The NSSN continues to stand with the CWU and its members in Royal Mail. Postal workers are taking action against the attack on their jobs, pay and terms & conditions by senior management.
The CWU has called a national strike rally in London for postal workers this coming Friday December 9th – 1pm Parliament Square, Westminster
Support the continuing CWU strikes in Royal Mail – the next days of action are December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24
CWU members in the Post Office will also be taking further strike action after securing a massive YES vote in a re-ballot needed to maintain the industrial action mandate – Crowns & Admin members will commence strike action at or after 6am on Monday 12th December and before 8pm on Tuesday 13th December. Supply Chain members commence an overtime and scheduled attendance ban at midnight on the morning of Monday 12th December until one minute before midnight on Saturday 24th December
As the Royal Mail dispute continues, the CWU is reporting union-busting methods rather than serious negotiations to find a resolution:-
“We know the company has set up a team, under the leadership of Grant McPherson, to deliberately and viciously target our members and CWU representatives. This includes workers and representatives being spied on and individuals being followed, with the clear purpose of intimidating them. We have photographic evidence of this. Furthermore, we are aware that this team is orchestrating and manipulating these attacks against individual representatives that the company has identified, including instigating spurious conduct charges and suspensions. This is deplorable behaviour and we are talking to a number of managers who have confirmed this is the approach that the company are taking. As a result, it has been confirmed to us that the company are planning to intensify their worker and union busting tactics this week with further attacks on union members/representatives, CWU finances, agreed union facilities and the leadership of the union…”
We give our full support and solidarity to the CWU and its members and reps and appeal to the rest of the union movement to continue to stand with the union and its members in this struggle.
The CWU has launched a strike fund – please support: Unity Bank, CWU General Fund, 60-83-01 33019822
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
The TUC is organising town hall rallies around the country. Find your local event here.
‘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
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]
The NSSN is developing a campaign pack for social care, which we hope to make available in the not-too-distant future for supporters to use in their localities. As part of this, communications officer Dave Gorton is keen to hear from supporters who:
(1) work in social care (either local authority, private or independently provided)
(2) represent social care workers for a trade union
(3) are in need of social care provision themselves or act as an (unpaid/underpaid) carer for a family member
Dave can be contacted in the first instance via [email protected]
Union News
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RMT
RMT to put Network Rail offer to members (5 Dec) – Rail union RMT has decided today to put a new offer from Network Rail to members in an electronic referendum with a recommendation to reject which will close next Monday, December 12 at Noon. All strike action planned for December 13,14, 16 and 17 will go ahead as planned. Furthermore, further strike action will take place and members will be instructed not to book on from between 18.00 hours on December 24 through to 05.59 hours December 27 2022. This strike coincides with the wind down of passenger services and the commencement of engineering works. All scheduled overtime bans have been cancelled. On the train operating companies there has been no improved offer from the Rail Delivery Group who still await a mandate from the government. As a result, all scheduled strike action will go ahead and the union awaits the outcome of a planned meeting with the RDG tomorrow. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was unfortunate that that union had been compelled to take this action due to the continuing intransigence of the employers read more
RMT reject Rail Delivery Group offer (4 Dec) – Rail Union, RMT today rejected the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) offer and demanded a meeting tomorrow morning to resolve the dispute. After months of no offer at all from the RDG, finally the DfT gave rail operators a mandate to make a proposal to the RMT. The RDG is offering 4% in 2022 and 2023 which is conditional on RMT members accepting vast changes to working practices, huge job losses, Driver Only Operated (DOO) trains on all companies and the closure of all ticket offices. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We have rejected this offer as it does not meet any of our criteria for securing a settlement on long term job security, a decent pay rise and protecting working conditions. “The RDG and DfT who sets their mandate, both knew this offer would not be acceptable to RMT members read more
Railway access for disabled will worsen under ticket office closure plan (3 Dec) – RMT members have strongly condemned ticket office closure plans which will negatively affect the disabled and elderly and increase the understaffing of stations. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, RMT can reveal that 98% of ticket office staff who took part in our survey say government plans will mean accessing the network will be harder for the elderly and disabled. A massive 98% think that closing ticket office and making passengers get tickets from machines or online will worsen disabled and elderly people’s access to the railway read more
Eurostar security staff to strike for 4 days in December over pay (30 Nov) – RMT members working as security staff for Eurostar will walkout on the 16,18,22 and 23 of December in a dispute over pay. The workers, some of whom earn as little as £10.66 per hour rejected a below inflation pay offer and emphatically voted for strike action with an 81% ‘yes’ vote. The strike action will severely affect Eurostar services and travel plans for people over the December period. Security staff perform essential duties of keeping passengers safe during international rail travel and are contracted out to facilities management company Mitie. Mitie made £50m in profit between March and September this year. Over 100 staff are expected to take part in the action read more
Railway cleaners name strike dates in pay dispute (29 Nov) – Contracted out cleaners will take national strike action for the first time on 22 23, and 31 December. Over 1,000 contracted out cleaners working for the likes of Churchill, Atalian Servest and Mitie are eligible to take walkout. Cleaners are demanding £15 an hour, company sick pay, decent holidays and good pensions from contractors – some of whom are raking in profits of over £100 million a year. Rail companies who use contracted out cleaning providers such as Avanti West Coast, GWR, LNER and TransPennine Express will be affected by the action read more
RMT announces 4 weeks of industrial action (22 Nov) – Rail union, RMT will put on a series of 48 hour strikes in December and January after industry bosses failed to offer any new deals to reach a settlement. Over 40,000 members across Network and 14 Train Operating Companies will take strike action on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December and on January 3,4,6 and 7. There will also be an overtime ban across the railways from 18 December until 2 January, meaning RMT be taking industrial action for 4 weeks. Despite every effort made by our negotiators, it is clear that that the government is directly interfering with our attempts to reach a settlement. The union suspended previous strike action in good faith to allow for intensive negotiations to resolve the dispute. Yet, Network Rail have failed to make an improved offer on jobs, pay and conditions for our members during the last two weeks of talks. At the same time Rail Delivery Group, representing the train operating companies, have also broken a promise to make a meaningful offer on pay and conditions and even cancelled negotiations that were due to take place yesterday. We also have evidence from all 14 of the train companies denying that Rail Delivery Group has the authority to conduct negotiations on their behalf, even as the RDG urged us to come back to the table read more
Reinstate Branch Secretary Jason Moriarty (15 Nov) – A new newsletter has been produced as a part of our organising to get Jason Moriarty reinstated. Please download it to learn more. The RMT offers full support and solidarity with our comrade Jason Moriarty following his disclosure to his employer, London Underground, of a disability read more
ASLEF
Tick both boxes for your future (1 Dec) – We find ourselves, despite the astounding mandates delivered universally in every train operating company, due to the vagaries of the most punitive trade union legislation in Europe, having to ballot again. Once more, it is the same topic: the complete and utter failure of the TOCs to offer a credible pay rise after three years, coupled with the morally corrupt deals these bad actors – the train companies – and the government entered into to try to obviate free collective bargaining. I reiterate: we do not work for the government, for the Department for Transport, but for Avanti, Arriva, Abellio, FirstGroup, etc… It is imperative that we do not rest on our laurels so please ensure that you tick both boxes to give the executive committee the full tactical and strategic toolbox to best represent you and your interests and deliver a successful outcome read more
TSSA
TSSA to put Network Rail offer to members (5 Dec) – Rail union TSSA has called off strike action planned for December and is putting an offer to members in Network Rail. However, an offer from the Rail Delivery Group has been rejected meaning industrial action in train operators remains on the cards unless progress can be made. Following talks with Network Rail over the weekend, TSSA received a ‘Best and Final Offer’ in writing from the company on Sunday 4 December. The offer was considered at a meeting of TSSA’s Network Rail reps on Monday 5 December. After months of detailed negotiations – and an industrial action ballot and strike action – TSSA’s reps felt the offer addresses the core issues of the dispute sufficiently to put it to members for acceptance or rejection in a referendum. An online referendum (vote) will open in the coming week for all TSSA members in Network Rail bands 5-8 and Controllers to have their say on the offer. Dates to be confirmed read more
Talks lead to offers (4 Dec) – TSSA has today received new offers from both Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group (representing train operators) to resolve the national dispute over pay, jobs and terms and conditions. This follows last ditch talks over the weekend between representatives of the employers and senior TSSA officials. Strike action was called by TSSA on Friday for 17 December, after four weeks of talks failed to produce a written offer. Other industrial action is also planned by TSSA during December, although this may be called off if the offers are put to members read more
TSSA ballots for strike action on Elizabeth Line (2 Dec) – TSSA – the biggest union in Transport for London – is balloting members working on the Elizabeth Line for strike action. Ballot papers are issued today (Friday 2 December) in a dispute over pay, with the affected workers paid significantly less than equivalent colleagues across the network. TSSA represents management grades employed by Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI) including Traffic Managers, Service Infrastructure Managers and Incident Response Managers who are safety critical to running services across London’s new flagship west-east line. A strike by these staff would stop services running read more
TSSA announces more December rail strikes (2 Dec) – Rail union TSSA has today (Friday) served notice for strike action in a further six train operating companies and Network Rail, taking the number of companies affected by strike action by the union to nine. The union has today announced that thousands more rail workers will now take strike action on 17 December (in addition to a widespread campaign of industrial action short of strike across a dozen companies). This builds on the announcement earlier this week that members would go on strike on 17 Dec at Avanti West Coast and c2c read more
