(time limit 15 minutes).
Motion 1
Councillor Chadderton to MOVE and Councillor S Bashforth to SECOND:
This Council notes with
disappointment the passing of the Trade Union Bill at its second
reading in parliament on 14 September 2015.
This Council believes that the Bill represents the most vicious
attack on Trade Unions in over 30 years by introducing measures
that will make it more difficult for employees to stand up for and
defend their rights at work.
Amongst other things the passing of the Bill will introduce:
• The removal of the ability of public sector employees to
have Trade Union subscriptions deducted from their salaries.
• A requirement for unions to notify police if they intend to
discuss a strike on social media.
• A requirement for police to be notified 14 days in advance
of a strike if striking workers intend to use placards or
loudspeakers on a picket line.
• The appointment of a ‘picket supervisor’ for
each picket who will be required to wear an armband and give their
name and contact details to the police and their employer.
• A minimum turnout threshold of 50% in ballots for strike
action.
This Council further notes that human rights groups Liberty,
Amnesty International and the British Institute of Human Rights
have all condemned the Bill as an attack on the basic right to
protest.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has branded
this law to be an 'outdated response that could have potentially
counterproductive consequences'.
In Oldham we recognise the importance of Trade Unions and the work
they do representing their members. We have a good track record in
employee relations such as collective agreement of single status
work. We recognise the importance of liaising with our Trade Unions
colleagues and of early engagement.
Council therefore resolves to:
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State
for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid MP on behalf
of the Council setting out our opposition to the Bill.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write on behalf of the Council to
our local MPs setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting
that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the
Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its current
form.
Motion 2
Councillor Dearden to MOVE and Councillor Roberts to SECOND:
Oldham Council notes with concern the continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa which are driving the current refugee crisis, particularly people fleeing war and persecution from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iraq. We welcome the Government’s commitment to provide asylum for 4,000 people this year from the Syrian refugee camps but believe that as a country the United Kingdom can do more. Oldham has provided sanctuary and a new start for traumatised refugees in the past and calls on the Government to support Oldham and other councils to do more now.
Oldham’s refugee community includes approximately 160 destitute asylum seekers currently supported by a network of community organisations, friends, family and volunteers. Their position will be made worse by proposed reductions in financial support, particularly for women and children.
The Council welcomes the work done by individuals, community groups and religious groups in supporting asylum seekers and asks the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods to convene a meeting of those supporting refugees and Asylum Seekers in Oldham with the aim of developing an ongoing network and provide support to make the best use of all the work done already in the borough
The Council supports the efforts by AGMA to get a proper support system in place, including reviewing the role played by SERCO in administering asylum seeker support.
Oldham Council calls on the Government to put in place a properly funded and fair system including: fair allocation of refugees across the UK; long term funding for Councils; quick and accurate decision making about the status of refugees; better effort to support and integrate refugees (e.g. providing English as a Second Language teaching and investment in conversion of qualifications to UK standard); better administration of welfare benefits and investment in public services where needed.
Council also resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to:
Minutes:
The Mayor informed the meeting that there were two items of outstanding business from the previous meeting.
Motion 1
Councillor Chadderton MOVED and Councillor S. Bashforth SECONDED the following motion:
“This Council notes with disappointment the passing of the Trade Union Bill at its second reading in Parliament on 14 September 2015.
This Council believes that the Bill represents the most vicious attack on Trade Unions in over 30 years by introducing measures that will make it more difficult for employees to stand up for and defend their rights at work.
Amongst other things the passing of the Bill will introduced:
· The removal of the ability of public sector employees to have Trade Union subscriptions deducted from their salaries.
· A requirement for unions to notify police if they intend to discuss a strike on social media.
· A requirement for police to be notified 14 days in advance of a strike if striking workers intend to use placards or loudspeakers on a picket line.
· The appointment of a ‘picket supervisor’ for each picket who will be required to wear an armband and give their name and contact details to the police and their employer.
· A minimum turnout threshold of 50% in ballots for strike action.
This Council further notes that further human rights groups Liberty, Amnesty International and the British Institute of Human Rights have all condemned the Bill as an attack on the basic right to protest.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has branded this law to be an ‘outdated response that could have potentially counterproductive consequences’.
In Oldham we recognise the importance of Trade Unions and the work they do representing their members. We have a good track record in employee relations such as collective agreement of single status work. We recognise the importance of liaising with our Trade Unions colleagues and of early engagement.
Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid MP, on behalf of the Council setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its form.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write on behalf of the Council to our local MPs setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its current form.
AMENDMENT
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED the following amendment:
“Insert as a new second paragraph:
‘Council notes that the Conservatives sought to introduce similar legislation during the last Parliament and that this legislation was blocked at the onset because of opposition from the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.’
Insert as a third bullet point at the end of the motion:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties asking them to agree to repeal this legislation should one or both of them form a Government in the future.”
Amended motion to read:
This Council notes with disappointment the passing of the Trade Union Bill at its second reading in Parliament on 14 September 2015.
Council notes that the Conservatives sought to introduce similar legislation during the last Parliament and that this legislation was blocked at the onset because of opposition from the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.
This Council believes that the Bill represents the most vicious attack on Trade Unions in over 30 years by introducing measures that will make it more difficult for employees to stand up for and defend their rights at work.
Amongst other things the passing of the Bill will introduce:
· The removal of the ability of public sector employees to have Trade Union subscriptions deducted from their salaries.
· A requirement for unions to notify police if they intend to discuss a strike on social media.
· A requirement for police to be notified 14 days in advance of a strike if striking workers intend to use placards or loudspeakers on a picket line.
· The appointment of a ‘picket supervisor’ for each picket who will be required to wear an armband and give their name and contact details to the police and their employer.
· A minimum turnout threshold of 50% in ballots for strike action.
This Council further notes that further human rights groups Liberty, Amnesty International and the British Institute of Human Rights have all condemned the Bill as an attack on the basic right to protest.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has branded this law to be an ‘outdated response that could have potentially counterproductive consequences’.
In Oldham we recognise the importance of Trade Unions and the work they do representing their members. We have a good track record in employee relations such as collective agreement of single status work. We recognise the importance of liaising with our Trade Unions colleagues and of early engagement.
Council therefore resolves to:
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid MP, on behalf of the Council setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its form.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write on behalf of the Council to our local MPs setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its current form.
· Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties asking them to agree to repeal this legislation should one or both of them form a Government in the future.”
Councillor Chadderton exercised her right of reply.
Councillor Harkness exercised his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT.
On being put the VOTE ELEVEN were cast in FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT with FORTY VOTES cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENSIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
A vote was then taken on the MOTION.
On being put the vote the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
RESOLVED that:
1. The Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid MP, on behalf of the council setting out the Council’s opposition to the Bill.
2. The Chief Executive write on behalf of the Council to our local MPs setting out our opposition to the Bill and requesting that they use all means available during the Committee stage of the Bill to prevent it from being enacted in its current form.
NOTE: Councillors McMahon, A. Alexander, G. Alexander, Larkin and Qumer left the room during this item and took no part in the discussion or voting thereon.
Motion 2
It was MOVED by Councillor Dearden that this item of business be withdrawn. This Motion had been submitted under Administration Business.