The NSSN sends solidarity to ASLEF and its members on strike this week. Keep supporting the strikes and all other workers in dispute who are also taking action.
Support ASLEF strikes picket line details
- Tuesday 7 May: c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and Island Line
- Wednesday 8 May: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains
- Thursday 9 May: LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express
Save our Steel
The NSSN stands in solidarity with steelworkers as steel unions ballot their members for industrial action. We salute the Unite strike vote. We will support any action that they take against Tata Steel’s intention to make 75% of the 4,000-strong Port Talbot workforce redundant. This would also result in thousands more losing their jobs at other Tata steel plants, contracting companies, and threaten related jobs such as on the rails and the wider local economy. And as we did in 2016, when the steelworks were under the same threat, we continue to demand the works be nationalised to save jobs and working-class communities. Recently, the struggle to save Port Talbot steelworks reached a new stage when Tata announced the closure of the coking ovens. The whole of the union movement must come behind the steelworkers and their fight to save steel jobs and defend communities, in Port Talbot and in other steelmaking areas.
Unite: Tata’s insulting offers to workers are just adding insult to injury ahead of industrial action (3 May) – Tata has been making increasingly derogatory offers to workers’ that will be hit by its plans to cut steel production in Port Talbot and Llanwern. Now, talks in London between Tata and trade unions over redundancy terms and conditions have collapsed read more
Report on Tata cuts costing thousands of extra jobs shows why closure plans must be reversed (2 May) – Commenting on a report seen by the BBC that Tata’s plans to cut 2,800 jobs and close the Port Talbot blast furnaces could result in up to 9,500 jobs being lost across the wider economy, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The transition board’s report simply underlines what Unite has been saying for a long time – as well as wanting to throw their own workers on the scrapheap, Tata’s plans would have a devastating impact on Port Talbot and the regional economy…” read more
Unite: Tata plan confirmation will be answered with industrial action (25 Apr) – Other options available to Tata – it must be forced to change course. Tata’s confirmation today that it is ending national union consultations and will begin enacting its devastating plans for south Wales will be answered with industrial action, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said. Around 1,500 Unite members employed by Tata in Port Talbot and Llanwern have an industrial action mandate against plans to shut both blast furnaces and shed 2,800 jobs, with strikes to be announced soon read more
Unite: 30,000 strong Support UK Steel petition handed to Welsh Government and Corby, Hartlepool and Scunthorpe politicians (24 Apr) – The petition, sending a clear message to Westminster that the UK needs a strong steel industry, is part of the campaign to secure the sector’s future by Unite, the UK’s leading union
Find out more about the campaign: www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/the-fight-for-steel
“This Isn’t Over” – Community responds to Tata’s rejection of Multi-Union Plan (25 Apr) – Community has blasted Tata Steel’s decision to reject the Multi-Union Plan for Port Talbot – the credible alternative to the company’s bad deal for steel. A delegation of Tata Steel executives informed steel unions of their decision at a meeting today, outlining that they would be rejecting the plan – which had been endorsed by industry experts, the Labour Party, and MSs from all political parties in the Senedd – on cost grounds read more
Community ballots for industrial action at Tata Steel (11 Apr) – Community is urging members to take a stand in support of the steel industry as we launches our ballot for industrial action at Tata Steel UK today. We are balloting members in response to Tata’s bad deal for steel, a proposal which would remove the UK’s virgin steelmaking capacity and result in the loss of thousands of steel jobs. The bulk of the job losses would be at Port Talbot and Llanwern, with further losses at Trostre and other downstream sites across the UK read more
NSSN Conference 2024 June 22nd Tories Out – fight for a Workers’ Manifesto
NSSN Conference 2024: Saturday 22nd June, 11am-4.30pm, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event. Attendance fee – £8. You can pre-register here https://forms.gle/WjFYyvrn1BXSMJHg9. Email us for more info – [email protected]
This year’s NSSN Conference will be the last before the General Election. Trade unionists are rightly desperate to see the back of the Tories. Over the last 14 years, we’ve been on the receiving end of vicious austerity, pay cuts, the cost of living squeeze and continued attacks on our right to strike through ever more restrictive and undemocratic Tory anti-union laws. And the unions still have to be prepared to fight together if Sunak looks to implement his Minimum Service Levels (MSL) legislation before the election.
But this has also been a period when workers and their unions are increasingly showing that it’s possible to fight back and win. In March 2011, over 750,000 workers marched against the brutal cuts of Cameron, Clegg and Osborne, and that November, the N30 pensions strike saw up to 2 million public sector workers strike together. Over the last two years, we have seen the strike wave – the biggest sustained level of strikes for over 3 decades, with many workers taking action for the first time. Workers want the Tories out, but they also demand real change.
The NSSN has played our part in all the many strikes that have taken place. But in these disputes, we have also argued for policies to defend workers’ interests. This year’s NSSN Conference is an opportunity for union reps, members and activists to again share experiences about our struggles and disputes, but also to set out the programme that we need – a workers’ manifesto.
To repeal Sunak’s MSL and Cameron’s Trade Union Acts, and all the rest of the Tory anti-union laws, going back to Thatcher and Major. To re-nationalise Royal Mail, BT, the energy and utility companies and steel. To end privatisation in the NHS and our public services. For a real inflation-proof pay rise for workers, that protects our living standards. And there is much more to discuss and fight for. Come to NSSN Conference and join the discussion.
Fight the Tory attack on our #RightToStrike
About 5,000 trade unionists marched in Cheltenham on 27th January in opposition to the new Tory anti-union Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 (MSL), and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Thatcher’s banning of union rights at GCHQ in the town.
It was just days after the U-turn by the state-owned LNER train operating company that was reported to have signalled its intention to have used the MSL against ASLEF. The union had reacted to this threat by putting in 5 additional strike days. This apparent retreat was a defeat not only for LNER bosses but for Sunak’s Tory Government.
It showed that workers’ action can smash this vicious Tory attack on our right to strike.
It is now vital that the statement that was passed at the Special TUC Congress in December – setting out a campaign of defiance and non-compliance – is implemented and built upon:-
- We will develop practical solidarity plans for unions actively engaged in strategies of non-compliance.
- Support any worker subject to a work notice, including with support from across the trade union movement, if their employer disciplines them in any way.
- Ensure that where any affiliate is facing significant risk of sanctions because of this legislation, we convene an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee to consider options for providing practical, industrial, financial and/or political backing to that union.
- Call on all employers and public bodies with oversight to oppose this counterproductive legislation. Employers and public bodies from across the public sector and the country have already signalled their opposition to the Strikes Act. All employers and public bodies must reject it
- Refuse to tell our members to cross a picket line.
- Call an urgent demonstration in the event a work notice is deployed and a union or worker is sanctioned in relation to a work notice.
This is the basis for the fighting strategy that workers and unions need and now needs to be enacted.
Defend The Right to Strike – Strike Map and the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom (CTUF) have launched a ‘write to your council campaign’ to seek their commitment to not issue work notices and defend the right to strike as key employers read more in the Morning Star
Stop the attack on Gaza
Many NSSN supporters have joined marches and protests against the escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly the invasion and bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli government
See Stop the War website for info on protests.
A number of unions have issued statements on the situation in the Middle East, including: the TUC, FBU, RMT, NEU, Unite, Unison, PCS, ASLEF, TSSA, UCU, EIS, CWU, Equity, BMA, NUJ, UVW, GMB, SOR, RCM, RCN, IWGB, Prospect, CSP, NAPO, INTO (Ireland), SIPTU (Ireland) and Mandate (Ireland)
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it and/or making an additional donation to help our work. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month via a standing order.
You can either pay online to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790.
Or you can pay by cheque to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE.
Feel free to use this affiliation letter.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Katrine on [email protected]
The NSSN is developing a campaign pack for social care, which we hope to make available in the not-too-distant future for supporters to use in their localities. As part of this, communications officer Dave Gorton is keen to hear from supporters who:
(1) work in social care (either local authority, private or independently provided)
(2) represent social care workers for a trade union
(3) are in need of social care provision themselves or act as an (unpaid/underpaid) carer for a family member
Dave can be contacted in the first instance via [email protected]
Union News
You can receive this bulletin via email or you can choose to unsubscribe and stop receiving them. Like everyone else, the NSSN has to adhere to new data protection regulations. Therefore you must click here to subscribe/unsubscribe. Reports from unions do not necessarily reflect NSSN’s views.
RMT
Conductors to strike on Barrhead and East Kilbride route (3 May) – RMT members on Scotrail will take strike action over the role of the guard on services along the Barrhead and East Kilbride routes. A series of 48-hour strikes will take place on the following days:
- Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May
- Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May
- Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June
RMT has concerns over the responsibilities of the conductor, including dispatch, opening and closing doors and their safety critical role. Scotrail members voted overwhelmingly for strike action with 96.7% voting ‘yes’ on a 79% turnout read more
RFA seafarers to take strike action (3 May) – Seafarers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will take strike action on May 19 in a row over pay. RFA have implemented a one-year deal of 4.5% which is wholly unacceptable to RMT members. RMT members work as civilian merchant seafarers onboard the fleet of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels which provide the Royal Navy with vital logistic and operational support including humanitarian operations around the world. Up to 500 RFA seafarers are prepared to take action unless a negotiated settlement can be reached read more
RMT responds to New Deal dilution media briefings (1 May) – Reacting to media reports that suggest there could be attempts to water down the New Deal for workers to ease business concerns, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Any dilution of the New Deal for workers is wholly unacceptable. Labour must not bend the knee to corporate greed and instead find its voice and values by representing the interests of working people in government…” read more
London Underground Jobs, Pensions and Agreements dispute: RMT members smash Tory anti-union ballot thresholds once again (25 Apr) read more
CrossCountry trains strike suspended after progress (11 Apr) – RMT has suspended planned strike action on CrossCountry this Saturday, after management agreed to intensive talks to resolve the dispute. CrossCountry had refused to recognise RMT at all grades within the company. This is despite written evidence to the contrary. Now the company has agreed to sit down with RMT to address our concerns with no changes to agreements in this period read more
RFA members vote for industrial action over pay (9 Apr) – Seafarers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action over pay. RMT members working as civilian merchant seafarers onboard the fleet of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels which provide the Royal Navy with vital logistic and operational support including humanitarian operations around the world, have rejected a below inflation pay offer from management. RFA have implemented a one-year deal of 4.5% which was totally unacceptable to RMT members. Up to 500 RFA seafarers were balloted for strike action by RMT union, and we will now consider our next steps read more
Eurostar Rail Gourmet workers to take strike action over pay (6 Apr) – RMT members working for Rail Gourmet on the Eurostar contract will take strike action from 19-23 April in a dispute over pay. This follows a magnificent 95% yes vote in our strike ballot, which has given the union a mandate to pursue industrial action to win better pay for low paid members working within the continental rail service read more
Gateline workers to take strike action (15 Mar) – Contracted out gateline workers at Northern will take strike action on Saturday in a dispute over pay, union recognition and working conditions. RMT members working for Carlisle Support Services on the Northern contract will set up picket lines in Manchester, Leeds and Wigan. The strike action will start on Saturday at 12.01am and finish 11.59pm the same day. Among the demands of workers is the ending of zero hours contracts and the removal of the Timegate app which has failed to accurately calculate pay and leave allowance read more
Bidvest Noonan cleaners begin 48 hour strike action (4 Mar) – RMT members working for Bidvest Noonan on Alstom NTL and TPE contracts will take strike action from Monday. The cleaners are taking action over pay and working conditions having rejected the latest offer from the company. Strikes will take place in Glasgow and Manchester. Following the conclusion of the strike, RMT members will take industrial action short of strike from Wednesday by not undertaking any biological hazard cleaning read more
Hitachi Rail strike spreads from East Coast to Great Western Mainline (17 Feb) – RMT members at Hitachi Rail will take 48 hours strike action at the end of the month over a pay dispute. Workers who maintain rolling stock and the signalling system will take the stoppages between Thursday 29 February and March 2. The depots that will be taking action are the London North Pole, Doncaster Train Maintenance and Bounds Green and Craigentinny Train Maintenance. Hundreds of workers will join the action which follows a referendum where Hitachi workers rejected a pay offer from the private company. Strike action will now be taking place on depots on the East Coast and West Coast mainlines read more
ASLEF
Support ASLEF strikes picket line details
Train strikes announced for May Bank Holiday week – Rail passengers are being warned of disruption during the week of the May Bank Holiday after drivers announced more strikes and an overtime ban. Staff at 16 train companies will take part in rolling one-day walkouts between 7 and 9 May over pay and working conditions. An overtime ban will also take place between 6 and 11 May. Passengers are advised to check before they travel, with the action likely to lead to delays and cancellations. The Bank Holiday falls on 6 May this year. Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said it is seeking better pay for its members and claimed drivers are being asked to sacrifice working conditions in exchange for a wage increase. Drivers from several train companies will strike on different days.
