[Peter_]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Might be waiting a while http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...on-virgin-vote

I would wipe that grin off your face as it is not over yet.

To all CWU members in Virgin Media



22nd November 2012



Dear colleague,



YOUR RIGHTS – STOLEN!



It’s as simple as that. Access Division managers have stolen your right to have a say in your terms and conditions. Their “referendum” has taken away your ability to negotiate and have a say on what you get paid, and what your working conditions will be in the future.



Yesterday, they informed us that the referendum had decided by 52% to 48% to support their ruthless plan to de-recognise unions.



Virgin deliberately included Head End Engineers, Data Service Engineers and Apprentices, as well as Principal Tech/Engineers, none of whom are covered by existing collective bargaining agreements to swell the number of people in their referendum. They bombarded people with anti union messages, targeted individuals, and used every trick in the union busting handbook to achieve their aim. And what did this all achieve? To quote Paul Kersey, Head of HR “a decisive vote”.



The so called “decisive majority” – apparently 52% to 48%. Let’s examine that. If the total number of ballot papers returned was as claimed 2164 (80%), then 1125 people apparently supported the company line, and 1039 opposed de-recognition. A majority of just 86 people out of 2705 staff (a figure we would dispute anyway). We clearly have different definitions of the word decisive!



We wrote to Maurice Daw asking him why there was no equal access, why people who were not covered by the union recognition were getting a vote, why nobody had been told the rules of the ballot? He replied that since it was not a statutory ballot, they did not have to play by any rules.



We asked how many people had been sent a ballot paper, only to be told they did not have that information to hand! So 2164 ballot papers were returned but they didn’t know how many had been sent out – strange that they couldn’t supply this figure. Nor could they tell us the exact number voting Yes or No. You would have thought a simple statement giving total number of ballot papers sent out, total number returned, those voting Yes, those voting No , would not be beyond the capabilities of a truly independent scrutineer, but they couldn’t tell us. But no problem, “we will send it to you later today” I was told. I am still waiting.



When asked why they included people not covered by our agreement in the vote, the best that they can come up with is that they wanted everyone to get a vote. What an irony, last year when the Head End Engineers were pushing for recognition, the same managers put one obstacle after another in their way. Now, they cynically include the Head End and others in their manipulative campaign to take away recognition.



We asked them to give us a breakdown of the vote by area; they said it was not possible. Well we know that the majority of Service and Network staff in ex Telewest areas supported the union and opposed de-recognition. So they really have STOLEN your ability to collectively bargain. It could be the same in ex ntl: areas, even though the CWU is formally refused access to staff in those areas.



We believe you could drive a coach and horses through their whole process. We appeal to every one of the people who opposed the company plan, to stand up for your rights, not just union members, but all of those who said No. Don’t let them get away with it.



To those who voted yes we also have a message; this is not a management to be trusted. They acted deceitfully to begin this process, they then ripped up a signed agreement to give 3 months notice to terminate union recognition, told us recognition would end on 30th November, then immediately stopped all CWU reps from dealing with any business such as Aspire negotiations as of yesterday.



Nationally, we are writing to Neil Berkett CEO of Virgin Media, alerting him to the potential damage the actions of Access managers will do to the Virgin Brand. We also want your views on next steps. Feel free to email me with your views. Access managers may think they have won the war; this was only the first skirmish. We are planning for the future!



We ask all of you to speak to a friend or colleague about this process.



Use the Virgin Media “Code of Conduct” – Speak up if something does not look right. Raise the issues that concern you with your VOICE Reps regarding the illegitimacy of this process – and make sure they report back to you.



I want to thank every single one of you who saw through their plans, including those not yet members. You and they understand that Virgin Media are taking away something for a reason.



The CWU in Virgin Media is you, its members. We are not going anywhere.



We will be Stronger Together.



Yours sincerely

John East

Assistant Secretary (Telecoms)

somehow I think this will be going to court or a tribunal very soon.