From Rob Williams NSSN Chair:-
“TUC Congress really is taking place at a critical time. The day after it starts, Boris Johnson’s intended suspension of Parliament begins. This undemocratic manoeuvre is clearly to limit time to debate an alternative to a no-deal Brexit.
The labour and trade union movement must put its stamp on these crucial events, otherwise we risk whole sections of workers being won over to this Tory false prophet.
For the 10th year, the National Shop Stewards Network is holding a rally at TUC Congress. We will be calling on the TUC and the unions to name the date for a union-led demonstration against Johnson, demanding a general election to bring in a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour government on a pro-worker, anti-austerity manifesto that builds on the programme he stood on 2 years ago of re-nationalisation, £10 minimum wage and abolition of tuition fees.
This is the best way to cut through the Brexit fog, including the threat of a national unity government. Workers know that you can’t have unity with those like Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and Remainer Tories who dished out brutal cuts in the ConDem coalition. Together they gave us a lost decade of living standards. It’s the union movement that must stand and fight together against Boris and all the Tories, on both sides of the Brexit debate. In or out, they will act in the interests of big business.
Come to the NSSN TUC Rally – march together and if necessary strike together to get rid of all the Tories.”
Come to 2019 NSSN TUC Rally Brighton Sunday September 8th – 1pm in the Holiday Inn Kings Rd, BN1 2JF. All welcome
- Boris out! Fight together for a General Election to get all the Tories out
- TUC and the unions – name the date for a union-led demonstration against Johnson
- Support the strikes
- Why unions should support the September 20th climate strike
This year’s TUC Congress in Brighton takes place in the aftermath of the Tory leadership contest. It’s already clear that Boris Johnson will act in the interests of big business not workers and their families. We need to mobilise for a general election that can oust this weak and divided government. Workers are showing on a daily basis in the increasing number of disputes that they are prepared to fight, particularly if a lead is given.
TUC Congress must be a council of war to set out a strategy of collective action across the labour and trade union movement to resist the bosses’ offensive and force out their Tory government.
Also, just 12 days after TUC Congress starts, there will be the September 20th global climate strike. Unions need to relate to this movement on a programme of public ownership to re-tool industry for green jobs without loss of employment, pay and pensions.
The annual public NSSN Rally on Sunday September 8th will as usual be held just before the start of TUC Congress. It is open to TUC delegates but also anyone involved in the trade union, anti-cuts and climate change movements. Come and hear leaders of militant unions alongside union reps and members involved in some of the increasing number of industrial disputes.
Confirmed speakers so far: Len McCluskey Unite General Secretary, Amy Murphy USDAW President, Dave Ward CWU General Secretary, Ronnie Draper BFAWU General Secretary, Mick Cash RMT General Secretary, Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Fran Heathcote PCS President, Linda Taaffe NSSN Secretary, Rob Williams NSSN Chair plus union reps leading disputes and climate change activists YouthStrike4ClimateGuildford and Extimction Rebellion
Stop Boris Johnson – General Election Now! (hosted by The People’s Assembly Against Austerity) 6pm Tuesday 3rd September Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3 Facebook event
Support these indefinite industrial actions:-
Unite and GMB
Support the Harland & Wolff occupation – renationalise to #SaveOurShipyard! The NSSN gives our full solidarity and support to the workers in the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, in Unite and the GMB, who have gone into occupation to fight to secure their future. We support their call to re-nationalise the shipyard to save jobs. 10 years ago, Belfast Visteon workers occupied their plant when the company went into administration. They fought for their jobs alongside their brothers and sisters in Enfield and Basildon but won enhanced redundancy when facing mere statutory terms. In 1971, workers in Upper Clydeside Shipbuilders in Glasgow undertook a working occupation, supported by a demonstration of 80,000 trade unionists and forced a Tory government to intervene to keep the yards open.