- Tuesday 7 May: c2c, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway main line and Island Line
- Wednesday 8 May: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains
- Thursday 9 May: LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express read more on BBC website
Train drivers at LNER to strike in row over terms and conditions – Rail services from London King’s Cross will be disrupted by the walkout on Saturday read more on Independent website
TSSA
May Day at TSSA (1 May) – TSSA’s General Secretary – Maryam Eslamdoust – reflects on the celebration of May Day. Our TSSA union was forged in struggle more than 125 years ago, and that struggle continues today. For us – and our union brothers and sisters – fighting for the rights of workers, engaging in the struggle to make our country and our world more equal and just are solemn vows read more
London Underground – Further Strike Action (25 Apr) – TSSA will take strike action at London Underground on 26 April. TSSA rail union has announced a further day of strike action on Friday 26 April at London Underground by members working as Customer Service Managers. The walkouts will take place on Friday 26 April where members will not commence work on any shift starting between 00:01 to 23:59 on Friday, 26 April 2024. Accordingly, strike action will also take place on Saturday 27 April 2024 in respect of any members expected to commence shifts before 23:59 on Friday 26 April 2024 whose shifts run into Saturday 27 April 2024. When TSSA Customer Service Managers took strike action on 10 April stations closed at short notice. Similarly, the strikes this week are likely to cause stations to close at the last minute, including late night and into Saturday morning (night tube on Friday night). TSSA Customer Service Managers at London Underground will also take part in an overtime ban from 29 April to 5 May. This overtime ban will again lead to station closures at very short notice read more
Easter weekend strikes at ScotRail (29 Mar) – Members of rail union TSSA will hold strike action at ScotRail over the Easter weekend in a long running dispute over on call working arrangements. The walkouts take place on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st of March by Operations Team Manager (OTM) grades in the latest stage of a dispute going back to late 2021. Similar action took place last December. Since discussions were last held with ScotRail, including in person talks with TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust, the company has offered no solution or means to end the dispute which is already having an impact on the network. As part of the dispute TSSA members have withdrawn from the ‘out of hours’ on call period – generally between 23:00 and 07:00 hrs. During this period ScotRail have no first line on call coverage. Earlier this month the safety implications of this situation were highlighted when the driver of an Aberdeen to Inverness train passed a red signal – and therefore had to immediately be relieved of duties while appropriate checks were carried out. With TSSA’s Driver Team Managers staff in dispute, passengers had to remain in the stationary vehicle for three hours until the driver was relieved. The union has now met Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, to urgently highlight concerns, stressing that ScotRail must act to stop this happening again read more
TSSA warns of ‘crippling’ industrial action at Transport for Wales (22 Mar) – Rail union TSSA is to ballot dozens of members in Fleet Management at Transport for Wales (TfW). TSSA warns of ‘crippling’ industrial action at Transport for Wales. Rail union TSSA is to ballot dozens of members in Fleet Management at Transport for Wales (TfW) for possible strike action and action short of a strike. The union is in dispute with the company over so-called ‘bolt-ons’ – additional payments which cover shift work. These have been awarded to other staff outside Fleet Management, and without them, managers would effectively miss out on the accruement of pensionable pay. The ballot will open on the 28th of March and conclude on the 18th of April. The union is warning that a walkout or work-to-rule would seriously hamper the ability of TfW to run trains across Wales. Fleet Management are responsible daily for signing off safety critical work across TfW read more
Looming industrial action at South Western Railway (15 Mar) – Rail union TSSA is warning South Western Railway (SWR) that potential industrial action, including a strike could be on the cards after the two sides have formally failed to agree in an escalating dispute over the imposition of changed working arrangements among Control staff. The union has now officially served a ‘Failure to Agree’ notice to SWR —the first stage of an official process that, without an agreement in the short term, could lead to industrial action by its Train Service Managers. This is despite the union’s efforts to engage in meaningful dialogue over several months and because the company has undermined TSSA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with SWR read more
Unite
Tata’s insulting offers to workers are just adding insult to injury ahead of industrial action (3 May) – Tata has been making increasingly derogatory offers to workers’ that will be hit by its plans to cut steel production in Port Talbot and Llanwern. Now, talks in London between Tata and trade unions over redundancy terms and conditions have collapsed read more
Report on Tata cuts costing thousands of extra jobs shows why closure plans must be reversed (2 May) – Commenting on a report seen by the BBC that Tata’s plans to cut 2,800 jobs and close the Port Talbot blast furnaces could result in up to 9,500 jobs being lost across the wider economy, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The transition board’s report simply underlines what Unite has been saying for a long time – as well as wanting to throw their own workers on the scrapheap, Tata’s plans would have a devastating impact on Port Talbot and the regional economy…” read more
Heathrow strike suspended for two days (3 May) – Strikes over proposed outsourcing plans at Heathrow Airport have been called off to allow meaningful, last-minute talks, Unite the union announced this afternoon (3 May). Strikes due to take place on 7 and 8 May have now been called off following discussions between Unite and the airport. The remaining days of strike action from 9-13 May are still due to go ahead pending the outcome of any further negotiations read more
ELE Advanced Technologies increases workers’ wages by 13% following strike, Unite says (3 May) – Workers at Lancashire’s ELE Advanced Technologies have secured a 13 per cent pay increase, following successful strike action, Unite the UK’s leading union, announced today. The workers began strike action this week (Wednesday 1 May). After one day of industrial action, ELE Advanced Technologies made an improved offer, which workers were balloted on and accepted. The deal will see 80 engineers receive an additional £3,250 to their annual pay from 1 May 2024, as well as two extra days holiday across the Christmas period read more
Bus strikes in South West London suspended following new pay offer (2 May) – Industrial action due to be taken by 40 bus company staff in control rooms in Battersea and Twickenham beginning on 8 May has been suspended, Unite the union announced today (2 May). Following extensive negotiations a new improved offer was tabled by the employer and, as a result, the impending strike action was suspended to allow members to consider and vote on the latest offer read more
Croydon tram strike misery as TfL negotiations breakdown (2 May) – TfL accused of entering talks in ‘bad faith’ over massive pay disparities. Strikes by engineers crucial to the running of Croydon Tramlink, which carries 22 million passengers a year, will begin this Sunday (5 May) after negotiations with Transport for London (TfL) broke down. Around 60 tram, stores and infrastructure engineers are angry that their colleagues on the London Underground, who require the same qualifications and perform the same roles, are paid up to £10,000 more a year. Strike action in March was postponed to allow for talks with TfL. Negotiations collapsed, however, because TfL refused to be transparent about the process it was using to identify pay disparities and broke its word on how they would be resolved… The workers will strike from 20:00hrs Sunday 5 May to 06:00hrs Thursday 9 May. Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved read more
Gatwick catering strikes off after Unite secures shift allowance reinstatement (2 May) – Strikes by dNata airline catering contractors at Gatwick have been cancelled after Unite, the UK’s leading union, secured the reinstatement of their shift allowances. The dispute was over dNata’s unilateral removal of a shift allowance for all staff last April, which resulted in workers receiving a pay cut of between £1,500 and £2,000. This led to a decisive vote for strike action by more than 100 dNata workers and the announcement of strike action for April and May. After strikes were postponed to allow for further talks, Unite secured the reinstatement of the shift allowance, with workers receiving full back pay as well as retaining a previously agreed night shift premium read more
East Midlands Airport DHL workers pleased at average 18% pay increase for workers, says Unite (2 May) – Following successful industrial action, Unite – the UK’s leading union – has secured an average 18 per cent pay increase for its skilled members employed by DHL Aviation at East Midlands Airport. The 180 workers, who undertake ramp duties, provide aircraft handling, and oversee the tower, have been on strike since February because of a substandard pay offer. Following extensive negotiations with DHL Aviation, the company put forward an improved offer of a four per cent increase to base rates, effective from 1 April 2024. In addition, workers’ skill bandings will increase, which is worth an estimated three to four per cent depending on their role, not including improvements to their shift or weekend premiums. The latest rises build on an average 9.8 per cent pay increase Unite secured in 2023, resulting in workers’ pay now being on average 18 per cent higher than this time last year read more
Bosch Rexroth workers back strike action in pay dispute (2 May) – 250 Glenrothes based workers set for 12-weeks strike. Unite has confirmed today (Thursday 2 May) that around 250 members working at Bosch Rexroth in Glenrothes have backed strike action in a dispute over a massive real terms pay cut. Unite’s membership overwhelmingly supported taking strike action by 83.2 per cent on a 66.8 per cent turnout. The trade union can further confirm that the workforce is now set to take 12 weeks of continuous strike action starting on 20 May until the close of play on 11 August. The dispute centres on the German-owned global tech and engineering giant making a rejected 1.25 per cent pay offer which represents a massive real terms pay cut. Bosch Rexroth engineer parts for the construction industry including gears and brakes, as well as parts for forklift trucks read more
Unite chief blasts Labour’s watering down of New Deal (1 May) – Responding to newspaper reports that Labour is preparing to water down its New Deal for Workers Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite said: “Choosing May Day to give notice of watering down your promise to overhaul one of the worst sets of employment rights in Europe is beyond irony. If Labour do not explicitly recommit to what they have already pledged, namely that the New Deal for Workers will be delivered in full within the first 100 days of office, then a red line will be crossed…” read more
Industrial action at ELE Technologies in Nelson paused as workers vote on new deal (1 May) – Strikes by Unite members at Lancashire’s ELE Advanced Technologies have been suspended after the employer put forward a new offer, it was announced today (1 May). Strike action by 80 engineers began on Wednesday, at the factory in Nelson after the company had initially offered a real terms pay cut to workers. Members will now be balloted on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 May. As a result, strikes have been suspended read more
Scotland’s biggest Biofuels company, Argent Energy in massive green jobs blow (30 Apr) – Unite says Scottish government needs to ‘step in now’ or its green jobs strategy will be ’in ruins’. Unite is calling on the Scottish government to ‘step in now’ as 75 jobs are at risk following the announcement by Argent Energy that it plans to close its biodiesel plant in Newarthill read more
Unite secures 10.9% pay uplift for OCS workers at Glasgow airport (30 Apr) – Unite has confirmed today (Tuesday 30 April) that another group of workers at Glasgow Airport have secured a major wage deal. Around 80 workers employed by the OCS Group overwhelmingly accepted a new 10.9 per cent pay offer. This represents a substantial increase in pay worth £12.20 per hour which is 20 pence an hour more than the real living wage. The 2024 pay deal is another double digit pay increase for the OCS workers who received an 11.1 per cent increase in 2023. OCS Group workers aid passengers with reduced mobility issues. This includes assisting passengers with wheelchairs and ambilift vehicles for travellers at Glasgow airport read more
Refuellers strike at Heathrow called off as Unite wins new deal for workers (29 Apr) – Refuelling workers at Heathrow airport have called off their planned strike that was due to begin this week after they accepted a new and improved pay and conditions offer from their employer, AFS. Unite members at AFS, employed as refuellers had been due to walkout for 72 hours on 4 May, potentially grounding as many as 35 airlines. However, after negotiations, AFS has agreed to improve the pension and sick leave offered to new workers to bring them closer in line with existing staff read more
Stormont budget failure risks strikes during school exam period (28 Apr) – Unite calls on four education unions to stand and strike together for improved pay. Unite officials and workforce reps have begun coordinating the union’s industrial response, due to the Stormont budget failing to provide anything for low paid education workers. The pay and grading review that the education department was instructed to implement to tackle low pay and inequalities in 2018, is set to remain unfunded for a seventh year threatening an even worse staffing crisis in the sector read more
Unite to coordinate on strikes after finance minister fails to deliver pay and grading review (25 Apr) – School support staff in Unite prepare to recommence strike action. Unite’s members in education have responded with disappointment and anger after being informed by the education minister that the Northern Ireland executive has adopted a budget that fails to provide the funding needed for the long awaited pay and grading review for school support staff. The decision comes despite the department of finance having accepted the department of education’s business case for the review. The national joint committee, the body which sets pay for education workers in Northern Ireland, first instructed the pay and grading review should be delivered six years ago in 2018, to address equality and low pay concerns. Unite members employed by the education authority have taken strike action repeatedly over the last two years about the issue. Unite represents education workers across a variety of low paid positions including classroom assistants, bus drivers, bus escorts, catering, admin and other school support staff. Pay rates in 2023-24 for workers who provide personal care to special educational needs children, including on occasion having to conduct medical and life-saving procedures, can be as low as £11.92 an hour read more
New wave of strikes in Haringey as housing repair workers walk out over pay (26 Apr) – Housing repair workers in the London borough of Haringey are to take further strike action next week as they escalate the dispute over pay with the council. Over 100 Unite members will be taking industrial action from 29 April until 2 May. The long-running dispute has seen members already take 15 days of industrial action but the employer has refused to negotiate. Unite members are in dispute with the council over several issues including:
· The refusal to increase annual leave for housing maintenance workers to match the increase over council employees annual leave
· The failure to increase allowances, including London weighting and out of hours payments, in line with the 2022 and 2023 pay awards
· The failure to increase craft productivity scheme rates, allowances and limits since 2014.
