The NSSN welcomes reports that the new Labour government has confirmed its manifesto commitment to repeal the latest Tory anti-union law, the Minimum Service Levels Act (MSL), which would have forced unions to instruct a certain number of members to work during strike action.
This is a welcome step and has been achieved by the determination of militant unions and union activists to mobilise against the MSL, brought in by the weak and divided Sunak Tory government. We in the NSSN have played our part by waging a relentless campaign that included lobbying last year’s annual TUC Congress, which called a special TUC Congress two months later.
Such was the pressure, that congress passed a motion which set out arguably the most militant strategy for decades – ‘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 an urgent demonstration in the event a work notice is deployed and a union or worker is sanctioned in relation to a work notice.’ It even raised taking illegal action by stating that the unions would ‘Refuse to tell our members to cross a picket line’.
Train drivers’ union ASLEF effectively rendered the MSL inoperable after an attempt to issue a work notice at LNER, which has fallen into government control, was met with the union escalating their strike action from one to 5 days. LNER management and behind them the Tories, capitulated. This was a fantastic victory for the whole union movement.
Therefore, in reality, Starmer’s commitment to repeal the MSL, while welcome, is on its own totally inadequate. It is essential that unions now demand the repeal of the 2016 Trade Union Act and all other Tory anti-union laws, going back to Thatcher. The Trade Union Act enshrines undemocratic strike ballot thresholds, which means that no matter how many union members vote for action, it cannot go ahead unless the turnout is at least 50%. Yet if this had been applied in the general election, 58 MPs would have been barred from office.
But the Tory anti-union laws go much further. For instance, they prevent solidarity action, even in the same workplace if workers are in a different union or for example in a hospital where some workers are in an outsourced company.
Also, the POA Prison Officers union have correctly demanded that their right to strike is brought back, after the then New Labour Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw restored the Tory ban in 2007. That shameful act is a reminder that Thatcher and Major’s anti-union laws were disgracefully largely kept intact after 13 years of Blair and Brown’s New Labour governments.
And it is also proof that the trade union movement must keep the pressure on Starmer now, particularly given his refusal to lift the two-child benefit cap and the cutting of pensioners’ heating allowance. We support the demand of some unions for the repeal of all the anti-union legislation. And if such undertaking isn’t given by the time of the TUC Congress in September, it must set out a militant strategy to mobilise union members for action.
It also shows why trade union members should come to the NSSN rally & lobby of the TUC in Brighton on Sunday 8th September – to set out the policies that workers need, and the necessity to organise to fight for them.
- POA demand equal treatment on trade union rights (6 Aug)
- RMT responds to Minimum Service Levels repeal (6 Aug)
- TSSA welcomes scrapping Minimum Service Level law (7 Aug)
- PCS welcomes plans to repeal minimum service levels law (6 Aug)
- Unison: Government scraps anti-strike laws on ‘minimum service levels’ (7 Aug)
- Campaign win for RCN as UK government confirms Strikes Act will be repealed (7 Aug)
- CSP: Government makes good on promise to repeal anti-union strike law (6 Aug)
- UCU responds to scrapping of minimum service levels (6 Aug)
- FBU hails “beginning of the end” for latest Tory anti-union laws (4 Aug)
- Community: Minimum Service Levels legislation repealed (6 Aug)
- Usdaw welcomes the Government’s commitment to repeal the Tories’ anti-union Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act (6 Aug)
Tories Gone! – Fight for Workers Policies – come to the NSSN Rally & Lobby of TUC Congress – Old Ship Hotel Brighton, 1pm Sunday 8th September
Speakers confirmed so far: Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary, Ian Lawrence NAPO General Secretary
The NSSN celebrates the massive defeat of the Tories in the General Election. Workers have thrown the Conservatives out of office after 14 years of their brutal assault on our living standards and union rights.
Now workers will want the incoming Labour Government to implement policies in our interests. Last month’s NSSN Conference endorsed the NSSN’s Workers Manifesto of demands and agreed to mobilise for the NSSN rally and lobby at TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 8th September – which will take place 2/3 of the way through the first 100 days of the new Labour Government.
Model motion agreed at NSSN Conference:-
This NSSN Conference (and subsequently union branch/trades council) agrees with the need to fight for a workers’ manifesto of policies, to be implemented after the likely election of a Labour Government after 4th July. These include this list that the NSSN has been campaigning for:-
- To repeal Sunak’s ‘Strike Minimum Service Levels Act (MSL) along with Cameron’s Trade Union Act 2016, and all the rest of the Tory anti-union laws, going back to Thatcher and Major.
- To re-nationalise Royal Mail, BT, buses, the energy and utility companies, steel. Immediate re-nationalisation of the railways, rather than waiting for franchises to expire.
- To end privatisation in the NHS and our public services.
- For an emergency funding grant for local authorities to prevent the current and pending Tory council cuts onslaught, ensuring the withdrawal of Section 114 notices. This would be the first step in restoring the 40% cut from council budgets since 2010
- For a real inflation-proof pay rise for workers, that protects our living standards. For a £15/hour minimum wage with no age exemptions
- Abolish Fire & Rehire and Zero-hour contracts
- Workers’ rights from day one of employment
We believe that it essential that the trade unions fight for the implementation of policies in the interests of workers
We welcome the rally hosted by the NSSN before the start of this year’s TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 8th September, which will take place 2/3 of the way through the first 100 days of the Labour Government
We believe that this really will be an important event in highlighting and campaigning for the policies that workers need. We therefore agree to support the NSSN TUC Rally and send members to it and publicise it.
Workers Unity to stop the far-right
The NSSN stands with the rest of the union movement against the violent protests whipped up by the racist far-right and the fascists over the last 2 weeks. Our supporters have taken part in the many counter-protests that are taking place.
The far-right are looking to exploit the horrific incident in Southport for their own ends. We send support and solidarity to all those affected by that attack, especially the families of those killed and injured.
With absolutely no evidence and on the basis of deliberate misinformation, the far-right have targeted refugees, migrant workers and the Black and Asian and Muslim communities.
It is essential that the trade union movement plays the leading role in building a united movement against the far-right. This is especially the case as history has shown, the far-right and fascist forces have targeted unions and striking workers.
With 6.5million members, across all working-class communities, the unions have the authority and power to unite workers against racist division which weakens our movement and only assists the bosses.
The strike wave over the last few years has shown that workers and their unions are prepared and able to fight to defend jobs and living standards, and when they do so, they become a pole of attraction for all those suffering from austerity.
Therefore, we believe that the TUC and the unions should call a national Saturday demonstration to bring together workers in a united response to the far-right.
And where the racists call local protests, the union movement should take the lead in organising counter-protests, linking up with migrants, refugees and any targeted communities as well as anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations. All protests must be well stewarded by trade unions to guard against any threat from far-right groups.
We welcomed the motion passed at TUC Congress in 2018 that launched a “Jobs, Homes, Not Racism campaign to unite the wider trade union movement and to campaign effectively against the far right” as it is vital that the labour and trade union movement takes on racist division by giving an alternative to the decades of austerity and anti-worker policies of successive governments.
The union movement has responded to the far-right protests with statements including the following – TUC, Unite, RMT, CWU, PCS, Unison, NIPSA, CSP, NEU, UCU, FBU, NUJ, Equity, BFAWU, ASLEF, GMB, RCN, CSP, UCU, NAPO, POA, Musicians Union, Community, USDAW, IWGB, Prospect, SOR, BMA, HCSA, INTO, UVW
See protests on the Stand Up To Racism website
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it and/or making an additional donation to help our work. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month via a standing order.
You can either pay online to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790.
Or you can pay by cheque to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE.
