UCU: Unprecedented 10 days of strike action to hit English colleges over low pay (12 Sept) – Staff at 26 further education colleges will take ten days of strike action starting on Monday 26 September unless employers make a significant pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, UCU confirmed. The action will amount to the biggest set of strikes ever in further education. The strikes will take place over four weeks in the first half term of the academic year. The full dates of strike action are:
- Week 1: Monday 26, Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 September (3 days)
- Week 2: Thursday 6 and Friday 7 October (2 days)
- Week 3: Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 October (2 days)
- Week 4: Tuesday 18 Wednesday, 19 and Thursday 20 October (3 days)
The strike comes after 89.9% of UCU members voted YES (in July) to strike action on an overall turnout of 57.9%, which is the biggest mandate for industrial action across English further education colleges since the 50% turnout threshold was brought into force in 2016. UCU is demanding employers make a pay offer that reflects the soaring costs college staff currently face. Since 2009 pay in further education has fallen behind inflation by 35% and the pay gap between school and college teachers stands at around £9k. Unqualified college teachers earn as little as £21k whilst qualified teachers earn as little as £26k read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
NSSN TUC Rally to be rescheduled
The TUC postponed TUC Congress, which was due to take place this week following the Queen passing away. It has been rescheduled for 18-20 October, still in Brighton. Therefore, the NSSN had to postpone our rally and lobby, that were due to take place last Sunday. The issues that have seen the wave of strikes develop, above all the cost of living crisis, continue to face workers. Therefore we still need to campaign for the unions to strike together. We will keep you informed of the new date and details for the NSSN TUC Congress Rally.
TUC rally and lobby of Parliament has also been rescheduled and is now on Wednesday 2nd November against the cost of living crisis – 11am Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA more details on TUC website
The TUC is also organising town hall rallies around the country. Find your local event here
Coventry TUC: Fight the Cost of Living Crisis: march and rally to support strikes to defend pay and conditions – 11am Saturday 24th September, assemble at Coventry train station Facebook event
‘The working class is back as a movement’ – Enough is Enough read more on CWU website. People can find out about events and how to join the campaign via the Enough is Enough website
Enough is Enough National Day of Action on energy prices rise on October 1st with protests across the UK
Protest the Tory Party Conference – 2 Oct, 1pm, Victoria Square, Birmingham
National Demonstration – 5 Nov 2022, London, Assemble Embankment, WC2N 6NS
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
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RMT
TfL to identify options to ‘save’ £100m a year on pension costs (8 Sept) – Dear Colleagues, DEFENDING JOBS, PENSIONS AND AGREEMENTS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2). Further to my my previous Circular (IR/166/22), dated 10th August 2022, the Regional Organiser has met with your representatives to discuss the funding agreement recently made between the Department for Transport and TfL. TfL has conceded that the agreement will entrench the programme of “managed decline” which the government, aided by the Mayor of London, are attempting to inflict on our industry, while also seeking to impose huge cuts to jobs, pensions, and pay…The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and all affected branches are instructed to hold special meetings to discuss the financial settlement outlined above, and to continue the build support for the campaign to maintain our jobs, pensions, and conditions read more
TSSA
TSSA ballots for strike action at Govia Thameslink Railway (8 Sept) – TSSA members in GTR are voting on strike action. Rail union TSSA is to ballot hundreds of members at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) over possible industrial action, including strikes, in an escalation of the ongoing national rail dispute about pay job security and conditions. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates the Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, and Gatwick Express franchises in and around London. It runs services to Cambridge, Bedford, Brighton and the South Coast and is a vital commuter artery for the capital read more
ASLEF
ASLEF postpones strike action on London Tramlink (8 Sept) – ASLEF has decided to suspend the planned three days of strike action by tram drivers on London Tramlink next week following an improved pay offer from First Tram Operations, the company which operates the system on behalf of Transport for London. Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s full-time organiser on London Underground and London Tramlink, said: ‘Although the improved offer does not meet our members’ aspirations, ASLEF will always look for a solution that avoids disruption to passengers and our members losing money unnecessarily while trying to achieve our objectives. So our negotiating team has agreed to postpone the strike action planned for next week so we can meet management at ACAS to discuss and further improve their offer’ read more
Unite
Scrapping bankers’ bonus cap a grave insult to workers (15 Sept) – Workers urged to exercise pay restraint while government tells bankers to ‘let it rip’. Responding to the news that new chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is actively considering scrapping the cap on bankers’ bonuses, Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Workers will be appalled and angry at these plans. When millions are struggling to feed their families and keep the lights on, the government’s priority appears to be boosting the telephone number salaries of their friends in the city read more
Newham bin workers announce two more weeks of strike action (14 Sept) – Workers “rubbish” the Mayor’s misleading pay claims. Unite has issued Newham borough council with notice of a further two weeks of strike action starting on Tuesday 20 September, ending Monday 3 October. The 1st phase of action began on Saturday 27 August and ended on Saturday 3 September. The refuse collectors have “rubbished” Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz’s preposterous claims that the workers have been offered a pay deal of up to 17.9 per cent by the council. Unite says the misleading claims posted on the council website do Newham residents and the workers a disservice (see notes to editors). The council’s offer is worth a “measly” £950 – only if workers work every bank holiday week. In reality, Bosses in Newham have offered zero per cent on workers’ basic pay read more
Minimum Wage: Irish Government must set aside Low Pay Commission recommendation (14 Sept) – Unite accuses Government of ripping up Living Wage commitment. Unite this morning (Wednesday) called on the Government to set aside the Low Pay Commission report which recommends an increase in the hourly Minimum Wage of just 80 cent to €11.30. Unite, which earlier this year made a submission to the Low Pay Commission calling for the Minimum Wage to be increased to €12.50, said that the proposed 80 cent increase means that the Government has effectively ‘ripped up’ its commitment to move to a Living Wage by the end of its term in office. The recommendation is going to Cabinet this morning read more