On the first day (Monday 29 April) of this round of strikes, workers and union staff will be protesting at a Haringey council event:
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, High Road, N17 0BX
When: Monday 29 April 09:00-12:00 read more
Striking Drax canteen workers protest outside power station’s London AGM (24 Apr) – 19 low paid workers, mainly women, asking for just 50p more per hour to get off breadline. Striking canteen workers employed by BaxterStorey at the Drax power station in East Yorkshire, will protest outside the power station’s annual general meeting on Thursday over poverty pay. The workers have been striking since early December in a dispute with their employer BaxterStorey and Drax’s management. BaxterStorey’s latest financial figures show it had a turnover of £449 million in 2022 and brought in gross profits of £54.6 million and operating profits of £25 million. The company also has net assets of £201 million. Meanwhile, in 2023 Drax made an operating profit of £908 million and profit before tax of £796 million read more
Sullom Voe oil terminal facing industrial action in pay and recognition disputes (24 Apr) – Worley Services and Altrad workers unanimously back strike action. Unite the union can confirm that its Worley Services and Altrad Services members are the latest group of oil and gas workers to demand a better deal on jobs, pay and conditions at the Sullom Voe terminal in the Shetland Islands. Unite can further reveal that its membership employed by Worley Services and Altrad Services both unanimously backed strike action in industrial action ballots. Unite represents over 40 Worley Services workers including chargehands, pipefitters, riggers, mechanical fitters along with electrical and instrument technicians. The dispute centres on Unite members demanding a significant pay increase, and improvements to other terms and conditions. The demands include the establishment of a union recognition agreement with Worley Services in order that Unite can formally bargain on jobs, pay and conditions. If there is no meaningful movement by Worley then 24 hour strike action will take place on 7 and 21 May. This will be followed by 48-hour strike action taking place on 4-5 June, and 18-19 June read more
‘Desperate’ Sanctuary Housing offers staff loan access in response to poverty pay (24 Apr) – Super-rich Sanctuary cites ‘money related stress’ for workers but refuses to raise wages. Sanctuary Housing, which has assets of nearly £6 billion and a surplus of over £100 million, has offered hard up staff access to loans following pay strikes by its London workers. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the housing association, which is the largest third sector employer in the country with 14,000 predominantly low paid staff, is encouraging struggling workers to take on further debt rather than agreeing trade union recognition and union-negotiated wages to improve their finances sustainably. The union said Sanctuary’s partnership with fintech firm Salary Finance, where loan repayments are taken directly from their salaries, was a ‘sop’ and a ‘desperate’ attempt to quell escalating strike action in London and head off increasing numbers of staff joining Unite in other parts of the country read more. Contact the Unite LE/1111 Housing Workers branch to offer support or if you are a housing worker wanting to get organised [email protected]
Barts and Synergy workers embark on next wave of strike action over pay (24 Apr) – Hundreds of workers at Barts NHS Trust and contractor Synergy are embarking on a new wave of strike action over the failure of their employer to pay a lump sum payment worth over £1,600. Nearly 700 Unite members working as porters, cleaners and facilities staff at the largest NHS trust in the UK, are taking further strike action next month as they fight for a lump-sum payment owed to them. Synergy is a sub-contractor at Barts who employs workers cleaning and preparing linen and bedding for patients. Workers at Barts NHS Trust are to strike from 7-19 May in protest at the failure to pay them the lump-sum payment that other NHS workers were offered for working during the pandemic. Unite’s members at the time worked for another outsourcing company Serco before transferring back into the NHS just after the imposed deadline for staff to receive the payment. So far NHS bosses, locally at the trust and at NHS England, have rejected their demands and refused to ask the treasury for additional funding to cover the payment read more
GLL workers in Greenwich stage further walkout over pay and conditions (23 Apr) – Library workers in Greenwich are to stage a further 24-hour strike after their employer, GLL, failed to negotiate a resolution to the dispute. Over 60 workers across the London Borough of Greenwich will walk out on 30 April as part of a long-running dispute over pay and the use of zero-hour contracts. GLL promotes itself as a London Living Wage (LLW) employer and yet some employees receive below the LLW and GLL has also delayed implementation of a rise to the LLW by nearly six months. Employees at GLL are rightly furious over its behaviour and the employer has refused all offers from Unite to come to the negotiating table. As well as the strike, demonstrations will be taking place across the borough. Unite is seeking to draw attention to the presence of three Labour councillors who sit on the board of GLL. Greenwich is Labour-run and yet it is contracting services to an organisation that uses zero hour contracts and fails to recognise trade unions despite describing itself as a “social enterprise”. Demonstrations will be held at the following venues on Tuesday 30 April:
- 10:00 – Libraries Connected ( GLL partner ), Islington Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, N5 1PF
- 12:00 – The Reading Agency ( GLL partner ), 24 Bedford Row, WC1R 4EH
- 14:00 – CILIP ( Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals – GLL Partner ) British Library, 96 Euston Rd, NW1 2DB read more
Warning of empty shelves at Morrisons as Cheshire and Wakefield logistics workers could strike over pensions (18 Apr) – Hundreds of workers for the supermarket chain Morrisons could be heading to the picket line after their employer forced through changes to their pensions that will leave them worse off by around £500 a year. Approximately 1,000 Unite members working as warehouse stock controllers, cooks, canteen staff, and administrators are being balloted for strike action to protect their pensions and take home pay. Staff are based in warehouses in Cheshire and Wakefield and perform essential roles that ensure lorries are loaded and shelves are filled in the nearly 500 supermarkets and convenience stores run by Morrisons read more
Birkenhead hospital workers on strike over pay and grading (17 Apr) – Healthcare workers at the Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral, Merseyside, are striking this week and next week over a failure to recognise their workplace responsibilities. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, who work as recovery theatre practitioners, who care for patients recovering from serious operations, are not being paid appropriately by their employer, the Wirral University Hospital Trust. The vital healthcare workers are being paid a grade below the level of responsibility and duties they are providing. Workers have been left up to £8,000 out of pocket due to being wrongly graded…Having exhausted all avenues of negotiation with their employer, staff have been left with no option but to head to the picket line. The workers were on strike yesterday (16 April) and today (17 April). More strikes are scheduled for next week, 23 and 24 April read more
Unite announces Dounreay power station strike action (15 Apr) – Unite the union confirmed today (Monday 15 April) its 460-strong membership employed by Nuclear Restoration Services Limited (NRS) based at Dounreay power station will take strike action in a pay dispute. Unite’s members will take strike action on 1 and 2 May with more action scheduled for the 15 and 29 May. There will also be an overtime ban in place. The union had previously warned that strike action was ‘inevitable’ in the coming weeks, and it said NRS had a ‘final opportunity’ to resolve the dispute by making a revised pay offer to the workforce. The company has recently changed its trading name from Magnox Limited read more
Offshore chemists, heating and ventilation engineers resume strike action in escalating disputes (12 Apr) – Unite members in industrial action against IES Callenberg and SGS UK Limited over rotas and pay. Unite the union confirmed today (Friday 12 April) that around 60 members in the offshore sector including chemists, heating and ventilation engineers will resume strike action next week in escalating disputes over working rotas and pay. Unite’s IES Callenberg membership will take three-days of strike action starting on Monday (15 April) until the end of Wednesday (17 April), while chemists employed by SGS UK Limited will start week-long action on the same day but conclude their action on Sunday (21 April). The IES Callenberg dispute involves around 50 offshore workers who provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services on offshore platforms operated by BP, TAQA, CNR, Repsol, Serica and CNOOC. The SGS UK Limited dispute exclusively centres on chemists servicing BP’s platforms the Clair, Clair Ridge, ETAP and Glen Lyon read more
Northern Ireland: Workers at Balcas Timber Ltd in Enniskillen to ballot for strike action in pay dispute (9 Apr) – Workers reject below inflation pay increase offered by company whose latest accounts reported a dramatic surge in profits.
