NSSN 571: Support striking Manchester Chep workers

Unite: Protest in support of striking Chep pallet workers at Trafford Park tomorrow as pay talks start

A rally in support of striking workers at pallet suppliers Chep UK will be held at the Trafford Park site tomorrow (Wednesday 16 February) as bosses agree to hold pay talks in the three month-old dispute. The workers, members of Unite the union, have been on strike since December – and recently renewed their mandate for strike action into the spring by a majority of 94 per cent – over the management’s failure  to improve on their offer of two per cent, when the RPI rate of inflation is running at 7.5 per cent.

Chep strike protest

The rally arranged by the Manchester Trades Council will be held at:-

Venue: Chep UK, Village Way, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1HR

Time: 07.30 Wednesday 16 February

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This latest vote for strike action is a robust rejection of a pitiful offer from the company which would leave workers considerably worse off.  Management needs to get serious and come back with a pay rise, not a cut in living standards. Our Chep members have the full and solid support of their union in their fight.”

Unite regional officer Ian McCluskey said: “Our members have been on continuous strike since 17 December for a decent pay rise from an employer whose profits soared during the pandemic. After the workers voted by 94 per cent in a re-ballot to continue their strike into the spring, Chep has finally agreed to talks tomorrow so we want a big show of support at the rally to demonstrate the strength of our members’ determination to achieve pay justice.”

Chep UK, which is based in Trafford Park, Manchester, repairs and supplies pallets for supporting and transporting goods to a host of prominent companies including InBev, Heinz, Heineken, A&B Containers, Encric  and TDS.

Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will fight back against any efforts to diminish workers’ living standards.

 

NSSN news

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Union News

RMT

DP Worlds concerns (14 Feb) – Maritime Union RMT to raise concerns with Government that DP World have been awarded Freeport contract despite not paying agreed pension deficit contributions. MARITIME UNION RMT will be writing to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State this week demanding that the Government immediately suspends DP World’s involvement in the delivery of Freeports until it pays what it owes to the Merchant Navy Ratings Penson Fund (MNRPF) in respect of the £146m its subsidiary company P&O Ferries owes in contributions read more

RMT reaction to two ‘Green Freeport’ sites for Scotland (14 Feb) – MARITIME Union RMT today responded to the joint announcement from the UK Conservative Government and the SNP Government of two ‘Green Freeport’ sites for Scotland read more

RMT members standing firm on TPE (13 Feb) – RMT members standing firm in fight for pay justice on Trans Pennine Express this morning. RAIL UNION RMT has reported that conductor members fighting for pay justice on Trans Pennine Express are standing firm and united this morning in the first of a series of strikes read more

TransPennine Express Conductors to begin strike action this Sunday (10 Feb) – Weekly strike actions from this Sunday 13th February over pay discrimination. RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that Conductors employed by TransPennine Express will be taking the first in a series of weekly strike actions this Sunday 13th February over pay discrimination. After working right through the Covid pandemic and having a two year pay freeze enforced on them, TransPennine Express Conductors requested an increase in pay for working on their days off and on Sundays. The gap between what they get paid for working these days, and what other traincrew get paid for the same days has seen a significant increase with the workers feeling aggrieved at the unfairness. RMT TPE Conductor members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:

  • 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 13th February 2022
  • 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 20th February 2022
  • 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 27th February 2022
  • 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 6th March 2022

Additionally, TransPennine Express Conductor members are instructed not to work any rostered overtime and withdraw from the electronic scanning of tickets from 00.01 hours on Monday 14th February 2022 until further notice read more

Heroic West Coast train cleaners announce two 48 hour strikes in fight for pay justice (11 Feb) – RAIL UNION RMT announced today that heroic train cleaners working to keep Avanti West Coast trains clean and safe for passengers will be taking further strike action in pursuit of fair pay. The cleaners, who have worked throughout the pandemic to keep essential transport services running, are employed by Atalian Servest Limited, a multi-national outsourcing company based in France. The outsourced cleaners are paid £9.68 per hour, less than the Real Living Wage and have no company sick pay, meaning that they frequently come into work when sick because they cannot make ends meet.                                                                                                                                                           Atalian Servest have refused to make an offer that would raise pay above the Real Living Wage rate of £9.90, with their latest offer amounting to an insulting additional 6p per hour for most staff (especially those outside London). The union has called the following two 48 hour strikes, members are instructed NOT to book on for any shifts between:

  • 19:30 hours on Thursday 24th February 2022 to 19:29 hours on Saturday 26th February 2022
  • 19:30 hours on Thursday 10th March 2022 to 19:29 hours on Saturday 12th March 2022 read more

Rail cleaners call strike action (8 Feb) – Take their fight to Parliament. Hundreds of heroic rail cleaners employed by Churchill on four contracts in the South East will take strike action on Wednesday 23rd February as part of their fight for pay justice. As the cost of living crisis escalates, the cleaners, who have put their lives on the line during the Covid-19 crisis to keep trains across London and the South East running, will walk out for a 24 hour strike that will affect trains and stations on Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern, Southeastern, Eurostar and HS1 services. The cleaners will be holding a rally outside Parliament at 11am where they will be joined by MPs and other supporters read more

Union to meet new Scottish Transport Minister (10 Feb) – On the day unions meet new Transport Minister to discuss Scottish Government plans for a ‘National Conversation’ about a ‘New Beginning’ for ScotRail, RMT reveals that a survey of ScotRail ticket office staff found that 99% believe that cuts to ticket offices will worsen passenger safety. Following the Scottish Government’s announcement in the Parliament yesterday that it is holding a ‘National Conversation’ about a ‘New Beginning’ for ScotRail, which enters public ownership on 1 April 2022, RMT warns that this ‘New Beginning’ must not mean cuts to ticket offices and rail services and threats to jobs read more