Follow #SaveOurShipyard on social media and send messages of support via twitter to @UniteunionNI and @GMBNI
Harland and Wolff deal set to safeguard jobs at historic shipyard
Unite
Bromley library workers to lobby council on September 3rd – Unite the Union members working in Bromley Libraries have been at the forefront in defending the service. We stopped the Council handing the service over to failed privatisers Carillion. We stopped the Council replacing professional staff with unpaid, untrained volunteers. We pointed out what would happen if the Council ignored its own consultation exercise (where over 80% opposed the proposal) and handed the service over to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). Our predictions very quickly became true when last year we had to take strike action to ensure that libraries had adequate staffing. Now GLL are again attacking the library service by again refusing to fill vacant posts. They expect workers to provide an improved service with fewer staff. This is the reality. Both Bromley Council and GLL have misled the public. GLL claimed that they can provide an even better service for 25% less cost. They refused to say how – claiming commercial confidentiality. Bromley Council said that there would be no loss of professional staff – yet there are now so many vacancies that managers are running form library to library just to keep them open. On 3rd September the Council will be discussing how GLL have performed. Unite will be demonstrating outside the meeting. The demonstration will be led by Unite members who have been on strike since 6th June in defence of the Library Service.
JOIN US AT THE DEMONSTRATION – MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL AND GLL GET THE MESSAGE. WE WILL FIGHT ON, WE WILL DEFEND OUR LIBRARIES, WE WILL WIN!!
6pm Tuesday 3rd September, Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, BR1 3UH
Sign the petition to defend Bromley Library Service Call and support the indefinite strike. Please send messages of support and any financial assistance via Unite regional officer Onay Kasab [email protected]
Pharmacy support workers to strike amid ‘interference’ by health minister – Pharmacy support workers at NHS Tayside will take continuous strike action commencing Monday 19 August amid claims of ‘interference’ by the cabinet secretary for health and sport, Jeane Freeman MSP. The dispute relates to a flawed job evaluation process which Unite believes has led to a number of grading issues leaving pharmacy support Workers being paid at a lower grade than they should be. NHS Tayside admitted that the job evaluation process was not followed through to its rightful conclusion and Unite’s members were not given a right of appeal. A previous ballot of pharmacy support workers held in June resulted in a 90 per cent turnout with 100 per cent indicating support for industrial action including strike action read more
PCS
Dispute at BEIS over London Living Wage steps up (2 Sept) – Today marked a significant escalation in the dispute as security guards, porters and reception staff joined cleaners and caterers working for outsourcing companies ISS and Aramark, on strike since 15 July. Today receptionists, security guards, porters and post room staff employed at BEIS by ISS and Aramark, started two weeks of action from 2 to 13 September. The cleaners and caterers have been on indefinite strike since 15 July. From the week beginning 30 September, workers will take rolling strike action which will take the form of one week on strike and one week off. Today the usual vibrant and noisy picket line outside BEIS headquarters at 1 Victoria Street was swollen significantly by the new strikers. The picket cheered and sounded vuvuzelas when speakers demanded that Prime Minister Boris Johnson put his money where his mouth is and ensure that these workers are paid a decent wage BEIS receptionists, working for ISS have voted 100% to strike and will be taking action for 5 weeks in September read more
A BEIS striker will be speaking at the NSSN TUC Rally
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]
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
Union News
More PCS
Show support for DVSA IT strikers (29 Aug) – As the first week of the month-long PCS DVSA IT strike comes to an end we publish some of the messages of support the strikers have had from fellow trade unionists and urge more supporters to get in touch. Members are angry about attacks on their terms and conditions including flexible working and a lack of consultation from management. The strike will affect maintenance of IT systems, which are used to book and allocate tests, incident management and training of new staff. The walkout represents the beginning of a rolling programme of action by staff across the DVSA, which could cause massive disruption to the service read more Visit the picket line which will be held every day (except bank holiday Monday) outside The Axis Building, Nottingham from 7am – 9.30/10.00am each day Monday – Friday. Donate to the strike fund online using account number: 20331490, sort code: 608301, quoting the reference “DVSA Strike Fund”