Fresh strike dates announced in Felixstowe dispute as workers reject imposed pay deal (13 Sept) – Fresh strikes have been announced in the Felixstowe port dispute after workers overwhelmingly rejected management’s attempt to impose a pay deal. Last week the management at the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company unilaterally ended pay talks after refusing to improve its pay offer and instead announced that it was imposing a pay deal of seven per cent on the workforce. The imposed pay deal is in reality a sizeable pay cut with the current real inflation rate (RPI) standing at 12.3 per cent. The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company is ultimately owned by the multi-national port operator CK Hutchison, which is registered in the Cayman Islands. In response Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents 1,900 blue collar workers at the port, surveyed its members. They voted to reject the imposed pay offer by 82 per cent on a 78 per cent turnout. As a result fresh strike action for eight days has been called from 07:00 Tuesday 27 September and ending on 06:59 on Wednesday 5 October. The previous eight days of strike action last month brought the port, which is responsible for 48 per cent of the UK’s container goods, to a standstill read more
Alexander Dennis workers strike (12 Sept) – Action follows wage offer rejection. Unite the union can confirm that its members based at Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) will begin strike action tomorrow (13 September) following the rejection of a wage offer. The first round of strike action at the bus manufacturing company based in Camelon and Larbert will finish on 16 September at 23.59 hours. The trade union can further confirm that there will be a second round of strike action starting on 3 October which will continue each day up to 14 October when the action will conclude at 23.59 hours read more
Grosvenor Casino workers to down chips in demand for cost of living pay deal (8 Sept) – £74 million parent company offering `poverty pay’ while profits rocket. Picket lines will form across London this weekend. Customers at London’s Grosvenor Casinos’ seven venues will face picket lines and protests as workers walkout out tomorrow (Friday 9 September) over an insulting offer on pay. Around 150 gaming and hospitality staff, members of Unite the union, will down chips in protest at the `poverty pay’ deal they have been offered in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis in generations. This by a company that has raked in £74 million in profits so far this year. The workers have voted by 91 per cent to reject Grosvenor Casino’s offers of two one off-payments of £600 and £800, both subject to tax and National Insurance. Instead, the workers are demanding a pay rise in line with spiralling prices read more
Unite: Liz Truss energy bill plan ‘boosts profiteering’ (8 Sept) – Commenting on prime minister Liz Truss’ plan on energy bills, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is quite frankly remarkable that the prime minster is asking workers to pay for massive energy company profits. The economy is broken and workers will see through this plan to boost profiteering yet again. “I don’t think the irony escapes many: The reason we are held to ransom now by an over reliance on non-domestic energy is that a Conservative government privatised our energy.” Read more
Council workers striking for a cost of living pay increase at Lisburn and Castlereagh blast unlawful use of agency workers in attempt to undermine industrial action (7 Sept) – Unite the union will challenge desperate measures taken by bosses at local government authority who appear determined to avoid paying a cost of living increase to their employees regardless of the legality of their actions. Workers on picket lines at Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council who are engaged in all-out strike action expressed indignation as they heard the news that council bosses had moved to use agency workers to cover work impacted by their industrial action. Their union, Unite, has confirmed that it will proceed to challenge the unlawful status of management’s actions which are an attempt to break a strike by council workers seeking a cost of living pay increase read more
SQA strike action remains on after no breakthrough in talks (7 Sept) – Up to 55,000 appeals impacted as new strike days announced. Unite the union can confirm that strike action is set to begin on Thursday (8 September) at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) following no breakthrough in talks. Unite has been engaged in talks involving SQA management through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) since announcing strike action dates. A new offer was tabled by the SQA but Unite has rejected it on the basis that for the lowest pay grades it represents an uplift of between 5.5 to 7.7 per cent, which remains a significant real terms pay cut. For nearly half the workforce it also represents a consolidated pay offer as low as 3.3 per cent. The broader measure of inflation (RPI) has now soared to hit a forty-year high at 12.3 per cent. Unite has also criticised the last minute tabling of the offer before tomorrow’s industrial action as a ‘cynical publicity stunt’. The trade union is drawing attention to the SQA being prevented from tabling a fair pay offer at an earlier date by the Scottish Government due to the various public sector pay disputes. The three days of strike action at the SQA on 8, 15 and 16 September previously announced by Unite will continue as scheduled read more
Honeywell workforce set for strike action (7 Sept) – Workers reject ‘pitiful’ pay offer at Edinburgh aerospace company. Members of Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, employed at aerospace company Honeywell, will begin strike action tomorrow (8 September) in a dispute over pay. Around Unite 20 members including production and assembly workers recorded a 78.6 per cent vote in favour of strike action on a 77.8 per cent turnout at Honeywell. The first day of strike action (8 September) will be followed every Thursday for the next twelve weeks (see notes to editor). The company, which specialises in the design and manufacturing of electronic hardware and systems, has proposed a multi-year deal of 2.75 per cent for this year and next year then followed by 0 per cent in 2024. This offer has been resoundingly rejected by the workers read more
American Airlines Heathrow flights facing strikes as ‘appalling’ pay offer rejected (7 Sept) – Highly skilled engineers balloted over industrial action which would cause massive disruption. More than 50 aircraft maintenance technicians and crew chiefs, responsible for the aircraft that make 23 daily American Airline Heathrow departures, are angry over a three year pay offer. In the first year, technicians would receive 5.3 per cent and crew chiefs 3.8 per cent. In the second year, all workers would receive a lump sum cash payment, while in the third year a pay freeze would be implemented. The real rate of inflation, RPI, currently stands at 12.3 per cent and rising read more
Workers at Causeway Coast and Glens council to commence all-out strike action tomorrow after councils vote down pay increase (7 Sept) – Offer of two pay points plus a cash lump sum to end dispute was rejected at last night’s council meeting by a single vote in the chamber. Unite the union has confirmed that its members at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will commence continuous strike action at the local authority tomorrow. The decision by workers followed last night’s vote at full council at which a proposal to settle the strike by offering two pay point increments and a lump sum to workers – similar to that provided in Derry City & Strabane and in Mid-Ulster District Councils – was voted down by a majority of one councillor. General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, pledged her union’s full support to the striking council workers read more
Striking workers at Derry City and Strabane District Council end strike action after winning double pay point increase (6 Sept) – Unite the union members vote to accept improved pay offer with 63 percent majority. Workers at Derry City and Strabane District Council have voted with a 63 percent majority to accept an improved offer from management and end their industrial dispute with their employer. Management at the council made a substantially improved pay offer to avoid a return of strike action which had struck council activities earlier in the year. The pay deal includes a one-off payment of £500 and a fully consolidated two pay point increase worth approximately five percent – on top of the wider National Joint Council pay improvement. Derry City and Strabane now becomes the second council in Northern Ireland, after Mid Ulster District Council, to have resolved the 2021-22 pay dispute with a significantly improved pay offer including a two pay point increase plus cash read more
