Tory Health Secretary Steve Barclay has threatened the BMA with their new anti-union law, the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 as the union’s consultants and junior doctors members stepped up their strike action.
The NSSN stands in solidarity with the BMA and the consultants and junior doctors. As with other NHS workers and those in other sectors, their action is all about fighting for safe staffing levels in the NHS on every day. But this threat is a warning to all unions as the strike wave continues, including co-ordinated action today in the NHS and civil service in Northern Ireland. We send them all solidarity and support.
If the BMA is attacked, all unions must be prepared to take action together to defend them, the NHS and the right to strike. The TUC must enact its motion agreed at its Congress, that stated “Congress pledges 100% solidarity with any trade unions attacked under these MSL laws” and included to “support demonstrations and hold a national march opposing the legislation and calling for repeal of the anti-union laws.”
The Congress motion that was passed at the TUC includes:-
Congress calls on the next Labour government to immediately repeal MSLs, the Trade Union Act 2016 and take urgent steps to remove other anti-union laws.
Congress pledges 100% solidarity with any trade unions attacked under these MSL laws.
Congress agrees we must use all means necessary to defeat the unjust MSLs laws and calls on the General Council to proactively seek to:
- resist any further restrictive trade union legislation and demand:
- the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016 and all other anti-trade union legislation;
- stronger rights for unions to access workplaces, win recognition, and establish collective bargaining rights; and
- the right for trade union members to vote online during industrial action ballots, and statutory elections for executive committees and general secretaries.
- build coalitions to campaign for non-compliance and against further restrictive trade union legislation;
- build an appropriate industrial response to defend workers’ right to strike;
- implement a campaign alongside others defending the fundamental rights of working people to resist MSLs;
- legally challenge the Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) legislation;
- coordinate demands from affiliates and call on employers, devolved governments, mayors, fire authorities, local authorities and other public bodies to refuse to implement the MSLs legislation and issue work notices and work with the trade union movement to render MSLs inoperable;
- support demonstrations and hold a national march opposing the legislation and calling for repeal of the anti-union laws;
- mobilise support for any affiliate seeking assistance, whose union and members are sanctioned for non-compliance;
- organise a Special Congress, size to be determined, to explore options for non-compliance and resistance.
The following supported lobbying the TUC. Send us details if your union also passes our model motion and/or agreed to support our lobby of the TUC and we’ll include in this list:-
Nottinghamshire, Nottingham & Mansfield Trades Council, RMT Piccadilly and District West, Hounslow Unison, Hounslow TUC, Ealing TUC, RMT LU Engineering, Southwark Trades Council, Waltham Forest Trades Council, Unite LE/1228 Waltham Forest Council Branch, Unite Housing Workers LE1111, Free Our Unions, Liverpool Trades Council, Unite NW /540 Howden supply division Runcorn, Scotland CWU No2 branch, CWU Highland Amal, BFAWU Kernow, Surrey County Unison, Unite Community Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire branch, Southampton and South West Hampshire TUC, Cardiff Trades Council, Cardiff General Unite branch WA/1048, Unite WM/6050 Tom Mann branch, Birmingham TUC, Coventry TUC, Unite NW 127404 Branch, Unite WM/6030 South Birmingham branch, Coventry CWU Telecoms, Walsall TUC, Birmingham UCU, Hull Trades Council, Sheffield RMT, Sheffield TUC, Swansea Trades Council, Southern East Kent Trades Union Council, Bristol Trades Union Council, Leeds Trades Union Council, Stevenage & District TUC, Carmarthenshire Unison Local Government Branch, Basildon Unison Local Government Branch, Unison NCA Health, Knowsley Unison Local Government Branch, Caerphilly Trades Council, Wakefield Trades Council, Unison Mid Yorkshire Health Branch, Unite Merseyside Area Activist Committee, Unite Notts Area Activist Committee, Unite EM/NG32 Nottinghamshire Health Branch, Brighton Trades Council, Portsmouth Trades Council, Carlisle TUC, Winchester & Andover TUC, Hampshire County Associations of TUCs, Hackney Unison Local Government Branch, Hackney Trades Council, Plymouth Trades Council, Blackpool Fylde and Wyre TUC, Torbay TUC, Unite SW/008 Branch
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.
NSSN news
NSSN Surrey Public Meeting: ‘How can trade unionists prepare for the battles ahead?’ – 2pm Sunday 8th October, The Guildford Institute, Ward St, Guilford GU1 4LH
Reading Trade Union Council Strike Rally – Saturday 14th October 1pm Assembling in Forbury Gardens Facebook event
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]
Union News
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RMT
RMT warns that Tory ‘minimum service’ laws will ‘poison’ industrial relations (22 Sept) – RAIL UNION RMT warned today (Thursday, September 21, 2023) that the Tory anti-union minimum service laws would if used worsen industrial relations, prolong disputes and lead to even more days or strikes and new novel forms of action. The union was responding to a new Transport Committee report released tomorrow (Friday) challenging the government’s ‘minimum service levels’ regulations for railway strikes. While the new draconian anti-union legislation became law earlier this year details of those regulations and how they could work in practice have yet to be unveiled by the Department for Transport (DfT). Following its inquiry, the cross-party Committee has demanded that if any such legislation was used it must ensure that safety for staff and the travelling public must be the primary consideration and that Industrial disputes must not be neither been prolonged nor increased read more
Network Rail and illegal strike breaking tactics (21 Sept) – RMT has written to Network Rail today (Thursday September 21, 2023) regarding allegations of the use of agency workers in violation of the law in order to undermine a strike. Union members at a Cardiff depot were on strike for 12 hours this week in a dispute over the imposition of rosters. However, it has been brought to the union’s attention that Network Rail had allegedly used agency workers to cover the role of Controller of Site Safety, which is totally illegal under current legislation read more
London Underground station staff to take strike action in October (20 Sept) – Tube union, RMT will take strike action on London Underground on October 4 and 6 over job losses and safety concerns. The union has been locked in a long running dispute over 600 station staff cuts and detrimental working conditions since last year. Safety concerns have also been raised regarding fewer staff facing higher workloads, more lone working and increased fatigue. The job losses planned will affect every aspect of the tube including stations and maintenance, leading to the likelihood of more unstaffed stations and a lowering of safety standards. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Station staff have had enough of having their livelihoods threatened by job losses and attacks on their terms and conditions…” read more
RMT remembers Southall train crash 26 years ago today (19 Sept) – Rail union, RMT today remembers the Southall train crash which killed 6 and injured more than 150. The tragedy occurred on 19 September 1997 1.15pm near Southall station without warning, when an Intercity train ploughed into a freight train read more
RMT responds to Avanti and CrossCountry rail contract awards (19 Sept) – RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch said: “Avanti are one of the worst rail companies on the network and it is a travesty that they have been awarded this contract read more
Rail Gourmet workers take strike action on TPE (15 Sept) – Contracted out caterers are on strike today over poor pay, pensions and sick pay. RMT members working for Rail Gourmet on TransPennine Express services get lower pay and poorer terms and conditions than colleagues directly employed by the train operator. Rail Gourmet made £1.4 million in profit last year but have refused to meet the expectations of members in terms of a pay offer. Despite negotiations, the company is still refusing to give timescales on when it will pay workers £15 an hour read more
Sign petition: Reinstate Anne Howie RMT Activist – Anne Howie RMT activist at Manchester Piccadilly is facing dismissal with no due process
ASLEF
ASLEF: Train drivers’ union announces industrial action and asks ‘Where’s Wally?’ (15 Sept) – ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has today [Friday] announced another two days of strike action – on Saturday 30 September and Wednesday 4 October – and an overtime ban across the UK rail network on Friday 29 September and from Monday 2 to Friday 6 October. The strike will force the train operating companies to cancel all services and the ban on overtime will seriously disrupt the network as the privatised train companies have always failed to employ enough drivers to provide a proper service – the service they promise passengers, businesses, and the government they will deliver – without asking drivers to work their rest days. 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
Transport Select Committee’s recommendations a “belated attempt to make unfair strikes law look palatable” (22 Sept) – Large picket line at York station with placards and Rachael Maskell MP. TSSA today (Friday) slammed the Transport Select Committee’s (TSC) nine tests for Government on strikes laws, calling them “a belated attempt to make unfair and undemocratic legislation look palatable”. The Transport Select Committee has released nine key principles it believes the Government should include in minimum service regulations for railway workers strikes. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act which became law earlier this year, and has condemned by trade unions, will force union members who vote for industrial action to attend work, breaking their own strike read more
Sunak heading down a climate cul de sac (20 Sept) – Transport and travel union TSSA has warned the government is “heading down a climate cul de sac” after Rishi Sunak announced “a new approach” to tackling climate change read more
TSSA dismayed at rewards for Avanti’s record-breaking rail failures (19 Sept) – Rail union TSSA has said it is “deeply dismayed” at the government’s decision to award Avanti a new contract to run services on the west coast mainline which could last up to a decade. The contract, which begins on the 15th of October and can be terminated at any point after three years with three months’ notice. It comes after the company was ordered to implement a recovery plan read more
Unite
Welsh Local Authority Strikes to Escalate From Next Week (22 Sept) – Unite members at both Wrexham and Cardiff Councils will resume their continuous strike action for a further three-week period from next Monday. In an escalation of the industrial action, Unite members will strike from 25th September to 15th October. Members at the two councils have previously undertaken two weeks of strike action from September 4th – September 17th. Unite members have overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year and a real terms pay cut. Many Unite members within Welsh Local Authorities work for a wage that is barely above the national minimum wage read more
Unite says ‘serious’ new pay offer on table to tackle low pay Scottish in local government (22 Sept) – Strikes suspended as pay offer recommended for acceptance. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm that following a meeting of its local government committee this morning (Friday 22 September), it will now suspend its scheduled strike action for next week in order to ballot its membership on an improved pay offer by COSLA. Three days of strike action involving thousands of Unite members in education and early years services from 26 to 28 September across 11 councils is now suspended. The trade union can also confirm that its local government committee has recommended ‘acceptance’ of the improved COSLA pay offer. Unite will accordingly hold a ballot of its local government membership which will open on 26 September and close on 17 October. The new offer represents a minimum increase of £2006 for those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage, and a minimum of £1929 for all those above from 1 April 2023 read more
Mass demonstrations at Norwich NHS AGM following Norse pay betrayal (22 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, will stage a major demonstration at the AGM of the Norfolk Community and Health Care Trust (NCH&C), in support of its members employed by Norse who are striking over pay. The workers, who are employed by Norse Commercial Services but contracted to undertake critical maintenance on all of NCH&C’s hospitals and health centres, began strike action last month after only being offered a four per cent pay increase, which is a substantial real terms pay cut with the current true rate of inflation (RPI) standing at 9.1 per cent.
