READ 1ST DAY STRIKE REPORTS FROM NSSN WEBSITE
From Bob Crow RMT General Secretary to RMT members:-
Dear Colleagues
STRIKE ROCK SOLID!
EVERY JOB MATTERS – DEFENDING JOBS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND
The strike action that began last night has been rock solid and this has meant the London Underground network has effectively been closed down. This isn’t a boast but a fact which can leave LUL in no doubt of the determination of RMT members to put a stop to their disastrous plans to cut nearly 1000 jobs and close ticket offices.
RMT members have spoken with their feet and I thank you for your support for your union throughout this dispute. Keep it up!
UNITY IS STRENGTH
See RMT website for strike reports RMT Tube Revenue Strike Explained
Hands Off London Transport website
From TSSA website – STRIKES CUT TUBE SERVICE BY OVER 70%
TSSA leader Manuel Cortes said fewer than a third of normal tube trains were running during this morning’s rush hour with “overwhelming” support for the action from his members.
He called on the London Mayor to enter into immediate peace talks and end “government by gimmick” in the capital.
“All we have is a fringe service in the outer suburbs with virtually the whole of central London dependent on a skeleton service. Over 70 per cent of the normal service is at a standstill.
“It is now time to end government by gimmick and for Boris to enter serious talks. His so called army of volunteers has turned out to be a phantom army as the scores of closed stations illustrate only too clearly.
“Londoners and the travelling public deserve better than this. We remain ready to talk immediately, any time, anywhere.”
From Rob Williams NSSN national chair:-
“After all the waiting for the tube strike with the propaganda getting louder from the Tories and their press – the first day has been a triumph for the RMT and TSSA. TfL might call the revised timetable a ‘Special Service’ but the reality was that hardly anything ran, especially in rush-hour. It is clear from the reports that we carry in today’s strike bulletin that RMT and TSSA pickets have gained confidence from the effectiveness of their action and are aware of the public backing. This confirms that ordinary people are aware of the collective battering we have taken from the ConDem government’s austerity offensive and they are happy that the tube unions are prepared to fight back. We believe that this is a dispute that can be won and the action this week and next must be really built for.
“But all unions must immediately contact the RMT and TSSA to discuss co-ordinating strike action. Higher Education workers in UCU, Unison and Unite are striking this Thursday, while some PCS members may be taking action to coincide with next week’s strikes. It looks likely that teachers will be out on March 26th. Imagine what we could achieve if we all went on strike together against this Fat Cat government…in City Hall and Westminster! Victory to the tubeworkers!!”
See strike videos on NSSN website
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TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee members will be protesting at Tottenham Court Road station, central London, on Thursday at 14:30 against London Underground ticket office closures and staffing cuts and in support of the RMT/TSSA strike. Bob Crow will be attending the protest too. Please come and join us!
NSSN News
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, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter here
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 more here
Union News
More RMT
DLR Strike Action Called Off (28 Jan) – RMT reaches agreement with Serco and Carlisle on DLR. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said “Following the receipt of improved offers on pay and across range of other issues, RMT’s executive has now been able to consider the details of the proposals from Serco and Carlisle and as a result the decision making body of the union has agreed to suspend the planned industrial action on Serco/Docklands Light Railway and Carlisle cleaners and security that was due to commence tomorrow. The union congratulates our members across the Docklands Light Railway whose solidarity and determination has enabled them to secure important victories on pay, conditions and workplace justice.” read more
Higher Education strike on February 6th
UCU: Campaign latest – including HE strike, University of Central Lancashire ballot for action etc read here
Unite: university staff strike for third time on 6 February in pay dispute read more
Unison: Higher Ed branches build for 6 February read more
IWGB
London Living Wage Strike: victory over poverty pay at Royal Opera House (Feb 1) – MITIE has confirmed in writing that it has accepted the proposals of the IWGB on the London Living Wage for porters and cleaners at the Royal Opera House read more from IWGB website
Unison
We are worth it say local government members (Feb 5) – Public service workers across the UK gathered to protest against the state of local government pay and the disastrous impact of cuts to jobs and local services yesterday. From Edinburgh to Brighton, Trowbridge to Redcar, the Vale of Glamorgan to Manchester; from youth services to care for the elderly, from teaching assistants to school support staff and street cleaners to refuse collectors, members took part in a variety of protests – some of them strikingly innovative read more
GMB
Strike Vote at Sunderland Buses (Jan 30) – GMB Members Industrial Action Ballot Over Pay Dispute at Stagecoach Sunderland. 2.4% offer over 15 months is not enough as members have taken below inflation pay rises for a number of years whilst Stagecoach has enjoyed decent profits says GMB 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.
