At the TUC Congress in Liverpool, that starts on Sunday September 10th, one of the major debates will be on the Tories’ new anti-union legislation. The Minimum Service Level Act (MSL) was passed into law before the Parliamentary summer recess. This means that striking unions can face massive fines and their members can be under threat of dismissal at any time.
The FBU, RMT, Unite, UCU and NASUWT all have motions on opposing the MSL. The NSSN is lobbying TUC, and supporting all these motions, that if passed would set out a fighting programme to take on and defeat this latest Tory attack on the union movement and our right to strike. The strike wave that has built over the last few years and particularly the last 12 months or so shows workers are prepared to fight to get the pay rises we need and also resist other government and employer attacks on our jobs, conditions and the services we provide. That same period has shown that this is a crisis-ridden Tory government that can be beaten.
NSSN pre-TUC Congress Rally in Liverpool on Sunday September 10th: Fight the Tory anti-union attack – from 1pm at Premier Meetings, Liverpool Albert Dock L3 4AD
The NSSN is delighted to announce the first confirmed speakers at the rally that we have again called at TUC Congress in Liverpool on Sunday September 10th – Union General Secretaries Sharon Graham Unite, Sarah Woolley BFAWU, Steve Gillan POA, Mick Whelan ASLEF and also a speaker from NAPO. We’ll announce others when they are confirmed. We will also give a platform to the many strikes that are taking place.
The annual NSSN Conference on 24th June debated the model motion (now updated below) and unanimously voted to agree it, including supporting the NSSN rally and lobby of TUC Congress. We encourage all union branches and trades councils to discuss the motion and hopefully agree it.
The NSSN agrees with fighting unions that are calling for action to ensure that no union is left isolated against the Tory anti-union laws. The NSSN believes that if workers take action together, the crisis-ridden Tories and their anti-union offensive can be defeated.
Watch videos of NSSN Conference – Opening Chair’s remarks with brief highlights of the rally and interviews
The leaflet for the NSSN TUC Rally & Lobby is here. You can email us via [email protected] to order some. Also, email us for transport information
To go on the bus from Hull & Leeds – click here
West Midlands coach:-
Coventry pick-up – 8:30am, outside the old swimming baths, Fairfax St, Coventry City Centre CV1 5RQ. Returning approximately 7pm
Birmingham pick-up – 9am, outside the Alexandra Theatre, Suffolk St Queensway, Birmingham City Centre B5 4DS. Returning approximately 6:30pm
For more info/to book a space call/text Nick on 0797 449 3525 or Max on 07413 641450 or email [email protected] Facebook event
The following are supporting lobbying the TUC. Send us details if your union also agrees to support and we’ll include in this list:-
Model Motion on Tory Minimum Service Levels Act
This conference/union/branch/trades council recognises the ‘Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act’ is a major attack on trade union rights. Sunak’s Conservative government are attempting draconian, undemocratic measures to curtail the right to strike.
Coming on the back of four decades of brutal Tory anti-union legislation, from that of Thatcher and Major through to Cameron, Johnson and now Sunak, it is clearly designed to cut across the strike wave across all sectors, rather than tackle the causes of the cost-of-living crisis. This is another crude attempt to shift the blame for inflation onto the working class whereas every worker knows it is the bosses and their class’s profiteering, which has created the crisis.
The Act allows employers to issue a notice to unions setting out who is required to work during a strike. This potentially leaves unions who refuse to comply open to serious financial penalties through sequestration of funds and removes workers’ protection from being dismissed for undertaking lawful industrial action.
We believe no individual union or member should be left isolated and the whole of the trade union movement must mobilise – collectively – in defence of workers’ rights.
We demand:
1. All unions and the TUC urgently call a national Saturday demonstration against the new law;
2. Keir Starmer pledges an incoming Labour government to reverse fines and other measures taken against any union under the terms of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act;
3. All employers refuse to use the provisions of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act and that a lead in such non-compliance be given by any government, council, fire authority or other employer led by the Labour Party;
4. If any union is taken to court or worker threatened with dismissal, an emergency demonstration is called and an immediate meeting of the TUC General Council be convened to organise mass co-ordinated strike action, including a 24-hour general strike;
5. The repeal of all anti-union legislation.
We support the NSSN rally to be held at TUC Congress in Liverpool on Sunday 10 September lobbying for this programme of action.
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it and/or making an additional donation to help our work. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month via a standing order.
You can either pay online to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790.
Or you can pay by cheque to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to 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]
Burston Strike School Rally 2023 – Sunday September 3rd, 10.30am Diss Road, Burston IP22 4HS. For transport details, see Burston Strike School Facebook group
Union News
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RMT
Railway workers will march to Downing Street to save ticket offices (30 Aug) – RMT members, supporters and campaign groups will march on Parliament and Downing Street on Thursday to save our ticket offices. They will be joined by passenger groups and disability rights campaigners ahead of the consultation on the future of ticket, offices, closing on September 1. There have been up to half a million responses with the overwhelming majority showing support for RMT‘s campaign. Train operating companies alongside the government are seeking to close up to 1000 ticket, offices and slash 2300 jobs from stations around the country. The demonstration and rally by the union and campaigners will mark the next phase of the campaign. We shall see, increase lobbying of MPs and possibly further industrial action. RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch said: “We are sending a clear message to the government and profiteering rail operators that our ticket offices must not be closed. The campaign to save our ticket offices has amassed widespread public support and forced an extension of the consultation. However, our campaign will continue beyond the consultation deadline…” read more
Unipart Rail staff take four days strike (29 Aug) – Engineers, clerical staff and production operatives working for Unipart Rail will start a 4-day strike on today. RMT members are angry that management has been unwilling to improve a derisory 4.75% which the union has flatly rejected. Despite attempts by union negotiators to recommend a pathway to a resolution, Unipart cancelled a last-ditch meeting, torpedoing any chance of calling strikes off. Unipart workers will be on strike in Crewe from: 00:01 hours on Tuesday 29th August 2023 until 23:59 hours on Friday 1st September 2023 read more
RMT writes to Rail Delivery Group urging a resolution (26 Aug) – Rail union, RMT has written to the RDG with a road map to a negotiate settlement to the long running national dispute. 20,000 railway workers working for 14 train operators are on strike today and on September 2 read more
Strike action to secure settlement and save ticket offices goes ahead (25 Aug) – 20,000 RMT members will strike Saturday across 14 train operating companies, after the RDG made no new proposals. The latest stoppage in the 18 month long dispute comes as no progress has been made with rail operators, hamstrung by a government who refuses to give them a mandate to make a revised offer. RMT are also scheduled to take strike action on September 2 if no further progress is made read more
RMT responds to P&O Ferries axing Liverpool to Dublin route (22 Aug) – Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary said: “P&O Ferries said they unlawfully sacked nearly 800 seafarers to protect jobs elsewhere in their UK operation. This latest attack on maritime jobs and skills proves that Tory Ministers were wrong to believe P&O Ferries and its CEO Peter Hebblethwaite…” read more
RMT to march on Parliament to save ticket offices (19 Aug) – Railway workers will take the fight for the future of ticket offices to the doorstep of 10 Downing Street on 31 August. The mass rally will see RMT members, trades unionists and supporters from across the political landscape tell the government in no uncertain terms that ticket offices must be saved. A consultation on the future of ticket offices which has received nearly 400,000 responses will close on September 1st and the union is encouraging everyone to take part. Current plans will see up to 1000 ticket offices closed and 2,300 station staff jobs are in jeopardy. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The public response to the government wanting to shut every ticket office in Britain has been very encouraging…” read more
Save Our Ticket Offices March – Thursday, 31 August at 5pm Department for Transport, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR Facebook event
CrossCountry rail staff take strike action (17 Aug) – Workers on CrossCountry trains will take four consecutive Saturday strikes in a dispute over working conditions. Management proposals for staff in Edinburgh would see members becoming poorer, after CrossCountry withdrew an earlier financial offer. There is also no commitment to ensure that members currently with flexible working arrangements will continue to keep their existing agreements in their entirety. CrossCountry informed the RMT that all despatch duties will cease, and that the despatch element of our members current role ‘does not meet their business model’. RMT believes this is the thin end of the wedge. Attempts to resolve the issue through dialogue have so far failed and the union has been appalled at the attitude displayed by management who have focused on circulating propaganda to staff attempting to divide the workforce rather than come to a settlement… Strike dates are as follows:-
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 19th August 2023
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 26th August 2023
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 2nd September 2023
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 9th September 2023 read more
ASLEF
ASLEF: Train drivers’ union announces new industrial action (18 Aug) – ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has today [Friday] announced another one day strike – on Friday 1 September – and an overtime ban across the UK rail network on Saturday 2 September. The strike will force companies to cancel all services in this country and the ban on overtime will seriously disrupt the network as none of the privatised train operating companies employs enough drivers to provide a proper service without drivers working on their days off. The 16 companies affected include: Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; c2c; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; Great Western Railway; Island Line; LNER; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains read more
TSSA
TSSA raises safety fears if ticket offices close (30 Aug) – Safety fears for staff if ticket offices close. TSSA rail union has today raised serious safety concerns for staff if the Westminster government proceed with plans to close most ticket offices in England. The union’s intervention follows reports of an attempted assault at London’s Maze Hill station on 24 August in which an intoxicated male attempted to spit at ticket office staff. The incident report states that ‘the male proceeded to stare at the female member of staff and when asked to stop he began spitting on the ticket office window. The staff member backed away from the window at which point the male began verbally abusing them and passing passengers’. The incident is a worrying echo of the attack on Belly Mujinga, a TSSA member who worked at Victoria station in central London and was one of the first front-line workers to die of coronavirus read more
Protest against ticket office closures at Department for Transport (29 Aug) – A typical orange train ticket with words “Cut their profits not our ticket offices”, above 3 closed ticket office windows, against a blue background with golden railtracks. There are three logos, for TSSA, ASLEF and We Own It on the picture. We Own It, Bring Back British Rail, along with rail unions ASLEFand TSSA will protest against ticket office closures at the Department for Transport today (Tuesday) read more
460,000 responses show public firmly against ticket office closures (25 Aug) – Bristol Temple Meads station ticket office. There are people waiting to be seen byt staff. TSSA today demanded Transport Secretary Mark Harper shelve closure plans for ticket offices in England after Transport Focus announced more than 460,000 people have responded to their consultation. Independent travel watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch are running a statutory consultation on plans to close most ticket offices in England as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow. The plans have been widely criticized by disability and pensioner groups, as well as rail unions and passenger interest groups. TSSA members and activists are engaging with rail users at stations across the country and have received an overwhelmingly positive response from passengers who want their ticket offices to remain open read more
TSSA condemn “phony” Minimum Service Levels consultation exercise (25 Aug) – Large picket line at York station with placards and Rachael Maskell MP. TSSA today condemned the government’s “phony” consultation on the Minimum Service Levels (MSL) legislation saying “If they had any interest in listening to us it wouldn’t be happening.” The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 was passed earlier this year despite protests by trade unions read more
