you is adjourned for a later date and the Com- your barrister wants to get paid and is
follow their request. Knowing your rights missioner advises you to get representa- asking for his money. You manage to
and knowing that your interpretation is tion from your Union. You go back to find another job, it is worse than your pre-
correct, you escalate the matter to higher vious job and pays a lot less too, it is too
management. The higher manager, know- much and you resign. You are now going
ing that you are correct, responds back by from job to job to try to keep your head
saying that they agree with your manager above water so you can pay your bills and
but to not allow the matter to escalate fur- your legal team too. All this is placing a
ther, they withdraw your manager’s re- heavy strain on you and your family and
quest. for what? All you did was exercise a work-
Now your manager decides that they place right, that’s what the laws are there
cannot allow this behaviour to go un- for, that’s why you have an Enterprise
punished, so they continue to ask you to agreement, that’s why your employer has
do things that breach your workplace their policies and procedures, so that ev-
conditions. Again, knowing your rights, eryone plays by the same rules… Right!?!
each time you politely decline and clearly The problem is, if you have enough
state which condition would be breached, money behind you, you don’t need to
however, as it is now clear that the man- play by the rules. Yes, you may get
ager wants to make your life as difficult as caught out, but who will hold you to ac-
possible, so you escalate the issue to count? An internal investigation? Cer-
higher management who simply side with tainly not. What about our laws? Well if
your manager. You see that escalating the you can prolong the matter long enough,
matter through the chain of command gets work, all of a sudden your manager wants your accuser will eventually run out of pa-
you no-where, so you submit an official to place you on a performance plan, you tience, if not, then they are sure to run out
complaint to be investigated internally. question their reasons, their response is a of money before you do. So it’s just a wait-
The investigation consists of referring the load of nonsense, and you place the matter ing game now. So if you knew from the
complaint to your management who re- in dispute via your Union. The matter gets start that exercising your rights would lead
spond by saying no breach has been com- escalated through the dispute process, in to this, would you speak up? Naturally the
mitted. The investigation is now closed the meantime, the Union declines to repre- vast majority of people would not and this
and no action taken against your manager. sent you at the Fair Work Commission as is why management do not have to follow
As a result, this now emboldens your you did not seek their permission when the rules. But what would happen if some-
manager who reverts back to asking you initiated the Stop Bullying claim. You one actually decided to follow through?
you to follow requests which would ask the Commissioner to delay the hearing How would our scenario end??? I’ll let
make your day difficult and breach while you find a Solicitor. You then re- you know once my court case finishes.
your workplace conditions, quite sim- ceive a “Show Cause” letter from your em-
ply, they are now trying to “manage you ployer and are stood down. You reply to Optional: If you would like to support
out”. You, however, are quite aware of the letter, it is decided that your response is me and perhaps make a difference to
this but realise that any action taken inter- not good enough and you are dismissed! our working conditions, so no-one else
nally would not have a positive outcome. As you are now dismissed, your Stop needs to find themselves in a similar sce-
So you decide that the only course of ac- Bullying claim is immediately ceased as nario, please donate by following this
tion which should have a positive result there is no longer a threat of bullying. link https://www.gofundme.com/f/un-
would be to take the matter to an external Management have succeeded in their l a w-
body. So you decide that you will submit a goal. Or so it seems. Your new found so- ful-dismissal-legal-fees&rcid=r01-1562
“Stop Bullying” order against your man- licitors advise you that you can now take 05011274-637cd49f23854476&pc=ot_c
ager with the Fair Work Commission. You your former employer to court for “Un- o_campmgmt_w
attend a pre-hearing, you decide to defend lawful Dismissal”. They entice you by ad-
yourself with a work colleague with you vising you that there is no cap on the
for “private enterprise” doing things
Sydney Buses News better. In regard to the 445, this route is
coming back to Leichhardt Depot. Is the
reason the constant late running in the
Leichhardt Depot News now goes via Leichhardt Market Town. Kingsgrove Depot area due to bottle necks
Drivers say it’s a waste of time as no one is with often 15 drivers at the depot waiting
RW: What’s the latest at the depot?
getting on for this leg. Most commuters for their buses? Route 389 which starts at
Leichhardt Driver1: In regard to the runs, a the Maritime Museum at Pyrmont and
new leg has been added to route 470. Be- going to Market Town are catching the
fore starting and ending at the Terminus, it 445 Campsie to Balmain route. So much8 Rebel Worker
goes to Bondi Junction is now running out Waverley Busie: We are likely to be fac- where a driver who got into some trouble
of Leichhardt instead of Waverley depot. ing a new vicious attack by the bosses. at the depot, was presented with the ‘op-
We have now plenty of spare drivers at There is a proposal by them to impose tion’ of a transfer to Transit Systems, to
Leichhardt. block rosters for taking our holidays. As a avoid the sack.