TSSA ramps up industrial action on railways during December (30 Nov) – Rail union TSSA has announced further industrial action for December in the union’s ongoing national rail dispute over pay, job security and conditions. This comprises both strike action and industrial action short of a strike (ASOS), across Network Rail and a dozen train operating companies. Strikes will take place at Avanti West Coast on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December (as well as ASOS from 18 December). Avanti members working in a range of operational, station, revenue, on-board and management roles will therefore take two lots of 48-hour strike action. Strike action is also scheduled for the 17 December at c2c which serves more than two dozen stations between East London and South Essex. ASOS, in which members will carry out only contractually required duties, will also take place at different times across various companies during the run up to Christmas. The companies involved are Cross Country, East Midlands Railway (EMR), Great Western Railway (GWR), LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink (GTR), West Midlands Trains (WMT), South Western Railway (SWR) as well as Network Rail (Bands 5-8 and equivalent and Controllers). Action short of a strike will run from 13 December until the end of current ballot mandates, the majority of which end in January. In some companies this industrial action is already in place and will continue through to the end of ballot mandates read more
Rail talks break down as government blocks deal (29 Dec) – TSSA is considering strike action in December after government blocked deal with the Rail Delivery Group. Talks between rail union TSSA and industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) broke down this afternoon (Tuesday) following an admission by the RDG that they have no authority from government to discuss pay or grading. Calling the breakdown a “slap in the face for rail workers and passengers”, TSSA is now considering strike action for December. The RDG is acting on behalf of train operators, and intensive talks between unions and the RDG are in their fourth week read more
TSSA re-ballots at three more rail companies (29 Nov) – Rail union TSSA is to re-ballot rail workers for strike action in a further three train operating companies in the ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The union is balloting several hundred operational, station, control and management staff, for strike action and action short of strike. Ballots will be held throughout December with results due just before Christmas. This follows the announcement of re-ballots in Network Rail and seven other train operators read more
TSSA re-ballot for strike action in train operators (28 Nov) – Rail union TSSA has announced a re-ballot of rail workers for strike action in seven train operating companies in the ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The union is balloting more than 1,600 operational, station, control and management staff, for strike action and action short of strike. Ballots will be held throughout December with results due just before Christmas read more
TSSA re-balloting Network Rail staff for strike action (24 Nov) – TSSA has today announced a re-ballot of thousands of members in Network Rail in the ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The union is balloting over 2,500 operational staff, including station staff, Control, maintenance, support and operational staff, as the current mandate for strike action runs out in January. TSSA remains in talks and committed to achieving a negotiated settlement, but the lack of an offer and current timescales means the union has no option but to ballot members a second time for industrial action. TSSA secured mandates for both strike action and action short of strike when the original ballot was run in June and July. The re-ballot is necessary because anti-trade union legislation requires unions to re-run ballots every six months to keep them ‘live’, unless employers agree to extend for up to a further three months which Network Rail declined to do. Ballot opens: 1 December and closes: 22 December read more
Unite
Bristol council housing officers continue striking over terrible working conditions (5 Dec) – Around 50 Bristol council housing officers and team leaders, responsible for managing the local authority’s 27,000 tenancies, will continue striking over unsustainable workloads on 14, 15 and 16 December. The workers previously took four days of strike action in late October. The workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are angry that Bristol council is refusing to act even though the extra work is causing high rates of stress and anxiety. They are calling on the council to reduce workloads and allocate additional resources read more
Great Western Railway engineers continue strike action over pay (5 Dec) – Around 350 Great Western Railway (GWR) engineers will take further strike action on Thursday 15 December over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers previously went on strike in October. Despite GWR’s parent company First Group, which is based in Aberdeen, making pre-tax profits of £654 million in 2021/22, the company is refusing to offer the workers a pay rise. It will be the third year in a row their pay has been frozen. Meanwhile the real rate of inflation, RPI, is at 14.2 per cent. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at Great Western Railway have not had a pay rise in three years. Now, with soaring living costs, their wages are falling even further behind. Great Western and First Group have no reason not to address this when their profits are so high. It is sheer greed on the part of the employer and our members have Unite’s full backing in striking for a fair pay rise.” The striking workers are based at depots and stations in London, Exeter, Tiverton, Plymouth, Swindon, Swansea, Reading, Penzance, Oxford and Bristol. If the dispute is not resolved then more strikes will be scheduled read more
Low pay and workloads force community support workers in Hounslow to strike (5 Dec) – Low pay and workloads force community support workers in Hounslow to strike. 1st strike ever in Hestia’s 50 year history. Workers employed by Hestia, a referral service which provides adult services in Hounslow in London, will take strike action on 12 and 13 December. A number of workers who are Unite members provide support for people ranging from mental health support, addiction, immigration and language barrier support. Hestia management are refusing to negotiate with Unite over a cost of living pay increase and the provision of adequate travel expenses. Bosses have outrageously threatened Unite members with disciplinary action if they discuss pay with colleagues during work read more
Picket line details – Treaty Centre, High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex/West London, TW3 1ES. Assemble from 8 AM to picket centre when it opens just before 9 AM until it closes just after 5 PM
Scrooge Co-op denies coffin factory workers Christmas cheer (5 Dec) – Unite can confirm that further strike action is set to hit the Coop Funeralcare in Govan, Glasgow for a week beginning today (Monday 5 December). Unite members at the coffin manufacturing factory will continue strike action after Co-op Funeralcare bosses failed to make an acceptable offer to resolve the long running pay dispute. The strike action will last from Monday 5th December to Sunday 11th December. Around 50 craft workers based at the Co-op’s factory are fighting for a fair pay award. The company has offered around 4.0 per cent for 2022, and 5 per cent for 2023, which has been rejected amid inflation soaring to hit a 40-year high of 14.2 per cent (RPI) read more
Unite leader hits back at Zahawi’s `ridiculous and dangerous’ comments on NHS pay (4 Dec) – Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham reacted vehemently to the Zahawi attacks. She said: “Today, another multi-millionaire government minister has chosen to attack ordinary workers whose only crime has been to refuse to take a pay cut. Nadhim Zahawi’s allegation that Britain’s nurses, ambulance drivers and teachers are allies of Vladimir Putin is as ridiculous as it is disgraceful. Rather than running down our NHS in an act of catastrophic self-harm and threatening to bring in the military, the minister should instead ask himself why health staff are leaving in droves read more
Protest at port of Felixstowe to end bullying management culture and to defend union reps (2 Dec) – One union rep victimised for failing to say ‘good morning’. Workers protest and begin voting in consultative strike ballot. Union chief calls on port of Felixstowe to end attempts to intimidate union reps and get serious about negotiations. Hundreds of workers from the port of Felixstowe will hold a protest in defence of seven Unite members and Unite reps who have been victimised by “malicious” bosses. Seven workers have been victimised on trumped up charges, including one union rep who the company is attempting to suspend for failing to say ‘good morning’ to a manager. A consultative ballot for industrial action will get underway on Monday 5 December to demand the immediate reinstatement of the seven. Over 1,900 Unite members took strike action at the Port of Felixstowe between August and October and are still in dispute. But management bullying and intimidation against a number of union reps and members has opened up a new but completely avoidable front in this long running dispute. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “It’s clear the Felixstowe bosses think they can intimidate the union and its reps. They are adopting bully-boy tactics because they are panicking about the dispute. Unite cannot and will not accept the victimisation of our union members. The trumped-up charges against those who have been prominent in fighting for a new deal must be dropped. The management need to stop playing games and get serious about real negotiations”. Messages of solidarity and support can be sent to the Felixstowe 7 at: [email protected] read more
Unite Network Rail members to join latest walkouts (2 Dec) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has confirmed that its members employed by Network Rail in electric control rooms will join their colleagues at other rail unions in taking industrial action as part of the latest planned walkouts. The workers will take industrial action on the following dates: Tuesday 12 December, Wednesday 13 December, Friday 16 December, Saturday 17 December, Sunday 25 December, Monday 26 December, Tuesday 3 January, Wednesday 4 January, Friday 6 January and Saturday 7 January read more
Strike action to hit Highlands and Islands airports over festive period (2 Dec) – Unite members across eleven airports back action in pay dispute. Members of Unite have voted by 73.5 per cent in favour of taking strike action and by 92.8 per cent in favour of taking action short of strike in a battle to improve pay for rural communities amid a cost of living crisis. Unite, which represents members across eleven airports in the HIAL group, including those working in Fire and Rescue, Security and administration, will confirm industrial action dates next week. The union is warning that any strike action will cause huge disruption over the winter break and festive period. The workforce has rejected an unacceptable 5 per cent offer with inflation soaring to hit a 40-year high of 14.2 per cent (RPI) read more
Heathrow passengers braced for Christmas getaway misery as Menzies workers strike over pay (2 Dec) – Passengers flying from Heathrow for pre-Christmas getaways have been warned to be braced for delays as ground handlers employed by Menzies have announced fresh strike action in a pay dispute. The dispute involves 350 workers employed by Menzies who will take strike action from 04:00 on Friday 16 December for a 72 hour period. The dispute will lead to disruption, delays and cancellations for flights leaving Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 4. The strike action will particularly affect Air Canada, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Air Portugal, Austrian airlines, Qantas, Egypt Air, Aer Lingus and Finnair. The previous strike action in the dispute held last month caused considerable disruption across Heathrow read more
