Members for Democracy Archive

Check out this link: www.hystc.com

The story comes from across the Atlantic, but should sound eerily familiar. 400 workers at MFI Stockton UK sought to join a union and stand up for their rights on the job.

Then the company decides that they would prefer to deal with another union. A better "partner", if you will.

Well these workers aren't taking things lying down. They've set up their own website and they're lobbying the TUC and the sweetheart union's own members. They also have their own discussion board.

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To help us in our Campaign for the basic Right of Freedom of Choice.
· To raise public awareness about such issues.

· To make aware to their own union they do not agree with this type of action

· To stop and reconsider any other such deals.

· To lobby the Government to close this undemocratic Legal Loophole.

Over a Century of Unity cannot be ignored for the sake of short-term financial gain.

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Lots of familiar rings eh?

Whoa, that was fast! E-mail works fast eh? Hi Brian. Thanks for visiting.

Haven't read your whole site so I am not clear on exactly who and what you are applying for and to. Looks like some things are very different than here in Canada, except the part about the Power Source wanting to have free choice.

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they've also been posting messages in the Labourstart webmasters forum, off-topic, and to the consternation of some of the webmasters.

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You make whoever *they* are, sound like a virus.

Brian or Arafi:

Could either of you give a brief explanation, in your own words, about what's going on at your workplace?

This is a Canadian discussion board. I get the impression that labour laws in the UK are somewhat different.

Usually, workplaces become unionized here after a government-supervised vote. Sometimes, however, employers decide to make the worker's choice for them by entering into a "voluntary recognition" deal. This sounds something like what happened to you.

If another Canadian union wants to challenge a "voluntary recognition" deal in a workplace, and they can show that a large number of workers at the job site support them (usually 40% or more), then they can apply to the government to supervise a vote. This process is subject to quite a few restrictions, not worth going into here.

I'm wondering if you could explain a bit about how the laws might be different in the UK. Is there a way you can have a vote at your workplace? Is there anything else you can do? Can you strike for recognition?

I am also wondering if you could give us some more information on what we can do to help you. Would it useful for you to receive "messages of support" from trade unionists around the world? Would news coverage of your dispute on a site like this one be helpful?

Arafi:

I've read the discussion thread on the Labourstart forum and I can see why some people there were pissed off.

The forum you were posting on was supposed to be for technical discussion by union site webmasters. You know, like coding, software, and boring stuff like that. It's not that people there wouldn't necessarily support you, its just that you were spamming them with information completely off the topic that they were there to discuss.

However, you've come to the right place now. This site, ufcw.net is one of the leading forums in North America for online union democracy/union reform issues. Many of the people who post here have been through similar experiences as what you appear to be going through at work right now.

So please, tell us a little bit more about what is going on. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

MFI manufacturing was originally made up of 3 Hygena sites, 1 Schreiber site and 2 Hull component sites. The ISTC had recruited members within Hygena only (approx 1300 employees of which 650+ were ISTC members).

When the CAC application was made, MFI convinced the panel that the needs of the business warranted the inclusion of all 6 manufacturing sites, creating a bargaining unit of 2300 employees.
This meant the ISTC membership went from 50%(the required figure for an application to succeed) to as you rightly point out 39%.

Before we (the ISTC)had an opportunity to actively seek membership in the CAC defined bargaining unit (all 6 sites - not just our 3) - MFI signed an agreement with the T&G.

In June 2001, after ensuring the CAC had redefined the bargaining unit to include all 2300 manufacturing employees, MFI announced the closure of the 2 sites in Hull with the loss of 400 jobs.

It isn't a case of don't know, don't care on the part of the employees, its a case of no choice.
You wanted a Union - you've got one, the T&G - Is this positive, pro-active 21st managerial attitudes?

This is why my Colleagues and I are seeking to raise awareness of these issues, everyone should be entitled to dignity, reasonable treatment and fairness in the workplace.

Go to www.hystc.com for more info.

