The NSSN gives our full support to the massive movement of workers this Wednesday 1st February when half a million will take national strike action across 5 unions – NEU, PCS, UCU, ASLEF and RMT. Alongside them will be strikers in a growing number of localised disputes.
It will be the biggest day of action yet in the growing strike wave against the cost of living squeeze. And five days later on Monday 6th February, health workers will take action, on what is reportedly the biggest strike in NHS history.
In addition, the FBU has now also won a national strike vote, smashing the undemocratic Tory ballot threshold; CWU members in Royal Mail are re-balloting in order to refresh their strike mandate and BMA Junior Doctors in the midst of their industrial action ballot.
This all shows that there is huge potential for mass co-ordinated action on an even greater scale, if the strikes can be drawn together. This is essential to win the pay rises that workers need and also to combat the Tories planned new anti-union legalisation, which passed the 2nd reading of the bill at Westminster yesterday.
We send solidarity to all those workers taking action, including those this Wednesday and next Monday. And we also appeal to all those unions with a strike mandate to urgently meet together to co-ordinate so that the maximum number of workers can strike together in order that the attacks on us can be defeated. The NEU has called further national strike action, including on Budget Day Wednesday 15th March.
Support the strikes! Strike Together!
NSSN national online public meeting: ‘After February 1st & 6th strikes, how do we all strike together?’ – 6pm Monday 6th February
Zoom details – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87166952312?pwd=TFAvV25Bekd3a1lod2gvNURUMWczdz09
Meeting ID: 871 6695 2312 Passcode: 060223
NEU National Strike London Demonstration – Wednesday 1st February assemble 11am BBC Portland Place W1A 1AA for march to Westminster
Wales TUC ‘Right to Strike’ rally 11.30 on 1 February outside the UK Government Offices (by the Betty Campbell statue), Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP details
From TUC website – 1st Feb rallies/demos
NEU 1st February rallies, demonstrations & picket lines
ASLEF 1st & 3rd February picket lines
Strike Map 1st February picket lines
NEU to take strike action over pay (16 Jan)
PCS members to join biggest day of walkouts in over a decade (17 Jan)
70,000 university staff to strike on 1 February (17 Jan)
ASLEF Rejects Proposal and Announces New Strike Dates (17 Jan)
RMT train driver members to take strike action Feb 1 and 3 (17 Jan)
TUC to hold national ‘protect the right to strike’ day on February 1 – Union body says it will fight new anti-strike legislation “every step of the way”. The TUC will hold a national ‘protect the right to strike’ day on Wednesday 1 February. The announcement comes following a meeting of trade union leaders today. Events will take place in different parts of the country against the Conservative’s new anti-strike legislation. And members of the public will be invited to show their support for workers taking action to defend their pay and conditions. More information will be provided in the coming weeks about planned activities read more
Sign the TUC petition to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: Protect the right to strike! – Our right to strike is under attack. Rishi Sunak has just detailed his anti-union legislation and plans to introduce new laws in the coming weeks. It means that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they don’t. That’s wrong, unworkable, and almost certainly illegal. These new laws are a direct attack on working people’s fundamental right to strike to defend their pay, terms and conditions
Enough is Enough launches campaign and petition to Defend the #RightToStrike – The right to strike is under threat. New legislation proposed by the Tory government intends to override a workers’ right to withdraw their labour, forcing them to work against their will. The right to strike is a fundamental democratic right. It underpins our ability to win dignity in the workplace and earn a decent standard of living. It is no accident that this right is under attack at the very moment the public is fighting back against the cost-of-living squeeze. This government is determined to force workers to pay the price for a crisis caused by the greed of the elite yet again. We won’t accept it. We, the undersigned, pledge to defend the right to strike and oppose this latest legislation #RightToStrike
Sign your workplace up to save the right to strike (supported by Strike Map, ASLEF – The UK Train Drivers’ Union, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union – BFAWU, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom, Fire Brigades Union, The Morning Star, NHS Workers Say NO, People’s Assembly and the NSSN) – The government has launched an attack on our rights. Their actions will destroy our fundamental right to strike. We want to encourage workers, union reps and branch officers to sign their workplace up to reject these changes and pledge to fight to protect our right to strike. Add your workplace name to our collective letter action and share it with every one of your co-workers. When we fight as a collective together we win!
SOS NHS National Demonstration – OUR NHS: END THE CRISIS SUPPORT THE STRIKES 11 MARCH 2023 Central London – assemble midday opposite Warren St tube station, Tottenham Court Road NW1 3AA leaflet
France: 2 million workers strike against Macon’s pension attacks read more on Guardian website and BBC
NSSN news
This year’s NSSN Conference will be on Saturday 24th June in Conway Hall, London 11am-4.30pm
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 Katrine 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
Removal of detrainment staff ballot – London Underground (26 Jan) – Your Union is concerned by reports that London Underground intends to remove detrainment staff from the Bakerloo, District, Central, Hammersmith & City and Jubilee Lines, and impose the ‘flash and dash’ procedure for detrainments. This is a serious attack on station staffing levels which threatens passenger safety, as well as that of you and your colleagues. Following a meeting of your trains grades representatives, this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee and it has instructed me to declare a dispute with London Underground and to make the necessary preparations to ballot members for industrial action. I will advise of the balloting timetable in due course…Yours sincerely, Michael Lynch General Secretary read more
Government plans to attack TfL pensions delayed following RMT action (25 Jan) – TFL Pension Fund – Independent Review – Update: I can advise you that on 20th January, TfL announced that the final proposal from the pension review would now be delayed from 31st January to 28th February 2023. It is clear that the tenacious action taken so far in defence of our pension, along with jobs and agreements, has shaken TfL, the Mayor and the Government. Proposals to attack our pension were first put back from March 2022 to January 2023 and now to 28th February 2023. RMT will continue to fight for members’ pensions, along with jobs and agreements, until we receive the assurances that we have sought read more
RMT dismisses Tory fire and rehire consultation gimmick (24 Jan) – RMT today dismissed the government’s consultation for a new code to deal with unscrupulous employers who fire and rehire workers as a ‘gimmick’ designed to draw attention away from its attempts to impose new anti-union laws. Tory Business Secretary Grant Shapps launched the 12-week consultation into fire and rehire practices at a time when the government is handing him the powers to personally decide minimum service levels and who is sacked as a result. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that not only should fire and rehire be outlawed immediately but it will not help P&O seafarers who were fired and not rehired. Our members struggling to re-build their lives after being thrown out of their jobs at P&O Ferries by private security guards will gain nothing from another lengthy consultation process…” read more
RMT train driver members to take strike action Feb 1 and 3 (17 Jan) – Train driver RMT members at 14 rail operators will take strike action on February 1 and 3 over jobs pay and conditions. The decision to strike on February 1 coincides with a TUC day of action where several unions are coordinating their strikes during the cost-of-living crisis read more
Reinstate Branch Secretary Jason Moriarty – 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
Transpennine Express: Setting the Record Straight (27 Jan) – Earlier this week, train operating company Transpennine Express (TPE) sent a letter to stakeholders about the current poor service it is operating. In this letter various claims were made in an attempt to blame train drivers and ASLEF for the failings of the company. Mick Whelan, General Secretary, and Andy Hourigan, ASLEF’s lead officer for TPE, have spoken out to the press this morning to set the record straight read more
ASLEF Rejects Proposal and Announces New Strike Dates (17 Jan) – ASLEF has rejected a proposal – that was not the result of negotiation, despite this trade union making itself available more often than the other side for talks – made by the cartel [put in place on behalf of a government which has been shown to be interfering in the talks] representing some of the train operating companies in Britain, and announced new strike dates on Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 February read more
TSSA
TSSA to ballot rail companies for more strike action (26 Jan) – Rail union TSSA will ballot thousands of members in 12 train operating companies for strike action in the ongoing dispute over pay, job security, and terms and conditions. Ballot papers will be sent out next Wednesday 1 February with the ballot closing on 28 February. The union has been at the centre of the national rail dispute which has seen rolling strikes and other forms of industrial action since July last year. Last month (Dec 2022) TSSA members voted overwhelmingly to accept an offer from Network Rail (General Grades, Bands 5-8 & equivalent and Controllers) worth up to 11 per cent in pay, with other benefits, plus job security and terms and conditions guarantees. However, the union has had no comparable offer from the train companies and has decided to take the new ballot action in the hope that it will force a settlement read more
Industrial action ballots are coming – vote YES! (26 Jan) – This is a communication to TSSA members in train operating companies. Your industrial action ballots are coming – vote YES! Look out for ballot papers landing through your letterbox next week. TSSA has today written to your employer notifying them that we will be issuing industrial action ballot papers one week from today, 1 February. There will be two questions on the ballot paper. We are asking you to vote YES to strike action and YES to action short of strike. This is a re-ballot in our long-running dispute with train operating companies and with the Conservative government that bankrolls them read more
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! Unite hails recognition agreement with Joseph Rowntree Foundation (31 Jan) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has negotiated a recognition agreement for its members working at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) anti-poverty charity. The agreement ensures the union’s growing membership at JRF sites in London, Glasgow and York have collective trade union bargaining rights when it comes to pay and employment conditions read more
Government NHS investment ignoring ‘elephant in the room’ (30 Jan) – Responding to the government’s announcement today (30 January) that it intends to invest an additional £1 billion in the NHS to increase the number of hospital beds and ambulances, Unite, the UK’s leading union, warned that it is again failing to address ‘the elephant in the room’ of low pay, huge vacancies and experienced staff quitting the service read more
Ashtown attack on migrant workers highlights need for solidarity (30 Jan) – Unite BAEM Committee warns Ireland at crossroads as far right seeks to create division. The Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Committee of trade union Unite, which represents workers throughout the economy, today (Monday) said that the weekend attack on migrant workers in Ashtown highlights the need for trade unionists to not only show solidarity with migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, but also to campaign for a society characterised by equality and inclusion read more
Nadhim Zahawi sacking, prime minister guilty of ‘dither and delay’ (29 Jan) – Responding to the announcement of the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi as Conservative party chairman and from the cabinet, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This latest episode again underlines the lack of experience and direction of Rishi Sunak as our prime minister. Instead of acting decisively, he has been guilty of poor judgement, dither and delay…” read more
Flybe collapse: Lessons not learned (28 Jan) – Responding to the collapse of the regional airline Flybe, Unite national officer for civil aviation Oliver Richardson said: “The government has not learned the lessons from the original collapse of Flybe. It has failed to introduce the Airline Insolvency Bill, which would have allowed Flybe to continue to operate, avoided passengers being stranded and staff losing their jobs in the middle of the night…” read more