Pending Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd strike suspended after last minute move by management opens process of negotiations (1 Dec) – Strike action was due to commence four days a week but has been suspended to allow the company and the Department for Infrastructure to come to an agreed position. Ferry workers voted for strike action with a 85 percent majority after three years of a pay freeze. Unite the union has suspended pending strike action on the ferry service between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island after a last minute move by management which allowed a negotiated position. The strike was due after a ballot of ferry workers which returned a 85 percent mandate in pursuit a cost of living pay increase after three years of a pay freeze. With retail price inflation at 14.6%, another year’s pay freeze would amount to a real-terms pay cut of more than a one-seventh of their wage. The suspension of the strike will provide some relief to the Rathlin Island community who faced a severe impact with the loss of a ferry service read more
Unite welcomes major investment at Ford’s Halewood factory (1 Dec) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has welcomed the announcement made today (Thursday 1 December) that Ford will invest £380 million in new electric drive units to be built at its Halewood factory in Merseyside. The announcement protects the existing 470 jobs at the plant and the company is also committed to creating 200 new positions over the next two years. The first phase of recruitment will begin in early 2023. The new electric drive units will be fitted to all of Ford’s best selling vehicles including the Puma, Cougar and the new Transit read more
Low paid East Kent Hospitals workers ballot for strike (1 Dec) – Staff employed by 2Gether private contractor offered ‘significant pay cut presented as a rise’. Nearly 200 low paid East Kent Hospitals staff, employed by private contractor 2Gether, are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday). 2Gether is a wholly owned subsidiary of East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and made £2 million profits in 2021. The workers are being offered a pay rise of around four per cent, the same offer imposed on directly employed NHS staff nationally, thousands of who are also currently being balloted for strike action. With the current rate of inflation, RPI, at 14.2 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut read more
Harrods’ strike breaking agency employed under new anti-union law named and shamed (1 Dec) – Protective Security Group Ltd workers ‘didn’t know’ they had been brought in to break pay strike. The agency brought in to break a pay strike by Harrods’ security guards and CCTV operators has been named and shamed as Protective Security Group Ltd. Under the new anti-trade union law passed this summer by the government, Harrods has been allowed to replace striking workers with agency staff. The company threatened the workforce with the legislation previously and is one of the first employers in the country to use it. To break the strike, Harrods, owned by the Qatari state, has contracted Protective Security, which is registered in Ruislip, Middlesex, and has two directors, Jonathon Robinson and Edward Thomas Miller. Unite understands that Protective Security workers brought into work at Harrods during the strikes were not told there was industrial action taking place and were uncomfortable crossing a picket line…More than 50 Harrods uniformed security guards and CCTV operators are striking over a ‘pay cut dressed up as a rise’. The workers began three days of strike action over a seven per cent pay offer on 25 November and will strike again on 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 26 December. The offer is a pay cut when the real rate of inflation, RPI, stands at 14.2 per cent and rising read more
UK facing Christmas pickle crisis as industrial action at pickled onion factory Mizkan in Rochdale intensifies (1 Dec) – Lovers of some of UK’s most popular pickles face being denied their favourite condiments this Christmas as strike action at the Mizkan Euro factory in Rochdale intensifies in a dispute over pay. The factory produces Haywards Pickled Onions, Sarsons Vinegar and Haywards Pickled Vegetables. The 50 plus workers, who are members of Unite, the UK leading union, have already taken 19 days of strike action since October. The strike action is a result of the company only being prepared to offer its workers a five per cent pay increase, with the real inflation rate (RPI) now standing at 14.2 per cent, this is a very substantial real terms pay cut. Due to the just in time nature of supermarket deliveries, the strike action will almost inevitably create severe shortages at a time of year when many consumers relish these products, often with cold meat and cheese. Pickled onions and pickled vegetables are at the highest demand at this time of year read more
Pre-Christmas ambulance strikes deepen across England as Unite members act to ‘save the NHS’ (30 Nov) – More ambulance service workers in England have voted for industrial action, their union, Unite, announced today (Wednesday). With workers voting by up to 92 per cent to take action, strikes look set to begin ahead of Christmas. Unite will announce details in the coming days. Unite’s ambulance service members say such is the decay across the entire health service, that where they once saw 10 patients a day discharged safely into hospital, they can now deal with only three, spending hours at a time sitting outside A&E with patients waiting to be seen read more
Metroline London bus strikes suspended as company makes eleventh hour pay offer (30 Nov) – Three days of strike action scheduled for this week involving over 2,000 bus drivers employed by Metroline have been called off after last minute talks produced an improved pay offer. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were due to begin strike action from tomorrow (Thursday 1 December). However, following talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas, Metroline made an improved pay offer. As an act of good faith Unite agreed to suspend the planned action in order to ballot its members. Unite regional officer Laura Johnson said: “Following last minute talks at Acas, the strikes scheduled for tomorrow have been suspended to allow our members to be balloted on the new offer.” The seperate strike action involving bus drivers employed by Abellio in South and West London will go ahead as planned. If the workers reject the latest offer then the remaining strikes scheduled for 8, 9, 15 and 16 December will go ahead as planned read more
Unite slams HSBC for abandoning communities following 114 bank branch closures (30 Nov) – Unite national officer Dominic Hook said: “Unite is appalled that there will be a further 114 bank branch closures by HSBC. This hugely profitable financial institution is walking away from the customers and communities who most need access to local banking services. Unite is calling on HSBC to reconsider these branch closures during the consultation process before they abandon the most vulnerable in our society and leave them without a neighbourhood bank served by experienced knowledgeable staff. Of the total 114 closures proposed today the vast majority (108) of the closures will result in no HSBC branch within 3 miles and it is disgraceful that 25 communities will be left to travel over 15 miles to the nearest branch…” read more
Workers expose Quorn’s tattered ethical credentials at Plant Based World Expo (30 Nov) – Teesside staff reject billion pound business’s pay ‘cut’. London’s Plant Based World Expo were warned that Quorn is not the ethical business it claims to be by protestors today (Wednesday). The protest was in support of Quorn’s Billingham factory workers who have been on strike over pay since September. The expo is being sponsored by Quorn and a representative from the company was speaking at the event. More than 60 workers at the factory voted to strike after rejecting a mean four per cent pay offer plus a one off £1,000 payment. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 14.2 per cent this means a hefty pay cut amid rocketing living costs read more
Strikes stepped up at Fawley refinery as heavy-handed policing deepens tensions in dispute (29 Nov) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed in engineering construction roles at Fawley oil refinery in Hampshire will step up strike action in a dispute over bonus payments. The 130-strong workforce, who are employed by three contractors Altrad, Bilfinger and Enerveo, are seeking a bonus payment of £2.37 an hour, the maximum allowed under the relevant industrial agreement (National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry [NAECI]). The Fawley refinery is operated by ExxonMobil, which last month recorded a quarterly profit of £17.3 billion. Tensions in the dispute have dramatically increased due to intimidatory behaviour by Hampshire police and false allegations made the employer read more
Wirral facing Christmas bin strikes as Biffa workers demand end to low pay (28 Nov) – Around 200 workers employed by Biffa on the outsourced Wirral council refuse contract will begin strike action next week in a dispute over low pay. The workers are making a stand to end low pay rates: HGV drivers being paid just £11.95 an hour, refuse operatives £11.50 and street operatives only £10.76. The workers are seeking a 15 per cent increase in pay to reset their pay rates and also tackle the cost of living crisis, where the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently stands at 14.2 per cent. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will begin strike action on Monday 5 December with the strike action ending on Saturday 10 December. If the dispute is not resolved then further industrial action is likely read more
Imperial College London disruption as workers strike over derisory pay offer (28 Nov) – Over 200 Unite members walkout over 3.3% offer, which is a pay cut. More than 200 workers at London’s Imperial College will strike on 30 November over a derisory 3.3 per cent offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). More strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. With the true rate of inflation, RPI, at 14.2 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut. Imperial Colleges’ latest financial figures shows it brought in an income of over £1 billion for 2020/21. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Imperial College can absolutely afford to put forward a proper pay rise to these workers, who are struggling with rocketing living costs in the one of the most expensive cities in the world. Unite will never fail to defend our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and our Imperial College members will receive the union’s unwavering support in their fight for a fair pay rise.” The workers include cleaners, technicians and maintenance and security staff. The dispute also involves members of University and Colleges Union (UCU) employed at Imperial College. Imperial College negotiates pay directly with staff, so the dispute is not part of wider higher education strike action involving the University and Colleges Employers Association read more
Abellio bus drivers in South and West London announce 10 days of pay strikes – Over 950 bus drivers employed by Abellio in South and West London will take 10 days of strike action in a pay dispute. The dispute is a result of the company failing to enter into meaningful pay talks, despite indicating that it was prepared to do so. Workers’ pay is due to increase from January 2023, but Abellio has failed even to make an initial pay offer. The workers will begin strike action on Tuesday 22 November and will also strike on the 25, 26 of this month. They will be followed by further strikes on 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 December read more
Please donate: Over 2,000 Abellio Bus Drivers at 6 garages have set strike days in a fight for pay justice. This is the first dispute at Abellio for over 10 years. The pay claim is for £20 per hour which might seem like a lot. However the the company made over £40 million in profit in 2021. It would cost the company about £11 million to pay our demand. The Abellio bus drivers are some of the lowest paid bus drivers in London. The dispute is also about fairer schedules which are exhausting and also to stop bus route cuts. The drivers have had enough. Membership has grown dramatically in the last few months. Now we are requesting financial support for the strike from branches. This money will be used primarily to top up strike pay as drivers will be losing a significant amount on strike days. We really appreciate any support and please feel to make contact for further information.