Thanks for the support if you recieve this message in time the questions we would like asked of Mr Tony Woodley would be this

Is it common practice for a trade union to ride roughshot over another trade union when the other trade union is trying for recognition in that workplace and has the majority of members

Is it common practice for a union to negotiate sweetheart deals to the dettriment of that workforce

Is it common practice to disregard the workers choice of a union

If not

WHY HAVE YOU DONE IT AT MFI UK LTD

Something that occurs to me that is both interesting and scary is that, up to now, I had believed that sweetheart deals were mostly a North American phenomenon. It would appear that biz-unionism has gone global.

Thanks for coming to our web site Arafi, Brian and Saymore. The CLC has become sort of a country club for biz-unionists so it doesn't surprise me that they would be featuring another union partner as a guest speaker. I'm sure Woodley will pick up a lot of pointers on the state-of-the-art. He'll be rubbing elbows and schmoozing with some of biz-unionism's finest.

Keep up the discussion.

This message was placed on every notice board within the MFI Manufacturing sites

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I can now confirm that the TUC has concluded its investigation into the spurious allegations made by the ISTC and it has been made clear that the Transport & General Workers Union did not breach any TUC procedures and that the agreement reached with the company was a voluntary recognition agreement after the company invited a number of unions to make a presentation. It therefore, is not within the authority of the TUC to change or vary the Recognition Agreement between the TGWU and MFI Manufacturing.

Yours sincerely
RONNIE G MORRISON
SENIOR REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL ORGANISER (T&GWU)

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- following the release of the subsequent message/response (to Mr Morrisons words of wisdom), from the TUC/John Monks, the 'update' notices were removed immediately.

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02 May 02
John Monks

Dear Eddie (ISTC Assistant general Secretary)

MFI

It appears that there are misleading accounts in circulation of the TUC position in respect of the disagreement between the TGWU and ISTC at MFI

At the meeting between the unions, which took place earlier this week, it was not possible to reach agreement. The ISTC have lodged a request for a TUC Disputes Committee to be convened to consider the issue. I am currently considering this request and also whether there may be any benefit of holding further discussions with the General Secretaries of the two Unions

I wanted to ensure that there was no misunderstanding of the current position

Signed
John Monks
General Secretary TUC

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Yet more TGWU fabrication, to try and mislead MFI manufacturing employees into joining the management preferred Trade Union.

Go to www.hystc.com for further information

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the agreement reached with the company was a voluntary recognition agreement after the company invited a number of unions to make a presentation.

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the agreement reached with the company was a voluntary recognition agreement after the company invited a number of unions to make a presentation.

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This is your problem right here. Why should the company get any say in the matter at all? The union is supposed to represent the workers. If more than one union is interested in representing the workers, it ought to be up to a democratic vote to decide.

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!@#$% hystc mfi ISTC TGWU TUC CBGB-OMFUG! Let's throw a few more acronyms in this thread.

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The acronyms are extensively used within the UK Trade Union movement and I make no excuse for using them.

However these issues have been raised or reported, it should not detract from what an employer in the UK has been able to achieve by manipulating a compliant (rat) Trade Union.

The majority should never be ignored - thats democracy

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!@#$% hystc mfi ISTC TGWU TUC CBGB-OMFUG! Let's throw a few more acronyms in this thread.
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The acronyms are extensively used within the UK Trade Union movement and I make no excuse for using them.

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ISTC - Iron & Steel Trade Confederation

MFI - Modern Furniture Industries (I think), sometimes known as 'Might Fit In' by its customers.

HYSTC - Hygena (part of the MFI manufacturing group and major 'brand name', where most of us are employed.)and ISTC (our Tade Union)
To find a unique web address we have combined Hygena + ISTC = HYSTC.COM

TUC - Trade Union Congress a collective voice? for the 70+ British Trade Unions

TGWU - Transport & General Workers Union

How's That?

