NSSN 554: March against Tories on Sunday – support the strikes!

Sunday October 3^rd – 12pm People’s Assembly ‘Protest the Tory Party Conference’ national demo in Manchester. Assemble Oxford Road near Whitworth Park, M14 4PW read more   Facebook event

As anger grows against the public sector pay freeze at the same time Boris Johnson brings in his NI stealth tax hike and prices start to rise, this Sunday will see thousands march in Manchester against the Tories as they gather for their annual conference.

Also, workers in both the public and private sector are increasingly taking action against the employers’ attacks such as ‘fire and rehire’. This week, PCS and UVW members in the Royal Parks escalate their action with a month-long strike, while UCU members in 10 FE colleges will be striking together and the following Monday the union’s members at Liverpool University will take a further 5 days of action.

Please continue to give support and solidarity to these all the other workers’ struggles taking action, most of which are highlighted in this weekly bulletin.

 

Shrewsbury 24 Celebration hosted by Shropshire & Telford Trades Council – Saturday 2nd October 2pm St Nicholas Shrewsbury

With Jeremy Corbyn, Steve Gillan (POA), Rob Williams (NSSN)

Eventbrite

 

United action against the Tories on public sector pay

Public sector workers, headed by those in the NHS and education, are rightly furious after the Tories finally made their pay announcements.

The 3% to be awarded to NHS staff, who have been on the front line risking their lives during Covid, is nowhere near what has been lost over the last decade. That’s why many health workers have been demanding 15%. But to rub salt in to the wounds, this rise must come out of the existing NHS budget. This means brutal cuts on top of all the Tory austerity we’ve already had.

It’s even worse for teachers, with a pay freeze. Local government workers have already been offered 1.75% and those in higher education 1.5%, further education staff 1% while many civil servants just a paltry £250 for lowest paid members and nothing for the rest.

The NSSN stands in solidarity with these and all public sector workers who are effectively receiving a pay cut as RPI inflation moves over 3%. After years of cuts to their income, the most effective way to get the pay rise they deserve is to fight together.

We support all demonstrations and industrial action that workers take. Workers are stronger when they take action together. The NSSN calls on unions and their members to reject these insulting offers and co-ordinate industrial action ballots so that if the Tories don’t back down, millions of public sector workers can take action together to get the pay rise they deserve.

Unite Wales NHS members reject 3% pay increase and vote in favour of industrial action (27 Sept)

GMB members reject NHS pay deal – strike ballot to follow (20 Sept)

UNISON health members deliver damning verdict on government’s 3% increase (20 Sept)

NHS pay deal consultation: vast majority of RCN members who voted say 3% is unacceptable (15 Sept)

UCU: Strikes set to begin this month at 13 colleges in pay row (15 Sept)

 

Follow NHS Workers Say NO to Public Sector pay inequality on Facebook

 

Stop victimisation of union reps

Donate to the reinstatement campaign of Declan Clune RMT bus driver in Southampton (on behalf of Declan Clune and all RMT Southampton District Bus and Coach Branch members). Email message of support: [email protected]

Support GARY CARNEY, TRAIN OPERATOR – LONDON UNDERGROUND

Defend Adrian Mitchell RMT driver on London Underground

Support Tim Breed RMT

Donate to solidarity campaign of Moe Muhsin Manir Unite bus rep   Email messages of support to Moe: [email protected]

Trade union rep victimisation at Woolwich Ferry reaches ‘obscene levels’, says Unite

Unite: Ealing’s Labour council ‘actively helping’ Serco ‘hound’ union rep from civil enforcement job

St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite rep – sign petition: End the culture of fear at St Mungo’s

Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council

Sacked UCU member wins right to return to work (29 July)

Watch Reel News video: Victimised union reps: Act like it’s you and fight back

Sign petition: Overturn Final written warning for John Boken (NEU Representative at Shrewsbury Colleges Group)

Sign petition to support Redbridge NEU Rep Keiran Mahon

Watch Reel News video: Huddersfield teachers strike to defend Louise Lewis

Defend NEU Exec member Tracy McGuire. Stop the victimization of Tracy!

 

 

Support the NSSN

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 from last September and follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook

 

 

 

Union News

RMT

East Midlands Railways staff united again today (26 Sept) – East Midlands Railways staff united again today in fight for workplace justice and safety. RAIL UNION RMT said that East Midlands Railways staff are standing united and determined again today in their on-going fights for workplace justice and safety read more

RMT Scotrail members continue their battle (26 Sept) – RMT Scotrail members continue their battle today after ticket examiners vote with conductors to step up the fight for pay justice and equality. RAIL UNION RMT said that Scotrail members are continuing their fight for pay justice and equality today after ticket examiners joined with conductors again this week to vote overwhelmingly to continue a battle which has now been going on for over seven months read more

ScotRail Ticket Examiners to take further action (24 Sept) – ScotRail Ticket Examiners to take further action after reballot in fight for pay equality and justice. RAIL UNION RMT said that Scotrail Ticket Examiners who have been engaged in a six month fight for pay justice and equality will be adding further strikes after a massive 90% vote to continue their action in a reballot. Following yesterday’s ballot result RMT’s‎ National Executive Committee has now considered the matter and has taken the decision to call on all Abellio Scotrail Ticket Examiner members to take further industrial action and not to book on for any shifts that commence between:

• hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 10th October 2021
• hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 17th October 2021
• hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 24th October 2021
• hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 31st October 2021

Existing strike action called for Sunday 26th September and Sunday 3rd October 2021 remains in place. Additionally Abellio Scotrail Ticket Examiner members have been instructed not to work any Rest Days or undertake any Higher Grade Duties remains in place until further notice read more

ScotRail Ticket Examiners vote by 90% to continue pay action (23 Sept) – ScotRail Ticket Examiners vote by 90% to continue action in reballot in fight for pay equality and justice. RAIL UNION RMT said that Scotrail Ticket Examiners who have been engaged in a six month fight for pay justice and equality have voted by a massive 90% to continue their action in a reballot. Under the recent additions to the anti union laws workers have to be balloted every six months ‎if they wish to continue an on-going dispute read more

Six months to save Scotland’s Railways (22 Sept) – “Six months to save Scotland’s Railways” protest today. RAIL UNIONS and their supporters will be holding a “Six months to save Scotland’s railways” protest this lunchtime read more

RMT slams “out of touch” Transport Secretary for insulting comments on rail workers’ jobs and pay (22 Sept) – RAIL UNION RMT today accused the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP of gross insensitivity and insulting thousands of rail workers who are facing a cost-of-living crisis and job insecurity as the Conservative Government continues with their policy of a sector wide pay freeze whilst thousands of rail workers’ jobs are under threat read more

RMT demands “discredited” SWR cuts scrapped – Sign this petition against the SWR cuts

Action solidly supported again today on East Midlands Railways (19 Sept) – RAIL UNION RMT said that action by Senior Conductors and Train Managers on East Midlands Railways in two separate disputes remains solidly supported again today in on-going fights for workplace justice and safety. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said; “I want to pay tribute to our members who are standing firm again today on East Midlands Railways in the two on-going disputes as the company gambles on passenger safety instead of getting round the table for serious talks…” read more

East Midlands Railway Train Managers are instructed to not book on for any shifts that commence between:

• 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Sunday 26th September 2021

Furthermore, you and your colleagues are instructed to take part in the following strike action in the form of:

• Not to work 12 car trains alone from 0001 Hours on Saturday 7th August 2021 until further notice.

