UCU announces 14 strike days at 74 UK universities in February and March – Seventy-four UK universities will be hit with 14 days of strike action in February and March, UCU announced today. The action will start on Thursday 20 February and escalate each week, culminating with a week-long walkout from Monday 9 to Friday 13 March. The disputes centre on the sustainability of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and rising costs for members, and on universities’ failure to make significant improvements on pay, equality, casualisation and workloads
The full strike dates are:
Week one – Thursday 20 & Friday 21 February
Week two – Monday 24, Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 February
Week three – Monday 2, Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 & Thursday 5 March
Week four – Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 & Friday 13 March
UCU members at 60 universities walked out for eight days in November and December last year in action that affected around one million students. This next wave of strikes will affect another 14 universities and an additional 200,000 students, as more UCU branches crossed a 50% turnout threshold required by law for them to take industrial action read more
Stop union victimisation
Defend Moe – support Moe Muhsin Manir, a hardworking Unite rep on London buses, working for Abellio. Moe is facing the sack in a disciplinary hearing this Thursday. With others, he has been a major campaigner for the London-wide consultative ballot on safety that took place last Friday. We will keep everyone up to date on any developments.
Support Clive Walder – Clive, a Unite rep, is a longstanding member of the NSSN steering committee. He was dismissed last Friday at National Express in Birmingham. He is appealing. Again, we’ll keep you notified.
Come to these events: ‘Fight the new Tory anti-union laws! Support the strikes’
NSSN Coventry rally – 7pm, Thursday February 13, Methodist Central Hall, Warwick Lane, CV1 2HA
NSSN London rally – 7.30pm, Tuesday February 18, Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, Bloomsbury, W1T 6AQ. Speakers include RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley, Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett and workers from current disputes, including: Unite Bromley library, PCS Ealing Tax Office, CWU Royal Mail, UCU HE and UVW St George’s University
RMT/Southampton TUC Solidarity Conference ‘Defend the right to strike’ – 2pm Saturday 7 March Friends Meeting House, 1A Ordnance Rd, SO15 2AZ. Speakers: Steve Hedley RMT AGS & Rob Williams NSSN Chair, others invited from CWU, UCU, NEU and Unite
Support these indefinite industrial actions:-
Unite
Support Westex Carpets staff strike – Westex Carpet strike reaches two month mark: Members of Unite at the Westex Carpets factory in Cleckheaton are about to reach the two month mark in their ongoing dispute over pay. The strike began on November 20th after workers rejected a minimal pay rise which was then withdrawn by the company, which has since refused further dialogue read more Westex Carpets ‘won’t win battle of wills’ as strikes head into ninth week after talks collapse (22 Jan)
To make a donation to the hardship fund:-
Account name – TGWU
Account number – 20175407
Sort code – 60/83/01
Reference – WESTEX STRIKE FUND
Support the Tayside Pharmacy workers – 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. Feel free to use this affiliation letter
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
RMT
Sign petition: to The Mayor of London and the London Assembly – End the privatisation of cleaning at Transport for London
RMT calls strike action on Bakerloo Line (7 Feb) – TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has called strike action on the Bakerloo line in a dispute over the impact on train drivers over unworkable timetable changes that place operators under intolerable levels of personal stress. A ballot for action covering driver members produced a 95% vote for action. Members have been instructed as follows; Not to book on for any duty after 11:59 on Friday 21st February until 11:59 on Saturday 22nd February. Not to book on for any duty after 11:59 on Sunday 23rd February until 11:59 on Monday 24th February read more
RMT demands to know what’s going on with South Western Railway franchise as Government leave passengers and staff in limbo (5 Feb) – RAIL UNION RMT has demanded to know what is going on behind the scenes over the future of the South Western Railway franchise as the Government hold secret discussions and leave both passengers and staff in limbo as speculation grows that SWR will be the next basket-case train operator to be stripped of their contract read more
Donate to the RMT strike fund on South Western Railway – The NSSN is appealing for financial support and solidarity for the RMT and their members on SWR, who have just voted to renew their mandate to take mote strike action. Send messages of support and requests for speakers for your union branch and/or trades council to RMT NEC member and SWR guard Geoff Kite – [email protected]
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
PCS
