PCS
The National Shop Stewards Network gives full support and solidarity to the PCS who voted at their recent annual conference to move to a national strike ballot on pay that opens today June 18
PCS pay ballot opens today – vote yes (18 Jun) – It is vital that all eligible members vote yes for a 5% pay rise in our statutory pay ballot, which opened today, and send a powerful message to the government. The decision to ballot was taken by delegates following a vote at the union’s annual conference in Brighton on 22 May to support our 2018 pay claim, which calls for a fully-funded 5% pay rise. The ballot runs until 23 July. The question members in the civil service and related areas will be asked in the postal ballot is: Are you prepared to take part in strike action? We are currently in pay talks with the Cabinet Office. A decisive yes vote will strengthen our hand in the talks and give negotiators a clear mandate from members. Because of new trade union laws, to win the statutory ballot we need more than 50% of our total membership to vote. Voting can only take place by post. It is vitally important that we achieve the 50% margin to give the union a strong mandate to proceed with our campaign read more
PCS pressure results in DWP agreeing to pay Employee Deal pay rises on time, now lets all vote Yes for 5% (14 Jun) – Following the overwhelming reaction of members to last week’s announcement on the delay in pay, the GEC immediately called for urgent talks with the employer. Discussions took place on Tuesday 12th June and again on 14th June, between the union and DWP. PCS used the opportunity to hammer home how angry our members were and how let down you felt read more
MOD member able to pursue injury legal case thanks to PCS and Thompsons (15 Jun) – A PCS MOD member who fractured his wrist when opening a security door at the British Embassy in Washington DC, can now make a claim for compensation following support from PCS and Thompsons Solicitors read more
Campaign for ex-Carillion staff to be brought in-house at the British Museum Sign our online petition
NSSN news
The 2018 National Shop Stewards Network Annual Conference is from 11am-4.30pm on Saturday July 7th in Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.
Confirmed speakers so far: Howard Beckett Unite Assistant General Secretary, Amy Murphy USDAW President, Chris Baugh PCS Assistant General Secretary, Sean Hoyle RMT President, Ian Hodson BFAWU President, Joe Simpson POA Deputy General Secretary, Linda Taaffe NSSN National Secretary, Rob Williams NSSN National Chair
The attendance fee is £6 and it is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners. Affiliation letter and conference appeal letter is here Facebook event
The NSSN steering committee decided to put our annual conference back a week from its original date of June 30th to avoid a clash of dates with a demonstrations to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS. We will do all we can to build these protests against continuing Tory health cuts.
We also want to give advanced notice that once again we will be organising a rally at TUC Congress. This year it will be in Manchester on Sunday September 9th.
Yorkshire NSSN public meeting: Fight Austerity in Harrogate – Unite to defend jobs and services. Wednesday 27th June, St Roberts Club, Robert St, Harrogate, HG1 1HP – 7.30pm. Harrogate is facing the impact of austerity, with cutbacks across the town, from redundancies at Harrogate College, to closure of the Briary Wing at Harrogate hospital and the privatisation of staff into a ‘Wholly-owned Subsidiary’ and the threats to remove guards from Northern Rail services. Join us to discuss how we can unite struggles of staff, trade unions and community campaigns. Speakers from UCU and other campaigners Facebook event
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
Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet 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]
Follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook
Union News
Unite
Hackney drivers face summer meltdown as traffic wardens announce fresh strike dates (18 June) – Motorists in Hackney, north London, are facing a summer meltdown as the boroughs traffic wardens, members of Unite the UK’s largest union, have announced six days of strike action next month. The 40 traffic wardens who are employed by private contractor APOCA Parking (UK) Ltd on an outsourced contract tendered by the council, will take six days of strike action beginning at 00:01 on Monday 9 July and ending at 23.59 on Saturday 14 July read more
Messages of support for the strikers can be sent to [email protected]
We also need financial donations. Cheques made payable to Hackney Unite and sent to Onay Kasab at 33 – 37 Moreland St, London EC1V 8BB.