Unite
Weymouth bus drivers voting today on improved pay offer (5 Feb) – The 60 bus drivers employed by First Hampshire and Dorset are today (Wednesday 5 February) voting on a ‘substantially improved’ pay offer. This means the 24 hour strike due tomorrow (Thursday 6 February) has been suspended. The 24 strike due for Monday 10 February that would affect the Bridport, Portland and Weymouth areas could still go ahead, depending on the outcome of the ballot. The ballot result will be announced tomorrow (Thursday) read more
Portsmouth traffic wardens to strike on Wednesday over ‘micromanaging bosses’ (3 Feb) – Portsmouth motorists could enjoy ‘free parking’ when traffic wardens strike on Wednesday (5 February) in the escalating dispute with “the overbearing and micromanaging bosses” at the city council read more
Unite Yorkshire Ambulance workers fight de-recognition (Feb 3) – On Saturday 1st February, Unite members in the Yorkshire Ambulance Service took part in a further 24 hour strike as part of their long-running dispute. Unite members outside the Wakefield depot remained determined in their fight to force the trust to re-recognise the union and stop the savage cuts which are currently taking place read more
FBU
Cleveland firefighters to hold protest rally against local cuts this weekend (Feb 4) – Firefighters in Cleveland will hold a rally against cuts to local fire and rescue services in Middlesbrough town centre at lunchtime this Saturday. Davy Howe, Fire Brigades Union secretary in Cleveland, said: “The firefighters of Cleveland need the support of our local community now more than ever read more
No new strike dates as FBU awaits further details from government on pensions proposals (Jan 30) – The Fire Brigades Union is awaiting further details from government on new proposals for firefighter pensions and has not announced new strike dates, the union confirmed today. The union’s executive council met on Wednesday (29 January) to consider recent discussions held with the Westminster Fire Minister, Brandon Lewis read more
NUT
Free school Head teacher reneges on agreement – Teachers at the STEM 6 Islington Free School thought they had won an important victory. Directors at the Free School agreed to recognise the NUT and other TUC affiliates for collective bargaining and will enter into meaningful negotiations about terms and conditions at the school. Read more in Islington Gazette
Less than a week after telling the NUT: ‘We are not prepared to recognise you whether or not industrial action is taken’, the Principal had backed down writing: ‘Just to confirm that we are willing to recognise the NUT and enter meaningful negotiations’. Members at the school suspended the strike to allow further discussions on draconian contracts which include a lay-off or zero hours clause.
However Head teacher John O’Shea has cancelled the meeting with NUT representatives. Teachers have decided they have no option but to strike as originally planned read more at Anti-Academies Alliance
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
From Barnet Unison
Dear Supporter
We are now 56 days before our branch officers are kicked out of the UNISON office and all facility time is removed. I would like to thank those branches who have already sent in messages of support which we are going to be using as part of communication with our members, so please carry on sending in those messages.
We have just produced ‘Sign our Petition’ video (1 minute) http://youtu.be/ePgn632jOV4
We could do with help promoting the video and petition on websites/face book and Twitter. If you are able publicise please send links so we can show them to our members.
It is only now that staff/members even HR are actually asking me if the Council is going to implement this final cut. My answer is yes unless there is a change in the attitude by our Barnet Council. Below is a transcript of comment made by Conservative Councillor Robert Rams speaking at Budget Scrutiny 26.11.2013. The Video clip can be viewed here http://youtu.be/-7dTF6Kmej8
Blacklisting compensation scheme Talks (Feb 4) – Yesterday, the first full round table talks for the employers funded blacklisting compensation scheme took place in Euston. Negotiators representing the 8 blacklisting construction firms named as defendants in the High Court cases for illegal conspiracy met representatives from the Blacklist Support Group (BSG), Guney Clark & Ryan solicitors (GCR) plus the trade unions UNITE, UCATT & GMB and their legal teams.
At previous talks held before Christmas, the BSG delegation walked out of the negotiations at what they considered the insulting offer of £1000 compensation.
Lawyers representing blacklisted workers had already submitted a formal response to the employers original draft proposals but to date there has been no formal response from Pinsent Mason, the lawyers for the blacklisting companies. The employers’ team spent the talks reiterating their position and restated their intention of making the “generous” offer of £1000 to the majority of blacklisted workers, in what they repeatedly described as a “fast track transparent alternative to the High Court”.
Following the meeting, Dave Smith from the BSG called the employers proposals a “fast track alternative to justice” and described the response from those representing blacklisted workers as “blunt”.
The ball is now firmly in the court of the blacklisting companies. The next stage of the negotiation process is for their lawyers to respond to the issues raised by the workers side. Until there are any concrete proposals there is nothing more to discuss.