The most juicy news has been the sud- result we wouldn’t be able to take holidays RW: What is the situation with the de-
den appearance at the depot in recent when we want anymore. It’s looking grim. pot fleet?
weeks of a “talent scout” from State It seems not about saving money, but WB: The depot is to receive shortly 9 to 10
Transit. The scout was distributing flyers showing they are in control and softening new buses to replace the old gas buses. The
and trying to encourage Leichhardt drivers up drivers to accept privatisation. depot’s fleet has been steadily getting
to resign from Transit Systems, join the RW: How is ‘Madam Lash’ these days? older and older over the years. There has
STA and come to Waverley depot to WB: Again she is upsetting people. She is been only a very slow upgrade of buses.
work. It appears the STA is no longer coming into the meal room to hold de facto However, in the case of the Railways, the
training its own drivers, but gearing up for “staff meetings”. However drivers are not old Silver Set trains are being retired and
a big cull when the Light Rail opens in the being paid for the 15 minutes attendance at replaced with modern trains such as the
Eastern Suburbs next year. Will the East- these meetings. Is anyone attending? She Waratahs and new interurban trains built
ern Subs STA drivers made redundant be is definitely not liked. She seems more of a in South Korea.
offered positions on the Light Rail or will ‘figurehead’ for the STA, than a real boss. RW: What are the latest developments
they be put out to pasture? There is also RW: I understand the STA CEO with the tramway extensions?
coming up new Timetables in July. We are Steffen Faurby held a meeting at the de-
all awaiting what the changes will be. WB: I was recently speaking to a driver
pot? from Randwick depot. He mentioned that
RW: What is the situation with the un- WB: In early June, he held a staff meeting the bosses have developed a new mad cap
ions at the depot? at Waverley. He was urging drivers to take plan for buses operating along Anzac Pa-
LD1: We have not seen any RTBU offi- all their entitlements such as Long Service rade when the tramway will be finished at
cials for many months. However some Leave. He was also worried that many the end of the year. There will be 19 stops
woman has become the TWU rep. Other drivers could leave the job. However, he for the trams, stopping at each stop. All
news is that Ryde is being tipped for the wouldn’t raise the major reason many buses are to go along the roadway. The
next STA depot for privatisation. would leave such as the looming threat of buses are to run parallel to the trams on the
RW: What is the situation since bus roadway. In one section, the buses
privatisation? can operate up to 70 kmph. On one stop
Leichhardt Driver 2: Since the Transit there will be no access for wheelchairs.
Systems takeover of Region 6, of the The driver shook his head. Safety was
1200 drivers employed in the region paramount and he didn’t think there was
prior to privatisation, 500 have left the a very high degree of safety. In the past
job. They have either resigned, taken a people have been injured and killed on
golden handshake or transferred. the bus roadway.
There is definitely a push by manage- RW: What is your impression of the
ment to replace the RTBU by the ‘union’?
TWU in the workforce. They are using WB: Its presence at the depot has greatly
all manner of dirty tricks. At Tempe declined in recent years. With many see-
depot where drivers are complain- ing no purpose in joining. In the past
ing of missing overtime, the real those interested in becoming the union
reason is that only TWU drivers are rep could attend union training courses
being given it. As according to the at TUTA (Trade Union Training Au-
TWU Enterprise Agreement, TWU the privatisation of the Eastern Suburbs thority). This has all gone by the way-
members receive a lower rate of OT, than depots and the Light Rail. Interestingly I side. It has become quite lethargic in
RTBU members. Currently before the Fair was recently speaking to a commuter. She regarding to assisting us with on the job
Work Australia Court, there is a dispute mentioned that on a bus she was travelling, problems and to fight the attacks of the
between Transit Systems and the RTBU the driver appeared confused about the bosses and the Liberal Govt. using the ex-
over the issue of payment for Easter Satur- route and explained to her that he had been cuse of restrictive industrial relations
day. Under the RTBU EBA, drivers who recruited to the STA from Adelaide to laws.
are aren’t driving on that day also are paid make up for staffing shortfalls. RW: How is the job over recent years?