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! North Tyneside council workers to strike in pay dispute (30 Aug) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by North Tyneside council will begin strike action next month in a dispute over pay. The 260 plus workers have rejected the national pay offer of a flat rate increase of £1,925. The offer is below the rate of inflation and amounts to a real terms pay cut. The workers will initially take strike action on Wednesday 6 and 13 September. Strike action will affect services across the council however, Unite members are predominantly in building trades, health visitors, school and nursery nurses, admin roles and bereavement services read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Stagecoach Manchester strikes off after Unite secures significant pay rise (30 Aug) – Workers accept new offer from employer following union campaign – pressure now on First Group to follow suit. Stagecoach Manchester bus drivers have called off their proposed strike action after accepting a new pay deal, Unite, the country’s leading trade union, announced today (Wednesday 30 August). Unite members voted to accept the deal which will see pay increases of approximately 16 per cent for both new and established drivers – well above the current RPI rate of inflation of nine per cent. The new pay deal also includes pay rises for weekend and bank holiday work and follows an aggressive campaign by Unite on behalf of its members across Greater Manchester. While industrial action by Stagecoach drivers is now cancelled, First Manchester drivers are still heading to the picket line as the employer has refused to come to the table with an improved pay offer acceptable to members read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Hull Citizens Advice strikes intensify as protests spread to Bridlington and Goole (30 Aug) – Wealthy charity ‘disgracefully’ refusing to award national pay deal after years of doing so. Strikes by over 60 Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice workers intensified this week, as protests spread to the bureau’s offices in Bridlington and Goole. Nine consecutive days of fresh strike action began this week, following four days of industrial action in late July and August. The workers voted for strike action after the charity refused to increase pay in line with National Joint Council (NJC) scales operated by local authorities, as has been the norm for the last 20 years. The NJC has recommended a consolidated payment of £1,925 for all grades for 2022. Citizens Advice in Hull and East Riding can afford to implement the payment and had cash reserves of £1,076,156 as of 31 March 2022, with that amount set to increase by the end of the year read more
Luton airport facing major disruption tomorrow due to industrial action (29 Aug) – Passenger using Luton Airport tomorrow (Wednesday 30 August) are facing extensive disruption and delays as workers at three different companies are involved in strike action. The most severe disruption is set to be caused by the walkout of workers at ground handlers GH London, due to a complete breakdown in industrial relation. GH London is responsible for all Wizz Air’s ground handling operations at the airport. The 100 plus workers are taking strike action as a result of GH London continually targeting and threatening a Unite rep with disciplinary action; the use of CCTV and audio recording of workers in break rooms without agreement; the company’s failure to follow its own disciplinary and grievance process; the disproportionate use of discipline against ethnic minority employees; and its failure to pay wages in full and on time. Further strikes have been announced for 6 and 13 September. Last ditch talks aimed at resolving the dispute held at the conciliation service Acas today (Tuesday 29 August) ended without agreement. Workers employed by Saase Limited on the airports outsourced cleaning contract will also be on strike tomorrow. The workers who are paid just £10.90 an hour, have rejected a below inflation pay increase. The strike will result in dirty toilets and an unkempt airport. Both groups of workers will also be joined by car park workers employed by APCOA. The workers are taking industrial action as a result of their company imposing a below inflation pay offer. Strike action results in delays for passengers and staff who use the car parks and terminal at Luton Airport. The workers taking action include valet parking workers and bus drivers transporting passengers and staff from car parks to the airport terminal read more
Selby bin strikes off after Unite secures pay victory (29 Aug) – Selby bin strikes by refuse workers employed by Ubraser on behalf of the North Yorkshire unitary authority have ended after an improved deal was secured. The workers voted to accept the deal, which will see pay increase by eight per cent backdated to April for all workers. Drivers will also see their bonus for this year consolidated into basic pay, meaning their wages will increase by 15.1 per cent. In addition, a single payment of £57.45 will be applied when collection crews are reduced from three workers to two. These payments will be backdated for every instance of reduced crew working since April read more
Scottish university and college workers strike set to disrupt new academic term (29 Aug) – 1,000 Unite members set to walk-out for five days. Unite the union has today (29 August) confirmed that around 1,000 members employed in four universities and four colleges across Scotland are set to take strike action during the first weeks of the new academic term. The trade union recently confirmed it received industrial action mandates from its members at the University of Glasgow, Dundee University, Abertay University, Edinburgh Napier University and Strathclyde University. There will be five days of action over the course of two weeks involving staff at four universities, which are as follows: 13-15 September and 18-19 September. No date, as yet, has been announced for Edinburgh Napier, where Unite also has a mandate for strike action. Unite’s members involved in the pay dispute include technicians, cleaners, security officers, and janitors. The vast majority of Unite members have had a 5-6 per cent pay offer imposed on them. The pay imposition follows a derisory uplift of 3 per cent for the majority of members in 2022. The current dispute is part of a UK wide higher education pay dispute read more
Scottish university workers support strike action in pay dispute (23 Aug) – 1,000 members at five universities set to walk-out over real terms pay cut. Unite the union has today (23 August) confirmed that around 1,000 members employed in five universities across Scotland are set to take strike action. The trade union confirmed it received industrial action mandates from its members at the University of Glasgow, Dundee University, Abertay University, Edinburgh Napier and Strathclyde University. Unite’s members involved in the pay dispute include technicians, cleaners, security officers, and janitors. The industrial action ballots were launched over a failure to reach agreement on the 2023/24 pay award. It is anticipated that Unite will release its strike action dates involving the five universities next week read more
180 workers at Browns meat factory to strike over poverty pay (28 Aug) – Dumfriesshire based company to face weeks of industrial action. Unite the union confirmed that around 180 members based at the Dumfriesshire food manufacturer Browns are starting strike action today (28 August) in a dispute over poverty pay. Unite’s production, distribution and maintenance members based in Kelloholm, Sanquhar, emphatically rejected a pay offer from the company which equals the real Living Wage of £10.90 an hour. The workers will participate in three days of industrial action over a period of three consecutive weeks. The first round begins today and ends on 31 August. An overtime ban is also in effect until 18 September (see notes to editor). The Dumfriesshire based firm specialises in the production and manufacturing of quality cooked and sliced meats for a large range of businesses, supermarkets and schools read more
Carey Glass must intervene to resolve Lurgan Vista Therm dispute (25 Aug) – Nenagh-based Carey group warned dispute may shatter ‘Best in Glass’ claim. Unite highlights reputational risks to group if dispute not resolved. Unite members in dispute with Vista Therm travelled to Nenagh, headquarters of the Carey Glass group of companies, today (Friday) to highlight Vista Therm’s refusal to talk to workers about a cost-of-living pay increase. Vista Therm workers set up stalls in Nenagh town centre and gathered signatures for a petition asking people to support the workers’ demands that management recognise their union Unite, negotiate a cost-of-living pay increase, and treat workers with dignity and respect. Unite is calling on Carey Glass to intervene and resolve the long-running dispute which has seen production at the Lurgan plant severely curtailed read more Sign the Vista Therm solidarity petition!
Unite secures inflation beating pay deal to end long running strike at St Mungo’s charity (25 Aug) – Hundreds of workers employed by homelessness charity St Mungo’s have ended their long running strike victorious after accepting an inflation beating pay increase. After three months of strike action and tireless campaigning the workers have agreed to a pay increase which works out at 10.74 per cent based on a median wage or £3,125 in cash terms. Plus, the total financial gain includes a one-off payment of £700 for most workers. The cash-based deal also means the lower paid workers will get a bigger share of the pot and Unite’s campaign of industrial action has made certain that executive directors at the Charity agree to a pay freeze for 2023/24 read more
March for the future of the homeless sector – Saturday 2nd September, assemble 11.30am outside St John’s Church, Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8TY
Freebridge housing workers to strike – Freebridge Community Housing paying poverty wages despite £3.6m surplus. Nearly 60 Freebridge Community Housing workers will strike over poverty pay Unite said today. Unite members in LE1111 housing workers branch send solidarity. Many of the workers, who perform a variety of roles, including in cleaning and maintenance, are paid little more than the national minimum wage and many are struggling to pay their bills. The workers will strike on 21, 29, 30 and 31 August and on 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 September. The strike action will severely impact Freebridge’s cleaning and maintenance services and will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Unite announces strike dates across Welsh Local Authorities (25 Aug) – 3 Local Authorities in Wales to take strike action over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced that its members in three Welsh local authorities initially, will begin taking strike action from 4th September in a dispute over pay. Unite members have overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year, despite the cost-of-living crisis having worsened. The first industrial action will involve Unite members at both Cardiff and Wrexham Councils who will start continuous strike action from September 4th to September 17th. They will be joined by workers at Gwynedd Council who will strike from September 11th to September 17th. Unite members at Cynon Valley Waste have also voted for strike action, with dates for their action still to be finalised read more
Unite announces autumn council strikes following “dismissive and patronising” employers’ letter (24 Aug) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced that its members in an initial 23 local authorities will begin taking strike action from next week in a dispute over pay. Unite members have overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year, despite the cost-of-living crisis having worsened. The first industrial action will involve Unite members at Chesterfield council who will strike next Tuesday and Wednesday (29 and 30 August). The other councils with industrial action mandates will then take strike action throughout September…The English councils that have secured mandates for strike action are: Bath and North East Somerset, Chesterfield, Coventry, Cumberland, Darlington, Haringey, Ipswich, Newham, North Tyneside, Tower Hamlets, Truro, Sefton, Southwark, Warrington, Westminster and Wigan. The Welsh councils who are part of the industrial action campaign are: Cardiff, Cynon Valley Waste, Gwynedd and Wrexham. In addition, Tamar Bridge and Ferry Port, Greater Manchester Fire and Civil Defence and Derby Homes, whose workers are subject to local government pay, also voted in favour of strikes read more
Chesterfield council housing workers strike over pay (25 Aug) – Over 100 housing maintenance workers employed by Chesterfield council will begin strike action next week in a dispute over pay. The workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will take strike action next week on Tuesday 29 August and Wednesday 30 August. The dispute is a result of the workers not having received a pay rise for 15 years…The Chesterfield strike is part of a wider local authority dispute over pay, Unite has industrial action mandates for 23 councils across England and Wales. The union has rejected this year’s local government pay offer of £1,925 as it amounts to a real terms pay cut read more
Rail network facing signalling shortages as Unipart workers in Crewe strike over pay (25 Aug) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned rail companies including Network Rail to be braced for a delay in the supply of signalling equipment as workers at Unipart Rail strike next week in a dispute over pay. The workers have rejected a 4.75 per cent pay increase, which is a sizeable real terms pay cut with the true rate of inflation (RPI) currently standing at nine per cent. The workers will take strike action beginning at 00:01hrs on Tuesday 29 August and continuing until 23:59 on Friday 1 September. An overtime ban will also be in place beginning today (Friday 25 August)and ending on Monday 4 September read more
Semiconductor manufacturer making tens of millions faces a strike ballot over pay (24 Aug) – Workers begin voting on strike action this Friday (25) August. Manufacturing workers building semiconductors for a range of markets will begin voting on strike action today (Friday 25 August) in a dispute over a real terms pay cut. Despite £39 million in profit, Diodes Zetex Semiconductors Ltd in Oldham is offering its workers a paltry 5.5 per cent pay increase when inflation (RPI) is 9 per cent. Its parent company Diodes Incorporated made massive gross profits of £827 million in 2022, up 23 per cent. Unite is balloting 126 members comprising of direct manufacturing operatives, professional engineers and support staff. There are 23 workers earning just the minimum wage read more