Striking Tipton CabAuto workers reveal shocking levels of in-work poverty (5 Sept) – Workers in McLaren, Aston Martin, JLR and Bentley supply chains ‘terrified of winter bills’. Striking Cab Auto worker – “How can it be that I work for a company that makes millions in profits, yet I have to use a begging bowl at food banks?” More than 100 West Midlands workers, paid just £9.90 an hour, are taking renewed strike action, which began on 23 August and will finish on 16 September, over a three per cent pay offer. The real rate of inflation, RPI, is running at 12.3 per cent and is expected to climb even higher. The workers, who make luxury car interiors but do not receive company sick pay or shift pay, have taken 26 days of strike action since 28 June read more
September Liverpool docks strikes to go ahead over ‘pay cut dressed up as rise’ (2 Sept) – Billionaire owned port operator MDHC made £30 million profits in 2021 but won’t honour pay promises. More than 560 port operatives and maintenance engineers will take strike action from 19 September to 3 October over a seven per cent pay offer. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 12.3 per cent and rising this is a pay cut. Workers will also strike over MDHC’s failure to honour the 2021 pay agreement. This includes the company not undertaking a promised pay review, which last happened in 1995, and failing to deliver on an agreement to improve shift rotas… More strikes are set to be scheduled in the coming weeks if MDHC fails to put forward an acceptable offer to the workers read more
Arriva’s pay failures result in Kent bus strikes (1 Sept) – Over 600 bus workers, employed by Arriva, based in Kent, will take four days of strike action next month in a dispute over pay. The workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have backed strike action after the company made a pay offer of around 10 per cent. With the real rate of inflation currently standing at 12.3 per cent, the offer is a real terms pay cut. The strike action will take place on Monday 5 September, Friday 16 September, Tuesday 20 September and Friday 30 September read more
Real terms pay cut forces strike by Hartlepool chemical workers at Venator – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at chemical company Venator Materials Ltd, will begin strike action this week in a dispute over pay. The company, which produces pigments and additives, has only offered the workers a five per cent pay increase – far below the rate of inflation. The 100 plus members of Unite at the company recorded an 81 per cent vote in favour of strike action on an 84 per cent turnout… The workers will take a total of 10 days of strike action (see note to editors for details) this month in the dispute. The first four day strike will begin on Thursday 1 September at 18:59 and will initially involve the night shift read more
Baker Hughes strike action amid fire and rehire claims – Billion dollar US oil and gas giant plans to wipe-off £10,000 from salaries. Unite the union members working for US oil and gas giant, Baker Hughes, are starting strike action today (29 August) in a dispute over fire and rehire tactics. Around 110 workers are taking strike action with Unite accusing the multi-billion pound company of `laying waste to Scottish jobs’. Unite estimates that detrimental contractual changes could wipe-off up to 29 per cent from the annual wages of Baker Hughes workers. The equivalent to a £10,500 drop in annual income. Unite members voted for strike action by 87.3 per cent on an 87.5% per cent turnout to defend their jobs, terms and conditions. The all-out strike action will last until the morning of 14 September with a series of 48-hour stoppages taking place until 16 November read more
Strike notice issued to Northern Ireland Housing Executive after management fail to make any pay offer – Four week strike will have severe impact on housing services. Strike involving 300 Unite members will start on Monday 5 September. Unite the union has confirmed that it has given the Northern Ireland Housing Executive seven day notice of a strike action over pay. The strike by the union’s approximately 300 members working at the agency is due to commence on September 5th and will remain in place for four weeks. The strike has been called after management failed to make any offer whatsoever to improve pay and meet the pay claim of Unite members. Workers’ demands include a cash payment alongside a consolidated two pay point increase above the [National Joint Council] national pay offer for 2021-22, which is a bare 1.75 percent. Workers at the Housing Executive engaged in two strikes earlier in the year but the latest announcement represents a clear escalation read more
Unite anger over University of Dundee imposing ‘pension poverty’ – Striking workers fight against £5,700 pension cut. Unite Scotland has today (26 August) angrily reacted to the University of Dundee confirming that it will forge ahead with detrimental pension changes. Over 100 Unite members are on continuous strike action since yesterday (25 August). The workers include technicians, administrators, student support staff and estates staff such as plumbers, joiners and electricians read more
Unite turns its fire on Felixstowe Ports’ owner, multi-national giant, CK Hutchison – Speaking at the picket line today (Wednesday 24 August), on the fourth day of the Felixstowe dock strike, Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, pledged to turn the union’s force on exposing CK Hutchison, the global company based in Hong Kong, which is the ultimate owner of Felixstowe Ports. Sharon Graham said: “Every single client, every investor, every decision maker at CK Hutchison is being looked into. “I will be inviting the shareholders at CK Hutchison, the clients of CK Hutchison, the decision makers of CK Hutchison to meetings with me, to open the books on what is going on. The company refusal to settle the union claim is about corporate greed. “The ultimate owner of CK Hutchison is Li-Ka Shing, Hong Kong’s richest businessman and the 32nd richest man in the world. All of the accounts of Li-Ka Shing are being looked into. All the tax havens in the Cayman Islands, are being investigated.” Read more
Go North East bus workers forced to strike in battle to prevent Chester-le-Street garage closure – Bus workers employed by Go North East at its Chester-Le-Street garage in Durham, will begin strike action later this month as a direct response to the company’s plan to close the depot. The industrial action will involve 170 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union. The all out continuous strike action will begin on Friday 12 August. The strike action has been called due to the company’s plans to close the Chester-le Street garage next month and permanently move the workers to different depots, some of which are 14 miles away read more
North Sea strike to hit Foinaven vessel – 96% vote for strike action over inferior redundancy package. Unite the union today (25 July) confirmed that its members operating the Foinaven Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) have voted to take strike action. 96 per cent voted for strike action on an 84 per cent turnout. Continuous strike action is now scheduled to take place from 5 August. The dispute centres on offshore members being given a significantly inferior redundancy package compared with Altera’s onshore workforce. The Foinaven field is situated approximately 120 miles west of the Shetland Isles within the Faroes/Shetland Trough. Production from the field was suspended in 2021 read more
