This year’s National Shop Stewards Network Conference is on Saturday July 6th in London. It is open to everyone in the labour and trade union and anti-cuts movements.
Come and take part in the biggest annual gathering of rank and file trade unionists. Hear from some of the biggest union struggles such as the victorious Glasgow Equal Pay strikers and the Birmingham Bins and Homecare Workers as well as the Swindon Honda shop stewards, fighting to save their plant from closure. There will also be militant union leaders addressing conference.
This is a vital time for trade unionists with the Tories hanging by a thread and the need for a general election to get them out never greater. There are both challenges and victories in our movement that will be discussed at our conference. We start this week’s bulletin with the catastrophic threat to thousands of steelworkers, who we give our full support and solidarity to and we echo the call for British Steel to be nationalised to save jobs and communities. But the U-turn by the government over probation privatisation shows that workers can win.
2019 NSSN Conference – 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL – Saturday July 6th. Attendance fee £6. Pay on the day or you can send us a cheque: make out to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. You can register in advance by emailing [email protected]
Please use this letter in your union and trades council to help us finance the conference and affiliate to the NSSN Facebook event
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’, 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
Unite
Bring British Steel into public ownership to avoid an industrial catastrophe, demands Unite (22 May) – The government must bring British Steel into public ownership to avoid an economic and industrial catastrophe the UK and Ireland’s largest union, Unite said today (Wednesday 22 May) after it emerged the steelmaker is going into official receivership. Commenting Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “Despite today’s announcement to place British Steel into official receivership, Unite will continue to engage all parties in the fight to secure the future of the company. “We are clear that the government must now step up and step in and bring British Steel into public ownership until a buyer can be found to avoid an economic and industrial catastrophe…” read more
RMT calls for nationalisation of British Steel
Community response to British Steel insolvency news
GMB: British Steel collapse devastating for UK workers & industry
NAPO
Victory! Napo welcomes Government U-turn on Probation (17 May) – Napo, the trade union and professional association for probation staff is today celebrating a major turning point in its campaign to restore Probation to public sector ownership as the Secretary of State for Justice David Gauke, announces a fundamental change in government policy. The statement by the Minister confirms a decision that will result in the eventual transfer of around 80% of probation work from that currently undertaken by the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCS) to the National Probation Service. The current CRC contracts with the Ministry of Justice are due to be terminated in December 2020 read more
Union News
More Unite
Support the Swindon Honda workers – watch video of the March 30th demonstration against the planned closure of the plant
Manchester Metrolink workers to strike for four days in June over pay (23 May) – More than 200 workers on Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram and light railway system will strike over four days in early June in a dispute over pay, Unite said today (Thursday 23 May). The workers, who cover three different groups – customer support who check tickets, engineering and business support – will strike from 21:00 on Friday 7 June until 05:59 on Monday 10 June. They have voted by 96 per cent for strike action read more
Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Midlands pub goers face a thirsty summer, if delivery drivers go on strike, warns Unite (23 May) – Pub and club goers in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the north Midlands could go thirsty this summer if a dispute over drivers being ask to deliver ‘unmanageable loads’ escalates to strike action, Unite warned today (Thursday 23 May). About 100 drivers and their mates employed by drink logistics company Tradeteam Ltd at depots in Immingham, Lincolnshire and Tinsley, Sheffield will be balloted for strike action from Wednesday 29 May. The ballot closes on Wednesday 12 June read more
Sellafield Mitie workers being victimised as new strikes announced (23 May) – Members of Unite employed by troubled outsourcer Mitie, on the Sellafield contract, are experiencing victimisation as a result of undertaking legal industrial action. The shocking revelations coincide with Unite announcing a further escalation in the dispute. The 180 workers employed on Sellafield’s ‘soft services’ contract (catering, cleaning, security, laundry and environmental roles) are currently in their third period of strike action, over low pay. The workers are paid just £8.21 an hour. When the workers returned from taking lawful industrial action earlier this month, Mitie subjected them to an ‘audit’ to check if standards were being achieved. Workers whose facilities fell below the required standard were placed on a performance improvement plan. Unite believes this amounts to victimisation for undertaking trade union activities as standards are unlikely to have been achieved due to the previous industrial action read more