Messages of protest to the Mayor of Hackney ( APCOA run the contract for Hackney Council) and also to the Head of Parking and Markets, 136 – 142 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, E5 OQJ
Pay takes off for baggage handlers and ground staff at Gatwick (14 June) – Almost a thousand easyJet ground staff and baggage handlers at Gatwick airport employed by DHL have negotiated a pay boost worth on average 7.5 per cent over two years. The workers will also get a bonus worth over £500 a year and an increase in overtime payments, including double time for working on bank holidays. And in a further boost to workers’ terms and conditions the company’s sick pay policy has also been markedly improved. The deal means that a typical worker would be in line for an increase of over £2,000 in the first year of the deal including the bonus read more
Support the Unite strike at TGI Fridays’ – workers recently took four days of strike action over tips and minimum wage abuses read more. Tweet support to @RwUnite
Support Ian Allinson: Protesters accuse Fujitsu of victimising whistleblowers read more. Keep up to date with Unite: Our union in Fujitsu website
RMT
Northern taxpayers and passengers will be footing bill for cost of this week’s strike action union reveals (18 June) – RAIL UNION RMT has called for last ditch talks to resolve this week’s strike action as it is revealed northern taxpayers and passengers, and not Northern Rail, are footing the bill for the cost of strike action. A clause in the franchise agreement signed between Northern Rail and the government says the Secretary of State, Chris Grayling, can reimburse Northern Rail for “net losses arising from industrial action”. This means the government is using northern taxpayers and passengers money to bankroll German state owned Northern for losses for the days of strike action to date and the three days of action this week read more
RMT confirms further strike action on South Western Railway in dispute over Guards and safety – RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed further strike action in the dispute over rail safety and the axing of guards on South Western Railway. RMT has instructed members not to book on duty from 00:01 on Thursday 21st June 2018 until 23:59 on Saturday 23rd June 2018 read more
National dispute fund (DOO disputes) – If you would like to donate to the RMT National Dispute Fund which makes payments to support their striking members taking part in National DOO disputes then you can donate via PayPal using the donate button below or make a cheque payable to RMT National Dispute Fund and send it to the address below. Alternatively, you can ring their Freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706 who will be happy to process a credit card payment for you, or, if you would like to pay via internet banking, please email [email protected] for further details. Vicky Thompson, Finance Manager RMT, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel: 020-7529-8843
Jubilee News: dispute special read more on RMT London Calling
FBU
Government ministers must be held to account over Grenfell (14 June) – On the one year anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack released the following statement: “This will be a very difficult day for everyone who lost a loved one in the fire, everyone whose home was destroyed and their lives upturned. It will also be a difficult day for firefighters too. Our focus from here onwards will be to achieve real justice for Grenfell…” read more
West Midlands firefighters vote in favour of strike action over exploitative contracts – Firefighters in the West Midlands have voted by a margin of 9 to 1 for strike action in a dispute over the imposition of contracts on new entrants into the service. The results of the ballot were released on 29 May and show a 90% vote for strike action on an 82% turnout. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says West Midlands Fire Authority should urgently listen to its firefighters and withdraw the contracts immediately read more
NEU
Twelve teachers quit Thomas Bennett – four days of strikes to come – Twelve teachers and a number of support staff have resigned from Thomas Bennett Community College since Easter. The figure was confirmed by The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) just as the National Education Union (NEU) announced four days of strike action over job cuts. Teachers and support staff from the school, in Tilgate, will strike on Thursday June 21, Tuesday June 26, Wednesday June 27 and Thursday June 28 read more at Crawley Observer
Fair pay for London teachers: all London reps briefing – Saturday 30 June 10.30am-1pm at NEU, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD
BFAWU
Support the McDonalds strikers who took their 2nd day of action on May 1st – Keep sending solidarity to the BFAWU, post cheques to BFAWU, Stanborough House, Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7TA and donate to the strike fund. Also help the fund by buying a #McStrike t-shirt. More info on the Fast Food Rights/Hungry for Justice website
UCU
Strikes off as agreement reached over job cuts at Hull College Group (15 June) – Strike action at the Hull College Group, due to begin on Monday (18 June), has been suspended following positive talks between the college management and UCU over planned job cuts. The two sides have issued a joint statement* today (Friday) which commits to continued joint working with a view to avoiding any compulsory redundancies as part of the restructure. Members of UCU had planned to walk out for seven days in the next two weeks, having already taken three days of strike action in May as part of the dispute over job cuts read more
UCU members start new wave of FE strikes over pay and jobs – read here for information about strikes at Hull, Tower Hamlets College, Hackney Community College, Epping Forest College, Lambeth College, Lewisham Southwark College, City and Islington College (CCG), College of Haringey Enfield and North East London (CCG), Westminster Kingsway College (CCG) and Havering College
Unison, GMB, Unite East Dunbartonshire
