Workplace news in brief

Honda walkout

Around 60 Honda workers at the South Marston plant in Swindon downed tools and walked out on 22 July.

Management tried to make them work longer than agreed. Unite the Union which represents workers at the factory have an agreement with the company that shifts are negotiated in advance. Management had acknowledged on 20 July that the shift would end at noon on 22 July. But workers were told they would have to work until 1.15pm instead on the same day.

Earlier this year Unite warned the company was risking a total breakdown in relations and claimed management was treating staff with contempt.

Trade unionists around the country are watching Honda to ensure there is no discriminations now that workers have returned and are ready to act if needed.

JCB ballot

GMB flags at the TUC demo in Manchester: 50,000 march against Tories demanding action on NHS, photo Claire Job (Click to enlarge)

Last year JCB installed a small number of CCTV cameras on the shop floor at JCB's Rocester site in Staffordshire. These cameras were installed during the main summer shutdown period without any consultation with the GMB union who represent JCB workers.

When workers returned, they were furious that these cameras had been installed without any consultation. GMB opposed the installation and prepared to ballot members on this issue. The cameras were then taken down.

After discussions GMB accepted that a number of cameras could be used in specific areas that were seen as health and safety hotspots. GMB proposed that the existing number of cameras could be moved to different locations.

This proposal was rejected by JCB. They then proposed installing an extra number of cameras across all JCB sites in the UK.

This was rejected by the GMB and a consultative ballot has taken place on this issue.

91% of GMB members at the Rocester site said they were prepared to take some form of industrial action over this issue.

JCB worker

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