Laws are brought about to protect the innocent, laws are made so wrongdoers in society are punished, but half a law protects nobody, for this goverment to firstly acknowledge the need for unions to give workers rights then to deny them those rights is disgraceful inhuman and immoral
To have a voice in the workplace where management are totally disrespectful of workers on the shop floor ( unions are that voice ) but to do sweetheart deals to the detriment of that workforce breeds contempt and distrust
Companies everywhere should listen to the workforce and work alongside with the preferred union of that workforce to ensure health and safety are paramount and have good working practices
To ensure good relations so workers are felt that they can voice thier opinions without fear of retaliation or ultimately the sack on bogus grounds ( CALLED WHISTLEBLOWING)
Basic human rights have been denied workers opinons overlooked a case of you want a union have this one the workers have been fed lies from management and the non-prefered union and time has now come to step up our campaign to ensure the workers of MFI UK LTD will not be overlooked we want our say ,we want representation,we want a union of our choice
visit our web site at www.hystc.com for more information in this campaign and give your support

ISTC – The Community Union, the major union within the MFI Manufacturing division of the MFI Group, will be staging a protest outside the MFI Annual General Shareholders Meeting (AGM), at 11AM today (22 May 02) at The Lincoln Centre, 18 Lincoln's Inn Fields. The protest is to highlight the lack of rights ISTC members at MFI have and the total lack of respect MFI have for their workforce.

ISTC representatives from the North East and South Yorkshire will be protesting in support of their colleagues at the MFI manufacturing plants in Stockton in Teesside, Howden in South Yorkshire and Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire. ISTC members at MFI are fearful of protesting themselves because they fear victimisation by the company.

This national protest follows a campaign of protests around the country at MFI stores against MFI's decision to deny ISTC members a voice in their workplace. MFI have consistently refused to allow MFI manufacturing employees the right to choose their own union, even though it is the single biggest union in the company.

ISTC Head of Organising, Kevin Pass, said:

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'It is appalling that MFI management will not listen to the views of its manufacturing employees and recognise their chosen union. We aim to raise this issue with MFI shareholders as part of our ongoing campaign and will continue to be a thorn in the side of the company until they see sense. MFI management should realise we are not going away: we will continue our campaign until they treat our colleagues at MFI with the dignity and respect they deserve.'

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Employees have recently taken their protests to the House of Commons lobbying MPs in a bid to persuade MPs to support their right to choose their own union. The campaign is set to intensify if MFI continue to ignore employees' wishes.

'This is not the action of a caring employer. MFI certainly is not valuing the contributions of a committed workforce which has made such substantial profits for the company.'

www.hystc.com For furthet information

Source the Morning Star 23/5/02 by Daniel Coysh

Community Union ISTC picketed the AGM of furniture company MFI in London yesterday over the firms 'total lack of respect'' for its workforce.
ISTC reps leafleted shareholders in support of colleagues at MFI manufacturing plants at Stockton on Teesside, Howden in south Yorkshire and Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire.

The union accused MFI of denying workers at the sites the right to choose which union represents them in the workplace.

MFI has consistently refused to allow it's manufacturing employees the right to choose their own Trade Union Representatives, even though ISTC is the single biggest union in the company.

The union currently recognised at MFI is general union T&G and officials from both unions are trying to resolve the clash of interests through the TUC.

ISTC members at the affected sites did not attend yesterday's protest themselves for fear that it could lead to victimization by the company.

ISTC head of organizing Kevin Pass said:

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'it is appalling that MFI management will not listen to the views of its manufacturing employees and recognise their chosen union. We aim to raise this issue with MFI shareholders and will continue to be a thorn in the side of the company until they see sense'.

'MFI Management should realise we are not going away, we will continue our campaign until they treat our colleagues at MFI with the dignity and the respect they deserve'

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Mr. Pass accused MFI of weasel words, citing recent management claims that the company 'valued and recognised' employees contributions to its fortunes.

He noted that the MFI group made £64.7 million in pre tax profits and that the chief executives pay package potentially exceeded £1 million last year, equating to a £3000 weekly increase in basic pay.

This compares with a 2.1% increase in basic pay for employees within manufacturing-less than £5 per week to most of the work force.

