The NSSN have been campaigning to get the Tories out in the general election. It was the main theme of both our annual conference in July and TUC Rally in September. Even during the election, we’ve seen the CWU’s Royal Mail national strike ballot ruled out in the courts despite a massive 97% yes vote on a 76% turnout. Now, Boris Johnson has announced plans to introduce yet more anti-union laws, specifically targeting rail unions.
We are an organisation of rank and file trade unionists supported by ten national unions. We’re not affiliated to any political party but Jeremy Corbyn’s pro-worker policies would be a big step forward for workers and their families.
Many of these are outlined in our bulletin ‘Full Work Rights’:-
- full employment rights from day one on the job
- strengthening protection for whistleblowers to stop employers scapegoating workers who expose bullying, fraud, corruption and abuse
- ending bogus self-employment
- £10/hour minimum wage for all workers with no age exemptions and the banning of zero-hour contracts
- those who work regular hours for more than 12 weeks to have the right to a regular contract reflecting those hours
- introducing sector bargaining to include all organisations – reintroducing the chance of proper annual pay rises for all workers
- breaks during shifts and cancelled shifts to be paid proper notice for changes in hours
- extending statutory maternity pay and leave to 12 months and introducing statutory bereavement leave
- four new bank holidays
- updating health and safety legislation (including covering mental health)
- banning unpaid internships
- remove unnecessary restrictions on industrial action
- allow trade unions the right of entry to workplaces to organise and recruit
- repeal anti-union legislation
- tackle excessive working hours, with an aim to introduce a 32-hour week with no loss of pay within ten years
We have produced material throughout the election campaign to make the case to get rid of the Tories. These NSSN bulletins can be downloaded: ‘Full Work Rights’, ‘Reverse the education cuts’ and ‘All health care is in crisis’
Support the CWU in the Royal Mail dispute. Defend the right to strike –read more on CWU Facebook page
The NSSN is calling on all our supporters and affiliates to give full support and solidarity to the CWU after their appeal against the outrageous High Court ruling was dismissed. We call for an emergency meeting of the TUC General Council to discuss solidarity action and protests.
Email messages of support to the CWU via [email protected] and follow the union on their website, Facebook and twitter via @CWUnews using the #WeRiseAgain hashtag
BREAKING NEWS!! Somerset Royal Mail Xmas strike after ‘callous’ sacking (Dec 10) – Christmas Eve and the day before will see walkouts by postal workers furious at the “callous and heartless” sacking of a postman just before the festive season. Paul Hollow, a postman at Keynsham Delivery Office, was fired by Royal Mail under the absence process, but his colleagues voted to take strike action as the absences he was dismissed for were due to a series of personal tragedies. Paul has suffered a family bereavement, with another family member being diagnosed with cancer and experienced health problems of his own, all of which culminated in a period of depression, which took him out of the workplace. But, after getting back to work with the hope of putting his troubles behind him, he was called into a meeting by his employer and sacked, with the dismissing manager claiming there were ‘no mitigating circumstances’ connected to his absences. In a statement yesterday, Paul’s branch secretary Rob Wotherspoon (Bristol & District Amal) said that this situation was “one of the most callous cases I have ever seen…” read more
Union achieves coats for Royal Mail new recruits from Day One
CWU National Dispute – resources page
Join CWU Supporters now – The fight against exploitative employers, dodgy contracts and insecure work requires the support of every single community across the country.
Our recent vote for strike action in Royal Mail Group was secured by connecting with our membership in every corner of the UK – both online and on the ground.
Now we need your help to take our message to the public. By joining CWU Supporters you will be contacted with campaign materials and resources that will help us win this battle – and the others we are fighting
Be one of the first to join us by signing up below. Once you have joined us, don’t forget to hit share so that you can alert your social media networks to our new network – click here to join
Union shines spotlight on BT’s ‘cynical’ compulsory redundancy threat (Dec 9) – No stone is being left unturned in the CWU’s drive to expose the compulsory redundancy threat hanging over hundreds of team members in BT Enterprise as needless and morally bankrupt read more
Support these indefinite industrial actions:-
Unite
Bromley library workers renew strike mandate as dispute enters sixth month – Bromley library workers, who are in the sixth month of strike action against their controversial employer social enterprise leisure services’ giant Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), have unanimously renewed their strike mandate. The 50 library staff, who started their strike on 6 June, voted by 100 per cent to continue the strike action from Monday 25 November.
