Apr 29 - Unite the Union May Day Message
Celebrating Workers Day, as it does every year, the Gibraltar branch of Unite the Union has marked the ‘special date’ to commemorate the struggle of workers all over the world. Victor Ochello, Regional Officer for the Unite Branch commented that this May Day marks the Union’s achievement of accomplishing last year’s commitment to consolidate and re activate the Gibraltar Trades Council.
Commenting of the speaker’s to be addressing the public on Wednesday’s rally in Casemates Square, Mr. Ochello noted that Manuel Cortes a born Gibraltarian who has managed to break his way through in the United Kingdom as the General Secretary of a U.K union, will speak.
Mr. Ochello adds that despite the financial crisis spreading through European countries, Gibraltar’s economy remains vibrant, although this does not mean that the economy ‘is impermeable to the effects of the crisis in other parts of Europe’.
The Union has this year set out to embark on a campaign to enhance Private Sector workers’ pay and conditions. The Union is now demanding that immediate introduction of similar legislation to that introduced in U.K, enforcing on all employers to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that all employees are guaranteed a pension on their retirement.
The Union also aims to achieve ‘family friendly hours’ for many in the public sector. Mr. Ochello notes that this is a demand that the Union managed to bring to the forefront of their negotiation agenda with the former Government.
The Union is calling upon the Government to work on a future permanent job strategy for the youth of Gibraltar.
Commenting on the position of the Union today, Mr. Ochello explains that all committees are up and running with all shop stewards, convenors and chairpersons democratically elected. He adds, ‘we enjoy a greater communications process than ever before. We have various prioritised objectives to further improve and protect our member’s terms and conditions and workers rights.
Unite enjoys a close and healthy relationship with our Main Office in UK. Only recently, we have seen Len McCluskey being reelected for a second time on a five year term in office as our undisputed General Secretary. He has supported the Gibraltar Branch to be recognised as a region in its own right within Unite Structure.
Contrary to what some may think or say, whilst everywhere else in Europe all Trades Unions are experiencing a decline in membership, Unite Gibraltar Branch has seen its membership increased by 21.3%. Membership stood at 3300 in February 2012. We can proudly state that membership presently stands at 4050.
We have become modernisers with a sense of history. We cannot sit on the fence when inequality and unfair practices hurts our members. Our members need a strong and effective union. We needed to change course and the members spoke loud and clear at our last Activist Area Committee.’