Urge your MP to show support for PCS FCO Interserve strikers (6 Feb) – Contracted-out staff working for Interserve at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are currently holding a month-long strike in a dispute over union recognition and we are urging members and supporters to urge their MP to support them. PCS represents cleaners, porters and maintenance workers who have been in dispute with Interserve over terms and conditions since March last year. Their latest round of action started on Monday. Union reps in the FCO have faced intimidation by Interserve, who are threatening disciplinary action for carrying out lawful trade union duties, encouraging members to take action. PCS secured a 100% “yes” vote on a huge turnout which secured the mandate for the latest bout of stoppages. PCS parliamentary group chair Chris Stephens has tabled Early Day Motion 125 in support of the strikers. He commends the efforts of PCS in its attempts throughout this dispute to seek resolution via Acas, and our calls for urgent meetings with the employer and foreign secretary Dominic Raab during the most recent ballot period. We need union members to show support for these members whose prolonged dispute is unseen in the Foreign Office’s history. Picketing will take place Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 12pm from 3–28 February. Parliamentary interventions and a march and rally are being planned. You can support the strike in the following ways:
You can support the strike in the following ways:
- Sign and publicise the E-action
- Donate to the PCS fighting fund
- Send messages of support to [email protected]
- Visit the picket line at Whitehall/King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH. Read more
Support striking LGV driving examiners out in all weathers for PCS strike – PCS members, who are LGV driving examiners in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, have held a week-long action before Christmas. This is a long-running dispute over working practices and restructures. Our members work in various driving test centres, across the country. Donate to the strike fund online using account number: 20331490, sort code: 608301, quoting the reference DVSA Strike Fund. Send your solidarity messages to [email protected]
Support Merseyside ISS members in HMRC – The members who clean HMRC offices in Bootle and Liverpool have been striking over low pay and poor conditions. The low paid members recently took six days strike action, 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. You can help by donating to the strike fund and sending solidarity messages to [email protected] read more
More Unite
‘Sick and tired’ London bus drivers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action (10 Feb) – The prospect of a London bus drivers’ strike later this year has moved dramatically closer as bus workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a consultative ballot. The dispute which is branded the ‘sick and tired’ campaign concerns long hours, fatigue and exhaustion that bus drivers are experiencing due to poor scheduling of shifts, a lack of rest breaks, a deficiency of decent facilities for breaks, late finishing, a lack of running time and not being treated with respect. A culture of long hours and insufficient rest is damaging the physical and mental health as well as harming the relationships and family life of bus drivers. In the London wide consultative ballot in the capital’s bus depots last Friday (7 February) members of Unite voted on average by 97 per cent in favour of strike action. Unite will now begin the preparations for a full postal ballot of its members. If members vote for industrial action an across London bus strike could be held this spring read more
Woolwich Ferry takeover by Transport for London welcomed by Unite (10 Feb) – The decision by Transport for London (TfL) to take over the running of the Woolwich Ferry, used by an estimated 2.6 million passengers annually, by the end of 2020 has been warmly welcomed by Unite. Unite represents 56 workers currently embroiled in a dispute with Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd which holds the contract. Today (Monday 10 February), mayor of London Sadiq Khan asked TfL to review its options for the management of the ferry ahead of current contract ending on 31 March. The transition to an in-house operation is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Unite warmly welcomes the decision that will see the vital Woolwich Ferry being brought back under the control of Transport for London (TfL) by the end of the year. We have been campaigning for this contract to come back under TfL’s auspices for some time and today’s announcement is a victory for our campaign. The Briggs Marine contract has been dogged by continuing controversy and atrocious employment relations. We are glad that TfL has concluded that taking the operation and maintenance in-house would ensure a higher level of control and improve services to the thousands of Londoners that use the service every day.” The workforce is due to hold two 24 hour strikes on Friday 28 February and then on Friday 13 March in the latest dispute which 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 read more
Gatwick airport porters planning industrial action over job cuts (10 Feb) – Members of Unite employed as porters by outsourcing giant ISS UK Ltd at Gatwick airport, are considering industrial action after being told that they would only receive a pay rise if they agree to job cuts. The porters undertake a vital role keeping the airport running, while undertaking a variety of facilities services functions. The workers earn just £8.68 an hour and are among the lowest paid workers at the airport. The pay rate is far below the real living wage of £9.30 an hour. The workforce have been told that their pay will only be increased if they agree to a 10 per cent cut in jobs and accept new shift patterns which would result in them increasing the number of days they work at the airport. The workers will begin voting in a consultative ballot today (Monday 10 February) and if as expected they support industrial read more
