This week’s NSSN bulletin highlights this year’s Black History Month (BHM), which takes place every October. Black and Asian workers have played a vital role in the labour and trade union movement – from the Bristol Bus Boycott in the 1960s to Grunwicks in the 1970s to the strikes that are taking place every week.
We cover them all in our weekly bulletin and this week to mention just two – the industrial action ballots of Unite Hackney drivers and escorts of disabled children and the UVW care workers, cleaners and maintenance workers SAGE nursing home in North London.
This year’s BHM is even more powerful as the massive Black Lives Matter movement has erupted. COVID has exposed the class inequalities in society and racism is rooted in this. The NSSN banner was on the streets with the hundreds of thousands fighting for justice.
The trade union movement is crucial in uniting workers from all communities and backgrounds to face down the Tories and the bosses who have always used ‘divide and rule’ methods to maximise their profits.
Support ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ 6th annual Wear Red Day which will take place across England, Wales and Scotland on Friday 16th October 2020
Support the Black Lives Matter protests against the shootings in the USA – The NSSN sends our deepest sympathy to the family of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25th and those of Jacob Blake who was shot on August 23rd. We also send our solidarity to those who have protested in the USA and around the world. NSSN supporters have been at many of the protests that have taken place all around the country. We think trade unions are vital to build workers’ unity at this time. There are other protests being organised. To find out about others, follow #MarchforFloyd #KneelforFloyd #GeorgeFloyd #JacobBlake and #BlackLivesMatter on social media
Raph Parkinson RIP – we have just heard about the tragic passing away of Raph Parkinson. Raph was a longstanding anti-racist, socialist trade unionist from Liverpool. Over decades in Unison, he was a rep, NEC member and officer of the union, always fighting for members. We send our deepest condolences and solidarity to Raph’s family.
Support the NHS pay protests
On Saturday September 12th there were demonstrations and rallies in many towns and cities. Workers in the NHS and care sector workers demand an immediate 15% pay rise that starts to close the income gap caused by a decade of pay freezes. Please join the protests that are taking place.
Details of some of these events can be found here in the Nurses and Midwives say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality Facebook group and on the Keep Our NHS Public website. Also visit the website of Health Campaigns Together.
We support the call of many health workers for industrial action ballots, co-ordinated across all the health unions and linking up with all other workers in public services. We are confident that this would be supported by workers in the private sector and all those who benefit from health and social care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic where so many staff put their lives on the line.
Sign the petition to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak – ‘We demand a pay rise for key workers’
The NSSN is continuing to report on how workers are organising during the coronavirus pandemic
The NSSN is opening up our weekly email bulletin, website and social media platforms of Facebook and twitter to provide a public forum for workers during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. We want to be a place where we can all share queries and experiences that workers are facing in their workplaces. These include reports of action taken by workers to defend themselves from their employers.
You can read about many of these actions in our weekly bulletin and out social media groups, especially our Facebook group: NSSN – defend workers’ rights under Coronavirus.
You can also send the NSSN your reports and queries via our website, twitter – @NSSN_AntiCuts and email – [email protected]
We welcome the information being sent to union members concerning the spread of coronavirus, including the Accord, Advance, AEP, AFA-CWA, ASLEF, BDA, BECTU Sector of Prospect, BFAWU, BOS-TU, College of Podiatry, Community, CSP, EIS, Equity, FBU, FDA, GMB, HCSA, MU, NAHT, NASUWT, National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), Nautilus International, NEU, NGSU, NUJ, PFA, Prospect, RCM, SoR, TSSA, TUC, UCU, UNISON, Unite, URTU, USDAW, WGGB and the RCN
But it is absolutely vital that unions retain their ability to organise and act independently in defence of their members and workers generally. This includes the right of unions to take industrial action. We are already aware of workers being forced to take unofficial action on health and safety grounds. We also believe that unions should have oversight of any government bans on protests and picketing. This is the same Tory government that tabled more new anti-union laws in December’s Queens Speech last December and cannot be trusted.
We believe that it is essential that workers are protected during this worrying period and are not impacted, whether in terms of their safety as well as their pay and employment rights. The Tory government have announced measures that if implemented would include some workers receive 80% of their wages. However, we believe that no worker should pay the price for any spread of the virus. Any worker who is required not to attend work or is unable to do so because of childcare or transport closures should receive full pay and not be forced to take annual leave. But unions have to remain vigilant that any government payments actually happen and also covers all workers, including those in precarious employment such as zero-hour contracts and in the gig economy.
We have drafted this model motion which we’ve made into a bulletin that can be downloaded and printed off to be distributed. Feel free to use in your union and trades council, in totality or partially to highlight the issues that need to be addressed.
Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. The Coronavirus Support Group for Workers has been set up on Facebook and is a useful forum.