Abellio London bus strikes to go ahead (27 Jan) – Strikes scheduled for next week by bus drivers employed by Abellio in London are set to go ahead, in the long running pay dispute. The approximately 1,900 workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will stage further walkouts on 1, 2, 3 February. The dispute will primarily affect bus services in South and West London. The decision to go ahead with the strike action follows the rejection of two offers made by the employer, as they did not meet members’ expectations 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]
Protestors use local MP’s birthday to highlight food poverty in Workington (26 Jan) – 16,337 people are living with food insecurity in Workington, Cumbria. Highlighting shocking levels of food insecurity, fuel poverty and debt in Workington, campaigners will stage a protest on local MP Mark Jenkinson’s birthday. Protesters will brandish the slogan: Don’t let him have his cake and eat it, demand your fair share’ outside his constituency office. Research carried out by leading polling company Survation for Unite has revealed the shocking extent of food poverty and debt in Workington read more
Drax energy workers balloted over strike action (26 Jan) – Dispute over pay could result in energy supply shocks to Scottish businesses. Unite the union confirmed today (26 January) that energy workers employed by Drax Hydro Limited who operate power stations across Scotland are to be balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay. Around 50 Unite members will take part in the ballot covering Stonebyre (Lanark), Cruachan (Loch Awe) and Glenlee (Castle Douglas) power stations. Drax Hydro supplies businesses and consumers. The ballot which opens on 1 February and closes on 22 February follows the rejection of a pay offer (8 per cent) significantly below the current rate of inflation which currently stands at 13.4 per cent (RPI) read more
4,000 Unite NHS members to strike across NI tomorrow (25 Jan) – Members of Unite, which represents 4,000 health and social care workers across Northern Ireland, will be joining members of other health unions in taking industrial action tomorrow (Thursday 26 January). The strike is a result of the failure to deliver a cost of living pay increase. Unite members across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service returned an average 87 per cent vote in favour of strike action read more
Unite union to fight 2 Sisters Llangefni plant closure which would be “catastrophic” for North Wales economy and the local community (25 Jan) – Unite has reacted with anger at today’s announcement that 2 Sisters plans to close their chicken processing plant in Llangefni. The 2 Sisters site employs over 750 workers and is one of the largest employers on Anglesey. It is therefore absolutely vital to the local economy read more
Briggs Marine workers in Liverpool secure double digit pay boost (25 Jan) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a double digit pay boost for workers employed at the Port of Liverpool by Briggs Marine, who are responsible for mooring ships. The deal covers over 50 members of Unite. The workers will receive an eight per cent increase in basic pay, overtime rates and shore tension payments, backdated to 1 January. In addition, the workers will receive a separate one off cost of living increase. This will be worth £1,300 for the lowest paid mooring operatives, while charge hands and coxswains will receive a payment of £800 read more
Unite secures 28% pay rise for 200 Luton airport workers (25 Jan) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured Luton airport staff employed by Menzies a pay rise worth more than 28 per cent. Over 200 workers, employed as baggage handlers and check in staff, will receive a backdated pay rise of 20 per cent from 1 October 2022. From 1 February, pay will further increase by 8.5 per cent. Overtime rates will also increase in February, from time and a third to time and a half read more
Government proposals on ‘fire and rehire’ labelled ‘an insult to workers and their families’ (24 Jan) – Responding to the announcement today (Tuesday 24 January) that the government intends to introduce a statutory code of practice to deter companies from firing and rehiring their workforce, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This proposal is an insult to workers and their families. The government should be banning fire and rehire once and for all. But instead bullying bosses like those at P&O – who use this abhorrent tactic to boost their profits – are presented with a ‘code of practice’. Compare that with the efforts they are making right now to push through punishing new laws that will grant ministers the power sack nurses and ambulance workers exercising their fundamental right to strike. We can all see whose side they are on…” read more
Pembrokeshire construction workers at Valero refinery secure 11% pay increase (23 Jan) – Over 130 construction workers employed by various contractors on the Valero oil refinery in Pembrokeshire have secured a minimum of an 11 per cent increase in wages. The workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and employed under the terms of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI), took prolonged strike action late last year in pursuit of an increase in bonus payments, to offset soaring inflation rates. Under the agreement they have secured an increase in bonus payments worth £2.06 an hour. For a skilled worker this works out as a pay increase of 10.6 per cent, while for the lowest paid apprentices the increase is worth 24.5 per cent read more
Robin Hood protests at Birmingham NEC to expose Logistics Group Holdings’ poverty pay rates (23 Jan) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, dressed as Robin Hood, will be holding a series of protests outside of Birmingham NEC this week read more
Strike action delivers pay boost for West London parking attendants (23 Jan) – Strike ends in Ealing and Brent after Unite negotiated a 17% pay deal in Ealing and 19% for workers in Brent. But strike action continues in Hounslow because Serco and council bosses continue to drag their heels. Parking Attendants and CCTV camera operators across Brent and Ealing have secured vastly improved pay deals worth up to 19.7% following strike action. Hounslow Borough Council now stands alone and strike action will continue in the borough until 31st January unless bosses deliver a fair pay deal. Civil enforcement officers and CCTV operators began a two week strike on Wednesday 18 January. The workers are employed by Serco, which provides parking services to the three London boroughs. The giant outsourcing company’s latest profits were £303.9 million read more
Further Imperial College strikes as pay dispute intensifies (20 Jan) – Over 200 Unite members to walkout over 3.3% offer, which is a pay cut. More than 200 workers at London’s Imperial College will strike on 23 January over a 3.3 per cent pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). The workers, who are non-teaching staff, last took strike action in November. Further strikes will be scheduled in the coming weeks if the dispute is not resolved. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 13.4 per cent, this is a pay cut in real terms. Imperial Colleges’ latest financial figures shows it brought in an income of over £1.2 billion for 2021/22 and had cash reserves of £1.7 billion read more
Unite announces 10 fresh strike dates as ambulance dispute escalates (20 Jan) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced fresh dates in an escalation of the ambulance workers dispute. Members of Unite will stage ten further strikes over the coming weeks. Additional dates could be announced in the comings days. The announcement of fresh strike comes ahead of the latest day of industrial action with Unite’s ambulance workers set to walk out next Monday (23 January) read more
West Midland’s National Express engineers to strike over pay (19 Jan) – 3,000 drivers also poised to join striking engineers who maintain vehicles for 93% of region’s bus network. Around 200 West Midland’s National Express engineers have voted by 93 per cent in a ballot with a turnout of 80 per cent to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday). The engineers – responsible for maintaining 1,200 vehicles that cover 93 per cent of the region’s bus network – could be joined on strike by 3,000 bus drivers, who are also about to be balloted for industrial action. The engineers have rejected a pay offer of 10.1 per cent from National Express, which made £15.8 million in profits during the first half of 2022. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 13.4 per cent, this is a pay cut read more
Welwyn and Hatfield grounds maintenance workers continue with strike action over poverty pay (19 Jan) – Grounds maintenance workers employed by Continental Landscapes on the outsourced Welwyn and Hatfield council grounds maintenance contract are to continue with strike action in a dispute over poverty pay. The workers have already taken eight weeks of strike action since the dispute began in November last year. A further fortnight of industrial action has now been announced, with an initial five days of strike action beginning on Monday 30 January and a further five days from Monday 6 February read more
BP Petrofac workers resume 48-hour strike action (18 Jan) – No acceptable offer put to offshore workforce. Strike action has resumed on BP Petrofac installations the UK’s largest offshore trade union, Unite, confirmed today (18 January). The 48-hour strike action which started today at 6 a.m. involving around 80 workers will conclude at 5:59 a.m. on 20 January. It follows no breakthrough in negotiations with Petrofac and the failure by the contractor to present an acceptable offer to the workers which could have averted industrial action. The BP Petrofac installations hit by the strike action include: Andrew, Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP, and the Glen Lyon floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility. The BP Petrofac dispute centres on the working rotation, which is currently a work 3 on/3 off rotation. An industrial action ballot previously returned a result of 98.3 per cent in favour of industrial action read more
Community support workers in Hounslow stage week long strike (16 Jan) – As the New Year gets underway strike action at Hestia escalates. Workers employed by Hestia are taking five days of strike action beginning today (Monday 16) and ending on Friday 20 January. The workers will also stage a protest at Hestia’s head office on Wednesday 18 January read more keep up to date on strike on the Unite Housing Workers LE/1228 branch website
Whisky giant workers to strike for months in row over pay (13 Jan) – Diageo accused of race to the bottom. Unite has confirmed today (Friday 13 January) workers based at whisky giant Diageo’s plant in Leven are set to strike in a dispute over pay. The strike action will begin tomorrow (Saturday 14 January) for a period of 48 hours only with a series of further stoppages then scheduled to take place ending on 3 April. Unite has taken the whisky giant to task following the introduction of a lower rate of pay for new starts without consultation with the unions. This issue has been ongoing and was first raised through the grievance process in 2019. The trade union estimates some of its engineering members are set to lose around 6 per cent of their pay when moved to the lower rate of pay. The strike action will directly impact on the engineering support for the bottling plant. Unite believes it would not be safe to run the plant without the support its members provide. In July 2022, Diageo reported operating profits were up by 18.2 per cent to £4.4bn, primarily driven by organic growth, with net sales up 21.4 per cent to £15.5bn. The company has an estimated 27,987 employees read more
Striking housing workers vote 99.5 percent on 93.5 percent turnout to reject inadequate NI Housing Executive pay offer (10 Jan) – As industrial action by housing workers enters its twenty-third week without resolution, Unite demands Department for Communities intervention. Thousands of social housing tenants are left without needed repair and maintenance work as a result of management intransigence. Unite the union has written to the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Grainia Long after its members overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer made by management at the Labour Relations Agency in December. The pay offer was for a one-off non-consolidated payment of one thousand pounds and a pay point increase for grades 1 to 3 which would have benefited only a small fraction of striking workers. The offer was rejected overwhelmingly in a ballot conducted on picket lines on turnout of 93.5 percent and rejection majority of 99.5 percent. The workers who are employed in North and West Belfast, Portadown, Coleraine and Derry/Londonderry will therefore continue their strike action in pursuit of a fair pay increase for the 2021-2022 year. Their strike is now into its twenty-third week and has led to ballooning impact on maintenance services for social housing units read more
