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Union is told to stop using the FirstGroup name
Page 18
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FIRSTGROUP'S LAWYERS are trying to stop a trade union federation using the firm's name when representing its employees.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (IIVVF)setupthe FirstGroup Union Solidarity Network to represent FirstGroup workers in several countries, including the UK, the US and the Netherlands. FirstGroup companies include G BRai lfreight and many passenger transport operators.
International law firm Slaughter and May told the ITWF to drop the company
name because it is a trademark and because using the name takes "unfair advantage of, and [could] be detrimental to the distinctive character and repute of, the FirstGroup name'.
But the union says it has "politely declined" to comply.
ITWF general secretary David Cockcroft says: "The name FirstGroup Solidarity Network was chosen because it describes the solidarity network for FirstGroup workers. This does, though, raise some
interesting questions about how employees identify themselves if they're prohibited from mentioning the enterprise for which they work."
A spokesman for the ITWF adds that a fax was sent to Slaughter and May last week making it clear that the union disagrees that the name would in any way damage the goodwill of FirstGroup.
No response had been received by the union as CM went to press; a FirstGroup spokesman declined to comment.