This week’s NSSN bulletin headlines with an appeal for solidarity to the 800 P&O workers who were brutally sacked last Thursday. NSSN supporters have taken part in demonstrations to support the workers and their unions the RMT and Nautilus International and other seafarer unions, and we will advertise them in this bulletin by updating it during the week, and on social media when they are announced. We support the calls for P&O to be nationalised to save jobs and defend communities.
RMT demonstrations
Wednesday 23 March & Saturday 26 March (details same for both days):-
Liverpool 7am Port of Liverpool main entrance L21 2A. CHANGE OF DETAILS FOR SATURDAY DEMO: now meet 11.30am Liverpool Seafarers Centre, Seaforth
Dover 12noon Maritime House, Snargate Street CT17 9BZ
Hull 1pm King George Dock HU9 5PR
Wednesday 23 March
Cairnryan 12noon P&O Ferries, The Port DG9 8RF – to book place on Glasgow bus email [email protected]
Friday 25 March
Larne – 1pm Larne Harbour Ltd (port entrance), 9 Olferfleet Road BT40 1AS
From RMT website:-
Save P&O Jobs: Protests in Liverpool Wednesday and Saturday (22 Mar) – RMT members will be joined by other activists this week in Liverpool for two demonstrations to protest against the sacking of 800 workers by P&O. The protests will be taking place on Weds 23rd March 0700 and Saturday 26th March 0700 at the Port of Liverpool L21 LA. The demonstrations will demand the reinstatement of the P&O workers and call on government to take action against P&O and their parent company DP World to ensure that happens read more
DP World refuse to meet union delegation (21 Mar) – P&O owners DP World refuse to meet delegation of union leaders over jobs carve up. Unions accused P&O of treating their members with complete contempt after their owners, DP World, refused to meet the general secretaries of RMT, Nautilus and the TUC who were attending a protest at their headquarters this lunchtime read more
P&O ferry crews replaced by seafarers on 2.38 dollars (21 Mar) – RMT says P&O ferry crews at Dover have been replaced by Indian seafarers being paid 2.38 dollars an hour. Commenting on the revelation RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said, “The news that the seafarers now on ships in British ports are to be paid 2.38 dollars an hour is a shocking exploitation of those Seafarers and another gut-wrenching betrayal of those who have been sacked…” read more
RMT calls on Boris Johnson to meet a delegation of sacked P&O workers (21 Mar) – RMT has called for Boris Johnson to meet a delegation of sacked P&O workers as it emerged the government have delayed for over two years from taking action on legislation that would have protected workers. RMT has called on Boris Johnson to meet a delegation of sacked P&O workers as it emerged the government have delayed taking action on legislation that would have protected workers for over two years read more
New crew on P&O ships will be paid at rates well below minimum wage (20 Mar) – In another shocking twist to the national P&O scandal transport union RMT has said that in the future replacement crew on P&O ships will be paid poverty wages below the National Minimum Wage. The union have supported their claim by pointing to the example of the two P&O ships on the Liverpool-Dublin route which have been crewed with Filipino Ratings who were on contracts which paid a basic rate of $3.47 per hour. Shipping companies which are registered in other countries and operating routes from UK ports to Europe can pay below the minimum wage because they are exempt from this basic protection, despite the government saying previously that it would examine addressing this weakness in the legislation read more
P&O Crisis: RMT calls for four-point plan to protect jobs, services and basic employment standards (18 Mar) – RMT calls for four-point plan to protect jobs, services and basic employment standards as it’s revealed government knew of intention to sack workers and disrupt services but failed to act. On the day of demonstrations around the country RMT has called for the implementation of a four-point plan to protect jobs, services and basic employment standards as it’s revealed the government knew of the plan to sack workers and disrupt services the day before but failed to act.
The plan includes,
- The government to demand P&O reverse its decision and hold negotiations with the unions so that jobs and services can be reinstated – If this does not happen the government should use powers to take over the P&O vessels.
*. Remove any government support for P&O owners DP World, including future contracts, including Freeports, and directly support the retention of P&O jobs instead.
- A widespread public and commercial boycott of P&O – “we won’t go with P&O” until the jobs are reinstated.
- New Legislation to ensure this can never happen to other UK workers and new laws to protect the long-term future of workers in the UK maritime industry read more
Future of P&O (17 Mar) – RMT demands protection of UK seafarer jobs amid speculation that hundreds of UK seafarers are to be sacked and replaced with foreign labour read more
P&O sackings (17 Mar) – RMT reports that security guards with handcuffs are boarding ships to remove crew as union calls for mass mobilisation against the company read more
RMT organises emergency P&O demonstrations (17 Mar) – P&O staff and other trades unionists will join demonstrations in Dover, Liverpool, and Hull on Friday, condemning P&O for sacking 800 staff read more
From Nautilus International website:-
Nautilus enters dispute over mass redundancies with P&O Ferries (18 Mar) – The Union joined protests across the UK against P&O Ferries after the company laid off 800 workers read more
Outrage as P&O Ferries restarts Liverpool-Dublin sailings (19 Mar) – The Norbank will return to operation today according to an internal P&O Ferries communication seen by Nautilus International read more
From TSSA website:-
Nationalise key ferry routes and “hit P&O where it hurts” (18 Mar) – Transport union TSSA is today calling for the government to take over running vital ferry routes to safeguard trade and travel as well as sending the strongest message that Britain will not stand for bully boy P&O tactics – with TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes saying “hit them where it hurts”. TSSA, which represents staff in other ferry companies including CalMac and Stena, is responding to shocking events which unfurled yesterday, Thursday 17 March. In unprecedented scenes, P&O staff were sacked with immediate effect via a pre-recorded video and attempts were then made to march them off their ships by security personnel while replacement agency crews waited on the dockside read more
TSSA Condemns P&O Ferries “Fire and rehire” of their staff (17 Mar) – P&O have fired all their staff. TSSA today condemned P&O Ferries practices after the company announced that all sailing staff would be sacked immediately and replaced with agency staff. P&O Ferries have encouraged their staff to apply to the agency for work – effectively reapplying for their own jobs read more
From Unite website:-
Politicians fail again. P&O mass sackings are an ‘economic attack’ that represent a ‘line in the sand’ for workers in Britain, says Unite (18 Mar) – The brutal sacking of 800 workers by P&O, at the behest of billionaire owned parent company DP World, is a ‘line in the sand’ for workers in Britain, Unite said today. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham compared the actions of DP World to an ‘economic attack’ on British workers read more
Unite calls on P&O to step back from savage sackings and work to save UK jobs (17 Mar)
From GMB website:-
GMB demands meeting with P&O bosses over onshore workers (18 Mar) – GMB Union has demanded a meeting with P&O Ferries bosses over the future of onshore workers after the ‘shameful’ sacking of hundreds of seafarers. The company this week slashed the jobs of 800 loyal employees in a ‘terrible day’ for the Maritime industry. These sacked seafarers kept the country going during the covid pandemic, keeping shipping lines open and ensuring essential equipment, food and other supplies flowed between the UK and Europe, GMB says. Management at P&O Ferries have not made these workers redundant; they have been sacked read more
PCS: Solidarity with P&O workers and their unions read more
Unison: UNISON condemns ‘shameful’ P&O Ferries action read more
Stop union victimisation: support the Coventry bin strike – Unite solidarity rally – 11am Saturday 26th March at Broadgate Square, Coventry City Centre
The Labour council has disgracefully targeted Pete Randle, one of the senior Unite shop stewards. We call on all our supporters to support Pete and his striking members
Sign petition to Councillor George Duggins – Coventry Council: Reinstate Pete Randle, stop union busting, stop strike breaking and pay the rate
11,000 demand the reinstatement of Coventry union rep (21 Mar) – What: Supporters deliver petition to demand Coventry Council reinstates union rep Peter Randle.