Department for Infrastructure must show leadership on Rathlin Island ferry dispute (10 Jan) – Union says workers and Rathlin Island community treated as expendable in wrangle over outsourced service. Unite the union has demanded urgent action by the Department for Infrastructure to resolve an ongoing pay dispute and safeguard the ferry service to Rathlin island. The private sector operator of the ferry service to Northern Ireland’s largest offshore island, Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd, has indicated to the Department that the company could enter liquidation by the end of January. Unite members at the ferry operator are today striking for a third day after four days when there was no service to the island as a result of inclement conditions and strike action. Strike action is scheduled to proceed for four days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays) for the remainder of January. The strike follows a ballot of ferry workers who voted with a 85 per cent majority for industrial action in pursuit of a cost of living increase. Their vote came after workers’ endured three years of a pay freeze read more
Refuse workers and street cleaners to strike in Liverpool in pay dispute (10 Jan) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Liverpool Streetscene Services Limited (LSSL), are set to undertake industrial action in a dispute over pay. The 80 plus workers are principally employed in refuse collection, street cleaning and parks and cemeteries. They will begin industrial action on Monday 23 January and it will end on Saturday 28 January read more
Northern Ireland Health and Social Care workers strike for improved pay (9 Jan) – Massive 87 per cent average vote for strike action across Northern Ireland trusts. 4000 Unite members to strike on 26 January, February 16 ,17 and 23, 24. Unite the union has confirmed that its members working across the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland will be participating in an industrial campaign involving all health trade unions after they voted overwhelmingly for strike action in pursuit of a cost of living pay increase. The announcement comes as talks as discussion with the UK health secretary failed to make any progress on the 2022/23 pay claim. In December, Unite members voted with an average 87 percent majority across all five health trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for strike action read more
Industrial action set to hit GSK pharmaceutical plant in Irvine for months (9 Jan) – Kaefer contractors striking over refusal to pay bonus payments. Members of Unite, Scotland’s leading union, employed in engineering construction roles at the GSK plant in Irvine will start strike action in a dispute over bonus payments from today (9 January). Around 40 workers employed by contractor Kaefer Limited 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 strike action started today at 07:30 a.m. and it will continue each day up to 23 January. There will also be an overtime ban in force which will last until 2 April. The industrial action will directly impact on the maintenance of the plant read more
Coffin factory strike enters fourth month Co-op Funeralcare wastes £1 million instead of resolving dispute (5 Jan) – Coffin factory strike enters fourth month as Co-op Funeralcare wastes £1 million instead of resolving dispute. Unite members have resumed strike action at the Co-op Funeralcare coffin manufacturing factory based in Glasgow in a bitter dispute over pay which has now entered its fourth month. Strike action by Unite members began on Wednesday 4 January and will run continuously through to Monday 16 January, which will be the fourth consecutive week of strike action. Unite recently uncovered that the Cooperative Funeralcare spent over £1,000,000 last year on purchasing coffins from third party suppliers at a time when the dispute with their own workforce could have been successfully resolved for a fraction of this cost. Additionally, Co-op Funeralcare made an underlying profit of £12 million in 2021 read more
Greene King strikes go ahead over Christmas & New Year’s Eve – Seven days of strike action begins tomorrow (Wednesday 21st December). Brewery workers offered a “Scrooge” pay deal. Greene King’s refusal to offer a fair pay increase in the midst of a cost of living crisis mean strikes will go ahead over Christmas. Workers will take three days of strike action between 21st December and 23rd December and a further four days between 28th December and 31st December. Supplies of well-known beers and ales to pubs, restaurants and shops including IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale will be affected. The 188 workers, including production and distribution workers, drivers and draymen, who are members of Unite are based at Bury St Edmunds, Eastwood (Nottinghamshire) and Abingdon (Oxfordshire) read more
Construction giant Murphy protests in UK and Ireland over union busting (20 Dec) – Demonstrations call for four sacked trade union members to be reinstated. Demonstrations will be held outside the offices of Murphy construction companies in Newbridge, County Kildare, Warrington, Stafford and London tomorrow (21 December) over union busting at the group. The protests form part of a campaign to secure the reinstatement of four Unite members, including a Unite shop steward, who were dismissed by the group’s Irish subsidiary, Murphy International. Unite believes the reasons for the sacking are spurious and linked to the workers’ trade union membership read more
Abellio East Midlands workers to stage further strikes at Christmas over ‘drastic pay cuts’ – Company with €401m profit fails to make any pay offer despite soaring prices. Workers at train company Abellio East Midlands will begin further strike action later this month over the company’s refusal to make any pay offer despite soaring living costs. Over 140 workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, took four dates of strike action in October as well as a further two days earlier this month and will strike again on 23 and 24 December. More strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. Abellio made a net profit of €401 million in 2021. However, it has blamed its failure to make a pay offer on the Department for Transport (DfT), claiming that ministers have not authorised it to make a pay offer to its workers. The workers are based at depots in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham and employed as cleaners, technicians, shunters, engineers, inspectors, lathe operators, team leaders and supervisors read more
Strike dates set to hit Highlands and Islands Airports in lead up to Christmas – Disruption likely as Unite members at HIAL take action in pay dispute. Unite the union, which represents members across eleven airports in the HIAL group, including those working in Fire and Rescue, Security and administration, has confirmed today (6 December) that strike action will take place commencing at 00:01 hours and concluding at 23:59 hours on 19th December 2022; And commencing at 00:01 hours and concluding at 23:59 hours on 22nd December 2022. Members of Unite 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 bid to improve pay for rural communities amid a cost of living crisis. The union has previously warned that strike action will cause huge disruption over the winter break and festive period. The workforce has already rejected an 5 per cent offer which they deemed unacceptable with inflation soaring to hit a 40-year high of 14.2 per cent (RPI). The eleven airports across the HIAL Group are Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick read more
Bristol council housing officers continue striking over terrible working conditions – 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 – 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
Harrods’ strike breaking agency employed under new anti-union law named and shamed – 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 – 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
Strikes stepped up at Fawley refinery as heavy-handed policing deepens tensions in dispute – 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. Send messages of support to [email protected]
UK braced for Dulux paint shortages as Imperial Chemical workers in Stowmarket strike over deplorable pay offer – 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
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
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
CWU
Support the CWU strikes in Royal Mail & Post Office – 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
New deal on Bank Holiday working in EE Consumer secures five guaranteed days off (30 Jan) – An agreement has been reached with EE Consumer that means anyone working the five non-festive Bank Holidays will, from now on, benefit from five absolutely guaranteed days off to take at a time of their choosing. The CWU-brokered deal was arrived at in constructive discussions with management following the company’s announcement that it wanted to introduce ‘Flexible Bank Holidays’, with the union successfully building in safeguards for those staff who have not traditionally been required to work those days read more
Clarity and assurances sought for members following BT Sport redundancy bombshell (26 Jan) – Major concerns have been expressed by the CWU over Warner Bros Discovery’s (WBD) shock announcement that more than 200 former BT Sport employees are being placed at risk of redundancy. While only a small number of team member employees are impacted, with the vast majority of the ‘at risk’ group comprising managerial grades, serious questions are being forcefully asked by the union about the timing and rationale for the proposed job cuts which involve every single one of the BT Sport employees who were TUPE’d over to the joint venture on November 1. At no point in the TUPE discussions was the possibility of any redundancies, let alone mass ones, admitted by the company – and there was no mention whatsoever of looming job losses in the TUPE ‘measures’ that are supposed to ensure clarity and prior warning of major changes post-transfer read more
Drive to unionise BT Northern Ireland’s security guards as ISS takes over from Securitas (25 Jan) – The CWU’s recognition agreement with ISS has been voluntarily extended to include security guards working at BT sites in Northern Ireland following the company’s announcement that it is taking the previously outsourced contract back in-house. The previously un-unionised security staff will TUPE transfer from Securitas to ISS on February 1 as a result of the termination of their erstwhile employers’ contract – at which point ISS has pledged to provide the union full access to the 24 impacted employees read more
United in defiance on Connect44’s skipped 2022 pay review (26 Jan) – Members at Connect44 have delivered an emphatic thumbs down to the company’s assertion that they must endure a 0% pay rise in 2022 to help the profitable business fund ‘strategic investment decisions’. Just before Christmas the CWU issued an eleventh hour plea to bosses to reconsider their position, pointing out that freezing pay at a time of rampant inflation has resulted in substantial real term pay cuts for the small but tight-knit group of members who still work exclusively on Virgin Media 02 systems a decade after their initial outsourcing by Telefonica. And now the scale of employee anger within the bargaining unit has been revealed for all to see – despite the curiously-timed imposition of a 5% company-wide pay rise for 2023 that was suddenly announced, without consultation, shortly after a CWU consultative ballot on the non-existent pay offer for 2022 got underway! Read more
Dave Ward appeals direct to Royal Mail shareholders (24 Jan) – CWU leaders put their case direct to Royal Mail investors yesterday, urging them to question the company’s strategy and push for a resolution to the ongoing dispute. In a webinar hosted by Tom Powdrill, head of stewardship at corporate governance consultancy PIRC (Pensions & Investment Research Consultants), people from the business sector heard a detailed summary of the issues at stake and the reasons why the union has been forced into action. Our general secretary Dave Ward and acting deputy general secretary postal Andy Furey set out the union’s case, supported by head of research Bill Taylor, who presented a series of slides with the facts and figures of the situation. These reminded the audience of the record £758 million profit announced by Royal Mail Group last year, the fact that, even with international division GLS removed from the equation, Royal Mail UK still made £416m and that, last May, the company forecast that profits would fall slightly in 2022/23 but still remain at a healthy £303m. But that profit forecast fell in October to a predicted loss of between £350m and £450m – a sharp drop which followed a £567m giveaway in dividends and a share buyback during the 2021/22 financial year read more
Post Office Crowns & Admin strikes resume – Supply Chain overtime ban begins – Staff in Crown Offices and Admin grades began a two-day walkout yesterday (12 Dec) – their seventh and eighth – while their Supply Chain colleagues have begun a two-week overtime ban. Speaking to CWU News today, acting DGSP Andy Furey said: “This dispute has now been ongoing for nearly seven months. The first strikes were back in early May. Our Post Office members have now voted twice by enormous, 90 per cent-plus, majorities for this action and they’ve certainly shown their ongoing determination to win the fair pay deal they deserve. According to reports I’ve received from our reps around the UK, this latest bout of action has, once again, been solidly supported. “I’m honoured to represent such a fantastic group of members – their strength and solidarity truly is an inspiration” read more
PCS
You can show your support to the strikes by PCS members by:
- Making donations to the PCS Fighting Fund Levy account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no. 20331490
- Sending solidarity messages to [email protected]
- Signing our petition to tell prime minister Rishi Sunak to intervene and hold meaningful talks to end the strikes.