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
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]
Watch The NSSN pre-TUC Rally and follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook
Union News
RMT
RMT registers support for Coastguard Agency’s detention of ship for exploitation of crew (6 Oct) – SEAFARERS’ Union RMT has registered its support for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s detention of the Maltese registered offshore supply vessel, Ben Nevis in Aberdeen yesterday for infringements of the Maritime Labour Convention read more
Minister confirms that the public pay for railway profiteering (5 Oct) – Minister confirms you are paying for profiteering on the railways as train owning company pours £80 million into speculators’ pockets. RAIL UNION RMT has renewed the call to end the great rail rip-off after it revealed that the government has confirmed that the taxpayer will continue to ‘pick up the tab’ for profiteering on the ownership of trains on Britain’s railways read more
First 48 hour strike on SERCO Caledonian Sleeper (4 Oct) – First 48 hour strike on SERCO Caledonian Sleeper rock solid this evening as RMT members fight for safe working conditions. RAIL UNION RMT said today that the first of two 48 hour strikes on SERCO Caledonian Sleeper is rock solid this evening with pickets out in force at key locations as RMT members fight for safe working conditions. The action started at 1730 hours read more
RMT names and shames Siemens as the union exposes the bad bosses on Britain’s railways (1 Oct) – RAIL UNION RMT today named and shamed the multinational giant Siemens as one of the bad bosses continuing to operate on Britain’s railways, as the company continues to deny recognition despite the majority of staff on the Govia Thameslink Railway’s train maintenance contract showing clearly that they want to be represented by RMT. In meetings with Siemens Mobility the company has openly admitted that it is opposed to recognising RMT on UK rail operations and is hell bent on carrying on its union-busting strategy read more
RMT responds to news of latest savage P&O cuts (1 Oct) – RATINGS UNION RMT today responded to the news that P&O Ferries is making more seafarer redundancies in the UK and cutting the Hull-Zeebrugge route. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “In the summer, P&O Ferries received over £6.6m from the taxpayer on the two Port of Hull routes, including Hull-Zeebrugge. This does not need to happen but P&O’s owners in Dubai have pulled the plug on this vital route with no consultation, threatening jobs, passenger services and the recovery of Hull’s maritime economy…” read more
RMT launches global on-line petition to halt jobs carnage at Trump’s Turnberry resort
RMT steps up campaign for TfL funding – RMT steps up campaign for TfL funding with petition launch. London Transport Union RMT is stepping up its fight to win full funding for Transport for London with the launch of an online petition. The petition can be found at: https://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/funding-statement read more
Sign petition: to The Mayor of London and the London Assembly – End the privatisation of cleaning at Transport for London
Please Support RMT Members With No Wages! – RMT London Transport Region Zero Hours & Self-Employed members need our Solidarity Now! Many of our regions self-employed members and those on zero hours have not any had wages for 2 months since March. They have been abandoned by London Underground, TfL, the London Mayor and their agency employers. They MUST NOT be abandoned by us too; their RMT sisters and brothers! The RMT London Transport Regional Council and LU Engineering RMT branch are calling out to all branches, members and friends to dig deep and give meaningful solidarity to our hard pressed members facing poverty and possibly eviction from their homes. To help support by donating to the fund or to ask after support for yourself, please email: [email protected] read more
RAIL UNION RMT has suspended strike action on South Western Railway in good faith to allow further talks to take place 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
TSSA
Amey Update: T&Cs, Quarantine, TUPE (30 Sept) – Amey TSSA update on agreed Consulting terms and conditions, quarantine arrangements and TUPE. View a pdf of this circular via https://bit.ly/36iT7nf. First members were forced to take leave in lockdown, then they were threatened for going away! Six months ago, Amey tried to force employees to take booked annual leave in full, despite the new lockdown measures preventing members from going away. Our reps successfully negotiated a more flexible approach so members could postpone booked leave and enjoy a more normal break in the future read more
TSSA Demands Dublin Assurances Over Public Transport Support (29 Sept) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has called on the Irish Government to make clear their plans for public transport after the Minister for Transport said he wanted to ensure “nowhere is left behind” during the pandemic read more
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! Hoyer in ‘last chance saloon’ to avoid Cheshire tanker driver dispute (6 Oct) – Fuel tanker drivers, employed by Hoyer Petrolog UK, and members of the Unite union, are balloting for industrial action in a dispute over job cuts and attacks on conditions. The workers, who are based at the Stanlow oil refinery and the fuel storage facility in Bramhall in Cheshire, began balloting for industrial action last Friday (2 October) and the ballot will close this Friday (9 October). If the drivers vote in favour of industrial action strikes could begin later this month, creating serious disruption to fuel deliveries. The company delivers to many petrol stations and supermarkets and also delivers aviation fuel to airports read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Allianz UK must step in and stop job loss chaos at LV (6 Oct) – Unite, the recognised trade union in Allianz and LV, has expressed anger at numerous failures by LV in its blind determination to cut 350 staff. The union has called on Allianz (which now owns LV) management to halt the chaotic process currently underway which could result in nearly 350 unnecessary job losses from LV in Birmingham. As a result of numerous failings by LV, Unite will today launch a consultative ballot of its membership ahead of this dispute escalating read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Bexley council urged to ditch Serco refuse contract, as workers gear up for strike ballot (6 Oct) – Bexley councillors have been urged to jettison the controversial Serco refuse contract, as about 140 refuse workers gear up for a strike ballot over health & safety Covid-19 concerns. Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said that the council’s overview and scrutiny committee, due to discuss a critical report on Serco’s refuse collection performance on Thursday (8 October), should ditch a proposal to extend the outsourcer’s contract until 2025. Unite said its refuse collection members will start receiving ballot papers on Friday (9 October) for strike action on a number of issues, including health & safety concerns and the failure to upgrade a number of workers to agreed pay rates. The ballot closes on Friday 30 October. Unite said that the strike ballot was the latest chapter in what was ‘a dismal industrial relations regime’, including a continuing culture of managerial bullying, at the Thames Road depot, Crayford that predated the March lockdown read more
Leeds bus-maker’s broken pay promises prompt strike action (5 Oct) – Workers paid below industry standard at Leeds-based bus manufacturer Optare have voted in favour of strike action over the company’s ‘broken promise’ to provide a pay increase for 2019 and 2020, Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, said today (Monday 5 October). Unite said the bus-maker, which is a global leader in the design, manufacture and sale of single and double decker buses for both the UK and global markets, has refused ‘point-blank’ to honour an August 2019 pledge to implement a pay rise by November of that year. The union said the company, owned by the UK’s second richest men – billionaires Srichand, Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja – had left its more than 100 Optare members with no choice but to take strike action after repeatedly postponing planned pay negotiations since November 2019 read more
Len McCluskey’s statement on Rishi Sunak speech (5 Oct) – Responding to the speech made today (Monday) by the chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak, the leader of the country’s biggest union, Unite, dismissed it as ‘thin gruel for fearful workers’. Len McCluskey said: “Warm words and sympathy do not put food on the table. I’m afraid to say that when the country hungers for a hearty diet of jobs saving and creation, the chancellor has offered little more than thin gruel for fearful workers. The country is braced for mass unemployment; what we want to hear is what the government is going to do to fend that off. Where is the plan? We need plans to stimulate growth of new sectors now, to nourish them so that they are in a position to provide jobs to those sectors devastated by the virus, and we need action to stop millions of people being tipped overnight into poverty. These are unique times with the gloomiest economic outlook for three hundred years so it is the duty of government to use all the powers at its disposal to drive a new economy for all…” read more