A.G. Barr workers to resume strike action as Unite accuses soft-drinks giant of ‘anti-union’ tactics (24 Aug) – Unite says use of agency labour during strike action potentially illegal. Unite has today (24 August) claimed that A.G. Barr has potentially engaged in illegal activity during industrial action at the company’s production and distribution centre in Cumbernauld. The trade union can reveal that it has reported A.G. Barr and the contractors – Stobbart and Streamline – to the Department for Business and Trade. Unite is demanding an investigation into the soft-drinks giant for the potential use of agency labour through the contractors during previous rounds of strike action, and calling for any possible enforcement action to be taken. Unite represents trucker and shunter drivers who are essential to the supply of the company’s world-renowned products including Irn-Bru – one of the nation’s most popular soft drinks. The workers are scheduled to resume 24-hour strike action from midnight Friday 25 August in the increasingly bitter pay dispute read more
Union leader highlights energy market failures as consumers continue to get a raw deal from Ofgem (24 Aug) – Sharon Graham: Public ownership would lower bills and lower inflation. On the eve of the new price cap, Unite the union, has highlighted how energy companies are making record profits while the government and industry regulator, Ofgem, stand by and do nothing to support workers and communities read more
Threat of Gatwick airport bank holiday strikes off as workers accept improved pay offers (24 Aug) – The threat of strike action at Gatwick Airport this weekend has ended after workers accepted dramatically improved pay offers. Unite, the UK’s leading union, had called strike action this weekend on behalf of members employed by ground handlers Red Handling and Wilson James who undertake the passenger mobility contract at the airport. However, following improved pay offers both strikes have been cancelled and there is currently no further industrial action scheduled at the airport…Members of Unite at Red Handling accepted a 14 per cent increase in pay. In addition, they will receive improved overtime rates and better sick pay. During the course of the dispute, Unite has more than doubled its membership at the company…Meanwhile Unite’s members at Wilson James accepted a 16 per cent pay increase, an increase in overtime rates from next month, a commitment to further negotiations over sick pay and the opportunity of improved shift patterns. Unite had already resolved pay disputes at six other companies: ASC, ICTS, DHL Gatwick Direct, DHL Services Ltd, GGS and Menzies Aviation. In all cases the workers secured at least a double figure pay increase, with many of the deals being for significantly higher rates read more
Pay peanuts, get strikes! (24 Aug) – First week of strike action at KP Snacks begins on Tuesday 5 September. The company made £54 million in profit but is offering workers a real terms pay cut. The production of the famous salted and dry roasted peanuts will grind to a halt for a week in September because KP Snacks refuses to give workers a fair portion of its multi-million pound profits. The workers at KP Snacks have voted overwhelmingly by 83 per cent to take strike action for a week beginning on 5 September. The union is warning that unless the company ups its pay offer strike action will escalate. The factory in Rotherham is the sole producer of KP Nuts so the walk-out will stop the production of one of Britain’s favourite snacks. The workers have rejected a below inflation eight per cent pay offer. The company has increased its profits by 275 per cent since 2018. In stark contrast, average pay at KP Snacks has fallen in real terms by 14 per cent since 2018 read more
Legacy of Douglass, Equiano and abolitionist movement must inspire trade union movement today (23 Aug) – Today, 23 August, is the International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. Pointing out that the campaign to abolish chattel slavery was driven by formerly enslaved persons such as Oloudah Equiano and Frederick Douglass, who inspired activists from Belfast to Cork to create one of the first civil society campaigns in Ireland, Unite today said that the same determination and organisation are needed today to counter messages of hate and division read more
Workers at Barts vote for strike action to demand pay justice and safe staffing (23 Aug) – NHS workers vote for a campaign of industrial action by a margin of 95 per cent. Barts Health NHS Trust accused of short changing some of the lowest paid workers at the Trust. NHS workers at Barts Health NHS Trust have overwhelmingly voted for a campaign of industrial action today by a margin of 95 per cent in a dispute over low pay and safe staffing. The workers and their representatives will meet over the coming days to agree strike dates. Last year Unite activists and union reps secured a landmark agreement which transferred 1800 workers to NHS employment. The cleaners, caterers, porters, security guards, ward hosts and domestic staff had previously been employed by Serco. But over 1,000 workers who transferred onto NHS terms after 31 March 2023 “are up in arms” that Barts won’t pay them a £1,655 lump sum which is part of the NHS pay deal. To make matters even worse, a significant number of workers are losing money due to the way the NHS disregarded their length of service while employed by Serco and attempts by Barts to pay workers inferior overtime rates. On a day-to-day basis, the workforce has to contend with the worst staffing crisis in NHS history read more
P&O decision to end Liverpool to Dublin ferry service a historic loss (22 Aug) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has described the announcement that P&O Ferries is to terminate its service between Liverpool and Dublin as a historic loss. The company said today (Tuesday 22 August) that the historic service will cease to function by the end of this year. Unite will now be ensuring that its 30 plus members who are employed at Liverpool docks, servicing the ferries, are fully compensated read more
Solent bank holiday bus strikes off as First South workers secure cost-of-living payment (22 Aug) – Planned strike action by bus drivers employed at First South have been called off after the company agreed to make a cost-of-living payment to its workers, following negotiations led by Unite on behalf of its members. Strikes involving 185 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were due to begin on Friday (25 August) ending in the early hours of Tuesday (29 August). However, following talks this week First South agreed to make a one-off lump sum payment of £600 to the workers, (separate from ongoing pay talks) and as a result the industrial action has been called off read more
Cumbria refuse strike ends as workers secure improved pay deal (22 Aug) – The long running strike action involving refuse workers employed by Allerdale Waste Services, affecting Workington and the surrounding area, has ended after workers voted to accept an improved pay offer. The strike involving members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, began in April and the workers have been on all-out continuous strike since May. Following negotiations, brokered by the conciliation service Acas, the loaders were offered an increase in pay from £10.90 an hour to £11.81 (8.3 per cent) while the drivers who are legally required to hold a HGV licence will see their pay increase from £11.99 an hour to £13.62 an hour (13.6 per cent.) The members were balloted on the offer and it was accepted. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This was a hard fought and well-earned victory by our members who were determined to secure a decent pay increase. Once the employer understood that our members were not prepared to budge on their just demands, a settlement that met their expectations was agreed. This result is further evidence of how Unite’s relentless focus on jobs, pay and conditions, and its total support for workers prepared to take industrial action, is delivering direct financial benefits” read more
Drivers at Greater Manchester Accessible Transport forced to strike over ‘poverty pay’ (22 Aug) – Industrial action to take place over failure of company to improve pay offer or sign up to Good Employment Charter. Bus drivers in Greater Manchester who transport the elderly and disabled have been forced to take strike action over the low pay by Greater Manchester Accessible Transport (GMAT). Members of Unite, the country’s leading trade union, are paid just minimum wage to do a physically and mentally demanding job. They provide an invaluable service, transporting the elderly, infirm or disabled from their homes across Greater Manchester to vital medical appointments, for essential shopping or for leisure and entertainment. GMAT pays the lowest wages of all bus companies in the region and the registered charity has not signed up to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, despite being run by Transport for Greater Manchester and owned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), both of whom are members of the charter. The charter aims to raise employment standards across Greater Manchester through factors like security of work and fair pay – including a commitment to the real living wage. Around 7000 users depend on the service and Unite has encouraged the employer to come back to the negotiating table with improved terms above the below-inflation offer made to-date. Currently drivers receive just £10.42 per hour. Following a successful industrial ballot, members will be taking strike action in the coming months with dates to be announced in due course read more
Greggs packaging crisis deepens as Cepac printers in Darlington extend strike action in pay dispute (22 Aug) – The packaging crisis affecting many of the UK’s most popular food and drink companies, including bakers Greggs and sandwich chain, Pret A Manger is set to deepen after workers announced a further two weeks of strike action. The 90 plus workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s largest union, and employed by Cepac in Darlington began four weeks of strike action last week (Monday 14 August). Due to the company’s failure to engage in any meaningful negotiations, Unite has given notice of a further two weeks of strike action, meaning industrial action will now run continuously until Monday 25 September. The dispute is a result of Cepac only being prepared to offer an eight per cent pay increase, which is below the true inflation rate (RPI) of nine per cent. Additionally, the offer is subject to the workers accepting substantially worse conditions including longer hours, lower overtime rates and a change in shift patterns. The offer is in effect, a significant pay cut read more
Shock rise in bogus self-employment in construction (22 Aug) – A Freedom of Information (FoI) request by Unite, the UK’s construction union, has revealed that 1,206 million construction workers were paid via the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) during 2022/23. This was a 15 per cent increase on the figure for 2021/21 when 1,047 workers were paid via the scheme, a 7.5 per cent increase on the previous year read more
Akzo Nobel workers in Gateshead announce further strikes over pay (18 Aug) – Paint workers at International Paints (parent company Akzo Nobel) in Gateshead have announced additional strike days over pay. Shortages of paints will hit industry and consumers as over 200 workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have voted for additional strike action after rejecting a pay offer of 4.8 per cent. This is a substantial, real terms, pay cut with the true inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 9 per cent and which has been as high as 11.3 per cent during the dispute. International Paints has failed to come to the negotiating table in good faith with an improved offer and, in addition, has also threatened to call the police on lawful picket line protests outside its building. The workers, who are based at the Stoneygate Lane factory, produce specialist paints, which are used on ships and offshore facilities, as well as producing the polymer that is used in most Akzo Nobel’s paint brands, including Dulux…Strike action had already begun on Thursday 27 July and has been taking place on every Monday and Thursday for a four-week period. New strike dates have now been announced for Thursday 31 August and then every Monday and Thursday until the final scheduled action on 21 September. In addition, there is a total ban on overtime from 25 August until 22 September. The workers who are taking strike action include production and distribution workers, engineering and technical support, some office and admin support and personnel in research and development read more
Hundreds of Mossmorran refinery workers down tools over safety concerns as Unite calls on HSE intervention (17 Aug) – Unite claims ExxonMobil and contractors failing in ‘legal duty’ to protect and pay workers. Unite the union can confirm today (17 August) that around 200 members have withdrawn their labour over health and safety concerns at ExxonMobil’s petrochemical plant in Mossmorran. Unite can reveal that workers downed tools on Tuesday (15 August) over health and safety warning signals and procedures not being in full working operation across the plant and the workforce not being informed of this, or any procedures put in place to protect them. The trade union has received reports from workers citing repeated examples over a year that alarm systems are not working in areas at the petrochemical plant and workers not being notified. This is legally required in the event of any leakages, blasts or exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals at the plant. Unite’s members have accordingly withdrawn their labour under the terms of UK legislation, Employment Rights Act 1996 Section 44 and 100. The legislation states that workers have the ‘right’ to withdraw from, and to refuse to return to a workplace that is unsafe, without being subject to any detriment including the loss of wages. ExxonMobil and the contractors are to date, refusing to pay the workers following the withdrawal of labour under the legislation’s terms read more
