TSSA votes for Strike Action! (Jan 27) – The TSSA rail union has voted to strike in the dispute over the Mayor’s plans to close all 260 Tube ticket offices and axe nearly 1,000 jobs. Its members voted by a majority of 58.8% to join two 48-hours stoppages with the RMT next week between February 4 and 6 and the following week from February 11 to 13 read more on TSSA website
A message from Bob Crow RMT General Secretary – Stop Boris: no cuts to London Underground
“The government with the full backing of London’s Mayor, Boris Johnson, is forcing massive subsidy cuts of £9 billion on Transport for London and London Underground’s annual operating budget.
The Mayor of London, who campaigned for election on the promise of keeping ticket offices open, now plans to close every London Underground ticket office as part of this budget cut. The first tranche of cuts will also see the loss of nearly 1000 front line, safety critical and customer facing station jobs.
These cuts will mean underfunding resulting in fare increases, underinvestment and worsening safety and customer support at a time when more people are using the underground more than ever.
We believe that London’s transport system must be properly funded and staffed to ensure a safe, reliable and accessible service that meets the needs of Londoners and visitors to London.
A publicly owned tube allows for affordable fares for Londoners caught in a trap of fare increases while being squeezed by pay cuts, low pay and as the cost of living increases.
We fully support the London Underground workers taking strike action, starting on 4th February and call for the millions of Londoners affected by their Mayor’s destruction of public services to unite and co-ordinate efforts to oppose these damaging plans.”
London Underground – Amended Industrial Action (Jan 24) – All London Underground members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
- • 21:00 hours on Tuesday 4th February 2014 until 20:59 hours on Thursday 6th February 2014.
- • 21:00 hours on Tuesday 11h February 2014 until 20:59 hours on Thursday 13h February 2014 read more
Hands Off London Transport website
Come to the HOLT ‘Support the Tubeworkers’ flashmobs – all at 6pm:-
- · Friday January 31st Kings Cross station
- · Monday February 3rd at Whitechapel station
- · Monday February 3rd at Willesden Green station
NSSN News
NSSN launched in the south of England (Jan 28) – Trade unionists and anti-cuts campaigners from all over the South of England gathered in Bracknell on Saturday 18th January to launch the NSSN in the region. Delegates from Southampton, Portsmouth, Reading, Aylesbury, Windsor, Bracknell and elsewhere in the South gathered in an enthusiastic first conference. Trade unions members attending included members from Unite, Unison, UCATT, RMT, NUT and CWU, as well as Anti-cuts campaigners read more from NSSN website
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSNC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, LondonE10 9DE.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
The 8th Annual NSSN Conference will be on Saturday 5th July in Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL – delegate/visitor fee £6
Union News
More RMT
DLR – Amended Industrial Action (Jan 24) – read more
Serco Docklands – Amended Industrial Action (Jan 24) – read more
PCS
Exam regulator staff prepare to walk out over union victimisation (27 Jan) – Following Ofqual’s sacking of PCS branch chair Sofia Azam her branch has voted for a half day walk-out on Wednesday, 29 January from 12.30. Sofia has been sacked for giving PCS members in Ofqual information about their jobs following a re-grading exercise. The PCS branch at Ofqual in Coventry has been involved in re-grading negotiations over the last year. Ofqual claim that Sofia has breached a confidentiality agreement as an individual employee, following the release of information she had been given in her role as lead negotiator read more
Another day, another sell-off (23 Jan) – Ministers have today announced yet another sell-off with plans to end 150 years of Land Registry history read more
GMB
Shetland Gas Construction Strike Suspended (January 24) – Strike Action At Shetland Gas Construction Site Suspended Pending Outcome Of A New Ballot In Long Running Accommodation Dispute. GMB members overwhelming majority for strike action at Shetland gas construction site in dispute over accommodation and travelling time. The 24 hour strike at Total gas terminal in Shetland construction site has been suspended pending the outcome of a new ballot read more
BFAWU
Fast Food Rights Day of Action on February 15th!
On the 15th of February, the BFAWU, in conjunction with Unite the Resistance, John McDonnell MP, Youth Fight for Jobs, NSSN, and other like-minded organisations, have instigated a day of action to raise the issue of justice for those working in the fast food industry. The aim is to end the exploitation of workers and the use of Zero Hour contracts, and to improve the pay of those working in this hugely profitable industry. We would encourage as many as possible to participate. For more details, click here to go to the related news story on our website; email [email protected] or on the web at www.fastfoodrights.wordpress.com where there are links to Twitter and our Facebook page.