Unite is escalating the Bromley Library strike campaign! The 50 library staff, who started their strike on 6 June, voted 100% to continue the strike action from 25 November. Our members need your support!
📢Join us for one of the campaign days!
📢Follow Unite London & Eastern to find out details about the future events!
Here is a link for our crowd funding site which has been set up. Please forward this to stewards and members and encourage them to donate. This is a vitally important campaign – and we will win a vitally important victory!
Also, cheques can be made payable to Onay Kasab and forwarded to 33 – 37 Moreland St, London, EC1V 8BB and messages of support via [email protected] bank details are: Unity Trust Bank, Bromley LG Bromley Branch, A/C NO. 20272821 Sort 60 83 01
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]
Support the Tayside Pharmacy workers – We met today with NHS Tayside and representatives from the Scottish Terms and Conditions committee. When we received the band 3 outcome from STAC back in November 2019, it stated that the band 3 grade could only be implemented if Postholders undertook all duties and were fully qualified. These duties were to be undertaken frequently by rotation. Then a further update from STAC stated that the band 3 would only be implemented for those Postholders undertaking all duties except Aseptic. Meeting today – STAC have made it clear that both the Aseptic lab and Stores/Dispensary separately are at band 3 level. So what was it collectively and why have we not seen any documents. STAC have stated that it’s the Dispensing of medicines duties that warrant a band 3, those Postholders who have completed the individual modules for dispensing would qualify for a band 3 upgrade now (Around 20/34 staff currently). A training programme would then need to be put in place for the remaining individuals to complete the remaining SVQ2 buttercup modules. This would not stop the implementation of band 3 before the remaining modules are completed. We have 4 Postholders that have been protected since 2005 under the Grandparent Clause, but no one is sure how that works if they receive upgrade. So we have 10-14 Postholders – some of which have been employed since 1999 – potentially not getting upgraded to band 3 now, despite the Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeane Freeman writing to both NHS Tayside and STAC saying she wanted it implemented now for all Postholders. For those who don’t currently qualify for the upgrade, training will be provided but any timescales will be determined by service needs. This potentially may result in some staff members being locked in a rotation without opportunity to train and upgrade – all at the behest of NHS management under the guise of service needs. Any members of staff who do not wish to undertake the Dispensing modules will be giving the choice to remain on band 2. This is what we were presented with toda. We have a further meeting tomorrow regarding training and then a further meeting Thursday morning with NHS Tayside. New industrial action ballot closes Friday 20th December. Read more on Support Tayside Pharmacy Workers Facebook page
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
Date for your diary: 2020 NSSN Conference Saturday July 4th 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL
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
Watch NSSN TUC Rally video
Union News
UCU
UCU response to universities’ refusal to talk about pay in strikes row (5 Dec) – UCU has called for sensible university leaders to speak out if disputes that have seen eight strike days already this term are to be resolved. The union was responding to a letter from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) that said it would not talk to the union about pay – one of the issues at the heart of the disputes. UCEA’s own recent pay report that found that staff pay has fallen by around 17% in the last 10 years. UCU members took eight days of strike action from Monday 25 November – Wednesday 4 December in two disputes. One focuses on changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme and one is about pay, casualisation, workloads and inequality read more
UCU fighting fund donations top £100K as university strikes come to an end