Bosch Rexroth workers to strike in dispute over pay and shift changes – Unite slams global giant’s plans that leave Scottish workers £7000 a year worse off. Unite has today (Monday 4 July) confirmed that members working at Bosch Rexroth Glenrothes, will walk out over a pay proposal that will leave workers £7000 a year worse off. The German-owned global tech and engineering giant has proposed a six per cent pay deal, which Unite says is a significant pay cut given that real inflation currently stands at 11.7 per cent. The employers are also refusing to back-date the pay award to 1 January or to reverse changes to shift patterns and shift allowances, which means the combined impact of the offer is to leave workers around £7,000 per year worse off. Workers at the site have rejected the company’s proposal by 74 per cent. Unite says that the Bosch Rexroth, a subsidiary of Bosch, is in a strong financial position and has no need to attack the workers’ pay and conditions. In its 2021 annual report, Bosch Rexroth boasted of `reaching a new high on incoming orders’ which have generated sales of £5.4 billion (6.2 billion euros), up by nearly one fifth on the year before. The union’s members, 245 workers, will take continuous strike action from Tuesday 5 July until Tuesday 12 July inclusive. Thereafter they will strike every Monday and Tuesday going forward with an ongoing ban on overtime throughout read more
CWU
Support the CWU strikes in Royal Mail, BT/Openreach & Post Office – the next Royal mail strikes are 30th September – 1st October. We support the call of the CWU for Royal Mail and BT to be re-nationalised. Follow the latest news via CWU’s Facebook page, website and Twitter @CWUnews
CWU welcomes VMO2 moves to address cost of living crisis (14 Sept) – Following constructive talks with VMO2, a major breakthrough on pay has been achieved. During the six months since the company unilaterally imposed a below inflation two-year package the union has continued to push bosses for additional financial support to address the ever-deepening cost of living crisis being experienced by employees read more
Capita O2 and Tesco Mobile contract members reject 4% pay snub as cost of living crisis reaches desperation point for some (9 Sept) – Contact centre members across Capita have voted by well over nine-to-one to reject massive real term pay cuts from a company that reported a 1,631% increase in its full year profits this spring. Despite bullish public pronouncements by bosses over Capita’s transformed commercial performance (see story here, the company has consistently insisted that 4% is the most it can afford to pay ex-Telefonica members in the recognised O2 and Tesco Mobile contract bargaining units. As for those employed since the mass TUPE from Telefonica in 2013 – namely some of the lowest paid employees in Capita, who in recent years have been pegged to the Real Living Wage (RLW) – the company is currently refusing to pay a bean until next April read more
PCS
Join by 17 October to get a vote in our national ballot (14 Sept) – Our 6-week national ballot starts on 26 September and if you aren’t a member join by 17 October to get a vote. The industrial action ballot over pay, pensions, jobs and redundancy terms, is for members in the civil service and related areas. It will end on 7 November. Delegates to the union’s annual conference in May backed plans for an industrial action ballot as members face an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis and government plans to cut 91,000 civil service jobs. We are calling for a 10% pay rise; a Living Wage of at least £15 an hour; an immediate 2% cut in contributions that our members have overpaid to their pensions since 2018; no further cuts to redundancy terms; and a job security agreement, coupled with the resources desperately needed to deliver public services read more
PCS to support Clarence House staff facing redundancy (14 Sept) – PCS has called for proposed redundancies at Clarence House to be halted and pledged to support every member of staff following the announcement, during the period of mourning for the Queen, that around 100 jobs are at risk. We believe the decision to announce redundancies in the Royal Household during the period of national mourning is nothing short of heartless. Up to 100 employees at King Charles’ former official residence, including some who have worked there for decades, received notification that they could lose their jobs following his accession to the throne. This is a significant majority of the household and many of these staff will be the same people who have so diligently supported the new king during this period of mourning, working extremely hard over recent days only to be given redundancy notices as thanks read more
PCS labels Cabinet Office computer surveillance unnecessary provocation (13 Sept) – PCS has raised concerns about a worrying Big Brother-style development which could be used to victimise home-working members read more
PCS stresses Rwanda policy is unlawful and inhumane during hearing (13 Sept) – Our judicial review hearing at the High Court on the government’s attempts to deport refugees to Rwanda concluded on Friday (9) following 5 days of legal argument. PCS was clear that we considered the policy to be unlawful, morally reprehensible and utterly inhumane. We were clear that our members had no desire to implement the policy and were being forced to vary long-standing practices and processes in respect of considerations of asylum claims read more
PCS HMCTS strike action 10-18 September postponed (9 Sept) – In the light of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, PCS has postponed industrial action in courts planned between 10 and 18 September read more
HGS strike at Disclosure and Barring Service continues (7 Sept) –Members are now into their second week of strike action over pay, terms and conditions. Today is the third out of six days of strike action this week for PCS members employed by Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) at the Disclosure and Barring Service. It is their ninth strike day within the last month. Yesterday’s strike action saw 96 of the 97 PCS members staying off work. It was the best attended and most lively picket line so far with over 25 HGS staff during the morning, with even more expected today. The membership has been growing in recent weeks, as a result of the action. Yesterday the pickets were joined by members of the North West TUC executive committee that was meeting in Liverpool. Reps from the RMT also showed up to lend their support and show solidarity following their own strike action last month read more
Sign petition to support striking workers at Hinduja Global Solutions
PCS Devonport security guards start strike action read more
GMB
Amazon workers begin first ever UK strike ballot (15 Sept) – Amazon workers at a Coventry warehouse will become the first in the UK to take part in a formal strike ballot. Hundreds of workers will today begin voting on whether to walk out in anger over the company’s 35 pence per hour pay offer. The ballot closes on 19 October, with any industrial action likely to take place in November. Amazon workers across the UK have staged informal protests in anger at a three per cent pay offer from the company. Last September, Amazon reported paying £492m in tax the previous year – despite UK revenue soaring to £20.6billion in the pandemic read more
Thurrock Council collapse could risk Derby workers’ pensions (14 Sept) – The collapse of Thurrock County Council could put Derbyshire District Council workers’ pensions at risk, GMB Union has warned. The government has appointed a commissioner to take over the Tory-run unitary council due to its level of financial risk and debt. Derbyshire District Council’s pension scheme is thought to have invested around £30 million into Thurrock’s Green Energy Scheme. The scheme already looked to be in financial difficulty, even before the council’s collapse read more