Please Note: The above industrial strike action, is suspended during the Sunday strike action dates above, but will commence again immediately at 0001 hours on the Monday, following the Sunday strike action, and will be suspended again at 2359 on each Saturday, on the eve of the Sunday action read more

• 00.01 Hours and 23.59 Hours on Sunday 26th September 2021
• 00.01 Hours and 23.59 Hours on Sunday 3rd October 2021
• 00.01 Hours and 23.59 Hours on Sunday 10th October 2021

RMT Edinburgh Rail Gourmet members solid (17 Sept) – RMT Edinburgh Rail Gourmet members solidly supporting strike action again today in fight for justice. RAIL UNION RMT said that Rail Gourmet staff at Edinburgh Waverley are soildly supporting a new phase of strike action today in an on-going fight for respect and justice in the workplace as the company escalate their abuse and bullying of their staff. This latest phase of action – which will take the strikes into their twelth day tomorrow – follows on from previous rock solid strikes and instead of recognising the strength of the genuine grievances the company have chosen instead to ramp up their attacks on RMT members read more

RMT announces industrial action on Stagecoach East Midlands in national pay fight – BUS UNION RMT today announced industrial action ‎on Stagecoach East Midlands as part of a national campaign to secure professional pay rates for professional drivers which includes RMT members in Yorkshire, the South West and Wessex. Members at the Mansfield and Worksop depots will be taking the following action after a massive yes vote which reflects the anger of this particular group of key transport workers;

‎N‎ot to undertake overtime and not to undertake rest day working between the following hours:

• 00:01 hours on Friday 17^th September 2021 and 23:59 hours on Friday 1st October 2021
• 00:01 hours on Friday 8^th ctober 2021 and 23:59 hours on Friday 22nd October 2021‎‎

RMT members on Stagecoach Yorkshire, South West and Wessex services are also engaged in the dispute and are at various stages of the balloting process read more

RMT calls new Serco Caledonian Sleeper‎ strike dates – RMT calls new phase of industrial action in Serco Caledonian Sleeper‎ pay fight. RAIL UNION RMT has called a new phase of industrial action in its ongoing dispute over pay justice for Serco Caledonian Sleeper workers. The action has been called after negotiations with Serco, under the auspices of ACAS, failed with the company refusing to offer a revised pay award without a series of “efficiency savings”. RMT members employed on the Serco Caledonian Sleeper have already taken a number of rock-solid days of strike action in their ongoing fight for pay justice, after being subjected to a pay freeze, despite being key workers who have worked throughout the pandemic. The union’s National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call further action as follows:-

With effect from 00:01 hours on Friday 30th July 2021, until further notice, members are be instructed:-

• Not to work any Higher-Grade Duty

Additionally, the instruction to Serco Caledonian Sleeper members not to work any overtime and not to work on rest days remains in place until further notice read more

 

ASLEF

Six Months to Save Our ScotRail (22 Sept) – A blue background with white and yellow text and the details of a demonstration. ASLEF and our fellow rail unions in Scotland have called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to step in and save services on ScotRail for the people of Scotland read more

 

TSSA

TSSA ‘saddened’ at Andy McDonald resignation (27 Sept) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has expressed dismay at the resignation of Andy McDonald from Labour’s Shadow Cabinet and praised him for his work on the front bench in Parliament. McDonald quit as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights and Protections, during the Party’s Conference in Brighton, saying he had been asked to argue against a £15 an hour national minimum wage and higher statutory sick pay read more

Six months to save ScotRail – TSSA demonstrates outside First Minister’s official house (23 Sept) – TSSA yesterday (Tuesday) expressed disappointment that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon refused to come and meet them at their “Six months to save ScotRail” demonstration at Bute House on Wednesday. Members of TSSA attended the demo along with members from our sister rail unions – Aslef, RMT & Unite – to mark World Car Free Day on 22 September and to warn that the next six months are crucial to protect ScotRail’s future read more

 

Unite

Unite Wales NHS members reject 3% pay increase and vote in favour of industrial action (27 Sept) – Unite Wales NHS members have voted to reject their 3 per cent pay increase. 64 per cent said they were prepared to take strike action and 80 per cent said that they would take action short of a strike. Unite represents over 6,000 NHS staff in Wales and balloted all of its NHS members in Wales through a consultative ballot. Members were asked if they accepted the 3 per cent pay increase and whether they were prepared to take part in strike action or action short of a strike. Unite’s NHS membership work in almost every profession in the Welsh NHS including health visiting, estates and maintenance, healthcare science, mental health and speech and language therapy read more

Unite welcomes Labour backing for ending brutal fire and rehire (27 Sept) – The Labour party conference has today (Monday 27 September) overwhelmingly supported a motion moved by Unite, the UK’s leading union, condemning the practice of fire and rehire read more

Rally over Dundee University ‘pension poverty’ proposals as ‘One University’ slogan mocked (27 Sept) – Unite the union will join sister trade unions – Unison and UCU – to demonstrate against proposed changes to pensions at the University of Dundee on Wednesday (29 September). The rally will be held in Dundee City Square at 12 noon. In March 2021, the University of Dundee began a consultation process over proposed changes to the pension scheme. The university wants to replace the existing defined benefit scheme with a defined contribution scheme. This will mean that those on lower pay grades (i.e., grades 1-6) will directly lose out in retirement. In contrast, those in the highest pay grades (i.e., Grades 7 and above) will have their pensions protected through the existing UK wide Superannuation Scheme, which has a defined benefits element read more

Lorry driver and poultry processing visas ‘propping up broken and exploitative system’ Unite warns (26 Sept) – Government plans to relax immigration rules for lorry drivers and poultry processors are ‘propping up a broken and exploitative system’, Unite, the UK’s leading union, warned today (Sunday 26 September). The union said depriving other countries of their workers will allow the low pay and unpleasant and stressful working conditions that are the root cause of the driver and chicken factory shortages to continue read more

POLL: Public firmly onside with unions defending workers against abuses (26 Sept) – The public is firmly onside with trade unions when it comes to acting to prevent the mistreatment of workers, a poll for the country’s leading union, Unite, reveals today Sunday 26 September. Nearly seven in 10 (67 per cent) support unions taking action to push back against employer abuses. 59 per cent of Conservative voters and 81 per cent of Labour voters share this view read more

Unite vows to tackle NG Bailey union busting at Aldermarston Weapons Establishment (24 Sept) – Unite, the construction union, has vowed to tackle and stamp out attempts by contractor NG Bailey to union bust on the Mensa project at the Aldermaston Weapons establishment, in Berkshire. Problems began on the project late on Friday 17 September, when five workers, including four members of Unite, one of whom was a health and safety representative, were informed that they had to leave the site immediately. No reason for this removal has been provided. There then followed a walkout of the workforce on Monday 20 September in support of the affected workers. Following the intervention of Unite, the five affected workers were transferred to other projects. NG Bailey, however, has refused to provide the reasons for the removal of the workers and has blamed the principal contractor Costain and the client AWE for that decision. There remains a great deal of unrest among the Unite membership on the project read more

Collapse of EVCL Chill demonstrates flawed logistics and haulage model, warns Unite (24 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has vowed to fully assist all its members affected by the collapse of  EVCL Chill  which filed for administration today (Friday 24 September). EVCL Chill had a number of major contracts for supermarkets including Asda and Sainsbury’s and employed around a 1,000 workers in warehousing and HGV driving roles. The company is owned by venture capitalists Emergevest. Unite believes that EVCL Chill’s collapse into administration is a direct result of the parent company seeking to maximise short term returns at the expense of the investment needed to secure it’s long-term future read more

Unite members at Stagecoach South Wales vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action (24 Sept) – Unite members working for Stagecoach South Wales have today put the company on notice that their workforce is determined to undertake industrial action if they do not change course. Unite members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in the dispute over pay and conditions. The ballot result of 98 per cent in favour of industrial action was based on a turnout of over 77 per cent read more

