World Menopause Day: New Unite survey highlights workplace impact of menstrual health

Posted on October 18, 2023 by unitetheunion

43% forced to take time off work due to menstruation/menopause with financial impact for 28%

60% did not feel comfortable discussing menstrual health issues; 95% would welcome workplace menstrual health policies

October 18th: Unite, which represents workers throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, today (World Menopause Day, 18 October) published the results of a survey on menstrual health.  Over 1,100 women members of the union in Northern Ireland and the Republic responded to a range of questions relating to women’s experience of menstruation and the menopause as they relate to the workplace.

Key findings of the survey include:

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Unite Education Authority workers in work-to-rule

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Industrial action to commence Monday 23 October in pursuit of a pay & regrading review 

Unite the union’s membership concentrated in school bus transport, catering, admin, cleaning, classroom assistants and other school based members. 

Members of Unite the union employed by Education Authority will commence a continuous work-to-rule from 00.01am on Monday 23 October.  This is the first step in a planned escalation by education workers to secure the implementation of a promised pay & regrading review. The failure to make meaningful progress is a touchstone issue as the commitment to hold the exercise was the primary reason why industrial action by education workers in 2022 was called off. 

Education Authority managers claim the lack of progress is not of their making as they have repeatedly engaged with the Department of Education without any progress on the matter. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

“It is simply unacceptable that the Department of Education continue to prevaricate in an attempt to avoid its responsibilities to deliver a pay and grading review.

“EA bosses and those in the Department of Education should be under no illusion – if they do not deliver their commitments for a pay and regrading review –workers will escalate their action. Management and particular the Department of Education need to address the workforce’s concerns to avoid further escalation.” 

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Collapse of Mechanical SEO opens door to industrial action

Posted on October 10, 2023 by unitetheunion

Unite warns employers against attempting to cut pay and conditions

Trade union Unite, which represents workers throughout the construction and mechanical sectors, today (Wednesday) warned employers that any attempt to cut pay and conditions following the collapse of the Mechanical Sectoral Employment Order is likely to be met by industrial action.  The state today accepted the argument of small contractors’ association APHCI that pension contribution provisions housed in the SEO are unconstitutional.

The collapse of the Mechanical SEO means that the dispute resolution procedures provided for in the SEO, which could take between six and nine months to work through, have also collapsed.  This means that workers can take industrial action after conducting a ballot and serving notice as required by industrial relations legislation.

Commenting, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Tom Fitzgerald said:

“The contractors who brought about the collapse of the mechanical SEO will find that they have scored a Pyrrhic victory.  Not only do all workers’ contracted terms and conditions of employment remain in force – it has now become significantly easier for workers in the mechanical sector to take industrial action.

“Unite is putting employers on notice:  any attempt to reduce our members’ terms and conditions will be swiftly met with ballots for industrial action.

“We are consulting our members regarding a strategy to improve pay and conditions across the mechanical sector, and employers should be aware that we will not hesitate to use the new freedoms afforded by the collapse of the SEO to take action in pursuit of our members’ interests”.

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Quick-fix Budget fails working people

Posted on October 10, 2023 by unitetheunion

Low and middle income earners, social protection recipients, lose out in real terms

Short-term supports no substitute for long-term policies

October 10th: In an initial response to the Budget, trade union Unite dubbed the measures announced today a “quick-fix Budget” which uses short-term supports to mask the ongoing failure to develop long-term policies to reduce costs.

The union said that, while workers squeezed by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis would welcome any short-term support made available in Budget 2024, the government’s decision to continue a narrow focus on subsidies rather than investing in public provision of services ranging from housing to childcare would simply push the crisis facing public services further down the road. 

Commenting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Budget 2024 was billed as something for everyone in the audience, but employers and higher earners have fared best, while low and middle income earners will again lose out in real terms.

“At every turn, this budget missed the opportunity to rebalance policy in favour of workers.

“Once again, it is clear that the best way for workers to put more money in their pockets is to join a trade union and work collectively to improve their jobs, pay and conditions”.

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Protest at Jacobs in Belfast due to union-busting by construction company J Murphy and Sons

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Unite the union NI

Unite, the UK’s leading union, is holding a protest tomorrow [October 11th] at the offices of Jacobs due to the union-busting activities of J Murphy and Sons Ltd.

When:  1pm Wednesday 11th October

Where:  Jacobs, 91-97 Victoria Street Belfast BT14PB

J Murphy and Sons Ltd is currently part of a joint venture with French construction company Bouygues which has been shortlisted for the multimillion-pound contract to build the new Lower Thames Crossing.

The decision about who will secure the contract will be taken National Highways. Jacobs has been appointed the commercial and integration partners by National Highways on the Lower Thames Crossing.

The dispute is a result of J Murphy and Sons Ltd’s, Irish subsidiary Murphy International Ltd, wrongfully sacking four Unite members (including a Unite rep) last year, in an act of union busting.

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