uk computer workers union and telephone workers union

Open Letter to George Osbourn re Pensions Uprating and CPI

Peppone — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:15:45 +0000

Dear Chancellor

I am writing regarding the continuing speculation about changes to the uprating of pensions and state benefits.

I am concerned about the possibility that the Treasury may increase benefits and pensions by less than the full 5.2% annual increase in CPI inflation; a move which would have a significant impact on my income and my ability to meet the rising costs of living.

I urge you to consider that trying to balance the books by punishing further some of the poorest in our society through a lower than inflation rise in pensions and benefits would be both unfair, unacceptable and downright immoral, considering that you and your Government have already changed the method of calculation for the up-rating of pensions and benefits from RPI to CPI which disadvantaged those of the population that are in receipt of pensions and/or benefits.

It now clearly appears that, you are not content with making one cut into the income of the people I have mentioned but, are intent on delivering a double-whammy by moving the goalposts once again.

One question – why don’t you apply the same criteria to the banks, bank managers and the bonuses of the financiers in the City of London – that I have already contributed towards bailing out of the quagmire they landed this country in ?

RPI v CPI Indexation of Pensions

Peppone — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:00:19 +0000

Prospect is (with others) initiating a judicial review of the government’s announcement that from now on the Consumer Prices index (CPI) would be used as the measure for up-rating many pensions, replacing the Retail Prices Index (RPI).

Prospect has produced a short YouTube video about this, which is embedded here.

Newsletter #1/2011

Peppone — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:55:22 +0000

Newsletter Number 1 for 2011 from Connect South is availible .Issue 1-2011 – Feb Next meeting Thursday the 3rd of March starting at 14:00 at the GFTU Headland House, 308-312 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP Nearest Train/tube St.Pancras.

Prospect Conference 2010

Peppone — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:41:21 +0000

Just off to prospect conference more reports later

Connect Merger with Prospect Approved

Peppone — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:21:39 +0000

Connect members have voted decisively to merge with Prospect, with over 88% of those voting supporting the proposal. This move will create the UK’s largest managerial and professional union, representing professional members in the private and public sectors and across a diverse range of occupations.

Adrian Askew, Connect’s General Secretary, said:

“I am delighted that our members have strongly backed plans to merge with Prospect. This promises an exciting future, and we look forward to working closely with colleagues in Prospect, sharing our expertise and our innovative approaches to trade unionism to represent and protect our members”.

Connect members will be part of a dedicated sector for communications workers within Prospect, benefiting from a shared focus on delivering for professional members and a commitment to a positive agenda. Adrian Askew added that:

“This merger will help us to realise our vision of creating a union to protect and represent our professional members throughout their careers, with their union membership as a vital part of their career plans. We share Prospect’s commitment to a focus on the issues that really matter at work, working proactively with our members and their industry to shape the future of the world of work”.

Paul Noon, General Secretary of Prospect, said: “This is a great result and confirms Prospect as the UK’s fastest growing union.

“Our strong focus on Prospect as a professional union for professional people has been shown to have wide appeal. This year alone we have seen nearly 25,000 new members join us, ranging from telecommunications specialists in Connect to aircraft safety engineers in the Association of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and public sector workers in the Jersey Civil Service Association.”

Connect Merger Ballot

Peppone — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:16:21 +0000

Ballot papers have been sent to all members at home to have the final say on the recommended merger with Prospect. Members are strongly urged to return your papers immediately given the likelihood of disruption to postal services.

All Connect members will take the final decision on the merger in a ballot which is now open and will close on November 3, following the decision by Connect delegates to endorse merger with Prospect at the union’s Biennial Conference in June. All members are urged to return their ballot papers immediately due to potential disruption in postal services.

Connect Prospect Merger

Peppone — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:53 +0000

Connect’s Conference has this week clearly decided that the union should merge with Prospect. The decision was taken at the end of a lengthy and very positive debate, where the merits of merger, and of merger with either Prospect or the Communications Workers Union, were considered in great detail.

The ultimate decision to merge rests with members so we will now draw up a legally binding agreement between Prospect and Connect, which will need to be endorsed in a ballot of members. This is a legal requirement, so the ballot will be a statutory ballot – and that means that it will have to be conducted by post.

We aim to conclude discussions with Prospect over the summer and hold the ballot in the autumn. The merger itself is planned to take formal effect on 1 January 2010.

Connect to Merge With Prospect.

Peppone — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:13:48 +0000

At Connect’s Biennial conference this morning after a thorough debate conference voted to merge with Prospect by overwhelming majority.

Connect Conference / Merger Debate

Peppone — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:21:08 +0000

Connect’s BT and Biennial Conferences start on Monday. This biennial conference is a key one for Connect as the major item on the table is the merger propositions.

So if your going to Blackpool next week see you there and if your not check back regularly for updates on the conferences.

If possible we may be putting up a short interview once the merger decision is made.

Employer wants your facebook password

Peppone — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:10:02 +0000

Lets hope the staggeringly bad idea from over the pond does not make it over here (though Mr Justice Eady might beg to differ)

Bozeman City A a small town in Montana has created something of a fire storm when it was exposed as requiring applicants for jobs to hand over their passwords to various websites.

The City’s background Cheek requirement state:

“Please list any and all, current personal or business websites, web pages or memberships on any Internet-based chat rooms, social clubs or forums, to include, but not limited to: Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc.,” the City form states.

Apparently here are then three lines where applicants can list the Web sites, their user names and log-in information and their passwords.

Given the propensity for dodgy employment practices to make there way from the USA lets hope in this instance this is one bad idea that doesn’t cross the Atlantic.

Peppone

PS Ill leave commenting on the stupid Judgment in the Night Jack Case till i have calmed down what was the Times thinking!

PPS the Times Chapel might want to start checking the NUJ’s rule book and re reading the bit about bringing the Profession /Union into Disrepute.

PPPS wonder if we will see an Emergency motion at next weeks Conference.