Scotland’s bus routes could be brought to a ‘halt’ in Stagecoach ballot (22 Sept) – Scotland’s major bus routes could be brought to a ‘halt’ this autumn if 1,500 Stagecoach Group workers vote for industrial action over a pay dispute. The ballot covers major bus depots including Angus, Ardrossan Ayr, Brodick, Cumbernauld, Dumfries, Dundee, Fife, Inverness, Highlands and Islands, Kilmarnock, and Perth. Stagecoach routes run across the Islands, and into all major cities and towns from Orkney to the Borders. If the ballot for industrial action is successful then major bus routes, remote local communities and events are expected to be ‘severely disrupted’.  The workers involved in the dispute are drivers, engineering staff, administrative workers, and cleaners. Any industrial action, it is anticipated, will also involve disruption to the COP26 climate change conference being held in Glasgow between 31 October – 12 November 2021. The ballots across the various Stagecoach Group companies opened from 21 September. If members vote for industrial action, then strikes, and action short of strike, could begin by late October and into late January. The Stagecoach Group, which operates in practice through various local bus companies, are offering below inflation pay offers to workers across Scotland. The Stagecoach Group has blamed the pay offers on the Covid pandemic, despite the company being ‘extremely profitable read more

Unite warns National Express that potential Stagecoach takeover bid comes amid industrial unrest (22 Sept) – Unite has warned National Express that its bid to takeover Stagecoach comes at a time of industrial unrest amongst the target firm’s staff. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are currently involved in around 20 separate disputes with Stagecoach across the country over pay and other related issues. These disputes may result in industrial action across Stagecoach’s entire network during the autumn and winter read more

Manchester Stagecoach bus drivers to vote for strike action over pay (22 Sept) – Bus passengers in Greater Manchester could be facing severe disruption to their journeys if drivers employed by Stagecoach, vote for strike action in a dispute over pay. Stagecoach, which operates as Greater Manchester Bus Company South, is refusing to make a pay offer which in anyway meets the aspirations of the drivers and is blaming the Covid pandemic for its actions read more

Stagecoach North East bosses’ ‘divide-and-rule’ tactics on pay prompts strike ballot by drivers (22 Sept) – More than 800 drivers and engineers at Stagecoach North East have called ‘time’ on the management’s ‘divide-and-rule’ tactics on pay and will be holding a ballot for industrial action, including the option to strike, Unite the union said today (Wednesday 22 September). The ballot for strike action and industrial action short of strike action opens on Wednesday 29 September and closes on Thursday 14 October. Stagecoach North East is the ‘trading’ name for Busways Travel Ltd and Cleveland Transit Ltd. Management are going from depot to depot offering Unite’s reps variations of a verbal deal with a cap at two per cent for the pay year 2021 – 2022 – all these offers have been rejected by the employees. In the Newcastle area there are two depots at Slatyford and Walkergate with others at South Shields, Sunderland and on Teesside where there are sites at Stockton and Hartlepool read more

Tips legislation delay has cost waiting staff £2,000-a-year, says Unite (24 Sept) – The five-year delay in the government coming forward with tips legislation has cost the UK’s waiting staff an estimated £10,000 in ‘lost’ tips, Unite said today (Friday 24 September). While welcoming today’s announcement from labour markets minister Paul Scully that the law will be changed so that staff will now receive 100 per cent of their service charge, Unite criticised the government’s dilatoriness that has hit hard financially the two million-strong hospitality workforce read more

Disruption expected as scaffolders at British Steel in Scunthorpe announce strike action over pay (23 Sept) – Scaffolders employed by contractor Actavo (UK) Limited and working on the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, have announced all out strike action in a long running dispute over pay. The 60 plus scaffolders, who are members of Unite, the UK’s construction union, will begin strike action on Monday 4 October. The dispute, which began in 2019, is a result of the workers seeking to be paid in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The rates for the workforce are currently between 10-15 per cent (depending on specific roles) below these rates. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Employers cannot be allowed to undermine national industrial agreements in an attempt to create a race to the bottom on pay for construction workers…” read more

RNAD Coulport nuclear naval base workers vote to take industrial action in ‘final warning shot’ to ABL Alliance (23 Sept) – Unite Scotland has confirmed that around 70 of its members who provide specialist services for the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines have voted to support industrial action at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport. 90.5% of Unite’s members based at RNAD Coulport voted ‘yes’ in support of strike action, and 95.3% supported action short of a strike in a 90% ballot turnout. Unite has said the ‘emphatic’ ballot result should serve as a ‘final warning shot’ to the ABL Alliance employers involved in the pay dispute. The trade union has confirmed that it will now consult its members at RNAD Coulport to consider various forms of industrial action, which it is anticipated will take place from the beginning of October, if there is no breakthrough in pay talks read more

POLL: Over half of voters say pay truck drivers more to ease supermarket food shortages (23 Sept) – Amid mounting concern about shortages of goods in the run up to the busy Christmas period, an exclusive poll for Unite by Survation issued today (Thursday) finds 56 per cent of the public believe employers should pay lorry drivers more read more

GKN Birmingham strikes suspended (22 Sept) – Planned strike action at the GKN Automotive factory in Birmingham has been suspended. The workers at the factory in Chester Road were due to begin strike action next week (Monday 27 September), in opposition to the plans of the parent company Melrose GKN to cease production and close the factory, which produces drivelines for the UK automotive sector, next year. Following a meeting this week between representatives of Unite and Melrose GKN it was agreed that there would be an immediate moratorium on work and machinery being taken out of the factory. During this time Melrose GKN has agreed to attend a meeting of the key stakeholders involved in seeking a way forward to keep the factory open and ensure it plays a key role in the UK’s car industries transition to electric vehicles. As a consequence Unite has agreed to not begin industrial action before Monday 18 October read more

Unions demand new owner to save Preston’s Springfields nuclear jobs (22 Sept) – The Unite and Prospect unions, which represent workers at Springfields Nuclear Fuels near Preston, have called for the government to look at changing the ownership model of the site read more

Manchester Metrolink strikes suspended as workers secure improved pay offer (21 Sept) – Planned strikes on the Manchester Metrolink tram system this weekend have been suspended after workers received a greatly improved pay offer. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, had overwhelmingly voted for industrial action and strikes were due to take place this weekend (Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September). This would have significantly disrupted spectators attending the Manchester United vs Aston Villa football match and the Great Manchester Run the following day. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “By taking a stand our members have forced management to return to negotiations and table a greatly improved pay offer. This demonstrates when Unite is wholly dedicated to advancing jobs, pay and conditions we can get a better deal for our members.” Following extensive negotiations yesterday (Monday 20 September) between Unite and senior management at Keolis/Amey, which operates Metrolink, a vastly improved pay offer was agreed. The Unite members at Metrolink will now vote on the offer, which Unite is recommending they accept read more

Workers at Wolverhampton lock makers Henry Squire to strike over pay (21 Sept) – Workers at the historic lock makers Henry Squire and Sons, based in Featherstone, Wolverhampton, will begin strike action next month in a dispute over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday 21 September). The workers, who are members of Unite, were due to receive a pay increase in January but management refused to make an offer. Instead they have offered a 2.5 per cent increase for the period from July to December, which in real terms is worth just 1.25 per cent for the entire year. The derisory offer is a significant real terms pay cut with the RPI inflation rate currently standing at 4.8 per cent. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at Henry Squire are long due a decent pay rise. The current July to December offer for 2021, is a pay cut in real terms. Understandably that has not been accepted by union members. It’s simple Henry Squire can avoid industrial action by Unite members. How? By making a decent wages offer.” The first week long strike action will begin on Monday 4 October and there are similar week long periods of industrial actions scheduled to begin on Monday 25 October, 15 November and 6 December read more

