Apr 30 – May Day Message From Unite The Union
The following is the full text of Unite’s May Day message:
May Day, also known as Workers Day, is the most significant date in our Trade Union calendar. On May Day we commemorate the struggle of the many workers that have taken part in hard fought battles in pursuance of workers’ rights.
Rights, that many take for granted. The right to a pension, the 40 hour week, injury at work benefits, maternity and paternity leave, health and safety legislation, anti bullying legislation, minimum wage and many other achievements.
Trade Unions, Political Parties, NGO’s, and individuals with progressive ideals will understand and support the importance of this special occasion.
We all share these ideals, to protect these fundamental principles by maintaining ourselves vigilant that these hard won rights are not easily eroded.
It also serves for Trade Unions throughout the world, to reflect on what has been achieved to the benefit of its members and workers in general, whilst at the same time highlight their objectives in pursuing further improvements.
Training
Training is one of the most important areas where Trade Unions should be focusing on improving; Unite strongly advocates this position with a view of enriching our future generation with adequate training facilities that offers valid credentials and job security for our youngsters.
We strongly sympathise with the view that there is a Democratic Deficit in respect to the way that our younger generations are being treated today. Unfortunately Gibraltar is no different in this respect to other European countries.
Politicians have been telling us for the past 20 years that Gibraltar enjoys a healthy and steady economy. It therefore follows, that as a responsible Union, Unite will keep demanding from Government that it needs to invest adequately on addressing this precarious situation on skills shortage.
Bearing in mind that all school leavers will not become lawyers, doctors or accountants, it is about time that Government seriously considers addressing the issue highlighted above as we have witnessed the non-existence of such important Industrial trades as, Marine Engineers, Mechanical Fitters, Electrical Fitters, Carpenters, and Plumbers amongst others for some time. One of the dangers behind this is that if not properly addressed, the whole concept begins to lead towards outsourcing of certain sectors
It would not be reflective of reality if no mention was made that Unite has already presented Government with some firm proposals on how this important subject can be addressed with Unite’s full endorsement. This has been positively considered by Government. Unite will very shortly present Government with a Final Draft of these proposals entirely for their perusal.
Unite will definitely pursue a policy with Government to invest in this important issue for our future Generations of young workers providing them with equal and fair treatment.
Living Wage
The interests that Unite the Union represents are also those of the humblest of workers; this, after all, was the historic origins of trade unionism. Unions existed, and continue to exist to ensure that all workers are able to enjoy the fruits of their labour with dignity whilst being free from exploitation.
The minimum wage was initially a success in ensuring that workers were no longer paid sub-standard wages in an exploitative manner, however, as time went by and the world became increasingly conscientious that living well not only included being able to pay for ones’ family’s food, it was apparent that a new measure was needed in order to cater to the needs of the average modern family. It was with this in mind that the concept of a ‘living wage’ was born given that a minimum wage was no longer an automatic guarantee of a basic quality of life.
In Gibraltar, there are currently no provisions for the implementation of a Living Wage either within the public or private sector, nor are there currently any independent organisations assisting in its calculation. In respects to the latter, Unite seeks to become the leading organisation alongside other stakeholders that will advise on both the level and the manner in which the Living Wage could be applied. As to the former, Unite will lobby employers within the private sector as to the benefits of paying a Living Wage to its employees in the interim, and thus securing an award similar to that gifted to employers by the Living Wage Foundation in the UK in recognition of their solidarity, whilst lobbying Government in order to extend the Living Wage to the public sector in the first place, and to seek legislative changes so that the Living Wage becomes a statutory right in Gibraltar and thus become one of the first nations to enact these meaningful and positive changes to the working class in this century.
Illegal Labour
Just because we do not have updated information on the statistics of illegal labour we must not assume that it does not happen here in Gibraltar and that it is not a victimless affair in the general sense of the word. Individuals paid under the table are not able to enjoy the safety nets put in place by Government in the way of physical or social protection. These individuals are often paid below the minimum wage which Unite already believes falls short of what is necessary to lead a basic quality of life, but illegal labour also robs these individuals of the provisions set by the state such as the payment of stamp duty in order to enjoy the benefits of a state pension come retirement age. Furthermore, the illegality of this employment relationship robs the state of its ability to tax the individual and therefore the income we all require for our public services to run efficiently and improve.