Support the strikes at Coventry University in appraisal row – UCU members at Coventry University have been on strike about its controversial appraisal process, UCU confirmed today. Send solidarity messages to Coventry University UCU branch secretary – Sharon McGuire, [email protected] read more
RMT
As South Western Railway guards’ safety strike enters second week RMT sets out six point road map to a settlement (9 Dec) – As the guards’ safety strike on South Western Railway enters it’s second week in the latest phase of action rail union RMT has set out a six point road map to a settlement. The plan, which the union intended to table at renewed ACAS talks that the company scuppered at the end of last week, shows just how achievable a settlement is if the company agrees to add a few seconds to the despatch time in the interests of safety and accessibility read more
As a result of SWR’s failure to move forwards on an agreement RMT members will take action as follows: We instruct our Guard, Commercial Guards and Driver members to take the following strike action:-
- Not to book on for duty from 00:01 on Monday 2nd December 2019 until 23:59 on Wednesday 11th December
- Not to book on for duty from 00:01 on Friday 13th December until 23:59 on Tuesday 24th December 2019
- Not to book on duty from 00:01 on Friday 27th December 2019 until 23:59 on the 1st January 2020
Send messages of support to RMT NEC member and SWR guard Geoff Kite – [email protected]
RMT suspends strike action on West Midlands Trains to allow for referendum on new offer (5 Dec) – General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Due to the receipt of an improved offer on the future role of the guard on West Midlands Trains all action, including this Saturday, has been suspended and we will be holding a referendum vote with a recommendation to accept the deal. I want to pay tribute to the RMT members whose resilience and solidarity has got us to the point where we can suspend action with those same members having the final say.” Read more
To make a donation to the hardship funds set up for RMT members striking against Driver Only Operation:-
National Dispute Fund:
Transfers can be made directly into the account using the details below:
Account name: RMT Head Office National Dispute Fund
Account no: 20113524
Sort Code: 60-83-01
Alternatively, you can send cheques to the Finance Department at Head Office.
Unity House 39 Chalton Street London NW11JD
RMT Wessex DOO Dispute Fund:
Transfers can be made directly into the account using the details below:
Account name: RMT Wessex DOO Dispute Fund
Account no: 20399461
Sort Code: 60-83-01
Alternatively, you can send cheques to the Finance Department at Head Office Finance Department at Head Office.
Unity House 39 Chalton Street London NW11JD
and we will pass them on.
RMT Arriva Rail North Dispute Fund:
Transfers can be made directly into the account using the details below:
Account name: RMT Arriva Rail North Dispute Fund
Account no: 20399461
Sort Code: 60-83-01
Or send it direct to Finance Department at Head Office.
Unity House 39 Chalton Street London NW11JD
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
PCS
PCS members at HMRC in Ealing walk out to applause (5 Dec) – The strike action is the latest in the campaign over the closure of the office at International House. PCS members walked out of International House in Ealing at noon today to a massive round of applause from their supporters. This was the first action of the renewed strike mandate from the successful ballot of our members in Ealing HMRC. Earlier in the year our PCS members took five days of strike action to defend jobs at International House and also to defend the services they provide. This resulted in management coming to the table to negotiate “flexible” working arrangements which could have allowed our members to see out their careers in HMRC. Unfortunately HMRC reneged on their agreements with PCS and we were forced to re-ballot for further action. Following the walkout, general secretary Mark Serwotka spoke to a rally on the green adjacent to the office and re-emphasised PCS’s full support for the strikers at Ealing and talked of the disgraceful behaviour of HMRC towards its staff, our members read more
What else you can do:-
Send a message of support to [email protected]
Support us on social media, using the hashtag #SaveEalingTaxOffice
Donate to the strike fund.