Hackney drivers and escorts of disabled children are ‘pathfinders’ in national campaign to recognise Covid-19 pressures (5 Oct) – Drivers and passenger escorts on school buses for disabled children in Hackney are ‘the pathfinders’ in a national campaign to get a one-off £500 payment and an extra day’s holiday for risking their health working through the pandemic. Unite said its members across England had rejected the now imposed national pay award of 2.75 per cent from April this year – and that’s why they were mounting local campaigns, of which Hackney in east London is the first. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The national cost of living rise for 2020 has now been settled and this has been reluctantly conceded by our members. However, we feel that many of the issues in the national claim, such as the working time and annual leave elements, remain outstanding – and that there is scope for negotiations with local council employers. Our 32 driver and passenger escorts employed by Hackney council are the ‘pathfinders’ for the national campaign. They will be balloted for strike action later this month as the bosses have reneged on an earlier local deal which would have given them a lump sum and made agency workers permanent employees…” read more
Unite secures free Bernard Matthews bus travel to boost workers’ Covid-19 safety (2 Oct) – Bernard Matthews has suspended fares on company-subsidised buses to all of its sites to help prevent the spread of coronavirus through car sharing, following pressure from Unite. The move came after the company said the Covid-19 outbreak at its site in Holton, Suffolk, could be linked to low paid workers car sharing read more
Alexander Dennis further jobs blow as it cuts its Scottish operations by a third as Unite slams Scottish Secretary of State for inaction (2 Oct) – Unite Scotland has today (2 October) angrily reacted to the news that Alexander Dennis (ADL), the UK’s largest bus and coach builder, is planning to axe a further 70 jobs in addition to the 200 job cuts previously announced at its Falkirk base in Scotland. Unite has said that nearly 300 jobs will now go out of 850 workers after the company responded by announcing further job losses following the union’s insistence that the company maximises its efforts to save jobs and to support workers being made redundant read more
Last call to super-salaried Heathrow bosses to avoid autumn strikes over poverty plunging fire and rehire (2 Oct) – Heathrow, one of the world’s largest airports, is facing a complete shutdown this autumn, as members of the Unite union, prepare to ballot for strike action, over the company’s attempts to slash the pay of 4,000 workers by up to £8,000. Members of Unite employed directly by Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) including security officers, engineers, airside operatives and firefighters will begin balloting for industrial action on Thursday 8 October with the ballot closing on Thursday 5 November with strikes following soon after. The dispute is a direct result of Heathrow Airport Limited’s (HAL) decision to issue controversial section 188 notices to “fire and rehire” staff on vastly inferior pay and conditions. Workers face losing up to £8,000 per annum, around 25 per cent of their pay read more
Stadco closure announcement would be “enormous blow” to Mid Wales (1 Oct) – Unite has reacted with extreme dismay to the announcement by Stadco that they intend to close their manufacturing facility in Llanfyllin, Powys. The news has come as a complete shock to Unite and the 130 strong workforce read more
Update: Spike Island workers reinstated (1 Oct) – “Spike Island Development DAC and UNITE the Union confirm that following a meeting today all issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties. The staff concerned are returning to work for Spike (SIDC) for the remainder of the 2020 season…” read more
Bernard Matthews risking Suffolk workers and public’s health with sick pay and bus fare ‘penny pinching’ (30 Sept) – ‘Inadequate’ sick pay and worker bus fare rises at the coronavirus-hit Bernard Matthews’ turkey processing factory in Suffolk increase the risk of further Covid-19 transmissions, Unite said today (Wednesday 30 September). The company, which was taken over by the owner of poultry giant 2 Sisters, Ranjit Boparan, in 2016, has informed Unite that minimum wage workers at the Holton plant who need to self-isolate will only receive statutory sick pay (SSP) of £95.85 a week read more
CITB cuts and sell-offs put PM’s construction training plans at risk (30 Sept) – Less than the day after the prime minister called for more vocational training, the UK’s main construction training body is planning to ditch staff, according to Unite, the country’s chief construction union. The union also fears the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is planning to sell its training centres, putting at risk the sector’s capacity to train the new construction workers the government seeks. Unite has little faith the CITB’s board will change its proposals after its chair refused to meet the union to discuss the organisation’s strategy including plans to hit workers with a triple whammy of cuts to pay, conditions and jobs read more
Rich Cambridge colleges urged to rethink Covid-19 jobs’ axe on low-paid staff (30 Sept) – A number of Cambridge University colleges, which are targeting some of their lowest paid employees for the jobs’ axe as they juggle their Covid-19 finances, have been urged to have an urgent rethink by Unite. Unite said today (Wednesday 30 September) that Cambridge colleges – some of the richest institutions in the country – should go ‘the extra mile’ to safeguard the jobs of the lowest paid employees. Already 21 of the 31 colleges have pledged ‘no compulsory job cuts’. A coalition of Cambridge groups have launched the Cambridge Against Job Cuts campaign, following revelations in the university student newspaper Varsity that Downing, Queens’ and Trinity colleges are planning to sack more than 100 non-academic staff read more
Legal case against Lancashire electronic firm `wake up call’ to employers abusing furlough (29 Sept) – A legal case launched by Unite could prove to be a wake up call for rogue employers the union has claimed today (Tuesday). An employment tribunal will be asked to consider the case of a member who was furloughed in April 2020 only to be forced to work – and then dismissed for raising concerns about the abuse of the law. The union is pursuing a claim for unfair dismissal, unlawful deduction of wages and breach of contract against Littleborough based electronic firm Falconex Ltd read more
Sign this petition to Rolls Royce and the UK Government: Save Our Site – Battle for Barnoldswick (Rolls Royce)
Stop the BA Betrayal! – This groundswell has been mobilised by reps and the campaign #BAbetrayal – a ‘crisis leverage campaign, which is part of Unite’s Leverage strategy. ‘Crisis leverage’ applies many of the same principles and takes a similarly robust, muscular approach but in a much more streamlined, nimble way. In a crisis like the current coronavirus pandemic, with a company behaving like British Airways, we have to move fast and to scale. Find out more and support the #BAbetrayal campaign by Joining the #BAbetrayal Facebook campaign and follow the @BAbetrayal campaign on Twitter. Sign the petition today
Sign this petition: Extend furlough scheme for the UK Aviation sector to help stop redundancies
Sign this petition: Reinstatement of Blue Handling employees laid off due to COVID-19 and placed on Furlough
Sign this petition: Please sign and share: Extend the bereaved family payment to UK bus workers now
MTVHA – Stop the Sackings! Sign petition: To: Geeta Nanda, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association – Please cease all compulsory redundancies during the recruitment freeze caused by Coronavirus restrictions which would make it impossible for anyone to find alternative employment read more from Unite Housing Workers branch
PCS
PCS Tate strike action suspended (1 Oct) – After 42 days of industrial action by PCS members against redundancies at Tate Enterprises Ltd we have formally suspended our strike. This decision comes after several ACAS meetings where we managed to secure several improvements for members in a revised offer from Tate Enterprises management. While the final details of the offer are still being negotiated the headlines include:
- An improved re-employment and re-deployment policy across Tate Enterprises Ltd.