Unite the union has today notified management at Balcas Timber Ltd, a wood-mill and Combined Heat Power plant employing approximately 280 at Killadeas, Co Fermanagh of its intent to conduct a strike ballot of the workforce. The strike ballot will open onTuesday 16 April and remain open for three weeks closing on Tuesday 7 May. The workforce are paid as little £10.68 an hour, which is only now being increased to £11.44 an hour to comply with national minimum wage legislation read more
Pathology services in London under threat as medical workers balloted over strike action (27 Mar) – Hundreds of pathologists in London are being balloted over strike action after their employer, Synnovis, imposed an unwanted and damaging restructure that puts jobs at risk and severely downgrades working conditions. Synnovis, which is part of SynLab, has a 15 year contract to run the outsourced pathology services for the 6 Hospitals (Guys, St Thomas, Kings College, Princess Royal University Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield) across 2 trusts (Kings College NHS Foundation Trust, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust). Synnovis has heavily invested in a new Hub at Blackfriars and plans to migrate the majority of it’s staff there, leaving only skeletal essential services at each of the hospitals. Pathologists were previously employed directly by the NHS but were outsourced and are now working for a private company. This is a stark example of NHS privatisation driving down pay and conditions for workers and leading to serious concerns over patient safety. Over 350 members of Unite are deeply unhappy and concerned over such a move. Job cuts will lead to a deterioration of pathology services across London and a loss of jobs as staff leave due to poor working conditions read more
New Holland tractor shortages if Basildon CNH workers strike (19 Mar) – 500 workers balloted for strike over broken pay agreement. Around 500 workers employed by CNH Industrial at its New Holland tractor factory in Basildon are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). Strike action would severely compromise the supply of New Holland tractors, which are shipped across the world. The workers are angry that the company has reneged on an agreement struck during 2022 stating pay increases would be calculated by the average rate of inflation over the year. CNH is instead offering four per cent for 2024, rather than the 7.4 per cent it should be under the original agreement. For 2025, the company is offering the rate of inflation as of December 2024. Last month, CNH announced revenues of $24.7 billion for 2023 and a pre-tax earnings of more than $2.38 billion read more
Northern Ireland public transport trade unions agree to re-enter discussions with Translink management (15 Mar) – Joint Trade union release: The three public transport trade unions, UNITE, GMB and SIPTU, have agreed to re-enter discussions with Translink’s management with the aim of achieving a resolution to the ongoing pay dispute over the 2023-24 pay offer. Members of all three trade unions voted last week voted decisively to reject the previous pay offer, which was considered to be inadequate. The unions agreed this approach following discussions with reps and officials. The three trade unions have agreed to not make any further public comments on the dispute ahead of the conclusion of talks read more
Security guards escalate strikes at London’s Guys and St Thomas’ hospital (15 Mar) – Security workers at London’s Guys and St Thomas’ hospital will take fresh industrial action after the trust declined to pay them a wage increase worth £2,000, which equals just 0.96 pence per hour. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said its members will walk out for seven days from 07:00 on Monday 18 March. As a result, safety could be compromised as the officers play a crucial role in protecting staff and patients across two hospitals in South London: St Thomas’ Hospital and Guys Hospital…The latest wave of strikes follows two previous days of industrial action which took place because the security guards are amongst the lowest paid at the hospital. The workers are also paid less than their counterparts at hospitals across London, such as Kings’ College Hospital, where a security officers’ salary starts at £30,000 per annum read more
M25 strike chaos on as Balfour Beatty told to share massive profits (13 Mar) – Vital M25 maintenance workers strike as Balfour Beatty announces £10bn revenues. Around 150 M25 maintenance workers employed by Balfour Beatty have voted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday). The workers, who provide vital maintenance for the entire M25, are angry at Balfour Beatty’s meagre pay offer of 3.4 per cent. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 4.9 per cent this is a real terms pay cut. Increasing tensions, is the fact that the workers also received a below inflation pay rise last year. Today, Balfour Beatty announced that its revenues for 2023 have increased by seven per cent to £9.6 billion, while underlying profits from operations rose by two per cent to £236 million…The workers operate from depots based at Barnet, Uxbridge, Swanley, Epping and Dartford and strike action will cause serious disruption to journey times. Dates for industrial action will be announced in the coming days read more
Cambridge University revealed to have £6 billion as workers languish on poverty-level wages (11 Mar) – In depth research from Unite, the UK’s leading trade union, has uncovered that Cambridge University is sitting on over £6 billion of cash and investments while trying to maintain it can’t afford to help its lowest paid workers. The revelations coincide with fresh strike action by university workers. Cleaners, librarians, museum workers and many other staff at the university have been in a long-running pay dispute over the failure of the institution to acknowledge the cost of housing in Cambridge as well as the wider inflationary pressure on its lowest paid workers. Some are being paid less than £23,000 per year yet live and work in one of the most expensive parts of the country. Unite has compiled a financial report that shows that Cambridge University is in rude financial health read more
Biomedical scientists in Merseyside to strike over pay dispute (6 Mar) – Highly skilled scientists working in the microbiology department at a Merseyside hospital are to take substantial industrial action over pay, Unite announced today (6 March 2024). The workers, who are members of Unite the UK’s leading union, based at the Whiston Hospital on Merseyside are to take 36 days of strike action between March and June (see notes to editors), beginning with three days from 14 March. The workers, who covered all Covid testing for the region, have been informed they do not qualify for the essential services payment worth £4,000. The workers, employed by the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, are taking unprecedented action due to the failure of the trust to pay the scientists in the microbiology team the same £4,000 payment that other members of the pathology department have received read more
CWU
Save Enniskillen EE (ex-BT) site – The EE Enniskillen call centre is a lifeline for our community. It’s closure threatens over 300 jobs, eroding the heart of our local economy. This is a community crisis. Local businesses, public services, and the Fermanagh economy stand on the brink of a devastating blow
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]
PCS National ballot opens today (18 Mar) – The postal ballot opens today (18) and runs until 13 May, asking members if they are prepared to take strike action over our national campaign demands. Opening today, 18 March. the postal ballot will run until 13 May, after which the national executive committee will meet to consider the next steps in our national campaign. It is vital that all PCS members take part to ensure we beat the 50% threshold for strike action read more
DWP offices facing closure due to GMB G4S security guard strike (3 May) – Many DWP offices face closure on Tuesday (7) and Wednesday (8) as a result of strike action by G4S staff called by the GMB union read more
PCS to hold strike ballot of G4S security staff on DWP contract (24 Apr) – PCS members working in 700 jobcentres across the UK working on the DWP security contract are to be balloted from 1-15 May for strike action over pay. We are seeking a pay rise for all 200 members employed by G4S Solutions, as well as reinstating the pay differential between grades because supervisors currently earn just 1p more an hour than the security guards they oversee. The workers are employed on a private contract for the Department for Work and Pensions…GMB members working for G4S Solutions have already announced strikes on May 7, 8, 13, 20, 28 and 29. Strike action by members on the DWP G4S contract will be very disruptive and has the potential to close many of the around 700 jobcentres across the regions and nations read more
Jim Harra gives HMRC members another reason to vote yes for strike action (3 May) – Almost a third of HMRC staff are so poorly paid they’ll receive an uplift to ensure that the government department is compliant with the minimum wage. The chief executive of the government department responsible for enforcing minimum wage requirements has revealed that his own staff must receive an uplift to bring them above the National Living Wage threshold. Jim Harra, last week, told MPs that almost a third of civil servants in the department were to be given an uplift to make sure that the employer complied with the National Living Wage read more
PCS urges Labour not to water down new deal for workers (2 May) – PCS General Secretary says it is a “major blow” for members that Labour may be considering weakening its new deal for workers read more
Next period of strike action to start in Liverpool museums on Saturday (2 May) – The members at National Museums Liverpool are taking another 30 days of strike action from 4 May in their dispute over pay. National Museums Liverpool (NML) is the only employer out of over 200 covered by the civil service pay remit guidance to withhold the £1,500 cost-of-living payment recommended by the government last year as part of its improved pay offer following PCS campaigning. The eight weeks of strike action taken so far by members at NML have led to widespread museum and gallery closures affecting the Museum of Liverpool, the World Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum, as well as the Walker Art Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery. Despite some negotiations with the employer, management is yet to make an acceptable offer and therefore members will take a further 30 days of discontinuous strike action over the next three months, targeting the busiest periods of footfall, at weekends and school holidays. The first weekend of strike action on 4, 5 and 6 May coincides with the opening of a new, ticketed, exhibition at the World Museum and members will hold picket lines outside the museum from 9am – 12:30pm each day. Other strike dates are 11 and 12 May, 18 and 19 May, 25 May to 2 June, 8 and 9 June, 15 and 16 June, 22 and 23 June, 29 and 30 June, 6 and 7 July, 13 and 14 July and 20 and 21 July read more
Support for Heathrow strikers at May Day rally (1 May) – PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote was joined by other speakers in sending a solidarity message to PCS strikers at Heathrow at the rally in Trafalgar Square read more
Border Force out in force on Heathrow picket (29 Apr) – Good humour mixed with sadness as determined PCS strikers bid farewell to colleagues on first of the four-day walkout over roster changes read more
PCS members to begin industrial action at ONS (25 Apr) – The action short of a strike from 8 May will take the form of non-compliance with the mandatory return to the office directive. PCS members in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will begin action short of a strike on 8 May over the organisation’s introduction of a mandatory workplace attendance policy. Members voted overwhelmingly for strike action and action short of strike in a ballot that closed on 2 April, in response to an instruction that staff spend at least 40% of their working time in an office, with effect from the start of April read more
PCS rep in Newcastle sacked by HMRC (5 Apr) – Gordon Askew was sacked by HMRC on grounds of ‘potential’ computer misuse following strike action taken by the branch. HMRC management at Benton Park View in Newcastle have sacked Gordon Askew, a member of the branch executive committee, on the grounds of ‘potential’ computer misuse. PCS members at Benton Park View, alongside HMRC East Kilbride, took part in targeted strike action last year, as well as their members taking part in the three national days of strike action. Following the strike action, the department launched an investigation into two Newcastle-based representatives. The charge against Gordon was a ‘potential’ breach of the department’s IT policy; arising from a Microsoft Teams message sent to a number of PCS members, relating to strike action. The department’s decision maker claimed that Microsoft Teams had been used “without a legitimate business reason”. A second rep is on a similar charge. We understand the decision maker said that they had considered a lesser penalty, but had decided to sack the rep because he didn’t appear to be sorry enough for what he had done. This was despite him having nearly thirty years of spotless service to the department. PCS is discussing next steps with our Legal Department read more
PCS fighting Imperial War Museum derecognition threat (22 Mar) – PCS is campaigning against the threat of being derecognised as an official union with negotiating rights at the Imperial War Museum, which has 5 sites in England and Northern Ireland. On 6 March, Imperial War Museum Director Francoise Harris wrote to PCS, FDA and Prospect unions confirming that they wish to derecognise PCS and FDA and move forward with only one union – Prospect. Essentially, derecognising PCS constitutes a direct attack on IWM workers’ rights, job security, economic equality, workplace protections, solidarity, and democratic principles. PCS does not accept derecognition and are launching a campaign to maintain recognition at IWM read more
Pensions Regulator strike suspended (13 Mar) – The strike action has been suspended as a result of TPR agreeing to enter into meaningful negotiations with PCS. The strike action which was due to restart today and continue into next week has been suspended as a result of TPR agreeing to enter into meaningful negotiations with PCS over the proposals we have made to end the dispute. Importantly TPR has agreed with the key proposal that they commit to securing the funding for the full percentage pay increase to the overall pay pot suggested by the 2024/25 Treasury Pay Remit Guidance. The have stated that they are already engaging with DWP on the pay strategy for the year ahead. They have also committed to submitting a pay flexibility case for the Pay Remit Guidance in 2024/25 which will guarantee additional money to the basic pay remit pot. TPR have also agreed “to engage in meaningful consultation, on matters relating to TPR’s employee value proposition, including reward, annual leave entitlement and the pay and terms and conditions of staff TUPE transferred to TPR.“ The agreement from TPR management is as a result of PCS members taking over 50 days of strike action since 2023. We have reminded TPR that we still have a mandate for strike action until 8 May and that a failure to progress the issues in good faith and time will result in further strike action. TPR members remain in the PCS national campaign and will be participating in the ballot due to start on Monday 18 March read more
Sign our petition for members in Hinduja Global Solutions to keep their jobs (12 Mar) – Members in HGS in Liverpool have been told they will need to relocate 40 miles to keep their jobs. In November 2023 Hinduja Global Solutions announced a significant restructure on the Disclosure and Barring Service contract, which they planned to take effect from 1 April 2024. Staff were told that the restructure was a direct result of the new contract for services between HGS and DBS. The impact on PCS members in Liverpool has been damaging because the changes mean a 41% reduction in headcount (later reduced to a 26% cut) and withdrawal of all staff from the Tithebarn Street office, meaning HGS would no longer have a presence in the city read more
Prospect
Prospect members at Dounreay to take industrial action for first time in a generation (15 Apr) – Prospect members at Dounreay have voted to take industrial action over pay, starting with two days of strike action on May 1st and May 2nd followed by a work to rule read more
Prospect ballots members at Defence Equipment & Support on strike action (16 Feb) – Prospect union is balloting its members at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), a Ministry of Defence (MoD) agency, on industrial action. The ballot comes after the employer failed to meet the union’s pay claim and imposed an unagreed pay offer for 2023/2024. Under the imposed pay offer, the majority of DE&S employees will receive a consolidated pay increase of 3.25% or less. Prospect is recommending that members vote yes to both strike action and action short of strike (ASOS) read more
FDA
FDA launches judicial review of the Safety of Rwanda Act as “cowardly, reckless” government ignores legal conflicts for civil servants (1 May) – The FDA has today submitted an application for judicial review relating to the relationship of the Civil Service Code with the UK government’s Safety of Rwanda Act. The Act provides that it is for a minister to determine whether to comply with a Rule 39 order made by the European Court of Human Rights. A direction to ignore such an order would breach international law, and this conflicts with the duty of civil servants under the Civil Service Code to act in compliance with the law, which includes international law read more
GMB
‘Devastating’ blow for stoke potteries as Johnson tiles ceases manufacturing.
