Agenda item

MOTION C 2015/16

 

Councillor Arthur has given notice that he will MOVE the following MOTION:

 

This Councilnotes:

 

·         In July 2015theGovernmentannounced its TradeUnionBill - awide-ranging setof proposals which, takenas a package, will underminethebasic rightto strikeand make itharder for workers to organiseeffectively intradeunions.

·         Theproposals includeending theban onemployers bringing in agencyworkers to cover for permanentstaff during industrial action whichfundamentally undermines therightto strike.

·         Theproposals will also bring in new restrictionson pickets andprotestsduring strikes. Unions will haveto givethe details ofa leadpicketer oneverypicketlineto thepoliceandemployers - andthegovernmenthaveeven floatedtheideaof making all picketers givetheir details to thepolice. They mayeven berequiredto submita campaignplanto thepoliceandemployers two weeks in advance- setting outwhatthey intendto do, whether theywill usea loudspeaker or carrya banner andeven what strikers intendto put on social media, suchas Facebook or twitter.

·         TheGovernmenthavealso proposednew thresholds for turnout in strikeballots, plus additional thresholds for thoseworking in "importantpublic services".

·         TheGovernmentwantto grant Ministers thepower to unilaterallycut so-called "facilities time" in thepublic sector. This is paidtime-off mutuallyagreedbetween employers andunions for union reps to representtheir members andnegotiate withtheir employer.

·         TheGovernmentalso proposes to prohibitpublic sector employers assisting unions to collecttheir membership subscriptions throughpayrolls - eventhoughthis is usedfor a varietyof other staffbenefits suchas cycle-to-work schemes and childcarevouchers, andeven thoughunions oftenmeetthecosts ofthis.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·         Thehuman rights organisations Liberty, AmnestyInternational andtheBritish Instituteof HumanRights havesaidthattheGovernment's proposals “would hamper people’s basic rights to protestandshifteven morepower fromthe employeeto theemployer".

·         TheGovernmentrefusesto allow tradeunions toballottheir members electronically, whichcouldhelp increaseengagement.

·         Tradeunions take industrial actionfor a widerangeof reasons includingdefending wages andpensions, conditions at work andsafety.

·         Strikes in theUKareat historicallylow levels.

 

This Council believes:

 

·         No worker ever wants togo on strikebut it is acrucial lastresortfor workers when their employer refuses to listento their views, negotiatewiththemor compromise.

·         Therightto strikeandprotestarefundamental rights whichshouldbe valuedand respected ina freeanddemocratic society.

·         Withouttherightto strike, workers will beunableto defendtheir jobs or pay, stand up for decentservices andachievefairness andsafetyat work.

·         TheGovernment's proposals will undermineconstructiveemploymentrelations in Haringey. Webelieveharmonious industrial relations areachievedby meaningful engagementwithtradeunions andtheir members.

·         That, in thespiritof localism, councils shouldbe freeto buildpositiveindustrial relations thatwork for their communities withoutcentral government interference.

 

This Council resolves:

 

·         To supporttheTUC’s [andother relevantlocal unions']campaignto protectthe rightto strike.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Business, Innovationand Skills stating the council’s oppositionto thegovernment's proposals ontradeunions.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Communities andLocal Government and the Minister for London,stating theoppositionto the interferenceof central government in local industrial relations as itis againstthespiritof localism.

·         To writeto both MPs in Haringey informing themof ourpositionandencouraging themto opposetheTradeUnionBill.

·         To continueto valuetheimportanceof meaningful workforceengagementand representationthroughtradeunions in Haringey.

·         That, in theeventthattheGovernment's proposals becomelaw and in so far as is lawful for theCouncil as anemployer to;

o   continueto allow recognisedtradeunions to usesubscriptions through payroll, or otherwisesupporttradeunions' efforts to move members onto direct debitsubscriptions, throughallowing access to workers and as much noticeas possibleof anychangedarrangements.

o   maintaincurrentarrangements on "facilitytime" for tradeunion reps to representtheir members.

o   commitnotto useagencyworkers to break strikes.

 

 

MOTION D 2015/16

 

Councillor Newton has give notice that he will MOVE the following MOTION:

 

Cuts to local policing

 

This Council acknowledges:

 

·         The importance of local policing

·         The concerns of local residents about the Metropolitan Police’s plans to scrap all 1000 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) working in neighbourhoods across London, including Haringey.