Unite welcomes extra support for Scottish Ambulance Service but warns it ‘will not be enough’ (21 Sept) – Unite Scotland has responded to the announcement by the health secretary, Humza Yousaf, stating that extra investment and resources for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is ‘welcome’ but the trade union fears the measures ‘will not be enough’ read more

Weetabix strikes to begin this week at Northamptonshire factories over fire and rehire plans – Engineers employed by Weetabix, the UK’s favourite breakfast cereal, will begin strike action tomorrow (Tuesday September 21) as a result of the company’s plans to carry out an extensive “Fire and Rehire’ programme with the workforce. If workers accept the new terms many will lose up to £5,000 a year in wages. The workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are based at the company’s factories at Burton Latimer and Corby in Northamptonshire. Both sites will have picket lines in place. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members at Weetabix will not accept being fired and rehired. Unite will fight to defend our members affected by this disgraceful practice. It is abhorrent that it is legal for companies, like Weetabix, to issue ‘Fire and Rehire’ ultimatums to their staff. This is a totally unjustifiable assault on workers’ wages and conditions. Last year Weetabix’s profits went up by almost 20% to more than £81 million”. The strike on Tuesday will last for 48 hours and there will a further 48 hour strike beginning Tuesday throughout the autumn, with the final strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday 30 November.

Where: Weetabix Mills, Burton Latimer, Kettering Northamptonshire, NN15 5JR

When: Tuesday 21 September from 06:45

The picket lines at Corby factory (Earlstrees Industrial estate, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 4AZ) will be in place from 06:00 read more

Fire and rescue workers on the Clyde Naval bases set to start overtime ban – Unite members working for Capita at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde will start a continuous overtime from today (Thursday 16 September) in a dispute over cuts to fire and rescue crew levels, and a lack of consultation. Capita management reduced the specialist fire safety crew by eight positions at Coulport and Faslane, which represents a cut of 15% at the nation’s nuclear naval bases on the Clyde. Capita won the contract in 2020 for fire response services from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Unite members at Capita have supported taking action short of a strike by 100%, while 78% supported taking strike action in a ballot turnout of 91.1% read more

Delivery disruption to 1,500 convenience stores in London and south east on cards as Thamesmead drivers vote to strike – The threat of severe disruption to deliveries to more than 1,500 convenience stores in London and the south east has moved a step closer after 40 drivers, employed by Booker Retail Partners at its Thamesmead site, voted unanimously for strike action. Unite the union is poised to issue notice to the employer for strike action, but wants to allow time for crunch talks with the bosses on 21-23 September – and the union warned that any industrial action will deepen the supply shortage crisis hitting many parts of the UK economy because of the lack of HGV drivers. The Thamesmead drivers deliver to independent retailers under the Budgens and Londis brands. The crux of the dispute is that the company, part of the Tesco ‘empire’, put in place a temporary £5 an hour pay uplift for about 40 drivers at its Hemel Hempstead depot because of the HGV driver shortage, but then refused to implement a similar uplift for the 40 drivers at the Thamesmead site read more

Lancashire biomedical scientists set to strike until November in pay upgrade dispute – Biomedical scientists at a Lancashire NHS trust will strike until the middle of November in an upgrading pay row, as the bosses drag their feet over holding constructive talks, Unite the union said today (Friday 13 August). The 21 biomedical scientists at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust were on strike between 31 May and 28 July – and are set to resume strike action on Friday 20 August which will then run through until Thursday 11 November. At five-and-half months this would be one of the longest-running industrial disputes currently in the UK. Unite said that it had asked for a meeting with the trust by 30 July, but these talks  will now take place on Thursday 9 September which the union said was clear evidence of the management’s lack of interest in resolving this dispute. Unite said that the trust management was more intent on spending tens of thousands of pounds on breaking the dispute than honouring the 2019 pay upgrade deal that they originally agreed to. Unite said the trust’s actions were at the expense of patients needing speedy and efficient analysis of blood examples during the continuing pandemic at the Royal Blackburn Hospital and the Burnley General Teaching Hospital. Unite regional officer Keith Hutson said: “Our members have voted to strike until November as they have been met by a dogmatic management intent on wastefully racking up thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to break this strike, rather than do the honourable thing and stick to the 2019 agreement to pay the upgrade that was promised. This is the worst example of macho-management and unworthy of the ethos underpinning the NHS…” read more

Talks in Woolwich Ferry rep victimisation dispute break down due to TfL’s ‘bad faith’, says Unite – Crunch talks to resolve the long-running Woolwich Ferry rep victimisation dispute yesterday (Tuesday 10 August) between Transport for London (TfL) bosses and Unite the union broke down with the union accusing TfL of ‘bad faith’. Unite, which represents 57 ferry workers, had suspended industrial action as a goodwill gesture in the run-up to the talks – but its members were back on strike today (Wednesday 11 August) and will be striking on Friday (13 August). Prior to today, there has already been 24 days of strike action. Besides the victimisation of the two Unite reps, there has also been a failure to agree a new pay and reward scheme; the excessive use of agency staff; and the failure to provide adequate health and safety training to new employees – these are issues which have arisen since TfL took back control from the discredited Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd in January this year. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “We were making good progress with the union agreeing to a proposal from TfL to meet through workshops to discuss a new collective agreement. However, the employers made their pay offer which was worse than the last offer – and they then refused to budge. “Our members had suspended strike action as a goodwill gesture, but feel that they have been badly let down by another abject example of TfL’s bad faith and, as a result, they are back on strike today. The management is game playing, which we feared would happen…” read more

Rolls Royce Barnoldswick protest to be held as strikes over site’s future resume – A protest at the historic Rolls Royce Barnoldswick plant will be held on Monday (9 August) as strikes resume over the company’s lack of concrete commitments to the site’s future. A group of 17 engineers began strike action in July after Rolls Royce bosses refused to provide tangible commitments to new work or to suspend work being sent elsewhere, which is taking place at an accelerated rate. A ballot for the site’s entire workforce to join the dispute closes next Friday (13 August). In January, Rolls Royce reached an agreement with Unite that guaranteed the future of the factory, including retaining a minimum of 350 workers and creating a training centre. The agreement was reached after workers and the local community mounted a huge campaign to save the factory, after the aerospace giant revealed plans to scale back production that would have spelled the plant’s closure. Following a meeting in May this year, however, Unite was forced to issue a failure to agree notice with Rolls Royce after local managers indicated that staff headcount could drop below 350 and orders would continue to be completed abroad. Unite has been attempting to resolve the matter and seek reassurances about Barnoldswick’s long-term future, which have so far failed to materialise. Unite regional officer Ross Quinn said: “This dispute could be put to bed very quickly if Rolls Royce’s leadership demonstrate to the workers that the agreement signed in January is still valid read more

Email messages of support via [email protected] and send donations online to: account name, Barnoldswick workers mutual society, sort code, 05 02 22 account number 36192613

DfI Roads workers at Woodburn depot to strike over inaction on management bullying – After 90.9 percent strike vote, workforce pickets to be deployed at Woodburn DfI Roads in Derry/Londonderry during twenty-four strike, which starts midnight on Thursday, July 22rd. Road Service workers’ union Unite warns first twenty-four hour stoppage at Woodburn likely to escalate in absence of Ministerial intervention read more