GMB Union (1 May) – Government inaction on spiralling energy costs brings to an end over a century of tile manufacturing. GMB union has today responded to the news that iconic Stoke pottery firm Jonson Tiles will move it’s manufacturing operation out of Stoke-On-Trent. Citing spiralling energy costs, the company have begun consultation into the potential loss of 105 jobs in the Stoke Potteries. Johnsons has been producing tiles in the city since 1901 read more
Cumberland suicide rate climbs ‘substantially’ (30 Apr) – Cumberland’s suicide rate has risen ‘substantially’ – yet the Urgent Care Team’s job has not changed, the council claims. Cumberland’s Urgent Care Team are in the midst of a two-week continuous strike in their fight for a proper job evaluation. The social workers will also demonstrate outside a meeting of the full council today [Tuesday]. Cumberland Council’s annual public health report, which goes before councillors today, says: ‘worryingly, more recent unpublished data indicates that our suicide rate has continued to climb substantially over the last two years’. In July 2022, these dedicated professionals on the front line of mental health emergencies across Cumberland submitted an application for a regrading of their role, believing it was incorrectly evaluated. Cumberland Council denied their request, claiming the role had not substantially changed. More than 4,000 members of the public has signed a petition backing the Urgent Care Team’s campaign read more
Industrial action hits defence giant Rolls-Royce (29 Apr) – GMB members working on the company’s nuclear submarine programme have begun industrial action. The action begins today, Monday 29 April, and will run for one month. The action comes after 90 per cent of GMB members at the company supported action if company bosses failed to present a pay rise acceptable to union members. Known as ‘work to rule’, the industrial action will see GMB members applying strict limits to working outside of pre-agreed processes read more
NI education workers ready to strike after budget (29 Apr) – GMB members working in Northern Ireland’s education system say they are ready to strike
Workers are furious after the executive failed to deliver on their pay and grading demands. The Northern Ireland Finance Minster has said there will be no additional money for the pay and grading review for all school support staff. Previously, the Department of Finance accepted the business case from the Department of Education that addressed the inequality in pay grades for staff, which should have been addressed in 2018. GMB represents staff in low paid positions such as classroom assistants, cooks, cleaners, catering assistants, drivers and bus escorts along with admin staff and technicians. This mainly low paid women workforce are either are on temporary contracts, only work term time or are on part-time contracts read more
Sacked Mersey Care workers given redundancy in GMB win (29 Apr) – More than 50 long-standing NHS staff sacked have been given their redundancy following a GMB campaign. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust recently closed their Calderstones Hospital site in Mitton Road, Whalley near Blackburn and told more than 50 workers they would now have to work in Aspen Wood, near Liverpool – an 80 mile round trip or accept a unsuitable alternative role. Those who wouldn’t, or couldn’t make the trip – or accept the unsuitable offers – were sacked, without redundancy pay, on Easter Sunday. But following GMB pressure, the trust has now agreed to pay them their dues read more
Amazon faces legal challenge over workers’ rights revelations (26 Apr) – GMB Union has today filed legal proceedings against Amazon. The union claims Amazon has engaged in widespread attempts to coerce staff to cancel their trade union membership. Known as an Inducement Claim, Amazon workers formally lodge a claim against their own employer for encouraging them to pass up their trade union and collective bargaining rights. The challenge just days after GMB won a formal recognition ballot at the company, a process which requires the union to prove they have meet a threshold of GMB members in the company’s fulfilment centre. Union recognition would mean Amazon would be forced to sit down with GMB on matters relating to pay, hours, and holidays; the first time this has been achieved anywhere in the world outside of the USA read more
Amazon workers will decide on union recognition (19 Apr) – Amazon workers are one step closer to Europe’s first recognised union at the retail giant. GMB Union has today announced that the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), the Government body responsible for regulating collective bargaining between workers and employers, has ruled in favour of GMB’s application for a union recognition vote at the company’s Coventry Warehouse read more
Birmingham Amazon workers join strike action (27 Mar) – Workers are escalating their campaign for £15 and union recognition at the online retail giant’s Birmingham warehouse. Workers at Amazon’s new flagship HQ in Birmingham, a £500 million site that only opened its doors in October, will down tools this week in an escalation of the ongoing strike action hitting the company. The strike dates come as GMB members at the company submit their application for mandatory recognition to the Government’s Central Arbitration Committee (CAC). Last week workers at the company’s Coventry fulfilment centre walked out, making March the biggest month of strike action in company history read more
Hundreds of school children lose hot school dinners (25 Apr) – Hundreds of school children in North Tyneside face weeks with no hot dinners. Around 200 Year 7 pupils from Churchill Community College were being taught at Monkseaton High School while their own building was checked after the roof fell in at another school [Fordley Primary School]. With GCSE exams looming, Monkseaton needs more space – so from 7 May Churchill pupils will be forced to move to an empty office building [Cobalt Business Exchange building] with no specialist learning equipment. North Tyneside council has also warned parents and carers children will only be provided with a ‘cold food service’ read more
Swindon Borough Council faces strike vote over ‘colonial era work practices,’ says GMB (24 Apr) – Social workers at Swindon Borough Council are set for a strike vote over ‘colonial era working practices’, GMB Union claims. Staff – many recruited directly from India – were handed a contractually agreed £8,000 signing on bonus and a £7,000 recruitment and retention bonuses spread over three years. The recruitment and retention bonus has now been stopped but they are still being told if they leave Swindon Council within three years, they will have to pay back the £8,000. The move only affects staff recruited from India – with no equivalent reduction of money for social workers from the UK. All 14 workers have written writing to management but have been ignored, while Jim Robbins, Labour leader of the council, has not responded to GMB Union. The ballot closes on Friday 26 April 2024 read more
More than 1,000 job centre security guards to strike (23 Apr) – More than 1,000 job centre security guards are set to walk out in a dispute over pay
Staff employed by G4S to work at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will walk out across the country as follows:
- 7 May at 00:00 until 8 May at 23.59
- 13 May from 00:00 until 23.59
- 20 May from 00:00 until 23.59
- 28 May at 00:00 until 29 May at 23.59
The dispute is over a G4S below-inflation pay offer, meaning nearly 70 per cent of the security guards, are now only paid the minimum wage read more
Birmingham braced for school strikes (22 Apr) – Council’s delay to settling equal pay claims to blame. GMB Union has today announced that workers at Birmingham City Council have voted in favour of supporting strike action. The outcome comes as Council bosses have been slammed for delaying the settlement of equal pay claims made by low paid women workers at the council. Workers at thirty-five city schools have voted to back the action, with 96 per cent supporting industrial action. Strike dates will be announced in the coming weeks read more
Epsom & St Helier ambulance strike to begin on Wednesday amid union claims of expensive strike busting (22 Apr) – The Trust look set to pay for private hire vehicles for patients on the strike days but not to pay these members what they’re owed, says GMB. GMB, the union for NHS workers, can today announce the dates for the strike action at Epsom & St Helier NHS Trust. Members of the union employed as Care Assistants in the patient transfer ambulances will be taking strike action this Wednesday [24 April] and will also strike on Thursday 2, Friday 3 and Tuesday 7 May. The escalating dispute centres around backpay, with some workers owed up to £1300 for non-payment of the London Living Wage read more
Asda Lowestoft workers announce strike dates (18 Apr) – Asda workers Lowestoft have announced the dates they will strike. Almost 200 workers are set to down tools for 48 hours from 00:01 on Friday 10 May until 23.59 on Saturday 11 May read more
Brighton Asda superstore workers vote to strike (16 Apr) – Workers at an Asda store in Brighton have become the latest to vote for strike action. The ballot, which closed this afternoon [Friday 12 April], was in favour of industrial action at Brighton Hollingbury superstore. The dispute centres around a number of concerns raised by members in the store, including Health & Safety issues and management bullying. GMB members have previously taken strike action in Asda stores in Gosport in Hampshire and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. The Asda strike committee will meet early next week to decide on next steps read more
Wisbech Asda workers in two day Easter strike (28 Mar) – Asda Wisbech workers will strike this Easter weekend on one of the supermarket’s busiest periods. Around 170 Wisbech Asda workers will walk out from 00:01 to 23:59 on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 March – Easter weekend. The strike has been caused by cuts to hours and an increase in a bullying management culture. Workers are also angry about poor levels of training and support for their job roles, the equal pay claim dragging on for years, health, safety and fire safety issues being ignored and a lack of collective bargaining with GMB Union read more
South Western Ambulance Workers balloted over ‘dangerous’ breaks (16 Apr) – South Western Ambulance Trust (SWAST) workers are set to be balloted over a break policy which could be dangerous. Workers are forced to take their break wherever the nearest, often overcrowded, depot is and have been advised to carry their food in their cabs. The union has health and safety concerns over the new policy – including the risk of food poisoning due to a lack of chilled storage and loose food and drink containers posing a risk when travelling at speed responding to an emergency. GMB, the union for ambulance workers, has told SWAST some staff with reasonable adjustments prescribed by occupational health must be exempt from the policy – but management has so far refused to hear grievances. The ballot is due to close on 17 May 2024 and could see members balloted formally for strike action read more
Hundreds of gas emergency workers to strike (26 Mar) – Hundreds of gas emergency workers are set to strike across Yorkshire. A majority of 99.5% per cent of workers at Northern Gas Network (NGN) voted to take industrial action on a 97 per cent turnout. Workers are angry after the company failed to implement necessary improvements to terms and conditions and safety changes. GMB has been raising concerns over working practices for a number of years. Concerns include engineers being forced to work excessive hours and a culture of workplace bullying. These concerns were so serious that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stepped in and ordered NGN and other gas distribution companies to limit shift length to a maximum of twelve hours. GMB are concerned for both public and worker safety. GMB representatives have been negotiating with NGN to address the shift length alongside other terms and conditions, but due to NGN’s failure to respond in a timely manner workers took the decision to ballot. The industrial action could potentially take place in the spring read more
Northern Ireland transport unions re-enter Translink talks (15 Mar) – Unions have issued the following joint statement: “Northern Ireland’s transport unions – GMB, SIPTU and Unite, have agreed to re-enter discussions with Translink management…” 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
Stop the Council Cuts – Sign the petition: Save our Services – Nottingham City – started by Nottingham City Unison
Support Barnet UNISON Mental Health social worker strike – Strike preparations commence for 15 April – Barnet UNISON Mental Health strikers are due to start the next phase of strike action on Monday 15 April. Our strikers have already taken 27 days of strike action and by the end of this next phase they will have taken 72 days of strike which equates to 1,305 lost working days or 13.050 lost contacts with Mental Health service users. We have had two meetings with Acas where we have established that Barnet Council have confirmed that they do have twice the funding they would need to settle this dispute. It is now clear that thus dispute is not about the money and as each day that goes by it feels like this is an attempt by senior officers to break UNISON read more
The strike timetable:-
- From 15 April to 26 April 2024 (two weeks).