for it as a public holiday. In the case of the
TWU EBA, payment for this day is only Whilst according to Media Reports, the WB: In recent years there has been a cer-
made to those working that day. Transit propaganda spread by Transport Min- tain ‘disconnect’ developing amongst
Systems wants to cease the payment of ister Constance that Region 6 STA drivers. With the introduction of the Opal
this entitlement of RTBU members. needed to be sold off because of poor system, there is now little opportunity to
running times has proved to be a pack of talk with commuters. Whilst there is a
I have also noticed that the management lies. As a Transport for NSW survey has growing ‘Stasi Climate’ with the bosses
style of Transit Systems at Leichhardt is shown Transit Systems Region 6 buses are constantly emphasising the message ‘we
quite different from the STA. They don’t much slower, than when the STA was op- control you’ with intimidating notices
seem to have to answer to higher-ups and erating them. The two groups running the they put up around the depot. As part of
can get away with mistakes affecting driv- buses in the city private and public aren’t this strategy, they are also trying to ‘micro
ers and the public. STOP PRESS: The working together. Whilst the division is manage’ drivers creating a ‘nanny state
new timetable changes have led to a cut restricting the opportunities for drivers to climate’ whereby the excuse of OH&S
in bus services. transfer in STA and Transit System de- concerns is used to cut back on various so-
Waverley Depot News pots. However there is a case recently cial aspects of the job, such as clamping
RW: What is the latest with manage- down on indoor sports. With the loss of
ment at the depot? many iconic Waverley runs due to9 Rebel Worker
privatisation of Region 6, the work has be- Burwood Driver2: Things have gone RW: What are your impressions of the
come drab and ‘dead’. Many years ago a downhill in many respects. Now there are new timetables changes as of 28/7/19?
bus driver had the status close to a pilot, no mechanics at the depot on the week- Tempe Driver2: I have noticed the bosses
now that status has greatly declined. ends. We currently have 25 buses in the have cut many lines of work and running
Burwood Depot News shed booked off. The bosses are cracking times have been tightened. Whilst there is
RW: What is the latest with the “Union” the whip at the new drivers. If they have a growing and big division at the depot be-
at the depot? two accidents they are sacked. There is no tween the new and older drivers. Currently
retraining. Overall there is a high rate of there are approx. 50% of the workforce
Burwood Driver1: We have heard nothing accidents on the road. This shows the poor
from the union about repaying the 4% loss each, with the older drivers getting higher
standard of training for new drivers. Un- pay than the new drivers.
in wages which we have suffered since like the STA, the new bosses don’t seem
privatisation. The union officials never Kingsgrove Depot News
too worried about late running. If your bus
come out to the depot. It is rumoured that is late to the terminus they just cut the re- RW: What is the latest at the depot?
one of the newly elected officials had pre- turn run. In the case of the run being cut be- Kingsgrove Driver: We are being hard hit
vious TWU connections and since being ing your last for the shift, the bosses can with unrealistic running times. The bosses
elected has been orchestrating things for save money. In the case of the 420 Bur- are seriously screwing us with the rosters.
Region 6 drivers to be encouraged to join wood to Eastgardens, due to the distance In the case of the 492, it’s always running
the TWU. They appear to be handicapped and the traffic, there is always late running late. Whilst there are often 15 drivers a
in doing anything to assist us. with runs cut. day waiting for their buses for the second
RW: What are your thoughts on the From 28th July, there is a new timeta- half of their shifts due to late running. An-
closure of Randwick? ble. We are being kept completely in the other concern of ours is that drivers from
BD1: When we were privatised, we re- dark regarding the changes. The bosses Kingsgrove who are transferred to Leich-
ceived no redundancy payments as we are still employing casuals and new hardt aren’t being given training for
were just “transferred” to the private com- drivers. They are being favoured with our Parramatta Road. There continues to be a
pany “Transit Systems”. In the case of the overtime and shifts, as they are paid at a “divide and conquer” situation at the depot
Govt’s plan to close Randwick depot, un- lower rate than old time/full time drivers. between the RTBU and TWU.
der the law, the STA will have to pay re- Consequently our wages are cut and ca- RW: What are the latest developments
dundancy payments to Randwick drivers reer progression is being undermined. We with privatisation?