Support the Stockport UC strikers – these workers took action last week. Donate to the PCS Stockport and Tame Valley Branch Hardship Fund: Sort code 60-83-01, account number 20260684. Send messages of support to [email protected] and all will be forwarded on read more
RMT
Get a RMT anti-fascist ‘No Pasaran’ t-shirt – All sizes . £10 per T-shirt including postage . Bulk orders are fine . Email to [email protected] or text 07932 576 955. Payment by bank transfer or cash
RMT justice for Mitie cleaners campaign gains political support as events comes to Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham this week (2 Sept) – Rail Union RMT’s campaign for Justice for Mitie Cleaners has been gaining tremendous support, in just three weeks over 60,000 people have signed RMT’s petition calling for a Real Living Wage for a group of crucial staff who do some of the dirtiest jobs on our railways read more
RMT members standing firm on fourth day of SWR strike action as union demands company enter serious talks (2 Sept) – RAIL UNION RMT said that members on South Western Railway are standing firm in the fight for safety on the fourth and final day of the current phase of industrial action and has demanded that the company gets round the table in serious talks aimed at finding a lasting solution to the long-running dispute read more
RMT announces strike action by Tyne & Wear Metro Skilled Maintainers over lack of parity – Rail union RMT has confirmed members working as Skilled Maintainers for Nexus (Tyne & Wear Metro) will be taking strike action in September. The action has been announced following an overwhelming vote in a ballot in favour of industrial action in pursuance of a fair regrade for skilled maintainers who are calling for parity with technicians who are currently on a higher grade. RMT is instructing all Nexus Skilled Maintainer, Electrical/Mechanical Grade 4 members to NOT BOOK ON FOR SHIFTS THAT COMMENCE BETWEEN:-
- 21:00 hours on Friday 6th September 2019 and 20:59 hours on Sunday 8th September 2019 read more
RMT announces strike action at engineering firm Wabtec Faiveley UK (Rail Doncaster) – RAIL UNION RMT has announced strike action at engineering firm Wabtec Faiveley UK (Rail Doncaster) in a dispute over pay. Wabtec build and maintain rolling stock for train and freight operating companies. Following a strong mandate for action in a recent ballot, the National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided to take action to send Wabtec a clear message that their current stance on pay is totally unacceptable. Members are instructed to take the following strike action by not to booking on for any shifts that commence between:-
- 06:00 hours on Wednesday 4th September 2019 and 05:59 on Wednesday 11th September 2019
- 06:00 hours on Monday 16th September 2019 and 05:59 on Monday 23rd September 2019
Additionally members are instructed to take the following industrial action short of a strike in the form of an overtime ban:-
- 06:00 hours on Wednesday 11th September 2019 until 05:59 on Monday 16th September 2019
- 06:00 on Monday 23rd September 2019 until further notice read more
More Unite
Drax power station strikes called off as agreement reached (2 Sept) – Strikes due to begin at the Drax power station in North Yorkshire this week, which would have caused severe disruption at the site, have been called off following an agreement with the company concerned. The 29 workers, who are members of Unite are employed as scaffolders by Altrad-Hertel. The dispute was a result of Altrad-Hertel refusing to register the workers under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). Unite had announced two 24 hour strikes on Thursday 5 September and Thursday 12 September and then continuous strike action from Wednesday 18 September read more
Strike ballot as Greenwich housing workers face £10,000-a-year productivity axe (2 Sept) – Housing employees working for Greenwich council, who face losing £10,000-a-year when a long-standing productivity agreement is terminated, are being balloted for strike action. Unite said it is balloting its 118 housing maintenance members at the Royal Borough of Greenwich for strike action from Thursday (5 September) over changes to their pay and employment conditions. The ballot closes on Monday 30 September. The council wants to jettison the six-year old productivity scheme from 1 October which will mean the workers losing an estimated £10,000 a year in income when the cost of living is soaring in one of the world’s most expensive capitals. Unite contrasts the salami slicing of its members’ incomes with the thumping £1.5 million spent on consultancy fees relating to the repairs’ service, including those covered by this productivity agreement, over the last six years. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The proposed withdrawal of this six-year-old agreement with only the most cursory consultation with Unite will see our hardworking housing staff members losing out to the tune of £10,000-a-year…” read more