Account Details: Unity Trust Bank, Acc No: 20210456, Sort Code: 608301, Branch Name: TGWU1/768, Hayes Branch LE/768. Contact [email protected]
Reinstate Radek (Radoslaw Worbel) sacked Unite London bus rep at RATP London United Fulwell bus garage – send a message of complaint to [email protected] and a message of support to to Radek via the Unite Bus Combine: [email protected]
NHS crisis deepens as Unite ballots 1,000 Manchester and Lancashire workers for strike in early 2023 (24 Nov) – Healthcare staff warn NHS on life support and may not survive staffing crisis. Over 1,000 more NHS workers across Manchester and Lancashire have begun balloting for strike action, Unite, which represents some 100,000 NHS workers, said today (Friday) read more
Offshore discontent continues as Unite announces further strike dates (24 Nov) – Unite members take industrial action as Petrofac attack rotas and pay. Unite, the UK’s largest union, announced today (24 November) that it will be serving further industrial action notice on Petrofac Repsol of new strike dates on the 8 and 9 December. These dates will replace strike dates already announced of 30 November and 1 December. This dispute involves around 146 members and is the result of the removal of a 10 per cent Equal Time payment, a continuous below inflationary increase of 3 per cent cost of living increase for years, payment for OEUK medicals, increase in mileage payments and stand in duties payment. In a further dispute with Petrofac we can also confirm the outcome of the Petrofac BP Industrial action ballot has returned a result of 98.3 per cent in favour of industrial action. The action involving 76 members, will take place on the Andrew, Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP, and Glen Lyon installations on 8 and 9 December. The Petrofac BP dispute centres on the working rotation, which is currently a work 3 on/3 off rotation read more
Drinkers facing Christmas beer drought as Greene King workers strike over pay (24 Nov) – Brewery workers facing real terms pay cut. Beer drinkers are facing shortages this festive season as workers at brewers Greene King have announced strike action following a pitiful pay offer. The 188 workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are based at Bury St Edmunds, Eastwood (Nottinghamshire) and Abingdon (Oxfordshire). The workers brew and distribute Greene King’s products including IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale. The workers will be taking an initial five days of strike action beginning on Monday 5 December. The workers voted for strike action after Greene King only offered them a three per cent pay increase and a further one-off payment of £650. With the real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 14.2 per cent, this amounts to a very substantial real terms wage cut read more
UK braced for Dulux paint shortages as Imperial Chemical workers in Stowmarket strike over deplorable pay offer (23 Nov) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Imperial Chemical in Stowmarket, Suffolk, will begin strike action later this month following a derisory pay offer by the company. The workers, who recorded a 94 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action, have been offered a pay increase of just 4.3 per cent. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, now running at 14.2 per cent, this amounts to a huge real terms pay cut. The workers will initially take two 24-hour periods of strike action on Wednesday 30 November and Wednesday 7 December. The workers are principally employed as production operatives and produce paint. The most popular brand is Dulux paint and the strike action will quickly result in shortages of the product in DIY stores and supermarkets read more
Tenants groups in Belfast and Craigavon challenge NIHE on impact of unresolved strike (21 Nov) – Workers enter their fifteen week of strike action for improved pay as LRA-mediated talks are due to commence this week. Striking housing workers at NIHE have linked up with tenants associations and residents groups across the three housing regions impacted by the ongoing industrial dispute which is now entering its fifteenth week. The pay dispute is in relation to the 2021-2022 year and housing workers are seeking two pay grade increases and a cost of living payment. At present workers have had a 1.75 percent increase for that year imposed after it was recommended by the National Joint Council. Unite Regional Officer Michael Keenan confirmed that his union’s members had secured strong support from tenants groups who were bearing the brunt of the unresolved strike read more
Support striking Arrow XL workers – Workers employed by Arrow XL will demonstrate outside the company’s head office in Liverpool this week, as they ramp up their industrial action campaign in response to the company’s poverty pay rates. The 350 workers at the company, who undertake two person deliveries for major retailers including Amazon, Very Group, LG Electronics, Richer Sounds and Buy it Direct, have been taking strike action since Monday 24 October. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and include warehouse workers, drivers and customer care staff, receive very low wages. Many only receive the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour. This is in sharp contrast to the highest paid director at Arrow XL, who was paid £539,000 in 2021, an 84 per cent pay rise on the previous year. Arrow XL workers from across the UK, including Enfield, Wigan and Worcester, will be taking part in the demonstration read more. Strikes began on Monday 24 October and then will take place on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until Christmas Eve
Welwyn and Hatfield grounds maintenance workers strike over poverty pay rates – Workers on Welwyn and Hatfield council’s outsourced grounds maintenance contract, employed by Continental Landscapes, are to take substantial strike action over low pay. The Hertfordshire-based workforce, who are responsible for all of the council’s grounds maintenance contract, including grass cutting and hedge trimming, are currently being paid just £10.12 an hour. Continental Landscapes has offered an increase of seven per cent, however with the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently standing at 12.6 per cent, this amounts to a real terms pay cut. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will take eight days of industrial action. They will strike on every Monday and Tuesday beginning on Monday 21 November, with the final strike day scheduled for Tuesday 13 December. The strike action will cause extensive disruption to Welwyn and Hatfield’s grounds maintenance programme read more
Shelter workers announce two weeks of strike action in pay dispute – Over 500 workers at the housing charity Shelter will stage a two week strike next month, in response to the organisation’s management attempting to impose a real terms pay cut on its staff. The workers, who are based across the UK, returned an 85 per cent vote in favour of industrial action and will begin strike action on Monday 5 December, with the strike ending on Sunday 18 December. Management at Shelter has sought to impose a three per cent pay increase on staff, which is a huge real terms pay cut with the true inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 12.6 per cent. Management has refused to return to the negotiating table and has instead begun to impose one off payments. These will leave pay rates at unacceptably low levels and fail to take into account rampant inflation read more
Support strikes at Muller Stonehouse, Gloucestershire – Super-rich Muller wants to milk more from workers to boost profits. Nearly 70 HGV drivers and shunters employed by the German dairy giant and who are responsible for delivering milk products to supermarkets nationwide have been on strike since August. The dispute is over imposed rota changes which destroy workers’ ability to spend time with their families. In contravention of an agreement signed with Unite earlier this year, Muller is trying to impose a five days on two days off rota system. The changes would require all drivers to work at least one day every weekend. The company, which made a £16.5 million profit in 2020 and forecast more in 2021, wants to impose the rota to save money when they contract third party hauliers to deliver products read more
Southampton Airport faces shutdown as workers prepare to strike after three year pay freeze – Southampton Airport faces shutdown as workers prepare to strike after three year pay freeze. No pay increase since 2019. The workers made huge sacrifices during the pandemic to keep the airport safe. Workers at Southampton Airport who haven’t had a pay increase since 2019 will take a series of one day strikes beginning on 5 November after months of unacceptable delays by airport bosses. Airside operations controllers, firefighters, technicians and engineering workers will take 1 day of strike action on Saturday 5 November, Saturday 12 November and Saturday 19 November read more
Walsall Housing Group workers to strike over imposed pay cut – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are stepping up strike action this week after their employer Walsall Housing Group imposed a real-terms pay cut on the workers. The company has imposed a 3.1 per cent increase and an additional £300 one-off payment on the workers, far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 12.3 per cent. The Walsall Housing Group workers play an essential role in keeping tenants’ homes safe and repaired. Over 40 members of Unite at Walsall Housing Group will take 12 days of strike action over the coming weeks on October 21, 24, 28 and 31 and then on 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28 November read more
Derby Alstom pay cut strikes to impact East Midlands Rail maintenance – Alstom profits at £233m but workers offered just four per cent. More than 70 highly skilled workers who maintain the rolling stock at Alstom’s Derby site will strike over pay on 27 October and 29 October. If the dispute is not resolved more strikes will be scheduled. The workers will also begin industrial action comprising of a work to rule and an overtime ban on 19 October over the four per cent pay offer, well below the RPI rate of inflation of 12.3 per cent. French-based Alstom’s latest financial report shows it made sales of £13.6 billion in 2021/22 and net profits of £233 million read more
Arriva drivers in Northumberland to strike over threatened closure of Jesmond depot – Bus drivers employed by Arriva will begin strike action later this month in opposition to the company’s plans to close its Jesmond depot. The strike will involve over 100 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union. Beginning on Thursday 21 October, it will be an all-out (continuous) strike. The drivers recorded a 97 per cent vote in favour of industrial action. The Jesmond depot is due to close on Monday 31 October. The closure threatens jobs and will result in a poorer bus service throughout Newcastle and Northumberland. The company has failed to adequately consult Unite over its plans read more
Honeywell workforce set for strike action – 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. 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
Workers at Causeway Coast and Glens council to commence all-out strike action tomorrow after councils vote down pay increase – 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 (8 Sept). 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
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
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 union has called 6 more days of strike action in Royal Mail in addition to those already announced. They will be out in total on these days pending the outcome of talks – November 24, 25, 30 December 1, 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24.
The CWU have called a national demonstration in London of their members in Royal Mail on the strike day of Friday 9th December
The CWU has launched a strike fund – please support: Unity Bank, CWU General Fund, 60-83-01 33019822
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
BT Pay – Final Agreement Reached (28 Nov) – As a result of discussions with the company over the last few weeks, we have reached a final agreement to settle our dispute. We are making preparations for a consultative ballot and you will get to vote on the proposed agreement read more
Determined Post Office workers to strike & ban overtime (28 Nov) – Union urges Post Office bosses to ‘see sense and offer a fair deal’, as they announce action up until Christmas. Around 1,400 staff working at Crown Offices and in Admin functions will walk out for two days in just under a fortnight’s time, while Supply Chain members will begin a two-week overtime ban from next Monday until Christmas Eve. The action follows an overwhelming endorsement in the reballot held earlier this month, which returned an astonishing 91.24 per cent YES to the union’s strike plan – as well as a similar 90 per cent-plus majority for action short of a strike. It was the first time in the CWU’s history that the same group of members have returned consecutive YES votes in the same calendar year read more