Mr. Pass commented 'this is not the action of a caring employer MFI certainly is not valuing the contributions of a committed work force, which made such substantial profits for the company'

MFI was unavailable for comment.

Is this another case of a UK union thumbing its nose at democracy? I'd really appreciate hearing from any of you over there, if you are familiar with this story:

Blairite union leader refuses to recognise his elected successor

On Friday 31 May, a group of our members assisted by members of other unions, who we would like to thank for donating their time and effort into a campaign that does not directly affect them, distributed some thousands of leaflets at different sites.

The target areas were motorway service stations, shopping centres, lorry parks, local radio stations, and the like, the response from the public was dismay that this is happening and of this action by another trade union.

This is a follow on to the current leafleting campaign and will be regularly repeated, with further offers of help from other union members.

A copy of the leaflet is;

Your Help Is Needed In The Campaign For Employee Rights At MFI Manufacturing sites

When a customer enters an MFI Retail Outlet or certain (Hygena at) Curry's stores the customer has the freedom of choice to purchase whichever MFI product they prefer. The Manufacturing employees within MFI, who have produced that customer's choice of product, have not been given the same freedom of choice with regard to having Trade Union representation.

MFI employees are extremely loyal to the company and work extremely hard to ensure the goods are manufactured to highest quality and have helped to make the company the market leader.

It is wrong that their views are not fully valued by the company and that MFI chooses to ignore their employee's basic human right to be represented by a Trade Union of their choice, not one forced upon them.

The majority of employees within MFI manufacturing have a preferred Trade Union – The ISTC – and are continuing to make MFI aware that they do not want a management-preferred Trade Union to represent them.

Please show your support for the workers affected by MFI's judgement and help them to achieve the freedom of choice by phoning their Head Office and registering your dissatisfaction and ring the MFI-UK Head Office on 0208 200 8000

Or why not Contact your chosen Trade Union and help others to get a free choice of Trade Union also?

For more information regarding this campaign the employees website is www.hystc.com

(ed = it's a good link thought it should work)

Where is the Solidarity?
Because no one appears able or interested in finding a satisfactory resolution within
the UK to our Issues - we have approached the International Labour Organization (ILO).

It is outrageous that this is what UK employees need to resort to - to have their
Basic Rights upheld.
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The Committee Freedom of Association

As a member of a union (Iron & Steel Trade Confederation) and an official of a union I have concerns about the way myself and fellow branch members are been denied the right to carry out our obligations to the members.
My Employer, MFI-UK, is preventing this; we are been denied the right to represent members of our union. Every worker has the right to be represented by a person of their own choice we are been denied this basic right.
Branch members and myself are been prevented from advancing within the company because of our position in the union.

MFI-UK manufacturing arranged a sweetheart deal with a compliant union (TGWU), which had very limited membership within any of the manufacturing sites (6 in total), and now the company seems to be attempting to achieve a closed shop.

This is illegal with the new legislation, which as come out we are being prevented from organising and distributing information to our members.
The government has signed up to Conventions within the ILO (International Labour organisation) and it is through these Conventions I feel myself and members are been denied our rights.
The government has signed up to Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise convention, 1948 (No87) & Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining convention, 1949 (No 98).
Why have the government signed up to these Conventions and then allow companies to ignore them when it comes to employee's rights.
The branch will be putting our concerns to the Freedom of Association Branch of the ILO and see if our rights are been denied and be asking the Committee of Freedom of Association to investigate this matter.
I personally feel it is wrong for governments to sign up to these Conventions & Recommendations and then turn a blind eye when it suits them.
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Protection against acts of anti-union discrimination
The general principle expressed by the committee concerning protection against acts of anti-trade union discrimination is that no person shall be prejudiced in his employment by reasons of his trade union membership or legitimate trade union activities, whether past or present.
This protection against anti-union discrimination, as laid out in Article 1
Of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1948 (No. 98), covers not only hiring and dismissal, but also any discriminatory measures during employment, such as transfers or downgrading