Local Government: Unison, Unite & GMB day of Action on February 4th – As part of the local government pay campaign, the three national unions (GMB, Unison and Unite) are holding a “day of protest” on 4 February. This has been timed to take place shortly before the national employers meet to determine their response to our pay claim. There will be events organised all around the country. This is your chance to show the employers that you deserve and expect a decent pay rise in 2014 more from GMB Yorkshire
21 Jan 2014
Higher Education strikes latest
UCU: Live blog of HE two-hour strike: 23 January 2013 read more
Unite: university staff strike for third time on 6 February in pay dispute read more
Unison
Glasgow care workers start second strike (Jan 27) – Care workers in Glasgow City Council’s residential homes started two days of strike action today. This is the second strike action taken by the city’s care workers in response to a council decision to enforce new job roles, longer shift patterns and pay cuts of up 7%. “UNISON members have been forced to take further strike action,” says City of Glasgow branch secretary Brian Smith: “The social work management has made no attempt to resolve the dispute. “The fact is that care homes would not function without the hard work and dedication of our members – to force them into this difficult position is completely unfair and unnecessary. “Our members are only asking for what is fair: no cuts in pay, properly identified roles and responsibilities of staff, and agreement on any new shift arrangements.” Glasgow council plans to cut wages of residential home care workers by up to 7% by introducing longer shift patterns. Read more
29 day Future Directions strike ends (Jan 28) – The long-running dispute by care-workers at Future Directions in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has ended in a settlement which their union Unison sees as a victory. Future Directions (FD) is a private company wholly owned by Lancashire-based Calderstones NHS trust read more
Unite
Unite ballots Ford production workers in row over job security and pensions (27 Jan) – Over 5000 Ford workers are being balloted for strike action in a row over job security and pensions warned Unite, Britain’s biggest union. Unite is balloting Ford’s hourly paid workforce, who work mainly on the production line, across the company’s six UK sites: Bridgend, Daventry, Halewood, Dunton and two sites in Dagenham. The workers are demanding commitments to job security in line with their counterparts in other EU countries and improvements in the pension scheme read more
Visteon/Ford pensioners 5th anniversary march April 2nd – from VPAG: (see website) this will mark the closure of the ex-Ford Visteon UK plants and the subsequent demise of our pension. The programme and route for the day will be the usual format which has worked successfully in the past and as follows: 10.45 Assemble outside Unite House, Theobalds Road, Holborn, 11.00 Speeches, 11.30 March to Parliament Square, 12.30 Speeches and meet MP’s, 14.30 finish
Yorkshire ambulance staff to strike over ‘10 hour shifts without meal break’ (24 Jan) – Yorkshire ambulance staff have voted to take strike action over changes in shift patterns which could mean paramedics going more than 10 hours without a meal break and staff being forced to work 12 hour shifts. The staff, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, voted overwhelmingly for a 24 hour strike which will commence at 00:01 hours on Saturday 1 February 2014 read more
Weymouth bus drivers in talks over pay dispute (24 Jan) – Talks to solve the pay dispute involving about 60 drivers at First Hampshire and Dorset, and Unite, the country’s largest union, will be continuing next week. As a result, Unite has suspended the 24 hour strike due for Wednesday (29 January) to allow for the talks. However, if the dispute is not settled by the end of next week, Unite has already given the company notice that there will be a 24 hour strike on Monday (3 February) that will hit the Bridport, Portland and Weymouth areas. The drivers already held a successful a 24 hour strike on Monday (20 January) read more
Workers at Somerset cider giant hail ‘victory’ in pay dispute (24 Jan) – Workers at the Gaymer Cider company in Shepton Mallett, Somerset were today (Friday 24 January) celebrating after they agreed to a three per cent pay offer – without any strings attached. More than 100 production workers at the Kilver Street site, who were taking part in an industrial action ballot in the dispute, have accepted the offer by management of a three per cent pay rise for 2012-13 read more
FBU
Update on pensions campaign for members (Jan 24) – Representatives of the Fire Brigades Union met the English Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis, this week to discuss the government’s proposals for firefighter pensions. Another meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 28 January, with the FBU’s Executive Council meeting the next day read more
Lobby The Surrey County Council Cabinet – save our fire stations – cabinet meeting 12pm till 2pm Tuesday 4th February outside county hall, Penrhyn road, Kingston KT1 2DN read more
IWGB
IWGB strike action this week at the University of London – Outsourced workers at the University of London’s Central Administration, employed by Cofely GDF-Suez, will be striking this Monday to Wednesday, 27 to 29 January, 2014 read more see 3Cosas website
Ken Loach calls for no-one to cross picket lines on BAFTA’s strike on February 15&16 – “No-one should cross your picket lines. The union leaders must call on their members to show their solidarity with you by respecting your picket. BAFTA has a particular responsibility.” read more
POA
POA launch mass March, Rally and Lobby of Parliament on 19th March 2014
The National Executive Committee is to begin a detailed campaign strategy commencing on the 19th March 2014 at the Central Methodist Hall, Westminster, London.