as their positions will be abolished. Conse- also have a shortage of drivers. Our RTBU KD: There has been some “privatisation
quently, the STA bosses are doing what- union rep claims to be powerless and is a by stealth” occurring with the transfer of
ever they can to encourage Randwick waste of time regarding assisting us to STA operated runs to Transit Systems. In
drivers to accept transfers or leave the job. fight these attacks. the case of the 389, which goes from the
RW: How is the staffing situation Re- TEMPE DEPOT NEWS National Maritime Museum at Pyrmont to
gion 6 Transit Systems? RW: What is that latest at the depot? Bondi Junction, in the past it was operated
BD1: Officially we are supposed to be from Waverley. Now it has been taken
Tempe Driver1: There is a difference of over by Leichhardt. A rumour is circulat-
over staffed. Recently at Tempe depot, on opinion amongst us over whether we are
one day there were 18 spare drivers. How- ing that Pt. Botany is next on the list for
worse off since privatisation. However tendering as part of privatisation.
ever I have noticed at Burwood often a most of us are up in arms over hours. We
driver shortage, due to many leaving the TransDev has been noticed sniffing
are only getting the minimum without around it.
job. overtime. This is supposed to be corrected
RW: What’s the situation at the depot with the new timetable coming up later in
since privatisation? July.
VICTORIAN RAILWAY NEWS
Over the last six months, Human Re- Roscoe: That is why contributors to Penelope: The train was terminated at an
sources have been stepping up their ef- Sparks change their names. outer suburban station due to a disruption
forts to sack employees who are on their Ichabod: Regarding Conductors and Sta- closer to Melbourne. Before the run
hit list. Once again Drivers, Conductors, tion Staff it is known that certain Staff who around the Conductor checked the train
Head Office and Station Staff come to- stand up to CSM’s, Station Managers and and no one was in the train and he gave the
gether to discuss these events. As in previ- Staff in Human Resources are on the hit all clear to the Driver to run around.
ous issues names have been changed. list. Also standing for your fellow work- Rastus: The Driver was stood down and at
RW: What makes you a candidate for mates by refusing to ‘dob’ them in. the enquiry the Conductor said there was
the hit list? RW: What do you know about a Driver no wheelchair passenger on the train when
Rastus: You can make the hit list for a who certain Managers tried to set up? the run around was taking place. As a re-
number of reasons: Rastus and Roscoe: Human Resources sult the Driver was cleared.
(1) Standing up to a Manager over Rosters tried to set up a Driver with the help of a RW: It was obvious Human Resources
and Bullying. SKID (Drivers Supervisor) who is hated wanted to hang the Driver.
(2) Applying for internal positions within by a number of Drivers saying that when Abner: There was an incident at a Country
V/Line and when you are unsuccessful, running around a train at a suburban sta- location where a driver misjudged the
expressing your opinion about the selec- tion that the Locomotive hit the carriages length of a train and part of the rear car-
tion process. too hard, whilst coupling up to the train. It riage overhanging the platform.
(3) Contributing to Sparks. was alleged a passenger in a wheelchair
was injured.10 Rebel Worker
Rastus: The train was locomotive hauled Sheona: The hearing was held at Fair Abner: What disgusts the Conductor
and when the train stopped on the plat- Work Australia and the Solicitors ap- grade is that Human Resources expect
form, the Conductor released the doors. It pearing for the Clerk had to fight six Conductors to ‘dob in’ Drivers and fel-
was an honest mistake. charges. A number of employees from low Conductors.
Penelope: The train departed and contin- V/Line appeared at the Commission to Roscoe: The trainee who was sacked ob-
ued its journey. On return to the Country give evidence in support of the Clerk. tained a position with another train
location, the Conductor was stood down Sadly they faced lawyers from V/Line. company and became a qualified
and drug and alcohol tested. Ichabod: At the conclusion of the hearing driver.
Rastus: They went overboard over the the case was adjourned for a couple of Penelope: Most of the staff at V/Line
matter, but some manager at the location weeks. thought the trainee was treated unfairly
did not have guts to stand up to Human Re- Sheona: A decision was handed down in by V/Line and were pleased when he ob-
sources and support the Conductor. favour of V/Line and the sacked Clerk lost tained the position as a driver with the
Roscoe: When the train arrived at the sta- his case. Legal costs were awarded to other company.
tion due to a rule, the Conductor was not V/Line. Rastus: Due to a Driver shortage at
allowed to look out the van door to see if Abner: We do not know who is to pay V/Line due to retirements over the last
the rear carriage was on the platform. If V/Line but knowing V/Line they will go twelve months there has been a large
they had have, they would have been dis- after the lawyers for their costs. scale recruitment of Drivers both inter-
ciplined. Sheona: Within an hour the other Clerk nal and external.
