The NSSN continues to publicise the increasing number of strikes. Workers are fighting back against the cost of living squeeze. We give support to the ballot for national action by RMT members and the impending industrial action vote by the CWU in Royal Mail. The NSSN sends solidarity to civil service unions such as PCS after the Tory government’s threat to over 90,000 jobs. We will support any action that is taken to fight this jobs slaughter.
Workers are fighting – support the strikes.
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. Get in touch with your union urgently to book transport so we can fill the streets of London.
11am assemble and 12pm depart from Portland Place W1A 1AA, rally 1pm at Parliament Square
More info – https://www.tuc.org.uk/DemandBetter
2022 NSSN Conference – Saturday 2nd July 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
Confirmed speakers include: Sharon Graham Unite General Secretary
Attendance fee £6. Register on the day or email [email protected]
You can download the conference leaflet plus a letter for union branches, trades councils
Two weeks after the TUC demo will be the 15th national NSSN conference and the first in-person one for three years. As usual will be a vital forum for union reps and members along with anti-cuts campaigners to come together to talk about their struggles and discuss out the strategy, tactics and programme needed for the fight of our lives.
The NSSN will be again holding our rally at TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 11th September 1pm-3pm
Support sacked P&O workers
NSSN supporters have taken part in demonstrations to support the 800 sacked P&O workers and their unions the RMT and Nautilus International and other seafarer unions. We will advertise solidarity protests in this bulletin and we will update 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.
Stop union victimisation: support the Coventry bin strike
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
Coventry council’s shocking double standards emerge amid Coventry bin strike (4 May)
Sign petition to Councillor George Duggins – Coventry Council: Reinstate Pete Randle, stop union busting, stop strike breaking and pay the rate
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]
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
NIPSA statement: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Feel free to use this affiliation letter.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
RMT
RMT to ballot for strike action at Orsted (13 May) – RMT to ballot for strike action at wind farm company Orsted over victimisation. Offshore union RMT is to commence balloting all members at Orsted Walney Operations for industrial action over the victimisation of a member simply for raising questions over serious health and safety infringements read more
RMT reaction to new Freeport in Wales (12 May) – Seafarers union on funding approval for Welsh freeport. Financial backing has been secured for a freeport in Wales, the UK government has announced. With eight freeports approved in England and a deal for two struck with the Scottish Government, it is understood that the Cardiff Bay administration has secured £26m public funding for at least one freeport in Wales. Bids are expected from Holyhead, Milford Haven and other ports in South Wales. Reacting to the news, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Setting up freeports in Wales must not in any way undermine our docker or seafarer members pay and conditions, especially in Holyhead. Freeports need careful attention and we look forward to working with the Wales Government to support their ambitions around fair work and social partnership in Freeport sites in Wales.” Read more
RMT on Railways Bill in today’s Queen’s speech (10 May) – Railways Bill in the Queen’s speech today will only reward private operators. Rail union RMT has warned that the Queen’s Speech to be delivered today to set up Great British Railways, the new state holding company for the UK’s rail infrastructure, will only deliver for private railway companies. RMT general secretary Michael Lynch said that Go-Ahead Group’s Govia has already been rewarded with a three-year contract to run the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise in spite of being accused of breaching financial good faith by concealing money due to the public and minimising the risk of detection by the DfT read more
Support RMT strike on TransPennine Express – TPE conductors on major railway lines are striking over pay and Sunday. The company has point blank refused TPE conductors’ request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays. 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
Support the London Night Tube strike: every Friday and Saturday nights on Central and Victoria lines read more
Unite
London bus strikes suspended following improved pay offer (13 May) – A 48 hour bus strike, involving bus drivers employed by Arriva, has been suspending following an improved pay offer. The dispute involves over 1,000 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and employed at the Brixton, Croydon, Norwood and Thornton Heath depots. Following fresh talks with management this week an improved pay offer was made. As a consequence the strike which was due to begin on Monday 16 May has been suspended. The drivers have already taken three days of strike action in the dispute with the latest strike taking place this week on Wednesday (11 May) read more
Unite hails victory as cargo handlers at Heathrow Airport vote to accept pay hike (13 May) – Two hundred cargo handlers and truckers, who handle freight operations for top international airlines at Heathrow Airport, have voted overwhelmingly to accept a one-year 7.5 per cent pay deal. Unite the union said its members employed by Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) have overwhelmingly accepted the pay deal for the year starting January 2022. The new package also includes a one-off payment of £1,000 for the year 2021. The handlers had voted for strike action after the company imposed a pay freeze for the year starting January 2021, but that industrial action has now been suspended and the members are working normally read more
Doncaster Wabtec rail maintenance workers ballot for strike over ‘disgraceful’ fire and rehire plans (13 May) – Rail maintenance workers at Wabtec in Doncaster are being balloted for strike action over the company’s ‘disgraceful’ fire and rehire plans, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday 13 May). More than 150 workers are being balloted until 23 May over fire and rehire plans, which will see breaks cut and staff having to work extra hours, including at the end of their shift, for no extra pay. Additionally, the company is offering a two-year below inflation pay deal if the workers agree to the new terms and conditions. With inflation (RPI) running at nine percent, Unite says this is a two-year pay cut. US engineering giant Wabtec has told the workers that if they do not voluntarily agree to the changes they will be fired and rehired onto the new contracts read more