Where & when: 2pm Tuesday 22 March 2022 at Coventry Council House CV15
11,000 demand the reinstatement of Coventry union rep. Coventry Council accused of victimising Peter Randle for his legitimate trade union duties. Activists will hand in a petition on Tuesday afternoon (22 March) signed by 11,000 supporters calling for the reinstatement of Unite representative Peter Randle. Earlier this month, the council took the outrageous decision to escalate tensions with Unite by suspending the union’s shop steward on bogus charges in the middle of the dispute. Peter Randle now faces dismissal but Unite has accused the council of victimisation and has pledged its unwavering support for its shop steward who has already faced abuse and victimisation during the dispute, which has not been addressed by Council managers read more
Unite: Coventry bin strikes will run into the summer after huge vote for action (15 Mar)
Refuse collection workers show solidarity with shop steward suspended by Coventry council (15 Mar)
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]
TUC National Demonstration Saturday 18th June Central London
The TUC has called a national demonstration this summer. The NSSN welcomes this so that the biggest possible national demonstration can be built as a platform for the mass co-ordinated industrial action that is needed as workers fight the squeeze on their living standards.
12noon Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD read more
Budget Day Protests this week
GMB: Almost 100 NHS workers to protest ahead of Spring Statement 2.45pm Tuesday 22 March Old Palace Yard, Westminster, SW1P 3JY – Almost 100 frontline NHS workers including doctors and nurses, MPs and union organisers are set to protest outside Parliament on Tuesday 22 March calling for a proper pay rise ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement. Protesters will board a battle bus wearing Rishi Sunak masks before marching on Downing Street to hand in a petition of more than 100,000 signatures calling on the Chancellor to commit to more NHS funding
Unite ‘Red Box’ protest outside parliament as households tell Sunak ‘we can’t afford to live’ – 11am Wednesday 23 March Old Palace Yard, Westminster, SW1P 3JY. Members of Unite Community will head to parliament on the day of the chancellor’s spring statement (Wednesday 23 March) to protest at Rishi Sunak’s failure to provide meaningful help for the UK’s poorest households through the deepest cost of living crisis for generations. Unite Community members, including benefit claimants, pensioners and the low waged, will hold replicas of the chancellor’s famous red budget box emblazoned with the message ‘We can’t afford to live.’ Read more
Workers Deserve A Pay Rise – London March & Rally: 6pm, called by London NEU & UCU – assemble at Westminster Cathedral and march a short distance to an indoor rally in Westminster Facebook event
Stop the war in Ukraine
The NSSN calls for the unity of working-class people across Ukraine, Russia and the whole region against war, militarisation and repression. We support the actions of independent trade unions in Ukraine and Russia in defending workers.
FBU Executive Council Statement – Invasion and War in Ukraine
Unite executive council – statement on Ukraine crisis
NSSN news
NSSN Conference 2022 will be on Saturday 2nd July 11am-5pm in Central London. Venue to be confirmed
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]
Union News
RMT
RMT on additional fine for SouthEastern (17 Mar) – RMT says additional fine for SouthEastern rail franchise scandal reinforces case for Govia to be kicked off the railway. RAIL UNION RMT said that the additional fine of £23.5 million meted out to the private London South Eastern Railway operation this morning, after further investigation by DfT revealed that their fiddling of the figures dates back many years, reinforces the case for Govia to be stripped of their Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern operations read more
RMT warns of more disputes on Transpennine Express (17 Mar) – Reports that FirstGroup has been given an 8-year contract to attack staff. Ahead of further strike action this weekend by conductors on Transpennine Express services, RMT warned today that the interests of passengers are being sacrificed by a government that is hard-wiring profiteering and attacks on staff into its revamped privatisation model as reports indicated that FirstGroup will be awarded an 8 year extension to their National Rail Contract read more
TPE Conductor members to take further industrial action. Members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 13th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 20th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 27th March 2022
- hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 3rdApril 2022
- hours on Saturday 16th April 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 17th April 2022
- hours on Saturday 30th April 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 1st May 2022
- hours on Saturday 4th June 2022 until 23.59 hours on Sunday 5th June 2022 read more
RMT calls on Sadiq Khan to end Tube outsourcing (16 Mar) – RMT calls on Sadiq Khan to end privatisation on London Underground following controversial announcement. Tube union RMT reacted with fury to the announcement this week, by TfL Commissioner Andy Byford that outsourcing contractor ABM will continue to employ tube cleaners, leaving hundreds of RMT members in the hands of a private company. RMT called on the Mayor of London to overturn the decision or potentially face another strike on the tube read more
RMT responds to Rail Minister speech (16 Mar) – RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said; “It is obvious to anyone that uses the railways that rail workers already work seven days a week, around the clock with anti-social hours to keep the country moving. For the rail minister to come along and tell them they need to be more flexible is frankly insulting. What’s even more galling is while rail staff who have been hailed as heroes during the pandemic are facing pay freezes and attacks on their conditions it is business as usual for the private companies who are making their profits off the backs of their workers. It is this basic unfairness that is sowing the seeds of a national rail dispute.” Read more
Congratulations on rock solid London Underground action (3 Mar) – All RMT London Underground members are congratulated for the rock-solid strike action across the entire network this week. There has been a brilliant show of solidarity and support from you all and you are commended for your commitment to fight against vicious attacks on your jobs and pensions in order to pay for the TfL funding crisis read more
Support the London Night Tube strike: every Friday and Saturday nights on Central and Victoria lines read more
TSSA
Southeastern disgrace shows need for public ownership (17 Mar) – London and South Eastern Railway Ltd has been fined a further £23.5 million following a “serious breach”. Responding to the Department for Transport fining the former Go-Ahead Group franchise London and South Eastern Railway Ltd a further £23.5 million following a “serious breach”, rail union TSSA branded the company a “disgrace” and called for all rail to be brought into public ownership read more
Unite
UK shortages of Pork Farms products during Nottingham factory all out pay strike (21 Mar) – Supermarkets across the UK will face shortages of Pork Farms products during a continuous all-out pay strike by more than 170 workers employed at Nottingham’s Riverside Bakery. Staff earning just above the minimum wage, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will go on strike from 30 March over a pay cut disguised as a rise. The offer would leave staff worse off by reducing overtime, bank holiday and premium rates. Riverside Bakery produces quiches, flans and savoury tarts sold by major retailers including Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Marks and Spencer read more
Unite calls on chipmaker ARM to halt job cuts and open up the books (21 Mar) – Unite calls on computer chipmaker Arm to halt job cuts and open up the books. Unite, Britain’s leading union, is calling on Arm the UK computer chip maker to “open up the books and freeze job cuts” following its decision to slash 15 per cent of the workforce despite being a profitable and successful company read more
