213: National Solidarity Day Oct 10 for Care UK striking workers

This Friday October 10, workers at Care UK in Doncaster will be taking their 81st day of strike action, reportedly a record in the care sector. The NSSN are supporting their call to make Friday a national day of solidarity. We call on all NSSN supporters, trade unionists and socialists to organise pickets and protests outside Care UK offices and those of Bridgepoint, the private equity firm that owns Care UK. Also, people can protest outside shops such as Fat Face and Pret a Manger which are owned by Bridgepoint.

The London protest is at 12noon outside Care UK 29 Great Guildford St SE1 0ES. The nearest tube stations are London Bridge, Southwark and Borough. Map http://bit.ly/1vH8YQM

There is a demonstration and rally in Doncaster this Saturday October 11th – 12noon-2pm at the Civic Centre

Please send photos, especially on the ‘81’ theme to the Care UK strike Facebook page and Twitter

Care UK strikers hit the streets of London (Oct 8) – From Unison website

Messages of support or donations should be sent to: Yvonne Butcher, branch secretary Doncaster District and Bassetlaw Health Branch, 20511 UNISON Office – Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster DN4 5GJ. Make cheques out to ‘Doncaster, District and Bassetlaw Health Branch’.

 

NSSN News

The famous pink NSSN £10 minimum wage t-shirts are still available. Email us to order – £8 each. We have the following sizes: women – small, medium, large, XL and men – small, medium, large, XL, XXL

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’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter here

South London NSSN public meeting: ‘All Strike Together on October 13-15’ (supported by Battersea & Wandsworth Trade Union Council). Speakers include PCS Vice–President John McInally, BFAWU bakers’ union and Helen Pattison Youth Fight for Jobs – 7.30pm Thursday October 9th in Bread & Roses pub 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ

Yorkshire NSSN Conference – Saturday November 22nd Cosmopolitan Hotel Lower Briggate, Leeds, Yorkshire LS1 4AE

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]

 

 

Union News

The NSSN gives its full support to workers on strike next week. Up to a million and half public sector workers from Unison, PCS, Unite, GMB, UCU and NIPSA are scheduled to strike in 3 consecutive days of action against the government’s pay freeze. The health unions are to strike on October 13. The day after, council workers and FE lecturers will be out followed by civil servants on October 15. They are now joined by RMT members on London Underground.

We call on everyone to support the action – visit the picket lines and join in any strike rallies. But at the end of that week on Saturday October 18, get on the TUC’s ‘Britain Needs a Pay Rise’ demonstration in London and similar mobilisations in Glasgow and Belfast.

 

 

RMT

RMT confirms 48 hours of strike action on London Underground (Oct 7) – Tube union RMT today confirmed 48 hours of strike action on London Underground later this month in the continuing fight against the Mayor’s onslaught on jobs, working conditions, safety and the threat to services including the wholesale closure of ticket offices. The vast majority of RMT tube members have been instructed not to book on for any shifts between 2100 hrs on 14th October through to 2059 hrs on the 16th October. Fleet members have been instructed not to book on for any shifts between 1829 hrs on the 14th October through to 1828 hrs on the 16th October read more

Arriva Trains Wales conductors to strike (Oct 2) – Following an overwhelming vote for action, Arriva Trains Wales conductors working out of three key depots are to take strike action next week over the victimisation and dismissal of two union members through an outright abuse by the company of the sickness absence policy. Following the massive vote in favour of taking strike action, RMT’s executive has taken the decision to call on all our ATW Conductor members at Holyhead, Chester and Llandudno Junction Depots to take the following industrial action: Not to book on for any turns of duty that commence between 12.00 (midday) hours on Friday 10th October 2014 until 11.59 hours on Saturday 11th October 2014 read more

 

Unite

Leading housing charity workers vote to strike (8 Oct) – Unite members at housing charity St Mungo’s Broadway have overwhelmingly voted in favour of industrial action over cuts to pay for new starters and changes to policies and procedures governing working conditions for all staff. Results announced today (Wednesday 8 October) by Unite, the UK’s largest union, show that 95.9 per cent of Unite members at St Mungo’s Broadway voted in favour of taking industrial action. The dispute between the charity, the result of a recent merger between Broadway and St Mungo’s, and Unite is over a number of significant detrimental changes imposed by the new management through “retrospective consultation”. The changes include downgraded policies and procedures, the removal of pay and job evaluation from collective bargaining, vastly inferior rates for new starters and for existing staff in re-structures, and repeated breaches of the union recognition agreement read more

