GMB hotline for lawbreaking employment agencies in post dispute.

GMB SET UP PHONE HOTLINE FOR PUBLIC TO REPORT LAW BREAKING BY  EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES SUPPLYING LABOUR IN ROYAL MAIL DISPUTE

These agencies are liable for a fine of £5,000 per day per worker supplied and GMB is asking public to phone 0208 971 4217 with details     

        GMB has set up a phone hotline to enable members of the public to report the names of employment agencies supplying agency staff in the current Royal Mail post dispute.       

        Earlier this week there was correspondence between Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary, in which Paul Kenny said that there were strict laws to stop employment agencies supplying labour to Royal Mail to break a lawful trade dispute. Under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003 any agency supplying labour is liable to a fine of £5,000 per day per worker supplied. See Notes to Editors below       

        Both Royal Mail and Lord Mandelson denied that agency staff are being used to replace workers on strike. GMB do not believe these denials and have set up a hotline for members of the public to report the names of agencies and the names of workers being supplied to replace workers on strike. The hotline number is 0208 971 4217.       

        Paul Kenny GMB General Secretary said "An employment business may not supply a temporary worker to a hirer to replace an individual taking part in an official strike or any other official industrial dispute. In addition an employment business must not introduce or supply a work-seeker to do the work of someone who has been transferred by the hirer to perform the duties of the person on strike or taking industrial action.       

        However in spite of this law there is widespread and well reported law breaking by employment agencies in the current post dispute. Lord Mandelson, Royal Mail and employment agencies will not be allowed to ignore the law.       

        GMB has set up a hotline and is asking the public to supply names of employment agencies supplying workers and the names of these workers. These agencies are liable for a fine of £5,000 per day per worker supplied. We are asking them to phone 0208 971 4217 with details.       

        Can you imagine the outcry there would be in the media and in Parliament if unions were engaged in lawbreaking on the scale we see by employment agencies in this dispute."

RMT pledges full support for CWU postal workers

SPECIALIST TRANSPORT union RMT today pledged its full support for the CWU postal workers in their fight for a secure future and decent pay and conditions and a delegation from the union, including General Secretary Bob Crow, will be joining the picket line at Mount Pleasant sorting office on Thursday (22nd October) at 4.30pm.

On Friday (23^rd October) RMT cleaners working on the Eurostar for the Carlisle Group at St Pancras International will be on strike and will be organising picket line exchanges with local postal workers.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"It's crucial that the entire trade union movement rallies round the CWU and their postal members in what is a fight for the future of both their industry and the essential public service that they provide for the British people.

"The postal workers are in the forefront of a national fight to protect jobs, working conditions and pensions from cash-driven cuts and they will get the full support of RMT members in that battle as it is one that we know only too well in the transport and maritime industries.

"We can all see the vultures of the private sector sniffing around the Royal Mail, looking for any opportunity to kill off the universal service and turn the post into a money making racket that mirrors the experience on the railways.

"RMT stands shoulder to shoulder with the postal workers, their fight is our fight and the solidarity of the trade union movement will be key to securing their victory."