Workplace news in brief


Postal workers rally

There is a national rally for striking Communication Workers Union (CWU) members in Royal Mail on Monday 4 November at 12 noon in the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE .

The 24-hour strike, over pay, jobs and the effects of privatisation involves CWU members in Royal Mail and Parcelforce. There was a 78% vote in favour of strike action.

No witch-hunt in GMB

Keith Henderson, a former regional organiser of the GMB union was dismissed from the GMB last December. Keith has always believed that the real reason for his dismissal was because of his socialist beliefs.

Now an Employment Tribunal Judgment has said that a substantial part of the reasoning behind Keith’s dismissal was because of his philosophical belief in left-wing democratic socialism and was an effective cause of his dismissal.

John McDonnell MP has written to GMB general secretary Paul Kenny to express his concern about Keith’s dismissal and to call for his re-instatement.

Keith’s problems seem to stem from the joint action in November 2011 when he organised a lively picket outside parliament.

John McDonnell makes the point: “The atmosphere on the picket line was good natured and in the best traditions of the trade union movement of solidarity.

“Many Labour MPs supported the strike and rightfully respected the picket lines. This appears to have upset some in the office of the Labour leader.”

Keith has also been prevented from standing as a Labour councillor.


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