Liam Dunne, attending the talks on behalf of blacklisted workers represented by Guney, Clark & Ryan solicitors said “It remains full steam ahead with the High Court claim”, which is next due in court in April.
The Blacklist Support Group is advising blacklisted workers to have nothing to do with the employers’ scheme until all negotiations are fully completed. Even those individuals who may only be interested in financial compensation would be selling themselves short if they accept anything these blacklisting firms offer at the moment. Note: The companies participating in the blacklisting compensation scheme are; Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Laing O’Rourke, Costain, Vinci, Skanska and Kier.
Blacklist Support Group
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
International (also see Labourstart)
Argentina: Petition to acquit the workers of Las Heras Oil Refinery – We, the undersigned, condemn the sentences handed out to nine workers of the Las Heras oil refinery in Santa Cruz province, Argentina by the Caleta Olivia Criminal Court on December 13. Four of them, one of whom was a minor at the time, have been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of killing police officer Jorge Sayago in 2006. The remaining five have been sentenced to five years, charged with ‘aggravated coercion’. No evidence of their guilt was produced at the trial and they were convicted on the basis of false testimonies obtained by methods that violate human rights. Sayago died during the wave of protests in Santa Cruz against the additional tax on incomes and for better working conditions and salaries. We demand the acquittal of the workers on the basis that the trial was a travesty of justice details here
Tunisia: Dear comrades – We are sending you the petition in support of the UGTT shop stewards of the Latelec factory in Fouchana. A strike was called on Wednesday, January 22 in the factory in order to impose the reinstatement of 10 sacked trade unionists. A notice has been filed for a new strike on February 11. We ask you to sign this petition and to discuss it in your unions. Victory is at hand, which makes internationalist solidarity particularly decisive. You can read and sign the petition on the following website: http://petition-latelec.cslpt.org/
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/CSLPT
Fraternal union greetings
The International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Trade Union Committees
Fiji: Campaign success! – charges dropped against hotel union leaders (4 Feb) – All police charges against leaders of Fiji’s National Union of Hospitality Catering and Tourism Industries stemming from a New Year’s Eve strike were dropped on February 2. Union President Dan Urai and five others, who had been free on tough bail conditions, were charged by the military dictatorship’s police on January 9 with leading an “illegal strike” at Sheraton Fiji Resort and Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa (both owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.) despite the fact that the union was negotiating with management following the brief industrial action read more
Russia: At Pirogov Medical University, repressions have begun against an independent trade union (Feb 3) – The administration of N. Pirogov’s Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU) has unleashed repression against trade union workers of a union of higher education, called ‘University Solidarity’. Under threat of dismissal, professors are being forced to withdraw from the union. Professors and activists of the union ‘University Solidarity’ have reported that they recently notified Rector Andrei Kamkin about the establishment of their trade union organization read more
USA: Kellogg’s Memphis workers still locked out for resisting disposable jobs – The 226 members of the IUF-affiliated BCTGM locked out since October 22 at the transnational cereal maker’s Memphis factory in Memphis are still waiting for the company to lift the lockout and need your support. If you were unable to send a message to the company during the holiday season, please add your voice now sign here
Canada: A new report outlining corporate governance problems at Crown Holdings Inc. has been published by the United Steelworkers (USW) which represents workers at Crown plants in the U.S. and Canada read more
Greece: Solidarity with the Greek workers; Solidarity with the workers in the Skaramanga shipyards; Sign the petition now! Here
Diary (see & use false economy)
February
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
Lobby of East Sussex Council Over Cuts to Services. Organised by East Sussex Unison 8:30am – 10am County Hall, Lewes
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
National Demo Day of Action against ATOS – Stop the inhumane assessments of the sick and disabled
27 Stop the Bloodbath Budget 3.30 – 6.30pm Cardiff City Hall
March
1 Miners’ Strike Commemoration will be held in Wakefield at the Red Shed, 18 Vicarage Street, Wakefield WF1 1QX. The Commemoration is to be held by the Wakefield Socialist History Group and takes place 30 years to the day since the NCB announced the closure of Cortonwood and the year-long dispute began.
Speakers include Granville Williams (from Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign), Ken Rowley (who was a NUM official at Selby during the strike and who served on the National Executive Committee of the NUM), Ken Capstick (previously Vice President of the NUM), Sally Kincaid (Divisional Secretary of Wakefield National Union of Teachers) and Christopher Emms (Chair, UNITE, Leeds Community Branch).
There will be sketches from the Red Shed Players, live music, a choir (“Free Range”). A free light buffet will be provided
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, London WC1R 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