 

This Council notes:

 

·      The impact that the loss of these officers will have on the local community and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Haringey.

·      That Caroline Pidgeon the Liberal Democrat Assembly Member has launched a petition against the proposals which has already been supported by thousands of Londoners.

 

The Council resolves:

 

·         To oppose the Metropolitan Police’s plans to cut the number of PCSOs in London, including Haringey.

·         To call on the Conservative Mayor of London to intervene and stop the cuts to Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) numbers in Haringey and across the capital.

 

 

The Mayor advised that MOTION C would be considered.

 

MOTION C - 2014/15

 

Councillor Arthur  MOVED the following MOTION C:

 

This Councilnotes:

 

·         In July 2015theGovernmentannounced its TradeUnionBill - awide-ranging setof proposals which, takenas a package, will underminethebasic rightto strikeand make itharder for workers to organiseeffectively intradeunions.

·         Theproposals includeending theban onemployers bringing in agencyworkers to cover for permanentstaff during industrial action whichfundamentally undermines therightto strike.

·         Theproposals will also bring in new restrictionson pickets andprotestsduring strikes. Unions will haveto givethe details ofa leadpicketer oneverypicketlineto thepoliceandemployers - andthegovernmenthaveeven floatedtheideaof making all picketers givetheir details to thepolice. They mayeven berequiredto submita campaignplanto thepoliceandemployers two weeks in advance- setting outwhatthey intendto do, whether theywill usea loudspeaker or carrya banner andeven what strikers intendto put on social media, suchas Facebook or twitter.

·         TheGovernmenthavealso proposednew thresholds for turnout in strikeballots, plus additional thresholds for thoseworking in "importantpublic services".

·         TheGovernmentwantto grant Ministers thepower to unilaterallycut so-called "facilities time" in thepublic sector. This is paidtime-off mutuallyagreedbetween employers andunions for union reps to representtheir members andnegotiate withtheir employer.

·         TheGovernmentalso proposes to prohibitpublic sector employers assisting unions to collecttheir membership subscriptions throughpayrolls - eventhoughthis is usedfor a varietyof other staffbenefits suchas cycle-to-work schemes and childcarevouchers, andeven thoughunions oftenmeetthecosts ofthis.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·        Thehuman rights organisations Liberty, AmnestyInternational andtheBritish Instituteof HumanRights havesaidthattheGovernment's proposals “would hamper people’s basic rights to protestandshifteven morepower fromthe employeeto theemployer".

·         TheGovernmentrefusesto allow tradeunions toballottheir members electronically, whichcouldhelp increaseengagement.

·         Tradeunions take industrial actionfor a widerangeof reasons includingdefending wages andpensions, conditions at work andsafety.

·         Strikes in theUKareat historicallylow levels.

 

This Council believes:

 

·         No worker ever wants togo on strikebut it is acrucial lastresortfor workers when their employer refuses to listento their views, negotiatewiththemor compromise.

·         Therightto strikeandprotestarefundamental rights whichshouldbe valuedand respected ina freeanddemocratic society.

·         Withouttherightto strike, workers will beunableto defendtheir jobs or pay, stand up for decentservices andachievefairness andsafetyat work.

·         TheGovernment's proposals will undermineconstructiveemploymentrelations in Haringey. Webelieveharmonious industrial relations areachievedby meaningful engagementwithtradeunions andtheir members.

·         That, in thespiritof localism, councils shouldbe freeto buildpositiveindustrial relations thatwork for their communities withoutcentral government interference.

 

This Council resolves:

 

·         To supporttheTUC’s [andother relevantlocal unions']campaignto protectthe rightto strike.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Business, Innovationand Skills stating the council’s oppositionto thegovernment's proposals ontradeunions.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Communities andLocal Government and the Minister for London,stating theoppositionto the interferenceof central government in local industrial relations as itis againstthespiritof localism.

·         To writeto both MPs in Haringey informing themof ourpositionandencouraging themto opposetheTradeUnionBill.

·         To continueto valuetheimportanceof meaningful workforceengagementand representationthroughtradeunions in Haringey.

·         That, in theeventthattheGovernment's proposals becomelaw and in so far as is lawful for theCouncil as anemployer to;

o   continueto allow recognisedtradeunions to usesubscriptions through payroll, or otherwisesupporttradeunions' efforts to move members onto direct debitsubscriptions, throughallowing access to workers and as much noticeas possibleof anychangedarrangements.

o   maintaincurrentarrangements on "facilitytime" for tradeunion reps to representtheir members.

o   commitnotto useagencyworkers to break strikes.