Feel free to use this affiliation letter.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Katrine on [email protected]
The NSSN is developing a campaign pack for social care, which we hope to make available in the not-too-distant future for supporters to use in their localities. As part of this, communications officer Dave Gorton is keen to hear from supporters who:
(1) work in social care (either local authority, private or independently provided)
(2) represent social care workers for a trade union
(3) are in need of social care provision themselves or act as an (unpaid/underpaid) carer for a family member
Dave can be contacted in the first instance via [email protected]
Union News
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RMT
Solid bus strike action at First South West (12 Aug) – RMT bus driver members working for First South West took further solid strike action against low pay today (Monday August 12) at depots across Cornwall and Somerset. Speaking from a picket line at Penzance, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was the fourth day of action in the dispute which had prevented buses from operating across the region. “This union has put forward three different proposals following local consultations to prevent further strike action, but the bus company has refused to negotiate to end to the dispute. First South West’s parent company is raking in profits of £204 million while bus drivers at First South West are some of the lowest paid in the country…” read more
RMT leader to join First South West picket lines at Penzance (11 Aug)
Bus workers to take strike action on First South West (8 Aug)
RMT puts forward counterproposals in First South West dispute (7 Aug)
Scotrail and Caledonian Sleeper staff vote for strike action (8 Aug) – RMT members working on key Scottish rail services have voted for strike action following a ballot. Scotrail and Caledonian Sleeper workers were separately balloted after rejecting pay offers from both companies. Workers at Scotrail returned an 85% ‘yes’ vote for strike action on a 64% turnout. And Caledonian Sleeper members produced a 90% yes vote on a 66% turnout. The union will be speaking to both employers in order to come to a negotiated settlement read more
Offshore diving industry strikes suspended after an improved offer (7 Aug) – Offshore union, RMT has suspended a planned two month strike, after securing an improved pay offer from industry employers. The new multi year proposal from the ODIA signatories will now be put in an e-referendum to RMT members for them to decide whether to accept it and conclude the dispute read more
RFA on strike over pay (1 Aug) – RMT members within Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) are intensifying their pay dispute today with strike action across British and international waters. This is the third stoppage in the dispute with participation spanning from ports to ships in distant locations such as Australia. All RFA personnel have been directed to abstain from duties today while ensuring essential safety protocols, including maintaining moorings and gangways, are strictly observed read more
Avanti West Coast caterers to strike Friday and Saturday (25 Jul) – Rail union RMT, will take strike action on Avanti West Coast this Friday and Saturday due to imposed rosters causing widespread stress and fatigue among staff. Caterers at Avanti West Coast face short notice changes to shifts, job cuts, and enforced overtime, impacting their ability to plan family commitments and attend medical appointments. Despite negotiations recently, no breakthrough was found, meaning industrial action remains on read more
Bespoke cleaners strike at Hitachi Rail (19 Jul) – Cleaners working at Hitachi Rail in Doncaster are on strike today after rejecting the latest pay offer. RMT members working for Bespoke who has the Hitachi Rail contract, overwhelmingly said ‘no’ to the offer from the contractor read more
Rail Gourmet Eurostar strikes suspended after new offer (19 Jul) – Rail union, RMT has suspended strikes on Eurostar catering after accepting a new pay offer from Rail Gourmet which runs the contract. RMT members in Rail Gourmet will now get a 7.6% uplift in pay which has only come about due to strike action and strong negotiating stances from union reps and officers. The union has pursued active discussions with Rail Gourmet management to address significant disparities in pay and working conditions read more
Continued Industrial action called – fight back against ‘flash and dash’ (18 Jul) – REMOVAL OF DETRAINMENT STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND. The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and congratulated all members for continuing the mandate for action in this dispute. The NEC has taken the decision to instruct all members on the Bakerloo Line, District Line, Central Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Jubilee Line and Victoria Line to continue taking part in industrial action to physically check their train before detraining until further notice. I urge you all to support this action and fight back against the Company’s dangerous imposition of the ‘flash and dash’ procedure for detrainments read more
Northern Rail strike by members working for Carlisle Support Services this Saturday (5 Jun) – Super-exploited workers at Northern Rail will take strike action this Saturday June 8 over poor pay and dreadful working conditions. There will be picket lines at Manchester Victoria station (all entrances) from 0900 hrs and at Wigan Wallgate station from 0900 hrs. RMT members who are employed by Carlisle Support Services work at Northern Rail gate lines but are paid less than directly employed staff and cannot enter the company pension scheme or receive sick pay from their employer. The contractor also does not recognise RMT for the purposes of collective bargaining read more
Strike announced to defend unfairly sacked member (22 May) – Further to my previous Circular (IR/123/24, 19th April 2024), all RMT members at Oxford Circus Area are congratulated for standing firm together against injustice during the strike action from 3rd to 4th May. Gerald’s appeal hearing has now taken place but regrettably, LUL upheld the decision to dismiss him rather than taking action to rightly resolve this dispute. This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to instruct all RMT members at Oxford Circus Area to take strike action and NOT TO BOOK ON FOR SHIFTS THAT COMMENCE BETWEEN: 00:01 hours on Friday 28th June until 23:59 hours on Saturday 29th June 2024. The NEC has also taken the decision to escalate this dispute and ballot all other Station Grades members in the Bakerloo South Cover Group Area. Ballot papers were sent to members at Charing Cross Area, Elephant & Castle Area and Piccadilly Circus Area on Wednesday 15th May and these ballots will close on Thursday 30th May. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments read more
ASLEF
Train Drivers’ Union to Ballot ScotRail Members (16 Jul) – ASLEF’s Executive Committee has today agreed to ballot its ScotRail members for action short of strike and strike action read more
TSSA
TSSA ballots ScotRail for strike action – warns of looming “Summer of discontent” (30 Jul) – TSSA has warned of a “summer of discontent” as it ballots members in ScotRail for strike action over pay today (Tuesday). TSSA will be balloting around 500 members working in a variety of white collar, managerial, professional and technical grades within ScotRail. Members have rejected a three-year pay deal offering rises below the rate of inflation and are angry that ScotRail has yet to make a “meaningful offer” to resolve their existing dispute regarding on-call working. TSSA is also looking for an agreement from ScotRail to move towards a transparent pay structure for management grades read more
Unite
Leicester SPS aerospace workers strike over pay (13 Aug) – 200 workers to walk out over unacceptable pay offer at Warren Buffett business. Nearly 200 workers employed by SPS Technologies in Leicester will begin strike action later this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The shopfloor workers, who produce specialist nuts, bolts, pins, screws and collars for the aerospace and defence industries, have rejected a two year pay rise of seven per cent plus a £400 one off payment. The workers, some of whom are on the minimum wage, are demanding a significant increase in pay. SPS Technologies is part of Precision Castparts Corp (PCC), which had revenues of $9.3 billion in 2023. PPC is owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, which has cash reserves of $277 billion…All out indefinite strike action at SPS Technologies’ Barkby Road site will begin on 21 August read more
Glen Dimplex workers in Portadown to begin industrial action (12 Aug) – Dispute is a result of planned site closure, Unite has notified employer of work-to-rule, training and overtime ban. The workforce at Glen Dimplex will commence the first phase of industrial action including a work-to-rule from 00.01am on Friday 16 August. The industrial dispute is a result of plans by Glen Dimplex’s management to offshore work to Lithuania which will lead to redundancies and the potential closure of the site in Portadown… The work-to-rule will proceed indefinitely and will see workers refuse to undertake overtime, refuse to mentor or train new staff, and they will work to contractual terms and conditions and their job description only read more
Unite suspends Scottish council strike action (12 Aug) – Ballot will open on 15 August and close on 5 September. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm the eight days of strike action across 18 councils in waste and cleansing services set to begin on Wednesday (14 August) has been suspended. The union can further confirm that following a meeting of its local government committee this morning, a ballot will now commence imminently on the new pay offer made by COSLA read more
Unite survey reveals Scottish Ambulance Service morale remains low amid historic levels of abuse (12 Aug) – More than half involved in ‘adverse clinical event’ due to delays and hospital pressures. Unite Scotland has today (Monday 12 August) revealed its updated Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) survey findings which confirms the service continues to face a number of unprecedented challenges. The survey reveals Unite members continue to endure long shift times, low morale along with high levels of abuse and stress. Alarmingly, more than half of respondents to the survey said they were involved in emergency calls that ended in an ‘adverse clinical event’ due to delays and hospital pressures. A further 85 per cent said they were the victim of some form of abuse at work while two-thirds of survey respondents said they have considered leaving the organisation read more
Redbridge council facing summer of strife as refuse workers walk out for two weeks (9 Aug) – Council refusing to negotiate in dispute over working conditions. Refuse workers in the London Borough of Redbridge are to take strike action due to the council overseeing a deterioration of working conditions, Unite the union announced today (Friday 9 August). Unite members are escalating their dispute with Redbridge council and walking out for two weeks beginning Thursday 22nd August – Thurs 5 September. The workers are employed by Redbridge Civic Services Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the council, and yet are subject to far worse conditions than their council employed colleagues. Workers are unhappy with a range of workplace issues that the council has failed to address despite pleas from workers read more
Over 1,500 Ford white collar staff involved in nationwide industrial action (9 Aug) – Staff in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood in dispute over pay and contract changes. Around 1,200 Ford office staff are joining hundreds of managers in taking industrial action over pay at sites across the country, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). Yesterday, the office staff voted in favour of strike action and will begin action short of strike action on 22 August. Ford managers already have a strike mandate and are currently engaging in industrial action short of strikes. Both sets of workers, who are based in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood, are in dispute with Ford over unacceptable pay offers and contract changes. Coordinated strike action will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more
Continuous strike action announced at by Unite members at UCU (7 Aug) – Unite the union staff working for the University and College Union (UCU) have today announced they will take all out continuous strike action in an escalation of industrial action. Around 200 members will indefinitely strike from 2 September if their employer doesn’t resolve their dispute over workplace racism, repeated breaches of their collective agreements, and broken industrial relations read more
Northern Ireland: Education Authority workers win pay and grading improvement to end industrial dispute (7 Aug) – Pay and grading review won by education support workers provides additional £130 million in pay over the next eight months. Members of Unite the union employed as school support staff by the Education Authority have won their industrial dispute over a pay and grading review. The majority of school support workers including bus drivers, classroom assistants, bus escorts, catering cleaning, admin and other school staff can expect to see a significant uplift to pay. Over the last two years, low-paid education workers in Unite the union have repeatedly taken strike action in demand of a pay improvement. The union entered negotiations with management alongside the other three education trade unions seeking implementation of a pay and grading review. The pay award delivers significant increases to the pay of education workers over the next two and a half years and also compounds into members’ pensions and overtime. Entry-level pay rates will be sharply increased which will both aid recruitment, addressing the staffing crisis in the sector, and raise morale. The union has hailed the result as a historic win for education workers. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham welcomed the outcome read more
Construction: Unite mechanical members in Ireland vote to take industrial action (6 Aug) – Unite, which represents plumbers, fitters and welders working on construction projects throughout Ireland, said today (Tuesday) that members have voted by over 90% for industrial action in pursuit of restoration of the first hour of ‘travel time’. Members were balloted for industrial action after talks with mechanical employers (MEBSCA) broke down at the beginning of July read more