Post Office workers return another massive 90%+ strike vote (18 Nov) – ‘Reballot’ of POL members shows determination to win a fair deal remains as strong as ever. Our Post Office members will once again be taking strike action at Crown Offices, Admin and Cash Centres & Supply Chain depots unless bosses sit down with the CWU and negotiate a fair pay deal, warned the union’s acting DGSP Andy Furey, after the workforce voted by a 91.24 per cent majority for further strikes. The ‘reballot’ had been called in accordance with the law, under which industrial action ballots ‘expire’ after six months – the first ballot of Post Office workers having taken place back in March. Six days of strikes had taken place under the original mandate, with the most recent on 28th September. Around 1,400 workers have been in dispute with the Post Office over pay, which was frozen for the 2021/22 period and although an offer was made for 2022/23, it has been rejected by staff as being inadequate, the 5 per cent on the table falling well below current inflation levels which have risen over 14 per cent (RPI). This despite the organisation posting profits of £74 million over the past two financial years. Reacting to the ballot result, Andy Furey thanked members for their continued support and said: “I will be writing to Nick Read, CEO, seeking an urgent meeting with the aim of putting in place talks to reach an agreement. It’s time for Mr Read to listen to his workforce and act accordingly by entering negotiations aimed at reaching a decent settlement to this dispute” read more
Perseverance prevails on Capita O2/Tesco Mobile pay with 8% for many (29 Nov) – Members across the Capita 02 and Tesco Mobile partnerships have voted by well over nine-to-one to accept a significantly improved pay offer for 2022 that will see the vast majority of CWU-represented employees receive backdated rises of either 7% or 8%. The fully consolidated settlement – which was last week ratified by 94.1% of members participating in a consultative ballot – concludes a particularly long and difficult pay round that at various stages looked set to erupt into a full-blown dispute read more
PCS
First DWP strike dates announced (5 Dec) – Our rolling programme of action across the UK will see members at 4 DWP offices take strike action on certain dates between 19 to 31 December as part of our strategy of targeted action, with the potential of more to come. Our national strike ballot on pay, pensions, jobs and cuts to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme closed last month and we received a positive result for strike action in many areas of the civil service, including DWP read more
HMCTS Strike Action 16 – 19 December (2 Dec) – PCS has served notice of further strike action in HMCTS over the Common Platform dispute. PCS has today served notice of further strike action in HMCTS over the Common Platform dispute. The action will take place from Friday 16 December to Monday 19 December 2022. Part of the action will be for legal advisers and courts associates in the following regions: London and South East. This is true for the action on Friday 16, Sunday 18 and Monday 19 December. The action on Saturday 17 December 2022 will be for all legal advisers and court associates in the courts who have already been balloted. Please see the list below for which courts are being called to take strike action on which days. This is in addition to the action called from 2 to 5 December and the action called from 9 – 12 December read more
Join eve of strike Facebook rally 6pm 12 December – With the first wave of PCS civil service strike action getting underway on 13 December we are holding an eve-of-strike rally for all members and reps as a Facebook Live and Zoom event at 6pm on 12 December. Workers at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, including driving examiners, staff in the call centre, driving instructor examiners and local driving test managers, are to take action on a rolling regional basis starting in Scotland and Northern England from 13-18 December. And staff at the Rural Payments Agency will walk out from 13 to 16 December and follow that up with further strikes on 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 December and 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 January read more
Join the all-activists’ forum 6pm 19 December – As our civil service strikes get underway it is essential that all reps, activists, advocates and active members attend our all-activists’ forum on Zoom at 6pm on 19 December read more
National Highways strike dates announced (2 Dec) – Our rolling programme of action across the UK will see traffic officer service members starting to take strike action from 16 December. Our national strike ballot on pay, pensions, jobs and cuts to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme closed earlier this month and we received a positive result for strike action in many areas of the civil service, including DVSA read more
12 days of strikes on highways announced (2 Dec) – PCS members working on England’s highways have announced 12 days’ strike action over Christmas and the New Year. The National Highways employees, who plan, design, build, operate and maintain the country’s roads, will take part in a series of staggered strikes from 16 December to 7 January. The action, which risks bringing the road network to a standstill, will coincide with planned strikes by RMT members on the railways and comes after 124 government departments and other public bodies voted for strike action over a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts to redundancy terms read more
RPA strike dates announced (29 Nov) – Our first wave of targeted action will see RPA staff starting to take action from 13 December. Our national strike ballot on pay, pensions, jobs and cuts to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme closed earlier this month and we received a positive result for strike action in many areas of the civil service, including the Rural Payments Agency read more
DVSA strike dates announced (29 Nov) – Our rolling programme of action across the UK will see members starting to take strike action from 13 December read more
Dates announced in first wave of PCS civil service strikes (29 Nov) – Driving examiners and rural payment officers across the UK have announced strike dates in the first wave of sustained industrial action by civil servant members of PCS. Workers at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, including driving examiners, approved driving instructor examiners and local driving test managers, are to take action on a rolling regional basis starting in Scotland and Northern from 13-18 December. And staff in the call centre and accounts payable department at the Rural Payments Agency will walk out from 13 to 16 December and follow that up with further strikes on 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 December and 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 January read more
HGS members threaten indefinite industrial action (29 Nov) – The 82 workers, employed by HGS to run the contact centre and back-office functions of the government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), have already taken four weeks of strike action. Talks with conciliation service ACAS broke down earlier this month, leading the union today to tell managers they will strike for a further two weeks from 12 December, as well as imposing an indefinite overtime ban from 26 December read more
HMCTS strike action 9-12 December (25 Nov) – PCS has today served notice of further strike action in HMCTS over the Common Platform dispute. The action will take place from Friday, 9 December to Monday, 12 December. This comes following a meeting with HMCTS where no further substantial concessions were offered. As a result, PCS has requested that we present directly to the HMCTS Board to make the wider case on Common Platform. Part of the action will be for legal advisers and courts associates in the following regions: Midlands and North East. This is true for the action on 9, 11 and 12 December. The action on Saturday, 10 December will be for all legal advisers and court associates in the courts which have already been balloted. Please see the list below for which courts are being called to take strike action on which days. This is in addition to the action called from 2 to 5 December read more
GMB
Hundreds expected to march against NHS outsourcing in Croydon (5 Dec) – GMB union are expecting a massive turnout at their march and rally this Saturday. GMB, the union for all NHS staff, have organised a mass rally and march in Croydon this Saturday. Members of the union employed by outsourcing giant G4s in Croydon University Hospital will be assembling outside the hospital entrance before marching into the town centre and staging a rally outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre. The march and rally have been organised to demand that their service be brought back in-house, having been outsourced from the NHS for years. The rally will be taking place as follows: Date: Saturday 10 December; Time: Assembling at 11:30am; Venue: Croydon University Hospital (London Road Entrance), Croydon, CR7 7YE read more
London transport chief calls on Bolt to respect workers’ rights (5 Dec) – GMB Union has welcomed a call by London’s transport chief for Bolt to ‘give workers the rights they deserve’. Elly Baker, Transport Lead at City Hall, tweeted a statement for the ride-sharing company to ‘up their game on working conditions for drivers’. GMB Union is currently taking Bolt to court on behalf of drivers who are allegedly being denied their workers’ rights. The union won a similar case against Uber in the Supreme Court las year. Uber now pays all 70,000 drivers holiday time, automatically enrols them into a pension plan and ensures they will earn at least the minimum wage. The move has cost the company an estimated £600 million read more
Wiltshire Council top boss not interested in ‘averting industrial action’ as traffic wardens plan eight-day strike (2 Dec) – Terence Herbert, Wiltshire’s Town Clerk, has agreed to attend a meeting with GMB next week, despite writing to the union to say that ‘averting industrial action is not the driver’ for talks. GMB, the trade union for Wiltshire council staff, has called an eight-day strike by traffic wardens from 10 to 17 December. The dispute is over a proposal by the council to remove a 10 per cent contractual uplift from 350 staff, that would lead to a pay cut of £2000 by traffic wardens, and a pay cut of £3500 for social workers. Staff in highways, building maintenance, leisure centres, and specialist care staff are also affected. GMB has written to all Wiltshire councillors, asking that they intervene to persuade Town Clerk Terence Herbert to take the talks seriously, in order to avoid strike action read more
Chichester waste and recycling service vote for New Year strike (2 Dec) – This matter must be resolved prior to Christmas, or we have no choice other than to issue strike notices for mid-January, says GMB union. GMB, the union for all public and private sector waste and recycling operatives, can announce that its members working for Chichester District Council will be taking strike action in January if the employer fails to agree a pay increase similar to those awarded in neighbouring areas Brighton and Worthing. The vote for strike action was supported by a whopping 95.65 per cent of those voting, and off a turnout of almost 75 per cent. GMB will now be issuing notices for an initial two weeks of strike action in the new year unless meaningful negotiations allow something to be put on the table which recognises the work delivered for the council and local residents read more
More than 10,000 ambulance workers vote to strike in nine trusts across England and Wales (30 Nov) – More than 10,000 ambulance workers have voted to strike across nine trusts in England and Wales. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff are now set to walk out in the following trusts: South West Ambulance Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, North West Ambulance Service, South Central Ambulance Service, North East Ambulance Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Welsh Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Workers across the ambulance services and some NHS Trusts have voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award – another massive real terms pay cut. GMB will now meet with reps in the coming days to discuss potential strike dates before Christmas read more
FE colleges and trade unions agree cost-of-living supplement and uprated (1 Dec) – Following a request from the joint trade unions, further education colleges and trade unions in Wales have agreed to the payment of a cost-of-living supplement to support staff in FE, as well as the payment of the uprated Real Living Wage read more
Newcastle energy company announces strike dates (29 Nov) – Workers at a Newcastle energy company have announced when they will strike over a real terms pay cut. More than 200 workers at Baker Hughes, in Walker, will take eight days of industrial action from 12 – 15 December and 12 – 18 January. GMB members at the company – who makes undersea pipelines and cable conduits for the oil and gas industry – have overwhelmingly turned down pay offers of as little as four per cent. With inflation at 12.3 per cent, both offers amount to massive real terms pay cut read more
Almost 100 workers strike after ‘Grinch’ bosses cancel Christmas (29 Nov) – Almost 100 Durham chemical workers will go on strike tomorrow [Wednesday] after ‘Grinch bosses’ cancelled their Christmas holidays. GMB members Thomas Swan, in Consett, voted overwhelmingly to walk out over a real terms pay cut. Following the vote, company bosses cancelled all prebooked holidays over the Christmas period. The strike will last for 24 hours, with further industrial action set for Dec 7, 14 and 21 and 4 Jan. A revised offer of 5.1 per cent – capped at £1,500 – was overwhelmingly rejected read more
Sellafield strike looms as cleaners ballot (28 Nov) – Hundreds of Sellafield cleaners are taking part in a ballot over a zero per cent pay offer. More than three hundred workers employed by Mitie at the nuclear power plant will say whether they are willing to take industrial action in the consultative vote.