- From 13 May to 1 June 2024 (three weeks).
- From 17 June to 12 July 2024. (four weeks).
Our members are 100% behind UNISONs negotiating team and remain hopeful that a positive resolution can be secured to avoid any further strike action read more Send messages of support to [email protected]
Bedfordshire NHS hospital staff in 48-hour strike over pay (11 Mar) – Staff across two Bedfordshire hospitals say they are being asked to perform medical tasks above their pay grade, such as inserting cannulas. Hundreds of NHS emergency hospital staff are expected to take part in strike action in a dispute over pay and rebanding of roles. Some 400 workers at the Bedford and Luton & Dunstable hospitals will walk out for 48 hours from 07:30 GMT. The union Unison said healthcare assistants were being asked to carry out clinical tasks without extra pay read more on BBC website. Unison: ‘Ripped off’ Bedfordshire NHS staff vote on strike action
NHS staff across Teesside announce strike date in pay dispute, says UNISON (27 Feb) – Around 1,000 healthcare assistants at North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will take strike action next month in a dispute over pay… Staff at the trusts’ seven sites* will walk out for 24 hours from 7am on Monday 11 March as part of their campaign to be paid on a higher wage band which accurately reflects the work they have been doing read more
NIPSA
Health Strike (30 Apr) – NIPSA, the largest trade union in Northern Ireland, has issued notice to the Belfast Health Trust that strike action will commence on May 8 and continue until May 10. This action is being taken in Family and Childcare (social services). The strike action will run in parallel with action short of strike action and will be expanded to other health trusts over the next few weeks. Approximately 40 NIPSA members will take part in the strike action read more
NIPSA health industrial action starts tomorrow (24 Apr) – Social work staff in the Belfast Health Trust will begin industrial action tomorrow, 25 April 2024. The action will extend into the Northern Trust on 2 May and will roll out to other Trusts over the next few weeks. The dispute centres around a sustained staffing crisis in Family and Childcare services. In many areas, staffing has been 30+% below required levels for a considerable time. Long-term chronic understaffing has led to a position where the service is not being provided safely, staff are carrying excessive caseloads, and stress & illness are commonplace read more
Royal College of Nursing
RCN members vote to reject pay offer for nursing staff in Northern Ireland (22 Mar) – The results of the RCN’s consultation on the HSC pay offer for nursing staff in Northern Ireland have been announced 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
RCM
RCM launches snap poll for members in Northern Ireland (22 Apr) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling all its members in Northern Ireland to take part in its snap poll on additional hours worked which launches today. The RCM wants to know how many unpaid extra hours its members worked during last week, 15-21 April. Midwives and Maternity Support Workers (MSWs) can let the RCM know by taking this quick poll here. Earlier this month RCM members in England, Scotland and Wales told the RCM that they had worked 136,834 extra unpaid hours to keep services running safely. The RCM says that now members in Northern Ireland have voted to accept the pay offer, it’s their turn to tally up the extra unpaid hours they’ve been working read more
BMA
Donate to support striking junior doctors
Junior doctors in Northern Ireland announce more strike dates (2 May) – Further rounds of industrial action planned after talks with health minister break down read more
Consultants in Northern Ireland to be balloted for industrial action (25 Apr) – No alternative’ as talks break down and deal agreed in England. Consultants in Northern Ireland are to be balloted on industrial action, the BMA has announced. The five-week ballot will open on 7 May 2024 after talks between consultant representatives from the BMA Northern Ireland consultants committee and the devolved Department of Health broke down. Consultants had raised their concerns with the continuing erosion of their pay and the effect this is having on consultant recruitment and retention in Northern Ireland, and the subsequent effect this has on patient care, and to seek a solution to these issues. Consultants in Northern Ireland are still waiting for last year’s Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration-recommended 6 per cent uplift to be applied. And with a new pay deal for consultants in England having been accepted, pay talks continuing in Scotland and Wales, and higher pay available for consultants working in the Republic of Ireland, BMA NI consultants committee chair David Farren said it was ‘imperative’ consultants in Northern Ireland do not fall further behind. Last year, 77 per cent of respondents to a survey of BMA Northern Ireland consultant members said they were willing to take industrial action read more
Doctors to enter pay negotiations with the Welsh Government (9 Apr) – BMA Cymru Wales has suspended forthcoming industrial action for Consultants and SAS doctors following a constructive meeting with the Welsh government to resolve its pay disputes. As a result of sustained pressure, including three rounds of industrial action by junior doctors in Wales, the Welsh Government has made a significant proposal to form the basis of talks to end the pay disputes with all secondary care doctors including Consultants, SAS and Junior doctors. Since the meeting last week, the committees representing doctors from all three branches of practice have voted to enter pay negotiations based on this proposal. The planned 48-hour strike by Consultants and SAS doctors due to take place from 16th April will now be suspended. Junior doctors have paused plans to announce more strike dates whilst they enter negotiations with the Welsh Government. The Welsh junior doctors committee, Welsh SAS committee and Welsh consultants committee will now each engage in pay negotiations, with the aim of reaching deals which can be taken separately to their respective members read more
Junior doctors in England urge Health Secretary to come forward with new offer as they vote for six more months of industrial action (20 Mar) – Junior doctors in England today urged the Government to present a new and credible offer after voting overwhelmingly in favour of continuing their industrial action in their campaign for full pay restoration. With 98% (or 33,869) of junior doctors voting to continue industrial action on a turnout of 62%, their re-ballot has renewed their mandate for industrial action for another six months. The new mandate lasts from 3rd April to 19th September 2024. The ballot also approved the use of action short of strike (ASOS) read more
HCSA
HCSA launches fresh reballot of junior doctors in England (29 Apr) – Today, HCSA – the hospital doctors’ union has opened a fresh ballot of junior doctors in England in the ongoing pay dispute. If successful, this will extend the right to strike for another six months until December 2024. The ballot will close on 4th June 2024. The ballot also asks members for the first time whether they would be willing to take Action Short of Strike (ASOS); a form of industrial action which could consist of doctors working strictly to contract and refusing to perform certain tasks. HCSA is calling on junior doctors to vote in favour of both strike action and action short of strike. If successful, this will give HCSA Dispute Committee the flexibility required to exert maximum leverage in the face of anti-strike legislation read more
NEU
Cathedral School Llandaff using agency workers during strike (12 Mar) – NEU Cymru considers legal action over CSL’s shock use of agency staff. Today (12th March) as teachers from the school again take to the picket line outside the Cathedral School Llandaff this morning, NEU Cymru is shocked to learn that CSL is using an agency to put on revision classes – a clear legal breach read more
Support the following NEU strikes:
- Tring Park School for the Performing Arts / Herts (TPS) 7 May Barhey Singh [email protected]
- City Academy / Bristol (Conditions of Service) 7-9 May Michaela Wilde [email protected]
- The Garden School / Hackney (Conditions of Service) 10 May David Davies [email protected]
NASUWT
Dispute escalates at Llangors CiW Primary School as LA continues to ignore concerns (1 May) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Llangors Church in Wales Primary in Llangorse will begin strike action again on Thursday 2nd May. Further dates are planned on 9, 14, 16 May and 6 June, with more in the pipeline if the dispute is not resolved in the near future. Members have mounting concerns over adverse management practices, redundancy, and staff wellbeing. For months, teachers at Llangors have worked under threat of redundancy. It is strongly felt that the proposed redundancy is the result of years of mismanagement by the school’s leadership and governors. Llangors is a small community primary school that cannot afford to lose any staff read more
Teachers to strike at Lincoln school over bullying concerns (22 Apr) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Sir Francis Hill Community Primary School in Lincoln will begin strike action this week over bullying and adverse management practices. The first planned day of industrial action will take place on Wednesday 24th April and further days are planned for the 1st and 2nd May. NASUWT members have endured a pattern of bullying that has affected the health, safety and welfare of teachers. Strike action is the last resort to restore a safe and supportive atmosphere to the school read more
Employer intransigence prompts further strike action at Ascot school (17 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at St Mary’s School in Ascot are taking the first of six further days of strike action today over attempts to downgrade their pensions. This follows an initial day of strike action in March. Teachers are facing the forcible withdrawal of their pensions from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) to an inferior Defined Contribution (DC) scheme, which will pay out less in retirement. Teachers have been told that if they do not accept the transfer of their pensions, they will be dismissed from their jobs and reengaged on new contracts which include the DC pension arrangements read more
Norfolk teachers strike to protect their pensions (16 Apr) – Teachers at Aurora Eccles and Aurora Whitehouse schools in Norfolk are taking strike action after their employer threatened to remove them from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) under threat of being sacked. The Aurora Group runs publically funded schools for children and young people with special needs. The DFE have fully funded councils to pay for increased employer contributions to the TPS and the council has passed this funding onto Aurora. Aurora are however choosing to keep this money instead of passing it on to teachers, which means that teachers would be forced to move to a cheaper, inferior pension scheme. The employer has repeatedly refused to negotiate with the NASUWT, causing great distress to our members. They are left with no action but to take strike action this week and in the coming weeks to protect their pensions and their livlehoods. Further strike action is planned for Tuesday 23 April, Wednesday 24 April and Thursday 25 April read more
Teachers at Boston school strike for a safe working environment (16 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Haven High Academy in Boston are due to begin the first of six days of strike action on Wednesday over adverse management practices, including the failure of the employer to put in place adequate measures to deal with poor pupil behaviour. Teachers at the school feel they are being left vulnerable to abuse and violence from pupils due to a lack of consistent sanctions for students and support from management to manage pupil behaviour read more
Teachers at Chester college strike over pensions attack (15 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Abbey Gate College in Chester are taking a further five planned days of strike action, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) over attempts to make teachers choose between their pension or their pay. The employer is attempting to remove staff from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and enrol them in an inferior Defined Contribution scheme. If teachers choose to remain in the TPS they must accept a reduced salary. Teachers took an initial day of strike action last month read more
Nursery school staff strike over restructure (26 Mar) – A strike will take place at Eastwood Nursery School in Wandsworth on Wednesday 27th March after the employer proposed a restructure that threatens to move two nursery provisions to one site with only one qualified member of staff on duty each day. Further days of strike action are planned for 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th and 25th April read more
Lecturers in Northern Ireland vote to reject pay offer (20 Mar) – Lecturer members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union have voted overwhelmingly to reject the pay offer for Northern Ireland’s Further Education Lecturers. Lecturers had been awarded 5% plus an unconsolidated payment of £1500. 87% of NASUWT members voted in favour of rejecting the offer, with a turnout of 63%. 71% said they were prepared to take further strike action and 93% said that they were prepared to take further action short of strike action. The NASUWT National Action Committee will now consider the results of the member survey before deciding on the union’s next steps read more