One third of Bus services in England could be cut in weeks (9 Feb) – RMT calls for an urgent summit to tackle the national bus crisis. Following a warning from bus operators that nearly a third of services in England could be cut in weeks if emergency Government funding runs out, bus Union RMT has called on the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps MP to convene an urgent summit comprising employers, unions, local transport authorities and passenger groups to tackle the crisis in the industry read more

London Transport union RMT announces strike action – London Transport union RMT announces strike action as LU refuses to give assurances on jobs, pensions and working conditions. LONDON TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed that members will be taking strike action next month over LU’s continuing refusal to give assurances on jobs, pensions and working conditions in the midst of an on-going financial crisis driven by central Government. The announcement comes in the wake of a recent ballot of over ten thousand members across all grades of LU staff with 94% of members voted to strike. The action will be taking place as follows:

  • All LUL members are instructed to refuse to book on for any duty that commences between 00:01 on Tuesday 1st March 2022 and 23:59 on Tuesday 1st March 2022.
  • All LUL members are instructed to refuse to book on for any duty that commences between 00:01 on Thursday 3rd March 2022 and 23:59 on Thursday 3rd March 2022 read more

 

TSSA

TSSA raises safety concerns with ORR over Network Rail job cuts (14 Feb) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) raising safety and workflow concerns about the effects of wide scale job cuts being proposed by Network Rail (NR). The letter was prompted by plans by NR to increase planned budget cuts of £3.5bn to £4bn in its funding period 2019 to 2024 (known as Control Period 6) read more

TSSA warns of national dispute over Network Rail ‘modernisation’ plans (10 Feb) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to the boss of Network Rail (NR) outlining ‘grave concerns’ that job cuts planned by the company undermine railway safety and are likely to spark industrial dispute. In this he asks Andrew Haines to clarify comments which suggest he is preparing the company to open a compulsory redundancy programme. TSSA is calling for a no compulsory redundancies agreement with NR for 2022, as the company seeks to cut more than 900 jobs in their Management grades. This is on top of 1,000 employees in the same grades who are being allowed to leave under NR’s own Special Voluntary Severance Scheme read more

 

Unite

“Red wall” billboards demand MPs vote against ‘toxic’ NHS privatisation bill, as Tories urged to side with patients not privateers (14 Feb) – Unite members will be targeting MPs in ‘red wall’ seats as part of a series of actions across England during the union’s month of action on the NHS, which runs throughout February. From Monday (14 February) billboards, ad vans and bus stops will carry direct messages to voters in constituencies [see locations below] where their Tory MP voted for the Bill last year. Red wall seats have some of the longest NHS waiting times and unmet health needs, according to recent research. The advert campaign is a result of Unite joining forces with Your NHS Needs You and Diem 25 to highlight the impact the Health and Care Bill will have on our NHS. The advert messages carry a picture of each MP and state: ‘Last year, your MP [name] voted for NHS privatisation. This year, tell [him/her] to vote against the toxic Health and Care Bill’ read more

Calls for Dyson supply chain reform following Malaysia abuse allegations (11 Feb) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is calling for reforms to the Dyson supply chain following allegations of the abuse of migrant workers at a factory in Malaysia that manufactures products for the well-known brand. The allegations, broadcast on Channel 4 News, were of extensive violations of their legal rights including forced labour, physical and psychological injuries, false imprisonment, cruel and degrading treatment and exposure to extremely hazardous working conditions read more

Worksop B&Q strikes end with Wincanton workers celebrating 10.75% victory (11 Feb) – Strikes at B&Q’s national distribution centre in Worksop have come to an end after Wincanton workers accepted a pay deal worth 10.75 per cent. The deal, negotiated by Unite, the UK’s leading union, means the 450 Wincanton employees will now return to work at the site from Sunday after having been on strike since November. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Wincanton in Worksop have achieved an amazing result because, with the strength of their union behind them, they refused to back down…” read more

Regina Coeli workers, Legion of Mary volunteer and a homeless woman threatened with legal action by management committee (11 Feb) – Threat comes in fifth week of ‘work-in’ by staff determined to keep doors open at Legion of Mary-owned hostel for vulnerable women. Legal action threats served on workers after earlier, successful solidarity ‘stand out’ at Legion of Mary’s Morning Star House for vulnerable men. Yesterday evening [Thursday 10 February] legal action notices were served on those involved in the occupation of Regina Coeli House. The ‘work-in’ to save the Legion of Mary-owned facility from pending closure by staff is into its fifth week and has received huge levels of support across Northern Ireland and further afield. Regina Coeli House based in West Belfast provides supported accommodation to women from across Northern Ireland. The space benefits women who have been made homeless, who have been trafficked, who have been subject to abuse and domestic violence, who suffer addictions and mental health challenges. Management claim that they must close the facility due to an unpublished report detailing structural issues; the report has never been made public read more

Unite secures bumper pay deal for BMW Mini workers in Oxford (11 Feb) – Unite has secured a multi-year pay deal for 3,500 workers based at BMW’s Mini production plant in Cowley, Oxford. The three year pay deal is worth at least 26.1 per cent to the workers when all its elements are factored in. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great deal, which Unite members at BMW in Oxford have won to provide stability and assurance for the workforce over the next three years. Unite is dedicated to defending and improving the jobs, pay and conditions of its members. I hope this deal will help lead to further substantial pay increases throughout the automotive sector” read more

Stagecoach drinking in ‘last chance saloon’ as Gloucestershire bus drivers overwhelmingly vote for strike action in pay dispute (10 Feb) – Unite has warned the management at Stagecoach West, that it is ‘drinking in the last chance saloon’ if it wants to avoid strikes in a dispute over low pay. Over 300 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have overwhelmingly voted for strike action. Unite has decided not to announce strike action immediately in order to give Stagecoach West a final opportunity to make a pay offer which meets workers’ expectations. Many of the drivers are paid less than £11 an hour, for what is a highly responsible and demanding role read more