- Agreement for preferential recruitment for vacancies across the Tate Estate.
- An additional significant investment in redundancy payments for staff across Tate Commerce read more
Jobs at risk following formation of new department (1 Oct) – Hundreds of jobs may go from the new Government Communication Service. In a meeting today (1 October) it was revealed that the government is proposing a figure of 30 comms staff per department. Departments are being told that 30 is the base line figure and they will have to justify having more staff. There are about 4000 comms staff in scope of the Government Communication Service (GCS) project read more
Keep supporting ISS HMRC strikers – PCS members who clean HMRC’s Merseyside offices for multinational company ISS returned to work following a solidly supported four weeks of strike action through August. The strike is part of the members’ long-running fight for the living wage, improved working conditions and job security. Because of the demand for full occupational sick pay from day one, it is also directly linked to PCS’s Dying for Sick Pay campaign, which aims to secure occupational sick pay for all workers across the government estate…The members are meeting this week to discuss their next steps. Under the Tories’ 2016 Trade Union Act, a further postal ballot is required before they can take any more strike action, and members will need to discuss where the campaign goes next. In the meantime, you can continue to support the campaign by signing the e-action to Jim Harra on the TUC’s Megaphone site and donating to the strike fund: account name: PCS Liverpool/Bootle Campaign Account, sort code: 60-83-01, account number: 20415772
Calling all petitioners – The PCS petition calling for fair pay for UK government workers has now reached the 50,000 signatories mark. With 50,000 more signatures to go to guarantee a full debate on the issue in Parliament we are asking members who have already signed the petition to ask their friends and colleagues to also sign it read more
Please sign this PCS petition to Save Ealing Tax Office – we ask that you sign this eaction to the Chancellor calling on him to intervene urgently, to halt the office closures and redundancies, and consult fully with the union and work to retain the experience and vital knowledge contained within Ealing Tax Office. Support our call to SAVE JOBS, SAVE SERVICES and STOP THE CLOSURES
Support Interserve strikers – Interserve workers at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, were on strike for the whole of February. You can support the workers 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
GMB
ASDA takeover: over 100,000 workers need reassurance (2 Oct) – GMB, the union for Asda workers, has called for reassurances for more than 100,000 workers as a takeover is announced today. Retail giant Walmart completed a £6.5billion sale of Asda to a consortium comprising private equity firm TDR Capital and petrol station tycoons Mohsin and Zuber Issa read more
Amazon in denial over worker injuries following robot study (1 Oct) – GMB, the union for Amazon workers, has said the company is in denial about its appalling safety record as a new report shows accidents increase in warehouses with robots. The Center for Investigative Reporting said serious injuries are 50% higher for fulfilment centres that have robots than those without. A GMB investigation earlier this year revealed hundreds of Amazon workers had suffered serious injury or narrowly avoided an accident read more
1 in 3 bosses set to make redundancies, study shows (1 Oct) – GMB, Britain’s general union, has responded to an ACAS study showing one in three employers are set to make redundancies in the next three months read more
Lack of care home testing a stark warning for ministers – GMB (30 Sept) – Concerns about lack of testing from the big care companies should act as a stark warning to Ministers, GMB warns. Providers such as HC-ONE, Four Seasons Care Homes and Barchester care – who have more than 700 homes between them – report struggling to have their staff tested quickly enough read more
GMB announce further 10 days of action at Brighton & Hove City Council Housing Repairs department – “We’ll stay away until we all have sick pay”, say defiant GMB members. GMB have issued BHCC chief executive Geoff Raw with further strike dates in the ongoing dispute to secure sick pay for all operatives and GMB members within the Housing Repairs team. The walkout will be commencing on Mon 28th September and is the second of such actions taken by the team. It will see Council plumbers, electricians, carpenters and painter/decorators along with various other trades lawfully refusing to work over a 10 day period and until they secure sick pay parity for all colleagues less fortunate then themselves from the city’s Green Party-led council. The announcement comes at the end of an initial 5 days of action by GMB members whilst awaiting Council Officers’ response to the latest union proposal to resolve the issue read more
Unison
Carmarthenshire UNISON members bulletin no. 31 for latest news and updates (available from union website): https://carmarthenshire.unison.site/2020/09/29/members-bulletin-31/
Addiction support workers enter last day of latest strike (2 Oct) – We Are With You continues to refuse to pay promised wage increase, after Central Arbitration Committee rules it has to recognise UNISON. Drug and alcohol support workers in the North West are on the last day of a 10-day strike today (Friday), as they continue their fight to force their employer, national charity We Are With You (formerly Addaction), to give them a promised pay rise. The industrial action involves 30 rehabilitation staff from Wigan and Leigh in Greater Manchester read more
The Wigan Branch and North West Region are asking for donations from branches to the hardship fund. Please donate via bank transfer to:
Unity Bank Sort Code: 60 83 01 Account Number: 20244354
Or send a cheque payable to ‘UNISON Wigan Metropolitan Branch hardship fund’ to – UNISON Branch Office, Wigan Life Centre, The Wiend, Wigan WN1 1NH
UNISON submits further education pay claim (1 Oct) – Claim for college staff in England seeks a “full restoration” of the loss to pay in the sector during 10 years of austerity. UNISON has today submitted a pay claim for further education colleges in England, which seeks a “full restoration” of the cuts to pay in the sector over the past decade read more
Only weekly testing of NHS staff will stop the virus in its tracks (1 Oct) – The government has failed to keep its many testing promises. Commenting on the call today (Thursday) from the Health and Social Care Committee for the weekly testing of NHS staff, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “Health workers must be tested once a week if the virus is to be stopped in its tracks…” read more
Government breaks pledge to stop low-paid health and care staff paying twice to use the NHS (1 Oct) – Boris Johnson promised a lifeline to low-paid workers then callously pulled it away. The government has rowed back on a pledge to scrap the immigration health surcharge, which forces overseas health and care workers to pay to use the NHS, even though they already pay for it through tax and national insurance, says UNISON today (Thursday) read more
Wigan and Leigh rehab workers recently took a further ten-day strike in long-running pay dispute as their union is finally recognised by We Are With You read more
Support the Tower Hamlets Unison workers – Read more here and on Tower Hamlets UNISON Facebook page and follow @UNISON_TwrHmlts on twitter
CWU
Justice for postmasters with more Horizon humiliation for shamed Post Office bosses (Oct 2) – Former postmasters hailed another step towards justice today, when shamed Post Office bosses announced they will not contest the vast majority of Horizon-related convictions that were sent to the Appeal Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The CCRC sent 39 cases to the Court of Appeal back in March and a further eight in June, after considering the convictions in each instance read more