Harrods facing disruption as security guards announce strike dates (10 Feb) – London’s most prestigious department store Harrods is facing severe disruption later this month, after security guards and CCTV operators, who are members of Unite the UK and Ireland’s largest union, announced strike dates in their dispute over pay and unpaid work. The strikes will take place on 22, 26 and 29 February and then on 4, 7 March. As the first strike is to be held on a Saturday this will cause particular disruption as it is Harrods busiest day of trading. Last month the workers voted by 97 per cent in favour of strike action on an 84 per cent turnout. The dispute is a result of Harrods’ management imposing a below inflation pay offer on the workers, which had been decisively rejected in a consultative ballot, rather than return to the negotiating table. The dispute also concerns workers’ opposition to being required to undertake unpaid work. Before each shift the workers have to attend a separate location 15 minutes before they start work and stay behind after their shift to collect and drop off rotas, keys and DNA spray read more
Strike action set to commence at Allied Bakeries in Belfast – likely to impact UK supply of pancakes ahead of Pancake Tuesday (Feb 9) – Sean McKeeverUnite members at Allied Bakeries in Belfast vote 75 percent for strike action in pursuit of five percent pay increase. Sean McKeever, Regional Officer for Unite with responsibility for the food and drink sector, confirmed his union had informed management of pending strike action after members at United Bakeries on the Castlereagh road, Belfast, voted overwhelmingly for strike action. Allied Bakeries, with a manufacturing base on the Castlereagh Road Belfast, is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc – a major international business with a turnover of £12.3bn and close to 130,000 employees working in 50 countries. The company produces Sunblest, Kingsmill, Burgen and Allison breads and pancakes for the UK market read more
Transport for London workers begin strike over pay – London faces disruption today (Friday 31 January) as essential TfL workers begin their first 24 hour strike, with further action planned over the coming months, in a fight back against a pay cut in real terms. Unite has accused TfL of botching this round of pay talks. The union is warning that unless TfL returns to the negotiating table the dispute could escalate with hundreds more TfL workers at Croydon Trams engineering, Victoria Coach Station and surface operations preparing for strike ballots. Around 300 workers employed by Dial-a-Ride and 300 TfL revenue protection inspectors, road transport enforcement officers and compliance officers will strike for 24 hours on 31 January, 28 February, 27 March and 24 April. TfL have bulldozed through a derisory 1 per cent pay increase for TfL workers which amounts to a pay cut in real terms. The workers are demanding that TfL increases pay above inflation (RPI) read more
Woolwich Ferry staff to strike for two days in pay dispute – Workers, who operate the Woolwich Ferry used by an estimated 2.6 million passengers a year, will stage two 24 hour strikes in their continuing pay dispute with ‘one of the worst employers in London’. The 56 workers who are employed by Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd, voted unanimously for strike action and have already held a day’s strike on 19 December. Ferry passengers will face further disruption when the workforce holds two 24 hour strikes, starting at 00:01 on Friday 28 February and then on Friday 13 March. Unite reiterated today (Monday 27 January) 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. Last summer, there were 10 days of strikes on similar issues, but that failed to bring a resolution. Unite re-balloted its members in the autumn. 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: “It is an understatement to say the management at Briggs Marine Contractors has a dismal record when it comes to employment relations over a number of years…” read more
Free parking for Hackney residents on cards when parking wardens strike over pay and safety – Hackney residents could have free parking in the borough when 40 parking wardens go on a week-long strike next month in a dispute over pay and their personal safety. Unite said today (Friday 24 January) that its civil enforcement officer (CEO) members, employed by Apcoa Parking (UK) Ltd which runs the contract on behalf of Hackney council, will strike on from 00:01 on Monday 10 February until 23:59 on Sunday 16 February. They voted by 81 per cent for strike action. A key issue is a claim for an increase to £15 an hour for the year starting in April 2020 – the parking wardens are paid the London living wage, currently £10.75 per hour. Unite is also concerned about safety of its members who have been attacked by irate motorists when doing their job in all-weathers. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “We have had cases where our members are going out on the same rounds where they have previously been assaulted…” read more
