UNITE THE UNION, INDUSTRIAL ACTION 2ND APRIL 2013
HAVING HEARD THE CONCERNS OF MEMBERS FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNITE THE UNION TO TAKE INDUSTRIAL ACTION ON THE 2ND APRIL WE HAVE TAKEN ADVICE FROM OUR REGIONAL OFFICERS. FIRSTLY WE NEEDED TO CLARIFY OUR LEGAL POSITION & ADVISE YOU OF THIS, THE ADVICE WE HAVE RECEIVED IS,
“Legally our members cannot take part in the action (and not crossing a picket line would be seen as taking action) it would be classed as illegal as we have not held a strike ballot.”
HAVING RECEIVED THIS ADVICE WEIGHTED AGAINST THE STRONG FEELINGS WE WERE RECEIVING FROM MEMBERS, THAT THEY FELT THEY COULD NOT CROSS A PICKET LINE, WE MET WITH THE TRUST. WE HAD A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE MEETING AT WHICH THE TRUST AGREED TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US TO AVOID MEMBERS BEEN PUT IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO CROSS PICKET LINES AND AGREED THAT UNISON MEMBERS COULD OPERATE FROM PICKET LINES IF THEY WISHED. WE ARE TO HOLD FURTHER TALKS WITH THE TRUST AND WE WILL ADVISE YOU OF THE OUTCOME OF THESE AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE NEXT WEEK THE PRACTICAL ADVICE YOU WILL NEED FOR THE 2ND APRIL.