Strike threat at oil and gas pipe company (13 Sept) – The threat of strike action hangs over a Newcastle energy company after workers twice turned down a real terms pay cut. More than 200 workers at Baker Hughes, in Walker, will now take part in a formal industrial action ballot. The dates of the ballot will be announced in the coming days. GMB members at the company – which makes pipelines for the oil and gas industry – have overwhelmingly turned down pay offers of 4 and 4.56 per cent. With inflation at 12.3 per cent, both offers amount to massive real terms pay cut read more
Sunderland bus strike begins (13 Sept) – Almost 200 Stagecoach bus drivers in Sunderland have begun voting on strike action. The ballot closes on 26 September and if GMB members vote to walk out the city will ‘grind to a halt’, the union warned. Workers are angry after being offered a massive real terms pay cut of just 4 per cent, with 2 per cent to follow later in the year. Any strike action would take place October read more
Waltham Forest bin strike moves closer (8 Sept) – A Waltham Forest bin strike has moved closer after workers voted they were ready to take industrial action. Refuse workers employed by Urbaser, the company with the Waltham Forest bins contract, voted 96.4 per cent they were ready to down tools over pay. GMB is calling on the company to put forward a realistic pay offer, as well as a company sick pay. Currently workers, whose job exposes the to contagious diseases and injuries, have to live on statutory sick pay of just £99 per week if the are hurt at work read more
Truss’ energy plan ‘only scratches surface’ (8 Sept) – GMB, the energy union, has responded to today’s energy announcement by the new Prime Minister. Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said: “It is a stain on this Government that our nation’s energy supplies are in such a vulnerable state…” read more
Ealing bin strike looms as workers vote on strike action (7 Sept) – A bin strike in the London borough of Ealing has moved closer with workers set for a consultative ballot on strike action. Staff at Ealing Council’s trading company, Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL), are angry over a 2 oper cent pay offer that amounts to a massive real terms pay cut. The dates of the ballot will be announced in the coming days. If the nearly 150 workers indicate they are ready to strike, a formal industrial action ballot will follow read more
Wandsworth Traffic Warden strike over as GMB members accept major pay uplift (6 Sept) – Members will receive a pay rise of 11.5 per cent, plus guaranteed pay rises for the next two years. GMB, the union for parking attendants, can confirm that their members working for NSL within the London Borough of Wandsworth have ended their long-running dispute with their employers. The members, who have taken a total of 20 days of strike action since June, have accepted an improved pay deal which will see them cancel four further days of action scheduled for September. The new deal will see members’ basic wages increase by 11.5 per cent immediately with a protected pay rise for the following two years too read more
Almost 200 workers laid off at Polyflor Ltd, in Manchester after voting to strike (5 Sept) – Almost 200 workers at a floor company have been laid off after voting to strike. Staff at Polyflor Ltd, in Manchester, will down tools tomorrow [7 September]. But ahead of the strike, all workers taking industrial action received a messaged from the company saying ‘process shifts for process workers continue to be suspended…please do not turn up for your shift(s) from 6am on Monday 5th September.’ The company is a leading manufacturer of vinyl floorcoverings. After months of delays and several weeks of negotiations, GMB members have rejected the company’s final pay offer read more follow @GMB_union on Twitter for updates
Walsall Housing Group workers to strike (1 Sept) – Workers are Walsall Housing Group are set to strike over a ‘paltry’ pay offer. Almost 200 GMB members will walk out for six days in September; 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 and 30. Staff are angry after being offered just a 3.1 per cent day deal, amounting to massive real terms pay cut with RPI inflation at 12.3 per cent. Meanwhile Walsall Housing Group’s chief executive was handed a 14.7 per cent pay rise read more
Further Budweiser strikes planned after talks collapse – Further strike action at Budweiser has been scheduled after workers turned down the latest pay offer from the company. A total of 275 GMB members working at BBG’s Samlesbury site, near Preston, will down tools from 22 – 29 August. In total, 93 per cent of GMB members rejected latest offer from Budweiser read more
Solidarity with GMB after yet another arrest on a bin picket line – For the second time in months, GMB Southern Region officers have been arrested on a picket line of their striking refuse members. Previously, arrests were made on the Wealden picket. They appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court on 29th June. The case was adjourned to Brighton Crown Court on November 16th. Then two weeks ago, further arrests were made on the Surrey bin picket line. This is outrageous attacks on the right of trade unions to strike, picket and protest. The NSSN sends our continued solidarity and support read more about Surry strike
Sign petition – To St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Mitie out: Demand fair pay and conditions for staff at St George’s Hospital
Unison
Environment Agency staff overwhelmingly reject pay offer (6 Sept) – Rejection in the consultative ballot makes clear that ‘now is the time for the agency to step up and make the case for an increased pay offer’. Thousands of Environment Agency (EA) staff have voted in a consultation to overwhelmingly reject the current pay offer of 2% plus a £345 consolidated increase, together with increases to some allowances. With inflation topping 10% and further increases on the way, the offer, together with an unconsolidated performance award, effectively represents a pay cut. EA staff had asked for a pay increase above the rate of inflation after a 0% pay increase in 2021 and the current offer fell well short of those made to other public sector workers read more
University staff vote to strike over ‘ludicrously low’ pay rise (1 Sept) – Managers must put people before profits and pay staff proper, fair wages. Thousands of university staff including cleaners, administrators, library, catering and security workers have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, says UNISON. The workers, some of the lowest paid in the higher education sector, will walk out after rejecting a 3% pay award from the University and Colleges Employers Association in May, the union says. Staff had asked for a pay increase 2% above the rate of inflation. With inflation topping 10% and further increases on the way, the award effectively represents a pay cut, the union says. The increase won’t touch the sides of the cost-of-living pressures decimating household budgets, says UNISON. Staff in more than 20 universities across the UK will stage a series of strikes later in the year. Employees from four universities in Scotland, one in Northern Ireland and 17 in England will take action read more
Care staff announce new strike dates over pay, says UNISON – Workers at St Monica Trust plan 48-hour walkout and two-day strike in August. Care workers, registered nurses and residential home staff employed by Bristol-based St Monica Trust will take further strike action next week, said UNISON. Staff at the Russets and Sherwood care home in Sandford, North Somerset, will walk out for 48 hours from 7am on Tuesday 16 August, while workers at Cote Lane in Bristol will launch a two-day strike from Friday 19 August. The new dates follow five days of action in June and July over fire and rehire threats and cuts to pay read more
There is a strike fund which is being collected for. Many of these workers are low paid and part time. With cost of living ever rising it’s essential that we can ensure no one feels like they can’t stand up with their colleagues and strike for fear of lost pay. The union will be paying strike pay and members can request hardship payments up to their full wages so no one gets left behind.