Hertfordshire highway workers vote to strike over axing £12,000-a-year from their pay packets (2 Sept) – Workers repairing roads, replacing traffic bollards and damaged railings for Hertfordshire county council have overwhelmingly voted for strike action over a plan that could see them losing thousands of pounds in pay, Unite announced today (Monday 2 September). The 57 workers, who are employed by Ringway Infrastructure Services, are angry over new ‘sign or be sacked’ contracts which could see some workers losing up to £12,000 per year. They have now voted by 93 per cent for strike action read more
Strike action brewing at Ab-Inbev as workers demand fair share of flowing profits (29 Aug) – Unite members at AB-Inbev set for industrial action. Unite members at the brewery AB-Inbev in Magor have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in their fight to secure fairer terms and conditions. Unless the employer reconsiders its position then a continuous overtime ban will commence from Monday 9 September. Unite is calling for AB-Inbev to reduce the working week of its employees to a level in line with the national average. Further Unite is calling for a fair wage increase equivalent to or greater than the current level of inflation (RPI) read more
Greenwich council bosses to downgrade call-out service for vulnerable residents, warns Unite (29 Aug) – A plan for emergency care workers to start work at 01.30 in the morning to look after some of Greenwich’s most vulnerable residents has been branded as ‘bizarre’ by Unite. Unite is also angry that more than 2,000 vulnerable people will now be visited by only one Telecare Service worker in an emergency, instead of two currently, when the Royal Borough of Greenwich introduces its proposal next Monday (2 September). The seven Telecare Service workers have voted unanimously to strike continuously from 00.01 on Friday 13 September in defence of the service read more
Workers at Heathrow secure inflation beating pay deal (29 Aug) – Potential industrial action at Heathrow has been averted after a multi-year pay deal was agreed by members of Unite employed in baggage handling at the airport. The pay deal covers hundreds of workers employed by Babcock Airports Ltd, comprising five different bargaining units across Heathrow airport and covers a workforce of mechanical and electrical technicians and baggage operational staff. Following eight months of negotiations and extensive talks at the conciliation service Acas, Unite members agreed a two year pay deal which will see a three per cent pay increase in 2019 and 2020. The increase will apply from August and be paid next month read more
Week-long strike by Lincolnshire health visitors, as bosses ‘starve’ them of pay rises (28 Aug) – Lincolnshire health visitors are ratcheting up their campaign for pay justice and maintaining their professional standards by staging a week-long strike next month, Unite announced today (Wednesday 28 August). Unite accused the hardline county council bosses of failing in their public duty by making no constructive efforts to resolve the impasse and of ‘starving’ the health visitors of legitimate pay rises. The dispute centres on Unite’s calculation that its 58 health visitor members have lost more than £2,000 a year since they were transferred from the NHS to Lincolnshire county council in October 2017. The week-long strike will run from Monday 9 September to Friday 13 September inclusively – and will be on the top of the 17 days already taken or scheduled read more
Unison
University of Birmingham branch: A further round of TWO DAYS of strike action will be taken by our branch on the 2nd & 3rd of September – strike rally 12noon on Monday 2nd September in Victoria Square, Birmingham read more
More GMB
Hundreds of steel jobs to go in Newport ‘bombshell’ (2 Sept) – GMB, the steel union, has responded to the ‘bombshell’ announcement that Tata is to cut hundreds of jobs at its Newport steelmaking factory. Ross Murdoch, GMB National Officer, said: “This is a bombshell for the people of Newport and yet another disaster for UK manufacturing. GMB will fight hard for every members’ job in the UK steel industry.” Read more
Support the striking Hull Karro workers – As Karro workers their 8th week of strike action, every Monday, for fair and equal pay. Hull and District Trades Council held a rally yesyerday evening in support of their cause see more on Hull and District Trades Council Facebook group
Please send messages of support to:
[email protected], GMB strike committee
[email protected], GMB official
Cheques to GMB Hull Branch No 7, c/o Shaune Clarkson, Karro Food Strike Committee, GMB Offices, 62 Russell Street, Hull HU2 9AD
FBU
#RescueSuffolkFire demo – 1pm Thursday September 12th Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
NEU
Support strikes at Peacehaven Community School in east Sussex against academisation – Send messages of support to: Phil Clarke 07709696561 [email protected] and Jack Tyler 01444 894500 [email protected] Hands Off Peacehaven Community School Facebook group
UCU
Strike at Tower Hamlets college in row over pay (29 Aug) – Staff at the Tower Hamlets branch of New City College will walk out on strike tomorrow (Friday) in their sixth day of action as part of an ongoing row over pay and conditions. The walkout falls during the college’s enrolment period when prospective students will be attending the campus to register for courses read more