When: Tuesday 26 September from 09:00
Where: NCH&C AGM, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Helimed House, Hangar 14, Gambling Close, Norwich NR6 6EG
…the Unite members at Norse will be striking on 26 September and 5 October then for a further week from Monday 9 October, which will result in disruption to patients and staff at NCH&C NHS Trust read more
Pay strikes at Kings Lynn’s largest social housing provider escalate (22 Sept) – Freebridge housing workers on poverty pay despite £3.6m surplus and huge executive salaries. Strikes at Freebridge Community Housing over poverty pay will intensify from next week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday). 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, the largest social housing provider in Kings Lynn and West Norfolk, 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 9.1 per cent. The workers are asking for a seven per cent pay rise. 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 read more
Public sector workers rally for fair pay and respect on second day of powerful coordinated strike action (21 Sept) – Striking trade union members across health, civil service, PSNI and private sector will rally at Belfast City Hall tomorrow [Friday]. When: 12.30pm Friday 22nd September 2023; Where: Belfast City Hall, Belfast. The Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is hosting a ‘Workers Demand Better’ rally tomorrow at Belfast City Hall to demand improved pay and adequate budgets for public services. The event marks the second day of coordinated strike action by public sector workers in health, the civil service, PSNI and college lecturers. The rally will be joined by private sector workers, including Unite members from Vista Therm who are now on their eighth week of strike action, in a show of solidarity for their public sector colleagues read more
4000 Unite members in health and social care to commence 48-hour strike from midnight tonight in Northern Ireland (20 Sept) – Health budget so inadequate that Northern Ireland health workers are being denied pay increase offered in England and Wales. More than 4000 Unite members working in the health and social care service in Northern Ireland will join with colleagues from other health unions in one of the biggest strike actions in years to affect the service. The 48-hour strike will commence from 00.01am on Thursday lasting until midnight on Friday and is likely to impact health services across the region. Workers are striking over being denied the same pay offer provided to NHS workers in England and Wales; an outcome which will leave Northern Ireland NHS workers paid less than those employed anywhere else in the UK. Department of Health officials have told trade unions that they cannot pass on the ‘Barnett consequentials’, including extra funding, arising from the NHS pay increase in England to NHS workers in Northern Ireland because the overall budget set for the health service by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris is too low read more
Unite secures recognition for DHL workers at East Midlands airport (21 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured formal recognition for workers employed by DHL at East Midlands Airport. The 230 workers employed by DHL, who undertake ramp duties at the airport, will now have their pay, hours and holiday entitlement negotiated for them by Unite. The recognition deal is a major achievement for Unite, which has been seeking to secure formal recognition for the workers for many years to improve pay and working conditions. The deal is also politically significant as East Midlands Airport forms a freeport zone and there have been concerns that these could effectively become trade union free zones read more
Mercedes drivers in London and Surrey facing repairs woe as Hedin workers strike over pay (21 Sept) – Mercedes drivers throughout South London and Surrey are facing an autumn of servicing and repairs woe, as workers employed by Hedin Automotive take extensive strike action over pay. Hedin Automotive, which has recently taken over the running of Mercede Benz dealerships, has only been prepared to offer its workers a five per cent pay increase from April and an additional three per cent from the date the deal is agreed. This is a sizeable, real terms pay cut as the workers were due to receive a pay rise from January, when the real rate of inflation (RPI) stood at 13.4 per cent. In response, over 50 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, based at dealerships at Brookland in Surrey, Bromley and Croydon, have voted to take 14 days of strike action. The first strike takes place on Thursday 28 September read more
Unite: Plan to delay ban on petrol car sales is ‘kicking the can down the road’ (20 Sept) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Kicking the can down the road on petrol car sales is no substitute for a proper industrial strategy setting out a just transition to net zero. Instead, we get ever more uncertainty for workers, industry and consumers from a government that deals in piecemeal policies delivered on the hoof read more
Demonstrations at three Major London events due to union-busting by construction company J Murphy and Sons (20 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, will hold demonstrations tomorrow at the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) and the British Tunnelling Society due to the union-busting activities of J Murphy and Sons Ltd. The demonstration at the Royal Aeronautical Society will coincide with the President’s Summit on the Future of Flight. Michael Toms a non-executive director of J Murphy and Sons is a fellow of the society read more
Murphy union-busting: Belfast City councillors to sign procurement pledge tomorrow (18 Sept) – Members of trade union Unite will meet with Belfast City Councillors tomorrow (Tuesday) to launch a pledge-signing campaign in support of four Unite members, including a shop steward, who were wrongfully sacked last year in an act of union-busting read more
Unite leader demands action on profiteering to tackle rising prices (20 Sept) – Sharon Graham responds to today’s ONS statistics on inflation. Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, has today demanded that politicians act to protect working people from the continued price hikes being imposed by many firms. The call follows today’s figures from the ONS which showed inflation measured by the (RPI) rose to 9.1% read more
Unite issues warning to Birmingham commissioners (19 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has issued a stark warning to the government commissioners appointed to run Birmingham council following the authority effectively declaring bankruptcy, that “we will not sit back and allow our members’ jobs to be used to pay for others’ failures”. It was announced today (Tuesday 19 September) that the levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, has appointed commissioners to run Birmingham council. The commissioners will be responsible for cutting costs and returning the council to financial viability. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “No one should be under any illusion, Unite will never sit back and allow our Birmingham city council members’ jobs to be sacrificed to pay for others’ failures. If there is any attempt to cut the jobs, pay or conditions of our members, Unite will fight those proposals using every resource available to the union…” read more
Unite launches major steel campaign in Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Scunthorpe to transition industry and boost jobs (19 Sept) – Unite will campaign with voters to demand politicians from all parties commit to workers’ steel plan
Unite mounts serious campaign to protect steel jobs and vows to fight proposed Tata job losses ‘tooth and nail’ (15 Sept) – Unite launches a serious and detailed campaign with steel town voters to demand that politicians reverse the decline in the steel industry and turn the UK into a world leader in steel production. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has described the plans laid out by government and Tata for Port Talbot’s steel works as ‘a disgrace’ and has said it will fight them tooth and nail Read more
Unite secures ‘huge’ City of London Corporation pay increase after industrial action (19 Sept) – Industrial action by more than 250 workers at the City of London Corporation, the local authority for London’s Square Mile financial centre, has ended after an improved pay deal was secured. The workers, who are members of Unite, have voted in favour of the pay deal, which will see most workers’ pay increase by more than 20 per cent, with some workers’ wages increasing by 30 per cent. The pay deal comprised of consolidating a previously one-off cost of living payment of £1,000 for 2022 into the workers’ wages as well as a consolidated £3,000 rise for 2023 read more
Petrofac Ithaca offshore workers set for six days of strike action (19 Sept) – Long-running dispute continues after ‘clawback’ offer rejected. Unite the union announced today (19 September) that around 85 offshore workers employed by Petrofac Facilities Management Limited are set to take strike action over six days on installations operated by Ithaca Energy. The dispute centres on Ithaca Energy’s fourteen days ‘clawback’ policy. Petrofac offered to reduce this policy to twelve days. The industry norm is seven days. Unite members on the FPF1 platform, Alba FSU, Alba North, Captain FPSO, and Captain WPP installations overwhelmingly rejected the contractor’s offer. Twelve days would still leave the Petrofac workers operating under the highest rate of ‘clawback’ days in the offshore sector. It is the financial equivalent of up to £6,000 lost income per person. The strike action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders and crane operators. The strike action will begin at 6 a.m. on 1 October and ends at 5.59 a.m. on 7 October read more
“Dangerous” Three UK and Vodafone merger needs proper scrutiny (19 Sept) – Unite dossier raises questions about the government’s relationship with Chinese state-linked firm. Ahead of a debate in Westminster Hall today (Tuesday 19 September) on the proposed merger between Three UK and Vodaphone, Unite research raises fresh doubts that the UK government will protect Britain’s interests. A dossier compiled by Unite reveals meetings with CK bosses. Conservative MPs on the payroll and a government avoiding democratic scrutiny read more
Glasgow rally for Scottish university and college workers (18 Sept) – Around 1,000 Unite members on strike this week. A rally in Glasgow will be held tomorrow (19 September) in support of Scottish university and college workers on strike in disputes over pay read more
Go North East drivers announce dates for strike action (18 Sept) – Bus company in last chance saloon for improved pay offer before strikes hit. Go North East bus drivers will walk out in two, seven-day strikes beginning later this month, Unite the union announced today (18 September). Drivers have been forced to take to the picket line following the failure of Go North East to come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer. This is despite the latest accounts of its parent company, the Go-Ahead Group shows bus group profits of nearly £85million. Depots that will be affected by any industrial action are: Consett, Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main (North Shields), Sunderland and Washington. Strikes will take place on the following dates:-
- Saturday 30th September 2023 to Friday 6th October 2023 (inclusive)
- Saturday 14th October 2023 to Friday 20th October 2023 (inclusive)
Unite has also warned that further action may be notified in due course if a settlement that members can accept isn’t put forward read more
