Agenda item

This council welcomes the strong economy compassionate city agenda and believes that good quality jobs are essential to ensuring inclusive economic growth.

 

Council notes that a BBC investigation into a UK based Amazon warehouse found conditions that a stress expert said could cause “physical and mental illness” and supports the GMB campaign for improved working conditions at Amazon warehouses.

 

Council believes it is hypocritical for the Labour administration to have purchased the Amazon warehouse at Logic Leeds without making any efforts to improve working conditions for employees at that site and that having done so undermines the strong economy compassionate city strategy.

 

Council therefore calls on the Labour administration to use its position as landlord to secure improved working conditions for employees at the Amazon facility at Logic Leeds.

 

Council further instructs the executive to devise and implement an ethical employer policy to apply to commercial tenants of buildings owned by Leeds City Council that addresses issues of low pay, exploitative working practices and trade union recognition.

 

Prior to debate on this Motion Councillor Lamb sought clarification form the City Solicitor in respect of any interests Members may have in this matter particularly as it relates to Trade Unions. The City Solicitor advised the meeting. 

 

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9 (a) leave of Council was given to Councillor Golton to alter the wording of the motion in his name to include the amendment in the name of Councillor J Bentley.

 

On the requisitions of Councillors Campbell and Cleasby the voting on this procedural motion was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 71

 

Akhtar, Arif, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Campbell,  Chapman, Charlwood, Cleasby, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, M Dobson, Downes, Dowson ,Dunn, Elliott, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, A Khan, Leadley ,J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield ,Wilford and Yeadon. 

 

NO – 0

 

ABSTAIN – 0 

 

It was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Wilford that this council welcomes the strong economy compassionate city agenda and believes that good quality jobs are essential to ensuring inclusive economic growth.

 

Council notes that a BBC investigation into a UK based Amazon warehouse found conditions that a stress expert said could cause “physical and mental illness” and supports the GMB campaign for improved working conditions at Amazon warehouses, noting that similar campaigns have had a positive effect, in particular the recent success of the Unite campaign that has forced Sports Direct to improve conditions for workers in its warehouses.

 

Council believes it is hypocritical for the Labour administration to have purchased the Amazon warehouse at Logic Leeds without making any efforts to improve working conditions for employees at that site and that having done so undermines the strong economy compassionate city strategy.

 

Council therefore calls on the Labour administration to use its position as landlord to secure improved working conditions for employees at the Amazon facility at Logic Leeds.

 

Council further instructs the executive to devise and implement an ethical employer policy to apply to commercial tenants of buildings owned by Leeds City Council that addresses issues of low pay, exploitative working practices and trade union recognition.

 

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2 (d)(motions without notice) and 14.10 (withdrawal of motion) and with the consent of the seconder leave of Council was given to Councillor R Lewis to withdraw the amendment in his name.

 

On the requisitions of Councillors Campbell and Cleasby the voting on this procedural motion was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 72

 

Akhtar, Arif, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Campbell,  Chapman, Charlwood, Cleasby, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Downes, Dowson ,Dunn, Elliott, Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, A Khan, Leadley ,J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield ,Wilford and Yeadon. 

 

NO – 0

 

ABSTAIN – 0 

 

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule (CPRs) 22.1(Suspension of CPRs) and with the consent of the seconder Council Procedure Rule 13 was suspended to allow the introduction of an amendment at short notice in the name of Councillor R Lewis.

 

 

On the requisitions of Councillors Campbell and Cleasby the voting on this procedural motion was recorded as follows;

 

YES – 69

 

Akhtar, Arif, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Campbell,  Chapman, Charlwood, Cleasby, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, M Dobson, Downes, Dowson ,Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, A Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield ,Wilford and Yeadon. 

 

NO – 0

 

ABSTAIN – 2 

 

Elliott and Leadley

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor R Lewis, seconded by Councillor Rafique:

 

Delete all after “inclusive economic growth.” and replace with:

 

“Council believes that this agenda is in a sharp contrast to the recent actions of central government, including the Coalition Government. Indeed, Council notes one Liberal Democrat former member of government has stated a colleague thought “it didn’t really matter what the human consequences were” of government policy.

 

Council notes the successes of the More Jobs Better Jobs Breakthrough Project and welcomes that this approach seeks to tackle low pay and regenerate places. Council praises the work of Trade Unions to improve conditions in many sectors, including the GMB’s work to improve conditions at Amazon. Council notes that similar campaigns have had a positive effect, in particular the recent success of the Unite campaign that has forced Sports Direct to improve conditions for workers in its warehouses”

 

Council will seek to address concerns about workplace management with any employer in the City.”

 

The motion would therefore read:

 

“This council welcomes the strong economy compassionate city agenda and believes that good quality jobs are essential to ensuring inclusive economic growth.

 

Council believes that this agenda is in a sharp contrast to the recent actions of central government, including the Coalition Government. Indeed, Council notes one Liberal Democrat former member of government has stated a colleague thought “it didn’t really matter what the human consequences were” of government policy.

 

Council notes the successes of the More Jobs Better Jobs Breakthrough Project and welcomes that this approach seeks to tackle low pay and regenerate places. Council praises the work of Trade Unions to improve conditions in many sectors, including the GMB’s work to improve conditions at Amazon. Council notes that similar campaigns have had a positive effect, in particular the recent success of the Unite campaign that has forced Sports Direct to improve conditions for workers in its warehouses”

 

Council will seek to address concerns about workplace management with any employer in the City.”

 

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2 (d)(motions without notice) and 14.10 (withdrawal of motion) and with the consent of the seconder leave of Council was given to Councillor J Bentley to withdraw the amendment in his name.

 

On the requisitions of Councillors Campbell and Cleasby the voting on this procedural motion was recorded as follows;

 

 

YES – 71

 

Akhtar, Arif, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Blake, Bruce, Campbell,  Chapman, Charlwood, Cleasby, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, Davey , Dawson, C Dobson, Downes, Dunn, Elliott ,Field, Gabriel, Garthwaite, Golton, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, A Khan, Leadley, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Ragan, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Tunnicliffe, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield ,Wilford and Yeadon. 

 

NO – 0

 

ABSTAIN – 0

 

 

The amendment in the name of Councillor R Lewis was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED - That this council welcomes the strong economy compassionate city agenda and believes that good quality jobs are essential to ensuring inclusive economic growth.

 

Council believes that this agenda is in a sharp contrast to the recent actions of central government, including the Coalition Government. Indeed, Council notes one Liberal Democrat former member of government has stated a colleague thought “it didn’t really matter what the human consequences were” of government policy.

 

Council notes the successes of the More Jobs Better Jobs Breakthrough Project and welcomes that this approach seeks to tackle low pay and regenerate places. Council praises the work of Trade Unions to improve conditions in many sectors, including the GMB’s work to improve conditions at Amazon. Council notes that similar campaigns have had a positive effect, in particular the recent success of the Unite campaign that has forced Sports Direct to improve conditions for workers in its warehouses”

 

Council will seek to address concerns about workplace management with any employer in the City.”