Lloyds staff tell AGM bank’s low pay means ‘we can’t afford to heat our homes or pay our pensions’ (12 May) – Staff from Lloyds Banking Group (LGB) will today (Thursday 12 May) hold a demonstration outside the Group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in a pay dispute with the bank. Unite members are angry that the 2022 pay arrangement has left many low paid bank workers fearing for their economic security. Unite has gathered evidence from bank branch and call centre staff at LBG which shows some won’t be able to sufficiently heat their homes and others are having to sacrifice their future retirement plans by stopping pension contributions read more
Big win at Gatwick as Unite secures 10 per cent pay increase for Menzies workers (11 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a 10 per cent pay increase for over 300 ground handlers employed by Menzies Aviation at Gatwick Airport. The pay deal, which has been overwhelmingly accepted by the workers, follows a similar pay increase secured by Unite for DHL ground handlers at the airport read more
Strike action at Ulsterbus and Metro in Northern Ireland after inadequate pay offer rejected (11 May) – Northern Ireland bus drivers at both Ulsterbus and Metro have rejected the latest pay offer from management as inadequate in the face of spiralling living costs. Following the result, Unite today gave notice to Translink of a first, one-week strike action from next Tuesday (17 May). The strike is likely to shut down all bus transport services for the duration. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham expressed her support for the bus drivers’ fight for improved pay read more
Week-long strike action on Ulsterbus and Metro from next Tuesday as workforce rejects inadequate pay offer (10 May) – Bus drivers in both Ulsterbus and Metro bus have rejected the latest pay offer from management as inadequate in the face of spiralling living costs. Following the result, Unite today gave notice to Translink of a first, one-week strike action from next Tuesday (17 May). The strike is likely to shut down all bus transport services for the duration read more
Unite warns of four more weeks of strike at `greedy’ Caterpillar in fight to win ‘cost of living’ pay (10 May) – Unite the union has today (Tuesday 10 May) notified Caterpillar that their members working for the corporation at Larne and Springvale in Belfast will launch a further four weeks of strike action at both plants in the fight for a pay deal that reflects the deepening cost of living crisis. In a dispute that has already seen four weeks of strikes, the union has been battling Caterpillar’s ‘greed’ and the company’s hostility to efforts to find a negotiated solution. According to Unite, Caterpillar’s management has adopted anti-trade union tactics, including offering a payment bonus to office workers from other locations to cross picket lines and continue production. In the first quarter of this year, Caterpillar reported profits of £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion), using the vast majority of these funds to benefit shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. The business’ lead director enjoys a rewards package worth £18 million ($23 million) in compensation read more
BMW faces strikes at Oxford MINI as component pay offer overwhelmingly rejected (9 May) – Strikes by warehouse workers based at Oxford’s MINI plant will resume after a pay offer was overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The members voted by 91 per cent to reject the offer on a ballot with a 98 per cent turnout because it failed to address low wages across the company. Industrial action had been postponed while the offer was voted on, however strikes by the 200 workers will now take place on 10, 12, 17 and 19 May. The workers, made up of warehouse staff and shunter drivers, handle components for BMW and the strikes will significantly impact production at the Mini plant read more
Unite demands action by new council leaders as social carers, cleansing and school workers prepare for summer strikes (9 May) – Unite the union has today (9 May) called on all new council leaders at Scottish local authorities to take immediate action to improve pay, or see strikes this summer. The trade union confirmed that it is in the process of targeting selected groups of workers employed in all thirty-two Scottish authorities with a view to balloting its members in schools, home care and cleansing as early as June. Unite further accused COSLA leaders, who recently voted against making a further pay offer, of having ‘zero backbone’ in standing up for local government workers and demanding more financial support from the Scottish Government. Along with the local government trade unions, Unite has now written to COSLA expressing its anger at this disregard for the workforce amid the deepening cost of living crisis read more
C2C rail passengers warned of disruption as Alstom workers begin strike over pay attacks (8 May) – Passengers using the C2C rails line between London and Southend are set for considerable disruption over the coming weeks as maintenance engineers employed by Alstom take strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. Strikes are due to begin tomorrow (Monday 9 May) with further action scheduled for 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 May and 3 June. Disruption to services is likely on both the strike days and on days following the strike action. An overtime ban is also in force. The workers are taking action following a series of attacks on their pay and condition and concerns about high sickness and low morale at Alstom, the French company that bought Bombardier in 2020. The workers recorded a 95 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action read more
Historic strike action begins by staff at Financial Conduct Authority in London and Edinburgh – Members of Unite have embarked on historic strike action at the Financial Conduct Authority today (Wednesday 4 May). This industrial action is the first action since the inception of the regulator. It follows many months of refusals by FCA management to listen to the concerns of their workforce. The FCA has rejected all approaches to engage in discussions with employee representatives read more
Langford Lodge workforce vote overwhelmingly for strike action for improved pay – Unite members working at Langford Lodge, the successful Crumlin-based Aerospace & Defence company, have voted overwhelmingly for strike action on the issue of pay and an equal pay audit. The majority for strike action was 86.5 percent on a turnout of 90 percent. Following the vote, Unite has written to Langford Lodge management seeking a meeting to secure a fair offer or the union’s members will serve notice to take industrial action. Langford Lodge’s latest accounts confirm made a pre-tax profit of £2.7 million on turnover of £23.5 million read more
Unite to NI Local Authorities: stop misleading the public and use your powers to provide real pay improvement – As Unite members in councils, education and housing across Northern Ireland continue strike action, the union has hit out at the misinformation from the employers. The workers are on strike in pursuit of a pay increase to recover earnings lost through over a decade of attacks on wages and to help combat the harm to earnings caused by surging inflation. The union is challenging the National Joint-Council (NJC) employers to stop the disinformation and own up to the powers that they do have to end the dispute by improving workers’ pay read more
