Virgin Media move to de-recognise trade unions

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/virgin- ... nions.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

CWU has been informed by Virgin Media that the company intends to de-recognise its trade unions - by far the biggest of which is CWU.

All members of Virgin Media staff who are part of the Access Division workforce - mostly engineers -will be balloted in a self-proclaimed 'referendum' which opens today (Wednesday November 7) and closes on November 16. CWU was informed in a shock phone call on Friday afternoon and all staff received letters to their homes on Saturday explaining the company's intentions, with just days until the referendum opened.

Virgin Media is effectively (but not directly) asking employees to vote to deny themselves the right to be represented by trade union. Implicitly, employees have been asked to accept that Virgin Media's internal 'Voice Forum' is the best defender of their interests, despite the fact that it's self-evident that a company's own 'employee forum' cannot possibly be as independent as a democratically accountable trade union.

Classic 'union-busting' tactics - including the fact that many of those being balloted are not even in the recognised parts of the company - mean Virgin Media is virtually certain to get the result it wants. If so, the company will likely serve a three-month notice period on all current recognition agreements.


CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr said: "The CWU is nothing short of astonished at Virgin Media's decision to effectively declare war on the UK trade union movement in general, and its own employees' democratically elected representatives in particular.

"This derecognition move is not just entirely unprovoked but flies in the face of the public image that the entire Virgin Group has spent years cultivating for itself as an ethical and socially responsible entity.

"Virgin is always talking about the importance of 'trust' - indeed it specifically lists 'trust' as its core corporate value - yet the union-busting activity it has apparently embarked upon begs the question as to how much this company can actually be trusted.

"In the CWU we thought we were working in partnership with Virgin Media - but now discover the company has been working behind the scenes to stab us in the back."

Early indications show the company's actions are generating a sense of outrage amongst staff - reflected in a sudden surge in new CWU membership applications.

Andy's message to Virgin Media and members alike is unequivocal: "Rest assured, the CWU is not in the business of walking away and abandoning its members. We intend to continue the fight for better working conditions in Virgin Media - and we intend to continue to grow our membership. We're not going anywhere!"

CWU is encouraging people to vote to retain union recognition in the ballot.

CWU has members in engineering and call centre roles but only has recognition for collective bargaining for parts of the engineering workforce.

CWU immediately sent a letter to members on Monday setting out the union's position in response to this news and is in constant contact with reps and concerned staff at the company. Read the letter >here<.



Do you work for Virgin Media? If so, join CWU today. Contact us on freephone 0800 731 7434, email Joinunion@cwu.org or simply download and complete the application form to join now

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Virgin polls staff on trade union recognition http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2012/11/ ... cognition/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Virgin Media is consulting staff on the future of trade union recognition within the cablenet.

The referendum among technicians and engineers will take place today, running until November 16, and will ultimately decide whether the company continues to recognize media and entertainment union BECTU and the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

It asks the question: “Do you agree with Virgin Media’s proposal to end the current collective bargaining agreement with our Trade Unions (CWU and BECTU)?”

A previous vote in 2005, prior to the NTL and Telewest merger into Virgin Media, voted in favour of continued recognition.

CWU membership is largely in the former Telewest areas, but also within call centres.

[subbie]

This sounds like a ballot before the ballot.

Virgin have to show evidence that there is an appetite amongst the majority of the members within the bargaining unit, before they can apply to the CAC for an official ballot to de-recognise.

How long have the CWU been recognised? If its less than 3 years then this little stunt by Virgin will fail.

Subbie

[andy2007]

I wonder how long it'll be before Royal Mail try the same thing.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I wonder how long it'll be before Royal Mail try the same thing.

If the CWU don't pull their collective fingers out soon and start engaging with members concerns instead of their own, they won't need to.

[andy2007]

I wonder how long it'll be before Royal Mail try the same thing.

If the CWU don't pull their collective fingers out soon and start engaging with members concerns instead of their own, they won't need to.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: we need to attempt to change the CWU from within, rather than leave. Or if people really don't think that's possible. Then join a different Union (or if there's enough people interested, set up a new one), rather than go without one. There ARE other Unions which cover our type of work.

I know it's easier said than done. But it'll be a damn sight easier to join a different Union, or even set a new one up, than it was to create Unions in the first place. Our Ancestors made tremendous sacrifices to create the Unions. It would be wrong of us to simply throw that away.