Reading hospital security guards renew strikes in July, as Unite calls on NHS bosses to take them back ‘in-house’ – NHS bosses should take the security staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading back ‘in house’, after the guards announced new strike dates for July against their outsourced employer Kingdom Services Group Ltd. Unite the union said the new strike dates would run from 07.00 Monday 12 July until 24.00 Saturday 31 July, after the 20 security guards voted by 84 per cent for strike action. The guards, who provide security for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, have been locked in a ‘David and Goliath’ pay and conditions battle with their employer, resulting in a wave of strikes since December last year. Because of the way that Kingdom Services has treated its staff, Unite is urging the trust to take the security guards back ‘in house’ under NHS management when the current three-year contract ends on 31 December this year. As the NHS celebrates its 73rd birthday on Monday (5 July), campaigners wishing to keep it out of the hands of profit-hungry companies, such as Kingdom, will be staging a march and rally in Reading on Saturday (3 July), starting at 12.00 from Royal Berkshire Hospital to Forbury Gardens in the town centre where there will be speeches read more

Support striking Reading hospital security guards – Text solidarity messages via Jessica 07718668497 and donate to strike fund: Acc. No.: 20173991   Sort Code: 60-83-01.  Sign petition to Mark Wallace , Kingdom Service Group Managing Director: Pay Royal Berkshire Hospital security staff a wage they can live on

 

PCS

PCS secures reimbursement for flu vaccine for CPS members (27 Sept) – Following successful discussions between PCS and CPS representatives this year all CPS employees who are not eligible for a free NHS flu jab will be able to claim back the cost (up to £15) read more

Members vote overwhelmingly for strike action at DVSA (24 Sept) – 92% of members who voted said they were prepared to go on strike over the new 8-test schedules. PCS members working for DVSA as driving examiners  and their line managers have voted to support strike action and action short of strike in defence of their working terms and conditions. 92% of members voted for strike action on an 80% turnout with 95% voting yes to action short of a strike. DVSA management have notified staff that they intend to implement the new 8-test schedule from 11 October 2021 despite our opposition. We have concerns around both the wellbeing of members and the health and safety implications to the public of introducing an additional test to an already time pressured schedule. Members’ meetings will be held on 28, 29 and 30 September and PCS members working as driving examiners, along with their line managers, will be considering strike action. PCS remains open to talks with DVSA management, if the imposition of the 8-test schedule is suspended before the strike date read more

CWU shows great solidarity with £5,000 DVLA strike donation (23 Sept) – The Communication Workers Union has shown great solidarity and generosity with a £5,000 donation to our DVLA strike fund. Our members at the agency have been striking over health and safety issues on site in Swansea since March, with the latest round of action in the drivers’ medical section last month. This donation takes the total hardship fund to over £52,500. This incredible gesture by one of our closest allies in the union movement, the CWU was greatly appreciated by our members at DVLA. Support and solidarity like this gives confidence to members to carry on with their campaign. PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka welcomed the donation and said: “This fantastic donation from the CWU, shows that support for our strike is still high with our friends in the union movement.” PCS has twice been on the verge of agreeing a deal to resolve the dispute only for it to be withdrawn at the last minute. We are considering our plans for the next stage of the dispute, including the potential for a further ballot for strike action. This is happening in the context of rising cases on site, with cases last week surpassing 800 among DVLA staff, an increase of more than 150 since 16 August.

How you can help:-

• Donate to the strike fund. This fund supports members financially when they are striking and therefore not being paid by their employer. The details are: account name: Fighting Fund Levy. account number: 20331490 sort code: 60-83-01, reference: DVLA
• Sign the e-action. PCS has an e-action which asks transport secretary Grant Shapps to intervene to keep members safe.
• Messages of solidarity. Write a message of support for striking DVLA workers by emailing [email protected] read more

British Council crisis: new foreign secretary urged to meet with PCS (23 Sept) – PCS General Secretary, Mark Serwotka, has written to new foreign secretary, Liz Truss, in her first week in office to request her intervention in the current crisis at British Council read more

MPs show their support for Royal Parks dispute (23 Sept) – MPs have tabled a motion applauding the efforts of members in advance of their month long action in October. Following discussions at the most recent meeting of the PCS Parliamentary Group, several MPs have signed their name to an Early Day Motion supporting PCS members embarking on further strike action throughout the month of October in their fight for equality, job security and fair terms and conditions. Members employed by Just Ask Estate Services Ltd as cleaners and playground attendants at the eight Royal Parks in London will walk out on 1 October, holding a rally at St James Park to launch this next phase of action read more

Show your support:-

• Send a message of support to [email protected]
• Donate to the strike fund. The Royal Parks Crowdfunder closes in two days. Members have raised £8,572 and agreed to try and get this up to £9,000 by the deadline.
• Check the PCS website and @pcs_union twitter account for activities you can support throughout the strike in October. Read more

Watch Reel News video: Royal Parks key workers demand equality and respect – On August bank holiday Monday, cleaners and attendants working in the Royal Parks of London completed a two week strike with a rally and march through Hyde Park and Kensington Park

PCS rejects RBG Kew and Kew Enterprises 2021 pay awards (23 Sept) – PCS has rejected the pay offers for 2021 for Kew RBG and Kew Enterprises, published on 23 September. The RBG Kew offer is restricted by government pay policy despite Kew being out of the pay remit. PCS has made clear to Kew that we are completely opposed to the “pay pause” that all civil servants have had imposed on them by the government. After 10 years of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases of 1% we are again being asked to pay for the cost of the pandemic when pay in the private sector is rising much faster. The increase in NI, rising inflation and rising energy costs all mean that PCS members at Kew are worse off after this pay offer. Especially because you got no pay increase at all in 2020. The PCS pay claim included a claim for 35 days annual leave per year for all staff. We welcome the additional 1 day’s Christmas Eve leave but because it is for 1 year only it is completely unsatisfactory and does not meet the PCS claim. The Kew Enterprises pay offer does at least contain a consolidated pay increase, but it remains below inflation and on that basis is rejected read more

MPs table motion supporting members in MHRA (23 Sept) – The campaign to halt redundancies at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has been given cross party parliamentary support. MPs have shown their support for members employed at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in their fight against job cuts, tabling an Early Day Motion in parliament yesterday (22) following discussions at the most recent meeting of the PCS parliamentary group read more

Celebrating Black History Month – 4 weekly sessions (22 Sept) – Overcoming barriers to under-representation and helping with career progression are among the subjects of a series of one-hour events during October to celebrate Black History Month, rounding off with a Facebook live event read more

 

CWU

ISS resourcing changes under the CWU microscope (24 Sept) – Close tabs are being kept on ISS’s plans to reduce the number of cleaning hours at around 20 BT workplaces. The move – which the company insists will have no impact whatsoever on  Covid-specific cleaning arrangements – has triggered the launch of a consultation under which 31 impacted housekeepers are being asked to  express their preference  between hours reductions with compensatory payments, redeployment  or, in a handful of cases, the option of voluntary redundancy read more

 

GMB

More Sandwell strikes loom over Serco bullying (27 Sept) – A 24-hour action from 00.01 hours on Wednesday 6 October will affect domestic waste collections for over 60,000 households in the local area. Following an initial strike action at the end of August, GMB suspended a further three strike dates in scheduled for September after Serco management requested fresh talks.