Jiffy workers escalate strike action over “pathetic” pay offer (5 Aug) – Summer of discontent at north west packaging company. Over 50 workers at the Jiffy packaging plant in Winsford, Cheshire, are escalating their strike action this month following a pay offer from their employer that Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described as “pathetic”. Workers at the Cheshire factory are striking from today (5 Aug) until 17 August. They previously walked out for two weeks in July but with Jiffy management still unwilling to come back to the negotiating table, staff have been left with little choice but to ramp up their industrial action campaign. Workers at the plant have been offered a mere 1.5 per cent pay increase despite a cost of living crisis and real rate of inflation (RPI) standing at 4.3 per cent, when the pay increase was due. Workers are therefore receiving a real-terms pay cut. Unite’s members are demanding an eight per cent pay increase backdated to the 1 April 2024. Additionally, workers are furious that they only receive eight weeks of sick pay and want to see an increase to 12 weeks alongside the reinstatement of breaks during the working day and changes to bank holiday working practices read more
Unite statement on NHS PRB pay offer (29 Jul) – Following the announcement that the government has accepted the Pay Review Body’s (PRB) recommendation that pay for NHS staff should increase by 5.5 per cent for 2024/5, Unite, has issued the following statement. NHS staff have suffered real terms pay cuts and have been neglected for over a decade. Nationally this has created huge recruitment and retention issues, which is a direct result of staff being tens of thousands of pounds worse off in real terms. The government has rightly recognised this with restorative pay rises for junior doctors. It’s imperative to ensure that we are not dividing NHS workers and creating even greater differentials between different groups. The NHS after all is made of many workers from ambulance workers to health visitors to biomedical scientists. All are vital and all deserve pay restoration. Health workers being offered less than half of what junior doctors have been offered is not good enough. It will certainly not deal with the recruitment crisis in the NHS. The PRB process has today been proven to be broken beyond repair. We cannot have a situation where restorative pay awards are offered to some and not to all. Unite’s health members will have the final say on whether they believe this is an acceptable pay offer through a ballot read more
Unite says ‘full steam ahead’ as over 300 Scotrail workers balloted over strike action (29 Jul) – Dispute escalates over pay and service cuts. Unite the union has today (Monday 29 July) said that it’s ‘full steam ahead’ over strike action involving hundreds of Scotrail workers as the nation’s rail pay dispute threatens to escalate and widen. The strike ballot opens on Wednesday (31 July) and closes on 20 August. If a successful mandate is secured, then strike action involving the Scotrail workers could start in early September. The pay dispute is over the failure by publicly owned Scotrail to table a fair pay offer to the rail unions. The current verbal pay offer, which has never been formally tabled to the unions, is backdated from April this year. Scotrail workers would receive a two per cent rise in April, and a further one per cent in January 2025 read more
University Hospital Waterford: work-to-rule deferred pending talks on management proposals (29 Jul) – Proposals would see laundry workers included in regrading scheme. Unite welcomes management’s decision to engage, but warns action may be resumed if agreement not reached. Trade union Unite, which represents support staff in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), has deferred a work-to- rule by laundry, catering and portering grades. The union said that the action, which has been ongoing since the end of May, was being deferred from noon today to allow for talks regarding proposals received from UHW read more
Wales Valley Vets staff escalate strikes after ‘cowardly’ company fails to enter into talks (26 Jul) – Lack of any negotiation means veterinary staff will take further strike action. Nearly 100 workers employed by Valley Vets in South Wales are escalating strike action at a private veterinary practice after the company refused to enter meaningful negotiations, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday 26 August). Veterinary workers including nurses, support staff and vets have already been taking industrial action, walking out from 16 – 30 July, but are now going to take further strike s from 6 – 23 August read more
Redcar chemical plant workers to strike over ‘serious’ public safety concerns (26 Jul) – Huntsman Polyurethanes’ plan to reduce staffing levels raises toxic gas leak fears. Redcar Huntsman Polyurethanes’ Production Process Technicians (PPT) have voted in favour of strike action over the company’s plans to ‘dangerously’ reduce staffing levels at the chemical plant. The company is not proposing redundancies but will not replace retiring workers so that it can reduce the workforce as part of a drive to cut costs. The nearly 50 PPTs manage the safe operation of the plant on a 24/7 basis at the Wilton site, which produces hazardous chemicals, and ensure it can be shutdown and contained safely in case of emergency. Huntsman is justifying the headcount reduction by claiming shutdown procedures at the plant will be safe. Unite members strenuously contest this and fear the site will be unsafe to operate read more
UK facing ready meal shortages as Wrexham based Oscar Mayer in fire and rehire shame (25 Jul) – A host of supermarkets and food providers are braced for shortages of ready meals this autumn as workers at Oscar Mayer ballot for strike action after their employer tried to force through a brutal fire and rehire process. Over 550 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Oscar Mayer in Wrexham, will be balloted for strike action, in response to the company’s disgraceful decision to fire and rehire them. The ready meal making company is pushing through a fire and rehire process which will see low paid workers worse off by around £2,000 a year. The company is seeking to remove some paid breaks, reduce other breaks and eradicate any enhanced payments and days off in lieu for working bank holidays…The ballot will open on Monday 29 July and closes on Tuesday 27 August. If workers vote for industrial action then strikes could begin in September read more
Guys and St Thomas’ nurses redouble strikes over safe staffing (23 Jul) – Guys and St Thomas’ day surgery theatre nurses will step up their industrial action over safe staffing later this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today as it announced fresh strikes. The dispute is over an increase in shift times. The nurses were already working under unsustainable workloads before the hour-long extension from 20:00 to 21:00 to their shifts was imposed and are warning of burnout and patient safety risks. The extension comes after hospital bosses had already increased the nurses’ shift times from 19:00 to 20:00 and introduced Saturday working…The nurses previously took strike action on 27 June and 2 and 9 July. The next round of industrial action will take place on 30 and 31 July. Further strike dates will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more
Milton Keynes rail workers to strike over union rights denial (23 Jul) – Workers being refused basic trade union rights over backdated pay complaints. Over 60 workers based in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, who provide vital maintenance and repairs to railway rolling stock are to strike at the end of the month over how their complaints and grievances are being handled by their employer, Gemini Rail Services. The highly skilled and essential workers ensure locomotives and passenger carriages for the train operating companies across the UK are in a safe condition. The workforce is currently involved in a longstanding grievance against their employer over owed back pay that has seen them potentially thousands of pounds out of pocket. Gemini is now refusing to allow workers to be represented by their Unite workplace rep as he is also attempting to raise his own grievance for loss of pay. This is a fundamental breach of the recognition agreement that Unite has with Gemini Rail Services, resulting in the workforce becoming further angered by management actions. Strikes are taking place at the Milton Keynes depot from 30 July – 3 August. It is likely to cause significant disruption for the company and their relationships with the train operating companies read more
‘Give us a break’ as over 160 Edinburgh Tram workers balloted on strike action (23 Jul) – Health concerns for workers rise due to tram late running times. Unite can today confirm (Tuesday 23 July) that its Edinburgh Trams membership are being balloted on strike action over late running times to the nation’s largest airport which is preventing workers from taking comfort breaks. The strike ballot opens on 29 July and closes on 12 August. In a consultative ballot previously conducted by Unite, over 160 tram workers indicated by 99 per cent that they are prepared to take industrial action on an 84 per cent turnout read more
Unite members reject local government pay offer (11 Jul) – Following the result of a consultative ballot of its local government members over the latest pay offer, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members have overwhelmingly rejected the entirely inadequate local government pay offer. For years local authority workers have seen real terms pay cuts and underinvestment that have brought the sector to its knees. This must act as a wake-up call that the sector desperately needs an injection of funding to ensure the workers it depends on are paid properly and vital frontline services can be properly delivered. Unite will not stand by and watch as our members are given yet another raw deal. Workers won’t accept this any longer.” Read more
Sheffield Veolia refuse workers to strike over denial of union recognition (17 Jul) – Workers being denied Unite representation despite high membership. Nearly 100 refuse workers in Sheffield are to take strike action this month bringing the city’s refuse collections to a standstill, Unite the union announced today (17 July). Workers employed by outsourcing company Veolia and working out of the Lumley Street depot are furious that their employer is refusing to allow collective bargaining agreements with Unite despite the membership of the union representing around 80 per cent of the depot’s workforce. Drivers and loaders are walking out on 29 July to 2 August after Veolia refused to recognise Unite’s for collective bargaining. Veolia claims another union is already recognised as the sole trade union, yet it doesn’t represent the vast majority of the workforce read more
Ellesmere Port dock workers balloted to strike over unfair sacking of colleague (16 Jul) – GAC fired worker after change in hours prevented him caring for disabled mother. Ellesmere Port dock workers employed by GAC at the Queen Elizabeth II dock are being balloted for strike action after their colleague was fired because a change in hours meant he could not care for his disabled mother. GAC sacked the worker for “refusing a reasonable working request” after he informed the company he could not comply with the new rota due to being the primary caregiver for his disabled mother. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “GAC has behaved appallingly towards our member. The company knows full well that he is the primary caregiver for his disabled mother and should have offered a workable solution. This is a cruel and totally unjustified decision that has incensed the workforce and it will not go unanswered by Unite.” GAC provides integrated shipping, logistics and marine services to the energy and shipping industries. The workers, who are jetty operators, are being balloted for industrial action from 17 July to 30 July. Strikes will impact vessels supplying components to the Ellesmere Port Vauxhall plant, as well as ships who rely upon the Manchester Shipping Canal, including oil tankers using the discharging jetties at Eastham Locks for Stanlow Essar read more
Sanctuary housing posts big surplus and bumper margins (16 Jul) – Management could meet strikers demands with ease. Sanctuary Housing has posted financial results showing a group revenue of over a billion pounds this week. The overall operating margin is 19.8% and the social housing operating surplus margin stands at a bumper 31.1%. This year’s results confirm that management could meet the demands of their striking maintenance staff with ease read more
Support the Sanctuary strikes – contact the Unite LE/1111 Housing Workers branch to offer support or if you are a housing worker wanting to get organised [email protected]
First stage government talks with unions to save Tata jobs ‘extremely positive’, says Unite (10 Jul) – Following high level talks this morning with the secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathon Reynolds, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our meeting this morning with the business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was extremely positive. It is clear that the new secretary of state for business understands the need to secure the future of steelmaking in Britain. The commitment given to achieving a sustainable, profitable UK steel industry is very welcome and as was said this morning, decarbonisation must not mean deindustrialisation. In recent months, Unite has been fighting to save jobs at Tata and to revitalise the UK steel industry for the future of communities and for our national security. We are at a critical first stage but the extra investment now secured and the change of attitude from this new Labour government could be the game changers in making this happen.” Read more
TATA STRIKE FUND APPEAL
Unite The Union members employed by Tata steel at Port Talbot and Llanwern have suspended the all out strike action that was due to begin on 8th July. They had already taken action short of strikes, the first industrial action involving steel workers in the UK for 40 years. The action is fighting the decimation of jobs, communities and the steel industry. An initial 2800 jobs are due to be wiped out. This is a campaign we must win. Support and solidarity will be key, especially financial support in light of this being all out, indefinite strike action.
