Building a network of trade union activists across the country

Support for the network from trade union bodies; click here

 

 

For justice in the workplace, workers' rights, solidarity and equality - trade union freedom

Disputes and Campaigns


(Above) 10,000 teachers, civil servants, college lecturers and Shelter workers marched through London on a day of joint strike action on Thursday 24 April. Click here for news about current disputes and campaigns, including expelled Unison member Tony Staunton, sacked psychiatric nurse Yunus Bakhsh, CWU, Birmingham Fujitsu, council workers, Reinstate Karen Reissmann, London Tube cleaners, RMT, the Centenary of the State Pension, NUT/UCU/PCS, Ricky Jones campaign and Workers Memorial Day 28 April

Conferences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other events

North East

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Birmingham

For information contact birminghamshopstewards@live.com

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Crook UCATT

Invite all trade unionists to their pre-Gala Social
7.30pm Friday 11 July, Crook Cricket Club, Dawson St., Crook, Co. Durham

Dave Harker

Secretary of the North East Shop Stewards' Network, will speak on
"Why we wrote The Flying Pickets & its relevance today"
Copies will be available for sale and there will be a bar. Bring your banners

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Are you a supporter of the NSSN? Do you want to build a conference or other event in your region/sector/union?

Then get in touch with us! NSSN has a substantial contact list and e-list of all those who have shown interest since our founding conference in July 2007. We can 'slice and splice' the list along the lines above. Our officers can also get in touch with contacts in case you prefer not to approach them directly. Email us on info@shopstewards.net

 
 


"If we are to roll back the tide of privatisation and war, rebuilding the grass roots of our movement is essential"

Bob Crow - General Secretary RMT
 

Trade union reps from across Britain gathered in London last year to discuss founding a grass roots network capable of mobilising trade unionists to fight for workers' rights. Called by the RMT transport workers' union the meeting was supported by the TGWU, CWU, PCS, NUJ, NUM, CYWU, FBU, POa and BFAWU.

On 7 July, a Founding Conference brought together hundreds of shop stewards and other trade union activists. Successful workshop discussions enabled delegates to examine the range of problems facing trade unionists today - and plan for the future. As well as building solidarity with current disputes - with postal workers, civil servants, on pay and pensions, defending public services, the conference set itself the task of organising a range of regional meetings to extend grass roots organisation.

Network Documents

Building the shop stewards movement - A discussion document
Conference statement
Fighting Privatisation - workshop introduction

Network Bulletins

 

The Network Steering Group has set up an information list to circulate details of our conference and solidarity activity. To subscribe to the list send an email to shopstewardsnet-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Bulletin No.1 - Invitation to send delegates
April 2008 Newsletter

Contact us

For further information get in touch at info@shopstewards.net

 

Regional Reports Minutes of NW Regional Committee 10 May 2008

 

Publications

What's Happening? The Truth About Work ... & The Myth of Work - Life Balance Click here for information and order form

Flying Pickets: The 1972 Builders' Strike and the Shrewsbury Trials Click here for information

An Account of the Labour and Socialist Movement in Bristol, by Samson Bryher (1929). Republished 2008. Click here for information and ordering.

 

Trade union history Democracy and central control in union mergers: Ernie Bevin and the creation of the T&GWU. Record of a workshop held at the South West TUC Regional Conference, Croyde Bay, Devon, 26 April 2008. For the report, click here.

 

News from the US Report of a conference organised by Labor Notes (US). Click here for the text.

 

 

Download and print the leaflet about the network (includes affiliation form)

 

 

Sponsor our work - suggested minimum £50
(Cheques made payable to "National Shop Stewards Network")
Send money and details to -
NSSN, PO Box 58262, London N1P 1ET

PO BOX - NOTICE: Unfortunately, some people have had letters addressed to the NSSN P.O. Box returned with a notification that the P.O. Box is "out of date". PLEASE NOTE THAT THE P.O. BOX ADDRESS IS STILL VALID. If you do have mail returned, please contact Sheila on 0207 607 3917. COMPLICATING FACTOR! Very recently, Royal Mail sent us a form with the PO Box address changed to N1P 1ET. When contacted, they assured us that post addressed to N1 1ET (the postcode originally allocated) would still get there. But to be on the safe side, please include the "P" in your future correspondence!

Watch this site for further information or email info@shopstewards.net

National Shop Stewards Network – Founding Basis

A National Shop Stewards Network should be set up on the following basis:

1. Participation and support is a matter for individual TUC affiliated trade unions.

2. The National Shop Stewards Network will be made up of bona fide rank and file TUC affiliated trade union workplace representatives. The participation of full time trade union officials would be as observers with speaking rights.

3. It would not encroach on the established organisation and recruitment activity or interfere in the internal affairs and elections of TUC affiliated trade unions or the functions of the TUC.

4. The aim of the Network would be

• To offer support to TUC affiliated trade unions in their campaigns and industrial disputes;

• To offer support to existing workplace committees and trades councils.

We support the establishment of a steering group of ten trade unionists from this conference. The role of this steering group would be to organise a formal delegate conference in the spring of 2007, open to all TUC affiliated trade union shop stewards, to establish a National Shop Stewards Network as outlined on the basis of points 1-4 above.