Heathrow strikes off as Menzies workers secure substantial pay increase (10 Feb) – Strike action due to begin tomorrow (Friday 11 February) at Heathrow Airport, involving 400 workers employed by Menzies Aviation, has been called after the workers received a substantial pay offer. The dispute involved Menzies workers who undertake ground handling and refuelling work and would have affected British Airways and a large number of other airlines at Heathrow read more

Unite demands OVO owner be recalled to Parliament after giving ‘conflicting evidence’ to select committee (9 Feb) – OVO owner, Stephen Fitzpatrick, quizzed by MPs on the business select committee about £17m furlough money paid to OVO, and payments and loans topping £40m, made from OVO to other Fitzpatrick-owned companies. Mr Fitzpatrick tells the committee he made £2m gift to debt advice charity only weeks after 2,000 sackings were announced at OVO across the UK. On Tuesday this week, Stephen Fitzpatrick, the multi-millionaire owner of the energy giant OVO Energy, appeared before the House of Commons Business Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee. It was considering the energy crisis and Stephen Fitzpatrick was there to give his view on how the crisis is to be tackled. Unite national officer for energy, Simon Coop, says he was surprised: “First of all let me say this, since OVO declared its initial plan for 2,000 redundancies, Stephen Fitzpatrick has been AWOL. So I was astonished to see him grandstanding in front of the MPs’ committee when he hasn’t met anyone from the unions or any of his own workers to explain his broken promises in the proposed redundancy plan” read more

First Manchester bus dispute ends as workers accept vastly improved pay offer (9 Feb) – Strike action that has affected the entire First Manchester bus service has ended after drivers accepted a vastly improved pay offer. The 300 plus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have accepted an improved offer which will see pay rates increase by 8.9 per cent. In addition to the increase in basic pay the drivers will see all other payments increase by the same percentage and they will also receive a one off payment of £750 read more

Unite general secretary to speak at online rally in support of striking Coventry bin workers (8 Feb) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, will speak at an online rally tomorrow (Wednesday 9 February), in support of refuse collection drivers employed by Coventry council,  who have been on all out strike since 31 January in a dispute over low pay read more

Follow @UniteWestMids on twitter

Coventry bin worker’s strike fund – Unity Trust Bank; Name of Account: Unite WM/7116 Branch Coventry Local Government; Account number: 20302665 Sort code: 60-83-01; send messages of solidarity to [email protected]

Luton airport workers bag £1800 as Unite secures major pay increase (8 Feb) – Workers employed by Luton airport have secured a substantial pay increase following negotiations led by Unite, the UK’s leading union. The pay deal is worth £1,800 per worker and will be paid to the 600 strong workforce who are directly employed by Luton airport. The deal is worth 9.2 per cent to the security guards who are the lowest paid group of staff directly employed by the airport read more

Prince Edward asked to stop Duke of Edinburgh’s Award using fire and rehire to take regional workers’ cars (8 Feb) – The Duke of Edinburgh Award’s (DofE) ‘fire and rehire’ plans to scrap its car fleet and force regional operations workers to buy their own has been slammed by Unite, the UK’s leading union. The Royal charity has told the workers, who travel to schools, colleges, youth groups, young offender institutions, fostering agencies and hospitals across the UK, that they will be provided with a £4,750 one off payment to purchase their own work vehicle. The workers’ contracts will be terminated from 3 March and if they do not sign new ones stating the new transport terms, they will lose their job. Unite has called on DofE trustee, the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward, whose late father, the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, established the charity in 1956 read more

Trade unions launch campaign to defend emergency services across Southern Trust area (8 Feb) – Trade unionists launch campaign to save emergency services in Southern Trust area. Southern Trust plans to end emergency surgery at Daisy Hill will leave emergency department at Newry only providing stabilisation before sending patients elsewhere. Closure will add further pressure onto struggling emergency department at Craigavon and threatens to close maternity in Newry read more

Support the Scunthorpe Scaffolders: National Day of Action: Support The Actavo Scaffolders’ Strike – 6am Tuesday 22nd February outside British Steel, Entrance D, Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1DL  Facebook event

Follow @UniteNEYH & @UnitedScaffs on twitter

Donate to strike fund:-

Either via bank transfer – sort code: 60-83-01 account number: 20173962, account name: Unite North East Region 1% Fund, reference: Actavo Limited and your branch number

Or by cheque made payable to ‘Unite the Union’ and forwarded to the Leeds Regional Office, Unite the Union, 55 Call Lane, Leeds LS1 7BW marked for the attention of the Regional Secretary (Actavo Limited Dispute). Letters of support can be sent to the Regional Office

Support the striking Serco outsourced workers at Barts NHS Trust – A rally will be held for the outsourced NHS workers outside Royal London Hospital. The workers are fighting against low pay and exploitation. This Monday (January 31), hundreds of key NHS workers, employed by the giant outsourcing company Serco, will begin a two week strike across Barts Health NHS Trust (see notes to editors). Speakers at the rally include Apsana Begum MP (Poplar & Limehouse) and John McDonnell MP (Hayes & Harlington). Unite members who are cleaners, porters, security, catering and reception staff across St Barts, Royal London Hospital, and Whipps Cross will take strike action between Monday 31 January and Sunday 13 February and are calling more action from Monday 28 February to Sunday 13 March read more

DONATIONS TO STRIKE FUND: Barts Heath NHS LE/7384L – Unity trust 20344885 sort code 60-83-01. Pay online or post cheques to Len Hockey, 242 Willingale Road, Loughton IG10 2BX

SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO [email protected]

Economic forecasters to strike in a row over inflation – Economists and researchers at the world famous NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) will stage a two week strike in a row over two years of below inflation pay offers. The strike begins on Friday 21st January and ends on Friday 4 February. The action means that there is a very real possibility that the forthcoming forecasts for the UK and global economies, which have been published quarterly since the 1980s, will not go ahead. NIESR staff will be unable to deliver on project work for external partners and funders, and will be unable to participate in events and other dissemination activities. The RPI reached 7.1 per cent at the end of 2021 but NIESR bosses are sticking to their decision to give staff 0% for 2020-21 and just 2% for 2021-22. The pay offer fails to keep up with the rising cost of living and represents a significant pay cut in real terms read more