We are therefore launching a financial appeal. Donations will be used to directly support striking members. Below are the financial details. Please reference any donation as “strike fund”. Thank you
Unity Trust, Unite wab 2051 branch, Sort code: 608301 Acc no: 20286655
Messages of solidarity and for further detail contact [email protected]
Find out more about the campaign: www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/the-fight-for-steel
Armagh residents facing fortnight of bin strikes (9 Jul) – Strike action in response to council management ‘hostile environment’ for unions, especially Unite. Unite has today notified management at Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough council of two weeks of strike action by Armagh-based waste collection workers from Wednesday 17 July. The strike action, which will be taken by environmental services workers based at the council’s waste depot in Armagh is likely to severely impact bin collections in that part of the council. The industrial action is a result of what Unite has branded a “hostile environment” that has been created for unions at the council. In recent weeks a Unite shop steward based at the depot has been dismissed, while five other Unite reps have faced investigations or disciplinary hearings or had their rights to represent workers restricted read more
London buses dispute escalates as hundreds more workers ballot for strikes (9 Jul) – Over 2,100 RATP bus workers in South, Central and West London now poised to strike. More than 300 London Transit staff are being balloted for industrial action, bringing the total number of RATP bus workers poised to strike to over 2,100. The London Transit drivers and engineers, who are based at Westbourne Park bus garage in Notting Hill, are angry at a three per cent pay offer. This is a real terms pay cut, as the RPI rate of inflation was 5.1 per cent when the pay increase was supposed to be implemented in December 2023. The dispute is also over an attempt by London Transit to impose an unacceptable scheduling agreement. In addition, around 100 London United engineers based at eight garages providing services for South, Central and West London, have joined 1,600 London United drivers in balloting over pay. The engineers have been offered 3.6 per cent, which again is a real terms pay cut. London United and London Transit are both part of the French state owned RATP Group, which had a turnover of €6.5 billion in 2023. In total, more than 2,100 RATP London-based bus workers are now being balloted for strike action…The London Transit ballot closes on 31 July, while the London United engineers ballot closes on 1 August. London United drivers will finish balloting on 22 July. Strike action will cause severe disruption to bus services in South, West and Central London read more
Birkenhead workers at Cammell Laird balloted for strike action over outrageous suspension of staff (1 Jul) – Seven staff suspended after hundreds refuse to cross picket line. Hundreds of workers at Cammell Laird shipbuilders on Merseyside are to be balloted for strike action following the reprehensible suspension of seven employees, Unite the union confirmed today (1 July). Unite and GMB members working at the Birkenhead facility refused to cross an RMT picket line last Tuesday (25 June). To avoid a similar problem re-occurring Unite had organised talks with the company providing our members were not targeted. However, on Thursday (27 June), seven members of staff, including Unite’s convener and a further four Unite members were informed they were immediately suspended pending a full disciplinary investigation. Outraged workers convened an emergency meeting and agreed to be balloted for potential strike action over the victimisation of the workers by Cammell Laird management. The ballot for Unite members will open on 8 July and close on 5 August read more
Birkenhead hospital workers increase strike action over pay and grading (28 Jun) – Healthcare staff not being recognised for roles and responsibilities. Healthcare workers at the Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral, Merseyside, are escalating their strikes next week over a continued failure to recognise their workplace responsibilities and pay them accordingly. 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. Workers will walk out from 1-7 July. The vital healthcare workers are being paid a band 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 read more
Cornwall facing bus chaos as drivers ballot for strike over pay (24 Jun) – Workers angry profitable Go Ahead is paying drivers elsewhere nearly £3 an hour more. Around 250 Go Cornwall Bus drivers are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). The workers are demanding that their wages be brought more in line with their colleagues in other parts of the country. For instance, Go Ahead drivers in Oxford are currently paid £2.84 more per hour than the Cornwall drivers, while drivers in Brighton are paid £1.83 more. Even under Go Ahead’s current 2024 offer for the Cornwall drivers, Oxford drivers would still be earning £2.24 an hour more, while drivers in Brighton would be paid £1.23 an hour more. To narrow the pay difference, the Cornwall drivers are demanding their wages be increased by 6.6 per cent to £16 per hour for 2024, instead of the £15.60 Go Ahead is currently offering…In March, Go Ahead reported revenues of £3.2 billion and profits of £89 million. The industrial action ballot will close on 1 July, strikes, which could begin later next month, would severely impact bus services across Cornwall read more
Plymouth facing bus chaos as drivers ballot for strike over pay (19 Jun) – Workers angry profitable Go Ahead is paying drivers elsewhere nearly £3 an hour more. Nearly 600 Plymouth Bus drivers are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday). The workers are demanding that their wages be brought in line with their colleagues in other parts of the country. For instance, Go Ahead drivers in Oxford are currently paid £2.84 more per hour than the Plymouth drivers, while drivers in Brighton are paid £1.83 more. Even under Go Ahead’s current 2024 offer for the Plymouth drivers, Oxford drivers would still be earning £2.24 an hour more, while drivers in Brighton would be paid £1.23 an hour more…In March, Go Ahead reported revenues of £3.2 billion and profits of £89 million. The industrial action ballot will close on 1 July, strikes, which could begin later next month, would completely shut down Plymouth’s bus network read more
Dounreay nuclear station strike postponed following improved pay offer (18 Jun) – Strike action on Wednesday 19 June by around 600 Unite members suspended. Strike action on Wednesday 19 June by around 600 Unite members employed by Nuclear Restoration Services Limited (NRS) at Dounreay nuclear power station has been suspended to allow workers to be balloted on a new pay offer. Unite can confirm that an overtime ban and an end to working voluntary appointments will continue during the ballot process. If the new offer is rejected by the membership, fresh strike action will be announced. The union’s membership previously rejected a pay offer which amounted to a one-off £500 payment on top of a basic 4.5 per cent increase. Unite’s NRS membership includes craft technicians, general operators, engineers, maintenance fitters and safety advisors read more
Drivers at Greater Manchester Accessible Transport forced to strike over ‘poverty pay’ (17 Jun) – Industrial action to take place over failure of company to improve pay offer to acceptable level. Bus drivers in Greater Manchester who transport the elderly and disabled have been forced to take strike action over low pay by Greater Manchester Accessible Transport (GMAT). Members of Unite, the country’s leading trade union, are paid incredibly low wages to do a physically and mentally demanding job. They provide an invaluable service, transporting the elderly, infirm or disabled from their homes across Greater Manchester to vital medical appointments, for essential shopping or for leisure and entertainment… Following a successful industrial ballot, members will be taking strike action for a week from 1 July – 7 July read more
Unite warns of prospect of strike at Northern Ireland Fisheries and Harbour Authority (16 Jun) – Members of Unite who maintain harbours are paid minimum wage by DAERA arms-length body. DAERA minister challenged on his department’s status as an accredited Living Wage employer. Unite has written to Rural Affairs (DAERA) Andrew Muir to seek an urgent meeting on poverty pay afflicting harbour and fisheries workers. The union represents the overwhelming majority of the workers employed by the Northern Ireland Fisheries and Harbour Authority (NIFHA), an arms-length body funded by DAERA. A strike of NIFHA workers would immediately shutdown the ability of Northern Ireland’s fishing fleet to land their catch at the primary harbours of Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie. The union is seeking intervention by the minister to raise pay of all workers initially to the living wage and to provide pay increments which were recommended in an external grading review conducted in 2019 but which were never implemented read more
Basildon CNH tractor strikes suspended for vote on new offer (12 Jun) – Strikes by more than 500 workers employed at CNH Industrial’s Basildon tractor factory have been suspended to allow workers to ballot on a new pay offer. Industrial action scheduled for 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 June will not take place. If the offer is rejected by the membership, fresh strike action will be announced read more
Coventry electric Hackney cab workers to strike over pay (10 Jun) – London Electric Vehicle Company earning billions as wages fall by 20% in real terms. Around 100 workers employed at the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) in Coventry will strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). The workers have rejected a 3.5 per cent pay rise plus £400 one off payment for those on lower grades. This is a real terms pay cut, as the real rate of inflation, RPI, was 4.9 per cent when the increase was supposed to be implemented in January this year. Adding to the workers’ anger, is the fact that due to years of below inflation pay rises, wages at LEVC have fallen by 19.9 per cent since 2016. LEVC, which designs, develops and produces electric commercial vehicles and is best known for its electric hackney carriages, is wholly owned by the China-based Geeley Auto group. In the year to December 2023, Geeley had a net cash flow of £3 billion and made profits of £584 million… The workers will take an initial day of strike action on 13 June, followed by an overtime ban. Further strike dates will be called if the dispute is not resolved. Industrial action will severely impact vehicle production at LEVC’s Coventry site 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]