For more information on how you can help support our campaign, contact [email protected]
PCS launches legal action against Home Office check-off withdrawal (5 Dec) – PCS has launched legal action against the Home Office, accusing the department of illegally stopping check-off – a mechanism to pay union subs. We have already won significant damages of £3m after an out-of-court settlement following ministers stopping the system of direct deduction of union subs from government workers pay packets in 2015. The unlawful withdrawal of check-off from PCS members in the DWP cut the union’s income overnight, although our union went on to successfully sign up a majority of members to direct debit payment of subscriptions. Now we are carrying out our promise to pursue further pay-outs from other government departments for damages following the withdrawal of check-off read more
ISS members finish second week of strike action (4 Dec) – The members who clean HMRC offices in Bootle and Liverpool have been striking over low pay and poor conditions. The low paid members took three days strike action last week and three this week, in addition to previous action in September. Members are demanding a £10 per hour living wage, holidays and sick pay equal to civil servants, and improved job security. Picket lines in Bootle and Liverpool remained strong, with a majority of striking members taking part and support from UCU members who are also on strike. Meanwhile, the strike-breakers brought in by ISS have complained directly to pickets in Liverpool about the amount of work they are having to cover. The Liverpool University UCU Branch raised £122.03 for the strike fund. At a rally held by UCU and Unite members on strike at universities on Tuesday (3 December), there were loud cheers and expressions of solidarity for the PCS action. Due to the Tories’ repressive Trade Union Act, the PCS members will have to re-ballot in January in order to take further action. However, the resolve of the members remains strong and they are hopeful that January’s ballot will also encompass cleaners on the same contract elsewhere, who have expressed their desire to join the fight for a living wage and better conditions. You can help by donating to the strike fund and sending solidarity messages to [email protected] read more
More Unite
Thomas Cook workers face Xmas misery as Unite calls for incoming government to take immediate action to prevent future woe (9 Dec) – A confidential survey of over 2,000 members of Unite who were formerly employed on Thomas Cook’s airline has revealed that most are facing a grim Christmas. Ten weeks after Thomas Cook collapsed just 21 per cent of workers are back in full-time permanent employment and even when work has been secured many are now earning far less than previously and with hours that are far less family friendly. With Christmas just over a fortnight away over 90 per cent of respondents are making cutbacks with just 10 per cent planning to have “Christmas as usual” read more
Woolwich Ferry staff to strike on 19 December in pay dispute – Workers, who operate the Woolwich Ferry used by an estimated 2.6 million passengers a year, will stage a 24 hour strike on Thursday 19 December in a pay dispute. The 56 workers, members of Unite who are employed by Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd, voted unanimously for strike action which will start at 00.01. Unite said that there has been a long history of poor managerial practice by the company. The latest dispute centres on the failure to pay the London living wage (currently £10.75 an hour) on basic pay; the imposition of changes to overtime and shift working; failure to adhere to the agreed job evaluation scheme; and failure to deal with equality issues. In the summer, there were 10 days of strikes on similar issues, but that failed to bring a resolution. Unite re-balloted its members and, as a result, they will now hold a day’s strike on 19 December read more
Whirlpool Bristol strike off after firm agrees to workers’ demand for £10 an hour minimum (6 Dec) – Strike action at Whirlpool’s Bristol tumble dryer factory has been called off after the company agreed to pay workers at least £10 an hour and offer long serving agency workers jobs, Unite said today (Friday, 6 December). The pay deal means that the lowest paid operators at the factory will receive a 13.75 per cent hourly rate increase of £1.25 to £10 an hour from 1 January, while workers on higher pay rates will also see their hourly rate rise by a minimum of 11.5 per cent. In addition, Whirlpool have promised that an agreement to take on agency workers who have worked full time at the factory for a number of years, as well as policies to end a number of unfair practices, will come into effect by the end of March 2020 read more