Scottish Water ballot opens as strike action a ‘step closer’ (18 Sept) – 500 Unite key frontline workers vote in pay and grading dispute. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has today (18 September) confirmed its 500-strong Scottish Water membership are voting on strike action in an escalating dispute over pay and a new grading system. The strike action ballot comes at a juncture when Alex Plant, the new Chief Executive of Scottish Water, has come under fire for earning a reported annual salary of £295,000 in breach of the Scottish Government’s public sector pay rules. Mr Plant’s salary is £25,000 higher than his direct predecessor despite the pay policy expecting a 10 per cent reduction in the remuneration package over an outgoing appointment. The trade union has further accused Scottish Water bosses of by-passing long-standing collective bargaining processes involving recognised trade unions. The new ‘reward system’ which Scottish Water bosses are trying to impose on the workforce is being tied to the 2023 pay offer. The ballot opens on 22 September and closes on 16 October read more
Unite rejects outright COSLA pay offer (15 Sept) – Three days of strike action in schools across 11 Scottish Councils to go ahead. Unite the union can confirm today (15 September) that its representative committee for local government workers rejected outright the new COSLA pay offer. Unite has slammed the local government body for taking twenty-three weeks to offer the lowest paid council workers an extra 38p per week or £20 per year. For those on the lowest pay, the revised offer represents an increase of only £0.01 per hour, effective from 1 January 2024. Coordinated action involving the joint trade unions will go ahead on 26, 27 and 28 September. Unite’s local government membership set to strike includes janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff. The councils affected are as follows: Clackmannanshire, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Fife, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and Orkney (see notes to editor). Unite received a mandate from its members employed by Tayside Contracts who provide catering and janitorial services to schools across Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross councils. These members will also join the strike action read more
Council workers across Haringey, Southwark and Newham prepare for strike action (14 Sept) – Members of Unite across three London Boroughs are preparing for strike action in a dispute over pay. 105 refuse workers from Newham and 245 housing repair workers from Haringey and Southwark 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 in Newham will take continuous strike action between 25 September and 22 October. Workers at Haringey and Southwark will take a series of 24 hour strikes on 25 September and 2, 9, 16 October read more
Heathrow baggage carousel workers to strike over poor pay offer (13 Sept) – 170 workers to walk out and bring baggage services to a halt. Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, has announced today (Tuesday 12 September) that its members at Vanderlande Industries are to strike over pay, bringing travel disruption to Heathrow Airport this autumn. Around 170 workers who conduct high-end maintenance and servicing of baggage carousels, ensuring passengers’ luggage is delivered into the terminal buildings safely and on time, are to walk out in October following a failure by the employer to improve their derisory pay offer. Vanderlande Industries has made two below-inflation pay offers of just five per cent and 2.5 per cent that have been roundly rejected by Unite members. Vanderlande is pleading poverty and yet their last accounts at Companies House show profits of £3.7 million. Its parent company has increased revenue by 32 per cent to €2.4 billion. Industrial action will take place in two waves on the following dates:-
- 17:30 on 6th October – 06:00 on 9th October
- 05:30 on 20th October – 06:00 on 30th October read more
Greencore strikes on hold following new pay offer (13 Sept) – Workers at sandwich factory to be balloted over improved pay deal. Industrial action has been suspended at Greencore, the high street sandwich manufacturer, Unite announced today (Tuesday 12 September). Over 500 workers, many earning as little as £10.53 an hour, are demanding increased pay during the current cost of living crisis. Following a successful ballot, workers were due to take to the picket line but a last-chance saloon offer from Greencore has seen them suspend strike action as a good-will gesture while the new offer is put to Unite members read more
Further Strike Dates Announced in Welsh Local Authorities as Dispute Escalates (12 Sept) – Cardiff & Wrexham Local Authority Workers to strike for a further 3 weeks. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced that its members in Cardiff and Wrexham local authorities will strike for a further three weeks from 25th September to 15th October. Workers at the two councils are currently in the middle of their first round of industrial action which end on September 17th. In addition, workers at Gwynedd Council have today started one weeks continuous strike action which runs from September 11th to September 17th. Unite members have overwhelmingly rejected the local authority employers’ pay offer of just £1,925, a poorer offer than last year and a real terms pay cut read more
GH London strikes at Luton Airport suspended for last minute talks (12 Sept) – Strike action involving ground handlers employed by GH London at Luton Airport due to take place tomorrow (Wednesday 13 September) has been called off to allow last minute peace talks to take place. The workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, who undertake the ground handling functions at the airport for the airline Wizz, have already staged two days of strike action because of a complete breakdown in industrial relations at the company. However, following a last minute offer of talks by GH London, Unite has called off tomorrow’s industrial action, as an act of good faith read more
Darlington Cepac print workers strikes intensify after jobs threat (11 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned Darlington print company Cepac that it faces legal action if it follows through with redundancy threats at the plant because of ongoing industrial action. Unite members began eight weeks of strike action on Monday 14 August in a dispute over pay, because of the company failing to enter into meaningful negotiations. Rather than resolve the pay issue, the company has instead announced that it is considering making 61 redundancies as a result of a downturn of work due to industrial action. Unite has warned that if the company goes ahead with the job cuts, it will support workers with unfair dismissal claims. It has further warned that if the company attempts to pay redundancy pay at a lower rate than previously, this will result in a further legal challenge read more
100 DuPont workers strike in pay dispute (11 Sept) – Dumfries based plant to be hit by five stoppages. Unite the union has served notice on a series of stoppages to hit the Dumfries based DuPont Teijin Films (DTF) plant. Five rounds of 12-hour stoppages, involving around 100 Unite members, will take place on 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 September. A continuous overtime ban has also been in place since July. DTF is a major supplier of polyester films for electrical, medical, photo, print and photovoltaic uses to UK supermarkets, as well as institutional catering for hospitals, schools and home-meals for the elderly. Unite has accused DTF management of by-passing the agreed collective bargaining procedures, and the workforce’s trade union representatives, to impose a 3.3 per cent wage offer in April. The broader rate of inflation (RPI) has remained stubbornly high throughout the year, and currently stands at 9 per cent read more
Manufacturing workers in Chesterfield to strike over parity pay and real terms pay cuts (8 Sept) – 100 per cent of the workforce voted for action. Skilled manufacturing workers based in Chesterfield undertaking repairs for companies ranging from British Steel to Thames Water will begin strike action this Monday in a dispute over pay. The action being taken at ERIKS Industrial Services will have a dramatic effect, causing delays for customers. 8 days of strikes will take place on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 September, Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 September, Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 September and then on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 October read more
Tower Hamlets council workers to strike in pay dispute (8 Sept) – Refuse workers and street cleaners prepare for strike action. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Tower Hamlets will begin strike action later this month in a dispute over pay. Over 200 workers made up of refuse and street cleaners 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 real terms pay cut. The workers will initially take strike action from Monday 18 September until Sunday 1 October read more
Unite to hold protests at NHS London trusts during pay and staffing strikes (7 Sept) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is undertaking a series of demonstrations and marches in London next week as part of its campaign to increase pay and end unsafe staffing afflicting NHS workers. The demonstrations and marches coincide with strike action being taken by over 2,800 Unite NHS workers employed in four NHS trusts read more The workers at the various trusts will be striking on different days: The Barts workers will be on strike from 13-14 September and then from 16 – 22 September. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust workers will strike from 13-14 September. East London Foundation Trust workers will strike on 13 September and Guys and St Thomas’ workers on 13-14 September
Workers at Klarius in Stoke-on-Trent to strike over fire and rehire sick pay threats (7 Sept) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at Klarius Products Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent, will begin a series of strikes later this month in response to the company’s threats to fire and rehire them, drastically reducing sick pay for some of its most long serving and loyal workforce. The problems at the company are a result of the creation of a two-tier workforce. Workers on the traditional contracts receive a very fair company sick pay scheme, while workers on the inferior, newer contracts only receive statutory sick pay (SSP). Klarius’ solution is to introduce a new sick pay scheme but it would result in many workers experiencing sizeable cuts in their entitlement. Unite has tried to resolve the issue through consultation but Klarius has refused to improve its proposals and as a result is now threatening to fire and rehire many of its workforce, with some of those being forced onto inferior contracts from next month… Unite has announced an initial 16 days of strike action. The first strike will take place on Tuesday 12 September read more
Unite urges employer to pay a fair wage and avoid nuclear plant shutdown (6 Sept) – Electricians who certify tools for use in nuclear power stations are taking strike action. Unite, the country’s leading trade union, announced today (Wednesday 6 September) that its members at Altrad Babcock Ltd are taking strike action following a dismal pay offer from the employer. Electricians at Altrad Babcock, based in Tipton in the West Midlands, are responsible for certifying that electrical tools are safe to use in nuclear facilities across the country. Yet this safety-critical role is not being valued by the employer, with some members earning as little as £13.62 per hour. Members ensure that equipment including welding machines, compressors, winches and even site vehicles are certified as electrically safe to use in potentially hazardous environments. Failure to have such certification will mean that the tools and machinery cannot enter the nuclear plants to maintain the facility. Eventually, this could lead to nuclear power plants having to shut down. Strikes are likely to take place in waves across the autumn and into winter, just as demand for nuclear power stations increases. Dates are as follows: Wednesday the 20th /Thursday the 21st September at 08:00am until 16:00pm then Monday the 25th & Tuesday the 26th September followed by every Monday: October 2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th, November 6th 13th 20th 27th, then December, 4th 11th and then on Tuesdays October, 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st October, then November 7th 14th 21st 28th then December 5th 12th read more