Strike action set to hit Dalkeith based FLB print firm – Unite the union has today (10 January) confirmed that around 110 workers at print and publishing firm FLB Group in Dalkeith, which owns the Filofax and Letts brands, will take strike action this week in a dispute over pay. The strike action will take place on Wednesday (12 January) at 6am and conclude at 05:59am on Thursday. It is the first of a series of 24 hour stoppages commencing every Wednesday into Thursday until 31 March. Some 95.7 per cent of the eligible workforce previously voted in support of strike action in late November on an 84.4 per cent turnout. The pay dispute originates from early 2021 when Unite’s members were informed by FLB that there would be no pay rise. Due to pressure from Unite, the company made several unsatisfactory offers that ended with a below inflation two-year offer of 2.75 per cent. Unite is demanding a six per cent pay increase at a time when the cost of living is at a ten-year high. The Retail Prices Index stood at 7.1 per cent in November 2021 read more

Strike action by Turners of Soham logistic drivers set to impact major aviation companies – Logistic drivers working for Turners of Soham based out of Grangemouth are set to begin strike action tomorrow (6 January) in a dispute over pay. The logistic drivers work on the Q8 Aviation Deliveries contract which provides fuel services for a number of major aviation companies. The strike action follows 100% of Unite members voting to take strike action, on a turnout of 100% at the end of December 2021, following a lack of progress after months of negotiations with the company. The current wave of strike action ends on 14 January at 24:00 hours with further dates to be planned in the coming weeks. Unite’s members based at Grangemouth have been offered an 8.7% increase, despite the same company awarding its drivers in the North West of England 17.5% in October of last year read more

Transport for London bosses ‘declare war’ as seven workers suspended at crisis-hit Woolwich Ferry – Transport for London (TfL) bosses were today (Tuesday 21 December) accused of ‘declaring war’ on the Woolwich Ferry’s workforce by Unite the union, as seven workers were suspended with no reason given. Unite also said that there needs to be an urgent investigation into so-called ‘technical issues’ that mean the troubled ferry operation will be out of action until the New Year. The union has, therefore, called off planned strike action in the first fortnight of January, due to start on Monday 3 January. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “We are also demanding an investigation into the on-going technical difficulties with the ferry which means there will be no ferry service until sometime in the New Year. As a result, we will be suspending at least the first two weeks of our industrial action in January. The strikes, once they commence, are due to run until the end of March…” read more

East Lancashire NHS Trust intransigence forces new period of strike action by biomedical scientists – East Lancashire NHS Trust intransigence forces new period of strike action by biomedical scientists. Bosses at East Lancashire NHS Trust must shoulder the blame for a new 12 week strike which starts today (15 December). Blackburn and Burnley biomedical scientists will re-start strike action today (Wednesday 15 December) in a dispute over unpaid wages. Union negotiators met with the Trust on Tuesday (7 December) last week in an attempt to identify a solution to the dispute. It was an opportunity to avoid further strike action and to re-establish union / Trust relations. On the eve of the strike, the Trust had still failed to take up the opportunity to end the dispute read more

Strike action by Ponticelli/Semco workers in North Sea ‘rock solid’  – Unite the union today (6 December) confirmed that strike action by around 300 members working for Ponticelli UK Ltd and Semco Maritime Ltd has been ‘rock solid’ in the North Sea. The strike action is over a pay dispute with an improved pay offer being recently rejected by Unite members by 85% on an 80% return. It is scheduled to take place over a series of days until late February 2022, including a permanent overtime ban, unless there is ‘significant movement’ by Ponticelli UK Ltd and Semco Maritime Ltd (Full List of dates below). Unite’s members involved in the strike action work on the Total Energies contract on the following assets; Alisa FSO, Culzean, Dunbar, Elgin Franklin, Gryphon FPSO, North Alwyn & Shetland Gas Plant. Unite’s Ponticelli UK Ltd members previously voted overwhelmingly to take strike action by 93.6% on a return of 64.8%, and Semco Maritime Ltd members voted to take strike action by 90.3% on a 61.4% return read more

Evonik workers at historic Manchester chemicals site strike over pay – Evonik workers at a 130-year-old Manchester chemicals site are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 13 October). Around 25 production and warehouse operatives at Evonik’s Clayton site, which has been a chemical plant since 1892, are taking industrial action after rejecting a 1.5 per cent pay offer read more

 

PCS

PCS 2022 pay claims in departments and national ballot – see here for HM Land Registry, DCMS, Cabinet Office, Scottish Sector, BEIS, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, DWP, MOJ, Attorney General’s Office, Department for Education, DfT, Welsh Government and Senedd Commission, Defra, Ministry of Defence, Met Police, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, HMRC

Atos members to take industrial action on 28 February (14 Feb) – The members working for Atos IT Services will take a day’s strike action followed by an overtime ban. PCS members working for Atos IT Services on the National Savings & Investment, PiP, BBC and Tax Free Child Care contracts are to start industrial action on 28 February. Atos have not made an improved offer since our members overwhelmingly rejected the 1.5% pay offer. Our claim is for 5% or £1300 underpin plus a £600 one off payment in recognition of the contribution our members made throughout the pandemic. The industrial action is twofold with a strike on 28 February followed by action short of a strike, which will include an overtime ban across all the accounts. If we do not receive a significantly improved offer we will be continuing the action short of a strike and also moving to all out selective strike action read more

Fujitsu members vote for strike action over pay (14 Feb) – PCS members in Fujitsu have voted strongly in favour of industrial action. PCS members who work for Fujitsu Services have voted by 77.1% to take strike action and by 90.7% to take action short of a strike on a turnout of 80.4%. Members are furious at being offered 1.5% after a pay freeze last year and due to the current cost of living crisis spiralling out of control. This is in effect a 0.75% pay offer per year and goes no way near to meeting our very reasonable and justified pay claim of a consolidated 4% increase or a £1500 underpin whichever is greater. PCS has written to Fujitsu to inform them of the result and ask them if they want to reopen the pay negotiations. We have made it clear that only a significantly increased offer will prevent the union moving to industrial action read more