Serco behaving like Scrooge as Ealing parking workers face job losses (6 Dec) – Unite has vowed to leave ‘no stone’ unturned in its defence of members employed by outsourcing giant Serco, on the Ealing council parking contract, who face losing their jobs early in the new year. Just days before Christmas Serco, who took over the contract in April, has announced that it intends to make eight of the 60 civil enforcement officers redundant in early January. All 60 workers have been placed at risk. To make the situation worse Serco has failed to meaningfully consult with Unite and moved straight to individual consultations, denying the union the opportunity to properly respond. As it is an Ealing council contract Unite is seeking an urgent meeting with the the council and will be asking them to directly intervene. If Serco do not withdraw the threat of job losses and begin meaningful consultations with Unite, the union will move directly to ballot the workforce for industrial action read more
Lincolnshire health visitors hail victory in pay grade dispute (5 Dec) – The long-running Lincolnshire health visitors’ dispute is coming to an end with a pay victory that sees the vast majority of the workforce being upgraded. Unite today (Thursday 5 December) hailed the victory, which will see most of the union’s members move onto the grade 10 pay scale, as ‘highly significant’. Unite regional officer Steve Syson said: “Thanks to the tremendous solidarity that our members have shown since this dispute started in the summer, we have achieved a highly significant and welcome victory. The health visitors’ determination against what they considered as a gross pay injustice was buttressed by the firm backing from the people of Lincolnshire and from supporters across the UK.” The dispute had centred on the council’s insistence on different contracts for grade 9 and grade 10 health visitors, while Unite has consistently argued that as all health visitors have the same qualifications they should be paid the same. The health visitors have now suspended their month-long strike action while the authority upgrades the health visitors; however, Unite reserves the right to reinstitute strike action if the council does not abide with the agreement. Besides the grade 10 job roles, the health visitors will receive between £2,000- £6,000 in a one-off transitional payment read more
Frimley NHS trust staff to strike for three more days over hived-off ‘tax avoiding’ company (5 Dec) – Staff at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, who face being transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) designed to avoid paying tax, will strike in protest for a further three days this month. Unite said today (Thursday 5 December ) that its estates’ management, equipment maintenance, catering, portering, procurement and security staff, numbering about 90, will strike from 07.00 on Wednesday 18 December for 72 hours. This latest wave of industrial action follows two days of strike action last month. Unite will be coordinating the strike action with the GMB union – altogether about 1,000 staff at Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley; Wexham Park Hospital, Slough; and Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot are affected by the trust’s plans read more
Volkswagen Group vehicle deliveries face ‘serious’ disruption after Sheerness dock drivers announce strikes (5 Dec) – Drivers at logistics firm GB Terminals (Southern) Ltd based at Sheerness docks, Kent, have announced strike action over pay, Unite said today (Thursday, 5 December). The union said the strike action by 26 members will seriously disrupt the supply of new Volkswagen Group vehicles into the UK, including the distribution of new plate vehicles due to go on sale in March 2020. Unite represents drivers and other workers who move new Volkswagen Group vehicles, which also include models from Audi, Porsche and Skoda, off ferries arriving in Sheerness and process and park them ready to be picked up by car transporters. Unite members voted overwhelmingly (84.2 per cent) in favour of strike action, which will commence throughout January, February and March 2020, after GB Terminals rebuffed a claim for a pay increase in line with inflation and sought to impose a pay freeze read more
Workers at pub giant Greene King hold strike ballot in pay dispute (4 Dec) – Workers at pub giant Greene King are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over a ‘paltry’ pay offer, Unite said today (Wednesday 4 December). Unite is balloting more than 160 members, including draymen, brewery production staff and warehouse workers for strike action at the brewery which was founded in 1799. The ballot of members in the brewing and brands department opens on Tuesday 10 December and closes on Monday 13 January 2020 read more
Westex Carpets staff strike over ‘insulting’ pay freeze – Staff at West Yorkshire carpet manufacturer Westex Carpets will go on strike tomorrow (Wednesday 20 November) in a dispute over pay, Unite has said. Unite members will begin continuous strike action at two Westex Carpet sites in Cleckheaton and Dewsbury tomorrow after the company tabled a pay offer of 2.2 per cent, which was subsequently rejected by the membership. Westex Carpets responded by taking the offer off the table and implementing a pay freeze until at least April 2020. The company cited financial difficulties for the pay freeze, despite making pre-tax profits of £5.44m during 2018/19 and £5.164m in 2018/17. The membership believes that Westex Carpets’ profits will continue at the current level and voted in favour of strike action that will last until the dispute is settled read more