North-east England faces bus chaos as workers ballot for strikes over pay (17 Aug) – 1,300 members at Go North East buses balloted following below-inflation pay offers – action would bring bus services to a standstill. Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, warned today (Thursday 17 August) that over 1,300 members could come out on strike and bring bus services in north-east England to a halt as its members are balloted for industrial action over pay. Go North East drivers and engineers have been offered a derisory, below-inflation, pay offer that included cuts to terms and conditions. Administrative and clerical staff have not had any pay offer at all. Go North East can easily afford to increase pay offers given the latest accounts of its parent company, the Go-Ahead Group show bus group profits of nearly £85 million. Depots that are being balloted and would be affected by any industrial action are: Consett, Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main (North Shields), Sunderland and Washington. The ballot opens today and will run until Tuesday 12 September. If industrial action is voted for, strikes will likely take place from mid-September read more
Warwickshire facing extended bus strikes as Stagecoach drivers announce walk out over pay (17 Aug) – Warwickshire is facing extended bus strikes next month as 300 bus drivers employed by Stagecoach announced that they will be taking all-out strike action from Tuesday 5 September in a pay dispute. The drivers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have rejected a pay offer of 7.8 per cent for the first year and 4.5 per cent plus £100 for the second year. This year’s pay rise was due to come into effect on 1 July when the real inflation rate (RPI) was 11.3 per cent, making the proposed offer a substantial real terms pay cut. The drivers who are paid just £14 an hour, operate from depots in Nuneaton, Leamington and Stratford-upon-Avon. Stagecoach controls 87 per cent of the bus network in Warwickshire, with routes also extending into Coventry read more
Strike action targets penny-pinching Porsche and Audi deliveries firm (16 Aug) – A miserable 3.2 per cent is to blame for months of strikes. Deliveries of VW vehicles including, Audi, Porsche and Skoda models will face significant delays for months to come unless the profitable GBA Group improves its miserable pay offer of just 3.2%. The strike will mean new VW car deliveries in the Southeast, London and beyond face significant delays as workers at Sheerness Docks prepare to strike for two weeks, beginning the 17 August and then in September and October read more
Travel turmoil looms as bus strikes could hit Brighton (15 Aug) – Bus strikes could take place across the Go Ahead/Metrobus network in the Brighton & Hove and Crawley areas after union members rejected the latest low-pay offer, Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, announced today. Around 1000 members including bus drivers, cleaners, engineers and other vital roles are being balloted over prospective industrial action. They rejected the last pay offer of just seven per cent back dated to early July and 10 per cent from this weekend. Following a pay survey, workers are demanding increased pay rates and an increase in sick pay. They also want an increase in holiday as those with less than six years’ service get just 20 days. The Brighton and Hove bus company can afford to an improved pay as its latest accounts show a profit of over £11million[1] while its parent company, the Go-Ahead group also posted bus group profits of nearly £85million. Brighton and Hove bus company carries the highest number of passengers, outside of London, in the whole of the UK and is the only bus service in Brighton & Hove serving all the estates and universities. The company covers from Tunbridge Wells to the east, through to Shoreham and Lancing to the west. Metrobus (part of the Go-Ahead group) covers Crawley, including Gatwick Airport. The ballot opens tomorrow (16 August) and closes on 12 September. If successful, strike action will likely begin at the end of September read more
Tesco facing dirty Didcot depot as Atalian Servest caterers and cleaners strike over pay (14 Aug) – Workers based at Tesco’s depot in Didcot have been warned to be braced for a dirty depot and canteen closures as workers employed by Atalian Servest have announced strike action over pay. The dispute involves cleaning and catering staff employed on an outsourced contract and is a result of Atalian Servest refusing to even negotiate over a pay increase. The cleaners are on pay rates of as little as £11 an hour, which includes weekend and bank holiday work at no additional rate, they operate in the main Tesco warehouse which is only heated to one degree. Meanwhile the catering staff are paid the minimum wage of £10.42 an hour. The workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have announced two initial 24 hour strikes beginning on Friday 1 September and Thursday 7 September, followed by a three day strike beginning on Friday 15 September and a further three day strike beginning on Thursday 21 September. Atalian Servest is very financially healthy; its latest accounts for 2021 reveal that it made gross profits of £84 million read more
Travel chaos predicted as 1,500 Manchester bus drivers strike over pay and conditions (11 Aug) – Drivers from both First Manchester and Stagecoach Manchester are to strike for nine days over August and September over ‘derisory’ pay offers Unite, the UK’s leading trade union, announced today (Friday 11 August). Industrial action by around 1,500 drivers is predicted to bring chaos to the city as it coincides with a Manchester United home game at Old Trafford, a concert by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Whythenshawe Park, Pride weekend and the return of schools. Strikes will be taking place on the following dates:-
- August Bank Holiday Weekend: 25, 26, 27, 28 August 2023
- September: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 September 2023
Stagecoach drivers are taking action over a failure to backdate a pay offer. While an improved offer of around 14.3 per cent was made – taking the hourly rate to £16 an hour – the deal would have been implemented from September rather than June, the agreed anniversary date for pay rises. Instead, a £750 one-off payment in lieu of full back pay was offered. Stagecoach’s latest financial report showed its adjusted profit before tax increased 98 per cent to £36.4 million in the six months to 29 October 2022. For the 2021/2022 financial year, Stagecoach reported revenues of almost £1.2 billion with adjusted profits of £72.7 million. Industrial action is already underway by Stagecoach drivers beginning today and lasting four days read more
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk’s largest social housing provider hit by pay strikes (4 Aug) – Freebridge Community Housing paying poverty wages despite £3.6m surplus. Nearly 60 Freebridge Community Housing workers will strike over poverty pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). Many of the workers, who perform a variety of roles, including in cleaning and maintenance, are paid little more than the national minimum wage and many are struggling to pay their bills. They are angry that Freebridge has offered them a five per cent increase and a £500 non-consolidated payment, despite the association’s robust financial health. This is a significant, real terms pay cut when the real rate of inflation, RPI, stands at 10.7 per cent. Freebridge had a total turnover of £32 million and a surplus of £3.57 million in 2022 and increased its rents by seven per cent this year…The workers will strike on 21, 29, 30 and 31 August and on 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 September. The strike action will severely impact Freebridge’s cleaning and maintenance services and will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Norwich hospital and health centres across Norfolk facing significant disruption as Norse maintenance workers strike over pay (3 Aug) – Hospitals and health centres across Norwich and Norfolk are facing significant disruption impacting on patients, as workers employed by Norse Commercial Services prepare to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, undertake critical maintenance duties for all Norfolk Community and Health Care Trusts’ hospitals and health centres. The workers have rejected a four per cent pay increase which is a substantial real terms pay cut with the current true inflation rate (RPI) standing at 10.7 per cent. Industrial relations have further deteriorated as Norse has imposed the four per cent increase and blamed the hospital trust for not being prepared to increase payments on the contract. The workers will take strike action from 08:00 Thursday 17 August until 07:59 on Tuesday 22 August. During this time the hospital trust will have no maintenance support, including emergency callouts. Further strikes are likely unless the dispute is swiftly resolved read more
Retained firefighters in Tipperary and Waterford to commence two days of strike action tomorrow (2 Aug) – Unite leader Susan Fitzgerald will pay solidarity visit to Carrick-on-Suir picket line. Union warns LGMA that they don’t get to choose the trade union which represents their workforce. Unite the union members working as retained firefighters in Counties Tipperary and Waterford are set to take a further two days strike action starting tomorrow [Thursday 3rd August] and continuing on Friday [4th August]. The two day strike represents an escalation of an industrial dispute which has arisen due to the continued refusal of the Local Government Management Association (LGMA), which represents the local authorities, to engage with Unite over workforce concerns. Retained firefighters, who form the backbone of Ireland’s firefighting service, have seen retainers and call-out fees frozen for years while the location requirements make it difficult or impossible for workers to supplement their low earnings with other employment. Retained firefighters are also seeking structured and predictable ‘off-call’ times, rather than – as is currently the reality – operating on a 24/7 basis. Ahead of the strike action Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham expressed her support for the striking firefighters: “Retained firefighters perform a vital role for the whole community and face considerable risks in the performance of their duties. These are frontline and essential workers but they have been taken for granted for too long…” read more
Glasgow Parking wardens and Emirates Arena workers strike over poor pay (2 Aug) – Disruption set to impact Cycling World Championships and traffic enforcement across Scotland’s largest city. Around 70 Unite members employed by Glasgow Life at the Emirates Arena and City Parking are set to take strike action tomorrow (Thursday 3 August). Unite members will walk out across both organisations at 7.30am to begin 48-hour strike action over the current local government pay offer. There will be pickets held outside the Emirates Arena and Cadogan Square Car Park to coincide with the strike action. A rally involving both groups of workers is also being held at midday at the Donald Dewar statue on Buchanan Street read more
Kings Lynn Cooper Roller Bearings workers to strike over pay (2 Aug) – Profitable company offering strings attached deal that amounts to ‘pay cut’. More than 100 workers employed by Cooper Roller Bearings in Kings Lynn are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 2 August). The workers have rejected a 5.5 per cent pay offer. With the true rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 10.7 per cent, this is a real terms pay cut. The offer also comes with a ‘strings attached’ performance related bonus of up to six per cent. Cooper Roller Bearings made a profit before tax of more than £7 million in the year ending 31 December 2022…The workers will strike for one day on 21 August. After that a continuous overtime ban will commence, with strike days doubling every week until the dispute is resolved read more
Irish Water: Lack of engagement by employer representatives’ forces dispute escalation (1 Aug) – Unite the union seeks engagement with LGMA over shortcomings in proposed Framework. Pickets set for eight local authorities from 00.01 Wednesday [2nd August] to 23.59 Friday [4th August]. Unite members working in water delivery services for eight local authorities around the country will escalate their industrial action this week with a further three days of stoppages. Water workers will take strike action at Carlow County Council, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Fingal County Council, Kerry County Council, South Dublin County Council, Tipperary County Council and Waterford County Council. The action is due to the continued refusal of local authorities and its representative body, the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to meaningfully engage with the union over its members’ concerns regarding shortcomings to the ‘Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services’ document put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission last year. The Framework document was rejected overwhelmingly by Unite members employed in water services delivery as essential workers, as it failed to address their concerns read more
Choppy waters as Scotland’s lighthouse workers resume second wave of strike action (27 Jul) – Sea vessels anchored in long-running pay dispute. Unite the union confirmed that its Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) members will resume 24-hour strike action in a long-running dispute over pay. Around 40 Unite members including able seamen, base assistants, cooks and technicians will take 24-hour strike action beginning at noon on Thursday (27 July). The action ends the following day at noon. The latest strike action follows a previous 24-hour stoppage over 26 to 27 June. The workers maintain and operate Scotland’s lighthouses, beacons and buoys at sea ensuring that vessels and ships have safe passage through Scottish waters read more
Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice workers to strike for first time (25 Jul) – Workers angry with wealthy charity for refusing to implement national pay deal despite years of doing so. Over 60 Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice workers are to strike for the first time, Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced today (Tuesday). The workers voted for strike action after the charity refused to increase pay in line with National Joint Council (NJC) scales operated by local authorities, as has been the norm for the last 20 years. The NJC has recommended a consolidated payment of £1,925 for all grades for 2022. Citizens Advice in Hull and East Riding can afford to implement the payment and had cash reserves of £1,076,156 as of 31 March 2022. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “For two decades, Citizens Advice’s workers in Hull and East Riding have dutifully accepted the NJC’s pay recommendation, despite it resulting in years of real terms pay cuts. But now, the charity is reneging on that agreement because they say the offer is too high. This is totally unacceptable and duplicitous behaviour by an organisation that can afford to pay. Our members, who are struggling with rising costs and are being treated appallingly by their employer, are right to strike. Our members’ jobs, pay and conditions are this union’s top priority and Citizens Advice’s workforce will receive Unite’s total support.” Over the last 10 years, NJC pay awards have resulted in real terms pay cuts of 27 per cent for Citizens Advice advisors and have reduced the pay for admin staff from £5,000 above national minimum wage in 2014 to just 40p above the minimum wage today. The workers will strike on 31 July followed by one day strikes on 7 August, 9 August and 11 August. If the dispute is not resolved more strike action will be scheduled. Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding services will not be available during the strikes read more