Heathrow baggage could disappear into a void as baggage handlers strike over pay – Unite is warning that passengers at Heathrow airport whose baggage is lost, could see their possessions disappear into the void, as specialist baggage handlers prepare to take strike action over pay. The workers who are employed by Global Baggage Solutions Ltd are responsible for finding and repatriating lost baggage with distraught passengers. The dispute is a result of the company refusing to make a pay offer for 2019 and only offering an increase of 32 pence an hour for 2020. The pay offer was unanimously rejected by Unite members but the company refused to negotiate. Unite has called two four day strikes, the first will last from Sunday 2 February to Wednesday 5 February the second strike will be from 22 February to 25 February. Unite is seeking an increase in pay to ensure all workers receive the London Living Wage of £10.75 an hour and senior handlers receive a higher payment read more
CWU
Support the CWU and the posties as union re-ballots in Royal Mail – The NSSN sends solidarity to the CWU as they move to re-ballot members in Royal Mail. As readers of this bulletin will know, the union overwhelmingly smashed the undemocratic voting thresholds in the Tory anti-union laws in their national strike ballot last October – a 97% vote for action in on a 76% turnout. Scandalously however, one unelected High Court judge dismissed the ballot and the action, planned for during the general election and the busiest time of the year for the company. Now after attempts by the union to resolve the dispute, they feel no option but to again ballot members for action. This comes at the same time as Boris Johnson’s tory government planning even more anti-union laws, targeted for now at least at the rail and transport unions. The NSSN pledges our full support to the CWU and their members in Royal Mail. Already, NSSN members are organising solidarity meetings to build support for the CWU, the rail and transport unions and other workers taking action. We encourage such rallies and meetings of the NSSN, trades councils and union branches – ‘An injury to one is an injury to all!’
Watch CWU video on re-ballot here
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 – click here to join
Patience snaps on Capita O2/Tesco Mobile pay (Feb 10) – Capita has been pointedly reminded of its own publicly stated values over the importance of employee engagement and a ‘transparent and fair approach to reward’ following months of stonewalling on the CWU’s pay claim for all O2 and Tesco Mobile contract staff. More than a month after the operative pay review date of January 1, members are becoming increasingly frustrated and annoyed that an increase is already six weeks overdue, amid indications that neither Partnership feel able to progress talks with the union prior to a higher-level directive from Capita Group management. As such, the CWU’s claim for a ‘significant consolidated increase in base rate pay for all CWU represented grade employees’ is effectively stuck in abeyance, with no sign as to when the impasse will be broke read more
Stop this madness, CWU tells BT, as one compulsory redundancy notice is issued (Feb 7) – A massive threat to more than three decades of industrial peace in BT took a dramatic and dangerous turn for the worse on Wednesday as Enterprise division management issued the first compulsory redundancy notice ever to have been served to a team member grade employee in BT Group. The highly inflammatory move represents a huge escalation in what was already recognised to be the most serious challenge the union has faced in BT since the 1987 national strike read more
Pay claim launched for Post Office members (Feb 5) – A 3 per cent pay rise for all, long-overdue pension improvements, enhanced annual leave and consolidation of bonuses into basic pay are among the elements of a claim submitted by the union for our Post Office members read more
Unison
Unions reject ‘disappointing’ council pay offer (5 Feb) – The three unions representing council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have today (Wednesday) rejected the 2% initial pay offer made by the local government employers. Last summer UNISON, GMB and Unite – which between them have more than a million local government members – submitted the pay claim for 2020/21. If the unions’ claim is accepted, this would mean that £10 an hour would be the lowest rate for council staff from this April. Everyone else would receive a 10% wage rise. The three unions have now called on the local government employers to think again and come up with a better offer so talks can continue as soon as possible read more
IBM workers gear up for industrial action as job losses loom, says UNISON – Offon IBM workers gear up for industrial action as job losses loom, says UNISON. Information technology (IT) workers – who provide IBM’s client, Scottish Power, with IT services – have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action after the company said their jobs would end on 30 June, 2020. UNISON announced the results of its consultative ballot today (Monday) which revealed a massive 90 per cent voted in favour of strike action read more
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
GMB
ASDA staff threaten bosses with strike action over U-turn on aggressive customer – Staff at an Asda store in Girvan, Ayrshire, have begun a collective grievance against the supermarket amid claims a customer physically and verbally assaulted a colleague read more in Daily Record
Support the ASDA workers and reinstate Michael Hunnum – 12,000 workers faced being sacked before Christmas by scrooge bosses ASDA, who are now owned by US superstore giant Walmart. This threat hanging over them was 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!
