News & Views

Diversity Works for London

Are you a trade union rep working for a London-based employer?

Do you feel strongly about equality and supporting diversity in your workplace?

Have you come across any brick walls with your employer on equalities?

Would you like help to be able to take a new approach on equalities with your employer?

If your answers to the above are ‘yes' then take a look at a new on-line diversity toolkit for reps created by Southern and Eastern Region TUC (SERTUC), in partnership with the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

In just two hours you can discover new negotiating strategies, arm yourself with key facts about diversity in London and find out what other reps and unions have done to improve equality and diversity in their workplaces.

To access the toolkit:

First, log in or register at www.unionreps.org.uk

Then, if you are registered or log in as a rep in the Southern and Eastern Region you will find the toolkit by clicking on the Diversity Works for London box on the left hand column of your unionreps homepage.

For more information contact Matt Dykes in our SERTUC office at mdykes@tuc.org.uk

Trade Union Education "tackling racism online".

Do you want to help challenge racism and win fairness at Work? If you're a busy union rep or learning rep with access to a PC at home, work or a local learning centre then this new Free TUC Education Course Tackling Racism Online is for you. If you would like to register for the tackling racism online course you can complete the online application form at www.learningservices.org.uk/tacklingracism or contact Jackie Williams 020 7467 1253 jwilliams@tuc.org.uk

UNITED CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND & PROMOTE PUBLIC SERVICES
letter from Central London

CWU LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE
Help Line number 0800 804 6674
click here

GUIDE TO EQUALITY PROOFING
click here

CWU NATIONAL DISCIPLINE AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW BODY
click here

CWU Annual Report for General Conference
click here

GUIDELINES FOR UNION OFFICIALS on the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
click here

London facing public worker recruitment crisis
click here

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS - MEMBERS' RIGHTS OF ACCESS
click here

TUC KNOW YOUR RIGHTS LINE
0870 600 4 882
Lines open every day 8am-10pm. Calls charged at national rate

DATA PROTECTION ACT

Using the Law to protect your information.
The Data Protection Act works in two ways. It gives you certain rights. It also says those who record and use personal information must be open about how the information is used and must follow the eight principles of 'good information handling'.

How can I find out what is held about me?
The Data Protection Act allows you to find out what information about you is held on computer and in some paper records. This is known as the 'right of subject access'.

If you want to know whether information is held about you and if so what, you will need to write to the person or organisation you believe holds the information.

You should ask for a copy of all the information held about you to which the Data Protection Act applies. If you are not sure who to write to within an organisation, address it to the Company Secretary or Chief Executive.

Can I see all the information held about me?
Yes, with exceptions. For example, if providing you with the information would be likely to affect:

· the way crime is detected or prevented;
· catching or prosecuting offenders; or
· assessing or collecting taxes or duty.

What will be sent to me?
They will send you a copy of the information they have about you. You should also receive a description of why your information is processed; anyone it may be passed to or seen by, and the logic involved in any automated decisions. The information may be sent as a computer print-out, in a letter, or on a form. However, it should be easy to understand, and any codes should be explained.

Does a data controller always have to reply?
Yes, they have to reply. If you do not receive a reply to your request within 40 days, send the organisation a reminder by recorded delivery (remember to always keep a copy). If you still don't receive a reply fairly quickly or if the information you receive is wrong or incomplete, contact our information line. The Commissioner can help make sure that you get a reply and if one of the principles has been broken, she can take enforcement action against the data controller.

Any further questions?
Contact: The Data Protection Commissioner Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Or go to the dataprotection website.

Links

Online privacy advice http://www.ffwlaw.com/

Human Rights Act http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980042.htm

CBI http://www.cbi.org.uk/home.html

Data Protection Commission http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/

Privacy International http://www.privacyinternational.org/

Foundation for Information Policy Research http://www.fipr.org/

Dept of Trade and Industry privacy measures:
consultation and responses http://www.dti.gov.uk/cii/

The above article is available as DPA.PDF for your reference