Risk assessments are vital before return to workplaces (11 Feb) – The UK Civil Service is increasingly trying to push people back into the workplace, regardless of personal circumstances. In a recent exchange of documents, the civil service now says ‘only in exceptional circumstances’ should people continue to home-work. We reject that position as it is clear that many people have valid reasons in continuing to work from home, be it on the grounds of health or the domestic situation read more

PCS to withdraw from Cabinet Office respect and inclusion review unless changes made (9 Feb) – PCS has told the Cabinet Office we will be withdrawing cooperation with its respect and inclusion review into racism and other discrimination in the department unless there are major changes about how it is conducted. The Cabinet Office launched the review last year into respect and inclusion following pressure from PCS amid accusations of racism as well as unfairness towards disabled staff. The Cabinet Office has the worst record for bullying and harassment in the whole civil service – this is all the more shocking since the department is supposed to be the exemplar and standard setter for other government departments read more

PCS response to prison strategy white paper (8 Feb) – Prisons and the justice system should be measured on the outcomes the public want, less crime, less recidivism, and a safer society to live in, we have made clear in our response to the government’s consultation on its prisons strategy white paper read more

 

GMB

Wiltshire bin strike to go ahead affecting 250,000 homes (14 Feb) – A bin strike will go ahead across Wiltshire after GMB members voted for industrial action. Refuse operatives, loaders and drivers will walk out on February 28 in a move that will affect more than 250,000 homes. GMB’s 70 members across three sites – employed by Hills Waste Solutions in Trowbridge, Salisbury and Calne – are furious after management imposed a two per cent pay award – amounting to a massive real-terms pay cut – and failed to negotiate meaningfully with GMB. The ballot saw more than 98 per cent of workers voting to strike, on a return of almost 85 per cent read more

Liberty Steel winding up orders ‘devastating blow to workers and families’ (11 Feb) – Steel unions GMB, Unite and Community have issued a statement in response to the Winding up petitions have been issued against four companies owned by metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta. Reports suggest Speciality Steel UK Limited, a division of Liberty Steel, which employs about 2,000 people in England, Liberty Pipes, Liberty Performance Steels and Liberty Merchant Bar have petitions against them read more

GMB invites Bank of England boss to work as carer (9 Feb) – GMB Union has written to Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, inviting him to work as a carer for the day before he talks about “wage restraint.” Mr Bailey came under intense criticism for suggesting workers should not ask for big pay rises to help curb inflation. The Bank of England boss was paid £575,000 last year read more

GMB St George’s Hospital Hospital workers protest after bosses break Christmas promise (8 Feb) – Workers at St George’s Hospital are to stage a protest after bosses broke their promise of a £40 Christmas voucher – and a string of other injustices. GMB members employed by Mitie as porters, cleaners and hostesses at St Georges Hospital in Tooting are furious after management reneged on a series of agreements, including bank holiday lieu days, contractual rights and an occupational sick pay scheme. The protest will take place as follows:

Friday 18 February 2022, 10am to 2pm, Blackstock Road Entrance, St George’s Hospital, Tooting, SW17 0QT read more

Almost 150,000 Asda workers forced to accept below average pay (8 Feb) – GMB, the union for Asda workers, says the supermarket giant is forcing almost 150,000 retail workers to accept pay well below the industry average. Asda today imposed a below inflation pay increase of just 3.25 per cent on workers, meaning they will earn just £9:66 per hour from April. Most other supermarkets pay more than £10 an hour for retail staff read more

Croydon Hospital workers form Strike Committee over Covid sick pay (8 Feb) – Cleaners and porters working at Croydon Hospital have formed a strike committee over the lack of covid sick pay. The workers, employed by outsourcing giant G4S, have told their union GMB they want to be balloted for industrial action. GMB members say they are being silenced and intimidated by their employer who is stopping overtime when they raise genuine concerns. A consultative industrial action ballot is currently underway and will finish on 21st February. Dozens of cleaners and porters protested outside the hospital on 31st January in anger at not receiving full sick pay during covid-related absences read more

Solihull bin strike looms as ballot begins today (7 Feb) – A bin strike in Solihull could affect more than 86,000 homes as GMB began balloting members today over a pay dispute. More than 100 refuse collectors working for Amey Services Limited will take part in the ballot, which begins today [7 February 2022] and ends on March 4. Amey are refusing to negotiate collectively with GMB Union on workers’ pay. If the strike goes ahead, refuse and recycling services for Solihull Metropolitan Council – including Bickenhill waste tip and recycling centre, local cemeteries, street cleansing, parks and more than 86,000 households will be affected read more

Striking workers at Somers Forge turn up the heat – GMB members at Somers forge are set for strike action tomorrow (17th December). The union has also announced further strike dates on 21st December 2021, and the 5th,12th, 21st and 24th January 2022. The move comes after members rejected the latest pay deal of 4% over two years, but with the company refusing to backdate the award to the pay anniversary of April read more

 

Unison

Furious Lancashire hospital workers think OCS bosses “take the biscuit” (10 Feb) – Furious frontline health workers have put two fingers up at bosses who gave them a KitKat as a reward for risking their lives on Covid wards. The disgruntled domestics and catering staff are employed by private firm OCS at health sites run by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust. Two hospitals – The Harbour in Blackpool and Blackburn Royal Hospital – may face strike action next month (March) after a final slap in the face for the fuming staff. The outsourced workers were already angry at being paid less than NHS colleagues doing the same jobs and for being ignored for months when they raised the issue. Being given a chocolate biscuit as the reward for keeping high-risk Covid wards safe while NHS employed staff received significantly more for doing the same job proved to be the final straw. One hospital worker threw the thank you letter away after feeling: “insulted- like we were being treated like small children being given a treat for good behaviour.” Read more