Westminster libraries workers to strike in pay dispute (4 Sept) – Members of Unite, employed by Westminster City Council across the borough’s libraries, will begin strike action this Wednesday (6 September) in a dispute over pay. The 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 four days of strike action on 6th, 8th, 13th, 15th September. Strike action will disrupt services across the borough read more
Pay strikes at Norwich hospital and Norfolk health centres intensify (1 Sept) – Pay strikes at hospitals and health centres across Norwich and Norfolk will intensify next week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (1 September). There will be significant disruption impacting on patients, as workers employed by Norse Commercial Services take further strike action in the 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 nine 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 read more
Workers at Lincat Lincoln commercial kitchen maker to strike over pay (1 Sept) – Workers demand better offer from profitable firm after years of shrinking wages. More than 100 workers based at commercial kitchen manufacturer Lincat will begin pay strikes next week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). The low paid workers have rejected a split pay deal that would see wages increase by 5.5 per cent back paid from January until June this year and then a further six month pay deal of eight per cent from June. Higher paid workers have been offered tiered pay rises, none of which reached eight per cent. The deals offered to all workers are real terms pay cuts when the true rate of inflation, RPI, stands at nine per cent. Lincat’s skilled workforce have suffered years of erosion to the value of their wages. Hourly pay, which for most is £12.03, used to be substantially above the minimum wage but over successive years that gap has continued to shrink. According to its latest financial returns, Lincat raked in operating profits of £8.9 million for the year to January 2022. The company is part of the US-based Middleby corporation, which brought in revenues of over $1 billion in the second quarter of 2023 read more
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…The workers began strike action yesterday (29 August) and will continue striking on 31 August and 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 September. Citizens Advice services will not be available during this time. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved. Protests will take place outside the Bridlington Citizens Advice office on Tuesday 5 September from 10:00 and the Goole Citizens Advice office on Wednesday 6 September from 10:00. A picket line outside the Hull office will be held on all other dates read more
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
CWU
Post Office Horizon compensation – £600k offer ‘not enough’ (20 Sept) – Union vows to keep fighting for ‘full accountability of those responsible’ for scandal. “This offer sounds like a big deal, but how do you put a price on the destruction of so many lives?” asked CWU acting deputy general secretary Andy Furey, in response to the Government’s announcement of a new compensation package for those postmasters who were wrongly convicted by a system relying wholly on ‘evidence’ from the faulty Horizon accounting system used by the Post Office in the early 2000s 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
Support striking courts staff (21 Sept) – OCS security officers start four days strike action tomorrow (22) and will hold picket lines at courts across England and Wales.
Security officers employed by OCS in 149 courts across England and Wales will start a four-day strike over pay tomorrow (22). The strike action has been called following the company’s latest pay offer which is only 38p above the national minimum wage. Some courts have already announced they will be closed tomorrow, with more expected to follow suit as staff fail to turn up for work on 22, 25, 27 and 29 September read more
Advice to MoJ members during the OCS Strike (21 Sept)
House of Commons security guards to be balloted for strike action (20 Sept) – The members are to be balloted for strike action after being told to work extra night shifts to cover for a lack of staff. PCS is asking more than 250 members employed as security guards across the entire Palace of Westminster estate if they are prepared to take strike action. Members are angry and stressed after being told to work extra night shifts to cover for a lack of staff and feel they are being made to pay the price for management’s failure to adequately retain and recruit staff. PCS has asked management to withdraw the new roster, give members a proper work/life balance and recruit sufficient staff to cover all vacancies. In a ballot that runs between September 25 and October 9, we are asking members if they believe that they should take strike action to force the employer to listen read more
Pensions Regulator strikers vow to keep fighting (18 Sept) – Two weeks’ strike action by PCS members working for The Pensions Regulator comes to an end today (18). PCS may escalate the dispute if the employer does not reconsider its position.
Since the strike began on 5 September, about 50 members have attended the picket line each day in Brighton to voice their anger over The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) continued refusal to fully implement government concessions on pay read more
Support the strikes in Northern Ireland (18 Sept) – Civil servants and healthcare workers in Northern Ireland are to take strike action at the end of this week in an ongoing dispute over pay. The unions taking part in the strike action are PCS’s sister union NIPSA, as well as Unison, GMB, RCM, Unite, Society of Radiographers and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Health service workers will begin their 48-hour action on Thursday 21 September and will be joined by civil service colleagues on Friday 22 September read more
PCS responds to OCS scaremongering tactics over strike action (8 Sept) – OCS is putting pressure on PCS members not to take part in our lawful strike action.
OCS members working in courts as security officers will be taking strike action on 22, 25, 27 and 29 September read more
Huge support this week for PCS strikers in ISS (8 Sept) – Five days of strike action by PCS members working in three major Whitehall departments was well supported by both members of the public and MPs. Cleaners, security guards and support staff working for the outsourced contractor ISS at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, the Department for Business & Trade and Department for Science, and the Innovation & Technology took action this week after being offered an insulting below-inflation pay rise. At a time when inflation is running at 6.8%, members are angry at being offered a 2.2% rise, which represents a real-terms pay cut read more
Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to strike over pay (7 Sept) – Nearly 100 PCS members working for MOPAC will take five days of strike action later this month. PCS members at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) will strike on 20, 21, 22, 25 and 26 September after management refused to negotiate on their pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms. MOPAC staff are responsible for the London equivalent of a regional Police and Crime Commission. They oversee financial scrutiny of the London Metropolitan Police and are directly accountable to the mayor, Sadiq Khan read more
Prospect
Member voices crucial in delivering the next steps in public sector pay campaign (22 Sept) – More than 40 representatives from a wide range of branches across Prospect’s public services sector met this week to discuss how to progress the union’s public and civil service pay campaign read more
Sunak’s politically motivated announcement will cost jobs and hold the economy back (20 Sept) – Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, responding to the Prime Minister’s speech this afternoon, said: “Both workers and employers in the energy industry know we need clear and consistent policy to drive investment and create good, well-paid jobs in clean energy. We cannot plan and build the energy system we need for the future when the government changes its policy from week to week. This politically motivated announcement will cost jobs and hold the economy back, while doing nothing to bring down bills or increase our energy security.” Read more
Prospect to ballot members at AWE on industrial action (1 Sept) – Prospect union will ballot its members on industrial action in a dispute over pay at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Headquartered in Aldermaston, Berkshire, AWE supports and maintains the UK nuclear deterrent. The ballot opens on 1st September and will run for two weeks read more
GMB
Northern Ireland faces ‘Winter Disruption’ as strikes begin (22 Sept) – GMB Union has warned of ‘winter disruption’ as civil servants and health workers being strike action. Up to 1,000 GMB members across working within the Road Service, Rivers Agency, Forest Service, Environment Agency and Driver Vehicle Agency are now on strike until Wednesday 27 September. Health workers will be on strike 21 and 22 September. Workers have walked out after the UK Government failed to address their 2023 pay claim. Civil Servants across all departments in Northern Ireland have been offered just £552, while health workers have yet to get anything unlike their colleagues in England and Wales read more
GMB calls for ‘real pay justice’ as Birmingham City Council issues ANOTHER Section 114 notice (21 Sept) – GMB has urged the council to re-implement the NJC scheme to end the sex discrimination in the city. GMB, the largest staff union in Birmingham City Council, has responded to the announcement today [Thursday 21 September] that Birmingham City Council has issued a second Section 114 notice read more
Government commissioners appointed at Birmingham Council (19 Sept) – GMB Union, Birmingham’s largest staff union, has today responded to the announcement that Government Commissioners have been appointed to undertake the day to day running of Birmingham City Council read more
Man Utd, Subway and Five Guys face food shortages (20 Sept) – Manchester United, Subway, Five Guys and Stonegate pubs face food shortages as workers begin a strike vote. Thousands of staff at Bidfood – a company which also delivers food for P&O Ferries, Haven holiday sites and German Donner Kebab – will begin voting on industrial action in the coming weeks. The strike vote comes after pay negotiations broke down. Any industrial action will also lead to schools and prisons not having food delivered and will raises further safety concerns following the escape of Wandsworth prisoner, Daniel Khalife, under a Bidfood lorry read more
Government U-turns on climate pledges (20 Sept) – Government U-turns on climate pledges. GMB, the energy union, has responded to reports the Government is poised to water down climate pledges read more
Manchester tram workers vote for strike action (19 Sept) – Manchester faces travel chaos after tram workers voted for strike action. Dozens of GMB members working for Great Manchester’s Metrolink service delivered a unanimous yes vote for industrial action. Workers will take industrial action on Strike 29 September and 6,13 and 20 October. Workers are angry about the erosion of their terms and conditions since the contract, currently operated by Bidvest Noonan, was outsourced read more
Ten days to save Goose Fair from tram strike (19 Sept) – Workers have slammed tram bosses for delays in resolving the dispute. GMB Union have today called on Keolis, the operator of Nottingham’s tram network, to step back from the brink and avoid strike action at this year’s Nottingham Goose Fair. The warning comes after union members rejected an increase of just 1% on an offer already put to tram workers earlier this month, despite weeks of negotiations. Around 300 drivers, mechanics, control room and ticket office staff are expected to join strike action, with 92% GMB members voting to back strike action. Goose Fair is one of Nottingham tram’s busiest periods and an important revenue stream for the company read more