To make a donation to the hardship fund:-
Account name – TGWU
Account number – 20175407
Sort code – 60/83/01
Reference – WESTEX STRIKE FUND
Month long Lincolnshire health visitors’ strike starts today over council’s ‘divide and rule’ jobs move – Lincolnshire health visitors started their month-long strike today (18 November) as cracks appeared in the county council’s hardline ‘divide and rule’ policy over future job roles. Unite confirmed today that the health visitors started their strike at 00:01 today ending at 23:59 on Friday 13 December over plans that could see some of them lose an estimated £150,000 over the duration of their careers. Unite is due to meet the county council, under the auspices of the conciliation service Acas, tomorrow, (Tuesday 19 November). The latest strike follows the first bout of strike action – 32 days since July with the loss of around 450 shifts over health visitors having lost more than £2,000 a year since they were transferred from the NHS – and centres on the council’s current insistence on different contracts for grade 9 and grade 10 health visitors read more
McGill bus workers vote for industrial action – Unite the union members in McGill Bus Services have today (12 November) voted for industrial action over a pay dispute affecting the company’s ex-Arriva staff. Around 50 Unite members, which includes drivers, shunters and labourers, voted by 85 per cent for strike action, and action short of a strike. The action is scheduled to begin on 26 November. The depots affected by three days of 24 hour industrial action and a continuous overtime ban are Inchinnan and Johnstone. The other dates of action are 2 and 9 December read more
Unison
Joint union press release (GMB, UNISON and Unite) – Impending industrial action re Winter Gritting at Carmarthenshire County Council
All three unions GMB, UNISON and Unite met with the Director Of Environmental Services, Carmarthenshire County Council on Monday 9th December. Unfortunately the council which is led by Plaid Cymru refuses to significantly increase the retainer payment on offer. For an increase of £15pm in the retainer payment the council wanted us to call off the industrial action planned for the 18/19/20th December and to agree to conciliation talks with ACAS.
The reason stated for being unable to offer more money was that Environmental Services had to make efficiencies (cuts) and therefore didn’t have any more to offer. We think the council should get its priorities right they found the money to pay an exorbitant salary to the ex-CEO for many years; they have wasted £100,000’s in the past on inefficient standby payments and may have wasted millions in the past by not having proper procurement procedures in place but they are not prepared to find a fraction of this to pay employees to do a hard and dangerous job keeping our roads safe.
To add insult to injury the council are preparing to use private contractors to try in effect break the industrial action by using them to grit the roads instead. But this will cost the local authority far more to use contractors than what our members are asking to be paid. Why can’t they find the money to pay our members a decent retainer when they can find a lot more to pay contractors. The unions will be contacting and lobbying the private contractors or any other local authority that undertakes gritting in Carmarthenshire. All three unions will be taking industrial action on the 18th/19th and 20th December and there will be picket lines outside Llandovery, Glanamman, Cillefwr and Unit 10,Trostre depots on those days. While we have agreed to attend talks with ACAS and the employer but we do not think these will be successful unless the employer offers to increase the retainer payments substantially. Unless this happens far more substantial industrial action is on the cards after Christmas.
Regards
Mark Evans
Branch Secretary
Carmarthenshire County UNISON Bran
Support Unison members who work for ISS Facility Services at Homerton Hospital. ISS is the private company that runs catering, domestic, portering and security services at the hospital – Unless they have a supervisory position, none of the staff in this company are paid the current rate of the London Living Wage. Also, some staff have worse terms and conditions. Those who transferred from the previous company still have terms which are broadly comparable to NHS terms and conditions (sick pay, annual leave, weekend/evening enhancements). Those employed after 1st October 2015 do not. They only get statutory sick pay, less annual leave and a flat rate of pay whether they work unsocial hours or not. We are campaigning for fair pay and conditions for this group of workers. Their work is vital to the safe running of our hospital and they should have the same terms as NHS staff.
We are asking you to
- Sign and share our petition: http://bit.ly/fairpay4ISSstaff
- Tweet your support for us to @homertonunison @NHSHomerton @issworld
- Take a selfie with the attached sign and send it to: [email protected]
Please return any paper copies of the petition to the above email or Homerton UNISON c/o Education Centre, Homerton Hospital, London E9 6SR.
Please share this as widely as possible.
Thank you for your support.