However, Serco management have walked away from agreed dispute resolution meetings and are now refusing to engage with the union’s workplace representatives read more

Messages of support can be sent to the members via the Regional Secretary – Joe Morgan, GMB Regional Secretary Birmingham & West Midlands, Will Thorne House, 2 Birmingham Road, Halesowen, Birmingham B63 3HP or email to [email protected]

GMB University Cleaners to strike for fair pay in South London – The cleaners have long asked for the most basic of things – equal treatment with directly employed staff. It’s time they got it, say GMB Union

GMB members at the University of Arts in London will be on strike for five days starting 27th September. The cleaning is contracted out to Bouygues and staff are on less pay than they would be on the University’s payroll.  They also have inferior terms and conditions, sick pay, holiday entitlement and other protections. They are based in the University’s campuses across London, mainly at Elephant and Castle, Chelsea and Camberwell, and picket lines will be organised outside each site on the following dates:-

• Monday 27th September, LCC Elephant and Castle.
• Tuesday 28th September, Chelsea College of Arts.
• Wednesday 29th September, Camberwell College of Arts.
• Thursday 30th September, Chelsea College of Arts.
• Friday 1st October, LCC Elephant and Castle read more

 

Manic Monday looms for Merthyr as bus drivers set to strike – GMB Drivers and engineers are set for strike action as the new school term gets underway, unless stagecoach address the pay disparity which sees Merthyr staff paid less than their colleagues in neighbouring Porth.

Drivers and engineers based at Stagecoach’s Merthyr Tydfil have announced their first strike date (Monday 6th September), the same date as the new school term begins. The move could see the county borough grind to a halt, as drivers refuse to work on what is traditionally one of the busiest weeks of the year. The strike has been called after GMB Members voted overwhelmingly for strike action at the company’s Merthyr Tydfil depot. Staff are simply asking to be paid the same rate as their stagecoach colleagues based at the Porth depot, only 16 miles away, for doing the same job. Currently they are being paid around a pound an hour less by the company for working in Merthyr Tydfil read more

Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council   GMB pulls funding for Labour Party in London after grieving caretaker sacked

 

Unison

Inside the gas crisis – and how it’ll affect you (22 Sept) – UNISON’s national officer for energy explains how we got here, how it affects members and what needs to change. An unprecedented upturn in the price of gas is sending shockwaves through the UK energy market, forcing a number of energy suppliers out of business, threatening massive increases to consumers’ bills and even provoking government bailouts of carbon-dioxide producers integral to the food supply chain read more

Dundee University members appeal for strike hardship donations – UNISON members at Dundee University appeal for solidarity donations ahead of strike action. UNISON members at Dundee University who are part of, or are eligible to be part of, the university’s superannuation scheme are taking strike action later this month over the employer’s plans to close and replace the defined benefit CARE scheme with a defined contribution scheme next year. Affecting around 900 staff on grades one to six, the proposals are set to leave many members in pension poverty and will see some losing up to 40% of their pension. Those on grades higher than six fall under a different, nationally negotiated, scheme. The university needs to make payments toward the deficit and wants to move all future financial pension risks to members, leaving their financial future uncertain. Action is initially planned, with 300 members striking, for five days across the start of the new academic year, with pickets each morning as well a rally in Dundee’s City Square at noon on the first day, 29 September read more

Sandwell leisure staff strike again over ‘fire and rehire’ tactics – Leisure trust that is set to run the aquatic centre for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham is targeting staff while having millions in the bank. Swimming instructors, lifeguards, receptionists and other staff at the Sandwell Leisure Trust in the West Midlands took to the picket line at the Portway Lifestyle Centre this morning as they took further industrial action over changes to their contracts. The one-day strike on 23 Aug is the third this year by employees of the trust, in response to new agreements affecting the pay of around 280 read more

Tower Hamlets Unison: #BuildTheBallot for Further Action • Opens Thursday 24 June – By a thumping majority, our members rejected management’s most recent proposal to end the Trade Dispute on Tower Rewards. Shamefully, those terms were imposed on us last summer at the height of the pandemic, by our Labour council using “Sack and Re-engage” measures that have been widely condemned and that Kier Starmer says he will outlaw read more    VOTE NOW! We made it on national news

 

RCN

NHS pay deal consultation: vast majority of RCN members who voted say 3% is unacceptable – Members working for the NHS in England and Wales have had their say to inform our next steps. Eligible RCN members in England and Wales have voted in our consultative ballot on the 3% pay award for NHS Agenda for Change staff. A significant number of members took part in the consultative ballot, with 91.7% of those who voted in England saying they think the pay award is unacceptable, and 8.3% saying they think it is acceptable. In Wales, 93.9% of members who voted said they think the pay award is unacceptable, with 6.1% saying they think it is acceptable. Of those eligible to take part in the consultation in England, 25.4% turned out to vote. In Wales the turnout was 29.3%. The turnout in England is up by a third compared to the turnout in the NHS pay consultation in 2018 and is the RCN’s highest ever consultative ballot turnout read more

RCN launches ‘summer of action’ in protest against below-inflation NHS pay award – Events will be held across the UK as we prepare to consult members on next steps. Our fight for fair pay is picking up pace as a series of member events takes place this summer ahead of our biggest ever member consultation on NHS pay. The UK government finally announced the NHS pay award for England last week after months of delays. But with inflation, the 3% award is a real-terms pay cut and leaves experienced nursing staff £200 a year worse off. The government has since admitted that the money would be found from existing budgets, further upsetting the nursing profession as this funding will already be committed for patient care. Today we’ve launched an interactive map of events for nursing staff to protest against the 3% NHS pay award announced for England and Wales and discuss what action they want to take in response read more

 

NIPSA

2021 Virtual NIPSA Health and Safety Conference – 19 October 2021 – The twelfth annual NIPSA Health and Safety Conference will take place on Tuesday 19 October 2021 via zoom from 10.00am to 3.00pm. A zoom link will follow closer to the date read more

 

FBU

FBU wins landmark Covid discrimination ruling (23 Sept) – The FBU has scored a win in a discrimination case against a fire and rescue service, having successfully argued that forcing staff with disabilities to use annual leave or TOIL when shielding amounted to discrimination. The case is thought to be the first where an employer has discriminated as a result of employees following government health guidance related to Covid. The decision could have implications for employers and employees in similar situations across the UK read more

 

NEU

Please support the following NEU action:

Action	Date	Contact
Nottingham Primary Academy / Nottingham City (Restructure)     Oaks Park High School Redbridge (victimisation of rep)	Tuesday 28 Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 September Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 September	[email protected]   [email protected] [email protected]

Support the action to stop bullying and union victimisation at Oaks Park High School in Redbridge – Protest Rally 2pm Saturday 2nd October outside Redbridge Town hall, Ilford 

Suspend Academisation of Moulsecoomb Primary – On Tuesday 6th July, members of NEU, GMB and UNISON will be taking strike action and calling on The Pioneer Academy to withdraw as the sponsor. On the same day, parents, staff and members of the community  have hired a bus to visit the DFE to deliver a petition. We want to show Gavin Williamson that staff across Brighton and Hove schools and services want the academization suspended. Please respond to the three questions here so we can add your name to the petition

 

NASUWT

 

EIS

Return of school inspections is out of touch and a retrograde step (17 Sept) – The EIS has today (Friday) criticised the planned return of ‘scrutiny activity’ inspections, the detail of which was published on the Education Scotland website yesterday. School inspections were paused last year as a consequence of the Covid pandemic, to enable a greater focus in schools on supporting education recovery read more

 

UCU

Five days of strikes at University of Liverpool (27 Sept) – Staff at the University of Liverpool are set to walk out for five consecutive days from Monday 4 October unless management halts plans to sack two staff. The week-long strike will cause severe disruption to the first full week of teaching at the university. This action is the latest in a long running dispute over job cuts in the faculty of health and life sciences. In a ballot earlier this year, 84% of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted backed strike action to fight the university’s plans to slash 47 teaching and research jobs in the faculty of health and life sciences. This has now fallen to two compulsory redundancies after six months of industrial action, including 24 days of strikes by staff read more