Unite industrial action set to hit Renfrewshire Council elections – Unite has today (29 April) confirmed days of industrial action which is set to hit the Renfrewshire Council elections on 5 May. Around 200 craft workers employed by the local authority will take part in strike action commencing at 08:00 hours on 3 May and up to 6 May when the action will conclude at 13:00 hours. An overtime ban will also be in place during this time. Unite’s members are responsible for setting up and dismantling the polling stations and were also due to deliver the ballot boxes to the count in the forthcoming council elections. Tradespersons and apprentices working within Building Services covered by the local authority craft agreement at Renfrewshire Council have previously voted unanimously to back strike action read more
Carlisle drinks can manufacturer hit by strikes after ‘unacceptable’ pay offer – Workers at the Crown Bevcan soft and alcoholic drinks can factory in Carlisle will strike over an ‘unacceptable’ pay offer from the company. Around 200 workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will stage two 24 hour strikes on 11 May and 14 May after rejecting a three per cent pay offer plus a one-off payment. More strikes will be scheduled if an acceptable offer is not put forward by the company. The production workers are seeking a pay deal that reflects the rising cost of living read more
Fresh London bus strikes announced in Arriva pay dispute – London bus drivers employed by Arriva are to take part in further strikes next month in a dispute over pay. The strikes involve 1,000 drivers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and based at garages in Brixton, Croydon, Norwood and Thornton Heath. The drivers operate routes across south and central London. There will be an initial one day strike on Wednesday 11 May and this will then be followed by a 48 hour strike beginning on Monday 16 May. Service reductions in the capital have reduced the workers’ earnings. They are also suffering the same cost of living crisis as other workers, rendering the company’s three per cent offer substandard read more
Unite blasts ‘outrageous’ suspension of Fawley rep on false charges as colleagues vote not to cross picket line – Unite the union has hit out at employers at the Fawley Exxon refinery over the ‘outrageous’ suspension of one of their union reps. The rep, who is employed by Altrad Services, was suspended after 50 of his colleagues – who are not part of the dispute – refused to cross the picket line during a strike on 8 April. The decision not to cross the picket line had been taken earlier in a vote by the workers. Around 100 workers, who make up a third of the contractors at the Southampton oil refinery, have been striking over pay. The union has hit out at Altrad Services’ false accusation that Unite’s rep initiated secondary industrial action and potentially put the refinery and staff at risk. The workers’ vote not to cross the picket line was carried with the proviso that safety critical staff would be on site, which was what occurred. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an outrageous victimisation of an innocent man. Altrad Services is clearly rattled by the strength of the support across the workforce for this action for fair pay and against corporate greed…” read more
Rugby GE Steam strikes could worsen as company uses outside consultants to ‘undermine’ union – The first strikes in 45 years at Rugby’s 120-year-old GE Steam turbine factory could worsen as the company uses outside consultancy firm Shape Associates to ‘undermine’ union organisation. Unite, the UK’s leading union, is preparing to re-ballot more than 75 of its members at the factory to extend strike action over attacks on pay. The initial round of strike action began on 17 April and is due to end on 2 May, with the next strike on 29 April. The union said GE Steam has given over the responsibility of running the factory to Shape Associates so the consultancy firm can force through cutbacks prior to the site’s sale to EDF read more
Refuse collectors and street cleaners in Rugby take strike action to put food on the table – Some workers, lone wage earners, turn to local food banks to put food on the family table. Bin collections and street cleaning in Rugby will grind to a halt from Tuesday (26 April). Members of Unite are taking strike action to demand a significant pay increase as spiralling price rises mean workers are struggling to afford the basics. The strike centres on the refuse, recycling and street cleansing services at Rugby Borough Council. It begins at 00:01 hours on 26th April 2022 and ends on 10th May 23:59 hours. However, the union has not ruled out further action if a deal has not been reached. Street cleansers, HGV lorry drivers and loaders will begin all out strike action because their employer, the Tory controlled Rugby Borough Council, has dragged its feet for more than a year instead of hammering out a pay deal. The workers are some of the lowest paid compared to neighbouring councils and to local transport and warehouse workers in the private sector read more
County Durham car factory strikes intensify in fight for fair pay rise – Pay strikes at car bearing manufacturers NSK Bearings and AKS Precision Ball in Peterlee, County Durham, have intensified as workers step up their fight for a fair pay rise. Around 200 workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have taken eight days of strike action since 23 March after rejecting an ‘offensive’ 1.6 per cent pay offer. The real cost of living, RPI, currently stands at nine per cent and is set to rise further. They will now stage a further 11 days of strikes, which begin today (20 April) and end on 15 May read more
Hackney council workers strike over “insulting” 1.75% pay offer – More than 200 Hackney council workers will strike over an “insulting” 1.75 per cent pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 6 April). Staff working in refuse, building services and passenger services for those with disabilities and special educational needs, will strike between 25 and 27 April and 3 May and 5 May. While the rate of real inflation (the RPI) is running at 8.2 per cent and rising, the 1.75 per cent offer, rising to 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point, has been set nationally by the Local Government Association (LGA) for 2021/22. Unite is urging Hackney council to reject the LGA recommendation, table a proper pay rise and prevent the possibility of long-running strike action read more
Unite urges Woolwich Ferry – seize opportunity to resolve dispute as strike ballot suspended to kick-start talks – Woolwich Ferry’s workers have suspended their industrial action and also plans to hold another strike ballot in a goodwill gesture to resolve the long-running dispute, Unite the union said today (Tuesday 5 April). Unite has put forward proposals, which remain confidential, to Transport for London (TfL) bosses to kick-start meaningful talks over the poor employment relations that have been the hallmark of successive operators of the troubled ferry. Six workers, including two Unite reps, still remain unfairly suspended when the last bout of industrial action ended on 28 March read more