NEU
Support the NEU sixth form college strikes – The NEU strike action campaign in sixth form colleges is continuing, with three further days of strike action in 34 sixth form colleges planned for Wednesday 12 February, Thursday 27 February and Tuesday 10 March (the day before Budget day). If you are branch secretary, please contact 6FC reps in your area and provide all necessary support. If you are a district secretary, please publicise the dispute to members in your district and encourage them to express support via social media whether or not they are taking part in the strikes. This strike action is part of our campaign to improve staff pay and conditions and secure the future of sixth form colleges. More information, including a list of striking colleges, is available here
Please find below details of forthcoming action. Please send messages of solidarity to the email addresses below:
| Action | Date | Contact |
| St Michael’s Catholic Primary School / Newham (Enforced Academisation) |
Wednesday 12 February Thursday 13 February |
Louise Cuffaro |
| St Bonaventure’s School / Newham (Enforced Academisation) |
Wednesday 12 February Thursday 13 February |
Louise Cuffaro |
| Colfe’s School / Greenwich (Withdrawal of Teachers Pension Scheme) |
Wednesday 12 February | Tim Woodcock |
| Sixth Form colleges (list of striking colleges is available here) |
Wednesday 12 February | please send solidarity messages to colleges in your area |
NASUWT
Teachers at second Newport school to strike (5 Feb) – Members of the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Caerleon Comprehensive School in Newport are taking the first of three planned days of strike action on Thursday (6 February) over staff restructuring and potential job loss. NASUWT members at Llanwern High School, also in Newport, have already taken three days of strike action last month over the same issues, with a further three days planned next week read more
BFAWU
BFAWU Statement on Allied Bakeries Belfast – Following pay talks with Allied Bakeries Belfast, members of the Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union voted in support of all out strike action, due to commence at 6.00am on Sunday 16th February 2020. The company offer has failed to meet the aspirations of our members, and have tabled percentage offers that fall short of members expectations. Within this site, like many others, workers are on consolidated rates of pay that include various components, such as overtime rates, statutory holidays and shift allowances. However, year on year since the inception of the consolidated rate at this site, low pay awards have seen the erosion of the consolidated rate to such a degree that workers now face an hourly rate of pay that we believe no longer includes the components that initially built up the rate of pay. At a recent branch meeting, members voiced their outraged that the current consolidated rates are no longer acceptable and the increases to the National Living Wage decreases the differential. The most recent offer by the company of a two year deal of 2.2% & 2.1% was overwhelmingly rejected by our members in a consultative ballot.