Pension threats prompt strike action at Newcastle school (18 Mar) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Dame Allan’s Schools in Fenham are taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow over attempts to downgrade their pensions. Teachers are facing the forcible withdrawal of their pensions from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) to an inferior Defined Contribution (DC) scheme, which will pay out less in retirement. Teachers have been told that if they do not accept the transfer of their pensions, they will be dismissed from their jobs and reengaged on new contracts which include the DC pension arrangements. We do not accept that there is any financial necessity for the school to undermine teachers’ financial security in this way read more
Tring Park School teachers take strike action over pension sabotage (12 Mar) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts have begun a series of strike days due to a dispute over their pensions. After being offered a pay rise below levels of inflation, teachers at Tring Park School have now been told that if they wish to remain in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme – the standard scheme for teachers across England – they will need to take a pay cut in order to compensate for their employer’s contributions. Their only alternative is to move to a scheme of lower value. Strike action took place at Tring Park School on Tuesday 12th March and will take place again on Wednesday 13th March. Further days are planned on 19th, 20th and 21st March read more
NAHT
School leaders’ union asked to use ‘all mechanisms’ to oppose detrimental Welsh council plans (4 May) – EMERGENCY MOTION – unanimously passed this afternoon. Two local authorities are acting in a manner that will have a detrimental impact of the terms and conditions of our members. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council are trying to force all primary schools to run paid-for childcare sessions before school in a bid to generate income read more
EIS
College Lecturers give Notice of Further National Strike Action in Pursuit of long Overdue Pay Award (2 May) – The EIS has given notice to all of Scotland’s Further Education colleges of a further programme of escalating strike action in a long running dispute over pay. This marks a further increased escalation in the pay dispute, where members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) have been taking action short of strike since the middle of February and have already taken a number of days of national strike action read more
EIS-FELA Members Begin Programme of Rolling Strike Action (12 Apr) – The EIS FELA is set to begin a programme of rolling strike action in a long running dispute over pay. This marks a further escalation in the pay dispute, where members of the EIS-FELA have been taking action short of strike since the middle of February. This is in addition to a national day of strike action and six days of targeted strike action within the parliamentary constituency areas of key Scottish Government Ministers read more
INTO
Advice to members re: Working Practices in schools (22 Apr) – BULLETIN 2 – Restoration of Working Practices – this bulletin supersedes Bulletin 1 Restoration of Working Practices. Please click HERE to view
UCU
Survey shows most college staff want to abolish Ofsted inspections (3 May) – The majority of further education college staff want an end to Ofsted inspections, a new UCU report shows. The report, ‘A culture of fear and anxiety: UCU members’ perceptions of Ofsted inspection in further education’, exposes a crisis of confidence in the Ofsted process. The findings show college staff experience high levels of stress and anxiety due to Ofsted inspections, creating a major health and safety risk read more
Staff to strike at North East college group open day (2 May) – Staff at five colleges in Cleveland, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees will strike on Thursday 16 and Wednesday 22 May in a long running dispute over low pay that has already seen staff down tools for eight days. On Thursday 16 May staff will picket the open day at Redcar and Cleveland College campus and on Wednesday 22 May they will picket Stockton and Riverside College campus. The strike action is the latest escalation after staff rejected employer Education Training Collective’s (ETC) most recent offer. This did not include any improvement on pay and was limited to an extra two “wellbeing days” and additional points on the lecturer and course leader pay scales starting on Thursday 1 August 2024. ETC’s position on pay remains that it wants staff to accept a paltry increase of just 3% for 22/23, with an additional 1% from May 2023 read more
Staff to hold rally outside Barking and Dagenham College in protest against management’s failure to improve the working lives of staff (30 Apr) – Members of UCU at Barking and Dagenham College will be out in force tomorrow rallying to protest against management’s refusal to improve staff working conditions. The rally will be held outside the college’s Rush Green Campus on Dagenham Road at 12.30 and will hear from UCU president elect and further education tutor, Maxine Looby read more
Strike threat at University of Lincoln as over 220 staff face the axe (18 Apr) – Staff at the University of Lincoln are poised to take a stand against brutal cuts. A consultation over potential strike action is set to begin Monday. The looming threat targets over 220 employees, including one in ten academic staff. Cuts include the phasing out of the fashion degree and ending specialist support for widening participation students in the foundation studies centre. The centre’s teaching team have been notified their jobs are at risk read more
University of Kent staff vote to strike over course closure “bonfire” as VC quits (5 Apr) – Staff at the University of Kent have backed strike action in defence of jobs. The result comes as the person in charge of the cuts, vice-chancellor Karen Cox, announces she will step down in May, before they are even implemented. An overwhelming 85% of UCU members who voted said yes to strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 57%. The vote comes after 58 staff were placed at risk of redundancy as part of a programme that would see courses closed across the university read more
Strike ballot at Sheffield Hallam over “scandalous” cuts programme (5 Apr) – A strike ballot will open on Monday 15 April at Sheffield Hallam University, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. UCU has accused the university of pushing ahead with expensive building projects while launching a wholesale attack on staff and students through an unprecedented cuts programme, severely breaching the post-92 contract and national framework, and attacking on working conditions read more
Goldsmiths marking boycott set to begin this month over “brutal” sackings (5 Apr) – The University and College Union (UCU) today confirmed staff at Goldsmiths University will begin a marking boycott on Friday 19 April over plans to sack more than one in six academic staff. The boycott will cover all marking and assessment, including in writing, online, or verbally. It will also include any assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the administrative processing of marks. UCU warned that graduations will be impacted unless the university resolves the dispute by halting its plans to cut over 130 jobs. Alongside the boycott, UCU members will take other forms of industrial action including working to rule and boycotting processes related to management’s “transformation programme” of cuts. The boycott follows an overwhelming vote for industrial action against the cuts, which would see more than a third of academics axed in the 11 affected departments in the schools of arts & humanities; culture & society; and professional studies, science & technology read more
Goldsmiths staff vote to strike over “incomprehensible” bonfire of jobs (28 Mar) – The University and College Union (UCU) today announced staff at Goldsmiths University have overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action in a fight to stop the sacking of more than one in 6 academic staff at the institution read more
Staff consulted on industrial action at University of Portsmouth over planned job cuts (27 Mar) – The University and College Union (UCU) today confirmed strike action could be on the cards at the University of Portsmouth, as the union starts a consultation of its members. 398 academic staff are to be put at risk of redundancy, as part of University of Portsmouth’s “academic reset” programme that management says is necessary due to recruitment challenges and increased costs read more
Strike threat at University of Winchester over ‘catastrophic’ job cull (14 Mar) – UCU confirmed strike action could be on the cards at the University of Winchester after its members voted to consult over taking industrial action at a packed meeting last Friday. Staff have been put at risk of redundancy in changes that would see the university close its English language programme; institute for climate and social justice; centre for religion, reconciliation and peace; and managed housing, and see cuts to psychology, acting and apprenticeships. The university claims it needs to make the cuts due to a £6m structural deficit. There are 40 jobs planned to go in the current phase, with fears of further job cuts pending read more
Strike ballot at New College Durham over low pay (11 Mar) – UCU has opened a strike ballot at New College Durham in a dispute over low pay. The ballot will close on Monday 15 April and a successful result paves the way for strike action if the employer refuses to make a realistic offer. The ballot comes after staff voted to reject a paltry pay offer of 4% (from August 2023). According to its most recent accounts the college has over £9m in assets, a £2m increase on the year before, and is rated as having outstanding financial health by the government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency, yet UCU’s research shows it spends less of its income on pay than any other college in the region read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Firefighters win 4% pay offer and advances on maternity following talks (26 Apr) – 4% headline pay offer 2024. Firefighters and fire control staff have been offered a package of pay improvements, including an above-inflation pay rise, improvements to maternity pay, and a large increase to the retainer paid to on-call firefighters. Pay negotiations have been underway at the National Joint Council (NJC) between the Fire Brigades Union and fire employers for some months read more
POA
National Chair Update April 2024 here
NAPO
Pay breakthrough at last for Napo members in PBNI (1 May) – Last week’s news from our Napo representatives in Probation Northern Ireland that the long-awaited pay modernisation package has finally been approved by Northern Ireland Government, is a huge boost to hard working staff who have had to endure frustration over recent years prior to this outcome read more
#StopRwanda protests 8 May – The shocking announcement by Sunak that refugees will be snatched when attending immigration service centres for standard appointments has horrified anti-racists everywhere, and rightly sparked calls for protests and action. Stand Up To Racism and Care4Calais have organised a protest outside Downing Street, Wednesday 8 May at 6pm, with an accompanying X/Twitter storm read more
BFAWU
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
BALPA
Bristow helicopters pilots in BALPA to strike in pay dispute (20 Feb) – The British Airline Pilots’ Association has given notice to Bristow Helicopters that it will call on its members to strike in March. BALPA has been in negotiation with the company for months, but Bristow has failed to put forward any offer that its pilots and tech crew could support read more
Nautilus International
Officers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vote for strike action (5 Apr) – RFA employees have faced a real terms pay cut of over 30% since 2010. Nautilus International members at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have voted strongly in favour of industrial action. The ballot followed the rejection by members of a 4.5% pay offer for 2023 that fell far below the rate of inflation. Since 2010, RFA employees have faced real terms pay cut of over 30%, beyond other blue light services, leading to significant challenges in recruitment and retention and low morale across the workforce read more
NUJ
NUJ quizzes board at Reach AGM (2 May) – The year of unprecedented job cuts, development of AI and the “strains and stress” for Reach journalists of trying to produce quality journalism were the members’ top issues read more
Palestine: new hub for journalists in Gaza (2 May) – Journalists will soon benefit from a solidarity centre in Khan Younis where they will be able to access electricity, the internet and other equipment read more
NUJ welcomes BBC call for inquiry into police surveillance of a journalist (2 May) – The union has welcomed the decision of the BBC to write to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal about the alleged police surveillance of former journalist Spotlight journalist Vincent Kearney read more