Abner: Due to a stupid rule that a Con- who was stood down was terminated. Roscoe: In the last intake of trainees the
ductor is not allowed to observe the Ichabod: What concerns V/Line employ- trainee who had been sacked was in the
train when arriving or departing the ees is will V/Line go after the employees class.
platform. who appeared at Fair Work Australia in Penelope: When the Conductors heard the
Rastus: It has since been heard another support of the Clerks. trainee was in the class they were glad to
Conductor was stood down over a simi- Rastus and Roscoe: It would not surprise welcome him back to V/Line. They were
lar incident but a third Conductor who us if they do. They do not give up. of the opinion he had suffered enough.
was a management favourite was not Penelope: The other Clerk has been sacked Rastus: The trainee was back in the class
has engaged lawyers but after a few weeks Human Resources
to fight V/Line. got wind he was in the job they conducted
RW: What is the a witch hunt within their department.
story about a shake Sheona: As a result of this witch hunt the
up at Human Re- HR employee who recruited him was re-
sources? moved.
Sheona: Two H.R. RW: Once again we have run out of
employees have been space. The way V/Line is going with
removed. We do not stand downs the hearing may resemble
know why the first a court of law but there is one thing
emp loyee was re- missing, a judge and jury but the way
moved but the other things are heading, it may happen.
emp loyee was re- Rastus and Roscoe: In having the final say
stood down over another incident.
moved over the hiring of a trainee driver both Drivers and other V/Line staff are
Sheona: The Union got involved and the who was sacked by V/Line five years ago. pleased to welcome the Sacked Trainee
matter was sorted out and the Conduc- Rastus and Roscoe: We will not discuss back on the job and we give Human Re-
tors were reinstated. sources a Message. LAY OFF THE
the incident but the reason he was sacked
Penrod: This is correct but some clown was that when he was a trainee driver he TRAINEE! As for the H.R. employee who
had to be kept in a job. Think of the stress refused to ‘dob in’ his workmates but we was removed, we Drivers say the H.R. em-
the Conductors were put through. They do know that the incident had nothing to ployee was removed for SPITE.
just don’t care who they hurt but think of do with breaches of Rules and Regula- STOP PRESS
the stress the Conductors were under. In tions. As this issue goes to Press, word has
all my years as a Conductor, these stand
Sheona: Human Resources hate the driv- reached our Correspondents that em-
downs have never happened before. ing grade and they have set out to dismiss a ployees have been ‘dobbing in’ their fel-
RW: What about the Booking Clerk number of drivers to put fear into the low employees. This being prevalent
who lost his case at Fair Work Austra- grade. around Southern Cross Station. More
lia? details in our next issue.
iconic Royal Parks are among the employ-
BRITAIN TODAY ers that could be hit by the forthcoming
walk-outs, bringing disruption to every
corner of the capital.
United Voices of the World trade union “I have a huge responsibility, keeping
(UVW) announced that staff in seven wards clean and protecting patients from
SUMMER OF STRIKES different workplaces are set to strike in infection,” said one UVW member who is
protest at poverty wages and unfair condi- employed as a cleaner at St Mary’s, a NHS
Some of London’s most prominent in- tions. hospital in Paddington. “But my salary is
stitutions are bracing themselves for a Government departments, city skyscrap- below the living wage, and really poor. I
summer of labour struggle, after the ers, top universities and even Britain’s don’t get proper sick pay, or fair holidays.11 Rebel Worker
Our managers discriminate between staff In a maj o r emb arras s men t for Other outsourcing firms that will be tar-
members, keeping everyone unhappy. We Buckingham Palace, among those walking geted by the forthcoming actions include
are going on strike to change things for the out will be cleaners from London’s Royal Sodexo, which made a net profit of nearly
better - for us, for everyone.” Parks, responsible for some of Britain’s £ 6 00 mi ll io n in 2 0 1 8 , O C S, an d
The workers currently balloting for most famous green spaces including Hyde Baxterstorey.
strik e action include cleaners, “Many of the leading outsourcing com-
baristas, security guards, chefs and panies that manage our members have a
till operators, and hail from dozens of woeful reputation when it comes to re-
different countries – ranging across specting workers, including their legal
the UK, Latin America, West Africa, right to join a union,” said Elia. “But it is
Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite be- the major organisations that contract
ing employed by prestigious organisa- these companies – including the UK
tions in both the public and private government and the NHS – that are ulti-
sector, including the British govern- mately responsible for their workers’
ment’s Ministry of Justice and 200 pay and conditions. The days when
Grays Inn Road – home to the produc- powerful employers could hide behind
tion company behind ITV and Channel outsourcing firms to excuse the exploi-
4 News – many of the workers receive tation of their staff are over: UVW is
less than the London Living Wage and calling them out by name, and we won’t
are denied basic forms of security like rest until these injustices are halted.”