National day of action for BT workers “won’t be the last” (Oct 2) – Yesterday’s national day of action for BT workers “won’t be the last”, the CWU have warned. Speaking at a video rally after the #CountMeIn wave of solidarity for BT workers from across the union, CWU deputy general secretary Andy Kerr told the company to change their attitude. As it’s not true that the union and its campaign is “not representative” of how their workers feel read more
Post Office Horizon scandal – Sir Wyn Williams to head inquiry (Sept 30) – “One cheer, but we’re reserving our second,” was CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey’s reaction to yesterday’s news that the Government has appointed a senior and widely respected former High Court judge to lead the investigation into what many have dubbed “one of Britain’s biggest miscarriages of justice. Postal Affairs Minister Paul Scully announced yesterday that Sir Wyn Williams – a former Senior Presiding Judge with 28 years of judicial service – will preside over the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal and that his work will “start immediately” read more
‘Count Me In’ fightback steps into full gear as BT moves to attack severance terms (Sept 30) – BT has fired its latest broadside on employees’ hard won job security and industry-leading terms and conditions, launching a direct attack on team member redundancy terms. In the latest display of a belligerent new management approach which is sweeping across the whole of BT Group – but manifesting itself in different ways in individual lines of business – the company’s most recent assault on employees’ rights is truly pan-BT in its implications. Yesterday (Monday) the company announced a month-long company-wide ‘consultation’ on contractual redundancy and paid leaver terms for all of its UK employees, claiming the current arrangements are ‘too complex, inconsistent and therefore unfair’. Already it’s clear, however, that the real intention is to slash the redundancy terms that apply across much of the company – with BT’s aim being to effectively halve maximum redundancy entitlements for longer -serving employees from two years’ to one year’s money. The whirlwind ‘consultation’ – which will run from now until October 31 – follows the company’s provocative decision this May to serve notice on 2018 Pensions Agreement which contains a legally binding annexe, included at the insistence of the CWU, that sets out the company’s responsibilities to team member grade employees in any redundancy situation read more
BFAWU
Justice for Greencore Northampton Workers
Sign petition – To: Guy Dullage, Chief People Officer, Greencore
Greencore: Guarantee full pay for your self-isolating workers!
Campaign created by
BFAWU Greencore Northampton Branch
Read the report published by Doctors in Unite: https://doctorsinunite.com/2020/09/02/the-role-of-airborne-spread-in-factory-outbreaks-of-covid-19/
NEU
Member survey shows lack of trust in Government (3 Oct) – NEU survey shows a complete lack of trust in Government to keep schools open and safe through Covid read more
Coronavirus: School Closure Data (29 Sept) – The Government’s inability to provide what schools need to ensure they remain open for as long as possible is unacceptable and will affect not only children’s education, but the wellbeing of staff and students read more
NASUWT
Westminster Government failing on its promise that schools would be Covid secure (2 Oct) – Just 1% of teachers say pupils are always practicing social distancing from adults in their school, with over half (56%) saying pupils are rarely or never doing so, a survey by the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has found. The survey of nearly 7,000 teachers in England found low levels of compliance with many of the Covid secure measures schools are expected to have in place to help protect pupils and staff read more
Welsh Government failing on its promise that schools would be covid secure (2 Oct) – Just 3% of teachers in Wales say pupils are always practicing social distancing from adults in their school, with nearly half (46%) saying pupils are rarely or never doing so, a survey by the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has found. The survey of over 700 teachers in Wales found low levels of compliance with many of the Covid secure measures schools are expected to have in place to help protect pupils and staff read more
EIS
EIS Says it is Wrong to Blame Students for rise in COVID Cases in Universities (29 Sept) – Following the significant outbreaks of Covid19 on University campuses in Scotland, the EIS-ULA has expressed its support for and solidarity with students caught up in the current situation and reiterated its call for teaching to be delivered remotely wherever possible read more
UCU
Unions demand colleges deliver on promise to increase staff pay (1 Oct) – Colleges must deliver on their promise to increase staff pay now the government has provided further education an extra £400 million funding, said trade unions as they launched their pay claim for England. The Association of Colleges, which represents English colleges, had previously said any staff pay increase was contingent on increased government funding. The unions said it was time for colleges to finally agree a significant pay rise for further education staff and bring contracted staff back in-house. The pay claim – submitted by UCU, UNISON, NEU, GMB and Unite – calls for is here
Calls for Manchester Metropolitan University vice-chancellor to resign immediately (1 Oct) – Manchester Metropolitan University vice-chancellor Professor Malcolm Press should resign immediately over his bungled handling of the Covid crisis at the university, say his staff. At a virtual emergency meeting, UCU members at the university passed a motion calling for him to resign and said they would write to the Board of Governors if he refused to go read more
UCU and the National Union Students issue joint statement calling for action over university Covid crisis (1 Oct) – In a joint statement*, UCU and the National Union of Students (NUS) have called for online working, students to be allowed to return home if they wish and funding guarantees to safeguard universities’ finances and protect jobs read more
MPs call on University of Leeds to move learning online (1 Oct) – A group of MPs from across Leeds have called on the University of Leeds to move teaching online in an effort to stem the developing Covid crisis at universities read more
Locked-down universities warned against “dangerous” blocking of fire exits (30 Sept) – Firefighters and education staff have warned universities that it is “dangerous and illegal” to block or lock fire exits, after pictures emerged of a locked fire exit at a student accommodation block in Leeds. Obstructing fire exits “can, and has, cost lives in the past”, the leaders of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and University and College Union (UCU) warned, in a letter to all UK universities, demanding that the safety of students and staff be “absolutely paramount” read more
Strike ballot at Heriot-Watt University in row over rushed job cuts (28 Sept) – Members of the UCU at Heriot-Watt University are being balloted for strike action in a row over the prospect of compulsory job losses. The ballot opens tomorrow (Tuesday) and will close on Tuesday 20 October. The row centres on cuts that would see more than 130 jobs at risk. The union argues that the rushed timetable to cut jobs – with the first staff due to leave at the start of November – means that alternative options for savings have not been sufficiently explored. The union said that losing 130 members of staff would have a drastic impact on both the student experience and the university’s reputation. Remaining staff would also be left with higher workloads and less contact time with students, who would be taught in bigger classes read more
NUJ