For donations please send to the following details with the reference “SMT”
Account name: UNISON South West; Account number: 49021079; Sort Code: 60-83-01
OCS LANCASHIRE: PAY UP NOW – Pay our hospital heroes what they are owed for working throughout the pandemic. We are NHS workers in Lancashire and we urgently need your support. As hospital cleaners and catering staff, we are outsourced to OCS and have worked 24/7 throughout the pandemic to keep staff and patients safe. But while OCS boasts it turned over hundreds of millions during the COVID crisis, it continues to pay us less than our NHS colleagues doing exactly the same jobs. Hospital workers employed by OCS are £2000 worse off than our colleagues working for the NHS. We also have inferior working conditions including 7 days less annual leave and lower sick pay. 45 of us submitted a collective grievance about this issue in May 2021, but EIGHT MONTHS on, we have still not been listened to. We have become increasingly frustrated and have now voted 97.8% in favour of taking strike action to resolve this issue…We think that a great way to get the Chief Executive’s attention is to flood his inbox with emails from all of us. Can you take a few minutes to email Bob Taylor? It’s easy, you just need to add your details and press send. https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/ocs-pay-up-now. Post messages of support on social media: please tag @NorthWestUNISON. Use hashtags #ONENHS and #PayUpNowOCS read more
NIPSA
NIPSA to Ballot Members in Health on Pay, Staffing Levels and Travel Reimbursement (6 Sept) – HSC Pay Ballot Industrial Action Health and Social Care. Members across Health and Social Care (HSC) will be aware that NIPSA alongside other Health Unions have been engaging with Department of Health (DOH) and Employers on a number of significant issues including pay, Staffing Levels and Travel Reimbursement. The NIPSA Health and Social Care Central Panel has met and considered the announcement from the Pay Review Body as Endorsed by Government at Westminster which identifies: “The recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body for Agenda for Change staff is for a £1,400 payment on all pay points, which will be enhanced for the top point of Band 6 and for the pay points in Band 7 to ensure that they receive a 4% payment.” Whilst acknowledging £1,400 is a higher percentage increase on the lowest Bands, it remains significantly lower than the increasing rate of inflation for all Bands and is effectively a further Pay Cut for NIPSA members read more
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Strike Action: Monday 15 August onwards – Picket information For All Unions for Actions in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
- Armagh Palace Demesne from 6.30am to 2pm
- Gosford Forest Park from 7.30am to 2pm
- Banbridge Depot from 6.45am to 9am
- Banbridge Civic Centre/Leisure Centre from 9am to 2pm
- Carn Depot from 6.30am to 9am then moving to South Lakes Leisure Centre
- South Lakes Leisure Centre/Civic Centre from 9am
Action short of strike from the 16 August 2022 for NIPSA members will take the following form:
- A total ban on overtime from union members
- Members working to their job description;
- Members not covering for absent colleagues for whatever reason;
- Working to written, agreed protocols where these exist including refuse and leisure;
- order to clarify (4) in particular we have prepared some examples below read more
Royal College of Nursing
RCN announces new industrial action strike ballot dates (15 Sept) – Our ballot of members working for the NHS and HSC will take place between Thursday 6 October and Wednesday 2 November read more
Public ad campaign demands change from new PM as RCN prepares to launch strike ballot (7 Sept) – Our nationwide public advertising campaign coincides with Liz Truss’s first full day in office read more
Royal College of Midwives
RCM members in England and Wales have voted overwhelmingly that the pay ward is “unacceptable” in a consultative ballot. 66% of eligible members voted, 75% said that they would be willing to vote for industrial action. The union’s board will now discuss next steps
RCM announces date to ballot members in Scotland on industrial action (7 Sept) – All RCM members working in the NHS in Scotland are set to be balloted on industrial action. A statutory ballot will launch on 29 September and run for four weeks until 27 October This follows an indicative survey of midwives, maternity support workers (MSWs) and maternity care assistants (MCAs) in which almost 90 percent of those who voted rejected the Scottish Government’s 5% pay offer and indicated that they would be willing to take industrial action read more
NEU
Be ballot ready – reject the pay cut read more
Energy Support for Schools and Colleges (8 Sept) – The Government’s announcement that they will freeze energy prices for schools and colleges for six months will do nothing to mitigate the increases that have already happened read more
Oak National Academy (7 Sept) – Converting the Oak National Academy into a permanent arm of Government is a serious mistake read more
NASUWT
NASUWT escalates action campaign in Manx schools (8 Sept) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in the Isle of Man will begin escalated action short of strike action from next Monday (12th September) as a result of the failure of the Manx Government to improve pay and tackle excessive and onerous workload and working practices. The Union is warning that it will further escalate the current action to strikes later this term if no progress is made in addressing the current dispute. NASUWT members have been undertaking action short of strike action since late April, withdrawing from a range of activities which do not directly relate to teaching and learning. The escalated action will mean that from Monday members will no longer undertake break duties or any marking, setting and assessment of cover work arising from any planned or unplanned staff absence. They will also not implement any new working practices which have not been workload impact assessed and agreed with the NASUWT read more
EIS
Teachers need to send a very Strong Message on pay with Overwhelming Ballot Result (8 Sept) – The EIS has called on Scotland’s teachers to send a very clear message by delivering a strong rejection of the current pay offer and an overwhelming vote in favour of potential strike action. The EIS opened a consultative ballot of its members last Friday, and the ballot closes next Friday, 16th September. Commenting from a joint trade union March & Rally on public sector pay at the Scottish Parliament, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Teachers’ pay needs to add up, so Scotland’s local authorities and the Scottish Government must pay attention to the collective voice of Scotland’s teachers read more
EIS Writes to First Minister Calling for Urgent Action on Free School Meals (7 Sept) – The EIS has written to the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, calling for urgent action on the rollout of universal free school meals to mitigate against the impact of poverty in light of the growing cost of living crisis read more
UCU