UNISON welcomes Welsh pay announcement for care workers (10 Feb) – Care workers to get £1,000 payment, and will receive the real living wage. But the union says more needs to be done for the whole care team read more

Further industrial action at Sandwell Leisure Trust (9 Feb) – UNISON members set to take to the picket lines for a sixth time in continued fight against their employer’s fire and rehire tactics. Workers at Portway Lifestyle Centre and Tipton Leisure Centre in the West Midlands will take strike action on Thursday 24 February. This follows last month’s strike on 28 January, which received widespread support read more

Academy orders issued to schools in Hallam Diocese ‘unlawfully’, say education unions (8 Feb) – Trying to force through mass changes to academy status is not only wrong-headed, it’s a complete distraction. Unions representing staff in schools across the Catholic Diocese of Hallam have written to the Secretary of State for Education to begin legal action over letters they received informing them that they would be forced to join Multi-Academy Trusts read more

NAAS scrapped after hard UNISON campaigning (8 Feb) – The DfE has announced the accreditation scheme for children’s social workers will be closed in March after very low take-up. After years of strong, coordinated campaigning by UNISON, the department for education (DfE) has announced that the national assessment and accreditation scheme (NAAS) for children’s social workers will be closed in March 2022 read more

University members to take action on pay and pensions (7 Feb) – Dates announced as ballots at 10 institutions pass the legal threshold for turnout. UNISON members at nine higher education institutions are to take industrial action on the current year’s pay offer in the coming weeks, after those institutions passed the legal turnout threshold in a ballot that closed last Friday. UNISON branches will be taking strike action alongside University and College Union branches on the imposed pay offer of 1.5% for the majority of staff. In addition, three universities where the legal turnout threshold was reached will see members take action on detrimental changes to their pension, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) read more

 

NIPSA

NIPSA Challenges Potential Privatisation of the NIHE (9 Feb) – Housing Executive NIHE NIPSA Submission. NIPSA has responded to the Draft NI Housing Supply Strategy. Copies of the response and the NIPSA submission to the Intermediate Rent Model Consultation are attached to this article read more

 

CWU

Horizon Inquiry Day One: CWU demands ‘action not words’ (14 Feb) – Andy Furey urges Nick Read to ‘make change happen – don’t just talk about it’ after Post Office CEO writes lengthy essay pledging to ‘right the wrongs’ exposed during this major miscarriage of justice read more

EE ballot over ‘harmonisation of hours’ safeguards demonstrates value of union recognition (14 Feb) – Members in EE call centres are being asked to deliver their verdict on a comprehensive series of safeguards negotiated by the CWU following the company’s announcement of its intention to harmonise hours across the EE and BT businesses read more

CWU secures 4.5% pay rise for members in Accenture (9 Feb) – Members in Accenture have unanimously accepted a CWU-brokered pay deal which delivers minimum fully consolidated rises of 4.5%, allocated via a matrix. Set against a relevant CPI inflation rate of 3.1% (RPI 4.9%) when negotiations commenced in September, the settlement is backdated to December 1 and covers a CWU-represented bargaining unit comprising a small group of members conducting IT work on an outsourced BT contract read more

‘We’ve got your back’ CWU pledge to members after TUPE shock   (9 Feb) – ‘We’ve got your back’ CWU pledge to members after TUPE shock. Union calls emergency meeting of ALL members in BT Supply Chain for tomorrow (Thursday) evening after announcement of outsourcing to logistics giant GXO read more

 

FBU

Fire service response times see biggest slowdown in years (14 Feb) – Response times by the fire and rescue service to significant fires in England have slowed by the biggest amount since 2015. The new figure is over 2 and a half minutes longer than that for 1995. New figures show that the average response time for primary fires in England was 8 minutes and 43 seconds for the year ending September 2021, a slowing of six seconds when compared to the previous year. This is the largest slowdown for this statistic, the response times to primary fires for the emergency service responsible for rescues, since between March 2014 and March 2015. The Fire Brigades Union has identified the cause of this slowdown in fire response times as being the huge levels of cuts to the service read more

McCloud/Sargeant Pensions Remedy – Your questions answered (10 Feb) – The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Advisory Board for England, which includes FBU representatives, has commissioned a document aiming to answer firefighters’ questions on this set of remedies. You can read it here read more

 

NEU

Historic first strike day at Girls’ Day School Trust’s independent schools (10 Feb) – Today saw an historic strike by NEU teacher members who work in Girls’ Day School Trust’s 23 independent schools read more

Strike details for Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST)’s independent schools in England and Wales from 10 February – Countdown to strike action at GDST’s 23 independent schools. In one week from now, teacher members of the National Education Union in Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST)’s independent schools in England and Wales will go on strike to defend their pensions. Six days of strike action have been announced – 10 February 2022, 23 February, 24 February, 1 March, 2 March, 3 March. 1,500 NEU teacher members are expected to take part. Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries of the National Education Union, will speak at a rally in London at noon on 10 February. Further details of that and other rallies to follow read more

Wales: Strike action at Howells School over pensions – In one week from now, on 10 February, teacher members of the NEU at Howells School will go on strike to defend their pensions. Four days of nationally co-ordinated strike action have been announced across the Girls’ Day School Trust’s independent school in the Wales – 10 February 2022, 1 March, 2 March, 3 March. A single formal ballot, which closed last week, resulted in 95% of teacher members at the 23 schools voting in favour of discontinuous strike action on a turnout of 84%. (1) This is an unprecedented and overwhelming ‘yes’ vote for action, and the strike action will be the first in the Trust’s entire 149-year history. Howells School will not take part in the strike days planned for 23 February and 24 February due to it being half term read more

 

NASUWT

Teacher welfare being treated as collateral damage (14 Feb) – Ministers, employers and inspectorates are failing in their duty of care to teachers, with a lack of action to address workload and the impact of the pandemic driving up stress and poor mental health to unprecedented levels read more