ONS members to escalate attendance dispute (12 Aug) – PCS members at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are stepping up their dispute over mandatory workplace attendance. Since April 2024, ONS staff have to spend at least 40% of their time in the office, after management reversed their previous position that flexible hybrid working was in the best interests of the organisation and its employees. The new policy does nothing to improve efficiency but robs staff of the flexibility to manage childcare and other domestic responsibilities and forces them to undertake unnecessary – and often very lengthy – journeys to carry out work that they could have done from home, often via virtual meetings with colleagues in other offices. Having won an industrial action ballot, the union has pursued action short of a strike (ASOS) since May, in the form of non-compliance with the attendance policy. Members have been advised to spend as much or as little time in the office as they choose, rather than meet an arbitrary quota. The action has been well-supported and has had no adverse effect on productivity, proving PCS’s point that maximum flexibility is the best policy all round. While management have not yet penalised anyone for non-compliance, they have refused to engage with us to negotiate a mutually acceptable outcome. In a survey of PCS members, 88% who responded supported a continuation of action short of strike (ASOS), and 66% backed strike action if necessary. We have therefore informed management that, with effect from 27 August, we will be broadening out the ASOS to include a work-to-rule. If we still don’t receive a positive response from management we will ballot members in September to renew the industrial action mandate, with the option of beginning strike action if successful read more
Outsourced OCS workers to vote on strike action (9 Aug) – The pay offer received does not meet PCS members’ demands on pay and terms and conditions. Outsourced cleaners, caterers and facilities staff working at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in East Kilbride are to be balloted for strike action. The ballot will run from 16 to 30 August and ask members if they are prepared to take strike action over pay and a refusal to provide them with equal core employment terms with their civil service colleagues read more
Ian Lavery MP joins campaign to reinstate sacked Benton Park View reps (8 Aug) – Benton Park View activists were joined on site yesterday (7) by Labour MP Ian Lavery while campaigning for the reinstatement of our three sacked reps in HMRC. The activists have been taking part in weekly leafletting sessions and asking members to sign our petition that demands the reinstatement of our three reps, and for an end to any further victimisation of members in HMRC. Hundreds of PCS members have already signed the petition, showing the strength of feeling amongst the staff about this injustice read more
Strikers going strong, and going another round (5 Aug) – The mood on picket lines last week at DWP sites was joyful and ever more determined, despite the ongoing dispute. PCS members working as security guards at DWP sites and jobcentres are underpaid and poorly treated by their employer G4S. They and their colleagues in GMB union have been on strike every other week since 17 June…There is no let-up in the fight for fair pay and the security guards will walk out again in the weeks commencing August 12 and 26 read more. London strike protest: 11am Wednesday 14th August outside DWP Caxton House
PCS responds to civil service pay announcement (29 Jul) – Following today’s announcement that this year’s civil service pay remit is 5%, our national executive committee will meet shortly to consider its full response and the next steps in our national campaign read more
Use the e-action to fight de-recognition of PCS at the Imperial War Museum (12 Jun) – The e-action sends an email to the director general asking her to halt plans to derecognise PCS, and preserve workers’ voices and rights. 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. The three unions, Prospect, PCS, and FDA have a constructive and collaborative relationship and all three have appealed to management at the IWM not to derecognise PCS and FDA read more
Sign our petition for members in Hinduja Global Solutions to keep their jobs – 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
Firefighters at Jersey Airport to be balloted for industrial action over pensions (1 Jul) – Firefighters at Jersey Airport are to be balloted for industrial action by their trade union Prospect in a dispute over pensions read more
GMB
400 GMB Union Members Lodge First Tranche of Equal Pay Claims Against Brighton & Hove City Council (12 Aug) – Workers in predominantly female roles across the council and schools have been historically underpaid and are owed millions, says GMB. GMB Union, have lodged a first tranche of 400 legal claims against Brighton and Hove City Council due to sex discrimination over the pay of members in predominantly female job roles. The value of the claims identified is estimated to be tens of millions of pounds but could be much more. The claims are now lodged with ACAS, which prompts 6 weeks in which early conciliation can take place between the employer and the union to seek a resolution to the issues prior to Employment Tribunal claims being lodged. GMB has approached Brighton and Hove City Council for a meeting to discuss equal pay issues, but the council have yet to agree to a meeting read more
Asda Wisbech strike suspended after eleventh hour deal (1 Aug) – A strike due to take place at Asda Wisbech tomorrow [Friday] has been postponed. Industrial action has been paused at the eleventh hour after the company agreed to ACAS talks. ASDA and GMB have now agreed to enter into negotiations alongside the conciliation service read more
Nottinghamshire hospital strikes suspended (31 Jul) – Strike action by private contractors at three of Nottinghamshire’s biggest hospitals has been suspended
Industrial action by nearly three hundred workers employed by contracting giant Medirest had been due to down tools at King’s Mill, Mansfield Community and Newark Community Hospitals later this week. Action was scheduled for Thursday 1 and Friday 2 August in the ongoing dispute over the terms and conditions of private contractors in the NHS. The news comes after talks between GMB Reps and Medirest reached an agreement today. Workers will now take part in a ballot to decide on suspending future industrial action, with a result expected later this month read more
Pontypridd jelly workers strike over poverty pay (31 Jul) – GMB members at gelatin manufacturer PB Leiner will strike today. Almost 50 GMB members will also walk out tomorrow [1 August] in anger over an 13 per cent real terms pay cut. Workers at the Pontypridd based company [see notes for address] have seen a 6 per cent real terms cut in their wages this year, following a 7 per cent cut the year before. GMB union has vowed to escalate the action if the company continues their refusal to meet read more
Kent waste contractor hit by GMB strike ballot (29 Jul) – Suez, who only took over the contract in March, is already facing industrial unrest over pay rates. GMB, the union for refuse and recycling, is balloting members across two local authorities as their new employer is failing to offer pay parity. Suez Recycling and Recovery Ltd took over the waste contract from Biffa in March 2024 across Ashford, Swale and Maidstone Councils. The company is offering employees working in Swale and Ashford a pay deal in some cases more than £1 per hour lower than that offered to those working in Maidstone. GMB’s ballot opens today and will close on Monday 19 August 2024 read more
1,500 Job Centre strike amid potential minimum wage and slavery breaches (29 Jul) – More than 1,500 Job Centre security guards begin a fourth week long strike today. The guards – employed by private outsourcing giant G4S – will walk out from Monday 29 July – Saturday 3 August across the UK. The workers do a difficult, dangerous job and 90 per cent of them are paid just the minimum wage. With G4S insisting on unpaid training at home, GMB believes the company is in breach of National Minimum Wage laws and the Modern Slavery Act – and has submitted a collective grievance to that effect read more. London strike protest: 11am Wednesday 14th August outside DWP Caxton House
Asda Lowestoft workers announce new strike (26 Jul) – Asda workers at Lowestoft have announced a new strike. More than 170 Asda workers will walk out of the store from 03:00 to 22:00 on Friday 9 August 2024 read more
Amazon faces legal challenge as recognition drive fails (17 Jul) – Amazon faces a legal challenge over union-busting tactics after workers drive for union recognition misses out by just a handful of votes. 49.5 per cent of the 2,600 workers who voted backed union recognition, falling short by just 28 votes. This result comes just weeks after union-busting tactics at the Coventry site were exposed when it was revealed workers had been bombarded with an unrelenting campaign of anti-union messages by company bosses, including multiple anti-union seminars. Amazon now faces an outstanding legal challenge – known as an Inducement Claim – for pressuring workers into cancelling their union membership during the ballot period read more
Briar Chemicals faces strike vote (11 Jul) – Workers at Briar Chemicals in Norwich are voting on strike action in a dispute over pay. GMB Union has been negotiating with the company since November 2023, currently the only offer on the table is for a dental plan. More than 160 workers feel they are not being taken seriously and a vote for industrial action is the only way to make the company listen. GMB members are asking for an 8 per cent pay rise over two -years. The strike ballot runs until 23 July read more
More than 250 Bentley workers back strike action (10 Jul) – Bentley car workers in Crewe have overwhelmingly backed industrial action. The vote comes after workers were offered 3.5 per cent and a one off non-consolidated payment, while bosses were offered bonuses of over £14,000. Now 86 per cent of workers have backed strike action. The employer has not come forward with any new offer to avert strike action. Management at Bentley Motors also tried to force through a new Fit for Work policy – which would have impacted sick and disabled workers. This was stopped through worker action read more
Industrial action woes escalate for defence giant Rolls Royce (11 Jun) – Workers will refuse overtime work in the ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
GMB union has today announced that members at Rolls Royce’s submarine programme in Derby have backed an escalation in the ongoing industrial action facing the company. Workers will now engage in an overtime ban, meaning company managers will not be able to call on staff to fulfil already groaning order books outside of contracted hours. An overtime ban will come into place from Friday 31 May for one month read more
More than 130 NHS workers strike at Liverpool hospital (10 Jun) – More than 130 porters cleaners and catering staff will walk out today. Workers at Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Broadgreen Hospital will start day two of strike action today [Monday]. The NHS staff were employed by an arms length provider – which means they missed out on a lump sum payment given to other health worker colleagues. The strike, which could go on for another eight days, comes after their first day of action Friday (7 June) read more