Lorna Solomon & Pumula MacDonald Homerton UNISON branch committee
Addaction staff raise concerns about “dangerous” services and “atrocious” waiting times in Wigan Council-commissioned service (4 Dec) – Staff at the drug and alcohol rehabilitation service in Wigan and Leigh, which is currently provided by the London-based charity Addaction, have raised serious concerns about staffing levels and the way the service is run. A staff survey was conducted by the union UNISON, using questions that are also used in the annual NHS staff survey. While workers in the NHS across England overwhelmingly agree that their organisation’s top priority is care of service users (76%), this figure was only 20% for Addaction staff in Wigan and Leigh read more
GMB
Further strike days confirmed at Frimley Health Foundation Trust hospitals (2 Dec) – “The implementation of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and the unfair transfer of concerned staff must cease in all or any of its proposed forms by the Trust” says GMB Southern. GMB, the NHS union for all non-clinical staff working in the Health sector, has issued further industrial action dates in the fight to stop Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) privatising over 1000 cleaners, porters, security, catering staff and others, working across its 3 sites at Frimley Park, Wexham Park and Heatherwood hospitals. The further 3 days of strike action which will take place on the 18th, 19th, and 20th December will see pickets and demonstrators alike outside all the trusts hospitals. This comes on the back of a successful 2 days of action in November, which saw unprecedented levels of solidarity not only from staff directly affected if the Trust’s plans are allowed to progress the transfer into the private sector, but also from NHS professionals including doctors and nursing staff within the affected hospitals read more
Support the ASDA workers and reinstate Michael Hunnum – 12,000 workers are facing being sacked before Christmas by scrooge bosses ASDA, who are now owned by US superstore giant Walmart. This threat is hanging over them unless they agree to the new ‘Contract 6’ which will see them lose all their paid breaks and forced to work bank holidays. The same employer is sacking North East GMB member Michael Hunnam. Michael’s fight is part of the same struggle to resist the offensive of the ASDA bosses. Michael’s supporters believe that his determined opposition to Contract 6 is what has put him in the ASDA firing line. Support the ASDA workers and reinstate Michael!
NIPSA
NIPSA Health Industrial Action (9 Dec) – The NIPSA ballot for industrial action returned a 90.4% vote for strike action and 96.6% for action short of strike action. The NIPSA Health Panel, which represents all branches in Health & Social Care and Health Arm’s Length Bodies, has therefore authorised the following industrial action;
18 December 2019 – 24-hour strike action by all NIPSA members in the health services and in related arm’s length bodies. The action will commence at 12.01 am and conclude at 11.59 pm.
19 December 2019 – Action short of strike action by all NIPSA members in the health services and in related arm’s length bodies will commence read more NIPSA health strike Facebook page
RCN
Northern Ireland nursing staff remain determined to secure safe staffing and pay equality (6 Dec) – Tuesday saw the historic first day of industrial action by RCN members working in Health and Social Care (HSC) services across Northern Ireland. Yesterday, renewed pay discussions took place between the Department of Health and health trade unions. A new pay offer was tabled but rejected as it falls significantly short of members’ requirements. Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland Pat Cullen said: “Nurses have made it clear that they expect pay parity with England and Wales, as well as concrete measures to address the nurse staffing crisis in Northern Ireland. These expectations are the basis of our industrial action…The two-day programme of industrial action short of strike by RCN members scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday will proceed.” Read more
The RCN in Guernsey has called time on nursing pay talks and will reluctantly ballot members on the States’ updated offer before Christmas (3 Dec) – The move comes after the final meeting with the Independent Disputes Officer stalled yesterday. The talks, which aimed to discuss concerns of both parties in an open and constructive way, ended after 10 minutes when it was clear that there was no negotiation to be had. The States of Guernsey weren’t even at the meeting. RCN Regional Director Lindsay Meeks says: “Frustrating doesn’t even cover it. Our members deserve so much more than to be brushed off like this. This campaign has never been about money. This campaign is about valuing nurses and paying them what they are worth…Our next steps are to reluctantly ballot on the updated offer from the States. We will have a result before Christmas. If as we as we expect, the members reject this offer, we will push ahead immediately with the Industrial Action ballot in early January 2020.” Read more
NEU