All Wilko stores to close by early October (19 Sept) – All Wilko stores set to close by early October, administrators told GMB today. The two distribution centres are to close on Friday next week. This means that redundancy is now likely for all 12, 500 workers read more
More than 50,000 school and council workers vote on strike action (19 Sept) – More than 50,000 school and council workers will begin voting on strike action today [Tuesday 12 September]. Ballots will take place at almost 3,000 schools and local authorities across England and Wales. School workers such as teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, caretakers and administrative staff and council workers including social workers, refuse collectors, grounds staff and care workers will take part the ballot which closes on 24 October. Workers have rejected the NJC’s pay offer for 2023/24 on a consultative ballot. If workers vote to strike, walkouts at schools and councils across England and Wales could begin as soon as 9 November read more
Tata Steel anouncement put thousands of jobs at risk (19 Sept) – GMB Union has reacted to a joint Tata Steel and the UK Government. Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said: “The jobs of thousands of steelworkers are now at risk. The cost to local people and the wider Port Talbot community will be immense read more
Thanet bin strike averted (19 Sept) – A Thanet bin strike has been averted after the council made a ‘bumper’ pay offer yesterday [Monday 18 September]. GMB members who work as refuse, recycling and street cleansing operatives for Thanet District Council had voted for industrial action and were ready to walk out. But the local authority today offered a further 5.75 per cent on top of its previous offer. GMB members in nearby Canterbury took 67 days of strike action and won £15 an hour for drivers and £12 an hour for loaders. Thanet District Council have now agreed to offer similar terms and to implement the rise from 1 November read more
Croydon hospital workers in strike vote (19 Sept) – Croydon University Hospital workers have today [Monday 18 September] begun voting on strike action. Cleaners, caterers and porters, employed by outsourcing giant G4S, demand full NHS pay, terms and conditions and for all pay rises NHS staff have received to be passed on to them. The ballot, which closes on 2 October, could see a mass walkout of domestics and porters at the hospital read more
Solihull strike suspended as refuse workers deliver pay win (18 Sept) – Refuse and bin workers had staged a week-long walkout in a dispute over low pay.
GMB union have today announced that refuse workers in Solihull have voted to suspend strike action after accepting a pay offer. The news comes after refuse workers employed by contracting giant Veolia staged a week long strike earlier this month. Workers voted overwhelmingly to support the latest pay offer, which includes a 15% pay uplift for the lowest paid read more
Social housing giant slammed for ‘strike breaking’ as workers down tools over low pay (15 Sept) – Staff at social housing provider Grand Union Housing are struggling to pay their own rent, says GMB union. GMB Union have today announced strike action at Grand Union Housing, provider of 13,000 social homes across Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. The strike will see maintenance staff down tools on 22, 25 & 29 September and 2, 6, 9, 13 & 16 October. The action comes after the company refused to negotiate on a pay offer to staff of just 2.1%. Grand Union Housing has come under fire after confirming in an email to staff that contractor FSG Property Services LTD will be used to cover the work of striking workers read more
Quarter of a million Nottinghamshire homes face bin disruption after strike threat (15 Sept) – GMB Trade Union – Quarter of a million Nottinghamshire homes face bin disruption after strike threat. Veolia Nottinghamshire are robbing from the poor to give to the rich, says GMB. GMB union has today announced a week-long strike of members at waste recycling plants in north Nottinghamshire. Strike action will impact refuse and recycling processing facilities in the county operated by Veolia under contract to Nottinghamshire County Council. Mansfield’s Materials Recycling Facility, Ashfield’s Welsh Croft Close site and Bassetlaw’s Claylands Avenue site will all be impacted by strike action. These plants process household waste and recycling for over 250,000 homes in north Nottinghamshire. The announcement comes as Veolia management refused to engage in negotiations over a pay rise for staff at the sites. Initial action will take place from Monday 25 September for one week with over 50 workers expected to down tools read more
WATCH: Southampton bus drivers poised to strike over ‘dangerous’ diversion (15 Sept) – Question of when, not if, a serious incident happens, warns GMB Union
Southampton bus drivers are poised to strike over a ‘dangerous’ diversion route. GMB members working for Unilink – Southampton’s bus service provider – has today [Friday] begun a consultative industrial action ballot over management’s insistence on the enforced use of an unsafe diversion route which could endanger staff, passengers and the public. The change to the U6 route now means a dangerous sharp right turn for buses at the city’s Six Dials junction, causing buses to cross two lanes of fast flowing oncoming traffic to gain access to the bus lane heading into the city centre read more
Swindon social workers strike suspended on safety grounds (12 Sept) – The dispute remains unresolved, and GMB is willing to talk to the council at any time, through ACAS, to find a resolution, says GMB. A strike by social workers has been suspended on safety grounds by GMB, due to Swindon Borough Council failing to provide adequate emergency cover during recent strike days. GMB members in the Emergency Duty Service, which provides emergency out of hours support for vulnerable adults and children, have made a reluctant decision to suspend their strike, because child protection calls were missed on strike days. A two week strike started on 31st August and was due to continue until 13th September, but social workers returned to the late and night shifts on 11th September read more
North Bristol NHS maternity staff to take strike action (7 Sept) – Fed up with being treated and told that they are ‘second-class’ employees, GMB Midwifery support workers have voted for strike action. Maternity support staff in working in Southmead Hospital have voted unanimously for strike action. GMB members working in the Women’s and Children’s Division will walk out on September 14th and 15th for 2 days of strike action. The moves came after North Bristol NHS trust refused to provide Midwifery support workers, housekeepers and receptionists the same shift enhancements that their colleagues in the same department have been given. For 10 months GMB has been trying to seek a fair resolution, with the trust agreeing to pay enhancements back in June – only to then u-turn read more
Cleaners take strike action at Chessington school ( 5 Sept) – GMB union members working as cleaners at Lovelace Primary in Chessington to take strike action over plans to outsource their jobs. GMB, the union for school support staff, can announce that its members who work as cleaners at a school in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames are taking strike action as of this afternoon. The affected members at Lovelace Primary School in Chessington are in dispute over the school’s decision to outsource them to a private contractor, which GMB believes would result in the members being removed from NJC terms, conditions and pay. The cleaning team have offered to reduce their hours to term time only, representing a wage cut of almost a quarter, but management are insisting that a private company will make more savings than this. The members will be taking strike action from this afternoon until Friday 15 September and then again from Thursday 28 September until Sunday 1 October, with potentially further strike dates to come 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
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
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
Unison
Donate to support striking workers – As UNISON members continue to take strike action, the union is asking for donations to its strike fund
Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action (22 Sept) – More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action. The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April 2023. This is a significant improvement on the original 57p per hour increase that had been offered by the employer. From April 2024 traffic wardens will receive £15.90 an hour. In April 2025 there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation. As a consequence, by 2025 staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50. More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action, a final escalation in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor. 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 read more
Victory for Camden traffic wardens in long-running pay battle, says UNISON (20 Sept) – Camden traffic wardens are celebrating after securing a pay boost in their long-running dispute with NSL, Camden Council’s private contractor, says UNISON today (Wednesday). More than 100 workers took 59 days of strike action in their battle to secure a fair pay deal. They were originally offered an increase of just 57p an hour, which they said did little to combat the cost of living crisis. The new deal will see pay increased from £12.70 an hour to £15 an hour, backdated from April. From April 2024 they will receive £15.90 an hour and there will be a further increase of either 60p an hour or the RPI rate of inflation in April 2025. This means staff will be on a minimum hourly rate of £16.50 by 2025 read more
Health members in Northern Ireland to strike over lack of pay parity (19 Sept) – Two-day action this week comes as members have yet to be made pay offer in absence of devolved government. UNISON health members in Northern Ireland will be taking strike action over two days this week, in protest at the continued lack of a pay offer for 2022/23. The walk out, over the 48-hour period of Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September, will involve ambulance crews, nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists, radiographers, porters, admin and technical staff, and domestic assistants. Payroll staff will strike for a shorter period, to ensure their co-workers receive their pay on time – a decision commended by their union colleagues. The action is due to increasing frustration that NI health workers are falling behind their colleagues in England and Wales, who accepted an NHS pay offer from their employers in April. That offer included an extra lump sum for 2022/23 and a new offer of a 5% increase for 2023/24. However in the absence of a devolved government in Northern Ireland, and without funding being made available by the secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris, no offer has been made to health workers there read more
Pay claim submitted on behalf of Environment Agency staff (18 Sept) – ‘We urge the EA to come to the negotiating table with an offer that seeks to deliver a real uplift for members that reverses the trend of recent years’. Flood defence works being carried out by the Environment Agency. UNISON and the joint trade unions have submitted a pay claim for 2023/24 seeking an increase of at least 13.2% for Environment Agency (EA) staff. The unions’ fully-evidenced claim reflects how union members who remain in dispute over the 2022/23 pay award of 2% plus £345 have made it clear that the previous year’s uplift was not acceptable during the height of the cost of living crisis, with inflation running in double digits and with the wages of the lowest paid falling below the National Living Wage in April read more
