Unite’s acting regional director Howard Beckett has often been at loggerheads with councils in the region – in particular Birmingham City Council for its treatment of refuse collectors during last year’s Birmingham bin strike.
But today, he has released a video calling on all members of the union – in the West Midlands and elsewhere – to turn out today to vote Labour.
Beckett’s primary motivation is the need, with the Tories in chaos and floundering, to support Jeremy Corbyn to ensure that the next government is a Labour one under him. But he also cites the improved behaviour of local councils in Birmingham and Coventry towards workers and their unions:
Beckett told the SKWAWKBOX:
Birmingham is now working with us towards direct employment status and bringing services in house instead of outsourcing.
In addition, they’ve agreed to give us access to all their construction sites – most councils have signed up to our charter only to work with companies who are against blacklisting, but that’s not enough.
Agencies and sham self-employment are the new methods of blacklisting, so this extra step of allowing us access to construction sites means we can organise and expose bad practices.
The UK needs a Labour government. As Howard Beckett says, let’s get out there and send a clear message that it’s time.
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