Thurrock warehouse workers to strike on 5 June over erosion of pay and employment conditions (23 May) – Warehouse workers at DHL Services in West Thurrock, Essex have voted to strike on 5 June over the prospect of a serious deterioration in employment conditions when they are transferred to a new company next month. The 51 workers, members of Unite have voted unanimously for the 24-hour strike action, starting at 00.01, as they face poorer working conditions when the contract is taken over by NFT Distribution on 6 June. The dispute has a number of elements: no union recognition with NFT Distribution; different shift patterns; increased travelling time to the new Tilbury site eight miles away; poorer pension provisions; and failure to guarantee pay, terms and conditions for the rest of the contract read more
North West facing crisp famine as Warrington based Eddie Stobart drivers on Walkers crisps contract announce strikes (21 May) – Supermarkets, pubs and corner shops in the North West of England are facing a crisp famine as members of Unite employed as lorry drivers by Eddie Stobart in Warrington on the Walkers Crisp contract have announced strike action. The dispute is a result of the Unite members being transferred from Walkers Snack Foods to Eddie Stobart last year under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations. Since the transfer Stobart’s management has refused to honour the existing industrial agreement that protects workers’ pay and conditions. Due to the management’s refusal to engage with Unite, workers had no option but to ballot for strike action in order to protect their rights. On a turnout of 95.2 per cent, workers recorded a 100 per cent yes vote for strike action. Following the ballot result, Eddie Stobart has continued to refuse to engage with Unite. As a result, Unite has announced two periods of strikes, the first will begin on Friday 31 May until Tuesday 4 June and the second is from Friday 7 June until Tuesday 11 June. There will also be an overtime ban in place on Thursday 30 May, Wednesday 5 June, Thursday 6 June and Wednesday 12 June read more
More strikes planned against ‘heavy–handed’ management at Luton Airport (20 May) – Security guards employed by London Luton Airport will step-up their campaign against ‘heavy-handed’ shift changes with 12 consecutive days of strike action, including the bank holiday weekend. The security guards responsible for searches, baggage checks and general security across the airport will strike for 12 days from Thursday 23 May at 04:30 until Monday 3 June at 20:59. London Luton Airport is attempting to push through a new shift pattern affecting around 120 security guards which forces them to work an extra 15 days a year and will only get nine free weekends a year read more
Workers at Liverpool plastics firm to strike over sacked union rep (17 May) – Workers at Colloids Limited, a global manufacturing company of plastic concentrates (masterbatch) for use in industries such as automotive, aerospace and construction, in Kirkby Liverpool are taking strike action next week in a row over the sacking of a colleague. The action comes after the dismissal of Unite union representative George Gore who was unfairly dismissed on Friday 8 February for an alleged breach of health and safety. The 36 process operator workers, members of Unite will take part in continuous strike action commencing at 07:01 on Monday 20 May read more
Hundreds of workers at Elton glass manufacturer set to take four weeks of strike action over pay (16 May) – Over 400 staff working for Encirc Limited in Elton Cheshire, which makes glass and bottle products for some of the world’s leading brands, have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action after rejecting a below inflation pay offer by the company. The workers, members of Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, voted by 95 per cent in favour of strike action and 96 per cent for industrial action short of strike. The first week’s strike will run from 12 to 15 June and then will be followed by three weeks of action. The dates are 19 to 22 June, 26 to 29 June and 3 to 6 July. An overtime ban will be in place throughout this period read more
Strike threat by Unite into ‘missing’ XPO workers’ pension contributions (16 May) – The possibility of strike action into why the pension contributions of some XPO Logistics UK employees are not being credited to their pension ‘pots’ has been threatened by Unite. Unite national officer for road transport and logistics Matt Draper repeatedly tried to get iron-clad guarantees at the XPO annual meeting in New York this week that this won’t occur again, but to no avail read more
Woolwich Ferry staff strike for 10 days in Groundhog Day safety dispute, says Unite – Workers, who operate the Woolwich Ferry used by an estimated 2.6 million passengers a year, are to strike for 10 days in a dispute over pay, health & safety, and lack of staffing. The 31 workers, members of Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, who are employed by Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd, voted unanimously for strike action. The 24 hour strike dates are: 17, 20, 24, 28, and 31 May. This will be followed by five days in June on 3, 7, 10, 14 and 17 June. All stoppages will start at 00:01. The key issues in the dispute are the refusal to grant a six per cent pay increase for the year starting January 2019; the imposition of new duties; failure to deal with safety concerns; and lack of an adequate number of staff to operate the service. Two years ago, there was an acrimonious and long-running dispute at the ferry with the same employer, which runs the service on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), over a bullying culture and health & safety issues. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The travelling public, who use the ferry, may well think Groundhog Day has arrived with yet another dispute with the management at Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd…” read more Join the workers’ strike protest today Friday May 25th outside London City Hall near London Bridge from 12noon