The ballot closes on Friday, 2 December read more
KFC, Wagamama, Burger King and Pizza hut delivery workers to strike (24 Nov) – Almost 400 workers delivering food to KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Wagamama will strike over a real terms pay cut. A majority of 76 per cent of those who voted were in favour of industrial action. Bestfood drivers, who also deliver fresh food to the likes of Pizza Express and Zizzi, will announce strike dates imminently read more
‘More money than God’ ExxonMobil need to intervene to stop Fawley Strike (23 Nov) – GMB, the energy union, can today announce that more members have this morning voted to take industrial action at Fawley Oil Refinery. Joining Bilfinger and Rhyal workers will be members employed by Altrad, who have voted to take action on the same issue of pay. The union will now be issuing notice to Altrad, with the members then taking action from Wednesday 7 December, taking the total number of striking GMB members to over 100 read more
Money shortage fears as 1,200 G4S Cash workers vote to strike (22 Nov) – G4S faces its first ever strike after 1,200 GMB members voted to walk out. The workers, who deliver cash and coins to the likes of Barclays, HSBC, Tesco, Wetherspoon, Santander, Asda and Aldi, returned a 97 per cent vote for industrial action. The 48 hour strike is scheduled to take place from 3am on Monday 5 December 2022, sparking genuine fears of cash shortages over Christmas. The last time G4S Cash workers voted to strike; the Bank of England is thought to have pressured G4S into improving their offer because they the Bank’s insurer demands minimum staffing levels. G4S Cash, part of Allied International, originally offered members a part pay freeze, though have now tabled an offer of 4 per cent and lump sum bonus based on contracted hours read more
Sunderland bus strike set to continue (17 Nov) – Workers in Stagecoach depots across the country receive double digit pay rises – Sunderland’s drivers want and deserve the same, says GMB Union. Sunderland’s bus strikes are set to continue after drivers turned down a below inflation pay deal. Two thirds of GMB members working for Stagecoach Sunderland rejected the deal, which amounted to a real terms pay cut. The offer was less than the 10 per cent mandate set by drivers. Stagecoach workers across the UK have enjoyed double digit pay rises in recent weeks. Stagecoach’s regional bus services made an operating profit of £58 million in the financial year 2021/22 – more than double the year before. Almost 200 Sunderland bus drivers have taken several days of strike action already in anger over ‘poverty pay’ read more
Jacob’s Cream Crackers and Twiglets workers in all out strike (14 Nov) – More than 750 workers at the Jacobs Cream Crackers factory are to stage a permanent strike in anger at a real terms pay cut. Staff at the Aintree plant – who also make Jaffa Cakes, Twiglets, Club bars and Mini Cheddars – have been taking limited industrial action since September in their dispute over pay. From today [Monday 14 November 2022] factory staff, who make 14,000 tons of Jacobs cream crackers every year, will walk out every single day until boss agree to negotiate. There are 751 members at Aintree who have been taking industrial action since early September in pursuit of a pay award that meets their claim for cost of living. Yesterday the Company announced they were shifting production Jacobs Cream Crackers to Portugal in a bid to undermine the strike read more
Three week Waverley bin strike starts today (3 Nov) – GMB, the union for refuse workers, have announced that their members working in refuse within the borough of Waverley will be taking three weeks of strike action, starting this morning [3 November]. The members, employed by the council’s waste contractor Biffa, rejected a pay deal this morning and immediately commenced the first day of picketing. The dispute centres around pay, with members unhappy with the pay offer their employer has made, which falls well below the current rate of inflation read more
Strike action to hit oil terminal – GMB members at oil logistics contractor Briggs Marine will begin strike action on Friday [28 October]. Workers voted overwhelmingly for industrial action at the oil logistics firm in Immingham, near Grimsby, after rejecting the company’s below inflation pay offer. Briggs Marine is one of the largest oil logistics companies in the UK, unloading fuel from all over the world and distributing for use across the UK. The strike is expected to have a significant impact on operations at the terminal read more
Christmas beer drought fears as Budweiser workers strike – Hundreds of Budweiser workers are on strike again after talks collapsed. Staff at the beer giant’s Salmesbury site will now strike until 7am 22 October in anger at a real terms pay cut. Workers at the plant brew Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale. Meetings between GMB, the company and conciliation service ACAS collapsed last week after bosses only upped their offer by £250 for 2023 read more
Polyflor profits hit £52 million as struggling workers strike – Flooring company Polyflor has seen profits rise to more than £52 million while hard up workers take strike action to make ends meet, says GMB Union. James Holstead – Polyflor’s parent company – posted a 9.6 per cent rise in revenue year-on-year to £291.9 million for the year that ended June 30. Pre-tax profit increased 1.6 per cent £52.1 million. Almost 200 workers at the firm are in midst of three weeks’ solid strike action until 14 October. Pickets will be staged from 8 to 10am and 4 to 6pm, Monday to Friday outside the factory on Radcliffe New Road, M45. Workers voted to strike over a pay dispute. Shortly after they received a message from the company saying ‘process shifts for process workers are to be suspended…please do not turn up for your shift(s) from 6am on Thursday 1st September’ read more
Walsall Housing Group strike – Industrial action at Walsall Housing Group will extend into next month, GMB Union has said. Almost 200 GMB members will walk out for six days in October 12, 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28. The industrial action comes on top of strike dates in September. 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 highest paid director was handed a 14 per cent pay rise between 2020 and 2021 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 and was due to take place on November 16th but has been delayed again. This is an outrageous attack 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
Start pay talks to stop NHS strikes this winter, says UNISON. The government can easily prevent strikes across the NHS this winter (4 Dec) – Start pay talks to stop NHS strikes this winter says UNISON. Commenting on comments made by Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi earlier today (Sunday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The government can easily prevent strikes across the NHS this winter. Steve Barclay simply has to start talking to unions about increasing NHS staff pay. “But instead of taking responsibility for trying to solve the growing staffing crisis, ministers want to ratchet up the rhetoric and pick fights with ambulance workers and their NHS colleagues. This won’t go down well with the public. People have lots of sympathy for health workers and know that if wages improve so will vacancy rates and patient care…” read more
Boost NHS pay to prevent pre-Christmas strikes (29 Nov) – Ambulance workers in England to strike. Ambulance workers across England are likely to strike before Christmas, says UNISON today (Tuesday), as it announces the results of its month-long NHS strike ballot. Thousands of 999 call handlers, ambulance technicians, paramedics and their colleagues working for ambulance services in the North East, North West, London, Yorkshire and the South West are to be called out on strike over pay and staffing level read more
Environment Agency workers announce industrial action dates (29 Nov) – Action short of a strike will begin in December. UNISON members who protect communities during severe weather conditions will be taking part in industrial action from 12 December. Members in the Environment Agency (EA) will take continuous action, short of strike, from that date read more
Thousands of university workers strike again over wages (21 Nov) – Second wave of action for HE workers. Higher education staff will walk out from today (Monday) in a new wave of strikes over inadequate pay, says UNISON. Administrators, cleaners, library, security and catering workers – many of them among the lowest paid in the university sector – are among those taking industrial action. The employees are after a fair pay rise to help them cope with soaring prices. This follows several years where wages have failed to keep pace with inflation, the union says. For most of the 19 institutions affected, this is the second wave of industrial action this term. There has already been disruption at universities in England and Scotland, with a series of strikes in September and October. The university support staff rejected a 3% pay rise from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association back in May read more
Stop Hackney Council cutting library services read more about the campaign here
Workers at Leeds Beckett University begin strike over pay, says UNISON – Low pay has been a massive, and growing, problem in the university sector for a decade and more. Low-paid employees at Leeds Beckett University will walk out today (4 Oct) in a row about pay, says UNISON. The workers – including those in administrative, cleaning, library, security and catering services – will continue their strike tomorrow and Thursday after rejecting a 3% pay award from the University and Colleges Employers Association. UNISON had called for an increase of 2% above the rate of inflation, currently running at 9.9%. With further rises in the cost of living expected, the award effectively amounts to a pay cut, the union says read more
Support striking care workers at St Monika Trust in Bristol – Care workers, registered nurses and residential home staff employed by Bristol-based St Monica Trust have been taking action 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
NIPSA
Health Service: Joint Trade Union Statement (5 Dec) – Health HSC Strike Action. UNISON and NIPSA members in all employment areas in the health service in Northern Ireland will begin action short of strike action from Monday 5 December. Health service wide strike action will take place on Monday 12 December. This is the first strike in the health service since 2019. A return to strike action is a reflection of the depth of the crisis in the health service. Health workers in Northern Ireland who have made enormous sacrifices during the COVID pandemic have not even received a 2022/23 pay offer from their employers. An effective and efficient health service cannot be based on driving down the living standards of staff some of whom who now rely on food banks. A decent pay rise is essential to maintain the stability of the workforce and retain staff read more
Joint local Pay Claim with NIHE (2 Dec) – NIHE Pay. (From Kim Graham Assistant Secretary) As you are aware, I submitted a Joint local Pay Claim with the NIHE on behalf of NIPSA and Unite in June. Due to the lack of meaningful progress on the key demands, and as explained in my previous circular of 13 October 2022, NIPSA and Unite have withdrawn from the Reward and Recognition Sub-Committee. Your trade union side negotiating team is currently engaging with your Employer in dispute resolution talks under the auspices of the LRA, together with our sister union Unite. A further such meeting is scheduled to take place next Thursday. The NIPSA Central Panel met today to discuss how to progress the Claim. The Panel has agreed that should the pay talks not progress meaningfully, or if the talks break down, NIPSA is mandated to undertake a ballot of members in the NIHE for Industrial Action. Further information will be shared as this matter develops read more
Royal College of Nursing
NHS pay dispute: first nursing strike dates announced (25 Nov) – RCN members will strike on 15 and 20 December at employers across England, Northern Ireland and Wales after the UK government rejected our offer of formal negotiations. Our first phase of strike action will take place on Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December after the UK government turned down our offer of formal, detailed negotiations as an alternative to strikes. The strikes will happen in England, Northern Ireland and Wales with a list of employers where strike action will take place announced next week. Strike action will happen in phases, meaning more strike dates could be announced after initial action in December, if governments fail to enter into formal negotiations. They have the power and means to stop strikes at any point but have chosen to go down this route. Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates. Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action. The announcement of strike dates follows the result of our recent ballot in which members at the majority of NHS employers across the UK voted to strike. The dispute is over pay, but also patient safety. Staffing levels are so low that patient care is being compromised. Only by paying nursing staff fairly will we recruit and retain people in our profession read more
RCN announces what NHS services will be exempt from nursing strike action this December (2 Dec) – Chemotherapy, dialysis, critical care units (for example ITU/HDU), neonatal and paediatric intensive care units are the services exempt from strike action later this month read more