Please find below details of forthcoming industrial action. Please support:-
| Action | Date | Contact |
| St Catherine’s Catholic School / Bexleyheath (Unacceptable Management Style) |
Tuesday 10 December Wednesday 11 December Thursday 12 December |
Debbie Jones |
| Salford City College / Salford (Pay) |
Tuesday 10 December Wednesday 11 December |
Cawton Wright |
| St Angela’s Ursuline School Newham (Enforced Academisation) |
Wednesday 11 December | Louise Cuffaro |
| St Michael’s Catholic Primary School / Newham (Enforced Academisation) |
Wednesday 11 December | Louise Cuffaro |
NASUWT
Teachers at Barry school to strike (3 Dec) – Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Holton Primary School in Barry will be taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) over adverse management practices relating to staff restructuring and the detrimental and inappropriate treatment of members which is impacting their health and welfare read more
NUJ
Union condemns prison sentence for NUJ member in Moroccan court (9 Dec) – The NUJ has condemned the outcome of a case in a Moroccan court, which has led NUJ member Mohammed Elfenich being sentenced to 8 months in prison, and fined £20,000. The conviction took place in Guelmim in Southern Morocco, and was effectively a rehearing of a case brought against Elfenich in 2018 without his knowledge. The NUJ has been campaigning over the past year for the original verdict to be set aside, as the documentation relied on faked credentials included a falsified address, signature and facebook post. Nor is an alleged social media comment about corruption grounds for any journalist to be accused and sentenced in this way. Elfenich is a UK citizen, working for a broadcaster in London, and was at home in the UK at the time the summons was allegedly signed in April 2018 read more
Prospect
MOLA archaeologists to strike over pay – Prospect members at Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) are to strike on 11 December in the first of a series of one-day strikes in a dispute over pay. Action short of a strike including work to rule will also commence on 11 December. MOLA executive managers imposed a 2.5% pay award in June even though it had been rejected by union members. Members have reported difficulty paying for rent, mortgages, childcare, travel and even food read more
IWGB
Migrant Workers at Boris Johnson donor’s club to strike for sick pay on 11 & 12 December (5 Dec) – Kitchen porters working at a private members club owned by millionaire Brexiteer Robin Birley will go out on strike for 48 hours on 11 and 12 December. The porters, all of whom are migrant workers, are demanding proper occupational sick pay and union recognition for the purposes of collective bargaining. Their union, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), has launched an appeal to raise money for the strike fund, which can be found here
UVW
BREAKING NEWS: STRIKES AT ST MARY’S HOSPITAL SUSPENDED AS NEGOTIATIONS COMMENCE OVER UVW’S DEMAND TO END OUTSOURCING – After 9 days of strike action at St Mary’s hospital our members – the cleaners, caterers and porters – have voted to suspend the 5 days of strike action that were scheduled to take place this week. The decision was made unanimously last week after Tim Orchard, CEO of Imperial Trust, the Trust that runs St Mary’s hospital, finally agreed to enter into negotiations with UVW which will be concluded by 31st January 2020. It has been agreed that all options are on the table in these negotiations including bringing all facilitates in-house as NHS employees who are currently outsourced to Sodexo, putting an end to the decades old practice of outsourcing. If the deal reached by 31st January is not considered acceptable by our members then they will commence an all-out indefinite strike, notice of which has already been given. Thank you to everyone who has supported these strikes so far, your solidarity has made a huge difference read more. For updates, see UVW Facebook page, website and twitter
Other news
‘Solidarity’ – A film about the secretive methods used against UK activists and trade unionists will be shown at the conference. You can also see it around the country:-
25 October Document Film Festival, CCA Glasgow
30 October Phoenix Cinema, Leicester
4 November Art House Crouch End, London
7 November Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
8 November The Maltings, Berwick Upon Tweed
16 November Undercover Policing and Trade Unions (Conference), Greenwich University.
22,23,28,30 November International Documentary Festival Amsterdam
11 December Curzon, Oxford
More dates to be announced.
Contact [email protected] to book a screening.
Follow the Blacklist Support Group here
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
France: Millions strike and hundreds of thousands march against Macron’s austerity policies read more
Trade unionists on trial in Turkey. UNISON representatives travelled to Turkey last month to witness the trial of Turkish trade union leader Arzu Çerkezoğlu read more from Unison website
South Korea: Protecting safe rates for truck drivers read more
Diary
2019
2020
July 4 2020 NSSN Conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