Darchem Teesside pay strikes intensify with shut downs across July and August (6 Jul) – Formula One, Rolls Royce, BAE, Hinkley Point impacted after ‘hugely profitable’ firm offers ‘pay cut’. Pay strikes by nearly 300 workers employed by engineering firm Darchem in Stillington, Stockton-on-Tees, will intensify over the summer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday). The workers have already taken seven days of strike action over pay, with a further 15 days now scheduled to take place during July and August. This week, the workers rejected in a ballot by 92 per cent an offer of six per cent backdated to February, with a further four per cent in October. The offer removed a condition that the pay anniversary date be changed from February to October, which would have resulted in a 20-month pay deal being imposed. However, the workers believe that a split pay deal is still unreasonable given the company’s huge profits. Darchem, owned by the US-based TransDigm Group, is an extremely profitable company that makes a range of products for the automotive, aerospace, energy and shipbuilding industries. The company’s latest financial returns show it had a turnover of over £108 million in 2021. During the same year, operating profits increased by 53.3 per cent to £25.3 million…The strikes, which also involve members of the GMB union, will shut down Darchem’s Stillington factory. This will impact production for Darchem’s clients, including BAE, Formula One racing companies, Hinkley Point and Rolls Royce aerospace. The fresh strikes will take place from 18 to 21 July, 25 to 28 July, 1 to 4 August, 8 to 11 August and 15 to 18 August read more
Roads Service workers strike in dispute over productivity-based pay system (4 Jul) – Workers concerned that productivity unit bonus leaves workers subject to management victimisation and undermines health and safety. Strike action commenced at roads service depots in west yesterday [Monday 3rd July] and due at depots in east from Thursday 6th July. Roads Service workers in Unite the union have recommenced strike action in their industrial campaign to end pay being subject to manager’s discretion read more
Leicester aerospace engine bolt maker Howmet hit by pay strikes (27 Jun) – Highly profitable firm offers low paid workers inadequate ‘strings attached’ pay deal. More than 50 Leicester factory workers employed by aerospace engine bolt manufacturer Howmet are to strike later this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). The workers, who earn as little as £11 per hour and an average of £12.50 an hour, have rejected a four per cent offer, plus purported pay incentives, that has more ‘strings attached than a grand piano’. Howmet Fastenings’ latest financial report shows it made UK profits of over £4 million for the year ending December 2021. US-based parent company Howmet Aerospace, meanwhile, reported that international revenue in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 21 per cent to $1.6 billion, with profits of $360 million. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Howmet may proclaim that it has put forward a generous pay offer but it is smoke and mirrors – the deal has more strings attached than a grand piano. Howmet’s workers are low paid and struggling with rising living costs, while the company brings in millions. Unite’s top priority is our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these striking workers will receive the union’s full support until Howmet puts forward an acceptable pay offer.” Howmet’s Leicester factory supplies parts to Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney. The first day of strike action will take place on Thursday 29 June, followed by a continuous overtime ban and work to rule after the strike ends. If the dispute is not resolved further strike dates will be scheduled read more
St Helens NGF glass cord engineers strike over pay (23 Jun) – NGF workers angry pay offer less than colleagues received at sister company Pilkingtons sites. St Helen’s engineering and maintenance workers employed by NGF, which produces glass cord used in rubber and plastic products, will strike over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are angry at being offered a 5.65 per cent pay rise plus an £800 bonus that is lower than offers received by their colleagues at nearby sites. NGF is a sister company to Pilkingtons UK, whose workers at a number of sites in the surrounding region have received pay rises 6.75 per cent plus £750 and 7.5 per cent. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are rightly angry they are being treated as second class employees compared to their colleagues at nearby Pilkingtons. Unite is now completely focused on protecting and improving our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these workers will receive their union’s total support.” The workers will stage two 48 hours strikes on 2 July and 14 July. If the dispute is not resolved strike action will escalate. The dispute also involved members of the GMB union 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 to launch national ballot on next stage in our campaign (12 Jul) – The NEC met today and discussed the next steps in our national campaign. The NEC received over 160 responses from branches to our consultation and based on that feedback agreed to run an online consultative ballot from 3 to 31 August. The ballot will ask members in the civil service and related areas to endorse the strategy proposed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) for the next stage in our national campaign read more
What happens after the ballot closes? (28 Aug) – As our online consultative ballot closes on Thursday 31 August, find out what will happen next. Our online consultative ballot about the future of our campaign on pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms closes at 12 noon on Thursday 31 August. When voting has closed, we will receive the results from Civica, the independent scrutineer, after they have verified the figures and done all the necessary checks. The national executive committee will then meet in early September (6 and 7) to take a detailed look at voting in the ballot and decide what happens next, taking into account the latest developments in talks with employers. Some pay offers for 2023/24 have already been made by individual departments and more are still under discussion and negotiation. Make sure you check the website and our social media for regular updates read more
PCS opposes outsourcing of 2,500 jobs in DWP (29 Aug) – The Department for Work and Pensions intends to outsource 2,500 jobs to deliver Universal Credit Targeted Case Review work. DWP intends to outsource 2,500 jobs to deliver Universal Credit Targeted Case Review work. The Department states, “….with endorsement of DWP Executive Team, the current preferred option is to secure temporary support from a commercial provider.” PCS categorically opposes outsourcing and is demanding that the DWP seeks a different approach to delivering this work read more
PCS rejects HMRC Pay Offer (22 Aug) – HMRC intends to impose its unacceptable, below-inflation pay offer. HMRC have today (22) published their pay offer for 2023/24. PCS has rejected the offer as it falls significantly below our national demands of a 10% increase to address the current cost-of-living crisis as well as being below the current rate of inflation read more
Pensions Regulator staff to strike over pay (21 Aug) – The staff have been offered only a 3% pay increase despite the improved civil service pay remit of 4.5-5%. Over 1,000 PCS members working for The Pensions Regular (TPR) in Brighton, who protect workplace pensions in the UK, will take strike action from 5-18 September after being offered just a 3% pay rise read more
Prospect
Prospect secures improved pay offer for staff at the CAA (25 Aug) – Prospect has secured a significantly improved pay offer for its members at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This comes after members had voted for industrial action in the first ballot of its kind at the CAA read more
Civil Aviation Authority in Crisis – Prospect members vote for industrial action (22 Aug) – Prospect members at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over the employer’s refusal to provide a fair and affordable 2023/24 salary increase read more
GMB
Majority of Wilko stores to be closed ‘within weeks’ (23 Aug) – The majority of Wilko stores are to close within weeks after a purchase of the discount retailer fell through. In a meeting with administrators today [Wednesday] GMB Union was informed there is no longer any prospect that the majority of the business will be saved. This means redundancies for staff in store and at call centres will begin during the coming week. Some stores may be bought, either individually or as part of larger packages, but significant job losses are now expected read more
Durham aviation manufacturer strike hits sixth week (22 Aug) – A Durham factory that finishes parts for the aviation and automotive industries faces its sixth week of strike action. Dozens of GMB members will walk out on Thursday [24 August] and Friday [25 August] after turning down the company’s pay offer of 6.7 per cent and a one-off. The industrial action the first time workers at Nicholson’s Sealing Technologies, in Stanley, have walked out in the company’s 100 year history read more
Tea bag shortage averted as Tetley workers accept pay deal (22 Aug) – Tetley workers reject a further real terms pay cut, says GMB Union. A shortage of Britain’s favourite tea has been averted after Tetley workers accepted a new pay deal. Almost 200 GMB members at Tata Consumer Products Limited, in Teesside – the only producer of Tetley tea for the UK and Canada – had voted for strike action. However the predominantly women workforce has now accepted a new offer of a 7 per cent pay rise backdated to 1 April 2023 read more
Canterbury bin strike extended until October (23 Aug) – The Canterbury refuse strike will now be extended to 1 October after Canenco refuse to alter already-rejected offer. GMB, the union for refuse and recycling, has criticised Canenco for not entering into negotiations in good faith over the refuse strike which is set to enter its eighth week. The company, which is Canterbury City Council’s wholly-owned waste contractor, had agreed to enter into talks with the union arbitrated by ACAS, the impartial conciliatory service. GMB officials in today’s meeting were presented with the same offer rejected by members over a week ago on 11 August. The union is again claiming the talks are not being used for proper negotiation and the lack of commitment to settle the dispute is exemplified by the council refusing to send any representatives. GMB have submitted notice to Canenco that the strike will now continue to 1 October unless a package is put on the table that the members can accept read more
GMB social workers in Swindon to strike every weekend until January (24 Aug) – The last thing our members wanted to do was extend the strike action but they felt they had no alternative once they learned that all the council negotiators were going on holiday, says GMB. GMB, the union for social workers at Swindon Borough Council, have announced a further 48 days of strike action, in addition to the 14 days strike already called from 21 August. Social Workers will strike every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the New Year. The strike will close down the Emergency Duty Service, which offers out of hours support for crisis situations, supporting the police and NHS. The industrial dispute is caused by Swindon Borough Council removing a £700 per month uplift to their salaries for working unsocial hours read more
GMB condemns plans by Swindon Borough Council to unlawfully employ agency strike breakers (21 Aug) – The council has confirmed to GMB in a meeting they plan to use agency workers during the strike and the union’s legal advice says this is illegal. GMB the union for social workers at Swindon Borough Council has today written to the recruitment agency Team Matrix, who provides agency social workers to the council, warning that it is a criminal offence to supply agency workers to cover for strikers. The union has called a 14-day strike from Thursday 31 August which will completely shut the Emergency Duty Service, which provides out of hours specialist support for vulnerable children and adults. The strike is opposing the removal of a 20 per cent unsocial hours payment, meaning each social worker will lose around £700 per month from 1 September read more
Swindon social workers confirm two week strike (18 Aug) – GMB, the union for public services, has announced that social workers within Swindon Borough Council will be taking two weeks of strike action, commencing Thursday 31 August. The dispute centres around protecting the Emergency Duty Service, the out of hours service providing 24-hour emergency care to vulnerable people, and preventing a pay cut. The council has announced that these staff will lose around £700 per month from Friday 1 September, following a recent pay and regrading review, due to the removal of a 20 per cent unsocial hours payment. Talks with Swindon Borough Council took place on Thursday 27 July to seek to avoid industrial action, with council officers agreeing to respond with new proposals by Friday 11 August to GMB, but have failed to do so, leaving GMB with no choice other than to call strike action. The union is further warning that such a huge pay cut will see workers forced to leave for similar roles in other authorities or with other employers, which will jeopardise the viability of the service read more