occupational sick pay. UVW is an independent, mem-
“Low-pay London has had enough of bers-led trade union that represents
exploitation and is fighting back,” outsourced and low-paid workers in
said Petros Elia, an organiser with London and beyond. It has racked up
UVW, the union behind the planned a series of high-profile victories
strikes. “There are incredible riches in Park, St James’s Park, and Kensington against prominent employers in recent
this city, and yet the hard-working peo- Gardens. The parks are hereditary posses- years, including Topshop, Chanel,
ple who we all depend upon to keep it sions of the Crown and managed by the Sotheby’s, Harrods, and the Royal Bor-
running are often living impossibly pre- UK government on behalf of the Queen, ough of Kensington and Chelsea.
carious lives, struggling to feed their and yet workers who maintain the public Two-thirds of those in poverty in Britain –
families and keep a roof over their facilities in them are paid only £8.21 per a total of seven million people – have jobs,
heads.” hour, substantially below the London Liv- but are not paid enough to stay above the
“Most Londoners will be outraged that the ing Wage. breadline. UVW has demanded that as a
workers who clean their toilets, sweep “I have worked at the Royal Parks for 24 minimum, all workers should be paid the
their office floors, prepare their meals and years, but these poverty wages mean that, independently-calculated living wage,
ensure their safety are not even paid the like many of my colleagues, I’m living a which is currently £10.55 in London and
minimum amount needed to survive in the hand-to-mouth existence,” commented £9 in the rest of the UK, reflecting the
capital,” he added. “These are the silent, Genevive Boohene, a Ghana-born Royal amount needed to afford life’s basic neces-
invisible individuals we all rely on – and Parks cleaner. “We are denied occupa- sities.
they are refusing to stay silent or invisible tional sick pay, many of us do not receive The workplaces where strike ballots of
any more.” our legal entitlement to holidays, and man- UVW members will take place in the com-
Other workplaces affected include the agers ignore our suffering and concerns. ing weeks are as follows:
White Chapel building, which houses the Now we are coming together to change The Ministry of Justice
UK government’s digital services opera- things for ourselves.”
The Royal Parks
tion and the London Museum of Photogra- In common with most of the UVW
p h y, an d t wo famo u s acad emic members planning on strike action this The University of Greenwich
institutions: the University of Greenwich, summer, the Royal Parks cleaners are St George’s, University of London
on the banks of the River Thames, and St employed by an outsourcing company – St Mary’s Hospital
George’s, a medical school that forms part in their case the French construction The White Chapel Building
of the University of London. All UVW and facilities giant VINCI, which oper- 200 Gray’s Inn Road
members at the relevant sites will be for- ates in more than a hundred countries
mally voting on strike action in the coming and has been accused of a wide range of
weeks. corruption scandals and labour abuses.
BRITISH BUS & FERRY NEWS 29th June, 13th July and 16th July. Mean- Stagecoach drivers in Lancashire
while Stagecoach made a pre-tax profit of 16/7/19 Stagecoach, the transport com-
£95 million in 2018. pany, recently offered the insulting 3p an
14/6/19 300 Stagecoach bus drivers
based at Chorley and Preston depots in Woolwich Ferry strike hour rise over three years to its bus and
Lancashire went on strike for two days Workers on the Woolwich Ferry in Lon- coach drivers. A strike followed with 150
on May 31st -June 1st. They had already don went on strike on 3rd June over health drivers and their supporters gathering at
been out on strike for four days in May. and safety and pay. The 31 workers went Preston bus station on 25th June., with a
These bus workers are demanding a 50p an on strike in May for five days, with new similar number at Chorley bus station.
hour pay rise and the decision to strike was strikes set for June 7th, 10th, 14th and They are prepared to strike for another 15
backed overwhelmingly. Further strikes 17th. The Ferry bosses have refused to days this July.
are planned for 12th June, 18th June, grant a 6 % pay rise and in addition have Arriva bus drivers in London
imposed new duties and have failed to deal Arriva operates a fifth of London buses in
with health and safety concerns. the greater London area. It is increasinglyYou can also read