Strike action continues as GE Aviation accused of ‘dirty tricks’ in Gloucester pay dispute – Workers at Gloucester’s Hurricane Road GE Aviation factory will be striking every Friday until their call for a fair wage is honoured, Unite the union has said today (Tuesday 29 March). Multinational GE Aviation has been accused of `dirty tricks’ in an attempt to undermine the workers. The 90-plus workers are employed by GE’s subsidiary Dowty Propellers. The workers have rejected a two year pay offer worth just 4.5 per cent which, with the actual level of inflation (retail price index) standing at 8.2 per cent, amounts to a real terms pay cut read more
Veolia workers across Edinburgh and Lothians set to strike over `insulting’ pay offer – Unite can confirm today (24 March) that more than 50 members working for Veolia Water across Edinburgh and the Lothians are set to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The strike action, involving plant operatives, electrical maintenance, mechanical, and administrative staff, was supported overwhelmingly by 94 per cent of Unite’s members in a ballot turnout of 83 per cent. The Veolia workers are demanding a significantly improved pay offer from the company. With the more realistic cost of living (RPI) currently running at 8.2 per cent per cent, Veolia’s offer of 2.6 per cent for this year is a pay cut. Strike action will take place from 7-13 April, and then continuous strike action from 21 April read more
PCS
PCS to set out opposition to mass job cuts plan at Cabinet Office meeting (14 May) – PCS reps will meet with Cabinet Office officials on Tuesday to set out their opposition to 91,000 planned civil service job cuts read more
PCS condemns Johnson’s mass civil service job cuts plan (13 May) – PCS has warned of the consequences for everyone who relies on public services of Boris Johnson’s plans to cut up to 91,000 civil service jobs to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. It is understood the prime minister wants to see civil service staffing levels cut to 2016 levels. PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka condemned the plans and said: “Cuts have consequences. Not just on those whose jobs are being sacrificed to throw red meat to the dwindling number of Conservative voters, but on everyone who relies on the services our members provide…” read more
DWP members lobbying MPs in campaign to save jobs and services (12 May) – As part of our campaign to stop DWP cuts, PCS reps and members are lobbying their MPs to get their support in opposing plans to close more than 40 offices. On 17 March, the department made the shocking announcement of its intention to make large-scale office closures read more
PCS secures recognition at the Design Museum (12 May) – After a 3 month long recruitment and recognition campaign PCS has secured voluntary recognition across the Design Museum. PCS has secured a comprehensive voluntary recognition agreement, covering all staff, at the Design Museum. This means that PCS will now be able to negotiate and consult with the museum on all important employment matters, including pay, terms and conditions, policies and procedures and health and safety read more
Ofsted members’ meeting and next steps (12 May) – An update on our negotiations with Ofsted, the indicative poll held at our all members meeting and the next steps in our campaign. Earlier this week PCS met Ofsted to discuss hybrid working and the return to offices read more
PCS condemns insolvency office closure plans (11 May) – PCS has condemned plans to close more than half the insolvency offices in England, putting more than 300 jobs at risk. The government today announced 10 offices – which provide information on bankruptcy, redundancy, paying off debts, company insolvency and misconduct of trading companies and partnerships – would be closed in Cambridge, Watford, Birkenhead, Blackpool, Brighton, Chatham, Reading, Southampton, Bristol, Plymouth over the next 5 years. 9 offices in England will remain open, along with one in Cardiff and another in Edinburgh read more
Legal Ombudsman members endorse PCS’s formal recognition campaign (11 May) – PCS has launched a formal recognition campaign to force the employer to address and resolve our concerns. PCS members continue to report their fury at the behaviour of their employer after the Legal Ombudsman’s chief ombudsman, Paul McFadden, and Senior Management Team failed to listen to their views and address fundamental concerns and issues read more
PCS encourages HMRC staff to complete ACC1 forms in Covid outbreaks (10 May) – Incidents of workplace Covid exposure should be reported. HMRC are unsupportive of using ACC1 forms, but will not block their use. Following repeated discussions with HMRC, PCS’s group health and safety lead advises that incidents where there could be a potential of workplace exposure to Covid-19 should be reported through completion of the department’s ACC1 reporting form read more
HMRC ‘return to office’ talks continue (10 May) – PCS is engaging in further talks with HMRC after the department issued another update on its plans to move towards a greater degree of office-based working. HMRC has issued a further update on the moves to re-establish a greater degree of office-based working, in a message from the chief executive officer (CEO) published on 9 May 2022. The message reiterates the measured approach being adopted by the employer in the areas of the UK, where the appropriate government has indicated that a return to office-based working is allowable. It is essential that members engage with the process agreed for return to workplace discussions, using the Toolkits available for this purpose read more
GMB
GMB and Deliveroo sign historic recognition deal (12 May) – GMB Union and Deliveroo have signed an historic union recognition deal covering the company’s more than 90,000 self-employed riders. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement will see GMB have rights to collective bargaining on pay and consultation rights on benefits and other issues, including riders’ health, safety and wellbeing. GMB will also be able to represent individual riders who are GMB members in disputes, giving them a stronger voice. The agreement recognises that Deliveroo riders are self-employed, following a series of UK court judgements which have confirmed this status read more
Wiltshire traffic warden strike continues to second day (11 May) – GMB union has confirmed a second day of strike action by traffic wardens across Wiltshire on Tuesday 17 May. This follows a successful strike on Saturday 7 May, when parking enforcement was completely suspended across the county by the industrial action. The dispute is due to a proposed pay cut of up to 20 per cent through the withdrawal of a contractual unsocial hours payment. This affects 350 staff, with social workers losing 20 per cent – around £7000 – and traffic wardens losing 10 per cent, which equates to over £2000. Wiltshire Council has refused the offer by ACAS, the Government arbitration service, to facilitate talks to resolve the dispute read more
