Model Motion for all Amicus Branches

We note the Joint Industry Board (JIB) deal in the electrical contracting industry, which Amicus inherited predecessor unions.

We further note the serious allegations made by John McAllion MSP (Dundee East) about the JIB in his letter to Derek Simpson of 11th November 2002:

  1. The JIB is modelled on a United States sweetheart deal between employers and trade union executive, imported into the UK from New York.
  2. It is based on a legally binding agreement signed in 1967 by the Electrical Contractors Association and the EETPU Executive that has never been made public.
  3. It was illegally registered as a trade union for more than 20 years, during which time it received as yet undisclosed tax concessions.
  4. It was effectively run by its two principal members, the Executive Committees of the EETPU/ECA, without the direct involvement or knowledge of that trade union’s membership.
  5. Members of the EETPU had their union cards stamped with the legend “contributions paid via the JIB”.  Employers in the industry were effectively paying through a levy to the JIB the union contributions of the membership of the EETPU working in that sector.
  6. The JIB had a unique exemption from the law on unfair dismissals, opening up the possibility of victimisation of “militants”.
  7. It breached the law requiring trade unions to elect their principal officers with impunity.
  8. It was and is wholly unaccountable to the grass roots membership.
  9. It continues to exist as an unincorporated association.  It is registered with no one, accountable to no one other than its own small executive committee.

We are concerned that such allegations undermine the reputation of Amicus as a trade union that effectively represents its members.

We welcomed Derek Simpson’s statement on his election that Amicus would sign no more sweetheart deals, and seek to renegotiate existing ones where the membership voted to terminate them.

We request that the union either provides a comprehensive rebuttal of these allegations, or takes steps to remedy the problems alleged.

We further request clarification as to whether the members whose subs are paid via the JIB are full members of Amicus, with the same voting rights in Amicus elections as members who pay their subs by the usual methods.

 

Model Motion for Amicus-MSF Branches

We note the struggle of the 11 T&GWU members locked out from the Manchester Piccadilly Gardens building site.

They are skilled electricians, who were fighting over the non-payment of wages/holiday pay, reneging on a promise to take the members on as directly employed, victimisation of activists, and the use of unskilled (cheap) labour to undertake skilled electrical work.  They were dismissed for their activities.

We resolve to send a donation to the hardship fund set up by the TGWU.

Cheques payable to “Piccadilly Gardens Hardship Fund”, should be sent to Mark Newton, Acting Regional Finance Officer, T&GWU, Transport House, Merchants Quay, Salford Quays, Salford, M50 3SG.

 

 

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