In
2012 Graham was dismissed from his job as a swimming pool attendant at a
holiday camp near Swanage. This followed several complaints over
breaches of Health and Safety guidelines and working time regulations.
He believes he was victimised for this and IWW union membership.
The worst aspect of this case is that when Graham left, a manager who
thinks himself a big deal in a small town, threatened to use his
influence to prevent Graham from working locally, in effect blacklisting
him.
In view of this Wessex
Solidarity have called a day of action against this employer and we're
asking all comrades to participate in a communications blockade to
coincide.
Phone no's and email addresses for Ulwell Cottage Park
tel: 01929 422823
fax: 01929 421500
email: enq@ulwellcottagepark.co.u
karen@ulwellcottagepark.co
We have the support of Bristol IWW GMB, Solent Solfed and Dorset
Socialists. Please spread through your social networks, then try and
make the communications blockade viral, it can go international on
facebook/twitter.
As the dispute took place in the off-season
we have waited for a Saturday in August for the maximum impact, this is
the day when clients arrive and depart; it will really piss them off if
people can’t get through on the phone.
Let's teach these petty bourgeois prats a lesson!
An injury to one is an injury to all!
As someone who works at the caravan park and has witnessed the protest today while driving past on my day off (yes, they let me have a Saturday off, lovely people) I'd like to clarify a few things.
ReplyDeleteThe worst aspect of this case is that when Graham left, a manager who thinks himself a big deal in a small town...
There are no male managers, nor were there any the time of Grahams employment.
This followed several complaints over breaches of Health and Safety guidelines and working time regulations...
I've raised a couple of heatlh and safety matters (only one or two in my time there)and they've been accepted.
As for working time regulations, I'll be honest I don't know about how much I should be working and what breaks I am entitled too. However I am entitled to breaks on long shifts and get discount on site for food and drink.
I also know that the park is subject to health and safety regulations and random inspections by various organisations and if they were breaching them they of course would not be able to operate.
I never worked directly with Graham however other staff said he was unpleasant and some who worked with him said he would quite often harass and try an coerce them into joining a union.
Now as I understand the business do not have an issue with people being union members but the manner which he approached other staff members about joining was inappropriate and led to them complaining about it.
It appears that Graham has spread a fair bit of disinformation or at least not let Ulwell have a fair say with the organisations ahead of the protests.
I'm all for the right to protest. But I like to know both sides of any story ahead of doing so.
I ran out of room in the last message but i'd like to make a couple of points
ReplyDelete1. I wasn't there for long while Graham was. It is possible that they have improved since he left.
2. The people who run the park and my immediate bosses are good people and honest people and look after their staff, or do from what I have seen.
3. I'd suggest the people in charge of the groups leading the protest open up some dialogue with the park owners/managers and hear their side before continuing this campaign. After all by affecting their business it is not just them you could affect but the part time/seasonal staff as well
4. My views are my own and are nothing to do with that of the management of Ulwell.