Sandwell leisure strike to go ahead after talks break down (9 May) – A strike across Sandwell Leisure trust will go ahead tomorrow [10 May 2022] after last ditch talks break down. Eleventh hour negotiations between Sandwell Leisure Trust and GMB failed to produce a resolution and left members with no choice but to strike. More than 84% of eligible GMB members voted in favour of industrial action across seven sites. Bosses at the leisure centre refused to discuss a pay claim put forward by GMB, Unison and Unite members at the end of 2021 read more
Thousands of Cadent gas workers begin industrial action (9 May) – Thousands of field force workers at gas giant Cadent will begin industrial action tomorrow [Tuesday 10 May]. Despite nearly 2,000 GMB members voted to walk out in a strike ballot last month [1], GMB is only calling on members to take part in an overtime ban from 00:01 on Tuesday 10 May 2022. The overtime ban includes stopping working additional hours and members will withdraw from pre-planned overtime to cover gaps in rosters and sick leave. The industrial action could potentially cause outages at homes and businesses throughout five regions in England; North West, East and West Midlands, East Anglia and North London. Workers resoundingly rejected a below inflation pay increase of 2 per cent for 2021 and 4 per cent from July 22. With inflation running at 9 per cent, the deal amounts to a massive real terms pay cut read more
Translink bus strike back on (9 May) – The Translink bus strike is back on after GMB members turned down a revised pay offer today [9 May 2022]. Drivers, cleaners and shunters across the company will walk out for seven days from 17 to 23 May 2022, causing the entire bus network to 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 9 per cent read more
JCB delivery drivers vote for strike action – JCB delivery drivers have voted to take strike action in anger at a real terms pay cut. Dozens of GMB members, employed by delivery giant DHL, voted 96 per cent per cent in favour of industrial action during a formal strike ballot. The workers, who deliver JCB parts between factories across the UK, will walk out on 23 and 24 May, with more dates to be confirmed. The dispute stems from bosses trying to impose at 5 per cent pay award, with inflation running at 9 per cent read more
Budweiser workers take industrial action – Budweiser faces industrial action after more than 200 workers voted to down tools over a real terms pay cut. A total of 225 GMB members working at BBG’s Samlesbury site, near Preston, will start an overtime time ban, not engage in training or complete face to face handovers from Wednesday 11 May 2022. The site brews Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale. After months of discussion with the world’s biggest brewer they tabled a full and final offer of 3 per cent increase for 2022 and 3 per cent for 2023 with increases in overtime rates. With the cost-of-living crises and inflation at 9 %, the offer amounts to a massive pay cut in real terms. Members also support full strike action – which would be the first time. Strike dates are to be confirmed read more
Fox’s Glacier Mint workers strike over fire and rehire threat – Fox’s Glacier Mint workers will take a full day of strike action tomorrow [April 14] in anger at the company’s fire and rehire threat. Staff at Valeo York, who also make Poppets and humbugs, mint assortments butter mints, rhubarb and custards and lemon sherberts for well-known supermarkets including M&S, will be joined by the Yorkshire Polar Bear and local councillors read more
Barrow bin strike: Six more days of industrial action – Refuse collectors in Barrow have announced six more days of industrial action in their fight for a living wage. GMB members working FCC Environment will walk out on from 30 March to 1 April and then 6 to 8 April read more
Unison
Threat of strike action at health sites across Lancashire, says UNISON (13 May) – Staff including porters and cleaners employed by healthcare facilities firm OCS paid less than NHS colleagues. Health workers employed by a private firm in Lancashire are voting over whether to take strike action to win the same pay and holiday rates as NHS colleagues, says UNISON today (Friday). The 50 employees, including porters, caterers and cleaners, work for healthcare facilities firm OCS at eight NHS sites across the county. The dispute has been running for some time, says UNISON. A year ago, OCS workers at hospitals, mental health units and clinics in Blackburn, Blackpool, Ormskirk and Preston, said they wanted to be paid and treated the same as their NHS colleagues read more
Sandwell leisure workers strike to open new pay battle (10 May) – Together with the GMB and Unite, the move comes after the council vowed to end the contract with Sandwell Leisure Trust in the wake of its decision to fire and rehire all staff. UNISON members in the West Midlands are taking strike action today in support of a 10% pay claim or a return to national local government NJC pay. Joined by members of GMB and Unite, this new dispute follows the fire and rehire of all 280 staff at Sandwell Leisure Trust to remove them from national pay terms in March 2021. In February this year, Sandwell metropolitan borough council announced that it was terminating the contract with the trust to run nine leisure centres across Sandwell, and looking at how to run the centres in the future, after a series of strikes by staff over their being fired and rehired. Today’s one-day strike will take place after UNISON members voted by 95.7% for industrial action in a recent ballot read more
One week, all-out strike under way at University of Dundee – The strike started as employers are urged to “show some commitment to their loyal, low paid staff”. Members at the University of Dundee took to the picket line on Monday 18th April, and started one week of all-out strike action over the employer’s plans to impose changes to the university pension scheme. This is the third round of action taken at the university over the same issue and the initial five-day strike will be followed by selective action in high-impact areas over the coming three weeks. The previous rounds of strike action provoked a u-turn by the employer of the decision to close the defined benefit scheme, but the dispute now centres on the terms with which the scheme remains open – with proposals to increase the retirement age, diminish the accrual rate and close the scheme to new joiners. When consulted, members strongly rejected this package which was imposed rather than negotiated read more
CWU
Capita TVL pay dispute – ACAS referral provides ‘last chance’ to avoid strike (6 May) – Union agrees to company bosses’ arbitration request in bid to avoid industrial action by hundreds of TV licensing workers over annual wage settlement. “We’ve agreed to this referral in the hope that common sense will win the day and that these talks will lead to a fair resolution – but this is our last chance to avoid a strike,” warned CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey yesterday, after independent arbitration service ACAS was called in to assist in finding a way forward in this long-running row read more
‘Determined’ members’ morale is ‘sky high’ after today’s Post Office strike (3 May) – Striking Post Office workers are ‘determined to get the pay they deserve’, as a wave of strikes called by the CWU paralyses postal operations. 114 Crown Post Offices faced mass disruption as CWU members took industrial action across the UK today, alongside members’ working in the Post Office’s Supply Chain and Admin functions read more