However, Unite not only considers illegal labour as a problem in the literal sense of the word. There are other employment practices in the private sector that today skirt the letter of the law and whilst not being strictly illegal, are certainly abusive.
Equality
Remember the struggle for Parity of Wages? Well, an employer must not negate the right of fair employment and this we say not just exclusively of GDC employees, but across the whole spectrum of employment. A selection process must have no bearing and should be based on non-discriminatory measures such as those in relation to nationality, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, gender, disability and age.
Under Section 3 of the Equal Opportunities Act, “Meaning of equal opportunities grounds and categories” each individual should be assessed on their merits and only refused if the qualifying requisites are not met.
An employer is therefore obliged to abide by the Equal opportunities Act; to ensure the implementation of equal rights in respect of men and women in employment, promotion, training and working conditions.
Are GDC employees to be negated equal rights under the same employer? It could easily be construed as a regression in our acquired democratic status.
A union strives towards ensuring the execution of equal rights, to afford fair opportunities and above all, to eliminate any possible discriminatory measures.
It is true to say that not all GDC posts are linked to administrative roles; however, those that do are performing side by side to Civil Servants to the exact requirements of the role.
It is our view that this anomaly should be corrected as soon as possible to ensure equal treatment of public employees
Achievements
These are some of the achievements that Unite has successfully secured for its members in negotiations with this Government Administration. It proves how Unite can have a healthy working relationship with the incumbent Government and at the same time pursue its strategy in improving the lives of ordinary working people.
1 ABOLISHMENT OF TOIL FOR THE PRISON SERVICE.
2 AQUAGIB DISTILLER CLAIM.
3. AQUAGIB ON-CALL CLAIM.
4. BARCLAYS BANK DOWNSIZING.
5. BOARDERS AND COAST GUARD UPGRADE OF BSO’s.
6. BULLYING AT WORK LEGISLATION.
7. CARE AGENCY AGENDA FOR CHANGE.
8. CFB ABOLISHMENT OF ABATEMENT AND PAY INCREASE.
9. GoG GARAGE Collective agreement
10. G.A.T.L. Conditions of Service
11. G.E.A. ADMIN & FINANCE Historical Claim
12. GIBAIR Collective Agreement
13. HOUSING MINISTRY TRANSFER TO H.W.A.
14. I.S.G.S. Terms and Conditions and Contracts Issues
15. NATWEST DOWNSIZING.
16. O.S.G. PORT CONTRACT.
17. PERMANENT CONTRACTS FOR G.H.A. F.T.A.’S.
18. PERMANENT CONTRACTS FOR Highway Enforcement Officers.
19. POST OFFICE 2009 PAY DEAL.
20. PUBLIC SECTOR WORKING HOURS.
21. REFUSE COLLECTOR’S EARLY EXIT PACKAGE and Manning Levels
22. CREATION of SEWERS INSPECTORATE AND EARLY EXIT PACKAGE.
23. T.M.L. – REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF.
24. TRANSFER OF G.D.C .TO RING-FENCED CIVIL SERVICE.
Although Unite gives credit where credit is due and firmly believes that the above achievements has been as a result of the present Government’s policies on industrial relations.
Unite reminds Government, that although it recognises the amount of such positive work produced by both Government and Unite in respect of Trade Union Recognition within the Private Sector, this has not yet arrived to a successful finality. Therefore, Unites trusts that this will be legislated and brought to fruition.
The issue of Pensions for Private Sector workers is yet another item that Unite prioritises in its Agenda and that also needs greater Government attention in order in to ensure that after lifelong employment an employee is guaranteed a dignified retirement.
Unite has a clear vision on the demands it will be presenting before all political parties contesting the forthcoming elections. This we hope to do quite soon and it will be based on commitments and or omissions, on specific policy issues to those political parties participating in the forthcoming elections.
Finally, Unite takes this opportunity to wish all its members and Gibraltar at large an enjoyable Workers Day in the unity of your colleagues, friends and loved ones.
Happy May Day
“Hasta La Victoria Siempre”
{fcomment}