NHS pay dispute: December strike locations confirmed (30 Nov) – Up to 100,000 nursing staff will take part in strikes in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. RCN members working for NHS employers in England will strike at half the locations where the legal mandate for strike action was secured earlier this month. The number of employers affected will increase in January unless formal negotiations with the UK government are held. There will be strike action throughout Northern Ireland and at all but one NHS employer in Wales. The strikes will take place on Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December with the same employers affected on both days. See the full list of employers affected read more
Scottish government returns to pay negotiations with RCN to avoid nursing strikes (18 Nov) – The RCN has paused formal announcement of strike action in Scotland as the Scottish government has agreed to return to the negotiating table on NHS nursing staff pay read more
Royal College of Midwives
RCM to consult its members on the latest Scottish Government pay offer (1 Dec) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is consulting its members in Scotland on the latest Scottish Government pay offer made late last week. The RCM online consultation opens today and closes on 15 December. The RCM – which represents most midwives and also maternity support workers (MSWs) in Scotland – says while the latest offer is an improvement on the last, it falls far short of what was asked. This is especially the case for those skilled and experienced midwives on higher pay bands who are the backbone of maternity care in Scotland read more
RCM urges midwives to vote yes to industrial action as England and Wales pay ballot opens (11 Nov) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has today launched only its second ballot on industrial action in England and its first in Wales in its142 year history. The College, which represents most midwives and also maternity support workers (MSWs) in the UK, is calling on its members to vote yes to industrial action over pay. The RCM’s 30,000 eligible members working in the NHS in England and Wales will be asked two questions: whether they are prepared to take industrial action short of a strike, and whether they are prepared to take strike action. The postal ballot is due to close at midday on 12 December. The move comes after a consultation which saw RCM members overwhelmingly reject the Westminster and Wales Governments’ below-inflation 4% pay award. Two-thirds of eligible members in England and more than eight out of 10 in Wales took part in the consultation, with three-quarters (75%) saying they wanted to be balloted on industrial action read more
BMA
BMA Junior Doctors national strike ballot on pay will start on January 9 2023 in England. Keep up to date via @BMA_JuniorDocs on twitter
NEU
NEU announces dates of formal ballots over pay – NEU writes to employers with notification of intention to carry out national ballots. Today (18 Oct) the National Education Union is writing to employers with notification of our intention to carry out national ballots of around 300,000 teacher and support staff members in England and Wales. These formal postal ballots will open on Friday 28 October 2022 and close on Friday 13 January 2023. Dates for potential strike action are yet to be decided, but likely to be from week commencing 30 January 2023. The formal ballots will ask members “Are you prepared to take strike action in furtherance of this dispute?” Each dispute is about the failure to give a commitment for a fully funded above-inflation pay rise (as measured by September 2022 RPI) read more
NASUWT
IOM teachers begin strike action (29 Nov) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in the Isle of Man will begin a programme of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday in an escalation of the ongoing dispute over pay, workload and working practices. Teachers in the Isle of Man have experienced a 30% real-terms cut to their pay since 2010, a loss which will be further exacerbated by the current below-inflation pay award which is being imposed on teachers despite its overwhelming rejection by NASUWT members. The NASUWT is calling for a multi-year fully funded pay offer that begins to address the real-terms historic erosion of pay. In addition, the NASUWT has put forward proposals to address the workload and working practices issues that are dogging the profession. However, despite our best attempts to negotiate with the DESC, the lack of sufficient progress has left teachers with no choice other than to escalate industrial action read more
Further industrial action at Glasgow school over failure to protect teachers from abuse (28 Nov) – Further strike action by members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Bannerman High School in Glasgow will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) after talks with Glasgow City Council failed to make sufficient progress in addressing violent and abusive pupil behaviour, amid continuing threats to withhold pay from some members. The NASUWT has been in negotiations with Glasgow City Council in a bid to resolve the dispute. While some progress has been made to identify appropriate safeguards to address risks to the health and safety of employees, the employer is still threatening to send staff home without pay if they refuse to stay in a classroom with a pupil who is threatening their safety. Strike action is planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, with a further eight days planned during December. This follows an initial day of strike action last Thursday (24th November) read more
Swansea teachers secure resolution of dispute (22 Nov) – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union members at Gendros Primary School in Swansea have been offered a last minute resolution from the employer today. As a result of this progress for NASUWT members, Industrial Action scheduled at Gendros Primary School for Wednesday 23 November and Thursday 24 November will no longer go ahead. The NASUWT was in dispute with the school over accusations of bullying by senior management and adverse management practices at the school. The NASUWT will now be working with the employer to ensure that the agreement reached is implemented fully. Whilst the NASUWT is concerned that it took until less than 24 hours before strike action to receive a positive response from the employer, a resolution has been found to avert strike action read more
NASUWT members in Scotland vote for industrial action over pay (22 Nov) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in Scotland have today voted in favour of industrial action over pay with 92.01% voting to support strike action and 96.16 % voting for action short of strike action. The turnout in the ballot was 63.73%. The Union is asking members to take strike action commencing 7 and 8 December together with an immediate programme of action short of strike action from 9 December. Under action short of strike action, NASUWT members will refuse to cover for absent colleagues and attend no more than one meeting per week outside pupil sessions read more
Ballot opens on industrial action over teachers’ pay – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is today (27 Oct) opening its formal statutory industrial action ballot of teachers in England and Wales over pay. The ballot in England and Wales will remain open until 9 January. The Union opened a ballot of members in Scotland yesterday (Wednesday) which will remain open until 21 November. The ballots are the result of the failure by the Westminster, Scottish and Welsh governments and employers to guarantee teachers and headteachers a fully-funded real-terms pay award of 12%. Members in schools and sixth-form colleges are being balloted over both strike action and action short of strike action. A timetable for and details of what any possible industrial action will entail will be determined once the ballots are concluded read more
EIS
Teaching Unions Unanimously Reject Divisive Pay Offer from Scottish Government and COSLA (30 Nov) – Trade unions representing Scotland’s teachers have issued a formal unanimous rejection of the latest ‘revised’ pay offer from the Scottish Government and COSLA. The differentiated 5% offer which was presented by the Scottish Government and COSLA represented no real improvement on their previous offer, which was rejected by teaching unions three months ago read more
EIS Announces 16 New Strike Dates for Teachers as Dispute over 5% Pay Offer Intensifies (25 Nov) – The EIS has announced an additional sixteen days of strike action in schools across Scotland, as a dispute over a sub-inflationary 5% pay offer for teachers intensifies. Yesterday, in the first day of national pay strike action by teachers in four decades, EIS members were on the picket lines as the strike led to the closure of every state school on mainland Scotland read more
UCU
UCU statement on pay negotiations (2 Dec) – The joint university unions (UCU, Unison, Unite, GMB, and EIS) met with representatives of the employers on Wednesday read more
Staff at Truro & Penwith College begin six days of strike action today in pay dispute (1 Dec) – Staff at Truro & Penwith College were on picket lines today pressuring management to begin meaningful negotiations in a long running dispute over low pay. Today’s strike is the first of six extra days of action being taken because management is refusing to negotiate with UCU officials read more
Staff to strike at Barnet & Southgate College (1 Dec) – UCU today confirmed Barnet and Southgate College will be hit with two days of strike action later this month in an ongoing dispute over low pay. UCU members at the college will walk out on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December. The industrial action follows a ballot in which 98% of those that voted called for strike action. Staff have already taken three days of action in October in the dispute over management’s paltry 2% pay award for the previous two financial years (1% 2020/21 and 1% 2021/22). Inflation is currently at 14.2% and UCU is demanding a significant uplift to help staff meet the cost of living crisis read more
Cost of restoring USS pension benefits falls further as scheme surplus increases (29 Nov) – Striking university staff have called for the reversal of devastating Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pensions cuts after new data showed that the cost of restoring benefits has fallen to a new low… Striking university staff have called for the reversal of devastating Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pensions cuts after new data showed that the cost of restoring benefits has fallen to a new low read more
Staff to strike at University of Sheffield International College (25 Nov) – UCU has today announced that members at the University of Sheffield International College will take three days of strike action from Monday 28 November in a long running dispute over low pay. The action will be the first ever strike to take place in a privatised higher education provider. The full days of strike action are: Monday 28 November, Tuesday 29 November, Wednesday 30 November. Staff will be picketing all main entrances on each day of strike action. Staff will also work to rule from Thursday 1 December, which includes working strictly to their contracted hours, refusing to make up work lost as a result of strike action and refusing to cover for absent colleagues read more
Biggest picket lines ever on university campuses across the UK (24 Nov) – Commenting on today’s strike action, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Today’s picket lines are huge. 70,000 university staff have turned out like never before, defying bullying tactics from management to show they will no longer accept falling pay, pension cuts, brutal workloads and gig-economy working conditions. If vice-chancellors doubted the determination of university staff to save our sector then today has been a rude awakening for them. ‘We have been overwhelmed by the support of thousands of students who have joined us on the picket lines. They recognise that vice-chancellors are wrecking the sector for staff and students alike and are determined to stand with us and fix it read more
Furness College staff to strike over low pay (23 Nov) – UCU has today announced three days of strike action at Furness College. Staff will walkout on Tuesday 6 December, Wednesday 7 December and Thursday 15 December following the results of the ballot in which 85% of those who voted said yes to strike action. Members will also be engaging in action short of strike action from 8 December until 13 May 2023, this could include not doing additional work or covering for absent colleagues. The action come after the employer offered a pay award of just 2.5% alongside a one off payment of £750 for those earning less than £25k and £500 for those who earn more. RPI is currently at 14.2% so the award means staff pay has fallen dramatically behind inflation. UCU is demanding an increase of at least 10% to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis read more
Staff to strike at Darlington College (21 Nov) – UCU has today announced three days of strike action at Darlington College. Staff will walkout on Tuesday 6 December, Wednesday 7 December and Monday 12 December following the results of the ballot in which 95% of those that voted said yes to strike action. The strikes come after the employer imposed a pay award of just 1% alongside a one off payment of £250. RPI is currently at 12.6% so the award means staff pay has fallen dramatically behind inflation. UCU is demanding a pay award of at least 10% to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis. Staff at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, recently won a deal worth 9.2% for the majority of college lecturers read more