Huge oil refinery cancels ‘shutdown’ over strike fears (18 Aug) – One of the UK’s biggest oil refineries has cancelled an essential maintenance ‘shutdown’ over fears the facility would be dismantled, then industrial action would begin before the plant is reassembled. Stanlow Oil refinery, in Ellsemere Port, was due to close for ‘a package of maintenance activities on processing units’ this year – but has now shifted the work to 2024. Up to 1,000 workers were due to work on the shutdown – who are currently in dispute with their employer. A majority of 92 per cent of GMB members involved in the project, who are covered by the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) voted to turn down a pay deal 8.5 per cent for 2024 and 3.5 per cent for 2025. Bosses have refused to meet with GMB until 21 September – so the union is progressing with a strike vote, which begins next month read more
Nottingham Goose Fair faces tram strike disruption (18 Aug) – GMB Union has announced workers on Nottingham’s tram network have began balloting for strike action. The vote comes after Nottingham’s tram operator, Keolis, offered a real terms pay cut to staff. Around 300 drivers, mechanics, control room and ticket office staff will join the ballot with a result expected late August read more
Scotland school staff to walk out for two days (17 Aug) – Parents and pupils have been warned of disruption after GMB Scotland announced essential staff in schools and early years will strike for two days next month. The industrial action will affect almost a third of councils across Scotland and comes after local authority workers overwhelmingly rejected a pay offer. GMB members in Scotland’s councils voted to support industrial action after Cosla, representing local authorities, refused to revise the offer or ask the Scottish Government for support. The union, which represents more than 21,000 workers across Scotland’s 32 councils, today served notice on ten local authorities telling them staff in schools and early years working across catering, cleaning, pupil support, administration and janitorial services will strike next month. Industrial action involving the staff but not including teachers will take place on Wednesday 13 September and the following day, in Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, Orkney, Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire. Sister unions are also likely to call strikes in schools and early years in September with the members of one already voting for industrial action while another is currently balloting members. The ballot came after 94 per cent of the GMB Scotland’s members rejected the councils’ offer of 5.5% in April branding it unacceptable when inflation has surged triggering a cost-of-living crisis. The union said the Cosla offer would mean a rise for the lowest-paid workers in Scotland’s councils £700 less this year than that offered to colleagues in England and Wales read more
Amazon faces biggest day of industrial disruption in its history (27 Jul) – GMB Union has today [Thursday] announced strike dates at Amazon’s Coventry and Rugeley fulfilment centres. The strike dates come on the anniversary of the first historic walkouts at Amazon in the UK, after workers were offered a pay rise of just 35p. Workers will down tools in Rugeley on 3 and 4 August, with the Coventry fulfilment centre seeing strike action on 4 and 5 August. This will bring the total days lost to strike action at Amazon this year to 26 read more
Second Amazon warehouse joins strike (17 Jul) – Amazon workers will walk out at a second warehouse after GMB union today [Monday] announced the outcome of a strike ballot at the company’s Rugeley fulfilment centre. More than 100 workers at the West Midlands site are now set to walk out after 86 per cent of those who voted backed the strike. The news comes as GMB reached 1,000 members at the Coventry fulfilment centre after twenty two days of strike action in the dispute over pay and union rights. GMB members will now plan strike dates at what will be only the second Amazon site in the UK where workers have taken industrial action read more Donate to GMB Amazon strike fund
Welsh farm feed workers strike (24 Jul) – Dozens of agricultural feed workers in Camarthen are preparing for a 2 day stoppage on 27 and 28 July in a dispute to get the same pay as their English counterparts. A majority of 85 per cent of GMB Members at Forfarmers voted to take strike action after the company failed to make an offer that would see them put on an equal footing with their colleagues at sites in England. GMB members took strike action on Monday 3 of July and are looking at future dates unless the company fails to make a fair offer that negates the shortfall. Workers providing the same role as their counterparts in England are paid up to 30 per cent more by the company read more
Industrial action to hit social housing giant slammed for ‘poverty pay’ (20 Jul) – GMB Union have today announced industrial action at Grand Union Housing, provider of 13,000 social homes across Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. The industrial action will see maintenance staff work to rule for three months, meaning overtime and extra duties will be refused in the maintenance department across the company’s housing stock. The action comes after the company refused to negotiate on a pay offer to staff of just 2.1% read more
Strike at missile depot threatens MoD supplies (16 Jul) – A strike at a Ministry of Defence missile depot will threaten munitions supplies, GMB Union warned. More than 50 workers at the Defence Equipment & Support (DES) munitions depot in Beith, Scotland walked out tomorrow [Monday]. A majority of 93 per cent of GMB members at the depot voted for strike action over a dispute on retention bonuses. Managers and craft workers are in receipt of bonuses whilst non-craft workers do not, meaning non-craft workers get less than many supermarket workers. DES is an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence which delivers equipment and support services to the UK armed forces read more
Durham sewage and water tank workers strike (10 Jul) – Sewage and water treatment tank workers in Durham have begun a week-long strike over pay. GMB members at Premier Tech, in Peterlee, will down tools from Monday [10 July] to Friday [14 July] after a unanimous vote for industrial action. Workers want £12.50 per hour, which amounts to a 12 per cent pay increase. The company has only offered 7.9 per cent, with potential real terms pay cuts in subsequent years read more
Three weeks of refuse chaos as workers down tools in Leicestershire’s ‘low pay capital’ (7 Jul) – GMB Union has today announced a three-week strike action of refuse workers at Blaby District Council. Fifty refuse staff at the authority are anticipated to join the strike action after council top brass ignored union attempts to initiate negotiations in the dispute. Strike action will see as many at 50,000 households go without refuse collections on Tuesday 1st to Friday 18th August read more
Dartford bin workers vote for strike action (7 Jul) – GMB union members have voted to reject Urbaser’s pay offer, with action to take place at the end of the month. GMB, the union for refuse and recycling, can announce that Dartford will be the next local authority to be hit with a bin strike. Members of the union have voted to take action over pay and will be walking out at the end of July. The members are employed by Urbaser, Dartford Borough Council’s waste contractor as drivers, loaders and street sweepers read more
Croydon housing and homeless department workers strike over cuts (27 Jun) – Slashing jobs in this service raises severe concerns around safeguarding, provision and remaining legally compliant, says GMB
Croydon Housing and Homelessness Department workers have voted to strike over the current restructure plans. GMB members at the authority will walk out on 28 and 29 June after a 94 per cent majority voted to walk out. Workers are worried and angry over a restructure across this vital department. Croydon Council declared bankruptcy for the third time in November 2022 read more
Unison
Donate to support striking workers – As UNISON members continue to take strike action, the union is asking for donations to its strike fund
Anti-strike law will cause headaches for employers and unions, says UNISON (25 Aug) – Draft guidance is full of holes. Commenting on the launch of a consultation today (Friday) on the implementation of the government’s minimum service levels legislation during strikes in some public services, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This legislation has always been pointless and totally unnecessary. It’s a desperate attempt to prop up a failing government by demonising unions, rather than a serious effort to improve industrial relations and protect the public…” read more
Share your solidarity with Wirral clinical support workers on strike (24 Aug) – Solidarity with Wirral clinical support workers. Pay Fair for Patient Care. UNISON members hold flags at a meeting. Healthcare support workers in UNISON are fighting for the respect, recognition and reward they deserve – and they’re prepared to take strike action to get what they’re rightfully owed. Over 400 clinical support workers at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will take 48 hours of strike action from 7am on Thursday 31 August. They’re joining together to get their employer to pay them appropriately for the Band 3 clinical work they routinely do, and to put right the years they’ve been underpaid by awarding backpay to 1 April 2018 as an absolute minimum read more
Over 100 Camden traffic wardens take indefinite strike action (22 Aug) – UNISON members working for private company NSL have been on strike for a month in a dispute over pay. Over 100 London traffic wardens have been on an indefinite strike since 24 July, after a meagre pay offer of 4.5% from NSL, a company subcontracted by Camden Council. UNISON members unanimously voted for strike action, with more workers joining the picket as the weeks roll on. The wardens, who are mainly low-paid Black staff, work outdoors for 42.5 hours a week, in all weather, and were classified as key workers during the pandemic. They regularly receive racist abuse for carrying out their work. They are paid £12.70 an hour, and have called for an increase to £15.90 an hour. Signs on the picket line (pictured below) read ‘NSL: No Slave Labour’. Workers on picket line holding placards that read ‘pay rise now: no slave labour’ and ‘Camden council: no slave labour’. Employer NSL saw its profits almost double from £5.8m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2022. The company director received a 60% pay increase in this period, and is salaried at £412,000. UNISON has calculated that it would take one of the traffic wardens 16 years to earn the same amount the director receives in one year. The traffic wardens are determined to continue the strike until their demand for fair pay is met read more Messages of solidarity can be sent to [email protected]
Environment Agency staff set for out-of-hours ban (18 Aug) – Workers will refuse to volunteer for on-call cover outside contracted hours from this weekend until 19 September, in continuing action over pay. Thousands of Environment Agency (EA) workers in England will stop out-of-hours attendance at incidents such as floods, water pollution, spills, waste fires and fly-tipping this weekend, in their ongoing pay dispute. The industrial action, which starts at 9am tomorrow (Saturday), is set to continue for a month, with workers refusing to volunteer for on-call cover outside of contracted hours until 19 September. Officers will step in where there is a threat to life, from incidents such as a major flood, as emergency life and limb cover has been agreed by the union. This new wave of industrial action follows months of industrial action seeking an improved pay offer from the agency. Members have been taking last resort industrial action since December 2022, after the organisation failed to offer a fair pay rise in the face of soaring household bills and inflation. Staff have seen pay fall below inflation and incomes squeezed since 2011, meaning that staff effectively work one day a week for free read more
Autumn term strikes set to go ahead at 13 universities (4 Aug) – HE members have suffered a real-terms pay cut of around 25% over the last 14 years, due to year on year rises that were below inflation. The results are in for the higher education strike ballot that ran from 31 May to 31 July – and 13 higher education institutions have met the threshold for action. The current offer from the University and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA), a 5-8% pay rise depending on salary spinal point, equates to a real-terms pay cut given inflation was over 10% this year. Although some money was backdated to earlier this year, it’s still not enough for staff to live on with the ongoing cost of living crisis. HE members have suffered a real-terms pay cut of around 25% over the last 14 years, due to year on year uplifts that were below inflation. The 13 universities that have met the threshold for action are: University of Dundee, University of Gloucestershire, University of the West of England, Leeds Trinity University, University of Brighton, Glasgow School of Art, Solent University, Plymouth Marjon University, Arts University Bournemouth, University of Glasgow, City University, Glasgow Caledonian University and University of Chichester. Further details on strike action will be announced in due course read more
South Gloucestershire workers continue strike dispute (31 May) – Social workers and occupational therapists are taking their fourth and fifth days of strike action this week. Social workers and occupational therapists (OTs) working for South Gloucestershire council are to strike twice this week. Staff will walk out for two days of action, today (Tuesday) and again on Thursday (1 June) after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay. UNISON has been in dispute with the local authority since last summer. The new dates follow three days of strike action in April read more
Sign petition: Stop the closure of the Peak District National Park visitor centres! – The Peak District National Park Authority are considering closing all four of its visitor centres, making the staff redundant. Councillors will be asked to endorse the chief executive’s ill-thought out ‘money-saving plan’ which will not only affect staff but could very much harm the local economy. The visitor centres are not just shops. They are a key contributor to visitors being able to experience a safe and enjoyable time in the Peak District. This is especially the case with first-time or infrequent visitors. Far from being underused, the centres deal with around 400,000 visitors a year. Unless there is a public outcry, we will lose these centres from our national park, at a time when other national parks have rejected such ideas. Decisions will be taken from as early as May. Help Derbyshire UNISON stop them!