Support the strike at Angus council – the strike action includes a ban on overtime and work to rule, will take place from April until late June 2019. The first days of industrial action will take place from 00:01 hours on 8 April 2019 concluding at 23:59 hours on 12th April 2019. A series of 48 hour stoppages will commence at 00:01 hours on:
- 6, 13, 20, 27 May 2019
- 3, 10, 17, 24 June 2019 read more
RMT
RMT to ballot for action on Caledonian Sleeper (24 May) – RAIL UNION RMT said today that is making immediate preparations for a ballot of members on the Caledonian Sleeper services following the chaotic introduction of new rolling stock and its impact on staff members read more
Buses must be taken back into public ownership (22 May) – RMT responds to Transport Select Committee Report highlighting decline in the Bus Industry. The entire bus network must be taken into public ownership, transport union RMT has said in response to the Transport Select Committees report highlighting the continuing decline in the bus industry. In a survey of RMT bus members 85% believed that bus services should be publicly owned. The union also said the MPs concerns about dangerously long driving hours in the bus industry supported the RMT campaign to drive down bus drivers’ hours with no loss of pay read more
RMT wins inflation busting two year pay deal and job security on Network Rail (21 May) – RAIL UNION RMT has secured an inflation busting two year pay deal and job security on Network Rail. The union is writing to the company to formally accept the deal. Last year Transport Minister Chris Grayling, suggested pay increases for workers should be tethered to the lower consumer price index (CPI), rather than the current retail price index (RPI) read more
Unison
Bradford hospital workers balloted over strike action to fight ‘backdoor privatisation’ (20 May) – Staff at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will vote on whether to take industrial action after the announcement of the privatisation of some of its services. The UNISON ballot opens today (Monday) and comes after the Trust said hospital staff, including porters and domestic assistants, will be outsourced to a separate company to cut costs by exploiting a tax loophole. The transfer will strip them of the protections they have as NHS employees and is a form of backdoor privatisation, says UNISON read more
More hospital staff in Liverpool set to take action over unfair pay (17 May) – Staff at Royal and Broad Green hospitals to take action following success at Liverpool’s Women’s Hospital and the Walton Centre. Staff employed by the multinational outsourcing company ISS at Liverpool Royal and Broad Green hospitals are planning to take strike action from Thursday 30 May. The staff work as catering, cleaning and portering staff and most are paid only the minimum wage rate of £8.21 an hour. The lowest rate for NHS staff is £9.03 an hour and the difference of 82p an hour is worth some £1,600 a year for full-time staff. UNISON members will be among the estimated 500 union members taking strike action later this month. In a strike ballot, 98% of UNISON members voted in favour of taking strike action. If necessary, further strikes and overtime bans will take place throughout June read more
Birmingham care workers celebrate momentous victory (15 May) – Long-running strike looks to be over. UNISON members are celebrating today (Wednesday) after claiming victory in a dispute with Birmingham City Council over plans to make ‘indefensible’ cuts to the hours of low paid care staff. The union has been at loggerheads with the local authority since July 2017 when councillors announced plans to make around £2 million of savings by slashing the hours of care staff working for its enablement service. Over 200 low-paid care workers, 96% of whom are women, would have lost up to £11,000 a year as a result of the cuts, says UNISON. It has taken 82 days of strike action, over an almost two-year period, for the council to finally reverse its damaging plans. This is believed to be the longest dispute in West Midlands history read more
PCS
Outsourced Westminster workers take third day of strike action (23 May) – Caterers and cleaners from BEIS HQ in Westminster today took the third of their current four days of strike action. The PCS members, who work on cleaning, kitchen and security contracts for Aramark and ISS respectively at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, took their first day of strike action on Tuesday (21). The strikers are demanding the London Living Wage of £10.55 an hour and the end of the pay cycle chaos created by the change of contract from Engie to ISS, which has left many members without pay. Today’s strike was very well supported and the picket line was lively with music and salsa dancing. There were speeches by striking PCS members and solidarity was brought from other trade unions. A number of the strikers attended PCS’s national conference yesterday where, alongside striking outsourced workers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, they received a standing ovation. The strikers also attended a packed fringe meeting where general secretary Mark Serwotka sent solidarity on behalf of the whole union.