Unite members in councils, education authority, Housing Executive and Schools launch first week of strike action to win improved pay (21 Mar) – Strike likely to result in significant disruption to council services, housing executive maintenance and school transport. Union members will be striking for improved pay at all eleven local councils, the Education Authority, the NI Housing Executive, North West Regional College, Belfast Metropolitan College, St Columb’s College, South Eastern Regional College, Lumen Christi College and the Northern Regional College. The strike follows an overwhelming vote to reject a pay offer from local government employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of just 1.75 per cent for the year 2021-22. The pay offer would mean another real terms pay cut and comes after eleven years of pay freezes. Unite is seeking localised settlements to deliver improved pay despite the other two signatory unions in the bargaining processes of the ‘Green Book’ NJC having agreed the 1.75 per cent pay offer. The union is seeking locally-agreed improvements through raising pay grades, reduced working hours, more paid holidays and other benefits read more
Unite to stage targeted industrial action as council workers express disgust at 1.75% pay offer – Unite’s local government members will stage targeted industrial action at councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in March, after rejecting a 1.75 per cent pay offer in a ballot of more than 300 local authorities. More than 80 per cent of Unite’s 70,000 members, who voted in nearly 400 separate ballots, were in favour of industrial action over the 1.75 per cent offer made by the Local Government Association (with 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point) for 2021/22. Council workers from Belfast to Bath to Ipswich have said loud and clear: ‘We are worth more’. The union said that the employers’ offer was and remains ‘completely unacceptable’, given that the RPI rate of inflation has raced ahead to 7.8 per cent. (A list of councils, where the legal threshold for industrial action has been met and where action will be taken, will be unveiled soon) read more
GSK workers to vote on strike action over pay as pharma-giant accused of ‘cast-iron corporate greed’ (18 Mar) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by pharmaceutical giant GSK, are to be balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay. The 1,000 plus workers have been offered a pay increase of just 2.75 per cent. An offer of four per cent could be available but with considerable strings attached, which Unite has also rejected. Both offers would amount to a pay cut in real terms, with the current inflation rating standing at 7.8 per cent (retail price index). The ballot for industrial action will open on Friday, 18 March and close on Tuesday 19 April. A vote for industrial action will see strikes begin later this spring, causing disruption and product shortages. In 2021, GSK, which produces household medicines like Sensodyne and Panadol along with medications for combatting critical illnesses, made £34.1 billion in profits. The company’s chief executive Emma Walmsley saw her pay increase by 17 per cent last year, receiving £8.2 million read more
Unite secures Heathrow HGV catering drivers 14 per cent pay rise (18 Mar) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a pay rise worth just under 14 per cent for around 100 HGV drivers at premium aviation catering firm DO & CO at Heathrow. The rise is a result of a pay dispute that began after 1,800 workers in various roles transferred from Gate Gourmet and DHL Supply Service Chain to DO & CO in the summer of 2020. Unite members had voted for strike action over pay disparities between HGV drivers, with Gate Gourmet and DHL drivers retaining a higher rate of pay under TUPE transfer legislation. As a result of the deal, new starters and drivers who started at DO & CO before the summer 2020 transfer will receive a pay rise worth nearly 14 per cent. Those who transferred from Gate Gourmet and DHL will see a wage uplift of 6 per cent, with pay now balanced for HGV drivers across the company. In addition, all drivers will now be covered under Unite’s recognition agreement with DO & CO. Previously it only applied to drivers who had worked at Gate Gourmet and DHL read more
London bus strikes suspended as Arriva makes improved pay offer (18 Mar) – Bus strikes, which were due to begin next week and would have caused severe disruption across, London have been suspended following an improved pay offer by bus operator Arriva. Over a 1,000 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were due to stage a 24 hour strike on Monday 21 March. However, following last minute negotiations, the initial day of industrial action has been suspended, to allow the workers to be balloted on an improved pay offer read more
Sharon Graham: Workers must not be made to pay for interest rate rise and increased costs (17 Mar) – Responding to the decision by the Bank of England to raise interest rates to 0.75 per cent, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Today’s interest rate rise comes at a time when millions of working people are facing the worst cost-of-living crisis for generations, now being compounded by the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine. This rise will put even more pressure on household finances as inflation and energy bills continue to skyrocket. My message is clear, workers must not be made to pay for this. For any bosses who think the answer to increased costs is to dip into workers’ pockets please take note: We will defend our members’ jobs, pay and conditions to the hilt and will be demanding wage rises that keep up with living costs.” Read more
Strike fears at the Financial Conduct Authority as staff start formal strike ballot (15 Mar) – Employees working across the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have today (Tuesday 15 March) served notice to begin a ballot on taking industrial action against cuts to their pay and conditions. Unite, the union representing staff at FCA, has today sent legal notification to the regulator of the industrial action ballot to commence in seven days. The union is balloting the workforce because damaging proposals by the regulator will have the effect of driving down performance and threatening the financial watchdog’s operations at a time when it is already struggling due to a staff exodus read more
Industrial action set to have a ‘severe impact’ on Lerwick Port (15 Mar) – Unite the union today (15 March) confirmed that its members working at the Lerwick Port Authority have voted in support of industrial action over pay, terms and conditions. For a number of years, despite the prosperity and expansion of the port, skilled and semi-skilled employees have been paid considerably less than nationally agreed rates. Around a dozen key workers voted unanimously in support of strike action and an overtime ban. The industrial action will include engineers, electricians, joiners and general operatives. Unite members will now commence a continuous overtime ban from 28 March at the main port in the Shetland Islands. Due to the significant hours of overtime required to ensure the effective running of operations at the port, Unite has stated that any overtime ban in itself will have a ‘severe impact’ on the cruise liners and oil and gas vessels, as well as the general shipping, which use the harbour read more
Wizz Air Luton passengers facing serious disruption amid strike possibility (15 Mar) – Wizz Air passengers at Luton airport will face ‘serious disruption’ if baggage handlers and check-in staff employed by GH London Ground Handling Services vote to strike over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said around 100 of its members are being balloted over GH London’s failure to introduce promised improvements to sick pay for all employees. Workers are also being balloted over wages consistently not being paid on time read more
Ford facing tipper truck and van shortages as VFS workers in Eastleigh to strike over pay – Workers employed at the south coast firm VFS Southampton Ltd, who assemble tipper trucks and vans for Ford, have announced extensive strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted overwhelmingly for the action after VFS imposed a pay award which the company claims is worth 3.65 per cent but, with the RPI (retail price index) rate of inflation currently standing at 7.8 per cent and set to rise further, is in reality a pay cut. VFS also assembles large vehicles for Mercedes so the strikes will hit both companies with delays to the delivery of vehicles. Unite’s members will hold a 24-hour strike on Tuesday 29 March with a further six strike periods scheduled for a total of 25 days until mid-June. The workers will be striking on the following dates: 29 March, 1 April, 11-14 April, 25-29 April, 3-6 May, 23-27 May and 6-10 June read more