Defence workers vote to strike over ‘derisory’ pay offer (6 Oct) – Workers at the cash-rich Defence Support Group (DSG) have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay in the run-up to the group being sold off to the private sector next year. More than 800 employees, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, voted by 75 per cent for strike action and by 85 per cent for action short of a strike.  The workers had already rejected by a majority of 85 per cent in a consultative ballot the management’s 1 per cent pay offer for 2014. The main sites are at Bovington (Dorset), Catterick (North Yorkshire) Colchester, Donnington (Shropshire), Stirling and Warminster (Wiltshire) read more

Support M25 construction workers: protest on October 8 outside Balfour Beatty London HQ (Oct 8) – Balfour Beatty (CPS) are trying to take away holiday entitlement, get rid of TUPE t&c’s and holiday pay.  This week, Balfour Beatty headlines in the press “bad project management to put £75m dent in profits”.  This same management is spread on the M25 network. Workers protested outside Balfours HO on Wednesday see photo

Strike action at WEA London Region (Oct 6) – this action is against job cuts and restructuring, It will start on October 13th and will continue on the 14th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd. It’s the first strike in the WEA’s 111-year history. The WEA staff would like to invite you to the picket line at 4, Luke St EC2A 4XW 7.30am-1pm. There will be a lunchtime meeting on the 14th in the House of Commons at 1pm

 

Unison

Scottish local government members back industrial action (Oct 6) – Unison local government members in Scotland are to take industrial action this month after a ‘yes’ vote in their ballot. The news came after the employers imposed a pay award of 1% for this year – below both inflation and the retail price index read more

Care UK workers call for funds as new strike begins (Oct 1) – Care UK strikers in Doncaster have launched a new appeal for solidarity funds after embarking on their latest, three-week, strike on Monday. When the current round of action ends, the workers – who were transferred from the NHS to private company Care UK – will have been on strike for a total of 90 days read more

 

PCS

7 reasons to back the 15 October strike (6 Oct) – On Wednesday, 15 October PCS members in the civil service and related areas are striking for fair pay. Here’s why all eligible members should back the action. PCS members are not asking for the 14% pay increase company bosses and bankers are getting. Or the 11% MPs will see read more

 

GMB

24hr ISS Strike At Woolwich Hospital (Oct 7) – GMB members employed by ISS at Queen Elisabeth Hospital Woolwich 24 Hour strike on Wed 8th October in dispute over two tier workforce in NHS read more See photo

Strike at TSSA on 8th October (Oct 7) – GMB Members at TSSA on Strike On Wednesday 8th October over botched restructuring read more

4 Day Strike At Sheffield Recycling (Oct 7) – GMB further four day strike on 10th to 13th Oct at Sheffield Recycling Centres in dispute on pay, facilities and way centres are managed read more

Legal Protection for Lyreco Members (Oct 6) – GMB vows to protect members employed by office supplies firm Lyreco from culture of harrying and harassment. Lyreco must follow the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures and help and advice is just a phone call away for members at UNIONLINE on 0300 333 0303 says GMB read more

Second Pay Strike In Bolton On Oct 9th (Oct 3) – further strike on Thursday 9th October By GMB Engineering members in Bolton to secure better pay offer. Members are seeking an increase of 3% with no strings in a one year deal says GMB. On Thursday 9th October over 100 GMB engineering members employed by Severfield – formerly Robert Watson – at Lostock in Bolton will stage a second one day strike to secure a better pay offer for 2014. The first in a series of one day strikes took on Thursday 2nd October read more

 

UCATT

Construction sites facing standstill as crane drivers ballot for industrial action (7 Oct) – Construction sites across Britain could come to a standstill if crane drivers at a major company vote for strike action. Over 180 UCATT members at crane company HTC Plant Limited have been sent ballot papers today (October 7th) in a dispute over pay. The crane drivers are angry that the company is not prepared to restore pay in real terms to the levels they were at before the 2008 recession read more

 

POA

Read the latest Gatelodge magazine read more

 

FBU

Video: Matt Wrack gives pension update (Oct 3) see here

All members circular: Pensions: No revised proposals; government agrees to delaying of pension regulations for a third time (Oct 3) read more

Support locked-out Buckinghamshire fire-fighters – During the recent action by the FBU in England & Wales when fire-fighters took action for periods of two and one hours over 8 days, Buckinghamshire Fire Authority docked wages for the whole shifts. To contribute to Bucks FBU hardship fund:-

HSBC

Account No:     71603124

Sort Code:        40-33-33

Bucks FBU Hardship Fund

Also, email Complaints to Bucks FRS – [email protected]

 