UCU is calling a national strike demonstration in London on the 3rd strike day – Wednesday 30th November 1pm Kings Cross Rail Station
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
FBU strike ballot opens (5 Dec) – A strike ballot for firefighters and control staff opens today Monday 5th December. Firefighters and control staff are being balloted on potential strike action on a “derisory” 5% pay offer. That pay offer had recently been rejected by FBU members in a consultative ballot by 79% on a 78% turnout. Annual CPI inflation currently stands at 11.1%. Due to restrictive anti-trade union laws the ballot will be a postal ballot only. If you’re an FBU member and your postal address has changed or you think it might be wrong, it is vital that you contact [email protected] as soon as possible read more
FBU Rally & Lobby at Westminster #FAIRPAYORFIRESTRIKE – for FBU members, demanding fair pay, an end to the cuts and investment in the front line. Tuesday 6th December 12noon Methodist Central Hall SW1H 9NH Eventbrite
Formal notice of strike ballot given after no increased pay offer (29 Nov) – Last week the FBU said it would formally issue notice of ballot if “a substantial pay increase that takes into account the current level of inflation and the cost of living crisis” was not received by yesterday, after pay discussions had “failed to reach any resolution”. No such pay offer has been received and notice of ballot (under section 226A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992) has been sent to fire and rescue service employers. A formal dispute is now open. Firefighters and control staff have been offered a 5% pay increase, which they rejected in a consultative ballot. Annual CPI inflation currently stands at 11.1%. The strike ballot is set to be open from Monday 5 December to Monday 30 January. Due to restrictive anti-union laws the ballot will take place only through the post. If you’re an FBU member and your postal address has changed or you think it might be wrong, it is absolutely vital that you contact [email protected] as soon as possible. If a national strike were to take place, it would be the first national strike since pension action between 2013 and 2015 (which did not include control), and the first on pay since 2002-2003. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: This is an historic ballot for firefighters and control staff. We are rarely driven to these lengths…” read more
FBU writes to employers to attempt to progress pay negotiations ahead of notice of ballot (24 Nov) – FBU general secretary Matt Wrack has written to fire and rescue employers in relation to the registration of trade disputes with them, and to try and progress pay negotiations. He has written to ask “that you offer our members on Grey Book terms and conditions a substantial pay increase that takes into account the current level of inflation and the cost of living crisis”. He added that if an offer that met expectations was not received by Monday 28 November the union would enter into a formal dispute and notice of ballot would be served to employers. Whilst fire and rescue employers have responsibility for pay negotiations governments are responsible for substantial parts of their funding. The FBU has requested urgent meetings with fire ministers and government departments across the UK. The current pay offer for firefighters and control staff is 5%. Annual CPI inflation currently stands at 11.1% read more
Firefighters reject pay offer and strike ballot dates announced (Nov 15) – Firefighters and control staff have voted to reject a 5% pay offer in a result that FBU leadership say displays “remarkable strength of feeling”. A strike ballot will now be held. In the consultative ballot 79% voted to reject the 5% offer, with 78% of eligible members voting in the ballot. A ballot on strike action will open on Monday 5 December to Monday 23 January. If you’re an FBU member and your postal address has changed or you think it might be wrong, it is absolutely vital that you contact [email protected] as soon as possible. Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “FBU members have spoken. This result of the consultative ballot, on a two week turnaround, shows that there is remarkable strength of feeling amongst firefighters and control staff on this derisory pay offer. The ball is in the employers’ and government’s court. There is still an opportunity to resolve this dispute and we will be writing to Fire Ministers and government departments across the UK requesting urgent meetings. We have firefighters using foodbanks. Our members worked through the pandemic to help protect their communities, taking on extra duties to do so. A further real-terms pay cuts is an absolutely disgusting way to thank them. Whilst strike action is always a last resort, our members simply can’t go on like this” read more
Merseyside firefighters, control staff and Green Book staff vote for Action Short of Strike (14 Nov) – Merseyside firefighters, control staff and green book staff (non-uniformed staff) have “overwhelmingly” voted to take action short of strike in relation to a host of issues in Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The percentage of those voting who voted “Yes” to Action Short of Strike is 88.06%. The action short of strike will consist of a refusal to undertake pre-arranged overtime, beginning no earlier than Thursday 1st December 2022 and potentially lasting for 6 months. The ballot comes after a serious break down in industrial relations between Merseyside Fire Brigades Union and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and the failure to reach agreement on several issues read more
NAPO
Update on VLO Job Evaluation (5 Dec) – Napo had a meeting with the employers and trade unions on Friday. The employers apologised for their lack of response and explained that due to the recruitment freeze in the civil service, they had been unable to recruit to the vacancies left by the previous leads, however that is now resolved and there is a full team in place and ready to recommence the work read more
BFAWU
Trade Union Coordinating Group “Fair Pay Now” pamphlet read more
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
NUJ
Peers asked to support proper funding of the World Service (30 Nov) – The BBC’s reputation as a world-class broadcaster is being severely undermined by cuts to the World Service. As the House of Lord is set to debate “the importance of the BBC World Service and the impact of cuts to its services” on Thursday 1 December, the NUJ says the peers must call on the government to provide the funding needed to maintain its rating “as the number one international news provider on measures of quality and impact” read more
NUJ demands urgent rethink on jobs cuts at BBC Northern Ireland (29 Nov) – “The decision to end the BBC Radio Foyle Breakfast Show and to end regional news bulletins is a betray of the people of Northern Ireland”. Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary. The National Union of Journalists has demanded an urgent rethink of plans to cut 36 jobs in BBC Northern Ireland. Among plans announced today is the end of the very popular BBC Radio Foyle breakfast show and the discontinuation of daily regional news bulletins. The plans were announced this morning read more
NUJ welcomes review findings into journalists’ arrests at Just Stop Oil protests (23 Nov) – An independent review following arrests by Hertfordshire constabulary has outlined police powers were not used appropriately read more
Prospect
Industrial action at AWE averted for now (30 Nov) – Industrial action at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, where the UK builds and maintains its nuclear weapons arsenal, has been averted after an improved offer from the employer read more
Prospect civil and public services industrial action indicative ballot (3 Nov) – Our members in the civil service and wider public sector are under unparalleled attack. Prospect’s Public Services Executive has concluded that if the attacks on members are not challenged – they will only increase and intensify read more
Equity
Leeds Culture Trust sign up to union agreement for LEEDS 2023 (5 Dec) – Leeds Culture Trust has today signed up with Equity and fellow unions to ensure that workers on LEEDS 2023 projects are paid a fair wage and engaged in safe and secure working conditions. The Memorandum of Understanding between Leeds Culture Trust, the independent charity which runs LEEDS 2023, and TUC Yorkshire and Humber, Equity, Artists’ Union England, BECTU and Musician’s Union, pledges that performers are engaged on contracts that meet or go above trade union minimums read more
Sign and share this petition to reinstate the English National Opera (ENO) funding and lobby your MP to back our industries and their workforce
USDAW
Three-quarters of low-paid workers cannot afford to take sick leave – an Usdaw survey finds (5 Dec) – Retail trade union Usdaw continues to call for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reform following the union’s survey finding that 76% of respondents cannot afford to take sick leave, rising to 9 in 10 for those on in-work benefits, because of the cost of living crisis and very low SSP at just £99.35 a week. Usdaw surveyed over 7,500 members, who are mainly low-paid key workers in retail read more
Paying a lower minimum wage to young workers is unfair – Usdaw calls for an end to rip-off youth rates (2 Dec) – Retail trade union Usdaw again calls for young workers to be paid a higher minimum wage after TUC research suggests 900,000 under-21-year-olds were being left ‘massively out of pocket’, with young people losing an average of £2,800 every year read more
IWGB
Staff at the RSA win statutory union recognition represented by the IWGB as ballot returns 85% majority (30 Nov) – Staff at the RSA, who have unionised with the IWGB, have secured a statutory recognition agreement through the Central Arbitration Committee. 77 out of the 90 members of the proposed bargaining unit turned out to vote, with 85% of voters voting in favour of recognition read more
Follow updates on UCL strike by following @IWGBunion on twitter
UCL breaks commitment to equal terms and a living wage for all, bringing in agency workers to undermine the ongoing strike by IWGB workers (15 Nov) – The ongoing strike followed a unanimous ballot for industrial action by hundreds of outsourced security workers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) demanding £15/hour, union recognition and an end to outsourcing where they work at University College London (UCL). Over 150 people attended the picket line yesterday, which begins again today at 6am at the entrance to UCL on Malet Place, followed by a protest with guest speakers including Owen Jones and John McDonnell MP from 8.15am. On the morning of Friday 11 November, a few days before industrial action was due to begin, UCL security staff woke to find their overtime shifts for the following days and weeks had been cancelled without explanation. Further enquiries revealed that the directive came from Bidvest Noonan’s managing director, Sarah Cork, and that Bidvest Noonan workers at UCL have been stripped of all overtime shifts, which for some amounts to as much as a one third cut to their monthly take home pay. The base £15/hour rate demanded for all outsourced workers is equivalent to the wage of security staff over twenty two years ago, before outsourcing was introduced read more
Other news
TRADE UNION DISPUTES SOLIDARITY RALLY – WALTHAM FOREST
Venue: William Morris Community Centre, 6-8 Greenleaf Road E17 6QQ
Date: 13 December 2022 Time: 7.00pm
Hundreds of thousands of workers including nurses, higher education workers and civil servants have voted to strike over pay. They are joining rail workers and post workers who have been taking strike action for some months. Teachers and more health workers could be joining them shortly. Waltham Forest Trades Council is holding a solidarity rally so the public and supporters can hear from striking workers themselves about what they are fighting for and how we can help them win and beat the cost of living crisis. The rally is hybrid so people can attend in person or on line (bit.ly/WFTC-Solidarity).
Speakers include: Nathan Wallace RMT Central Line East, Paul Phillips Waltham Forest NEU, Len Hockey Unite Barts Hospital Trust, Jordan Rivera UNISON Homerton Hospital, Speakers also invited from CWU, ASLEF and UCU
NSSN NHS strikes rallies – Bedford Street North shields: 1pm Saturdays December 10th & 17th Facebook event
SHAC the Social Housing Action Campaign’ and other housing campaigners are demanding a freeze on social rents, shareholder rents, and service charges. The campaign is already moving government. In August, government announced a cap on around 5% (instead of the 10% that would have been likely under the previous formula). But we don’t believe that this is low enough or broad enough. We need urgent funding to pay for campaign materials and basic admin costs. We also need trade unions to help us get our message across. Please see here to find out more, download our model motions for unions, or make a donation to account name ‘The Social Housing Action Campaign’, account number 20434685, Sort Code 60-83-01
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/blacklist-SG/
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. Also, check out Organise Now! – Support for new worker organising.
Diary
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