Stonehenge School rocked by strike ballot (5 Jun) – Wiltshire school close to famous landmark being balloted by GMB union. GMB, the union for school support staff, is balloting members at The Stonehenge School in Amesbury, Wiltshire over changes to working practices. More than a dozen members of support staff are being balloted over changes to working practices, including additional duties interrupting the lunch breaks enjoyed by some colleagues for 17 years. The ballot opens on Monday 10 June and closes on Monday 1 July 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
Bin strikes in Scotland suspended (12 Aug) – Waste, recycling and street cleansing strikes that were due to be staged later this week have been put on hold, says UNISON today (Monday). The union has agreed to suspend the planned industrial action while it consults workers on Cosla’s latest offer. UNISON is recommending staff reject the offer. The union is also continuing its strike ballot of schools, early years and family centre staff read more
Solidarity appeal for healthcare assistants on strike this summer (30 Jul) – Healthcare assistants are calling for solidarity donations to support their strike. Healthcare assistants (HCAs) at five hospitals across Leicester and Northamptonshire will be on strike throughout August, escalating a dispute over back pay that has already led to 19 days of strike action. The employer refuses to negotiate, focusing instead on breaking the strike, including threatening leaders with disciplinary action. Despite these tactics, UNISON members remain steadfast in their fight for fair back pay, seeking recognition for years of being overlooked and performing tasks beyond their grade read more
Recap: Three days on the Derriford picket line in Plymouth (22 Jul) – Over 140 healthcare workers were treated to warm weather and blue skies. Hundreds of healthcare workers at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth took three days strike of strike action last week in their dispute over pay. Healthcare assistants, maternity care assistants, imaging care assistants and clinical support workers at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust walked out at midnight on Wednesday 17 June for 72hours. Over 140 healthcare workers were treated to warm weather and blue skies while they stood strong on the picket line from 7am – 1pm everyday read more
Council and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland asked to vote on possible strike action, says UNISON (19 Jul) – Thousands of social workers, teaching assistants, planning officers, caretakers and other school and council staff are to be asked if they’re prepared to take strike action over this year’s pay offer, says their union UNISON today (Friday). The move follows a recent consultation concerning the 2024/25 wage rise for local authority and school workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In this vote 81% of the workers who took part opted to reject what they’d been offered. The pay offer from the local government employers was for £1,290. The wage rise was due in April. The offer has been accepted by the GMB, but not by UNISON or Unite. Ballot papers will now be sent to around 360,000 UNISON members across England and Wales, with Northern Ireland to follow later. The ballot will open on 4 September and close on 16 October read more
Swindon healthcare workers balloted for strike action in row over NHS pay deal, says UNISON (17 Jul) – “These dedicated staff keep NHS services running in Swindon”. Hundreds of the lowest-paid workers at Great Western Hospital are to be balloted for strike action after being denied a pay rise worth at least £1,655, says their union UNISON today (Wednesday). An industrial action ballot will open next week (Wednesday 24 July) and could see strike action take place in the autumn. The ballot will close on Wednesday 21 August read more
Lewisham Council faces unrest over union busting, racism and £25m cuts
• Protesters slam “shocking and blatant union busting” as Lewisham Council moves to sack union reps
• Move comes as Council prepares to implement £25m of cuts
• Strike action on the cards, say union officials
Protesters gathered outside a Lewisham Council meeting on Wednesday evening in response to the Council’s attempts to sack both of its UNISON branch secretaries. Campaigners say that senior managers are using the sackings to hamstring Lewisham UNISON as the Council prepares to make £25m of cuts, with children’s services and adult social care set to take the worst hit. Justine Canady is the youngest UNISON branch secretary in the UK, and has transformed the branch since her election last year. After initially pulling back from plans to sack her, Lewisham Council is now moving ahead with the deletion of her post. The Council is also moving to sack Jay Kidd-Morton, alongside the rest of her team in the legal services department. She was previously Black Members’ Officer and had lodged a whistleblowing complaint about discriminatory practices. In an email to members earlier this month, Lewisham UNISON described the moves as “a shocking and blatant attempt at union-busting.” It added: “The Council has now moved to dismiss both of your union’s joint Branch Secretaries in exceptional circumstances, with 5 people in total likely to lose their jobs very soon. There is now a case not only of anti-trade union victimisations, but also of racism.” Union officials have stated that UNISON could move towards strike action if the sackings are not called off. The protest on Wednesday drew wide support, with trade unionists attending from across London. Solidarity greetings were read out from UNISON’s national president and its national executive. For more information, please email [email protected]
‘Stop union-busting – end workplace racism’ protest at Lewisham Town Hall, Catford: Wednesday 14th August, 5pm
Barnet UNISON Mental Health social work strike update (16 Jul) – On Monday 15 July our members returned to work after taking 81 days of strike action. UNISON have suspended strike action and are in the process of agreeing some dates for further talks with Barnet Council read more
Send messages of support to [email protected]
‘Left behind’ Surrey and Sussex healthcare staff to strike, says UNISON (8 Jul) – More than 350 staff at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) will begin two days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) in a dispute over their employers’ failure to pay the full rate for the work they do read more
NIPSA
Branch Consultation On 2024/25 NI Civil Service Pay Claim (8 Jul) – from Carmel Gates General Secretary: The branch consultation on the pay claim for 2024/25 has now concluded and members have overwhelmingly endorsed the claim. The following claim will now be submitted to the NICS management on behalf of members in the NICS and in those ALBs that mirror NICS pay read more
PSNI members ballot for industrial action (3 Jun) – NIPSA’s members in the PSNI are participating in a ballot for Industrial Action and Action Short of Strike Action. This is in relation to the years of stagnation whereby police staff are given significantly less than their Police Officer counterparts in what is widely known as “danger money”, formally named the “Revised Environmental Allowance” (REA). IPSA members face similar threats as their Officer counterparts on a daily basis yet are only afforded 1/7th of the financial reward of their colleagues in green. This threat is solely linked to being employed by the PSNI and our members are considered ‘legitimate targets’ by those who wish to disrupt society and threaten peace read more
Royal College of Nursing
Agenda for Change pay award in England: consultation now open (8 Aug) – Ministers in Westminster have accepted the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body, including a 5.5% increase across all bands. Make sure your details are up to date and vote on whether you accept or reject the pay award 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
Long overdue pay offer finally arrives for midwives in England (29 Jul) – Months of waiting, a change of Government and finally the announcement of the long overdue pay rise for midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in England has arrived. The Government’s announcement of a 5.5%, above inflation pay award has been welcomed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) – but they also said that staff have had to wait far too long. This has, said the College, eroded the morale of staff and has made them feel undervalued. It says the Chancellors confirmation that she will reform the timetable to get NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) Government process back on track is very much welcome. However, the RCM has also said that it still awaits more detail so it can fully consider the award and the funding implications read more
SOR
SoR wants to hear member views on pay award for radiographers in England (8 Aug) – Radiographers are being asked to share their thoughts on latest pay offer via a consultation survey read more
BMA
Donate to support striking junior doctors
GPs prepare to take collective action after overwhelming ballot result (1 Aug) – GPs across England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking collective action. More than 8,500 GPs in England took part in the ballot and 98.3% voted in favour of taking part in one or more examples of collective action read more
Armed Forces doctors and dentists respond to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (31 Jul) – Dr Sandy Wood, Armed Forces Committee Chair and Surgeon Captain (D) Mike Gall RN, Chair of the BDA Armed Forces Committee respond to the recommendation that armed forces doctors would be in receipt of a 6% uplift to basic pay read more
BMA to put pay offer to junior doctors in England (29 Jul) – Nearly two years after its pay dispute began, the BMA will put a pay offer to junior doctors in England after negotiations with the new Government. If accepted by members, the total pay uplift across the two years of the dispute will be 22.3% on average. The pay offer consists of an additional 4.05% for the pay year 2023/24 on top of the average 8.8% previously awarded, taking last year’s pay uplift to an average of 13.2%. This will be backdated to April 2023. Separately, the recommendation of the pay review body – the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) – and subsequent Government award for 2024/25 announced today would give junior doctors an average 8% increase across junior doctor grades. Included in the deal are commitments from the Government to work with the BMA to streamline the way in which junior doctors report when they have worked additional hours to ensure they are paid for the work they do, and to reform the current system of junior doctor training and rotational placements, taking into account training bottlenecks. The BMA and DHSC have also agreed to change the name of “junior doctors” to “resident doctors” from September of this year to better reflect their expertise. As part of the deal the Government says it “acknowledges concerns raised by the BMA and other parties that the medical profession is not as attractive a career prospect as it once was” and asks the DDRB to consider in its annual recommendations the overall reward package and career progression for junior doctors “to ensure that medicine is an attractive and rewarding career choice to deliver our consultants and GPs of the future”. The BMA’s junior doctors committee (JDC) has chosen to recommend that members accept it read more