Statement of solidarity with Svitzer workers on strike at Teesside – The executive council and general secretary of Unite the union stand in full solidarity with Svitzer tug boat workers in Teesside who are on strike for fair pay. It is disgraceful that Maersk Shipping, which owns Svitzer, is looking at record profits yet seeks to impose a zero per cent pay rise during a cost of living crisis. Unite will stand behind you, our members, every step of the way until Maersk and its subsidiary Svitzer get serious and table a real pay offer. The resources of your union will remain at your disposal to support you in your dispute read more
Striking workers increase the pressure on Chep, a major UK pallet supplier – Unite will raise the pressure on Chep UK where workers based in Trafford Park have been on strike since December 2021 in a dispute over pay. Unite has accused the company of “failing its workforce in the middle of a cost of living crisis”. The UK’s leading union is staging protests over the coming weeks across the pallet maker’s customer base in Wales and the North West including Unilever, Heinz, DHL, Heineken, Proctor and Gamble and Two Sisters. Chep UK, which is based in Trafford Park, Manchester, repairs and supplies pallets for supporting and transporting goods to a host of prominent companies. The workers have been on strike since December – and recently renewed their mandate for strike action into the spring by a majority of 94 per cent. Chep UK made £70.5 million in profit in 2021. The company would only need to increase its current pay offer by an estimated £67,000 to resolve the dispute read more
Sign this petition to Brambles CEO Graham Chipchase & Vice-President for CHEP UK & Ireland Matt Quinn – CHEP UK – Your Pay Offer is unPALLETable!
GE Steam Rugby buyer EDF warned it’s ‘inheriting industrial unrest’ as first strike in 45 years continues – EDF’s plans to buy Rugby’s historic turbine factory could result in the French energy giant inheriting industrial unrest unless pay strikes against the current owner GE Steam Power are resolved, Unite has warned. The first strike in 45 years will continue at the 120-year-old factory tomorrow (Friday 4 March) and Monday (7 March) at Newbold Road, Rugby, CV21 2NH. The dispute is over GE Steam Power’s refusal to negotiate over flexible working payments and the expectation that workers will take on new roles without extra pay. More than 75 Unite members, comprising nearly the entirety of the factory’s workforce, are taking a further eight days of strike action between 18 March and 2 May. Since GE Steam Power’s acquisition of the Rugby site 11 years ago, the relationship between the workers and management has been become increasingly strained over pay, redundancies, attacks on pensions and cuts to death in service benefits read more
Huge vote for industrial action as Unite calls on MAHLE Engine Systems to think again on further cuts – Unite the union has today (Tuesday, 1 March) confirmed that its membership at MAHLE Engine Systems based in Kilmarnock have voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions. The ballot involved around 130 workers at the plant’s materials unit. 89 per cent of Unite’s members supported strike action in a ballot turnout of 82.4 per cent. Over 95 per cent of the workers also supported taking action short of a strike including an overtime ban. The workers will take part in three 7-day periods of strike action starting at 7.30am on 14 to 21 March, 28 March to 4 April, and 11 to 18 April. There will also be a continuous ban on overtime starting at 07:30am on 14 March. The workers are contesting the current holiday entitlement provisions and contractual clauses which can shut the plant down for two weeks at any given period. The plant makes high-quality components for motorsport engines, combustion engines and electric vehicles read more
Envases Liverpool Ltd printers to strike over dismissal of Unite rep – Members of Unite employed as printers by Envases Liverpool Ltd will take 12 days of strike action next month following the dismissal of the union’s rep. Unite believes that its rep John Williams was dismissed on the false charges as a direct consequence of him standing up for the Unite members at the factory. Envases had sought to use misleading information and a false statement to try to drive a wedge between Unite and another union at the factory. After Mr Williams exposed the company’s actions he was dismissed read more
GE Aviation workers in Gloucester to strike over pay – Workers employed by GE Aviation Systems Limited’s subsidiary Dowty Propellers are to begin strike action in a dispute over pay. The 90-plus workers, who are based at the company’s factory in Hurricane Road, Gloucester, are taking industrial action after rejecting a two year pay offer worth just 4.5 per cent, even though the real level of inflation (RPI) currently stands at 7.8 per cent. The first strike will take place on Friday 4 March, with further strikes scheduled for every Friday until 20 May read more
Support the Scunthorpe Scaffolders: 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
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
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
National ballot result to be published tomorrow (21 Mar) – We will publish the result of our national consultative ballot on pay and pensions tomorrow afternoon (22) after the latest meeting of our national executive committee. We would like to thank everyone who voted in the ballot, which closed at noon today read more
Mark civil service pay gap day by voting in the ballot (18 Mar) – Sunday (20 March) is civil service pay gap day, the day in the year when a woman in the civil service finally catches up with her male contemporaries’ wages from the previous year. A report commissioned by PCS for the 2020 comprehensive spending review found that the gender pay gap in the civil service was 12% for annual pay and 10% for hourly pay. This means that women in the civil service effectively work for free until 20 March read more
Members shocked and angered by DWP office closures announcement (18 Mar) – PCS members have reacted with shock and anger following the DWP’s announcement that it is to close more than 40 sites across the UK putting thousands of jobs at risk, with the union determined to fight the plans. Members were told about the closures at meetings held by DWP yesterday morning, where PCS reps and staff were on hand to support those affected. Lots of members told the union how devastated they were by the announcement. “I feel betrayed and upset at the way this has been handled, they knew for months and told us nothing,” said one member who works at the processing site in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, earmarked for closure. It is one of 13 sites nationally where staff will not be offered alternative roles or the opportunity to relocate. “After all these years and all the hard work we’ve put in just feel it’s all for nothing. It’s a kick in the teeth,” said another. Another member said the department’s decision did not make any sense: “If I want to continue to work for the DWP I’ll have to change my job and where I work. It’s completely irresponsible to waste taxpayers’ money training 150 people to be good at something else, particularly when there are nowhere near enough people to do Personal Independence Payments nationally.” Another member questioned the employer’s rationale that the decision had been made because buildings were not fit for purpose and that the DWP estate needed to be more sustainable and energy efficient. “There are plenty of buildings out there that we could move into if this one isn’t good enough,” they said. Other members questioned why the department did not look at home working rather than office closures and potential job losses. PCS is launching a petition and e-action next week as part of our campaign against the closures read more
42 DWP centres to close with thousands of jobs at risk (17 Mar) – Having helped keep the UK running during the pandemic, DWP has rewarded our members by announcing large-scale office closures, which will almost certainly mean job losses read more
PCS statement about DVLA (18 Mar) – The DVLA workplace is safer and backlogs are closer to becoming cleared thanks to strike action, says PCS in response to recent press coverage about the agency read more
One week until strike action at The British Council (17 Mar) – PCS members working for the British Council in the UK and on UK contracts will be taking strike action on 24 and 25 March over job cuts, privatisation and changes to overseas allowances. Our members’ demands are:
- A fair, open and transparent approach and process for transformation. And for management to share the full picture and business case with staff.