NUJ slams sham redundancy exercise at Iran International (2 Oct) – The National Union of Journalists has condemned the targeting of NUJ members and chapel reps at London-based broadcaster Iran International in a redundancy exercise it believes to be a pretext to force out the union’s chapel rep who has led the recognition campaign at the channel. The Iran International chapel met this week to offer solidarity and support to their affected colleagues and unanimously agreed a statement calling on the company to reconsider its decision and to acknowledge that trade union rights are human rights read more
Prospect
Panto protestors march on parliament to demand help for theatres and live events (30 Sept) – Pantomime dames, creative workers and others excluded from government support during the COVID-19 pandemic joined together today (Wednesday 30 September) for colourful and creative protests through London to parliament. Pantomime dames at the Panto Parade to parliament attended by members of Bectu, Equity, Musicians Union and other supporters. The Panto Parade, which started in the West End, highlighted the cancellation of this year’s pantomimes In theatres across the UK, and the damage to the theatre and live events industry caused by inadequate government help. The dames wore colourful costumes and protestors held banners with poignant messages like “22 years a stage manager. It’s not just a viable job, it’s my life”; “Arts is valid, we are valid” and the humorous “Are you behind us?” Supporters of ExcludedUK marched from the Southbank to Parliament Square at the same time read more
NIPSA
Reshaping the Future: The Case for a Four Day Week (1 Oct) – We continue to promote the view that it is essential for the Trade Union movement to engage in a “battle of ideas” not only to challenge the dominant economic orthodoxy that has brought cuts and privatisation to our members and their families but also to explore alternative policy models that would reshape our society for the better. The latest NIPSA Policy and Research publication, arising from a conference motion proposing NIPSA campaign for the introduction of a four-day week in the NICS, continues this mission read more
USDAW
Usdaw and retailers call for an inquiry into the growing problem of violence and abuse against shop workers (1 Oct) – A retail industry coalition, including Usdaw, has today jointly written to Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, calling for an inquiry into violence and abuse against staff. The coalition also includes: British Retail Consortium (BRC), Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NRFN) read more
Stop union victimisation: Reinstate Richie Venton Glasgow USDAW – IKEA workers need YOUR support. This is a campaign page set up by workers furious at the victimisation and sacking of the elected USDAW shop steward and convener in IKEA Glasgow, RICHIE VENTON, and IKEA’s attacks on workers’ rights and conditions, including removal of wages from workers off sick with COVID-19. Richie has been singled out and sacked for standing up for the health, safety and lives of workers he represents, demanding safety measures and full average pay for all workers sick or self-isolating with the killer virus. He is the first trade unionist in Scotland to be sacked by employers in disputes over workers’ safety from the Coronavirus. Since sacking him, IKEA have imposed even worse cutbacks, including on company sick benefit, putting far more workers on just £95 Statutory Sick Pay, which could force some to continue working because of hardship, spreading the virus, endangering lives. This campaign is to reinstate Richie to his job and his elected union position; to win full average wages for all COVID-sick workers, in IKEA and every other workplace; and to stop employers making £billions in profit but endangering workers’ lives by expecting them to survive on £95-a-week Statutory Sick Pay. Sign the Petition – Add your voice and support to the demand that Ikea reinstate Richie Venton and reinstate sick workers’ wages by signing the secure petition read more on Reinstate Richie Venton website
Watch Reel News this video about London IKEA solidarity protest
Government objects to a new law to protect shop workers from assault – Usdaw urges them to listen to staff and retailers (25 Sept) – Retail trade union Usdaw is deeply disappointed by today’s Government objection to a Bill to protect shop workers from violent attacks, which is also supported by retail employers and their representative bodies read more
New law to protect Scottish shopworkers from violence and abuse progresses – Usdaw welcomes the support of MSPs (24 Sept) – Retail trade union Usdaw welcomes today’s Scottish Parliament stage one unanimous vote for a new law to protect shop workers from abuse, allowing the Bill to go to detailed scrutiny in committee. The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill is promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Support striking Debenhams Workers: Email messages of support to the strikers via [email protected] and Mandate through [email protected]. Also, follow Stand with Debenhams Workers Facebook page
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU representatives demand management urgently addresses concerns of St John of God’s workers (1 Oct) – SIPTU representatives have today (Thursday, 1st October) called on the management of St John of God’s and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to immediately address the concerns of union members over jobs and the future provision of its services. The call comes following the announcement that the responsibility for the operation of intellectual, disability and mental health services currently provided by St John of God’s will transfer into full state ownership over the next 12 months read more
SIPTU condemns failure of Government to honour promise to support Shannon Heritage sites (30 Sept) – SIPTU members have condemned the failure of the Government to meet a commitment to provide €2.6 million in funding to keep open King John’s Castle in Limerick City and Bunratty Castle in County Clare until the end of the year read more
UVW
“Now is not the time to cut cleaning staff, now is the time for £12 per hour” declare care workers as they ballot for strike action (29 Sept) – Care workers, cleaners and maintenance workers at Service to the Aged (SAGE), a North London based care home specialising in adult social care for London’s Jewish community, notified management late last night of their intention to begin balloting for strike action in a week’s time. The move follows the refusal by Sage board trustee and co-chair – Adrian Jacobs and Stephen Goldman – to recognise the workers union of choice, UVW; their recent decision to reduce cleaning provision at the nursing home, and a deafening silence on receipt of the workers’ demands. The ballot will open next week read more
IWGB
NHS Covid-19 testing contractor found to be in breach of health and safety regulations, following sacking of whistleblower (1 Oct) – The UK government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found NHS Covid-19 testing contractor The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) in material breach of several health and safety regulations. The findings follow the launch of legal proceedings by the IWGB against TDL over the victimisation and dismissal of trade union activists and whistleblowers who had raised health and safety concerns read more
Other news
Hull Unity Shop (initiated by Hull & District Trades Union Council) – The trade unions have set up the Unity Shop to provide food and other necessities for those families who are struggling, both in and out of work read more
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Builders Crack: The Movie
In the current situation, this long lost film from the 1990s about rank and file union organising in the construction industry is intended to lift the spirits, but also to spark a debate in our movement. Hope the youngsters in this film put a smile on your face.