Protest as Hackney Unison chair amongst those handed compulsory redundancies in libraries shake-up – Council staff staged a protest on 17th May after several library staff, including Hackney Unison Branch Chair Brian Debus, have been handed compulsory redundancy notices. Hackney Unison have said it was “registering our disgust that three library workers including Hackney Unison Branch Chair Brian Debus are due to be made compulsorily redundant. This despite there being more than enough posts available in the restructured library service.” Read more on Hackney Citizen website
NIPSA
Coordinated Industrial Action (24 Aug) – NIPSA met today with unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to discuss coordinated industrial action in September/October in line with NIPSA policy. Unions representing workers across all employment areas are planning to coordinate action against derisory pay awards and against the cuts set out in the budget by the Secretary of State. The action is likely to involve workers in both the public and private sectors. There will be another meeting in early September to firm up the details of the action and further posts will follow. Below is a copy of the press release issued today by the Northern Ireland Committee of ICTU (NIC-ICTU)
Carmel Gates General Secretary read more
FE Sector Joint Trade Union Side response to the DfE’s Spending Plans (22 Aug) – Members in FE below transcript sent to DfE re 2023/24 spending plan. Further Education Sector Joint Trade Union Side written submission in response to the DfE’s Spending Plans for 2023/24 EQIA Public Consultation read more
HSC Industrial Action Update: The Fight Continues! (26 Jul) – HSC Strike Action: An update to the ongoing Industrial Action Dispute in Health and ongoing Industrial Action around Pay, Safe Staffing and Travel read more
Royal College of Nursing
RCN joins call for ‘Essentials Guarantee’ as cost of living crisis persists (24 Aug) – Universal Credit doesn’t cover the cost of everyday essentials, putting the health of millions across the UK at risk. Now we’re demanding action, in partnership with others read more
CQC ballot: members vote to say pay award is acceptable (15 Aug) – Members employed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have voted on their latest 2022-23 pay award, with the majority voting to say it’s acceptable. This means ongoing industrial action at the CQC will end read more
RCN consultative ballot on latest Welsh government pay offer now open (31 Jul) – Members on NHS Agenda for Change contracts in Wales will be able to vote to accept or reject the latest offer between Monday 31 July and Thursday 31 August… The RCN is not making a recommendation on how members should vote in this ballot – members must consider their own personal circumstances and how the offer will affect them. However, this is an offer in principle and it will only be implemented if members accept it read more
Royal College of Nursing members employed by the Care Plus Group vote for industrial strike action (27 Jul) – The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) balloted members employed by the Care Plus Group in July on whether they would be willing to take industrial strike action for better pay and parity with nursing staff employed by the NHS on Agenda for Change terms and conditions of employment. A majority of RCN members who responded to the ballot voted in favour of strike action with 93% of those who voted, voting ‘yes’ read more
Majority of Manx Care nurses vote to strike and reject latest pay offer (23 Jun) – Eighty per-cent (80%) of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members who responded to the ballot for strike action, have voted in favour 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
CSP
Physios in Northern Ireland to vote on strike action (7 Aug) – The CSP has today opened a ballot for physiotherapy staff working for Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) to vote on industrial action over pay. Members should receive voting papers from Civica during the week of 7 August. This is the first time the CSP has held an industrial action ballot for pay in Northern Ireland. The ballot will be open from 7 August and close on 11 September. Health and social care staff in Northern Ireland remain the lowest paid across the UK. They are yet to be offered a pay uplift for 2023/24 and have received no additional pay award for 2022/23. CSP Council is recommending members Vote Yes in support of strike action and to an additional question, which would give physiotherapy staff a mandate to undertake industrial action short of a strike. Ninety-three per cent of participants who took part in a consultation in June said they were prepared to take industrial action read more
BMA
Support the Junior Doctors strike read more
Donate to support striking junior doctors
Time to fix our contract (30 Aug) – Terms and conditions need updating to reflect the tasks junior doctors face. Kelly Clarkson has just won the first season of American Idol, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers has smashed the box office worldwide, and Nickelback have just released ‘How you remind me’. Yes, the year is 2002, and that is when our contract was last negotiated. Twenty-one years on, the provision of medical care and medical education has changed drastically within Northern Ireland. However, junior doctors remain on this antiquated contract. A contract that no longer recognises the range of complex co-morbid patients we now treat. A contract that doesn’t recognise that living standards have fallen exponentially, while the pressures of the job have changed and increased significantly. We no longer work as a ‘firm’ but instead cross-cover numerous wards. Instead of doing 48 to 72 hours on call, we work more shift work hours with more intense workloads when we are in work read more
Consultants launch second round of strikes (24 Aug) – Senior doctors walk out for two days in protest at pay erosion. Consultants in England have begun 48 hours of industrial action, and announced more strike dates for October if the government continues to ignore their calls to fix consultant pay. The two-day walkout is the second round of strikes by senior hospital doctors in England who have seen their take-home pay fall by more than a third since 2008/09. Consultants are asking for the Government to present a ‘credible’ offer that puts an end to real-terms pay cuts and a commits to reforming the pay review body process so that it can be ‘truly independent’ and begin addressing historic losses in pay read more
Re-ballot for junior doctor strike action (19 Jul) – Re-ballot now open until noon 31 August. We’re re-balloting junior doctors to extend our mandate for junior doctor strike action. Due to anti-strike laws, we can currently only legally strike until late August read more
HCSA
HCSA calls for legislation to outlaw persecution of whistleblowing nhs staff (22 Aug) – HCSA – the hospital doctors’ union has demanded sweeping reform of whistleblowing laws, warning the failure to tackle management bullying is fatally undermining efforts to prevent the next big NHS safety scandal read more
Society of Radiographers
Northern Ireland: SoR to ballot members on strike action over pay (9 Aug) – Members urged to vote yes by 6 September to improve pay and help reduce waiting lists. The SoR is balloting almost 1,000 members in Northern Ireland on strike action in a bid to secure improvements to pay and conditions, increase recruitment and retention of radiography professionals – and thus cut waiting times for patients read more
New pay offer for radiographers in Wales – SoR members asked to vote now (8 Aug) – SoR recommends acceptance of improved offer following earlier strike threat. New pay talks with the Welsh government have resulted in a revised package around non-pay elements of the original offer to radiographers. SoR members in Wales had rejected that offer by an overwhelming number and called for a ballot on strike action. The Welsh government then agreed to re-open talks with the SoR on the proviso that the Society paused balloting. These talks have resulted in a new offer around non-pay elements of the original offer with the aim to improve Terms and Conditions of Service within the NHS in Wales and for radiographers read more
NEU
Northern Ireland education budget (17 Aug) – The budget funding gap of over £300m will undoubtedly have a significant impact on education in 2023-24. The Department of Education (NI) launched a public consultation on the equality implications following the announcement by the Secretary of State on the 2023-24 budget allocations. The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) sets out the Department’s assessment of the impact of the Budget on services across the whole education sector. In what is the most challenging overall budget in recent history, the Department of Education faces unprecedented funding challenges and cuts in 2023-24 read more
NASUWT
Trade dispute – sixth form colleges (13 Jun) – In ballots of teachers in sixth form colleges, NASUWT – the Teachers’ Union, has today issued notice to the Education Secretary and employers of potential national industrial action, including strike action and action short of strike action across sixth form colleges in England. NASUWT members in 56 sixth form colleges secured ballot mandates with 87.6% of eligible members voting to support strike action and 93.7% voting in support of action short of strike action based on an overall turnout of 64.9% read more
NAHT
NAHT members in Jersey back industrial action in island’s schools (27 Jun) – Members of school leaders’ union NAHT have voted in favour of industrial action in Jersey. A resounding 86% of members voted in favour of strike action, with 98% supporting action short of strike (ASOS). Turnout was 68%. Following the ballot, NAHT’s Jersey executive has decided members should take action short of strike in the first instance. It will today serve the seven working days notice required, meaning the action will commence on Wednesday, July 5 read more
EIS
College lecturers take national strike action for fully funded pay award (25 Aug) – The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), has given notice to all of Scotland’s Further Education colleges of a programme of sustained strike action in a long running dispute over pay. This marks an escalation in the pay dispute, following months where members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) have engaged in action short of strike, comprising a resulting boycott and work to contract. College lecturers should have received a pay uplift at the beginning of September 2022 and following over a year of protracted negotiations, College Employers Scotland have stated that their ‘full and final’ pay offer would have to be financed through significant job losses across the college sector. Negotiators from EIS-FELA have made clear that sacrificing jobs for fair pay is completely unacceptable and rejected the current pay offer on this basis. Beginning on Thursday 7th September, when all members of EIS-FELA will take strike action across Scotland, a rolling programme of strikes will take place with two colleges taking strike action each day for twelve days. Following the conclusion of the rolling strike action, targeted strike action will take place at the following colleges:
- Glasgow Clyde College – First Minister’s constituency.
- Dundee & Angus College – Deputy First Minister’s and Minister for Further Education’s constituencies.
- Fife College: Cabinet Secretary for Education’s constituency read more
EIS announces more strike dates in ongoing dispute at City of Glasgow College (23 Aug) – The EIS has announced additional strike dates in the ongoing dispute at City of Glasgow College (CoGC) over plans from the college management to cut course provision and jobs. The EIS has now served notice on City of Glasgow College of a further 15 days’ strike action over cuts to learning provision coupled with redundancies. Starting on 5th September, lecturers will be striking in a bid to overturn plans to pass on funding cuts directly to staff. EIS-FELA (EIS Further Education Lecturers’ Association) has been in dispute with the College since February this year after it announced increased workloads for lecturers, reduced face to face contact time for students, cuts to the numbers of Learning Support lecturers, and two rounds of redundancy – one of which is compulsory read more
INTO
Teachers’ Unions Come Together to Strengthen Industrial Action Campaign (22 Aug) – The members of the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), the representative body for the teachers’ unions, have come together to ask union members to stand strong on Action Short of Strike instructions. In the absence of any response to the pay claims for members, the NITC remains firm in following the course of action initiated in the last school year. We would ask members to take some time to revisit these actions, and to ensure that they are embedded in their school practice going into the new school year. The NITC members have acted as one throughout this period of action, and this must continue read more
UCU
UCU condemns ‘baffling’ dismissal of University of Sussex lecturer (25 Aug) – UCU has today condemned plans by the University of Sussex to make a member of teaching staff redundant after having advertised a new permanent post that includes all his current duties. Philosopher Lecturer James Furner has been employed at the university on consecutive fixed term part-time contracts since 2021, but on 22 August the university wrote to him to say that his employment will come to an end this month. Yet on July 7 it advertised a new full-time post of Lecturer in Philosophy stating that the post-holder ‘will be expected’ to teach the same four undergraduate modules that James taught in 2022-3. The University’s procedures allow for a redundancy if ‘the University’s requirement/s for members of staff to carry out work of a particular kind’ are ‘expected to cease or diminish’. But in this case, the University is not reducing its overall staff requirements in philosophy. It requires a new full time permanent Lecturer in Philosophy, and it requires the teaching that James has been doing. The University of Sussex published a net operating cash inflow of £57m in 2021 and UCU say that there is enough money in the institution to employ current staff on full-time permanent positions and end the reliance on casualised contracts. A petition has been launched in protest against the plans read more
Scores of English colleges face strike ballot over low pay (24 Aug) – England’s biggest-ever strike ballot in further education will launch on Tuesday 5 September, UCU announced today. The ballot will run at 89 English college employers until Tuesday 10 October in a dispute over low pay and poor working conditions. UCU is demanding a fair pay offer to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis, a national workload agreement and binding national pay negotiations. The ballot comes after English school teachers accepted a pay award of 6.5% for 2023/24. The Department for Education provided additional funding for the pay award and also announced an extra £470m for colleges over the next two years, which Secretary of State Gillian Keegan said is ‘equivalent’ to the funding going to schools to meet their 6.5% pay rise. So far employer body the Association of Colleges (AoC) has failed to recommend any pay award whatsoever for 2023/24. It directs colleges to pay their teachers as little as £26k while the pay gap between school and college teachers is over £9k. College staff work an average of two days extra every week for no additional pay and salaries have fallen 35% behind RPI inflation over the past 12 years read more
More strike action to hit universities as employers refuse to negotiate (14 Aug) – UCU has announced it will take more strike action unless employer body UCEA agrees to return to negotiations and end disruption to graduations. The union’s Higher Education Committee met this afternoon and voted to take further strike action before the end of September [NOTE 1] and to begin preparations for a new ballot in order to renew UCU’s industrial mandate in the pay and working conditions dispute, meaning disruption could continue this year and well into 2024. The marking boycott will also continue. It began at 145 universities on Thursday 20 April but UCEA has responded by refusing to improve its offer and employers have punitively docked the pay of staff taking part. UCU has agreed to UCEA’s proposal for a joint review of sector finances read more
Strikes set for Liverpool John Moores University over pay docking (13 Jun) – Staff at Liverpool John Moores University will down tools on Friday in the first of eight days of strike action in response to the university’s enforcement of 50% wage deductions for staff taking part in the marking boycott. Friday’s strike will hit a key university open day, and staff will rally outside Metropolitan Cathedral, next to the university’s John Foster building from 1pm. The full days of strike action are:-
Week 1: Friday 16 June
Week 2: Thursday 17 and Friday 18 August
Week 3: Monday 18, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September.