Norwich teachers strike over pensions (9 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Norwich High School for Girls, are starting the first of six days of planned strike action tomorrow (Thursday) in protest at plans to downgrade their pensions, which would leave them significantly worse off in retirement. The Girls Day School Trust (GDST), which runs the school, is planning to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose an inferior scheme on its teachers. Staff have been threatened with dismissal from their jobs if they refuse to sign up to new contracts which include the downgraded pension entitlement. The NASUWT does not believe there is any financial justification for GDST to seek these cuts to teachers’ pension entitlements. GDST has enough funds to offer teachers fair pensions. The Trust’s finances are in a healthy condition with total funds of £461.9 million and available reserves of £43.1 million as of August 2020 read more

 

UCU

Big changes needed at Imperial College London, say staff (15 Feb) – Staff at Imperial College London sent a clear message that President Alice Gast and Muir Sanderson must go and that the college needs to implement a new governance structure read more

Huge numbers of staff & students on picket lines across the UK (14 Feb) – University staff on the ground have reported huge numbers of staff and supportive students joining picket lines. Commenting on today’s strike action, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Thousands of university staff began a new wave of industrial action as they try to prevent a devastating 35% cut to their guaranteed retirement income. The response from students has been overwhelming and I want to thank every single one of them for standing with us…” read more

Ten days of strike action begins at UK universities (14 Feb) – University leaders have ‘failed staff and students’, UCU said today as up to ten days of strike action began at universities across the UK over devastating cuts to pensions and deteriorating pay & working conditions. Staff at 44 universities walked out today after university employers refused to withdraw cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) or accept UCU’s compromise proposals which would have seen staff and employers pay slightly more to protect benefits and resolve the pension dispute. Last week the pension scheme trustee USS, which runs the scheme, confirmed UCU’s proposals are viable and implementable. UUK’s proposals, which will see 35% cut from the guaranteed retirement income of members, are set to be formalised on Tuesday 22 February. Next Monday strike action over pay and working conditions will also start with 24 further universities joining the action, bringing the overall total to 68 universities read more

Staff warn rogue university bosses to prepare for more strike action over pay deductions (9 Feb) – UCU has warned hardline university bosses that they could be hit with even more strike action – on top of the ten days already planned – if they go ahead with 100% deductions in pay for staff taking action short of a strike (ASOS) read more

In total 68 UK universities will be hit with strike action in February. The full strike dates, with numbers of institutions involved, are:-

  • week 1 (USS pension dispute only, 44 institutions): 5 days; Monday 14 to Friday 18 February
  • week 2 (both the pension and the pay & working conditions dispute, 68 institutions): 2 days; Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February
  • week 3 (pay & working conditions dispute only, 63 institutions): 3 days; Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March

Further industrial action is also on the cards, including:-

  • rolling regional and UK wide action in pay & working conditions: dates to be confirmed
  • preparations made for UK wide marking and assessment boycott.

The final day of strike action in week 3 has been called to coincide with the student strike on Wednesday 2 March, organised by the NUS. The NUS is calling for higher and further education to be free at the point of use for students and for staff to get better working conditions, pay and pensions read more

USS trustee confirms UCU proposals can be implemented (10 Feb) – Vice-chancellors have been gifted a ‘golden opportunity’ to resolve the USS pensions dispute after the trustee that manages the fund confirmed there was ‘no impediment to implementation’ of alternative compromise proposals put forward by UCU. UCU submitted alternative USS proposals to employers on Wednesday 26 January in a bid to protect pension benefits and avert industrial action which is due to begin at 44 universities on Monday 14 February. The dispute is over cuts to the pension scheme put forward by employer body Universities UK (UUK) which would see 35% cut from the guaranteed retirement income of scheme members read more

Strikes begin today at Goldsmiths in jobs row (7 Feb) – Industrial action by University and College Union (UCU) members will begin today (Monday) at Goldmiths University as part of an ongoing dispute over plans to sack 46 members of staff. Goldsmiths wants to make the cuts as part of a ‘recovery plan’ after years of financial mismanagement have left the university with a £12.7m deficit. The union says the ‘recovery plan’ is a deal struck with Lloyds and Natwest banks to use redundancies to improve the university’s finances. Following a failure by the university last week to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies staff have been left with no option but to take industrial action in defence of jobs. Staff will walk out today (Monday 7 February) and tomorrow, and follow this up with strike action alongside that taking place as part of UCU’s national pay and pension disputes later this month. The full dates that Goldsmiths staff will be on strike over this dispute are – Week 1 Mon 7 & 8 Feb; Week 2 Wed 16 – Fri 18 Feb; Week 3 Mon 28 Feb – Fri 4 March

The university has already been hit with a global boycott which means UCU is asking its members, other trade unions, labour movement organisations and the international academic community to support its members at Goldsmiths in any way possible read more  Follow @GoldsmithsUCU on twitter

UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.

 

NUJ

IFJ Killed List Report 2021 (11 Feb) – The International Federation of Journalists has published the most comprehensive report on journalists and media staff killed in work-related incidents around the world during 2021. Its 31st edition, details the circumstances of the 47 killings which occurred during targeted attacks, bombings and crossfire incidents as well as 2 accidental killings read more

 

Prospect

The government must preserve jobs and R&D at Arm after takeover collapses (8 Feb) – Responding to the news that Nvidia’s proposed takeover of Arm has collapsed, Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect said: “This news is just the latest development in a period of huge uncertainty for Arm’s workforce. As a union we have long warned that whatever the ownership structure it must ensure the preservation of both jobs and research and development spending…” read more

 

Equity

Sign the petition to save Stratford Circus! https://www.change.org/p/save-stratford-circus

 

USDAW

Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw branches and trades councils ([email protected])

 