Staff to strike at 10 colleges (27 Sept) – Staff at 10 English colleges will be walking out tomorrow in their fight for fair pay. The strike is the first of up to 10 days of walk outs in a wave of industrial action over pay. UCU members at five of the 10 colleges will also be out on Wednesday, in a two day strike. Pickets will take place at all affected institutions from 8am. The dispute has arisen following a pay offer of just 1% from employer body, the Association of Colleges, in December 2020. UCU members at three other colleges were due to walk out tomorrow but strikes have been suspended at City of Bristol College and New College Swindon after management made a late pay offer, which staff are considering. Strike action is also off at Weymouth College after staff accepted an offer from employers. UCU said that if colleges want to avoid further disruption they need to follow the lead of these colleges and get around the negotiating table. The union is demanding a pay increase of greater than 5% in an effort to close the school-college pay gap, and after more than a decade of below inflation further education pay increases. Staff at all affected institutions are taking action over pay, but at City & Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and the College of North East London the dispute also includes other issues such as working conditions. The pay gap between college and school teachers currently stands at £9,000 as staff working in further education have suffered real terms pay cuts of over 30% in the past decade read more

Employer	Strike dates
Capital City College Group: City & Islington College College of North East London Westminster Kingsway College	28/29 September 5/6/7/11/12/13/14/15 October
City of Liverpool College	28 September 6/7 October
Croydon College	28/29 September 5/6/7/11/12/13/14/15 October
Lambeth College	28/29 September 5/6/7/11/12/13/14/15 October
South Thames College Group: Carshalton College Kingston College Merton College Wandsworth & Tooting College	28 September 6/7 October

 

Falmouth University UCU members threaten industrial action in support of newly employed staff (23 Sept) – UCU members at Falmouth University have this week voted overwhelmingly in support of potential industrial action to protect the pensions of newly employed academic staff. In an indicative ballot on possible industrial action, 80% of members who voted, did so to stand up for newly employed colleagues and support industrial action to protect decent pensions for new staff. UCU has raised concerns about moves to employ new staff under a subsidiary private company, and remove access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), a contractual right that all other academic-related members in post-92 universities have access to. Management at the university have so far refused to engage in their own disputes procedure and imposed the TPS removal with almost immediate effect. As of 1 September, newly hired staff, who also face precarious contracts and unaffordable house prices in the region, have had their pensions entitlement slashed by half read more

UK university staff to ballot in October over pay and pensions (22 Sept) – UCU has confirmed that strike ballots will open at UK universities on Monday 18 October in rows over USS pensions and pay, unsafe workloads, casualisation and equality failings. The union’s higher education committee confirmed the timetable for a ballot of 152 institutions in total, seven will be balloted on USS only, 83 are to be balloted over pay and working conditions, with another 62 institutions in the UK facing two ballots over both USS and pay and working conditions. UCU expects employers to return to negotiations with better offers in both disputes or face action that will disrupt the end of term and continue into the next one. NUS offered its support for staff planning to take action, saying ‘students will hold employers responsible’ if vice chancellors and employers do not come to ‘a negotiated settlement and address the fundamental issues repeatedly raised by staff.’ The ballots will run from Monday 18 October to Thursday 4 November unless employers resolve the dispute beforehand. UCU’s HEC will meet to consider the results of the ballot on 8 November with action expected to take place before the end of the year. The ballot over pensions comes after employer body UUK voted to cut thousands of pounds from the retirement benefits of university staff last month read more

Updates on latest UCU disputes

Petition calling for fair funding and online learning

UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes. As always, members are asked to contribute whatever their circumstances allow. A donation in solidarity of any amount will be gratefully received by members taking action.

 

BFAWU

Read BFAWU Food Worker Summer 2021 here

 

NUJ

Deadline looms for freelances’ Covid-19 aid grant (27 Sept) – The deadline to claim for the fifth government Covid-19 aid grant for freelances, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, is Thursday 30 September read more

NUJ calls for an expert panel to investigate the murder of Martin O’Hagan (24 Sept) – On the 20th anniversary of the death of the Sunday World journalist, Michelle Stanistreet said the failure to secure a conviction of his killers is a stain on the history of policing in Northern Ireland. The NUJ general secretary renewed her call for the British government to establish a panel of international experts to investigate the murder and the subsequent failure of the security authorities to secure a conviction for the murder read more

 

Prospect

Unions demand new owner to save Springfields nuclear jobs (22 Sept) – Prospect and Unite which represent workers at Springfields Nuclear Fuels near Preston have called for the government to look at changing the ownership model of the site read more

Disappointing that AI strategy has virtually nothing on privacy, employment rights or jobs (22 Sept) – The government has today published its new AI Strategy  to try and maximise the benefits of the new technology for the UK. Missing from the strategy however was virtually any reference to the impact of AI and data use on recruitment practices, rights at work, jobs and so on read more

 

USDAW

Usdaw launches a report on the mental health struggles of low-paid workers during the pandemic (27 Sept) – Retail trade union Usdaw is today launching the results of a survey of low-paid key workers, which reveals the extent of mental health issues they faced throughout the Covid-19 crisis. The report will be launched at a Labour conference fringe meeting in Brighton read more

BCM Fareva, Nottingham: Usdaw members to take further industrial action as company continues to refuse to talk – Members of Usdaw at BCM Fareva will begin a further stoppage on Monday 30 August, which will continue into Tuesday. The strike follows four previous stoppages in July and August. The Nottingham based manufacturer of consumer pharma and beauty products for leading brands including Boots and The Body Shop continues to press ahead with threats of ‘fire and rehire’ if employees do not accept significant cuts to their terms and conditions read more

Support striking Usdaw members at DHL/M&S Long Eaton – Members of the retail logistics trade union Usdaw will begin a third 24-hour stoppage at the Long Eaton DHL / Marks and Spencer distribution centre at 5.15am on Thursday 1 July. Alex Norris MP (Labour/Co-op, Nottingham North) and Paddy Lillis (Usdaw General Secretary) will join protesters supporting the picket line at 12 noon. Lilian Greenwood MP (Labour, Nottingham South) has also pledged her support. The continuing industrial action affects a Marks & Spencer third-party logistics contract, operated by DHL at Long Eaton in Derbyshire. Usdaw members voted by over 90% in favour of strike action in a dispute about the amount of redundancy pay that long serving staff will receive when the site closes at the end of July read more

 

UVW

Cleaners ballot to strike in ongoing dispute for equal work rights at Great Ormond Street Hospital – More than a hundreds cleaners who won an in-housing agreement at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) after launching a hard fought campaign against outsourcing to private contractors have vowed to return to the picket line after accusing GOSH of failing to keep their promises. The recently in-housed cleaning staff accuse the NHS Trust bosses of failing on their pledge to give full parity with the other NHS workers. While terms and conditions have improved for the workers, GOSH has denied them annual leave, maternity/paternity, and redundancy read more

Support the joint PCS-UVW Royal Parks strike – On Friday 30th July migrant park attendants across London’s Royal Parks who are dual carding with UVW and PCS will be kicking off a summer of strikes in a bid to end outsourcing and be treated as equals. They will need all the solidarity they can get and donating to their strike fund is a great way to show that solidarity. So if you can, please donate

From UVW Facebook page: Royal Parks workers are on lower wages and fewer benefits than others directly employed by Royal Parks. TODAY they start 14 days of strike action – because they deserve better. Help them fight for equal:

• sick pay ✔
• maternity pay ✔
• annual leave ✔
• pension entitlement ✔

United Voices of the World the union and PCS Union  fighting together  for dignity, justice and equality

 

IWGB

Support the Ocado workers – #ShameOnOcado Demo: Ocado depot, Stirling Rd, W3 8BJ – 1pm Thursday 30^th September Facebook event