Unions serve notice of strike action on East Dunbartonshire council – Unions have served formal notice on East Dunbartonshire Council and its offshoot East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust of four days of strike action over proposed cuts to workers’ terms and conditions. UNISON members will take strike action on 21, 22, 25 and 26 June. UNISON has also served notice that from 2 July, its members will be involved in action short of strike action…Unite and GMB have also served notice of strike action on East Dunbartonshire Council on the same days read more on Unison Scotland website There will be a lobby of the council from 5pm on 21st June – there is a full Council meeting that evening at 6pm
Unison
UNISON members fighting for justice (18 June) – Glasgow janitors and Birmingham social workers applauded as they tell local government conference of their campaigns read more
Massive yes vote for strike action in Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust! (12 June) – Below is the result from our strike ballot against the Wholly Owned Subsidiary. We have achieved the 50%+ required for legal strike action and with an overwhelming majority of 97.4% voting yes. UNISON Regional office has notified Mid Yorkshire Trusts Chief Executive Martin Barkley of the result. A meeting is taking place at 4pm this afternoon to discuss the WOS. The message to the Trust Board cannot be clearer – we are 100% NHS
North West hospital workers second strike over outsourcing – Hospital workers in Wigan, Leigh and Wrightington, in north-west England, mounted picket lines again on Friday 8 June at the start of their second 48-hour strike. They first took action against the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS trust’s plans to transfer their jobs to a wholly owned private company, WWL Solutions, on 23 and 24 May read more
Support Hull recycling workers striking for sick pay – Branch appeals for donations to hardship fund. Recycling workers working for FCC Environment in Hull have been striking for decent pay sick pay, and are asking for donations to their hardship fund. Please send messages of solidarity and financial support to the Wilmington Strikers c/o Adrian Kennett Hull City UNISON 39, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AG. Please make cheques payable to UNISON Hull City Branch read more
GMB
NWAS Paramedics Strike (June 18) – GMB north west paramedics strike over long-running pay dispute. Thanks to the pig-headed attitude of NWAS top brass, our members will take strike action on Monday, June 18 says GMB Union. GMB, the union for ambulance staff, has announced North West Ambulance Service members will strike on Monday over a long-running pay dispute. Ambulance staff across the region will stage a two hour walk out at the beginning of each day shift on June 18, 2018. An earlier ballot of members saw more than 84% of those who responded vote for strike action read more
Reps Meet NHS Staff After Pay Deal Rejected (June 15) – GMB reps meet NHS staff to plan next steps after pay offer REJECTED. Hard working and loyal staff, who endured almost a decade of pay freezes and caps, would be rewarded with a further three years real terms pay cuts, says GMB union. GMB, the union for NHS staff, held a crunch meeting today after members overwhelmingly voted to reject Jeremy Hunt’s NHS pay offer. Last week, 87% of GMB members in the NHS voted to reject the pay offer. The offer would see more than half of NHS staff at the top of their pay band receive only a 6.5% uplift over next 3 years read more
BECTU
Support the Picturehouse workers who have recently taken more action – BECTU members at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton and 4 other Picturehouse venues in East Dulwich, Central (Shaftesbury Avenue), Hackney and Crouch End renewed their official strike mandates earlier this month. This second phase of the now historic dispute over the Living Wage started in September 2016 after the employer reneged on a previous agreement to pay the Living Wage at the Ritzy and refused to negotiate on the union’s pay and conditions claim. Since September 2016 more sites have joined the campaign to appeal to the company, which trades on a progressive image, to pay the Living Wage and to recognise BECTU for collective bargaining. Read the latest on Brixton Ritzy Facebook Page and those of Hackney, Crouch End, Central, Dulwich East and Duke of York Brighton
Donate to the Picturehouse Cinema strike fund: https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/250/picturehousestrike
IWGB
High Court judge overturns previous decision and grants IWGB permission to proceed with Deliveroo challenge (June 15) – High Court Judge confirms that IWGB have an arguable human rights case against Deliveroo. IWGB to continue challenge to Deliveroo at Judicial Review read more
United Voices of the World
Cleaners at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have just notified the contractor OCS and the MoJ of their intention to ballot for strike action. This will be the first cleaner’s strike in the history of the MoJ and yet another example low paid of migrant workers taking the fight to the bosses! (see photo of ballot paper). Please support the cleaners in their fight to end Injustice at the Ministry of Justice! Here is an EDM in support of the cleaners signed by 20 MPS read more on www.facebook.com/uvwunion
Other news
March for the NHS on its 70th anniversary: Free, for all, forever – #OurNHS70 – Saturday June 30th assemble 12pm Portland Place, London W1A. See www.healthcampaignstogether.com for more details of this and other events, including in Wales and Belfast
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Sign the Lush petition to Home Secretary Sajid Javid: Support victims of police spying get access to justice
The spycops story has gone mainstream after there was uproar in the press over the window display in the Lush stores. The Blacklist Support Group would like to place on record our solidarity with the High Street cosmetics retailers, Lush. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are highlighting the abhorrent practice of spycops committing human rights abuses whist infiltrating perfectly legal democratic political campaigns. The Blacklist Support Group is one of the campaigns that has been targeted by the spycops.
Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt
Book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
International
Spain: Former Students Union leader faces 3-year jail threat for aiding immigrant under police attack read more
Diary
2018
June
30 NHS 70th anniversary rallies in London, Belfast
July
7 National Shop Stewards Network 2018 Annual Conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London
September
9 NSSN TUC Rally in Manchester
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