Watch – Share – Discuss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZ-QMA1FMg
Blacklist Support Group
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
Defend Tony Smith Unison Hull – Trade Unionists will be outraged at the dismissal of Tony Smith by an FCC disciplinary hearing. His appeal hearing was heard on September 15th. Tony a UNISON activist has been sacked for gross misconduct but in reality he has been victimised for Trade Union activities. All of Tony’s fellow drivers at the FCC waste disposal plant at Wilmington agreed that Tony made a correct Health and safety call but this was ignored in a blatant stitch up by management. Tony led the successful strike two years ago which won sick pay rights for 2,500 FCC workers up and down the country. Hull Trades Council will be protesting outside the site and we will be trying to organise more extensive action to coincide with Tony’s appeal. Please send messages of support to Tony Smith C/O Hull City UNISON, Town Hall Chambers 39, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AG or email via [email protected]
From Mike Whale Chair Hull Trades Council
Reinstate Richie Venton Glasgow USDAW – IKEA workers need YOUR support. This is a campaign page set up by workers furious at the victimisation and sacking of the elected USDAW shop steward and convener in IKEA Glasgow, RICHIE VENTON, and IKEA’s attacks on workers’ rights and conditions, including removal of wages from workers off sick with COVID-19. Richie has been singled out and sacked for standing up for the health, safety and lives of workers he represents, demanding safety measures and full average pay for all workers sick or self-isolating with the killer virus. He is the first trade unionist in Scotland to be sacked by employers in disputes over workers’ safety from the Coronavirus. Since sacking him, IKEA have imposed even worse cutbacks, including on company sick benefit, putting far more workers on just £95 Statutory Sick Pay, which could force some to continue working because of hardship, spreading the virus, endangering lives. This campaign is to reinstate Richie to his job and his elected union position; to win full average wages for all COVID-sick workers, in IKEA and every other workplace; and to stop employers making £billions in profit but endangering workers’ lives by expecting them to survive on £95-a-week Statutory Sick Pay. Sign the Petition – Add your voice and support to the demand that Ikea reinstate Richie Venton and reinstate sick workers’ wages by signing the secure petition read more on Reinstate Richie Venton website
From Glasgow Live: IKEA Glasgow workers threaten to strike over cuts to sick pay (28 Aug)
Manchester bus workers to hold consultative ballot on industrial action, as rep suspended for carrying out trade union duties Colin Hayden – About 500 Manchester bus drivers will hold a consultative ballot on whether they want to take industrial action after a senior Unite rep at bus company Go North West Limited was suspended for carrying out legitimate trade union activities. Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest trade union, said that the ballot follows the suspension of the rep, who is also a Unite branch chair, as the union highlighted plans to reduce the wages of 500 Manchester bus drivers by an estimated £2,000-a-year. The company has attempted to railroad changes to the terms and conditions of the bus drivers – while 80 per cent of the drivers, including all of the Unite reps except for the senior rep, were furloughed – via the offer of a one-off payment of £5,000. Unite, however, says that within three years its members would be worse off, if the plan were allowed to go-ahead…Unite said that the working practices at the Queens Road depot which the company wants to buy-out have since been replaced by additional cleaning and cash collection duties which mean the bus drivers are working just as hard. The consultative ballot will be held by the end of August. Whether Unite proceeds to a full-scale industrial action ballot, including the option for strike action, depends on the outcome of the consultative vote read more
Unite launches campaign to stop Go Ahead Group using COVID 19 as cover to slash pay and conditions (9 Sept) – Unite, Britain’s biggest union, has launched an international campaign to stop the owners of the Manchester bus company Go North West from using Covid 19 as cover for making savage cuts to bus drivers’ pay and conditions, while victimising and gagging a Unite union representative. Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey has written to Go Ahead Group’s CEO David Brown to warn him that Unite will be using all available resources to provide “immediate assistance to our members”. “In addition to industrial action this will mean exposing your company’s behaviour to all of your stakeholders, partners and associates. This will include mobilising all of our allies and contacting our significant political network in the Nordic countries, Germany and Australasia” read more
PCS: Trade unionists asked to send solidarity to PCS rep dismissed after blowing the whistle (25 July) – Trade unionists are being urged to send solidarity messages to a PCS rep dismissed after whistleblowing at the Department of Work and Pensions. Enrico La Rocca, who had worked for the DWP for more than 27 years, lost his job in May after highlighting serious concerns with management over a number of years. His complaints resulted in questions being asked about the department’s handling of Carer’s Allowance overpayments by the National Audit Office (NAO) and raised by in a Work and Pensions Select Committee report read more from Union News
RMT: SUSPENSION OF RMT REPRESENTATIVES, FRATTON – SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY – Following my previous Circular (IR/171/20) dated 14th May 2020, as you are aware, two of our representatives, Mark Gamble and Brian Perren, were suspended from duty using unscrupulous charges. South Western Railway’s actions throughout this dispute have been appalling. The company have clearly targeted our members as they are hardworking and effective representatives. The callous action of South Western Railway has been abhorrent from the very start of this dispute. Our members recently had their disciplinary hearings and after successful representation Brother Brian Perren has been reinstated to his substantive role. However, Mark has been left in limbo by the company and still faces these ridiculous charges. This means that the ballot that was due to close today (4th June) has been cancelled. As one of our members has been reinstated, this changes the basis of the original ballot. Unfortunately, because of the anti-trade union laws we would not have been able to use any mandate we received from this ballot. Therefore, we have to run a fresh ballot and this will be to continue to defend our suspended Brother Mark Gamble. The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and has congratulated our members and all those who assisted Brian in proving his innocence and ensuring he is reinstated to his substantive role. The NEC has also instructed me to run a fresh ballot in defence of our Brother Mark Gamble who still remains suspended. It is incredibly disappointing that the company has failed to see sense and instead have chosen to drag on an unnecessary dispute. It is disgraceful that Mark remains suspended and we have no choice but to stand shoulder to shoulder and defy SWR’s callous and distasteful decision. I have written to the company today to advise them of this union’s position and they have been left in no doubt that we will not allow them to pursue outrageous charges against our from democratically elected representatives (from RMT general secretary Mick Cash)
Clara Paillard PCS victory – We are delighted to announce that the threat of dismissal has been lifted and Clara, PCS president in the Culture sector, is ‘back at work’ (although from home during the current pandemic).