Support sacked Sandwell College lecturer Dave Muritu read more
CWU
CWU Royal Mail strike ballot – union launches national strike ballot in Royal Mail read more
TSSA
More trains cancelled as TSSA Industrial Action enters second weekend (31 Aug) – Seven return trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow have been cancelled today (Saturday) due to the second weekend of TSSA industrial action. One single train from Edinburgh to Glasgow has also been cancelled as well as trains due to run to Millerhill and Haymarket depots. TSSA members in the Driver Team Manager (DTM) grade are working to rule in a dispute over who drives trains read more
TSSA & RMT warn of Strike Action in ScotRail over job cuts in Travel Shops (28 Aug) – TSSA and RMT issued a joint warning today that they are preparing to ballot members for strike over ScotRail plans to cut travel shop staff. The two unions are angry after ScotRail sent them proposals to reduce staff in travel shops at Edinburgh Haymarket, Glasgow Queen Street, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Paisley, Perth, Motherwell and Stirling. 15 jobs will be lost under proposals with more ticket windows closing read more
Prospect
Science Museum Group workers striking today over pay (30 Aug) – Museum workers taking action over pay. Prospect union members in the Science Museum Group (SMG) are taking industrial action over an ongoing pay dispute and will be on strike today (Friday 30 August 2019). The action is taking place after SMG failed to come up with an improved offer after imposing a below-inflation pay rise of 1.5% for most staff earlier this year – the latest in a series of below-inflation pay rises which have left workers across the sector with a 13% real terms pay cut since 2010. Members voted to reject that deal and subsequently voted overwhelmingly for industrial action read more
BALPA
BALPA clarifies position following BA’s claim of talks (29 Aug) – BALPA has corrected BA’s spin that there are talks planned with its pilots’ union to settle the current pay dispute. There are currently NO talks planned. Following BA’s CEO Alex Cruz’s personal promise that he wanted to reach a resolution, BALPA wrote to him welcoming this approach and asked to meet him to hear his proposals. We have not had a response from Mr Cruz. Other BA staff have indicated they will meet but have not confirmed that they will put forward a better offer read more
Ryanair Pilots walk out in strong message to management – Ryanair pilots have downed tools today causing huge cost to the company after Ryanair managers again refused to enter talks to end the long running dispute. Pilots, whose argument is with the company and not passengers, are showing their resolve with the action after Ryanair declined time and again to negotiate on issues within the company which arise from years of non-recognition of unions. The strike comes after Ryanair unsuccessfully attempted to legally bludgeon its workforce by trying to seek an injunction to stop the strike in the High Court. The company then snubbed its staff and appears to have ignored the needs of its passengers by refusing to accept BALPA’s offer to enter constructive negotiations, an action which would have prevented immediate strike action. The pilots have walked out today as a wake-up call to the company. They are calling for a consistent and transparent pay structure, adequate pension provision, loss of licence insurance and more appropriate maternity benefits
BALPA members in Ryanair will be asked to take strike action as follows:
From 0001 on 22nd August until 2359 on 23rd August
And
From 0001 on 2nd September until 2359 on 4th September read more
Other news
TUC Courses for Summer 2019 that are being delivered in Tottenham by the Trade Union Education Department of the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CoNEL).
If you, or any of your colleagues would like to apply for any of the 10 day Certificate courses you can do so online at www.tuceducation.org.uk/login/index.php. If you have any issues applying online, please give us a call on 020 8442 3075 with your email address and we can send you an application form. For the Diploma courses, please contact the Trade Union Education Department directly (details on the Diploma flyers).
It would be appreciated if you could also speak to your branch secretary or other branch officers and reps to promote these courses.
Many thanks colleague.
Kind regards
Mark Andrew
Lecturer
Trade Union Studies
College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
Tel. 020 8442 3097
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
NUJ: Journalists sentenced to heavy jail terms in Iran read more
Diary
2019
September
8 NSSN TUC Rally Brighton – 1pm in the Holiday Inn Kings Rd, BN1 2JF Facebook event
29 End Austerity Now! Protest the Tory Party Conference – hosted by Unison North West, The People’s Assembly Against Austerity and Manchester People’s Assembly Facebook event
November
16 Undercover Policing and the Trade Unions conference: Saturday 16th November 2019 Eventbrite
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