Support Wirral NHS clinical support workers: Let’s stick together to win the proper pay for the job (12 Sept) – ‘Wirral NHS clinical support workers just want to be paid the proper rate for the work they do and the responsibilities they take’. Christina McAnea on the picket line with striking clinical support workers at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Across every UNISON region, we’ve got live campaigns to get health workers the fair pay they deserve. Dedicated staff have been regularly performing important duties above the level of responsibility their employers pay them for. This expectation has been put on them for years, but the salary they should be earning has been held back for years too. Today in Liverpool, clinical support workers went on strike at Arrowe Park Hospital read more
University staff to hold coordinated strikes over pay (7 Sept) – Workers to walk out at 21 universities in England and Scotland. Support staff at 21 universities in England and Scotland are to stage coordinated strike action for at least two days in their ongoing dispute about pay, says UNISON today (Thursday). More than 6,000 staff belonging to the union could take part as they escalate their demands for a fair wage rise after many years of below-inflation increases. In England, 17 universities will walk out on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 October. A series of strikes will take place in Scotland later this month at four institutions – Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School of Art, University of Dundee and University of Glasgow. This includes a strike involving all four on Wednesday 20 September. The new strike dates coincide with the start of term and follow industrial action at a number of universities earlier this year. Staff voted to reject a pay offer for 2023/24 – worth between 5% and 8% but well below the rate of inflation at the time – in a consultation conducted by UNISON earlier this year. In a union ballot that ended in July, workers at these 21 higher education institutions backed further strikes. The university workers represented by UNISON include cleaners, IT technicians, administrators, library staff and others supporting student learning 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
NICS Pay Strike: Friday 22 September (7 Sept) – As previously advised, the Civil Service Executive Committee met in June and agreed that if there was no progress on pay we should begin preparations for an escalation of our campaign in the Autumn. It was agreed that we should liaise with other trade unions and consider coordinated action and the BSC advised that unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions would meet in September to agree action. As a result of those discussions, the Civil Service Executive Committee has agreed that our members in the civil service and ALBs will join action with health workers and other civil service unions on Friday 22nd September. The unions that will be taking action on the day alongside NIPSA in the civil service are GMB and Unite. In health, the unions taking action alongside NIPSA are Unison, GMB, RCM, Unite, SOR and CSP. Some of those unions are taking action for longer than one day. Despite the fact that is still unclear if the Assembly will return in the near future, it was felt by all that we have no choice but to take action. It is clear members are angry that additional awards made to workers in Britain have not been made here. Civil servants will be aware that their counterparts in England and Wales have been offered a compensatory payment of £1,500 read more
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
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
Minimum service level regulations: ‘government should focus on investing in the nursing workforce’ (19 Sept) – RCN responds to plans to consult on having minimum service levels during strikes, which could mean nursing staff being forced to work or risk losing their job 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
Royal College of Midwives
Maternity staff fight for fairness and safety as they take to picket lines across Northern Ireland (22 Sept) – Midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) across Northern Ireland will be taking to the picket lines this morning (22 September), as the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) takes strike action in frustration at the ongoing political stalemate read more
Northern Ireland Midwives ‘say enough is enough’ as they prepare to go on strike (13 Sept) – Today midwives and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) across Northern Ireland have announced strike action from 8am to 4pm on Friday 22 September. They will also be taking industrial action short of a strike by claiming payment for any overtime worked in the week following strike action. The action will be across all five trusts in Northern Ireland. The announcement comes as earlier in the year midwives and MSWs agreed to pause their strike action in order to engage in talks with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Six months later there has been no progress towards a meaningful pay offer. Midwives in Northern Ireland are the lowest paid in the United Kingdom and so midwives are being forced to take industrial action. In earlier consultations by the RCM nine out of 10 midwives said they would take strike action if no pay deal was agreed read more
CSP
Striking CSP members in Northern Ireland make their voices heard (21 Sept) – CSP members working for Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) turned out in big numbers today for their first ever strike over pay read more
CSP members strike over pay in Northern Ireland (21 Sept) – CSP members working for Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) will today take part in their first ever strike over pay read more
BMA
Support the Junior Doctors strike read more
Donate to support striking junior doctors
Consultants’ and junior doctors’ camaraderie grows during joint industrial action (20 Sept) – Junior doctors and consultants taking joint industrial action for the first time in NHS history say they feel a greater sense of camaraderie through their combined efforts to fight for fair pay and conditions. The 24 hours of co-ordinated action in England began at 7am Tuesday (September 20), with joint action overlapping between two days of consultant strikes and a three-day junior doctors walk out. Both groups of doctors have seen their pay erode substantially and are calling for it to be restored to 2008 levels. Each group has had a sub-inflation pay uplift imposed on them by the government this year, with prime minister Rishi Sunak saying the six per cent for consultants and six per cent plus a lump sum for junior doctors is ‘final’ read more
Junior doctors and consultants to strike on same days this autumn (31 Aug) – Joint industrial action announced as junior doctors vote to extend industrial action mandate. Junior doctors and consultants will undertake four days of joint industrial action in England this autumn after junior doctors voted overwhelmingly to extend their strike mandate in their campaign for full pay restoration. Across September and October, for the first time in the history of the NHS, there will be four days in which junior doctors and consultants coordinate their industrial action. This is in addition to other days on which just junior doctors or just consultants will be on strike, the BMA confirmed. The announcement comes as 98 per cent of junior doctors, from a turnout of 71 per cent, voted in favour of continuing industrial action. The re-ballot result has renewed their mandate for further six months, through to 29 February, 2024. Junior doctors have so far staged 19 days of strike action since March of this year. Following today’s reballot result, they have announced six further days, on 20, 21, 22 September, and 2, 3, 4 October. Consultants have staged four days of industrial action so far and have planned at least five more in the coming weeks, on 19 and 20 September and 2, 3 and 4 October. The four joint days of action in September and October will see ‘Christmas Day’ levels of staffing from both groups. A rally has been organised in Manchester, for both junior doctors and consultants, on 3 October – when the Conservative party conference is scheduled to be held in the city read more
Society of Radiographers
‘The Government gives us no choice but to strike again’ (8 Sept) – 24 hour strike action planned for 37 Trusts in England following unsuccessful talks with Government. Radiography professionals across England are preparing to take strike action for a second time, after talks between government ministers and the Society of Radiographers broke down, owing to the government’s unwillingness to alter its position. The Society will take strike action for 24 hours, from 8am on Tuesday 3 October to 8am on Wednesday 4 October, alongside junior doctors and consultants. Thousands of our members voted in favour of strike action earlier this summer, and participated in a 48-hour strike from 25 to 27 July. Our radiography professionals are responsible for a range of critical healthcare services, including carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds and breast screening, as well as radiotherapy for cancer patients. Following the strikes in July, we were invited to discussions with Government ministers on 5 September read more
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
Education unions in united call to Secretary of State for urgent measures to improve teacher pay and conditions (21 Sept) – An STRB response and a statement to education secretary Gillian Keegan are both signed by ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and Community. The joint response to the School Teachers Review Body (England) report from unions representing almost all teachers and school leaders underlines the consensus in the profession on the key pay and conditions issues. Teachers and school leaders are clear that the pay increase for September 2023 must be only the first in a series of urgent steps to repair the damage to pay and conditions, and to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis read more
NFER on Support Staff and the Cost of Living (20 Sept) – Support staff play a vital role in schools. The fact that they are leaving impacts schools and their pupils read more
RAAC Latest List (19 Sept) – This list is the product of years of neglect by Government read more
NASUWT
Education unions in united call for urgent measures to improve teacher pay and conditions (21 Sept) – The joint response to the School Teachers Review Body (England) report from unions representing almost all teachers and school leaders underlines the consensus in the profession on the key pay and conditions issues. Teachers and school leaders are clear that the pay increase for September 2023 must be only the first in a series of urgent steps to repair the damage to pay and conditions, and to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis. Pay cuts and sky-high workload have created major teacher shortages, damaging our education service. The support for this year’s pay disputes showed that teachers, school leaders and parents are crying out for urgent repair to the damage that has been caused by Government political choices since 2010. For the sake of our education service, we need a major correction in teacher pay and urgent improvements in workload and working conditions read more
NASUWT victory in Swansea as council agrees to honour collective agreements (19 Sept) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union in Swansea secondary schools will cease strike action today after Swansea Council finally agreed to honour collective agreements. Members had been on strike since September 12th when NASUWT’s offer to Swansea council was rejected. Following continued negotiations, the dispute is now resolved. In June, members of NASUWT across Swansea voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over adverse employer practices, threats to job security and the failure of Swansea Council to comply with existing collective agreements. In the ballot, 92% of members voted to support strike action and 96% voted to support action short of strike, based on a turnout of 59% read more