What you can do –
You can support the workers on social media using the hashtags: #LivingWage #PCSstrike
Please donate to the strike fund and send messages of support to [email protected]
Universal Credit staff to stage further walk-outs (23 May) – PCS members in the UC Service Centres in Walsall and Wolverhampton will take two more days strike action on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 May, in their campaign for more staff and improved working conditions. Despite two well supported days of action in March, which had a knock-on effect across the whole UC network, the DWP has refused to meet the demands of members. A recent announcement that Wolverhampton will become a national telephony site has further inflamed the situation. DWP management have also refused PCS’s request to make staff on fixed term appointments permanent, review the decision on Wolverhampton and properly engage with PCS about improving the staffing situation in Universal Credit. The 5 key demands from PCS members working in UC are:
- 5,000 new staff, permanency for fixed term staff
- Limit the number of phone calls per case manager
- Limit the size of the national telephony hub
- Improve consultation
- A quality-focused approach – no more management by statistics.
PCS has held members’ meetings in other UC Service Centres, and members in affected Jobcentres are also being consulted read more
Ealing members’ fury over ‘early closure’ announcement (23 May) – PCS members working in the HMRC office in International House, Ealing, reacted with fury at today’s announcement by management that the planned closure of their office is being brought forward to June 2020. PCS had already strongly advised management against making any substantive announcement, given that the promised talks with PCS have yet to begin. Although management did amend their central message, to confirm that the announcement of the closure was ‘without prejudice to the talks which will take place with the union’, the decision to bring forward the closure of International House has been seen by members as, at best, open provocation; and at worst, a cynical attempt at retribution against members who have taken strike action to fight for their jobs. Management intend to start holding 1:1 meetings with staff four weeks from now. In these 1:1s, members will effectively be asked whether they will be able to transfer to a site that won’t be open by the time their office closes, using a transport link that not only doesn’t exist now, but isn’t expected by MPs to be open by the time their office closes. PCS remains committed to negotiating in good faith, to try to reach a resolution that is satisfactory to both sides, and we will enter the forthcoming talks in this spirit. However, members have made it clear that the department’s current approach will only invite the most robust response from members read more
Great start to latest PCS Interserve FCO strike (21 May) – There has been a great start to the latest 2-day strike by PCS members working for contractor Interserve at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with a 100% of workers taking action and about 25 people on the picket line. A number of PCS reps came to show their solidarity from the FCO, DWP and HMRC to our members who are striking over the company’s refusal to negotiate on redundancies, contractual changes to pay dates, and attacks on holiday pay and sick pay. There was also a lot of support today from FCO civil servants. The 2-day strike follows a previous, well-supported 2-day strike on 1 and 2 May. It is estimated that it cost Interserve £10,000 to partially cover the essential duties of the striking workers who provide services including facilities management, print room, porterage and cleaning, held at the start of the month read more
FBU
Firefighters prepared for industrial action in role-expansion dispute (17 May) – Firefighters have threatened to withdraw from all non-contractual work, as tensions heat up between the union and employers. Fire Brigades Union (FBU) members voted to prepare for industrial action, as firefighters gather in Blackpool for their union’s annual conference. Union leaders will re-enter pay negotiations with a serious threat at their disposal, after firefighters voted overwhelmingly to prepare for industrial action. All work outside of a firefighter’s core role, such as water rescues and aerial drone operation, could be withdrawn read more
UCU
Strikes suspended as Winchester University rules out compulsory job cuts (23 May) – Five days of strikes due to start on 28 May at Winchester University have been suspended after the university agreed to rule out compulsory job losses. UCU members were due to walk out on Tuesday 28 May, Wednesday 29 May, Monday 3 June, Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June. Staff were also going to start “action short of a strike” from Thursday 30 May. This would have involved strictly working to contract, not covering for absences and boycotting open days. Both the strikes and action short of a strike have been suspended read more
More strikes at West Thames College after college fails to improve deal (14 May) – Staff at West Thames College will walk out for another two days on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May after the college failed to make an improved pay offer. In the absence of an improved offer, UCU members voted to continue their action and will be on picket lines from 8am both mornings outside the London Road entrances to the college’s Isleworth campus. The latest walkouts by West Thames College staff will represent the eighth and ninth days of strike action by UCU members there this year. They walked out for two days last week, following action in January and March. In the recent ballot, 100% of UCU members at West Thames College who voted backed strike action read more