Conference votes to ballot for action at BT, Openreach & EE – Conference voted today (29 Apr) to serve legal notice to BT Group of the union’s intention to ballot all appropriate members for industrial action as soon as possible, after rejecting BT Group’s ‘final offer’ of a £1,500 flat rate pay rise. Delegates deemed this an insult to members struggling with a spiralling cost-of-living crisis from a company that had made £5.7 billion in profit in 2021, and the motion expressed how “appalled” members were by the failure to “adequately reward the contribution made by CWU members keeping the country connected during the pandemic” read more
NEU
30 years of Ofsted (6 May) – Teachers across England mark 30 years of Ofsted with hand delivered ‘unhappy’ birthday cards. Today, 6 May, Ofsted turns thirty years old. This is not a cause for celebration. National Education Union (NEU) members are marking the occasion by delivering giant ‘unhappy birthday cards’ to Ofsted’s seven regional offices*, along with hundreds of handwritten messages from teachers and school leaders calling for the toxic inspectorate to be replaced with a new system that is supportive, effective and fair read more
Support these strikes:-
NASUWT
Strike warning over failure to tackle violence and abuse at Glasgow school (11 May) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is warning Glasgow City Council that it will have no option but to consider strike action at Bannerman High School if effective steps are not taken to address violent and disruptive pupil behaviour and protect the safety and welfare of teachers. NASUWT members at the school have been engaged in action short of strike action since October 2021 as a result of the failure of the employer to address persistent verbal and physical assaults and violence against staff from pupils. Despite this action and ongoing attempts from the NASUWT to work with management at the school, incidents of violence, verbal abuse and intimidation against staff are continuing. In just the few weeks since the return after the Easter holidays six violent incident forms have been submitted by staff to management read more
Pocklington teachers strike to protect pensions – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Pocklington School in East Yorkshire will be taking a further nine days of strike action over threats to sack them unless they sign new contracts which would leave them with worse pensions in retirement. The school’s Board of Governors want to remove them from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and force them to be worse off in their retirement, threatening their financial security read more
IOM members to begin action over pay and working conditions – Isle of Man members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union will begin a programme of action short of strike action from Wednesday (27th April) in a dispute over pay, workload and working practices. From this date members will no longer undertake a range of activities which do not directly relate to teaching and learning. These include attending meetings or responding to emails outside pupil session times, undertaking routine administrative tasks, providing cover for absent colleagues or submitting lesson plans. Teachers will still continue to prepare for their timetabled lessons, teach and mark and assess pupils’ work. Members were balloted for action earlier this month, with 94% in support of action short of strike action, based on a two-thirds turnout read more
EIS
“Pay Attention”: EIS says it’s time for COSLA to pay up for Scotland’s teachers (13 May) – The EIS has demanded that local authority group COSLA must make a pay offer to Scotland’s teachers following months of delay. A pay settlement for the year 2022-2023 was due to be applied from April, but COSLA has yet to even present an opening pay offer to teaching unions. This follows on from protracted pay negotiations last year, with a pay settlement for the year 2021-2022 finally delivered last month – more than a year late read more
Secondary Teachers in Dundee to take Strike Action over Council’s Faculty Plans (11 May) – Secondary teachers in Dundee are set to take strike action in protest at the council’s faculty proposals which would remove subject specialist Principal Teachers from the authority’s Secondary schools. The first day of strike action is scheduled to take place on the 22nd of June across all of Dundee’s Secondary schools. Secondary members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) in Dundee have been voting in a statutory industrial action ballot over the past three weeks, and have voted strongly in favour of taking strike action over the council’s proposals. 88% of those voting in the ballot backed the move to strike action, with 12% against. Turnout in the ballot was 62%, and the ballot result comfortably exceeds strict UK government restrictions designed as a barrier to legal industrial action read more
Scotland’s College lecturers begin strike action on pay – College lecturers across Scotland will today (Wednesday 20th April) take strike action seeking a fair pay award that recognises their efforts during the COVID 19 Pandemic. Members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) are taking action following protracted negotiations, regarding pay, that began with the submission of their pay claim in June 2021. In a move that evidences a strong sense of feeling amongst college lectures, EIS-FELA members will also commence a resulting boycott on the same day that strike action begins read more
UCU
UCU response to BTEC cuts (12 May) – UCU has respond to the announcement by the Department for Education that 160 level 3 courses will be cut as part of T-level reforms read more
‘Utterly hypocritical’ for vice chancellors to celebrate REF results whilst researchers leave the sector (12 May) – UCU said it is wrong for vice chancellors to celebrate their Research Excellence Framework results whilst almost three in four researchers are set to leave higher education. The union was responding to the publication of the Research Excellence Framework 2021 results. UCU’s own report into the state of higher education shows that three in four researchers want to leave the sector over low pay and working conditions read more
Staff set to strike over plan to ‘Fire & Rehire’ over 100 teachers at Richmond upon Thames College (11 May) – Staff at Richmond upon Thames College are set to down tools for five consecutive days over plans by management to sack every teacher at the college and force them to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions if they want to stay. The action is set to take place from Monday 23 to Friday 27 May. Staff at Richmond upon Thames College are set to down tools for five consecutive days over plans by management to sack every teacher at the college and force them to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions if they want to stay. The action is set to take place from Monday 23 to Friday 27 May. It comes after an overwhelming 97% of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted in the industrial ballots said yes to strike action. The turnout was 88%, smashing the Tory anti trade union legal threshold of 50%. The five days of strike action will be immediately followed by staff working strictly to contract, after 100% of those who voted said yes to action short of strike. The action short of strike could also be escalated to include refusing to cover for colleagues, refusing to use personal IT facilities including Wi-Fi and broadband, refusing to reschedule lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action, and a boycott of assessments. The college wants to sack all 127 members of its teaching staff and make them reapply for their jobs on new contracts that would see them lose 10 days holiday read more