English prisons face strike ballot in low pay dispute (8 Sept) – Staff at prisons and youth offender institutions across England are set to be balloted for strike action over low pay. Around 500 UCU members working in education at 48 prisons and youth offender institutions across England will be balloted unless the employer raises pay to help staff meet the cost of living crisis. The ballot will open on Wednesday 14 September and closes on Wednesday 5 October. The prison educators being balloted, who are employed by Novus, have seen their pay fall by more than 25% since 2009. Prison education is already one of the lowest paid sectors, as highlighted by the House of Commons Education Select Committee. UCU is demanding Novus makes a pay offer that helps staff meet the cost of living crisis, but Novus has only offered 2% for 2021/22 and 3% for 2022/23, far below current RPI inflation of 12.3% read more
University strike ballots open today amidst cost-of-living crisis (6 Sept) – Ballots for industrial action opened today at universities across the UK in disputes over pay, working conditions and pension cuts amidst the worst cost of living crisis in living memory, confirmed UCU. In total, over 70,000 staff at 150 universities are being balloted across two separate ballots. 67 institutions are being balloted over pension cuts to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and 145 are being balloted over pay and working conditions. Both ballots are aggregated. This means that for the first time in these disputes if UCU achieves an overall turnout of 50% or above and a majority YES vote in both ballots, all 150 universities will be hit by strike action, which would be unprecedented read more
Two-day strike at three North West colleges begins today over low pay (6 Sept) – Staff at Burnley College, The Manchester College and Oldham College began a two day strike today – during student induction week – in a dispute over low pay. UCU members are on picket lines at college entrances from 8am on both strike days, today and tomorrow. In 2021, the Westminster government announced an 8.4% increase in funding targeted at those in England aged 16-17 years old, the biggest rise in funding for further education in more than decade and coming after £240m in additional funding announced in 2018 read more
Richmond upon Thames College issues ‘sign or sack’ ultimatum to over 100 teachers (30 Aug) – Tomorrow all 127 teachers at Richmond upon Thames College will be forced to sign up to a punitive new contract of employment that will see them lose eight days holiday, the University and College Union (UCU) revealed today. Any teacher who refuses to do so will be sacked the following day. The implementation of the punitive contract comes after UCU recently suspended strike action in good faith in an attempt to facilitate a resolution through industrial conciliation service ACAS. The ACAS talks did not lead to a resolution of the dispute leaving staff with the ‘sign or sack’ ultimatum. Staff will strike on Monday 12 September 2022 in protest against the imposition of the new contracts and the dispute remains ongoing. UCU said further action will be called if the dispute remains unresolved read more
FBU
Firefighters prepare for ballot for strike action over pay (6 Sept) – Firefighters and firefighter control staff are preparing for a ballot for strike action, following consultation in Fire Brigades Union branches and a meeting of the union’s executive council on 2 September. The decision follows firefighters and firefighter control staff receiving a 2% annual pay offer on 27 June, which has not been improved upon since despite union representations to multiple parties. Inflation (CPI) has been measured at 10.1%, meaning that such a pay offer represents a significant real-terms pay cut. The aim is for the ballot to be held in five weeks’ time read more
POA
Pensions challenge the 2015 pension schemes and age discrimination (14 Sept) – Circular 037/2022 advised members of the progress being made to settle the Employment Tribunal claims of members who were affected by the pension changes in 2015. The main outstanding issues relate to their claims for compensation for upset, anger and distress (“injury to feelings”) and resolving the position for members who have already retired and are receiving too small a pension. The purpose of this circular is to provide an update read more
Risk assessments and safe systems of work (12 Sept) – Your employer has a legal duty to assess the risks to the health and safety of employees that they may be exposed to whilst at work. In carrying out a risk assessment your employer should consult your health and safety representatives read more
BFAWU
Post Conference Foodworker 2022 here
NUJ
NUJ postpones planned strike action (9 Sept) – Three-day strike action at Reach Plc and current work to rule at the company will no longer take place. The National Union of Journalists has postponed next week’s three-day strike action at Reach Plc and the current work to rule at the company. The strike was due to begin on Wednesday, coinciding with the TUC Congress in Brighton. On 9 September, the Reach group chapel decided to postpone the strike action and to use the intervening period to consult members on proposals put forward by the company. The Executive Council of the TUC today decided to postpone Congress following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The union will now undertake an online consultative ballot of members to gain views on whether journalists wish to accept the proposed deal. The ballot will open on 14 September and close at noon on 23 September read more
Reach hardship fund – Show support for Reach strikers – donate to the NUJ Hardship Fund. When NUJ members are on strike, all members of the union are encouraged to offer support and show solidarity. As NUJ members across Reach gear up for strike action, we are launching a union-wide appeal raising funds for a special NUJ Hardship fund read more
Pay survey of NUJ members in Ireland (8 Sept) – NUJ urges members in Ireland to take part in short pay survey. The National Union of Journalists is currently conducting a pay survey of its members in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland read more
NUJ welcomes recognition at gal-dem (6 Sept) – The union has secured trade union recognition at award-winning media publication gal-dem. Following extensive talks with the company, the NUJ and gal-dem have agreed on this positive step. Recognition means the union can negotiate on staff pay and terms and conditions on behalf of employees at the company read more
Join the campaign to save the BBC News Channel and BBC World News (2 Sept) – The BBC is to close them down, with the loss of 70 journalists, and create a new channel by next April. We are calling on Ofcom to hold and inquiry and have a public consultation. This is a major change and the BBC should not be able to try to do it under the radar and without consultation. It’s an insult to BBC staff and licence fee payers read more
Scotsman and other Scottish titles vote for industrial action (10 Aug) – NUJ members on National World’s Scottish titles have voted in favour of taking industrial action over compulsory redundancies. Two separate ballots have been held: one for the members at Scotsman Publications; and another for those employed at the company’s Scottish Weeklies. The titles affected include The Scotsman, The Edinburgh Evening News, Scotland on Sunday, The Falkirk Herald, and Milngavie and Bearsden Herald. Of the 45 members balloted at the former, 29 voted: a turnout of 64.4 per cent. Of those, 27 voted yes to strike action, and 26 voted for action short of a strike. Of the members on the weekly titles, 23 were balloted and 15 voted: a turnout of 65.2 per cent. Ten voted in favour of strike action, and 11 in favour of action short of a strike read more