EIS
Strong Support Continues for College Industrial Action – Following two successful days of strike action this week, the EIS-FELA Executive has called on Colleges Scotland to return to the negotiating table with a view to ending the long running pay dispute in the college sector. The EIS confirmed that its action short of strike (ASOS), including the “results withholding”, would continue until an agreement was reached. In a new development, the EIS is to consider targeting particular colleges for future strike action, if that is required read more
CWU
Birmingham Royal Mail strike ballot (May 21) – Strike action could be on the way in the Birmingham area over the sacking of a postman with medically diagnosed anxiety and depression. The man, who works at the city’s Shirley Delivery Office, was dismissed in February after accumulated absences from these conditions ‘triggered’ an official company limit. However, according to the 2010 Equality Act, absences from work caused by chronic and ongoing medically diagnosed conditions should not count towards disciplinary procedures. His fellow workers at the unit protested immediately, but a strike was temporarily averted when the management promised the CWU that they would allow an appeal against the penalty read more
Solidarity achieves Isle of Man agreement (May 15) – “Strong collective action and solidarity from the whole union” are the key factors that have achieved a negotiated agreement to the protracted dispute involving over 200 Isle of Man members, reports deputy general secretary postal Terry Pullinger. By an 89 per cent majority, Manx members voted to accept a two-year consolidated pay deal – fully backdated to April 2018 – protection of existing voluntary redundancy protections and mutually agreed ‘buyouts’ involving significant lump sums in terms of allowances and leave accrual read more
GMB
‘Woeful’ university pay offer should be rejected (23 May) – GMB, the universities union, is urging members to reject a ’woeful’ deal which will see thousands hit with a real terms pay cut. The offer from university employers is just 1.8% – lower than the current CPI rate of 2.1%. It also allows universities to defer any increase for almost a year on grounds of financial difficulty. Meanwhile university bosses enjoyed pay rises of 3.5% – with some now trousering a whopping £500,000 a year. This woeful offer should be rejected by GMB members read more
BECTU
Read the latest about the Picturehouse dispute 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
NUJ
NUJ concerned by misleading DWP newspaper ads (22 May) – NUJ delegates at the TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference in Bournemouth have condemned the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for running a misleading PR campaign about Universal Credit. The NUJ also sent a message of solidarity and support to members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). The DWP campaign includes unbranded wraparound advertorials and features that promote Universal Credit but they are not clearly labelled as paid adverts and advertorial information. The first tranche of features appeared in some Metro newspapers today, as the UN Rapporteur’s report on Poverty in the UK is released read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Lloyds Pharmacy members win more major concessions (20 May) – Today Lloyds Pharmacy announced more major concessions on a number of your specific Union demands. This is a positive step forward and will make a significant difference in the lives of all Lloyds members. It should be no surprise that the company’s concessions announced today come right on the heels of a Labour Court recommendation issued just last Friday in which the Court recommended that Lloyds Pharmacy recognise your Union read more
IWGB
NHS medical couriers to go on strike on 23 and 24 May over pay cuts (16 May) – Couriers working for NHS contractor TDL are striking after over a decade of stagnating pay and two rounds of paycuts in 2015 and 2017. Couriers deliver emergency blood and pathology samples to a number of NHS hospitals in London and the South East. TDL has given massive pay increases to its top executives, as well as £ 60m in dividend payments to its investors. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents the vast majority of the over 100 couriers working at the pathology services provider The Doctors Laboratory (TDL), is demanding that the company reverse pay cuts implemented in 2015 and 2017, cover the couriers’ costs and implement pay increases to make up for the number of years in which these workers have had their rights denied read more
Other news
The NSSN sends solidarity all those taking part in today’s global school student strike against climate change. For information about protests and to follow today’s events, follow these hashtags on twitter – #ClimateStrike #GreenNewDeal #ClimateGeneralStrike #SchoolStrike4Climate #ActOnClimate. #FridaysForFuture
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)
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
Nigeria: Action needed to free Abiodun Bamigboye! – Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye is a leading member of Democratic Socialist Movement and acting National Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN). He was also the Oyo state governorship candidate of the SPN during the last general elections. He was arrested by the police operatives the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the party office in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, and currently at Iyakangu police station Ibadan for interrogation and possible detention.