UCU members back marking boycott in pension dispute – UCU confirmed that a boycott of marking and assessments will take place in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension dispute. The decision to also escalate the pension dispute to a marking boycott was made by delegates at a meeting of UCU’s special higher education sector conference (SHESC) on Wednesday 26 April. It follows a decision made by delegates in the pay and working conditions dispute, who also backed a marking boycott and to keep both disputes coupled. UCU’s higher education officers have met to formalise the timetable for the marking and assessment boycott in both the pensions and pay and working conditions disputes which will be communicated with members on Friday 6 May read more
Raise pay and prevent strike action during GCSEs, North West college bosses told – UCU told the bosses of six colleges in the North West to urgently raise staff pay if they want to avoid strike action set to take place on Wednesday 18 May, the day many GCSE students are due to take a crucial English exam. The six colleges facing a day of strike action on Wednesday 18 May are: Burnley College, Bury College, City of Liverpool College, Hopwood Hall, Nelson & Colne College Group and Oldham College read more
Staff at 24 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over USS pension cuts –
- Almost eight in ten (79.5%) back strikes
- Dispute over cuts of 35% to guaranteed retirement incomes of staff
- UCU calls for new valuation of USS scheme as value of assets soars
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps in pension dispute
Staff at 24 UK universities have secured a mandate to take further strike action in a dispute over cuts to pensions which could see disruption continue throughout the rest of the academic year. Overall, eight in ten (79.5%) backed strike action with almost nine in ten (88.1%) voting for action short of strike (ASOS). The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 76% backed strike action. Today’s results mean that staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions which will last until October 2022. Staff at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University did not take part in the ballots but will join any possible action as their mandate remains live. Queen Mary University of London has a live mandate until July read more
Staff at 36 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over pay and working conditions –
- More than seven in ten (74%) back strikes
- Employers more intransigent than ever, UCU says
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps
Staff at thirty-six UK universities have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions which could see higher education hit by further disruption this academic year. Overall, over seven in ten of those who voted (74%) backed strike action with over eight in ten (85.9%) voting for action short of strike. The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 70.1% backed strike action read more
Support the UCU Goldsmiths strikes – University and College Union (UCU) members at Goldmiths University are continuing to take strike action 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. 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. Follow @GoldsmithsUCU on twitter and on Facebook
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
FBU Conference 2022: Union to expand DECON (May 13) – The Fire Brigades Union has agreed at its annual conference to expand its work on the effects of fire contaminants – toxic substances produced by fires – on firefighters. In ongoing research with the University of Central Lancashire, which the union commissioned, it is thought that fire contaminants can cause cancer rates amongst firefighters to be up to four times higher than the general population read more
Fire Brigades Union awards medals to refugee-saving firefighter and John McDonnell (May 13) – The awards, named the ‘Solidarity Medal’, are awarded by the union to recognise or dispense solidarity, or specific acts of solidarity, of exceptional merit. The medal for Brendan Woodhouse is awarded for his lifesaving actions in the Mediterranean and his campaigning to raise awareness of the migrant crisis, and the medal for John McDonnell is to recognise his lifelong solidarity to the members and organisation of the FBU read more
POA
Civil Service compensation scheme (12 May) – The NEC want to update the membership on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS), and decisions made by Government on the future of the CSCS. As you are aware, the Cabinet Office has been in consultation with the Unions which make up the National Trade Union Committee on reforms to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme since 2017. A series of revised proposed reforms to the CSCS were agreed by Ministers in Spring 2019 following consultation with both sets of unions and full consideration of their counter proposals but were never put in place. The Government have now informed the Unions they intend to continue that consultation. Cabinet Office have written to us to signal their intention to resume formal consultation shortly on reforms to the CSCS with the unions covered by the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. We will keep you informed on the progress of the consultation read more
NUJ
NUJ welcomes decision by High Court in SLAPPs case (12 May) – The majority of a legal claim targeting Swedish journalists, filed in London by Swedish businessman Svante Kumlin, has been dismissed read more
NUJ condemns killing of Al Jazeera journalist (11 May) – NUJ sends condolences to family and friends of respected journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The NUJ is shocked by the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces whilst reporting on raids in Jenin. The union has condemned the act of violence and called on authorities to act swiftly, holding those responsible to account read more
BBC North West journalists vote for work to rule – NUJ members are making a stand about the damaging impact of job cuts on news outpt in the region. As well as working with a significantly reduced workforce, staff at BBC North West are now expected to take on more and more technical duties previously carried out by skilled technical staff. If allowed to continue, the quality of the regional news programmes will suffer and deteriorate, they say. More than 97 per cent of NUJ members in the chapel voted in favour of industrial action. It follows the BBC’s decision to cut £25m from BBC England’s budget, leading to 450 job cuts cross England. The vast majority of journalists who work for BBC North West are NUJ members read more