(From BBC website) Hospital consultants suspend strike action in NI (19 Jul) – Senior doctors have suspended taking any strike action for now. Consultants in Northern Ireland have suspended their forthcoming industrial action. The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that the Department of Health have put forward a credible pay offer that it wishes to explore further. The senior doctors were due to take part in a 24-hour walk out from 26 to 27 June. The decision had been voted for as part of a long-running dispute over pay read more on BBC website
Urgent action demand on pay in Northern Ireland (6 Jun) – Junior doctors begin another round of industrial activity. Junior doctors will gather at Stormont today in a rally to mark the latest round of industrial action in Northern Ireland. Hundreds of junior doctors are expected to take part in the event at the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly to call for urgent action to reverse years of real-terms pay decline read more
HCSA
Member briefing: Pay offer to junior doctors in England (29 Jul) – The Government has announced a pay offer to junior doctors in England arising from negotiations, and an outcome from the DDRB pay review process for 2024/2025. The offer consists of three components; pay for 2024/25, pay for 2023/2024 and a series of additional measures read more
HCSA Consultant and SAS doctor members in Northern Ireland vote yes for strike action (17 Jul) – HCSA consultant and SAS doctor members employed by the NHS in Northern Ireland have returned a decisive Yes vote for both strike action and action short of strike on pay. Members voted 85% for strike and 100% for action short of strike read more
NEU
Special Executive to discuss Government pay offer (5 Aug) – The executive voted to recommend that members accept the offer. Commenting on a Special Executive held by the union today, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Today a Special Executive of the National Education Union met to discuss in detail the Government’s recent teachers’ pay and funding offer. We believe this is a significant first – but not last – step towards a long-term correction in teacher pay, secured as a direct consequence of members’ strike action in 2023 and their positive indicative ballot this March. The executive voted to recommend that members accept the offer. There will be a snap poll of NEU members between 21-30 September. It remains the case that more needs to be done to remedy teacher pay, workload and the recruitment and retention crisis. The Government should be under no illusion that a single pay deal is an end to the matter.” Read more
Teacher Pay ( 29 Jul) – This announcement is a strong signal to the profession about a new course of direction in education. Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement of a 5.5% pay deal for teachers, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We thank the Secretary of State for showing the positive leadership needed on teacher pay and the recruitment and retention crisis that was missing under the previous 10 Conservative Education Secretaries. A 5.5% pay award is a necessary first step in the reversal of the real terms pay cuts inflicted upon teachers and school leaders during the Conservatives’ time in office. Clearly, there is still some way to go to restore what teachers and school leaders have lost since 2010 and we will expect this to be addressed in future pay rounds…” read more
Support staff pay – Over the last two weeks, our consultation asked support staff members in state funded schools in England and Wales whether they accepted or rejected the Local Government Association (LGA) pay offer for 2024-25. In England 92 per cent voted to reject on a 49.5 per cent turnout. In Wales the vote was 96 per cent to reject on a 48.9 per cent turnout. Members had already voted in an indicative ballot to take action in pursuit of the recognised National Joint Council (NJC) unions’ (Unite, Unison and GMB) pay claim, so there was no need to ‘chase the vote’. This makes the response even more impressive and reflects the growing level of workplace organisation of support staff. Both Unison and Unite members voted to reject the offer, though GMB have accepted it. At their meeting yesterday, the national executive agreed that we should approach Unison and Unite with a view to arranging co-ordinated action. The teachers’ snap poll in September may also open up possibilities of co-ordinated action in the sector. More details and the latest support staff newsletter are available here
NASUWT
Glasgow City Council failing pupils, parents and teachers on planned cuts (12 Aug) – As the new school year begins, NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is calling on Glasgow City Council to reverse its planned cuts to teacher numbers. A Freedom of Information request from NASUWT to the Council has revealed that it holds no information on any risk assessments that have been completed in relation to the Council’s plans to cut teacher posts and how those plans could impact on pupil and staff safety. Nor has it provided NASUWT with any equalities impact assessments that have been carried out in relation to the Council’s plans to cut teacher posts and any consequent impact on staff and pupils in relation to equal opportunities read more
Pay announcement an important start (29 Jul) – Responding to the Government’s announcement to accept in full the recommendations of the School Teachers’ Review Body and award a 5.5% increase to the pay of teachers and headteachers from September 2024, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “Teachers will welcome the new Government’s commitment to delivering a timely and funded pay award against the backdrop of an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis and the pressures on school budgets…” read more
EIS
EIS-ULA Consultative Ballot Opens at Robert Gordon University (8 Aug) – The Robert Gordon University (RGU) branch of the EIS University Lecturers’ Association (EIS-ULA) has opened a consultative ballot in response to cutbacks, including lecturers’ jobs, at the university, following a reported £11.1 million recurrent deficit for the 2023/24 academic year. Members are being asked in a consultative ballot if they are willing to take industrial action up to and including strike action in defence of jobs as the university seeks to reach an £18 million savings target with £10.5 million in staff savings. The consultative ballot will run from the 1st of August until the 22nd of August read more
More Strike Days set in Long-Running Dispute over Pay in Scottish Colleges (5 Aug) – A meeting of the Emergency Committee of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has agreed two more weeks of strike action, as a long-running dispute over pay in Scotland’s colleges continues. The announcement follows a recent re-ballot of members of the EIS Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA), which demonstrated a continuing strong commitment amongst Scotland’s FE lecturers to industrial action in pursuit of a long-overdue pay settlement read more
Lecturers strike back against “deeming” of pay by college employers (1 Jul) – Lecturers at two Scottish Further Education Colleges have voted in favour of strike action in protest at college employers ‘deeming’ (i.e. withholding) pay from lecturers engaged in industrial Action Short of Strike (ASoS). Lecturers at Ayrshire College and South Lanarkshire College were balloted by the EIS, following colleges managements’ decision to withhold pay from lecturers engaged in ASoS. The result was a powerful vote in favour of strike action in protest at the action by the colleges, and in order to recover salaries withheld by deeming read more
Pay Settlement Delay Unacceptable – Statement by SNCT Teachers’ Panel (24 Jun) – The Teachers’ Panel of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) has met today to consider the lack of response from local authority employers, following the failure to acknowledge the Panel’s unanimous rejection of an unacceptable pay offer made at the beginning of June. The moving of the implementation date for a pay settlement to 1st August 2024 had been previously agreed, at SNCT, by both COSLA and the Scottish Government as part of the previous teachers’ pay settlement read more
Glasgow teachers vote YES to industrial action (12 Jun) – Glasgow teachers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action with 96% voting Yes to Action Short of Strike and 90% voting for Strike action, in a ballot organised by the EIS. The Consultative Ballot of more than 5000 EIS members in Glasgow was conducted as the next stage in the dispute the EIS lodged with Glasgow City Council (GCC) on March 15th which called for a reversal in the proposal to cut 450 teaching posts over GCC’s three-year budget read more
INTO
Non Teaching Staff Strike Action 03 June 2024 – INTO acknowledge that our sister unions must pursue their objectives in ways most appropriate to their members. The interests of INTO and our non-teaching trade unions are not dissimilar, and to be clear, the INTO supports their endeavours. Our non-teaching education staff are essential and vital to the running of our schools. Indeed, our schools simply would not function without them. Our members have reported, over many years, difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff to the many essential non-teaching roles in schools. This is directly related to their salary and how they are valued. Our children need these workers to be appropriately remunerated for the essential role they fulfil. Therefore, we stand fully behind them in this dispute and will take no steps to undermine their campaign. INTO members should not reduce the efficacy of the industrial action of classroom assistants. Our members should undertake no duties that would be untypical of that day read more
UCU
Staff at Sheffield Hallam University set to strike (9 Aug) – Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will take four days of industrial action in September in defence of jobs and employment conditions, the UCU has announced today. Members of UCU at the university will strike from Monday 23 September until Thursday 26 September following a ballot that saw 87% of those voting agreeing to take action read more
UCU accuses Goldsmiths management of ‘burning down its own house’, calls for independent audit (9 Aug) – UCU has today called for an urgent review of the plan by senior management of Goldsmiths, University of London, to sack over 90 academics as part of a so-called ’Transformation Programme’ read more