- Support us on social media with the hashtags: #PCSonStrike #BlameTheGovt
- New E-action in support of PCS national pay and pensions campaign – The E-action calls on MPs to support our demands over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security read more
PCS members to join biggest day of walkouts in over a decade (17 Nov) – PCS members across the civil service will join hundreds of thousands of trade union members on strike on 1 February in the biggest walkout for over a decade after we served notice on 123 employers. We have served notice on employers where members in the civil service and related areas have passed the 50% legal threshold for strike action. 100,000 PCS members will strike for 24 hours on the same day as 300,000 NEU members in England and Wales, affecting more than 23,000 schools. Members of train drivers’ union Aslef are also set to strike across 14 companies on 1 February. In addition, more than 70,000 UCU members at 150 universities will also strike on 1 February. Our day of action will be the largest civil service strike for years and signals a significant escalation of industrial action after a month of strikes over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security. It also coincides with the TUC’s ‘protect the right to strike’ day read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Sad day as 668 DWP staff are made redundant (31 Jan) – Today marks the sad occasion when 668 members of staff across 25 DWP back-of-house sites are made redundant. PCS is clear that everyone of these redundancies was avoidable. Members’ jobs have been sacrificed on the alter of a flawed estates strategy. We condemn the DWP for pushing through an office closure plan that has resulted in catastrophic job losses read more
APHA strike dates announced (30 Jan) – We are asking APHA members in the Centre for International Trade in Bristol and Carlisle to take part in strike action from 13-17 and 20-24 February 2023. Our targeted strike action, part of our national campaign on pay, pensions and redundancy terms, began in November last year and members working in the Rural Payments Agency have already taken up to 4 weeks of very well supported action before and after Christmas read more
New DVLA strike dates announced (30 Jan) – We’re asking DVLA members working in the Output Services Group at Ty Felin and Morriston in Swansea to take part in strike action on 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 February as part of our national campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms. Our targeted strike action, part of our national campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms, began in November last year and members working on Drivers Medical at Swansea Morriston main site and at the DVLA Birmingham office took very-well supported strike action for 5 days last month read more
British Museum strike dates announced (30 Jan) – We are asking members working for the British Museum to take part in targeted strike action on 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 February as part of our national campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms. Our targeted strike action began in November last year and members in a number of employers have taken part, including the Home Office, Border Force, Department for Transport and Defra read more
“Greyed out” diaries in jobcentres – disruption caused by strikes (27 Jan) – Jobcentre members have reported DWP have “greyed out” diaries next Wednesday (1 February), as PCS calls 100,000 members out on strike nationally. In these areas, DWP has stated it has done so as part of its contingency plans read more
Further DWP strike dates announced (26 Jan) – 6 DWP offices will strike during February and March as we continue our strategic strike action. Our targeted strike action, part of our national campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms, began in December last year and DWP members in six offices have already taken strike action. The initial phase of our strike action has been targeted at areas that would have a significant impact on employers’ operations. Redundancies and job security are two important parts of our national campaign and the government announced last year its plans to close over 40 DWP offices. The next phase of our strike action, which will follow on from our national strike on 1 February, will involve members in Stockport Contact Centre, Bolton Benefit Centre and at four Liverpool jobcentres read more
PCS to lodge tribunals over Saturday working in HMCTS (27 Jan) – PCS will be supporting HMCTS members in taking contractual cases to tribunal in opposition to Saturday working. As members are aware, PCS has been supporting members in challenging the move to enforcing Saturday and bank holiday working. More than 30 members have now lodged or are about to lodge grievances read more
Judicial Review sought over pensions overpayments (26 Jan) – PCS and five other unions will be in court on 31 January seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision not to reduce members’ contributions. PCS, GMB, Unite, the FBU, POA and RCN will be in court on Tuesday 31 January to seek judicial review of the decision taken by the government in 2019 to block pension changes which would have reduced contributions from public service pension scheme members read more
HGS strikers win pay rise of over 10% (25 Jan) – PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka praises members for their fight and resilience. Members working at Hinduja Global Solutions in Liverpool have called off strike action after securing a pay rise of over 10%. The 80 workers, employed by HGS to run the contact centre and back-office functions of the government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), had taken six weeks’ strike action over pay and working conditions. Now they have voted to accept a two-year pay offer that will see them receiving an award more in line with inflation read more
PCS Strike Action: 3rd to 6th February (20 Jan) – PCS has served notice of further strike action in HMCTS over Common Platform, to take place from Friday 3 February to Monday 6 February. This is inclusive of 3, 4 5 and 6 February. This action involves legal advisers and court associates in courts across the country read more
GMB
Wiltshire Council ‘on collision course’ with government over Fire and Rehire threats (30 Jan) – New government proposals are seeking to ban the controversial practice, even as Wiltshire Council seem hell bent on pressing on to cut 20 per cent from front-line worker pay. GMB, the union for Wiltshire Council, has warned Wiltshire Council bosses they risk breaking a newly proposed statutory code. On 24 January, Business Secretary Grant Shapps, announced that the government will introduce a statutory code to, in the government’s words, “crack down on unscrupulous employers that use controversial dismissal tactics.” During the long running industrial dispute between GMB and Wiltshire Council, the trade union has repeatedly asked the council to confirm that they will not use fire and rehire to force through the pay cut. Council CEO Terence Herbert has so far refused to rule out the controversial practice read more
Amazon strike workers marked ‘no show’ by company (27 Jan) – Amazon workers taking part in the first ever UK strike have been marked as a ‘no show’ by the company – effectively an unauthorised absence. Around 350 workers at the company’s Coventry warehouse walked on Wednesday [25 January] in a dispute over pay. Workers are now worried they will be fined, or even face a gross misconduct charge. Properly mandated industrial action gives workers the legal right to withdraw their labour – and should not be classed as unauthorised absence. GMB is now demanding clarity from the company read more
Amazon workers stage first ever UK strike (24 Jan) – Amazon workers will stage the first ever strike in the UK today [25 January 2023]. Hundreds of Amazon workers at the fulfilment centre have voted to walk out in anger over the company’s 50 pence per hour pay offer. An industrial action ballot saw a majority of more than 98 per of workers vote to strike. Amazon UK Services Limited reported that it paid just £10.8 million in tax in 2021, despite recording a pre-tax profit of £204 million read more
Deliveroo drivers demand end to unfair fines (27 Jan) – GMB Union members are challenging Derby City Council over its issue of unfair parking fines to local food couriers. In 2020 Derby City Council created a new parking permit for professional drivers. However, the scheme has been criticised by drivers for not including use of loading bays or double yellow lines, leading to many drivers to receive unfair parking fines and a dent out of their already stretched income. For GMB members this is an issue of safety. For many city centre restaurants, there are no other safe places to park to ensure that food is delivered on time and safely. Over 50 food couriers in Derby have signed the GMB Union petition which is being presented to Derby City Council top brass next week read more
GMB members at Valero ‘really glad’ to get back to work improved offer (25 Jan) – GMB members at Valero in Pembroke dock are back in work after a 7-week dispute. Members accepted an improved offer of 74p an hour, which is around a 400% increase, from the subcontracted companies on the site but funded by Valero. The three subcontracted companies are Jenkins and Davies, Altrad Engineering and Altrad support services read more
Clarification needed after complaints against hospital manager (27 Jan) – GMB, the union for the NHS, have written to management at Frimley Health NHS Trust to ask for clarification on why a manager has not been suspended after being made subject of a formal grievance. The grievance was submitted by the union on behalf of 27 women employed within the trust. The union understands that despite the grievance making specific reference to ‘not feeling comfortable’ around him, the manager in question has been moved to an admin role rather than suspended, and thus remains working on site read more
Almost 2,000 North West ambulance workers strike (24 Jan) – Almost 2,000 ambulance workers across the North West will strike today [24 January 2023]. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff across the region will walk out from 12:00 midnight to 23:59 read more
West Midlands ambulance workers strike today (23 Jan) – Almost 1,000 ambulance workers across the West Midlands have walked out today [23 January 2023]. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff across the region will walk out from 12:00 midnight to 23:59. Major pickets will be staged in Stoke, Donnington, Dudley and Hereford. Workers voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award – another massive real terms pay cut read more
West Midlands ambulance workers strike today (23 Jan) – Almost 1,000 ambulance workers across the West Midlands have walked out today [23 January 2023]. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff across the region will walk out from 12:00 midnight to 23:59. Major pickets will be staged in Stoke, Donnington, Dudley and Hereford. Workers voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award – another massive real terms pay cut read more
Ambulance workers announce four more national strike dates (18 Jan) – More than 10,000 GMB Ambulance workers will stage four more national strike days, the union announced today. Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, call handlers and other staff are now set to walk out on 6 February, 20 February, 6 March and 20 March. The following trusts will be affected: 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, Welsh Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service. In addition, workers at West Midlands ambulance service will strike on January 23, with GMB members at North West Ambulance Service will strike on January 24 read more
Asda merger prompts fresh calls for more CMA powers (23 Jan) – Asda merger talks which could see the company combine its petrol and supermarket divisions have prompted fresh calls from GMB to expand the powers of the competition and markets authority (CMA). The billionaire owners of Issa brothers are exploring a merger of the supermarket and their UK petrol forecourts business in a blockbuster deal that would create a retail giant worth more than £10 billion. The combination would create a group with 581 supermarkets, 700 petrol forecourts and more than 100 convenience stores in a bid to refinance the current debt read more