CWU

Post Office Christmas strike warning (Oct 1) – A national pre-Christmas strike affecting essential Post Office cash supplies loomed closer today after workers voted by over 90 per cent to reject a “derisory” pay offer from the company. Frustrations among some 2,000 staff employed in Post Office Admin and Supply Chain grades are “close to breaking point,” warns CWU national officer Andy Furey, due to the company’s stubborn refusal to settle their 2014 pay claim, which is now six months overdue read more

 

NUJ

Newsquest chief exits with a salary equivalent to 25 journalists (1 Oct) – The chief executive of Newsquest signed off his final year with a 9.5 per cent pay rise, while his staff’s wages went down by almost £5 million. Paul Davidson, stood down as CEO in April, but stayed on as chairman of the group. He raked in £610,458 as Newsquest’s highest paid executive in 2013 – an increase of £53,000 on the previous 12 months. His salary was the equivalent of 25 journalists’ jobs read more

 

BFAWU / Fast Food Rights

BFAWU’s Foodworker magazine read here

Reports of Fast Food Rights protests on Youth Fight for Jobs website   and fast Food Rights website

Please send details of any local actions to [email protected] / [email protected]   see BFAWU video

 

 

Other news

The ‘Still the Enemy Within’ documentary film about the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike is showing this autumn – for details – http://the-enemy-within.org.uk/events/

 

Dear Friends of London Hazards.

London Hazards is organising a relaunch following the loss of all our funding in 2013 and the closure of our offices, laying staff off shutting the website down etc. ——–

Having raised 20K we can continue, we’ve opened an office employing a worker 3 times a week and are producing a quarterly Magazine. We want to set up a London wide net work of Safety reps / Activists launch a London Asbestos support group to help families and victim’s get justice in their fight against Solicitors representing the Insurance companies for the Asbestos Industry, many die without getting a penny.

We would like to invite you to attend there will be refreshments and food provided please let us know if you can make it as we need to know numbers. Failing that can I ask that you to get your TU branches and Trades Councils to affiliate and get on board our fight to protect Safety Rep’s rights and against the attacks by this Coalition.

In unity Pete Farrell Chair of London Hazards

VENUE — Leigh Day Solicitors. Priory House 25 St. John’s Lane. London ECIM. 4LB.

Tuesday 21st October 5.40pm for refreshments start 6pm – 8pm. Farringdon tube 5 minutes away.

Contact details for London Hazards ——- 0207 5275107 email —- [email protected]

 

Blacklisting & Victimisation

Blacklist Support Group update

  1. Another death in the building industry

Our thoughts are with the family of yet another construction worker killed at work as the carnage in the industry continues. This time on a Laing O’Rourke site in Heathrow.

Laing O’Rourke worker killed at Heathrow

 

 

 

  1. Protest at High Court

Blacklist campaigners were outside the High Court on 26th September

http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/39088/Blacklisting+protest+at+High+Court

 

 

  1. High Court 16th October

Royal Courts of Justice

The Strand

(nearest tube: Holborn or Temple)

 

  1. Blacklisting public meeting in Shetland

Tuesday 7th Oct – 7;30pm start

British Legion Club

Lerwick

organised by the UNITE LT 156 Construction branch and stewards committee at Sella Ness – everyone welcome

 

Some of the blacklisting companies are currently building in Shetland; Balfour Beatty are a major contractor at Sullum Voe, a project where union members from UNITE and GMB have had difficulty getting onto the site, prompting accusations of ongoing blacklisting.

 

  1. Crane drivers ballot for industrial action

http://www.ucatt.org.uk/construction-sites-facing-standstill-crane-drivers-ballot-industrial-action

 

 

  1. Balfour Beatty are up to their cost cutting measures against workers, this time on the M25 contract. With 25 years left to run on the contract, the blacklisting firm are trying to take away holiday entitlement, lower terms and conditions and holiday pay.

 

Balfour Beatty Protest

8th October 2014 – 12 Noon

130 Wilton Road

London

SW1V 1LQ

(nearest tube: Victoria)

 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

 

 

 

International (also see Labourstart)

Support the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions strike for democracy! Read more

 

 

Diary (see & use false economy)

October

13-15 public sector pay strikes

18 TUC demonstration in London – ‘Britain Needs a Pay Rise’. It will begin with a march through central London, culminating in a rally in Hyde Park read more here

 

November

5 Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs branch meeting

15 National construction rank and file meeting – at Newcastle Labour Club

11 Leazes Park Road, Newcastle.  NE1 4PF 1.00pm until 4.00pm

 

December

3 Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs branch meeting

 

 

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, London E10 9DE