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2006
Pay claim
We have had no input into pay negotiations at this time. Last
year we achieved 3% for DHL workers and were vilified after
departing from the GMB for doing so. Therefore it will be
very interesting to see what the new GMB negotiating committee
achieve. ‘We are watching and waiting....’
New Holiday Proposals?
The GMB Negotiating Committee in DHL are roaming the country
promoting a ‘new holiday arrangement’ that the
UDW believe to be detrimental to workers. Indeed very recently
at the Maidstone depot, management attempted to force a worker
to take leave in late June that he did not want telling him
that ‘it had already been agreed’ with the recognised
trade union! The UDW stepped in immediately and got it stopped.
We want to look at and study this ‘proposal’ and
will advise our membership accordingly in writing and through
the website.
Bullying at Work
The UDW are challenging an increasing number of cases of bullying
and harassment at work. The bullying seems to be specific
to some depots with despotic style management who appear to
be ignoring the DHL way of treating their employees. The UDW
is collecting evidence of serial bullying at these depots
and will present it to the highest levels of DHL whilst seeking
advice from our solicitors. Bullying is a wicked and despicable
practice; carried out by a minority of people who are abusing
their position. The UDW will not tolerate it, in any shape
or form! If you know anyone being bullied or victimised at
work (member or not) call Jim McEwan, UDW Regional Organiser
on 07725347179
Removal of UDW Notice Boards
DHL have removed most UDW notice boards in their depots. So
much for employee choice! Most notice boards only contained
a newsletter and contact numbers. However it would seem that
our strong and robust representation and refusal to act passively
have gotten up some peoples noses and they obviously feel
that this might curtail our ability to advise and represent
our members. It will have no impact at all. We will simply
put all advice and news through to our member’s personal
addresses as promised at the beginning of our campaign.
UDW Representation at Work?
Even now we have a few managers attempting to coax workers
into disciplinary or grievance procedures with the words “you
are not entitled to a UDW rep, they are not a recognised trade
union” Lets be very clear about this. Employment legislation
allows you to have the representative of your choice. It also
allows up to five full days for you to arrange that representative
to be there. If this right is denied to you the UDW will commence
with legal proceedings on your behalf for denial of statutory
rights under the Employment Rights at Work Act 1999.
Update: June 12th. Paul O’Keefe (DHL Operations Director)
has given a commitment that an email will be sent to all service
centre managers, instructing them to facilitate UDW representation
requests at all disciplinaries and grievance hearings.
Payment of UDW subscription through wages (check off)
After a meeting of senior DHL managers in early June they
communicated to us that this will end in August 2006. Again
we view this as another attempt to curtail our activities
and ability to represent our membership. We give you our strongest
assurances that it will do nothing of the kind. Indeed we
have taken the view that the withdrawal of this facility will
strengthen our resolve and commitment to servicing our members
whilst becoming a completely stand alone Trade Union that
is obligated only to its members! We are underway making provision
for continued membership through standing order and will be
writing to you all personally with the new arrangements in
the next few days. Your membership will remain fixed at £5
and £3 (part time) respectively
European Works Council Recognition for the UDW
We are pleased to announce that we have submitted an application
to DHL (Tuesday 12th June) for recognition under the
above legislation. This is extremely important to our members
and representatives, as it will allow us to have full rights for all
consultation and representation for any planned changes in
the workplace that affect those people. We gained a significant
number of signatures that exceeded the 10% required to apply
for this recognition and await DHL’s response. This
is a very important step in the right direction for the UDW
and its membership. We hope to communicate the result to you
in the next few weeks.
PRP and Benchmarks
The old problem of arbitrary benchmark increases is still
raging. We are finding in some depots that this is being used
as a form of punishment (another example of bullying) against
a driver who will not work past his contractual hours or who
has objected to any other unfair or detrimental treatment.
Do not accept this! Under the PRP National Agreement, you
are entitled to a properly recorded review with trade union
representation. You must exercise this right immediately.
Anyone informed of such a review or increase must contact
Jim Mc Ewan on 07725347179 or any of the other UDW contacts.
We are there to support and represent you.
Health and Safety at Work
We have received a significant number of complaints about
concerns and breaches in Health & Safety at some DHL sites.
Our thanks to all those members who have taken the time to
either email, write to us or have personally called us either
seek advice or to report such concerns to us. We are preparing
a dossier of these concerns or breaches to present to DHL
senior management in the very near future and will be pleased
to report back to your all in writing with a site by site
report
What’s the UDW doing for DHL workers at the
moment?
We are engaged in a purely representational role at this time.
Ranging from sickness interviews to PRP reviews right through
to gross misconduct cases. We are having significant successes
in overturning written warnings and dismissals and are pleased
that some senior DHL managers have corrected what were obviously
unreasonable decisions. We are currently supporting a number
of Employment Tribunal claims ranging from discrimination
to unfair dismissal. We also have a significant number of
claims registered with Penningtons Solicitors for accidents
and injuries at work.
Our
campaign for the 1st three days sick pay continues and we
firmly believe that although this goal is out of our reach
at this time, we will achieve it. We are there for you. Please
do not hesitate to call or write to us at any time.
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