Caldicot School plans six days of strike action (18 Sept) – Members of NASUWT – Teachers’ Union will take strike action at Caldicot secondary school in Monmouthshire on Thursday 21 and on Thursday 28 September 2023. A further four days are planned during October. Talks with the school have failed to make sufficient progress in addressing adverse management practices affecting the health, safety and welfare of its members and the pupils in their care. The NASUWT has been in negotiations with the school since 2019 in a bid to resolve ongoing concerns about the management of the school. The employer is failing to provide appropriate support to staff in dealing with violent and abusive behaviour. In the strike ballot, 85% of members voted to support strike action and 92% voted to support action short of strike, which includes the refusal to teach pupils who pose a risk to staff read more
New industrial action campaign at schools and colleges in England (18 Sept) – The NASUWT is instructing members to take part in a programme of action short of strike action following ballots for industrial action last term. The action is part of the Union’s campaign to secure real terms improvements to pay and bring downward pressure on workload and working hours. The NASUWT National Action Committee is initially instructing members in schools and colleges to limit their working time by working to rule from today. These include instructing members to refuse to undertake extracurricular activities, midday supervision, working during lunch breaks, being directed to work on weekends or Bank Holidays, not doing other tasks during PPA time and refusing to take part in mock inspections read more
NAHT
NAHT comments on NFER report into impact of cost-of-living crisis on Teaching Assistants (21 Sept) – Commenting on new research out from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) today (Thurs 21 Sept), which shows Teaching Assistants (TAs) are having to take second jobs, or leave to work in better paid roles due to the cost-of-living crisis, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Teaching Assistants do an incredible job – they are the unsung heroes of the education system. They’re the ones providing the support for vulnerable children that is so vital…” read more
School leaders to strike for first time on Jersey (11 Sept) – School leaders’ union NAHT will join teachers in a day of strike action across Jersey’s schools tomorrow, Tuesday 12 September, after it said that revised proposals aimed at resolving the dispute were too little too late. Late last week, the States Employment Board (SEB) agreed to backdate its previous 7.9% pay offer, which NAHT members had overwhelmingly rejected in a ballot, to January. But NAHT said that was not enough and put its own proposals on the table on Friday designed to end the dispute. Today, the Government tabled alternative proposals which NAHT said fell well short of resolving the dispute read more
EIS
Scottish Government must no Longer Ignore the Crisis in Colleges (19 Sept) – College lecturers have this week started a second week of rolling strike action in a long running campaign for fair pay and job security. On Monday, members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) walked out at West College Scotland and Newbattle Abbey College, with members taking strike action at Ayrshire College and UHI Argyll today. Further strike action will be taken in other colleges over the next week. The current pay offer from College Employers Scotland is forecasted to cost potentially over 400 lecturing jobs and falls below public sector pay policy for most college lecturers in its second year. The EIS is publicly calling on the Scottish Government to intervene through a fully funded and fair pay award that negates job losses across the sector read more
College in Crisis as Strike Action Continues (14 Sept) – Scotland’s college lecturers have continued a twelve-day rolling programme of strike action in pursuit of a fair pay award and job security. Members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) at Glasgow Kelvin College and North East Scotland College (NESCoL) are on strike today, before local branches at all of Scotland’s other further education colleges follow suit over the next two and a half weeks. Alongside national strike action, local strike campaigns also continue today at Edinburgh College and City of Glasgow College against compulsory redundancies at these public sector institutions. EIS-FELA have previously rejected a pay offer from College Employers Scotland that the employers themselves forecast to result in over 400 lecturing job losses across the further education sector. One week ago today, EIS-FELA members in all of Scotland’s colleges walked out in a national day of strike action, with hundreds gathering at a rally outside the Scottish parliament on the same day. The EIS is calling on the Scottish Government to act to provide a fully funded and fair pay award, for college lecturers, that does not result in job losses. Following the programme of rolling strike action, members of the EIS-FELA will undertake three days of targeted strike action in the constituencies of the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Minister for Further Education read more
Strike action continues at City of Glasgow College over job and course cuts (4 Sept) – Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland – Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) will continue their programme of strike action at City of Glasgow College this week. Picket lines will be in place at the college’s City and Riverside campuses from tomorrow (Tuesday) for the rest of the week, with additional strike days to follow over the subsequent weeks. Whilst EIS-FELA are on strike nationally in pursuit of a fair pay settlement from Colleges Scotland, members at City of Glasgow College are entering another four weeks of strike action in their local dispute. This comes after five weeks of strike action prior to the summer break, as well as continued action short of strike. The local dispute is about cuts to teaching time, increases in workload, the ending of fixed term contracts and compulsory redundancies read more
INTO
INTO calls for all-Ireland Teaching Council amid erosion of teachers’ conditions in the north (21 Sept) – INTO General Secretary John Boyle has called for an all-Ireland Teaching Council, and for a forum on education to be established within the Department of the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Unit. The calls were made at a Joint Committee meeting on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, focusing on Perspectives of constitutional change: Discussion on worker rights. Boyle also highlighted the shabby treatment of INTO members and public-sector workers in Northern Ireland since the Stormont Assembly stopped functioning, insisting that the British and Irish governments must intervene read more
Industrial Action FAQs Updated: September 2023 (5 Sept) – Our industrial action FAQs have been updated in line with the current Action Short of Strike (ASOS). Please review these questions in conjunction with the latest NITC ASOS phase 4 guidance read more
UCU
Further education pay update (22 Sept) – At the National Joint Forum meeting the Association of Colleges (AoC) made a conditional recommendation on pay of 6.5%. UCU’s view is that the pay recommendation mirrors that for schoolteachers, but it isn’t binding on all colleges, and so needs to be understood in this context. Alongside the other further education unions UCU has been pressing the AoC to agree a new national bargaining framework for the sector, so the outcomes of national pay talks are implemented by all colleges and stop being non-binding recommendations. College staff need certainty on pay and so we urge the AoC to agree urgently the timeframe of meetings to discuss a new national bargaining and funding settlement for the sector read more
King’s College London staff win big increase to London weighting (20 Sept) – Staff at King’s College London have agreed to end their marking boycott after winning an increase to London weighting, longer paid parental leave, and childcare subsidies. An overwhelming 96% of King’s College UCU members attending a meeting last week voted to end the boycott and accept the deal read more
UHI staff overwhelmingly back industrial action in row over £3million cuts and job losses (20 Sept) – Staff at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) have today backed strikes in a dispute over plans to slash £3million from the university’s staffing budget and cut up to 44 roles. In the ballot of UCU Scotland members, 77% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 86%. The university is proposing to cut up to 44 roles and has confirmed its intention to use compulsory redundancies read more
Two days of strikes to hit Tyne Coast College (19 Sept) – Over 100 staff at Tyne Coast College will take two days of strike action next month on Tuesday 3 and Monday 23 October in a long-running dispute over low pay. The latest action comes after management imposed a paltry pay award of just 3%, which staff had overwhelmingly rejected. Staff have already taken two days of strike action in the dispute read more
Ten days of strikes set to hit the University of Sheffield over pay docking row (15 Sept) – Staff at the University of Sheffield will strike for ten days beginning on Monday 18 September in a dispute over 100% pay deductions following the marking boycott, the University and College Union (UCU) confirmed today read more
Date set for university strike ballot (11 Sept) – Strike ballots will open at 143 universities across the UK from Tuesday 19 September in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The ballot will run until Friday 3 November and is aggregated. A successful ballot will renew the union’s existing strike mandate and allow staff at every university being balloted to take industrial action well into 2024. Staff at 140 universities are also striking for five days later this month. The strike and ballot come after employer body, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) unilaterally imposed a pay award for 23/24 worth just 5% for most staff, even though it was overwhelmingly rejected by UCU members. UCU is also demanding action on gig-economy employment practices and high workloads. The upcoming ballot will be the third UK-wide higher education ballot over pay and conditions the union has run in the past year. The action UCU has already taken has pushed employers to negotiate over workloads and job security for the first time. UCU also ran two successful ballots over pension cuts in the past twelve months, resulting in employers agreeing to row back on a 35% cut to the industry’s pension scheme. UCU’s analysis of university finances shows the sector generated more money than ever last year while the proportion going to staff fell to a record low read more
Start of university term to be hit with five days of UK-wide strikes (6 Sept) – Staff at 140 universities across the UK will strike for five days later this month in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions. At 136 of the 140 universities, UCU members will strike for five consecutive days from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September. Strikes will hit four Scottish universities on slightly different dates to coincide with local action by other unions. The dispute centres on low pay and working conditions read more
Strike to hit all further education colleges in Northern Ireland (11 Sept) – Staff at all six Further Education colleges across Northern Ireland will strike for five days next week and continuously for the next three months in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions. UCU said it has been forced to take action after a decade of their members being subject to pay freeze, followed by pay restraint, which has seen lecturer pay awards limited to between 1 % and 2% per year read more
