GMB statement to amicus employees
Issue No.7 / 2004
Whitehall College, Education and Bishop’s Stortford Regional Centre
We apologise for the delay in responding to the recent communication from the General Secretary regarding Whitehall College. The GMB wanted to obtain more information regarding the “mothballing” of the College and meet with members.
The notification regarding that all activities at the College would be suspended because “serious issues have come to light” was communicated to GMB members 15 minutes before the close of work on Friday 3rd September 2004. Domestic staff start and finish early so they did not hear the news until their next return to work. This was ill-judged and combined with subsequent events highlights the apparent contempt with which employees of Amicus are treated.
Since the merger there has been rumours about the future of all operations in Amicus. We would expect that the future Education needs of the Union would follow a considered process involving lay member participation and after consultation with the Staff Unions.
The claim that “serious issues have come to light” appeared all too convenient to those working at the College as they had heard derogatory comments regarding Whitehall from senior sources. At the same time management could claim the moral high ground of looking after the Health and Safety of our members. Of course many of you from experience would treat this claim with disdain.
In reality what is happening is an attempt to pre-empt any considered process involving lay members and the Staff Unions. In the absence of a considered process we can only conclude that the direction of events is informed by sectional sectarianism. The main victims of this are ordinary working people who have combined service of many decades to the trade union movement.
Amicus convened a meeting of College staff to start the consultation process. On the day of the meeting the GMB was informed that the “serious issues” effected the Education Department as well (but interestingly not the Regional Centre which is in the same part of the building). This was to be the start of the “consultation” process. This is not consultation as defined by the law, good practice and Amicus policy.
Management seemingly wanted a forum that would prevent the GMB making an effective intervention. It wanted the GMB to participate in an information meeting without a copy of the Health and Safety report on which actions in Whitehall have been informed. We are not stupid and will never let members down in this way.
We have written seeking formal consultation with Amicus. We have requested and been promised but not yet received a copy of the Health and Safety report in order that we can get professional advice and guidance from our FTO and Health and Safety Office prior to proper consultation.
At the meeting attended by domestic staff at the College and an official of the TGWU the nature of the “serious issues” were detailed. In our view they did not merit the precipitous action which was taken by management. It was claimed that the future of the College would be subject to review. Yet at the same time staff were offered an opportunity to apply for voluntary redundancy with the implied threat that if as a result of the review the College was to be closed, compulsory redundancy may apply with less favourable terms. This is an attempt to intimidate insecure and vulnerable workers out of the employment of this Union.
Whatever values informed this action it is not those of the trade union movement. The GMB asks the NEC are you aware that this is being done in the name of Amicus? We would also question how genuine a review would be if staff are being offered voluntary redundancy. In reality this is intended to pre-empt informed decision making and consultation.
Our role is to act as a check and balance to the arbitrary actions of management in representing our members. The GMB will fulfil this role. At the same time we are committed to building Amicus not a greater AEEU or greater MSF.
15th September 2004
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