Resolution 22 received the largest vote in favour of a shareholder resolution on labour rights at a UK-based company in the past decade – 18.5 percent.
The ITF-affiliated Teamsters union spoke at the AGM and was joined in support of resolution 22 by institutional shareholders, proxies, and community, faith and global labour representatives. The resolution called for independent monitoring at Durham in the face of continued anti-worker allegations and labour concerns.
Rev C J Hawkings, a United Methodist minister and executive director of community group Arise Chicago said: “This is about children on buses. I have met with workers at Durham and their concerns are widespread. I implore you to close the gap between how workers are treated in the US and the UK by passing resolution 22.”
Professor William Gould, former chair of the US National Labor Relations Board and independent monitor of UK-based transportation company FirstGroup from 2008-11 said he was proud of the way the system had worked in that company and felt obliged to let National Express shareholders know the facts about the programme.
ITF inland transport secretary Mac Urata commented that the management of other key public transport multinationals the ITF had recently met accepted social dialogue as the basis for resolving labour problems. He added that National Express management was unique in putting itself into the global spotlight because of its continued denial of violations of basic workers’ rights.
Pressure is building on National Express to act over Durham. On 1 May, 32 members of the US congress sent a letter urging the company’s board to institute an independent review. Over 30 British members of parliament (MPs) recently signed an early day motion condemning the anti-trade union activities. Two MPs, Ian Lavery and Jim Sheridan, recently issued a report revealing serious concerns over systemic anti-union bias at Durham.
Find out more about resolution 22 here.