Four days of strikes set to hit Kirklees College in pay dispute (8 Sept) – Staff at Kirklees College will strike for four days beginning on Monday 11 September in a long running dispute over low pay, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The full strike days are:-
- Monday 11 September
- Tuesday 12 September
- Wednesday 20 September
- Thursday 21 September
The strikes will hit the first teaching week of the new academic year. Staff will be on picket lines at the Huddersfield Centre in Huddersfield and the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre in Dewsbury from 8am till 12pm on all four days. Staff at the college have already taken six days of strike action across May and June but management has refused to budge from a pay award for 22/23 of just 1% plus a £500 non-consolidated lump sum. To add insult to injury college management unilaterally imposed a ‘cost of living’ pay award of just 2.5% for 23/24 during pay talks for 22/23. The college’s financial accounts show it has over £10m cash in the bank yet is hiring teachers for as little as £25k (full time equivalent salary). UCU Branch Officers made themselves available over the summer break to meet with college management to find a way to resolve this dispute but management was not interested read more
College strike ballot opens as staff say low pay is impacting their mental health (5 Sept) – Strike ballots open at 89 college employers today as a UCU survey of further education employees shows a workforce in crisis. The survey of over 2,000 (2,003) workers from colleges across England shows almost all are struggling financially (96%) because of low wages with four in five survey respondents saying their financial situation is impacting their mental health (79%). Around half (46%) of survey respondents said their income does not cover the cost of living. Of these, almost two-thirds are heating their home less frequently (67%), a quarter are skipping meals (27%) and one in 20 (6%) are using foodbanks. Employer body, the Association of Colleges (AoC), has so far refused to make any pay recommendation for 2023/24 even though colleges will receive at least £700m more funding over the coming year (23/24) than three years ago 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
New TUC President Matt Wrack issues call for a “determined, mobilised trade union movement” (13 Sept) – Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, has today been elected as the new President of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). He will serve in the role for a year and preside over the TUC Congress in September 2024. He will also chair the TUC’s general council and executive committee. In a statement issued following his election, he attacked a “government for the billionaires which is relying on a toxic cocktail of authoritarianism, bigotry and attacks on our right to strike”. He also said that “austerity wearing a different colour rosette is still austerity”, warning politicians that “if they fail workers, they will face a determined, mobilised trade union movement”. Wrack’s election follows Monday’s vote at TUC congress for a strategy of non-compliance and non-cooperation against the government’s new anti-union laws read more
TUC backs campaign of non-compliance with new anti-strike laws (11 Sept) – The Trade Union Congress (TUC), which brings together 5.5 million workers in 48 trade unions across the UK economy, has today adopted a motion committing it to a strategy of resistance against the new anti-union laws. The Minimum Service Levels Act passed into law into law in July. Under it, employers in fire and rescue, health, education, transport, nuclear decommissioning, and border security will be able to require named workers to work on strike days – despite a democratic vote for strike action. The motion states: “We have no choice but to build mass opposition to the MSLs laws, up to and including a strategy of non-compliance and non-cooperation to make them unworkable, including industrial action.” A link to the full text is here. It passed overwhelmingly
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
POA
National Chair Update August 2023 read more
NAPO
BFAWU
“Belfast, Liverpool and London unite against hunger during Right To Food Week 2023” (16 Sept) – The signs of deepening hardship can be seen in every part of the UK, with longer and longer queues at foodbanks and baby formula under lock and key in supermarkets. Almost 1 in 5 (18%) households in the UK are now experiencing food insecurity and more than half a million children fell below the poverty line in the last year. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne is Parliamentary lead for the Right to Food Campaign, which aims to make access to food a legal right for all. Ian has this week tabled a motion in Parliament in support of Right To Food Week 2023, which gets under way on Monday. This is a national week of action which aims to increase awareness of food poverty in the UK and to bring people together to ensure the collective demand for a Right to Food is heard. From Monday 18th September to Saturday 23 September, a range of Right To Food Week activities will take place across the UK read more
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
National World journalists set for further strike action (21 Sept) – Hundreds of journalists at the publisher will strike on 22 and 25 September across the UK and Ireland. Plans follow walkouts by over 330 journalists on 18 September, leading to reduced news coverage and the use of generic front-page campaigns across titles. Replicated campaigns included those urging children to look up from their mobile phones when crossing roads and outdated eight-page tributes of the anniversary of the Queen’s death. A work to rule in place from 19 September has further compounded the impact of industrial action as journalists oppose the imposed 4.5 per cent pay increase from National World. Low morale, financial hardship and growing fears over job security are the realities for most journalists at the publisher, despite its half year financial results indicating cash reserves of £22m read more
Solidarity messages to #NationalWorldStrike (21 Sept) – Send your messages of support to journalists at National World striking for fair pay to #NationalWorldStrike or email [email protected] read more
#NationalWorldStrike – picket images (18 Sept) – Photos from today’s strike by over 330 journalists at National World, taking part in the first ever company-wide industrial action here
National World journalists prepare to strike (15 Sept) – Over 330 journalists at the publisher will participate in the first company-wide industrial action on Monday. Industrial action by journalists at publisher National World will commence on Monday 18 September, as NUJ members protest the company’s failure to offer staff a decent pay package read more
King’s speech must include standalone anti-SLAPP law (21 Sept) – NUJ joins over 60 signatories in calling for urgent legislation to protect journalists. The National Union of Journalists has co-signed a letter Alex Chalk, justice secretary, seeking government’s commitment to addressing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and their impact on the British justice system 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
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
School Teachers’ Review Body report (21 Sept) – Community has responded to the 33rd School Teachers’ Review Body (England) report read more
Community vows to protect steelworkers from bad deal (15 Sept) – Community has responded to the announcement made by the UK Government and Tata Steel UK today (15 September 2023) on investment into the Port Talbot site for an electric arc furnace-only steel making model for the steelworks. The Government and Tata’s approach has been narrowminded and will be damaging for the economy and UK steelworkers read more
USDAW
IWGB
RSA staff vote overwhelmingly for first ever strike in the organisation’s history (5 Sept) – Staff members at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) have voted to go on strike for the first time in the charity’s 270 year history. With a 78.95% turnout and 93.33% vote in favour of striking, staff have given notice of strike action for Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st of September, which will see the RSA host its president, Anne, Princess Royal, for its Design For Life awards ceremony, celebrating 100 years of the RSA Student Design Awards read more
UVW
Colombia’s president launches investigation into labour rights abuses by global food company Colombina S.A. (18 Sept) – Colombia’s Ministry of Labour has appointed an inspector to carry out a preliminary investigation into union-busting practices of the global food company Colombina against comrades from sister union, SINALTRAINAL Zarzal in their factory in Valle del Cauca. In a response to concerns raised by UVW, a representative from the Ministry of Labour confirmed in a letter dated 12 September, that a preliminary investigation will take place in order to determine whether or not there is merit to proceed with sanctions by the appropriate authorities read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Mandate Trade Union calls on Government to use Budgetary surplus to improve public services and housing while replacing the Minimum Wage with a Living Wage (19 Sept) – Mandate Trade Union, representing more than 24,000 workers in the retail, bar and administration sectors, is calling on the Irish Government to invest in capital spending, improving public services and the introduction of a Living Wage read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU to escalate GMC Engineering dispute after talks fail (20 Sept) – SIPTU has described the management of GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering as “not serious” about finding a resolution to their industrial dispute. The remarks came after talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last night failed to resolve the dispute between the union and the Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) contractor. Following a meeting of the SIPTU strike committee, pickets will now be placed at GMC depots across the country. In a further escalation of the dispute, SIPTU representatives will be meeting with shop stewards in Gas Networks Ireland on Friday morning to agree supportive action read more
GMC picketing suspended after intervention by WRC (15 Sept) – SIPTU has announced that the union has suspended its pickets at GMC Civil and Mechanical Engineering today (15th September) following an agreement to enter talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) 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
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. A petition has been launched in protest against the plans read more
Sign petition: Reinstate Anne Howie RMT Activist – Anne Howie RMT activist at Manchester Piccadilly is facing dismissal with no due process
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
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
USA: From the UAW website – UAW President Shawn Fain announces that stand up strike will expand at noon on Friday if Big Three fail to make substantial progress in negotiations by the deadline (18 Sept) – In a video posted on the UAW’s social media sites, President Shawn Fain announced a new strike deadline of this Friday, Sept. 22 at noon. If Ford, General Motors or Stellantis have not made substantial progress toward a fair agreement, the UAW will call on more members to join the Stand Up Strike. The video can be viewed at the UAW’s Facebook page and YouTube channel and the media is invited to download and share it read more
Diary
September
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
3 BMA Junior Doctors & Consultants strike demonstration at Tory Party Conference in Manchester details
8 NSSN Surrey Public Meeting: ‘How can trade unionists prepare for the battles ahead?’ – 2pm The Guildford Institute, Ward St, Guilford GU1 4LH
14 Reading Trade Union Council Strike Rally – 1pm Assembling in Forbury Gardens Facebook event
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