In Solidarity
Laura Graham Regional Officer BFAWU NI read more
NUJ
NUJ council joins concerns of press photographers over exclusion to historic events (7 Feb) – The NUJ’s Photographers’ Council has joined colleagues in condemning Downing Street’s attempts to control images of major state events, by excluding press photographers and issuing state-approved photographs of the Prime Minister read more
UVW
Strikes at St. George’s University of London enter their third week (10 Feb) – Outsourced security guards take their third week of strike action as they continue to demand direct employment by St. George’s, University of London (SGUL). SGUL and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been roundly condemned by 90 trade unions, politicians, authors, councillors and community groups in an open letter calling for the criminalisation of the workers’ lawful trade union activities to cease. United Voices of the World commits to escalating the situation. Outsourced security guards at the prestigious medical college of St. George’s, University of London, entered their third week of strike action today. The security guards, who are outsourced to outsourcing giant Bidvest Noonan, are demanding to be made direct employees of the university and to enjoy the same level of pay and terms and conditions as directly employed SGUL staff. The guards’ salaries currently fall far below that of the lowest paid SGUL employee and they only receive the statutory minimum with respect to sick pay, annual leave allowance and a host of other rights read more
Please sign this UVW solidarity letter
Upcoming strike dates:-
Round 3: 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Feb
Round 4: 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th Feb
Picket lines are from 8am at the main entrance
More News
HeartUnions week 2020 – HeartUnions week will be taking place from 10 to 16 February 2020. A week of activity throughout England and Wales that highlights the good work that unions do every day to offer everyone a voice at work. It’s a chance to tell the story about why unions are vital for everyone at work, and encourage people who aren’t yet in a union to join. Every year it’s a chance for reps and activists to publicise what they’ve been doing and make the case for union membership read more from TUC website
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
Turkey: Reinstate dismissed union members at SF Trade Leather! Respect trade union rights now!
An important workers’ struggle is taking place in Turkey at SF Trade Leather and solidarity is urgently needed. It is a production factory for international brands such as Molift, Odder, Römer, Liko, Babybjörn, Volkswagen, Mulberry, Audi and Mercedes operating in Gaziemir İzmir.
In 2015 SF Trade Leather suspended 14 workers for being trade union members. Sacked workers, took strike action against the sackings and campaigned both locally and internationally for the reinstatement of the suspended workers. Campaigns and protests in front of international brands such as Mulberry supported by UK trade unions and campaign groups led to victory which resulted in the opening of negotiations between SF Trade Leather management and the Deriteks Union.
As a result of the negotiations, SF Trade Leather accepted the right of trade union membership within the workplace and a protocol was signed stating that mutual dialogue would improve. With this agreement in place the union decided to continue its membership campaign. Last summer Deriteks Union started to speak to and interview SF workers. Speaking to workers Deriteks Union noticed harassment and bullying behaviour towards workers was still an issue. In order to tackle the issue a workplace organisation committee was formed from the unionised workers with SF Trade Leather.
Soon after the initiation of this committee, lead workers and Deriteks Union members Ayse and Pinar were sacked from their jobs with immediate effect. Both workers were targeted with what they say are trumped up charges and accusations of “not performing” well. During the managers’ conversation with Ayse and Pinar, their involvement with the union was mentioned and they were told they were making the “wrong decisions” in their careers. They were also accused of bringing the factory into disrepute and endangering other workers jobs with their actions.
In addition to these two workers, two more women workers who are members of Deriteks Union, Nurcan Köksal and Sevcan Gulboy were also sacked with immediate effect. The four sacked workers were simply exercising their right to join a union, which is supposed to be protected under Turkey’s constitution. Their struggle and determination to get their jobs back has been a symbol of resistance in the Gaziemir Zone of Izmir which is home to many leather factories. The four women workers have now been on strike for more than 100 days with the support of the Deriteks Union. They continue to fight for their jobs and the right to trade union membership. A manufacturing company who is producing goods for many well-known international brands is in violation of international rules and workers rights.
The workers are calling for:
* Reinstatement of all sacked workers with immediate affect.
* Trade union recognition and the right to organise within the workplace.
* An end to harassment and bullying behaviour by the SF Trade Leather management.
Please support this campaign by contacting SF Trade Leather at:
Phone: +90 232 251 75 09
Fax: +90 232 252 25 15
General Manager: +90 549 732 29 09
Please send all messages to the attention of Mr Frederic W.C.Giraud (Owner of SF Trade Leather)
Social Media Campaign:
Please tag and share the share the attached photo/message using below
@AudiUK @AudiOfficial @MoliftGB @BabybjornUS @Babybjornuk @MullberryEngland @MercedezBenz @MBWorldUK @DecathlonUK
The NSSN supports Solidarity with the People of Turkey
Indonesia: 4 years after instant closure, workers still fighting for their rights at Great Giant Pineapple read more
Germany: Ameos fires workers and refuses collective bargaining read more
Diary
2020
July 4 – NSSN Conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL
September 13 – NSSN TUC Rally Brighton 1pm
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
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