- No forced redundancies – only those who want to leave to go on voluntary terms.
- No privatisation/outsourcing of jobs – keep the work in-house for a better service for the public and better conditions for staff.
You can support the strikers by visiting their picket lines from 7.30am to 10.30am at:
- Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3EG
- The Boat, 49 Queen’s 1 Redman Pl, London E20 1JQ
- 58 Whitworth St, Manchester M1 6BB
- 2-4 Waterloo Square, Belfast BT1 3FG
- 1 Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3AQ
You can also show your support by:
- Signing our public petition
- Emailing the foreign secretary, Liz Truss
- Contacting your MP and asking them to sign our Early Day Motion
- Sharing your support on social media #HandsOffBritishCouncil
- Contacting PCS to offer your support to our campaign read more
Vote YES for real flexibility at work (15 Mar) – As the ballot opens today, we are providing an update of key information and what members need to do. Today PCS has launched an industrial action ballot on Ofsted’s decision to impose a 60% return to offices read more
Atos members to take industrial action – 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 – 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
GMB
GMB demands meeting with P&O bosses over onshore workers (18 Mar) – GMB Union has demanded a meeting with P&O Ferries bosses over the future of onshore workers after the ‘shameful’ sacking of hundreds of seafarers. The company this week slashed the jobs of 800 loyal employees in a ‘terrible day’ for the Maritime industry. These sacked seafarers kept the country going during the covid pandemic, keeping shipping lines open and ensuring essential equipment, food and other supplies flowed between the UK and Europe, GMB says. Management at P&O Ferries have not made these workers redundant; they have been sacked read more
Fox’s Glacier Mint workers prepare to strike (18 Mar) – Dozens of GMB members working at Valeo Confectionary will down tools on Monday [21 March 2022] in a dispute over pay and ongoing attacks to their terms and conditions. The York factory manufacturers Fox’s Glacier Mints, Poppers, Mint Humbugs and own brand sweets for the UK’s biggest supermarkets. Attempts by GMB to bring the company back to the table to re-open negotiations have so far not been taken up by the company. Beleaguered workers have been left with no choice but to stop production lines as they walk out at 5pm read more
GSK faces strike at Barnard Castle site over pay (18 Mar) – Pharmaceutical giant GSK faces industrial action as GMB begins balloting hundreds of members for strike action today 25 March. Workers at the company’s Barnard Castle site, in the North East, have overwhelmingly turned down a below inflation pay offer of 4 per cent. The ballot of more than 150 workers closes on 8 April. If they vote to strike the workers, who produce vaccines and medicines, could walk out at the end of April. As workers struggle with the cost of living crisis, GSK CEO Emma Walmsley enjoyed a 17 per cent pay rise, to a whopping £8.2 million a year read more
Northampton refuse workers begin bin strike (18 Mar) – Northampton town’s bin strike ballot begins today [18 March 2022] as GMB Members vote on industrial action. The ballot will close three weeks from today, on 6 April. The earliest date of any industrial action – which could affect 94,000 homes – would be 20 April. Northampton’s refuse collectors – employed by Veolia – are angry after turning down a pay offer of just 2.5 per cent – despite inflation running at a 7.8 per cent. The council, ultimately responsible for bin collections, has increased Veolia’s funding by 5.5 per cent, but the company are refusing to pass that on to workers read more
Cadent strike ballot dates announced for thousands of workers (18 Mar) – GMB Union has announced the dates of the strike ballot for thousands of workers at gas giant Cadent. More than 2,000 GMB members will take part in the industrial action ballot, which runs from Friday 25 March until 12 noon 8 April. If workers vote to walk out, a strike could take place as early as 22 April. Workers have already rejected a below inflation pay increase of just 4 per cent next year. Cadent Gas is the largest of the four gas distribution network companies, maintaining the gas network to homes and businesses throughout five regions in England; North West, East and West Midlands, East Anglia and North London. Cadent made an operating profit of £901 million in 2021, while CEO Steve Fraser was paid £1.4 million in 2020/21 read more
Wiltshire bin strike ends in massive win for GMB members (17 Mar) – A long running bin strike across Wiltshire has been resolved today after GMB members accepted a new deal. Workers almost unanimously accepted the offer, which amounts to a 7% pay rise plus a bonus scheme to be offered to more staff and further uplifts for those on the lowest pay rates. Wiltshire refuse workers have been on strike for almost two weeks in a walkout affecting almost 250,000 homes read more
Wiltshire Council must ditch plans to slash keyworker pay by 20 per cent (16 Mar) – GMB Union has warned Wiltshire Council it must ditch plans to slash key worker pay by 20 per cent or face industrial action. Under the local authority’s plans staff in highways and leisure centres, care workers, social workers and traffic wardens face a pay cut of between 10 and 20 per cent. Social workers would lose around £7,000 per year, and traffic wardens would lose about £2,000 per year. In total, 97 per cent of GMB members voted to reject the cuts – the ballot also showed they would support industrial action if required. Wiltshire Council has failed to properly consult staff and unions over the proposed changes to terms and conditions. GMB has proposed face to face talks through ACAS to seek a resolution and avoid escalation, but the council has refused read more
Northern Ireland faces ‘complete shutdown’ as bus strike looms (16 Mar) – Northern Ireland faces a ‘complete shutdown’ as a bus strike ballot begins on St Patrick’s Day [17 March 2022]. Unions GMB and Unite are set to ballot the majority of Translink’s bus workforce from tomorrow until 1 April. If the strike goes ahead, the entire bus network will grind to a halt. Unions submitted a pay claim of 6 per cent to help the bus drivers, cleaners and shunters cope with rampant inflation of 7.8 per cent. Translink bosses have refused to budge from their offer of 3 per cent, an offer workers have now rejected three times read more
Solihull bin strike dates announced; 86,000 face five days of action (11 Mar) – GMB Union has announced dates for the forthcoming Solihull bin strike. Almost 100 refuse workers will walk out for five days from 28 March. Amey Services Limited who employ the workers, have offered an ‘insulting’ pay rise which will increase some workers to the Real Living Wage, with others seeing no increase at all. 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
Barrow bin strike tomorrow as three quarters of workers walk out (8 Mar) – A Barrow bin strike will take place tomorrow [9 March 2022] as more than three quarters of the work force down tools. Refuse collectors working for FCC Environment voted unanimously to walk out over the real terms pay cut offered by bosses. The strikes will take place on six days from 9 to 11 March and then 16 to 18 affecting more than 33,000 households read more
Wealden faces bin strike for 70,000 homes (15 Mar) – Wealden faces a bin strike affecting 70,000 homes as GMB begins an industrial action ballot. More than 40 GMB members working at Biffa’s East Sussex Joint Waste Partnership depots at the Hailsham and Uckfield regional sites are voting on whether to walk out over pay. Workers demand pay rises across the service, which would see loaders on £12.50 per hour, LGV drivers on £14.50 per hour and HGV drivers on £17.50 per hour. The ballot – which closes on Friday 25 March – could see strike action as early as mid-April if Biffa management continues to refuse engagement and negotiations with GMB read more
Adur and Worthing bin strike dates announced – GMB Union has announced the Adur and Worthing bin strike will begin on Monday 14 March. Industrial action – set to last at least 14 days – will continue until March 27. The council’s Chief Executive and Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources now have three weeks to avoid disruption to 82,000 homes, the union says. More than 60 refuse, streets and recycling operatives and drivers will walk out after their demands for a pay increase, increased rates for overtime and shift patterns, plus a review of operating and management practices were ignored by management read more