UVW

GOSH security guards call on the union movement to support their right to picket, threatened by injunction (14 Feb) – “We call on all working class people, all unionists to join hands together, because we see an attempt to suffocate the voices of working people, to suppress the movement of the unions,” Sam Awittor, GOSH security guard on strike. The High Court on Thursday 10 February served United Voices of the World (UVW) union with a temporary injunction banning its Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) striking security guards and their supporters from dancing, singing and even waving banners within 200 metres from the hospital. This is an unprecedented legal ruling to silence workers and one of the biggest legal attacks against the human rights of the trade union movement in decades, and the guards and their union are determined to resist it vigorously. On Wednesday 16 February, they’ll be back in court for a full hearing where they will fight for the injunction to be ripped up. In the meantime, the guards have redoubled their efforts to gain visibility and rally support read more

Defend trade union rights – protest 10am Wednesday 16th February outside Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children threatens to seek injunction to silence security guards on strike for sick pay (9 Feb) – The trade union United Voices of the World (UVW) has been informed by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) that it will apply to court for an injunction unless UVW undertakes to cease all picketing at the hospital and limit the number of any ‘protestors’ to six. UVW does not accept that GOSH has any right to the undertakings sought which are oppressive and a draconian and unjustified encroachment on our member’s human rights to picket and protest. UVW will vigorously contest any application to the Court. This threat follows five days of a planned 44-day strike by security guards in pursuit of full sick pay and other NHS benefits they are currently denied. On one of these days the peaceful picket line was violently attacked outside the offices of GOSH CEO, Matthew Shaw. A crime report was lodged with the police read more

 

IWGB

Migrant cleaners at London Bridge Hospital whistleblow on Covid safety violations (14 Feb) – Migrant cleaners at London Bridge Hospital whistleblow on Covid safety violations and launch campaign against HCA Healthcare which pocketed NHS millions in the pandemic read more

Glasgow foster carers demonstrate outside Town Hall as IWGB reveals Council spends 2.4x more on privatised foster care (8 Feb) – Glasgow foster carers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are demonstrating in George Square on Friday 11 February at 11am over Glasgow City Council’s failure to negotiate over its 10-year freeze on child allowances for children in foster care. Leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken pulled out of meetings scheduled for 27 January 2022 after foster carers held a local leafleting session in Southside Central read more

Longest Gig-Economy Strike Escalates as Sheffield Couriers Blockade McDonald’s – Yesterday 30th January, striking food delivery couriers, employed by the JustEat subcontractor Stuart Delivery, demonstrated outside of the Sheffield Archer Road McDonald’s. 60 drivers and supporters, joined by Paul Blomfield MP, blockaded the entrance to the McDonald’s, shutting down all orders for 45 minutes. Speeches were given by drivers and local business owners who came out to support the action. Couriers began strike action on 6 December 2021, after Stuart Delivery cut the minimum delivery pay by 24%, from £4.50 to £3.40, following a gradual decline in pay and conditions. Couriers have been declining orders from McDonald’s between 5-8PM every evening for 40 days, and have recently started targeting Greggs and other restaurants. Strike action has also taken place in Sunderland, Chesterfield, Blackpool, and Huddersfield read more

Write to Stuart Delivery, JustEat: END THE STRIKE, PAY RISE NOW!

 

SIPTU (Ireland)

SIPTU condemns attempt by Tesco Ireland to outsource security staff roles (14 Feb) – SIPTU representatives have condemned an attempt by the management of Tesco Ireland to outsource almost 100 security worker roles at the supermarket chain and have called on the company to engage in negotiations concerning any proposed changes read more

SIPTU says public service workers will need pay increases to offset rising living costs (13 Feb) – SIPTU representatives have said that the level of pay increases necessary to compensate for rising living costs will be a key topic of discussion at upcoming Annual General Meetings of union members in the public service read more

 

Mandate (Ireland)

Mandate Trade Union say Tesco security workers shocked by loss of jobs (11 Feb) – Mandate Trade Union has said almost 100 Tesco security workers have been told their jobs will be lost by the end of the month as the company prepares to outsource their roles to OCS security services. Mandate has said the deadline put to workers for a decision on their future of 1st March is “unrealistic” and “disrespectful.” The Union is calling on the company to drop their ultimatum. Tesco security workers were called into meetings on Tuesday (8th Feb) and told their jobs were being outsourced with three options: severance payment; redeployment to other positions in their store, if available; or a transfer to OCS security services read more

 

Other news

SOSNHS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION SATURDAY 26th Feb – This will be the hardest winter ever in health and social care. We must act to safeguard services for patients and service users, boost staff morale and tackle the mental health crisis among health and care staff. Emergency funds must be secured now to avert disaster see here for details of events in your area

February Health Campaigns Together bulletin

 

Save St Mary’s Leisure Centre: – petition to Southampton City Council

St Mary’s Leisure Centre in Southampton is used every week by hundreds of individuals, sports and leisure groups. It is facing council funding cuts and closure at a time when we need these vital facilities. There are no other local facilities available for community use. The centre is in need of maintenance but is safe and viable for current use. We call for Southampton Council to maintain the funding of the centre, to continue as a council run community facility in line with council’s statement of priorities. No council cuts, no to privatisation. Save St Mary’s Leisure Centre – follow campaign on Facebook

 

Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps

Reinstated: Tracey Scholes is back in the driving seat

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 repsign petition: End the culture of fear at St Mungo’smodel motion

St Mungo’s: Unite will not tolerate victimisation and bullying

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

Reinstate John Boken Shropshire NEU rep – For more details and send solidarity messages, email [email protected]

Sign petition to support Redbridge NEU Rep Keiran Mahon

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

Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw and other union branches plus trades councils ([email protected])

Blacklisting Investigation – 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

From NUJ website: NUJ expresses grave concern at unlawful arrest of journalists in Afghanistan read more

From NUJ website: Hong Kong – IFJ report documents dire status of Hong Kong’s media read more

From SPOT website: Doctors on strike over worsening conditions in Turkey 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 2nd 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

 

 

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