Management at John Moores has started docking the pay of staff who are boycotting marking by 50% despite the fact that staff continue to teach, support students, write references, provide pastoral care, undertake research and attend public events read more
Indefinite strike action to hit University of Leeds over 100% pay docking (2 Jun) – Over 1,800 staff at the University of Leeds will begin indefinite strike action from Thursday 15 June after management confirmed it will be deducting 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking boycott. The strike could continue for months unless management stop docking staff pay. UCU said pay deductions of up to 100% are utterly unacceptable as staff taking part in the marking and assessment boycott continue to teach, lecture and support students as normal read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
FBU launches legal challenge over Bibby Stockholm barge (27 Aug) – The Fire Brigades Union has now launched a legal challenge over the Bibby Stockholm. In a Pre-Action Protocol letter sent by lawyers to the Home Secretary on Friday, the union outlined its concerns over safety aboard the barge. A response is required by 4pm on Thursday 31st August. The union had previously written to the Home Secretary asking for a meeting to discuss its concerns, but the request for a meeting was turned down earlier this month read more
Fire Brigades Union gives deadline to Merseyside fire chief: get round the table or face industrial action (25 Aug) – The FBU has written to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, calling for employers to get round the table to avoid strike action and action short of strike. In a letter addressed to Merseyside Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan, FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack has set September 12 as a deadline for local negotiations. If the local dispute has not been resolved by that date, the FBU will meet to consider calling strike and action short of strike dates. The letter follows the results of two ballots this week, which delivered an “overwhelming mandate” for industrial action following a serious break down in industrial relations read more
Merseyside fire control staff vote to strike as firefighters vote for continued industrial action (Aug 21) – Today, 21st August, results from ballots for industrial action in Merseyside fire service have gone live, with FBU members voting in response to a reduction in night-time staffing numbers in fire control, and attacks on terms and conditions. FBU members in Merseyside fire control have voted overwhelmingly for strike action, with 100% voting Yes on a 92% turnout. Fire control are the team who answer calls from those who need the fire and rescue service and make sure firefighters and appliances get to the right place read more
NAPO
News on the Programmes and Interventions restructure (22 Aug) – Unions and senior management have agreed that further high level dialogue will be necessary to try and make progress on this project. The statement explains that the first stage of this discussion which we hope will lay the foundations for a transition agreement, is underway. Napo is committed to the need for further consultation with our members working in Programmes and Interventions as the negotiations progress, and more news will follow once the initial scoping of such an agreement has been finalised. Carole Doherty ([email protected]) and Tania Bassett ([email protected]) will be Napo’s representatives in the discussions read more
BFAWU
Post Conference Foodworker 2023
BFAWU members at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool are out on Strike! (31 May) – Our members at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool have taken the difficult decision to withdraw their labour this week over a pay dispute, the picket line over the last 24 hours has had plenty of support from the membership and the public with lots of drivers beeping their horns and waving and passers by passing on their support! Read more Donate to the strike fund
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
NUJ
The NUJ Disabled Members’ Council sends solidarity to UK disability activists (29 Aug) – The union encourages journalists to report on the UK’s treatment of disabled people. The UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition delegation gave damning evidence on August 28 to the UN committee responsible for the Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRDP). The UK Government did not attend the evidence session read more
Statement by Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary, on RTÉ proposals to publish Register of Interests and Register of External Activities (29 Aug) – Public Interest not public curiosity must inform policy on RTÉ register. The National Union of Journalists notes the RTÉ proposals to publish a Register of Interests and Register of External Activities. The scoping document published this morning will be considered by NUJ members and by the RTÉ Trade Union Group in the coming weeks. RTÉ is also proposing the creation of a Conflict of Interests form and a central Register of Gifts. At a meeting last week, NUJ members confirmed their commitment to transparency and recognised that greater openness and consistency in the application of policies and procedures is vital if trust in RTÉ is to be restored read more
NUJ stands in solidarity with BBC Cairo journalists (23 Aug) – The union has sent a message of support to journalists in dispute with the broadcaster over pay. Journalists at BBC Cairo commenced 10 day strike action from 21 August over an ongoing dispute over pay. The Egyptian pound’s devaluation has had a significant impact on salaries and staff are urging negotiations include a pay package offered by the BBC, that settles the dispute. Industrial action follows three day strike action in July, and a one-day strike in June read more
BBC journalists vote to renew their industrial action mandate over cuts to local radio (10 Aug) – The union now has a mandate for strike action, but will continue talks with management. Under the UK’s onerous and restrictive legislation governing industrial action, the NUJ was required to have another ballot to keep the action alive – members at BBC Local in England, in local radio, regional TV and online, have taken strike action on three occasions and are continuing to operate a work to rule. On a turnout of 64 per cent, 70 per cent said they were prepared to take part in strike action and 83 per cent said they were prepared to take part in industrial action short of a strike. This positive result was despite many members being away over August and means the work to rule will seamlessly roll on until a resolution is reached. The BBC’s plans will cut local content by almost half read more
NUJ ballots National World journalists for industrial action (10 Aug) – The union is seeking views from over 300 journalists at the publisher on whether they are willing to take strike action in the dispute over pay. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued ballot papers to journalists at National World seeking views on whether members are willing to participate in industrial action. The union is encouraging over 300 journalists to vote yes in response to questions on taking strike action and action short of a strike, demonstrating strong opposition to the recently imposed 4.5 per cent pay award, and other concerns forming the ongoing pay dispute. The company’s pay award had been repeatedly rejected by more than a dozen NUJ chapels representing hundreds of National World journalists, followed by a vote of no confidence in David Montgomery, executive chairman. Despite talks with the publisher including through Acas negotiations urging an improved pay package, uplifts to minimum rates and efforts to improve pay disparities, National World has failed to present an enhanced pay award for journalists read more
Equity
“One struggle, one fight!” Equity rallies in support of SAG-AFTRA (28 Jul) – Hundreds join Brian Cox, Rakie Ayola, Rob Delaney, John McDonnell MP and more to show solidarity with striking SAG-AFTRA members. Members and trade unionists show their solidarity with SAG-AFTRA. On Friday 21 July, around 400-500 people joined Brian Cox, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Hayley Atwell, Imelda Staunton and more at Equity’s London rally in solidarity with striking SAG-AFTRA members. Organised by Equity, the rally took place in London’s Leicester Square gardens in front of a statue of William Shakespeare, and surrounded by cinemas, street performers and statues from the world of the arts and entertainment. Rally attendees included Equity members, actors, creatives, and members of the public, who chanted “One struggle, one fight, we support SAG-AFTRA’s strike” and “The luvvies united will never be defeated!”. They also held banners reading “Equity stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA”. Rally speakers gave moving, impassioned accounts of the collective threats actors face from exploitation by streaming services and AI, the need for solidarity across borders and across struggles, and the need for reform of the draconian trade union legislation in the UK read more
Community
Get back around the table, Glen Dimplex (15 Aug) – Community Union has called on management at Glen Dimplex to get back around the table for pay talks as strike action at the firm’s Whiston site on Merseyside enters its second week. Last Monday (7th August) workers from the home appliances factory on Stoney Lane began a course of industrial action over pay after negotiations with management at the Irish-headquartered firm reached gridlock read more
Glen Dimplex workers march for pay rise (9 Aug)
Glen Dimplex workers to take strike action (2 Aug)
UVW
UVW to sue LSE for disability discrimination and trade union victimisation after sacking strike leader (24 Aug) – “My condition has got something to do with it, but I think there’s more to it. I’ve always been at the forefront of the fight… because I consider myself a union leader” – Geovanny Moreno Buitrago, LSE cleaner and UVW member. UVW strike leader Geovanny Moreno Buitrago, a migrant cleaner from Colombia at the London School of Economics (LSE), was sacked after being off sick with a herniated disc as he tried to return to work. UVW is appealing and suing for his dismissal on grounds of disability discrimination and trade union victimisation. In spite of two expert medical opinions, Geovanny’s willingness to come back to work, his own recommendations on what he is capable of doing, and LSE’s own health policies, LSE sacked him read more
IWGB
Foster Care Workers’ Union statement on Scotland’s new national allowances (29 Aug) – Allowances are being raised across Scotland as a direct result of struggling foster carers’ tireless campaigning. By getting organised and forming a union, these workers have managed to show that positive change is possible despite the government’s best efforts to silence them every step of the way read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members in Clonmel and Waterford reach agreement in Iceland dispute (26 Aug) – SIPTU members working in the Clonmel and Waterford branches of Iceland have today (Saturday, 26th August) reached an agreement with the examiner to fast-track their statutory redundancy payments and secure all outstanding monies owed to them. SIPTU member, Siobhan Delahunty, said: “We began our sit-in five days ago and have now reached a settlement. We are very happy with the resolution but, at the same time, we are sad to have lost our jobs.” Read more
SIPTU suspends Retained Fire Fighters strike following WRC offer (17 Aug) – Late night talks (Wednesday, August 16th) at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) have resulted in an offer of improved terms for Retained Fire Fighters in a bid to resolve the current strike. As a result, SIPTU has decided to suspend strike action while these terms are considered and voted upon read more
Other news
HARTON AND WESTOE MINERS’ BANNER GROUP & WISECRACK PRODUCTIONS PRESENT the incredible story of…
THE CRAMLINGTON TRAIN WRECKERS
The trailer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QAro-Fpj-VDHcpVE6vHNIdCmQ9BFoEl3/view?usp=sharing
During the 1926 General Strike, miners in Cramlington accidentally derailed the Flying Scotsman. No one was killed and only one person was slightly injured. Eight Northumberland miners were sentenced to 48 years’ penal servitude. One of them was Westoe-born William Muckle, who wrote a book about it called No Regrets.
Workers defending their jobs and communities or terrorists?
HARTON & WESTOE MINERS’ WELFARE
Low Lane, South Shields, NE34 0NA
Friday, September 29 @ 7.30pm
Illustrated talk by playwright Ed Waugh (Wor Bella, Hadaway Harry, Carrying David)
Recitations and songs by top actor Jamie Brown
Alan Mardghum, Durham Miners’ Association secretary, will speak
Tickets only £2 via eventbrite
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Support Lee Fowler – Another blacklisted construction worker sacked after making complaints about safety on site read more about Lee’s case
Support the ‘Murphy 4’ Campaign to reinstate sacked Unite members read more
Felixstowe 4’ protest demands justice at CK Hutchison AGM (18 May) read more
UK facing taps and pipes shortage as Warrington based GXO drivers strike over sacking of Unite rep (12 May) read more
Protest as Hackney Unison chair amongst those handed compulsory redundancies in libraries shake-up: 6pm Wednesday 17th May Hackney Town Hall Read more on Hackney Citizen website
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
Construction blacklisting: Evidence sought in union officials’ collusion inquiry (11 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is stepping up its search for information into the possible collusion by trade union officials into the blacklisting of construction workers. In April 2022 Unite established an independent inquiry into allegations that some union officials may have colluded with the blacklisting of construction workers. Unite has instructed a legal team of Nick Randall KC (Matrix Chambers), John Carl Townsend (33 Chancery Lane Chambers) and Paul Heron from (Public Interest Law Centre), to examine and investigate whether any union officials from Unite or its predecessor unions (T&G, UCATT, Amicus, AEEU or MSF), were involved in the blacklisting of construction workers. The inquiry is now entering its next stage and an online portal has been launched to allow anyone who has any information relating to the inquiry to submit information read more
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. You can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK. Also, check out Organise Now! – Support for new worker organising.
International
From NUJ website – India: journalist assassinated outside home (25 Aug) – NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists in condemning the murder of Vimal Kumar Yadav. On 18 August, the Dainik Jagran newspaper reporter was shot in the chest at approximately 5.30am, after answering a knock at the door of his home in the Raniganj market area of Araria district read more on NUJ website
From NUJ website – Sudan: journalists’ safety under threat amid ongoing conflict (25 Aug) – NUJ stands in solidarity with journalists in Sudan and encourages members to donate to the IFJ’s Safety Fund offering emergency assistance. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) sends a message of solidarity to its sister union the Sudanese Union of Journalists- (SUJ), calling for a halt to ongoing conflict in Sudan and urging all parties ensure the safety of journalists in the country read more on NUJ website
Diary
September
3 Burston Strike School Rally 2023 – 10.30am Diss Road, Burston IP22 4HS. For transport details, see Burston Strike School Facebook group
10 NSSN TUC Rally Liverpool 1pm
23 Workers Summit 1pm Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4QH details
October
1 Demonstrations at Tory Party Conference 12noon:-
- Peoples Assembly – Assemble on Oxford Road
- Stand Up To Racism – Assemble Central Manchester
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