We are currently campaigning against Ocado to end the horrific treatment of their delivery drivers, key workers who have put their lives on the line during the pandemic to get food to the vulnerable whilst barely making enough to support their families. We are pleased to say just 3 days after launching: Ocado are rattled! There is still a way to go before Ocado meet our workers’ demands, and we need all hands on deck to push them into treating these people fairly and justly! Our workers are demanding:

• Ocado bring allcouriers in-house on limb b worker contracts
• IWGB Trade Union recognition
• Pay of £16 per hour (plus costs) guaranteed with bonuses during busy periods
• Workers to either work shifts or free log in
• Fair and clear process for the handling of grievances and disciplinaries (complaints and terminations)
• Clear and regular communication from the company regarding any changes made to working conditions
• Support for people who become pregnant
• Properly functioning app (e.g. phone ringing when a job come through)
• Fair Job distribution
• Proper job weight monitoring
• Break times to ensure safe working conditions
• Access to osteopath/health care for job related injuries
• Designated parking and charge points for workers
• Communal area for eating/prayers/rest breaks
• Fully manned rider support for all working hours

There is strength in numbers: that’s why we need everyone to come together and force Ocado to meet our demands. Here’s what you can do:

1. Fill out our email campaign and tell Ocado that they need to meet IWGB’s demands.Click here to start.
2. Tweet Ocado and tell them they need to in-house all workers immediately and meet IWGB’s demands for fair pay, just working conditions, and no job cuts. Suggested tweet: Hey, @Ocado @OcadoZoom! Whistleblowers exposing poverty pay threatened with the prospect of job losses? It’s time to bring your key workers in-house and give them the pay and conditions they deserve! #ShameOnOcado
3. Donate to our strike fund.

IWGB launches #ShameOnOcado campaign as BAME key worker jobs threatened after whistleblowing on outsourcing and poverty pay (8 Sept)

 

SIPTU (Ireland)

Union representatives roundly reject water worker criticism (24 Sept) – Unions representing thousands of water workers in local authorities have today (Friday, 24th September) roundly rejected Irish Water’s claims that recent service shortcomings in Dublin and Wexford occurred because of the lack of a single national water utility. The unions were responding to statement from the company that the recent incidents of water contamination proved an “urgent need” for local authority water plants to come under direct Irish Water control read more

Health unions call for “immediate” talks after Labour Court recommendation on COVID-19 compensation (22 Sept) – Unions representing healthcare workers have called for immediate talks with the HSE on recognition for healthcare worker’s efforts during the COVID-19 crisis, following a Labour Court recommendation today. SIPTU, Fórsa, and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had raised the issue at the Labour Court, which today called on all parties to begin “effective engagement” to resolve the matter. Unions are seeking some form of tangible recognition for healthcare workers’ contribution to the fight against COVID-19. In other countries across Europe, this has taken the form of additional pay, annual leave or a bonus read more

SIPTU members reject Aer Lingus proposals for cuts and work practice changes (21 Sept) – SIPTU members employed by Aer Lingus in ground operations at Dublin airport have voted by 82% to reject proposals by the company to reduce costs and change work practices in order to offset losses incurred by the airline due to the Covid-19 pandemic read more

 

 

 

Other News

Youth Fight for Jobs March for jobs and a future for young people on October 9th!  – If you’re a young person or trade unionist, and you want to get involved or support any of the marches below in your local area, visit www.youthfightforjobs.com/get-involved  

• Birmingham: Victoria Square 1pm (West Mids regional demo)
• Leeds: Millenium Square, 12pm (Yorkshire regional demo)
• London: Assemble outside Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), 1pm
• Liverpool: Top of Church Street (by Bold Street), 12pm
• Leicester: Meet at the Clocktower, 2pm
• North East Midlands, Mansfield: Westgate (near Market Place), NG18 1JA, 1pm
• Bristol: Outside McDonald’s, 101/105 the Horsefair, BS1 3JR, 1pm
• Plymouth: Meet at the Sundial Fountain, 1pm
• Cardiff: Outside the Capitol Centre, Queen Street, 12pm
• Swansea: Castle Square, 2pm
• Brighton: Meet at the middle circle of the Level, 1pm
• Southampton: The Bargate, 1pm
• Reading: Assemble at Reading Council Offices, RG1 2LU, 1pm
• Portsmouth: Guildhall Square, 12pm

 

Ella Baker School in conversation with Jane Holgate, discussing her book: ‘Arise. Power, Strategy and Union Resurgence – 7pm on Zoom October 12^th read more. Ella Baker School of Organising is delighted to announce that we will be in conversation with Jane Holgate,  top-class scholar, union educator and activist discussing her book: ‘Arise. Power, Strategy and Union Resurgence

 

28th September, Westminster – Join the DPAC #AudioRiot protest for #20MoreForAll, on the streets and online (plus local actions on 25th September). DPAC hasn’t gone away you know! We’re back doing what we do best – And this time we’re going to be louder than ever. The government isn’t listening to what people are saying when we say Stop The Cuts to Universal Credit and give #20MoreForAll. So we need to start an #AudioRiot to make them hear us. On Tuesday 28th September 11:30am Westminster Central Hall, Storeys Gate SW1H 9NH

Join our #AudioRiot and make some noise about the devastating changes to benefits which will have a huge impact on millions of people’s lives, including disabled people. Bring everything you can that makes noise read more

 

‘Boris Out!’ – an evening of socialist comedy and entertainment. 3pm Sunday 14^th November, Tyneside Irish Centre – 43 Gallowgate, Newcastle NE1 4SG

Racism, privatisation of the NHS, the gig economy, our youth being charged exorbitant rents, Governmental corruption and total incompetence.

We are delighted to announce a 3pm show for Boris Out! – a feast of socialist comedy and entertainment.

The 7pm show has SOLD OUT. Tickets for the 3pm show are strictly limited to 130. Tickets (only £10) from: www.borisout.eventbrite.com. Contact Ed (0191) 4550608

Please note: If you are a Tory, racist or a supporter of the royal family this is definitely not for you.

 

 

Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps

Blacklisting Investigation (9 Aug) – Unite the Union has commissioned an independent investigation into alleged involvement of any past of present union officers or officials in the operation of blacklists in the construction industry. The independent investigation will be conducted by Jane McNeill QC in accordance with the attached Terms of Reference. Evidence for the investigation is now being compiled by Thompsons Solicitors LLP. Any documentary evidence which any individual wishes to provide should be submitted to Thompsons either by email to [email protected] or by post to Unite Blacklisting Inquiry, Thompsons Solicitors LLP, Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LW, reference L213003/RH.  All evidence to be considered for the purpose of the independent report must be received by Thompsons by 9 November 2021 read more

#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement

Keep up with developments and read and watch campaigners’ statements on the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) and Undercover Policing Inquiry websites and spycops info Facebook group

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

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 news

Finland: Helsinki tram and metro drivers’ strike against incorporation read more

 

 

 

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 the Queens Speech in December 2019 and cannot be trusted and is now attacking the right to protest through its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

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 include some workers receiving 80% of their wages. This furlough scheme was due to finish but has now been extended because of the 2^nd lockdown. But it’s clear that the Tories are looking to end it asap.

However, we believe that no worker should pay the price for any spread of the virus. We say: work or full pay. Any worker who is required not to attend work or is unable to do so because of COVID, 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 and you can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK

 

 

Diary

Saturday October 3^rd – 12pm People’s Assembly ‘Protest the Tory Party Conference’ national demo in Manchester. Assemble Oxford Road near Whitworth Park, M14 4PW read more

 

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