Continuous strike action announced at Goldsmiths (31 Jul) – UCU has today announced that staff at Goldsmiths, University of London will take continuous strike action from Monday 23 September as part of its long running dispute over the university’s brutal redundancy programme. 86% of members who took part in the ballot to extend the current industrial action voted in favour, on a turnout of 62%. The dispute continues due to devastating cuts the university is set to make, with over 90 members of staff at risk of losing their jobs before the start of the next academic year in September. Originally over 130 staff were going to be made redundant, including more than one in six academics. Goldsmiths staff recently took ten days of strike action, which ended on Friday 28 June, and are also engaged in an ongoing marking and assessment boycott, which is causing significant disruption to graduations and student progression read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
POA
POA demand equal treatment on trade union rights (6 Aug) – The POA welcome todays Government announcement regarding their intention to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act,2023. However, the repealing of this Bill does not affect POA Members who are still subject to some of the most pernicious legislation which removes the rights of Prison Officers to take any form of Industrial Action read more
NAPO
Government agree to re-open pay talks (2 Aug) – Napo’s Probation Negotiating Committee met yesterday to consider a pay offer that had received the personal endorsement of the new Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood. While the PNC noted that the offer does not wholly satisfy the terms of Napo’s current trade dispute on pay and workloads, it follows the joint unions’ campaign to re-open the three year pay award to give probation staff more pay now. The unions submitted a claim to get more pay back in 2023, which HMPPS rejected in April this year. But following votes in the UNISON and Napo consultative ballots of members which showed strong support for consideration of industrial action, the change of government, the escalating prison overcrowding crisis and the embarrassment of probation pay falling further and further behind prison pay, HMPPS finally agreed to re-open the award and offer more money in this final year of the Multi Year Pay Deal MYPD to our members. Of course, It would have been better if the employer had done this much earlier, but their hands were tied by the previous Conservative government. The HMPPS offer would not have happened without the unions’ campaign to re-open the pay talks over the last year and a half read more
Enough is enough – a consultative ballot on pay and workloads read more
How to vote in the Consultative Ballot – NAPO’s consultative ballot on pay and workloads closes at 12 noon on Friday 5th July and we have made some improvements to the voting process which should make it quicker and easier for you to get involved read more
BFAWU
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
BALPA
Bristow Helicopters Dispute Update Statement (16 May) – In response to the latest Bristow Helicopters statement to media, BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said: “We appreciate Bristow Helicopters management finally acknowledging that pilots and tech crews are critical to the success of the company and indicating they want to come back to the table to negotiate with us. However, they need to accept that in a ballot of our members 95% rejected the current offer on the table. After the ballot we entered back into ACAS talks and after over a week of trying to get movement from Bristow management they tabled an offer that was virtually indistinguishable from the rejected offer. There is no confusion or misunderstanding on our part, our members are clear and resolute – we need an offer that is just focused on pay and is not reliant on reducing terms and conditions…” read more
Nautilus International
RFA officers to strike for the first time in history (1 Aug) – RFA officers are yet to receive an improved pay offer from the new UK government, leaving the Union with no choice but to escalate the dispute until government is willing to address the 30% real terms pay cut endured by members since 2010. Image: Nautilus International. Officers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) represented by Nautilus International will take strike action for the first time in the history of the service. The strike action will take place on Thursday 15 August 2024 from 00.01hrs BST to 23.59hrs BST. It follows a period of continuous action short of strike since 1 June. RFA officers have experienced a real term pay cut of over 30% since 2010, with a below-inflation pay uplift of 4.5% imposed in November 2023. Following this, Nautilus members at the RFA voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, with 85% voting for action short of strike and 79% voting for strike action read more
NUJ
Scotsman staff tell management the newspaper is dying from a thousand cuts (13 Aug) – In a letter to National World’s HR, they say the loss of five more posts means readers will lose out on quality, in-depth coverage of important issues, such as health. Journalists at The Scotsman have told senior management at National World that they have no confidence in the publisher’s business strategy, following the latest round of cuts at the Edinburgh-based title read more
Journalists must not be “exploited as investigative shortcuts” by police, says NUJ (9 Aug) – The union has written to the National Police Chiefs’ Council saying attempts by police forces to strong-arm photographers and videographers into handing over images is an affront to media freedom and puts their safety at risk read more
Equity
Equity join union call to save Welsh culture (8 Aug) – Equity has joined a union call for action to address decimation of Welsh arts and culture read more
Equity joins coalition against unlawful use of creators’ content by Big Tech (8 Aug) – Equity joins the Creators’ Rights Alliance in campaign to stop the unlawful use of creators’ content read more
Game On! Equity set recommended minimum rates for video game performers in UK first (7 Aug) – Equity has set recommended minimum rates for the payment of video game performers for the first time read more
Musicians’’ Union
MU Joins Call for Urgent Action to Address the Decimation of Welsh Arts and Culture (8 Aug) – Creative unions, including the MU, have written to the new First Minister of Wales expressing deep concern regarding the current and future state of the arts in Wales, calling for more cultural funding across the Country read more
Union Members Vote Yes to Potential Strike Action at Welsh National Opera (17 Jul) – Welsh National Opera’s orchestra have voted overwhelmingly in favour of potential strike action, in response to proposals that would reduce the employment of the orchestra from a full-time to 85% contract, along with a 15% pay cut read more
Protect Welsh National Opera: Sign the Petition Now – Musicians at Welsh National Opera orchestra are campaigning to keep the orchestra full time and secure the company’s future read more
RWCMD Petition Hits 10,000 Signatures and is Discussed at Senedd Petitions Committee (4 Jul) – More leading figures from music and the arts sign the Union’s open letter in support of Young RWCMD, as the Senedd Petitions Committee call for urgent action to protect the programme read more
Protect the Junior RWCMD department: Sign the Petition – Members at the Junior RWCMD department are campaigning to keep the college’s junior music and drama programmes open read more
Community
Meeting with Business Secretary to discuss Tata Steel (10 Jul) – Today the steel unions met with the new Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, to discuss the urgent situation at Tata Steel UK read more
IWGB
IWGB statement on the partnership between GMB Union and UberEats riders (1 Aug) – UberEats couriers are some of the most exploited workers in society, with constantly falling pay, unsafe conditions, and a lack of basic workers rights. As all trade unionists are aware, the only way to properly challenge this mistreatment of workers is by organising and building industrial strength to challenge the greed and neglect of multi-millionaire bosses read more
Find out more about the couriers’ strikes on the X/twitter of the IWGB Couriers’ branch @IWGB_CLB
SIPTU (Ireland)
National Advocacy Service Staff pause Strike Action for talks (Jul 22) – National Advocacy Service staff brought their protest to outside the constituency office of the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, in Wicklow last week to highlight their demand that a Labour Court recommendation on their pay and conditions is respected so they can return to work assisting vulnerable people with disabilities read more
Other news
Affiliate with STAMMA – at this year’s NSSN Conference, Gary Clark retired CWU Royal Mail rep and a member of the NSSN Steering Committee spoke about 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
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
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. The next central London Saturday demonstration is 7th September assemble 12noon
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)
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:
Strike announced to defend unfairly sacked member (22 May) – Further to my previous Circular (IR/123/24, 19th April 2024), all RMT members at Oxford Circus Area are congratulated for standing firm together against injustice during the strike action from 3rd to 4th May. Gerald’s appeal hearing has now taken place but regrettably, LUL upheld the decision to dismiss him rather than taking action to rightly resolve this dispute. This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to instruct all RMT members at Oxford Circus Area to take strike action and NOT TO BOOK ON FOR SHIFTS THAT COMMENCE BETWEEN: 00:01 hours on Friday 28th June until 23:59 hours on Saturday 29th June 2024. The NEC has also taken the decision to escalate this dispute and ballot all other Station Grades members in the Bakerloo South Cover Group Area. Ballot papers were sent to members at Charing Cross Area, Elephant & Castle Area and Piccadilly Circus Area on Wednesday 15th May and these ballots will close on Thursday 30th May. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments 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
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
Nigeria: Support the campaign to demand the release of Adaramoye Michael (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo(Sankara), Mosiu Sodiq and 1 other person abducted by the state at 2am on Monday. They are not criminals! They were leaders of the #Endbadgovernance protests in Abuja. You can make donations through the link below to support the campaign for their release.
Afghanistan: Taliban suspends 14 media outlets (13 Aug) read more on NUJ website
NUJ condemns “contempt” shown to journalists by Israeli government spokesman (12 Aug) read more on NUJ website
Diary
2024
September
8 NSSN TUC Congress Rally & Lobby – 1pm The Old Ship Hotel Brighton
October
5 Troublemakers At Work Conference Central Hall in Manchester details
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