Unison
Care workers put their lives on the line for £8.72 an hour during COVID (21 Mar) – When UNISON’s community service group held it’s conference in Glasgow last week, pay for social care workers was top of the agenda read more
Somerset decision risks Covid care home spread, says UNISON (17 Mar) – No one with Covid should be going in to work. Commenting on reports that Somerset County Council is to allow staff testing positive with Covid to continue looking after elderly care home residents, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: “No one with Covid should be going in to work, and certainly not into workplaces with vulnerable people…” read more
Unions urge education secretary to extend free COVID testing (17 Mar) – No 10’s Living with COVID plan ‘is likely to result in further illness and disruption to face-to-face education’. Education unions, including UNISON, have urged education secretary Nadhim Zahawi to extend the availability of free COVID-19 tests in England, beyond the end of March. In a letter to Mr Zahawi this week, the unions insist that this is “especially important” for those attending and working in schools. Under the government’s Living with COVID plan, most people in England will no longer receive free PCR or lateral flow tests after 1 April. But with cases still high – and rising – and hospital admissions rising across all age groups, the unions believe the move could have “harmful consequences for the most vulnerable in society” read more
Glasgow branch overwhelmingly votes to back new strike action 29-30 March – The long running dispute around equal pay and has continued even after the members were awarded a £500m settlement in 2019. UNISON members at Glasgow City Council have voted in favour of strike action in an ongoing equal pay dispute. In a ballot of just under 9,000 workers, with 52.5% of members voting, 96% of UNISON members voted to take further industrial action. The branch will now be seeking authorisation from the union’s NEC before moving forward with industrial action. The ballot comes as part of a long-running legal dispute with Glasgow City council around equal pay. In 2019, a £500m settlement was agreed with staff which settled pay claims up until March 2018 and included a new pay and grading system to rectify issues of unequal pay, primarily of women. Since then, around 5,500 new claims have been lodged for the period prior to March 2018, with nearly 20,000 claimants waiting on settlements for the period after that. The current dispute centres around whether the new claimants receive the terms of the 2019 agreement, while the council has recently said that it may not be able to finally settle its debt to these women until 2024, with no progress has been made on the issue of interim payments read more
Pay and pensions issues prompt higher education strike – Decent wage offer needed and pensions preserved. Staff are striking at 11 universities and higher education institutions from today (Monday 21 Feb) over a range of issues including pay and pensions, UNISON says. Action will take place on several days over the next fortnight at Birkbeck, SOAS, City, King’s College London, Goldsmiths (all University of London), Trinity Laban, Brighton University, Edinburgh Napier University, Gloucestershire University, Leeds University and Queen Margaret University read more
Further industrial action at Sandwell Leisure Trust – 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
NIPSA
NIPSA Members employed as Education Welfare Officers announce 72 Hour stoppage – NIPSA, the largest union from the non-teaching workforce in Education, announces that members employed as Education Welfare Officers will embark on 3 full days of strike action commencing 2nd March read more
RCN
NHS mileage rates: Chancellor must act to protect patients (18 Mar) – Nursing staff must be compensated for soaring petrol prices or patient care will suffer, RCN warns read more
FBU
Public urged to have their say on Cumbria PFCC plan as opposition grows (15 Mar) – The Fire Brigades Union is urging firefighters and members of the public to have their say on a controversial plan put forward by the Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner to take on management of the fire and rescue service and to become the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Cumbria. There is currently a public consultation on the plans that anyone can take part in, which closes on Monday 21 March at 12am. These plans will detrimentally affect the communities in Cumbria, and the public consultation is an opportunity for the public to have their say. The union opposes the plans as it believes that three fire stations are at risk of closure if the plans go ahead. It is thought that Frizington, Arnside and Staveley stations would be at risk, closures which would mean the loss of eighteen firefighter roles read more
NEU
NEU pension dispute at Girls’ Day School Trust (15 Mar) – GDST NEU members voted to accept employer offer. NEU teacher members employed in the 23 independent schools run by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) have voted to accept the offer made by the employer after last week’s talks with the National Education Union at Acas. Following their unprecedented six days of strike action, teachers have won the right to stay in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; the threat of fire and rehire has been withdrawn; and an enhanced pay offer has been made for all staff, teachers and support staff. Sadly, the NEU and GDST were unable to reach an agreed negotiated settlement. A significant concern for the union remains the proposal to close the scheme to new teachers. The union and its members at the GDST trust schools believe this decision by the trust is short sighted and will lead to recruitment difficulties in the future. NEU members are relieved to be returning to the classroom. However, there is now significant work to be done to try and rebuild the staff’s trust and confidence in their employer which has been so badly rocked by this dispute read more
Support these strikes:-
Action | Date | Contact |
Abbot’s Hill / Herts (TPS) | 22 March | [email protected]
|
Forest School /Waltham Forest
(TPS & Union Recognition) |
23-24 March | [email protected]
|
South Chingford Foundation School / Waltham Forest
(Redundancies/Workload)
|
22-24 March | [email protected] |
Ipswich School / Ipswich
(TPS)
|
22-24 March | [email protected]
|
Walthamstow Primary / Waltham Forest
(Terms & Conditions)
|
24 March | [email protected] |
Pocklington School / East Riding of Yorkshire (TPS) | 22 March | [email protected] |
Woodfield Primary (Stoneleigh Site) / Coventry
(Terms & Conditions) |
24 March | [email protected]
|
NASUWT
Pocklington teachers strike to protect pensions (21 Mar) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Pocklington School in East Yorkshire are starting the first of five days of planned strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) after being threatened with dismissal from their jobs unless they agree to new contracts that would leave them with worse pensions. The Employer is seeking to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose inferior pension arrangements on teachers which would adversely affect their future financial security read more
NASUWT ballots Northern Ireland members over industrial action (18 Mar) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union in schools across Northern Ireland are being balloted over industrial action, it was announced today. Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has been informed of the Union’s intentions to ballot for industrial action on pay, workload and working conditions. The announcement follows the failure of the Department of Education and employers to bring forward a satisfactory pay offer for 2021-22. A two year pay offer in February this year was overwhelmingly rejected by NASUWT members. The Minister has also failed to deliver on all commitments made in the 2020 workload agreement read more
NASUWT victory as upskirting bill becomes law (15 Mar) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union has welcome the passing of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly today. The union especially welcomes the extension of the offence of voyeurism to include up-skirting and down blousing read more
Northumberland teachers take strike action over workload and working practices – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Bedlington Academy in Northumberland will take the first of fifteen planned days of strike action tomorrow (7 Mar) over adverse management practices which are negatively impacting on members’ health and welfare. Members at the school are facing excessive and unacceptable workload burdens, along with a failure by management to put in place effective measures to manage pupil behaviour read more