Prospect
Prospect calls on new Prime Minister to tackle sexual harassment and workplace culture in Westminster (6 Sept) – The general secretaries of Prospect and FDA trade unions have written to the new Prime Minister, calling on Ms Truss to “restore confidence that Parliament, and Westminster politics more broadly, is a safe place to work”. The unions represent workers in Parliament and across the civil service read more
Equity
Guidance for Equity members working in Live Performance during period of national mourning (13 Sept) – As the UK enters a period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we have received a number of queries from members about the impact on entertainment venues and work during this period read more
USDAW
Sainsbury’s cost of living support for staff of an autumn pay rise, free food and increased discounts is welcomed by Usdaw (13 Sept) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the company’s additional support for Sainsbury’s and Argos shopworkers in the midst of a cost of living crisis, with an unprecedented additional pay increase outside of the annual pay review due in March 2023 read more
UVW
UVW reps, building workers’ power at GOSH (15 Sept) – At the end of July, United Voices of the World (UVW) members at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) elected workplace representatives (reps) for the first time. Ten reps were elected for all the shifts where UVW members work, which is the cleaner’s morning and day shifts, the evening shift, the weekend, the night shift, porters and security guards. These members are building their confidence and collectively taking up issues around workload and dignity at work read more
Architectural workers initiate historic strike ballot (14 Sept) – “We have all worked at Atomik for a number of years, but that loyalty has not been reciprocated in meaningful improved pay or working conditions. We have been forced into this position, striking is our last resort” – Atomik workers. Workers at London-based architectural practice Atomik Architecture (Atomik) will ballot for strike action, in what could be the first ever strike by private-sector architectural workers in the UK. The workers have been threatened with redundancies after they told their employer that they are in dispute read more
Unionised leisure centre cleaners win inflation-busting 16% pay rise (8 Sept) – “Unity is strength and anything can be achieved if we are united as workers” – Juan, cleaner and UVW member. Latin American cleaners and members of United Voices of the World (UVW), at Latchmere Leisure Centre in Battersea have won a massive 16% pay rise, well above the current rate of inflation. Today, they received confirmation that from 1 October they will receive a 16% pay rise. Their victory follows a ballot for industrial action which saw a 100% turnout and 100% yes vote and is the culmination of a campaign launched by the cleaners, all of whom are Bolivian migrants, for dignity, respect and a voice at work. Latchmere Leisure Centre is owned by Wandsworth Council, who pay £3.7 million a year to Places for People Leisure Management (PPLM) to manage the centre. The campaign launched in June saw the cleaners successfully win statutory trade union recognition through the Central Arbitration Committee, after their request for voluntary recognition by PPLM was rejected read more
SIPTU
SIPTU calls on community and care workers to receive terms of public service pay deal (14 Sept) – SIPTU has called on the Government to extend the terms of the public service pay deal to workers in the community sector and Section 39 organisations who have not received a pay rise since 2008 read more
Workers in Western Care Association in Mayo to strike on 22nd September (12 Sept) – Staff in the Western Care Association in county Mayo will strike on Thursday, 22nd September, as part of the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign to highlight the demand for a first pay rise in 14 years for workers in the sector read more
Unions support Congress call for a significant rise in the minimum wage (8 Sept) – A group of the country’s main private sector unions have supported the call by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in its pre-budget submission, for a significant rise in the minimum wage. Connect, CWU, FSU, SIPTU and Unite have said a significant rise in the minimum raise is required in Budget 2023 in order to bring some relief to low paid workers and their families who are suffering the worse effects of the cost-of-living crisis read more
Barristers start indefinite action over pay and conditions
From The Criminal Bar Association website: Indefinite Weeks of Action Arrangements for Week Commencing 5th September 2022
The Government continues to refuse to negotiate with the Criminal Bar Association and, pursuant to the last overwhelming ballot of our membership, indefinite weeks of action will begin from the 5th of September 2022, the day that the new Prime Minister is announced. That action will continue, with no further ballot initiated, unless and until there is a substantial positive movement from Government.
This action is taken as a last resort, driven by our collective resolve to ensure the viability of the junior criminal bar, in order to guarantee the future sustainability of the criminal justice system for all of our communities, across the country. The collapse of the Criminal Justice System, pre-dating, not caused by, our action, can no longer can be disguised. The remedies of immediate, substantial, long-term investment and reform, can no longer be ignored.
Whilst strength and unity are expressed in national zoom meetings and realised across the profession, it is also very important that barristers publicly show their strength and support for each other, and for the junior bar, in order to continue to raise the profile of the crisis, and our action, in the media. The CBA thanks and welcomes the solicitors, HCAs, barristers from other practice areas and law students who have come and stood beside criminal barristers on court steps across the country read more – including details of strike rallies on Tuesday 6th September – this includes the Supreme Court in London at 9am and at court buildings in Cardiff 9am, Manchester 9am, Birmingham 12noon, Bristol 10am and Leeds 9am.
Police Scotland officers to ‘withdraw goodwill’ in pay row
(From BBC website) Police officers in Scotland will withdraw “all goodwill” after they were offered a “derisory” £565 pay rise, the force’s chief constable has been told. The Scottish Police Federation said members would claim payment for any overtime they were ordered to work read more
International News
Pakistan flooding disaster – Urgent appeal from the Sindh Workers’ Alliance read more and find details on how to donate
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting – 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
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
October
1 Enough is Enough National Day of Action on energy prices rise with protests across the UK
2 People’s Assembly Protest the Tory Party Conference – 1pm, Victoria Square, Birmingham
November
2 TUC Rally & Lobby of Parliament
5 People’s Assembly National Demonstration – London, Assemble Embankment, WC2N 6NS
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