The launch and theme of our campaign leading up to the General Election in 2015 will be as follows;
68 is too late Pension Campaign.
Violence in the Workplace.
Privatisation of Public Services and Prisons.
Pay.
Within these four elements lots of issues will develop in relation to budget cuts, prison closures, terms and conditions of employment, personal protective equipment, overcrowding and mental health issues. We are sure there are many other areas that will be expanded upon during the launch and debates.
Our intent is to bring our issues into the public domain to gain the general public’s support and ensure politicians of all political parties understand they need to make commitments in the Election Manifestos to ensure workers in the Criminal Justice System from prisons to our Secure Psychiatric Hospitals and the Immigration Services are treated fairly.
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Blacklist Support Group – Update 24th January 2014
1. Scottish Affairs Select Committee
The Scottish Affairs Select Committee investigation into blacklisting is continuing with UCATT, GMB & UNITE giving evidence this week. A second Interim Report is expected to be published in March. Phil Whitehurst of the GMB and Steve Murphy both called for blacklisting to be made a criminal offence with prison sentences. Bernard McAulay attacked Crown House for their continued anti-union attitude.
Video of latest hearing: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14696
News Report: http://union-news.co.uk/2014/01/blacklisting-must-made-illegal-union-tells-mps/
2. Blacklist Compensation Scheme latest
At present there is no offer by the companies but the blacklisting firms have requested a meeting in February to discuss a possible compensation scheme. The Blacklist Support Group and Guney Clark & Ryan solicitors for the High Court claim will be at the meeting, alongside UNITE, UCATT and GMB and their legal teams. This is very early stages and there are no concrete proposals as yet.
Any blacklisted worker wishing to join the GCR High Court claim should contact Liam Dunne: [email protected]
3. Shrewsbury Pickets
The campaign to have the convictions of the Shrewsbury Pickets quashed got a boost on Thursday this week when MPs voted in favour of releasing all the documents currently held by the government relating to the miscarriage of justice. The vote is not binding but will place pressure on the documents that campaigners believe will expose a conspiracy between the police, the government at the highest levels, security services and the building companies. There is a 30 year rule for the release of government documents – the Shrewsbury documents are 41 years old – what have they got to hide?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-25866461
4. COPS meeting
Blacklist Support Group is working alongside lawyers other groups and individuals who have been spied on by undercover police including the Lawrence Family, female activists who were sexually abused by the police, environmental and anti-racist campaigners and left wing political groups. All those involved are calling for a fully independent public inquiry to expose the role of undercover police spying on campaigners. The first public meeting will be held on
Thursday 27th February 2014
UNITE the Union HQ
Holborn
5. Blacklist Support Group meetings
There have been 2 well attended BSG meetings held in London in November 2013, one in the House of Commons on the TUC Day of Action on 20th November and another on 29th November following the High Court case.
BSG meeting (Liverpool)
11am Saturday 22nd February 2014
UNITE Offices
Liverpool
6. Alder Hey Hospital
Blacklist Support Group has organised a number of protests outside Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool about ongoing blacklisting by Laing O’Rourke.
This was raised in the Select Committee by Steve Murphy this week.
7. Balfour Beatty
Blacklisting firm Balfour Beatty is currently in dispute with building workers on their Shetland Gas Plant.
UNITE & GMB SHOP STEWARDS COMMITTEE SHETLAND GAS PLANT press statement: Date: 21/01/14
“This afternoon at a Unite & GMB mass meeting of engineering construction workers at the Total’s new build Shetland Gas Plant, the union members voted unanimously to reject the offer tabled by the main contractor, Petrofac, concerning the dispute over travel time & shared accommodation in bunk beds. The workforce will now start industrial strike action on the Shetland Gas Plant with a 24 hour stoppage of work starting at midnight Thursday 23rd/ Friday 24th January. Petrofac have also been informed that there will be further strike action in the coming weeks, until an acceptable offer is made to the engineering construction workers on the Shetland Gas Plant.” Note: Companies involved in the dispute are Petrofac, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, Bilfinger Industrial Services (BIS) & Randridge.