Ipswich teachers strike to protect pensions – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Ipswich School are taking the first of six days of planned strike action tomorrow (1 Mar) after being threatened with dismissal from their jobs unless they agree to new contracts that would leave them with worse pensions and working conditions. The Employer is seeking to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose inferior pension arrangements on teachers which would adversely affect their future financial security read more
London teachers strike over attack on pensions – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Forest School in North East London are starting the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday 22 Feb), over adverse plans for their pensions, all of which have the potential to leave teachers worse off in future read more
Norwich teachers strike over pensions – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Norwich High School for Girls, are starting the first of six days of planned strike action tomorrow (10 February) 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
EIS
EIS-FELA Opens Statutory Industrial Action Ballot over Lecturers’ Pay – The EIS-FELA has opened a statutory ballot for strike action and action short of strike (ASOS), in pursuit of a fair pay deal for college lecturers in Scotland. The decision to conduct a statutory ballot has come following an emphatic rejection of the current pay offer, from the Employers’ side of the National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC), by the EIS-FELA membership in a survey and a clear and strong backing, for both strike action and ASOS, in a recent consultative ballot. Negotiations, over pay, have been protracted and the Employers’ have failed to increase the current offer, despite the clear views of the EIS-FELA membership and two formal dispute meetings at the NJNC read more
EIS opens consultative strike ballot over Dundee faculty plans – The Dundee Local Association of the EIS has opened a consultative strike ballot over Dundee Council’s proposals to move to a faculty structure in its secondary schools. The ballot will run until 21 March and the EIS is urging all of its members in Dundee secondary schools to use their vote to support strike action in protest at the council’s plans read more
UCU
Strike dates announced at Sheffield International College (21 Mar) – University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Sheffield International College will take eight days strike action from Wednesday 30 March following the employer’s refusal to increase staff pay or holiday allowance. Staff will walk out for eight days across March and April. The full strike dates are:
- Week 1: Wednesday 30 March, Thursday 31 March and Friday 1 April
- Week 2: Monday 4 April to Friday 8 April
The UCU members are striking after an overwhelming 79% who votes said yes to strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 86% read more
Third wave of UK wide university strikes begins today with five day walkout (21 Mar) – Over 50k staff at 67 universities are taking five consecutive days of strike action over the next two weeks, beginning today as UCU members at 38 universities walk out over cuts to pensions and deteriorating pay and conditions. Two more universities begin their action on Wednesday and staff at 27 further universities start their walk out next week. Over a million students will be impacted. Due to the nature of its teaching model, which includes weekends, staff at the Open University will be taking seven days of strike action. This is the third round of strike action of the academic year. Staff recently took up to 10 days of strike action over three weeks, from Monday 14 February to Wednesday 2 March, and previously went on strike for three days in December 2021 read more
Ballots for industrial action open today at universities across the UK (16 Mar) – UCU today began balloting staff to take further industrial action over cuts to pensions and deteriorating pay and conditions.
- 149 universities being balloted for strike action and action short of strike.
- Five days of strike action also set to begin at 68 universities next week
- Preparation being made for UK wide marking and assessment boycott
UCU said the ballots, which opened at 149 universities today and will run until Friday 8 April, pave the way for action to continue throughout the remainder of 2022. The union’s members are voting on whether to take strike action and action short of strike (ASOS) in both of the two ongoing disputes: pensions, and pay and working conditions [NOTE 1]. UCU originally balloted universities in October 2021, and mandates at most universities will end on Tuesday 3 May. Successful reballots will allow staff to continue taking action through this calendar year. Over 50k university staff at 68 universities are set to begin five more days of strike action from Monday 21 March, after recently taking up to ten days of strike action over three weeks, from Monday 14 February to Wednesday 2 March, having gone on strike for three days in December 2021. In total 149 universities face new ballots. Staff at 65 universities in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) are being balloted over pension cuts, and staff at 143 universities are being balloted over pay and working conditions. Some universities face ballots in both disputes, others just one. Successful ballots could see action short of strike such as a marking and assessment boycott beginning next term. This could stop hundreds of thousands of students from graduating read more
Staff at Staffordshire University set to walk out over two-tier workforce threat (14 Mar) – Staffordshire University will see strike action on Monday 28 March unless it drops plans to employ new staff via a wholly owned subsidiary company, said UCU. The announcement comes after Staffordshire University staff voted to strike over management’s introduction of a two-tier workforce. 70% of staff who voted in the ballot voted yes to strike action. 80% of those who voted also voted yes to action short of strike. This could include working strictly to contract, refusing to cover for colleagues and refusing to undertake voluntary activities. The turnout beat the Tory anti trade union threshold of 50% and UCU has notified the university that staff will walkout on Monday 28 March. Staff also have a mandate to take further industrial action read more
Staff at Sheffield International College vote for strike action over pay and working conditions – Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC), which is run by the private company Study Group, have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action following the refusal of employers to increase staff pay or holiday allowance. The result saw 79% of UCU members votes yes in a ballot with a turnout of 86%. Strike action could now start as soon as 29 March read more
UK universities to face five more days of strike action before Easter (4 Mar) – UCU today said that 68 universities across the UK will face a further five days of strike action beginning this month unless vice chancellors revoke pension cuts and meet staff demands over pay and working conditions. Over 50,000 staff are taking five further days of strike action over two weeks in both the USS pension dispute and the pay and working conditions dispute. In the first week 39 universities will take five days of action from Monday 21 March to Friday 25 March. In the second week of action 29 universities will take five days of action from Monday 28 March to Friday 1 April. Well over a million students will be impacted. As part of the ongoing dispute, all branches will also be reballoted soon in preparation for potential industrial action next term. Due to the nature of its teaching model, staff at the Open University will be taking seven days of strike action. Staff at the 68 universities just finished taking up to 10 days of strike action this week but after employers forced through pension cuts and refused to negotiate meaningfully over pay and working conditions, further action has now been called…Full list of striking institutions and dates here read more
Strikes begin today at Goldsmiths in jobs row – Industrial action by University and College Union (UCU) members will begin today (Monday 7 Feb) 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.