 

Councillor Wright seconded the MOTION.

 

The Mayor then MOVED the MOTION as stated.

 

On a vote there being 44 for, nil against, and 9 abstentions, it was:

 

RESOLVED

 

This Councilnotes:

 

·         In July 2015theGovernmentannounced its TradeUnionBill - awide-ranging setof proposals which, takenas a package, will underminethebasic rightto strikeand make itharder for workers to organiseeffectively intradeunions.

·         Theproposals includeending theban onemployers bringing in agencyworkers to cover for permanentstaff during industrial action whichfundamentally undermines therightto strike.

·         Theproposals will also bring in new restrictionson pickets andprotestsduring strikes. Unions will haveto givethe details ofa leadpicketer oneverypicketlineto thepoliceandemployers - andthegovernmenthaveeven floatedtheideaof making all picketers givetheir details to thepolice. They mayeven berequiredto submita campaignplanto thepoliceandemployers two weeks in advance- setting outwhatthey intendto do, whether theywill usea loudspeaker or carrya banner andeven what strikers intendto put on social media, suchas Facebook or twitter.

·         TheGovernmenthavealso proposednew thresholds for turnout in strikeballots, plus additional thresholds for thoseworking in "importantpublic services".

·         TheGovernmentwantto grant Ministers thepower to unilaterallycut so-called "facilities time" in thepublic sector. This is paidtime-off mutuallyagreedbetween employers andunions for union reps to representtheir members andnegotiate withtheir employer.

·         TheGovernmentalso proposes to prohibitpublic sector employers assisting unions to collecttheir membership subscriptions throughpayrolls - eventhoughthis is usedfor a varietyof other staffbenefits suchas cycle-to-work schemes and childcarevouchers, andeven thoughunions oftenmeetthecosts ofthis.

 

This Council further notes:

 

·         Thehuman rights organisations Liberty, AmnestyInternational andtheBritish Instituteof HumanRights havesaidthattheGovernment's proposals “would hamper people’s basic rights to protestandshifteven morepower fromthe employeeto theemployer".

·         TheGovernmentrefusesto allow tradeunions toballottheir members electronically, whichcouldhelp increaseengagement.

·         Tradeunions take industrial actionfor a widerangeof reasons includingdefending wages andpensions, conditions at work andsafety.

·         Strikes in theUKareat historicallylow levels.

 

This Council believes:

 

·         No worker ever wants togo on strikebut it is acrucial lastresortfor workers when their employer refuses to listento their views, negotiatewiththemor compromise.

·         Therightto strikeandprotestarefundamental rights whichshouldbe valuedand respected ina freeanddemocratic society.

·         Withouttherightto strike, workers will beunableto defendtheir jobs or pay, stand up for decentservices andachievefairness andsafetyat work.

·         TheGovernment's proposals will undermineconstructiveemploymentrelations in Haringey. Webelieveharmonious industrial relations areachievedby meaningful engagementwithtradeunions andtheir members.

·         That, in thespiritof localism, councils shouldbe freeto buildpositiveindustrial relations thatwork for their communities withoutcentral government interference.

 

This Council resolves:

 

·         To supporttheTUC’s [andother relevantlocal unions']campaignto protectthe rightto strike.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Business, Innovationand Skills stating the council’s oppositionto thegovernment's proposals ontradeunions.

·         To writeto the Secretaryof Statefor Communities andLocal Government and the Minister for London,stating theoppositionto the interferenceof central government in local industrial relations as itis againstthespiritof localism.

·         To writeto both MPs in Haringey informing themof ourpositionandencouraging themto opposetheTradeUnionBill.

·         To continueto valuetheimportanceof meaningful workforceengagementand representationthroughtradeunions in Haringey.

·         That, in theeventthattheGovernment's proposals becomelaw and in so far as is lawful for theCouncil as anemployer to;

o   continueto allow recognisedtradeunions to usesubscriptions through payroll, or otherwisesupporttradeunions' efforts to move members onto direct debitsubscriptions, throughallowing access to workers and as much noticeas possibleof anychangedarrangements.

o   maintaincurrentarrangements on "facilitytime" for tradeunion reps to representtheir members.

o   commitnotto useagencyworkers to break strikes.