Balfour Beatty are also currently involved in a pensions, sick pay, holiday pay dispute known as the 3 COSAS campaign with the support staff at University of London. The workers are on official strike 3 days next week 27th-29th January 2013.
BSG will be supporting the 3 COSAS campaign especially on Tuesday 28th January. Senate House, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU (nearest tube: Russell Square)
3 COSAS campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVih3SicEqA
8. Smith v Carillion EAT judgement – agency workers not protected by UK law
Our view: http://www.hazards.org/blacklistblog/2014/01/22/blacklisting-case-highlights-dangerous-loophole/
Scottish Parliament Motion submitted by Neil Findlay MSP
Motion Number: S4M-08824
Lodged By: Neil Findlay
Date Lodged: 22/01/2014
Title: Blacklisting, Smith v Carillion
That the Parliament notes the employment appeal tribunal judgement of Smith v Carillion (JM) Ltd, which, it understands, considered a high profile blacklisting case; recognises that, in her written judgement, Mrs Justice Slade identified human rights violations and expressed concern that the secretary of the Blacklist Support Group, Dave Smith, “suffered an injustice from blacklisting”; understands that the ruling found in favour of Carillion because, as Mr Smith was not directly employed by the construction multinational but instead by an employment agency, he was not protected by employment law, and understands that Mr Smith is now considering how to take his case forward to the next stage.
9. John Flavin ex-President of UCATT has made a submission to the Select Committee and makes accusations about police and union involvement with blacklisting.
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/01/24/unions-accused-of-blacklisting/
10. Blacklisted Book
Later this year, Pluto Press are publishing a book on blacklisting by Phil Chamberlain and Dave Smith. The deadline for the manuscript is very soon. Anyone wishing to provide information useful to the book please get in touch ASAP.
11. Construction National Rank & File meeting
1pm Saturday 1st February
Jurys Inn
Jamaica Street
Glasgow
G1 4QG
Speakers include: Jackson Cullinane (UNITE), Louise Taggart (Families against Corporate Killers), Dave Smith (BSG)
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/270361989780126/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular&source=1
Blacklist Support Group
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Other News
International (also see Labourstart)
Russia: Union leaders arrested at Aeroflot read more
Fiji: Hotel strike declared illegal, union leaders jailed read more
Diary (see & use false economy)
January
30 Already in Cardiff, details are emerging of brutal cuts planned for jobs and services in the city. Cardiff Council is pushing ahead with plans to close the STAR centre in Splott and a nursery will shut unless the plans are halted. Join the protest and urge the Council to refuse to pass on the Tory cuts onto jobs and services, and instead take the road cut by Poplar, Clay Cross and Liverpool in the past – the path advocated by rebel councillors in Southampton, Hull, Warrington and elsewhere today. Contact Ross with details of any other cuts planned via Facebook message or at 07772215281 or on [email protected].
February
1 National Rank and File Construction Meeting – Jury’s Inn Hotel, Glasgow at 1pm – 4pm.
4 Save our Services in Surrey lobby of Surrey County Council cabinet meeting against fire service cuts
6 RMT member P Mihaj vs Sodexo Ltd 9am London Holborn on unfair dismissal on Trade Union grounds.
11 Public Rally: Hands Off Our Unions (organised by People’s Assembly, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom & Institute of Employment Rights) – speakers include Len McCluskey Unite, Mark Serwotka PCS & striking tubeworker – 6:30pm-9:00pm
Venue: Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London, WC1H 9AU
15 Fast Food Rights Day of Action
ROCK AGAINTS THE CUTS – BREAD AND ROSES, CLAPHAM MANOR
7.30PM with 48 Thrills, Comrade X and the Lone Groover
https://www.facebook.com/events/656633904387092/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
27 Stop the Bloodbath Budget 3.30 – 6.30pm Cardiff City Hall
March
29 Uniform Day
April
2 Visteon/Ford pensioners 5th anniversary march – 10.45 Assemble outside Unite House, Theobalds Road, Holborn, 11.00 Speeches, 11.30 March to Parliament Square, 12.30 Speeches and meet MP’s
July
5 8th Annual NSSN Conference – Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, LondonWC1R 4RL
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, LondonE10 9DE