British Steel investment ‘ultimately a sticking plaster’ (23 Jan) – GMB has responded to the expected announcement the Government will invest £300 million in British Steel read more
Thousands of Swissport workers accept 10 per cent pay rise (23 Jan) – Thousands of GMB members working for Swissport have voted to accept a 10 per cent pay rise. Airport workers including in cargo, baggage handling and check-in voted by majority of 61 per cent to accept the deal – which is the highest in the company’s history. Under the deal, workers will also get increased overtime multipliers and other allowances have been increased read more
Almost 300 Mersey Care workers to strike this week (17 Jan) – Almost 300 health care workers at Mersey Care will take strike action this week over pay. GMB members including nurses, health care assistants, support staff, cleaners and admin staff will walk out for 24 hours from 00:01 to 23.59 on 18 January 2023. Mersey Care workers voted to strike over the Government’s imposed 4 per cent pay award – another massive real terms pay cut read more
GMB warns of escalating strikes and legal action for Wiltshire Council after ACAS talks break down (16 Jan) – We have been met with a brick wall of obstruction from the council, who are literally refusing to provide us with the basic facts and information that would allow compromise to be discussed, says GMB. GMB, the union for Wiltshire Council staff, warns that further strikes by traffic wardens in the county are now highly likely, as ACAS facilitated talks designed to resolve a long running industrial dispute break down. At the outset of talks, which started on 10 December, Wiltshire Council CEO Terence Herbert wrote to GMB union announcing that the council was not interested in using the talks “to avert strike action.” The proposed pay cut by the Council would require a change to staff contracts. As the staff have refused a voluntary change to the contracts, GMB warns that the Council must be planning ‘fire and rehire.’ Wiltshire Council is proposing a pay cut of 20 per cent for social workers, who would lose around £7500, and a 10 per cent cut for traffic wardens, who would lose about £2500, with care workers, leisure centre staff and highways also affected read more
GMB union: ExxonMobil ‘throwing money’ at agencies rather than our members – GMB, the energy union, are preparing to name and shame companies who are providing strike-breakers in the midst of a trades dispute at Fawley oil refinery near Southampton. The union have been informed that agency workers have been retained on full pay until strike action recommenced, following a temporary suspension of action actioned by GMB and sister union Unite. Strike action at the refinery was suspended for Monday to Wednesday of this week to allow negotiations to take place, only for GMB to be told that talks would not be happening as there was “nothing to discuss.” Read more
Newcastle energy company announces strike dates – 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 – Almost 100 Durham chemical workers will go on strike tomorrow (30 Nov) 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
Money shortage fears as 1,200 G4S Cash workers vote to strike – 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
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
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
Unison
BREAKING NEWS!! Unions join forces for Environment Agency strike next week. UNISON and Prospect walk out on 8 February (31 Jan) – Thousands of Environment Agency employees belonging to UNISON and Prospect are to take strike action next week in the growing dispute about pay, say the unions today (Tuesday). Staff working in river inspection, flood forecasting, coastal risk management and pollution control will stage a 12-hour strike on Wednesday (8 February) starting at 7am. In addition, for 12 hours either side of the walkout, Environment Agency employees will escalate their ongoing work to rule by withdrawing from incident response rotas, say the unions. This action short of a strike starts at 7pm on Tuesday, and kicks in again immediately at the end of the strike for another 12 hours, concluding at 7am on Thursday read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Digging in won’t solve pay dispute, nor get the NHS back on its feet. New ambulance strike date announced for 10 February (31 Jan) – The NHS won’t be able to deliver the speedier response times and better care the government is promising until ministers try harder to end the growing dispute about pay and staffing, says UNISON today (Tuesday). Later today the health secretary will be asked about the government’s handling of the NHS dispute by MPs on the health and social care select committee, just as UNISON announces its fourth day of strike action on Friday 10 February. This morning, NHS pay review body chair Philippa Hird told the committee the Department of Health and Social Care has yet to submit evidence ahead of the next pay round beginning in April. The deadline was 11 January. UNISON’s 10 February strike again involves ambulance workers across five services in England – London, Yorkshire, the South West, North East and North West. Strikes will now be happening across the NHS every day next week apart from Wednesday (8 February). UNISON’s action follows hard on the heels of strikes involving ambulance staff, nurses and physiotherapists organised by four other health unions read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Insourcing win at Barnet council (31 Jan) – Over 300 staff in a variety of services like trading standards, environmental health and other regulatory services, will now be transferred back in-house. Staff at Barnet council are due to be transferred back to council employment thanks to a decade-long campaign by UNISON. The 330 affected workers are currently employed by outsourcing multinational conglomerate, Capita, and are being brought back in house after the council was used as a test case for the outsourcing of local government services. The staff who work under a joint venture called ‘Capita Re’ in a variety of areas like trading standards, environmental health, planning highways and other regulatory services, will be TUPE transferred back in house on 1 April this year read more
Solving workforce emergency now is key to the future of the NHS (30 Jan) – Government plans to fix emergency care won’t work without tackling pay and staffing. Commenting on the government’s proposals to boost NHS emergency care published today (Monday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “The government has at last acknowledged that there are deep problems in emergency care. But if the Prime Minister wants to take credit for fixing emergency care next winter, he must first resolve the workforce crisis happening now. There’s nothing to deliver the urgent retention plan needed to stop staff leaving jobs in the NHS. Nor is there anything about boosting pay to prevent the current industrial unrest from spreading…” read more
Unions ‘shocked’ by revised higher education pay offer (27 Jan) – Those on the highest grades are offered the highest percentage rise, as new strikes dates are announced. The joint higher education unions met the employers this week – the final meeting in a series of three to negotiate on pay. The employers made a marginally improved offer which, compared to the original one, provides an improved – but still below inflation – offer for those on and above spinal column point 42. However, it did nothing to address issues of poverty pay and declining pay for all. UNISON’s negotiators were shocked that the employers thought it appropriate to direct the £140m they added to the pay bill, across the country, at the 60,000 highest paid staff on national pay scales, leaving those at the bottom end struggling… UNISON also has a further round of industrial action planned, focusing on the 2022-23 pay dispute. The following dates are planned read more
Blog: NICE and NHS staff are for life, not just for COVID (19 Jan) – “We went on strike because the NHS will only last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it. NICE staff and our NHS colleagues are those folk”. On Tuesday, this week, NICE staff staged a one-day strike, the first time we have been on strike since the national pensions dispute in 2011. What is NICE, you ask? The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We work to assess new drugs and technologies and advise the NHS on clinical and cost effectiveness read more
Recap: Striking for fair pay in the Environment Agency (19 Jan) – See some of the highlights from EA strikes across the country on Wednesday, including Christina McAnea’s visit to strikers at the Thames Barrier read more
Stop Hackney Council cutting library services read more about the campaign here – Hackney library staff are again taking strike action this week on Wednesday February 1st and Friday 3rd
NIPSA
EA Members Pay and Grading Review Update (30 Jan) – EA Pay Grading Review: Members available to download from the link below a letter from Matthew McDermott, Assistant Director Corporate HR, which provides an update on the Pay and Grading review, including scales and assimilation points. The review sought to address failings within the Education Authority pay structure which included lengthy pay scales, low pay, erosion of supervisory differentials, overlapping pay scales and to resolve the longstanding pay dispute for Education Welfare Officers read more
Joint Trade Unions Side Pay Claim and NIHE’s “final offer” (27 Jan) – You will already be well aware of the Joint TUS Local Pay Claim which was lodged with Senior Management in June 2022, details of which are provided below. Previous updates have provided reports on little progress and the resultant frustration felt by both NIPSA and Unite in talks with your Employer. You will also be aware that Unite the Union members have been on continuous strike action in the NIHE on the issue of pay for many months. Indeed, the trade union movement across the UK, including NI, has been galvanising members across the public sector to coordinate strike action and action short of strike action as the Government and Employers fail to meaningfully engage with trade unions in order to recognise the pain and stress that you are facing as a result of spiralling inflation and the ongoing cost of living crisis read more
Health Strike Update (13 Jan) – Health Strike Action HSC: While I would like to begin with wishing you all a Happy New Year in 2023, the reality is that I must provide an update in relation to the ongoing Industrial Action Dispute regarding Pay, Safe Staffing and Travel Reimbursement. The current Crisis in Health will not be resolved quickly and likewise the current Industrial Action will also need to be a continuous and determined campaign to bring Government and Employers to negotiate meaningful resolutions. In regards to the current calendar of Industrial Action being undertaken by NIPSA that requires your ongoing support including Continuous Action Short of Strike (ASOS)…and Joint Trade Union action with Unison in regards to their Non Continuous Action Short of Strike (ASOS) 16 January to 29 January 2023 (inclusive). This will include mirroring work to rule action and Withdrawal from all union/management/department of health engagement except regional meetings on dispute resolution. All NIPSA Members are required to participate in Specific Continuous Industrial (ASOS) to highlight the issue of Travel Reimbursement on the 20 January 20 February and 20 March 2023 as follows; The action will consist of a 24 hour withdrawal of personal vehicles for work related use commencing at 12.01am on Friday 20 January 2023 until 23.59pm. This Industrial Action will be repeated on a monthly basis including the 20 February and 20 March 2023. All NIPSA members are also required to participate in joint Strike Action on the 26th January 2023 with attendance at Picket lines essential. NIPSA also wishes to give notice to members that it intends to take further Industrial Action specifically to highlight Safe Staffing issues in February 2023 with details to follow read more
Royal College of Nursing
RCN members forced to strike again over unfair pay and fears for patient safety (18 Jan) – NHS nursing staff across England will join picket lines for two consecutive days after the UK government refuses to open formal pay negotiations read more