STV members strike action, day two (1 May) – Journalists at STV began their second day of strike action over pay on Wednesday 1 May. There was a picket line outside the STV headquarters in Glasgow and a letter was handed out to shareholders as they entered the building for the broadcaster’s annual general meeting. NUJ members also joined the AGM. All news bulletins and the flagship 6’o’clock news programme were expected to be pulled off air read more
NUJ at STV to strike as board and shareholders meet for AGM (30 Apr) – Journalists at STV are on strike action on Wednesday 1 May after the latest pay offer put forward by the company was rejected by staff read more
Dublin vigil for slain journalists (30 Apr) – Members of the NUJ gathered on the steps of the Hugh Lane Galley in Dublin’s Parnell Square on Monday 29 April to remember the journalists killed in the war in Gaza read more
NUJ calls out “sexist” Spectator column (30 Apr) – The chairs of the union’s Ethics and Equality Councils have written to the editor of the Spectator over a “sexist and degrading” column published by the magazine read more
Lyra McKee murder trial delayed (29 Apr) – Unresolved legal arguments hinder hearing. The opening of the trial of three men over the murder of journalist Lyra McKee has been delayed following legal arguments at the outset of today’s hearing. The NUJ member died after being struck by a bullet during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry on April 18 2019 read more
Equity
Equity shares evidence with the United Nations on the UKs treatment of disabled people: damning report published (25 Apr) – Equity member Natalie Amber and Emma Cotton, Social Security and Tax Officer, gave evidence to the UN’s Committee on the Rights of Disabled People on the impact of welfare reform read more
Stop the scapegoating: the truth behind UK Government’s attack on ‘sick note culture’ (25 Apr) – Rishi Sunak’s recent attack on ‘sick note culture’ doesn’t add up. Read our analysis by experts in Equity’s Social Security and Tax team on the reality behind his words read more
Musicians’’ Union
MU Statement on Musicians Wishing to Boycott The Great Escape Festival 2024 (3 May) – The MU stands in solidarity with members and non-members who are boycotting this year’s Great Escape Festival due to sponsorship concerns, and reiterate the importance of getting in touch with your regional office should you need support and/or advice read more
Protect Welsh National Opera: Sign the Petition Now (2 May) – Musicians at Welsh National Opera orchestra are campaigning to keep the orchestra full time and secure the company’s future read more
Community
“This Isn’t Over” – Community responds to Tata’s rejection of Multi-Union Plan (25 Apr) – Community has blasted Tata Steel’s decision to reject the Multi-Union Plan for Port Talbot – the credible alternative to the company’s bad deal for steel. A delegation of Tata Steel executives informed steel unions of their decision at a meeting today, outlining that they would be rejecting the plan – which had been endorsed by industry experts, the Labour Party, and MSs from all political parties in the Senedd – on cost grounds read more
Community presses Tata Steel to adopt expert-backed Multi-Union Plan ahead of crucial talks (24 Apr) – Community is pressing Tata Steel UK to scrap its bad deal for steel and commit to the alternative Multi-Union Plan ahead of crucial talks with the company this week read more
Community ballots for industrial action at Tata Steel (11 Apr) – Community is urging members to take a stand in support of the steel industry as we launches our ballot for industrial action at Tata Steel UK today. We are balloting members in response to Tata’s bad deal for steel, a proposal which would remove the UK’s virgin steelmaking capacity and result in the loss of thousands of steel jobs. The bulk of the job losses would be at Port Talbot and Llanwern, with further losses at Trostre and other downstream sites across the UK read more
USDAW
Usdaw members at a GXO distribution centre in Swindon start industrial action over pay on Sunday, which could impact B&Q stores (22 Mar) – Members of the retail distribution union Usdaw at a GXO distribution centre in Swindon, which operates a B&Q contract, are starting a 48-hour strike over pay, starting at 2pm on Sunday 24 March 2024. Over 100 drivers and clerical staff are set to take part in the action read more
UVW
UVW WIN: Milagros reinstated! (30 Apr) – “If it wasn’t for the union I wouldn’t have got my job back“ – Milagros Icaza, sacked cleaner and UVW member. Originally from Peru, Milagros with the support of UVW successfully fought against the decision to dismiss her for taking a cleaning product from one company site to another in order to clean a stubborn stain. Nu Service sacked her for breach of health and safety, insubordination and breach of trust, even though she was simply trying to do their job well and after she apologised for her actions. ”I’m happy and calm now. I have a new contract, dating back to the day I was dismissed, and my years of service will be respected”, she told us read more
Cleaners descend on the Dorchester hotel over the sacking of Peruvian cloak room attendant (9 Apr) – “I want my job back. I want my reputation back. I did nothing wrong. I don’t deserve this treatment. I’m not scared and I want justice” – Teresa Calixto, sacked cleaner and UVW member. On Saturday 6 April, over 50 members and supporters of UVW descended on The Dorchester Hotel in central London to protest against the callous and, we believe, unlawful sacking of our fellow UVW member Teresa, a former cloakroom attendant at the five-star hotel. Teresa Calixto, a migrant cleaner from Peru, was subjected to seven hearings over five months, assaulted at work and asked to work through Christmas without a break before being sacked for trivial issues. She was paid poverty wages. Teresa is bringing legal proceedings against The Dorchester for unfair dismissal read more
Cleaners at the Department for Education launch second strike ballot over equality (28 Mar) – “No sick pay, too much work, no proper holiday cover. We are treated with disdain and we are fed up and stressed but united in our resolve. We can’t wait for our ballot papers” – Gloria Mancera, cleaner of 18 years service at DfE, and UVW member. The brave United Voices of the World (UVW) members who clean the Department for Education (DfE) have had enough of being ignored by their bosses and treated like second class citizens. Yesterday they instructed UVW to launch their second strike ballot in a year over parity of terms and conditions with civil servants read more
IWGB
Statement on the Home Office scapegoating undocumented riders (Apr 30) – Henry Chango Lopez, General Secretary of the IWGB, said: “Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have built their businesses through the blood and sweat of couriers. They have made millions ruthlessly exploiting both British and migrant workers with below minimum wage pay. Meanwhile the Government has allowed this exploitation to continue, periodically carrying out immigration raids to attempt to bully couriers into accepting these dire conditions…” read more
Workers at debt charity vote to strike following “aggressive intimidation” from management (8 Mar) – Frontline workers at the debt advice charity Rooted Finance will down tools later this month after their ballot to strike passed with a 100% yes vote. The decision to walk out on March 18 and 19 follows what workers have described as “anti-union and intimidatory tactics” from management read more
Find out more about the couriers’ strikes on the X/twitter of the IWGB Couriers’ branch @IWGB_CLB
SIPTU (Ireland)
Dublin site blitz brings in members and informs thousands of workers of their rights (23 Apr) – The SIPTU Construction Sector conducted a ‘blitz’ of sites in the Dublin area during April which saw many construction projects visited by union organisers read more
Other news
WOR BELLA – the incredible story of heroic women footballers during WW1. An out-of-town run at the Bread and Roses Theatre, Clapham, before transferring to the prestigious 1200-seat Newcastle Theatre Royal in April. The play features a to-camera cameo by Alan Shearer.
The fantastic women footballers (worldwide) of all ages today stand on the shoulders of these incredible, heroic working class women from over a century ago (before women’s football was banned by the FA in 1921).
www.worbella.co.uk Google: “Wor Bella ed waugh”.
These are the trailers (to date) for the play.
Sign this petition: To the Right Honourable Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister – Make toxic landfills safe – Support ‘Zane’s Law’! Find out more about this campaign here
Affiliate with STAMMA – STAMMA’s Employment Support Service helps people who stammer as well as those who don’t around issues related to stammering in the workplace. Union branches and regions can affiliate with STAMMA to access a range of services and support at a reduced rate.
- £75 for branches and regions
- £125 for national unions with under 400,000 members
- £200 for national unions with 400,000+ members
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Hazards urgently need our support
Many workers were blacklisted because they raised complaints about health and safety or took on the role of a union safety rep. So when our blacklisting campaign was first starting back in 2009, Hazards magazine set up the Blacklist Blog on their website. Alongside our FaceBook page it is the go to online resource for what our campaign has achieved over the past 13 years. www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Hazards is now in financial difficulty and needs the support of the union movement. Its major funding stream has vanished almost overnight. The magazine and the Hazards centres around the country need union branches or official unions to take out a regular subscription to keep the union movement’s flagship safety magazine in operation. If you or your union committee can afford it, please support Hazards:
PCS rep in Newcastle sacked by HMRC (5 Apr) – Gordon Askew was sacked by HMRC on grounds of ‘potential’ computer misuse following strike action taken by the branch. HMRC management at Benton Park View in Newcastle have sacked Gordon Askew, a member of the branch executive committee, on the grounds of ‘potential’ computer misuse. PCS members at Benton Park View, alongside HMRC East Kilbride, took part in targeted strike action last year, as well as their members taking part in the three national days of strike action. Following the strike action, the department launched an investigation into two Newcastle-based representatives. The charge against Gordon was a ‘potential’ breach of the department’s IT policy; arising from a Microsoft Teams message sent to a number of PCS members, relating to strike action. The department’s decision maker claimed that Microsoft Teams had been used “without a legitimate business reason”. A second rep is on a similar charge. We understand the decision maker said that they had considered a lesser penalty, but had decided to sack the rep because he didn’t appear to be sorry enough for what he had done. This was despite him having nearly thirty years of spotless service to the department. PCS is discussing next steps with our Legal Department read more
Construction blacklisting: Evidence sought in union officials’ collusion inquiry (11 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is stepping up its search for information into the possible collusion by trade union officials into the blacklisting of construction workers. In April 2022 Unite established an independent inquiry into allegations that some union officials may have colluded with the blacklisting of construction workers. Unite has instructed a legal team of Nick Randall KC (Matrix Chambers), John Carl Townsend (33 Chancery Lane Chambers) and Paul Heron from (Public Interest Law Centre), to examine and investigate whether any union officials from Unite or its predecessor unions (T&G, UCATT, Amicus, AEEU or MSF), were involved in the blacklisting of construction workers. The inquiry is now entering its next stage and an online portal has been launched to allow anyone who has any information relating to the inquiry to submit information read more
Builders Crack: The Movie
In the current situation, this long lost film from the 1990s about rank and file union organising in the construction industry is intended to lift the spirits, but also to spark a debate in our movement. Hope the youngsters in this film put a smile on your face.
Watch – Share – Discuss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZ-QMA1FMg
Blacklist Support Group
Book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklist-SG/
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt
Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. You can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK. Also, check out Organise Now! – Support for new worker organising.
International
(From NUJ) Russia: Journalists Antonina Favorskaya and Olga Komleva detained on charges of extremism (9 Apr) read more
(From NUJ) Pakistan: Prominent exiled Afghan journalist shot in Islamabad read more
Solidarity with the striking textile workers at Ozak in Turkey – read more on Twitter of Solidarity with the People of Turkey @spotturkey
Diary
2024
June
22 NSSN Conference 2024 – 11am Conway Hall, Holborn, London
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