Prospect
Civil service cuts outrageous act of vandalism (13 May) – As a union representing tens of thousands of civil servants, Prospect has responded strongly to reports that the Prime Minister is proposing major cuts to the civil service read more
BT announce a 9% annual increase in profits while imposing a below inflation pay award for Prospect members in BT (12 May) – BT have today announced an annual 9% increase in profits taking them to almost £2 billion. For Prospect members in BT there was the announcement of no share award for employees with BT using a slight fall in revenue to justify the decision. However, there was good news for shareholders with the restoration of a full year dividend of 7.7p per share and an intention to increase the dividend next year. The announcement comes after the recent decision by BT to impose a below inflation pay award that amounts to a 3% increase for our members. This follows a two year pay freeze in 2020-2021 read more
Equity
Equity global study finds those working in the performing arts are more likely to experience poor mental health (12 May) – We have today (12 May) published a global scoping review of 111 academic studies related to mental health and wellbeing in students and professionals within the performing arts. This landmark study was commissioned by Equity. It’s launched alongside a new Mental Health Charter at a panel event to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. What’s a scoping review? A scoping review is a type of research that aims to map the existing literature on a particular topic or research area and identify key concepts; gaps in the research; and types and sources of evidence to inform practice, policymaking, and research read more
USDAW
#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 rise at NSPCC! (May 11) – We are pleased to confirm that NSPCC have honoured their pay promise commitments to staff in full. We have secured a pay increase for all of our members at NSPCC of 3% or 3.5%. This new pay deal, effective from 1st May 2022, also means that our lowest paid members wages remain in line with the Real Living Wage and London Living Wage read more
UVW
The triumph of dignity: care worker and UVW strike leader gets her day in court (9 May) – “I feel like a winner, no matter what the outcome, because they couldn’t silence me” – Bella Ruiz, former care worker, strike organiser and UVW member. Bella Ruiz, a care worker from Colombia and United Voices of the World (UVW) member who helped organise a successful strike at Sage Nursing Home in north London for better pay and working conditions – is heading to court today for the final hearing of her union victimisation claim against her former employer. She could have buckled under the pressure but she went on fighting for her dignity, and after two years, she is finally having her day in court. An Employment Tribunal will decide whether Sage Nursing Home victimised and harassed Bella for her union activities and her fight for decent treatment, working conditions and pay. If the Tribunal finds that it did, it could award Bella compensation for injury to feelings, injury to health and even financial loss caused by her eventual, strained resignation read more
Security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have been taking strike action as part of their fight against racist outsourcing. The trustees need to do the right thing and give these workers the rights they deserve! Support the six-week GOSH security guards strike read more on UVW Facebook page
IWGB
IWGB Couriers statement on Deliveroo’s partnership agreement with GMB (12 May) – The IWGB has been organising Deliveroo couriers since 2016. From supporting strikes against the pay cuts in 2016 to organising international protests on Deliveroo’s IPO in 2021, for years, IWGB couriers have been leading the fight back against Deliveroo’s poverty pay and abysmal working conditions, taking action, winning changes and building a powerful union led by couriers. The IWGB has been the leading voice exposing the exploitative practices of Deliveroo’s business model that are designed to deprive workers of basic rights. As a result of this public pressure and in response to our campaigns, Deliveroo has been forced to introduce sickness insurance, parental pay, access to toilets for riders, reduced waiting times at restaurants, pay boosts and recruitment freezes. Throughout this time Deliveroo has refused to negotiate with its workforce and has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting the IWGB in court to prevent collective bargaining with its riders read more
In-house without fair pay is discrimination: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine pay your workers a dignified salary! – We are cleaners, porters, post-room and security staff at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). We are a majority Black, Asian, Latin American and migrant workforce. Many of us have worked for years at LSHTM and we work hard to keep this university running. We are fighting for an end to discrimination and for fair and dignified pay read more & support campaign
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!
Other News
Ceilidh for Palestine – hosted by South East Kent Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 7pm Saturday 14th May, 2022 at the Westgate Hall, Canterbury. Commemorating al-Nakba and celebrating resilience.
Join us for an Irish and Palestinian cultural celebration with a performance by Hawiyya Dabke Dance Troupe and Ceilidh Tree’s ace fiddles and amazing caller, guaranteed to get you dancing. With speakers, fundraising raffle, food, stalls and more! All funds raised will support South East Kent PSC. Please buy tickets and encourage family and friends to join us. Details about tickets here
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])
QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting (25 Mar) – Unite is delighted to announce that Nick Randall QC and John Carl Townsend have been appointed to investigate the possible collusion by union officers in blacklisting. Over the past months, evidence gathering by Thompsons solicitors has continued, with many blacklisted construction workers and other witnesses having already been interviewed. The work of the independent investigators is expected to start officially on 11 April 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
Afghanistan: journalist sentenced to prison under Taliban regime (12 May) – NUJ joins calls for the release of Khalid Qaderi tried in a military court over Facebook posts read more on NUJ website
Pakistan’s government must ensure safety of journalists (10 May) – The NUJ has condemned attacks against media workers in Pakistan, resulting in the death of journalist Zia-Ur-Rehman Farooqi read more on NUJ 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
June
18 TUC National Demonstration – 12noon Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD read more
July
2 NSSN Conference 2022 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
9 Durham Miners’ Gala 2022 Facebook event
15-17 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival 2022 read more
September
11 NSSN TUC Rally 1pm Brighton
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