Reinstate Percy Yunganina UVW union – Percy is a cleaner at King’s college with 5 years on the job, and a UVW executive committee member, who’s just been sacked after a disciplinary hearing he refused to attend due to observing the government’s social distancing guidelines but which King’s College proceeded with anyway in his absence without even letting him know or inviting him to attend via phone. The hearing would have had 8 people cramped together in a small room in complete disregard of the government’s instructions about social distancing. Percy has explained the reaons for not attending and asked for the decision to be overturned and the hearing to be reconvened via phone or in person after Lockdown. However, King’s have scandalously refused this request and have insisted on upholding his dismissal which now leaves Percy out of work and out of pocket in the middle of a pandemic! He will formally appeal but it could take months to hear and deliver an outcome. We will also take King’s to tribunal but that could take over a year. This is utterly shameless conduct by King’s HR team, led by Nigel Smith, the Head of People Services. They need to be held to account. Everyone deserves the right to a fair hearing and should not have that right denied them for respecting the government’s public health guidelines about social distancing. Please repost this and write to Nigel Smith at the following address telling him to reinstate Percy – [email protected]
Sign the petition: Reinstate Ezra Christian RMT – We, the undersigned, are appalled at the treatment and summary dismissal of our Bakerloo Line colleague Ezra Christian. Ezra has been treated very harshly and does not deserve to be sacked. We call on London Underground to do the right thing in this case and Reinstate Ezra back into London Underground Employment immediately
Reinstate Clive Walder Unite: the campaign continues – Unfortunately, we have to inform you that the appeal by Unite against Clive’s dismissal by National Express in Birmingham was unsuccessful. In the hearing on 5 March, the company downgraded his offence from gross misconduct to misconduct and altered the penalty from summary dismissal to dismissal with four weeks’ notice. We believe dismissal is totally disproportionate and Clive should be reinstated. Clive and his union Unite the union will shortly decide the next steps in his campaign against his sacking. Clive would like to thank all those who have expressed solidarity with him, including supporters of the National Shop Stewards Network who took part in the protest leafleting of his workplace before the appeal hearing. It was successful enough for National Express to report it to the Unite full time official. Please continue to send protest emails to [email protected]. The NSSN has produced a flyer which can be downloaded and printed off to give to National Express employees and customers in support of Clive. We are appealing to our supporters to take photos of any solidarity protests and post on social media
Support Danyal Aziz Unite – Daniel was a Unite rep at London City Airport, who was recently sacked. Labour MP Sam Tarry has tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion in support of Danyal. Email your local MP to get them to sign the EDM
Defend Paul Williams PCS – Stop the victimisation of senior PCS rep Paul Williams – Paul Williams has a long and proud history of defending his colleagues at the Department for Transport, and predecessor departments, for nearly 40 years but as a result of his union activities is facing compulsory redundancy even though there are vacancies at his grade read more
Sign the petition: Reinstate UNISON rep Peter Moorhead and stop victimising trade unionists at Alternative Futures Group (AFG)
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!
Defend Moe Unite – support Moe Muhsin Manir, a hardworking Unite rep on London buses, working for Abellio. We are delighted to report that Moe is back at work. We will keep everyone up to date on any developments. Moe would like to thank everyone who sent support and solidarity.
Guardian: Ricky Tomlinson’s criminal convictions to be re-examined
Appeal court to look again at case of Royle Family actor after claims he may have been unjustly jailed
The criminal convictions of actor Ricky Tomlinson, who starred in the TV comedy the Royle Family, are to be re-examined by appeal court judges after an official body suggested he may have been unjustly jailed. Tomlinson and other trade unionists have been campaigning for years to clear their names after they were jailed during a strike in the 1970s. On Tuesday, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the public body that scrutinises alleged miscarriages of justice, announced it had asked the court of appeal to review the cases of Tomlinson and others. Tomlinson, 80, said it was “good news” and an opportunity to prove that he and 23 other men were prosecuted in what amounted to a politically motivated attack on the trade union movement by the government, police and managers read more in Guardian
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
International
Support the Ukrainian miners’ strike (from Mike Whale Hull & District Trades Council)
We salute the magnificent struggle of the Ukrainian metal ore miners for improved wages, terms and conditions and Health and safety. The strike, which has taken the form of an underground occupation of the mines, has been continuous from the 3rd September. While the mine owners are multi-billionaires many of the mineworkers earn less than $180 a month. 1,000 miners have died in Ukrainian mines over the last 25 years. The mine managers working at the behest of the mine owners continually take short cuts when it comes to health and safety. The intimidation from the mine owning oligarchs, includes physical threats to the families of the strike leaders
We support the aims of the strike. For an immediate and substantial wage rise for all mine workers. The dismissal of the mine managers who cut corners in health and safety. Properly trained and qualified workers to carry out appropriate jobs. The lowering of the pension age to reflect the dangers to life and health involved in mining. Strictly enforced health and safety regulations to protect mine workers
Letters of protest can be sent to local Ukrainian embassies via the emails below:
Diary
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