He was also the governorship candidate of the SPN during the last general election. Today he was arrested at the party office in Ibadan by the police – operatives the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). At the time of writing he is currently being held at Iyakangu police station in Ibadan for interrogation and possible detention.
While it is not yet formally clear is the reason for the arrest. The comrade who was with him understands that it is in connection with the intervention of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) in the plight and struggle of casual workers at Summal Food Ibadan (see article below).
Abbey is also Oyo State Coordinator of the CDWR – the pro-labour platform of the DSM.
The struggle of the workers broke out in October 2018 over poor pay and conditions, and Abbey, together with other DSM comrades, gave crucial solidarity support which helped win some concessions.
It should be recalled that this is second time Abbey has been arrested by security operatives over the Summal workers’ struggle. He was similarly arrested and detained by the Department of State Service (DSS) – Nigeria’s secret police – in Ibadan.on January 21 this year.
We call for solidarity actions to demand his immediate and unconditional release. Please help by calling and sending messages to the following phone numbers and e-mail address to demand the immediate release of Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky):
(1) Frank MBA (Police PPRO, Force Headquarters): ++234 8038375844
(2) DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle (Police PRO, Oyo State Command): ++234 8036536581.
E-mail: [email protected]
(3) DPO Iyaganku: ++234 8060681112.
(4) Shina Olukolu, Oyo State Commissioner of Police: ++234 234 8038467592
Algeria: Release Louisa Hanoune
Dear comrades
You may have heard that Louisa Hanoune, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Algeria, was jailed on Thursday.
An international campaign has been launched calling for the immediate release of Louisa Hanoune. A committee for her release gathering different political organisations, trade unions, associations, journalists, lawyers, artists etc was created on Saturday in Algeria. A delegation was sent to the military prison in Blida to see Louisa Hanoune. Twice, they were refused access to the prisoner until yesterday.
Find attached 2 statements of the Workers’ Party of Algeria, a statement by the Algerian League for Human Rights, and the statement of the ILC (EIT).
Trade Unions have already expressed their support and publicly endorse the call for her immediate release, it includes the CUT of Brazil, the UGTG of Guadeloupe, several Trade union confederations in Africa.
The trade union movement has a long and proud record of struggle for democracy and free speech. I urge you to support this campaign.
Please endorse the call of her release and make it known around you. You can sign it here : https://forms.gle/V4HZCTQLG64KeLtA6
In addition of your individual support, official solidarity statements from national trade unions would be of course very much appreciated. So please consider, passing motions in your trade unions.
In solidarity
Benoit Lahouze for Labour News
Call for the release of Louisa Hanoune
We learnt about the committal order and the incarceration of Louisa Hanoune, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Algeria, by the military court of Blida, on May 9th. She had gone to a simple summons of an examining magistrate to be heard as a witness.
We do not understand this arbitrary arrest that gives rise to legitimate emotion.
Louisa Hanoune has been known everywhere and for years for her stance and her uncompromising fight in defence of democracy, freedoms, women’s rights and always on the side of the people and the oppressed.
Whether one agrees with her political positions or not, nothing can justify her detention.
We demand her immediate release.
Diary
2019
July
6 NSSN Conference Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
13 Durham Miners Gala https://www.durhamminers.org/gala
19-21 Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival
September
8 NSSN TUC Rally Brighton
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
