> From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Feb 24 09:30 PST 1997 > Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 17:02:00 GMT > Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > From: "Lawrence, Elizabeth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Update on campaign against victimisation of branch secretary at > Accrington and Rossendale College > > Update on campaign against victimisation of NATFHE branch secretary at > Accrington and Rossendale College, Lancashire, England > > Last Monday 17 February, I posted an account of the events at Accrington and > Rossendale College since last Summer, including the campaign over the rights > of part-time lecturers and the victimisation of the Branch Secretary, Pat > Walsh. At the time of writing the members of the branch had voted, in a > secret ballot confirmed by a vote at a branch meeting, to take strike action > to demand Pat's re-instatement. I regret to report that since then there > has been another branch meeting, on 20 February, which voted not to take > strike action. No doubt various pressures have been brought to bear on > union members within the college. The union meeting on 20 February was > leafleted by members of the college management. Pat Walsh, the Branch > Secretary and the member whose defence was being discussed, was not able to > be present at the meeting, since the college has barred him from the > premises. > > The events at Accrington and Rossendale College show how the anti-union laws > in Britain hamper unions in taking industrial action. The week's notice > which unions are required to give employers before starting any industrial > action has been used by elements in the college to overturn the ballot > result. The irony of this situation is that if a trade union loses the vote > for industrial action, the union cannot then call members out on strike > following an affirmative vote at a branch meeting. Such an action would > immediately lead to a court injunction against the union. > > The campaign against the victimisation must continue, despite the setback > that the branch feels unable at present to take strike action. Please > continue sending letters of protest to the Principal and Chair of Governors. > > Elizabeth Lawrence > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