BFAWU
Hunger is a Political Choice (Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary) (21 Mar 21) – Politicians, football clubs, medics, academics, trade unions, mayors, councils and voluntary organisations come together to deliver an urgent letter – and message – to Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne this afternoon led a delegation of Right To Food campaign supporters to Downing Street to deliver a letter – and a message – to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of Wednesday’s Spring Budget. Eleven million people in the UK now experience food insecurity and this situation will continue to get worse as people face the worst cost-of-living crisis in 30 years. Millions of people now face a choice between whether to freeze or starve in their homes as the cost of energy, food, essentials and bills all rise dramatically read more
NUJ
Newsquest acquires Archant (21 Mar) – The NUJ reacts to newspaper publisher Newsquest, buying Archant in a new deal. The National Union of Journalists is aware of the recent acquisition of Archant, by publisher Newsquest. Recognising the uncertainty some NUJ members may be experiencing at this time, this week, the NUJ will be writing to Henry Faure Walker, Newsquest chief executive, to request a meeting seeking clarity on the new deal and raising member concerns read more
Reach plc’s annual report reveals staggering £4m chief executive pay package (15 Mar) – The NUJ calls on the company to ensure a fair pay increase is awarded to staff this year. Cost-of-living increases and pay stagnation means journalists working within Reach plc face a financial squeeze, at the same time as new details of the chief executive’s seven-figure pay package has emerged. The National Union of Journalists is urging the company to reward the significant contribution of staff through a pay award achieved with genuine engagement with the union read more
Prospect
Prospect agrees 5.5% pay deal with National Trust (16 Mar) – Prospect has agreed a pay deal with National Trust worth an average of 5.5% for the financial year 2022/23 read more
Equity
We’ve joined forces with Irish Equity to call for equal treatment of Ireland-based performers (15 Mar) – Members of Equity and Irish Equity have joined forces to call for equal treatment for performers working on international co-productions in Ireland. Currently, international production companies are applying lesser terms and conditions to Ireland-based performers read more
Sign the petition to save Stratford Circus! https://www.change.org/p/save-stratford-circus
USDAW
Spring Statement must tackle the cost of living crisis, deliver a new deal for workers and help to save our shops says Usdaw (17 Mar) – Retail trade union Usdaw is challenging the Chancellor to make a real difference to the lives of low-paid workers and a struggling retail industry in his Spring Statement next week, on Wednesday 23 March read more
#ReinstateMax: defend sacked Tesco USDAW rep Max McGee – 3 months on from exhausting all appeals, Max McGee is preparing to take Tesco to an Employment Tribunal over his trade union victimisation and sacking. A GoFundMe page has been set up to donate to Max’s reinstatement campaign and trade union comrades are encouraged to raise the campaign at their Trade Union branches and Trades Councils over the coming weeks. Link to the page below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist
Messages of solidarity and photos can be sent to [email protected]
Community
Pay increase at Sodexo! (18 Mar) – We are very pleased to have secured a 4.5% base pay uplift for our workers at Sodexo, dated from 1st January 2022. We also managed to protect existing staff benefits to support their wellbeing and life planning, including life insurance and access to a 24/7 GP service. As the cost of living crisis continues, we are proud to secure increases for our members pay to help protect their financial security read more
UVW
UVW GOSH strike protest: Support the six-week GOSH security guards strike
IWGB
Striking Private Hire Drivers Protest Central Government and TfL over Poverty Pay, Safety, and Unfair Dismissals (21 Mar) – Today at 10am, private hire drivers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) will go on strike and protest outside of the Houses of Parliament over poverty pay, health and safety concerns, and the lack of a fair dismissal process that has led to hundreds of drivers losing their jobs. The action, supported by private hire driver unions in Nigeria and Uruguay, is targeting central government and licensing authorities in a call for better regulation of the sector read more
Statement following the verdict on murder of Bolt driver Gabriel Bringye (15 Mar) – Today, over a year since Gabriel Bringye was tragically killed, his assailants have been found guilty of manslaughter. This has been a very difficult time for Gabriel’s family, his fiancé, and for the whole community who will continue to feel his loss every day. Although the trial has now come to a conclusion, Gabriel’s family have always said there can be no real justice for Gabriel without wider change in the gig economy. Beginning with Bolt, they are calling on all app-based platforms to start taking driver safety seriously read more
Write to London Bridge Hospital: End poverty pay & poor treatment of cleaners! Use this quick tool to back the workers by writing to the London Bridge Hospital bosses at HCA Healthcare and Compass Group read more
Write to Stuart Delivery, JustEat: END THE STRIKE, PAY RISE NOW!
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU secures payments for workers made redundant by Roadbridge receivership (16 Mar) – SIPTU representatives have secured financial supports from the Department of Social Protection for members made redundant after the civil engineering and construction firm, Roadbridge, was placed in receivership read more
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Support GARY CARNEY, TRAIN OPERATOR – LONDON UNDERGROUND
Defend Adrian Mitchell RMT driver on London Underground
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 – model motion
St Mungo’s: Unite will not tolerate victimisation and bullying
Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council
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
British delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan calls for Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be charged with war crimes and for immediate investigations into the alleged use of chemical weapons read more on BFAWU website
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
March
19 TUC demonstration – Britain Needs A Pay Rise: March and rally in Blackpool
July
2 NSSN Conference 2022 11am-5pm. Venue to be confirmed
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