Trade Union Notebook

A political witch-hunt has been going on within MSF for nine months. The target is the London Regional Council of the union and its chief officers who have consistently resisted leadership attempts to Blairise them.

At the instigation of Tom Sawyer, when he was Labour Party General Secretary, and Terry Ashton, Director of the Greater London Labour Party, an investigation was launched into the Council last spring. The investigation concerns the Council's campaign for a No vote in the referendum on London government and the policy on supporting Labour Party candidates in the borough elections. In both cases, the Council acted completely properly within the MSF rules and procedures.

Lawyers were called in to give an opinion that a rule was broken. Anonymous witnesses gave evidence without any attempt to check their veracity. After an interim report, the NEC is now considering disciplinary action. Despite all the pressure, the Regional Council has remained united. Counter-measures are under active consideration and may include legal action, media publicity and demonstrations. There is every likelihood of a major clash at the MSF Annual Conference. The balance of forces in the union is not unfavourable and it may well turn out that the right wing is over extended and vulnerable.

The Hillingdon Hospital dispute continues despite the tribunal victory, which LLB reported in November 1998. The tribunal awarded re-engagement and compensation to 21 of the workers sacked by Pall Mall but Granada, who now own Pall Mall, have refused to implement the award and have sought to challenge it.

Donations are urgently needed. Send to: Hillingdon Strikers, c/o 27 Townsend Way, Northwood, Middx HA6 1TG (cheques payable to HSSC).

The Newsquest provincial paper series, which owns papers across the country from Darlington to Brighton, has targeted the Father of one of its strongest NUJ chapels, at the Bolton Evening News (BEN). Managers singled out David Toomer, who is also FoC for the entire Newsquest Group, for compulsory redundancy in a blatant move against the union ahead of the promised new labour laws.

The union has been recruiting strongly at the BEN. The day after the biggest ever chapel meeting, which protested at plans to introduce productivity targets, editor Mark Rossiter told Dave Toomer he was being transferred to the Horwich district office. Three months later it was announced that the office was to close and Dave Toomer had been provisionally selected for compulsory redundancy. It was later admitted they had planned the closure in advance.

No attempt was made to find volunteers for redundancy until the chapel protested. Despite two reporters taking voluntary redundancy, Toomer was told to go on 27th November. The chapel voted for industrial action and launched a reinstatement campaign. Despite attempts at intimidation, BEN journalists joined more than 100 supporters at a protest rally. Bolton South East MP Brian Iddor told the crowd that BEN Managing Director John Waters had admitted to him that he knew the Horwich office would close when David Toomer was transferred there.

The National Union of Journalists is calling on trades unionists everywhere to defend Dave Toomer who is also a member of the union's leadership. Newsquest has consistently refused to grant its workers basic rights and will not recognise trade unions.

Send messages of protest to Mark Rossiter, Editor, Bolton Evening News, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE or fax on 01204-365 068.

Send messages of support to Bolton Evening News NUJ Chapel, c/o 49 Ferndown Road, Manchester, M23 9AW.

A long running industrial dispute in Northern Ireland over privatisation of cleaning services has ended in victory with the services being returned to the National Health Service. The dispute goes back to 1990 when a cleaning contract covering 100 staff at Lagan Valley hospital was awarded to a private contractor. This was followed by the privatisation of domestic and cleaning services at five other hospitals and 53 residential homes, day centres and health centres across Counties Down and Antrim, affecting 400 workers.

In 1995, after a history of numerous problems, the workforce took part in a week long official UNISON strike. In 1996 there was a two week strike after Compass, the company running the privatised services, unilaterally terminated employees' contracts and imposed pay cuts. The dispute became one of the longest and bitterest disputes in the history of the NHS in Northern Ireland. In April 1997 the employers agreed to restore the cuts in pay and conditions, recognise the rights of new staff and end the use of casual contracts. The company also agreed to recognise UNISON fully. The final victory came in December 1998 when the NHS Trust agreed to transfer the cleaning services and all the employees back to the NHS.

The Critchley Labels dispute, which began after the company, previously owned by British Telecom, derecognised communication workers union CWU, will soon reach its second anniversary. To mark this the CWU is planning an international multi-media picket on 5th February, and a major demonstration on Friday 12th February at 1.00 pm outside the factory at Pen-y-fan Industrial Estate, Croespenmaen, Gwent.

For more information call the special Critchley Anniversary Information Line on 0181-971 7278.

The strike at Stagecoach Ribblebus in Blackburn and Burnley saw the tragic death of driver Frank Dean who was crushed by a scab bus before Christmas. The drivers, members of the T&G transport union, were striking over a pay dispute when he was crushed against the Blackburn depot's entrance gate. There will be further one day strikes this month.

T&G members at LSG Lufthansa Skychef at Heathrow airport are in their third month of a strike that has attracted widespread support. It began after the company failed to honour negotiated agreements and, following two one day strikes, all the strikers were sacked. Management isn't budging and the union has had meetings with MPs and involved ACAS.

Support the strike: join the picket at Faggs Road, Feltham and send donations to TGWU, 218 Green Lanes, Finsbury Park, London N4 2HB (please mark reverse of cheques "LSG Lufthansa Skychefs Dispute").

Local government trade unions have submitted a joint pay claim for £500 or 5% for council workers. Jean Geldart, chair of UNISON's Local Government Service Group Executive, stated "We have put up with inadequate pay rises for years. Our pay has fallen well behind the private sector and it isn't even keeping up with inflation. It's time we got a decent pay increase - we deserve it".

Negotiations with the employers are due to start on 5th February.

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