NHS pay dispute: new February strike dates announced for England and Wales (16 Jan) – We’re escalating nursing strikes on 6 and 7 February after governments refuse to seriously negotiate. February will see NHS nursing staff go on strike in what will be our most widespread protest so far against unfair pay and unsafe staffing. If progress isn’t made by the end of January, members in England and Wales will go on strike on 6 and 7 February following the refusal of the UK and Welsh governments to seriously negotiate on the current year’s NHS pay deal. Last week the Welsh government met with unions to discuss NHS pay but failed to offer a substantiative and restorative pay award for 2022/23. While we’ve had discussions with the UK government, they refuse to engage in the formal negotiations which would stop nursing strikes. Our dispute is about NHS pay for this financial year and governments have so far wasted chances to avert strike action. Our first strikes took place in England, Northern Ireland and Wales on 15 and 20 December, with more strikes in England happening this week on 18 and 19 January. The nursing strikes now announced for February will be at the highest intensity in our history. They’ll take place at 73 NHS trusts in England, compared to 44 in December and 55 in January. The strikes in Wales will take place at the same NHS employers as they did in December read more
New negotiations on NHS pay to open with Scottish government (13 Jan) – RCN Scotland mandate for strike action brings new proposal for negotiations from Scottish government read more
RCN opens donations to strike fund in response to public desire to support striking staff – We’ve launched a donation page for people to financially help nursing staff on strike read more
Royal College of Midwives
RCM warns of worsening maternity crisis as senior midwife survey shows services at boiling point (26 Jan) – The maternity crisis we warned about is here. That’s the message from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) as a survey of UK senior midwives says they are relying significantly on the goodwill of staff working extra hours to ensure safe services read more
Midwives announce dates for strike action in Wales (23 Jan) – Midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) working in the NHS in Wales will take strike action from 8am to 4pm on 7 February. They will also be taking industrial action short of a strike by claiming payment for any overtime worked in the week following strike action. An RCM survey of its Welsh workplace branches in December showed that just over half (50.5%) of midwives felt they were unable to take breaks during their working day. The safety of women will be the prime concern during any industrial action says the RCM. There will be midwives and MSWs working on maternity units to ensure women – such as those in labour or needing emergency care – receive the care they need. Cover will be like that on a bank holiday read more
Midwives in Northern Ireland to be balloted on industrial action (18 Jan) – Midwives and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) working in Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland are to be balloted on industrial action over pay. The ballot opens on 31 January running until 7 March read more
RCM cites ‘cautious optimism’ on pay following Scottish Government meeting (13 Jan) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said it is cautiously optimistic that its calls for a decent pay deal can be met by the Scottish Government. At a meeting yesterday (12 January), the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, and the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Humza Yousaf, told the RCM that the Scottish Government is committed to a road map to resolve the ongoing pay dispute read more
CSP
First ever physiotherapy strike over pay takes place in England (26 Jan) – Up to 4,200 CSP members from 30 trusts went on strike today, as part of the ongoing dispute over the pay award given to NHS staff on the Agenda for Change pay scale. The CSP has been calling for meaningful discussions over an improved deal since last summer, with the pay award given by the government being less than half the rate of inflation and the NHS experiencing a disastrous workforce crisis that is badly damaging members’ ability to deliver high quality care. But despite government claims to be open to dialogue, no new offer has been tabled and physiotherapy staff have now reluctantly taken action read more
NHS physiotherapy staff to strike in Wales on 7 February (23 Jan) – NHS physiotherapy staff in all Welsh Health Boards will strike on 7 February, the CSP has announced. This will be a national strike and the first time physiotherapy staff in Wales have walked out over pay read more
CSP announces further employers affected by strike action in England (19 Jan) – NHS physiotherapy staff will strike at a further 32 health trusts across England on 9 February, the CSP has announced today. The strike day in February will follow the previously announced industrial action by CSP members at 30 other health trusts, which is due to take place on 26 January. Find out which members are being called out on 9 February. The industrial action called by CSP Council follows the CSP securing strike in 119 NHS employers across England – through ballots held at the end of last year and earlier this month. All eight health boards in Wales have also secured a strike mandate. The CSP will continue to participate in talks with the respective governments. However, if no improved offer is forthcoming, further strike dates will be announced in due course 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
Ballot to strike – opens 9th January 2023 – We have announced today (6 Jan) the form of industrial action we propose junior doctors should take. If a ballot for industrial action is successful, junior doctors in England will begin their action with a 72-hour full walkout in March. We are still urging the Secretary of State for Health to meet with us and negotiate a solution to avoid the need for industrial action. So far, all requests to meet with Steve Barclay have been ignored read more Strike Fund
HCSA
Hospital doctors’ union statement following meeting with Health Secretary over pay (12 Jan) – HCSA – the hospital doctors’ union has issued the following statement after the conclusion of talks over pay with Secretary of State Steve Barclay, alongside the British Medical Association and British Dental Association. HCSA general secretary Dr Paul Donaldson said: “The tone of the meeting was cordial, but there was no forward movement on funding for the pay settlement so sorely needed to stabilise the medical workforce. We pressed home the dire need for reform of the pay review system, action on pay and the pensions taxes hitting our Consultants and Specialists. But there was nothing today to head off the looming prospect of industrial action by junior doctors…” read more
HCSA junior doctors vote overwhelmingly for strike action in England – Junior Doctors in HCSA – the hospital doctors’ union have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in an all-England ballot. A decisive 97% Yes result was achieved on a turnout of 74.76%, easily passing legal thresholds. The result means that HCSA will now agree the timing and shape of strike action in coordination with other health unions. HCSA President Dr Naru Narayanan said the ballot result should act as a wake-up call to the government ahead of a separate vote of Junior Doctors by the British Medical Association which is set to close on 20th February read more
NEU
NEU to take strike action over pay (16 Jan) – Union announces strike action over pay after positive ballot results. In its ongoing campaign for a fully-funded, above inflation pay rise, teacher members of the National Education Union in England and Wales and support staff in Wales have voted overwhelmingly for strike action and the ballot has successfully surpassed the restrictive thresholds set by Government for strike action. The question put was, “Are you prepared to take strike action in furtherance of this dispute?”. For the ballot of teachers, in England a 90.44% majority voted YES on a turnout of 53.27%. In Wales a 92.28% majority voted YES on a turnout of 58.07% read more
NEU National Strike London Demonstration – Wednesday 1st February assemble 11am BBC Portland Place W1A 1AA for march to Westminster
DfE Talks with Education Unions (30 Jan) – The Government is unwilling to engage with the causes of strike action. Commenting on a meeting between Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, and the teacher unions, at the Department for Education today, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Gillian Keegan has squandered an opportunity to avoid strike action on Wednesday. The Government has been unwilling to seriously engage with the causes of strike action. Real-terms pay cuts and cuts in pay relativities are leading to a recruitment and retention crisis with which the education secretary so far seems incapable of getting a grip. Training targets are routinely missed, year on year. This is having consequences for learning, with disruption every day to children’s education…” read more
NEU rebuts ballot questions (24 Jan) – NEU rebuts Gillian Keegan’s questions over timing of ballot result announcement. On Saturday, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote to the National Education Union asking questions about the timing of the announcement of our strike ballot results. We are convinced that we have met the requirements and have responded in full. Copies of both letters are available on our website read more
Independent sector national pay campaign (17 Jan) – In an escalation of the union campaign for cost of living increases to match inflation, NEU members working in private schools will meet to discuss their own National Pay Campaign read more
NASUWT
DfE talks – Ministers must engage in meaningful dialogue (30 Jan) – Speaking following the latest talks at the DfE with education unions, NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “Although this was a largely amicable meeting, the lack of real progress remains of concern. It still remains the case there is a considerable gap to fill if we are to find a way forward to resolve our disputes and avoid the risk of further worsening of industrial relations. Ministers need to abandon their preconceptions and engage in meaningful dialogue to find a resolution…” read more
Northern Ireland teachers to strike over pay (25 Jan) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union will take strike action In Northern Ireland on Tuesday 21 February over the failure to offer teachers a fair and decent pay award. The NASUWT is calling for a fully funded 12% pay award for 2022/23. The strike action will consist of a half day strike on the morning of 21 February. The strike action follows a concerted campaign of action short of strike action across all grant-aided schools read more
NASUWT Scotland announces further strike action by teachers (20 Jan) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in Scotland will be taking two further days of strike action on 28th February and 1 March in its ongoing dispute with the Scottish Government and employers over teachers’ pay. These further dates are a result of the continuing failure of ministers and COSLA to come forward with an improved pay offer. The NASUWT is calling for a fully funded 12% pay award for 2022/23. The current pay offer of 5% for most teachers amounts to a further real-terms pay cut, following over a decade of pay freezes and below-inflation pay awards which have left teachers in Scotland almost £50,000 worse off as a result of their pay failing to keep pace with inflation. Alongside the strike action NASUWT members will continue to undertake ongoing action short of strike action read more
IOM teachers take further strike action (10 Jan) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in the Isle of Man will take two further days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday in the ongoing dispute over pay, workload and working practices. The strike action, which follows two previous days of strikes on 30th November and 1st December, follows the imposition of a pay award which represents a real terms pay cut of 3% for most teachers and which follows a 30% real terms loss in pay since 2010. NASUWT members rejected the current pay award. The NASUWT is calling for a multi-year fully funded pay offer that begins to address the real-terms historic erosion of pay as part of a medium to long-term strategy for the sustainable delivery of high-quality education into the future read more
NAHT
School leaders call for urgent pay rise as report shows ‘unprecedented’ numbers leaving the profession (27 Jan) – Submitted alongside the evidence is a new report, entitled Gone for Good, which reveals the number of school leaders leaving the profession. According to the government’s own figures, about a third (31%) of senior school leaders leave their post within 5 years of appointment. We now reveal that more than half (53%) of those who leave go on to leave the state-funded school system entirely read more
NAHT Cymru announces industrial action short of strike in schools across Wales (19 Jan) – School leaders in Wales will begin industrial action short of strike next month following NAHT Cymru’s ballot on pay and funding. The announcement comes as NAHT entered into meaningful discussions with the Welsh government and local authority employers on pay negotiations this morning where a one-off payment for teachers and leaders was discussed. The ballot results, announced on Monday, showed an exceptionally strong appetite for taking industrial action, with 95% voting ‘Yes’ to action short of strike (ASOS) and 75% voting ‘Yes’ to strike, with a turnout of 55% of the union’s membership. The union’s Welsh Executive Committee has now met with NAHT General Secretary Paul Whiteman and President Paul Gosling and an agreement was reached to instigate action. NAHT Cymru has notified the local authority and governing body employers of its intention to take action short of strike on an ongoing basis from Wednesday 1 February read more
School leaders’ union to consider re-running industrial action ballot due to postal disruption, as leaders in England and Wales vote to take action (16 Jan) – School leaders’ union NAHT, which represents leaders in the majority of schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, today (Mon 16 Jan) announces the results of its formal industrial action ballots on pay and funding, which began on Fri 11 November and closed on Weds 11 Jan. The ballot results in England show an extraordinarily strong appetite for taking industrial action amongst leaders, with 87% voting ‘Yes’ to action short of strike (ASOS) and 64% voting ‘Yes’ to strike. This means almost 10,000 school leaders across England are willing to take industrial action. However, the legal requirement for turnout in England was not met, with votes counted for 42% of the union’s membership – short of the 50% needed. Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: “It is incredibly frustrating that anti-trade union and anti-democratic legislation compelled us to conduct the ballot by post during a period in which the management of the Royal Mail refused to take action to ameliorate the disruption to the postal service.” Read more
EIS
EIS Council Lauds Teacher Strike Action, Condemns Lack of Constructive Discussions on Pay (27 Jan) – The national Council of the EIS has lauded Scotland’s teachers for their ongoing programme of strike action in pursuit of an improved pay deal from the Scottish Government and COSLA read more
Birthday of Scotland’s Bard Marked by Continuing Teacher Strikes Across Scotland (25 Jan) – Teachers in Edinburgh and South Ayrshire marked the birthday of Scotland’s national Bard, Rabbie Burns, as a programme of rolling national strike action over pay continued today read more
Rolling Teacher Strikes Reach Mid-Point, with no end to Dispute in Sight (24 Jan) – The ongoing rolling 16-day programme of teacher pay strikes will reach its mid-point tomorrow, with teachers in Edinburgh and South Ayrshire set to take strike action, followed by teachers in Midlothian and West Dunbartonshire on Thursday and in Falkirk and Renfrewshire on Friday read more
Government Talk of “Positive” Discussions on Teacher Pay Largely a PR Exercise (23 Jan) – Scotland’s teacher unions have today expressed their collective anger and disappointment with the continuing lack of progress in pay negotiations with the Scottish Government and COSLA. An SNCT negotiating meeting on Friday of last week, which was again labelled as “positive and constructive” by the Scottish Government and COSLA, once again failed to result in any progress whatsoever toward a new pay offer to Scotland’s teachers read more
EIS Announces Additional 22 Days of Strike Action as Teacher Pay Dispute Escalates (13 Jan) – The EIS has announced 22 additional days of strike action in an escalation of the dispute over teachers’ pay. This is in addition to the previously announced 16-day programme of rolling strike action, set to begin in schools across the country next week. EIS members have previously taken three days of national strike action – one in November and two in January – in the continuing campaign for a fair pay settlement for the year 2022. The EIS Executive Committee met today and agreed a programme of additional strike action that will include two days of national strike action in all schools and sectors on 28 February and 1 March, followed by a rolling programme of strikes for 20 days between 13 March and 21 April. Over the rolling strike period, each local authority area will be impacted by three consecutive days of strike action, with one day of strike action in all schools bookended on either side by one-day strikes in primary and secondary schools read more
SSTA
SSTA to Take Two Further Days of Strike Action (23 Jan) – The SSTA National Executive has, following another failed SNCT negotiating meeting, authorised two days of strike action on Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March. The SSTA will be joining members of sister unions in national strike action in a coordinated campaign of industrial action read more
UCU
Employers fall well short with new offer (26 Jan) – The joint trade unions met yesterday with UCEA to continue negotiations over pay and working conditions. Earlier in January UCEA had offered pay rises of between 4-5%, with some lower salaried roles receiving more, and with a portion paid in February rather than August. This offer had been rejected by the joint unions. Yesterday, the employers made a marginally improved offer, but which is still well below inflation and does nothing for years of pay degradation. Employers have still yet to make any further offers on the issues of casualisation, workload and equality pay gaps read more
University strike dates in February and March confirmed (24 Jan) – Unprecedented strike action will hit 150 UK universities throughout February and March unless university employers make substantially improved offers in disputes over pay, working conditions and pension cuts. In total, 70,000 UCU members will walk out read more
70,000 university staff to strike on 1 February (17 Jan) – Over 70,000 staff at 150 universities will strike on Wednesday 1 February. UCU is in dispute with 150 universities over the issues of pay, pensions and working conditions. The union said ‘the clock is ticking’ for university bosses to make staff a serious offer and avoid disruption. A further 17 days of strike action is due to take place over February and March. The precise dates are to be announced by the union next week. The action on Wednesday 1 February will coincide with TUC’s ‘protect the right to strike’ day. Five unions, UCU, NEU, ASLEF, PCS and RMT have already confirmed they will join the day of action against the Conservative government’s plans to introduce strict anti-strike measures through parliament. University staff have already taken three days of strike action this academic year after management imposed a pay rise worth just 3% this year following over a decade of below-inflation pay awards. UCU is demanding a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis as well as action to end the use of insecure contracts read more
Four days of strikes set to hit Sheffield College after ‘insulting’ 2.5% pay offer (18 Jan) – Over 200 staff at Sheffield College will be on strike Friday after receiving an ‘insulting’ pay offer of just 2.5% amid the cost-of-living scandal. Staff will then down tools for a further three days in January and February unless their demands are met, they will be on picket lines outside the college on each strike day. The full dates of strike action are: Friday 20 January, Monday 30 January, Tuesday 7 February, Thursday 9 February. Staff will also work to rule from Monday 23 January, 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. The announcement comes after an overwhelming 87% of members who voted said yes to strike action in a turnout of 59% read more
Three days of strikes begin Monday at Sparsholt College over low pay (6 Jan) – Three consecutive days of strike action at Sparsholt College in Hampshire will begin Monday after management refused to make a realistic pay offer. Staff will be picketing the college every day of the action. They have already taken three days of strike action this academic year in the long running pay dispute and are demanding a pay rise that helps them meet the cost-of-living crisis. RPI inflation is currently at 14% and the college is based in one of the least affordable areas to live in the UK. Despite this, the college has only offered an £850 consolidated pay rise alongside one off payments totalling just £450 read more
Staff to strike at Barnet & Southgate College – 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
Staff to strike at University of Sheffield International College – 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
Furness College staff to strike over low pay – 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 – 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 fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Firefighters deliver emphatic mandate for industrial action (30 Jan) – Firefighters across the UK have delivered a decisive mandate for strike action, with 88% voting Yes on a 73% turnout. The strike ballot opened on 5th December and closed on 30th January. Two separate simultaneous ballots, in Northern Ireland and among control room staff in the North West of England, also delivered strong results. In Northern Ireland, the result was even stronger, with 94% of members voting in favour of action. In the hope of averting strike action, the Fire Brigades Union has given the government and employers ten days (until Thursday 9th February) to come forward with an improved offer which could be put to a vote of members. If they go ahead, the strikes would be the first nation-wide fire strike over pay since 2003. FBU members rejected a below-inflation 5% pay offer in November last year. The vote on industrial action follows more than a decade of real terms pay cuts. It comes as fresh research shows that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop cancer than the general population read more
European Public Service Union challenges UK government’s anti strike law (30 Jan)
FBU responds to the death of Firefighter Barry Martin (27Jan) – The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has now confirmed that Firefighter Barry Martin has passed away following serious injuries sustained at a fire in the Jenners Building in Edinburgh on Monday 23rd January. Responding to this news, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: Everyone in the Scottish and UK Fire and Rescue Service will be devastated by today’s events. Our hearts go out to Barry’s family, colleagues and friends, and to all those who mourn his loss. Barry was a dedicated firefighter and a well-loved member of the firefighting community. We are very proud that he was a member of our union. Like so many firefighters, he put himself at risk to save the lives of others…” read more
Merseyside firefighters, control staff and Green Book staff vote for Action Short of Strike – 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
POA
NATIONAL CHAIR UPDATE JANUARY 2023:-
Meeting with Prisons Minister over Pay: On 12th January the General Secretary and I met with the Prisons Minister Damian Hinds MP to discuss the pay award for Prison Officers and related grades for 2023/24. We did not know what to expect from this meeting as this process had never previously taken place. At the meeting we delivered our expectations for POA members and reiterated that if any public sector body justified an inflation busting pay rise due to the uncompetitive nature of our pay compared to other public sector bodies, it had to be those that worked in our Public Sector Prisons. The Minister confirmed that he had no influence over the Treasury when it came to pay awards, did not have a budget to work to and could not offer the POA any assurances or deals over pay. We left the meeting bemused as to why it had been arranged in the first instance and concluded that this was nothing more than a publicity stunt by the Government so they could publicise that they had engaged with all public sector unions over pay. We will now progress to oral evidence with our Pay Review Body at a date yet to be confirmed.
Judicial Review Proceedings: Judicial Review proceedings commenced by six trade unions, relating to changes made by the Government to public sector pensions, will be heard in the High Court on 31st January 2023, with the trial due to last until Friday 3rd February. The Unions involved in this challenge are the POA, the FBU, GMB, PCS, the RCN and Unite read more
NAPO
News for Cafcass members – 2022/2023 pay dispute (20 Jan) – Please look out for more news next week arising from yesterday’s joint meeting of Napo and UNISON members. Union negotiators will be considering the valuable feedback that we received and will also take into account the replies we have received from the Employer and the Minister for Cafcass. Meanwhile we remain of the view that the unions have not agreed that the above dispute is concluded and we will be revisiting the potential options for industrial action as part of our next engagement with UNISON read more
BFAWU
Cool It! Managing workplace temperatures (30 Jan) – How often have you heard managers say “It’s not our fault, we can’t control the weather!”? Working in temperatures exceeding 24°C presents a serious risk to health read more
Government must end ‘rampant’ exploitation of migrant workers, say Unions (23 Jan) – Sarah Woolley: 20 trade unions, including UNISON, the RMT and the PCS union, have condemned Government’s attempts to ‘pit’ workers against each other, and are calling for urgent action to advance the rights of migrant workers, including undocumented people, and end migrant worker exploitation read more
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
Join the right to strike day of action (30 Jan) – There will be a day of protests across the UK on Wednesday 1 February. The NUJ is supporting the TUC-coordinated fight against new legislation which will curb trade unionists’ rights and deny certain workers the right to take strike action. There is an NUJ campaigns page which gives information on where to find the nearest organised protest near you, and how to make your voice heard in protest against these anti-democratic and draconian measures read more
Government must act now to clamp down on Slapps (26 Jan) – The NUJ is deeply concerned about the shocking reports revealing the UK government helped Yevgeny Prigozhin, a sanctioned ally of Putin ally and leader of the mercenary army Wager Group, sue British journalist Eliot Higgins read more
Two men to stand trial for murder of journalist Lyra McKee (23 Jan) – Peter Cavanagh, 35, and Jordan Devine, 22, are charged with killing of journalist in Derry in 2019. Two men are to stand trial for the murder of the writer Lyra McKee, who was shot dead while observing a riot in Northern Ireland in 2019 read more
BBC journalists to vote on latest plans for local radio (19 Jan) – Following negotiations with the NUJ, the BBC has made concessions on the drastic cuts it had proposed. Members are now considering if they will be enough. BBC journalists are holding a consultative ballot following negotiations with the BBC over cuts to local radio read more
BBC journalists hold consultative ballot for action over cuts at Radio Foyle (13 Jan) – BBC members in Northern Ireland are voting in a consultative ballot for industrial action over the corporation’s proposal to close 36 posts across the province and end the popular BBC Radio Foyle Breakfast Show. The members are further angered by the BBC’s lack of consultation and its refusal to provide information on the costs of running Radio Foyle, the potential impact of the cuts on stress, and on equality. They have described the tone of management as “confrontational and disrespectful towards the union”. More than 250 people joined a rally in support of Radio Foyle in Derry earlier this month and thousands have signed a petition asking for the show to be saved. Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, has been invited to visit the city and explain his plans. The NUJ says the ballot is about protecting public service broadcasting in the whole of Northern Ireland. A yes vote in the consultative ballot is likely to lead to a formal ballot for strike action read more
NUJ members vote for industrial action at STV (22 Dec) – There has been an overwhelming strike vote at the Scottish broadcaster. The results of the ballot were 85 per cent for strike action and 93 per cent for action short of a strike. STV’s original offer was £2,000 to each employee read more
Prospect
Prospect launches biggest industrial action ballot of public sector members in over a decade (27 Jan) – Prospect has opened a formal ballot for thousands of civil service and other public sector workers for industrial action over pay – including the Cabinet Office ‘cap’ of 3% on pay offers – threats of job losses, and a proposed cut to redundancy terms read more
Public sector ballots: Why we have no choice left but to vote for action (27 Jan) – Mike Clancy: The government’s intransigence on public sector pay, their ideological obsession with cutting the size of the civil service and threatening to reduce redundancy terms has left us with no other option but to recommend a Yes vote for industrial action, writes Mike Clancy, Prospect general secretary read more
Prospect members working on the Elizabeth Line strike for first time (12 Jan) – Prospect members working at Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI), which operates the Elizabeth Line, are taking strike action for the first time in a dispute over pay. The action will take place from 0630 on 12 January until 0630 on 13 January read more
FDA
FDA Fast Stream members vote to strike (17 Jan) – FDA members in the central Fast Stream have overwhelmingly voted to take strike action over pay. On a turnout of 60%, comfortably surpassing the legal threshold of 50%, 88% backed industrial action in the statutory postal ballot. FDA National Officer for the Fast Stream, Lauren Crowley, stated “our Fast Stream members have been absolutely clear – they will no longer put up with unfair pay. This result highlights the anger that our members are feeling, they are tired of empty promises when it comes to pay reform.” Read more
Community
Statement on planned industrial action in the education sector (17 Jan) – In response to the recent news about the results of education unions’ ballots for industrial action, Helen Osgood, National Officer for Education & Early Years, said: “Educators across the country have been making their voice heard and expressing their dismay about the pay offer that has been put to them. 8 out of 10 of our teaching members told us they are not happy with the pay offer they had received, and they wanted to seek a political solution to this issue…I urge the Government to come up with an increased offer on pay for teachers and teaching assistants who are overworked and underpaid. We respect staff across the sector and members of other unions who have made the difficult decision to go out on strike. Whilst our members have not chosen to go on strike, we ask them to show respect and support for colleagues from other unions, who have made the decision to take strike action. We ask them to never undertake any work that would be carried out by a colleague who is on strike read more
Equity
Equity UK joins Irish Equity in calling for protection of film workers intellectual property rights (24 Jan) – Today we join our sister union Irish Equity in sharing a statement calling for the protection of film workers’ intellectual property rights in Ireland. The statement follows an online discussion hosted by Irish Equity on 11th January, ‘Contracts, Your Rights and the EU Copyright Directive’, which focused on how greater protection can be secured for the intellectual property rights of film workers in Ireland read more
West End shows facing strike threat as Equity puts in 17% pay claim – some of the West End’s biggest shows could be hit by strike action after performers union Equity put in a 17% pay claim for thousands of its members in theatreland read more on Evening Standard website
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
Protect the right to strike! Usdaw urges MPs to vote down the Government’s anti-union legislation (30 Jan) – Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on Members of Parliament to reject the Government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which has been timetabled to complete all its remaining House of Commons stages in one day on Monday 30 January read more
‘Fire and rehire’ should be banned not given a code of practice says Usdaw (25 Jan) – Retail trade union Usdaw has responded to the Government’s proposed code of practice on ‘fire and rehire’ with deep disappointment. ‘Fire and rehire’ refers to when an employer dismisses an employee and offers to re-engage them on a new contract with less-favourable terms. Rather than end ‘fire and rehire’, the Government’s proposed statutory code of practice sets out how employers’ can change contractual terms and conditions of employment. The TUC have condemned the code, saying “A statutory code of practice is not going to stop another P&O-style scandal from happening and it won’t deter bad bosses from treating staff like disposable labour.” Read more
Government must end rampant exploitation of migrant workers says Usdaw (23 Jan) – Retail trade union Usdaw has joined with other unions to condemn Government’s attempts to ‘pit’ workers against each other, and to call for urgent action to advance the rights of migrant workers, including undocumented people, and end migrant worker exploitation. Signatories to the statement include ASLEF, BFAWU, Community, IWW, ITF, IWGB, Musicians Union, NASUWT, NUJ, NEU, PCS, RMT, SWU, the TUC, UCU, UNISON, Unite, Usdaw, USW and URTU. It has been co-ordinated by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants read more
IWGB
Outsourced UCL security staff to strike alongside UCU as part of 1 February national day of action (25 Jan) – Outsourced security guards at University College London (UCL), employed by subcontractor Bidvest Noonan, are returning to the picket line on 1 February. Members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) will take action alongside lecturers represented by UCU, as part of a nationally coordinated day of public sector strike action. Pickets will be held at Malet Place from 6am, with workers and their families taking to the UCL quad at 10am for a photo opportunity and protest action, breaking open a treasure chest piñata representing UCL’s £90 million surplus read more
UVW
UVW member wins four years of unpaid holiday pay (24 Jan) – “We should not be afraid to fight for our rights. If our employer breaches our contract, whether through a genuine mistake or not, or exploits us in some other way, we must fight back. The union will always back us up if we need help,” – Cleaner and UVW member. A cleaner and UVW member has been awarded over £5,000 for unpaid holiday pay over four years of service, after formally complaining to his employer about this serious irregularity read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
Construction workers transferred to UK win WRC case for increased redundancy pay (30 Jan) – Workers temporarily transferred to the UK by the construction company, Roadbridge, who lost their jobs when the business went into receivership last year, have won a significant increase in their redundancy payments at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) read more
SIPTU members laid off by Nuremore Hotel in Carrickmacross demand payment of wages (27 Jan) – SIPTU members employed at the Nuremore Hotel in Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, who have been placed on lay off since the 1st January, are demanding the payment of their outstanding wages and clarification on the future of their workplace read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Dunnes Workers Survey Launched (30 Jan) – Dunnes Workers Pay & Benefits Claim Update: Dear member, As we continue to push for improvements in the pay and benefits of all Dunnes Stores workers, we are reaching out to you, our valued members, for your input and feedback. The recent 8% pay increase and enhanced privilege card benefits implemented by the company was a step in the right direction, but there is still more work to be done. Therefore, we are launching a survey to gather your feedback on the remaining aspects of our Pay & Benefits Claim read more
Workers at Corrib Oil, Ballinasloe, to strike again from 6.30am tomorrow over company’s refusal to recognise their right to be represented by Mandate trade union (27 Jan) – Company has refused to honour pre-Christmas offer to engage in talks. Staff at the Corrib Oil filling station in Ballinasloe will strike again from 6.30am to 10pm tomorrow (Saturday, 28 January) over the company’s refusal to recognise their right to be represented by the Mandate Trade Union. The company has refused to honour its pre-Christmas offer to engage with the union despite a number of requests for meetings from the union over recent weeks read more
Other news
Hi All – Thanks for your continuing support for Trade Union Education at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (Conel). Please find attached some courses were have advertised for next term and beyond. All courses are advertised in the https://www.tuc.org.uk/TUCcoursesAs.
Couple of updates:-
- Employment law diploma is now full for Jan 2023.
- Cert in employment law have moved it to classroom.
Seasons Greetings
Best Regards
Jonathan Jeffries
PS If you need any ICT courses contact [email protected]. We also do bespoke courses for trade unions
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.
International
From NUJ website – Bangladesh: journalist murdered in knife attack (20 Jan) – The NUJ has condemned the murder and urged Bangladeshi authorities to seek justice for Ashiqul Islam’s death. The National Union of Journalists has joined the International Federation of Journalists in condemning the murder of reporter Ashiqul Islam read more
Diary
February
6 NSSN national online public meeting: after February 1st & 6th strikes, how to we all strike together? – 6pm
Zoom details – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87166952312?pwd=TFAvV25Bekd3a1lod2gvNURUMWczdz09
Meeting ID: 871 6695 2312 Passcode: 060223
June
24 NSSN national conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, London
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
